YOUR UBC CONNECTION UBC YOUR and Human Rights Nationhood Migration,

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Manulife Ad_MultiProduct_8x10.75.pdf 1 11/20/2020 1:04:23 PM Editor’s Note

EDITOR Vanessa Clarke, BA

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Pamela Yan, BDes

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Rachel Glassman, BA’18 Eric Davenport

UBC PRESIDENT & VICE‑CHANCELLOR A MORE WELCOMING WORLD Santa J. Ono UBC CHANCELLOR We’ve already been through a lot of change in 2020, but here’s one more – Steven Lewis Point, LLB’85, LLD’13 a comprehensive rethink of Trek magazine. We’re hoping you’ll find it one of VICE‑PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT the more agreeable changes this year has dished up. We’ve kept the best bits, & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT; created some new best bits, and have extended it into a digital-first publication PRESIDENT’S DESIGNATE with a much more substantial online presence at trekmagazine.ca. We’ve also Heather McCaw, BCom’86 made the shift to themed issues – in this case, human migration. ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT / People have always moved between countries, and it’s estimated that there EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALUMNI UBC are more than a quarter of a billion international migrants in the world today. Natalie Cook Zywicki But recent years have seen increasing numbers of people on the move because TREK they have no choice. War, persecution, natural disaster, poverty and other Trek magazine is published two times negative forces have displaced approximately 70 million people, with about a year in print by the UBC Alumni 26 million of them seeking refuge across borders. Association and distributed free of charge to UBC alumni and friends. Although the vast majority are hosted by less developed countries, an Opinions expressed in the magazine do influx of refugees to wealthier nations has been accompanied by a rise in not necessarily reflect the views of the anti-immigration sentiment and a striking effect on the social and political Alumni Association or the university. landscape. While some see immigration as a welcome benefit that can Address correspondence to: counteract the disadvantages of an aging population and help create a The Editor, alumni UBC dynamic and prosperous society, there is also a common perception that 6163 University Boulevard, large numbers of newcomers from different cultures represent competition Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1 for work and social services, or a potential threat to security and to the social [email protected] Letters are published at the editor’s and cultural status quo. discretion and may be edited for space. Immigration has become one of the most divisive issues of this century, and the number of forcibly displaced people is only projected to increase ADVERTISING Jenna McCann as climate change takes its toll. The human cost has already been shockingly 604 822 8917 [email protected] high, leading to calls for international cooperation on a fairer and more compassionate system to manage large-scale migration and allow for the CONTACT NUMBERS AT UBC resettlement of millions of refugees. But the challenges are daunting and Address Changes 604 822 8921 [email protected] complex. It’s not surprising that migration has become the focus of increasing alumni UBC / UBC Welcome Centre academic attention. 604 822 3313 toll free: 800 883 3088 At UBC, a multidisciplinary cluster of researchers is working to better understand its roots and consequences, to address the challenges it poses and Volume 76, Number 1 Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press the misperceptions that abound, to help protect human rights, and to create Canadian Publications dialogue around the opportunities immigration represents if it is managed Mail Agreement #40063528 well. Over the summer, the migration research cluster learned it was to Return undeliverable become a fully-fledged UBC centre of research. And that development Canadian addresses to: must rank as one of the year’s best changes of all. Records Department UBC Development Office Suite 500 – 5950 University Boulevard VANESSA CLARKE Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Editor

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 1 Who Belongs?

THE MIGRATION ISSUE

4 Understanding the new world disorder

8 Tracking land grabs in Latin America

14 Turning journalism inside out

18 Poetry: Dear Nour

20 Chinese Canadians: the fight for a seat at the table

28 Poetry: Movement

30 Changing the locks on the Canada-US border

Cover: A mother and son wait at a refugee shelter in Bulgaria. (Dimitar Dilkoff/Afp Via Getty Images) This page: Immigrants land in Greece. Who Belongs?

With today’s polarized politics, people may not agree on the terminology – immigrants? refugees? invaders? – but there’s little doubt that migration is reshaping the world.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MYRTO PAPADOPOULOS THE MIGRATION ISSUE / WORLD STAGE New World Disorder Syrians are fleeing. Americans are building walls. Indians are battling brain drain. And Hungary is incentivizing childbearing so that immigrant labour is no longer needed. Antje Ellermann explains why.

4 TREK / ALUMNI UBC the university’s Institute for European Studies. Her cur- rent focus is on the political dynamics that drive immigra- tion policy, and why countries faced with similar situa- tions have adopted strikingly different policy approaches. Her new book, The Comparative Politics of Immigration: Policy Choices in Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States will be published in March by Cambridge University Press. We asked her about the factors at play behind negative receptions of immigrants, and what can be done to promote peaceful and cohesive societies.

THE NUMBER OF FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IS AT A HISTORIC HIGH. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS? Today, about one in every 110 people on Earth has been forced to flee. Another way of thinking about this is that every two seconds someone is forced to leave their home. Armed conflict is the number one reason for this. Over the past decade, the number of major civil wars has almost tripled, civil conflicts have become more protract- ed and more violent, targeting civilians. We just need to look at what has been happening in Syria, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, or in Somalia, the Sudan, and Congo. A sec- ond driver of displacement is the inability of governments to ensure the political, economic, or physical security of I their citizens. Think Venezuela or El Salvador. In future, we will see a lot more displacement as a result of climate change, because of widespread crop failure and the fact that entire regions will become uninhabitable because of heat, desertification, and flooding. To make matters worse, the historic high in human displacement in the Global South has triggered nationalist responses across the Global North. The wealthy democ- racies of Europe, North America, and Australasia for the most part have sealed and externalized their borders, which means that those fleeing violence or poverty cannot IN THE 1990s, when Antje Ellermann first turned even make it to those countries who have the fiscal and her academic attention to the politics of migration and administrative capacity to offer protection. citizenship in liberal democracies, many of her political There is a drastic imbalance between the need for, and science colleagues considered it a niche area. Today, as the provision of, protection. More than half of all refu- millions of people seek refuge from war, poverty, and gees have been displaced for five or more years, many for violence in their home countries, and anti-immigration several decades. Millions of children grow up in refugee sentiment has established itself as a dominating factor in camps, deprived of their childhood. Of all the refugees politics and elections, academics are paying much closer in UN camps awaiting resettlement to countries in the attention to large-scale migration and its consequences. Global North, only one per cent will ever be resettled. Two years ago, Professor Ellermann founded UBC’s Migration Research Excellence Cluster. It’s a group of WHAT FACTORS LIE BEHIND THE RISE OF RIGHT-WING about 60 researchers from various disciplines who col- POPULISM IN EUROPE AND THE US? laborate on research that “seeks to understand the causes, Explanations of the rise of right-wing populism focus on consequences, and experiences of global human mobility,” two sources of insecurity. The first is a sense of economic everything from forced displacement and statelessness insecurity, prevalent among those in the lower half and to border governance and refugee integration. This year, middle of the income distribution. This reflects a pattern the research cluster successfully applied to become a of stagnating wages and increases in precarious employ- new centre in the Faculty of Arts – a development that ment associated with globalization, as the postwar era she hopes will boost fund-raising efforts in support of of sustained economic growth and rising wages came to its work. an end in the 1970s. Increased economic insecurity is not As well as being founding director of the new UBC only the result of a structural shift from manufacturing to Centre for Migration Studies, Ellermann directs service sector employment, but it is also the consequence

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 5

Photo: Getty Images, Hector Mata Hector Images, Getty Photo: Illustration: Margie and the Moon the and Margie Illustration: - - - -

A second reason why humanitarian protec In July, Canada’s FederalIn July, Court ruled that WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BE THE TO CONSIDER DO YOU WHAT IN PRESSING ISSUE IN MIGRATION MOST TODAY? CANADA One the of most pressing issues today is the situation refugee of claimants who seek pro Canada’s geographic isolation allows for controlled immigration. Unlike the and EU the Canada US, does not share a border with refugee-producingregions, and relatively few refugee claimants and undocumented mi grants manage to make their way to Canada. tection in Canada, two for distinct reasons. First, in response to the COVID-19, Canada- borderUS remains closed to non-essential travel, including refugee claimants. Despite the fact that there is a long list exemptions of to these travel restrictions, they do not include refugee claimants. In other words, travel thefor purpose making of a refugee claim is considered “non-essential,” comparable to travel the for sake tourism, of recreation, entertainment.or tion is such a pressing issue is the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States. The Agreement, which came into force in 2004, rests on the premise that Canada and the have US roughly equivalent systems adjudicating for refugee claims, which means that refugee claimants arriving at a Canadian border crossing can be legitimately turned back to the to make US their claim there, and vice versa. the Agreement was unconstitutional, because the is US longer no a safe country refugees. for Refugee advocates have long made the case that the many policy changes that have been implemented in the since US the Agreement came into force have undermined the integrity theof refugee US adjudication system. Even when the border re-opens, the has US in place an asylum transit ban and refuses to adjudicate refugee claims from anyone who has travelled through any country other than their own before arriving in the US. These measures were imposed by the Trump administration to counter the rising number families of from Central America who filed refugee claims in the US. The also US returns refugee claimants to Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to pursue their claims from there, even though these countries are among most the world’s violent. As the Federal Court’s ruling recog nized, Canada returning refugee claimants to the amounts US to a violation the of rights guaranteed under the Charter Rights of and

>> >> >> NEXT ANTJE CLAIM president -president section. section. Studies. negotiate negotiate She is the TO FAME PROJECT Citizenship Citizenship newcomers newcomers Migration & Migration belonging in team of of UBC team co Association’s Association’s for Migration Migration for to Vancouver Vancouver to residents and residents a city built on director of of the director ELLERMANN term -term long how is the founding is the founding unceded Coast unceded Coast Salish territory. Born and raised in Germany, she in Germany, of the of American interdisciplinary interdisciplinary zations to study to zations new UBC Centre new UBC Centre Political Science Political ‑ and organi local She is leading an She is leading migration scholars scholars migration - - There are also other reasons that discourage The second source insecurity of that is Social psychologists tell us that humans TREK / ALUMNI UBC TREK / ALUMNI 6 side Quebec, of seen we haven’t the kind of success enjoyed by anti-immigrant parties and agendas elsewhere. There are a number reasonsof this. for Most important, perhaps, is the fact that major no Canadian party can afford to alienate immigrant and ethnic minority voters. The “ethnic vote” is critical to electoral success in urban ridings, especially in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area. Canada’s electoral system amplifies the power geographically of concentrated groups such as immigrant communities, at the same time as Canada’s high levels immigration of and high naturalization rate combine to give immigrants electoral clout. anti-immigrant populism. Canada has done a better job than most countries at managing immigration. a much greater degree To than is the case in Europe or in the United States, Canada’s immigration policy privileges high-skilled immigrants. As a result, many Canadians consider continued immigration to be in the national interest. In addition, It is not theIt case that there is populism no in Canada – think Doug in Ford Ontario or Jason Kenney in Alberta. But, at least out WHY HAVEN’T WE SEEN THE RISE OF POPU- WE SEEN THE RISE OF WHY HAVEN’T EXTENT IN CANADA? THE SAME LISM TO of politicalof choices made under neoliberal policy agendas thatled to the retrenchment of the welfare state and the weakening trade of unions. driving anti-immigrant populism is cultural change. is associated It with major societal changes over the past decades, including changes infamily structure, increasing female labour-force participation, a decline in religiosity, and, most importantly, increas ing social diversity resulting from high levels immigration of from and, non-Western in some cases, Muslim-majority countries. tend to overestimate differences between “us” (the in-group) and “them” (the out-group), whilst underestimating differences within the in-group. So we end up with an exaggerated sense difference of in relation to those with different social group characteristics from us, whether that is linguistic, ethnic, or religious difference. When this process takes places in a context widespread of feelings insecurity, of heightened by the threat terrorism, of then populist leaders have an easy time mobilizing the public with anti-immigrant and anti- Muslim policy agendas. Freedoms. Yet, despite these concerns, the policy has done a better job than most inte- government has decided to appeal the ruling, BETWEEN gration policies elsewhere in doing so – even with the effect that the Agreement remains in BORDERS though it struggles to recognize the reality of place for now. When one in racism – and we have a relatively open citizen- every 110 people ship policy. But Canada also recruits a huge HOW CAN WE PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND on Earth has number of temporary foreign workers, many COHESIVE SOCIETIES? been forced of whom will never be able to transition to Let me share three thoughts. First, I believe to flee, some permanent residence, and I don’t think this is that peaceful co-existence and social soli- nations respond sustainable over the long run without creating darity will only have space to develop when a with barriers, societal tensions. The pandemic has exposed society is willing to confront its dark side. If like “the wall” how much Canada depends on the work that that doesn’t happen, conflicts will continue to between the many of these workers perform, and we should fester below the surface, ready to erupt. Here United States recognize their contributions by allowing and Mexico. in Canada, we are just beginning to face up to them to remain here. the truth about our settler colonial past and Lastly, I believe that investing in our public the ways in which Indigenous dispossession education system is critically important. continues today. Coming to terms with our Strong public schools can serve as a kind of dark side is not a pleasant process, but it is a equalizer among kids and youth from diverse necessary one if we want to move forward as socioeconomic backgrounds, and also nurture a society. In my view, this is the foundation on relationships that bridge social divides. which everything else needs to be built. Second, assuming that we want to continue to open our doors to immigrants, we need to do so in a welcoming way, valuing what immigrants have to offer us, and treat them

Illustration: Margie and the Moon the and Illustration: Margie Photo: Getty Images, Hector Mata as future citizens. Canada’s multiculturalism

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 7 THE MIGRATION ISSUE / LAND GRABS A

THEORY

OF

VIOLENCE

Global sociologist Jasmin Hristov is uncovering the secretive forces at play behind land dispossession in Latin America.

BY ANTHONY A. DAVIS | ILLUSTRATION BY DAQ

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 9 THEY SPED AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE, AS FAST AS THEIR CAR COULD GO ON RUTTED ROADS THROUGH SUGAR CANE FIELDS. STOPPING WAS NOT AN OPTION.

AT THE WHEEL that day was a academic researcher, yet this wasn’t I face is minimal compared to the member of a peasant organization the first time Hristov had been in a people who are activists and live who had been driving Jasmin Hristov, dangerous situation. there,” says Hristov. assistant professor of sociology As part of her research unearthing at UBC’s Okanagan campus, and how corrupt capitalism, hand-in- ACADEMIC EMPOWERMENT filmmaker Benjamin Cornejo to hand with paramilitary violence, has TO THE PEOPLE a remote village in the Mexican stolen land from generations of Latin Hristov teaches political sociology, state of Chiapas. Hristov, fluent in American peasants and Indigenous globalization and human rights, gender Portuguese and Spanish, planned peoples, Hristov has made many and women’s studies, and sociolog- to interview families who had been trips to such countries as Colombia, ical theory. Her research examines forcibly displaced from their land El Salvador, Brazil and Honduras. a wide span of political violence in by paramilitary forces. Cornejo was It’s academic work of a courageous South and Central America, including there to film the encounter for a doc- nature that connects this professor to violence carried out by state forces umentary he and Hristov are making activists, victims of land disposses- and irregular armed groups, and the on displaced peoples. sion and journalists in many parts of social ailments, such as sex traffick- Nearing the village, their driver was Latin America. ing and other abuses of human rights, warned by phone that a paramilitary She recounts her Chiapas experi- arising from economic globalization. group was shooting at dwellings ence reluctantly. Not because that Hristov’s research, contrary to much there. “We turned back,” recounts particular trip frightened her – she’s of the existing sociological literature, Hristov. “But we worried the group had more harrowing experiences posits that land dispossession cannot might catch up with us as we were doing research in Colombia – she be explained solely as a product driving away.” just doesn’t want the dangers of her of abuse of power or criminality. It’s not a typical scenario for an research sensationalized. “The risk Neither can the parallels between

10 TREK / ALUMNI UBC the activities of armed groups and Central American countries such as were imposed in Colombia, local capitalist interests be considered co- Guatemala amassed at an unwelcom- NGOs reported that armed groups incidental. She has developed a novel ing US southern border, where tens had taken advantage of the situation theory of “pro-capitalist violence,” of thousands of them were detained to murder three rural activists – offering a new way to see and un- in inhumane conditions. Marco Rivadeneira, Ángel Ovidio derstand the secretive relationships During the month of May 2019 Quintero, and Ivo Humberto between paramilitaries, large-scale alone – at the height of this flight to Bracamonte – and they feared capital, and oppressive governments. illusory safety – the US made 132,865 more victims would follow. “My fieldwork with different actors border apprehensions. By last fall, Hristov regards herself as part of involved in these conflicts… shows that number had dropped by 75 per a small but growing number of “global that violence and legislation work cent, suggesting the Trump adminis- sociologists.” She hopes her particular in tandem towards achieving the tration’s unsympathetic immigration research, books, and teaching – economic objectives of capitalists, as policies, backed by a false narrative exposing the veiled mechanisms of well as those set out by international that the Central American wave was greed and profit behind the atrocities institutions such as the World Bank,” largely composed of murderous gangs of land dispossession – will empower she says. and drug dealers, were having their its victims in Latin America and Hristov has done more than intended effect. elsewhere to find the lives and justice 100 interviews with victims of land “We often hear of explanations they deserve. dispossession. She has used those in- for the Central American exodus Both the Office of the UN High terviews to illustrate – in her books, being centred on poverty and gang Commissioner for Human Rights courses and forthcoming publications violence,” says Hristov. “While and the UN’s Food and Agriculture – the massive human suffering and these are certainly key reasons, Organization recognize the dire injustice that is still taking place in poverty and gang violence have a situation peasant populations in de- Latin America. deeper structural driver, and that is veloping countries face today because People are dispossessed of their land dispossession.” of economic power imbalances and land through market mechanisms a lack of protection from violence. (such as free trade agreements), LOCAL RESISTANCE In 2018 the UN General Assembly judicial mechanisms (such as the In Hristov’s office, the walls are approved the UN Declaration on the commodification of collectively brightened by a colourful blanket Rights of Peasants and Other People owned land), or through violence. from Chiapas and other craftworks Working in Rural Areas. The next Land dispossession, says Hristov, is collected from research trips. The step – effective implementation by “a process that destroys sustainable walls also sport a red flag with an nation-states – is a “huge challenge,” rural livelihoods and the social image of Marxist revolutionary frets Hristov, given that those who fabric of communities, and generates Che Guevara and a poster of Berta hold power in countries such as ‘surplus humanity’ – people with no Cáceres – one of Hristov’s heroes. Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico livelihood and no job prospects.” Cáceres was an Indigenous can still manipulate laws to their own Many migrate to nearby urban Honduran activist trying to stop advantage. “Countries in the North centres and end up living in slums. construction of an internationally should support the will of the popular “Given the lack of economic opportu- financed hydro-electric dam on the movements seeking change on the nities and the extreme food insecuri- Gualcarque River, a river considered ground in these countries,” she says. ty – as well as being trapped in spaces sacred by the Lenca people, whose “They should not recognize illegit- ridden by gang and organized crime land was threatened by the project. imate political regimes, such as the violence – young people are left with Cáceres was murdered in 2016 by present one in Honduras.” few options: mainly to join the crimi- now-convicted former members of nal world or to be victimized by it.” the state military and employees AN INGRAINED SENSE During her research Hristov heard of DESA, the company building OF INJUSTICE first-hand stories from people and the dam. Hristov authored Blood and Capital: families involved in land struggles Tragically, Cáceres is one of many. the Paramilitarization of Colombia in Honduras and Chiapas, Mexico. “Some [peasant] leaders are under in 2009, and followed that five Without access to land, they felt constant threat,” says Cornejo, who years later with Paramilitarism and their only chance of survival was met Hristov in Toronto during the Neoliberalism: Violent Systems of migrating to the United States and early 2000s. “Some of them have Capital Accumulation in Colombia seeking asylum. been shot, kidnapped and seriously and Beyond. Yet the large-scale suffering hurt. We have to be careful when In simple terms, neoliberalism is propelling involuntary migration we interview them and with the an economic philosophy that supports was largely invisible to the North locations we choose.” a free market, deregulation, govern- American public until caravans Just this March, as COVID-19 ment austerity and privatization of of desperate immigrants from quarantine and lockdown measures business and services.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 11 Yet her preface in Paramilitarism in Latin America.” Private security ABOVE THE and Neoliberalism makes it clear that forces working for such companies, GROUND Hristov sees neoliberalism as a ruth- as well as state security acting on Paramilitary forces less dog-eat-dog ideology that favours their behalf, she contends, have (above left) guard a the rich and powerful and locks more “grossly violated” human rights contentious mining site and more people into an inescapable among the local populations, in Guapinol, Honduras, cage of poverty. particularly those opposed to the where in 2018 police In Latin America, neoliberal operations of these companies. and military personnel governments and other actors often Hristov is angered by the misery violently evicted approxi- use paramilitary groups to do their and injustice created by uprooting mately 100 unarmed dirty work. Paramilitaries – armed people from their land and is fiercely peasants protesting groups organized and financed by committed to fighting the forces that against the mine’s sectors of the elites but unofficially generate poverty and dehumaniza- alleged contamination supported by the state – have been tion. The roots and impacts of land of local water sources. involved in widespread human dispossession is not a field of study Indigenous Honduran activist Berta Cáceres rights violations. Hristov chose for herself. “It chose (depicted above right) Corporations too, including some me,” she says. was murdered in 2016 in developed countries outside South She was just five when she began to after preventing and Central America, have had a have a growing sense of the injustice construction of a hand, wittingly or otherwise, in Latin in the world. “When I was growing hydro-electric dam on American land dispossession. Foreign up, there was a part of me that her people’s land. corporations benefit from operating rebelled against, or felt indignation under repressive states that protect towards the ways in which poor their economic interests, and some people in Brazil did not matter and Canadian, US, and European cor- were silenced – and had to, on a daily porations, says Hristov, “have been basis, swallow the humiliation as if directly implicated in land conflicts they were lesser human beings than

12 TREK / ALUMNI UBC the wealthy. The bloody conflicts Hristov’s research garners over land in the Brazilian north were wide-ranging attention from the a product of the landowning elite media. In 2019 she received the robbing the rural poor of their human Early Investigator Award from the dignity, and having the power to Canadian Sociological Association decide who had the right to exist.” in recognition of the theoretically It all left an indelible impression on novel nature of her work and her deep her. “I know millions of people live “I KNOW commitment to human rights. But her in these countries that are very un- commitment goes far beyond theory. equal, and are accustomed to the way MILLIONS OF The central goal of her research is to the poor are robbed of their dignity. contribute to social change, and she And it has become as natural as the PEOPLE LIVE IN wants her work to reach audiences air they breathe. But it was never that beyond academia. She hopes her find- way for me.” THESE COUNTRIES ings will be published in journals read Even after moving to Canada with THAT ARE VERY by policy-makers from the Canadian her parents as a teenager, part of government and the World Bank, and Hristov always wanted to, one day, UNEQUAL, AND wants to raise awareness about the have the power to make oppressors ways economic legislation architec- pay for what they do. ARE ACCUSTOMED tured by international entities such as the World Bank create conditions THE REBEL IN THE RESEARCHER TO THE WAY for investment conducive to violence Today, Hristov is the principal inves- and dispossession. tigator for two major projects funded THE POOR ARE Hristov has also written expert- by the Canadian federal government’s ROBBED OF THEIR witness reports for human rights Social Sciences and Humanities violation trials in the US and Canada Research Council. DIGNITY. AND related to incidents in Latin America, With the “Violence and Land and she is not averse to directly Dispossession in Central America IT HAS BECOME challenging those in influential and Mexico” project, Hristov leads political positions. In December 2017, an international team that includes AS NATURAL AS when Juan Orlando Hernández was three UBC research assistants, two installed for a second term as president international research assistants, the THE AIR THEY of Honduras, Hristov gathered signa- documentary filmmaker Cornejo, and tures for a collective letter to Chrystia collaborators in each of the countries BREATHE. BUT IT Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Foreign where research is being conducted. WAS NEVER THAT Affairs at the time. The letter asked The team is documenting the Freeland and the Canadian govern- prevalence and core patterns in WAY FOR ME.” ment to take a stand against what the relationship between land was widely regarded as a fraudulent dispossession and paramilitary election. Hristov also was involved in and/or state violence in Honduras, ~ JASMIN HRISTOV, urging Canada to take a stand against Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. a wave of violence, including 30 mur- They have also funded and created UBC PROFESSOR OF ders of civilians, by Honduran police a website that the peasant movement SOCIOLOGY and military. The minister, Hristov in Honduras can use to post news says, took a year to reply, only to say and urgent action alerts. that Canada is monitoring the human In her role as principal investigator rights situation in Honduras. for the “Human Rights Monitor of Hristov acknowledges that in some Honduras” project, Hristov is working academic circles there are those who in partnership with a Honduran NGO, are uncomfortable with her social the Association for Democracy and justice approach to academic inves- Human Rights, and 15 researchers in tigation – seeing her as too much that country. The team is collaborat- the activist, rather than an impartial ing with 20 community organizations researcher. “Being a passionate in Honduras and has conducted more academic seeking social transforma- than 220 interviews in the process tion can be harmful to one’s career in of creating a database documenting many ways,” explains Hristov. “But it’s political violence and human rights not something that I planned for. It’s violations over the past decade. part of me. And I can’t change that.”

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 13 THE MIGRATION ISSUE / THE NEW JOURNALISM Inside Out UBC’s Global Reporting Centre steps away from traditional “parachute journalism” in favour of empowering local voices.

BY CHRIS CANNON ILLUSTRATION BY FERNANDO VOLKEN TOGNI “99.999 per cent of Germans don’t want you here.” on stories that affect the local community but still carry ripples of international relevance. MOHAMED AMJAHID LAUGHS, reading from a piece Such experiments are unusual in the competitive media of anti-immigrant hate mail. Amjahid is not an immigrant – landscape. The large companies that dominate the he’s a 32-year-old native of Frankfurt – but that doesn’t seem markets are profit-driven, lacking the stomach and the to matter. His skin is brown. His name is foreign enough. expertise to take risks. Independent media simply lack And the emails pile up, sometimes hundreds in a day. the funding, relying on donations and grants just to keep But he laughs, and the audience laughs with him. afloat. So it falls to rare organizations like the GRC to This is “Hate Poetry,” an evening of humour and incred- innovate in the reporting arena. ulous eye-rolls, where German journalists turn xenopho- Built on a three-tier system of studying global journalism, bia into sketch comedy to highlight the growing nativism experimenting with reporting techniques, and teaching and rise of the right wing in 21st century Europe. their findings to the next generation of reporters, the GRC The scene is hyperlocal – if you weren’t in the room, you resembles a lean start-up as much as a news organization. wouldn’t have seen it were it not for the digital story- “Most media organizations just produce journalism,” telling project Strangers at Home. An initiative of UBC’s says Klein, who officially founded the GRC in 2016 but Global Reporting Centre (GRC), Strangers at Home offers began creating its content nearly three years earlier. unique, locally told perspectives on the state of attitudes “But because we’re part of a university we want to take towards immigrants in modern Europe. advantage of that, to really bring some scholarly rigour But it’s not just the stories that stand out, it’s the way to what we’re doing.” they are told. The short films are authored by the subjects To blend scholarship with practice, the GRC teams themselves. Rather than going the traditional route of reporters and academics who work together on stories reporting on the subjects, the GRC is reporting with them, through every phase of the project – from conception to providing production and technical support, but allowing field reporting to critical analysis of their techniques. “99.999 per cent of Germans don’t want you here.” the subjects to write and direct their own tales. This replaces the traditional model of reporters simply This new kind of experimental reporting is called interviewing academics for a small slice of the story. “empowerment journalism,” putting control in the hands One challenge for the GRC has been addressing the of the first-person storyteller. “Hate Poetry” is just one of issue of “fixers” in the practice of “parachute journalism.” 10 short documentaries that make up Strangers at Home, A Western reporter drops into a place they know little ranging from Roma life in Macedonia, to migration in about and relies on a local journalist (the fixer) to translate Greece, to the intersection of fascism and charity in Italy. the language and make the connections needed to tell Born from a desire to challenge traditional methods of the story. But it’s an exploitative relationship that favours international reporting, empowerment journalism is an the outsider’s narrative at the expense of the local, often attempt to overcome the blind spots and bias inherent in marginalized, community’s perspective. “It’s easy and having local stories told by outsiders. convenient to use fixers,” says Klein, “but once you take “There seems to be a growing sense among journalists that traditional methodology out of the equation, then that traditional foreign correspondence is antiquat- you’ve got to come up with new things. You’re sort of ed,” says Peter Klein, professor at the UBC School of forcing yourself to experiment. So we’ve intentionally put Journalism, Writing, and Media, and executive director ourselves in this awkward position of saying let’s try to do of the GRC. “It has traditional neocolonial trappings that global journalism in a new way.” most journalists are unaware of. You’re basically sending When Strangers at Home was first proposed in 2013, its a privileged, usually white, western reporter to some far working title was History Repeated, focusing on the rise of off place to see the poverty or disease or war or whatever, right-wing nationalism similar to that which brought the taking something from that place, and bringing it back Nazi party into power eight decades ago. The initial plan home and telling everybody about it in a way that’s rele- followed the traditional path of international journalism: vant only to them. There are a lot of missing perspectives get some funding, go to Europe, interview subjects, and and missing voices in that model.” tell the obvious story – the nationalists rise to power, By supporting locals in telling their own stories about the world looks away, and we unleash another holocaust. the intersection between immigration and human rights “That was an interesting historical touchstone from in Europe, Strangers at Home uses empowerment journal- a simplistic storytelling standpoint,” says Klein. “But ism to offer a much different, more personal perspective then we started talking to scholars and experts on refugee

16 TREK / ALUMNI UBC issues, experts on xenophobia and nativism and the rise dependency in their community. The powerful documen- of the right, and consistently what I heard from them was, tary reimagined the newsroom as a first-person account ‘Please, please don’t do the predictable story of history rather than a third-person observation, illustrating the repeating itself.’” need for journalists to transition from gatekeepers of As it turns out, Nazi-era Germany is a poor historical the information to collaborators with their subjects. analogy for what’s happening in today’s interconnected “We wouldn’t have done Turning Points if it weren’t for world, and the various forms of racism and xenophobia the lessons we learned from Strangers at Home,” recalls throughout Europe are too diverse to be understood in all Klein. “Alcohol dependency in Indigenous communities their complexities by outsiders. Foreign journalists often is one of those topics a lot of people in those communities approach these issues in sweeping brushstrokes, assum- want told, but they don’t want it told in the traditional ing there is little difference between Greece’s Golden way of outsiders coming in and ­– intentionally or unin- Dawn and Italy’s CasaPound, or between anti-semitism tentionally – perpetuating stereotypes. So we handed the in Hungary and anti-semitism in Sweden, chalking them storytelling power over to them. Just like with Strangers, all up under the simplistic rubric “the rise of the right.” it was proof of concept that you can empower people who “So we thought, rather than us coming in as outsiders are not professional storytellers and get really compelling imposing our own view on these issues, why don’t we stories out of them.” empower people to tell their own stories?” says Klein. But the stories don’t come easily. Empowerment “Why don’t we embrace that complexity and nuance?” journalism is expensive, risky, and producers give up The project was renamed Strangers at Home, and the a lot of control – the occasional failure is inevitable. In first person Klein tapped was the series’ project manager traditional newsrooms, people get fired if they fly around Shayna Plaut, a PhD student in UBC’s interdisciplinary the world chasing a story and then come back without program who was teaching a class on human rights at the one. Staff journalists can’t take that risk, and freelancers School of Journalism. With Plaut taking the academic can’t afford to – there’s an unspoken pressure to contort “99.999 per cent of Germans don’t want you here.”

lead, and Klein providing the journalistic support, they your story to fit some preconceived idea that may not assembled a team that ranged from journalism students be accurate. to a Pulitzer-winning producer, ultimately working with Because funding for the centre also defies journalistic two dozen researchers, reporters, producers, technical norms, this issue is easier to sidestep. The GRC accepts no professionals, and storytellers to help locals deliver their corporate sponsorships or commercials, relying primarily niche perspectives. on academic backing and philanthropic support from But to what end? What is the point of telling stories foundations and individuals. Strangers at Home was 100 from a local perspective for an audience on the other side per cent crowdfunded. But so far the GRC has managed to of the world? produce dozens of award-winning projects in partnerships Because we are more interconnected than we think. Many with leading media organizations around the world, includ- North Americans have attributed the rise of the right in ing NBC News, the BBC, the CBC, and the New York Times. Europe to an extension of the emboldened American white The GRC’s biggest challenge, Klein admits, is raising op- nationalists after Trump’s inauguration in 2017. But the erational support. “It’s great for a foundation or individual Strangers at Home project began in 2013, and was complet- to have a connection to a documentary or book project,” ed in 2016, when the political climate in the United States he says. ‘I funded a documentary’ sounds awesome. was much different than it is today, and anti-immigrant ‘I funded the infrastructure to allow an organization to ideologies such as the Tea Party movement seemed like grow’, well, that’s less interesting, but it’s what we need they might be more of a fashion statement than an estab- most. You can’t grow an organization without that kind lished base. These small stories from the corners of Europe of funding, and you can’t take the risks.” revealed the roots of what soon became a global trend “The system isn’t designed for experimentation and in nativism. Traditional foreign reporting wouldn’t have failure,” he continues. “But this is the value of a non-profit told them until the issues were on our doorstep. journalism model – we can take risks, we can fail. As long The success of Strangers at Home – which has won as we can afford to fail and accept the occasional loss, several awards and was presented at the United Nations – then we’re learning a lot from it.” led to other projects such as Turning Points, which empow- ered members of Indigenous communities in Yellowknife The Strangers at Home documentary series and more can to tell their own stories about the problem with alcohol be viewed at globalreportingcentre.org

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 17 THE MIGRATION ISSUE / LONGING

ILLUSTRATION BY GRACIA LAM DEAR NOUR BY DANNY RAMADAN

Danny Ramadan, MFA’20, is an award-winning novelist, speaker, and LGBTQ- refugee activist. His debut novel, The Clothesline Swing, won multiple awards, and he is also the author Winter here is a freshly cleaned glass of the children’s building no one lives in and I wonder if you would curse book Salma the Syrian Chef. He the clouds the way you cursed me when your husband went to the sea. talked about his experiences as There is no open fire in houses here unless it’s a decorative fireplace a Syrian refugee in the popular TED on TV with a mysterious hand flipping burning woods I stand by it talk The Refugee hands extending it offers no warmth. Tree: A Queer Journey from Syria to Canada. No one knows how to play backgammon and I haven’t played since you and I last battled in the living room with heavy tea and the dices twirled around like a dervish.

You slam the table with your hand and the dices stop twirling they rested on two sixes you won that round and made me Turkish coffee that healed my broken soul.

Your home tucked away in the old corners of Damascus neighboured by abandoned wooden houses waiting forgotten filled With the dust of old souls abandoned waiting forgotten.

Your hair is waiving tales on your shoulders freed a nightly sky with a hidden moon you wash it with olive oil to keep it nourished and soft.

My hair is humid like a wet cloth. I can clean a kitchen floor with it. I can even clean the salt and snow off my boots.

Every time I pack for a new place I remember you packing my bags begging me to stay.

I wanted to tell you that yesterday I bought myself a bottle of olive oil made in California I called it home.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 19 THE MIGRATION ISSUE / RESLILIENCE A SEAT AT THE TABLE A new exhibit on Chinese immigration and British Columbia highlights belonging, racism, and resilience

BY MADELEINE DE TRENQUALYE, BA’07

20 TREK / ALUMNI UBC TREK / ALUMNI UBC 21 MANY SCHOOLCHILDREN IN BC understand as well their strategies migrants. He paid the $500 head today (at least those who pay attention for resistance, whether it was creat- tax (a fee amounting to two years’ in their history classes) are familiar ing alternative business networks or wages) and spent four decades as a with the milestones of discrimination building partnerships with Indigenous cook on a CPR cruise ship, returning that Chinese Canadians have suffered: communities,” adds Yu. “97,000 to China just once to marry. Because the head tax of 1885, the race riot of Chinese came to Canada during the of Canada’s Exclusion Act and the 1907, the Exclusion Act of 1923, and head tax era. What motivated them to Chinese Communist Revolution, it segregation in housing and jobs until cross an ocean and be separated from was 28 years until he would meet the 1960s. In 2006, the federal gov- their families?” And what continues his daughter (Yu’s mother), when she ernment formally apologized for this to motivate newer waves of migrants? immigrated to Vancouver with her omnibus of past wrongs. In 2014, the husband and children in 1965. province followed suit, and in 2018, JOURNEYS OF HOPE By then, Canadian society had so did the City of Vancouver. Both Henry Yu and Denise Fong can evolved. Although discrimination “You have to remember the parts of turn to their own family histories for endured in subtle and not-so-subtle the past that did damage in order to answers. Yu was born at Vancouver ways, the legal framework of racism move forward together,” says UBC General Hospital in 1967, the year was being dismantled. Yu’s father, historian Henry Yu. Yu says these of Canada’s 100th birthday. (He was equipped with an engineering degree public apologies help promote a more a “Chung baby,” one of over 7,000 from a top Chinese university, quick- inclusive society. Learning about infants delivered by legendary OB- ly found employment in BC’s boom- histories of discrimination can also GYN Madeline Chung, who was for ing mining sector, despite speaking teach us how us-versus-them narra- decades the only Chinese-speaking little English. “Within weeks he’d tives emerge. As xenophobia takes on obstetrician in BC.) Although Yu’s landed a job that paid three times new but familiar expressions – includ- parents had immigrated to Canada what my grandfather ever made,” ing a recent surge of anti-Asian hate crimes related to COVID-19 – that lesson seems more relevant than ever. “My father’s seat at the table was But Yu says it’s equally important to learn how victims of racism – both earned by people who fought then and now – respond to and fight for justice. discrimination, who literally fought

STORIES OF RACISM for the vote by going to war for AND RESILIENCE As the co-curator of a new temporary Canada. They’re the ones who exhibit that opened in August in Vancouver’s Chinatown, with a sister made Canada a better, more exhibition opening in November at the Museum of Vancouver, Yu hopes inclusive place.” to inspire audiences with stories – Henry Yu, UBC professor of history about how Chinese Canadians battled exclusion and helped to build a better society. Curated with PhD candidate just two years earlier, making him says Yu. “That really astounded my Denise Fong (BA’03, MA’08) and MOV the first the Canadian-born member grandfather, who until that point had curator Viviane Gosselin (PhD’11), of his family, he is simultaneously figured his son-in-law was sort of these exhibits, entitled A Seat at the a fourth-generation Canadian whose useless as a new immigrant.” Table, are also the launching pad for great-grandfather was one of the But Yu says it’s only thanks to earlier a new multi-sited provincial Chinese earliest Cantonese migrants to arrive generations that his father was able Canadian Museum that will have in BC in the 1880s. to saunter into an industry that had hubs and spokes throughout BC. Like many of his compatriots, previously been off limits. Until 1947, “What we’re trying to do is Yu’s great-grandfather spent his life Chinese Canadians were banned from humanize the stories and not just isolated from his family, working a practicing as engineers, doctors and see Chinese Canadians as victims of string of difficult jobs to send money lawyers. “My father’s seat at the table racism, but instead to look at stories home. He gradually saved enough to was earned by people who fought dis- of resilience,” says Fong, who is com- bring his four sons to Canada, one by crimination, who literally fought for pleting her PhD on cultural heritage one. The youngest was Yu’s maternal the vote by going to war for Canada. and identity in museums. grandfather, Yeung Sing Yew, who They’re the ones who made Canada “We understand what was done crossed the Pacific in 1923, just before a better, more inclusive place.” to the Chinese, but often we don’t Canada shut its doors to Chinese Yu hopes that’s a lesson people Title page: The Lee family sitting down for dinner. Albert Lee, Saint Mary’s University, Gorsebrook Research Institute, GRI_134 (1958) Kanavaros Kyrani Photo:

22 TREK / ALUMNI UBC BRINGING STORIES TO LIFE In a new exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver, Henry Yu and Denise Fong trace the histories of Chinese Canadians.

reflect on as they look forward. “If a sense of being pulled between two and Sino-Cambodians who spent you want to know why BC is a great cultures. The split family is another four generations in Southeast Asia place to live, but can be an even enduring theme that has found a new before coming to Canada as refugees. better place to live, look to those who expression in the 21st century – with Surfacing that complexity and creat- aren’t enjoying all the privileges of so-called “astronaut families” whose ing an ongoing mirror is crucial.” living here. They’re the people who lives straddle Canada and Asia. To that end, Yu has empowered will make Canada a better society.” “There’s been this reversal where his own students at UBC to expand now it’s often the families who are on textbook histories of Chinese NEWER WAVES OF MIGRATION here raising their kids so they can Canadians. For the past 15 years, Having migrated from Hong Kong have a good quality education and instead of only assigning scholarly in 1990, Denise Fong’s story re- better upbringing, while Dad is articles and exams, he has sent flects a newer wave of cosmopoli- overseas making money.” students into the community to tan, educated, Cantonese migrants conduct oral history media projects. who bypassed Chinatown, settling COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The relationships they have built form in affluent places like Richmond Fong says the exhibit and Chinese a network of knowledge exchange and Kerrisdale. Canadian Museum broadens the idea that Yu and his colleagues have drawn Fong wanted the exhibit to reflect of Chinese Canadian by incorporat- from for projects like the Chinese this more recent history of Chinese ing a tapestry of stories from diverse Canadian Museum. Many of his Canadian migration, but wondered communities while highlighting former students now work as film- how newer migrants would connect these universal themes. Visitors makers, museum curators, journalists to stories about earlier migrants who will also be invited to share their and digital storytellers, continuing built railroads, ran laundries, and own stories of exclusion, belonging to expand the story of Chinese endured forced segregation, when and resilience. Canadian history. their lived experiences appeared to Yu says that reflecting the diversity Yu emphasizes that it took 15 years be so different. of Chinese Canadian experiences is of capacity-building to get to this But in her interviews with different critical. “It’s no longer from eight point. “We don’t just collect histories, communities, Fong discovered that small counties in southern China,” exhibit them, and archive them. It’s while migrants’ trajectories and rea- says Yu. “We have Chinese Peruvians a continual process of reciprocal sons for migrating have shifted, there who speak Spanish as a first language; relationships. That’s what community are several common threads: belong- Chinese from Malaysia or Trinidad engagement has to look like.”

Title page: The Lee family sitting down for dinner. Albert Lee, Saint Mary’s University, Gorsebrook Research Institute, GRI_134 (1958) Kanavaros Kyrani Photo: ing and identity, family businesses, or South Africa; Sino-Vietnamese

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 23 Racism and 2 Resilience The story of Chinese Canadians – from boycotts to beauty queens.

CAPTIONS BY PROFESSOR HENRY YU

1

3

4

1. AIRBRUSHED 2. THE CANTONESE Cantonese workers Lore, and Tong Louie grant land for the FAMILY PHOTO PACIFIC (1926) helped build in the would be celebrated in establishment of a Early Chinese migrants From the 1840s to the 1880s, was part of a Vancouver’s Chinatown. sugar-refining business to BC were often sepa- 1930s, Cantonese global transportation At a time when they “on the condition that rated from their families migrant networks network that includ- were treated as second the said Company shall for years or even de- connected ports ed ships such as the class citizens and con- not at any time employ cades. This made family such as Victoria and Empress of Asia, which sidered inferior, soccer Chinese labor in and photos, like this one of Vancouver to Yokohama, carried many Cantonese provided a set of rules about the said works…” the Wong Chew Lip fam- Melbourne, Sydney, migrants between China and a level playing field ily, particularly precious. Honolulu, San Francisco and Canada. that allowed Chinese 5. A WHITE MAN’S The photo uses an early and Hong Kong. Canadians to prove that PROVINCE (1879) form of airbrushing to Chinese merchants 3. THE CHINESE they were inferior to In 1872, one of the first stitch together family and labourers moved SOCCER TEAM no one. legislative acts in the members who were across and around (1926) newly formed province split across the Pacific the Pacific as well as The Chinese students’ 4. CITY-SANCTIONED of British Columbia – a common practice throughout Southeast soccer team won city RACISM (1890) was to disenfranchise at this time. Asia, the Caribbean, championships in In its grant to the BC Chinese and Indigenous South America, and Vancouver year after Sugar Refining Co. residents. The politics Africa. The transcon- year. After a victory, Ltd., or Rogers Sugar, of white supremacy tinental Canadian players like Quene Yip, the City of Vancouver imagined a ”white”

Pacific Railway, which Dock Yip, William stipulated that it would Canada that would be Photo: Yucho 1) Chow Archive: Ming Wo/Wong RBSC-ARC-1679-CC-PH-00217 Family 6) RBSC-ARC-1679-CC-GR-00009, News, Illustrated Canada Collection; 5) RBSC-ARC-1679-CC-GR-00010, 4) UBC RBSC-ARC-1679-CC-PH-10725, LIBRARY, 3) THE CHUNG COLLECTION: RBSC-ARC-1679-CC-PH-04092, 2) Photo: 7) Vancouver Public Library, VPL 3542

24 TREK / ALUMNI UBC 5 6

7

SEE FOR YOURSELF

One exhibit, two locations: Hon Hsing in Chinatown, cleared of Chinese and around white supremacy 7. BUILDERS OF BC Museum of of Indigenous peoples to drive Chinese work- (1900s) Vancouver at who were already here. ers out of industries Most early Cantonese Kits Point Struggling alongside such as mining, logging, migrants began their >> other people of colour, fishing and manufac- lives in Canada as Chinese Canadians turing. By the 1890s, labourers who worked This UBC and MOV fought to be treated these techniques were in mines, logging collaboration is fairly, forcing Canada also targeting Japanese camps, canneries, the launchpad for to become a more and South Asian com- farms, restaurants, and a new multi-sited equitable and inclusive munities in BC, under laundries – nearly every provincial Chinese place to the benefit a broader category of industry. They built the Canadian Museum of everyone. “Oriental,” “Asiatic,” or railroads that allowed that will have hubs “Asian” exclusion. The mass migration from the throughout BC. 6. ANTI-ASIAN RIOT 1907 anti-Asian riots Atlantic coast, and they (1907) targeted Chinese and cleared trees and grew Anti-Chinese legislation Japanese residents food for others to eat. was one tool to prevent and businesses in Despite the discrimina- museumof Chinese people from Vancouver, especially tion they faced, early vancouver.ca/a-seat- entering and surviving those in Chinatown and Chinese migrants played at-the-table in Canada. Another the Powell Street area. a vital role in the building

Photo: 7) Vancouver Public Library, VPL 3542 was organizing unions of BC and Canada.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 25 8

8. HOLLYWOOD When the City started to en- 9 CAFE OPENING DAY, force the Act strictly in 1937, PRINCE RUPERT waitresses held a public (1946) march outside City Hall. Many Chinese restau- rants and cafés across 9. W.K. GARDENS Canada employed CHINESE RESTAURANT white and Indigenous IN VANCOUVER’S waitresses. In 1919, after CHINATOWN (EARLY years of lobbying from 1950s) moral reformers who Why do so many small considered the mixing towns and cities in Canada of Chinese with white have a Chinese Canadian women and children to cafe or restaurant? The be immoral and dan- exhibit’s title, A Seat at gerous, the provincial the Table, refers both to government passed the fight for inclusion as the Municipal Act for well as Chinese Canadian the protection of white culinary history. It highlights women, which prohibit- the importance of food ed Chinese restaurants and restaurant culture as

from employing them. a strategy for success and Photo: Prince 8) Rupert City & Regional Archives & Museum of Northern BC, Wrathall Collection, JRW1125B, Photo 9) Courtesy of Imogene Lim

26 TREK / ALUMNI UBC 10 11

12 13

explores how family-run pageants were the basket, and then truck. produce throughout the shaped who we are, Chinese restaurants and creation of a support- In the 19th and 20th Lower Mainland. Close where we live, and even other small business- ive and close-knit centuries, Chinese ties were formed, and what we eat. During es spread into nearly community. market farms helped the social and economic the 1960s and 1970s, every town across feed growing urban impact of Chinese farms Chinese Canadian the country. 11. LOCAL FOOD populations all around became region-wide. residents of Strathcona NETWORKS the Pacific, and estab- Many farms in the Big organized to success- 10. MISS (1939-1951) lished sustainable and Bend area of Burnaby, fully block a proposed CHINATOWN (1961) Most Chinese people locally-sourced fresh BC, started out on the freeway downtown, thus In the 1950s and 1960s, who came to Canada food industries that Musqueam reserve. ensuring the survival when beauty pageants in the 1800s and early still endure. One of them is Leong’s of Vancouver’s vibrant were popular and yet 1900s left farming vil- Nursery, owned by and livable core. When non-white contestants lages in southern China, 12. EDMOND LEONG Edmond Leong, who health inspectors shut were almost never and many knew how ON HIS FAMILY grew up at Musqueam down Chinese BBQ included, alternatives to grow food crops. FARM, MUSQUEAM in the 1960s. shops, Chinatown mer- such as the Miss Chinese Canadian (1964) chants and protesters Chinatown pageant farms grew much of From the turn of the 13. PROTESTS THAT fought back, proving became a way for young the fresh produce sold 20th century until the SHAPED BC (1970s) the food was safe by Chinese Canadians to in BC supermarkets 1970s, Chinese migrants For over a century, serving it at a banquet experience a parallel and Chinatown stores, from Guangdong farmed Chinese Canadians have whose guests includ- form of acceptance delivering it to every on the Musqueam fought discrimination. ed cabinet ministers

Photo: Prince 8) Rupert City & Regional Archives & Museum of Northern BC, Wrathall Collection, JRW1125B, Photo 9) Courtesy of Imogene Lim Photo: 10) Province Newspaper, Vancouver Public Library, VPL 41619, Library 11) Photo12) courtesy and Archives of Edmond Canada/Ronny Leong, UBC 13) Library, Jaques; Jim Wong ©: Ronny Chu Jaques, fonds, RBSC-ARC-1710-PH-3379 (31-16) and belonging. The neighbourhood by hand reserve, supplying Their struggles have from Ottawa!

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 27 THE MIGRATION ISSUE / MOVEMENT ILLUSTRATION BY GRACIA LAM Birds migrate according to season.

Long musical compositions are divided into movements, sound stretching across time.

When I moved to Hong Kong, for two months I lived on the street where my father spent his childhood. I was steps away from the escalators that appear in Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express. The song MOVEMENT “California Dreamin’” runs through that film– BY DORETTA LAU “I could leave today” –fantasies of other times and places.

The five-thousand-year history of China can be summed up in a single word: migration. The phrase for overseas Chinese contains the word bridge.

That cold winter in Hong Kong I wrote an unauthorized Doretta Lau, biography of the actress Keke Palmer, BFA’01, BA’03, splits her time listened to her song “Keep It Movin’” between Vancouver on repeat. and Hong Kong. Her collection – How Does a In the movie World War Z, Single Blade of Brad Pitt’s protagonist Grass Thank the says, “I used to work Sun? – was shortlisted for the in dangerous places City of Vancouver and those who moved Book Award, survived.” longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Aristotle knew it too, Story Award, said: character is action. and named by The Atlantic as one of the best I think of my friends books of 2014. who came to Canada as children, refugees from war and genocide, who travelled so far to become professors and writers and parents.

We leave. We live. We know nothing of inertia.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 29 THE MIGRATION ISSUE / BORDER LAW Changing the locks on the Canada-US border In a post-COVID world, UBC legal research may help illuminate a once-unexamined Canada-US border

BY RICHARD LITTLEMORE | ILLUSTRATION BY FEDERICO GASTALDI

THERE WAS A TIME, it seems years ago now, when As individuals, we might also hope that our countries are the Canada-US border was something you could almost protecting the rights of every traveller, businessperson, ignore – when the average Canadian could wheel through tourist, migrant or refugee. But, really, at the instant a land crossing without showing so much as a driver’s that you choose to cross the border – the very moment licence. Then came the turn-of-the-century terror attacks when you surrender the certainties of one jurisdiction – 9/11 – and the border suddenly became a tangled net and expose yourself to the vagaries of another – you can of complexity and inconvenience, a place of growing never be sure whether you are stepping onto a bridge or paranoia, where the whole range of laws, customs and off a cliff. operational practices from two diverse legal regimes To some degree, that mystery is understandable. In the collided, sometimes to ill effect. words of UBC Allard School of Law professor Efrat Arbel, Canada and the US may be friendly neighbours, but we the Canada/US border is “under-examined” from a legal have conflicting priorities at our doorstep. We both want perspective. Sociologists and criminologists have spent an international border that is functionally unobstruct- lots of time thinking and writing about border policy and ed, but still secure – one that is easy to cross for goods practice, but the written record shows that, until recently, and people, but impenetrable for terrorists and disease. the lawyers had walked right by.

30 TREK / ALUMNI UBC Arbel and her Allard colleagues, professor Benjamin For refugees, however, an agreement between Canada Goold and former dean Catherine Dauvergne (now a VP, and the US has created a situation on the border that Academic and Provost, at SFU), have been working to is dangerous (according to Arbel) and unconstitutional change all that. In 2016, they began a SSHRC-sponsored (according to the Federal Court of Canada). The Safe study to shine a light on the legal issues surrounding the Third Country Agreement (STCA) was negotiated in the world’s longest undefended border. But there were few ear- unnerving period after 9/11 and implemented in 2004. ly revelations. There are so many moving people and parts, The treaty holds that Canada and the US are both safe so many interlocking pieces of legislation, and so many havens for refugees, who should therefore have to make agencies with overlapping or conflicting jurisdictions that, their claim wherever they land first. So, for example, if Arbel says, “We have yet to arrive at a coherent and com- they try to pass through the US and claim refugee status plete understanding of how the law operates and applies.” in Canada, Canada will turn them back. And for legal research, “Usually, that’s a starting place.” But, Arbel says, “For decades now, the US treatment Still, by early this year they were making some headway. of refugees, both at the level of law and practice, falls far Among a mix of security agencies that are, by nature and below internationally recognized standards of human necessity, reticent to share information or provide access rights protection. The US is not a safe country for refugees.” to critical infrastructure, the Allard team was building Twice since the treaty was implemented, public interest trusting relationships and developing protocols for security groups have challenged its validity in Canada’s Federal and data protection – all while guarding the importance Court, and twice they have prevailed. In 2006, a decision of academic independence. Having conducted significant was overturned on a legal technicality. But on July 22 this documentary and institutional reviews, they were also year, Federal Court Justice Ann Marie McDonald ruled negotiating with border agencies to gain access for what that the US is not a safe country for refugees who are Goold describes as “boots-on-the-ground” research. sent back from Canada. She wrote: “I have concluded Then came COVID-19 – a global health pandemic that that imprisonment and the attendant consequences are might have looked like a clarifying event. On March 20, inconsistent with the spirit and objective of the STCA the Canadian government simply slammed the door. and are a violation of the rights guaranteed by section 7 At least, they closed it for most of us. Heavily invested of the [Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms].” in continuing to trade, both countries did everything As is typical in such cases, Justice McDonald gave the possible to ensure that the trains and trucks kept crossing, government six months to implement the decision, or to while halting all but “necessary” travel for individuals. appeal – and the government chose to appeal. That, Arbel For most people with friends, family or favourite says, has left refugee claimants at risk, on both sides of the diversions on the other side of the border, that has created border. “It is a certainty, not even a likelihood, that more varying levels of disappointment or dislocation. But, Arbel asylum seekers are being placed into detention in truly says, for the most vulnerable, and especially for precar- atrocious conditions. Detention is harmful in itself, but es- ious migrants and refugees, it has created a whole new pecially now, it is virtually impossible for detainees in the threat to people’s rights and personal safety. US to protect from the spread of COVID-19,” Arbel says, It was the human rights issue that originally attracted adding that it is a blot on Canada’s reputation and detracts Arbel to this work, and it was Dauvergne who sparked the from its stated commitment to protecting refugees. interest. Back when Arbel was a new student at Allard, Privacy is another issue under threat, and again COVID and Dauvergne was then an up-and-coming professor tends to make the situation worse, says Goold. Privacy, he and the Canada Research Chair in Migration Law, Arbel says, is a “weak right,” easily overwhelmed by concerns for signed up for Dauvergne’s class and was immediately security and public health. And when weak rights are erod- hooked. Returning to Allard as a professor after master’s ed during perceived emergencies – as during the pandemic and doctoral studies at Harvard, Arbel also found com- – it can be difficult to re-assert those rights afterward. mon cause with Goold, whose focus is on privacy rights In the current circumstances, with fewer people crossing and the use of surveillance technologies by the police the border, Goold says, border officials have a much greater and intelligence communities. opportunity to search crossers and little restriction on Accordingly, when the three researchers began this how they use any information they might come across. project, Goold says, “We were thinking about people,” The border agencies are, he says, “not very transparent.” and particularly how people react, interact and are Transparency – or at least the increased information that affected by the laws and practices prevailing in the border Arbel, Goold and Dauvergne are ultimately able to gather environment. But as they dug into the work, connecting – may be the greatest takeaway from the research project. with the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP As Dauvergne says, “No border agents set out to do nasty in Canada and with Customs and Border Protection in the things; people are just trying to do their jobs. But it’s US, they found that, even before the COVID disruption, important to understand how individual rights are being those agencies were more focused on the mutual benefits impacted by those jobs.” of commerce. “They’re trying to reduce border friction,” In this previously unexamined space, policymakers may says Goold. “They want to know what they need to do so find real benefit from whatever light the UBC team is able the trucks don’t slow down.” to shed.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 31 Browse our NEW digital CONTINUE YOUR travel club catalogue at PASSION FOR LEARNING alumni.ubc.ca/travel with the alumni UBC Travel Club

ARTS & CULTURE ACTIVE & WELLNESS

NEPAL & BHUTAN: KINGDOMS IN THE CLOUDS PRAGUE TO KRAKOW: SCENIC VILLAGES NOVEMBER 15 – 29, 2021 AND GLORIOUS MOUNTAIN HIKES With Paula Swart, museum curator and lecturer at UBC JUNE 1 – 12, 2021 With Lynn Kanuka, Olympic medalist and WalkRun coach YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: • MODERNISM WEEK IN PALM SPRINGS, FEBRUARY 2021 YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: • GREECE: AN AUTHENTIC EXPLORATION, APRIL 2021 • CUBA: AN ISLAND BIKE TOUR, JANUARY 2021 • TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY ADVENTURE, MAY 2021 • PORTUGUESE COASTAL CAMINO, APRIL 2021 • TREASURES OF INDONESIA: JAVA AND BALI, OCTOBER 2021 • WALKING THE COTSWOLDS OF ENGLAND, MAY 2021 • MOROCCO: MEDINAS, MOUNTAINS, AND • ENGLAND’S SOUTH WEST COAST PATH, SEPTEMBER 2021 MOUTHWATERING CUISINE, OCTOBER 2021 • PATAGONIA: A NATURAL WONDERLAND, NOVEMBER 2021

NATURE & WILDLIFE FOOD & WINE

BATHURST INLET, NUNAVUT: AN ARCTIC OASIS NEW WORLD WINE: MENDOZA & SALTA JUNE 28 – JULY 5, 2021 NOVEMBER 7 – 16, 2021 With Lee Groat, UBC professor and geologist With Howard Soon, BSc’74, Canada’s longest serving winemaker

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: • TAIWAN FOOD TOUR, MARCH 2021 • CENTRAL PANAMA’S TROPICAL NATURE, JANUARY 2021 • GRAND GARDENS OF IRELAND, JUNE 2021 • GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: PRIVATE YACHT EXPEDITION, OCTOBER 2021 • TANZANIA: THE ESSENTIAL SAFARI, OCTOBER 2021

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BEST VALUE IN EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL | MEANINGFUL LOCAL EXPERIENCES | THOUGHTFUL ITINERARIES | EXPERT UBC STUDY LEADERS FEATURES 40 Living with Rats 42 When Jefferson Airplane landed at UBC

DEPARTMENTS 34 Changemakers 38 President’s Message 39 Rewind 46 Findings 50 The Scoop 52 Career Corner 54 Agenda 56 In Memoriam 60 The Last Word

Christopher Derickson, BA’12 (Okana‑ gan), JD’11 >>

Chief of Westbank First Nation >>

Next challenge: Nsyilxcen language immersion school

Read his story

Photo: Darren Hull Darren Photo: on page 32. >>

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 33 CHANGE/ MAKERS

MAN OF THE PEOPLE In an increasingly just over 15 years ago, uncertain world, and Derickson suggests Chief Christopher Derickson is Derickson says he places that the current system strengthening the foundations a lot of hope in the next still has flaws. For exam- generation, and youth ple, tax revenues gen- of self-governance engagement is another erated by the Westbank BY ERIC DAVENPORT one of his priorities. He’s First Nation economy found that one of the still go exclusively to most effective ways of the Canadian govern- “A good ylmix̓ ʷm [chief] is there for the people.” achieving this is to listen ment. Derickson wants Christopher Derickson cites a lesson from his to them and involve them to see that change grandfather, who was Chief of Samson Cree Nation. in efforts to protect the – the government has Now 41 and the recently elected Chief of Westbank environment, as they promised autonomy to First Nation, Derickson finds himself in a position tend to be its most pas- Indigenous communi- to apply it. sionate advocates. When ties, and he says that His approach to leadership is at once old and new. they’re not chatting financial independence He values tradition and is committed to strengthening with him about video has to be part of the communal bonds by affirming and preserving the games, Derickson says, deal. “You could argue culture and traditional knowledge of the Syilx they’re often discussing that Westbank First (Okanagan) people. At the same time, he’s shepherd- climate change. Nation has built up a ing his 850-strong community through a relatively “The younger foundation for financial new era of self-governance, facilitating economic generation sees their independence,” he says. development and setting his sights on a financially relationship with the nat- “It’s just a matter of independent future for the Nation. ural world very differently the federal government Derickson’s education and career focus have than our generation, and the provincial prepared him for the task. He holds degrees in politics than past generations governments catching and law from UBC’s Okanagan and Vancouver cam- have understood it,” up to where Westbank puses respectively, as well as an MBA in Aboriginal says Derickson, who has is at now.” leadership and business development from SFU. In raised a son. “They’re Like his other priorities, 2017, he co-founded Alderhill, a company specializing less ideological and Derickson’s plans in Indigenous community planning. He also lectures much more open to for further economic about Indigenous community management at SFU, collaborative approaches development ultimately the University of Arizona Native Nations Institute and to problems.” But he still serve the broader goal at the Banff Centre. sees a lot of overlap, of strengthening the For Chief Derickson, preserving culture begins with and this opportunity foundations of self- encouraging the growth of Nsyilxcen, the traditional for inter-generational governance. As a chief, language of the Syilx. As with many Indigenous lan- collaboration not only an entrepreneur, and guages, the number of fluent Nsyilxcen speakers has strengthens cultural a teacher, he has the steadily declined as a result of Canadian government identity, but creates influence, knowledge policies that forced assimilation and threatened a solid foundation of and resourcefulness to to wipe out Indigenous cultures. To reverse this leadership for the future secure a successful and decline, Westbank First Nation approved and financed of his community, and sustainable future. And renovations that brought Syilx art and architecture more broadly, for the the lessons he learns and a brand-new language and culture room to its future of Indigenous along the way will no sənsisyustən House of Learning elementary school. self-governance. doubt be passed along Derickson wants it to become a full Nsyilxcen immer- Westbank First Nation to the next generation sion school in the near future. became self-governing of community leaders.

34 TREK / ALUMNI UBC Sauder grad Ian Fichtenbaum and the zero-gravity oven

Ian Fichtenbaum, MM’06 <<

Designing a zero gravity kitchen for use in space <<

Next challenge: Space blender

Last November, five balls only a psychopath could devise – so Zero G Kitchen SPACE of raw chocolate-chip launched a tin of pre-made cookies to the ISS as well, cookie dough made as a snack for the pioneering space bakers. history. The cookie Fichtenbaum, who graduated in 2006 with a master’s COOKIES dough was delivered to degree in management from the Sauder School astronauts in the Inter- of Business, hopes that freshly baked foods will Experimental national Space Station someday be routine in space. Currently, the ISS is Baking on the ISS (ISS), where – after equipped with a food warmer and a re-hydrator to several hours of trial and resuscitate pre-made or dried meals, respectively – BY RACHEL error to gauge how outer not an especially appetizing prospect for a year-long GLASSMAN, BA’18 space changes cooking tour in space. To improve the menu and promote times – it became the astronauts’ well-being, Fichtenbaum aims to create first food ever baked in a full zero-gravity kitchen, one piece at a time. a zero-gravity oven. The In addition to nourishing astronauts, Fichtenbaum oven is a new innovation hopes that Zero G Kitchen will give the public from Zero G Kitchen, a relatable way to engage with space systems founded by alum Ian science. “We asked ourselves, ‘What’s the laboratory Fichtenbaum and his that most of us have in our home? It’s the kitchen.’” wife Jordana. An oven in space, he and Jordana decided, would The cookies may have help the average person to connect with the science made history, but no behind the ISS in a way that more esoteric equipment one yet knows how they could not. taste. Since nothing has Besides, says Fichtenbaum, the project is undeniably ever been baked in space fun. He and Jordana began the company when they before, this first batch were engaged, the way a less imaginative couple had to be sent back to might have signed up for community centre salsa Earth for testing by food lessons: they were looking for a new, creative chal- scientists. Inhaling the lenge to take on together. With Jordana’s background scent of baking cookies in hospitality industry communications and Ian’s in without being able to eat spacecraft systems, the project made full use of their them is surely a torture complementary skill sets.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 35 CHANGE/ MAKERS ZERO-WASTE GROCERIES

Building a supply chain to make groceries package-free

BY ALIA DHARSSI, BA’09

For a class assignment during her last year at UBC, Alison Carr created a map of where Vancouver’s garbage ends up. She was shocked to learn much of it was transported more than 300 kilometres Making culinary the ISS and damage northwest to a landfill in Cache Creek. history may have delicate equipment. Astronauts take part “That spurred something in me,” says in a cookie-baking been fun, but it To prevent this, the experiment on Carr, who thinks the notion of “away” in was no easy task. cookies are baked the ISS. “throwing away” is flawed. The garbage The engineers at sealed in silicone that is trucked away from our homes still Nanoracks, with pouches – with filtered persists in the environment, decomposing whom Zero G air vents, otherwise slowly in landfills and emitting greenhouse Kitchen worked to “the thing blows up gases. At the same time, many cities, design the oven, like a balloon.” including Vancouver, scramble for landfill grappled with an After months of space to accommodate discarded items, array of technical testing, the result is many of which could have been com- challenges. Because a cylindrical, energy- posted or recycled. the ISS has limited efficient oven. The Today, Carr is fighting plastic pollution energy to spare, for process of creating and other waste, one grocery shopper example, the oven the zero-gravity oven, and container at a time, as the co-founder must run on only says Fichtenbaum, and COO of Nada, Vancouver’s first zero- 90 watts, whereas has proven to him that waste grocery store. an average oven “if you are smart, and “Just Food,” proclaim big red-and-white uses around 2000 think creatively, and letters painted on the store’s back wall. to 5000 watts. And have a certain amount Customers can shop with their own the zero-gravity of persistence, things containers, although during the covid-19 environment brings do happen.” pandemic Nada is offering goods in its own challenges. What’s on the horizon deposit jars and recycled paper bags Hot air behaves for Zero G Kitchen? instead. In addition to items often sold by differently in space, “We’d like to have weight, like nuts and fruit, the store sells so the oven must a blender up there,” many other package-free products, from rely on conductive Fichtenbaum says. maple syrup to frozen berries to turmeric. heat transfer, rather In the meantime, Only a handful of items, such as milk in than convection. “the oven is open for reusable glass bottles, are pre-packaged. There are also business” – and the Carr leads Nada’s sourcing efforts. As unique safety milestone moment well as minimizing the use of packaging, considerations: an of eating the first she considers the social and environ- escaped crumb from cookie baked in mental footprint of everything they stock, a baking cookie space still awaits balancing concerns like workers’ wages

could float around a hungry astronaut. and greenhouse gas emissions. NASA Photo: Ferguson Guy Photo:

36 TREK / ALUMNI UBC Alison Carr at the counter at Nada.

“It’s case by case,” says Carr. “We’re not 100 per cent organic. We’re not only sourcing local. We’re not only sourcing 100 per cent package-free.” An organic item, for example, might not score highly enough on labour standards to be sold in the store. Nada’s most resourceful suppliers turn waste into food. The store sells organic crackers made from imperfect vegetables left behind in Okanagan fields after harvest, and its café features baked goods made of spent grain from beer breweries. Carr oversees educational events at the store, because she wants people to think critically about their food and choose products with the planet and their community in mind. She became 650,000 containers or more from landfills, Alison Carr, conscious of such issues while growing while building a strong following among BA’16

up on Vancouver Island, where her parents eco-conscious Vancouverites. Perhaps << focused on making the most of what they most importantly, by breaking even just had and wasting as little as possible. nine months after opening Nada has COO of “We always had a garden, always had demonstrated that package-free groceries Vancouver’s a compost,” recalls Carr, whose early are a viable business. first zero-waste jobs in grocery stores prompted her to But Carr and Miller are just getting grocery store begin questioning how food was grown started. They dream of opening more << and made. stores. There are also smaller-scale Next challenge: She didn’t realize this interest could challenges – like sourcing package-free package-free turn into a career until 2015, when she potato chips. Every company Carr has potato chips was wrapping up her UBC arts degree approached so far says it’s impossible. and got wind of a marine biologist named But that won’t stop her from trying. Brianne Miller who was testing the idea “I’m not giving up,” she says with a grin. of a package-free grocery store by coordinating zero-waste pop-up shops in Vancouver. Before long, Carr was interning on the project. She became indispensable and, eventually, an equal partner. Nada opened its doors in June 2018

Photo: NASA Photo: Ferguson Guy Photo: and has since diverted an estimated

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 37 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A World of Difference

A message from UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono

was while studying at McGill University in are good challenges Montreal that I met my wife, Wendy. to have. Countries, But travel for work or study also brings dis- cultures, individuals, ruptions and requires a degree of adjustment. and institutions Even coming back to Vancouver, after such as UBC benefit many years away from the city of my birth, from immigration required adjustments, and I don’t just mean and emigration. needing to pack extra rain gear! Or adjusting Not only does UBC to the fact that Canadians seem to be more attract international interested in hockey than in college football students, but our and basketball. faculty, staff and I encountered different values, different atti- students are able tudes, even different food. I had to learn what to take advantage was meant by poutine and a double-double. of opportunities More seriously, my daughter had to adjust to outside of Canada a new school with a very different curriculum. – enriching those in- And we had to make new friends and say stitutions with their goodbye to old ones. But over time, we made UBC experiences. those adjustments. We made new friends and Right now, of course, discovered new neighbourhoods. such opportunities And now, as president and vice-chancellor are on hold, and of UBC – which was recently ranked the most most of our interna- international university in North America tional students are – I have the honour to lead a very diverse taking their classes In this issue, Trek is exploring the topic of institution. Our faculty, students and staff virtually. But they migration. I have a particular interest in come from many different countries around are still a vital part this topic, both as the president of an in- the world – more than 160 – bringing with of our community, credibly diverse university and as the child them different cultural, socio-economic, and and their participa- of immigrants. political perspectives. tion enriches us all. I was born in Vancouver in 1962, some years Leading such a diverse institution brings Someday, when the after my father and mother had emigrated challenges. As university administrators, pandemic is over, from Japan to North America with little more we have to be aware that our international we look forward to than a suitcase. At the time, my father was students face pressures in addition to the welcoming them a professor of mathematics at UBC. We didn’t normal ones that all students face: being far back in person. stay long in Vancouver. During my child- from their homes, their families and their As Antoine de hood, my family moved first to Philadelphia, friends; adapting to a different culture and Saint-Exupéry, where my father taught at the University of perhaps a different language; and getting used author of The Little Pennsylvania, and then to Baltimore and to different ways of studying and learning. Prince, pointed Johns Hopkins University. Some may have visa, funding or health care out: Those who are My own academic career has taken me to issues, as well. different from me do three different countries – Canada, the United As an institution, we must be welcoming not impoverish me – States and England. I have not only lived in and do our utmost to accommodate religious they enrich me. Our and experienced different cultures, I have observances, dietary restrictions, and social unity is constituted had the privilege of meeting people from all and cultural mores. As scholarship becomes in something higher over the world, and I learned a lot from them. more global and the university more diverse, than ourselves

My travels also had an unexpected bonus; it this becomes ever more important. But these – in Humanity. Photo David (L-R): Zhang; AMS Archives

38 TREK / ALUMNI UBC REWIND

All was then peaceful for our humble hill The knoll: until the mid-2000s, when UBC proposed bulldozing the knoll to make way for a condo, store fronts, and an underground a hill to die on? bus loop. A ferocious backlash ensued. Anti-development groups occupied the BY RACHEL GLASSMAN, BA’18 knoll for weeks, signed petitions, lit bonfires, and staged concerts – Knoll-aid To outsiders, it’s an unassuming grassy and Knoll-aid 2.0 – during which, amid slope, but for those in the know, the chants of “F—k the man!” and “Save knoll is a beloved campus landmark – the knoll!”, 19 students were arrested. the place friends sprawl in the shade Inevitably, a handful of (not-so-serious) to study, or the enticing hill to which counter-protesters emerged, too, bearing first-years flock on snowy days with signs that said “Kno to the knoll!” cafeteria-trays-turned-sleds. Given the The story ends happily for the knoll, of knoll’s halcyon vibe, few would guess course: administrators heeded students’ that this lump of earth has periodically calls for green space and community over been the centre of roiling controversy. commercialism, and the Nest (built by Today’s knoll is actually UBC’s second: students in lieu of the original proposals) the first was unceremoniously razed incorporates and even celebrates the during the 1975 construction of the knoll by extending the slope into an Aquatic Centre. Students bereft of their indoor amphitheatre. hangout spot called to have their green At last, the knoll is presumably safe from space restored, and eventually the knoll bulldozers. Should anyone try to raze it (phoenix-like!) was reborn with dirt left again, however, it’s a fair bet that students over from the construction that had are willing to make a mountain out of consumed it in the first place. this molehill. Photo David (L-R): Zhang; AMS Archives

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 39 Rats! They eat our food, chew through our property and spread all sorts of nasty diseases. And they are gross (right?), with those naked tails and quick, unpredict- able movements. Rats invade our homes – our castles! – the one place where we should be safe and in control. Over the millennia that we have lived with them, rats have proven themselves virtually impossible to expunge. They are so adaptable that they can exploit and infest virtually every corner of our cities. They avoid traps and poisons and reproduce at such a staggering rate that extermination attempts usually end up being a game of whack-a-mole… or, rather, whack-a-rat. Is it any wonder that many cities seem to be plagued by rats? Or do the cities themselves bear some responsibility for their rat problems? This is what I have been exploring over the past 10 years as a wildlife and public health researcher with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and the University of British Columbia. CHALLENGES OF Living with Rats MANAGING URBAN Rats are part of the urban ecosystem, RODENTS and an urban ecology approach to For the most part, when it comes managing their populations may to dealing with rats, cities have it involve learning to share the city. all wrong. For example, rat-related issues are addressed using a hodgepodge of unrelated policy BY CHELSEA HIMSWORTH, and programming. At best, munic- Regional Director for the Canadian ipal leadership is highly fragment- Wildlife Health Cooperative at UBC ed; at worst, it’s absent altogether. Municipal governments may address rat infestations that occur on public properties or in buildings scheduled for demolition. Local health authorities may address infestations in food establishments or where there is a demonstrated

health risk. Moon the and Illustration: Margie

40 TREK / ALUMNI UBC For the most part, people Instead, we need to understand impoverished, inner-city neigh- are left to fend for themselves. the urban ecosystem, just like we bourhoods, and residents of these Another problem is that we know would if we were trying to manage neighbourhoods are particularly very little about urban rats. There polar bear populations in the vulnerable to the physical and is simply not enough information Arctic or elephant populations on mental health impacts of living with about them to answer even the the savanna. rats. By identifying and focusing on most basic questions like: How This means substantive, long- these highly vulnerable scenarios, many rats are there? Where do term investments in collecting cities can start to make meaningful they live? Why are they there? data on rat populations and the changes in how we perceive and Is the problem getting worse? specific conditions that support deal with rats. Despite this lack of knowledge, them, as well as the impact of any This is not to say the rest of cities are often willing to invest implemented interventions. the urban landscape should be tremendous amounts of time and It also means understanding ignored. Rather, the identification resources into pest control inter- the interface between rats and of particular areas of vulnerability ventions, such as New York City’s humans. For the majority of urban needs to take place within a larger $32 million “war on rats.” centres, rats pose a relatively framework that uses ecosystem- It means that cities have no minor threat to people. The threats based principles to address rats metric to determine the return on are certainly not in proportion to specifically. Examples include their investments, because with- out knowing what the rat problem looked like beforehand, there is no way of knowing whether an To manage rat populations, intervention made the problem any better. “we need to understand the urban ecosystem, just like we would THE COHABITING if we were trying to manage SOLUTION polar bear populations in the The key to solving this problem may lie in simply changing our Arctic or elephant populations perspective. Rather than viewing the city as a place entirely under on the savanna.” human control that’s being invaded by rats, we need to recognize that the amount of negative attention changing the way that garbage the city is an ecosystem and that rats receive. This means we need cans are designed and enacting rats live here too. to understand why we find rats so tougher bylaws that enshrine the This does not mean that we disturbing, and what can be done right to live in a healthy and rat- should love rats, nor does it mean to reduce that fear. free environment. that we need to leave them alone. These sorts of policies and Rather, it shifts the focus to man- programs that increase the aging the ecosystem of which rats URBAN ECOLOGIES resilience of the system have the are a part, rather than focusing on potential to curtail the physical An ecosystem lens also directs the rats themselves. and psychological damage us to look at areas of vulnerability Once we recognize that we are done by rats. The result is that and resilience within the system. managing a system, it becomes co-existence with rats will come When it comes to rats, our homes clear that leadership and strategic to seem no more unthinkable are the most obvious place of vul- planning are critical. The very than our co-existence with, for nerability, where the relationship concept of a system is that the instance, squirrels. whole is more than the sum of between rats and people is least its parts; this is the antithesis of acceptable. However, private res- idences are often the areas most This article was originally published in the reductionist approach that The Conversation: theconversation.com/living- we’re accustomed to that deals ignored by municipal powers. with-rats-involves-understanding-the-city-as- an-ecosystem-118383 with infestations on a case-by- Also, rats and rat-related case basis. issues disproportionately affect Illustration: Margie and the Moon the and Illustration: Margie

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 41 When the Airplane Landed at UBC How Brock Hall came to host the international debut of one of the hottest bands of the Sixties

BY ERWIN WODARCZAK ILLUSTRATION BY MARGIE AND THE MOON

42 TREK / ALUMNI UBC What we now think of During the Camp Campus craze, Special Events staged avant-garde as “the Sixties” argu- performances and art exhibitions; movie nights featuring obscure cult films, Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan of ably didn’t appear at the Apes, and “the first Porky Pig car- toon ever made”; and a “Happening” in the Auditorium: “an allegorical and the UBC campus un- artistic atrocity” featuring free-style painting with audience participation. Perhaps Farr and the committee’s til the decade was half biggest coup, however, was bringing one of the top new bands of the burgeoning California popular music over. But by January scene to UBC, not once but twice in one month: Jefferson Airplane. The band had only formed the pre- 1966 it had definitely vious summer in San Francisco, yet were already one of the hottest groups in California. They were signed to arrived, in the form of record for RCA Victor, for which they received a substantial $25,000 advance. However, they had not yet the “Camp Campus.” released any recordings. They had also not played any concerts outside the San Francisco Bay area. “Camp” can be defined as “a social To attract out-of-town perform- practice” that functions “as a style ers to UBC, Murray Farr had two and performance identity for several standard procedures. One was to types of entertainment…. Where contact their management directly, high art necessarily incorporates book the show, and then contact other beauty and value, camp necessarily organizations and convince them to needs to be lively, audacious and also book the act for either just before dynamic…. [It] opposes satisfaction or after the UBC date. He would and seeks to challenge.” (Wikipedia) then arrange a package deal with – or, as more succinctly defined by the act’s management to lower costs. The Ubyssey in its January 21 edition, Alternatively, Farr would hear that “things so far out they’re in.” an act was already booked elsewhere The camp phenomenon at UBC was in Vancouver and make a deal either enabled by the Alma Mater Society’s with the venue owner or the perform- Special Events Committee, which er’s management for an additional had a reputation in those days for show on campus. Based on surviving innovative programming. “We’re spe- records, the latter is most likely what cial because we bring things which happened to bring Jefferson Airplane wouldn’t otherwise come to UBC,” to campus. committee chairman Murray Farr The band was booked to play once boasted to The Ubyssey. “We ap- three shows from January 14 to 16 peal to only a segment of the campus at The Afterthought, one of the first with each event, but in a given year, psychedelic nightclubs in Vancouver, everybody finds something to enjoy.” located at the Kitsilano Theatre on

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 43 West 4th Avenue (now the Russian But that wasn’t the end of Farr’s Kaukonen (lead guitar), Paul Kantner Community Hall). The opening deal-making. What exactly hap- (rhythm guitar, vocals), Jack Casady act was to be local group The Tom pened is unknown, but in the Friday, (bass), and Skip Spence (drums). The Northcott Trio. These shows were January 14 edition of The Ubyssey show was a preview of their three- intended to introduce the Airplane there appeared a small advertisement night stand at The Afterthought that to the world outside San Francisco – their international debut. It is likely that Murray Farr contacted the Airplane’s manager, “The Jefferson Airplane lands Matthew Katz, to book additional shows either immediately before or today noon in Brock. Will Brock after the concerts at The Afterthought. Their agreement was documented survive? Only for those who are in the AMS minutes for January 20. The student council approved “the out of their heads. 50 cents.” contract… between the Alma Mater A note in the “Tween Classes” section Society and Mr. M. Katy [sic], representing the Jefferson Airplane, of The Ubyssey, January 14, 1966. to provide entertainment at the Special Events Dance on January 22, 1966 at the U.B.C. Armouries saying simply “The Jefferson Airplane weekend, which inspired a near- at a cost of 50 percent of net.” Loves You.” Students thinking that incoherent rave by The Ubyssey’s the ad was plugging the group’s shows Ian Cameron published the follow- at The Afterthought were likely ing Tuesday: surprised to see a much larger one Last weekend, in a small, dingy, on page 12 that read: There’s Still smoke-filled, ill-lit hall, a new religion HIGHS Time Brother! – To Hear The Jefferson came to Vancouver. Airplane – Today – Brock 50¢ 12:30 – The high priests at these initial rites AND a special event. A note in the “Tween were six young people who call them- LOWS Classes” section confirmed it: The selves the Jefferson Airplane, and three Jefferson Airplane lands today noon even younger men who pass under Whether in Brock. Will Brock survive? Only the collective cognomen of The [Tom] performing as for those who are out of their heads. Northcott Trio. Jefferson Airplane 50 cents. The scene outdid the most bacchana- or the late-period No records survive of whatever lian orgies of the long-gone but not for- Starship, the arrangement Farr had made for this gotten Black Masses of the dark ages. band’s #1 songs last-minute show, but the band might The parishioners writhed in convul- hit rock’s highest highs – and have arrived early in Vancouver sive spasms to the erotic pulsation of lowest lows. and had time to kill before their 5,000 torturedecibles [sic] being forced

>> Afterthought shows, and it may through spaces that were obviously have been a simple handshake deal never made to accommodate them…. BEST between him and Katz. The write- The music itself was wild. The “Somebody up in UBC’s yearbook, The Totem, Jefferson Airplane, from Frisco, are to Love” and published later that year complained a great, great group…. “White Rabbit” that the show “was a sudden decision The dancing was something else. (1967) and the promotion was virtually nil.” It combines the thrust and counterplay 500 Greatest In the end, according to The Totem, of flamenco with the motions of a sail- Songs of All Jefferson Airplane … scored a direct or’s hornpipe gone berserk. Time: Rolling hit at a dance-concert in Brock. All Wow. Between reviews like that, Stone flocked to the new kings of camp on more substantial advertising in the >> campus – no one else on campus wore following Friday’s Ubyssey, and cord bell-bottoms, necklaces, a pro- likely word-of-mouth among the WORST “We Built fusion of rings. Despite the loudness student population, the show at the This City” (1985) everyone assimilated all the fresh Armouries on Saturday, January 22 material the group presented. was an even bigger hit. The student Worst Song of All Time: Blender The band’s membership at that time newspaper later reported that “600 consisted of Signe Toly Anderson turned up to writhe along with [the] (vocals), Marty Balin (vocals), Jorma mop-haired pop group.” The year-end

44 TREK / ALUMNI UBC financial report of the Special Events Committee recorded a profit on both shows: $71.70 (presumably Brock Hall) and $141.22. To put the UBC shows in historical perspective, only a few months later singer Signe Toly Anderson and drummer Skip Spence would be replaced by Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden, respectively. It was with that line-up that the Airplane would go on to record such classics as “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.” The Afterthought concerts are today well-documented online with set-lists, copies of posters, and even bootleg recordings. The shows at UBC, not so much. In Jefferson Airplane’s semi-official biography Got a Revolution! they warrant only a passing mention as “a university gig also scheduled.” Inquiries made by this writer to the band’s official website for additional documentation were unsuccessful. However, fans of Sixties music, and in particular of Jefferson Airplane, should remember that UBC and the “Camp Campus” did indeed host the international debut of one of the top bands of the era.

2020-21 alumni UBC Board of Directors

SENIOR MANAGERS MEMBERS AT LARGE EX‑OFFICIO: OF THE BOARD Terms Ending 2021 Terms Ending 2022 UBC President & Vice‑Chancellor OF DIRECTORS Amir Adnani, BSc’01 Aleem Bandali, BA’99 Santa J. Ono Shelina Esmail, BA’93 Ian Banks, BA’92 Chair UBC Chancellor Randy Findlay, BASc’73 Miranda Huron, BA’02, MEd’16 Ross Langford, BCom’89, LLB’89 Steven Lewis Point, LLB’85, LLD’13 Debra Hewson, BA’81 Patricia Mohr, BA’68, MA’70 Vice-Chair Ross Langford, BCom’89, LLB’89 Fred Withers, BCom’77 Vice‑President, Development Debra Hewson, BA’81 Leslie Lee, BCom’84 & Alumni Engagement; Terms Ending 2023 Rahim Moloo, LLB’05 President’s Designate Treasurer Anna Fung, BA’81, LLB’84 Shom Sen, BCom’84 Heather McCaw, BCom’86 Aleem Bandali, BA’99 Grant Munro, BSc’01 Laura Silvester, BCom’11 Associate Vice‑President / Executive Director, alumni UBC Natalie Cook Zywicki

Ross Debra Aleem Amir Shelina Randy Leslie Rahim Santa Steven Langford Hewson Bandali Adnani Esmail Findlay Lee Maloo J. Ono Lewis Point

Shom Ian Miranda Patricia Fred Anna Grant Laura Heather Natalie Sen Banks Huron Mohr Withers Fung Munro Silvester McCaw Cook Zywicki

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 45 FINDINGS COVID-19 Close-Up

Powerful imaging THE RESEARCH: In our lab at UBC, we Sriram Subramaniam, a are able to determine technology is revealing the professor in UBC’s depart- the structures of proteins, ment of biochemistry such as the viral spike, at COVID-19 virus in all its atomic and molecular biology, atomic detail in less than detail, providing blueprints for is capturing pictures of a day, providing powerful the COVID-19 spike protein blueprints for drug and the design of more effective at near-atomic resolution vaccine design. to see how well various For example, cryo-electron drugs and vaccines. antibodies bind to and microscopy might be used block the virus. in evaluating immune THE BOTTOM LINE: responses elicited by early The work has already vaccine candidates by char- helped to uncover how acterizing how they bind one antibody-based drug, to the spike protein. The known as Ab8, prevents antibodies may also be used and neutralizes the virus. as therapeutics themselves in patients actively suffering HOW DO YOU CREATE from COVID-19. THE IMAGES? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a hundred thousand times TO DEVELOP smaller than the size of ANTIBODY-BASED a pinhead, making it un- THERAPIES TO TREAT detectable using a regular COVID-19? light microscope. The Most experts estimate it proteins on the surface could take almost a year of a virus are even smaller. before there’s a vaccine To visualize the detailed that is effective and widely shapes of viruses and pro- available. In the meantime, teins, we use cryo-electron there’s an urgent need for microscopes. This powerful antibody-based therapies imaging technology uses to stem the progression beams of electrons to and spread of COVID-19. visualize shapes of tissues Understanding how and cells using ultra-cool- these antibodies bind, ing, or “cryo” techniques and neutralize the virus, – essentially, the imaging is crucial because it can be of samples at liquid nitro- used by researchers who gen temperatures. are developing treatments to understand and ultimately WHAT EXACTLY DO YOUR reduce drug-related SNAPSHOTS CAPTURE? side effects. We’re generating structural This is not just a critical images of the viral spike element for treatment protein, which enables the though. Knowing which coronavirus to enter human types of antibodies provide cells. Ultimately, we’ll be protection against virus able to better understand spread – and which ones the “hotspots” on the spike are ineffective – will be protein and provide informa- essential in the evaluation Atomic model of the COVID-19 spike protein, captured tion on how to improve the of antibodies produced using cryo-electron microscopy technology at UBC. potency of treatments. in vaccine trials. Naidoo Robin Photo:

46 TREK / ALUMNI UBC Motion-activated cameras are monitoring wildlife presence on the trails in and around BC’s South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park.

YOU RECENTLY HELPED TO UNCOVER HOW ONE ANTIBODY- BASED DRUG, KNOWN AS AB8, PREVENTS AND NEUTRALIZES THE VIRUS. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FINDING? Working with a team of scientists from the US, we employed our electron microscopy and advanced computing infrastructure at UBC to help evaluate and understand how this par- This particular finding has portant than human activity ticular drug – constructed potential implications for HIDDEN in determining how often from anantibody component both the prevention and wildlife including grizzly 10 times smaller than a treatment of COVID-19. bear, black bear, moose, full-sized antibody – neu- The drug’s tiny size not CAMERAS mule deer and wolf used tralizes the virus in animal only increases its potential the trails. models. We have similar for diffusion in tissues to MONITOR However, deeper analysis information emerging from better neutralize the virus, of trail use captured by our studies with other but also makes it possible the cameras showed that antibodies. Our expectation to administer by alternative WILDLIFE all wildlife tended to avoid is that we will be able to use routes – including inhalation. places that were recently the structural information Importantly, it only binds THE RESEARCH: visited by recreational to the virus, leaving human users. And they avoided we derive about the precise Forestry professor Cole cells untouched, which is mountain bikers and motor- footprints of antibody Burton and Robin Naidoo, binding to develop more a good sign that it won’t adjunct professor at the ized vehicles significantly effective ways to stop have negative side effects Institute for Resources, more than they did hikers SARS-CoV-2 in its tracks. in people. Environment and Sustain- and horseback riders. The ability, are observing how researchers hope their human activity is affecting longer-term research will wildlife in protected areas. eventually be used to “In our lab at UBC, we inform public policy. BOTTOM LINE: Wildlife avoids areas are able to determine recently visited by humans.

the structures of proteins, UBC researchers placed SURVIVAL ODDS motion-activated cameras such as the viral spike, at on the trails in and around THE RESEARCH: BC’s South Chilcotin Moun- Dr. Brian Grunau of UBC’s tains Provincial Park as part atomic detail in less than department of Emergency of a multi-year study of the Medicine led a study to region. Overall, they found a day, providing power- compare survival rates of that environmental factors – cardiac arrest patients treat- like the elevation or the ful blueprints for drug and ed at the scene with those condition of the forest of patients transported around a camera location to hospital. vaccine design.” – were generally more im-

Photo: Robin Naidoo Robin Photo: – Sriram Subramaniam

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 47 FINDINGS

BOTTOM LINE: the scene of the cardiac arrest that Tarek Sayed suggests that increasing The chances of surviving a cardiac are available in hospital. Secondly, the width of longitudinal road surface arrest among patients transported to transporting a patient with cardiac markings from four inches to six or hospital are slim compared to those arrest to hospital can interfere with eight inches can be a simple and cost treated at the scene. important ongoing treatments, such effective way of preventing accidents as CPR, defibrillation, and medications. and saving lives. WHAT DID YOUR STUDY FIND? Thus, there is often no advantage of The research was based on an Our study, which included nearly transporting a patient with ongoing analysis of eight years’ of traffic and 44,000 patients from across North CPR to hospital, but rather paramedics collision data for 38 rural highway America including British Columbia should dedicate their efforts and ex- segments in BC, Alberta and Quebec. and Ontario, found that cardiac arrest pertise at the scene. After edge lines, median lines and patients who are transported to centrelines at the sites were widened hospital during resuscitation had a between 2012 and 2013, total colli- greater chance of dying than patients sions were reduced by 12 per cent, treated at the scene. Among patients LIVES ON THE LINE and run-off-the-road collisions by who were immediately transported to 19 per cent. hospital, only 3.8 per cent survived Previous research indicated that and were discharged compared to THE RESEARCH: increasing the width of pavement 12.6 per cent for patients treated at Civil engineering professor Tarek markings can enhance visibility and the scene. Sayed explored how the size of road driver comfort, but the few studies markings affects collision rates. that analyzed real-world collision WHY ARE SURVIVAL RATES BOTTOM LINE: data had not been conclusive. “More Canadian road authorities should Increasing the width of road markings HIGHER WHEN PATIENTS ARE consider widening their pavement substantially reduces collisions. TREATED ON-SCENE? markings, particularly in areas where Paramedics are experts in cardiac run-off-the-road collisions are com- A study of multiple highways in Canada arrest resuscitations, and can apply mon,” says Sayed. nearly all cardiac arrest treatments at by UBC civil engineering professor

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TREK / ALUMNI UBC 49 THE SCOOP 4. WHEN DID THE UBC THUNDERBIRDS FOOT- BALL TEAM FIRST WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS Pranks, punks, VANIER CUP? and prizes a. 1962 b. 1972 c. 1982 d. 1992 1. HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM 5. ON APRIL 1, 2019, A THE OKANAGAN CAMPUS SENIOR UBC OFFICIAL SINCE IT OPENED ANNOUNCED… 15 YEARS AGO? a. that an annual jousting a. More than 6,000 match was set to take b. More than 13,000 place between students c. More than 19,000 from UBC and SFU d. More than 28,000 b. that classes about 16th century English Literature would be 2. WHICH TERM WAS COINED replaced with classes BY SCI-FI WRITER AND UBC about 20th century ALUM WILLIAM GIBSON, American sitcoms BA’77? c. that a new satellite UBC campus was set to open a. Steampunk in Hawaii in 2021 b. Cyberspace d. that the position of c. Internet president of the univer- d. Ipad sity would henceforth be passed down hereditarily

3. “FREE LOVE COMES TO CAMPUS” IS A NEWSPAPER 1: C. UBC Okanagan now has 19,028 alumni. HEADLINE FROM... 2: B. Cyberspace. Although he was a central figure in the cyber- a. 1928 (when the UBC Social punk literary movement, Gibson Sciences Club organized didn’t coin that term. a controversial debate about 3: A. In a 1980s booklet of student memories, Samuel Leonard birth control) Simpson, BA’28, recalls his mem- b. 1968 (when UBC students bership in a little-known Social skinny-dipped in the faculty Sciences club that caused a major club pool) fuss with its debate on birth control. c. 1969 (when a Woodstock- “Big headlines hit the front pages esque concert took place of both city papers,” he claimed. on the Main Library lawn) “FREE LOVE COMES TO CAMPUS and much more of the same.” d. 1967 (when UBC students 4: C. TSN commentators said it was started living on “Love the best team in Canadian history Street” in Kitsilano) 5: C. Hawaii campus. President Santa Ono posted the April Fools’ joke on his Twitter account last year. He also promised that faculty, staff, and students moving to Hawaii would be given

free sunscreen. Beisinger Raymond Illustrations:

50 TREK / ALUMNI UBC NEWS FLASH

2.4%

Increase in VANCOUVER OKANAGAN UBC student enrolment STEVEN POINT FACING UP TO SYSTEMIC RACISM numbers as of The Honourable Steven Lewis In June, President Ono announced plans for a UBC advisory September 21 Point, former Lieutenant Governor committee on systemic racism, and his intention to first consult – even as the of BC, was appointed in June as with the UBC Black Caucus – followed by other marginalized university the university’s 19th Chancellor. groups – on a strategy for addressing racism and bias at the transitions to As well as holding two UBC university. The Black Caucus itself was established early this year, offering most degrees, he was awarded an after Black master’s student Shelby McPhee was racially profiled of its classes honorary degree in 2013 for his and wrongly accused of stealing at a major conference on the online exceptional commitment in the Vancouver campus. It unites and advocates for Black faculty field of law, legal and Aboriginal members, staff and students, and is bringing dialogue and education, and his leadership education about racism in Canada to the broader community. in the Indigenous community. Mr. Point is a member of the Skowkale First Nation and has DESIGNS FOR LIVING DOWNTOWN DIGS: 3,000+ an outstanding record of service UBC’s School of Architecture 550 DOYLE AVENUE to the people of British Columbia. & Landscape Architecture This summer UBC and the City Number of (SALA) is relaunching its of Kelowna announced plans for UBC courses $50,000 Margolese National a mixed-use development that now being Design for Living Prize, which combines academic space to sup- taught celebrates a Canadian citizen port community-facing programs in virtual who has made a significant and services, as well as office and classrooms contribution to the built residential space. It will strengthen environment and the people existing connections with com- within it. It highlights creative munity partners working in health, solutions to address issues tech, business, and arts and cul- involving urbanization, climate ture, as well as allow for new ones. change, the natural envi- While the building remains vacant, 13/19% ronment, social equity, and it will be made available for this human health and well-being. year’s Emergency Winter Shelter Current Nominations open in February: program, with approximately occupancy margoleseprize.com 40 beds operated by the Kelowna of student LESLEY CORMACK Gospel Mission. residences Lesley Cormack began her role BOOST FOR SPINAL on Vancouver as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and CORD RESEARCH UNCORKED: NEW WINE and Okanagan Principal of UBC Okanagan on An international research CENTRE HQ campuses, July 1. She was previously Dean team co-led by researchers The Okanagan Valley now boasts respectively of arts at the University of Alberta. at UBC and Vancouver Coastal a new research hub, after a shift Professor Cormack is an historian Health Research Institute of headquarters for UBC’s Wine of early modern science, specializ- has been awarded a $48 mil- Research Centre (WRC) from ing in geography and mathematics lion CAD grant by the US Vancouver to the vineyard-laden in 16th-century England. “UBC Defence Advanced Research region of Kelowna. First estab- Okanagan has built a well-earned Project Agency (DARPA). lished in 1999 on the Vancouver reputation as an innovative The team’s five-year project campus, the WRC is dedicated to research university with an entre- aims to revolutionize treat- interdisciplinary research, educa- preneurial spirit, and I can’t wait ments for patients with spinal tion and development, with a core to contribute to its success,” said cord injury using innovative, mission to support a sustainable Cormack, upon her appointment. implantable technologies. Canadian grape and wine industry. Illustrations: Raymond Beisinger Raymond Illustrations:

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 51 CAREER CORNER

OBSERVATION ITS ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE An entrepreneurial mindset means creating your own opportunities versus filling an existing role. It allows you to think a little bit differently and be tactical. What stands out with entre- preneurs is that they have, at a relatively young age, a good perspective in terms of what they want to do. Most do things that they're interested in and passionate about. Others aren’t happy with just getting a day job and want a certain lifestyle. And so they come to this realization that starting their own business is the path forward.

TAKEAWAY FIND YOUR NORTH STAR If you don't have conviction in your direction, you don't have a career plan. If you don't have that North Star, then you’re never going to Thinking have that framework to make those types of decisions. Figuring out what you want to do should be your priority, because if Like an you do something that you don't generally want to do, you will not be successful at it. As soon as you figure it out, it gets so Entrepreneur much easier. When you're a new graduate, the one thing that you have as an advantage is time, so Is an entrepreneurial mindset an advantage try different things. in times of change and job uncertainty? And is The more breadth of experience it something that can be learned? The following you get, both professional or edited highlights are from an interview on this personal, the more you're going to topic with Grant Munro, BSc’01, co-founder start to notice what you naturally of Flashstock Technology, which in 2017 was gravitate to. What are the things acquired by Shutterstock for CAD$75 million. that don't require a lot of energy? What are the things that you can More recently, Munro founded a B2B venture work on much longer than others? studio aimed at launching three to four new What are the things you get software businesses a year, and this fall excited about? Use those signals he joined the board of alumni UBC. to tell you what you actually like, and from that derive a better plan.

52 TREK / ALUMNI UBC OBSERVATION OBSERVATION IT’S NOT ABOUT EGO IT’S HIGHLY CREATIVE There's no ego involved. A lot of I think starting a business, building entrepreneurs are interested in a product, is one of the ultimate fields in which they may not have manifestations of creativity. The expertise, and they'll go out and general folklore around startups on learn as much as possible and be the tech scene is that someone's really humble. They won't assume walking down the street, and this that they know everything. And light bulb appears over their head, then, when they've identified and they run off to start this amaz- something that they think is ing world-changing company. But meaningful, they don't sit on it for that’s not how it works. I've inter- months and years – they actually viewed more than 50 founders in go out and do something about it. the last three or four weeks about how they came up with their idea. “Entrepreneurs TAKEAWAY In most cases, it's derived from the identification of a problem. are not vision- HAVE A PLAN Entrepreneurs are not visionaries, generally. They are people who And so what if you take that take these sideways glances, and aries, generally. mindset into any capacity, whether they notice problems. They ask you're looking for your first job, They are people questions like: Why is it like this? or you've lost your job and you're And what if it was like this? And looking for another? who take these how would I do that? No matter what position or what role you’re interested in, there sideways glances, TAKEAWAY are hundreds of people out there and they notice who have done it already. Go and introduce yourself. Say: Hey, PAY ATTENTION problems.” I want to learn about all the stuff You can't read a book or take that you do. People love talking a course and become an entre- – Grant Munro, BSc’01, about themselves. preneur. It's much more of an founder of Flashstock To achieve something meaning- apprenticeship. The acquisition Technolog y ful, you have to break it out into of an entrepreneurial mindset takes big blocks. Know what you want to practice and time and mentorship. do, and then work backwards from Once you're thoughtful about it there. Most people go through and you do it in practice, it be- life just taking one opportunity comes really straightforward. TO LISTEN TO THE at a time, and not thinking about There's always a mindfulness FULL PODCAST, VISIT what's next and what's next and component. Instead of sticking alumni.ubc.ca/careers what's next. But if you're able to your nose in an Instagram feed, do that, I think it gives you way keep your head up and observe the more perspective in terms of your things around you – simple things. career choices. If you're waiting in line to order a Once you've realized what your coffee, for example, observe what goal is, there are tangible steps the interaction is like and ask: Why that you can take every week to is it that way? Are there opportuni- move the ball forward to get you ties to make it better? Maybe not. to there. A planning mentality, cou- But if you practice asking those pled with a long-term perspective types of questions, it will become on your life and how long things your default mindset and you'll actually take, is really powerful. start to see problems everywhere. And I think that's the point where it gets really interesting for people.

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 53 AGENDA Things

to>> Do>> >>

BOOKWORMS UNITE! VIRTUAL VIRTUOSITY TOP UP YOUR KARMA

Join the alumni UBC Online Book Club. Black Artistic Expressions in BC: Score karma points by lending a Books discussed focus on lifelong Dawn Pemberton helping hand. You can apply for the learning, leadership, harnessing December 16, 2020, 4:30-5:30 PM following two volunteer opportunities creativity, communication skills and The last in a four-part series celebrat- at alumni.ubc.ca/volunteer much more. It’s free, exclusive to ing of Black lives, Black culture and UBC alumni, and more than 1,800 activism, and Black musical and poetic Support K-12 students are already participating. Next pick: expression in BC. Sign up for this live As a result of COVID-19, students across event featuring the “new Queen of BC are experiencing a very different Essentialism: The Disciplined Canadian soul,” at equity.ubc.ca academic year. UBC students founded Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown Mentoring the Stars to provide academ- Do you ever find yourself at the end PostSecret and the Pandemic: ic support to grade K-12 students by of a work day wondering what you’ve Struggles, Successes & Strategies organizing free virtual tutoring. Volun- accomplished? Caught in a loop of January 28, 2021, time and details teer tutors are matched with students Zoom calls, endless emails and trivial TBD (alumni.ubc.ca/events) based on preferences, availability, and tasks, our core work can sometimes Frank Warren is the sole founder of the areas of knowledge. No previous tutor- get lost in the weeds. In Essentialism, PostSecret Project, a growing collection ing experience required. Greg McKeown shows us how to focus of over a million artful secrets, mailed on what really matters. Regain control anonymously to him on postcards. Help job seekers of your own choices and redirect Known as “the most trusted stranger in Job seekers often aren’t aware how your energy toward “the right thing, the world,” Warren’s all new interactive their resume and interview style is in the right way, at the right time.” presentation reveals our true feelings perceived by a potential employer. Start 2021 on the right foot. about how the pandemic has disrupted Help out students and other alumni by our lives, while providing evidence- providing resume feedback and online READING AND DISCUSSION based tools to aid young people and interview practice. Volunteers must BEGIN JANUARY 7 adults as they navigate through this have at least two years’ experience alumni.ubc.ca/online-book-club challenging, but temporary crisis. supporting hiring decisions.

54 TREK / ALUMNI UBC alumni UBC Monthly Contests on the alumni UBC App!

JANUARY A $100 gift card for the UBC Bookstore means you get to curl up by the fire with a good book.

FEBRUARY Celebrate Valentine’s Day by crafting a meal DID YOU MISS? at home with a $100 gift card Explore an Exhibit A Discussion with from Fresh Prep. Claudia Rankine MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY The UBC Phil Lind Initia- MARCH Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience tive hosted a discussion Take in the beauty with Claudia Rankine of Vancouver’s Running until January 3. Book your ticket at moa.ubc.ca as part of its Thinking cherry blossoms Kent Monkman’s Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience is While Black series. with four tickets to an 80-piece exhibit of paintings, installations and sculptures, Rankine is a New York the UBC Botanical in dialogue with historical artifacts, that takes you on a journey Times bestselling poet, Garden and Nitobe through the past 150 years of Canada. It is a journey that reclaims MacArthur “Genius” Memorial Garden. Award recipient, and reinserts Indigenous voices into the collective memory of National Book Critics our country, challenging and shattering colonial ideas of our APRIL Circle Award winner history. The artist’s gender fluid, time-travelling alter-ego, Look sharp in and a professor at Yale. a customized Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, is the narrator of this story, told UBC Techno Lite through the lens of Indigenous resilience. WATCH THE Jacket, part of RECORDING AT the alumni UBC lindinitiative.ubc.ca/ merchandise line claudia-rankine available at the BEATY MUSEUM OF BIODIVERSITY UBC Bookstore. COVID-19 Fire Followers by Megan Majewski and Sharon Roberts Webinar Series Online exhibition: beatymuseum.ubc.ca/firefollowers Since March, this series GET THE Painter Megan Majewski and writer Sharon Roberts wanted to has been offering expert ALUMNI UBC APP create an exhibit that can show both the destruction and the perspectives on every- alumni.ubc.ca/app great beauty that comes from wildfire. By providing a forum for thing from maintaining those who have witnessed this cycle, but also to give a voice to physical and mental the forests themselves, the artists aim to bring greater awareness well-being during lock- down to food security. of the necessity of wildfire in building a healthy forest. They hope to shape the public perception of what a healthy forest ACCESS ALL looks like, why it can be helpful to let fires burn when there is 10 WEBINARS AT no immediate risk to a community, and how individuals can alumni.ubc.ca/covid-19- contribute to decreasing wildfire risk. webinars

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 55 IN MEMORIAM 40s

RICHARD “DICK” STEWART, BSC(AGR)’49, BCOM’49 Richard “Dick” Stewart passed away on May 12, 2020, at the age of 94. Born at Kelowna General Hospital on April 8, 1926, Dick was one of four Robert H. Lee, Bob was extremely devoted to the children raised by Richard (Dick) CM, OBC, BCom’56, LLD’96 service of his alma mater, serving and Mary (Whitworth) Stewart. two terms on the UBC Board of His parents’ generosity and support The UBC community is mourning Governors. He was installed as for others became the values that the loss of Dr. Robert (Bob) H. Lee, chancellor in 1993, served as chair Dick upheld his entire life. He was CM, OBC, former chancellor of UBC of the UBC Foundation, and was introduced to the benefits of team- and chairman of UBC Properties Trust, the honorary chair of UBC’s start work through adventures shared with who passed away on February 19, 2020. an evolution campaign. UBC award- childhood friends, and to his love of An esteemed philanthropist, vision- ed Bob an Honorary Doctorate music through time spent singing in ary and beloved community leader, of Laws in 1996, and in 2006 the choirs and performing in musicals Bob Lee was one of UBC’s most accom- Robert H. Lee Graduate School at as a boy. plished alumni. He dedicated much the Sauder School of Business was Dick was a dedicated scholar at of his life, expertise and resources to established in recognition of Bob’s Kelowna High School and enlisted building a brighter future for British generous gift to support graduate in the Armed Forces after gradu- Columbians and Canadians, and he business education. In 1999, Bob re- ating. After the war, he headed to embodied the mission of UBC and ceived the alumni UBC Achievement UBC with his brother Jim and his its vision for its alumni. Award for volunteer leadership, and dear friend Dave Leckie, graduating Bob was born and raised in Vancouver. in appreciation of his personal and with a double major in Agriculture The traditional Confucian values of other contributions to UBC totalling and Commerce. humility, modesty, honesty, studi- over $15 million, members of the After graduation, Dick worked ousness, and social duty were deeply community came together to name in his father’s nursery and orchard ingrained in him from his father, the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre business, Stewart Brothers Nursery, Ronald Bick Lee. Bob, who was affec- in his honour. It opened in 2015. and met Rosemary Boswell, a pretty, tionately referred to as “Mr. UBC,” Of Bob’s many contributions to auburn-haired girl who worked at the met his wife, Lily, while they were UBC, the one of which he was nearby trucking company. Eventually, attending UBC, and their four children most proud is the creation of UBC he captured her heart and hand, (Carol, Derek, Leslie and Graham) and Properties Trust, which he founded and they married in 1956, raising three children-in-law (Carlota, John in 1988 and then served as chairman four children. Murphy and Angela) are also alumni. for 23 years. The trust was the first Dick had a keen interest in grape After graduating from UBC in 1956 in North America of its kind, and has growing and his family opened with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, earned the university over $1.7 bil- Quails’ Gate Estate Winery in 1989 he overcame racial barriers and worked lion dollars to date with a projected on a farm site he had purchased in hard to establish a successful career in $4 billion dollars in perpetuity. 1956 in West Kelowna. Dick was real estate and founded the Prospero Bob’s vision inspired similar projects proud of his heritage, his commu- Group of Companies. at universities around the world, nity, his family, and his business. Over the years, Bob touched the lives making this one of the single most He was a member of Kelowna City of many. He set the bar for community influential ideas for bolstering educa- Council from 1968-1972 and the involvement through longstanding tion funding in recent history. UBC Board of Governors from commitment to many organizations, Bob’s thoughtfulness and generosity 1981-1987. He loved his hometown including the Robert Lee YMCA, the were far-reaching, and UBC was a and felt a deep responsibility to Robert & Lily Lee Family Community particularly fortunate beneficiary of serve the community. Health Centre and the VGH & UBC his attention and presence. He will be He leaves behind his wife Rosemary, Hospital Foundation. He was a mem- deeply missed by our community, but children Ben, Cynthia (Scott) ber of the Order of British Columbia his legacy remains all around us and Walker, Andrea (Dave) McFadden, and the Order of Canada. will live on for generations. Tony (Lisa), 12 grandchildren, eight

56 TREK / ALUMNI UBC great-grandchildren, and numerous much-loved nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers Bill and Jim, sister Kathleen and grandson Andrew. 50s

HAROLD E. HOLLAND, BASC’50 Harold passed away on September Rt. Hon. John Turner, but returned to Canada when he was 28, 2019. He was a War Veteran PC, CC, QC, BA’49 called to the Quebec bar. He was in the Engineering Class of 1950. greatly admired by his peers. In 2007, After graduating he re-enlisted in Former Canadian prime minister he received an alumni UBC Award the RCAF for a full career, retir- John Turner died this September at of Distinction. ing in Ottawa. He is survived by the age of 91, at his family home in Turner’s career in government began three daughters. Toronto. He held a place in govern- in 1962, when he was elected as a ment for nearly 30 years and was Liberal MP in Montreal. He became JOHN C. at the centre of some of the most a rising star in the party and served WILLIAMS, formative political debates in modern as a minister in the Trudeau cabinet BCOM’58 Canadian history. As a politician, he from 1968 to 1975. While serving John will be deeply will be remembered for being digni- as justice minister, Turner oversaw missed by his family fied, principled, and highly respected changes to the Criminal Code that and many friends. by both allies and rivals. Within led to the decriminalization of John loved saying, the UBC community, Turner will homosexuality and a number of other “I’ve never worked be remembered as a distinguished important social reforms. In June a day in my life,” and pursued his student, athlete, and alumnus who 1984, after Pierre Trudeau retired, career with passion until his last made significant contributions to our Turner was sworn into office as Prime days. He founded J.C. Williams university, our city, and our country. Minister and held the position for Group, which was a second family Turner’s time at UBC began in 1945, 79 days before being defeated by to him, and became the go-to expert when he enrolled in the Faculty of Brian Mulroney in the federal elec- on retail for over 40 years. John was Arts at age 16. His impact was felt tion. He was the first UBC graduate inducted into the Canadian Retail almost immediately. By 1947, “Chick” to serve as prime minister. For the Hall of Fame in 2013. He volunteered Turner, as he was called by his next six years, Turner served as the extensively for many organizations classmates, was the fastest sprinter leader of the Opposition, and was and fundraised for UBC, his Alma in Canada and a sports editor for a notable critic of Canada’s emerging Mater. He organized reunions at the Ubyssey student newspaper. free trade agreements. He also served UBC with classmates from Magee He had a popular column called as Vancouver Quadra’s MP during Secondary School in Vancouver, “Chalk Talk by Chick,” which that time. He was a strong presence where he grew up. John had a loving, became known for its sharp wit and in Canadian politics for a generation, happy marriage to Maureen, and was snappy prose. He qualified for the and widely admired for his desire grateful to his first wife, Betty, for Canadian Olympic team in 1948 but to make Canada a nation of, in his their years together raising their four did not participate due to a serious words, “equality and excellence.” children. He loved his kids and was knee injury. Turner is remembered The government held a state delighted in his eight grandchildren. as one of the finest athletes to ever funeral for Turner, who was a devout John grew more joyful throughout compete for the Thunderbirds. Catholic, at St. Michael’s Cathedral his life. At work, his voicemail mes- He was also one of UBC’s most Basilica in Toronto on October 6. sage always concluded with “Make exemplary students academically, it a great one!” and his emails always graduating with an honours degree ended with “Carpe Diem!” John’s and earning a Rhodes Scholarship final days took him to Vancouver at just 19 years of age. He attended for a reunion where he joined his Oxford University and earned a BA, brothers for a road trip. John died Jurisprudence, Bachelor of Civil Law, peacefully in the car with his broth- and MA. He began work on a doctor- ers at his side. ate degree at the Sorbonne in Paris

TREK / ALUMNI UBC 57 JOHN (JANOS) will be missed by his sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Dave) Tromp; three grand- SZAUER, BSC’59 Frances Collard and Elaine Julien, sons: Trayke, Tyson and Jeremiah John Szauer passed and nieces and nephews. Donations Van Veen; two brothers: Jelmer away peacefully on may be made to Heart & Stroke (Wendy) Tromp and Ralph (Ginny) September 10, 2019, Foundation or Canadian Pulmonary Tromp as well as numerous extended in Williams Lake, Fibrosis Foundation. family members and friends. BC. Born in Hungary Born and raised in Duncan, Lou had

on January 10, 1932, 70s a love for the outdoors that led to a John was educated in Budapest, be- long career in the forest industry as ginning studies at the University a Registered Professional Forester. of Sopron in 1954 (interrupted by He studied at UBC, and his career the Hungarian Revolution of 1956), JANICE L. MCCORMICK, took Lou, Alice and their daughters to then emigrating to Canada in 1957 MSC’77, PHD’97 live in Williams Lake and Smithers. with fellow Sopron students and The School of Nursing was saddened During the summers Lou enjoyed faculty to complete his education to hear about the recent death of camping with his family and running at UBC. In 1958 he married Sopron Janice McCormick, a member of the Tromp U-Pick Strawberry Farm. classmate Klara Szikszai, and they the very first cohort of students to Lou and Alice returned to Vancouver graduated together from UBC’s graduate from our PhD Program, Island several years ago in prepa- Faculty of Forestry Sopron Division Nursing. Janice was a pediatric nurse ration for his retirement. He will in 1959. John joined the BC Forest from Manitoba, who found her way to greatly missed. Service in Prince George, becoming Vancouver after holding nursing posi- a Registered Professional Forester. tions in New Orleans (Tulane Medical RICHARD In 1972 he transferred to Williams Centre, Dialysis) and Montreal (Royal BERWICK, Lake, worked as planning forester Vic). She obtained her MSN from MED’79, DED’88 and forestry manager, then region- UBC in 1977 and worked as a clinical Dr. Richard Franklin al manager of the Cariboo Forest nurse specialist at BC Children’s Berwick, an inter- Region from 1984 to 1988. From Hospital. Returning to UBC to enter nationally respected 1989 to 1991 he served as commis- the PhD program, she was one of the UBC sociolinguist, sioner on the BC Forest Resources first nursing program graduates to passed away at the Commission. John and Klara then cross the stage in the spring of 1997. age of 74 on June 3, 2019, in his North operated Greentop Forestry Services On completion of her PhD, Janice Vancouver home. Rick pioneered until her sudden passing in 1999. taught at the UVic School of Nursing, practitioner research in the field John is remembered by daughter Langara Campus. She loved the of intercultural communication at Katalin; sons John, Thomas (Sarah) engagement with students and Kobe University of Commerce and and Augustine (Johanne); grand- the continuing scholarly work. In Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University daughters Kalysta & Matiya; family addition to critical reflections on in Japan, and at UBC, his alma mater, in Belgium and Hungary; and optimizing pediatric care, Janice had and Capilano University. He was friends and colleagues. a fierce commitment to equality and the original academic coordinator power imbalance issues. Her disser- of the UBC Ritsumeikan Academic

60s tation research reflected a feminist Exchange in 1991. For his efforts, post-structural examination of power Capilano University has created an discourses within clinical nursing annual student community service practice. Janice will be remembered award in his name. DAVID EDWARD as a wonderful friend and colleague. Known for his sense of humour COLLARD, BSC’64 and intellect, Rick loved to debate, David passed away LUITJE K. TROMP, and always had a sincere, open and peacefully at home BSC’79 unbiased perspective on people in Kemptville on It is with great from all cultures and walks of life. Saturday, October sadness we announce His many students, colleagues and 26, 2019, at the the passing of Lou friends in Canada and Japan will be age of 78 years. He Tromp. After a cou- seeing him in all their familiar places. was the beloved husband of Judith rageous battle with He is survived by his beloved wife, Collard (née Moore), proud father of cancer, Lou passed Taeko; daughter, Yuri; son, Benjamin; Christopher (Tommi), Candina, Jason away peacefully, with Alice, his wife granddaughter, Maya; and extended and Jonathan, and loving grandpa of of 40 years, faithfully by his side. He family and friends. A celebration of Elle, Hunter and August. He was pre- also leaves to mourn their two daugh- life was held in North Vancouver on deceased by his brother Robert. He ters: Colleen (Devon) Van Veen and June 30.

58 TREK / ALUMNI UBC 80s Dave actively followed his dreams. of years of thinking, researching, He had fallen in love with the art writing, editing and compilation. of stone sculpture and this passion At the SFU book launch, Dave was DAVID FUSHTEY, led him to start a program called his usual humble, funny and deeply LLB’88 “Stoneworks” for street youth. But thoughtful self. On October 8, 2019, his commitment to words and the Dave was passionately involved in David Fushtey rule of law drew him back to create politics. Most recently he worked passed away at The Governance Counsel in 2002 to build bridges with China and St. John Hospice to focus on his passion for gover- was privileged to visit Huawei in in Vancouver at nance – the effective exercise of Shenzhen with students in May 2019, the age of 64. Dave informed authority. where he developed enduring rela- was born on August 21, 1955, in Dave was a Fellow at the Centre tionships. Dave loved his work with Guelph, Ontario, to Ruth and Steve for Dialogue at Simon Fraser youth, mentoring many students and Fushtey. Beloved husband to Moura University (SFU) where he valued young professionals. He truly wanted Quayle, Dave was a true Renaissance the staff and students of the Centre. to help people understand how legal man: a landscape architect, sculp- These experiences led to the May and regulatory systems should evolve tor and multi-talented lawyer. He 2019 publication of The Director and to enable positive relationships in our loved music, art and beauty. Law the Manager: Law and Governance complex world. was everything Dave believed in – in a Digital Age: Machiavelli Had it From a young age Dave showed discipline, justice and consideration Easy. The 1000-page text includes leadership, kindness and courage, of others without compromising direction for the emerging discipline and he worked tirelessly in his pursuit his values. of governance and was a celebration of justice. He will be dearly missed.

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giftandestateplanning.ubc.ca or 604.822.5373 INTERNATIONAL GIFTS SECURITIES THE LAST WORD WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU EVER LEARNED? It’s never too late to learn something new.

WHAT WAS YOUR NICKNAME AT SCHOOL? Didn’t really have one. But an old boss used to yell “BANG!” at me.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? As a Vancouverite, my umbrella? But I’ve lost hundreds of them in my lifetime so... >>

WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE OF CLAIM YOUR BIOGRAPHY? TO FAME Be Back in 5 Minutes Stars as Janet Kim WHAT ITEM HAVE YOU OWNED FOR in CBC’s Kim’s THE LONGEST TIME? Convenience. I’ve kept lots of childhood mementos, but somewhere there’s an autographed

>> photo of Seth Green that I’m pretty sure I’ve had forever. CHILDHOOD CAREER WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR EPITAPH ASPIRATIONS TO SAY? Librarian, She’s standing behind you. construction worker, fairy. IN WHICH ERA WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE LIVED, AND WHY? Andrea Bang, 1960s. Minus all the crappy parts, BA’12 (Psychology) >> it’d be fashion, art and music heaven.

LATEST WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Lifelong learner, PROJECT Bed bugs. Refreshing her tea-worshipper, high school WHAT IS YOUR LATEST PURCHASE? slayer of chairs Spanish. A box of donuts and mini Oreos. NAME THE SKILL OR TALENT YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE. WHO WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO? Superhuman strength. Buffy! I would practice “slaying” chairs. Vampires and chairs – same-same. WHICH FAMOUS PERSON (LIVING OR DEAD) DO YOU THINK (OR HAVE YOU DESCRIBE THE PLACE YOU MOST LIKE BEEN TOLD) YOU MOST RESEMBLE? TO SPEND TIME. I’ve been told I resemble a bunch of At home. Or a buffet. different people. But my favourite was in high school when someone showed WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU READ? a magazine to me, pointed at a random Doretta Lau’s How Does a Single Blade Asian person and genuinely said “Andrea, of Grass Thank the Sun? It’s a bunch it’s your twin!” We looked nothing alike. of short stories featuring young Asian Canadian voices. They’re funny, witty, WHAT IS YOUR PET PEEVE? somber and heartbreaking. When people try to enter a full train before letting anyone out. WHAT OR WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD? DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL MOTTO? Recently went to see Hannah Gadsby Tea is delicious. perform live and was rolling! Oh, and kids are guaranteed laughs. They’re WHAT ARE YOUR UBC HIGHLIGHTS? so brutally honest and carefree. Sleeping in the Aquatic Centre. Photo: Crystal Marie Sing Photography

60 TREK / ALUMNI UBC Photo: Crystal Marie Sing Photography Contact Contact an becoming in Interested visit or It’s the easiest way to access yourUBC alumni DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE CUT THAT ARE A BENEFITS HearingLife Advantage Gym Gold’s Prep Fresh EyeBuyDirect Share Evo Car Holidays Contiki Choice Hotels Dilawri Preferred Canada Across Broadway Avis Budget Canada adidas CURRENT PARTNERS exclusiveUBC alumni an o‰ youer love on our list of a great deal, you’re sure to find a car, or simply enjoy getting to travel, enjoy live theatre, need Whether you’re fan, love asports [email protected] alumni.ubc.ca/savings alumni UBC alumni APP ALUMNI UBC Unhaggle Trip Merchant Surmesur Resort Hill Sparkling Simons RW&Co Reitmans Us Plus Pets Modo Mapiful partners. corporate partner? benefits. alumni can save save can alumni 30% on regular regular on 30% and winter with with winter and price items and and items price the latest looks looks latest the Gear up for fall fall for up Gear 15% o15% outlet Canada. UBC Canada. UBC items online. items from adidas