Opinions

Montréal is the latest Canadian city to announce their status as a sanctuary, which begs the question whether or not Calgary should follow suit. Although criticised for being largely symbolic and carrying no legal standing, sanctuary cities make is so municipal police forces are discouraged, but not banned, from helping …

Inconsistencies around freedom of speech The freedom to voice your opinion is among the most cherished liberties that we observe as members of a free and democratic society. But the freedom of speech means nothing without the freedom to be heard. For this reason, the laws which protect our right …

Campaigning for politicians to deliver on promises Political campaigns are based on the platform of lofty, ill-advised and unachievable goals, followed immediately by disappointment and broken promises. Voters cast their equally ignorant ballots based partially on these promises and the celebrity factor of their preferred candidate, whether it be a …

Dealing with loss as a student My grandfather, Stanley Bridge, died on Feb. 2, 2017. It was my father’s birthday. Keeping up with schoolwork has been difficult for this past month, but dealing with the death of a loved one is not something that comes easy to anyone. Unfortunately for …

The gimmick of eating local food Eating locally-sourced food feels great, but has unseen consequences. The movement to eat local has become so trendy that the term locavore has come to be used by those who subscribe to the movement. The term locavore was created by Jessica Prentice, Local Food …

Artists feel forced to choose between paid work or exposure It can’t be a coincidence that exposure is something you can die from. The dictionary defines environmental exposure as, “A physical condition resulting from being outside in severe weather conditions without adequate protection.” This is exactly what will happen to …

Calgary cycling project met with disapproval Anyone who has been to Amsterdam knows that cyclists own the city. It is a part of their identity. You’ll find mothers riding bikes with toddlers stacked five high on the way to the grocery store, as well as the elderly pedalling through the …

The unfortunate reality of giving up pastimes for school Just about everybody who picks up and reads this paper is a student. But, nobody is just a student. We all have interests we want to pursue outside of our academic careers. But, between class time, assignments and studying, school leaves …

Trudeau calls off pursuit of Electoral Reform Justin Trudeau campaigned to be the Canadian Prime Minister based on a platform of ending our first-past-the-post electoral system. It turns out campaign promises were meant to be broken. “We are committed to ensuring that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted …

Coffee drinkers need to stop talking about coffee When I was quite young, my mother and I used to drive out to Kelowna for a week each summer to visit my grandparents. My mother would pack the car and brew a pot of coffee before waking me up at 3 …

The quiet rumblings of Alberta separatism Growing up in rural Alberta, the name Trudeau was treated like a dirty word. The introduction of the National Energy Program (NEP) by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau in 1980 had never been forgiven.  Prime Minster Pierre Trudeau introduced the program in October 1980 …

Infringement of basic animal rights in the meat industry We live in a society in which people are beginning to become more cognizant of the food they put in their bodies. Whether it’s checking the caloric intake of a jelly-filled donut, or ensuring their coffee beans are ethically sourced, society …

Why some novels stand the test of time and others are forgotten There is an ocean of difference between a great work of art and a good work of art. And, as any reader can attest, literature is no exception. Good books can entertain. They can make a person consider …

Calgary’s historic Chinatown to face changes Calgary’s Chinatown, and Chinatowns in general, are often viewed as being disparate, something not altogether a part of the city surrounding it. So, recent news that, despite the community’s protests, a development application for three new towers has been passed by the city might …

Considering the feasibility of paid menstrual leave At just 11 years old, I had awoken to a visit from dear Aunt Flo. Nobody had warned me about what a savage she was.  I felt soggy, dirty, bloated and sick. The pain was like something was trying to claw its way …

The unfortunate reality of media bias The journalist’s job is to keep readers interested so they’ll read a newspaper from front to back and look at all of the advertisements. However, unintentional bias can seep through. Make no mistake: journalists do their best to try to keep you interested in …

Carbon levy rebates met with confusion Alberta’s carbon levy came into effect on Jan. 1, and the first batch of rebates has been issued with little fanfare. Some friends and I were talking about receiving the rebates and how it would be a great bonus at the start of the …

Check the source of your coffee beans As the poor, hungry and sleep-deprived students that we are, there is always one instrument we can rely on to get ourselves to tomorrow, and hopefully, convocation: coffee. However, there’s more to the life-saving liquid than the obvious pick-me-up effects we rely on. …

Impact of climate change on human health For years, medical professionals have been telling the populace to take care of their health and for good reason. We brush our teeth to avoid tooth decay, we take antibiotics to inhibit the growth of infections and we eat healthy to keep the …

What we have here is a failure to communicate Languages change over time, and obviously, English is no exception. Anyone who has tried to read Beowulf in its original form can attest to this. But recently, it seems that language is changing in a way that makes our communication shallower. …