Balls, bats and beyond

All kinds of writers – journalists included – will often go on at length about the value of telling stories. At The Uniter, we have the specific goal of telling stories that aren’t being told in larger media outlets. Through this small campus and community weekly, we hope to open up small windows into places, people and events that often go unseen in Winnipeg and beyond. 

Through telling these stories, we want to open up a new way of looking at the world around us, and imagine possibilities for change. We ask: why are things the way they are, and how could they be different? 

This issue is no exception. Tales of unexpected connections between strangers, like those showcased in a photo exhibit about Albanian Muslims helping Jews during the Holocaust, remind us of the value of compassion. In the column, Jane Testar considers the humour and joy of eavesdropping, but her open ears also inspire a greater sense of empathy. 

Others are creating something entirely new, or at least, different from most of what we’ve already seen or heard. A new coffee shop opens up to reveal a hidden space. Soccer players both kick and wear balls. Furry flying critters are given new homes and treated as neighbours. 

The stories that already exist in the world can also, at times, limit our ideas about what is possible. A lecture by Jack Zipes questioned the messages held in fairy tales, and the motives behind them. Musician Tom Wilson discusses his meandering path across mediums, and his open defiance of artistic expectations. 

In the comments section, one of our contributors questions promises made by our new Prime Minister, and asks for some substance to follow them up. These stories are just the starting point for making meaningful change, however you may see that, in the world. 

And if you love or hate what we’re doing here and want that to change, we’d also invite you to tell your story and submit a letter to the editor, or even just write us an email. And while you’re at it, grab the ballot on the back of this paper and tell us who you love the most. All of those suggestions – coming directly from you – will determine the stories we tell for our December 3 Uniter 30 issue. 

– Anastasia Chipelski

Published in Volume 70, Number 9 of The Uniter (November 5, 2015)