Behind the counters of Toronto Christmas Market

By Pooja Rambaran

Employees share how the Toronto Christmas Market affects their work schedule

As soon as you step onto the cobblestone streets of the Distillery District, you're transported into the magic of the Toronto Christmas Market. 

From Nov. 14 to Dec. 22, the Distillery District is transformed into the Toronto Christmas Market an annual Christmas celebration, where food, sweet treats and gifts are displayed and sold.

Visitors walking around the Christmas Market in Toronto’s Distillery District. (CanCulture/Pooja Rambaran)

Beneath the rows of lights that hang above the cobblestone streets, visitors buzz by the line of food booths and stores, clutching their hot chocolates and baked goods, as Christmas songs resonate through the air. 

But behind the magic are the many employees who face longer and busier hours during this month long Christmas extravaganza. 

“It’s definitely much more intense than during the rest of the year,” said Robbie Hatch, sales associate at Vom Fass, an oil and vinegar store at the market. 

Inside Vom Fass in Distillery District with Robbie Hatch standing behind the counter. (CanCulture/Pooja Rambaran)

But while the energy is higher and there is more staff on duty, Hatch doesn’t see the sales you may expect at this busy time of the year. 

He notes that the Distillery District has become increasingly “Instagrammable”, with a large focus being placed on building it up as a whole experience for people to come, enjoy and take pictures. 

“I think that’s affected a lot of the stores here in terms of sales, maybe negatively but definitely differently because you don’t have a lot of people necessarily coming in to buy Christmas gifts,” Hatch said.  

“I think what happens is you have people who hang out in the streets, they try out all the vendors and they don’t really pay too much attention to the stores.”

A glimpse of the Christmas tree at the Toronto Christmas Market. (CanCulture/Pooja Rambaran)

But the unmatched vibrancy and festivity keeps Hatch coming back to work seasonally, every Christmas.

“You have four or five [marriage] proposals a day right outside the Christmas tree. I’m probably in the background of so many selfies,” Hatch said. 

Over at the Tankhouse General boutique, sales associate Iyanna Croxen works two hours later around this time of the year. 

“It’s challenging if I’m working by myself and a lot of people come in at once, especially since we have two levels,” Croxen said. 

Inside Tankhouse General. (CanCulture/Pooja Rambaran)

But Croxen says helping people find the perfect gift for the holidays is the most rewarding part of it all. 

“We’re definitely getting more sales,” Croxen said. “The Christmas Market definitely brings in a lot more people during the week especially.”

On the other hand, Cassandra Vinckers, sales associate at the Tartistry bakery, experiences things a little differently compared to Hatch and Croxen.

Cassandra Vinckers standing behind the Tartistry booth. (CanCulture/Pooja Rambaran)

Vinckers has come to work specifically for the Christmas Market to promote The Queensway-located bakery. 

“We sell about 4000 tarts a day from now [until] Christmas so that would make our sales go way up,” Vinckers said.

While the small booth can get crowded at times, Vinckers doesn’t experience much difference in workload. 

“It just gives me extra money for Christmas,” Vinckers explained.

Michelle Lehane, sales associates at Yummi Candles, has seen her workload and hours doubled but noticed a boost in sales as well.

As many people stop by the booth throughout the day, Lehane is able to generate publicity for the store. 

Michelle Lehane standing behind the Yummi Candles booth. (CanCulture/Pooja Rambaran)

“It’s a long day when it comes to the market but it’s a lot of fun too, so you can’t go wrong,” Lehane said. 

However, Lehane explained that "[t]he weather is most challenging because one minute it could be fine, the next minute it could be freezing cold.”

Luckily, Lehane said the heaters and the Christmas spirit keep her going.

Lehane, Hatch, Vinckers and Croxen are just a few of the many employees who work long hours at the market to bring visitors a quality experience.

The Toronto Christmas Market encapsulates the essence of the holiday spirit in the form of food, decorations and the overall joyous, festive ambiance that it invokes. 

Hot Docs Podcast Festival 2019: A live podcast with 'Still Processing' from the New York Times

Co-hosts of the New York Times podcast ‘Still Processing’ Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris came with some "Top" energy

Still Processing co-hosts Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris standing on the Hot Docs stage in Toronto on Nov. 12 2019. (CanCulture/Brooke Houghton)

By Brooke Houghton

Hot Docs’ fourth annual podcast festival in Toronto closed its curtains on Nov. 12 with an uncensored conversation between Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris of the New York Times award-winning podcast Still Processing. 

The culture podcast covers hot topics, films and general societal issues through a queer and POC perspective. The podcast is co-hosted by Wesley Morris, a pulitzer prize winning film critic, and Jenna Wortham, a culture writer for the New York Times.

The co-hosts discussed  “top” and “bottom” energy, the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, anal pleasure and personal anecdotes of uncomfortable racial situations from hair touching to personal style. 

The show opened with Morris and Wortham emerging from the audience and playfully dancing their way upstage and into their seats. 

After a warm and quippy introduction about Wortham googling 'Hot Toronto news' Morris transitioned into a personal experience of his from earlier in the week.

Morris recalled shopping in a small store where he was the only customer and the cashier started to play Solange's song Don’t Touch My Hair. 

"It was so weird!" said Morris. "… It was like she wanted me to know she knew not to touch my hair." 

Wortham chimed in on this issue with her own experiences of dealing with people asking, "Where is that from? I must have it!" (imagine a bad French accent) about her lock-pad necklace and personal style in general. 

She went on to suggest that these occurrences are manifestations of white guilt. Where although their intentions may be to show solidarity, their execution is uncomfortable, to say the least. 

This conversational discussion shines a light on a serious issue in a relatable, funny and empathetic way that listeners of Still Processing are more than familiar with.

The pair quickly moved on to an interactive game in which the audience had to decide whether the meaning behind a photo had “top” or “bottom” energy. 

Their first image was a zoomed-in photo of Mark Zuckerberg's hairline. The energy in question? His barber. The audience immediately took to the game and energetically participated in screaming, “Top!”, “Bottom!”, whooping and generally having a great time.

Other notable contestants on Top or Bottom included the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, Frank Ocean’s "Prep" party, the Joker dancing, and the Trump impeachment informant. 

Wortham and Morris closed the show with a Q&A from the audience where they talked about how anal pleasure does not make you gay, queer identity and who can identify as queer, and the current books they're reading. 

On stage the co-stars proved their infectious charisma is not limited to their scripted podcast but simply inherent in their dynamic.

Still Processing just wrapped up its second season and will be returning for a third season with the New York Times in 2020.

Canadian tennis champion Bianca Andreescu lights up Canada’s tallest Christmas tree

By Nuha Khan

It’s officially beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

This year, the Toronto Eaton Centre’s Christmas tree was lit up by professional tennis player and U.S Open Champion Bianca Andreescu, on Nov. 14. In the mall, hundreds of people gathered to witness the official kick off of the holiday season.

Before the event began, staff members began preparing the stage as shoppers waited for Bianca Andreescu’s arrival and the 108-foot tree to be lit.

Approximately two hours prior to the event, guests began searching for the perfect spot to view the tree and stage where Andreescu would stand.

4Korners, the official DJ for the Toronto Raptors, blasted some holiday tunes such as Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” and a remixed version of the classic “Last Christmas” by Wham! 

The guest of honour made her first appearance on stage as the crowd pulled out their phones to capture it all. 

Andreescu waves to the crowd after Santa Claus made a surprise appearance on stage. The tennis champion announced that Starbucks, the presenter of the ceremony, will be giving out free reusable holiday cups to the guests at the end of the evening. 

At 6:30 p.m. the crowd begins to countdown the commencement of the Christmas tree lighting. 

While the lighting commences, Andreescu greets a couple of fans in the audience and reaches out to sign posters and tennis balls.

The Christmas tree shines at the conclusion of the 2019 lighting ceremony in the Eaton Centre.

All images were taken by Nuha Khan

Touring through Time: Unearthing the Buried History of Toronto Cemeteries

How one woman is bringing the stories of the dead back to life

(CanCulture/Annemarie Cutruzzola)

By Annemarie Cutruzzola

The grave of John Croft probably wouldn’t catch your eye among the countless other statuesque headstones and towering memorials of Mount Pleasant Cemetery. It’s a humble concrete grave marker lying flat on the ground, surrounded by fallen leaves. The plot is shared with two relatives, Sarah and Robert. Walking by, you wouldn’t know that a tragic story of a massive Toronto fire lies beneath. 

So, who is keeping buried stories like John Croft’s alive? Chantal Morris is the woman behind Toronto Cemetery Tours. Morris hosts a variety of tours at different Toronto cemeteries, mainly at Mount Pleasant and the historic Toronto Necropolis. She researches, plans, leads, and promotes the tours all by herself. Each tour has a theme. Some are focused on the stories of escaped slaves, others on significant women in Canada’s history — a tour she says is especially close to her heart. 

On the last stop of her Mount Pleasant Cemetery tour on Oct. 19, Chantal Morris tells the story of how Torontonian Andrew Young was murdered. (CanCulture/Annemarie Cutruzzola).

A crowd of approximately 130 people gathered near the majestic Yonge Street gates of Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Oct. 19, most huddled in groups or pairs. It was a perfect fall day, and a slight chill in the air meant a few scarves and Starbucks coffees could be spotted.   

As the group walked on into the late afternoon, the sun was slowly setting through the brightly coloured leaves, its reflection illuminating the tops of countless headstones they passed. The winding paths and abundance of trees gave the cemetery a park-like atmosphere. After a few minutes of walking, the sounds of the city faded away into a strange type of solemn quietude you really only experience in cemeteries.

The group was on Morris’ most recent tour called “Gone Too Soon: Tales of Murder and Unfortunate Death.” For the past three Saturdays, Morris has led hundreds of people, young and old on a tour of 13 stops around Mount Pleasant Cemetery, each one connected to the thrilling story of a tragic death that occurred in or around Toronto from 1763 to 1948. The stories focus on murder, both solved and unsolved, but there are interwoven themes of jealousy, revenge, greed and deception. Over the course of two hours, Morris tells tales of scams, poison, possible cover ups and a couple of unfortunate accidents — one of those being the death of John Croft.

The tour group visited the final resting place of John Croft at Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Oct. 19.(CanCulture/Annemarie Cutruzzola)

In 1904, the second of three large-scale fires in Toronto’s history burned 20 acres of downtown and destroyed 125 businesses. Despite the fire lasting 12 hours, no one died in the blaze. The sole casualty was a result of the cleanup.

Croft was an explosives expert on a team responsible for the demolition of buildings destroyed in the fire. When one explosive didn’t go off as planned, Croft approached it to investigate, only to have it explode. He was badly injured and died in the hospital shortly after. Croft Street, near the intersection of Bathurst and College streets, was named in his honour and has a historic plaque with his story and murals depicting the story of the fire. 

One-woman tour company tells stories of Toronto’s cemeteries

Morris sets herself apart from other historic tours by focusing on telling stories rather than spouting facts. The information she conveys is still factual and research-based, but there’s a bit of dramatic flair to her storytelling that makes the tour entertaining and engaging. She sets the scene of her stories, including background information and details that paint the whole picture.

“I just want to immerse you in the story so that you can really feel it,” said Morris.

She says she often gets asked if she’s an actress. Although the answer is no, with her suspenseful narration style, it isn’t hard to picture her as the narrator of a murder mystery movie.

Morris says she’s baffled by how little some Torontonians know about the rich history of the city and those who lived here before us.

“I want people to become interested in their local history and their local background and the people who literally paved the way for them to live the lives they have now, especially when it comes to both women and people of colour,” she said.

Her company’s logo, which combines a classic skull and crossbones with the Toronto skyline, also reflects a desire for modern society to learn about and acknowledge the people who came before us.

(CanCulture/Annemarie Cutruzzola)

Morris has been able to reach thousands of people through her tours, mainly by promoting the events on the company’s Facebook page. She accepts donations but her public tours are free to attend, and she also offers private group tours.

Since she started giving tours, she’s seen the impact that learning about local history can have. The cemetery management have told her they’ve noticed people showing more respect for the cemetery and interest in its preservation.

On a more philosophical level, Morris also hopes her tours will encourage people to think differently about death. “We're very sanitized when it comes to death. You get sick, you go to a hospital, you’ll probably die in the hospital. And it's very removed,” said Morris. 

Despite the beauty of the cemetery itself, reminders of death surround you at every turn. Walking through any cemetery can push you to acknowledge the inevitability of death. “Death is something that's going to happen to all of us,” said Morris. “ I don't think we should be afraid of it.” 

The winding roads of Mount Pleasant

The last Toronto Cemetery Tour of the year is scheduled for November 9, but Morris says she has plenty of material for more tours next season. However, writing and planning a tour is no easy task. Morris has to choose which graves to visit and plan the route carefully to keep it at a reasonable two hours. This October’s tour only covered the oldest half of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, which is the area closer to Yonge Street. 

First opened in 1876, Mount Pleasant is a sprawling 205 acres, stretching from Yonge Street to Bayview Avenue. Mount Pleasant Road cuts through the cemetery and was in fact named after the burial ground, not vice versa. The cemetery is also known for its variety of tree species and the beautiful fall foliage. 

Mount Pleasant is the final resting place for quite a few notable Canadians. There’s William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s 10th Prime Minister who appears on our fifty-dollar bill. The Massey family and the Eaton family have their own mausoleums in a section of the cemetery some call “Millionaire’s Row.” 

The Eaton family mausoleum towers over Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Oct. 19. (CanCulture/Annemarie Cutruzzola)

There is so much to be discovered in the depths of Mount Pleasant if you take the time to do so. The rows of trees currently flaunting peak fall colours, secluded alcoves, and countless little paths and detours give the cemetery the charm of a park and provide an escape from the chaos of city life. But the grandeur of the occasional mausoleum, obelisk or majestic statue creates an awe-factor you might not expect from a cemetery.

A walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery or any one of Toronto’s many beautiful cemeteries will bring you on a quiet journey through the history of Toronto. “Bring your friends out, make an effort to go. It's so easy to sit down and watch more Netflix,” said Morris. “But do it because it's worth it.”

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Saturday was a beautiful day for a tour, even if Sunday's weather didn't cooperate. What was your favorite stop on "the murder tour"?

A post shared by Toronto Cemetery Tours (@torontocemeterytours) on Oct 28, 2019 at 7:10am PDT

Lilly Singh breaks the mould with new late night show

“A Little Late with Lilly Singh” offers diversity, energy, and a fresh perspective 

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A post shared by Lilly Singh (@lilly) on Sep 15, 2019 at 7:46pm PDT

Photo courtesy lilly on Instagram

By Annemarie Cutruzzola

If Lilly Singh were to host a late-night show, what colour suit do you think she’d wear? If you said grey, navy, or brown, you’re probably new here — Singh is a fan of all things colourful. If you’re still wondering, she settled on a bright red ensemble for her show’s premiere — a bold outfit that reflects the spirit of the show.

You likely know Singh from her YouTube channel, where she built an audience of close to 15-million making relatable comedy sketches. Now she’s here to “throw some melanin up in your late night” as the first bisexual woman of colour to host a late night talk show. “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” premiered on September 16 and replaces Carson Daly’s slot on NBC. 

The episode on Monday, September 23 began with a six minute monologue about dating apps, with Singh effortlessly navigating between personal anecdotes and broad observations. After a satirical workout video sketch with witty commentary about the gender pay gap, Singh interviewed her first guest of the week, American actress Jessica Alba, before the pair were treated to some mini makeovers. 

Video courtesy A Little Late With Lilly Singh via YouTube

Singh exudes energy for the entire 25 minutes. After her opening monologue she high-fived audience members in the front row before running back behind her desk. This energy is reflected in the set of her show. It’s vibrant and colourful, a stark contrast from the brown desks and black suits you’d see on most late night shows. And perhaps it’s a coincidence, but the pink, blue and purple lights in the background seem to mimic the bisexual pride flag. 

Singh’s instincts from YouTube carry over to her show. She still has the authenticity and homegrown vibe of a YouTuber but she also has the confidence of a traditional celebrity. The result is an interesting mix of self-deprecating and self-assured humour. Her quick wit combined with audience interaction and occasional cheeky glances off to the camera during interviews make the viewer feel connected and in on the jokes. At some points it feels like you could be watching one of Singh’s YouTube videos. 

Checking boxes and breaking barriers

In an interview on her show’s premiere day, Singh told Seth Meyers that she wants to be known as a storyteller. But she’s making history, and history makes headlines. Singh is the first queer woman of colour to host a late night talk show, and much of the media hype has been focused on this fact. 

In her first opening monologue, Singh acknowledged this, joking that these descriptors are used so often she should change the name of her show to “A Little Late with a Bisexual Woman of Colour.” But hey, it’s 2019, and it’s been long enough. Not seeing yourself represented on screen can be isolating, and constantly hearing stories told from the same perspective can be exhausting. Singh fully owning these parts of her identity allows people who share these identifiers to see themselves reflected, which can be a significant and powerful experience. 

✅ Female
✅ Coloured
✅ Bisexual

Throughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time. But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers.

No matter how many “boxes” you check, I encourage you to do the same x

❤️🧡💛💚💙

— Lilly Singh // #LateWithLilly (@Lilly) February 25, 2019

Steps towards diversity and representation in the media are finally being taken. But it’s not just what we see on screen. Singh is also advocating for diversity behind-the-scenes in Hollywood. She proudly describes the writer’s room for her show as a “mini United Nations”, as it consists of over 50 per cent women and over 50 per cent people of colour. 

Having people with different perspectives and backgrounds involved in the production of the show adds another crucial layer of diversity. Even the animated intros to the games she plays with her guests feature players with different skin tones. It’s the small details added by a diverse staff and Singh’s offhand comments about her experiences that make people feel represented. 

Tackling tough topics

It’s safe to say that Singh is a very proud Canadian. The CN Tower looms in the background of the “A Little Late” set while a loonie is embedded in the desk she sits behind. She’s a huge Raptors fan and she even named her dog “Scarbro” as a tribute to the Toronto neighbourhood she grew up in. 

But in light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent brownface controversy, his pre-recorded segment was swiftly cut from Singh’s primetime special which aired just hours after the scandal first broke. The cancellation sent a clear message. She isn’t afraid to make tough choices. And she won’t tolerate intolerance. 

While talking politics or recapping the day’s news headlines may not be her style, Singh has already used “A Little Late” to speak about issues she’s passionate about in her own way. A rap song she made for the show’s premiere features her opinion on paid maternity and paternity leaves, public breastfeeding, and abortion rights all in 10 seconds flat. She clearly isn’t afraid to start conversations that may be considered uncomfortable or address controversial issues.

Video courtesy A Little Late With Lilly Singh via YouTube

Mixed reactions from viewers online

So how are viewers reacting to “A Little Late” so far? A quick perusal of Twitter, Imdb, or even the comments on the show’s YouTube channel reveals that the public’s reaction has been quite polarized. On Imdb in particular, many reviews of her show are either one star or ten stars. 

Among the one-star reviews there seems to be a common thread of criticism — that Singh makes jokes and references about her race, gender and sexuality too often.

Yes, segments like “The Wage Gap Workout” speak specifically about issues relating to her identity. But she’s also used her monologues to talk about personal experiences that are universally relatable, like using dating apps or getting high for the first time. Singh shines in these monologues, which bear the most resemblance to her YouTube videos (but with a bit of added maturity). She’s in her element when she can talk to the camera and just tell a funny story. 

Discover & share this A Little Late With Lilly Singh GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

Gif courtesy A Little Late with Lilly Singh via GIPHY

Like she says in her rap song, “A Little Late” is meant for everyone. Or at least those with enough of an open mind to watch an authentic, engaging, funny storyteller who also happens to be a brown, bisexual female. 

In a recent Instagram post, Singh said: “Beyond being from the internet, being a woman of colour, being bisexual, being Canadian... I’m a storyteller.” That part of her identity is just as important as the others. 

Singh is not simply late night’s diversity hire. She’s unapologetic, outspoken, and challenges the norms. “A Little Late” is just the beginning — Singh is ready to take on the world in whatever colour suit she pleases. 

Opinion: Is university drinking culture all just fun and games?

By Mia Maaytah

Binge drinking is a culture in universities and colleges around Canada, and though it seems like a fun pastime, the social and global pressure are making it hard to stop

I was at my first university party at a popular bar for students. There was no occasion except for the fact that we all had just begun school. It was a Thursday night and though the majority of us had class the next day, it was as if the next drink we bought allowed us to forget that fact more and more. I remember looking around, smiling and laughing but I wondered how every person there was tolerating the endless rounds of shots.

Without a second thought, my friends and I initiated a competition to see who could drink the most. The idea was enticing until one of us was throwing up in the washroom and the other was stumbling into an Uber that I hoped was hers. As for me, I had gotten escorted out for rowdy behaviour. The next morning, we replaced our rum and Cokes and shots of tequila with bottles of water and Advil. We reminisced only about the initial smiles and laughter we shared, and chalked it up to being a successful night out.

We agreed on this because alcohol is made to look like fun, especially for people our age. Its purpose is to make you feel warm and approachable in a society that says it is okay to drink excessively and to be somebody we would not usually be. In other words, alcohol is almost like an escape from reality.

I thought about the stress of being a young adult, caught somewhere in between having a handle on both nothing and everything at the same time. A can or two of beer to relax the mind wouldn't be such a bad idea to most. Alcohol is a break. It is a break from reality. It is a timeout from making those decisions, from thinking so much, from being anxious about showing up too early or too late, from talking to that special person, or even being that person.

However, for myself and my peers, alcohol has become a go-to. It has nestled itself deeply into the plans I make every weekend while at school. It has become a partner-in-crime, an ally, a friend.

I am not saying I drink to go out, but if I go out, I am drinking. It has been embedded in what I consider a good time and I have excused its presence because it is just something that everybody does. If I am meeting up with friends, we make sure there is somewhere to pre-drink and money to spend on drinks when we get to wherever we are going. If I go to my hometown to visit old friends, we arrange a wine night. If I just finished an exam, I agree to make use of happy hour to celebrate.

The level of drinking that occurs in both university and college students is overwhelming and I feel overly desensitized to it. I recently turned 20-years-old and after almost a full week of drinking, I asked myself if I have a problem. If we have a problem.

Fizza Ali, a first-year biology and psychology student at Western University, said it did not take her long to realize that everything at school revolved around drinking. Beginning with orientation week, an event that is marketed as the time to meet people and form connections that'll last a lifetime, alcohol has begun to make its grand debut.

She said it puts an enormous amount of pressure on people to be outgoing and courageous.

“Its dreadful enough and somehow drinking excessively is the only solution to making things less awkward,” said Ali.

On top of the initial week at school, Ali explained how much of her life at university involves alcohol. School events, sports teams, campus bars, and different clubs all do their part in supporting and promoting drinking among students.

For example, she said that the chemistry club at Western dedicates a night where students are allowed to drink with their professors. Also, sports teams raise their team fees for the season in order to afford alcohol for a party at the end of the season where they award the MVP with a big bottle of vodka.

Homecoming (HOCO), is an event that many universities and colleges partake in that was initially intended for  welcoming students back to another year. However, Homecoming has recently progressed from a day event to a weekend full of drinking, club crawls, and public rallying.

“HOCO is just an excuse for people to drink as much as they want and be reckless without being held responsible for any of it,” said Ali. “During HOCO we were woken up at 8 a.m. with a jello shot and then everyone just drinks until they can’t anymore ... The whole university participates so it’s weird to not take part, you don’t want to miss out.”

Advertising and Social Media

The action of promoting drinking in a school setting makes it clear as to why students begin to drink excessively amongst themselves. However, there is a global pressure seen in marketing techniques that demands to tie together the idea of fun with drinking.

Though the Government of Canada implements strict policy on prohibiting the use of marketing liquor to underage peoples, brands still manage to appeal to those who are looking for a good time.

For instance, beer brands such as Corona and Bud Light often portray scenes of young adults partying or relaxing on the beach. In addition, Wine or champagne companies often use two or more glasses coming together to showcase drinking with company. Even vodka companies use catchy slogans reciting how much better drinking will make you feel.

Not only is the idea of drinking romanticized on a global platform or normalized through school institutions, it is also perpetuated through social media.

Certain social media accounts often glorify dangerous situations brought on by intoxication. Yet, they tend to use captions that honour and laugh about it while posing questions asking who else can relate to being in these situations.

The only backpack that matters in college @5thyear (@laurenmangoo) @woobarstool

77.2k Likes, 1,934 Comments - Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) on Instagram: "The only backpack that matters in college @5thyear (@laurenmangoo) @woobarstool"

Video courtesy barstoolsports on Instagram

When you gotta practice for St. Paddy's 📚 @UBCO

9,603 Likes, 370 Comments - 🇨🇦 CPL 🇨🇦 (@canadianpartylife) on Instagram: "When you gotta practice for St. Paddy's 📚 @UBCO"

Video courtesy canadianpartylife on Instagram

Students in university or college tend to drink according to two principles: drinking often and drinking a lot. Blacking out is when so much alcohol is consumed that new memories are unable to be made within the brain.

An article posted on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) stated that “blackouts are periods of amnesia during which a person actively engages in behaviours like walking and talking but does not create memories for these events as they transpire. Alcohol produces blackouts by shutting down circuits that involve the hippocampus, an area of the brain which plays a central role in consolidating memories for what happens in our day-to-day lives.”

The NIAAA stated that moderate drinking for women is no more than three drinks in a specific day and no more than seven drinks a week. For men, it is four drinks in a day and 14 drinks in a week. However, binge drinking occurs when women consume four drinks and men have five drinks within two hours. When this much alcohol is ingested in that short period of time, blood alcohol level increases to 0.08 which is enough to become extremely intoxicated and a danger to yourself and others.

Risky Drinking, Alcohol Accessibility, and Education

In the HBO documentary Risky Drinking, a new way to articulate how bad one’s drinking habits are is showcased. In the past, a patient was categorized as either having a problem or not having a problem. However, with the increase in binge-drinking in young adults in post-secondary school institutions, the danger of drinking has been placed on a scale of risk. The meter has five categories: no risk, low risk, mild, moderate, and severe, and after severe comes death.

The aim of the documentary is to provoke some sort of conversation about drinking patterns and drinking in general. The subjects within the film are a university student, a “wine mom,” an alcohol abusing father, and a severely addicted elderly man.

There is a theme in alcohol use in university or college students, which is shown in the film. Majority of people who consume alcohol within this environment tend to drink more than they can handle, and drink enough every weekend to become mildly at risk for developing an addiction.

The film showcases a young college student named Kenzie who is celebrating Halloween as a weekend event. On the Friday night, she gets drunk to the point of blacking out and during this begins hysterically crying. The next morning she wakes up and she laughs about the previous night.  

She is encouraged by her friend saying, “it happens,” and that, “We tend to drink a lot on our nights off and just sleep wherever we end up really. It’s kind of bad. We are alive. We haven't gotten raped or murdered yet.”

The girls then go about their day and begin drinking until once again Kenzie is blacked out, angry, and crying. Through this trend, she is beginning to showcase risky behaviour that nobody in her life seems to see it as a problem. Instead by shrugging shoulders and knowing other people are doing it too makes it seem okay.

Jefferson Ribout, a Toronto-based psychotherapist said that patients who deal with alcohol addiction knew right away in university that they had a problem. He said that they could tell their drinking habits were different than those of their friends. When the party was over, instead of going to sleep, they would stay up drinking, or they would often drink much more than their peers and often to a point of blacking out.

“People think there are predispositions to alcohol abuse. But I like to think that you aren't really born that way,” said Ribout. “But there is a term called epigenetics that says  you can be predisposed but there has to be another emotional or environmental factors that trigger that gene.”

Not only is drinking a regular activity for university students, it is also implemented into a vast number of activities meaning there is always an opportunity to drink.

Samantha Campbell, a second-year film studies at Ryerson University said drinking has become much more accessible since entering university.

“I think the association with alcohol and fun is embedded in everything which normalizes it, especially in university,” Campbell said. “It’s everywhere and it’s routine to go out at least once on the weekend. Be it going out to drink or going to watch a band play or even to a gallery, most of the events that I go to, alcohol is just part of the culture and experience.”

“I wouldn't say that I feel pressured to go out and drink all of the time or get drunk every weekend. But if I’m putting myself in the environment, I’ll likely be drinking while I am there.”

Ribout said alcohol is a kind of culture in university. He explained that alcohol use is almost systemic in a way where this routine of drinking during your degree is normalized, as students aim to mimic those before them.

He said that drinking while in university is an attitude or a way of life when inside schools, however, he said that students who do participate in drinking need to be educated early on in their drinking career.

“Education is important. But it’s also about how you approach it with your kids. That’s the key piece. I mean if it’s taboo then you're not doing yourself any favours,” Ribout said.

“I find that families that are religious based will use that, and that’s their view of how a person acts but how well does that really resonate with somebody in university? I don’t think its the school [that enforces drinking], I think it’s a mix of parents and peer group.”

He states that teaching with fear only makes the situation worse as youth will most likely want to rebel, however if the education is done by way of presenting facts and offering an opportunity for open communication, then perhaps students would not go into university feeling the need to drink excessively.

“Instead of saying no to drugs and alcohol and to be punitive about it, you can just educate people in a smart way. Make students self aware. That’s going to resonate more.”

5 ways to cope with stress during exam season

By Cheyenne Bholla

If you’re in university or college, you’re probably extremely stressed right now because all of your final papers, assignments and exams are aligning like the stars.

You’ve probably seen one of the many posts and articles about how to cope with stress, but now you have come to the final destination. Here you will learn the REAL tips.

Here are a few ways you can reduce stress before your exams.

Awareness and Mindfulness

Researchers found that when participants committed to an eight-week program of mindfulness, group discussion, and daily homework assignments, stress levels were reduced.

Mindfulness emphasized being aware of and living in the present. This may pose a problem for many students that have on-the-go lives. However, taking a step back and analyzing your situation could help.

If you’re always thinking into the future, whether it be to tests, exams, or essays, you’re going to overwhelm yourself and in some cases, this could cause you to turn to procrastination. This makes your stress worse in the long-run.

Taking a few minutes between study sessions or after you wake up to focus on your breathing and bodily sensations can help to keep you calm and in the moment, at least for a bit.

In the study, participants reported that the meditation helped them to get a new perspective on their academic career as a whole. The focus flipped from “driven by avoidance, to develop mastery” in their field.

This mindset is extremely important as it keeps your learning intentions in the right place. Down the line, it will ensure that you actually know what you’re doing on the job, whether you’re a doctor or a teacher.

In addition, another recent study found that mandala and free colouring both shown a decrease in anxiety amongst post-secondary students.

Researchers suggested that mandala colouring was more effective in elevating state mindfulness because the structured circular design gives students a sense of direction, attention, awareness and organization.

Employ Good Study Habits

Having good study habits is vital to reducing your exam stress. By understanding the best way to study for YOU, you’ll be able to get in “the zone” and study for hours on end.

According to KidsHelpLine, some helpful study habits are: finding a good environment to study in, figuring out as much as you can on what will be tested in advance, and using mind maps.

Study Environment

Some people need to be locked away in a closet with pure silence in order to study whereas others need a little chatter in the background to focus. Figure out the environment that you work best in, and when you really need to dig deep in the books, put yourself in those spaces. One thing that will help everyone is turning your phone and laptop on do not disturb.

Ask Questions

It may be hard to approach your professor and ask questions in a lecture hall of a hundred people, but take advantage of office hours. Teachers are a resource in your education, so if you don’t fully know what you’re being tested on or there’s concepts you don’t understand, go to your professor. You’re not paying thousands of dollars to go home and google the things you learn in class. Always ask questions.

Mind Maps

If you have trouble organizing your thoughts, use mind maps to lay out all the information you’re studying while making connections where possible. Bright colours to signify links can help with memorization.

Timing

It may be hard to keep up with a to-do list, but time management skills are important. Prioritize your time on the most important assignments and papers, and break them down into smaller tasks. This will put less pressure on finishing the whole assignment at once, and you’ll probably finish quicker. Also make sure to take occasional breaks. Giving yourself incentives will train you to finish tasks on time. With each study accomplishment, treat yourself to something, like ten minutes of play time with your pet, or a bowl of fresh fruit.

Eat Proper Meals

I know everyone reading this is probably rolling their eyes because of the tendency for self-care articles to imply that drinking water solves all of your problems.

It’s not completely inconclusive that water affects cognitive functioning, but dehydration can cause poor concentration, short-term memory problems and moodiness.

Skipping the junk food for nutritional snacks is also important. Make sure to eat a balanced meal with vegetables, protein and grain for a good source of energy.

Avoid Stimulants

Drinking stimulants, such as coffee or energy drinks to pull your all-nighters may seem like it’s helping you in the moment. However in reality, the come-down will leave you feeling more tired and burnt out than you were in the first place.

Coffee can also worsen anxiety and trigger panic attacks, not to mention their effects on your health.

Packed with sugar and caffeine, there’s no evidence that energy drinks are more effective than other caffeinated drinks at maintaining high energy levels and improving cognitive function.

Get a Full Night’s Sleep

Though you may be tempted to pull all-nighters in order to cram all the semester’s concepts into your brain, its effects reflect the opposite of what you hope.

The non-Rapid Eye Movement phase (non-REM) of deep sleep is known as slow-wave sleep (SWS). SWS allows communication in different parts of your brain that strengthen your ability to form and retain memories, such as vocabulary or grammar.

Rather than trying to make these connections on a sleep-deprived brain, you should review the topics, do questions, and have a full-night’s sleep.

Although power naps have shown positive results in children, it’s also important for memory and learning throughout one’s life.

Getting a full night’s rest will help to improve cognitive function and memory, both of which you’ll probably need for your evaluations.

All images courtesy Pixabay

Ryerson Formula Racing unveils new team car ahead of state competition

By Talha Hashmani

Nearly a decade ago, Michael Salameh and his family arrived in Canada from Lebanon. On Saturday, he stood in front of a crowd of sponsors, alumni and proud family members, with nearly 50 other students from Ryerson Formula Racing (RFR), Ryerson University’s formula racing team.

The team celebrated their 25th anniversary, as well as the unveiling of their new RF-19 race car. The crowd gathered, eagerly awaiting what was hidden under the black veil.

The RF-19 prior to its unveiling at the Markland Wood Golf Club. (CanCulture/Talha Hashmani)

“Thank you everyone for coming,” said Salameh, RFR team captain, as he nervously looked across the crowded room. Each face fixed attentively on him.

Salameh explained that the engineering design team builds a race car every year to take part in racing competitions attended by various university teams across the world. The largest competition, he said, takes place at the Michigan International Speedway from May 8 to 11 and hosts nearly 120 teams. The competition is hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

Before the unveiling, Salameh delivered a speech about the RF-19 and explained its various features such as greater fuel efficiency and a faster acceleration period. He also said that the RF-19 is eight per cent lighter than last year’s car, despite its massive size.

The car sports a new paint job, ditching the team’s early renditions of a blue and white car body. It is painted with a glossy black finish and a sharp yellow stripe down its side. The car is also said to be lighter than previous years’ models, even though the frame at its front is larger.

Ryerson Formula Racing’s new car, the RF-19 which was revealed at the unveiling on Saturday. (CanCulture/Talha Hashmani)

Onlookers were encouraged to move closer to the car, take pictures, and sign their names on the car’s wings - with a small donation to RFR funds.

Sponsors questioned team members on the car’s features, inspecting the handy work of a group of university students who had acquired sponsored materials and technical support.

But for Salameh and his team, it was a celebratory afternoon. Students took pictures with their families and indulged in the euphoria of completion that had taken nearly 8 months to achieve.

According to Erica Attard, the recruitment manager for RFR, there will be four students from the team responsible for driving the car during competitions. Ariel Gill, head of design and testing, said that this will be his third year driving the race car.

Attard said that the RFR consists of students from any discipline. “You don’t have to be in an engineering program to be on the team,” she said.

However, she also added that for engineers, being a part of the RFR team “is the best way to get proper hands-on engineering experience and to learn things you will learn in [later years].”

RFR is funded by a number of sponsors, including the university itself and the Ryerson Engineering Student Society.

According to Attard, the team receives cash sponsorships, services and venues. Additionally, they rely on mechanical parts, materials and technical support from their sponsors.

Attard explained that Ryerson placed in the top 10 at the 2005 Formula SAE Michigan tournament while in 2017, they placed twenty-fifth overall.

The team is now looking forward to competing in this year’s Michigan tournament. In addition, RFR will be competing in Barrie and a small circuit tournament at the University of Toronto - St. George Campus.

To Attard, experiencing the features of the car the team had spent many months working on means more than simply winning each of the upcoming competitions.

How Torontonians can shop more consciously and locally

By Jessica Fonseca

In the very corporate driven world where most of the market is cornered by big box stores, there’s still a sliver of hope for Toronto-based companies to make their mark.

Last April, CBC reported that a Swiss-based website called StartupBlink collected data on the best places on the planet for starting a new business. Toronto’s startup ecosystem ranked 11th best in the world.

Three other Canadian cities made the top 100 list: Vancouver in 19th place, Montreal in 34th and Victoria in 95th. Canada overall as a country ranked third after the United States and the United Kingdom.

These statistics seemed surprising considering you can’t walk one block in Toronto without seeing a Tim Hortons or Starbucks on every corner.

So how could you as a Torontonian support fellow locals?

Well for starters, don’t go running to Yonge street for all of your shopping needs. There are plenty of niche stores and shops to catch your eye all over the city in unique spots you’ve probably never seen before or just passed by.

Did you know the Distillery District is more than just a Christmas village? This popular area is filled with 40 one-of-a-kind boutiques that cater to your fashion needs, food cravings or your knick-knack collection on your bedroom shelf.  

This weekend at #DistilleryTO: @singtorontofestival Sat and Sun 12-5pm, @distillerysundaymarket Sun 12-5pm 🌼 Who's joining us?

1,107 Likes, 11 Comments - The Distillery District (@distilleryto) on Instagram: "This weekend at #DistilleryTO: @singtorontofestival Sat and Sun 12-5pm, @distillerysundaymarket Sun..."

Photo courtesy distilleryto on Instagram

Another great way to support your neighbours is to find out more about who they are and how their businesses can be just what you’re looking for. This can be through doing a quick search on social media or Google.

If all that searching is too much work for you then check out a website called Seek Minimal that does it for you. They advocate for sustainable living and support many Toronto entrepreneurs who are in the clothing, beauty, and food industries to get their products and messages across.

On their website you can find all kinds of information on the people you may be buying from and where you can purchase their products.

“Seek Minimal always supports Canadian brands, especially those from Toronto. We’ve found incredible brands apart of the sustainable community and we hope Seek Minimal can bring them all together,” said Joss Bacalla,  founder of Seek Minimal.

Another way to shop more consciously is by going to food markets all across the city to get fresh, locally grown produce. This is a lot easier to do in the summer as there are many more options. However, some markets stay open and suffer through the winter with you.

St. Lawrence Market is the known spot for fresh food with its close proximity to Toronto’s busy city centre. An alternative worth checking out is the year-round Dufferin Grove Farmers Market which is all organic, locally sourced food. Moss Park Market Container is another great market that is very small, and by that I mean it’s the size of a shipping container.

St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. (Photo courtesy Wladyslaw/Wikimedia Commons)

This market may be small, but it packs a lot of fruits and vegetables for a very affordable price. Who said buying locally had to be more expensive?

No matter who you are or what you do, it’s important to support other people, especially those in your community. If you want to see your city prosper and its people to succeed, put your money where your mouth is.

Tickets can be expensive, but being a Leafs fan doesn’t have to be

By Lara Kuipers

Toronto Maple Leafs fans watch Game 2 between the Leafs and the Boston Bruins in the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2013. (Photo courtesy KatieThebeau/Wikimedia Commons)

It’s a Saturday night in Toronto. The sun is just beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the busy people walking in the streets.

“Tickets, I got tickets!” a man yells as he waves two pieces of paper in the air feverishly. It’s not just any Saturday in Toronto, it’s a Saturday night and the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing hockey at home.

Inside the home venue of the Leafs, Scotiabank Arena, men, women, boys and girls of all ages are walking around with a jump in their step. Holding a cold beer in one hand and a hotdog in the other, it’d be hard pressed to find someone not sporting the home team’s jersey – either in the royal blue they wear at home games or the sharp white they wear at away games. Occasionally a rare fan may be seen wearing the other team’s jersey, usually getting heckled by Leafs fans in the hallway that circle the perimeter outside the rink.

With beers in their hands, fans find their seat sections and wait in line as ushers point them to their seats. Through the curtains to the sections the ice is unveiled. The bright lights, the white ice and the screaming fans hits like a rush of adrenaline. The players are already out there warming up – shooting pucks hard at the empty net – never failing to miss their shots. The favourites are all there including the young guns, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Frederik “Freddy” Andersen stretches on their end in the neutral zone. John Tavares and Nazem Kadri are chatting as they skate around. There’s a vibe in the arena, it’s only a vibe you can get from being in the rink to watch a game live. That is, if you can afford it.

For anyone who’s a Leafs fan, seeing a home game in person is a must. However, unfortunately for Leafs fans, they have one of the most expensive tickets in the National Hockey League (NHL). A ticket in the nose bleeds (the seats at the top section of the stands) is still going to cost around $100 per person and better sectioned seats are hard to come by. However, in recent years, an alternative approach to watching the game at Scotiabank Arena has evolved, Maple Leaf Square.

Maple Leaf Square is located at 15 York Street in Toronto, in the area right outside the front doors to the arena. During playoff time it is sectioned off from traffic and designated as a “tailgate” area for Leafs fans to gather during the game. Above the front doors hangs a large screen that plays the game while it’s on. For the past few years the crowd has been packed with fans and the best part is, it’s free.

21-year-old Ryerson University student Haley Bretney has been a fan of the Leafs for most of her life and has visited  Maple Leaf Square to watch a game on three separate occasions.

Bretney said that she didn’t know what to expect the first time she went but remembers that as soon as she walked in, a worker handed her a rally towel with music blasting on the speakers.

“Everybody was really into it. I almost felt like that was more exciting than actually being inside because those were the true fans – trekking out to go to the square and watch. There weren’t a lot of people on their phones or whatever, not watching. If you went to the square you were going to stand for three hours and you were going to watch,” said Bretney.

“I know I would rather be inside, but the atmosphere is so much better outside because those are really the true fans.”

Like Bretney, Ryerson student Mat Rodger, a 20-year-old Leafs fan, said he prefers watching the game in Maple Leaf Square rather than inside the arena.

“I feel like that’s where the real fans go. Inside the rink, the tickets are so expensive, you don’t really get the blue-collar fans,” Rodger said.

But to get to see a Leafs’ game at Maple Leaf Square during the playoffs, the team has to make the playoffs first. That shouldn’t be an issue this season as the Leafs are having one of their best seasons in recent years. They are currently sitting in third place in their division with 89 points. They sit four points behind the Boston Bruins – one of their biggest rivals in the game – with 12 games left in the season.

The results so far this season are not surprising when a deeper look is taken into the dynamics of the team. This season started on a high note before it even started when highly sought after free-agent forward John Tavares signed with the Leafs on July 1, 2018 after playing nine seasons with the New York Islanders.

Tavares is now having one of his best seasons in the NHL as he currently sits fourth in the league with 39 goals scored. But this 2018-19 Leafs’ team is one with a lot of depth because Tavares isn’t the only one on the NHL’s statistics leaderboard. Mitch Marner, playing his third season in the NHL at only 21-years-old sits fourth in the league with 60 assist.

Auston Matthews who is also playing his third season in the NHL, recently became the first player in the Leafs’ long history to score at least 30 goals in his first three seasons in the NHL. In the plus-minus category, not one but two Leafs players cracked the top ten in the league with veteran defenceman Ron Hainsey topping the league with a +33 plus-minus, and defenceman Morgan Rielly sitting in fourth with +30. This comes to no surprise as the team sits third in the league in goals against average with a +46.

In addition to being fourth in the league with plus-minus, Reilly is having one of his best seasons as he sits first in the league with goals by a defenceman at 19. Backing them up, Freddy Andersen sits third in the league with goaltender wins at 33.

With a team channeling such depth and skill with just a few weeks left in the regular season, a playoff run seems very likely. So, you might want to consider hopping on the subway or GO Transit train and riding to Maple Leaf Square to watch the game in a crowd of fellow Leafs fans. Just remember to bring your jersey.

International Women's Day: Reminding us to celebrate all beauty, trending or not

By Mariah Siddiqui

If you have been an avid social media user these past few years, you have probably been exposed to some ridiculous beauty trends that have gained popularity, or maybe even tried them yourself.

Today is International Women’s Day; a day where all over Canada and the rest of the world, women are being celebrated. In light of this day, let’s discuss these trends and their effect on the female image, how some may be dangerous, and what we need to do to create a future of acceptance.

Let’s begin with the Kylie Jenner lip challenge. When Jenner first revealed the drastic change on Instagram, she denied the use of lip fillers.  The world took things into their own hands and started using a suctioning method to mimic her look. This was the start to another abnormal trend.

To achieve the “Kylie lip,” people would place their lips inside a shot glass and suck until the results came through. However, many didn’t achieve the results they were hoping for and ended up with significant bruising around the mouth. This technique can cause intense pain and swelling with a potential risk of scarring and permanent disfiguration. Many people, including Kylie made comments opposing others trying to achieve her look.

I'm not here to try & encourage people/young girls to look like me or to think this is the way they should look. (Cont...)

— Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) April 21, 2015

I want to encourage people/young girls like me to be YOURSELF & not be afraid to experiment w your look. ❤️❤️❤️

— Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) April 21, 2015

Girls.. stop doing the Kylie lip challenge.. it's dangerous and looks extremely painful 😖

— Katie Stevens (@thekatiestevens) April 21, 2015

Up next is the thigh gap. A thigh gap is the space between the inner thighs that show when people are standing straight with their knees touching. This trend is almost impossible to achieve naturally, and many girls have leaned towards the plastic surgery known as “thighlighting” to transform their legs to look slimmer. This look mimics Victoria Secret models and superstars such as Beyoncé.

Victoria Secret is one company known to only hire models who are slim, tall and fit their “picture perfect” image. The company itself promotes unrealistic images for women when they should be promoting all the different body shapes and sizes of those who buy their products.

In addition to companies that promote unrealistic body expectations, social media plays a vital role in how women tend to view themselves and others. Many celebrities, models, YouTube personalities and bloggers have become what we now call social media influencers. These women tend to have a large following and the “ideal body” according to the media. Some have achieved their bodies naturally through a healthy and active lifestyle. However, there are also influencers who shamelessly promote weight-loss and toning supplements to their followers. They encourage their followers to do what they do in order to achieve their look. These influencers get paid to promote products, suggesting they work even if that isn't true. In reality, many of these supplements are unhealthy for the body and can actually do more harm than good.

In 2016, Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara used her song “Scars to Your Beautiful” to showcase women from different backgrounds and sizes. She is a true icon for self-love and the idea of straying away from the image of perfection Hollywood and social media portray.

In an interview with HuffPost Canada Style after the release of her music video, the 22-year-old singer stated: "It was harder for me before I entered the industry, being young and not really that confident in myself, because I was just seeing all these images of what I felt I was supposed to look like and I was always really self-conscious about it.”

The end message from Alessia Cara’s “Scars to Your Beautiful” music video.

So why do us women continue to put ourselves through body-breaking trends in order to look a certain way? Why do we pay thousands of dollars for plastic surgery?

On one hand, people argue that if they don’t like something about themselves, they can just change it so that they won’t have to be insecure about it anymore. However, it is possible that these trends are causing greater insecurity because whatever is “in style” becomes their fantasy, and the need to make it their reality will always be in their mind.

On the other hand, people argue that you should embrace your insecurities and learn to love them, which is easier said than done. Women have so much pressure to fit a certain image because of social media and other media outlets that only represent women that look a certain way. Every type of body should be celebrated and be considered “in style” in order to break the trends that only celebrate one type of look.

All women should empower each other no matter what decision you make. Whether you decide to change a part of you that you don’t like, or say ‘whatever’ and embrace your natural self, it is ultimately your choice. Your choice is valid no matter which way you go as long as you remember to support all those around you, regardless of what they look like.

There is an International Women’s Day rally happening this Saturday in Toronto and all are welcome. This year’s theme is: “We are Fearless: Organizing our Communities, Supporting Each Other, Growing the Resistance.” Check out more on their Facebook page.

Things to do over reading week that don't involve reading

By Mariah Siddiqui

With every semester, the time comes where students get a week off to study, or rather attempt to. For those of you who have been counting down the days until reading week, it is finally here!

If you find yourself with some time to spare while cramming for midterms and are in need of a break, here are some fun things you can do.

TIFF Next Wave Film Festival

The sixth annual TIFF Next Wave Film Festival will be from Feb. 17-19. The festival includes a Battle of the Scores competition, a Young Creators Co-Lab, free films for anyone under 25, a captivating movie marathon, and a whole lot more. If you are a big film junkie this is definitely the event for you.

Museum of Illusions

The end of the museum will have you doubting reality as the room twists and turns when you walk through it. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

You will not believe your eyes when you walk through the rooms and observe each installation at the Museum of Illusions in Toronto. The tour includes a collection of holograms, optical illusions, and many more rooms that will be sure to drive your brain crazy trying to figure it out. Tickets can be bought here.

5th Annual Toronto Black Film Festival

This festival showcases outstanding, powerful black films and creates a safe space to discuss major cultural, social, and socio-economic issues. This festival celebrates Black History Month and gives unique voices in cinema a chance to express new and refreshing ways of viewing the world. It runs from Feb. 13-18.

Toronto Light Festival

The striking lights glow and catch your eye as soon as you walk through the entrance. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

This event will run until March 3 and will catch your attention the moment you arrive. You will see the Distillery District transformed into one of the largest open-air galleries in North America. Local and international light artists show off their innovative ideas in a visual journey. Walking through the brightly lit up neighbourhood will surely be unforgettable.

The Bentway Skate Trail

The Bentway sign can be seen when you walk under the Gardiner Expressway and onto the rink. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

Whether you’re a pro-skater or the absolute opposite (like myself), I’m sure you wouldn’t mind falling once or twice on this amazing figure-8 shaped skate trail. It is open daily from noon to 9 p.m. on weekends and from 5 to 9 p.m. during the week. They offer skate rentals and skating lessons and you can even grab a snack or drink when you’re all done. The trail will be open until Feb. 18.

The Rec Room

The Rec Room building stands tall across from the Rogers Centre. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

Good Drinks? Tasty Food? Fun Games? Say no more, The Rec Room is the place for you. If you have a competitive side and like to have a good time with friends, this is the place to suggest when your group can’t decide on what to do. Between eating, the arcade games, and the various live acts, time will fly by. This classic venue is also hosting a Raptors vs. Spurs watch party on Feb. 22, so if you were going to watch the game you might as well do it here.

Denthreesixty

Denthreesixty, the GTA’s very first video game console arcade opened on Feb. 18. They offer dozens of games on game consoles or on classic arcade machines. If you are a video game lover make sure to check out this spot with your friends for a day of fun and some friendly competition.

Ice Breakers 2019 Art Exhibition

“Tripix” by Ryerson University stands out as a staple installation along the Harbourfront. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

Go check out the five art installations along Queen’s Quay West from Harbourfront Centre to HTO West but make sure to bundle up! The theme of the exhibition is “Signal Transmission” and the installation, “Tripix” is by our very own Ryerson University.

Enjoy your reading week and make sure to check out some of these fun spots.

Light in the dark: combating seasonal affective disorder in Canada

By Nadia Brophy

During the winter months, you may experience feelings of sadness, lack of energy and motivation and difficulty sleeping. You also may be quick to chalk these feelings up to a simple case of the “winter blues.”

However, modern research has shown that for some people, these fluctuations in mood and behaviour are indicative of a type of major clinical depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Those affected by SAD will often experience more severe symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, appetite changes and weight gain.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), about 2 to 3 per cent of Canadians will experience SAD in their lifetime, as the disorder is more common in northern countries that are exposed to daylight for less time during the winter. SAD is thought to correlate with the seasonal changes in exposure to light and its effect on the body’s internal clock in knowing when to be active.

If you have been impacted by SAD or know someone who is currently being affected, have no fear, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Institutions across the country are doing their part to combat the prevalent disorder by making large-scale, therapeutic treatment methods accessible to the public.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Toronto has installed the Light Therapy exhibit, a singular room that is entirely white and doused in light from several sources, including multiple daylight-toned LEDs hanging from the ceiling and natural daylight that enters through three large windows. Controlled exposure to light is a common treatment prescribed to those affected by SAD as a way to reset the body’s internal clock to increase motivation and activity in patients. According to the CMHA, 60 to 80 per cent of people with SAD say light therapy helps alleviate their symptoms.

The interior of the Light Therapy room at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto. (CanCulture/Nadia Brophy)

The exhibit, created by Swedish architect and visual artist Apolonija Šušteršič, is part of the MOCA’s Art in Use project, which aims to use art in museums as a way to support public well-being and in the case of Light Therapy, to support mental health.

“The work is installed in the museum to discuss the potential for culture and art to improve happiness and well-being, as an art work and as a known therapy,” said November Paynter, the director of programs at the MOCA, in an email. “It also works to improve cognitive thinking and can be used as a meeting room and reading space to enhance thought and a place to gather and socialize and discuss.”

Socialization also plays an important role in the treatment of SAD to stimulate happiness and motivation, as according to the CMHA, it is common for affected individuals to avoid interacting with the people around them. At the Light Therapy exhibit, visitors are encouraged to talk among one another during their sessions.

Michael Bedford, a visitor at the exhibit, thinks Light Therapy is a step in the right direction for encouraging people with SAD to seek out treatment.

“I think when you have therapeutic methods like this, there’s a sense of community and there’s this breaking down of some of the stigma and silence around mental health,” said Bedford. “It’s more social motivation than it is individual-based therapy. People might be more willing to come to these things if they are looked at as a social activity.”

Libraries across Canada have also taken to the large-scale use of light therapy. It all began with Robin Mazumder, a PhD student in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Waterloo, who was inspired to help combat SAD after working as an occupational therapist in Edmonton treating people with mental health issues and noticing a change in his own mental health during the winter season.

Four years ago, Mazumder worked with the Edmonton Public Library to install three LED lamps used for light therapy in communal spaces around the building, launching Lightbrary, his project to promote country-wide accessibility to light therapy. According to Mazumder, the Lightbrary movement has reached several libraries across Canada since its launch, including in Toronto, Winnipeg and the Yukon.

Similar to the Light Therapy exhibit, Mazumder’s project also aims to not only expose the public to treatment methods, but also to promote the destigmatization of mental health.

“My goal was to start a conversation on mental health in general and have something to address the stigma of combating it in public spaces,” said Mazumder. “There’s a two-prong benefit to it; it’s accessing the lamps and getting people out of their homes.”

According to University Affairs, last year Mazumder took his mission to the University of Waterloo, filing a request for light therapy lamps to be installed on the campus to help prevent SAD from reaching the lives of students and to improve “campus life enhancement.”

“I just think that everyone should be able to access the lamps,” said Mazumder. “Students in general spend a lot of time inside at a computer and obviously the solution would be to have a better work-life balance, but that’s not reasonable for a lot of people for a number of reasons.”

According to Mazumder’s blog post on the Lightbrary website, he now turns his focus to working with Northern Light Technologies, the company he chooses to purchase the light therapy lamps from, to discount their lamps for other communities who wish to start their own Lightbrary initiative.

The Light Therapy exhibit at the MOCA is available for visit until April 30, 2019.

6 Fun and Affordable Date Spots in Toronto

By Sarafina Romano

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, CanCulture has got you covered with the best date spots in Toronto.

With midterms just around the corner, it is easy to get sucked into a dizzying vortex of cue cards and iced coffee. Here’s a gentle reminder that the red hearts stuck to coffee shop windows are not the product of a sleep-deprived hallucination. Yes, it is almost V-Day folks.

Valentine’s Day gets a lot of criticism for being a ‘Hallmark holiday,’ but who doesn’t love, well, love. Whether you are in a long-term relationship, flirting with your crush or forever single, this is a great time of year to celebrate “La Joie de Vivre” in one of the funkiest cities in the world.

Below is a list of unique spots for a cute Valentine’s Day date with your significant other or maybe, your squad. And no need to worry, they are all cheap.

The Clay Room - 279 Danforth Ave

The inside of The Clay Room on Danforth Avenue in Toronto. (CanCulture/Sarafina Romano)

This one is for all you artists or wannabe artists out there and for the adults who never grew out of their paint-by-numbers phase. You know who you are. Located in the heart of the Danforth, The Clay Room is a fun and creative way to spend Valentine’s Day. Choose anything to paint that your heart desires, from plates to dog figurines to vases. After you complete your piece of art, you can pick up your shiny masterpieces a week later. Prices vary from $8.75  to $20.75 depending on the size of the piece.

Skating at Nathan Phillips Square – 100 Queen St. W

The skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square in located right in front of Toronto City Hall. (John Vetterli/Flickr)

If being outdoors is more suitable to your liking, try skating at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. Just minutes away from Ryerson University, this skating rink is surrounded by tall arches and twinkling lights. If you do not have your own skates, you can easily rent a pair for $10 at the rink.

Star Gazing at University of Toronto - Bahen Centre for Information Technology (50 George St.)

At the University of Toronto’s Bahen Centre for Information Technology, they have a small observatory for stargazing. (Sabrerider/Wikimedia Commons)

On the first Thursday of every month, the University of Toronto hosts free stargazing at their planetarium. This is a great option for those who are not into candlelit dinners in packed restaurants on Valentine’s Day. Or, for those who forgot about the holiday - oops! Head up to room 1160 of the Bahen Centre for Information Technology for the next out of space tour on March 7th.

Rooster Coffee House – 568 Jarvis St.

View of Rooster Coffee House from the upper level of the café. (Photo courtesy @Roostercoffee via Twitter)

New relationships can sometimes get fuzzy around Valentine’s Day, with a lot of uncertainty surrounding expectations. A chill coffee shop that’s just far enough away from campus is sure to be reassuring in that department. Rooster Coffee House is a cute, two-floor café with a mixture of barstools and comfy chairs. CanCulture recommends the tea lattes, which range from traditional chai lattes to toasty almond lattes.

Art Gallery of Ontario – 317 Dundas St.W.

Wooden arch hallway designed by Frank Gehry for the Art Gallery of Ontario. (Photo via Pixabay)

Take a relaxed stroll through the Art Gallery of Ontario, situated near Kensington Market. The famous artwork and unique architecture will give you and your date plenty to talk about, not to mention tons of photo-ops. The current rate for students at the AGO is $11. Insider tip: if you show your Presto card at the ticket counter, you can get 20 per cent off your ticket!

Allan Gardens Conservatory – 160 Gerrard St. E.

Allan Gardens’ Cool Temperate house. (CanCulture/Jessica Fonseca)

Allan Gardens is just a few minutes away from the Ryerson University campus and is the perfect escape from the hectic city life. The conservatory consists of six greenhouses with flowers, cacti, and even papaya trees. It is a perfect spot for some romancing and warmth in the February chill. Allan Gardens is open every day of the week, free of charge.  

Alternative ways to get fit: Pole dancing

By Madi Wong

Madi Wong, managing editor and Chloe Cook, arts editor ventured out to Brass Vixens Queen Street West studio to participate in a beginner pole dancing class. Watch them test their skills and moves and meet the Vixens  community.

Each person will differ and be at their own pace when it comes to working out. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast, a gym goer looking to try something new, or someone trying to find the right kind of exercise that motivates them.

Going for a run and weight lifting are typical go-to forms of exercise, but if you are not too keen on either of those options, there are plenty of alternatives to get you sweaty and in shape.

Indulging in a form of fitness that revolves around dance is a very popular, and very successful way for people to not only work out but thoroughly enjoy exercising.

For fourteen years, Brass Vixens, a Toronto-based pole dancing and fitness class studio, has boosted numerous bodies and minds with their high-energy and challenging classes.

With four studio locations across the GTA (Queen Street West, Yonge Street, Vaughan and Mississauga) they have become Toronto’s largest pole dancing and fitness class studio.

“Pole dancing is an amazing form of fitness. It works all aspects of your body; working on  toning your arms, back muscles, getting your abs conditioned, your legs as well,” said Melissa Jones, manager at Brass Vixens Queen Street West studio.

Pole tests your balance, coordination and flexibility. It also challenges every part of your body; abs, back, arms, legs. Through each elaborate and rhythmic move, you learn to discipline yourself to focus on accurately showcasing each movement.

Jones, who has been with Brass Vixens since day it first began, teaches all levels of pole dancing, stretch and conditioning classes.

Students are not limited to just pole dancing, each studio offers a variety of other classes including aerial, burlesque and lyra.

“For me, getting into actual teaching was built here. I loved being able to make people happy, make them smile. People being appreciative of me and what I was helping them with sparked a love of teaching,” said Jones.

CanCulture/Madi Wong

Abby Ramzi, an instructor at Brass Vixens, said that pole dancing is more than just a dance form to her.

"When I first started pole dancing, I had kind of negative perceptions about my body and myself and I just wasn't very comfortable being a woman. Just being in a time, growing up, [and] being in a culture where there’s a lot of pressure on women to look and behave in a certain way,” Ramzi said.

Before she became an instructor, she was a student who tried out a class after discovering the studio on Groupon. “I tried the first class and I was hooked ever since .. I just can’t get enough. I never stop,” she said.

Ramzi said that with pole, she is able to just be herself and strives to share that same feeling with her students. She wants each person to feel comfortable, grow and transfer their energy and perception into a more positive outlook on themselves.

Pole dancing is empowering, it releases your inner power and takes you to a new level of body confidence and positivity.

“People come in here, all shapes, all sizes, all ages. Men and women and everything in between. They come in with maybe low-self esteem and they leave with friends, they leave with a new version of themselves after their first class,” said Jones.

“So, we’re not just working on your physical fitness, we’re working on your health, well-being and state of mind.”

Both Ramzi and Jones said that their favourite part about Brass Vixen’s is the community and people they meet along the way.

Being in the studio, where the atmosphere is as lively and as engaging with all types of people allows for the Vixens workers and students to forge bonds and build relationships.

“You meet women in their 60s who just want to try something different. You meet young guys who, you know, just want a different form of fitness. Everybody has their own story and it is all unique … The relationships you build here are like nothing else,” said Jones.