Natalia Iwanek (she/they) is a currently completing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and a minor in Political Science at Athabasca University.
For many students who do not fit the traditional educational mold, whether as a result of work commitments, family duties, or even identity, alternative schooling options offer a sense of hope. Although uncommon, over the years, innovative schools with unique philosophies have quietly educated generations of graduates worldwide. Notable examples include distance education options, such… Read more »
The most recent AUSU Council Meeting took place on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm MT. In attendance were President Brandon Simmons (Meeting Chair), Vice President Finance and Administration (VPFA) Brittany Daigle, Councillor Sarah Blayney Lew, Councillor Darcie Fleming, Councillor Christine Hudder, Councillor Amanda Lipinski, Councillor Alice Namu, Councillor Lisa Oracheski, Councillor… Read more »
Canada’s recent federal election revealed an increasing intolerance, with cries of “Wexit” separatism, anti-immigrant diatribes, and overt xenophobia. However, this is not a new phenomenon. The Social Credit Party first introduced Albertans to the concept of secession in the 1930s. Unrest re-emerged once again during the 1970s, as Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s initiatives of bilingualism, the… Read more »
Recent reports reveal that, despite violence, 2019 was statistically much safer for journalists than previous years. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based NGO, reported the deaths of forty-nine journalists worldwide, the lowest death toll in sixteen years. Founded in 1985 in Montpellier, France, RSF defends and promotes freedom of information in the journalism industry. 2020’s… Read more »
Albertan travel brochures frequently attract visitors to the province with glossy images of aquamarine waters, majestic snow-capped peaks, and roving wildlife. This marketing technique has proven effective, as thousands of visitors, myself included, flock to Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise each year. Although I settled in Calgary in 2012, and Edmonton in 2015, my fondest… Read more »
Beginning on January 6, 2020, as part of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)-funded national research project, Athabasca University will be conducting migrant worker-related field research in and around Calgary. As a federal research-funding agency, the SSHRC “promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences.” Coordinated by Jason… Read more »
Contentious topics, such as freedom of expression versus truth and reconciliation, are once again at the forefront of Canadian news with recent events at the University of Regina. On January 23, George Elliot Clarke’s lecture at the University entitled “Truth and Reconciliation’ versus ‘the Murdered and Missing’: Examining Indigenous Experiences of (In)Justice in Four Saskatchewan… Read more »
On March 15, 2019, the Ontario Ministry of Education released “Education that Works for You — Modernizing Classrooms,” which states that starting in 2020-2021, “the government will centralize the delivery of all e-learning courses to allow students greater access to programming and educational opportunities, no matter where they live in Ontario.” Although few specific details… Read more »
Canadian students can have difficulty navigating today’s educational systems. Globalization has rapidly increased in recent years, resulting in a faster paced society; one driven by consumption, relentless productivity, and a hunger for external validation. There is pressure for students to excel in school, obtain high-paying careers, take care of their families, and accumulate wealth. But… Read more »