Harm Reduction in the Time of Covid
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FREE. WEEKLY. VOLUME 75—ISSUE 05—OCT. 8, 2020 LIBRARY SECURITY COMES THE UPS AND DOWNS OF RWB DANCES AT A DISTANCE—P3 DOWN—P11 DIAGNOSES—P15 HARM REDUCTION IN THE TIME OF COVID UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG AND DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER ON THE COVER Arts and culture editor Beth Schellenberg looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Winnipeg's ongoing overdose crisis. Read more on page 7. STRIFE OF BRIAN THOMAS PASHKO @THOMASPASHKO MANAGING EDITOR This week’s cover feature, by arts and culture editor Beth Schellenberg, ex- amines how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated Manitoba’s overdose crisis. But longtime readers of The Uniter will recognize that this crisis didn’t start with COVID. Since Brian Pallister’s election in 2016, The Uniter has been examining how the premier’s approach to health- care and drug policy has wreaked hav- oc on all Manitobans, especially those who use drugs. Whether it’s his opposition to safe-in- jection sites, his moralizing tone or his emphasis on policing over access to care, Pallister has taken every possible opportunity to further criminalize some of the most vulnerable Manitobans. It’s upsetting, but not surprising. It’s entirely in line with his overarching approach to governance, which almost always sub- stitutes compassion with cruelty. His and his government’s callous positions on COVID aid have severely affected Manitobans at risk of overdos- ing, leaving community organizations to pick up the slack. But his disastrous handling of the pandemic has only worsened the deep and long-running problems he’s created. It was in November 2019, months before the pandemic started, that Uniter comments editor Haley Pauls examined the difficulty in accessing lo- cal detox care. In April 2019, I penned an op-ed about how Pallister’s closures of clinics and emergency rooms coin- cided with not just an increase in over- doses, but also an outbreak of syphilis and a drastic decrease in the quality of prenatal and neonatal care. Has Pallister’s government been collecting data on which communities, demographics or neighbourhoods are impacted by cuts? In April 2019, the answer to that question was “no.” Eighteen months later, things have only gotten worse. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA ILLUSTRATION BY GABRIELLE FUNK Columnist Hannah Magnusson writes about the benefits and pitfalls of mental illness diagnoses in this week'sLife on the Borderline. Read more on @TheUniter @TheUniter facebook.com/ page 15. theuniter UNITER STAFF CONTRIBUTORS CONTACT US SUBMISSIONS MANAGING EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER WRITERS GENERAL INQUIRIES Submissions of articles, letters, graphics and photos are encouraged, however, all new contributors (with Thomas Pashko — [email protected] Callie Lugosi — [email protected] Abigail Byle [email protected] Matthew Flisfeder the exception of letters to the editor) must attend a BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Hannah Magnusson ADVERTISING 45-minute volunteer orientation workshop to ensure Olivia Norquay — [email protected] Keeley Braunstein-Black — [email protected] Jerrad Peters [email protected] that the volunteer understands all of the publication’s basic guidelines. CREATIVE DIRECTOR STAFF ILLUSTRATOR Talia Steele — [email protected] Gabrielle Funk — [email protected] In-person volunteer orientations are currently ROOM 0RM14 suspended due to COVID-19, but over-the-phone UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR FEATURES REPORTER and remote orientations can be arranged. Please 515 PORTAGE AVENUE Beth Schellenberg — [email protected] Keesha Harewood — [email protected] email [email protected] for more details. WINNIPEG, MANITOBA FEATURES EDITOR ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER R3B 2E9 Deadline for advertisements is noon Friday, six days Charlie Morin — [email protected] Naaman Sturrup — [email protected] TREATY ONE TERRITORY prior to publication. The Uniter reserves the right to HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS NATION refuse to print material submitted by volunteers. The CITY EDITOR ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER Uniter will not print submissions that are homophobic, Alex Neufeldt — [email protected] Hannah Foulger — [email protected] MOUSELAND PRESS BOARD misogynistic, transphobic, ableist, racist or libellous. COMMENTS EDITOR CITY REPORTER OF DIRECTORS: Kristin Annable We also reserve the right to edit for length/style. Haley Pauls — [email protected] Cierra Bettens — [email protected] (chair), Anifat Olawoyin, Larissa Peck, Andrew Tod, and CAMPUS REPORTER COPY & STYLE EDITOR Jack Walker — For inquiries Danielle Doiron — [email protected] Callum Goulet-Kilgour — [email protected] email: [email protected] PHOTO EDITOR VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR Daniel Crump — [email protected] Vacant ARTS THE UNITER OCTOBER 8, 2020 3 BACK TO STUDIO Royal Winnipeg Ballet returns with smaller performance series HANNAH FOULGER ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER @FOULGERSCOVFEFE @SPEAKSTORY The annual Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) creation but with some revivals of more production of The Nutcracker has been can- neo-classical genres,” Lewis says. “We will celled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. present smaller works where we respect The Nutcracker has been part of the RWB whatever the (public health) guidelines are season since 1999. In lieu of the beloved clas- in place at the time. In November, it will be sic, the RWB will present stripped-down per- movement-driven. It is not going to be about formance pieces in their Founder’s Studio. costumes, props. It is essentially a black-box RWB was forced to cancel several shows performance.” this year, including their spring and fall line- The benefit of a black-box studio, as op- up, which would have been at the Centennial posed to the proscenium stage at their reg- Concert Hall with the Winnipeg Symphony ular venue, the Centennial Concert Hall, is Orchestra, and a full production with the that the seating can be arranged to allow for spectacle of set, props and lighting design. different audience configurations. Due to “We took an incremental approach,” social distancing guidelines, the venue will RWB artistic director and CEO André only allow for 40 to 50 people for the per- PHOTO BY CALLIE LUGOSI Lewis says. “We decided to watch what was formances, depending on the composition happening.” Under normal circumstances, of bubbles, and the guidelines set forth by Royal Winnipeg Ballet's artistic director and CEO André Lewis they would have started their season in July the government at that time. with Ballet in the Park. The December performance will feature Associate artistic director Tara Birtwhis- suites with a holiday theme, including from finding ways to safely present their work “Creativity continues. The human spirit tle says, “Although our production of The The Nutcracker. Lewis says “The Nutcracker to the public during the pandemic, as their will continue no matter what,” Lewis says. Nutcracker has been cancelled, we’re happy will have a more classical base (than the No- budgets have tightened. “We have to find new, creative ways of doing to have dancers back in the studio, separat- vember performance). The suites will respect “We can’t offer the production, but we this. That is what makes the art form excit- ed in smaller groups, social distancing with the tradition of The Nutcracker.” can still offer dance,” Birtwhistle says. “The ing. We can do this. We have to do this.” masks, but they are still together doing what RWB, along with Shakespeare in the Ru- arts have always brought everybody togeth- they love to do.” ins, Martha Street Studio and other arts or- er. If it is going to be in smaller places, if it’s The studio series performances will be in The dancers will be back in the studio the ganizations, received stimulus funding from going to be with smaller audiences, then the third week of November and the third second week of October, preparing for the the Canada Council for the Arts. RWB also we’ll still do that. We’ll still bring dance, but week of December in the RWB Founder’s first performance in late November. These benefited from the federal government’s it will be in a different space.” Studio at 380 Graham Ave. The venue is performances will be around 90 minutes wage subsidy, but they still had to lay off The budgets may be smaller, performanc- wheelchair accessible. More information long, with no intermission. some of their staff. es may look different, but the dancers are on how to buy tickets and live stream the “November will be focused more on Many different arts organizations are still dancing. studio series is on the RWB website. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW Percy gives insight into complexities of farming and patent rights NAAMAN STURRUP ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER @NAAMANSTURRUP Manitoba farms account for 12.3 per cent seems genuinely invested in helping the of Canada’s agricultural area. Canola is the Schmeisers, but over time, hidden motives main field crop in the province, making surface, and her integrity is questioned as Percy arguably one of the most fitting mov- she begins to put publicity and fundraising ies for Manitoba’s agricultural community. before the well-being of the Schmeisers. Percy, filmed in Canada, the United Johnson gives some insight into some of the States and India, is set to be released in the- main characters’ developments in the film. atres on Oct. 9. Directed by Clark Johnson, In situations like Salcau’s, “the question the film is set in Bruno, Sask. in 1997. always comes up, ‘does the end justify the Based on a true story, it stars Christo- means?’” he says. pher Walken as Percy Schmeiser, a small- “Whatever the cause and the (support- town Saskatchewan farmer who becomes ing) non-profit organization are, you have embroiled in a legal battle with the agri- to gather the money to be effective. Her cultural corporation Monsanto over the main challenge was that she ended up use of their genetically modified canola.