the FREE March 23, 2017 reflector www.TheReflector.ca The NDP BUDGET BREAKDOWN (Pg. 2) The run around on running around (Pg. 13) The Courtneys rocked Calgary (Pg. 12) Viral internet trends: Why? Round dance drums (Pg. 5) up student energy (Pg. 4) News Editor Jennifer Dorozio news [email protected] Education, healthcare and pandas…Oh my! NDP tables 2017 budget Josie Lukey Staff Writer There’s nothing like a new disaster packed with higher taxes but a number of other Calgary an interchange for the Deerfoot For Mayor Naheed Nenshi pair of soccer cleats to symbolize and more of the same economic routes will get support. Trail and 212 Avenue South though, it’s nothing special. the province’s commitment to policies that will cost families This includes $382 million interchange. “This is very much a business families. and hurt Alberta’s prosperity for for Calgary’s ring road and The Calgary Zoo’s panda as usual for the City of Calgary At least, that’s what the NDP generations to come.” an undisclosed amount for exhibit will get a boost totalling … I wasn’t really expecting government thought when they The 2017 budget does not construction of an Airport Trail $6 million over two years and much in this budget given the presented a youngster with a include new taxes, tax increases link. Ceci also said the province WinSport will receive $10 million fiscal situation of the province. I flashy new pair of cleats as a pre- or program cuts. would work with Calgary to build for a sliding track refurbishment. had some high hopes, clearly the emptive photo-op tease to the An increase in education presentation of an even flashier spending means the government budget for the province this is extending a tuition freeze for a March. third year. While also offering a Finance minister Joe Ceci two per cent increase to operating tabled the Working to Make Life grants for institutions. Better plan last week forecasting Parents will also be given a $54 a $10.3 billion deficit this year million break from the province on a revenue of $45 billion. The through reduced school fees. The budget also projects a reduction province also has plans to build in the deficit to $7.2 billion by 10 new schools — five in Calgary 2020, but reports the province — and upgrade or replace 16 will rack up an estimated $71 more. billion in debt by 2020. What’s in it for Unsurprisingly, the opposition pounced. Calgary? In a statement, the Wildrose There’s no funding for official opposition referred to Calgary’s Green Line LRT project the budget as “a debt-fueled from the province in this budget, Graphic by Nina Grosman Breaking barriers during Islam Awareness Week Mount Royal students aim to provide a greater understanding of the faith Amber McLinden Staff Writer The week of events is meant islamophobia. Mount Royal’s Islam Awareness to reflect the five pillars of Islam “There’s been a lot of graffiti Week sought to familiarize with various activities that invite around the school recently, in people with Islam and what it everybody to join in and witness. and around the main building means to be a Muslim. “Helping Henna Hand,” “Fasting and the smoking section, a The Muslim Students’ not Furious,” “Prayer or Yoga?,” lot of Islamophobic messages Association on campus set up “Meet a Muslim,” and “5 Pillars going around, so it’s really a week of events, March 13-17, of Islam” were some events that important to sort of connect with to let others who aren’t part of took place. people outside of the Muslim the faith experience some of Abdel-Nabi and fellow student community, because I know for its practices. In light of recent Moneet Gill were both at the myself especially I tend to stay islamophobic occurrences “Meet a Muslim” booth, an within the Muslim community,” both here in Calgary and activity set up for people to come Abdel-Nabi says. internationally, students say and ask questions about their Reaching out to others and the week-long event is more faith. making connections can break important than ever. Gill is Sikh but considering down the barriers that stop Hadeel Abdel-Nabi, a Muslim becoming Islam. people from understanding student at the “Meet a Muslim” “I’m leaning towards Islam, each other, the women both say. booth says the week is all about so I’m like looking into the faith They admit they have trouble de-stigmatizing and helping and researching and just learning doing this at times, and think it’s people learn. how their religion is,”Gill says. something that’s worth investing “People are scared of things The “Meet a Muslim” event more time into. that they don’t understand and I sought to give people a way to “I don’t really branch out, so I feel like this whole week has just ask questions and understand, think that may be an issue,” says been about spreading awareness not necessarily about Islam itself Abdel-Nabi. “People don’t really and spreading understanding but to understand those who know what’s going on with us, about what the religion is or what practice. who we are, that we’re normal After a day of fasting and a group prayer initiated by the we’re doing to sort of [mitigate] Abdel-Nabi says connecting kids or just trying to get by in Muslim Students’ Association, Ravisha and her friend break that fear and help people realize Muslims and non-Muslims university. I think it’s important their fast with a feast. Photo by Amber McLinden that we’re normal,” he says. is a step towards erasing to connect with others.” March 23, 2017 • the reflector 3 Paul Brandt: Awareness bound Country star and Mount Royal alumnus collaborates with students on progressive awareness campaigns Anna Junker Staff Writer Mount Royal University Foundation, and its work. alumnus, musician and “The Black Hat Project again, storyteller-in-residence Paul for example, was kind of an easy Brandt is working with and fit. I became known over the mentoring marketing students last 20 years as a guy in a black from the Bissett School of cowboy hat. And we kinda riffed Business on different awareness on that idea thinking about how campaigns. From March 15-17, the black hat is worn by the bad information booths were set up guy, but this is the black hat that at West Gate and Main Street to does good things.” promote these initiatives. Dylan Griffiths, the lead The campaign Clarity Cowboys designer of Not All Fun & Games & Concussions, is partnering says Brandt’s level of involvement with Smithbilt Hats, a business will vary from campaign to here in Calgary. They are using campaign but the group recently black cowboy hats to raise funds got some exciting news from the for concussion awareness, and Calgary Stampede’s chuckwagon injury of rodeo athletes. Another races. campaign Brandt champions, “They do this thing where they (Left to right) Dave Hamilton, Keith Twohis, Marshall Dunnet, Paul Brandt and Gino Tang hand Not All Fun & Games, is raising present banners and sell them out pancakes on Main Street at Mount Royal University Mar. 16. Photo by Anna Junker awareness about human off… but they’ve asked Paul trafficking in Calgary, especially Brandt to be part of the opening show an image of a sex trafficking “It was an incredibly emotional Brandt says that the response around sporting events such ceremony for this so we’re victim oftentimes people won’t and impactful speech that she so far has been great and believes as the world famous Calgary actually going to try to create a blame who is actually to blame; gave over at the Bella Concert the majority of the community Stampede. anti-sex trafficking banner to go it takes away from that.” Hall and at the end of the wants to be a part of the solution. Brandt says being involved along with the rest of the chuck But involving victims has evening, a student approached us “With knowledge of these with the work has its challenge banners,” says Griffiths. created a positive effect in to let us know that she was being things comes responsibility and but is always a lot of fun. Griffiths adds the focus of the other campaigns. Brandt was trafficked right here from the there are specific examples of “When you’re in position of the campaign isn’t victims but instead involved with The W Project, campus and we were able to step these things happening right mentor, you’re in a position of targets the organizational and a 2016 initiative that focused in and be a part of the solution,” here in our city,” says Brandt at accountability and to be a part of purchasing side of trafficking. He on women’s issues specifically says Brandt. the pancake breakfast. “It’s been it and be involved. And that’s fun says this is to keep the public’s related to missing and murdered Not All Fun & Games will fun for me, I can come to an event for me because it pushes me and I focus on the culpability of sex Indigenous women and human begin a 90-day social media like this and start to see people hope it’s fun for the student’s that traffickers and purchasers. trafficking. campaign to raise awareness for stopping by and see the light we’re working with as well.” “We don’t like focusing around Brandt uses the example of a their cause and black hats are go off that it’s not a celebrity Brandt says that the different the victims so much because woman from Ontario who had already available for purchase encounter but we’re creating topics and causes they are people… in our research we been trafficked almost her entire from Smithbilt Hats to support change.