Letters, Nov. 10

Pleasant reverie

Re: Victorias day in November (Nov. 6)

Thanks you to the Free Press for the coverage on the mural celebrating the 1896, 1901 and 1902 Stanley Cup champion Winnipeg Victorias on the south wall of the Palomino Club at 436 Main St.

This classy mural is not only a welcome addition to brighten up downtown, but it is a ongoing reminder of our history and heritage. This colourful reminder of the Victorias’ success sparks pleasant moments of reverie and lifts us out of our day today routines.

Not to forget, the present-day Jets who are to be congratulated on last season’s success. Hopefully soon we will need to find another building for a second mural.

Dan Furlan

Winnipeg

AI as a new literacy

At the recent International Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity here in Winnipeg, listening to presenters from Canada to Kenya, speak to different applications, challenges, research from academia and industry related to artificial intelligence, I was struck by a recurring theme: the conversation about AI isn’t just about technology, it’s about literacy. Across these sessions and panels, experts from around the globe emphasized that the ability to read, understand, and interact with AI is quickly becoming as essential as reading, writing, and numeracy. Stemming from Alan Turing’s pioneering work imagining machines that could “think,” today’s AI that can write essays and diagnose diseases, understanding artificial intelligence has moved from theory to an everyday reality.

Today AI is everywhere. In schools, it automates tutoring, differentiate lessons, give content recommendations, and has become the go-to creative tool for teachers and students. Yet it is often treated as an optional skill, something to be feared and avoided rather than a core competency for the 21st century. This is a gap with serious implications for equity, opportunity, and workforce readiness.

Teaching AI literacy today must go beyond knowing how to use tools. Students need the skills to think critically about AI, to evaluate outputs, and to recognize bias or ethical concerns. When preparing students for the future, we must rethink literacy. AI literacy isn’t just knowing how to use tools; not the copy and paste for their English essay, but it’s the ability to critically assess AI outputs, understand their limitations, and apply them ethically.

Just as we teach students to analyze media and question sources, we must teach them to interrogate AI. Questions like “Where did this answer come from?” or “Whose interests are embedded in this algorithm?” should be part of everyday classroom practice.

Moreover, AI fluency is a job skill. From healthcare to finance, media to engineering, employers increasingly expect workers to leverage AI effectively and responsibly. Students who graduate without these skills risk being left behind, while those who understand AI gain a powerful tool for creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. Schools have a responsibility to ensure all students, not just those with early access to private tools, develop this fluency.

Implementing AI literacy in schools does not mean replacing teachers with algorithms. It means giving teachers the frameworks, resources, and professional development to guide students in navigating this rapidly changing landscape. It means fostering curiosity, discernment, and ethical thinking alongside technical skill. And it means recognizing that literacy is more than words on a page: it’s the ability to interpret, create, and act meaningfully in a digital world shaped by AI.

If reading, writing, and numeracy were once the gateways to opportunity, AI literacy grounded in ethical understanding, is the key to thriving in the 21st century. Our schools must rise to the challenge or risk leaving the next generation unprepared for a world where understanding and applying artificial intelligence is no longer optional, but foundational.

Karen Latimer

Winnipeg

Fan of new system

My husband and I have seasons tickets for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. We decided to take the bus this season. What a great idea! A one block walk to the bus stop, a two minute wait for the bus and a smooth comfortable ride to the concert hall. Easy, safe and convenient. Coming home was just as easy. Kudos to Winnipeg Transit for its efficient service.

Our theatre companions drove as they live out of town. Between no parking signs, limited space because of bicycle lanes and construction it took quite awhile to find a spot. Once they finally found a spot, the fun began. They thought they’d downloaded the parking app but something went wrong and they couldn’t figure out what. They eventually parked in the RMTC lot and fumed about how inefficient the parking system is.

We will continue to go downtown but we will use transit. Our friends will continue to drive but they may use a park and ride system. Get on the bus, folks! The new transit system is great.

Christine Hallick

Winnipeg

Meeting new characters

It starts innocently with you walking down the tunnels of the University of Manitoba, coffee in hand, heading to your class, when you spot someone new.

They either have a distinct backpack, a unique style, or a walk that says, “I’m running late for class.” You go about your life thinking nothing of it, that is, until you see them again. And again. And again, and you soon realize they’re everywhere. In two of your classes, ahead of you in line at the Starbucks, and sitting across from you on the bus. And I say congratulations to you, as you have just unlocked a new character!

This strange yet universal phenomenon is one of the great mysteries I have experienced as a student and one I know many others have as well. Yesterday, you never knew of the person’s existence, and today they have become a recurring side character in your own sitcom taking place at the U of M. It feels like a shift in the matrix as a new NPC appeared in your life with no warning.

The science community, also known as sleep-deprived students doomscrolling on TikTok, refers to this as unlocking a new character. This is the idea that once you notice something new, your brain consciously keeps noticing it everywhere. But that sounds far too logical and sound, so it must be the universe’s way of seeing how many awkward half-acknowledging smiles you can exchange with that person until one of you finally starts a conversation.

Very quickly, you learn to recognize their outfits, friends, and even their manic midterm energy. You’ll see them so often that you’ll craft elaborate backstories based on their energy for that day. Are they a political science major? Are they an only child? Is that scratch on their arm from a hobby of fighting bears? So many possibilities, and they’re all so plausible.

When the semester comes to an end, they somehow vanish, disappearing so quickly and effortlessly that you’ll question if they ever existed in the first place. But don’t fear, a new character will be unlocked soon enough, and with that, the cycle will continue.

Because at the U of M, we are all just walking through the motions, trying to get through the day, waiting for a new character to unlock that’ll light that spark of wonder once more

Grace Aprile

Winnipeg