Chronicle 14 15 issue 12 by City Media

See page 28, Globetrotters

See page 23, Pink Floyd Experience

Volume XXLII, Issue 12

march 10, 2015

Saving those who save us Connor Pringle The Chronicle

School Cup Challenge

Derek Dolstra

(Left to right) Students Nancy Bathh, Nimmi Dalwadi, and Kamalpreet Kaur crowd around the School Cup Trophy with DC Crew members Naeema Daif, Heidi St. Jean, and Patrick Testa. To see the full story turn to page 16.

Oshawa MPP Jennifer French wants the provincial government to regulate the private safety training industry following the death of two people while doing a training exercise at Herschel Rescue, a private training company. Durham College firefighting student Adam Brunt died Feb. 8 after falling through the ice on the Saugeen River in Hanover while taking the ice water certification course with Herschel Rescue as an extra course outside of Durham College’s program. A similar incident occurred January, 2010 when Point Edward volunteer firefighter Gary Kendall died while on course with Herschel. French says she’s calling for a regulation to assist with the health and safety of participants. “Firefighters dedicate their lives to our safety,” she says. “Health and safety is everyone’s concern.”

MPP Jennifer French If the courses are regulated, everything will be standardized. Students can ensure the instructors have the proper qualifications and expertise, French says. She adds nothing is standardized yet. The owner of Herschel Rescue, Terry Harrison supports the idea but thinks it will be hard to do so. “If being regulated would make technical rescue response by emergency personnel more safe and efficient, more funds for researching better methods, and better equipment for all types of rescue, I am definitely in favour,” says Terry Harrison owner of Herschel Rescue.

See Regulating page 2

Union president says workers key to GM’s future Frank Thickett The Chronicle GM in Oshawa may not be at risk as much as feared. Despite reports and predictions that the Oshawa plant could close down as early as 2016, the president of Unifor Local 222, Ron Svajlenko, the union representing approximately 3,500 employees of the plant, is optimistic about negotiations to bring in new product. “We have a talented work

force with a lot of good workers,” Svajlenko said, “There’s a lot we can do that other places can’t replicate. If there’s a crisis you’ll know.” The Oshawa GM plant will no longer be producing the Camaro once production of the next model year begins and forecasts for the Cadillac XTS and Buick Regal, may be out of production in Oshawa by 2017. “You know the media,” Svajlenko said, “bad news sells better than good. Everyone’s trying to be the guy who calls it.”

Svajlenko says that these car movements are part of the process. “Buick and Cadillac production will eventually end,” he said, “but we’re already discussing replacements. What we build is less of a concern compared to our volume and product allocations.” General Motors’ consolidated line, which produces the Chevorlet Impala and Equinox, may stop production as early as August 2016, adding to concerns over the future of factory.

“They’ve given us notice about consolidated shutting down as far back as 2005 but right now our priority is on the flex plant and bringing in new products,” Svajlenko explained. According to Svajlenko, the Oshawa plant is in the best geographical location due to proximity to the Canada-U.S. border, industry partners, and railines. Svajlenko stressed the Oshawa plant produces more cars and is more efficient than most others. Most plants can pro-

duce 4,000 cars per week and Oshawa produces 11,000. Oshawa mayor John Henry says every effort is being made to keep the factory running but is optimistic about other industry in Oshawa. New construction keeps Oshawa afloat when people worry about GM. “We’re watching, we’re listening, we’ve raised the issue with both the provincial and federal governments,” Henry said, “The auto industry is an issue throughout Canada, not just in Oshawa.”

The Chronicle

Campus

March 10, 2015

UOIT students plan to go on strike on March 24 Connor Pringle The Chronicle

UOIT students are planning to go on strike after voting to hold a one-day student walkout to protest against high tuition fees. According to Jesse Cullen, spokesperson for Drop Tuition UOIT, the purpose of the strike is to get the province of Ontario to lower tuition fees and eliminate student debt. Drop Tuition UOIT is a grassroots organization trying to lower tuition fees and remove student debt. “We know the fees won’t be abolished overnight, but it gets the conversation going,” Cullen says. However, UOIT communications officer Bryan Oliver says the Office of Student Awards and Financial Aid is lowering tuition through schol-

Connor Pringle

READY TO GO: Jesse Cullen (left), spokesperson for Drop Tuition UOIT, and crimininology student, Samantha Russell, plan to walk out March 24. arships and bursaries. “UOIT offers more than $60 million annually in financial aid,” Oliver says, noting it includes $7 million through scholarships, bursaries and wages to student employees, which help offset tuition and over $54 million in OSAP assistance. UOIT’s website says the tuition average for a Canadian student is between $6,000 and

$9,000 and between $18,000 and $22,000 for an international student. In comparison, University of Toronto’s average for a Canadian student is $6,000 to $11,000, and $27,000 to $35,000 for an international student, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. The Council of Universities say tuition average is based on

applicant and program type. No matter what type of program, Cullen says, high tuition fees are unsustainable. “There’s lots of creative solutions the province of Ontario and the provinces across Canada can look for examples,” Cullen said, referring to the recent decision by Germany to remove tuition fees. Oliver says UOIT recognizes the costs associated with at-

tending university. “Despite bursaries, scholarships and government aid programs, universities recognize that many students go into debt to fund their education,” Oliver says. This is the first walkout in UOIT’s history and Cullen says he is confident the strike will be successful. UOIT’s north and downtown campus will walkout March 24.

Firefighter program raises funds for Brunt family Marina Tyszkiewicz The Chronicle

Students from Durham College’s Firefighter program have raised thousands of dollars for the family of Adam Brunt, a Durham College student who died last month during an ice and water rescue training course. The program was offered in Hanover, Ontario, through a course separate from the college. Brunt, 30, died after a strong river current pulled him under and he became trapped below the ice for 15 minutes.

Brunt and nine other Durham College students were attending the two-day training course when the accident happened. “It’s been tough for all of us. Some are taking it harder than others,” says Andrew Herc, a fellow student in the Firefighter program. Herc says they have raised well over their goal of $1,000 already but don’t want to say how much yet. He says the money is going to Brunt’s family to help cover funeral expenses or to be donated to a charity of the family’s choice, and they want it to be a surprise. He says condolences have

come in from fire departments in Florida, Saskatchewan, New York and Philadelphia. “It brings us to the reality of real life,” says Herc, describing how students in the program are responding to the news. David Hendrikx, one of the drive’s organizers, has attended a supplementary training course in the past. “They’re scary and they’re hard,” he says. Hendrikx describes Brunt as hardworking and someone who was fun to look up to. “He was a great guy.” He says the tragedy has brought students in his program closer together.

“Were all a big family and we’re all doing it for our cause,” says Hendrikx. Stephanie Ball, dean of the School of Justice and Emergency Services, is thrilled by the boot drive initiative arranged by the students. “To hold one for their own made it pretty special for them,” says Ball. Ball says the faculty described Brunt as someone who was always enthusiastic and arrived prepared. “They saw him as a having a great career as a firefighter,” says Ball. Ball has been with the school for fourteen years and says, “

It’s been the toughest situation I’ve had to deal with as a dean.” She says it’s been difficult for the students that witnessed the incident and those in the program. “We’ve worked very hard to provide counseling to the students,” she says. Ball says students are encouraged to attend additional training programs, but the school doesn’t make recommendations about which ones the students should take. Students will hold a presentation to give Brunt’s family a cheque from the funds they’ve raised.

Regulating private training courses Continued from page 1

Connor Pringle

STUDENT SAFETY: Dean of Justice and Emergency Services, Stephanie Ball, supports the idea of regulating additional training to help protect students and the public.

But he doesn’t think being regulated is possible. “It’s not just rescue training it would involve,” Harrison says, “Every industry, truck/ forklift, heavy equipment, hairdressing, beauty school or training company would fall under this regulation.” According to the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, courses offered by safety

training companies are considered a part of the single-skill training industry and are not covered by the Private Career Colleges Act. “It’s a grey area,” French says. “We can’t have anybody not under a protective umbrella.” She says we need to keep our students protected. Stephanie Ball, dean of Durham College’s School of Emergency and Justice Services,

agrees keeping students safe is a priority. “Anything that improves the safety of any student whether it’s a student at Durham College or someone from the public who’s taking this additional training we would fully support that and always support additional safety precautions,” Ball says. The added safety will help students who take these courses stand out to an employer, Ball believes.

Campus

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015

Gateway to an early retirement Derek Dolstra The Chronicle

He is known for being a voice for students, his social demeanour, and for being one of the key players in the expansion of the Whitby campus. After 30 years of experience across five colleges Darrin Caron, dean, school of skilled trades, apprenticeship, and renewable energy, and the principal of the Whitby campus is officially retiring on June 30 at the age of 55. “One of the main differences with Darrin is he’s very approachable. He’s got an incredible sense of humour and can lighten up any sort of situation,” says Sue Moore, manager of academic operations for the Whitby campus. “He can draw on those past experiences at other colleges to help with any challenges that come our way.” During his time in Whitby the campus saw several new programs and the addition of the Centre for Food (CFF). The CFF is a new facility used by culinary and hospitality students. It houses kitchen labs, lecture halls, and the student teaching restaurant Bistro ’67. Caron won’t be leaving until he can see off the graduates from this year. “I’ll make sure I’m here for

Derek Dolstra

DRIVEN TO RETIREMENT: Darrin Caron, dean, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship, and Renewable Energy, and the principal of the Whitby campus, says the drive to and from North Bay is a big reason for his retirement. convocation,” says Caron. While he is retiring in June he may not necessarily be leaving right away. Caron has agreed to stay on contract for July, if needed, until a replacement can be found but

he doesn’t think it will take too long. “I think this job will be really attractive to someone,” says Caron. Before coming to Durham College, Caron was the dean of

people with disabilities over the past twenty years. He says the unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Canada is at 70 per cent. “If we compare that to the Great Depression when the unemployment rate was 24 per cent, that was considered a national tragedy,” says Wafer. “So today people with disabilities live in a perpetual depression.” Wafer, who has a hearing impairment, says he understands the struggles people with disabilities face during job interviews. “We let them know accommodations are perfectly acceptable and give them a comfort level to let us know,”says Wafer. Wafer conducts his interviews this way because 71 per cent of disabilities are unseen. “The majority of people who apply for a job with our company who have a disability, we can’t see it, we don’t know it until they tell us,” he says. A National Household Survey revealed that 2 per cent of people disclose to employers they have a disability when they first meet them, but 20 to 30 per cent of people said they ended up disclosing a disability later on. “People don’t want to disclose for legitimate reasons,”

says Larock. “They’re afraid of stigma.” Wafer believes the participation rate among people with disabilities is so low because employers and businesses believe myths and misconceptions about hiring someone with a disability. “They believe by hiring someone with a disability they will have employees that work less safe, work slower, require more supervision and be sick more often,” says Wafer. “Worst of all, businesses believe that if they have to fire someone with a disability, it’s an automatic human rights case.” None of this is true, he says. “The reality about being an inclusive employer means that you’ve got a more loyal workforce, you’ve got lower absenteeism and much lower turnover,” he says. According to a 2012 report by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, women with disabilities make $8,853 less than their peers and men with disabilities make $9,557 less. While people with disabilities need a change in their incomes, changing the minds of employers continues to be another challenge. Wafer says the toughest thing to change in the minds of employers is the misconcep-

trades and technology at Canadore College in North Bay but came to Whitby because of the greater opportunity. “That layer of being principal of the campus is really what enticed me to come here,” says

Caron. Working to create a better student life is one of Caron’s accomplishments. Moore explained how Caron always tries to bring more events and facilities and listen to what students wanted. She named the addition of a gym to the campus in December as the prime example. “He’s a very strong advocate for the student voice,” says Moore. Caron’s role in the building of the CFF is his other favourite achievement. “It’s really been an odyssey for us, and it was for me, totally different from anything I’ve done,” says Caron, referring to the CFF. Every week Caron drives to and from North Bay where he lives with his wife. He says the distance is the main reasons he plans to retire. “I’m going to take the summer off and see where I fit, find what I want to do after that,” says Caron. His possible plans for retirement are to either stay involved in education or economic development in some way or to complete his PhD in community college leadership with a focus of study on apprenticeship completion rates. “I think this office will surely miss him,” says Moore.

Building an inclusive workforce Karen Edwards The Chronicle

Having a child with a disability can bring on many challenges. For Lori McLellan in Whitby, and her two-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, Katie, one of her concerns is what obstacles her daughter will face in the workforce when she’s older. People with disabilities are paid less than their colleagues and there are much fewer of them working. “I hope Katie can live independently and get a job,” says McLellan, who is disappointed myths and misconceptions about people with disabilities still exist. In 2006, barely half the population of people with disabilities between ages 15 and 64, were in the workforce, according to the Durham Region Employment Network (DREN). “It’s less than that now,’’ says Sarah Larock, DREN’S research officer. Larock says she isn’t sure why it’s gotten worse, but believes some explanation could come from people recognizing mental health issues. Mark Wafer is the owner of seven Tim Hortons across the GTA and has employed 107

Karen Edwards

DEVELOPING UNDERSTANDING: Sarah Larock, research officer at the Durham Region Employment Network, speaks about the unemployment rate among people with disabilities in Durham Region. tions. Larock says advocacy is part of DREN’s methods of training employers to be more open to people with disabilities. He believes businesses are beginning to look into hiring people with disabilities to replace the baby boomers that

are retiring. “We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” says Wafer. “People are not prevented from getting jobs today because they are women, but people are prevented from getting jobs today because they are disabled.”

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015

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One per cent to rule them all A

s the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. That famous quote is, unfortunately, still true and will remain so until major reform is done in Canada and abroad. Every year the business magazine Forbes reports on the world’s richest people and produces a list of the globe’s billionaires. In February 2014 our planet was home to 1,645 billionaires according to Forbes and these people reportedly owned a collective $6.4-trillion in net worth. In October 2014, by comparison, Credit Suisse reported on the 3.3 billion adults globally with a net worth of less than $10,000 each. Those 3.3 billion – not the few thousand mentioned above – together own $7.6-trillion in wealth. Put together, these numbers indicate that for every one billionaire there are roughly 1 million adults and children living below the poverty line. To put that into a Canadian perspective, according to Statistics Canada the top one per cent of the country’s earners reported a median income of $283,400 in 2011. This one per cent have also accounted for nearly 33 per cent of all median income growth in Canada since the 1990s. According to a Conference Board of Canada report, only the fifth quintile, which is the richest group of Canadians, has increased it’s share of national income while all other quintiles have lost share. The increasing income disparity in Canada has gloom implications for all its citizens. “High inequality can diminish economic growth if it means that the country is not fully using the skills and capabilities of all its citizens or if it undermines social cohesion, leading to increased social ten-

sions,” according to the Conference Board of Canada in a report on Canadian income inequality. “Second, high inequality raises a moral question about fairness and social justice.” Officials, researchers and academics point to various reasons for the growing income disparity in Canada. A study conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has implicated market force as the main contributor domestically and internationally. Companies have outsourced manufacturing jobs to countries with cheaper labour forces resulting in a loss of jobs for Canadian citizens, done primarily in the interest of higher profits. The workers in these outsourced jobs are typically underpaid and treated poorly. A study done by academics working for the University of British Columbia, the Broadbent Institute and United Nations University also found institutional forces to be a driving force in Canada’s income inequality issue. Factors such as lagging minimum wages and declining union rates were also highlighted as potential causes as well as the stagnant or declining tax system. For our generation the rise in income disparity has some bleak implications. Jobs that were obtainable out of high school for the last generation now require degrees that net a student $30,000 debt without the guarantee of a position in their career choice. As well, as prices climb on just about everything paired with stagnating wages, there is a good chance a sizable portion of this generation won’t ever be able to own their home.

Cartoon by Raechel Bonomo

What can be done? A reworking of the entire Canadian tax system would be a starting point. Unfortunately, the people who hold all the wealth are not going to willingly give it back. That is evident through the 3.3 billion people with an under $10,000 in net worth. The billionaires have the potential to help but are not. We need tax reform and new government before substantial change can occur. Some suggest an additional tax bracket for the very top.

The 1 per cent, 0.1 per cent and 0.01 per cent would all be subject to additional taxes. For example, an extra 5 per cent tax on the annual income of people in the 0.01 per cent income bracket – a drop in the bucket for the ultra rich is a mountain of gold for the middle class. Students and young people need to start petitioning the local, provincial and federal government and get their voices heard. Let them know we care and are invested in our future as

ditors: Brittany Bonaparte, Raechel Bonomo, Amy Bridges, Kyle Brown, Sarah Chan, Christian Coulombe, Olivia Da Silva, Derek Dolstra, Karen Edwards, Hazel Ejerecito, Kelsey Fran, Jennifer Gordon, Miranda Green, Jennifer Lavery, Shannon Liverpool, Eva Matys-Wright, Jessica Maxwell, Emma Nicholls, Connor Pringle, Brittany Rout, Emily Saxby, Sean Sutcliffe, Frank Thickett.

Publisher: Greg Murphy

well our country’s future. Come up with your own ideas of reform and pitch them to your local MP, push them to address issues with this increasing disparity. No reform will happen unless we start making noise. Loud noise. A federal election is coming up this year and with that we have a chance, a chance to elect a new leader that can fix this worsening problem.

Sean Sutcliffe

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March 10, 2015

From baristas to bartenders Starbucks offering beer but not on campus

Eva Matys-Wright The Chronicle

Starbucks is brewing a new evening menu that includes beer, but it won’t be arriving on UOIT or Durham College soil. ‘Starbucks Evenings’, a new menu to be served that includes beer, wine, and late night tapas, has been officially announced in select Canadian cities. Currently, there are Starbucks evening menu concept stores in some U.S. cities. “We are currently looking at expanding this experience to Canada in select stores by the end of the year,” said Luisa Girotto, director of public affairs at Starbucks Canada. Starbucks Evening menu starts after 4 p.m. to regular closing times. However, according to John Kerr, food service director for the DC-UOIT library café, the evening menu will not be arriving at the school. “The Starbucks on campus is not a licensed Starbucks, it’s

a licensee agreement called ‘We Proudly Brew’,” says Kerr. According to Kerr, a licensed Starbucks is on the wish list for DC-UOIT but there are official plans yet. There are currently three Starbucks locations in Oshawa, but Starbucks Canada plans to expand. The company hopes to open 100 stores a year over the next five years. According to Girotto, Starbucks Canada will be making significant investments in innovation this year due to coffee sales falling flat. According to a media report, NPD Group, a market research firm, McDonalds Café, bumped Starbucks to the third largest coffee player by market share in Canada after Tim Hortons. “I think it’s going to be a huge hit here, creating new job opportunities and a new place to go,” says Derek Laschuk, shift supervisor at the store on Thickson road in Whitby. “A coffee date is a typical first date for many, but now we can offer a late night date after a movie or just a quiet intimate yet casual hangout alternative.” The world’s largest coffee chain has a revamp planned for Canada in 2015, according to Starbucks Canada President Rossann Williams. Starbucks evenings will arrive in Canada by the end of the year but no locations are confirmed.

Karen Edwards

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Nigerian drummer, Babarinde Williams, performs in an African drumming circle at Durham College’s north campus.

Drumming students and faculty together Karen Edwards The Chronicle

What sound can bring students and faculty all together to one part of the school? It was the sound of drums beating from The PIT in the Gordon Willey building at the college’s Oshawa campus. Durham College’s diversity office and the Student Association partnered up to host a drumming circle in celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 18. Allison Hector-Alexander, the college’s diversity officer, says the event was a huge success because of its location. “People can stop on their way and they don’t have to sit somewhere for two or three hours,” says Hector-Alexander. “You can come between classes for ten minutes, grab a drum and do it.” Babarinde Williams, the

head drummer of the circle, says this was his first experience performing at Durham College. “The vibe here is amazing,” he says. “Even though we started off a little slow, a little shy, once we got going it was crazy.’’ Williams is originally from Nigeria but has lived in Canada for the past 15 years. He currently lives in Ajax and has been performing drum circles for the past eight years. “I thought it would be a good opportunity because you have both the fun component of it and also the education piece of it as well,” says Hector-Alexander. She says African and Caribbean drumming is connected to human emotion and plays a huge part of celebrations in these communities. First year Community Services and Child Foundations student, Letasia Brooksmith,

says the drum circle made her curious to find out what was going on in The PIT. “I heard the drums playing and I was like, ‘I’ve got to go check out that sound!’’’ she says. Brooksmith stayed for the entire three hour performance. Hector-Alexander says the drum circle was an interactive way to get students to partici pate and learn about why to celebrate Black History Month. “In Africa we drum for everything and the drum plays a very integral role in the community so that’s why we are doing this, to give [students] a taste of what it means to be in an African village or setting,” says Williams. The Diversity office also held a Professional and Mentorship day, which was an event that gave students the opportunity to meet Black Canadian professionals in the community as a part of Black History month.

Driving in the winter is no joke!

This time of the year is usually when drivers should start to pay more attention on the road, but most of them have not. Even with the winter weather, I still see people driving too fast, not paying attention and not cleaning off their vehicles. While people are going a reasonable speed on the roads, others are zooming past. Driving from Peterborough to Durham College Monday to Thursday every day, I have witnessed a couple of accidents. Once was on a Monday, right after a snowstorm the day before, and I was driving to school on Highway 115 around 8 a.m. The right lane had not been plowed so everyone was using the slow lane.

Connor Pringle People were doing about 80 km/h, but some decided to do more than 100 km/h in the fast lane. One vehicle was going so fast it caused a 10 second whiteout from the blowing snow before the driver lost control and crashed into the ditch. According to the provincial Ministry of Transportation, more than 150,000 car accidents happen in Ontario every year, with the most happening in January and February. The ministry says 121 deaths occur between Decem-

ber and March of every year, while 170 death occur between April and August. Going too fast can cause an accident but going too slow can too. I passed a vehicle doing 30 km/h in bad weather. A driver came up fast behind the vehicle and could not get over due to the number of vehicles in the passing lane. The driver touched its brakes and the next thing I knew the vehicle fishtailed and hit the ditch. According to Young Drivers of Canada, drivers can become frustrated and their stress levels can rise if they are behind a slower driver, causing a driver to lose control. Also, some drivers think by driving slowly they do not have to clear off their vehicle

bcause they are not going fast enough for the wind to blow the snow around. It may be fine for you, but you are lucky other drivers are not giving you the finger or honking at you when they pass. I’ve seen people slam on their brakes on the 115 because there is so much snow on the vehicle in front, making it impossible to see until the last minute. According to the Durham Police, you can be ticketed with a $110 fine for having too much snow on the windshield blocking your view. Snow is not the only thing that can obstruct people’s view. Items such as cell phones, adjusting the radio or even applying make up will also dis-

tract drivers. I can’t remember the number of times I have seen people driving while talking on their cell phones, fiddling with the radio or applying final touchups to their eye liner. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents. According to the OPP, a lot of tickets are issued, but a spokesperson says it is hard to determine how many tickets are issued in the winter for distracted driving because each year is different. So it is a matter of common sense. If you don’t want to be in an accident, keep your eyes on the road, go the appropriate speed and keeps your hands on the wheel.

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015

Diversity

in Durham

Campus

Durham Region is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. The population, around 650,000, is expected to reach one million by 2031. Most of those new residents will come from elsewhere – from other countries, cultures, and communities. The Chronicle is exploring the changing face of this region in a special series, Diversity in Durham.

They come from the land Down Under An Aussie family building a new life in Brooklin Miranda Green

The Chronicle Annette Smulders looks outside her patio window with a sigh. After a mild week in Brooklin the snow has begun to fall again. Although she is warm inside, with the TV on in the background and the fireplace roaring, the icy weather is something she’s still trying to get used to. Smulders moved to Durham Region five years ago, in 2011, from the other side of the world – Australia. The decision to move came from Smulder’s husband Francois Brazeau. Brazaeu was in the business of mushroom farm management. A farm in Ashburn had been recruiting him for months, asking him to come work in Canada. It didn’t take much thought for the family to make the decision to move overseas. “The work ethic is completely different in Australia,” Smulders explains. “They have a very ‘live once and have fun’ type of mentality, which is good at times but when it comes to work it is hard to have this attitude while still making ends meet.” She explains that Brazeau had grown tired of this, and it was difficult to move forward with his job in Australia. Brazeau moved to Canada first, with the help of some work friends. The family’s heart wasn’t always set on living in Brooklin. After some initial research, the Brazeau-Smulders looked at Port Perry as it is close to the water, something that they were used to back home in Australia. They settled on Brooklin, however, due to its close proximity to schools, stores and public transit. A few months after purchasing the house, the two youngest children of the family Saskia, then 16, and Patrik , then 13,

Miranda Green

AUSTRALIAN PRIDE: Annette Smulders proudly holds up the flag of her home country, Australia. Smulders and her family have been living in Durham Region for five years. moved over. A month later, in October, Smulders and her oldest son Thomas were set to move over. They stayed back a while to sell the house as the economy was not great and it took longer than expected. Thomas was 19, and had a girlfriend and a solid group of friends in Australia. When the day finally came for the big move, Smulders arrived at the airport with the thought that Thomas was following suit and meeting her there. He never came. Smulders knew he was a bit opposed to the move, primarily because he didn’t want to leave his girlfriend behind, but she didn’t know he felt so strongly about it. “We had a last dinner the night before and from that I thought he was coming,” she explains. “It was one of the hardest things to do – get on that plane to meet the rest of my family who I missed so much, yet leave a member behind.” Smulders thinks in his heart Thomas wanted to come and

move with the rest of the family, but had mixed feelings at the last minute. “They say that love is blind, and I think he was a bit blinded at that time.” She explains the lesson that came out of the experience.

‘

They say that love is blind and I think he was a bit blinded at that time.

’

Annette Smulders

“I think it’s important for parents to connect with their children. To talk to them and make sure you know how each other is truly feeling.” Saskia and Patrik have found it a bit easier to settle into Brooklin after making friends at school. In Australia, the family lived in a town on a mountain, and it was a long car drive to the near-

est suburbs and stores. “In Brooklin, everyone lives relatively close so it’s easy to keep in touch with friends even in the summer,” says Saskia. However, the sense of community was not felt right away for the family. Smulders says in Australia everyone is friendly towards each other, even strangers on the street. “When you would be walking, you would just say hello and how are you to everyone you passed, it was a common courtesy,” she says. During the first few days after the family arrived, Saskia and Patrik took a walk around the Brooklin neighborhood and as they passed others they said hi as usual. “People just gave us weird looks,” says Saskia. After the initial adjustments to Durham Region, Smulders and her family are now feeling comfortable and welcome in Brooklin. She says that Durham has a good mix of everything, from the country to suburbs while still being close to Toronto for those who work downtown and

have to commute. But the family still struggles with missing Thomas. They Skype and Facetime as much as possible, but Smulders says he is also busy with his own life back in Australia. “I hope we can come visit soon,” she says with a slightly hopeful smile. “We should be saving up to buy a plane ticket and see him; sometimes I feel guilty about that.” But Smulders has found a way to make Durham feel a bit more like home, specifically living in the country, which she misses most. She now works at a horse farm in Ashburn, getting to spend most of her days surrounded by rolling hills and nature. “I’ve always loved working with horses,” she says. “Now I can work in the country and feel at home.” The family also takes yearly trips to resorts to practice a once regular activity in Australia, scuba diving, allowing them to experience the warmth of the ocean just as they had loved so much back home.

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Out of Africa, into the North Emily Saxby The Chronicle

frikaans is one of 11 official national languages commonly spoken in South Africa. To an unfamiliar ear it would be difficult to pinpoint the Dutch derivation of an Afrikaans accent. It sounds like a soft blend of Australian and English with a hint of smooth Caribbean. Janse Tolmie emigrated from South Africa to Canada two and a half years ago. He’s soft-spoken and pauses between sentences, choosing his words thoughtfully. He’s not difficult to understand despite English being his second language after Afrikaans. When asked what he misses most about his native country, he looks up and smiles. “Family. Friends. The sea. Wildlife. The sun,” he says. It’s a blustery -13 degrees with mountains of dirty roadside snow just outside of his office at Campus Corners where he works as Durham College’s Chief Information Officer. At the same time across the world, it’s 18 degrees and raining in Stilbaai, South Africa where Tolmie was born. Stilbaai is known as the Bay of Sleeping Beauty. It’s about a four-hour drive from Cape Town, the legislative capital (one of three national capital cities in South Africa). Mountains sprout up along the southern tip’s coastline. But the mountain ranges alongside the sea don’t stack up to the Drakensberge, Tolmie says. Drakensberge means Dragon Mountains, which are located in the country’s central province Free State. This is where Tolmie spent many years of his life living, studying and working. He completed his entire post-secondary education up to a PhD in computer sciences at Free State University. The university is situated in Bloemfontein, which is Dutch for Fountain of Flowers, and is the judicial national capital. Bloemfontein is also where Tolmie met his wife and worked as a professor at the university. The school is more than 110 years old and teaches in a mixture of English and Afrikaans— the typical languages of higher institutions in South Africa. Throughout his career, Tol-

Photo courtesy of Janse Tolmie

INTO THE WHITE: Janse Tolmie on a recent dog-sledding trip near Huntsville. mie says he was fortunate to have done quite a bit of travelling for conferences. He rattles off an impressive and diverse list of countries, including Australia, Singapore, Korea, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and England. He also worked in Chicago for three months, and completed his post-doc at Carleton University in Ottawa where he and his wife lived for almost a year in the mid-90s before returning home to South Africa. “Most countries have something special that makes them different,” Tolmie says about not being able to choose a favourite place from his travels. Yet when it came down to choosing a permanent place to live away from home, Tolmie and his wife chose Durham

Region where they settled in Whitby with their two children. Both his 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter speak English as a second language after Afrikaans. His daughter is also learning French.

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Most countries have something special that makes them different.

Janse Tolmie

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“I think since we lived here before, my wife and I, you sort of feel that you know the country and the people. It’s got a really accommodating culture for immigrants,” Tolmie says.

“It’s easy to adapt coming from a Western-type of culture in South Africa.” One of the common misconceptions about South Africa is the country’s Western culture and what it provides to the world, Tolmie says. “Sometimes people would not be familiar with the quality of things that are produced [in South Africa],” he explains. “It’s a country that has both the first-world aspects that can compete with the best [countries] in the world, and the third-world aspects.” There are more than 50 million people living in South Africa. About one-quarter of the population is unemployed and living on less than $1.25 per day, according to Statistics South Africa and a United Na-

tion’s development report. But the country also has the second largest economy in Africa, and stands 34th in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund. While Canada and South Africa both share a similar culture, Tolmie points to their larger differences from climate and cuisine, to religion and sports. “If you speak about hockey in Africa, you speak about field hockey,” he chuckled. Tolmie cheers for the Cheetahs, Bloemfontein’s rugby team. Rugby is a big deal in South Africa alongside cricket and soccer, he says. There are variations of baseball too, but it’s mainly found on school playgrounds. Canada boasts more diverse religions than South Africa. “We [South Africa] don’t have all the variety of religions that you have in Canada. There aren’t that many immigrants there,” Tolmie says, but religion is an integral part of life in South Africa. “[South Africa] is a country that is more difficult to live in and often I think that would also make people turn to religion to understand the meaning of life and to get by.” Another big part of life in South Africa is what locals call braai, a barbeque often prepared over an open fire. Beef and lamb are popular in this tradition, he says. Canada recognizes a national Braai Day. This Sept. 20 will mark the third annual celebration of the South African custom. “Often it’s about the experience. Not only about the food, but good friends enjoying the moment and laughter,” Tolmie explains. He has fond memories of these days growing up with his parents and siblings. Tolmie has two older brothers and a twin. One older brother lives in British Columbia, but the rest of his and his wife’s family members are back home. Tolmie hasn’t been able to visit since his move to Canada in September 2012. “It’s quite a flight. It takes about two days out of your visit just to get there and two days to get back,” he says. He hopes he and his family can make the trip back home within the next few years. Back to the land of dragon mountains, flower fountains and bays of sleeping beauties.

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March 10, 2015

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Emma Nicholls

GREAT MEMORIES: Simon Kariuki laughs as he remembers getting off the plane in Germany to a sea of white faces.

Paying for high school in Kenya paid off Emma Nicholls The Chronicle

A young boy, just turned 13, wakes to the sounds of buzzing outside. The day has started without him. He remembers why it was so hard to sleep through the night and jumps out of bed. His shorts lay on the floor where he threw them in frustration just hours ago. They are tattered and worn, a hand-medown from his father. There are not many holes, so they will be given to his younger brother soon. He dresses himself and takes a deep breath. Trembling, he worries the letter may have arrived, but terrified it did not. In a few moments, he finds what he is looking for and rips open the envelope. He has been chosen. One of the very few. For a moment he allows himself to feel the joy that came when he read his name on this crisp piece of paper. As his young eyes learn the contents of the letter, his heart sinks. His family does not have enough possessions to sell to pay for high school for him. According to Simon Kariuki, this scene is all too familiar in his home country of Kenya. Kariuki grew up there,

“born from a very humble background, rural setting. Not enough to eat,” But he was lucky enough to go to high school and pursue a university education. He says it is only because of grants and scholarships. In Kenya, public elementary school is paid for. However parents and students foot the bill for any further education. According to Kariuki there aren’t many high schools in Kenya, comparing the number to about one in each province of Canada. “Sometimes you have to travel a long distance to go to that school. It’s a boarding school, so you go there say for three months and then after three months they close the schools, the semester ends, you go back home.” Students don’t necessarily choose where they go. “It all depends on how well you’ve done because schools have kind of categories or tiers,” he said. “There are schools called ‘national schools’, those ones admit students from all over the county, that’s a top tier.” The cost of high school can be as much as C$1,000, he said. Many families are poverty-stricken, and must come up with the money themselves. “Looking at the background of most of the kids, let’s say

for example myself, where your family’s income is nothing much more than probably a dollar (per day),” said Kariuki. “In that case you have to depend on help from other people or you have to drop out.” If a child gets good marks up to the Canadian equivalent of Grade 8, they receive a letter of acceptance to one of the few high schools in Kenya. “When a kid receives that letter, they’re excited but they’re scared to death,” said Kariuki. “They’re scared to death because they know that they did the best they could, they worked so hard, but they don’t know how they’ll ever be able to attend.” Kariuki found ways to pay for his high school education, but the school was far from where his family lived. “I was 300 kilometres away from my home, even getting home sometimes was a challenge,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges actually is when my dad passed away, I could not even afford to go for his funeral from school. It was an expense in between the term that was not planned.” The trip would have cost about C$3 in the 1980s when he attended school. “I got the education that I required under the circumstances and I had to keep myself

focused,” Kariuki said. “I knew that education is the only thing that would take me out of this… that’s the only sure way to get out of poverty no matter what.” Kariuki looked for sources of income anywhere, and eventually made his way to university in Kenya for engineering. “It reached a point where I didn’t shy away from asking for any help,” he said. Kariuki survived on scholarships and budgeted his money, sending any amount he could back home to help pay for his siblings’ education. After graduating, he held a few jobs before considering further education. “I started exploring ways of going and furthering my studies because I didn’t want to do any of my further studies in Kenya,” he said. “It was my kind of childhood fantasy to fulfill because I told my dad when he was still alive I will push the education until I get to the ‘ceiling’.” Kariuki received an international student scholarship to attend a university in Germany. He says that was one of his most interesting experiences. “You land to a place that gives you a totally different view of what you’re used to,” he said. “This is what you see every day (pointing to his dark skin),

then you land and see a place… see so many white people at the same time.” Kariuki enjoyed Germany, but when an opportunity arose to come to Canada a few years later, he couldn’t turn it down. While studying in Berlin, he was offered a job in Halifax in 2007. He subsequently moved to the Durham Region to work as an engineer for the reactor safety department at the Ontario Power Generation in Pickering, a position he holds to this day. In 2013, he set up a charity for children facing the same plight he did when he was younger called Bidii Children’s Charity. This effort is currently paying for six kids from Kariuki’s village to attend high school in Kenya. One of the ways this charity gains funds is through the Bidii Children’s Charity Run for Africa. Last year it was held in Ajax and saw more than 100 people participate. This year’s run is on May 10 in Whitby. Kariuki is married to a woman he met in Quebec, who is also from Kenya. They have a young daughter together, and are happy to call Canada their new home. “I was looking for a colder place,” he joked.

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Debunking the myths of NCR designations

Christian Coulombe The Chronicle

What happens to people who commit crimes when they are mentally ill? There is a designation called Not Criminally Responsible (NCR), which can be given by a court to a person who was not in the right mind when committing a crime, or unaware that the actions were wrong. Provided the accused can prove the actions were unintentional, or that they were trying to protect themselves, they can be declared NCR, says Leo Adler, a criminal lawyer in Toronto. “Everyone has the mental capacity, and once the accused raises it, the Crown has to counter the evidence,” says Adler. Richard Kachkar, the man who killed a police officer with a snowplow in Toronto, in January, 2011, is an example of someone who was declared NCR. Kachkar underwent three assessments by forensic psychiatrists, one by the Crown and two by the defence.

All psychiatrists agreed he was in a state of psychosis at the time of the incident. After the hearing, Kachkar was admitted to Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby. Mark Rice, administrative director for forensics at Ontario Shores, says there are a couple of ways to be admitted into the mental health facility. The main way is by a court ordered assessment. Another is by transfer. Once the person has had a criminal responsibility assessment there are a number of things that could happen, says Rice. “One of those being the person could be found not criminally responsible at which point they would have a hearing and they would get a disposition under the jurisdiction under the Ontario Review Board,” says Rice. “We would move them from the assessment bed to the rehabilitation bed in the hospital.” He says the beds are both part of the forensic program, but they are in different units. An assessment to see if someone is fit to stand trial,

usually lasts about five to thirty days, he says, and a criminal responsibility test usually lasts 30 to 60 days. Transfers are another origin of entrance. This is when someone who’s already been deemed NCR from one forensic program transfers to another. According to Rice, Ontario Shores doesn’t have maximumsecurity beds. They’re only available at Way Point in Penetanguishene. If patients do well, they can be transferred. “If they have their review board hearing and they’re granted a medium secure disposition they would go on a waiting list to come to us,” he says. However, they can only be waitlisted if they’re from the area, or if they have family who lives in the area, according to Rice. The waitlist can range from six to eight months, says Chris Bovie, community relations officer at Ontario Shores. Being admitted to a mental health facility due to NCR means the accused will not have a criminal record, according to Adler.

Once admitted to the hospital, Rice says they try to come up with the best treatment plan for the patient. The treatment is medication 99 per cent of the time, he says, adding the severity of a crime doesn’t predict the severity of violence in a patient. “Once they receive treatment, their risks could be quite low provided they’re continuing with their treatment,” says Rice. “We really have to drill down and focus on the risks for the particular individual.” Adler says it depends on the individual and that sometimes people are in the right state of mind by the time they go to trial, while some people are delusional. But NCR people are treated as patients and not criminals. Rice says people often think going to a mental hospital gets you out of being locked up. However, depending on the amount of time it takes to be treated and reintegrated back into society, he says, patients could spend more time in the hospital than in jail. Another myth, according to Rice, is that people who are

NCR are “getting away with it,” and not supervised. They go to the hospital and then people don’t know what happens to them. They think they’re unsupervised. “There is more stringent monitoring than the justice system,” he says. Every year, the Ontario Review Board reviews every patient’s case and determines if they are still at risk, or if they can be either moved to a lower security area or if they can be reintegrated back into the community. Rice says it’s not up to the psychiatrist, and all they can do is provide reports and recommendations for the patient, because ultimately it’s up to the review board to discharge a patient. Bovie says the recidivism rates are also lower than the justice system. About eight per cent of people leaving the hospital go on to commit another crime, compared to 44 per cent of those getting out of jail. It remains controversial but doctors hope to debunk the myth behind the declaration of Not Criminally Responsible.

She says outlines are created with the help of an advisory committee (made up of who?). “They help us raise the bar”, said Blanchard, adding the committee helps to determine what skills a graduate needs to be effective in the workplace. She added the committee allows the college to create a course with the best outcomes. Blanchard said it is important for students to understand how the course works and its purpose. “All of the course outcomes help achieve the overall program outcomes,” she said, adding it helps guide the professor to know what to teach. But the outlines are not the

only tool to guide professors. Jacqueline Towell, a curriculum specialist at the Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment helps faculty design and revise course outlines. “I teach them (faculty) about the principals of curriculum design,” Towell said “So we review the ministry/provincial requirements for curriculum and we also talk about how to design course learning outcomes, how to design evaluations and to design learning activities for the students.” Towell works with a team of faculty or industry experts to develop courses. “We brainstorm topics, resources, equipment, supplies,”

Towell said. “We look at every aspect of the curriculum.” But then comes the hard part, she said, which is helping faculty design the learning outcomes. According to Towell, faculty have a sense of what they want students to do, “But being able to distill that down to a clear, measurable performance base statement is really difficult,” she said. But Towell tries to make it easy. Once the Ministry of Education approves a program, the dean of the school contacts Towell to start working with faculty. She said each instructor in

the program might meet with her three to four times until the outline is final. “We walk through the key steps in curriculum design, which is first developing the outcomes for the courses, then it’s developing the evaluation methods, then lastly it’s developing the content,” Towell said. Once faculty develops the content, she provides feedback on the drafts. She says this way Durham College can make the best course outline. Blanchard says the college is accountable if students do not learn all the outcomes. “It’s our contract with the students,” she said.

Building a contract that outlines your education plan Connor Pringle The Chronicle

You may not know it, but every year students sign a contract with DC and UOIT when they step into their first classes. The contract? The course outline, a tool that is supposed to help students through the school year. Brittany Newman, a student in the Water Quality Technician program, says that is exactly what it does. “My teacher has referred to the course outlines as objectives of stuff to study for tests,” Newman said. But how are the objectives within the outlines made? Outlines are created with input from a number of people, according to associate vice-president of academic planning, Mary Blanchard.

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March 10, 2015

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Co-mingle design campaign promotes recycling Raechel Bonomo The Chronicle

Tanya Roberts and the sustainability team were waiting for the perfect design for recycling bins across Durham College campuses. The Co-mingle Design Campaign began in Sept. 2014 and was open to all DC and UOIT students. The competition challenged

students to create a design to be showcased across campus on co-mingle recycling bins. “It was a long process,” says Roberts. “We were waiting for the right design to come in.” The competition closed in Nov. and after a dozen submissions, Kalvin Holand’s design was chosen as the winner. His design features the traditional Durham College colours of brown and green and incorporates silhouettes of

leaves. The campaign was created in an effort to promote recycling on campus. The winning design will go up onto one bin in each building across campus by the end of the month as part of Recyclemania. Recyclemania, launched on Feb. 2, is a nationwide postsecondary competition to reinforce the practice of recycling at an age when many college

New autism sensory screenings Miranda Green The Chronicle

Late last month, Cineplex announced that it would begin offering special sensory screenings of movies for those with autism. These screenings feature 2D projection screens, increased lighting and smaller crowds. “A number of children with autism have sensitivities to light and sound, so these theatres are bringing down lights so the screen is not so bright. The sound is not as loud as well,” explains Julie CashinOster, Operations manager at Footprints 4 Autism, a Whitby and Pickering based organization offering programs for children with autism in Durham

Region. Cashin-Oster says that these special screenings not only address sensitivity issues, but also allow an environment where it is okay if the children make a lot of noise, get up, and wave their hands without disturbing others. According to Autism Ontario, autism is developmental disability that affects the functioning of the brain. Cineplex is planning on bringing the special screenings to multiple theatres across Canada including London, Mississauga, Scarborough and Vaughn Ontario. Braedon Robert, manager at Landmark Whitby explains. “This is not a new program here,” he says. “We have been showing them for a while now.”

UOIT makes history Kyle Brown The Chronicle

More students are considering the University Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) as their choice for university than ever before. The number of students selecting UOIT as one of their top-three choices in 2015-2016 has increased by 3.3 per cent from the previous year, setting a record for the university. “One of the key factors driving applications to the university is the emphasis UOIT places on gaining real-world experience from industry partners,” said Bryan Oliver Communications Officer for UOIT, in an email. Oliver said the current number of students attending UOIT is more than 10,000, which includes both undergraduate and graduate students. “Awareness was a challenge the university faced in the early years,” Oliver added. “But the students coming to UOIT next year were about six years old when we opened our doors… they are more familiar with who we are, our brand, and the programs we offer.” Brad MacIsaac, UOIT’s assistant vice-president of planning and analysis, said the main increases in high school applicants came through UOIT’s engineering, science, and health sciences programs.

“It is encouraging to see further growth in our applications in spite of the current provincial demographic shift,” MacIssac said in a press release. According to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre total applications across the overall provincial university system are down by 0.6 per cent in 2015-2016. Oliver said this indicates that UOIT is showing modest growth while the rest of the Ontario system is trending slightly downward, due to demographic shift in the number of births in Ontario in the mid to late 1990s.

As far as Cineplex Canada bringing these screenings to theaters in Durham Region, there is no word yet, but there is a strong need for them. “I think there is a strong need for these types of screenings in Durham Region,” explains Robert. “They are very busy when we offer them.” According to Cashin-Oster there is a large population of children on the autism spectrum in Durham Region who can benefit from the movies, but also families with other special needs as well. “They also offer a place for families to come and escape and experience comfort. It’s a safe space for them.”

and university students are developing habits and values they will carry the rest of their lives. Durham College is the only college in Canada that is participating this year, the rest of the participants are universities. Roberts and the sustainability team are also launching a Waste-to-Art innovative as part of the competition. This will involve students bringing waste and recyclables to be used in an on-campus art

exhibit. According to Roberts, the instillation will hopefully be created at the end of March. Roberts and the sustainability team hope to bring environmental awareness to students on campus. “I am hoping to gain further comparative knowledge to see how we can improve upon our current diversion rate and increase awareness of the program and overall waste-reduction strategy,” said Roberts.

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March 10, 2015

DIY inspiration at the campus Sharing an experience Raechel Bonomo The Chronicle

Like many newlyweds and first-time homeowners, Joan Kerr and her husband had to be

creative when furnishing their new abode. Unable to walk into a store and buy new furniture because of high retail prices, Kerr adopted a do-it-yourself (DIY) method to fit their budget. They took old, second-hand chairs and tables and refurbished them with sandpaper, paint and a little elbow grease. “That’s the thing with DIY,” says Kerr. “Everything has a

story.” Kerr is one of the organizers of the Durham DIY Showcase and is a member of the Foundation for Building Sustainable Communities. The showcase is meant to inspire novice DIYers as well as experienced homemade enthusiasts, says Kerr. After a successful first year in 2014 at the Oshawa Legion, bringing out more than 500

people, the showcase has expanded to include more vendors. This year Durham College and UOIT hosted the event on Feb. 15th. “We look to bring people together,” says Kerr. “DIY is a more personal concept.” The showcase has partnered with the UOIT’s Engineering Students’ Society in an effort to incorporate students into the DIY culture.

Rudy Lang is a member the society and has been involved with the showcase since it began. Lang encourages first time DIYers to find someone in their community who shares the same interests and who is experienced in the culture. “I think DIY is about inspiring people,” says Lang. “Anyone can do it. It’s just about coming and wanting to learn.”

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March 10, 2015

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March 13, 2015

No confirmed measles in Durham Questions about vaccines still raised Kyle Brown The Chronicle

There have been no confirmed cases of measles in Durham Region, according to a Durham Region public health nurse. “The last confirmed one in Durham would have happened in 2012,” said Bryon Fox. ”That was a imported case that came from outside of Canada.” Fox says vaccination rates in Durham are ‘quite good’ explaining there is 93 per cent coverage with the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine in people living in Durham Region between the ages of seven to 17. “We do know from the evidence that it is considered 95 (per cent), somewhere close to 100 per cent effective,” Fox said about the protection the MMR vaccination provides. Eleven cases of measles have been confirmed in Ontario. The United States experienced a record number of measles cases during 2014, with just more than 640 in more than 27 states. The cases have coincided with a controversy over the merits of immunization. An Angus Reid poll that surveyed more than 1,500 people found that 40 per cent of Canadians believe the science behind vaccinations isn’t clear. However, 88 per cent of those surveyed said they still believe vaccines are effective at preventing disease in individuals. “Up until the early 1960s we used to have an epidemic every two to three years,” said Dr. Frank Martino, an associate clinical professor at McMaster University in a phone interview. “Everyone got it because it was that contagious, but when immunization came in we started to notice a decline in anyone born after 1970.” Dr. Martino says common symptoms of measles are small white spots that develop inside the mouth, a red blotchy rash that is itchy, as well as congestion and a cough. Canada’s immunization vaccine, Dr. Martino said, is very effective and prevents outbreaks of measles from occurring. Most cases of measles, he adds, are either imported from other countries or in groups of people who refuse to be vaccinated due to philosophical or religious purposes. “People hear things and they

get afraid so they refuse to immunize,” Dr. Martino said. He adds that things like autism being attributed to vaccines have been completely disproven. “Vaccination is the best shot you can give your child in life, if you really want to give them that positive health boost, you vaccinate them.” But Heather Fraser, a board member of Vaccine Choice Canada, said there should be more information made available to the public about the health risks of vaccines so people can give their informed consent before being immunized. “When doctors are calling for people to get their shots, it’s important to weigh the benefits and the risks associated with that product.” Fraser said. “It’s a drug and like all drugs it has risks attached to it.” Fraser doesn’t consider herself or her group to be “anti-

vaxxers,” explaining that there are benefits to vaccination. However, she said parents need to check the document known as a package insert before they receive a vaccination, which is

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never been a successful lawsuit against a manufacturer for vaccination-related injury in Canada, and that someone needs to start taking liability for the cost of injuries when they occur.

When doctors are calling for people to get their shots it’s important to weigh the benefits and risks associated with that product.

Heather Fraser provided along with the vaccine to give additional information about the drug. “Parents need to understand that neither government nor doctors nor the manufacturer take any responsibility for vaccine injuries. Vaccine consumers are unprotected,” Fraser said. She adds that there has

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Fraser cites reports that have found in clinical trials that the MMR vaccine can cause fever, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, arthritis, severe allergic reactions and at times, death. “There’s a social stigma that if you question vaccines you’re seen to be against the common good,” Fraser said. “The narra-

tive is about instilling fear in people, ‘run for your vaccines.’ Instead we need to stop and think about what we’re doing here.” But, Dr. Martino said, it is incumbent on physicians to answer patient’s questions, and explain that there are far more benefits to being vaccinated than risks. He notes that the adverse effects attributed to vaccines often have nothing to do with the immunization in the first place. “Sometimes you’ll develop a fever because you caught a cold and it has nothing to do with the vaccine. We do know you can have a mild illness after you get vaccinated, but those are rare,” Dr. Martino said. “At the other end of the spectrum a very, very rare event like someone had a serve allergic reaction, but as I said those are extremely rare occurrences.”

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March 10, 2015

St. John Ambulance: 900 years and helping Amy Bridges The Chronicle

It has been around for more than 900 years, has 300,000 members and works in 42 countries around the world. St. John Ambulance has nursed people back to health, saved lives, provided valuable information and helped communities around the world. It’s among the oldest charities in the world but they aren’t resting on the past. Kim ImBoden, a St. John Ambulance Medical First Responder in Durham Region, started with the program to get out in the community and do something instead of staying inside. ImBoden got more than just getting out of the house. “I found that I was out there helping people, feeling like I was contributing to the community,” said ImBoden. “We had one gentleman who severely injured his arm and we were able to assist him. I have been able to talk to him a couple of times and he’s doing great.” St. John Ambulance was originally called the Order of St. John. “For generation after generation that followed, the Order of St. John continued to move wherever human suffering and conflict called out to them,” said Tina Basque, branch manager for St. John Ambulance in Durham Region. “In 1080, under the banner of the White Cross, Benedictine monks tended the sick and the injured knights and pilgrims in Jerusalem during the crusades.” The Order of St. John in England in 1877 formed the St. John Ambulance Association, which is more of what we know it to be today. Basque has been with St. John Ambulance since 1995 when she started as public relations intern in her third year at Durham College. “Over the years there have been so many moments. I have had a great time getting to know so many people over the years. Listening to their stories, and feeling like my contribution each day matters, “ she said. People aren’t the only ones who get to help and volunteer. Harley the ten-year-old, half Bernese Mountain dog, half Labrador, has been able to volunteer in his own way. Harley and his owner, Karen Waters, have been a part of St.

John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog program for the last six years. They have gone through rigorous training to make sure the animals; caregivers and the people they are helping are safe. They go through exercises and special training courses for any kind of situation from children running around to people with crutches or wheelchairs. Harley and Waters have been to parades, nursing homes, schools and other programs to help people de-stress and relax. They recently walked through the Durham College campus during exam week to help students de-stress. Harley was so excited to be there he would go over to everyone who passed and tried to help the students by getting them to pet him. Harley enjoys volunteering so much he will sit under his leash ready to go. “There’s people in the nursing homes that don’t have family to visit them, the way we were taught was to look for the rooms that don’t have pictures on the walls,” said Waters. “There’s one lady I like to visit she’s on a feeding tube, so obviously she doesn’t get that stimulation to go to lunch with the others.” Even though Harley loves toys and loves to carry things around such as his monkey with long legs and a long tail, he has learned not to touch things that aren’t his. “One ‘funny’ time with Harley was when a gentleman had four brand new tennis balls on the bottom of the legs of his walker. Harley plays with tennis balls and if you could have seen his face wanting those tennis balls,” laughed Waters. “But of course he knew he wasn’t allowed to touch them.” Therapy dogs aren’t the only aspect of St. John Ambulance present at Durham College. The agency provides certification and volunteers for the Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT), the team that monitors the campus. There are two responders on call at all times. Durham College and UOIT students are eligible to join the CERT program. Eric Viana, scheduler for CERT and second-year kinesiology student at UOIT, is using the CERT program as practice and experience. “I just figured this is a good way to get my foot in the door, considering in the medi-

Amy Bridges

PAWS-ITIVITY: Protection Security and Investigation students Angela Lorusso (left) and Ashley Bowyer de-stress with Harley, a St. John Ambulance therapy dog. cal world you can’t really do a whole lot until you are fully certified for obvious reasons,” said Viana. “I just saw this was a good way to kind of put the knowledge I learned in the lecture hall to practice.” Devon Richards, CERT Director and coordinator and paramedic student at Durham College started out with St. John Ambulance and transferred to the CERT Program at Durham. “It kind of becomes your second family because you spend so much time with people with such similar interests to you,” said Richards. “I mean we are on overnight shifts so you are spending 12 hours at a time with these people and they kind of become a big family in the end. So I have met a lot of life long friends through here.” It isn’t all fun, a rite of passage for most of the CERT

members is being vomited on. Campus Fest was Viana’s favourite day despite being his first experience where Richards’ first “initiation” was her worst day. “It really soaks through your clothing and it’s really unpleasant,” said Richards. But there are better moments. One of Richard’s most memorable moments was the day she realized how much of an impact she and the CERT team actually have.

“I had a patient who was actually having a heart attack and it was the first day that I realized how much of a difference that we make,” she said. “Even though it’s just minor stuff and we are helping to hand off to the paramedics. It’s one-step that the school really needs us here to make that kind of impact in the community, and we are actually helping people. Sometimes it takes a really serious call like that to realize what a difference we make.”

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Black, white and blue all over

Miranda Green The Chronicle

It’s garbage day in Durham Region. Black bags are dragged out to the curb and placed alongside recycling, packed into their distinguishing bright blue box. Putting out the garbage may seem like such a monotonous act that the boxes the recycling is put in wouldn’t even cross someone’s mind. However, for a group of like-minded people working to make the region and beyond more sustainable for years to come, one box in particular has made a huge impact on them. Durham Sustain Ability is a not-for-profit organization that supports individuals and companies to pave the way for a more sustainable future. The group hosted about 80 other representatives from various surrounding businesses such as GM and Whitby Hydro on Thursday, January 29th to discuss plans for future and ongoing initiatives to ensure businesses are functioning with more sustainability and eco awareness. The event featured presentations and speeches from a range of individuals. Among the presentations was a tribute to Jack McGinnis, founder of the blue box, who passed away in January 2011. McGinnis came up with the concept of recycling in boxes

Miranda Green

DURHAM SUSTAINABILITY: Heather Kirby (left) and Shawna Mutton of Durham Sustainability Communities celebrate Durham Region’s participation in recycling. quite simply. In the 1970s, McGinnis and his ‘hippy’ friends had the idea to drive around the streets of where they lived in the Beaches to pick up surrounding neighbors’ garbage. The government supplied the truck and this continued until 1977 when McGinnis created the first edition of what became known as the blue box. McGinnis urged members

of his community to use milk crates for their curbside recycling collections. The participation in McGinnis’s initiative in the Beaches was close to 100 per cent, according to Durham Sustain Ability President and Chair, Terry Green. “Jack was part of the environmental movement in the 70’s but he didn’t just regard himself as an environmental-

ist,” Green explains. “His passion was being part of a bigger, collective energy.”In 1981, McGinnis launched a pilot program in Kitchener with the officially named blue box. It is only a partial truth that the box is blue because it doesn’t fade easily in sunlight. Rumour has it that it is merely because it was McGinnis’s favorite color, according to Green.

Almost 30 years since the pilot program, blue boxes are still being used in millions of homes across the world, from America to Europe to Australia. Green recalls McGinnis’s free spirit in everything he did, not only in his environmental endeavors. Back in the 70’s, university students used to steal milk crates to store their albums in. An avid musician and band leader, Green says that McGinnis purposely made the boxes the shape they are so that standard record albums wouldn’t fit in them. “He’d be damned if university students would use the boxes for recycling instead of holders for record albums,” Green explains with a laugh. Shawna Mutton of Durham Sustain Ability remembers McGinnis with the same fondness. “ Jack was one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met,” she says. “ He was one of those people who just did everything. This, of course, is the catchphrase that McGinnis thought up and is now seen on the side of every blue box. Today, more than 200,000 homes and buildings participate in the blue box program in Durham Region alone. “Jack believed that recycling would make people feel good,” says Green. “With Durham Sustain Ability, he was so influential that we feel like he’s still here today.”

Students helping future students Derek Dolstra The Chronicle

A swarm of students enticed by the smell of popcorn and the chance to share their favourite Durham College memories crowded around a table set up in The Pit on March 4. Students came for the free snack but then realized the Alumni Association was providing a chance to give something back to the school. “It was the popcorn at first, but I had a good two years so it’s kind of bittersweet,” says Nathan Currie, a protection, security, and investigation student. Students were filling out a simple three-question survey so they could compete in the second annual School Cup Challenge (SCC). The SCC is a competition between the seven academic schools and the Centre for Food to see who can get the most students to answer the survey. “We’re looking for a way to connect with our students in a fun, creative way to help them celebrate the fact they’ve worked so hard,” says Sally

Hillis, Durham’s annual development and alumni operations administrator. Students were asked to share their favourite DC memory, their favourite faculty or staff, and what they would like to know about the Alumni Association. Currie’s favourite memory was last semester when he had to create an initiative for a school project but it was actually enacted. He created Feet on the Street, which was designed to help kids with mental health issues. Currie said it was nice to do something real and not just an assignment. Other students like Morgan Parnell, a social service worker student said their favourite memory was CampusFest, when she met and became friends with people in her program. The school with the highest participation wins a $1,000 bursary for their school for the 2015-2016 school year. They also get bragging rights with their school’s name on the School Cup Trophy. Second prize is a $500 bursary. “It’s to give students an idea

Derek Dolstra

SCHOOL CUP CHALLENGE: Lori Connor (left), Durham’s alumni officer, and Sally Hillis, Durham’s annual development and alumni operations administrator, hold the School Cup Challenge trophy. of giving back to fellow students and to make them aware of benefits of the Alumni Association when they graduate,” says Lori Connor, Durham’s alumni relations officer. All students who enter the competition also have the chance of winning a $500 prize and Toronto Maple Leafs tickets. Students still have a chance

to participate. The SCC runs until March 19. They can fill out the survey online, in person at The Pit on March 18, and at the Countdown to Grad event. The Countdown to Grad event is a pre-grad party to teach graduating students about convocation, employment services, and alumni benefits.

The Alumni Association is also trying to get graduating students to help fund the graduates bursary fund by donating $20.15, the same number as their final year at Durham. “It’s students helping students and the money will go directly to help future students have the same great memories the current students are having,” says Hillis.

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Meditation and mental health Olivia Da Silva The Chronicle

Breathe in, hold for four seconds… breathe out, hold for four seconds. This is an example of “square breathing”, one of the many anxiety reducing techniques taught at a recent workshop about coping with stress and anxiety. Held at the Whitby Public Library on January 20th, the seminar was run by Bonnie Pedota, an author and counsellor who works with the Canadian Mental Health Association. Though the audience was small, each member seemed thoroughly intrigued by the content, showing no hesitation to take part in demonstrative exercises. The group was shown how to effectively meditate, and was educated on the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy, referred to as CBT. This type of therapy revolves around the idea that changing a person’s negative thoughts into positive ones can affect their feelings in the same way, giving them an overall brighter outlook on life. As the evening continued, Pedota encouraged members of the audience to share their own

Olivia DaSilva

BON’S YEAR ON: Bonnie Pedota stands with her self-written book about her journey to mental and spiritual well-being. personal methods of beating anxiety. “I have a Siberian husky… a

very high energy dog, and you have to exercise them regularly or they’ll destroy your house,”

Mental health stigmas are affecting employability Karen Edwards The Chronicle

At 27-years-old, Katelin Brake only wishes she could finish high school. But Brake suffered from severe anxiety and depression since she was 12-years-old. It’s affected her social, academic and financial life. “Before I was diagnosed, I loved school, straight As, loved the teachers, a tonne of friends, and then it just sort of happened. I stopped being able to go,” she says. Brake never finished high school because of the severity of her anxiety. Her mental illness was triggered by a chemical imbalance. At 18, Brake applied for disability assistance because she didn’t think she could find employment. A year later, she managed to land a job at Tim Hortons but was eventually let go. She was required to work three to four days a week but was only able to make it one or two days a week because of the panic attacks she would have at work. “I got a letter that said ‘you are a great employee when you’re here, but we need to employ someone we can depend on’,” says Brake. “I completely understand. If I can’t be relied on to show up for shifts, then yeah, for sure give the job to someone else.” Distress Centre Durham hopes to change that. Victoria Kehoe, executive director,

hosts a Mental Health 101 workshop throughout the year for job developers to better assist people with mental health issues who have experienced job loss. One component of the workshop is to inform and educate job developers on how to assist clients struggling with mental health disabilities to find employment. Brake says she has not tried to find employment elsewhere since Tim Hortons. Donna McAllister, executive director of Durham Region Employment Network (DREN), says the not-for-profit organization is committed to partnering with Distress Centre and other mental health agencies to better provide services and support jobseekers with mental health disabilities. “We are getting calls from employers who are saying ‘we know that there is some mental health issues with someone that is working for us and we want to help them but we don’t know how,’’’ she says. McAllister says one way DREN is doing this is by co-location, being located in the same building as the Canadian Mental Health Association. She says stigma could be demolished in the workplace if employers speak out about their own mental health disabilities. Brake says she wants to try finding employment again. “I don’t want to not work, or to not be able to function like a quote on quote normal person.”

audience member Andy Brown said with a laugh. “That’s something I look forward to.”

Pedota has first-hand experience with why it’s important to be knowledgeable about anxiety coping mechanisms. She experienced her first panic attack at age 24 while on a trip to Paris, an attack so severe that she “thought she was really going to die”. This lead her to discover that she suffers from panic disorder. After this discovery, she began educating herself in spiritual psychology, and eventually wrote her first book about her experiences with mental health issues. “The spiritual thing was rather spontaneous, it just kind of happened in my journey,” Pedota said. “I was looking for answers, and I started reading books, and it just resonated with me.” Now more than ten years later, Pedota is married with children, teaches various workshops on stress and anxiety coping mechanisms, and works as a spiritual psychotherapist. With related events such as Bell’s annual “Let’s Talk” campaign, where Bell customers recently helped raise over $6.1 million for mental health initiatives, these types of workshops are becoming even more prevalent in local communities.

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Cinefest

March 25th - Red Army - Hockey Documentary about the Soviet Union.

Cinefest Durham is a volunteer org organization sponsored by the friends of the Oshawa Public Librar Libraryy in partner par tnership with Film Circ Circuit uit presented by TIFF and its sponsors sponsors and supporte suppor ters rs..

Cineplex Odeon Theatre @ Grandview Street North in Oshawa Box Office opens at 6:15pm. Film begins at 7:00pm $

8.00 cash per ticket

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Entertainment

The Hip set to tour to Oshawa Kelsey Fran The Chronicle

Over the past three decades The Tragically Hip have managed to fully completely captivate audiences across North America and parts of Europe. This past October, the band released a deluxe reissue edition of its third studio album, Fully Completely, and announced a tour to follow. The tour hit the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 19 to an appreciative and enthusiastic crowd. At 51 years of age, energetic front man Gordon Downie mesmerizes the crowd with his unusual antics and theatricality on stage. The concert opened with five songs, including ‘Grace, Too’, ‘My Music at Work’, and ‘Ahead by a Century’, before a very small intermission. The Hip returned to the stage to play every song off Fully Completely. The 1992 album featured classics such as, ‘Fifty Mission Cap’, ‘At the Hundredth Meridian’, ‘Courage’, ‘Locked in the Trunk of a Car’, and ‘Wheat Kings’. They moved through songs quickly, controlling the room and keeping up the tempo. Downie was vocal with the audience during instrumental breaks, at one point saying, “You’ve got to believe in what you feel in your heart, with what you love…but you already know that Toronto.” The highlight of the show was the

File photo by Alex Martinez

SING IT LOUD: Gordon Downie entertains an appreciative Tragically Hip crowd. back-to-back performance of ‘Fifty Mission Cap’ and ‘Wheat Kings’. During the piece, the dark arena was littered with white cellphone lights, while the crowd passionately chanted

the words in unison with Downie. The group played from behind sheer screens, on which grey scale images and videos of Bill Barilko and David Milgaard were showcased.

The encore consisted of hits like ‘Bobcaygeon’, ‘Poets’, ‘Blow at High Dough’, and ‘Nautical Disaster’. Scott Yoshikuni from Ajax had never seen The Hip before. “It was pretty good,” he said. Lyall Goodman from Pickering has been a fan of the band for a while now and received tickets to the concert for his 17th birthday. “I thought it was a blast! They played all the classics, it was a really good time,” he says. The tour stops at venues all over Ontario, including Oshawa, Kingston, London, Kirkland Lake, Windsor and St. Catharines. “[The ACC] just a little bit bigger than the GM Centre, so I think it’s a little more special of a show,” says Goodman. “When a band comes to the ACC it’s a big show.” Formed in 1983 at Queen’s University, the band has become a staple in Canadian music history. Nine of their 13 studio albums have made it to number one. The 14 time Juno award winners were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2005, and even have a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto. They also received the honour of being the first band to ever play at the ACC to a sold out crowd on Feb. 22, 1999, just three days after it opened. The tour stops at the GM Centre in Oshawa on Apr. 15.

Four decades of beards, beer and bikes Miranda Green The Chronicle

After 40 years, 15 studio albums and the same three members, ZZ Top can still sell out an arena and put on an impressive performance. The three-piece Texas based bluesrock band came to Canada to put on a show at Peterborough’s Memorial Centre on Wednesday, March 4th. The band appeared onstage after opening act Flash Lightnin’ around 9 p.m. clad in matching outfits and their signature beards, hats and sunglasses. They started out by playing songs from their latest two records, including 2012 album La Futura. The single I Gotsta Get Paid from this album was performed with the music video playing on screen. Some audience members subsequently pulled out their lighters for the song which echoes “25 lighters on my dresser”, a sample from the influential 90s rap song. The audience was a variety of young and old, mainly consisting of couples and groups in their 40s and 50s. Among

Al Fournier

BEARDS: ZZ Top rocks out at Memorial Centre in Peterborough March 4. them however were younger attendees, many sporting band tees and singing along. Following a few newer releases, the band delved into 1983 hit Gimme All Your Lovin’. Throughout the show, two screens situated behind lead guitarist/ vocalist Billy Gibbons and bassist/vocalist Dusty Hill showcased music videos and graphics, keeping the audience

entranced. The energy in the crowd was not as high spirited as may be expected from a rock concert, but the biggest factor in that may have been the venue. While small, the arena has strict security and the majority of the middle and upper level seating fans were not allowed to stand up, and if they did were ushered to sit back down, which appeared to be pretty disheartening for

those who just wanted to dance along. Throughout the night, the band played all the classic hits that fans were hoping for, including Legs, Cheap Sunglasses and Sharped Dressed Man as well as a surprising cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Foxy Lady. ZZ Top has always been a band that focused more on the raw power of the music in live performances, unconcerned with lively stage presence and dramatics. This was showcased at the concert, with the band’s matching outfits and synchronizing sways and steps while playing guitar being the main entertaining factors. This was clear at the show, as the members only moved around a few times throughout the night, including once to switch guitars for the signature fuzzy ones to play Legs, however, no guitar swings were performed as seen in their classic video. The band came out with an encore that included hits La Grange and Tush. Overall, despite being quite short and finishing before 10:30 p.m., the performance was enthralling.

Entertainment

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March 10, 2015

Jennifer Lavery

FOUR SIDES OF FLOYD: Members of cover band Pink Floyd Experience (PFX) playing at the General Motors Centre in downtown Oshawa. Tom Quinn (left picture) rocked out on lead guitar. (Right picture) Gus “The Count” Beaudoin on bass and (left) Randy McStine on guitar and lead vocals.

The Pink Floyd experience

Jennifer Lavery The Chronicle

With its smoky atmosphere, thundering bass and a light show you had to witness to believe, the Pink Floyd Experience (PFX) made the General Motors Centre in downtown Oshawa come alive with music. It’s exactly what one would think when someone puts the word “experience” into a band name: it’s a tribute band. PFX is no different. An American made band, six die-hard Pink Floyd fans created PFX to honour the original. Tom Quinn is the bandleader and lead guitarist. He created the band in 1994. Other members include Randy McStine

(guitar), Gus Beaudoin (bass), Jon Cox (keyboard), Jesse Molloy (saxophone) and Bob Sale (drums). The original Pink Floyd was formed in London, England in 1965 by a group of students. Their eighth album, The Dark Side of the Moon, was released in March 1973 and was number one on Canada’s charts. The band is currently on their ‘4 Sides Of Floyd’ tour, travelling across Canada and the U.S.A, landing in California by April. Valentine’s Day marked their Oshawa tour stop. The group played more than a dozen songs. After a few fast-paced Pink Floyd classics, they slowed things down with

a sweet saxophone solo from band member Jesse Molloy. Molloy performed many solos throughout the concert, nailing it every single time. When the band started playing Wish You Were Here, the entire crowd started cheering within five seconds of the song starting. When they played Comfortably Numb, lighters and cellphones started waving and swaying in the air immediately. It was enough to give anybody goose bumps. Dave Wilson, a fan of the original Pink Floyd, had nothing but praise about the tribute band. “You’re never going to see Roger Waters or David Gilmour stand side by side, but

this is the next best thing hands down.” Not only did the stage come alive with lights and smoke, but the band also had a giant screen set up to loop optical illusions and visuals to match the songs. A soundboard team also had a station set up play white noise over and between songs. The arena set up for the concert was small and intimate, but every seat was filled. While the crowd held of a mix ages, including dads and their young sons, not all of them were fans of the music when they first arrived. “I’m not familiar with Pink Floyd’s music,” said Mark Mason. “I’m actually here for my wife tonight, but I’m honestly

very pleased with these guys. It gives me a reason to start listening to the real thing.” In classic Pink Floyd tripping-on-acid style, the night wouldn’t have been complete without the band having the audience singing along to the song Another Brick In The Wall while being bombarded with a giant flying pig, controlled by a remote mini-helicopter. Keep an eye out for the next time PFX comes to town. You won’t want to miss their attackon-the-senses concert. Any Pink Floyd fan will tell you that the original concerts were intimate with loud sound and a psychedelic atmosphere. The Pink Floyd Experience delivers all that and more.

50 shades of disappointment

Miranda Green The Chronicle

When it was announced the bestselling erotica-romance novel 50 Shades of Grey, by British author E.L. James would be made into a movie, the hype began. Who would play lead Christian Grey? Would the film adaption be as graphic as the novel? The fan base of the novel ranged from middle-aged men and women to curious teenagers and twenty-somethings, to Twilight romance fans looking for something a little bit edgier and the audience at the Whitby Landmark cinema was fairly similar. The film stars Jamie Dornan as young, attractive and rich businessman Christian Grey. The female lead, Anastasia Steele, an innocent, inexperi-

enced college senior isplayed by Dakota Johnson. Dornan has been in only a few films, most recognizable from starring as Antoinette’s love interest in the 2006 Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette. Johnson, daughter of actor Don Johnson and actress Melanie Griffith, is known for her roles in The Social Network, Beastly and Need for Speed. The film opens with Anastasia interviewing Christian for a school assignment in place of her friend, who is too sick to do the interview herself. From the first scene, Anastasia and Christian’s simulated, yearning lust is put into the forefront, complete with Anastasia’s far too often lip bites and over-emotional looks into Christian’s eyes. At first it seems like an almost storybook romance is forming between the two, with

Christian visiting Anastasia at her job at a hardware store (to buy tape and rope albeit), sending her a thoughtful gift and flying her over in a helicopter to his mansion for drinks. The plot takes a twist, familiar to the novel-fans in the audience, with Christian introducing Anastasia to his ‘playroom’, a world of sexual fantasies and BDSM. The film has caused a fair deal of controversy. Some say Christian’s actions and dialogue towards Anastasia glorify abuse and degrade women. These themes are trailed through the film. In the beginning Anastasia has a kind of sexual awakening with Christian as he opens her to a world she has never known. For a moment it seems as though Anastasia is becoming empowered with this transfor-

mation and self-revelation. But the relationship, or lack thereof, between the two quickly turns into that of control and power. There are a few brief scenes where Anastasia shows bouts of strength, standing up for herself in light of Christian’s ‘rules’ and desires, but that confidence is quickly overshadowed by her running back to him and wanting more, despite displaying her feelings of pain and humiliation. There is little insight into Christian’s background aside from a few proclamations of childhood of abuse and emotional trauma. It is almost as though one is supposed to feel sorry for him, but there is not enough evidence to support the sympathy. The sexual scenes that many fans might have been looking for are lacking slightly with

only a few standout moments. However, with the film’s rating being 18A there was not too much more it could expose. It is rather replaced with far too much overdramatic and unrefined dialogue between Christian and Anastasia. For example, when Anastasia asks why she is here, Christian responds with, “You’re here because I’m incapable of leaving you alone.” The film doesn’t bring many emotions, other than the urge for laughter at some scenes that are supposedly meant to be serious and evoke sensibility. Overall, the artistic aesthetics and intentions of the film highly surpass the actual essence of what it is meant to be, which in itself is confusing. Romantic drama, sexual exposition or emotional revelation? You will have to decipher for yourself.

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Matsusaki named coach of the year

Durham College men’s volleyball coach George Matsusaki alongside five players were recognized this morning at the OCAA men’s volleyball championship banquet in Windsor. Matsusaki was named the East Division Coach of the Year after leading the Lords to a perfect 18-0 regular season, the first time for the program since 2005-06. Although he was with the program prior to taking over the reigns, this is only Matsusaki’s second season as head coach at Durham College. Matsusaki was also selected by the league as the nominee for the CCAA coach of the year award. Also taking home some hardware from the Lords was Matt Gibson (Oshawa, Ont.), who was named an East Division First Team All-Star. In his first year with Durham College (fifth of eligibility), Gibson has been crucial to the team’s success as their setter. He was fifth in the OCAA with 542 assists, which translates into 8.74 assists per set (fourth in the OCAA). The Oshawa native was second on the Lords with 11 service aces and 75 digs. Durham was also recognized with four players named as East Division Second Team All-Stars.

March 10, 2015

Courtesy of Durham Athletics

THE AWARD GOES TO: George Matsusaki was honoured as coach of the year in the East Division. Erik Janssen (Hampton, Ont.) led the Lords in kills with 183, which was 14th in the OCAA. More impressive was his kills per set, 3.33, which ranked him ninth in the province and made him the only player at Durham College with more than three per set. Janssen’s 3.9 points per game also ranked him ninth in the OCAA. Team captain Jeremy Hoekstra (Cobourg, Ont.) was the team leader in service aces with 18 and second in kills with 156. He was also tied with fellow allstar Petrus Kuypers (Haydon, Ont.) for second on the team and top 25 in the OCAA with 3.1 points per game.

Sports

Women’s volleyball takes silver at OCAAs Jennifer Lavery The Chronicle

The Durham College women’s volleyball team played a near-perfect season this year. They made it all the way to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championship. The Lords won the silver medal at the OCAA games, playing three sets against the Humber Hawks, who beat the Courtesy of Durham Athletics Lords every game. Durham took an early lead STANDING TALL IN SILVER: The Durham Lords womin the first set, at 21-20. But after a timeout by the en’s volleyball team proudly display shiny silver medals Hawks, they knocked out five at the OCAA championship game. straight points to win the set 25-21. gold, making it their eighth star team for the Lords. Humber dominated Dur- straight provincial title, and Broad led the scoring with ham during the second set, the bronze went to Niagara. six kills. Rae-White had three winning 25-12. “Going in against Humber blocks, two aces and two kills. The Lords took an early is tough because they’re an The women’s volleyball lead in the third set, but Hum- experienced and well-coached team won their last four conber rallied to win 25-17. team,” said Clarke. “I think we ference games and two backThis game makes it the 11th did quite well against them to-back 3-0 sweeps at the podium finish for the team. though.” championship games. Tony Clarke, head coach Clarke was impressed with Unfortunately, this OCAA for the Durham team, is very the strength that the team game was not a repeat perpleased with how this season gathered throughout the sea- formance of their 2002 gold turned out. son. medal win. “It went very well,” said “We’re very good at the nat“We started off slow with Clarke. “We had [a rough ural blocking, and our serving the very first set and then start] but then we were able came a long way as well as we came and played our own to overcome to move on and overall execution throughout game,” said Clarke. the girls came together at the the year.” “You know what, a silver right time for the provincial Team members Jessica medal in my first year here championships.” Broad and Maddie Rae-White at Durham – I can only see it Humber College took home were named the OCAA all- getting better from here.”

Durham Lords perfect season snapped

After dominating the east throughout the regular season the west proved to be better at the OCAA men’s volleyball championship. Durham College’s perfect 18-0 conference record this season was snapped Friday night by the host St. Clair Saints. St. Clair upset the Lords 3-1, which meant Durham would be playing for bronze.

Saturday they were back in action against the Sheridan Bruins, who dropped their quarter-final matchup 3-0 to the Humber Hawks. The Bruins opened with a 25-21 win, but the Lords responded with back-to-back 25-21 set wins of their own to lead the match 2-1. In the fourth set Durham had an opportunity to advance, but Sheridan stayed

alive with a 32-30 victory to force the fifth and final set. Unfortunately for the nationally ranked Lords the Bruins finished the match off with a 15-9 fifth-set win. Nick Coleman (Brooklin, Ont.) led the team with 11 kills and five blocks. Player of the game, Erik Janssen (Hampton, Ont.), and Petrus Kuypers (Haydon, Ont.) added nine apiece. Kuypers also had

three blocks. Team captain and graduating senior Jeremy Hoekstra (Cobourg, Ont.) picked up seven kills and three blocks. Jeremy Fantin (Mississauga, Ont.) took player of the game honours for Sheridan with a match high 26 kills. Fantin also had 18 digs, two blocks and a service ace. Josh Butler (London, Ont.) contributed to the Bruins victory with 22 kills, 13 digs, two

stuffed blocks and a service ace. Hoekstra and Kuypers are amongst those graduating from their respective programs this season. The six other graduates include: Matt Gibson (Oshawa, Ont.), Luke Kilbourn (Ingersoll, Ont.), Mike Harper (Oakville, Ont.), Braydon Rogers (Leaskdale, Ont.), Luke Fafard (Dauphin, Ont.) and Ben Gledhill (Orleans, Ont.).

Sports

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015

DC-UOIT varsity teams’ look and legacy

Raechel Bonomo The Chronicle

There is a popular mentality in sports: the way you look translates to the way you play. For the Durham College Lords and the UOIT Ridgebacks looking like a pro means playing like one. Through 37 years of DC varsity athletics and 10 years at UOIT, each team’s uniform aesthetic and design has evolved to better suit the player’s needs while maintaining the legacy they represent. “Beyond the performance advantages of a great uniform you need to look the part,” says Tyler Martin, coach of the DC golf team. “With looking the part comes a bit of an intimidation factor too.” He says although the uniform appearance is important, it’s about what the uniform represents when his players step onto the green. “I always felt it was a great honour and privilege to wear the Lord’s colours,” says Martin. “I try to instill that in the new players.” Martin’s golf team captain, Brent Clements, agrees. Clements says the importance of a uniform is about the confidence it brings to the players. “It brings us together as a team,” he says. People such as Martin and Clements are essential to the development of uniform design, says DC and UOIT athletic co-ordinator Ken Babcock. “We want the teams to be happy to wear their uniforms,” says Babcock, who is in charge of uniforms for the varsity teams. “We really value the input of our student athletes, that’s first and foremost.” A committee made up of varsity team captains, coaches and members of the athletic depart-

Raechel Bonomo

UNIFORMS: Athletic director Ken Babcock poses with a Durham College Lords jersey prototype. ment decide what teams will wear. According to Babcock, DC and UOIT have partnered with Adidas to achieve the best quality in post-secondary uniform. The Adidas “mi Team” program allows teams to choose from a catalogue of uniform designs and variations based on sport. Babcock says this program is essential in selecting uniforms that achieve both a professional and tasteful image for the school. He stresses the importance of keeping on trend and “looking to the pros” when designing uniforms. “We look to something like the NBA to see what they’re wearing,” he says. “Look and performance are important and you have to have both. It has to be performance driven for the athlete whether it’s the fabric for moisture, sweat maintaining, or breathability.

This involves looking at several factors of a professional league uniform such as fit, material and logo placement and design. With the Adidas program, this professional grade is affordable for student athletes, according to Babcock. “We can get all that stuff at a college level now. It was usually unattainable,” he says. “So they wear top uniforms, which is great when they’re competing.” Recently the volleyball team altered its uniforms to a sleeveless design, a decision based on what professional teams are currently sporting. According to Babcock, the uniforms are in cycles and get changed depending on the team. For example, the hockey team receives new jerseys every two years due to the wear and tear on the ice while the basketball team may not receive new

uniforms for three years. “In a perfect world we would be executing new uniforms every year,” says Babcock. “Unfortunately in the financial situation we have that’s not possible.” The cost of dressing a team depends on the specific sport. On average, team uniforms such as hockey or women’s basketball cost more than $5,000 per cycle. The most expensive team to dress per player is golf because they need to be dressed to play in different weather conditions, says Babcock. This includes long and short sleeved shirt, different types of slacks and rain gear such as jackets. Uniforms are paid for through a portion of tuition fees. The teams may also receive outside sponsorship for jackets or travelling gear through programs such as Adopt-a-Lord at DC. Over the last 10 years, both schools’ uniforms have evolved, but there is one thing that has remained the same. The logos for each respective team, a ferocious dog for UOIT, and a lord in shining armour for DC, are always the focal point on the uniforms. The UOIT Ridgeback logo was formed through a contest in 2006 that challenged staff and students from the university and college to submit a name for the varsity sport teams. The name and mascot had to be gender neutral and not the same as any professional or local sports team. Babcock and a committee of 30 members, 12 of them students, narrowed down more than 300 submissions to a final three: Copperheads, Motion and Ridgebacks. “We had to field test the names for things like short forms, slang, religion,” says Babcock. “A lot of factors had to be considered.” After a thorough delibera-

tion, Ridgebacks was chosen. According to Babcock, DC students are responsible for the both the DC and UOIT logo designs. In 2006, two marketing placement students created the dog logo printed on all UOIT varsity uniforms. Alumnus Steven Parry is the creator of the Lords logo. Parry graduated from the graphic design program at DC in 1999 but still teaches at the college and works in the communications and marketing department. A decade ago, this is where Babcock, in need of a new Lord, approached Parry’s manager.“It sort of happened immediately,” says Parry about the design process. “Then a long time was spent exploring other things.” This month-long process involved the initial design with tweaks made my Babcock and the athletic department to ensure the logo could translate well. The logo had to work when stitched onto jerseys, painted on walls and when it was printed. “I think the legacy of the Lords and where they had come from and where they were going had everything to do with the design,” says Parry. This legacy of both the Lords and the Ridgebacks is the primary focus when designing new uniforms. Scott Dennis is the sports information and marketing coordinator for DC and UOIT. He has input in the final design of the uniforms. Dennis ensures, on a marketing level, the team’s name is prominent and the imagery is strong during game play. Although he believes the design and look are important, his idea of a uniform is about the legacy it embodies. “They’re playing for the name on their chest, not the one on their back.”

Despite OUA loss, UOIT makes history With heads held high, the UOIT women’s and men’s curling teams can leave Guelph knowing they’ve had the best performance in program history. The women were the first to finish their week at the OUA championship, wrapping up round-robin play with a 7-4 loss to the Carleton Ravens on Sunday morning. UOIT was 3-4 at the end of the week, losing three of four games by a lone point. After a first end blank, Carleton was the first team on the board with two in the second end. UOIT answered with one in the third before the Ravens went ahead 4-1 at the fourthend break. Another single with ham-

mer came for the Ridgebacks in the fifth, with Carleton being held to just one in the sixth. Trailing 5-2, UOIT was able to get their deuce with hammer to close the gap to one, but in the eighth the Ravens grabbed two points to win 7-4. Through 52 ends over the weekend the Ridgebacks women didn’t allow more than three points at all, while allowing three in just two ends. Sunday night was a historic one for UOIT’s curling program as it was the first time either team made it to an OUA quarter-final. Up against the Laurier Golden Hawks, the Ridgebacks fell behind early as Laurier opened with a deuce with hammer in the first end.

Photo courtesy of Durham Athletics

CURLING: Ben Bevan of the UOIT men’s curling team follows his rock in Guelph. After a blank in two, UOIT scored one in the third with hammer. A number that the Ridgebacks struggled with all weekend was three, which Laurier scored in the fourth to go ahead

5-1 midway through the game. Another blank in five allowed the Ridgebacks to carry hammer into the sixth end. They would only score one, meaning the team had to steal their way to a win. In the sev-

enth they stole one, needing a steal of two in the eighth to tie. Laurier ran UOIT out of rocks in the eighth end as they advanced to Monday’s semifinal with a 5-3 victory over the Ridgebacks.

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015

Sports

Durham women hoopsters fall in qualifying round

Amy Bridges

HIGH ENERGY: Moose, forward for the Globetrotters, amps up the crowd at the GM Centre on February 15th, where they faced their nemesis, the Washington Generals.

Globe-trotting their way from Harlem to Oshawa Amy Bridges The Chronicle

Music, dancing, basketball and shenanigans have been a successful recipe for the Harlem Globetrotters for almost a century. The iconic team dribbled its way onto the court at the GM Centre against their nemesis the Washington Generals on Feb 15. As the game got going, a Globetrotter noticed a fan arriving late to her seat. “Excuse me ma’am, what are you doing? Where’s your seat? Well then sit down and hurry up then,” said Big Easy, the main showman for the Globetrotters, to a woman trying to find her seat at courtside. “Now before I was interrupted, my teammates and I are very excited to be here in OSHAWA!” The Harlem Globetrotters have been performing for 89 years. The last game they lost was against the Generals in 1971. Within the first quarter of the game a short Generals player shocked the crowd by ripping off his jersey and exposing himself as Too Tall, the shortest player in Globetrotter history. Too Tall wasn’t the only deception in the game. A referee’s accountability was being questioned after hugging and high-fiving the Generals’ coach and making bad calls. Undercover players and dirty refs weren’t the only excitement throughout

the game. Players went into the crowd and stole popcorn or pulled people onto the court and used them as props for the mischief that ensued. Marg Banman, a first-timer seeing the Globetrotters, summed up the experience in one word: “Fantastic.” The contest wasn’t all fun and games. Before the halftime show the Globetrotters announced that for every person who sponsored a child with World Vision they would receive a free Globetrotters ball. World Vision was set up throughout the stadium in different locations. After the seriousness was looked after it went right back to the silliness of the game, which included Big Easy stealing a woman’s purse and scarf. Big Easy put the purse and scarf onto a General to make him lose his focus. The woman was then brought onto the court and given a gift for participating. “I’m going to give you a real gift, I’m going to give you an official authentic Harlem Globetrotter sweaty wristband,” said Big Easy while he took off his wristband and placed it on her wrist. The packed stadium was brought to their feet dancing to the Y-M-C-A. The GM Centre was loud with noise from booing to cheering through the whole game. Despite the rough start the Globetrotters kept up their winning streak by beating the Generals.

OCAA men’s hoops coverage The OCAA Men’s Basketball Championships were held at Durham College March 6-8. The Durham Lords were among the teams competing. The tourna-

ment was played after The Chronicle’s press deadline. For complete tournament coverage, visit The Chronicle website at chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

It was a win and you’re in situation for the Durham College women’s basketball team on March 1st in Windsor as the teams clashed in the OCAA qualifying round. Despite a strong effort, the defending OCAA bronze medalist St. Clair Saints were too tough for the Lords as they earned a 73-60 victory on home court. St. Clair advances to the OCAA championship hosted by Centennial from March 5-7 (after the Chronicle’s deadline) while Durham’s season comes to an end, closing out the year with a 13-16 overall record. This is the first time since 2005-2006 that the Lords have posted back-to-back seasons of 13 wins or more. Durham has not had a lotof luck in the playoffs against St. Clair, having travelled to Windsor five times in the qualifying round since 2007 and losing every time. In Sunday’s match, the Saints

would edge out Durham by three points in the first and second quarters to take a sixpoint lead into halftime. It was the third quarter where the Saints pulled away as they outscored Durham 20-11, opening the gap to 15 points. Durham would put up a good fight in the fourth quarter outscoring the Saints 22-20, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Rebounding played a big factor in the game as St. Clair held a 48-33 advantage over Durham, including hauling in 18 boards in the offensive end. St. Clair’s depth also proved to be a difference maker as they outscored Durham’s bench 17-2. OCAA scoring champion Lindsay Panchan (Ajax, Ont.) ended the night with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Alyxandrea Francisco (Whitby, Ont.) also had a big game with 17 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

The Chronicle

March 13, 2015

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015

The Chronicle

March 13, 2015

The Chronicle

March 10, 2015