I love drinking tea out of handmade clay cups. I know it doesn’t make brewed cinnamon apple flavored water taste different, but it makes me feel more natural, like an urban-bohemian.

Holding the cup in my hands, feeling the fingerprints that molded its imperfect shape, sometimes I feel kind of guilty. Do I really need this cup? Even worse, did I need to spend such a substantial amount of money on one mug?

I wish I could say I’m guilty of just a mug. I buy a lot of things handmade. They are not always better quality, yet the majority of them leave me with sticker shock.

So why is raw expression more valuable? I can tell you my raw journalism before proof reading isn’t more valuable than its polished form, as artistic as it may be. So why is abstract art so expensive for being messy?

A friend of mine who weaves beautiful baskets realized a few years ago that she was more profitable when she would do a sloppy job. She said people preferred the more “organic look” that couldn’t be found in stores. To say the least, she was pretty disappointed no one wanted to buy her best work.

Now, I’m not pointing fingers at anyone saying abstract art is a cheater’s paycheck. Art is a beautiful creation that is one of a kind and made with passion. But sometimes I wonder how many times I’ve paid too much for something that was shamelessly thrown together. Also, how often have people snubbed an artist’s most honest work because it was too rough?

In the end I don’t think it matters.

It’s ok to fall ridiculously in love with a felt hat that fills your imagination, even if everyone else thinks its ugly. In the end you are supporting an artist, wearing a piece of their inspiration.

Sometimes it’s not what the artist was thinking when he or she made the item: it’s how it makes you feel. And if that awkward lump of clay makes you reach for a debit card, I guess we’ll be having tea together soon.

After a busy year, Winnipeg band The Treble is getting set to release their Northern Lights EP this Monday, April 22 at the West End Cultural Centre.

“We’re really pumped,” said vocalist Mark Brusegard. “We started recording it in September, so it’s taken a while.”

It’s taken a while because the band has been busy this year, with many weekend trips, including Canadian Music Week in Toronto and an Eastern Canadian tour. This weekend they’re in Regina and Moose Jaw, Sask. participating in Juno Fest, and they’re gearing up to play with the likes of Band of Horses and The Lumineers at Edge Fest in Toronto this July.

“We went from playing small bars and coffee shops to really branching out and doing some traveling this year,” said Brusegard.

The band – Colin McTavish, Graeme Woods, Pat Hansen, Dana Jerlo and Brusegard – also did 24 shows in 24 hours in support of the Canadian Red Cross earlier this year.

“We set up and played everywhere from accountant’s offices, to hair salons, Winnipeg Harvest, and the half-time show at the Bomber game,” said Brusegard.

Northern Lights is the title track from the new EP.

“It’s kind of inspired by a friend of ours who was traveling in Australia and got caught in a class five cyclone. It’s about being away from home,” said Brusegard.

Catch The Treble with openers Maxine Peters and The Proud Sons, and pick up their new EP, Northern Lights on April 22 at the West End Cultural Centre. Advance tickets are $15 through Ticketmaster and doors open at 7:15.

Only 12.3 per cent of Red River College students voted in the student election that ended March 27, making the referendum universal bus pass (U-Pass) vote invalid according to Red River College Students’ Association (RRCSA) bylaws.

RRCSA reports that student voter turnout for this election was the highest it has been in the last five years with 925 votes compared to 567 in 2008, the lowest turnout in the past five years. But 925 was only a little over half of the number of students that needed to vote “yes” or “no” for the U-Pass in order for the vote to be valid.

According to the RRCSA bylaws, a minimum of 20 per cent of RRC students needed to vote in order for the referendum to be considered valid.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the people out to vote,” said RRCSA president, Jocelle Cuvos.

But Cuvos said the RRCSA worked hard to educate students about the U-Pass.

“The executive team did put a lot of effort in trying to get this information out to students,” said Cuvos. “We have been out in the hallways a number of times talking to students, promoting elections, and talking about the U-Pass.”

The U-Pass would provide full-time RRC students with a public transit pass during the school year. The U-Pass would add an additional cost of $200 in tuition fees instead of a $66.25 bus pass each month.

Cuvos was in favor of the U-Pass.

“If the U-Pass did get enough votes to pass, I would leave my car at home and take the bus to and from school every day,” she said.

But while some students like Cuvos applaud the U-Pass, others think it’s unnecessary.

“Two hundred dollars is pretty significant,” said Lisa Gietz, a second year nursing student at RRC. “People who drive are already spending money on insurance, fuel, and parking.”

Gietz works at different hospitals throughout Winnipeg. After a year of busing, she called it quits.

“The amount of time I save is worth spending more money to insure my car,” she said. “It’s a convenience factor. Driving adds more free time to my schedule and I was sick of the bus.”
But students who live outside Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway could have opted out of the extra $200 in tuition fees with a written request. The request would have had to be submitted 30 days prior to the start of the U-Pass program.
“I voted against the U-Pass because I was not aware I could opt out,” said Tyne Chase a nursing student at RRC.
Chase lives in Fannystelle, MB, a town 60 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg. It takes Chase an hour to get to school every day. She feels the U-Pass is too expensive for students who own a vehicle. “I think if it passed everyone should be allowed to opt out,” said Chase. “Why should they [students] have to pay for a car on top of this U-Pass they’re not using?”

Danielle Roff, a second year business administrative student at RRC rides the bus every day, but did not vote in this year’s student election.

“I didn’t know about it,” said Roff. “I don’t think it was advertised very well.”

But Roff said if she knew about the U-Pass, she wouldn’t have voted in favor of it anyway.

“I know a lot of people downtown who get on the bus and don’t have to pay,” said Roff. “If it’s a good service, it should be free for everyone.”

Every time I’m in the crowd watching someone eat fire, swallow a sword, bend over backwards or walk a tightrope, I always hear someone say, “Whoa! How do they do that” or, “I could never do that.”

But truthfully, you probably could.

You never see the behind-the-scenes of this stuff, like the trapeze artist trying out tricks in a harness or the tightrope walker practicing two feet off the ground.

The point is, everyone starts with the basics.

I’m an aerial acrobat and I have been for about eight years. When I started I couldn’t even do a chin-up and all the cool tricks in the air require at least a bit of upper-body strength. I started small, had some really patient and supportive instructors, and now I can flip all over the place.

With performance art, just like any developing skill, you need to start with baby steps. No one is born inherently knowing how to balance on their hands with their feet touching their head (except, I suspect, small Russian gymnasts, but nobody should be able to bend like that).

Fire dancers don’t just grab a baton, stick it in a flame and go nuts. Acrobats learn to tumble on big springy floors with cushy foam cubes all around them. People that juggle with knives juggled with scarves or beanbags first.

While this all may seem pretty obvious, I can’t believe the number of times I’ve heard people say they just can’t do it. They make excuses, and I am officially taking all those excuses away.

Don’t be intimidated by professional performers. They’d probably be the first to tell you they sucked when they started. They also probably had really good teachers.

It’s not a good idea to eat fire without getting help from a professional. Seriously, you’ll probably collapse a lung. So ask someone to teach you. Performers are usually active on the Internet and you can contact them through social media quite easily. There are also circus schools that teach recreational classes in aerial, juggling, tightrope walking and more. In my experience most performers are excited to share what they know.

Finally, don’t compare yourself. Don’t look at the experienced aerialist and say, “She’s so good I’ll never be able to do that.” Look at her and say, “One day I’ll be able to do that.”

Have you ever held the door open for someone? Paid for someone’s coffee? Helped an elderly citizen cross the street? Then, do you hope that one day, just one day, something good will happen to you?

Well it will.

One of the oldest clichés is ‘what goes around, comes around’. Karma is a common idea. The word is used often, both positively and negatively. If you don’t know how Karma works, here’s a simple breakdown. If you send good into the world, good things will come back to you. If you send bad into the world, bad things will come back to you. Cause and effect in a nutshell.

When you’re really stressed, sometimes the last thing you think about is helping others. The funny thing is, one of the greatest stress relievers, yoga, will not only help you, but someone else as well. Moksha Yoga offers a Karma class Friday evenings. The class is very popular because it asks for only a minimum $5 donation to attend. The greatest thing about this class is all the money raised goes towards a different charity every single month. The donation is often large since the class usually reaches its maximum capacity of 60 people.

So what’s so good about this class? What makes it so different? Personally, I feel much more at peace with the world after this class. Knowing I just sweated out copious amounts of toxins while donating money to a good cause is such an amazing feeling. Combining them both is like finding your favourite pair of shoes on sale for 75 per cent off. Amazing.

The class is a 60 minute practice with a standard series of poses. I often find that I become relaxed during these classes because the instructor, whoever may be teaching that day, always starts the class with a lesson or goal. It can be anything from ‘find your breath’ to ‘say I’m sorry’ or even ‘do a good deed.’ No matter what the lesson or goal, I always leave feeling determined to improve myself.

Some people say they find it hard to give back because they don’t have time or they don’t know how. Well, I have an idea for you. Do yourself and someone else a favour and take some time to practice yoga. You’ll feel so wonderful.

Over the summer, I’ll be trying out new yoga classes and challenges and you can expect to read about them come fall 2013. If you have any suggestions of things you’d like me to write about, tweet them to me @janessawirth. Have a great summer, and Namaste.

Vegetarians and vegans face many challenges, but for most of them the challenge isn’t finding food.

A vegan meet-up is held at noon the first Saturday of every month at Mondragon, a vegan restaurant in Winnipeg. Karl Bartniski attended for the first time in April.

Bartniski, a vegetarian for four years, is teased by friends who call him a “tree-hugger”, but he doesn’t let it bother him.

“I just want to be on the planet longer,” said Bartniski. “If everybody on the planet tried it once, there would be less health concerns.”

Bartniski has fibromyalgia. After finding out about his condition, he decided to follow a strict vegan diet.

“I feel healthier when I eat straight vegan,” said Bartniski.

Although he was a meat-eater for 30 years, he hasn’t found the transition to a meatless diet to be too hard. Neither did his vegan girlfriend, Shannon Mueller, who brought him to the meet-up.

Mueller’s family is supportive of her veganism, but they often make comments and ask her if she misses meat.

She doesn’t.

“Eating vegan is just as delicious as eating animal products,” said Mueller.

According to her, it’s also more creative. Mueller owns 60 vegan cookbooks.

“They all have such variety of recipes.”

Since she became a vegan five years ago, Mueller has learned about many dishes she had never heard of, and has tried new foods she didn’t know existed, such as kale and swiss chard.

“Restaurants are becoming more aware of veganism,” said Mueller. Even when there isn’t anything she can eat on the menu, staff are often willing to accommodate her. This wasn’t a common experience when she first became vegan.

Celine Land, who also goes to the monthly meet-up, faces comments from people outside of her immediate family who voice concerns that the baby boy she and her partner are raising vegan will not develop properly.

“He’s hitting all the milestones. He’s developing normally,” said Land.

Land has been vegan for nine years. It is an important part of her life because she believes it is the ethical way to live. She also thinks it is the right way to raise her son.

“I wanted to give him the best start to life,” said Land.

Mondragon employee Rob McGregor’s parents weren’t nearly as supportive when he decided to become a vegan three years ago. Now his parents are so used to it, they cook meals for him and his partner.

Other than his parents, no one has had much of an issue with his veganism.

“I’m in a bubble where being vegan is normal,” said McGregor. Many of his friends are either vegan or used to be.

Some people may give vegetarians and vegans a hard time for their dietary choices, but it appears that things are changing.

Winnipeg’s outdoor sports fields are likely to stay covered in snow or become flooded, delaying the start of ultimate’s spring and summer season, but if the weather heats up, ultimate lovers can look forward to games starting soon.

“We’re looking at the week of the May 6th to start, but weather will of course determine whether it’s going to happen or not, so there’s a chance we’re going to have to delay to the 13th,” said Corey Draper, director of Manitoba Organized Disc Sports (MODS).

“Unfortunately it looks like the snow we’ve had in the last few days has reduced the chance of us starting really soon.”
Although the wet weather Winnipeg is seeing will likely push back the first games, the delay may be a blessing in disguise.

“It’s our 25th anniversary, so we’re really pushing to celebrate all of our accomplishments which are quite massive actually, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow in the way we have been,” said Draper.

The late start may give the staff at MODS more time to prepare large-scale celebrations, along with regular and new programming introduced this year.
“We have weekend leagues that are coming up, which have never happened before,” said Draper. “We’re running a Friday night and a Sunday afternoon league to try and give people some more opportunities to play. And we’re starting to look into programming for children in elementary school.”

While MODS is busy organizing programs and events for summer, Winnipeg’s ultimate players are busy organizing themselves for games.

One such Winnipegger is University of Winnipeg student Andre Nault, who is looking forward to his third year as captain of the ultimate team Working Title.

“I started when I was stuck without any real recreation during the summer months. I figured if I was going to join up I had might as well get some friends in and form a team,” said Nault. “It was a ton of fun and a great learning experience for all of us in the first season, and it still is. I see no reason to stop.”

If you are looking for a sport to play this summer, check out the MODS website at mods.mb.ca. You can sign up as an individual, or form your own team. And for those who have never played ultimate before, Draper has just the thing for you.

“Our spring kick-off event is on Sunday May 5th, weather permitting of course. We’ll have the hat tournament at Assiniboine park, and we’ll also be running free beginners courses and we invite anybody out if they have any interest learning about ultimate or just to work on their throw.”

Winnipeg Goldeyes fans are invited to celebrate the team’s 20th season by voting for the 20th Anniversary Team. Fans can fill out one ballot per day at Goleyes.com until June 2 The drop-down menu on Goldeyes.com lists former players eligible to make the team. The top two players that are not selected will be added to the team as utility players. The team will have one catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, designated hitter and closer, two utility players, three outfielders, and five starting and relief pitchers. The team will be announced this August. Season tickets and mini packs for the 2013 season are available at the Goldeyes office.

Bombers invite fans to mini-camp

Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans will get to hang out with the ‘big blue’ later this month when the team holds their annual mini-camp. The mini-camp will run April 24 – 26 at the Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Complex, 211 Chancellor Matheson Rd. The event is open to fans and will feature players on the current 2013 roster. A final list of all players will be released before the end of the month. The mini-camp will run Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Friday, 10:00 a.m. – noon.

Former Bomber home to coach

Obby Khan will return to his football career in Winnipeg. The former Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive lineman will work as an assistant coach for the University of Manitoba Bisons. This will be the second year that #60 will be a part of the Bisons coaching staff. Last year, Khan joined the U of M as an assistant offensive-line co-ordinator. After his recent retirement from the CFL, Khan opened a restaurant, Shawarma Khan in Winnipeg in the Exchange District. He will have two kiosks at Investors Group Field.

Even though there’s still snow on the ground, plans for next year’s Rebels soccer teams are already underway.

Head coach of the Rebels woman’s soccer team Doug Lawrie has begun recruiting for next season and has scheduled dates in August for pre-season fitness programs and a weekend training camp.

Lawrie has some good advice for students interested in playing soccer for Red River College in the fall.

“They could take advantage of my pre-season program. There are several optional work-outs and they could take advantage of all of them, particularly if they’re not playing with the senior team. If they’re working on their own, they should probably work on their aerobics.”

Stephanie Bourgeois, a student in the Animal Health Technology program, played for the Rebels women’s soccer team for two years. As she finishes her studies this year, she reflects on her last year of playing as a Rebel and fondly remembers her experiences.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I will miss 6:30 a.m. training sessions with the girls,” said Bourgeois. “And it’s always cool to see teammates around the college wearing our track jackets on game day. It gives you a sense of community in a somewhat big environment.”

Belonging to a group and having a sense of community while at the college was a big part of why Bourgeois joined the team.

“I wanted to play for the team two years ago because I wanted to be more involved in the college. It was the first year Red River College had a women’s soccer team and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Once she started playing for the team, she discovered it was hard to balance school and soccer, but said the time she spent on the field was well worth losing her spare time.

Along with the games and her teammates, Bourgeois will be sad to say goodbye to her old coach.

“I will definitely miss our coach Doug Lawrie too. He was always positive and encouraging even when we complained about sit ups,” she said.
Lawrie hopes that other students will consider joining a Rebels team. Like Bourgeois, they will likely have a great experience, and he knows he will have a lot of fun coaching them.

“I really enjoy working with the players, helping them to develop their skills, and seeing them have a rewarding experience playing,” said Lawrie.

If you are interested in playing Rebels soccer in the fall, Lawrie’s pre-season skills and fitness training begins August 6. Visit http://goo.gl/8IWIp for the specific dates, and be sure to wear appropriate clothing for the weather.

With summer comes some of the greatest treats one can indulge in. Ice cream from the Bridge Drive Inn, Slurpees from 7-Eleven, and s’mores made over backyard bonfires. These goodies may seem like innocent and classic compliments to the summer, but each one has the ability to wreck havoc on your teeth.
Don’t abolish these food items just yet. Terri Archibald, a registered dental hygienist and clinical instructor for the School of Dental Hygiene & Faculty of Dentistry Programs at the University of Manitoba, has provided some important information about teeth and how to protect them.

You can’t be healthy without good oral health

Oral disease is one the most prevalent chronic diseases. It includes tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. These infections allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and travel to others parts of the body, potentially worsening or causing other health problems.

The health of your mouth can be the first sign of health issues in other parts of your body

If your eyes are the windows to the soul, then your mouth is the window to health. The tissues inside your mouth are sensitive indictors to what is happening not only in your mouth, but your body as well. These tissues reflect internal processes and in some cases they may be the first indicators of disease manifestations in your body.

The truth behind oral piercings

Oral piercings may look cool, but they can be dangerous to your health. In some cases, you could crack a tooth or filling, or even cause irreversible damage to your teeth and gums from the repeated clicking of the jewellery. Piercings can even lead to serious infections like hepatitis or endocarditis, which affect the liver and heart.

Oral cancer is a risk

Oral cancer is another emerging infection affecting younger generations. It is caused not only from smoking, but also from the transmission of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Today, there are three times as many cases of oral cancer as there is cervical cancer.

What can you do to protect your teeth?

• Eat a healthy diet. Avoid sugary drinks which create acid in the mouth and destroys healthy tooth structure.
• Improve your daily dental care. If you actually timed yourself, most people would find they only brush for a maximum of 30 seconds. In fact, two minutes is the minimum time needed to disrupt the bacteria from surfaces of the mouth.
• Floss. Flossing is the only way to clean under the gums where the most potent bacteria is.
• Quit smoking—it can trigger dental infections and oral cancer.
• Rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash daily.
• Remove any piercings outside or inside the mouth.
  -Visit your dental hygienist or dentist regularly.

For 24 summers, St Norbert has been the place many people want to visit Saturday morning because of the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market.

Thousands of people each weekend browse the market, which is full of everything from crafts to food to clothing.

Marilyn Firth has been involved with the market since 2007 and said the popularity keeps increasing.

“Last year, a busy summer Saturday saw nearly 10,000 people visit our site. July, August, and September are typically busier,” said Firth.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the market, and Firth said there will be several celebration activities.

“We have a number of special events. These include a special event each month. June 1 is special opening day family fun. October 12 is a giant pumpkin contest. We will also have a presentation about local sustainability which will include soap making, milking goats, growing mushrooms, etc.” said Firth.
There are about 75 vendors at the market including bakers, farmers, crafters, and folks who specialize in a certain item such as fudge and perogies.

Sandy Fox is one of those vendors who stray from the traditional market stalls.

“I am an owner of Poppy Topps Kettle Corn. As a vendor we will be running different specials throughout the summer,” said Fox.

Fox loves coming to the market every summer and seeing her customers lined up for her kettle corn. She doesn’t even mind being there early in the morning.
“When you arrive at 6:30 in the morning, everyone is busy setting up and if anyone needs help your neighbors are there for you. My favorite thing about the market is the sense of community,” said Fox.

Along with Poppy Topps Kettle Corn, there are a variety of very popular booths. Serge Paseschnikoff sells vegetables and says it’s hard to keep track of how many people stop by his booth.

“We have really no idea as to how many customers come through our booth, but I can say we are kept very busy. We hope the people coming to us are doing so not only to buy fresh produce, but for the personal service,” said Paseschnikoff.

The market opens in June and closes in October. The hours for the market are every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The market will officially open on June 1. For more information on schedules, events, and vendors check out www.stnorbertfarmers.market.ca.

My parents have always stressed the importance of a post-secondary education. I’ve always stressed the importance of living in their basement forever.
But with a degree under my belt, and a diploma on the way, I’m starting to see where they’re coming from. There are certain things in life that only a post-secondary education can teach you.

For instance, I have learned that eating is highly overrated. Attending college or university is a great diet plan because there’s never any food in my cupboards. As students, we don’t have the time, skills, or funds to cook a decent meal. And it’s too hard for mom to list the ingredients and oven temperatures over the phone.

Thus, cereal and granola bars will have to suffice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next two years. While the younger kids are asking for iPads and a new wardrobe at Christmas time, university students ask for Safeway gift cards in order to buy more granola bars.

I have learned coffee isn’t just a drug, it is its very own food group. Most people are made up of 75 per cent water. College students are made up of 75 per cent Tim Hortons, and maybe 25 per cent Timbits. We drink it in the morning, before class, during class, after class, at dinner, and before bed. If that’s not dedication, I don’t know what is.

We have also developed the skill of procrastination. When instructors say a project or assignment can’t be completed the night before, we take that as a challenge. We may look like the Hulk in the morning, and you may find us snoring and drooling at our desks the next day, but our assignments are always completed on time.

As students, we should win medals for such a skill.

Finally, there are three phrases that are most commonly used by college students.
1. “It’s Monday morning, let’s go for a drink.”
2. “We have a one-hour spare, let’s go for a drink.”
3. “It’s Friday afternoon, let’s go for a drink.”

Post-secondary students have been introduced to a whole new world of Budweiser, Coors Light, and Cosmopolitans. Take that Aladdin.
Our tolerance levels and bank accounts have all been put to the test. But that’s what summer employment and student loans are for.
Before my post-secondary education, I was a tad naïve. I thought a pint was just a mathematical measurement, and Standard was a type of motorized vehicle.

Today I’ve said goodbye to my personal bubble inside my parents’ basement, and hello to a world of empty refrigerators, caffeinated drugs, sleepless nights, and Bud Light on tap.

There’s more to post-secondary education than textbooks. College is an experience that will last a lifetime, and will teach you life lessons beyond the classroom.

Remember, once you finally receive your college diploma you’ll be glad you paid a trillion dollars in tuition, you’ll be glad you haven’t slept in years, you’ll be glad you had to build ten extra bookshelves for the hundreds of textbooks you bought and never read, you’ll be glad you went to class when your bed and teddy bears were far more captivating, and you’ll be glad you left your parents’ basement.

Thanks mom and dad.

Last month the Rebels men’s and women’s futsal teams drove out to Providence University College (PUC) in Otterburne to compete in the championships, but neither team brought home the Copa de la Paz.

The Copa de la Paz, the championship trophy, went home with PUC’s women’s team and Université de Saint-Boniface’s (USB) men’s team.
The Rebels teams fought hard and played a tough tournament but neither the women nor the men were able to get the ball in the net during their games against the eventual champions.

“The women were down one goal going into game two. They played very hard in a physical match but could not overcome Providence’s lead,” said head coach Doug Lawrie.

“The men played hard the first game but still found themselves down by three goals after the first game. In the second game they came out flat allowing USB to score several goals early to increase their overall lead.”

Jude Aronovitch, defence for the women’s team, said PUC’s first goals threw the Rebel’s off their game.

“It was all a mental and emotional struggle. We played them twice that weekend, and they scored both goals first. That’s where it first started. It rattled us,” she said. “We have the skill, heart and determination to compete and win, but we got into a rut and couldn’t get out. We’ve proved to our selves before that we can beat Providence. We had many times throughout the futsal season. But we couldn’t seal the deal this time.”

“Our opponents had great passing, were aggressive to the ball, and they really connected with each other,” she said. “We had good communication, good passing, good movement and some great shots, but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net.”

On the men’s side, USB’s goalkeeper kept their team in the lead with some impressive blocks.

“USB’s goaltender shut the door with some outstanding saves and USB’s attack added a few more goals to take USB to the championship,” said Lawrie. “Our men put a valiant effort in but could not gain ground on USB in game two.”

Before the games Lawrie prepared his teams for the championships with twice weekly 6:30 a.m. practices starting in January that continued until the finals. He focused on defensive strategies and set plays. He also showed his players videos of the FIFA Futsal World Cup to help them understand the strategies.
“My preparations for this entire season involved YouTube video analysis of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup, as well as studying the elements of futsal that are very similar to hockey and basketball, and making sure these were effectively transferred to our team strategy,” said Lawrie.

Although the futsal season has ended, Lawrie is looking forward to the future of futsal.

“The MCAC Futsal League is currently the only organized futsal league in Manitoba, but the sport has tremendous potential for growth.”

Many students don’t have money to spend on a gym pass, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get fit over the summer.

Cameron Bushell, a student at the University of Manitoba, wanted to keep working out when he was low on cash.

“For a while I couldn’t afford to go to the gym, so I just did core workouts in the living room. At one point I thought of filling milk jugs with sand to do curls with. You’d be surprised by what you can work out with.”

Rory McIntyre, a coach for the University of Manitoba Bisons track and field team, knows a lot about the benefits of doing workouts without going to the gym.

“I have all my athletes do a few basic core and leg workouts, push-ups, curl-ups, squats and lunges for weeks before I even get them lifting weights at the start of the season. It’s stuff they can do at home,” said McIntyre.

“You don’t have to be an athlete to get the benefits of regular core workouts mixed in with some cardio, and you can get that anywhere. Soccer or pick-up basketball are great ways to stay active.”

Tips for working out at home from U of M Bisons coach Rory McIntyre

It’s easy to do a few push-ups and squats. Adding planks, lunges and back extensions to the mix covers many of your core muscle groups. If you’re looking for abdominal definition and a strong foundation before starting to lift weights, then working those stabilizing muscles is important.

If you have a space that is as long as you are tall and as wide as your arms span, then you have enough room and all the tools you need to get strong and look good before heading to the beach this summer.

Create a circuit of your choice of five core exercises and aim for ten of each exercise without taking breaks as you switch between them. Rest after each circuit. Aim for three times through the circuit, then move from 10 repetitions to 12, 12 to 15 and so on. Add more exercises and sets as you get stronger.

Western media gives the impression that the long-standing tension between North and South Korea is on a knife-edge, but life in South Korea is no different today than last week, month, and even year.

Hee Seop, an electrical engineering student at Red River College originally from South Korea, laughs when asked about the rising tensions between North and South Korea.

He’s going back this summer and although he’s a little worried about what is going on, he’s not concerned enough to change his plans.

Hee Seop served two years in the South Korean army’s medical corps. In his home country, military service is mandatory for all men between the ages of 18 and 35.

“My friends and family back home are a little bit worried. This is different because of the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. He is so childish. He is too young. He wants to express to other countries that I am tough.”

Chistopher Friesen is a 33-year-old ESL (English as a second language) teacher from Winnipeg who has lived in South Korea for six years.

Friesen said that in public Korean people do not show their fears, but if you prod them sometimes the truth comes out. Despite the stoic resolve in public, people are more worried about the situation than they are trying to let on.

Hannah Mole, in her mid 20s, is a foreign student studying the Korean language at Sogang University in South Korea. She said for the most part, life in Korea is going on the same way that it always has been.

She’s received a lot of emails lately from her friends and family back home in England, asking if she is okay and telling her they think she should leave.

Mole believes the reason for all of this unnecessary panic is the way the story has been portrayed in the western media.

“As always sensationalism sells, so reading or watching the news may give the impression that the tension here is on a knife edge, but honestly people continue to work, friends continue to hang out, and soju continues to flow. Basically we’re all good here.”

Some Facts

• After World War II Korea was divided into the North and South. The Soviet Union gave its aid and support to the North, while the U.S.A. aligned with the South.
• War broke out between the two Koreas in 1950.
• A cease fire ended formal hostilities in 1953, but officially the war never ended.
• In recent years tensions have been on the rise.

The library—a place where children learn to respect books and a place that helps communities grow.

But with major cuts in funding, globally libraries haven’t all been doing well. In fact, The Guardian recently revealed that community volunteers are supporting half the libraries in the Isle of Wight, the largest island in England.

Things don’t look quite as dim in Canada. Last Jan., Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz announced that over the next five years $24.6 million will go towards the renovation and rebuilding of libraries in Winnipeg that are 50 years or older.

Zachary Rodgers, a business student at Red River College, regularly visits the John & Bonnie Buhler Library on the Exchange District Campus campus. He insists that the fight for libraries is far from futile.

“If we lose libraries, where are people going to get good sources? It’ll generate lazy people. Everyone’s going to make stuff up and start plagiarizing.”

Although Rodgers realizes he can access a variety of books online, he abhors the idea of the Internet replacing books.

“We can’t just stare at screens all day. There’s something about reading a hardcover book.”

Howard R. Engel, Public Services Technician at the John & Bonnie Buhler Library, said, “For people who want something tangible, public libraries are treasure troves at their fingertips.”

Engel emphasizes the content value of the published material in a library.

“Published work requires an editorial committee. We carefully select what we bring in here.”

Engel often encounters people who don’t know where to start looking for what they want in the library. He quotes Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner to describe how a new visitor might feel stepping foot into a library.

“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” he says.

“At the library, we can help you wade through things, or help you find that drop of water that’ll quench your thirst. There’s way more to a library than meets the eye.”

Ontario is the latest province pushing for legislation to ban minors from using tanning beds. If passed, Ontario would join Quebec, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Manitoba, which all have restricted minors’ use of tanning beds.
Last June the Manitoba government passed a Public Health Amendment Act that regulates the use of tanning equipment by minors. Anyone under 18 now needs signed consent from a parent or guardian and people under 16 to have signed consent and be accompanied by a parent or guardian to use tanning beds. This law also requires that all tanning salons visibly post possible side effects of using indoor tanning beds.
The Canadian Cancer Society doesn’t think this is enough. It is urging all provincial governments to ban minors from using tanning beds because of the link between skin cancer and artificial tanning.

“I think having a law against minors tanning is good,” said Bailey Hawkes, a 22-year-old student and regular tanner.

“I feel like it should be closely monitored because a lot of people, myself included, started tanning young and have no idea about possible outcomes it could have. I just wanted to be tan and look good.”

With provincial governments fearing risks of tanning enough to press for its illegality—similar to the province’s ban on selling alcohol and cigarettes to minors—will adult tanners take notice and give up the bed?

“I’m kind of afraid of skin cancer, but I feel like everything you do has a chance of some sort of cancer these days,” said Hawkes.

She says she will continue to tan occasionally because tanning is something that makes her feel better about herself.

Other tanners have changed their minds about tanning.

“I have lost two very important people to cancer. I always worry about getting it, and doing something to increase my chances of getting it, just so I can look better, seems dumb,” said Laura Johnston, 22.

“I used to tan for about two to three months before winter vacations as much as I possibly could. I would try to go every second day if I could.” Tanning in excess is one of the many problems with tanning in indoor beds.

Leah Clift works at a tanning salon in Winnipeg. She says that she rarely sees people come into tan every day, but there are some people who overuse the tanning bed, turn an orange-brown colour, and put themselves at high risk of getting skin cancer.

“You really shouldn’t tan more than once or twice a week,” said Clift.

She said she is behind the law against minors tanning and there are ways to get around this law without having to stay pale. “If someone under 17 really wants a tan, they should just try a spray tan.”

A photo of two mannequins wearing some lacey lingerie has gone viral. One million “likes” later and we’re still talking about the plastic models.

Why? Because they’re not a size two.

Three years ago Swedish blogger Rebecka Silvekroon snapped a picture of a “full-figured” mannequin at Åhléns, a Swedish department store. The figures had voluptuous hips, curvy bellies and thick thighs. She commented that they looked pretty realistic and the U.S. should invest in some.

On March 12 Women’s Rights News posted the photo to their Facebook page. It spread over the Internet.

“I think women want to see themselves in these images,” said Lori Peters.

Peters is the program coordinator for the Provincial Eating Disorder Prevention and Recovery Program at the Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg. They help men and women ages 16 and over battle eating disorders through workshops, counseling and other forms of therapy.

Part of the therapy Peters and her team do involves training in media literacy. Helping to make people aware of things like the Photoshop work done to fashion ads goes a long way in building healthier expectations for their own bodies.

“They don’t realize just how constructed these images are. Seeing images that are unrealistic, unreal and basically don’t reflect the natural diversity of women have a real impact. It leads to body shame, anxiety and dissatisfaction.”

Peters is excited about the mannequins from Åhléns.

“My hope would be that we continue to see more diversity reflected.”

After working retail for three years at a women’s clothing store, Rhiannon Bowen has seen the effect a full-figured mannequin can have on a shopper. Bowen was unable to name the store she worked at but the store had a plus-sized section with XL and XXL mannequins.

“I found that customers who shopped in that section really appreciated it. They got an idea of what it [the clothing] would look like on them,” said Bowen.

In Canadian stores clothes are often pinned and tucked to fit the skinny plastic figures.

“If you walk into a store and you see the model, you’re like that’s not what it’s going to look like on me,” said Bowen.

In Canada, most stores only have one size of mannequins. They may all be posing differently, but they all wear the same size. There is no diversity. The Swedish store Åhléns has models in many sizes, which makes sense because real women also come in many sizes.

President Jocelle Cuvos

Experience

My experience with the Red River College Students’ Association started when I attended an event in my first year of Business Administration. From there, I got more and more involved. I was elected and began my vice president academic position in May2012. As VP academic, I was primarily responsible for class representatives and academic and disciplinary action appeals. In Jan. 2013, I was elected to move into the president position, where I was the main liaison between the college and the Students’ Association.

Mandate

As president of the Red River College Students’ Association, I am responsible for representing all Red River College students. That being said, my number one goal is to close the gap within the college. I plan on closing the communication and awareness gap between the Notre Dame Campus and the Exchange District campus, interacting with the different faculties, as well as engaging with our satellite campuses. I hope that reaching these objectives will also increase Students’ Association visibility and awareness, as well as improve student involvement within the college.

VP Academic Kiera Mirza

Experience

I have been involved with various clubs including conflict managers and peer connectors and have gained educational experience in conflict mediation. I have been involved with various team sports my entire life, giving me the tools and skills needed to understand the importance of working within a team and the strengths I can bring to the table. I was captain of my varsity soccer team in high school and have had the opportunity to have lead other groups. I am a very hard working, determined individual and believe that the past experiences I have acquired will enable me to be a great VP academic for Red River College.

Mandate

My main objective is to continue to open up the line of reciprocal communication between the student association and Red River College students, to ensure that the students’ voice is heard clear and often. More importantly I would like to take the action required to ensure that the concerns expressed are repaired and a positive solution for all parties is implemented. I plan to do this by increasing the networking opportunities offered to students with potential employers as well as building on the tutor/mentorship infrastructure. Communication is a key role in any individual’s success so increasing dialogue between all parties, I believe will be hugely beneficial.

VP Internal Eddie Sapnu

Experience

Being on a variety of teams has given me the skills to be a leader in numerous conditions. These teams include sports teams (football, basketball, track & field), and school/work groups. I’m very comfortable working in a team environment, which is why I’m ecstatic to work with the Students’ Association.

Mandate

My main goal as vice president internal is to build on the foundation set by the previous VP internals. I would like to bring the student body together through interest-based clubs and activities. Aside from bringing the student body together, building a link between the students and the Students’ Association would also be another goal of mine. There are many services and activities that the student body doesn’t know about, mainly because of the lack of information. With the amount of time and effort spent on an education, students deserve to find ways to maximize their opportunities at school.

VP External Lauren MacLean

Experience

Before running for the Students’ Association position, I have had experience writing and delivering keynote speeches and sermons to audiences of over 300 at the Royal Canadian Morden Legion, Emerado Centennial School, and St. Paul’s United Church in Morden, MB. While I was in high school I was the chair of my grad committee, as well as a member of the student council at my high school, Morden Collegiate Institute. I have also been a youth delegate and voting member of the United Church of Canada’s Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

Mandate

The most important thing I hope to do with my position is bring awareness of the Students’ Association to the students in new and stimulating ways. Whether through spreading knowledge in a fun way, or helping to plan events students can get excited about, I want to take students college experience to the next level by allowing them to get involved in any number of ways. I also plan to make sure the students’ needs are heard at the national level buy attending and positively contributing at the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Association conferences.

On April 28 the Manitoba Writer’s Guild will present awards to some of Manitoba’s best writers. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. at the West End Cultural Centre and is free to attend. There are many awards to be given away to the handful of lucky nominees. Imagining Winnipeg: History through the Photographs of L.B. Foote by Esyllt W. Jones is nominated for McNally Robinson Book of the Year. In his book, Jones uses photographs taken by L.B. Foote to illustrate Winnipeg’s history in a way you may not have imagined. For more information about the 2013 Manitoba Book Awards visit www.mbwriter.mb.ca.

Are you a Foodie?

Throughout spring the Assiniboine Park Conservancy is offering a taste of many cultures. By registering to participate in the park’s Foodie Series you can enjoy meals prepared by local chefs accompanied by cocktails mixed by the folks from the MLCC. On Tuesday, April 16 you can enjoy the tastes of Ireland, and the following week go down under with Australian inspired cuisine. Events run from 7 to 9 p.m. and cost $45. For more information and to register visit www.assiniboinepark.ca.

MEME: August 15 -18

Manitoba’s most prominent electric music festival runs from August 15 to 18 and features national and international deejays Funk D’Void, Noah Pred, and Desert Dwellers. Funk D’Void began his career in the ‘90s, producing music when he was 15. D’Void is known for his tracks “Bad Coffee” and “Emotional Content.” Noah Pred, who is originally from Toronto, is producing music in Berlin after spending many years playing shows across Canada while living in Vancouver and Montreal. Pred maintains a sound that is distinctly house and is known for improvising his live sets. Also performing at MEME is Desert Dwellers. The group, which is based in Southern California and New Mexico, is known for incorporating electronic music into yoga, and vice-versa, with organic sounds and rhythms.