Paw-some partners: TMU campus is a dog's best friend

TMU campus is not only a hub for learning but also a furry friend haven for dogs, providing stress relief and companionship for students

By: Amulyaa Dwivedi

The parks around Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are filled with life, from the squirrels to the pigeons to the rare chipmunks. But the royalty of the TMU quads are the dogs walking their humans.

Walking with a dog can be a bonding experience for both the pet and the owner as they enjoy the sights and sounds of the environment together. Different breeds of dogs have different energy levels, so walks can range from leisurely strolls to brisk jogs.

While on your way to your class, to meet your friends or just to go around the city and have a fun day, you may have encountered dogs on walks.

University can be a stressful time for students, as they face a variety of academic and social pressures. In addition to studying and attending classes, many students also work part-time jobs, participate in extracurricular activities and try to maintain a social life. Living in downtown Toronto can also add to the stress, as the bustling city can be overwhelming for some students. Spending time with a furry companion can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, improve mood and promote relaxation.

In discussion with CanCulture, most students said that seeing dogs on walks helps them brighten their day. Simran Daswani, a second-year business student, said that seeing dogs walk after a long day of classes and work on campus helps boost her mood and mental relaxation.

Chase Cooper and Chiara Iannuzzi, first-year students in the School of Journalism, both live on campus at TMU “I think having dogs on campus is great and you can ask to pet them,” said Cooper. “ It's great having dogs on campus and looking at them walking from the cafeteria in Pit quad,” said Iannuzzi.

A few TMU students also mentioned therapy dog visits organized by the university with the St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, but were disappointed that their schedules prevented them from visiting them.`If the university could move around the dates of therapy dogs instead of having them on the same dates weekly, I would be able to attend some of them,” said Cooper.

CanCulture ventured out to chronicle the vast lives of the TMU campus dogs, each with their own unique personality and charm. Whether it's a playful golden retriever, a loyal border collie or a regal bulldog, there's no denying that these canine companions are a beloved part of campus life. So if you happen to come across one on your travels, be sure to stop and say hello — you might just make a new furry friend!

Bubbles

Meet Bubbles, the three-year-old Boston Terrier who has become a regular on the campus of TMU. Bubbles is accompanied by his uncle, David, who picks him up two days a week as Bubbles leads the way. David follows, relishing the simple joy of spending time with his furry friend in a welcoming and peaceful environment.

Bubbles enjoys a leisurely stroll, relishing the opportunity to explore the serene surroundings and search for squirrels. For David and Bubbles, the campus is a peaceful haven offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Despite his small size, Bubbles has made a big impression on the campus and he and David have even made some new friends during their walks. Bubbles has shown himself to be an affable companion to other dogs, although sometimes there isn’t always an attraction to every canine he meets.

David says the university should consider offering more designated spaces for canine recreation. “If they have access to suitable locations, that would be wonderful because there are an awful lot of people in the downtown core that have these little darlings and it's important to have a safe place for them to play and exercise,” said David.

Aries

Aries, a miniature schnauzer who is 19-months-old (a baby!) accompanies his human Sandy for three daily walks at TMU. They enjoy strolling in Kerr Quad, a secured park that makes them feel at ease. Aries relishes socializing with people and students on campus, which they eagerly look forward to after the pandemic. Sandy permits Aries to run and play with squirrels by letting him off his leash. During their walks, they have befriended several other dog owners who they have met regularly for the past two years.

Sandy crouches down with his dog, Aries, in his arms next to him is Ponzu, an American bulldog and boxer mix, Aries's play buddy, aren’t they a cool bunch! (Amulyaa Dwivedi/CanCulture Magazine)

Sandy calls the TMU campus “a paradise.”

“I don’t think it needs any more. I think we are quite lucky just to even have this in downtown Toronto.”

Ponzu

Meet Ponzu, a three-year-old American bulldog and boxer mix rescue dog. He visits TMU at least once a week with his owner Nicole. She likes to come to the campus for walks with Ponzu because dogs are allowed to be off leash, though owners must have good control over their pets. Unlike other dog parks, there is a lesser risk of dog fights here, making it a safer environment.

Nicole often lets Ponzu off-leash to explore and smell the signs of other dogs and squirrels. She also enjoys meeting other dog owners and making new friends, especially in the mornings when many people walk their dogs before work. Nicole said TMU is a great place to walk her dog and she recommends the spot to other dog owners. Although she would appreciate more areas, she appreciates that the park allows her to bring her dog off-leash without any hassle.

Khloe

Khloe is an 8-year-old miniature schnauzer who enjoys walking and chasing squirrels around Kerr Quad once every one or two days. Due to the limited number of outdoor spaces downtown, Kerr Quad is the preferred location for Khloe and her owner Ian Baitz. He finds it safer for Khloe as there is less traffic and fewer distractions. They often encounter other dog owners, including some regulars, during their visits. “Khloe loves being in this environment and gets very excited, especially when they are walking down the street near the entrance to the quad," Baitz said.

Sassy

Sassy is a 7-year-old chihuahua from Costa Rica who lives near TMU with her human friend Pam. Every day, Sassy's owner takes her for walks on the TMU grounds, where they both soak in the company of other dogs and their owners. Sassy especially finds pleasure in the refreshing campus atmosphere during her walks.

Walking dogs in TMU can be a fun and rewarding experience for both furry friends and their less-furry owners. With its beautiful campus ground and pet-friendly policies, the university provides a safe and enjoyable environment for dogs to explore and play.

Whether you’re a student, faculty member or local resident, taking your paw-some pal for a walk at TMU is a great way to stay active, socialize with other dog owners and bond with your canine companion. So, grab your leash and head out for a stroll while enjoying all that this dog-friendly campus has to offer, including the added bonus of watching all the adorable pups around!

TMU students follow Wen-Do women’s self-defence workshop as a 'last measure' to feeling safe on campus

Students vocalize their safety concerns as danger arises on campus

By: Aliya Karimjee

Outside photograph of a TMU building

The atmosphere in Kerr Hall East is gloomy as students feel uneasy since the sexual assault on Oct. 26, 2022. (CanCulture/Aliya Karimjee)

Trigger/Content Warning: This story contains content on sexual assault

Marginalized communities at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are taking their safety into their own hands with the Wen-Do women’s self-defence workshop following a string of sexual assaults at Kerr Hall East. 

TMU has since implemented “security enhancements” in the form of security guards and initiated a partnership with the Toronto Police Service to increase officer presence on campus. 

However, these measures don’t address systemic root causes of violence on campus while neglecting the worries of Black, Indigenous and racialized students who have historically and presently been targeted and surveilled by the police (and the scholastic) institution.

A toxic, heterosexist and oppressive has taught individuals from marginalized communities such as women and Trans folks that walking outside at night or going to clubs is dangerous, but why is it up to them to not be sexually assaulted for simply living their lives?

Alessandra Plancarte, an exchange student in the Creative Industries program and a Wen-Do participant, expresses how unfair it is that women have to learn self-defense strategies and fear going to the bathroom because of systemic violence and harm inflicted upon them. 

Interviews with women on campus unilaterally expressed concerns about safety in Kerr Hall and on campus at large. 

“It feels scary,” said a New Media student Ayah Noor, “there’s always stories we hear about; it’s not like it can never happen to us. It is happening around us.” 

(CanCulture/Aliya Karimjee)

Safety concerns prompted Wen-Do, a women’s self-defense class designed “for women by women,” to work to promote self-empowerment strategies among marginalized community members.

Leslie Allin, a Wen-Do instructor, coaches students, of all levels of knowledge and experience, to learn self-defense techniques in case of unfortunate circumstances where they must physically or verbally protect themselves.

“Nobody should be following others in washrooms. My understanding of the situation is that the young woman fought back. She confronted the attacker and was able to get away, which took a lot of courage,” said Allin.

Allin demonstrates the importance of yelling to prevent freezing.

In this class, community members are witnessing themselves stepping into power, recognizing that they deserve much more. Wen-Do is hoping to make “ a difference one student at a time,” said Allin.

Isabella Iula, a first-year journalism student and Wen-Do participant, demonstrates a Wen-Do technique. (CanCulture/Aliya Karimjee)

Iula said that she believes the Wen-Do class is a good resource, helping her “feel safer, especially as a woman in first-year.”

Consent Comes First (CCF) organizes Wen-Do workshops for TMU community members.

Tiffany Wong, a sexual violence specialist at CCF, followed the class first-hand and felt safer, confident and empowered.

“CCF creates opportunities for people affected by violence to cultivate safety, healing and leadership on their own terms,” said Wong in an email.

As liberationist spaces work towards dismantling patriarchal systems and rape culture that harm communities, Wen-Do wants to anchor folks with tools to fight against gender-based violence and abusers' entitlement to the bodies of marginalized peoples.

As danger is a constant, “having to take a self-defense class is so sad, but it is the last measure,” said Sarme Saseeharan, a graphic communications management student.

“You must be prepared to defend yourself because the school won’t help you,” said Saseeharan.

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.”

CJRU reconnects community through free music therapy

As part of its Re: Connect program, the radio station holds wellness sessions led by a certified music therapist 

By: Emily Di Natale

two white male presenting people sit on chairs and stare at the camera laughing

Christophe Couttolenc (left) and Jacod De Rose (right) pictured together (Christophe Couttolenc/CanCulture)

CJRU 1280AM has introduced its newest community-based program; a series of group wellness sessions focused on music therapy. The free program is open to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students as well as the rest of the Toronto community.

The radio station is affiliated with TMU and continues to be heavily influenced by community values and motivated by a desire to give back. “This radio station always has the community first in mind,” said radio host, fundraising coordinator and 4th-year TMU sociology student, Christophe Couttolenc. “Whether it be through playing local artists, giving people the opportunity to be on the radio station or by wholeheartedly supporting a project like this.”

The station’s newest program is in partnership with Miya Creative Care, an organization that partners with health-based facilities to integrate art and music therapy into their programming. The program works to help to facilitate openness and genuine interaction within the community, says Couttolenc.

The sessions centre around the importance of music in the lives of its participants. Activities range from a general conversation about music and group listening to considering the impacts of technology and social media on participants' health. 

One activity in the first session, which was led by music therapist Jacob De Rose, had the participants listen to a song while intentionally scrolling on their phones.

“Even though we knew what we were doing, it was surprising to see how easy it was to get into your phone and tune out everything else,” said Couttolenc. 

The second time they listened to the song, De Rose instructed them to put their phones away. 

Couttolenc said the second listening was a better experience.“It was much more profound to actually listen to the music than to just go through your phone – which is what we are doing a lot of the time now.”

He added that as a result of personal experiences throughout the pandemic, he felt a need for reconnection with the community as things slowly shifted again.

“Offering [people] the ability to have a real genuine connection over something we all love, which is music, without our phones, without these distractions, is sort of how it came to be.”

Eunice Addo, a recent graduate of TMU’s arts and contemporary studies program says her experience with the session was constructive and informational in nature.

“I really liked that it was really informative. Jacob went into what music therapy is, examples of music therapy and he went through different things we could do.”

The program had its first session on Nov. 2, followed by its next session on Nov. 17. The last session before the new year took place on Dec. 7. CJRU  hopes to continue the program along with other community-based initiatives, always open to students and Toronto community members alike.

“It's free and accessible, all a person needs to do is come to the space open to learning,” says Addo.