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Hiking for Dummies

Shreya Ivaturi
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Hey everyone! I recently got back from a quick trip to Vancouver and now I can confidently say that I understand why it’s such a popular city. Everything from its landscape to its diverse communities makes Vancouver such a great vacation spot. One highlight from my trip and almost all of my trips in Canada for that matter are the hiking trails that are easily accessible. Hiking is one of my favorite activities to do on vacation. Even though I feel like I’m dying most of the time, I’m always rewarded with gorgeous views and improved health. I highly recommend you check out a few trails this summer, especially those of you who live in Calgary. I wanted to write a post with a few tips and tricks to make your hiking experience exceptional. Most of these tips are ones that I have  had to learn the hard way so I hope they are helpful (especially for beginners)!

 

NOTE: I am by no means a professional hiker so don’t only depend on me before you start your first hike!

 

1. Less is more

When packing for your hiking trip, make sure you pack light. I know this may sound self-explanatory but you would be surprised how many people over pack (I was one of these people). In order to limit the number of items you’re bringing, you need to do some research. Find out the weather, temperature, and difficulty of the hike. For example, don’t bring an entire bottle of sunblock if you know you will be hiking in an area with lots of tree coverage for a short period. Instead, put it on beforehand or bring a small, travel size bottle with you. This concept also applies to snacks! Only bring necessary food with you (and yes, I know it’s tempting). Trust me, when you’re hiking up that steep hill, that extra weight is going to feel like rocks in your bag.

2. Water!

I cannot emphasize how important it is for you to bring water with you on your hikes! This is especially true before you go on your first hike. You won’t know how thirsty you’re going to get and if you will need it for any emergencies. After you have become a little familiar with hiking, then you can reduce the amount of water you take with you. But no matter what, always ensure you’re hydrated to avoid heat stroke, especially in extremely hot areas. 

 

3. Be loud!

As a first time hiker, I knew nothing about animals that could be found roaming the trails, so as a result, I didn’t bring any bear spray with me. If I’m being totally honest, I’ve gone on over five hikes since then and I still don’t have bear spray with me. If you have some, that’s great, but it’s only useful when you actually come into an encounter with a bear or wildlife. In order to prevent any scary encounters in the first place, make noise throughout your trip. This could be by by talking loudly to other hikers or playing some music. Either way, this noise will alert bears or other potentially dangerous wildlife that there is something unusual nearby and they will hopefully stay away. 

 

4. Wear proper footwear!

When I say this, I don’t mean that you need to have professional hiking shoes (especially if you’re doing an easy hike). I personally hike in my sneakers. Just make sure your shoes are comfortable and have good grip so you avoid injury!

 

I hope some of these tips were helpful for you newbies and have fun hiking!

 

Here are a few of my favorite hikes/hiking areas in Alberta and BC!

  1. Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Banff (Alberta)
  2. Crypt Lake in Waterton
  3. Grouse Mountain in Vancouver
  4. Tunnel Bluffs in BC
  5. Lake Louise in Alberta

 

Have a great summer and stay safe! Be sure to snap some pictures on your hikes!

 

How to get through a Heat Wave

Samarah Kanji
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While many individuals in Canada wish for hot weather during the cold winter days, many places experienced hot, record-breaking temperatures this summer. In the past week, Environment Canada issued heat warnings for Alberta, British Columbia, and certain parts of Manitoba, Yukon, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories. With that said, staying cool will be more important than ever to avoid health issues. Here are some things you can do to beat the heat, especially if you do not have an air conditioner:

1. Eat light food:

Eating light food will not only give help you feel good, but it also gives your body a break from working overtime to digest heavier food. Instead, try having water-rich foods to help you stay hydrated. Have a lot of fruits, vegetables, and smoothies. Of course, do not forget about ice cream or popsicles!

Pin on Tasty Treats

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2. Spray Yourself:

If you have access to aspray bottle, you could DIY a cooling spray to spritz yourself to keep your body cool. You could go with cold ice water or, use peppermint aloe vera, citrus, and coconut. Places to spray are the wrist, elbow, knees, the back of the neck, feet, and temples. You can also check Pinterest for more ideas.

Learn how to make this simple cooling aloe spray for a midday pick-me-up.

 

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3. Reduce Power and Close the Blinds:

If it is not necessary, try not to use the oven, dishwasher, television, printers, and keeping the lights on. This way, you use less energy and money on your electricity bill. Closing the blinds will also keep the extra heat from the sun out of the house

dark room filtered light through window blinds L1020699 | by Lynn Friedman  3

4. Go near water:

While it is best to avoid the heat and go to the shade, why not enjoy a summer day outside in the water with family and friends? Places in Calgary you can go to are the Elbow or Bow river. There are also places in Banff and outside of Calgary such as Johnson Lake. There are even splash parks or community pools. Remember to keep in mind water safety if you plan on rafting down the river. Taking a cold bath or shower will also help you cool off if you do not want to leave the house. You can also dip your feet in a container of water or kiddie pool.

Rafting in Calgary | Family Fun Calgary 4

5. Wet a towel or cloth to drape on your body:

It is suggested to dampen a cloth to put on your shoulders, neck, head, wrist and behind the knees.

Travel laundry hacks: 15 tricks travellers love | escape.com.au 5

 

6. Go to the basement:

You could take some board games and cold drinks and sit in the basement. You will find it cool while still enjoying yourself. Sleeping in the basement will also help you feel cooler and let your sleep more easily.

7. Go to indoor places:

If you want to get out of the house, try going to the mall, movie theatres, or any air-conditioned place. You can get some shopping done while staying cool!

Location Chalet de Luxe - Palace Courchevel, Hôtel 5 étoiles 6

8. Stay Hydrated:

Drink lots of water even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body will lose a lot of water due to the sweat in the heat. Avoid caffeine as it can dehydrate your body.

 

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I hope these tricks help you cool off as we face the heat! Remember to wear lots of sunscreen and stay safe in the sun!

 

Sources:

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/heatwave-15-ways-to-beat-the-heat

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-record-breaking-heat-wave-across-western-canada-prompts-health/

https://www.economical.com/en/blog/economical-blog/june-2017/7-tips-to-beat-the-heat-without-ac

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Mixing COVID-19 Vaccines: Its Implications and Potential

David Shao
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At first glance, the concept of mixing and matching two different vaccines is perplexing—if not horrifying. Perhaps it’s because we tend to think of vaccines like medicines: we feel like we have to complete the vaccine series by getting two doses of the same vaccine. Otherwise, we feel they might not be as effective.

And perhaps these worries are justified. After all, large-scale studies have only shown these vaccines’ effectiveness when used individually. However, new research is confirming that there are, in fact, significant benefits to mixing COVID-19 vaccines. Those are on both a medical and social level.

The short—and often unstable—supply of vaccines has forced many medical authorities to consider alternatives to the standard vaccine series.

But many of the earliest studies on vaccine mixing were largely caused by concerns over the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. This particular vaccine has seen rare instances of blood clotting, leading authorities in Canada—and elsewhere—to temporarily halt its use. With many left with just a single dose, switching to another brand seemed like the only option for full immunization.

Trials and Research

Last Monday, a study by researchers from the University of Oxford showed that one dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca with one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech produced a “robust” immune response [1].

Similar results have been found in a German study, where this combination has outperformed two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine based on measured immune response [2]. It is as good as or better than two doses of the Pfizer vaccine [1, 2].

A central cause behind these results could be due to triggering responses through two separate channels, which could provoke a stronger immune response than either one individually. However, it’s unclear whether these results will hold up in large-scale efficacy studies.

The research so far has only measured the direct immune response individuals have when given the vaccine—antibodies, T-cell responses, and so on. What researchers have yet to show is how the mixed vaccine series performs in the real world. A large-scale study, similar to a phase III clinical trial, would be required.

Although we still don’t know much about efficacy, preliminary results for the AstraZeneca/Pfizer combination are fairly promising.

Going forward, the study from the University of Oxford, known as Com-COV, is presently testing other combinations, including with the Moderna and Novavax vaccines [3].

Safety

None of the trials performed with mixed vaccines have reported any severe side effects, though the U.K. Com-COV study did note a slight increase in side effects compared to two doses of the same vaccine [1]. However, because these trials were only performed with a few hundred participants, rare adverse effects may still exist. The risk of this sort of vaccine series could very well be heightened compared to same-vaccine doses.

Overall, individuals and governments will have to decide whether to go ahead with mixed vaccine series despite potential risks. For this reason, some researchers continue to recommend two doses of the same vaccine [3].

However, the growing priority is likely getting as many people fully vaccinated as possible. And if governments can do that will mixed vaccine programs, they could overcome certain supply challenges between manufacturers.

In early June, the Canadian government updated its recommendations for the mixing of vaccines between doses, giving more flexibility to what individuals can receive. Current guidelines suggest that an AstraZeneca dose can be followed up with either Pfizer or Moderna, while Pfizer and Moderna are themselves interchangeable due to their similar mRNA technology.

For everyone under 18, though, there’s currently not much choice. Though other vaccines are undergoing approval, the government has only approved Pfizer for use for individuals under 18. And as this topic is still developing, more news and guidelines from government agencies are sure to come.

Sources

  1. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-06-28-mixed-oxfordpfizer-vaccine-schedules-generate-robust-immune-response-against-covid, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3874014
  2. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.13.21258859
  3. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01805-2

Images: Featured/1

How to Minimize COVID Vaccine Side Effects

Cindy Lei
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The COVID vaccine isn’t the most terrifying thing in the world. When you first get poked by the needle, it feels no more painful than a mosquito bite. A few hours after getting jabbed, however, some nasty side effects start to pop up. Your arm becomes a sore, limp noodle. You feel nauseous and dizzy. And if you’re getting your second dose like I did three days ago, you get a burning fever. After getting both doses and seeing all my family members getting both doses as well, here are some tips that will help you make your vaccine side effects as painless as possible.

Before getting vaccinated, keep your body healthy and give yourself a lot of energy.

The vaccine works by triggering your immune response to COVID-19, and this immune response takes up a lot of energy. This, in turn, causes all of the vaccine’s side effects. Because the vaccine throws your body into overdrive, you should give yourself as much energy and strength as possible, so you can have enough energy for your immune response and to function with as little pain as possible. In the week leading up to my first and second dose, I ran 1.5 kilometers every day, ate fresh fruits and vegetables, and drank a full bottle of water. As a result, my body had a healthy supply of energy that allowed me to recover from vaccine side effects in less than two days. Make sure to pay attention to this especially on the day of your vaccine.

After getting vaccinated, drink water continuously.

Drinking lots of water helps with the flu and the cold, and it also helps relieve vaccine side effects. This is because your immune system needs water to function in many ways. Water boosts your circulation, speeds up your digestion, and cleans out waste in your body. Once you get vaccinated, fill up a bottle of water and drink it frequently. As soon as you finish the bottle, fill it up again and keep drinking. This is especially helpful if the vaccine makes you feel congested, because drinking water will clear out your sinuses.

Right after you get jabbed and your arm isn’t sore yet, move your jabbed arm around.

Arm soreness is the vaccine’s most frequent side effect. This is because your arm swells with blood to distribute the COVID antibodies and white blood cells created by the vaccine-triggered immune response. Moving and flexing your jabbed arm as much as possible before the soreness sets in will increase blood flow in the arm. As a result, the antibodies can travel around easier in your bloodstream and your arm swells less as a result. Doing this is very important! I didn’t move my arm at all after my first dose, and my arm felt like it was on fire a few hours after getting jabbed. However, I flexed and swung my arm after the second dose, and after the same amount of time, my arm was far less sore. My mom had the same experience, so this was definitely helpful to my family.

Sleep a lot (but not on your sore arm).

Sleeping is the best way to conserve energy. As said before, your body uses a lot of energy after getting vaccinated. If you sleep enough, you will have enough energy to produce an immune response without feeling too tired. However, if you like sleeping on your side, remember not to sleep on your sore arm! Putting pressure on the sore arm will cut off the blood flow there, undoing the effect of your arm flexing.

And that’s about it, at least from my experience! If you have any other tips on getting vaccinated, feel free to leave them in the comments below. If you’re uncertain about getting vaccinated, you can check out my post about getting my first dose. And despite all the vaccine’s side effects, their benefits highly outweigh their risks. While the side effects are painful, I’m glad to be fully immunized!

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Information Sources: 1/2/3

Food We Just Forgot About

Ranya Bajaj
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Get ready 2000s (and younger) kids.. time to stroll down memory lane.

 

First of all we gotta start with the snacks, if yk what I mean..

Dunkaroos:

Remember these guys? Well they got discontinued in Canada in 2018.

Goldfish a.k.a “the snack that smiles back”:

The pizza ones have my whole heart <33

Fruit by the Foot:

I’ve seen too many ads on Disney XD

Hi-Chew:

THEYRE FROM JAPAN?!??!??!?

Jelly-Cups? Fruit Cups?:

Really sus but they taste fire.

Kool-Aid:

No matter how hard I tried 75% of it always ended up on my uniform 🙁

Ok let’s move on to some of the more “hearty” meals

Lunchables:

Tbh I always ate them like a snack..

Pizza-Pops:

I burned my mouth eating these so many times; no regrets tho.

Potato Smiles:

im sry but i gotta eat em with ketchup

Eggos:

They aren’t just for El

That’s all I got! Hope you got some well-deserved nostalgia out of this and let me know if I missed anything really important.

Godspeed

Ranya

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Summer Tweets That Are A Little Too Relatable

Ranya Bajaj
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Summer Tweets That Are A Little Too Relatable

Yardy know what’s up. Enjoy!

sounds like a Khalid song to me
yes pls especially because we got our *summer reopening plan*
i fr can’t take naps during the day – but YES
the harsh reality of summa’ sometimes
“I Get Money” – 50 Cent
and thats on periodt.
yes let us hang on the roofs
just too relatable for my summer job/volunteering peeps. luv u sharon <33
oh.
HAHAH who says primary school doe

I might as well admit looks like we have gotten a bit off topic from the whole summer tweets. But hey, at least this post was educational. Not really but thanks for reading.

Take care, teddy bear

Ranya

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Tech in the Pandemic

Shreya Ivaturi
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A  mug filled to brim with tea patiently waits in front of a teenage girl.

She picks it up slowly enough to embrace its heat.

She takes a long, deep sip, meaning to place it back onto the table before her.

But she doesn’t.

Instead, letting the warmth from its contents seep through her skin to her achy bones.

It feels as though its temperature is gradually rising in her very hand.

Warmer, but not uncomfortable.

She shifts as if to set the mug down, hand and drink drifting away from its place of familiarity near her heart…

 

Ding

A dim, luminescent light bounces off the girl’s face for only a second but it’s already done it’s work.

That ding is too familiar.

The sound emitted travels through the ear straight to the heart,

It’s unique yet generic chime ripples through the blood to the rest of the body.

Muscles start to stiffen.

The jaw sets.

Knots are tied in the stomach.

 

Mug in hand, the girl continues to embrace the warmth of her drink, a little more now, causing her fingertips to tingle.

Her focus on that very mug seems to slowly drain away all of her tension, 

Eventually leaving her just as easeful as she had moments ago.

 

The only problem is that she knows what awaits her,

Wickedly laughing, blue light beaming from its rapacious eyes.

But for now, she will remain sitting, mug in hand. 

 

Inspiration

Over quarantine, the majority of the world was slammed into what seemed like a never ending period of despair. Technology made an appearance into our lives in ways that we never could have expected and with it, inevitably brought feelings of anxiety and stress. As COVID-19 seems to finally come to a close (still be cautious though!), I thought I would write something that reflected the feeling many had towards technology and school or work during the pandemic. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and have a restful summer break! 

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My Summer Bucket List

Shraavni Patankar
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In preparation for this summer, my best friends and I made a summer bucket list that would inspire us to enjoy our last few summers together before heading off to university. Now, this summer, we wanted to meet each other more often, try things we had never done but have always wanted to do and most of all, have fun!

What is a bucket list and its purpose?

Some of you may be wondering what a bucket list is and what it is used for, so let me explain. A bucket list a series of activities, goals and dreams that an individual wants to complete in their life. The purpose of this list is to make the most of life and complete as many activities and goals as possible before crossing it off and moving on to the next. By creating this list, an individual can form memorable experiences, try new things that may be out of their comfort zone and be excited to work towards something. In my case, I made a bucket list with my 3 best friends exclusively for this summer. 

What is on a bucket list?

A bucket list can include the activities an individual wants to do, goals that they want to work toward and much more. However, there is no set rule on what goes and cannot go on a bucket list. This list is completely based on the individual and their aspirations. Therefore, each list is completely different and personalized. 

My bucket list

Now that we have looked into what a bucket list is, its purpose and things that we can include on it, I would like to share some of the things that have made their way onto the bucket list that my friends and I made. Note: all of the things on this list will be done safely based on Covid-19 restrictions.

 Now, let’s begin! 

  • Going boating together at a lake 
  • Spending Canada Day together while watching the fireworks and having a BBQ
  • Stargazing with glow sticks 
  • Thrifting books at a bargain bookstore 
  • Visiting an arcade 
  • Getting boba together at our favorite place 
  • Baking and decorating cupcakes together
  • Having a water fight with water balloons, water guns, water sponges and more 
  • Playing volleyball on the trampoline 
  • Learning to drive and getting our licenses 
  • Going rollerblading together at a nearby park 
  • Going for a long drive to Banff, Kananaskis or Elbow Falls 
  • Holding a board games tournament 
  • Playing Among us in real life 
  • Going biking from the suburbs to downtown Calgary
  • Playing UNO together 
  • Making clay projects together and painting them 

Final Thoughts

That’s it! Now, some of the things on this list may seem unusual or outlandish, but they are things my friends and I want to do. For example, ever since Among Us came out, we have been hooked. Oftentimes, you can find us playing this game. Therefore, playing a game that is somewhat similar to Among Us in real life is something that excites us. In addition, we have only ever played UNO together online because of Covid-19. Therefore, playing this in real life is something that is meaningful and exciting for us. Since school has ended, we have also completed a couple things on this bucket list already. For example, we have already checked off the water fight and clay projects. Having shared my bucket list with you guys, I hope that I have inspired you to make one of your own. I truly believe that this is a great way to have meaningful experiences, step out of your comfort zone and do more of what you love!   

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Sources: 1

 

Cryptocurrency: What’s the Hype?

Bhavani Potdar
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What is cryptocurrency? 

Firstly, it is important to define what a cryptocurrency is. The simple definition of cryptocurrency is that “Cryptocurrency is a virtual currency that is supposed to act as a medium of exchange. It is based on a ledger (usually blockchain) which is decentralized (not based on issued or maintained by a central authority), and secured by cryptography.”

Even though cryptocurrency may seem a bit complicated, it can be explained by the means of an analogy. Down below, I have an analogy that explains the function of one specific type of cryptocurrency called Bitcoin, to help you familiarize cryptocurrency concepts much better:

“In a prison, there are no currencies. No one has access to money of any kind. But a prison, although small, is still a society. And a society needs to trade goods and services. Maybe someone is a barber. This person will cut people’s hair but wants something in return. Something that he can use to later go to his cellmate and give him in return for the book that he wants from him. The cellmate also needs something in return for the book to use for getting himself another book.

How do you do this without money?

Well, they use cigarettes as a currency. A hair cut is worth 20 packs. A chance to play basketball is worth 10 packs. A book is worth 5 packs and so on. There is a problem. There are not enough cigarettes inside the prison in each person’s hands to be able to do all the transactions. But everyone knows that once a week a new supply comes in. So instead of getting the packs from each other, they start “owing” each other some packs of cigarettes. Joey gets a haircut and he owes the barber 20 packs. The barber gets a book and owes John 5 packs. Once the new shipment comes in, everyone will settle their debts.

But how do we keep track of all this?

Well, everyone will have to carry a notebook with them. Whenever two people make a transaction, they both write it down in their books. Luke writes “I owe Johnny two packs” and Johnny writes “Luke owes me two packs”. This way we know who owes what to whom. But we all write everything in the same format. One transaction after another. So it becomes a long chain of transactions. If I know how many cigarettes I had at any point and go through the transactions after it, I can figure out how many cigarettes I will have.

Last problem: how do we know what people wrote in their books are correct and no one is faking transactions? I can go steal someones book and write a fake transaction in it.

Well, to overcome this we assign the wisest most trustworthy person in the prison as a witness. Whenever two people are making a transaction, he has to witness it and sign both books with his own signature. This way, we know that each transaction is witnessed by our trusted person and actually happened.

Cigarettes are bitcoin. Notebooks are ledgers. The agreed upon text format in the notebooks is blockchain. The wise persons are bitcoin miners.”

By Soroush Arghavan

Positives & Negatives of Cryptocurrency 

Now that you have understood the root of cryptocurrency, it is important to compare the positive and negative aspects of cryptocurrency. 

Pros

Compared to modern monetary systems, cryptocurrency presents many benefits which is why it is known to be “the currency of the future.” One of the most defining features of cryptocurrency is that, as mentioned before, it is decentralized or it is not maintained or issued by any central authority (like a bank or the government), which makes it “theoretically immune to any interference or manipulation.” Another benefit is that cryptocurrency is usually very secure since it is secured by cryptography, so hacking accounts would not be logically possible. In addition, another benefit is that it is technical issues that may occur within banks would not likely occur with the use of cryptocurrencies. So, basically in the end, cryptocurrencies are very secure, decentralized, and accessible, which makes them an ideal form of currency.

Cons

Cryptocurrency is also very controversial because of the negative aspects of this form of currency. Firstly, one negative aspect of cryptocurrency is the complications involved in the technology since there can always be loopholes found (for example, even though this may be very difficult, some worry about double-spending and fraud). Another con is that cryptocurrency may be susceptible to illegal activity since many cryptocurrency forms like bitcoin are theoretically ‘anonymous.’ In addition, another negative is that many cryptocurrencies (like bitcoin) may have a massive environmental impact since they require a tremendous amount of computing power (energy) for the algorithms to function. For example, it is said that bitcoin uses approximately 0.2% of the global energy consumption; to put that into perspective that surpasses the electricity consumption of Singapore and Portugal. 

Conclusion (TL;DR)

Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies are receiving a lot of hype on social media platforms. Now you have a basic understanding of what cryptocurrency is and how it functions, it can provide you with useful skills and knowledge on cryptocurrency technologies. If you are considering investing in cryptocurrencies, I would advise you to read & discover a little bit more about these technologies and weigh the pros & cons to see if it’s a worthwhile investment for you. Always remember, your investment is not dependent on your family, friends, relatives, or social media’s opinions, but rather on your opinion & ideas, the amount of financial risk you are willing to take, and your investment goals; it’s your decision. 

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Sources 1/2/3/4

What Bill C-12 Could Mean for Accountability in Climate Legislation

David Shao
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In April, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised Canada’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target to 40–45%. That means over the next nine years, Canada will have to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to meet only 55–60% of the emissions levels measured in 2005.

This all sounds great. But compared to other G7 countries, whose leaders met with the Prime Minister a few weeks back, it is unexceptional. Our neighbour, the US, aims to slash emissions by at least 50% by 2030; the UK, meanwhile, promised a 78% decrease in emissions levels (compared to 1990) by 2035. Indeed, some climate activist groups have even criticized the government for having the “weakest” of all 2030 reduction targets in the G7.

Although Canada’s long-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 is on par with the likes of other G7 nations, it will be a difficult goal to meet. And one step in getting there may be Bill C-12.

The bill is titled the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, and its main purpose is to hold the government accountable for the promise of net-zero by 2050. It requires the Minister of the Environment to set targets and plans for 2030 and every five years after that until 2050. (Climate activists and other MPs managed to add in an interim objective for 2026.) Frequent progress and assessment reports, along with an independent advisory body, are also mandated by this bill. Likewise, the Minister of Finance must produce an annual report detailing the economic impacts of any plans.

Three Months

Nevertheless, Bill C-12 didn’t make it through the Senate fast enough before parliament adjourned last Wednesday. They’ll return in September, but by then, it’s unclear where this bill could go.

The measures in this proposed legislation are a step in the right direction. But this bill, even if passed, can only overcome a small, though crucial, challenge.

Although the federal government has imposed stricter rules in recent years—with their 2019 carbon tax legislation, for example, we still don’t have a clear picture of the extent of the federal government’s powers on this issue. They managed to centralize the carbon tax at a base minimum. The Supreme Court has also affirmed the role of federalism in climate change legislation, but provinces still have considerable power over how federal mandates are implemented. If the federal government wants to enforce certain universal measures across Canada to meet its targets, further action may very well be necessary.

Ultimately, this bill is about transparency, which makes way for accountability. And that’s a good thing.

We’ll most likely know the result in a few months—three at the earliest. But even after this bill, the federal government still has a long way to go if they want to meet the goals they’ve set.

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Notion: The Ultimate Productivity Tool

Aarushi Bhargava
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If you’re anything like me, you probably love things like organizing, bullet journals, and planners, allow me to introduce you to (drum roll please) Notion. Notion is the solution to your productivity. It is the all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, wikis, and databases. It’s a web-based application that can also be used as an application on your laptop/computer. Notion is an organizational tool that is fully customizable. Fun fact, it is used by teams at Square, Pixar, Spotify, and even Nike.

Notion is an incredibly powerful tool. However, this means that it can get a little complicated for beginners. So, allow me to introduce you to the basics!

1.Workspaces

Notion can be divided into workspaces. This is a feature to take advantage of. I have separate workspaces for my Fitness Goals, School Work, and for my Extracurriculars. (Note: to create workspaces go to the “workspace switcher” in the top left of your notion window and click the symbol with three dots. This will give you the option to create a workspace) In my experience, creating separate workspaces is crucial as it keeps everything clear and organized.

2. Basic Functions

You can click anywhere and start typing. This is the fun part; Use the / button to view different types of content that you can add. This includes things such as:

  • Sub-pages
  • To-do lists
  • Headers
  • Bulleted Lists
  • Quotes
  • Dividers
  • Tables
  • Kanban boards
  • Embedded Calenders
  • Timelines
  • Image Galleries
  • and so much more

By combining these functions you can create a unique system to fit your needs. For example, I have a daily agenda that I use as well as a reading section where I write down the key takeaways from books that I’ve read. The cool thing (or the even cooler thing, I should say) is that you can embed google docs and google sheets, right from your google drive. The possibilities are simply endless.

 

3. Notion for Students

Recently, I have discovered the creative ways in which Notion can be used for students. This includes two main features: active recall lists and spaced repetition. Notion allows for the creation of toggle lists. What this means is that when the toggle is open, you can see all of the sub-bullet points under the main bullet point. Or you can close it to hide the content inside. This can be used for active recall. While studying, create test questions for yourself and write them down along with your answers. When studying for a test, quiz yourself with those questions. Studies have shown that the process of active recall is essential as it actively stimulates memory during the learning process. Combining the methods of active recall with spaced repetition is the key to strong learning. Spaced repetition is the method of repetitively learning the same content at increasing time intervals in order to better learn the content. To learn how to use these two methods, check out studycollab’s video.

This only goes to show just how much you can do with Notion.

 

4. What’s next.

So, I’ve told you about the amazingness of Notion. What’s next? I urge you to get Notion. It’s free, and trust me when I say that it will. change. your. life.

There’s only so much I can tell you about the notion, so check out other articles on it or even watch some videos (Just a warning that once you start watching such videos, it will be hard to stop)

 

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Things you can do in Calgary this summer with the reopening plans!

Hannah Kuipers
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In the beginning of July we are officially moving to the stage 3 reopening phase, which means we can do a few more things to enjoy our summer this year! Because of this I have put together a list of places in Calgary that you can visit. Most of these are outside activities but I have also included some inside places for those potentially rainy days. One thing to remember is that Calgary has extended the mask mandate beyond July 1st, even for fully vaccinated people, so we still have to follow those rules and continue sanitizing and practicing social distancing. 

Water Parks/Pools

Water parks and outdoor pools are opening soon due to the heat warning in effect in Southern Alberta. Most of the spray parks are free to enter, and the outdoor pools are also relatively cheap. Here are just a few of them:

Prairie Winds Park

Bowness Park  

Bowview Outdoor Pool 

Forest Lawn Outdoor Pool

Plus many more! You can click here to check out more places + information about these parks from the city of Calgary. 

Inglewood Night Market

This market is only open for a few select dates in the summer, but they will also be set up at their original location at 10 Avenue & 10 Street SE // 11 Avenue & 11 Street for August and September. People can buy locally sourced food, handmade clothing, antiques, and so on. The cost to enter is $5 which goes directly to the Music Mile Society

 

Van Gogh Exhibit

The Van Gogh Exhibit is coming to Calgary July 30, but tickets are already being sold (and are going pretty fast!). It is an immersive experience which will show you his best work like you’ve never seen before. The ticket price is a little higher than most of these places, as they start around $30, but it is cheaper to go with a big group and split the cost.

 

 

 

Folk Music Festival

The Calgary Folk Music Festival is happening in Prince’s Island Park this summer with Covid-19 protocols in place. People have to buy seating placements in front of the stage where a wide variety of different musicians will perform. Unfortunately, due to there being limited seating, the ticket prices are higher than before. However, you can share this space with multiple people so it will be cheaper if the cost is split. It is happening July 22-28 so get your tickets now!

The Calgary Zoo

The Calgary Zoo is a great family option this summer, and the exciting thing is that they have added a new exhibit with mechanical dinosaurs that move and sound exactly like the creatures of the past. The Calgary Zoo also has Zoonights from 5:00 to 8:00 pm which are more 18+ friendly. Tickets for most of these are still being sold online and not on site. 

Stephen Avenue 

This is a great place in Calgary where you can have brunch, drinks, or just simply go for a walk. Below I listed some of the great restaurants and stores which you can visit. Most of these have patios so you can enjoy the warm weather we will be getting in the next few weeks!

Saltlik – A great steakhouse located in Calgary but also in Banff in case you would like to go on a road trip outside of the city

Rosso Coffee Roasters – This is a local coffee store in the heart of Stephen Avenue

Local Public Eatery – This restaurant has everything from poké bowls to classic burgers, as well as drinks and much more

Coppeneur Chocolate – As the name suggests, this is a small store that sells a range of chocolates and other sweets.  

Blue Vinny Diner – A great option for breakfast lunch or dinner  

Skyline Luge

In the summer COP is turned into a downhill karting track. You pay for the amount of rides you do, but you can also do a family package. I’ve done this with friends a couple of summers and it is super exciting every time!

 

 

Lime Scooters 

You have probably seen these lime scooters around Calgary as they are becoming more and more popular. In warm weather it is an easy mode of transportation for Calgarians in the city, but it is also super fun to take them for a ride in the downtown parks. 

I have found Curiocity Calgary super helpful in finding fun things to do in and around Calgary. I also hope this helped you find something fun to do this summer! With last summer being almost completely in lockdown and this year being pretty tough on all of us, we deserve to go out and have a good time again. Make sure you are following the city’s virus protocols and take care of your health and that of the others around you. 

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Amazing photo spots in Calgary

Estelle Kim
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As high school graduation season is well on its way, I thought I would share some amazing places to take photos with friends and family in Calgary. Some of these places, you may have already known or visited and others you may not but I hope this becomes a helpful guide to some amazing photo spots in Calgary.

Crescent Height Lookout Point

Crescent Heights has one of the most beautiful views of downtown Calgary. It captures all of our city’s amazing architecture along with vivid greenery. Although there are many places around the Crescent height area to take photos, the lookout point is the best spot to capture the best view of our city.

The Rundle Ruins

The Rundle Ruins is located on 12 Ave. S.E. near the Saddledome. The different sandstone formations are a perfect background for any picture. This location will never disappoint, especially during the summer with the beautiful trees.

Stephen Avenue

This avenue is probably the most alive and aesthetic place downtown. With many people enjoying the warm weather, it is a great place to not only take pictures but also to emerge yourself with the summer energy! There are plenty of flowers and beautiful architecture on Stephen Avenue.

Hudson’s Bay Archways

Located right next to Stephen avenue, the Hudson’s Bay Archways is a classy place to take photos. The tiles add to the sophisticated atmosphere of this perfect photo spot. I would recommend taking photos here especially when the sun is down!

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Saving the Oceans

Shraavni Patankar
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Plato once said “the sea cures all ailments of man.” Covering about 71% of Earth’s surface, the ocean is a crucial part of this world and the life inhabiting it. Despite this, the world’s oceans remain largely a mystery to us. However, as we learn more and more about it with each passing day, the threat we pose to it and its aquatic habitats is significant. As our technology develops and as we become more aware of our actions, we have come to realize the drastic impacts of our activities on the oceans and its biodiversity. Did you know that more than 80% of marine pollution is a result of activities that happen on land? In this blog, I hope that we can address some of these issues and look at ways to reduce our impact on oceans and aquatic life.   

Threats

Climate Change and its Affects

  1. Rising ocean surface temperatures. Over the past 100 years, the temperature of the ocean surface has increased by an average of 0.13 ℉ each decade. However, over the past 30 years, it has risen drastically, more than any other years recorded. As surface temperatures rise, the water begins to vaporize much more rapidly, leading to more frequent and extreme storms. In addition, as the temperature of water increases, its capacity to hold oxygen decreases. This kills many aquatic animals and further threatens biodiversity. Not only that but aquatic habitats are threatened as a result of higher temperatures. Coral reefs are damaged and the food chain is impacted from the smallest organisms to the largest.IPCC Report: Sea Level Rise Is a Present and Future Danger | NRDC
  2. Rising sea levels. Since 1993, the ocean levels have been increasing at a rate that is double the long-term trend. This is because as surface water heats up more rapidly due to climate change, it expands, leading to higher sea levels. In addition, increasing temperatures are causing more and more glaciers and ice sheets to melt faster than usual, further contributing to increased sea levels. Not only has this impacted the oceans, but it has led to more flooding in coastal areas. The picture on right shows a demonstration of how drastically sea levels could change over the years. 
  3. Ocean acidification. The oceans are absorbing more and more carbon dioxide due to increased levels of this greenhouse gas found in our atmosphere. When this is mixed with water, it creates carbonic acid, lowering the pH and creating a higher acid concentration in oceans. As a result, calcium carbonate found in oceans decreases, making it harder for oysters, clams, and coral to form shells or skeletons.

Other Threats

  1.  Plastic pollution. More than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are making their way into the ocean. Every single day, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is growing. For every pound of tuna that is fished out of the ocean, we are putting in two pounds of plastic instead. These are a few facts that are occurring in today’s world and in my opinion, are scary. We need to work together to ensure that no aquatic animals are harmed or dying because of plastic pollution. Facts &amp; Figures: The cold hard facts about overfishing - Fish Forward (WWF)
  2. Overfishing. Fish such as bluefish tuna were once extremely common, however, they are now becoming endangered. As a result of overfishing, the ocean is beginning to lose its biodiversity. Furthermore, restaurants and seafood markets have contributed to this issue further by selling endangered seafood species on a regular basis. About “31.4% of fish stocks are either fished to capacity or overfished,” according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. This shows the drastic impact overfishing can have on the biodiversity of the ocean. The picture on rights shows how large the quantity of fish removed from the ocean during commercial fishing can be. 
  3. Oil spills. Tanker spills wreak havoc on aquatic habitats. However, did you know that American water-sewage treatment plants release twice as much oil than tanker spills each year? Oil spills are extremely harmful, especially in the water. When an oil spill occurs in the ocean, this oil can travel far and cover beaches in oil. In addition, they can harm and kill many organisms in or near the ocean by coating their wings, for example.  
  4. Pesticides. Pesticides along with other nutrients used in farming can run off into bodies of water, such as the ocean. As a result, oxygen levels decrease and many aquatic plants and shellfish die.  
  5. Invasive species. Invasive species such cholera, algae, and many others have entered oceans and disturbed the balance of many aquatic habitats. 

Ways to Help

There are countless ways that we can protect our oceans and the organisms that live inside. A few include:

  • Creating marine parks that protect aquatic life and their biodiversity 
  • Preventing poor fishing practices, such as trawling
  • Reducing waste 
  • Preventing the use of military sonar which can hurt or kill whales and other marine mammals 
  • Choosing sustainable seafood options 
  • Reducing our carbon footprints by using buses and trains more often, putting on warm clothing instead of turning up the thermostat, making sure to turn the light off when not in use, etc.
  • Conserving water 
  • Buying products that have not harmed marine animals. Do not buy jewelry made using coral, for example. 
  • Try not to use single-use plastics, such as plastic straws 
  • When visiting the beach, make sure that nothing is left behind so that no waste ends up in or near the oceans 
  • Support organizations that are working to protect the oceans 
  • Be responsible in the water. When kayaking, boating, snorkeling, etc., make sure to not disturb or harm any marine life.  
  • Educate yourself!

That’s it! Thank you for taking the time to read through this blog. Hopefully, I have helped you learn something new and inspired you to make a small change in your day to day life to protect the oceans and the animals that live within it. Remember, even a small change can make a big difference, especially when compounded!

 

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The Little Things

Samarah Kanji
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The little things

While closing the end of the school year, there is a lot of rush to get things done.  Often I found that we skip the tiny details that help us get to where we are. There are also people in the background that we often forget about but I feel should be acknowledged. Here are some of the things I have found that make life feel enjoyable.

1. Cleaning Staff:

While being in a pandemic, hygiene has been something that is extremely important in order to kill bacteria. Even in school, the cleaning staff are an asset, from keeping the halls clean to cleaning washrooms and classrooms. We often do not give them enough credit for the job they do to help maintain a safe, clean environment.

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2. Nature

Throughout all the stress people feel, nature is something that can be calming and exciting. With it now being summer, the beautiful sun and gardens are a huge motivator to go for walks or runs outside. Even on long road trips, I often cannot express how grateful I am for the beautiful mountains. Places like Fish Creek park are gorgeous, and the walks by the river are often soothing and cool. The smells of pine trees and the dried-up leaves in the fall are also things that cannot be ignored on fall walks and hikes. On hot summer evenings, I often cannot help but admire the sunsets. Here are some of the photos I have taken.

       

3. Time spent with friends and family

Throughout quarantine, the group FaceTime with friends and family was enjoyable because of the big laughs and goofy conversations. I love listening to music with friends and family and singing out loud until we are laughing hard. It is because of friends that makes the stressful times in school less stressful. They also deserve credit for some amazing memories.

4. Music

Music is something perfect for any occasion at any time. It is something that could soothe any mood it can help explore new cultures and genres. It helps to boosts moods and it can bring people together. Without music, we would not be able to get through the hard times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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These are just some things and people that help us realize how grateful we should be for the little things. Next time you feel overwhelmed and tense, think about the things that help you enjoy and the people you like to be with. It puts things into perspective and helps you feel calmer.

 

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