Hello everyone!

I hope you had a restful reading week! Remember, we’re back with pitch meetings, starting tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the Gateway office. We also have a workshop with Tom Ndekezi on Wednesday at 3 p.m.. We hope to see you there!

Have a great week!

Anna

News Pitches

You can reach Dylana at [email protected] or over Slack!

Three New Canada Canada Excellence Research Chairs coming to the U of A

Kalyan Das is the new Research Chair in Antiviral Drug Design. He intends to enhance the U of A’s leadership in pandemic preparedness. 

 Shinichi Nakagawa, the new Research Chair in Open Science and Synthesis in Ecology and Evolution, will use artificial intelligence to establish a project to weed out flawed studies.

Rebecca Hull-Meichle, the new Research Chair in the Islet Microenvironment, will establish a world-leading research program to better understand pancreatic islet cells.

Review of 120 years’ of research could help farmers in Prairie provinces adapt to regional effects of climate change

A review of various scientific literature looked at the effects of climate change on the cropland of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from 1901 to 2021, showing a consistent trend of higher air temperatures in winter and spring, less snowfall and more disruptive weather, such as frequent and intense rainfalls.

Improving men's mental health with work sheds

‘Men’s Sheds’ are communal spaces offering men a place to transition into retirement by connecting with other men. University of Alberta researchers believe that these spaces could be a practical way to provide rural Alberta men with mental health services.

Hospitalization risk due to Covid for the elderly

University of Alberta Hospital infectious diseases specialist Dr. Stephanie Smith said she's seen a steady stream of COVID-19 in the last few months. Her hospital is admitting between 45 and 60 COVID patients every day, she said. Provincial data indicates that 1,120 Albertans 70 and older have been hospitalized due to COVID since the end of August. There have been 31 ICU admissions in that age range and 150 deaths.

Sports Photostories

November 24, 6:00 pm — WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs University of Northern British Columbia

November 24, 7:00 pm — WOMEN'S HOCKEY vs University of Manitoba

November 25, 2:00 pm — WOMEN'S HOCKEY vs University of Manitoba

November 25, 5:00 pm – WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs University of Northern British Columbia

November 25, 7:00 pm — MEN'S BASKETBALL vs University of Northern British Columbia

Opinion Pitches

You can reach Anna at [email protected] or over Slack!

Empty Downtown Offices — What to do?: Edmonton’s downtown has a bunch of empty offices for lease and there is debate about what to do about them. What can be done with these offices to help amplify the downtown region? Or should the empty offices be used more functionally? Where they are turned into housing spaces instead? How should the empty spaces be utilized?

Potential Strike of City Library Workers and Administrative Staff: Edmonton Public Library staff and other administrative workers are anticipating a strike — with part of the reason being they have not had contracts since 2020 and have been without raises since 2018. What does this mean for EPL and other administrative staff affected by this? Should they go on strike? What does this anticipated strike say about how EPL staff are treated and prioritized in Edmonton?

Edmonton Construction Season: The construction season in Edmonton is coming to an end. While this provides some relief for a quieter season, one without construction, some business owners are grieving about the impact certain construction projects have had on their business. How can the city improve construction in the city? Should businesses and residents simply have to put up with the effects of construction? Write about how this can be improved.

International Students Enrolment Rates: The U of A is currently seeing record high enrolment rates for international students. How is this changing the social landscape of the U of A? What does this say about the U of A, as international students don’t have the same privileges as domestic students, such as a tuition cap or the ability to work certain hours. Is the U of A providing students with new opportunities, or are they taking advantage of international students?

A&C Pitches

You can reach Lily at [email protected] or over Slack!

Play Review: Harvey

Free student preview December 5, comped ticket option December 6 (opening night)

The Walterdale Theatre is presenting Harvey, a Pulitzer Prize winning comedy.

“A true friendship is hard to find. Finding unconditional loyalty is challenging. When Elwood P. Dowd finds both in Harvey, a 6-foot-tall white rabbit, those around him are quick to judge. Elwood's unwavering belief in the existence of Harvey causes confusion and concern among his family and friends, leading them to question his sanity. When his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, attempts to have him committed to a mental institution, she is committed instead, and a comedy of errors ensues!”

Play Review: Indecent

December 1-9 at Timms Centre for the Arts

“Indecent unfurls the gripping narrative of Sholem Asch's audacious work, God of Vengeance, a groundbreaking Broadway sensation that sent shockwaves a century ago in 1923.” The script “weaves a rich tapestry of history, embracing themes of love, tradition, censorship, religious hypocrisy, and the unwavering quest for truth.”

Interview: Edify Top 40 Under 40: Byron Martin

Byron Martin, the founder of Grindstone Theatre, made the 2023 Edify Top 40 under 40 list! He made the list because he “creates stages for emerging local performers to shine.” Talk to Martin about the founding of Grindstone and his work now!

Exhibit Review: CodesWitcher at FAB Gallery

This exhibition is by Lisa Mayes, an intermedia graduate student at the U of A. The authoethnographic exhibition represents Mayes “as a black body with the intersectionality of Acadian, African American, Muscogee Creek, Irish, and Scottish heritage.” The exhibit explores “a conceptual construction of identity” while following “the colonial and postcolonial diasporic displacement trajectory within North American narratives.”

A&C Columns

Hobby Hole: Do you have a favourite hobby that you like to do? Guide us through it! Here’s a fun example.

Playlist: Share your fall music picks in a curated playlist!

Comic Stans: Love comics or graphic novels? This column is for you! Highlight your favourite comics and how they might include representation for women and LGBTQIA2S+ people!

Retro on Retro: Is some classic piece of media on your mind? Reflect on it with the distance of time in this column. Discuss the qualities, staying power, and impact of your favourite old movie, video game, album, book, play, or whatever else!

Gateway to Gastronomy, winter edition: Do you have a fun and easy to follow recipe that you love to make during winter? Share it in this reoccurring segment.

Illustration Pitches

You can reach Lily at [email protected] or over Slack!

We are looking for illustrators to create new graphics for the following A&C columns: Gateway to Gastronomy, Eating Edmonton, Hobby Hole, Top 5, and Retro on Retro. Reach out to Lily if you’re interested in taking one on