As this issue hits the stands, we’ll be in the tail end of January, a dark, cold month in Winnipeg. We’ll have just passed the (possibly mythological, partly coined by marketers) date of Blue Monday. The days are short but slowly getting longer. Believe it or not, we’ve turned the corner toward brighter days, and we’ve written the pieces to prove it.

For some, this is the point in January when New Year’s resolutions begin to fade. In the comments section, Elsa Taylor revisits this phenomenon and suggests an alternate framework to consider, and Laina Hughes outlines her own process of rebuilding habits to more accurately match the life she saw herself someday living.

There can be more time to reflect in this season of hibernation. On the cover, Alexandra Neufeldt examines how the past collides with the present in heritage status buildings. And in the arts and culture section, hear from White Spotted Horse and Maureen Matthews about the upcoming Let’s Talk Treaties sessions, which are held in hopes of growing understanding of how the treaties were created and how they can be renewed today.

On campus, we’ve got a strong focus on writing this issue. Jeremy Morantz is launching a self-published book with stories about his late brother, who lived with autism spectrum disorder. For those who’d like to someday publish their own tome, Garry Thomas Morse is beginning a writer’s residency at the University of Winnipeg and will support newer writers throughout his time here.

If you’d like to dip your toes into the writing world in a supportive environment, drop by the Uniter office on Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. for a volunteer orientation. You can find more information at uniter.ca/volunteer. We may be at the tail end of January, but we’re halfway through our Uniter season. There are eight issues left that you could write in!

– Anastasia Chipelski

Published in Volume 73, Number 15 of The Uniter (January 24, 2019)