The beauty of being able to reach for one another

A photojournalistic composition about community and love

By: Rowan Flood

“I love to see you smile,” said Maya Kagan to Menachem Bluestein as they sat together during a Sunday of activities run by Dani, the Toronto-based program for disabled adults.

The room where everyone gathers on Sunday has an immediate sense of family. People check in on one another and encourage each other, “Eat your lunch.”

Arms are frequently reached out as people pass by; asking for a hand to be held or a hug to be given. These signs of physical communication speak louder than words, putting the care and affection people feel for one another into action.

Marty Leaf, a member attending the Sunday program, explained he has lifelong friends here and it’s clear interacting with them brings him joy as he reaches in to give Deborah Levin, another attendee, a tight squeeze.

The number of touches, hugs, high fives and hand squeezes demonstrate the need for community.

Jordan Goldman, the program director for Dani, said members report a greater sense of belonging from being a part of the program and they’re families have noticed more activation and motivation.

Motivation is a key word and feeling throughout connecting with others. People are motivated to come together and they're activated by each other as well. Conversations and interactions between seniors and disabled people light up faces, bring out expressions and create community.

At Caroline Place Retirement Residence in Hamilton, residents gravitate toward one another. They sit to drink their coffee at a table with others and chat and joke with employees who are handing them pills in little paper cups.

Maria Ewinger and Ralph Gibson sat together saying little but clearly comfortable with the other, as Ewinger confirmed his name and they exchanged frequent smiles.

“Choose one where I look good,” Ewinger instructed as she posed for the camera.

During an activity held by Sunshine Centres for Seniors, a Toronto organization, many came to learn how to make digital Christmas cards. Seniors gathered at the Parliament Street Branch of the Toronto Public Library to learn something new.

Despite Barbara Center, an attendee, saying, “I find anything with computers very frustrating,” she challenged herself to work on the project. She and another attendee smiled together as they talked and sat near each other.

While the activity was meant for making cards, it was also an opportunity to socialize and gather as attendees ate snacks and drinks provided while they chatted.

The pandemic has not gone away. However, the need to be in community with one another safely and joyfully hasn’t either.

Whether it's through touch, talk or simply being in another's presence virtually, seniors and people living with disabilities should and can have it.

A person leaning over to hug another that is sitting on a table

Talya Sokol and Jenny Upans on Nov. 27, 2022.

A group of people standing and hugging

Christine Ho, Aliza Bernstein and Talya Sokol on Nov. 27, 2022.

A person holding a seated individual's hand

Marty Leaf, Roy Barell, and Aliza Bernstein on Nov. 27, 2022.

An individual smiling to something off camera as they hold a paintbrush

Rebecca Farb and Roy Barell on Nov. 27, 2022.

An individual wearing a black mask high fiving someone sitting down

Christine Ho, Aliza Bernstein and Marty Leaf on Nov. 27, 2022.

Two people sitting down and smiling at the camera

Odette C. and Barbara Center on Nov. 24, 2022. 

Two people siting in brown chairs staring at the camera.

Maria Ewinger and Ralph Gibson at Caroline Place Retirement Residence in Hamilton on Dec. 13, 2022. 

Toronto’s Holiday Fair in the Square cut short due to severe storm warning

The annual event experienced last-minute changes due to province-wide weather warnings

By: Vihaan Bhatnagar

A vast cement terrain (Nathan Phillips Square) mid-snowstorm with snow on the floor and illuminated structures scattered.

A deserted Nathan Phillips Square during Friday’s snowstorm. The Fair in the Square was originally scheduled to end on Friday. (Vihaan Bhatnagar/CanCulture)

The Holiday Fair in the Square shut down earlier than planned on Wednesday due to severe storm warnings. With slushy and unsafe weather events being predicted on Thursday. Parts of Ontario, including Toronto, saw a huge snow and wind storm Friday, the day it was initially scheduled to end.

 According to Geoff Bobb, executive director of Epilepsy Toronto, the event would raise money to support programs and services for Epilepsy Toronto, a counselling agency for people with epilepsy. During the 2022 event’s 19-day run, an estimated 400,000 visitors attended the fair.

With these numbers, Bobb said Epilepsy Toronto hoped to make as much as $50,000.

“We have to still do all of the final accounts, but it looked like we were close to [the financial] target,” Bobb said in a phone interview with CanCulture. “We obviously missed the last couple of days of the festival because we had to close early because of the impending storm, so that cuts into our profit margins at the end, particularly just before Christmas.”

A dark photograph with a line of stall vendors to people at night

Venders at the Holiday Fair in the Square interact with customers at the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square on Dec. 6, 2022. (Edward Lander/CanCulture)

The 2022 Fair, the first in a few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured a Santa’s Village, where guests could take photos with Santa for a small donation to Epilepsy Toronto. It also included an Artisan Marketplace that sold handcrafted items from local vendors and a Tasty Festive Fare that featured seasonal snacks and tasty cuisine from Toronto’s finest food trucks.

The event also housed a Polar Point Barselling an array of holiday favourite drinks and Holiday Midway featuring a classic carousel along with games and prizes. There were also multiple performances throughout the month, including the Amadeus Choir and the Festive Cheer Carolers.

A carrousel at night

The musical carousel at the Holiday Midway attraction at the Holiday Fair in the Square on Dec. 6, 2022. (Edward Lander/CanCulture)

“I learnt about it [the fair] through Epilepsy Toronto,” said Rastin Samie, a supervisor for the event. “They have a lot that I can use as somebody who has found it difficult to find an appropriate job and kind of a place to feel like myself.”

The event was managed by the organization staff who worked alongside as many as 300 volunteers to organize, run and take down the festival.

“I feel like they’ve given me a lot of resources, including a career foundation to find suitable roles for me to fill,” said Samie.

“The idea is to provide something that is an accessible and free event for the public, and to support the charity and provide a bunch of small businesses the opportunity and a forum to make some revenue,” said Bobb.

Epilepsy Toronto plans to use the profits they made over the run of the fair to provide mental health support to those with epilepsy, according to Bobb.

TMU School of Journalism announces new live journalism course

Students can enroll in the course starting Winter 2023

By: Krishika Jethani

Two performers in the Harmed in Hamilton show on October 22, 2022 at the Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton.

Sonya Fatah (left) and Janeyce Guerrier (right) performing in Harmed in Hamilton,  a stitched! Production on Oct. 22 at the Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton.  (Aloysius Wong/stitched!)

A live journalism course is coming to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in the Winter 2023 semester. The course, named Special Topics in Journalism, will be offered by the Creative School’s School of Journalism.

Live journalism, unlike traditional journalism, requires a live audience. Instead of publishing a story in a newspaper or magazine, a story is performed on stage while engaging the audience.

The course will be found as “JRN 319” for the upcoming semester. In the following year, it will have its own course code and will be known as “Journalism: Live on Stage” and will be taught by Sonya Fatah, an assistant professor at the School of Journalism.

Aru Kaul, a fourth-year journalism student who is assisting in promoting the new course, says live journalism differs from traditional news by providing audience members with an experience. “Live journalism shows them what is happening,” Kaul said.   

stitched!, founded by Fatah, is a live journalism lab at TMU that encourages students to perform journalistic practices in front of a live audience. 

The underlying notion is to bring news to the stage. Journalists employ oral storytelling techniques to share stories before audience members, who become news consumers.

While the course is open to all journalism students that have completed the prerequisite courses JRN272 and JRN273, students from other programs can also obtain permission from Fatah to enroll.

Through exploring an oft-underrepresented form of news and information dissemination, students will be able to practice journalism in a different and innovative way. In a journalist fellowship report on live journalism and its capacity to re-engage audiences, Jaakko Lyytinen cites theatre as “the last oasis of undivided attention.” To bring journalism to theatre means bringing the media apparatus into a “shared place and time for experiencing something corporeal with words, pictures, sound.”

Professor Fatah says this course serves as a “unique” opportunity for journalism and non-journalism students alike. Live journalism allows students to learn how to communicate issues to an audience as a way of practicing storytelling.

Although live journalism is practiced differently by individual organizations, it still follows the same reporting approach as traditional journalism, as “you still need to go out there, meet people whose stories you’re sharing and come report it and bring it back,” said Fatah.

Those enrolled in the course in the Winter 2023 semester, will have the opportunity to work with the climate disaster project based at the University of Victoria– a project led by environmental journalism professor Sean Holman.

“He runs this program that is established across 13 schools in North America and the students in those 13 schools have been collecting testimonies of climate crisis survivors… and we have access to that archive,” said Fatah.

Students will also break up into different groups and work with those who have shared these stories.

There are also more live journalism shows produced in the U.S. and Europe including Pop-Up Magazine, The Black Box, and Live Magazine in France, among others.

“The goal of some of our work is to create a space where you can have a post-show engagement to push the conversation beyond the story itself,” said Fatah. “And to consider how we as a community, as a society, really discuss this issue.”

Nine Canadian women activists you should know about

Canada’s Women’s History Month celebrates every woman fighting against the status quo. Here’s a list of nine inspirational women proving that “She Did, So Now I Can.” 

By: Aliya Karimjee

(From left to right, top to bottom, Anastasia Lin, Jyoti Gondek, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, Jaime Black, Backxwash, Breanne Sich, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Marina Nemat)

We recognize nine strong Canadian women advocating for change during Women’s History Month. (From left to right, top to bottom, Anastasia Lin, Jyoti Gondek, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, Jaime Black, Backxwash, Breanne Sich, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Marina Nemat). (Collage by Aliya Karimjee/CanCulture) 

This October marks the 30th anniversary of Women’s History Month in Canada, where we celebrate the actions of courageous women, non-binary folks, gender-fluid and other gender non-conforming peoples who don’t perpetually challenge an oppressive status quo. This year, the theme “She Did, So Now I Can,” inspires others to use their voice to empower ourselves and others around us. 

Anastasia Lin

Lin testifying before the United States Congress

Lin testifying before the United States Congress.

Anastasia Lin is a queen in the pageant world and everyday life. She globally represents Toronto as a graduate of the University of Toronto and gained a platform after being crowned Miss World Canada in 2015. Lin uses her following to raise awareness of multiple human rights issues worldwide, such as persecution in China.

Hoping to make change, she presented these issues through media and legal action by testifying before the U.S. Congress and at the Geneva Human Rights and Democracy Summit.

Breanne Sich

Breanne Sich is building a community, raising awareness of the around Crohn’s disease, reducing its stigma and shame. 

For this purpose, she founded an apparel line, The Crohn’s & Colitis Collective, where she donates 90 per cent of proceeds to a volunteer-based organization, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo is smiling at her accomplishments. (Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo/Facebook)

Everyone knows the iPhone and iPad as sources of entertainment, but Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo created the iLaunchHERproduct in 2021 to offer real help to women offering them the opportunity to meet buyers and transition growth into retail stores.

As the CEO & Founder of Simply Ebjola Inc. and de Sedulous Women Leaders, she connects Black, Indigenous and racialized entrepreneurs to buyers from different industries.

Adetokunbo-Taiwo facilitates entrepreneurial competencies through vessels of mentorship, education and support, empowering Black women, women of colour and immigrant women. 

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon. (Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon/Twitter)

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon is Inuk, making her the first Indigenous person to hold the office. (Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon/Twitter)

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, was sworn in as the Governor General on July 26, 2021, and vocalized her concerns around Inuit rights, education, culture and youth.

Her work with Arctic Children and Youth Foundation and Indigenous rights is nationally and internationally recognized. She additionally responded to the formal apology on residential schools and negotiated the 1982 patriation of the Canadian Constitution.

In her new role, she enhances mental health programs and resources for Indigenous youth while creating a better future through discussions on climate change, reconciliation, diversity and inclusion.

Jaime Black

Jaime Black is a multidisciplinary artist of mixed Anishinaabe and Finnish decent. According to her website, Black’s practice works through themes of memory, identity and resistance. (Jaime Black/Jaimeblackartist.com)

Clothes can tell a story, especially when paired with a powerful colour like red.

Jaime Black launched the REDress Project and collected hundreds of red dresses to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada. 

This artwork proves an image can tell 1000 words. 

Jyoti Gondek

Gondek delivering a victory speech after being elected Calgary’s mayor in 2021. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

Jyoti Gondek became the first woman and woman of colour to be elected mayor of Calgary. Her accomplishments inspire other women to get involved in politics and pursue their dreams, even in male-dominated spaces.

She isn’t scared to stand up to others and disrupt the status quo, like when she refused to swear in a municipal politician guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

Never Have I Ever… said I’m sorry.

You may recognize Mississauga-born actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from the Netflix TV series Never Have I Ever. Maritreyi Ramakrishnan is the representation for so many young South Asian women who are oft underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media. 

She is unapologetic in her ambassadorship for Plan International Canada, an organization fighting for children’s rights and equality for women.

Marina Nemat

Marina Nemat attends the Oslo Freedom Forum after being released from imprisonment for social justice activism. (Marina Nemat/Facebook)

Using her voice cost Marina Nemat her freedom. 

In 1979, at 16 years old, Nemat spent two years imprisoned and tortured for speaking out against injustice by the Iranian government.

After moving to Canada in 1991, she began sharing her lived experience in high schools, universities, conferences and through her books.

The Human Dignity Prize and the cultural association Europa awarded her in 2004 for her efforts to build a just and tolerant society.

Ashanti Mutinta (stage name Backxwash)

Backxwash is the first Trans woman to win the Polaris Music Prize, awarded to celebrate diversity and support Canadian artists.

In July 2019, she marked her debut album, Deviancy, where she defends black and queer people. 

“My existence itself is political. My livelihood is political, and the livelihood of my sisters is political. We just want rights, and we have to go through so many hurdles to do that, and I feel very connected to that struggle,” Backxwash confirms in her debut album.

What happened to the number 13?

Investigating the mysterious disappearance of the 13th floor

By: Zoie Karagiannis

Looking into many elevators in Canada, you might be left wondering where the number 13 went. CanCulture has your answer. (Sama Nemat Allah/Canculture)

Picture this: You enter an elevator and study the buttons on the wall, only to find that the numbers jump from 12 to 14. If you stood outside and counted the number of floors of the building, it would be obvious that a 13th floor does exist. Yet here, standing in this elevator, you are left doubtful and confused. It begs the question: what happened to the number 13? 

Some buildings purposefully omit a “13th floor,” advertising it as something else, such as the 14th floor, or a floor 12A. The number 13 seemingly has a stigma attached to it and some building developers will go out of their way to avoid it. 

I am reminded of an episode in Wizards of Waverly Place, where characters Alex Russo and Harper Finkle move into an apartment building that contains a secret floor. Want to guess which number that was? If your money was on 13 - bingo!

This hidden floor was the home of many magical creatures of the Wizard World. So perhaps that’s where the 13th floor has disappeared to in many buildings today, with us mortals not being given the privilege of being privy to such a thing. If only we were wizards or werewolves… maybe then would we be able to unlock the mystery of the 13th floor.

In fact, fear of the number 13 is actually so common that it has its own name: triskaidekaphobia.

The number can be considered unlucky, which explains why some building developers choose to avoid having a 13th floor. But where did the number 13 get its bad reputation? Well, wonder no more– CanCulture is here to investigate it so you don’t have to.

(Disclaimer: No, you don’t actually need to be a wizard or werewolf!!!)

Superstitions surrounding this fear can originate from the Code of Hammurabi, which is one of the oldest documents in the world. The code reportedly left out a 13th law from a long list of legal rules (which turned out to be a clerical error made by a translator). 

Other theories about the unluckiness of this number can also be traced back to ancient Norse mythology. At a dinner party in Valhalla, the 13th God to arrive was the troublesome Loki– and it was then that evil was brought into the world. In the Bible, the 13th guest to attend the Last Supper was Judas Iscariot, known as the one to betray Jesus.

However, fear of the number 13 is acknowledged mostly in the West, including Canada. While the discretion of adding a 13th floor in buildings or using it in addresses is up to each city, some have taken the extra step to have it entirely removed– or rather, adamantly included.

Surprisingly, the number 13 has been banned from addresses in Richmond Hill, Ont., a municipality of the Greater Toronto Area. According to the Canadian Press, new housing developments have not included the number 13 for at least 20 years, which development director Gus Galanis confirmed.

In 2013, the town also completely banned the use of the number four in new housing developments, as there were overwhelming requests of homeowners wanting to change or adapt their address numbers due to difficulty selling their homes.

Galanis said these requests were made due to cultural reasons. In some East Asian cultures, the number four is considered unlucky, as in Mandarin and Cantonese it sounds like the word “death.” Many buildings located in China avoid having a fourth floor, just as many buildings in Western cultures leave out the 13th.

Richmond Hill, Ont. was not the only city facing fears of the number four and 13. In 2015, the City of Vancouver decided to end the omission of the fourth and 13th floor. This came after most new applications for buildings hoped to leave them out, causing commotion for city staff. They feared safety concerns from firefighters and paramedics, who could be confused while responding to emergencies in buildings that did not have these numbered floors. CBC reported that new rules were put into place so new condo and office towers being developed in Vancouver would need to have every floor. The City of Edmonton also has a similar policy.

So next time you’re in an elevator and notice the “mysterious disappearance” of a 13th floor, remind yourself that it was likely a judgment made by the building’s developer, one rooted in Western superstition and fear.

Either that, or there really are magical creatures living secretly among a hidden floor! We’ve presented you with what we know- now it is up to you to decide what to believe.

Toronto Comicon makes a heroic return

“It's really good to see people just getting back in costumes, getting out and having fun,” says Comicon vendor.

By: Caelan Monkman

The return of Toronto Comicon after two years saw many fans joyfully skimming through boxes of their favourite comic books. (Caelan Monkman/CanCulture)

If you were near the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this past weekend, you wouldn’t be faulted for thinking that daylight savings time had somehow pushed you all the way back to Halloween. All weekend long, people dressed up as characters from their favourite comics, anime and video games filed in and out of the convention centre, celebrating the much-anticipated return of Toronto Comicon.

The return of the convention, which had been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, saw thousands of avid fans cosplaying, buying artwork and celebrating sci-fi, fantasy and other pop culture fandoms over the course of the three-day event. 

Inside the convention centre’s south building, a sea of attendees snaked through the aisles of comic books, artwork and other merchandise. Stacks upon stacks of Funko Pop! figurines lined sales booths, as enthusiastic fans took photos with people dressed up as their favourite anime characters. The centre was buzzing with excitement and, even with masks on, it was obvious that everyone had smiles on their faces.

“It's really good to see people just getting back in costumes, getting out and having fun,” says Giuliano Quattrociocchi, owner of Queue 1985, which sells tabletop gaming accessories. “I just love being here. It's just so much fun and you get to meet a lot of cool people.”

Quattrociocchi used to attend Comicon as a cosplayer prior to being a vendor. (Caelan Monkman/CanCulture)

This year’s convention boasted a list of celebrity guests including Tim Rose, who plays Admiral Ackbar in the Star Wars films, and Adam Baldwin, best known for his roles in Full Metal Jacket and the space western television series Firefly. In addition to film and television stars, the guest list included numerous comic book authors and artists such as Marvel Comics writer Jed Mackay, and Archie Comics artist and writer Dan Parent.

But for many attendees, the appeal of Comicon isn’t strictly about the guests, but rather the experience itself.

“I've kind of fallen out of the guest aspect of cons,” says Justine, one attendee. “I'm more here for the art and seeing people I know.”

Justine, who has attended Comicon more times than they can remember, also enjoys cosplaying and the “no judgement” attitude amongst the cosplay community.

Justine, who has always attended Comicon in costume, cosplayed this year as Hawks, a character from the anime My Hero Academia. (Caelan Monkman/CanCulture)

A sense of community could be felt throughout the convention all weekend, and maintaining it was very important to organizers.

“This has always been a refuge in a way for people that didn't necessarily feel like they belonged because of their passion for fandom, because of their geekdom or nerddom,” says Andrew Moyes, vice-president of FAN EXPO HQ, the company that runs Comicon. “Our purpose is to provide a place where people can discover, celebrate [and] belong.”

Fan Expo Canada — a larger scale convention also run by FAN EXPO HQ — made its post-lockdown return to the convention centre last fall when capacity limits and proof of vaccination requirements were still in place. Unlike Fan Expo, Comicon was able to run at full capacity, with mask requirements being the only provincial guidelines in effect. This had some vendors and fans worried, but overall still happy to be back.

“I was a little nervous about coming back,” says artist Trace Goldfarb. “We still have a lot of things going on in terms of COVID, but now that I'm here it's really exciting to be back and have everyone around, I get to feed off the excitement of everyone.”

Though some returning fans and vendors commented that turnout felt slightly smaller than pre-pandemic years, they all agreed that the enthusiasm and passion of the attendees made up for it. For some artists, after two years of no conventions, the experience felt both familiar and foreign.

“It's very interesting, it feels kinda like starting over,” says Megan, an artist and vendor. “Part of it is like riding a bike, other parts feel brand new again.”

In addition to her vibrant, often pop culture-themed artwork, Megan creates intricate face and body paintings which she posts on her Instagram account @nsomniaksdream. (Caelan Monkman/CanCulture) 

 For guests, organizers and vendors alike, being able to get together in a shared space was something that had been dearly missed over the past two years.

“You just can't replicate this through a digital screen,” says Moyes. “A lot of events went virtual and digital, [and] we did on some aspects, but I think — and you can feel it today when you're down at the show — you just can't replicate this digitally.”

Check out some of the incredible cosplays at Toronto Comicon 2022:

All photos taken by Caelan Monkman for CanCulture Magazine.

Why young people refuse to dress warmly in the winter: A CanCulture investigation

Dressing appropriately for Canadian winters is inconvenient and ruins outfits, students report 

By: Nika Petrosian

(Thom Holmes/Unsplash)

There’s no need for introductions when it comes to Canada’s notorious winters. This winter, parts of Ontario received the biggest snowstorm in decades. In Toronto, where we typically experience more mild winters and snowfall, 55 centimetres of snow fell in some parts of the city, which is more snow than the city typically receives during the entire month of January, according to CTV News Toronto.

Every year, crisp white snow places itself on the roofs of neighbourhood homes, in the curves of bare tree branches, and all over the ground. Temperatures drop below zero. Car doors freeze shut. Slick patches of ice coat driveways and hide under blankets of snow, and — wait, what?

Running shoes? Windbreakers? In the middle of winter?

It’s quite common to see students and young adults underdressed during the winter months walking through the streets of big cities in Canada, standing on the train, or waiting for the bus.

Maybe it has something to do with resilience — some people are able to withstand the frigid temperatures better than others. Maybe they’re secretly wearing layers and layers of clothing underneath their light, airy-looking jackets that we just can’t see. Maybe it’s something else entirely.

One thing is for sure — many young people in Canada don’t dress warmly enough for the weather. Why? In a country where it isn’t uncommon for temperatures to drop below 20 degrees Celsius, it’s a fair and intriguing question to ask. 

Danielle Martin, a fashion professor at X University, says the high cost of winter clothing may be one of the reasons why this trend is so common. 

“Properly warm winter boots and decently warm winter coats are expensive investments,” says Martin. 

And it’s true — even after clearance sales, warm, high-quality items like winter boots still cost upwards of around $120 in many of Canada’s most accessible shoe stores, like SoftMoc or Brown’s. 

Factoring in the two years spent in and out of lockdown, Martin says many students and young adults don’t see investing in winter clothing as a pressing necessity — we have been venturing out into the cold weather far less than usual. 

“For two years, due to the pandemic, we have been isolated at home. Therefore, it is not necessary to go out often,” she says. 

Martin also says that, especially in southern Ontario, the inconsistent winter weather over the past couple of years may have played a role in deterring young people from purchasing and wearing appropriate winter clothing. “Unpredictable colder winters are probably a stop for purchasing expensive [winter gear],” she says. 

Some experts in the industry have recommendations to work around this, however. 

Natalie Michie, a Toronto-based freelance journalist, suggests thrifting winter coats as a more affordable and accessible option. Michie suggests Value Village and Black Market as good starting points.

“As a student, I used to thrift — I still do thrift a lot of my winter jackets,” says Michie, who is a regular writer for FASHION Magazine. “I've gotten some great winter coats there,” she says. 

But sometimes even second-hand options for winter attire can run on the expensive side. For this, Michie suggests investing in warm, inexpensive pieces that keep your head, hands and feet warm, like gloves or a balaclava. 

“Right now, there’s a big balaclava trend going on where people are opting for this scarf-slash-hat accessory for winter time,” says Michie, “they protect your ears, and your neck, and your head, and those can be a relatively cheap option.”

Alternatively, experts at Chatelaine recommend investing in timeless staple pieces that won’t fall victim to the ever-changing trend cycle. 

Unsurprisingly, fashion and aesthetics also play a huge role when it comes to young people’s clothing choices during the winter months. 

“I always do this and it is 100 per cent for fashion,” says Andrea Llorens, a third-year psychology student at X University. She says that during the winter, she’ll often opt for a scarf when she’s outdoors since she usually spends more time inside rather than outside. 

For Jessie Y, a Grade 12 student, the bulkier silhouettes that are often seen in winter fashion came along with body image issues.

“It’s silly in retrospect but I was willing to risk my health for the sake of a thinner silhouette,” she says. “It sucks that I was very likely not the only girl who mentally dealt with this.”

Despite her struggle in the past, however, Jessie says she is in a place where she feels comfortable enough to dress warmly. 

“I rarely underdress now, and if I do it’s for fashion purposes,” she says. “When I plan an outfit I always aim for a mix of aesthetics and practicality.”

But aside from fashion and affordability, it seems that convenience is one of the more prominent reasons behind young adults underdressing for the winter. 

For some students and individuals who find themselves commuting often and spending the majority of their time in classrooms or attending lectures, they feel that it’s just not practical to be lugging around winter gear all day when it’s only going to be used for such a short amount of time. 

“If it’s too cold I just deal with it, and if it’s too warm I just unzip,” says Grade 12 student Livia Whynott. As a high school student, it’s just easier for her current lifestyle to dress lighter. 

Especially with the pandemic and social distancing regulations, access to lockers and other school facilities are sometimes limited. “It’s inconvenient to carry around extra layers at school since there’s only so much space,” says Whynott. 

Winter gear also tends to be bulky, meaning getting dressed takes even longer than usual. “I haven’t had my own boots in ages, mainly cause it takes so long to put them on and take them off,” says 22-year-old Navseerat Pandher. 

Like Whynott, Pandher is also okay with the short-term discomfort if it means longer-term convenience and comfort. “I just deal with the snow hitting my ankles,” she says. 

There are a plethora of reasons as to why young Canadians refuse to dress appropriately for the winter – the cost of winter clothing, aesthetics, convenience – and it’s hard to directly pinpoint any one specific reason.

The one thing that is for certain?

It’s hard being a student and finding your own personal style. Exploring and expanding your own sense of fashion takes a lot of experimentation – figuring out what works best for you and what doesn’t. And sometimes a variety of barriers can get in the way of that, making practicality and functionality fall lower on one’s list of priorities when it comes to how they dress.

“In fashion, there is a trend of wanting to wear the cuter coat as opposed to the more practical coat,” says Michie. 

“People might opt for the coat that is a button-up trench coat as opposed to a puffer zip-up coat that goes down to your ankles because it just looks cuter, even though it might not protect you against the cold weather,” she says.

As young people venture out into the cold and experience early adulthood, many of them want to look their best while doing it, which doesn’t necessarily always include warmth or comfort.

“When you're thinking about how you want to portray your outfits aesthetically, often we don’t factor in comfort. This is true more so for students,” says Michie. 

So I think it’s safe to say that we will be seeing this continue for generations to come. All we can do is brace ourselves – Canadian winters are snow joke!