Through mentorship, networking events and ally support, the DeGroote Pride Association is empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ business students to lead in an evolving industry

In a field where many can feel expected to conform to traditional and heteronormative standards, a new club is redefining what leadership in business can look like for queer students. The DeGroote Pride Association, launched in 2024, is a student group at McMaster University dedicated to fostering a safer and more inclusive space for queer business students and their allies. 

According to Ela Murray, the incoming President for the 2025-26 academic year, the DPA is built on three key pillars: expanding outreach, building an inclusive network and empowering communities both within and beyond the DeGroote School of Business.

The club strives to connect with students and community members who share its values, seeking to strengthen the queer community while also enhancing the educational, professional and social experiences of its members. 

In its first year, the DPA organized events designed to support both career and personal development. Their flagship conference, called Beyond, brought together panelists from companies like Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust to share their experiences navigating corporate environments as queer individuals. The event emphasized the importance of representation and offered students the opportunity to hear how identity and leadership intersect in real-world business settings. 

Minna Durrani, the incoming Vice President External of DPA whose role involves building connections and partnerships outside McMaster, shared that conversations about coming out as queer are still not fully normalized.

The speakers at Beyond really touched on [the fact] that being queer is a life of constantly coming out, you never truly stop coming out,” said Durrani.

Murray, who recently completed her internship year, spoke about workplace concerns queer students may face when entering the business sector. 

You’re constantly analyzing your surroundings. Is this safe? Will coming out cost me a promotion or my wage? Will it change how I’m seen?” said Murray. She explained that the stress of assessing workplace culture for safety and acceptance is a reality that many students begin to navigate even before they graduate. 

You’re constantly analyzing your surroundings. Is this safe? Will coming out cost me a promotion or my wage? Will it change how I’m seen?

Ela Murray, President
DeGroote Pride Association, McMaster University

“Queer people are constantly having to do research about companies…when it comes to queer values within a company . . .There is a mental toll on [people] and it comes with a lot of anxiety. [They wonder] how can they focus on their work when they also have to focus on if they are going to be accepted in their workplace,” said Murray. 

To address these barriers, DPA has worked to build a network of support that includes both queer students and allies. Madison Damiano, the incoming Vice President Internal of DPA whose role focuses on fostering meaningful connections within McMaster, including maintaining relationships with the business faculty and on-campus stakeholders, noted that, around thirty per cent of the club’s general members are allies and DPA sees their role as essential. 

The club also hosted an "allyship workshop" with the McMaster Equity and Inclusion Office. The workshop challenged participants to think critically about unconscious bias and the deeper meaning of allyship.

“It’s easy to call yourself an ally. But are you truly one? Do you know what it means to be an ally? Do you know the history? Are you educated on the subject matter? It’s easy to be supportive but it’s harder to stay educated and stay quiet when it’s your turn to be quiet. The allyship panel taught [people] that lesson. It really resonated with some of the allies in our club. They’re learning to sit down when it’s their turn to sit down, to speak up when it is, and to continue staying educated,” said Durrani. 

By hosting workshops and events that center queer voices, DPA is working to close the gap between university life and the realities of the workplace. They aim to create a space where queer students can embrace leadership roles without compromising their identities. 

Recognition for DPA’s impact came at the end of the academic year, when the group was named Club of the Year at the DeGroote Commerce Society’s leadership gala.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel discouraged . . . but winning this award [reminded] us that our members do care and it benefits them, they enjoy it and they found community within us,” said Durrani. 

Sometimes it’s easy to feel discouraged…but winning this award [reminded] us that our members do care and it benefits them, they enjoy it and they found community within us

Minna Durrani, Vice-President External,
DeGroote Pride Association, McMaster University

As they look to the year ahead, DPA hopes to continue building momentum, with expanded outreach and a return of their flagship event. More than just a club, the DPA is helping reshape what the future of business, representation and leadership can look like. 

The DPA will be walking in the annual Toronto Pride Parade on June 29. To know more about the club, visit their Instagram and general member sign-up.

Join the McMaster community for a vibrant evening of performances, food and exciting volleyball action

On Jan. 24, 2025, the McMaster Students Union will host MSU Cultural Night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Burridge Gym. This special event will serve as a platform for McMaster’s student cultural clubs to showcase their rich cultural backgrounds and foster a sense of community and inclusivity.

Rene Hares, clubs administrator of the McMaster Students Union, oversees all of the MSU's ratified clubs and is an organizer of the MSU Cultural Night. "This is an opportunity for all of these cultural clubs to come together and they get to see what everybody has been working on throughout the year, what they have to offer, what makes them proud about their culture," said Hares.

This is an opportunity for all of these cultural clubs to come together and they get to see what everybody has been working on throughout the year, what they have to offer, what makes them proud about their culture.

Rene Hares, Clubs Administrator
McMaster Students Union

MSU Cultural Night will feature six MSU cultural clubs that were selected on a first come first serve basis.

"We have limited space because we're limited to the space that is near the gym. We reached out to all of the cultural clubs and we asked them to sign up if they were interested in participating . . . So we ended up working with the first six clubs that applied because that was what we could accommodate for of the clubs," said Hares.

The clubs selected are macGEET, Mac Serbs, McMaster South Indian Students Association, McMaster Moroccan Students Association, Hindu Students' Association and McMaster Muslim Students’ Association.

The food at the event will be sold by McMaster Hospitality Services and will incorporate cultural elements to their menu. "We took a list of recommendations of food [from cultural clubs] and we submitted it to hospitality services to hopefully create a variety of options of things that maybe they would be interested in integrating into their menu," said Hares.

For those who enjoy friendly competition, the night will also feature volleyball games which will add an exciting element. The McMaster women's volleyball team will be playing at 6:00 p.m. and the men's volleyball game will begin at 8:00 p.m. while the cultural clubs are displayed at tables in a space near the gym. To kickoff the games, two members of macGEET will be performing the national anthem.

Hares discussed that all other cultural performances will be virtual and played on the video board in the gym. "Clubs have the opportunity to submit a 30-second clip about their club that could be played throughout the games," said Hares.

Beyond the competition and food, MSU Cultural Night will also serve as an opportunity for students to learn more about the cultural clubs at McMaster and how they can get involved. Four of the six clubs will have tables to showcase their club merchandise, answer questions and advertise their club to attendees.

Hares encourages students to explore the diverse range of clubs on campus and hopes attendees see what the clubs department has to offer.

"Obviously, not all of our cultural clubs are going to be at the game, but I hope that attendees can see, "wow, there is so many cultural clubs at the MSU. I should look into all of the other ones that I don't see here"," said Hares.

"I think it's really important to supplement focusing on academics with just social aspects of student life, and this is a really great way to do that. It's a way to find people that have similar values and visions as you and I think that that can help you become more successful academically if you have a well balanced social and academic career," said Hares when asked about the value of joining student clubs.

It's a way to find people that have similar values and visions as you and I think that that can help you become more successful academically if you have like a well balanced social and academic career.

Rene Hares, Clubs Administrator
McMaster Students Union

Whether attending to enjoy the games, the food or to visit the clubs, students will have the chance to connect with their peers and experience the vibrant cultural life here at McMaster. Keep up with the MSU Clubs Department's Instagram for more engaging events that showcase the diversity on campus.

Dearest gentle readers ... it appears a Jane Austen and Bridgerton medley graced McMaster with a fantastic evening of dress up, mystery and enjoyment

The McMaster Book Club hosted a Jane Austen and Bridgerton themed mystery tea party. On Nov. 12, 2024, students gathered in their finest regency-inspired attire from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m for a mystery game night at Bridges.

McMaster's book club is dedicated to creating community through books. Mehreen Javed is the club's vice-president of administration. Isabella Paton is the vice-president of outreach for the McMaster Book Club.

"We typically choose two books a month and we really emphasize having club members vote on what those books are to let them have a say on that. So we'll have two meetings each month where we just talk about the books themselves. Additionally to that, we also do some socials and fun stuff like the Jane Austen event," said Paton.

Paton initially came up with the idea for this event over this past summer. "Everyone was hyping up Bridgerton so hard and I said, "I need this content right now." I was reading Pride and Prejudice at the time and we had been planning over the summer what kind of events we were going to run," said Paton.

"I think even when you look at Bridgerton, you could definitely tell that Bridgerton itself is definitely pulling inspiration from Jane Austen," said Paton when asked about the decision to do a combination theme of Jane Austen and Bridgerton.

The mystery tea party was an extremely detailed game and very well received by McMaster Book Club's community. "There was this kit online that came with a list of characters, character guides and fun little audio files we could play for them," said Javed.

"The audio files were so fun . . . it was so over the top, in the most fun way because I remember everyone got so into it . . . Once we actually started playing the game we were breaking people off into smaller groups. The whole point was to spread gossip and it was so funny because people just got so into it from there. And by the end of it, it was just constant laughing, over the top gasping and people were completely improvising. It was fun to see people come out of their shells," said Paton.

By the end of it, it was just constant laughing, over the top gasping and people were completely improvising. It was fun to see people come out of their shells.

Isabella Paton, Vice-President of Outreach
McMaster Book Club

"In these groups they [participants] also have lines and rumours that they can spread [which] are listed in their character guides. So that way, the drama is stirred, the tea is filled. Everyone gets suspicious of everybody else because they don't know if that person is plotting," said Javed.

The book club executives had assigned all attendees a letter before their arrival to the event. They chose one of the letters to be Lady Whistlewind, a character's hidden identity people try to discover in the game. "What makes it fun is you can play the game multiple times . . . in theory, every time it [Lady Whistlewind] could be a different character," said Paton.

Participants were strongly encouraged to wear costumes to further immerse themselves in the game. "We sent everyone a list of all the characters before the actual day of and got them to tell us their top three characters. After that, we told everyone what their character was . . . people were fully dressed up in their gowns. Even the men were in their riding boots, it was so funny," said Paton.

The book club executives used decorations, refreshments and props for attendees to have a real Jane Austen and Bridgerton tea party experience.

"We had small brownies, we had little mini cupcakes and we also had tea, because you can't have it without tea," said Javed. "Bridges has these nice fairy lights that they have strung up there. So we turned those on . . . I also had my speaker as well and we were playing Bridgerton music in the background."

The evening had other props such as teacups, fans and the overall Bridges scenery for students to take photos among. "What's really nice about Bridges is you don't necessarily have to do too much just because it's a really nice venue," said Paton.

"I think events like these . . . just give book lovers an opportunity to actually come together, get to know each other, come out of their shell a lot of the times," said Paton. "It was so nice to emphasize community and emphasize that book club can be a source of community for people."

It was so nice to emphasize community and emphasize that book club can be a source of community for people.

Isabella Paton, Vice-President of Outreach
McMaster Book Club

So for now gentle readers, have a say in the next McMaster Book Club's book of choice and stay tuned for more engaging socials on their Instagram.

The McMaster Association for Caribbean and West Indian Students hosted their first Jouvert, a traditional carnival celebration of Caribbean culture

The McMaster Association of Caribbean and West Indian Students held their first Jouvert on Sept. 14, 2024 to celebrate the beginning of the school year. The event was titled “Summer Rewind: The Colours Experience” and ran from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ten Acre Field.

Originating from Trinidad, Jouvert is the kick-off of Carnival, the traditional cultural festivals celebrated across the Caribbean and features music, dancing and covering one another in colorful paint, oil, or powder. The MACaws had DJ Verse One HD playing music from a variety of Caribbean countries. When attendees arrived, they were given towels, which were available for pre-order and coloured powder.

In an interview with the Silhouette, MACaws co-vice president Zara Owen said that the club typically hosts a large event at this time of year and that she had suggested the idea of a Jouvert. “I’m an international student from Barbados and this particular type of event is very big. It’s a big part of our culture but it’s also a main event in a lot of our carnivals and cultural festivals back in the Caribbean. So we thought it’d be a good idea to get people engaged and introduce people to the club and a core aspect of our culture and how we celebrate our culture back home,” said Owen.

It’s a big part of our culture but it’s also a main event in a lot of our carnivals and cultural festivals back in the Caribbean. So we thought it’d be a good idea to get people engaged and introduce people to the club and a core aspect of our culture and how we celebrate our culture back home.

Zara Owen, Co-Vice President
MACaws

Owen mentioned that they spoke with other clubs for advice to ensure the event would be approved. One of these was the Hindu Students Association, which throws a Holi celebration that involves throwing colourful powder on each other. “We connected with them to figure out how they went about getting the event approved because it has similarities to what we do,” said Owen.

Owen also said that the club wanted to consider their environmental impact. “We also asked about what kind of powder, what kind of materials they use because the integrity of our fields is very important to the school and also very important to us. We wanted to make sure we weren’t using anything that would damage school property or negatively impact the soils, the environment or the grass,” said Owen.

We also asked about what kind of powder, what kind of materials they use because the integrity of our fields is very important to the school and also very important to us. We wanted to make sure we weren’t using anything that would damage school property or negatively impact the soils, the environment or the grass

Zara Owen, Co-Vice President
MACaws

Jouvert is traditionally held in the early morning. The name comes from the French words jour ouvert, meaning daybreak. Owen said that MACaws chose to hold the event later in the day to avoid disturbing the neighbouring community and to work around facility hours.

The event did not allow alcohol and was open to students aged 17 and older. MACaws president Leon Murray told the Silhouette this decision was received with some negative feedback because they often host events at clubs where alcohol is available for purchase.

Murray mentioned part of the reason they did not include alcohol was because the event was being held for the first time and it was on campus. “We're also trying to be inclusive of the first years who may not be able to attend those other events the throughout the year, so at least getting them in and having them kind of enjoy the culture for at least one party event was a big goal of ours,” said Murray.

According to Owen, the event was an overall success. “The majority, if not all the people that came said they had a great time. I had roommates of mine that have had no interaction with Caribbean culture ever before that took a plunge and came. They said this was one of the greatest parties they’d ever been to. I think it was, for people that went, a great experience,” said Owen.

I had roommates of mine that have had no interaction with Caribbean culture ever before that took a plunge and came. They said this was one of the greatest parties they’d ever been to.

Zara Owen, Co-Vice President
MACaws

Murray said that the club may consider holding another Jouvert in April, weather permitting. “Otherwise it would kind of be us handing it off to next year's team, and giving them the blueprint of what we did this year and then hoping they're able to replicate it and make it bigger for next year,” said Murray.

MACaws is accepting general members until Oct. 21. If you are interested in being involved with the club and hearing about future events, visit their Instagram page to stay updated.

Get ready to laugh out loud with and interact with McMaster's improv team at the Westdale Theatre!

The McMaster Improv Team will be taking the stage on September 19 at 8:00 p.m. at the Westdale Theatre. This event promises an evening filled with spontaneous humour and engaging comedy, featuring not only the McMaster Improv Team but also a lineup of other hilarious acts including Dave Barclay, Carson and Taylor, and Smooth Comedy.

The McMaster Improv Team operates with a blend of structured improvisation and creative freedom, ensuring that each performance is both unpredictable and engaging. The team requires the use of quick wit to create entertaining narratives on the spot. “You go from club practices where you're performing scenes in front of your fellow members, which is easy, and then you go to performing in front of a crowd who might know nothing about improv.” explained Rachel Brinzan, vice president of promotions for the McMaster Improv Team.

The McMaster Improv Team creates narratives in real-time, a process that Brinzan finds very enjoyable. “If you’ve ever watched a TV show and seen a plot develop, in improv, you’re making that plot up on the spot. Sometimes, things circle back in scenes, creating a very interesting narrative,” Brinzan explained. This unscripted nature of improv allows the audience to experience a fresh and dynamic performance with every show.

If you’ve ever watched a TV show and seen a plot develop, in improv, you’re making that plot up on the spot.

Rachel Brinzan, Vice President Promotions
McMaster Improv Team

The team is divided into junior and senior divisions, with two student coaches and a head coach. The junior team consists of beginners who are new to improv and is under the guidance of student coaches Gabby Pelosini and Keon Madani.

The senior team includes those with more experience, further honing their craft under the direction of head coach Kevin, who oversees the entire group. “Kevin is an experienced improv coach with over 10 years of acting experience. He teaches us the curriculum and helps us develop our skills,” said Briznan.

The upcoming event at the Westdale Theatre will provide the team with a diverse audience off campus. “We’re excited to perform at the Westdale because it’s a great way to reach out and meet people who aren’t just on campus,” said Brinzan.

The McMaster Improv Team’s show is not only a chance to enjoy some great comedy but also an opportunity to try out improv for yourself. As Brinzan puts it, “Improv is all about having fun and enjoying the moment. Even if you’re not an actor, you can come and enjoy the performance or even consider trying it out yourself.”

Improv is all about having fun and enjoying the moment. Even if you’re not an actor, you can come and enjoy the performance or even consider trying it out yourself.

Rachel Brinzan, Vice President Promotions
McMaster Improv Team

McMaster Improv also includes an interactive element where the audience has influence on the performance. The performers will occasionally prompt someone in the audience for a subject, then the improv team creates a storyline from it. “You [the audience] can shape the way the scene is. If you want a scene to be about tomatoes you can have the scene about tomatoes. It's just a really fun interactive event. And you get to see how other people are going to interact with you, with your scenarios and with the people up on stage,” said Brinzan.

This event will be a great way to experience the creative energy and community spirit of the McMaster Improv Team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to witness a night of spontaneous comedy and interactive fun. Grab your tickets, bring your friends, and get ready for an unforgettable evening of laughter at the Westdale Theatre on September 19th!

Discover fresh faces and exciting opportunities with the newest clubs at McMaster University

McMaster University has over 250 student-run clubs on campus across diverse categories that include but are not limited to academics and athletics, culture and religion and social issues.

Students have the freedom to pursue their passions that are related to their degree or independent of it. The variety of clubs at McMaster create spaces for students to connect with likeminded individuals and get involved with exciting initiatives and events.

While there is a vast amount of MSU clubs, this number only continues to grow as new intelligent cohorts join the McMaster community. Here are a few new notable MSU clubs to check out!

Eating Disorder Awareness McMaster 

To raise awareness of eating disorders and their effects on people's lives, Eating Disorder Awareness McMaster aims to share helpful information to the McMaster community and resources to those affected. EDMAC is a newly created affiliate of the Collaborative Eating Disorder Awareness Association, a nonprofit organization that shares a similar mission to generate a better understanding of eating disorders in Canada. Sharing information about eating disorders spreads awareness to those ignorant to their severity and validates students that may not know how to seek treatment. 

McMaster BlackPrint

Made for black men by black men, McMaster BlackPrint is a club dedicated to creating spaces to bring together and uplift black-identifying male students. Black male students are often underrepresented in university spaces. Through collaborative events with other MSU clubs and support from the Black Student Success Centre, showcased on their social media, BlackPrint creates safe spaces for mental health discussions, academic tools, and career-planning resources.

McMaster Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society

An exclusive club that supports McMaster’s finest academics, the Golden Key International Honour Society is an invite-only club where its members are among the top 15 per cent of their field of study. The Golden Key International Honour Society is stated to be the largest collegiate society on both their social media and official website. Holding connections with over 400 universities, this club represents the McMaster chapter of this honour society. Members of this club are provided exclusive networking opportunities, scholarships, and career-building resources.

McMaster Young Liberals

Currently McMaster’s only politically affiliated MSU club, the McMaster Young Liberals are returning after shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. This club is affiliated with the Young Liberals of Canada, the official youth commission of the Liberal Party of Canada. 

“My big goal is I want a lot of people to come out and see that politics can be fun. I want to decrease that perceived barrier of entry into it. I want to get people to come out and realize they can make an actual difference in their community and really be involved,” said Max Dressler, provincial president of McMaster Young Liberals.

McMaster Young Liberals hopes to create a space for students both new and familiar to politics to openly discuss their concerns and opinions. 

“Get involved and share your opinions because those opinions may very well become law,” Joshua Bell, federal president of the McMaster Young Liberals.

Whether you're looking to meet new people or discover a new interest, consider checking out a new club this semester.

Find out how you can practice first aid, water rescue and priority assessment with the most inclusive team on campus 

The McMaster Lifeguard Team is a competitive athletics club that participates in physical and first aid lifeguarding events against different Ontario universities. Members get to experience a wide variety of aquatic skills with the team, including water rescue, first aid emergency situations, triages, mannequin carrying, and medley and obstacle relays.  

Run by club presidents Amirhossein Moghtader and Olivia Viool, the team trains biweekly on Thursday from 8:00PM-10:30PM and Sunday from 12:00PM-2:00PM at the Ivor Wynne Centre pool.  

“Our club is unique in the fact that we offer an opportunity to socialize and meet friends and be active while still offering room for studies. . . We’re very welcoming and you can work out while still having time to do the things you need to do in university,” said Viool.  

Earlier this year, the club welcomed general members with two “Try-It” meetings to learn about the team and their events and practices. Students were introduced to triages and first aid scenarios, swimming in rescue drills and guarding in teams.  

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Team practices involve both water and land training, which includes a mixture of first aid training on land and swimming and physical exercises in the pool. The training sets are structured to accommodate those with experience in swimming and the lifesaving sport along with new members who may not have any form of certification. 

“We do take time to help new members out on technique and go over having some of our older members help out with flip turns or techniques for strokes. . . I’ll split the setup [of swim sets] to provide longer breaks or less laps that the beginner swimmers could do,” said Viool.  

While some lifeguarding organizations require specific certificates such as Bronze Cross, many of the regional competitions that the team attends are open to all skill levels of swimming, water rescue and first aid.  

The team has also accepted volunteers to act as victims during past competitions for first aid events. Providing such opportunities of involvement helps contribute to the team’s goal of being as inclusive for students as possible, particularly for those who lack the required certification to take part in some competitions.   

“When people become involved with the team, they really enjoy learning the skills themselves.  

Even if they can’t compete, they enjoy the process throughout. . . We try our best to have everyone involved,” said Moghtader.  

This season, the team arranged a mini intrasquad competition on Oct. 27 as their first contest of the year. On Oct. 30, members took part in an Oktoberfest competition hosted by the lifesaving team at the University of Waterloo, where they ultimately placed third overall for their efforts.  

Most recently, the club has participated in the TwoGood Lifeguard Competition on Jan. 8. 

In the winter semester, members will get the chance to compete in the Ontario Lifeguard Championships organized by the Lifesaving Society on Feb. 18. The team also hopes to participate in a provincial pool competition taking place in early March and arrange their own competition on Mar. 25.  

The McMaster Lifeguard Team can be found on Facebook, Instagram or the McMaster Athletics and Recreation website. Students can also reach out to macguardteam@gmail.com for additional information about the club.  

The Silhouette: Please introduce yourself.  

Eileen O’Boyle: My name is Eileen. I'm a fourth-year kinesiology student doing a minor in biology. I am currently the president of Absolute Pitch, which is the McMaster [University] show choir. I've been part of the club for three years and this is my first year as the president. 

What is Absolute Pitch? 

It's kind of like Glee but without the drama. We have two performances and we practice throughout the year. Basically, it culminates in a big showcase where we combine singing and dancing on stage with a live band. We're lucky enough to have a live band that performs with us, which is a cool flair. We also have a coffee house that's more chill — there's no dancing involved in that one. People can sing and bring instruments to play to express themselves artistically and, really, that's what the club's all about. 

It's kind of like Glee but without the drama. We have two performances and we practice throughout the year. Basically, it culminates in a big showcase where we combine singing and dancing on stage with a live band. We're lucky enough to have a live band that performs with us, which is a cool flair.

Eileen O’Boyle, President of Absolute Pitch

Can you tell us a little bit more just about those events? 

The coffee house is mainly cast-driven. Anything that the cast wants to perform, they can audition and perform on stage. There'll be one song that the whole group will perform that's also chosen by the cast and we usually have a bake sale too. It's just very cozy. The final showcase in April is definitely a much larger scheme. Each year there's a different theme. This year we're doing musicals. As the [production executive] team, we come together and we choose a bunch of full-cast songs, so everyone in the whole ensemble can perform. We also have small groups, which usually are about a third of the cast. That usually comes out to about eight or nine songs for vocals and choreography.  

What sparked your interest in dance? 

I've been dancing since I was a little kid. I started at my first studio when I was about four. My parents saw that I was always moving to music and there are all these pictures of me just trying to do weird things with my body and doing things like the splits. So they put me in dance and I really flourished. I loved it and then I was able to work at my studio. It's been a long journey and it's something that has remained the same throughout my whole life which is really nice. 

Do you think your background in dance has influenced your choice to pursue kinesiology? 

In some aspects. I think the major thing that influenced me to go into kinesiology was that I played lots of sports growing up. But, when I decided to go into kinesiology, I was thinking about what do I want to do with my life? This isn’t the case anymore but I wanted to go into physiotherapy. I had a really bad injury when I was playing soccer and the physiotherapists that I had were just absolutely amazing. They took me from "I can barely walk" to "I can play sports again". It was just so impactful and I wanted to help people like this. 

What is one of your favourite memories with Absolute Pitch? 

There are so many of them. One is that we always have one rehearsal that's for the whole day. We get to run everything with the band usually for the first time. Our band's incredible, I cannot tell you how good they are. I hadn't gotten to be there for a lot of the band rehearsals so this was my first time seeing the whole thing come together. It was a mind-blowing moment because you never know what will really work or come together when you're practicing. 

What would you say to someone who is considering joining Absolute Pitch? 

Put yourself out there. You don't know if you're going to enjoy it unless you try. In Absolute Pitch, we've cultivated an environment that is welcoming, open to new ideas, open to people trying things for the first time. A lot of our cast are not at all trained by professionals or anything like that. They just love to sing in the shower and then it's turned into this great passion. But you'd never know if you don't do it. Go for it. Why not? 

C/O McMaster Sports Business Association

MSBA’s yearly industry conference is quickly approaching and this year's concept is looking like a winner

The McMaster Sports Business Association’s sports industry conference is back, this time taking place on March 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The annual conference, which has become a mainstay for the MSBA, is something that the organization is extremely proud of and excited to offer to McMaster students looking for opportunities in sports.  

Presidents Jared Bertrim and Tenzin Choney spoke very optimistically when discussing the upcoming event, stating that it is something that their entire executive team had dedicated themselves to. There’s a reason that this is the pillar event for the MSBA. 

“This is our flagship event — it’s the one we put the most time and effort into at the end of the year. It’s a three-hour long conference. In the past we’ve had it in person, due to COVID this year unfortunately we have to have it online. We’re still going to have a great lineup of guests through three different panels,” said Bertrim. 

“This is our flagship event — it’s the one we put the most time and effort into at the end of the year. It’s a three-hour long conference. In the past we’ve had it in person, due to COVID this year unfortunately we have to have it online. We’re still going to have a great lineup of guests through three different panels."

Jared Bertrim, MSBA Co-President

The guest speaker panel this year features three primary sections; sports marketing, sports finance and a McMaster alumni panel. The MSBA aims to provide insight and opportunity for their members through this event by offering an elite group of speakers in each of these sections. Each section will have an allotted time of 50 minutes. Each panel will feature guests with interesting knowledge and perspectives to share.  

“Those attending can expect an interactive event. I know we’ve all probably been to a lot of Zoom meetings or conferences where we sit back and listen, but we’re looking forward to being very interactive, where we have workshops [and] where you can work in breakout rooms . . . A big feature as a whole is the question-and-answer periods — that’s where we find students get the most value,” said Bertrim.  

Of the three sections, both presidents seem to agree that the alumni panel is the one they are most looking forward to. It is a newbie section to the conference, but one that will surely be of interest to many students. 

“This is actually our first year that we’re doing the McMaster alumni panel. The MSBA is six or seven years old and in the past we haven’t had that deep of an alumni network to pull from, to get speakers from. Now that we have a couple past presidents, a couple past McMaster students, we’re excited to have that panel,” explained Bertrim. 

Choney also expressed her excitement for the new panel, explaining how interesting it will be to follow the journey of past McMaster students and past club members. It is largely viewed as an opportunity for current students to see the steps that alumni with similar academic or career aspirations have taken to get themselves into a position of success in the sports industry.  

“This year it’s going to be super exciting because of the alumni panel. We get to ask them how they started at McMaster to where they are now, so kind of following along their journey after grad,” said Choney.  

"I think this year it’s going to be super exciting because of the alumni panel. We get to ask them how they started at McMaster to where they are now, so kind of following along their journey after grad."

Tenzin Choney, MSBA Co-President

Although they are disappointed to have to host the conference online this year, they are happy to reap the benefits of a virtual conference, for example drawing in large crowds of student audiences.  

“In the past we’ve stuck to local Hamilton guests, who have been great, but this year we get to go further and beyond. One of our panel alumni members works in Montreal right now for their hockey team, so we’re excited to have some further stretched members join our event,” explained Bertrim. 

With the school year nearing a close, the MSBA is hoping to cap it off on a high note with their industry conference. Exams are a stressful time for nearly everyone and an event like this could be a great way to relieve some stress and enjoy it.  

“We usually like to end the year with a bang. Exams are around the corner, so we want to end the year great,” said Choney. 

“We usually like to end the year with a bang. Exams are around the corner, so we want to end the year great."

Tenzin Choney, MSBA Co-President

Speakers have not yet been announced, but will continue to be revealed as the date of the conference arrives. Those interested in attending must purchase club membership for five dollars. More information can be found on the club’s social media accounts on Instagram or Facebook

C/O Yigi Chang

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Ark & Anchor Espresso Bar remains a beloved café and community hub

Nestled between King Street West and Queen Street North is the Ark & Anchor Espresso Bar. Established in the fall of 2015, the café is not only a hotspot for avid coffee drinkers in the Strathcona neighbourhood, but also an important community hub for folks around the city. 

Partners Patrick Guilbault and Yigi Chang are the faces of Ark & Anchor. With over 10 years of barista experience, Guilbault is in charge of brewing all the coffee and tea beverages in the café. Chang, on the other hand, is interested in health and nutrition and works in the kitchen, baking delicious pastries and fresh food items for breakfast, lunch and snacks. Chang also has a background in illustration and is the artist behind the incredible murals found throughout the building. 

Although the couple is originally from Toronto, they were drawn to Hamilton by their friend who moved to the city in 2014 and introduced them to their current café location. 

C/O Yigi Chang

“We had already been looking for real estate in Toronto [to open a café], but it was all completely out of our reach. But we were able to find this beautiful building here and all the stars aligned,” said Guilbault.

The same friend who showed them the building gave the couple inspiration for the name of the café as well. While doing research about the neighbourhood, they were inspired by the Scottish Rite located kitty corner to the café and the symbol of the ark and anchor from Masonic history, which represents well-grounded hope and a life well spent. 

Although Guilbault and Chang had no intentions of picking a religious name for their business when their graphic designer friend drew the ark and anchor logo for them, they felt it was too beautiful to pass up. The symbolism also resonated with their story. 

“[The ark and anchor] means being comfortable with taking things with you as well as leaving things behind and it felt really great as an idea for us moving cities and all that kind of stuff,” explained Guilbault. 

Since the opening of the café, the couple’s vision for the business has been to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space. It serves as a hub for everyone — from those seeking a space for studying, having meetings and hanging out with friends to those looking for a community. Community is an especially important part of the café’s culture. 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous clubs and events were hosted at Ark & Anchor, such as the Ship’s Log Book Club, Monday Night RPGs for monthly role playing games and On Board for board game nights. 

They started the clubs about four years ago due to high interest from their customers. The couple had also been wanting to create a space for sharing books and playing games for folks who aren’t comfortable participating in evening culture or can’t stay out too late. 

“My big reason for wanting to [start the book and game clubs] was I was finding it was hard to find spaces for games and book clubs that weren’t nighttime spaces. So, if you didn’t feel like you had to get a beer or you had to get dinner. We were able to use the top [floor] of the coffee shop as more of a clubhouse to come and play games,” said Guilbault.

Maintaining and promoting inclusivity and safety of the space was crucial to the clubs’ operations. For instance, at the beginning of the Ships’ Log Book Club meetings, the captain’s code was read out loud which outlined zero tolerance for transphobic or ableist comments or harassment of any kind. 

“[We had] a couple book club members say, ‘The fact that you’ve actively said nobody is going to do this, we are not only going to save space for you, but keep safe spaces for you, made it a lot more inviting,’” said Guilbault.

However, since the pandemic, the clubs have been put on hold. The last book club meeting was in February of 2020. There are a few members who have continued to hang out and play games online, however, the book club did not make the transition to a digital platform. 

“It’s been really hard with adjusting to the pandemic because for everybody who was coming to these events, it was really like a big community thing for them. [But] it just never really made the switch to digital,” said Guilbault.

Guilbault and Chang unfortunately don’t have the capacity to run the clubs again themselves while running the business, citing concerns about long business hours and overworking. However, they hope members will continue the clubs in the future.  

C/O Yigi Chang

“The dream is that some of the community members will pick up the mantle and say, ‘I’m willing to organize more, I’m willing to do more,’ as we kind of move into the next stage of things,” said Guilbault. 

Despite all the changes and challenges to the café amidst the pandemic, the community has been supportive and patient. Currently, the couple is working hard to keep up with the new developments and residents entering the neighbourhood. They recently reorganized the second floor of the café to allow more indoor seating with proper physical distancing and are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Guilbault emphasizes Ark & Anchor has not forgotten about its community. As life slowly returns to normal, more people move into the area and with enough demand, Guilbault and Chang are open to launching more community-focused programming and use their spaces to serve the interests of the community.

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