Durham Chronicle - Jan. 30, 2017

If you like to learn by doing then start at college.

Volume XLIV, Issue 9

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page 8

January 31 - February 6, 2017

Murder in north Oshawa page 3 Photograph by Travis Fortnum

There's a new league in town Hanging near the page 15 Louvre

Photograph by Toby VanWeston

page 19 Photograph by Travis Fortnum

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The Chronicle

January 31 - February 6, 2017

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

KCAB FRONT of the

DC journalism students look at Durham College and UOIT, and beyond, by the numbers and with their cameras

Photograph by Rebecca Calzavera

Sign your name here A wall where students can sign their name or write something in the Simcoe building.

Cueing it up Jon Pineau, a student in the marketing program at Durham College, plays pool at E.P. Taylor's.

Photograph by Sharena Clendening

Community

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

January 31 - February 6, 2017

The Chronicle

3

Rallying to help murder victim's daughter

Crowdfunding efforts begin for a child, after the murder of a single mother Travis Fortnum The Chronicle

A GoFundMe campaign has begun to raise money for an 8-year-old girl after her mother was brutally murdered on the Oshawa-Scugog border.

Cotie Weekley, 31, was found without vital signs in the backyard of a home at 5270 Simcoe Street North with apparent stab wounds Jan. 23.

Weekley was a bartender at the Moose Pub and Grill in Port Perry since it opened in November.

Durham Regional Police (DRPS) received a call at 11:40 a.m. on Jan. 23 after Weekley’s 8-year-old daughter ran to a neighbour’s house for help.

Police say a 31-year-old man was also found at the scene with serious, self-inflicted wounds and was taken to hospital.

In a news release, DRPS confirm that the man was known to Weekley. Meantime, another police source says Weekley had recently played a role in having the man released from jail on a surety.

Shortly after the call came in, the residence was lined with as many as 10 police cruisers.

Ally Carswell, 18, lives a block away from the scene on Oakridge Trail and says the police presence on the scene escalated quickly.

“I went to pick my sister up from UOIT and there were no cops there,” she says. “Then I got home and I was leaving for class just after 12 p.m. and the whole hill was lined with cop cars.”

Carswell has lived on Oakridge

Photograph by Travis Fortnum

A massive police presence outside the home at 5270 Simcoe Street North soon after the body of Cotie Weekley was discovered by her 8-year-old daughter.

Trail her whole life and says the residents of the house were seldom around.

“My mom didn’t even know anyone lived there,” she says. “It used to be an old lady with a bunch of cats.”

A canine unit swept the entire property, which officers surrounded with police tape.

The whole hill was lined with cop cars.

At the Chronicle’s deadline, the man found at the scene was listed in critical condition in Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and no charges had been laid.

A media release from the DRPS says that officials are awaiting the results of an autopsy before releasing more information.

In the wake of the incident, members of Weekley’s family started the GoFundMe campaign to help Weekley’s daughter.

“While Cotie was a loving mother, she was a single parent and did not yet have the means to save for her daughter’s future. Her daughter will need assistance with her education, clothes, toys, and eventually high school and college,” says the GoFundMe page.

After the first day, more than $5,000 had been raised toward the campaign's $50,000 goal.

Photograph courtesy of Renata Masterson

Cotie Weekley

Feeling the flu blues? Health officials offer tips Nicole O’Brien

instead of heading to your 9 a.m. class, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The Chronicle

Photograph by Nicole O'Brien

Tammy Finlayson, Nurse at the Campus Health Centre.

At Durham College and UOIT, January means a new year and new semester. It also means a time where almost everyone in your 10 a.m. class is coughing, sneezing or carrying a box of tissues.

“There isn’t a day where we run clinic that we don’t see upwards of 8 to 10 people with flu-like symptoms,” says Tammy Finlayson, a Durham College health clinic nurse.

Canada is currently in the middle of flu season, which usually starts in November and ends in March. 2016 was a doozy for influenza cases. By last December, there were 692 influenza cases reported across Canada, according to the latest Flu Watch Update.

But this isn’t really new to Canadians. The past few years have been a wild ride when it comes to viruses. In 2014, Canadian hospi-

Vaccination is the

most effective way to prevent the flu.

tals were fighting enterovirus in children and staying on top of the spread of Ebola.

As well, by 2015, global health officials found that due to a flu vaccine mismatch, the shot was only 23 per cent effective against that season’s nasty H2N2 virus.

Last year, Canada saw a combination of warm winter and a better-match vaccine. But then another late round of H3N2 found its way to Canadians in mid-February.

So what are the symptoms of the flu?

Here are signs you need to rest

- Fever - Chills - Muscle aches - Loss of appetite Fenlayson has tips for students to protect themselves.

- Get your flu shot - Wash your hands - Keep a healthy diet and lifestyle But Rebecca Gilman, a Health Canada department spokesperson, says there is really only one effective method to keep yourself healthy this season.

“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu and its complications,” Gilman says.

Most walk-in clinics and participating pharmacies in Durham Region provide the flu shot, including the Campus Health Centre.

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The Chronicle

January 31 - February 6, 2017

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

Editorial

PUBLISHER: Greg Murphy EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Brian Legree AD MANAGER: Dawn Salter

CONTACT US NEWSROOM: brian.legree@durhamcollege.ca ADVERTISING: dawn.salter@durhamcollege.ca

Cartoon by Toby VanWeston

Bring the 2018 Memorial Cup to Oshawa Oshawa is one of the three cities shortlisted to host the 2018 MasterCard Memorial Cup. On Jan. 25, a delegation from the Oshawa Generals placed a bid in front of the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) selection committee in Toronto.

The city last hosted the Memorial Cup thirty years ago.

Given the tournament’s importance and history, Oshawa is the perfect choice and is long overdue to host the event.

The Memorial Cup was originally known as the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) Memorial Cup, and was donated by the OHA in March 1919 in honour of the thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War. The tournament unites the host city’s team with the champions of the three junior hockey leagues, the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), in a round-robin series. The top two

teams play off in a sudden-death game to determine the winner.

The Oshawa Generals should have this one in the bag. They have hoisted the cup a record five times and are the oldest franchise in the OHL. They continue to provide the National Hockey League (NHL) with talented young players, and have been the most successful team in CHL history.

The Generals also have some star power. NHL legend and Oshawa Hall-of-Famer, Eric Lindros, is an ex-General player, as is New Jersey Devil’s Marc Savard and New York Islander’s John Tavares. All three would most certainly participate in the celebrations at the Tribute Communities Centre.

If there was any doubt the ‘Gens are committed to hosting the tournament next year, it was put to rest earlier this month when the team traded its top two players. Anthony Cirelli and Mitchell Vande Sompel, major contributors to the General’s first place position in the East, were

EDITORS: Jenn Amaro, James Bauman, Logan Caswell, Rebecca Calzavara, Sharena Clendening, Dean Daley, Alexander Debets, Travis Fortnum, Tyler Hodgkinson, Barbara Howe, Noor Ibrahim, James Jackson, Christopher Jones, Frank Katradis, Daniel Koehler, Angela Lavallee, Laura Metcalfe, Tommy Morais, Joshua Nelson, Nicole O'Brien, Samuel Odrowski, Devarsh Oza, Trusha Patel, Matthew Pellerin, Asim Pervez, Emily Saxby, Tyler Searle, Jessica Stoiku, Euvilla Thomas, Toby VanWeston, Kayano Waite, Brandi Washington, Michael Welsh, Jared Williams, Erin Williams.

Publisher: Greg Murphy

traded-away for younger talent and draft picks. This two-star trade put the Generals in a better position for next season. The selection committee aims to award it to a competitive team. By acquiring younger talent, guaranteed to be with them next season, the Generals ensure a strong challenge. The trades sent a clear message to the fans and the league: Oshawa is determined to host next year’s Memorial Cup. The OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs and the WHL’s Regina Pats are the two rival cities vying for a chance to host the competition’s 100th anniversary year. Hamilton just recently became a team in 2015.

They were formerly the Belleville Bulls for 34 years before relocating.

Regina is the oldest franchise in the CHL but the Pats have not had the same success as the ‘Gens despite winning three Memorial Cups in 1925,1930, and 1974.

While the Generals have the smallest arena of the three franchises, they average the highest

attendance. Selling tickets is one of the main priorities of the selection committee, so a smaller arena may work against the Generals.

On the other hand, it could also be a benefit for them. At the 2015 tournament in Quebec City the games were played at Colisée Pepsi, an arena with a capacity of over 15,000. The average attendance during the tournament was only around 8,000. The half-full arena was a bad reflection on the league.

Perhaps this will steer the CHL away from Hamilton’s 17,000-seat barn and draw them to Oshawa where they can be assured a capacity crowd at every game.

Oshawa has all the requirements the CHL looks for in a host city.

Specifically, a top-end arena, restaurants and hotels for fans, and a competitive team.

Although Oshawa has the smallest population of the three cities, there is easy access to the Tribute Communities Centre, formerly the GM Centre. Oshawa is

The Chronicle is published by the Durham College School of Media, Art

and Design, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7L7, 7212000 Ext. 3068, as a training vehicle for students enrolled in Journalism and Advertising courses and as a campus news medium. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college administration or the board of governors. The Chronicle is a member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association.

Editor-In-Chief: Brian Legree

Advertising Production Manager: Kevan F. Drinkwalter

Features editor: Teresa Goff

Photography Editor: Al Fournier

a short train journey from Toronto, once referred to as, “The centre of the hockey universe,” by astronaut Chris Hadfield in an interview from space. The region also offers a range of accommodations with more than 1,500 hotel rooms.

Finally, Oshawa is no newcomer to hosting premier sporting events.

In 2015 athletes from around the world were welcomed at the Pan Am Games for events at the Generals home arena.

Given these points, the Generals are the perfect choice to host the 100th Memorial Cup in 2018.

They have a modern arena, a large fan base and a long and successful history. It is time to bring the tournament to Oshawa where it belongs. Let’s hope the selection committee thinks the same when they make their decision next month.

Michael Welsh, Barbara Howe and Logan Caswell

PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Brandon Agnew, Justin Bates, Zach Beauparlant, Kayla Cook, Nathalie Desrochers, Charlotte Edwards, Yannick Green, Madeline Grixti, Stephanie Hanna, Lijo Joseph, Sarah Judge, Shannon Lazo, Megan Mcdonald, Ashley Mcgregor, Josh Mcgurk, Katie Miskelly, Louisa Molloy, Jasmine Ohprecio, Alex Powdar, Olivia Randall-Norris, Kaela Richardson, Madeleine Riley, Alex Royer, Spencer Stevens, Rachel Thompson, Geroge Tsalavoutas, Alexandra Weekes, Cameron Westlake.

MEDIA REPS: Rachel Alexander, Angela Bahnesli, Sarah Bhatti, Anokhi Bhavsar, Steven Brundage, Chanel Castella, Brandon Clark, Scott Cowling, Leanne Howorth, Bryce Isaacs, Erin Jones, Natasha Kowo, Samantha Mallia, Alyssa Matthew, Alexandra Rich, Bethany Seaton, Kristian Seepersad, Georgina Tsoutsos, Marisa Turpin, Rachel Wendt, Travis Yule.

Ad Manager: Dawn Salter

Technical Production: Keir Broadfoot

The Chronicle

January 31 - February 6, 2017

Opinion

Bernardo should be denied day parole

The nation was shocked when the news first broke in the early ‘90s about a couple from Scarborough who were abducting, raping, and killing young girls. Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka are famous convicted serial killers from Canada.

Bernardo, known as the ‘Scarborough Rapist’ was convicted in 1995 of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kristen French, Leslie Mahaffy, and his wife’s own sister Tammy-Lyn Homolka.

Now 20 years later, the convicted killer is applying for day parole.

Paul Bernardo should be denied parole.

After his trial, Bernardo confessed to raping 14 other women.

Rather than going through another trial, the Crown declared him a “dangerous offender” which classifies Bernardo under Canada’s most violent criminals and sexual predators.

Bernardo was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

According to the Parole Board of Canada, Bernardo has the right to appeal for parole under Section 5 of the Justice Board: Maximum Duration.

Bernardo became eligible for day parole in February, 2015, according to Parole Board of Canada.

Day parole would allow Bernardo to leave the prison during set times and participate in community activities, under the condition of returning at night.

Bernardo’s parole hearing is set

5

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

Erin Williams for March, 2017.

In Canada, dangerous offenders are allowed to apply for day parole three years before their full parole eligibility date. Legally, Bernardo is eligible to apply even if his chances of being granted parole are slim.

During Bernardo’s sentence back in 1995, the Associate Chief Justice, Patrick LeSage, called Bernardo a “sexually sadistic psychopath” and said he should spend his life in prison.

Tim Danson, lawyer of Bernardo’s victims and families, spoke to the CBC in October saying, “I am confident that Paul Bernardo will never get parole.”

The Parole Board has a recent amendment, Bill C-53 Life Means Life Act., which may have a position in Bernardo’s hearing in March.

According to Parliament of Canada, Bill C-53 amends the Criminal Code for dangerous offenders, convicted murderers, and prisoners of high treason, making their life sentences mandatory without parole. It allows the judge to make the decision if the criminal fits description of Bill C-53.

Bernardo should be denied parole. Danson told the CBC, the victims' families are still concerned 20 years later.

His dangerous offender status

should keep him locked up for the remainder of his life.

There have been cases similar to the Bernardo’s, and in most of these cases, the dangerous offender ended up with life in prison or has died in prison. Clifford Olson, known as ‘The Beast of B.C.’ was a child serial killer in 1982 and was deemed a dangerous offender.

He spent 30 years behind bars and was denied parole. Olson died in prison in September of 2011.

Another example is the case of Emanuel Jaques, or ‘The Shoe Shine Kid’ of Toronto in 1977. Convicted murderer Robert Kribs plead guilty to Jaque’s murder. Kribs was denied parole and died in prison in April 2003.

Joseph Woods was also convicted, pleaded for release, and was denied every time in 1995, 1996, 1998, and in 2000.

Bernardo’s ex-wife Karla Homolka, was released from prison in 2005. She was never labelled as a dangerous offender and according to the CBC, Canadians are still outraged by her freedom. Bernardo IS labeled as such and many Canadians have already expressed concern for his parole hearing and his chance at freedom.

Most criminals designated as dangerous offenders have died in prison – as should Bernardo.

Bernardo should not be granted parole because of this designation.

But more importantly, Bernardo should be kept behind bars for the safety and concerns of women, not just in Canada, but everywhere.

Bell Let's Talk: Let's keep talking Bell’s Let’s Talk Day was January 25, 2017. This is an important day for people who live with mental illness to talk about their issues with those they love and those who support them.

This day is about talking with people regarding mental health.

For those who have Bell phone plans, Bell contributes 5 cents for every text, tweet with the hashtag #BellLetstalk, and phone call made by consumers.

This money is distributed to organizations to help mental health initiatives.

Despite the efforts by Bell Let’s Talk, there is still a stigma surrounding mental illness that keeps people from telling their friends and family about their negative thoughts and feelings. Yet support can be extremely important on the path to mental wellness.

The most difficult part can be disclosing your illness to those people who can be your support system.

There are many people who do not understand mental illness or have misconceptions.

When my doctor gave me the diagnosis of bipolar disorder I was relieved to know my thoughts and actions had a name and treatments.

I was and still am nervous about telling people that I have this illness. I fear people will think I am dangerous or crazy and can’t be trusted.

I cringe when I hear about someone who commits a crime or hurts

Laura Metcalfe someone and the press release that the suspect suffered from a mental illness.

This becomes the face of mental illness and makes it tougher for people suffering to seek help.

According to CNN, a man who suffered from mental health issues committed the recent attack at an airport in Florida but, according to multiple news reports, experts don’t know what triggered the event so it remains the story of a suspect with mental health issues.

The best thing I ever did was face my fears and tell my friends, family, and teachers that I have mental health issues.

I received support, advice, and assurances that they did not see me as someone crazy.

My friends even shared with me their own struggles and we keep an eye on each other to make sure we are all doing okay.

The Bell Let’s Talk campaign is important, however, it is something that should happen all year.

Those suffering from mental illness should not be afraid to talk to others and those that know someone with a mental illness should check in with their loved ones.

We don’t need a corporate campaign.

We just need to talk.

Anti-abortion ads on buses: What's next Canada?

The city of Peterborough is planning on having anti-abortion advertisements for its city buses.

The ads, which are planned to start in March, will show two enlarged photos of a fetus at seven weeks, and then at 16 weeks, along with a smear of blood. The slogan reads “Growing, growing, gone. ABORTION KILLS CHILDREN.” Canada needs to prepare itself for American-style misogyny to creep and sink its teeth in our country.

Hateful messages on buses may sound like a small step but widespread hate starts innocently.

Peterborough’s City Council failed to stop the efforts of an anti-abortion group known as the Canadian Center for Bio-Ethical Reform.

Back in January 2015, the group applied to the City to purchase advertising space for the pro-life ads on the back of city buses.

The City refused to post the

Nicole O'Brien ads, claiming it was “divisive” and “controversial.” After the initial refusal, CCBR filed a Charter of Rights complaint against the City in February 2016.

“The City of Peterborough violated our Charter rights, plain and simple,” according to a February media release on the CCBR’s website.

In August 2016, the CCBR got what they wanted. After the Charter complaint was filed, the City reversed its decision.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled the decision had interfered with CCBR’s freedom of expression.

According to a statement released by the City of Peterborough,

“The City must respect the freedom of expression rights of those seeking to advertise on City property, including on City buses.”

These ads will be seen by every resident in Peterborough: children, women or couples who have gone through miscarriages and abortions, and never mind the ones trying to get pregnant.

According to CCBR, pro-life ads have been removed or banned in Hamilton, Guelph, Sarnia, Fredericton, N.B., and St. John’s, N.L. But is seems Canada is not well prepared for these types of American-style tactics. Peterborough wasn’t. The City currently has no standard advertising policy in place. This isn’t the first time this group has tried to purchase advertising space in a Canadian city.

In February 2015, the group tried to put the ads on buses in Grand Prairie, Alberta.

The city denied their request, claiming it would “disturb com-

muters.”

They tried to appeal the decision in December 2016, but the court agreed with the original decision to refuse the advertisements.

Justice C.S. Anderson of Court of Queen’s Bench ruled against CCBR’s application. Anderson claimed the ads would cause “psychological harm” to women who have had an abortion or who are considering one.

These groups could be feeding off their encouragement from another source.

U.S. abortion rights are currently up in the air, especially after the 2016 presidential election campaign. These anti-abortion ads could be the start of the strong influence the election has made on Canada.

President Donald Trump made strong anti-abortion comments during his campaign. Then there was last month’s late night U.S. Senate vote against keeping health-

care coverage for contraceptives.

How long will it take trump tactics to migrate north of the border?

Canada is already seeing Conservative leadership hopefuls like Kevin O’Leary and Kellie Leitch praising the President of the United States and his controversial ideas.

“They’re bringing these American-style tactics to Canada,” Joyce Arthur, executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, told the Washington Post. “I think Canadians have this stereotype of being polite. We don’t like having this propaganda shoved down our throats.”

Trump has only been in office a short time, but it seems like his influence is already spreading.

Will this sit well with Canadians?

Maybe not.

We believe in the freedom of expression but not the right to torment and humiliate people- or indeed be rude. Let’s put that on a bus.

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The Chronicle

January 31 - February 6, 2017

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

Community

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) Overall Responsible Operator (ORO) Desmond Verasammy stands near one of three small existing communal water systems. These systems only service a limited number of houses on the reserve.

Photograph by Toby VanWeston

Clean water is long overdue for

New water treatment plant will improve life for Durham Region reserve Toby VanWeston The Chronicle

Canada is currently facing a crisis.

Despite being one of the most developed countries in the world, many citizens are currently living in third-world conditions. Health Canada reports that as of October 31, there are currently 133 drinking water advisories across 90 First Nations communities in Canada, excluding British Columbia. There are some First Nation reserves across Canada with black, rancid water coming through water taps and shower heads.

Some of the worst conditions exist in Manitoba or Alberta. But this problem affects the Durham Region as well.

The reserve for the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) has been under water advisories since 2008. The community has recently taken steps forward to improving the conditions of their water supply. The reserve is in the process of building a new water treatment plant, which will make water safe for consumption.

Desmond Versammy is the Overall Responsible Operator (ORO) for the Water Supply System on the reserve. Owner and Principal Consultant of CADE Inc., he was con-

tracted to oversee the development of the new water treatment plant.

The community living on the reserve is small. Verasammy estimates there are about 50 homes on the reserve, with around 100 residents. He notes some members live off the reserve, in British Columbia. A Statistics Canada census profile in 2011 lists the total population as 93. There was a growth of 29.2 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

Currently, there is no reliable water treatment plant servicing the community. There are three small communal systems, servicing limited groups of homes.

These communal systems are small shacks with standing room large enough for one to two people.

In each system, water is treated by an iron filter or a water softener, a cartridge filter, and UV light, with chlorine added before going to the homes. The three communal systems collectively send filtered water to a total of 15 homes, all in close proximity. Anyone not connected to a communal system receives water through individual wells.

“That’s not the majority of the homes. The majority of the homes are serviced by private wells,” explains Verasammy. “Overall, none of them meet the safe drinking water standards.”

Verasammy explains these private wells use ground water, which is not filtered before it enters the homes.

“These are systems that were not engineered. They were just put in there based on what was available. They are not treated,” says Verasammy. “If you don’t treat the water, it’s highly susceptible to contamination.”

Health Canada has three types of water advisories. The first is Boil Water Advisories/Orders (BWAs/ BWOs). This means water is con-

sidered safe for drinking and other domestic uses after being boiled.

The second is a Do Not Consume Advisories/Orders (DNCAs/ DNCOs). This means consumers, under any circumstances, should not drink the water even after the water is boiled. While considered unsafe for drinking, it may be used for other domestic purposes including dish washing and bathing. The last type of water advisory is Do Not Use Advisories/Orders (DNUAs/ DNUOs). This water is considered contaminated, and could cause illness if it touches the body.

Eventually, the entire community will be connected by distribution piping.

Ron Motum is a professor in Durham College’s Water Quality Technician program. He worked for 32 years in wastewater management for the Region of Durham.

Motum says water regulations in Ontario today are stricter than they have been. He credits this to a particular tragedy. In 2000, an E. coli contamination broke out in the town of Walkerton, Ontario. In the community of less than 5,000 people, 2,300 became ill from the

outbreak. Seven people died.

“A lot of changes occurred after Walkerton. Especially regulations, and the whole notification procedures,” says Motum.

What made the tragedy more regrettable was that it was largely preventable.

“What happened in Walkerton is that [water technicans] were getting the results, and finding out that they had E-coli. But no one was being made aware of it,” says Motum.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Stan Koebel, Manager of the Walkerton’s Public Utilities Commission, and his brother Frank Koebel, foreman of the PUC, were charged for withholding information about the crisis when it first broke out.

Stan was sentenced to a year in jail, and Frank received nine months of house arrest.

Steps were made to ensure this would never happen again. This incident resulted in tighter provincial regulations that are more carefully enforced.

“There’s a change in terms of notification, to make sure it’s being responded to properly,” says Motum.

“A lot of the rules and regulations that came out of that have been implemented throughout all of the water systems. We have the most stringent rules and regulations in Ontario for drinking water now.”

Health Canada has the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation officially listed under 5 different water DWAs. Repairs and minimal changes have been done on the communal systems over the past eight years. These changes keep the systems operating, but have not improved the safety of drinking water.

“As we speak right now. We are under a drinking water advisory (DNDA). When you are under a (DNDA), it can be bacteria, it could

be chemical contamination, it could be other forms of contamination, where by just boiling it, you have not taken care of the problem. We have been under that consistently since 2008,” explains Verasammy, MSIFN ORO. Currently, the water on the reserve is not safe to drink at all. The water is still safe for use showering and bathing. However, residents of the reserve must use bottled water for drinking.

A new water treatment plant will change that.

The MSIFN secured a Small Communities Fund in 2015 in order to design and build the new treatment plant. The federal and provincial government each put forward $1.1 million to go towards its construction. The total cost of the plant is $3.3 million.

Construction will begin in the spring of 2017. Verasammy expects the process to take about a year, and estimates the plant will be fully operational in spring to summer of 2018.

Once the plant is built, distribution is the next concern. Additional construction will begin in 2017 to create pipelines, which will deliver the water to the community.

Verasammy says this process has already begun.

“Eventually, the entire community will be connected by distribution piping,” he says.

In addition to the water treatment plant, one of the existing communal systems on the island will be upgraded.

It will service a new commercial complex, which is already in the process of construction. Across the street from the Great Blue Heron Casino, the site will be home to a Tim Hortons, a gas station, and a convenience store.

(Continued on page 7)

Community

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

January 31 - February 6, 2017

The Chronicle

7

Photograph by Toby VanWeston

Desmond Verasammy enters a communal water system. The systems are small, only large enough for two people to stand in.

Scugog reserve (From page 6) “We are presently upgrading that.

We are going to be providing water for that economic development that is going to service the public,” says Verasammy.

The Great Blue Heron Casino has its own water treatment plant, but the plant is independent from the rest of the community.

“That’s totally independent. It’s a private system. They have two wells, and a treatment facility that only supplies the casino. It’s operated by the casino staff,” says Verasammy.

“We have basically nothing to do with that.”

Asked if it was possible for the community’s water treatment plant to service the casino and the adjacent off-reserve community, Verasammy says it has been considered. The priority at the moment, however, is to complete the new water treatment and pipelines, establish safe water supply services for the entire MSIFN Community, and then have the long term DWA permanently removed from the community by Health Canada. After that, expansion into other areas will be explored.

“The option of connecting the casino, and the surrounding community areas, are there. We’re building our infrastructure with that vision,” he says. “We will build and we will expand as we need to.”

Verasammy will oversee the construction of the plant, and the training and development of the operational staff. When his contract with the MSIFN is over, he will have ensured that a competent team is set up to maintain the water supply system in the future.

“I’m committed to be here for the next 5 years,” he says. “I will oversee the implementation of the plants.

And getting them staffed appropriately, with training, to be able to

effectively operate these systems.”

Kelly LaRocca is the Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. LaRocca says that clean drinking water for the community is long overdue.

“Clean drinking water has been a long time coming for Scugog First Nation, and we are excited to come to enjoy what every other Canadian should be able to enjoy. As stewards of lake health, we are concerned about source water protection in addition to water treatment,” she says. LaRocca is also optimistic about business ventures the water treatment plant will open up in the future.

a whole, Verasammy says there are no easy answers. His opinion is that each reserve needs to be handled individually.

“Identify what the problems are.

Maybe conducting a feasibility study to look at what the options are, and selecting the best option,” says Verasammy. “One community to the next may be different. Based on the size and the population. This is not something that is solved by a one size fit all.”

Ron Motum believes that setting up proper water systems is only the beginning of a long relationship.

He stresses that maintaining these systems is crucial.

The water treatment plant will be a celebrated addition to Scugog First Nation.

“We are excited at the economic development opportunities that a water treatment plant can bring for the community. The water treatment plant will be a celebrated addition to Scugog First Nation,” says LaRocca.

The MSIFN is making progress towards ending a water problem, which has plagued the community for over eight years. A professional feasibility study carried out by the reserve determined that building a water treatment plant was the best course of action. This is not always the case for all reserves in the country.

Speaking about solving the larger water crisis, which faces Canada as

“It’s not just upgrading the systems.

It’s also insuring that you have the funds and the support to keep it going.”

Verasammy also notes there is a need for First Nations communities and the government to collaborate together in order for any kind of measure to be a success.

“Here’s the other side. Even if you had a brand new water treatment plant, and you don’t have the resources to operate it and maintain it, it wouldn’t work would it? It would be compromised,” explains Verasammy.

“A commitment on both sides: the government and the community to come together and work on it. I believe that’s the best approach.”

Photographs by Toby VanWeston

(Top right photo) A closer look inside the existing communal systems. The systems only service three of the approximate 50 homes on the Island. (Middle) Future site of new commercial complex which will bring new business to the island reserve.

(Bottom) The Great Blue Heron Casino on MSIFN.

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Campus

50 years of Durham College School has grown to serve 30,000 students after opening with 200 in 1967 Jessica Stoiku The Chronicle

For UOIT student Jessica Nguyen, the path to where she is today wasn’t a straight one. “If it weren’t for college I wouldn’t be the [university] student I am today. It has allowed me to grow,” says Nguyen.

College was Nguyen’s first choice. She wasn’t always an “A” plus student. She felt college was her best starting point but her father had gone to college and wanted her to reach higher with her education. So she did.

“I decided to apply to university and got into a few. Although in the end I actually lost my acceptance because I didn’t meet my conditional offer,” Nguyen says. Nguyen’s end goal was to get into university, but she knew she had to take an extra step in order to get there.

Nguyen applied to Durham College (DC) for the health preparation program to help improve her marks in order to apply to university. “I don’t regret going to college at all,” Nguyen says.

“When I tell people I went to college first, I used to be embarrassed. It always comes with that stereotype that college isn’t good [enough].”

Depending on the kind of student you are, you may flourish in college. You’re still developing core critical thinking, creative and communication skills that are valuable in both college and university.

You can also design your own educational path because Durham College now has more than 450 educational pathways to universities. That wasn’t always the case.

Durham College is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The college first opened its doors in 1967 to just more than 200 students.

Now, the school has grown to serving more than 30,000 students in 140 different full-time programs. Durham College’s mission has always maintained a commitment to the success of its students. Durham College’s mission is “the student experience comes first.”

According to Durham College President Don Lovisa, if you graduated from college ten years ago and wanted to go to university, you had to start over.

“If you like to learn by doing

Photograph assembled by Dan Koehler

A collection of Durham College Chronicle issues throughout the years. From left to right, top to bottom: 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017. then start at college. You’ll get a good, solid education. If you want to pursue higher education, there are so many pathways now,” says Lovisa.

Not only are students making the transition from college to university, there are more university graduates enrolling in college programs. According to ontariocolleges.ca, university graduates enrolling in colleges has increased to 40 per cent in the last five years.

The stereotype of college being easy is diminishing over time. According to Lovisa, students who started at university find college to be the opposite of what they expected. They find the heavy demands of workload, the rigour of the programs to be a challenge.

Lovisa believes you have to do more than just write a paper to say you know what you’re doing. You have to actually demonstrate you know how to do it. That’s where experiential learning comes in.

According to Forbes contributor Amy Rees Anderson, “we ask our young people to decide what they want to be when they grow up but we give them almost nothing in the way of educating and exposing them to their options.”

Young people need experience, and DC can provide this.

Experiential learning is the hands-on education students apply to their in-class studies. Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of course material in order to understand what their field of study entails on a day-today.The Global Class is an example of this.

Lon Appleby, a DC General Education instructor, founded

the Global Classroom. It was developed with his students as part of his General Education elective, Short History of the World. The Global Class uses HD technology similar to Skype to connect a small college classroom with institutions outside of Canada. The idea is to branch outside the four walls of a classroom.

New buildings like the Centre for Collaborative Education, or classes like The Global Classroom that adopt experiential practices, mark some of the developments DC has seen in the last 50 years.

“We have changed enormously as a system. The depth of our programs, the quality of our programs, the respect we have within industry and business and government,” says Lovisa.

Former Durham College President Gary Polonsky believes it’s important to be accessible to students. Polonsky served at Durham College from 1988 to 2006.

He is the college’s longest reigning president.

He says he used to walk the halls every day drinking coffee.

He would ask students and faculty how their experiences were on campus, then jot down notes to see if there was anything he could do to make it better.

“I would scribble on my Styrofoam cup. Then when I got back to my office I would implement the reminders…into actions.”

Polonsky believes students are still working hard and wanting to learn.

But it’s the hands-on, experiential nature of college education that drives innovation, according to Lovisa.

“We are really fortunate right now to have… a president in Don Lovisa who is ambitious and wants to do something with education. He understands that education is not about textbooks. He really understands that education is changing greatly because of technology,” says Appleby.

“I see the whole experiential learning model as being part of something broader, which is the attempt to redefine what a classroom should be. Anybody today can get everything they need online. You can educate yourself pretty easily,” says Appleby.

There are skills, however, that require expert and professional help students only receive from an institution where the professors are experienced, and understand how to teach skills required of a particular industry or trade or field, Appleby says.

Durham College has over 480 industry partnerships helping to shape college programs so students will have the training they need to succeed after graduating.

“We had about five or six employers coming in to our thirdyear class to speak to the students, introduce the company they work for and then accept resumes and cover letter packages etc.,” says Beau James, a professor of engineering technology at DC. Students are required to complete a placement. According to James, the placement course gives students a trial run at searching for jobs as well as being able to land one. The connection between college students and industry is about finding where jobs exist in the particular field students are

earning their education in.

Components purchased in the advanced automation lab, for example, are also being used in industry projects. The professors base curriculum on industry equipment.

James believes students who can take theory learned from a lecture and demonstrate they are capable of applying the required skillsets is what appeals to employers.

“That was one of the reasons I would look at a Durham grad… with a bit of an edge over some other grads from other programs.

They have hands-on learning,” says James.

According to Colleges Ontario, 84 per cent of students find jobs six months after graduating.

“You come to college to get a job. So here’s your skillset, here’s your knowledge, here’s what you need to be successful,” says Lovisa. “If you’re a student who loves to stick their nose in a book and read and you’re comfortable with that, then university’s a great choice. If you like to learn by doing, then start at college”.

In the end, you have to decide for yourself which education is best for your learning style. The path to your own success isn’t a straight line. You have time and opportunities in order for you to get to where you need to be.

Nguyen’s goal is to become a physiotherapist. Durham College was her first step toward that goal.

Nguyen says to do what works best for you. “This is your life,” she says. “You decide which path you want to take. I know I have so many opportunities.”

Community

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The growing popularity of pet reptiles Dan Koehler The Chronicle

If you’re not a fan of creepy crawly creatures, then maybe this wasn’t the show for you.

But the place to be for lovers of tails, scales, and all things that slither, was the first Ontario Reptile Expo of 2017 on Jan. 15.

Reptiles and other exotic animals of all shapes and sizes, including scorpions and boa constrictors, were on display.

The expo offered reptile enthusiasts a place to come together and shop for animal products, or a new friend to bring home.

“Its always nice to see what’s new, everybody’s coming out with something new every year,” said Kyle Davidson, an attendee in his early 20s who was at the expo picking up tarantulas. “It’s just kind of nice to be in a place with like-minded people who are all into the same

hobby as you.”

The reptile hobby has grown immensely in recent years. According to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada, there are an estimated 543,000 households in Canada that have a reptile as a pet.

Across the pond, in sheer numbers, reptiles have become more popular than dogs.

The British Federation of Herpetologists estimates there are around eight million pet reptiles in the UK, compared to six-anda-half million dogs.

“You’re seeing a lot more people that are interested in pets, where as before it was more of a hobby-centric thing where people were looking for rare stuff that was hard to acquire,” said Mark Orfus, owner of Northern Gecko, a gecko breeder located in Scarborough, Ont. The first Ontario Reptile Expo took place in 1990 at the Polish Conference Centre in Toronto.

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Photograph by Dan Koehler

A boa constrictor owned by breeder and educational company, Tangled In Webs.

There were a total of seven vendors and 79 guests. A far cry from the most recent show, which had more than 50 vendors and brought in hundreds of attendees, both first-timers and seasoned expo-goers.

Grant Crossman, director of the Canadian Pet Expo and the Ontario Reptile Expo, says interest, along with captive breeding programs, are the main reasons for the expo’s growth over the past 27 years.

“The interest level has now gone

from an especially niche market to now a mainstream pet, reptiles are now being accepted worldwide as a pleasurable pet within the household today,” said Crossman. “The key really is though the captive breeding of most species that are offered daily.”

Even with growing popularity and reptile knowledge becoming more widespread, the hobby has still had its share of hard times.

An incident involving the tragic death of two young boys in New Brunswick in 2013 involving a rock

python led to outrage from the public and cast some reptile owners in a bad light.

“Reptile keepers can group together and become a solidified group representing all aspects,” said Crossman.

“We really need to work together to educate the public, become much more accountable, much more sensible, as well as be sensitive to the general public that may not respect reptiles.”

The next Reptile Expo is on Feb. 26 at Downsview Park.

Two-thirds of Canadians drink at least one cup of coffee a day.

Emmorey’s advice? Don’t drink too much of something because it may be good for one thing, but

could potentially be harmful to something else.

Her solution to not making it a habit?

She suggests maybe having a

glass of water in the morning instead of getting a coffee. Water is the number one choice for healthy

No real health risk to drinking coffee?

Euvilla Thomas The Chronicle

Take a walk through the halls of the Durham College or UOIT campus for about five minutes and witness the number of students holding a Tim Hortons or Country Style cup, mostly likely containing coffee.

This is not a new found secret for years students have relied on coffee to make it through the long hours of class and the gruelling work load.

But some health officials say it is not a healthy lifestyle.

According to Durham College nutritionist Sylvia Emmorey, she says caffeine is dehydrating and can increase your blood pressure.

But other experts say this is all a myth. According to a recent survey done by Harvard University, there are no real risks to drinking coffee.

A study, which was released in November 2016 by the Harvard School of Public Health shows people who drink two or more cups of coffee a day are less likely to die

from premature illness.

“I need it for waking in the morning and getting through the day,” says Lucas a Durham College student who was making his way through his third cup of coffee in the day.

Despite of all of the good to come from coffee, nutritionist Emmorey says it will increase your blood pressure and lead to insomnia.

This could pose a potential problem for college students who need sleep to be able to stay focused and healthy.

“Maybe a cup a day, not too big an issue,” says Emmorey, adding it can become a habit or people can become reliant on that cup of coffee.

Yet, according to other researchers, caffeine has been associated with lower depression rates in women and lower prostate cancer rates in men.

According to the Canadian Coffee Association, coffee is the most consumed drink in Canada, even more than water.

Photograph by Euvilla Thomas

Coffee is a popular morning drink for many people.

drinks, after all, according to the same Harvard study.

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'Deal or No Deal' gives students chance to win Burghout takes home more than $500 from live game at E.P. Taylor's Sam Odrowski The Chronicle

Deal or No Deal Live ran for its first time at Durham College in E.P. Taylor’s Pub during Winterfest.

Three randomly selected students had a chance to win up to $1,000.

All three left E.P. Taylor’s with cheques ranging from $100 to $500.

The students played exactly the same way as the hit game show Deal or No Deal, with cases containing sums of money ranging from five cents to $1,000.

The contestants started by picking one of the 26 numbered cases.

After selecting their case, they eliminated a certain number of cases each round, and were eventually offered a deal by the banker based on what cash amounts were still in play.

Kaitlin Burghout was the biggest winner, leaving Deal or No Deal Live with just over $500.

She went to the final round of play with $20 and $1,000 left on the game board.

The stakes were high, so she accepted the deal ($500) from the banker and played it safe.

It's nice to see people getting so excited about other people having the chance to win.

As it turned out, she had $1,000 in her case, which Deal or No Deal Live host Tim Frasier says they’ve only seen happen a few times.

Burghout didn’t complain though. She says she walked in with nothing and left with a little over half a grand which she plans on saving to help pay for school and use for a tattoo.

Fellow contestant Leighton Gray ended his game by taking a deal for $371.

He plans to save this money and put it toward a trip to the Caribbean with his girlfriend.

Christopher Shkolnik, took a deal for $104 in the final round.

He says he wants to put his win-

nings towards the purchase of a Nintendo 3DS. Co-host Allen Gynor enjoys giving away money to students and seeing the enthusiasm from the crowd.

“It’s nice to see people getting so excited about other people having the chance to win,” he says.

Johnny Humphrey, the event organizer, says the response from the crowd was energetic and enthusiastic.

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Campus

Photograph by Sam Odrowski

Contestants Christopher Shkolnik (left), Kaitlin Burghout and Leighton Gray pose with Deal or No Deal host, Tim Frasier (top).

“I think the response was very positive. We had a pretty good crowd out there and a lively crowd.

The atmosphere was something that we really wanted to achieve and we think we did a good job of that,” says Humphrey.

He says students can expect more game show themed events from the Student Association in the future because the response was so positive for Deal or No Deal Live.

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Storytellers breathe life into characters Tommy Morais The Chronicle

In small room at the Northview Community Centre in Oshawa, Kathleen Smyth tells her small audience, in her own words, The Silver Bell, an old Japanese folklore tale.

In the story, a villager visits a monk to borrow the church’s bell.

He always wanted to have that bell.

The villager is granted the bell with the condition that he must return it the following morning.

When the bell is missing, the monk sends one of his own to search for it. Both the villager and the man sent by the monk are found dancing happily and uncontrollably around the bell. More people try to return the bell to the church.

Same result. It is then implied a never-ending human chain would be formed, one where everyone would be happy and dancing for no particular reason.

“But what would be so wrong with that?,” asks Smyth before getting up and dancing herself, beaming smile, prompting a few in the room to join her.

By the time Smyth finished the tale, it felt as if the entire room had moved. Laughs were exchanged and many praised the story.

People like stories. They always have, likely always will.

Before the printing press and the internet, stories were traditionally passed on orally.

Like painting or sculpting, storytelling is something of an art. The Durham Folklore Storytellers certainly believe so.

The storytellers consisting of around 8-12 members on any given meeting are mostly seniors. They tell everything from fairy-tale stories to real-life stories.

Every Thursday they get together to share tales, poems, sometimes singing and dancing their way through a story.

Pictures are painted using only words, relying on the listener’s imagination.

None of the club’s members are particularly shy, but they do like to turn off the light to get into storytelling mode.

The storytellers will often change their voices, altering tone and pitch when necessary so as to breathe life into the characters that lie within the story.

“One thing I find is the voices just come out. I told this story in a British accent. The story made me do it. It just happens, this particular story chose me,” says Kathleen Smyth, public relations for the Durham storytellers.

Enid DeCoe, treasurer of the group, believes telling a story orally is truly a special experience.

“What I do is I tell a story to your eyes. I can tell a story just by making eye contact,” says DeCoe. “I may talk about a scarf, but I won’t say what it looks like so you’ll have to use your imagination. We all see different things, that’s part of the beauty of storytelling.”

How does one become a good storyteller? With time and practice.

“It’s like when you write or act, it takes a long time,” explains storyteller Heather Whaley. “You be-

come less inhibited about telling.

Once you become connected to it, you tell the story.”

The same story can often be found in different cultures, each with twists that make them unique to their geography.

“You’ll read a story and you find out versions of it exist in different cultures,” says group chair Irene Johnston.

“It’s fascinating.”

Every member of the group has a unique story about how they became storytellers.

A few were told stories by their parents and developed a taste for it.

Others took storytelling classes later on in life.

Some have always had it in them.

“I was a kid in India at a party when they told me to take care of other kids. I was as small as them.

We had no TV back then if you can imagine that. I started telling stories. Then I would do it on Saturdays and kids and adults would gather,” says travelling storyteller Summi Siddique.

Members of the Durham Folk-

Photograph by Tommy Morais

Storytellers gather at the Northview Community Centre in Oshawa. lore Storytellers encourage different ways to tell a story; using a traditional talking stick, alternate

voices, dancing, the list goes on.

Above all, they like to tell stories.

Regardless of the method used, the

group unanimously agrees on one thing: there is no one correct way to tell a story.

Campus

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Photograpah provided by Razer

Razer's Project Valerie is a prototype for the first ever triple display gaming laptop.

Razer laptop is really sharp, but not needed

by Durham programs Dean Daley The Chronicle

The world’s first triple display laptop, unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this month, has merits, but isn’t needed by high tech programs at Durham College (DC), such as gaming and animation.w At least that’s the opinion of the coordinators of those DC programs. The laptop, Razer’s Project Valerie, has two of its three 4K resolution, 17.3 inch screens fold out from the centre screen to give the user an almost panoramic view.

The gaming laptop also features a Nividia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card. DC has several programs which require a second screen, including programming, animation and game development.

However, could they ever require a third screen?

According to Gary Chapple, coordinator and professor in the animation program at DC, animators often use two screens. At DC, the animation labs are equipped with desktops that have two screens.

Having three screens could be useful, says Chapple, and even alludes to perhaps having larger screens.

Razer’s Project Valerie is, however, only a prototype and might have some problems. According to game development program coordinator and professor, John Goodwin, this desktop replacement would run too hot.

Goodwin uses three screens at home and two at school, however he uses the third screen usually for contact to the outside world, such as e-mailing a client or merely using a web browser.

Goodwin explains a three screen desktop replacement like Project Valerie is for a niche market. It’s for people running a lot of editing applications, or for the gamer who wants an immersive experience.

In fact, Goodwin believes two screens are not really necessary for many computer users. The gaming

development program, needs two screens for a lot of studio-based applications, but for the average consumer, using Microsoft Word and Excel, two screens are not necessary, Goodwin says.

Project Valerie isn’t necessary for the professional gamer, either.

Amjad Aslam, captain of the DC and UOIT collegiate Overwatch team, considers himself to be a semi-professional player and would definitely want Project Valerie if given to him.

However, Aslam says the laptop replacement wouldn’t help his professional gaming. He would use the third screen to help him livestream his gaming, he explains. His left or right screen would be for the community, such as his chat, and his viewers. The other side would use his streaming program as well aswanything else required for the stream. Finally, the middle screen would be used for the game.

“Where I see the use is multi-tasking,” says Aslam.

Project Valerie’s immersive experience isn’t for the competitive first-person shooter gamer. Having to look around at three screens would actually be a hindrance while playing, says Aslam.

“You only have so much focus that you can have … you’re usually just focusing on the small part of the centre of your field of view, and that’s where most of the action happens, too. It might even be a distraction to have the extra field of view,” says Aslam.

According to Aslam, Project Valerie could give a person who is playing a single player game an immersive experience, but it is a niche product. Razer’s Project Valerie is only a prototype and the likelihood of it being mass produced is very slim. Although having the extra screen can be useful, it’s not necessary, says Goodwin. Aslam and Goodwin agree it is useful when running a lot of applications and you need to see multiple things at once, but three 4K screens are definitely not necessary.

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Entertainment

Photograph by Tyler Hodgkinson

Sergey Kaydash shows off his pre-order receipt for Nintendo's upcoming home console, the Switch.

Pre-orders not a 'game' Nintendo fans worry about stock

Tyler Hodgkinson

The Chronicle

Imagine waking up at 5 a.m., and waiting outside in the frigid Canadian winter to secure a video game console before anyone else in the area.

This was the case for Sergey Kaydash on Jan. 13.

The 24-year old Durham College student, who is enrolled in the Media Fundamentals program, made sure he was first in line at

EB Games in the Oshawa Centre to pre-order Nintendo’s new console, the Switch, because of product unavailability at the company’s last launch.

Some Nintendo fans are reluctant to believe the company will not repeat its past stock shortcomings with its new console.

The NES Classic Mini was released last November and caused hysteria amongst consumers throughout the holiday season. Due to a lack of availability, the product, which retailed in stores for $80, was being offered on eBay $3,000.

“I wasn’t going to run around trying to find the Switch like people did for the NES Classic,” Kaydash says. “I figured it was better to put in a lot of effort now, rather than worry about finding it later.”

According to the Nintendo fan, others did not start lining up at the Oshawa Centre store until 8 a.m.

However, pre-orders were secured at all Durham Region shops by the end of the day.

Additionally, the Canadian

At least I've got my golden ticket, I'll be fine.

online stores for Amazon, Best Buy, and EB Games sold out of pre-orders on the first day they were available. The “guaranteed pre-orders” are available on eBay for up to $900.

In an interview with internet gaming website GameSpot, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Amié addressed concern about a potential hardware shortage.

“With the Nintendo Switch, we’ve said that two million units will go into the marketplace for the month of March,” he said. “That’s a huge amount of volume.”

“We’re working to make sure the supply chain is robust and there is a steady flow of hardware. The one piece that we can’t anticipate is the demand set of the equation

but certain from a supply [standpoint], we believe we’re going to be well-positioned.”

A common question among message boards such as Reddit is how the new system will account for previously purchased digital games, and how the company’s virtual console – a catalogue of “classic” games – will work. Fils-Amié could not comment on the specifics, however, he said with the introduction of the new user Nintendo accounts, it will make it easier for the company to tie purchases to the consumer.

Kaydash remains skeptical the company will be able to keep up with the demand.

“This is Nintendo we are talking about,” he says. “At least I’ve got my golden ticket, I’ll be fine.”

Playing some different cards Frank Katradis The Chronicle

Step aside video games; card games are back and more popular than ever.

At a time when many games are played via a screen, some people are putting down their laptops and phones to pick up a deck of cards.

There are many different kinds of card games, such as the classic card deck, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Luck & Logic, and more.

Each has its own set of rules and playstyle that’s not only bringing out competition in people, but comraderie as well.

“Card games really bring people together,” says Adrian Barber, an employee at

Skyfox Games in Oshawa.

“I made so many friends by playing card games. At the same time, I've made rivals.”

Skyfox Games is a hobby store in Oshawa that not only sells game cards, but hosts card tournaments for them as well.

“It’s a really good experience in my opinion and I feel it’s undervalued sometimes,” says Barber.

The card game community is large worldwide and competitive.

John Billinger started playing the Pokémon card game after his son Benny got interested in it. As his son got better at the game, the further they went.

Billinger brings his son to places such as Skyfox to play in tournaments. As he son got better at the

game, the further they went.

“It’s quite like hockey,” he says.

“They’re serious competitors that will travel to go to tournaments.”

Billinger’s son recently became the number one junior Pokémon card game player in all of Canada, ranking number six out of all of North America.

Even though he is happy for the ranking, Benny says the best thing about card games is the community.

“There a lot of people,” he says.

“So friendly, so kind. It’s awesome!”

Regardless of which card game it is, people are taking the time to go out and find others who share a common interest and play a game they enjoy.

It’s a way of bringing people clos- Skyfox Games employee Adrian Barber. er, one card game at a time.

Photograph by Frank Katradis

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Photograph by Toby Van Weston

Lynn Dooly-Marek's 'Colour Study of a Provencal Market' painting showcased in the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

DC instructor's painting lands near Louvre Toby Van Weston The Chronicle

A Durham College art instructor recently had one of her paintings showcased at one of the art capitals of the world. Lynn Dooly-Marek is a life drawing instructor in the Animation program at Durham and one of her paintings was selected to be featured in Salon des Beaux Arts 2016 in Paris.

The Salon Des Beaux Arts showcases artists from all over the world.

The National Society of Fine Arts has organized the show for more than 150 years. The event takes place in the halls of the Carrousel du Louvre, an underground shoping mall connected to the Louvre Museum.

Dooly-Marek’s painting, ‘Color Study of a Provencal Market’, was accepted into the show, which took place Dec. 8-11, 2016. She submitted eight examples of her work and an oil pastel painting was chosen.

Dooly-Marek had to undergo spinal surgery nine years ago, and this is her first exhibit since takingtime off to recover.

The painting itself is of a marketplace. It features very loose and vivid brush strokes. Dooly-Marek describes her style as impressionist. Many of her paintings are of bistros and cafés from around the world. She also does life-drawings and paintings, and children’s illustrations.

Dooly-Marek has history with

France prior to being accepted into the Salon, having studied abroad during her college years in the 1970s. She credits one incident from studying in the southern part of France as being particularly influential in her art career.

One Friday, she found herself with no money in her bank account. She called her father, and asked him to wire her some. Since it would not arrive until the following Monday, she had to find a way to make some quick cash. She asked a local restaurant, Les Deux Garcons, located in Aix-en-Provence, France, if they would commission a painting.

“I went to Les Deux Garcons, and I said, ‘if I do a painting of

your café, will you give me $20?’

And they said ‘oui’,” recalls DoolyMarek with a laugh.“That’s how it started. By doing that, I realized I could make money from my art. I was astounded,” says Dooly-Marek.

Dooly-Marek explains that getting a painting accepted into the Louvre is very prestigious to an artist.“It has mystique. It has something about it. To be able to say I have been accepted by the Beaux Art Society, into the Louvre, into their gallery space, it puts you another level,” says Dooly-Marek.

Before her flight to Paris for the show, she called the airline because she wanted to carry her painting with her. When they found out her painting was heading towards the

Louvre, she received special treatment.She was escorted to her flight from sign-in, entered the plane before first-class attendants, and had stewardesses and the pilot come and introduce themselves. She was asked if she was the “famous artist,” and was asked to pose for pictures.

Dooly-Marek says teaching life-drawing is very important to her as an artist. Passing on her knowledge is something she considers a responsibility. She remembers one piece of advice a colleague gave her, which has always stayed with her.

“He said to me: ‘our duty is to pass on our knowledge to the next generation.’ And I’ve never forgotten that,” she says.

showcase artwork for Black History Month. “This group exhibition will explore black identity and the personal creative expression of Black Canadian contemporary artists of Afro-Caribbean descent,” says Wlasenko. “I’m currently researching an illustrated art talk that explores the vibrant visual culture of Africa, the Caribbean and their respective diasporic communities around the globe.”The art talk is called When Our Souls Dream, and will show at the gallery February 6.The team at Station Gallery has faced many challenges over the years, but has been able to turn their obstacles into achievements.

An example of this is the exhibition the Durham College fine art students put on for their first show in 2007, which has now become an annual tradition.According to Wlasenko, the team was scrambling to fill three weeks of open space on a short deadline.

“At times I’d worry about some-

thing that in the end will turn out alright, and even flourish,” Wlasenko says.

The Durham College (DC) fine art students had work finished. The Station Gallery was able to fill the empty studio space.

“DC saved the day… From that DIY popup show grew a long-standing partnership that’s now in its 10th year,” says Wlaskeno.

According to Wlasenko, a career in the arts can be exhilarating, rewarding and at times challenging.

He believes it’s important for young artists to have a diverse set of skills in order to become successful.

“Being an artist is an increasingly diversified skill-set that requires a balance of adaptability, agility, curiosity and above all, creativity,” says Wlasenko.

“A life in art isn’t so much a sprint to the finish line, it’s a marathon filled with a lifetime of self-awareness and new experiences,” says Wlasenko.

Historic Whitby landmark turns 50

Jessica Stoiku The Chronicle

Durham Region is home to many historic buildings, including The Whitby Station Gallery. The Whitby landmark has a history of housing artistic talents as it reaches its 50th anniversary this year.

“Station Gallery is often compared to a hidden gem that continues to surprise and reveal itself time and time again,” says Olexander Wlasenko, curator at the gallery.

Quite often guests have stepped through the gallery’s doors for the first time after living many years in the region, according to Wlasenko.

He considers the gallery to be a great discovery.

“We’re a warm and welcoming cultural hub…[I] just love to have my hand on the creative pulse of the region and beyond with my curatorial duties here,” says Wlasenko.

The Station Gallery’s mission is

Photograph by Jessica Stoiku

Curator Olexander Wlasenko in the Whitby Station Gallery. to connect and educate the diverse communities of Durham through arts and culture. “The most exhilarating thing for each exhibition is that you learn something that you might otherwise guess at. Learn-

ing about another culture,” says Wlasenko. “Our awareness of cultural diversity is a mutual exchange at Station Gallery. It’s a true priority.”Together We Rise in as upcoming exhibition in February that will

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Entertainment

Hidden Figures: More than numbers Women of colour making a difference Euvilla Thomas Black women everywhere have something to celebrate with the movie Hidden Figures, (2016) not Hidden Fences: the fauxpas Jenna Bush made on the red carpet during the 2017 Golden Globes, bless her heart. Hidden Figures is an inspiring and educational film not just for black women, but women everywhere.

The movie, which was directed

by Theodore Melfi, gave viewers exactly what they expected based on the trailers.

According to an article by the Huffington Post, the movie is the first live-action film with three female leads to hit No. 1 in the box office since 2011.

The film has earned about 60 million dollars since its release on Jan. 6. Set in 1962, when segregation in America was in full force, the film reveals how being black was almost equivalent to being a criminal.

Imagine not being able to share a washroom, a coffee machine, a library or even being denied going to a certain school or getting a job because you were black.

Hidden Figures takes us through the community of black women and the challenges they faced as mathematicians in NASA. This movie captured the role African-American women played in the historic launch of America’s first orbit into space.

The movie was inspired by true events and based off the book written by Margot Lee Shetterly.

The movie stars Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monae. Hidden Figures takes us on a fight of survival, equality and bravery, all through the lives of three coloured women.

“Well, it isn’t illegal to be Negro,” says a head strong Monae who plays Mary Jackson, the first coloured woman to be an engineer at NASA. This opening scene gives us a glimpse into what it means to be black in America during segregation.

The main character Katherine Johnson is a mathematician who made the calculations which allowed humans to travel into space.

In those days’, people with these capabilities were called “Human Computers.”

Despite having been instrumental in launching the first American man into space, Katherine Johnson still had to deal with the every day challenges which came with being black.

Katherine Goble Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson, third from left, helped put the first American man into space in the '60s.

The most compelling scene in the movie is when Mr. Harris played

by Kevin Costner, takes down the sign on the bathroom door and says, “Here at NASA, we all pee

the same colour.”

This is a movie, which shows with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

You can be the first of whatever

your dreams are.

Watch Hidden Figures and be inspired by women of colour making a real difference and putting their mark on history forever.

New role models for women today Tommy Morais Look out Beyonce and Alicia Keys.

Black women have new role models to look up to. Directed by Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures takes its cue from American history and brings the stories of three black women in their pursuit of equal rights to the big screen.

The biographical drama details the lives of Kathrine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson: three African-American women who broke racial barriers and sexist boundaries while working at NASA in the early ‘60s. Hidden Figures focuses on Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who helped put the first American man into space with her affinity for numbers.

It sounds like a perfectly crafted Hollywood scenario, only the events depicted actually happened.

Appropriately, the movie was released just ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.Hidden Figures

not only rebuts the old adage that women are bad at math, but shatters it. Katherine Johnson isn’t just smart, she’s so smart you couldn’t possibly calculate it. But she could, of course.

On the surface, actress Taraji P. Henson delivers a subtle and quiet performance as Johnson.

Henson embodies the spirit of the smart mathematician and mother of three.

Janelle Monae provides the comic relief as Mary Jackson with her wit and flirty demeanour with the male characters in the movie.

It is perhaps Dorothy Vaughan, played by Octavia Spencer, who best exemplifies the struggles of black women in the workplace when she is denied promotion after promotion. Despite the challenges faced by our three protagonists, Hidden Figures is a lighter version of history. The characters around them all appear too polite for 1960’s America. The superiors Paul Stafford ( Jim Parsons) and Vivian Michael (Kirsten Dunst) are very careful in their behaviour in an unforgiving era.

All three women are challenged by racism and sexism in not only the workplace, but in every day life.

Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monae, was one of the first black women to be admitted to an all-white university.

Coloured washrooms, dirty looks and being overlooked for promotions because of race are just a few of the obstacles the three women face.

Hidden Figures is captivating and informative, a far cry from the hangover of 2016 where movies like Ghostbusters and Bad Moms

were criticized by critics and audiences alike and for making women look goofy. The film has already won 6 of its 9 nominations from the Women Critic Film Circle, including best movie about women in 2016.

It also received further nominations including 2 Golden Globes

and 3 Oscar.

In 2017 race and gender issues still exist, but Johnson, Vaughan and Jackson’s stories prove it possible for not only black women, but for all women to succeed if they work hard, and want it bad enough.

Perhaps one day there will be a Katherine Johnson day.

Entertainment

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January 31 - February 6, 2017

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Golden Compass not so golden Tyler Searle The Chronicle

Ten years ago was one of the most eventful years in young adult fantasy. Harry Potter fans rejoiced at the release of the seventh book and fifth movie in the same year. Fans of another fantasy series, His Dark Materials, sat down in theaters to see their story come to life. But afterwards, they found themselves wondering just what went wrong.

The answer is quite simple.

They toned it down “for kids.”

Released by New Line Cinema (known for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy), The Golden Compass is an adaptation of the book of the same name (also known as Northern Lights), which is the first book in author Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. The series follows the adventures of Lyra Belacqua and her friends as they try to understand the mysterious particle called Dust in a quest that takes them across multiple parallel universes.

Although these books have many fantasy elements, including armoured polar bears and clans of witches, religious themes such as faith and theology are also touched upon. This allowed a large audience across multiple age groups to connect with the books.

Unfortunately, New Line Cinema wanted to market the films more to families, so they removed most of the book’s teeth.

The first three minutes of the film reveals one of its most glaring problems: the film explains everything to the audience.

Where Harry Potter began with an old wizard leaving a baby on a doorstep, Golden Compass begins with an ambiguous narrator telling the audience about the nature of Dust, the parallel universe, and the animalistic daemons that follow humans around. In the book these topics were sprinkled through the narrative and talked about when it suited the plot—or there were enough clues for the readers to figure out. This handholding is especially noticeable with a witch character, who was given a new scene in the middle of the movie that is nothing more

Photograph by Tyler Searle

The Golden Compass film (right) next to a 2007 reprint of the book (left).

than a fly-by expositionist.

Another example of this movie’s pandering is how it handles the villains, known as Magisterium.

In the books the Magisterium is a religious organization, but to avoid possible controversy, New Lines Cinema removed all mention of religion from the film and added new scenes of Magisterium

leaders sitting in dark rooms and talking about evil things next to a green fireplace. However, the film kept the organization’s plans and motivations the same as in the books. So the religious controversy New Lines was hoping to avoid came anyways.

Perhaps the biggest offender for how the movie talks down to

its audience is how it whitewashes so many events from the books.

These include removing the emotional and poignant death of a child from the middle of the film, and completely scrapping the book’s original ending for a more ambiguously happy one. The film also removes much of the morally grey decisions characters are forced to make, such as the head of Lyra’s college reluctantly trying to poison a man to protect his college from the wrath of the Magisterium. The film simplified this by creating a new Magisterium agent to be the poisoner, because kids won’t be able to understand making a hard choice to keep

your friend and loved ones safe, right?

Compared to all the bad book adaptations out there, the Golden Compass is not the worst, but it does feel like it wants nothing to do with the author’s original vision.

By dumbing the story down for kids, the film has a skeleton of what makes the books so good, but it lacks the thought provoking questions of spirituality vs free will that made readers of the book question themselves with each flip of the page.

But in a new scene, Nicole Kidman hugs a CGI monkey, so all is forgiven.

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Sports

Photograph by Allison Beach

The Ridgebacks follow goal scorer Kassidy Nauboris onto the ice for their game against the Queen's Gaels.

'Backs suffer big loss Overtime loss to Queen's pushes UOIT women's hockey team further out of playoff contention

Shanelle Somers The Chronicle

In an aggressive 61-minute hockey game against the Queen’s Gaels Jan. 20, Kassidy Nauboris of the UOIT Ridgebacks almost led her team to victory.

Entering the game, the Gaels had six straight wins under their belt, but the UOIT Ridgebacks worked hard to defeat the team during their Bell Let’s Talk game, but ultimately lost 2-1.

While the Gaels continue to roll with the win, the Ridgebacks extended their losing streak to three games.

Nauboris scored the first goal of the game for the Ridgebacks.

“A goal always feels great. It was comforting to know that we were

able to continue the game with that first goal. It was a good feeling,” said Nauboris.

The Queen’s defence was intense as they defended their net, and so was the offence as they tied the Ridgebacks during the third period with a goal by Kyla Crouse.

Nadia Larcocca then scored the winning goal 12 seconds into overtime.

The Ridgebacks joined Queen’s on the ice to take a photo together raising awareness for Mental Health.

Throughout the game fans were encouraged to take photos with Bell Let’s Talk signs to end stigma around mental health.

UOIT coach Justin Caruana said as someone who has known people affected by mental illness,

he believes it’s good to raise awareness, especially as an athlete.

He said he is proud to be part of it.

In a press conference after the game Caruana said, “my coaching style is very passionate.”

Nauboris spoke after about her love for her team and motivation to do better in their next game against Guelph.

“Really we use losses as motivation for our next game.”

Caruana added: “I’ll be here all night watching videos, we play Guelph tomorrow (after Chronicle deadline) and our goal is to get into the playoffs.”

The Ridgebacks will be playing the Brock Badgers on Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Ice Centre.

Photograph by Heather Snowdon

Kassidy Nauboris takes the ice against the Queen's Gaels.

Games in your backyard

Men’s Hockey: Feb. 4, UOIT vs. Queen’s, Campus Women’s Basketball: Feb. 3, Durham vs. Algonquin, CRWC, 6 p.m.

Ice Centre, 3:30 p.m.

Women's Hockey: Feb. 3, UOIT vs. Brock, Campus Men's Volleyball: Feb. 2, Durham vs. Loyalist, Ice Centre, 7:30 p.m.

CRWC, 8 p.m.

Men’s Basketball: Feb. 3, Durham vs. Algonquin, Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC), Women’s Volleyball: Feb. 2, Durham vs. Loyalist, CRWC, 6 p.m.

8 p.m.

Feb. 4, Durham vs. La Cité, CRWC, 8 p.m.

Sports

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It's hockey, with a twist New 3-on-3 pro hockey league debuts

Travis Fortnum The Chronicle

If you’re a fan of the 3-on-3 overtime format in the NHL, you might find a new pro hockey league operating in southern Ontario that appeals to your hockey taste.

The Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa played host to a new kind of professional tournament Jan. 21.

Former Oshawa Generals captain and Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Brett Maclean is among the handful of familiar faces from the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) to take part in the newly formed 3HL (3-on-3 Hockey League).

The league is made up of eight teams from around Ontario, competing in the fast-paced action of 3-on-3 hockey.

The Oshawa Showcase was set up as a three-round tournament, allowing teams to earn up to $7,000.

The Oshawa 88’s faced the Markham Millionaires in round one, taking it 5-2. But Oshawa was eliminated by the Newmarket Saints in the second round 6-2.

The Saints went on to play the Toronto Bees in the final, where the Bees won 5-2.

Tickets were sold for $20 online and at the door. Given the league’s fresh appearance on the scene and despite a great deal of promotion through social media, most of those gathered in the small crowd were family and friends of the players.

Among those checking it out were a few Oshawa Generals’ fans, who decided to see what it was about.

“I saw it on the [Tribute Communities Centre] website when I

Photograph by Travis Fortnum

Brett MacLean, former Oshawa Generals' captain and Phoenix Coyotes (now Arizona) draft pick, plays for Guelph.

was on there looking for Generals’ tickets,” says Joanne Lyon. “It looked interesting.”

The game varies greatly from what fans of the National Hockey League (NHL) and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) are used to, but the heart of the game remains the same.

“It isn’t like an NHL game where you can pretty much call what’s going to happen because you’re familiar with the rules,” Lyon says. “As a hockey fan, I quite enjoyed it.”

Teams in the league are currently made up of about eight players, with three skaters on the ice at a time with a goalie in net.

Michael Platten is one of those goalies. He was in net for the Kitchener Lions at the Oshawa Showcase.

“The 3HL is unique,” Platten says. “The 3-on-3 layout makes for a fast, open iced game with the opportunity for big hits, big saves and some silky goals. You really have to be aware at all times out there, and as a goalie you have to try to be more active with playing the puck. It’s a real head's up game.

Very fun to play, that’s for sure.”

Platten also says the rules are very different than other pro leagues.

“There are no offsides or icings

in the 3HL,” he says. “Penalties are awarded by a penalty shot, where the shooter is chased by the opposing team’s skaters. The games are shorter, as are the rosters, making for a lot of ice and a lot of skating.

“If a goalie freezes the puck in most leagues, he holds for a whistle,” Platten explained. “In the 3HL, once the goalie covers it, the opposing team backs off to the hash marks and allows him to play it or give it to one of his teammates to play.”

There are almost no stops at all in the game, which is played in two seven-minute halves with a minute break between.

Photograph by Travis Fortnum

Jason Skinner, of the London 3's, takes part in the fast-paced action of 3-on-3 hockey in the newly-formed 3HL.

It’s all still relatively informal, with players who aren’t currently in the game coming out to sit in the stands and watch their opponents play.

Mitch Scott, captain of the Oshawa 88’s, says that as the league finds its footing in the professional hockey world, the players have taken on roles off the ice to ensure success.

“Each one of the 64 players in the league are the best assets that the league has,” says Scott. “We’re the ambassadors for it. We’re promoting it within our communities.”

Scott himself has found a passion for the business side of the game, with hopes to possibly manage one of the teams in the years to come.

“I started helping out with the league a lot more and helped bring in sponsorship deals and equipment deals,” he says.

“I ended up bringing in the BioSteel deal for us, I had all of our jerseys done up, basically all the equipment that all the guys wear, I got the sponsorship deals set up for that.”

Hockey fans may recall seeing recruitment ads on Facebook or receiving emails about tryouts.

Although the teams have enough players to compete, Scott says this is a strategy the league still plans to continue with.

“As the league grows we’re looking to add guys,” Scott says. “We’re in talks for maybe holding more tryouts for this season as events go on. We’d love to hear from people if they think that they’re qualified to play in the league.”

The 3HL’s next stop will be a similar showcase in Collingwood on Feb. 18. The tour stops back in Oshawa on May 6 for the first ever 3HL Champions Cup.

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