Cord Community Edition July Issue by Cord Community

Bike thefts spike in the Region

Making gas guzzlers aware of climate change

Page 5

Page 7

Queen Street Yoga heals body and soul Page 13

ORD COMMUNITY COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

JULY 2013

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 10

HOP ABOARD

STEEL RAILS 2013

Men in Black, sideshow freaks and snow cones, oh my! Inside the biggest party in K-W

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564

3 News Bike thefts up, Iron Horse Trail down and gas pumps out

9 Civic Space Is soft water worth draining one of our most precious natural resources?

11 Features All aboard: An inside look at throwing a party on a train, CCE style

18 Urban Exploring Queen Street Yoga and LPGA on how to give back to the community in different ways

19 Community Conversations

With Grand River Amazing Race

20 Arts and Culture

Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival celebrates 21 years young, and fantasy lit gets digital

Volume 1, Issue #10 Next issue: August 2, 2013 Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Angela Endicott at 519-884-0710 x3560 angela.taylor@wlusp.com CONTRIBUTORS Editor-in-Chief H.G. Watson hwatson@thecord.ca

Photography Manager Ryan Hueglin rhueglin@thecord.ca

Publisher Bryn Ossington Bryn.ossington@wlusp.com

Photography Manager Heather Davidson hdavidson@thecord.ca

Cord Editor-in-Chief Justin Smirlies jsmirlies@thecord.ca

Copy Editor Erin O’Neil

Graphic Designer Lena Yang lyang@thecord.ca Shelby Blackley Sam Brooks Amanda Chang Kevin Delaney Bob Egan Jill Kolb Tanishka Kundu Nick Lachance Veronica Naas WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director Director Corporate Secretary Distribution Manager Web Manager

Mark Shiffer Chloe Stanois Kate Turner Jody Waardenburg

Allison Leonard Bryn Ossington Angela Endicott Tom Paddock Luke Schulz Shelby Blackley Kate Turner Alexandra Abbiento Angela Endicott Adam Lazzarato

The Cord Community Edition is the monthly magazine version of the Cord, the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Started in 2012, The Cord Community Edition is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

22 Reviews 23 Monthly Events

Opinions expressed within The Cord Community Edition are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord Community Edition bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. The Cord Community Edition is created using Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.5 using Adobe Creative Suite 4. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

MESSAGE BOARD Editor’s note Gone Fishin’ CCE staff are taking a breather after putting on a massive train party and putting together a brand new issue of the magazine all in one week. That won’t stop them, however, from recommending that you sit down and enjoy everything in this issue, from all the cycling news (pages 4, 5 and 7), a preview of the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival (page 15) and a recap of Steel Rails 2013. They also encourage you to start thinking of your favourite Waterloo places, people and things. The Best of Waterloo Region is coming, and the CCE needs your votes to find out what the best of the best is in our neck of the woods. Voting begins July 10 on community.thecord.ca. They’ll be back with the next issue of the CCE (back strong with the regular 24 pages) August 2. Till then, they’re going to relax and find out who this Bob Benson is that everyone keeps talking about... -The CCE staff

Notes Corrections In the May 2013 article, “A million little pieces,” the CCE incorrectly reported that Robb Farago had been convincted for defrauding 5 Days for the Homeless. Farago was convicted for defrauding the Bank of Montreal. The online article has been updated to reflect these facts. The CCE is always looking for talented writers, artists, designers and photographers. If you’d like to get involved, email us at communityeditor@thecord.ca Got something on your mind? Want to talk about one of this month’s articles? Submit your letter to the editor to communityeditor@thecord.ca

The Cord Community Edition has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2012. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. The Cord Community Edition circulates monthly. Normal circulation is 33,000 and enjoys a readership of over 60,000. Cord Community Edition subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada. Campus Plus is The Cord’s national advertising agency. PREAMBLE TO THE CORD CONSTITUTION The Cord Community Edition will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy. The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on the community of Kitchener-Waterloo. Ultimately, The Cord Community Edition will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the community. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of community press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our magazine.

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

NEWS NEWS LINE

This month we’re talking about...

Food truck city If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat while exploring Waterloo this summer you can check out one of the new, but potentially temporary, food trucks located throughout the city. The City of Waterloo is running a food truck licensing pilot project until December 31, 2013. Licensed food trucks will have the opportunity to operate in areas in Uptown Waterloo, in addition to any other locations approved throughout the city. With no end to the food truck craze in sight, we predict a delicious summer.

NCR lands makeover At long last, it seems that the NCR property in north Waterloo will get a serious sprucing up. On June 17 Waterloo city council heard an informal public consultation for a large, mixed use property that would include food stores and a drug store. A final decision is quite a ways off however, as a number of studies still need to be done before council can approve the plan. • Karen Green CREATIVE COMMONS

Maxwell’s new music house

• Heather Davidson PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

Dooly’s Bar and Billiards located at 35 University Avenue East will have to bid farewell as Waterloo city councilors have granted approval for a site zone change to convert the pool hall into a concert auditorium. Paul Maxwell, founder and president of Maxwell’s Music House, received approval Monday evening by city council to convert the popular pool hall into an auditorium, which will become a larger venue for his growing business.

Crowdfund fun for THEMUSEUM

Turkish solidarity Members of the local Turkish community and allies gathered in front of Kitchener City Hall June 16 to demonstrate against the brutal suppression of protestors and media in Turkey, where protests against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are ongoing. The small group hopes that this is just the start of a solidarity movement in Waterloo Region.

Waterloo Region residents are helping push Kitchener’s THEMUSEUM towards their first ever operating budget surplus. In a blog post from June 20, THEMUSEUM CEO David Marskell wrote, “Each year we begin at zero and must raise 100 per cent of our funds to operate.” They were just $10,000 shy of meeting their goal. A mere six days later, Marskell blogged that they were less than $3000 away from their goal. People interested in donating can visit themuseum.ca/donate • HG Watson CCE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

IN FOCUS A traditional drum circle opened ceremonies for the new Aboriginal Student Centre Garden at Wilfrid Laurier University. • Jody Waardenburg CCE CONTRIBUTOR

NEWS

JULY 2013

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

BRAND NEW PATH The Iron Horse Trail will move to a new home after city council sells part of the trail HG WATSON CCE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

fter a heated city council vote, Waterloo is moving ahead with plans to redevelop a portion of the Iron Horse

Trail. On June 10, city councilors voted four to two in favour of moving the trail from where it currently cuts across Park St. and Caroline St. so that the area could be rezoned and redeveloped for a large, multi-use development project spearheaded by Mady Development Corporation. “It was a difficult [decision],” said Ward 7 councillor Melissa Durrell, who voted in favour of rezoning the land and moving the Iron Horse trail. “But I believe it was the right one for the city of Waterloo.” The proposed development sits in her ward, one of the areas identified by the City as ideal for urban intensification. The proposed double condo towers could potentially house 600 new residents in uptown Waterloo. The Iron Horse Trail will continue to be owned by the city, and Mady Development Corporation will build it with full input from the municipality and the public. The June meeting was so well attended that some constituents had to sit in one of City Hall’s spillover rooms to watch the proceedings. Many delegates spoke during the meeting, which lasted two and a half hours. A majority of the speakers were against moving the trail, though representatives from Vincenzo’s and the Charcoal Group, which

owns the Bauer Kitchen adjacent to the proposed development, spoke in favour because of the potential benefit to their businesses. Mike Boos, an advocate with the Tri-Cities Transport Action Group (TriTAG), spoke out against moving the trail at the meeting. He spoke to the CCE a few weeks after the meeting. “The trail is sort of the primary active transportation corridor for the entire region,” he said. “So we were really bothered that this particular plan would sort of relocate away from its historical alignment but do so in a way that actually degrades the experience.” Boos is concerned that the new path, which will run between the new development and the Sunlife Financial parking garage, will be mostly located in the shade and will have a sharp turn as people exit the path at the corner of the building. Other concerns were raised at the June 10 council meeting. Roger Suffling, a member of the Bicycle Advocacy Committee of Easy Riders Cycle Club, actually brought a prop to illustrate his point: two meter sticks taped together with bike handles attached to show that the proposed two-meter width of the new bike trail isn’t sufficient for passing cyclists. The development plan as presented includes a four-meter wide separated path for cyclists and pedestrians. “Standard for multi-use trail is three meters,” said Trevor Hawkins, a development planner with the City of Waterloo. He pointed out that because the pedestrian and cycle lanes are separated, this is not the case here. However, guidelines established by many

The section of the Iron Horse trail at the centre of this battle is less than 100 ft. long. • HEATHER DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

municipalities indicate that the minimum width of a shared two-way bike lane is three meters, and 3.5 meters is preferred. At the council meeting, representatives from MHBC Planning and Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, who currently represent Mady Development Corporation, did indicate they will revisit the design of the bike path to ensure it meets width standards. While city council breaks for the summer, city staff will be drawing up plans to start a public consultation process for the new trail. “There will be some opportunities for some level of consultation but how much and how it will work I am not sure about yet,” said Hawkins. Durrell is hopeful that it will be a fruitful process. “We’re looking for a collaborative approach on what the new trail will look like,” she said.

TriTAG is not entirely done exploring their options to oppose moving the trail. “We’re still investigating what is possible through the Ontario Municipal Board,” said Boos. “We’re not saying we’re taking particular action.” Boos also mentioned that the trail could potentially be rerouted along John St. to Caroline St. “That would actually add connectivity to the King St. and Allen St. rapid transit station that is actually going to span the entire block.” Boos remains optimistic about the future of active transportation in Waterloo. “There’s a number of different projects that the City is involved with and this particular one was I think quite unfortunate,” he said. “But the City isn’t just focused on one thing at a time and there are lots of opportunities to improve cycling in other ways.”

NEWS

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

THE BICYCLE THIEVES

A 15 per cent spike in bike thefts has cyclists on alert WRPS oﬃcials have warned the public that with cycling weather comes an increase in bike thefts. • HEATHER DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

JUSTIN SMIRLIES CORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

rank Szado was ordering a gelato at Vincenzo’s in Uptown Waterloo when his $6300 bike, which was inside the store at time, was stolen. His eyes were only off of it for about two minutes. “I guess you don’t expect it. [But] it happens. I left it out of my sight; I didn’t have my lock that day, but I did bring it into the store,” said the Waterloo resident of only three years, a couple weeks after his bike was stolen on May 27. He reported it stolen to the Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS), put up signs and posted a Kijiji ad online asking for his bike back. The postings and signs have a photo of the thief from a security camera at Vincenzo’s. But he hasn’t got his bike back. “This was my dream bike that was stolen,” Szado continued. “I was gambling on the fact that no one was going to taking it. My initial thought was that management had moved it.” The North Division of WRPS — a division that monitors parts of student residences near Wilfrid Laurier University — has recently launched a project on bike theft in the community. According to their initial investigations, the months of April and May saw a 15 per cent increase in the number of bike

theft reports compared to the same months in 2012. “You’re going to see an increase [in thefts] because more people are out — it’s cycling season,” explained Olaf Heinzel, the public affairs coordinator for WRPS. “It’s same with any property crime. If it’s valuable to you as the owner, it potentially has value to someone else.” He added, “If more and more people are investing in higher-end bikes, there are people out there who will recognize that and see the opportunity to turn that into cash.” WRPS currently doesn’t keep a database of registered bicycles because of the high turnover rate of bikes. Friends sell them to other friends or lend them out to other people very frequently. While the police are currently investigating Szado’s stolen bicycle — they now know the identity of thief — he also claimed there is a “bike theft ring” that exists in Waterloo Region. Heinzel, however, said he is unaware of any ring. “I don’t know anything about a theft ring. The only ones that I’m aware of were crimes of opportunity for individuals who saw a bike and decided to run with it,” Heinzel said. “That doesn’t suggest that several bikes were taken by the same individual, but I’m not aware of a ring so to speak.” People who frequent the universities on

were actually still there. This one was gone,” he added. While the students did not report the bike stolen, Guido has since loaned a bike from his friend, but now he stores it in his apartment. Heinzel, Hancocks and Anderson all reiterated the same point when talking about ways to avoid theft: lock up the bike. But since a lot of bike locks are made of easily cut material, they all noted that buying a better quality lock might be more effective at deterring thieves. “We’re see an awful a lot of the lower end locks being cut,” said Anderson. “I would really recommend buying a quality lock for the bikes, especially if your bike is worth a substantial amount of money.” Heinzel noted that it would be helpful for WRPS if those who buy a bike to take photos of it, to keep receipts and to write down the serial number. It makes it easier for the WRPS to locate the bike in the situation of a theft. But Szado isn’t completely convinced. “If you got a valuable bike, you’ve got to lock it, there’s no question about it,” Szado said. “[But] sometimes I don’t think it really matters, from what I see. If someone wants to get your bike, they can. They just cut the locks.”

Why wait another month? Keep up with The Cord Community Edition whenever you want by checking us out online

bike are also at risk of theft. Both Special Constable Services (SCS) at Laurier and the University of Waterloo (UW) campus police noted that bike theft occurs regularly on each campus. Director of police services at UW Dan Anderson stated that “one to three bikes a day” are stolen from the UW campus, and that many others are recovered each week. Chris Hancocks, the operations manager at SCS Laurier, reiterated the same thing. “They steal them from our campus and then go into the region somewhere and they start chopping them up or selling them,” said Hancocks. “It’s a constant problem through the summer.” While he was not on campus when his roommate’s bike — which was shared with everyone in his house — was stolen, Matt Guido, a fourth-year business student at Laurier thought he and his housemates were being proactive by locking their bike to a fence behind their building on Ezra as opposed to in front of it on the bike racks. “There was actually a bike rack at the front of the building with five bikes, but we thought it was a bit open,” Guido explained. “We just kind of hid it away from the open area.” Unfortunately, on one evening in late May, the bike’s lock was cut and the bike was stolen. “I came back and lock was on the ground, snipped. The other bikes on the bike rack

@cordcommunity community.thecord.ca

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

CITY OF WATERLOO | OUR COMMUNITY w3 WARD 3 COUNCILLOR

Angela Vieth t: 519.747.8784 c: 519.807.2111 angela.vieth@waterloo.ca

Waterloo is an Intelligent Community. We foster and encourage innovation, knowledge, creativity and collaboration. Whether it’s the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Award for Sustainable Communities, the Bicycle Friendly Communities Award, or the creation of Canada’s Technology for Food, Waterloo is consistently honoured

w6 WARD 6 COUNCILLOR

Jeff Henry t: 519.747.8784 c: 519.998.5883 jeff.henry@waterloo.ca

After a shaky start, summer has hit us full force. What was once a crazily cold, windy, snowy and sometimes hail-ridden spring is now a blistering hot summer. It’s the kind of hot that Environment Canada warns about. The kind of hot that makes you dread leaving the air conditioned coolness of home. But it’s also the kind of hot that makes the idea of a swim the best idea you’ll hear all day. In the heat of summer, nothing beats a cool, refreshing swim. In Waterloo, residents tend to gravitate

for its forward thinking approach to solving municipal challenges. Technology, one of the key contributors to our global recognition, is no exception. Last month, the Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA) held its 35th annual conference at RIM Park. At this conference, the City of Waterloo was presented with the Excellence in Municipal Systems Award for its mobile application PingStreet. This is an award for both a municipality and one or more individuals within the municipality who have successfully undertaken a significant initiative or set a new standard that other municipalities may follow. to the Swimplex – the indoor pool located at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex – and for good reason. It’s a fabulous facility complete with waterslide, diving boards, heated pool, and it’s centrally located. But there are other great options to choose from, all of which give residents an opportunity to cool down in the great outdoors. Moses Springer outdoor pool, located at 150 Lincoln Rd., is a popular place to cool off in the summer. Equipped with two waterslides, change rooms and both a shallow and deep end, this pool welcomes about 17,000 swimmers between June and September. Visitors often stay to enjoy the nearby park and picnic facility to make it a great summer day trip.

The idea for PingStreet was conceived by the citizens of Waterloo during the public engagement process for the city’s new website project. PingStreet was developed by eSolutions and is a first-of-its-kind mobile application specifically designed to facilitate seamless, daily interactions between citizens and multi-level government. It’s available on BlackBerry, Android and Apple devices and provides users with real-time access to everything from garbage days, to reporting a problem, to contacting elected officials and more. The Region of Waterloo is currently working with eSolutions to add information such as hospital wait times, bus schedules and more. If you haven’t already, I encourage

you to download PingStreet and see for yourself the power of technology, collaboration and innovation. When people come together to share ideas, amazing things happen. I am so proud to live in a community where this type of collaboration happens every day. I can only imagine what the future will bring!

waterfalls, ground sprays and water cannons, not to mention nearby playgrounds and picnic areas – and now free admission – Lions Lagoon has long been a favourite destination to beat the summer heat. You can find information about this venue at waterloo.ca/lionslagoon As you plan your summer, be sure to include a trip to a local outdoor pool or our community splash pad for lots of cool, refreshing fun! For more information, including swim times and rates, visit our website at waterloo.ca/swim

And what about Lions Lagoon? With interactive splash elements,

A Message From City of Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran ... It’s summer time! School is out and vacation time is in.

out to watch the event, which generated $20 million in revenue for our local economy. This year’s event promises to be just as exciting! For details about this event visit manulifeclassic.ca

I love spending time outdoors with family and friends enjoying the gorgeous summer weather. Probably the first event on our calendar that marks the beginning of summer is Canada Day! This year our great country turned 146 years old; I hope you enjoyed the day and made time to celebrate the beauty, strength and opportunity Canada offers to us all.

Another highlight of the summer is the Sun Life Financial UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival, which runs from July 19 to July 21 in the Waterloo City Centre parking lot, rain or shine. Visit uptownwaterloojazz.ca for more information. Remember to arrive early – this festival always draws large crowds!

I am delighted that the City of Waterloo will welcome the 2013 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic to Waterloo for the second year in a row. This world-class event takes place July 10 to 14 at Grey Silo Golf Course. Last year’s inaugural event truly shone an international spotlight on our city. About 66,000 people came

There are so many exciting events taking place in Waterloo this summer. Please visit our website at waterloo. ca as well as our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube pages and our blog, for up-to-date information on the events taking place in this vibrant community. Enjoy your summer!

Visit us online and join in the conversation at

/citywaterloo

The City of Waterloo is committed to providing accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities. If another format would work better for you, please contact:

P. 519.886.1550

E. communications@waterloo.ca

TTY. 1.866.786.3941

www.waterloo.ca

NEWS

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

CLIMATE GAME CHANGERS Our Horizon plans to put responsibility in your hands

Our Horizon founder Rob Shirkey hopes that warnings like these can be placed on gas nozzles across Canada with the assistance of municipal councils. • PHOTOS COURTESY OUR HORIZONS

HG WATSON CCE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

n a muggy June day, founder of environmental rights group Our Horzion Rob Shirkey and his Chief of Operations Kai Reimer-Watts are in Waterloo trying to drum up support for their first official campaign. They show off a prop gasoline nozzle. Attached to the handle is a warning, not dissimilar to the ones you would find on cigarette pack. “Use of this fuel product contributes to climate change which may put up to 30 per cent of species at a likely risk of extinction.” The picture is an infant caribou following its mother. “This connects cause and effect right at the point of purchase,” Reimer-Watts explained. He and his group are attempting to get people to understand that their actions do have an impact on global warming, even if they might not see those impacts first hand.

Shirkey and Reimer-Watts believe that with enough local pressure, residents of cities and towns across Canada — and even the world — can pressure their city councillors to enact bylaws that would require all gas stations to put the warning labels on the pumps. One of Our Horizon’s projects is actually creating a massive world wide data base of government officials that locals can voice their concerns too. “The flavour generally is to think globally and act municipally,” said Shirkey. “Our organization empowers citizens and communities to change the world.” The pair came to Waterloo hoping that the inventiveness that has defined the Region’s approach to technology and academia would also define its approach to environmental issues. “Waterloo is about innovation,” said Shirkey. “It’s about being bold and taking risks.” Shirkey got the idea for gas pump label warnings in part from the successful use of

pictorial cigarette warning labels in deterring smoking use. Canada was the first country to use pictures in cigarette warning labels, a decision defended by the Supreme Court Court of Canada on the basis of public health. Shirkey believes the same justification could be used to defend the gasoline warning signs. “This is perhaps the most compelling public health issue of all time,” he said. Shirkey’s background has been helpful in promoting his cause. He was working as a dissatisfied lawyer in Toronto, fitting in advocacy work in between his case load. One day, his grandfather called him. “He sensed I was not all that happy at work,” recalled Shirkey. “His last words to me were ‘do what you love.’” Two weeks later his grandfather passed away. It was the push Shirkey needed to end his legal practice and start Our Horizon. Today his legal research concerns saving the earth. He hopes that this campaign will

be the precursor to larger campaigns that will encourage governments to adopt programs like carbon taxes. But for the Our Horzion team, today is all about convincing one person at a time that change is possible. “The image and text [of the warning]...takes that far away consequence - extinction, famine, drought - and brings it into the here and now,” said Shirkey. And if it gets another person to consider buying a hybrid car, cycle to work or use mass transit, Our Horizon considers it a boon to their overall cause. Without actions like those, Shirkey fears it may be too late. “Until humanity takes a good honest look at what we’re up against, recognizes that we’re all a part of this, what hope do we have in actually addressing climate change?”

It’s a combination of bus and bike.

Bus pass, but lately I’ve been buying strip passes.

I drove.

Ryan Voisin Problem solver at a design innovation ﬁrm

Mary Ferguson Student

You can learn more about Our Horizon at ourhorizon.org

Vocal Cord How do you get to work everyday?

Doug Varley Works in marketing

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

civic space DRINKING THE HARD STUFF Does Waterloo Region need a water pipeline to get softer lake water? MARK SHIFFER CCE CONTRIBUTOR

very time I lift a 20 kg bag of water softener salt pellets and carry it to the basement, I’m faced with the reality that Waterloo Region has harder water than most other large population centres in Ontario. This is because our water comes mostly from underground sources as well as from the Grand River. The Region is again looking at long-term plans for water. There are two solutions: to improve efficiency and conservation and to eventually build a pipeline from Lake Erie. Construction of a pipeline to Waterloo Region has been under consideration for a long time, but has not yet become reality. Lake Huron was once the Region’s favoured source for lake water. However, since a Great Lakes agreement was reached between Canada and the United States, Lake Erie has become the only possibility. This may be a difficult solution as it’s a relatively shallow body of water and subject to problems like pollution. The good news is that the Region’s water conservation efforts have been a big success. It is estimated that Waterloo Region is currently using 209 litres per capita per day compared to an average 291 in Canada and 260 in Ontario. Due to our limited water supply, local government has been strongly pushing conservation for many years. I dropped by a water symposium in Cambridge and discussed the potential pipeline with Bob Burtt, a writer with a particular interest and expertise in water issues. He firmly believes that, with further efforts, Waterloo

LENA YANG GRAPHICS DESIGNER

Region will never need to access lake water. Burtt suggests that consumption can reasonably be dropped to 137 litres per capita per day within the next 35 years. He claims it has already been done in parts of Europe. Even with rapid population growth, Burtt believes that emerging technologies and practices can continue to cut water use. Waterloo Region is addressing conservation in various ways. There are incentives for lower flow toilets, faucets and showerheads. Rain barrel distribution harnesses rainwater. An outdoor water use bylaw is in effect

ST OF E B

As I hoist that heavy softener pellet bag, part of me wishes that we already had access to softer lake water. It would certainly be gentler on our pipes and our backs. Mostly, though, I am impressed that water use is decreasing and that Waterloo Region is showing leadership and progress in conservation. With further efforts and new technologies we can ensure an abundant and stable supply of local water for many decades.

Where’s your favourite place to:

LO O RE

during the summer months, limiting watering to once a week. All of these measures have helped reduce demand significantly. Water conservation policies and practices seem to have deferred the need to build a pipeline in the short term. It is likely that construction can be delayed until decades after 2035, the date once thought to be when a lake water connection would be required. Environmental groups are hopeful that a pipeline, with its estimated cost of over $1 billion, will never need to be built.

Take a second date? Eat a hamburger? Go for a bike ride? Buy sex toys?

Voting begins July 10 @ community.thecord.ca

See the results in September

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

FEATURE

ALL ABOARD!

How the Cord Community Edition organized a massive, moving train party and lived to tell the tale

A Steel Rails 2013 guest enjoys the view from the train at Waterloo Central Station. • NICK LACHANCE CCE CONTRIBUTOR

It’s about 10 p.m. on June 21st and I’m surrounded by people singing Journey songs on a moving train somewhere between St. Jacobs and Waterloo. I’ve had less than eight hours sleep in the last 48 hours, and somehow, I have completely forgotten to eat a thing even though I managed to grab a few extra beers in between running up and down the train innumerable times. I’m looking desperately for all of my “security” people – no one knows in about five minutes, they all have to jump off the train – and can’t find three of them. “How did I get here?” I asked myself. It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times since, just three months ago, Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications formally took over the planning of Steel Rails. Of course, I had heard of Steel Rails. An epic party on a train where everything can and likely will happen. I was looking forward to going. But planning a party for almost 300 people is another thing altogether. My first introduction to Steel Rails was through Hilary Abel. I met Hilary in a long series of what I can’t help but think of as “professional dates” — meetings with other professionals meant to strengthen community ties and figure out how they could work with the CCE. I can’t remember who approached who, but we finally met in December 2012. Hilary spent almost the whole meeting jotitng down notes of names of more people she wanted to

connect me with — a born planner. But it was when Hilary casually mentioned that she was considering passing the Steel Rails event to someone else that I struggled to keep my eyebrows from shooting to the top of my forehead. The next day my publisher, Bryn Ossington, had the same reaction. For us — a brand new publication trying to engage with the community - this was an opportunity unlike any others. People would associate the CCE and WLUSP with an extraordinary event and, with any luck, stop confusing us with the student paper. It would take some months of convincing our own organization it was the right move, and gaining the trust of Hilary and Paul McGough, her co-organizer, before the decision was made. But in late March we finally got the go ahead. To use a train pun, it was full steam ahead — and all of a sudden, what was just a really cool idea got very real. Hilary told Bryn and I early in the process that things would go wrong and it was ok, because no one who ever got on the train would know how it originally was supposed to be. I would repeat that advice over and over as we got closer to June 21st. Truth be told, the Steel Rails that guests got on was very different than the one we planned. Some things — like the idea of building a giant Community-esque pillow fort in the shop — were killed early just

Plus: Just who were those mystery men? And what could be in store for Steel Rails 2014?

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JULY 2013

STEEL RAILS 2013

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

Continued from page 9 >>

because of cost and scale. We had interested artists circle the project and decide they didn’t want to do it. We had one confirmed performer drop out at the last minute due to an accident (we won’t tell you who because you might end up seeing them next year). But it came together, largely in part to the absolutely awe inspiring effort of the artists and volunteers who worked on putting the event together. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths people will go to when you simply ask for their help. Charlotte Armstrong — who was on the train with the Nerd Nite KW crew — came through for us multiple times, providing electronic equipment, actors and often a much needed moral boost. KDUB.ca’s Dan Lauckner only had to hear the words “party on a train” and was 100 per cent in. In fact, he’s already started brainstorming ideas for the next train. The entire staff of the Waterloo Central Railway, who catered to every crazy whim we had (“People are going to get pulled off the train in the middle of no where? Sure!”), were amazing. And of course Hilary and Paul, who were full of ideas and did a lot of much needed hand holding when things did go pear shaped. One of the reasons Bryn and I knew WLUSP could take on this event was because we have some of the most kick ass volunteers to ever give up their precious time. Every single department — The Cord, Radio Laurier, Blueprint, and more — helped with everything from advertising, to set up to the incredibly thankless task of cleaning up the train (don’t worry we will be thanking them with a party of their own soon). And then there was WLUSP’s leadership, who approved taking over Steel Rails as one of their very first acts as a board and then did everything from work the door to being our transportation for the night. That amount of faith in an event is very humbling. So it was with this show of awesomeness behind us that we opened the gates to the first ever WLUSP-run Steel Rail Sessions. As people kept getting on the train, I was indeed asking myself “how did I get here?” But it was more from the shock that this was actually all happening. I worried about things going wrong, but as the train was moving and people started enjoying snow cones and food, it was clear I didn’t need to worry that much. I even managed to take a little time to enjoy some of the acts. Until of course, something went wrong. It’s about 10:45 p.m. now and I’m standing with Conductor Ross as the train slows in Waterloo Park. “Two cars to go,” he radios the driver. I’m counting four security guards - I need seven. “One car to go,” says Ross. The train is getting slower. And all of a sudden there they are! I am all relief in this moment. On cue, all seven pile out of the train and run off with their flashlights. I’m now waiting for the big finish — one of the largest you can buy — to go off in front of me. That’s when I hear a bang behind me and I, along with everyone else, run to the otherside of the train. The firework got set up on the wrong side of the train— but like Hilary said, no one knows that. Around me people “ooh” and “ahh” and I get caught in a moment even I wasn’t expecting. See you next year. -H.G. Watson

TOP: A hula hooper shows off her skills in KDUB.ca’s Playhouse car. MIDDLE: Physicist Ben Criger a questions in Nerd Nite KW’s car. Bottom: Mental Floss Sideshow performs to the crowd at the train shop in St. Jacobs. • TOP/MIDDLE NICK LACHANCE CCE CONTRIBUTOR, BOTTOM SAM BROOK CONTRIB

• ALL PHOTOS BY SAM BROOKS, NICK LACHANCE AND KATE TURNER, CCE CONTRIBUTORS

CCE EXCLUSIVE

P O T

T E R

DE VI AT

C E S

ALU M

Top secret documents obtained by reporters detailing the activities of security on Steel Rails 2013

JULY 2013

answers n workKS CCE BUTOR

STEEL RAILS 2013

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

TO: D.B. Cooper 123 Street Washington, D.C. 12345 D - Reference to our conversation today. I am sending you by secure courier pictures to confirm the successful capture and detention of Hilary Abel, Paul McGough and Miroki Tong. Agents confirm subjects were aware of the Organization. At approx. 19:45 EST Agents entered the train and detained the three subjects. Onlookers believed they were a part of some stunt as part of the train ride party they were on. Agents confirm that no one is aware of the Organization or its objectives. Hilary Abel, Paul McGough and Miroki Tong were placed in a accelerated version of the “X” program (see enclosed documents relating to successful tests on previous subjects — unlikely to have a repeat of the 1986 event). Three subjects are confirmed to have no memory of the event or the Organization. We will continue to monitor them, and the witnesses, to ensure that the aims remain top secret. If subjects relapse, will explore elimination options. - W

STEEL RAILS 2013

JULY 2013

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

TOP: A Theatre Brouhaha volunteer collects secrets in exchange for lines in a play. BOTTOM: The grand finale as seen from outside the train. • NICK LACHANCE CCE CONTRIBUTOR

We asked passengers: What do you want to see on Steel Rails 2014? Their answers:

Pirates.

More music.

Klingon security guards.

Ministry of Silly Walks.

Splatter paint room with foam.

Fans (the kind that blow air).

Smiling people.

Quirky name tags.

A circus.

Live elephant & tiger.

Coffee.

An entire car dedicated to actor Nicholas Cage.

You’ll have to come next year to find out what surprises are in store.

BTW, we also asked where the weirdest place you’ve had sex in K-W is. You all said the train.

Till next time, bon voyage!

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

URBAN EXPLORING

HELPING HAND(STAND)

Kitchener’s Queen Street Yoga believes in living by your mantra JILL KOLB CCE CONTRIBUTOR

ell-known local yoga studio Queen Street Yoga has a new vibe, thanks to a new team who recently took over the business. Located on Queen St. in Kitchener, just south of King St., this small business is sharing its vision of a more cohesive and compassionate community by facilitating it inside and outside the studio. Situated on the top floor of a three story walk-up, a recently renovated entryway welcomes practitioners and yogi enthusiasts to Queen Street Yoga. The studio has a calming yet electric energy. Honey coloured hardwood floors, random bursts of colour and large windows add to the openness of the space and sets the tone for a conversation with new owner Leena Miller and manager Emma Dines. “We lived together at Conrad Grebel University College [at the University of Waterloo],” said Dines. Early in their meeting, drawn together by living circumstances and a mutual connection to yoga, they realized they both had entrepreneurial aspirations. “I thought of owning a studio for a while,” Miller explained. Dines, excitedly added, “When I was going through my teacher training,…we were in Elora and we had been talking about owning a yoga studio for a while, we found this Ganesh door handle and said ‘this will be the door handle of our studio.’” The same one now hangs in the front foyer of the studio greeting practitioners as they enter. Miller, originally from Goshen, Indiana, moved to Kitchener-Waterloo to complete university and started teaching at Queen Street Yoga in 2010. Dines, is a Toronto native and began teaching at the studio in 2011. When the previous owner and founder Meaghan Johnson decided to move on from the studio to pursue further education, Miller found herself in a position to purchase the studio. “Effectively, I bought us jobs,” Miller said. “But how do you put a value on a business, when someone has worked on it for the past seven years? It holds so much meaning.” Speaking with Miller and Dines it becomes clear that they do not consider Queen Street Yoga a ‘traditional’ business venture. “A core thing about the business exchange process we went through was that we talked a lot about the stewardship and leadership of a community rather than an ownership of a business,” Dines explained. “That is how it makes sense for me to work in the community as if it’s my business.” The work Miller refers to is not only creating yoga classes and workshops, but also workshops and initiatives designed to build community. With a lack of open space to discuss important social issues, like climate change and socio-economic pressures, the

“You don’t have to be rich to do yoga, you don’t have to be a woman to do yoga, you don’t have to be flexible to do yoga... we want to make yoga really accessible to all.”

—Leena Miller, owner of Queen Street Yoga

studio started Queen Street Conversations to provide a neutral and welcoming space for such dialogue to occur. Also, to facilitate the studio’s own community Dines developed a work-trade program where volunteers exchange time for free yoga classes. “Yoga…is fun, physically interesting, internally meaningful and interactive. It is shareable within our common culture,’ Dines said. “We are actively working on reaching out to different communities to say you don’t have to be thin to do yoga, you don’t have to be white to do yoga.” “You don’t have to be rich to do yoga, you don’t have to be a woman to do yoga, you don’t have to be flexible to do yoga…we want to make yoga really accessible to all,” Miller added. With Miller and Dines as owner and manager, Queen Street Yoga is working to provide practitioners with a unique style of yoga in an open space. “I took dance and so I am used to technical instruction,” said Julie Ellis. “The reason why I come here is because it is more technical, rather than memorizing poses, you’re learning how that pose works and what your body is supposed to be doing.” The central location of the studio is another perk. “People who live downtown and work downtown also come here,” Ellis added. Queen Street Yoga has been sponsored by the City of Kitchener to host free ‘Yoga in the Park’ in Victoria Park Wednesdays at noon throughout the summer. Additionally, the studio has recently become a school offering a teaching training program to being in September 2013. For more information check out their website queenstreetyoga.com

A Queen Street Yoga teacher with her class in Victoria Park in Kitchener. • RYAN HUEGLIN PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

JULY 2013

URBAN EXPLORING

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

with Grand River Amazing Race

CCE’s Amanda Chang spoke with Leanne Husk, event coordinator for the Grand River Amazing Race, about how they are putting their own spin on the race. The Woolwich Kin Club will be holding their third annual Grand River Amazing Race at Westmont Rose Campground on July 20. The race this year has a new ‘special forces’ theme with teams consisting of two or three operatives. Each team also chooses an ally charity and raises funds for that organization. “When teams register they choose one of five charities to raise funds for and all of the funds that they raise go directly to that charity. The more money they raise the more race advantages they can achieve,” Leanne Husk explains. Teams must raise at least $150 to race. After that there are five pledge levels that come with race advantages for each team. Teams that raise $300 get access to a canoe, which is beneficial during the race. “[The canoe] is extremely important. Maybe more so this year than any other year,” Husk said. Other race advantages include a full map and even a race ‘butler’. These perks encourage teams to raise more funds and help the race reach its goal of $60,000. The five charities partnering with the race this year are the Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Woolwich Community Services, Parents for Community Living, Skate Elmira and the Kissing Bridge Trailway Association. Husk was quite secretive when asked for specifics about any of the challenges teams may face. “Everything about the race is contained within the race crew because it mirrors the actual TV show. Teams show up, they get their first clue that takes them to their first location,

at that location they have to complete a challenge and once they do they get their next clue,” Husk said. Teams have until July 17 at midnight to register and raise as much money as possible. The top five fundraisers will then get to choose one of five prizes. The prizes include: access to a trailer and hot tub for the weekend of the race, a Blue Jays bus trip for two, a weekend getaway for two at any Vista Hospitality property, a date night for two and Drayton Festival tickets for four. A trophy will be awarded at the end of the race to the team with the fastest natural time and the fastest overall time. The difference between the two is the use of a yield. “Yields are hidden race advantages that you can find along the route. In four locations on the route there will be a carpool sign and within fifty feet of a carpool sign you will find a hidden race advantage. Two of those race advantages are yields and yields allow you to take five minutes off of your time and apply it to any team. So the difference is the natural time is just how quickly they finish the race and the overall time winners are the fastest time after all of the yields have been distributed,” Husk explained. Teams are encouraged to bring family and friends out to Westmont Rose campground for their Family Fun Weekend that will be taking place during the race. Spectators can enjoy some food while participating in the silent auction or enjoying the live entertainment. There are activities for the kids and even a chance to watch teams complete challenges as they wait for the first team to cross the finish line. For more information or to volunteer , visit grandriveramazingrace.ca

GOLF WITH A HEART LPGA tournament brings philanthropy with it

VERONICA NAAS CCE CONTRIBUTOR

Grey Silo golf course will open its gates from July 10 to 14 for the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, bringing an anticipated 66,000 fans and 144 golfers to the annual event. Women’s golf greats like Brittany Lang, Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis are among many pros who will draw crowds at this prestigious event. This year, the extent of community engagement is demonstrated by partnerships with leading local employers like Manulife Financial, BlackBerry and St. Mary’s Hospital. “Manulife is committed to engaging and supporting the local communities in which we have a corporate presence, like Waterloo where nearly 4,000 of our employees reside,” said Marianne Harrison, president and CEO of Manulife Canada. “We believe our active involvement in the community brings a variety of economic, social and charitable benefits to Waterloo Region.” Richard Kuypers, tournament director, echoed that sentiment. “There are many stakeholders that come together to offer a world-class event such as an LPGA event,” he said. “With so many moving parts it is a real accomplishment at the end of the day and a genuine privilege to work so closely and in such unison with each stakeholder.” He values the opportunity to give back to the local community by showcasing all that the Waterloo Region has to offer while such a high-profile event is in town. “Our sponsorship of the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic allows us to give back to the community where our Canadian head office is located in a number of ways,” said Harrison. “An excellent example is the tournament’s charitable partner St. Mary’s General Hospital, which is home to a world-class cardiac care centre.” A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will help establish a new arrhythmia program for heart health at St. Mary’s. “The community has been great to us”, said Kuypers. “We truly believe that the community sees this event as one that puts the region in the global spotlight. Aside from the world-class golf, the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic boasts a family-friendly environment where there is something for every age and any interest level.”

One of the competitors at last years Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. The event draws over 60,000 fans to Waterloo region. • KATE TURNER CCE CONTRIBUTOR

BlackBerry’s Community Program has arranged for a number of engagement opportunities for attendees throughout the week of the tournament with a special invitational junior golf clinic, a welcome area and family fun zone. The public is invited to participate in the revelry, too. BlackBerry will host a family-friendly event on Sunday, July 7 in the Waterloo Town Square. Approximately 1,400 volunteers will ensure a smooth, day-to-day execution of the tournament by assisting with shuttle services, marshalling, scoring, hospitality and much more. Want to be on the green and part of the excitement? Visit manulifeclassic.ca for further event details and ticket information.

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

ARTS AND CULTURE

ALL THAT JAZZ The Sun Life Financial Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival returns for its 21st birthday party

Last year’s jazz festival attracted over 30,000 guests to uptown Waterloo. This year boasts international and local talent. • ALL PHOTOS COURTESY WATERLOO JAZZ FESTIVAL

KEVIN DELANEY CCE CONTRIBUTOR

his July marks 21 years of free jazz in Waterloo as the Sun Life Financial returns, running July 19 to 21. The annual event is hosted by the Uptown Waterloo BIA and is one of the longest-running jazz festivals in Canada, not to mention one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the country with over 35,000 people expected to attend. The festival is a three-day extravaganza with artists performing on two stages. But its origin was a humble one. “It used to be called Jazzinʼ It Uptown,” says Patti Brooks, the executive director of the Uptown Waterloo BIA and the vice-chair and artistic/media director of the Jazz Festival. “What the marketing team back in the day did was hire musicians to play jazz on King St., in Uptown Waterloo.” As the festival evolved, so has the calibre of artists who have come to play. This year, all the headliners are Canadian and are all JUNO nominees. Friday night is R&B singer and multi-instrumentalist Ivana Santilli; Saturday, itʼs jazz crooner Matt Dusk; and Sunday is Vancouver-based party orchestra Five Alarm Funk. Filling out the ranks of performers will be a host of musicians and bands from the K-W area, a deliberate choice on the part of organizers. “Tim Lewis is a good example. He has recorded all over the world and he is a local,” says Brooks. “We have an incredible wealth of talent here in K-W.” The BIA also seeks to involve local musicians and the entire K-W community through jazz workshops and clinics. “We started that four years ago and it has been incredibly successful,” says Brooks. “We’re very excited to have Jackie Clue doing that for us this year and we’ve engaged some of the performers that are actually playing at the festival to do some of the teaching in a few of our adult workshops.” The clinics are held at The Jazz Room and are free of charge. The entire festival is free of charge, something Brooks says is made possible by the 100 people who volunteer for the festival. “Well over 70 per cent of our volunteer base has been with us for 15 years. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t have this.”

We got to know three of the musicians playing this year’s festival: the rookie, the veteran and the funk masters

ALLISON AU QUARTET Satellite Stage, Friday July 19, 3 p.m.

IVANA SANTILLI Main Stage, Friday July 19, 9 p.m.

For those interested in hearing the rising stars of the Jazz world, the Allison Au Quartet is a must-see. Au, a Toronto native in her late twenties, is a talented saxophonist, flautist, composer and arranger. The Quartet, rounded out by Todd Pentrey on piano, Jon Maharaj on bass and Fabio Ragnelli on drums, has been playing together since late 2009 and they have been turning heads on the jazz circuit in Toronto. Not lacking in accolades, they were the recipient of the TD Jazz Fellowship Scholarship in 2011 and the Alfred and Phyllis Balm Scholarship in 2012. The Quartet’s debut album, The Sky was Pale Blue, Then Grey, was a 2013 JUNO nominee for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year. “I’ve been trying to create a sound that sounds different,” said Au. “But obviously the influences of the people I listen to are there. Iʼm very much influenced by John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and Charlie Parker. These guys who I will eternally look up to.”

Au is a graduate of the Humber School of Music, but she got her first taste of jazz at a young age. “The first thing that drew me to jazz specifically was hearing Ella Fitzgerald sing,” she said. Her desire to play saxophone came from someone far closer to home. “The band teacher [I had in elementary school] happened to be a female who also played saxophone on the side. I was really inspired. I think she was the earliest role model I can remember because I had never heard a girl play saxophone.” Au has taken that inspiration and crafted it into a unique brand of jazz that has its roots in the traditions of the genre, but has been shaped by the modern musical climate. “There are so many other things that come into play. And I wonder too if its because my generation is so heavily raised on the iPod. All those different songs in rotation if you push shuffle. I’ll hear certain harmonies and think ‘that sounds pretty cool, maybe I’ll try to see what I can do with this sound.’”

It would be understandable if Ivana Santilli was content to live in the past; the Toronto native has had an impressive ten years to say the least. Her first band, Base is Bass, earned a Juno in 1995 for their blend of funk and pop. Since parting ways in 1999, Santilli has released four solo albums to critical acclaim, played internationally from London to Tokyo and toured with big acts like James Brown, Tito Puente, De La Soul and The Roots. Instead, the multi-instrumentalist has her eyes firmly set on the future. “This is an exciting time for anyone who survived the last ten years in the music industry,” says Santilli. “The openness, the possibilities. This is the time to test yourself. It’s the dawn of a new era.” These words ring especially true for Santilli because her new album, Late Night Light, is slated for release on September 10. As an artist, she has never been afraid to experiment, exploring genres as diverse as soul and jazzanova — even playing drum and bass. Late Night Light continues down this path

of musical adventurousness as Santilli builds on her influences and her past, connecting them to modern elements and sensibilities. “The new record fits into now, but it doesn’t get stuck.” Part of the timelessness that Santilli strives to achieve comes from the soul-baring lyrics she is known for, something she attributes to her desire to speak truthfully through her music. “Really good songs have to be true,” said Santilli. “They have to be well translated, and they have to be a truth that people can relate too.” It’s no wonder, then, that Santilli draws inspiration from her own experiences. “This record is about getting back to my relationship with life, and where I’m at now as a grown woman,” she said. “People often ask ‘why are you still doing what you’re doing?’ Why do people put an expiry date on women in the music business like that? I encounter it a lot.” Continued on page 16 >>

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ARTS AND CULTURE

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

Continued from page 15 >>

FIVE ALARM FUNK Main Stage, Sunday July 21, 3 p.m. At first glance, Five Alarm Funk seems an odd choice for a jazz festival. The ten-piece ensemble — comprised of a four-piece horn section, a three-piece rhythm section and a three-piece guitar section — play a riotous stew of rock ‘n’ roll tinged funk and soul, with added elements of latin and afro-beat thrown in for good measure. All doubts will be laid to rest as soon as the band triumphantly take the stage, however, as their live show is a spectacle of top-notch musicianship and tightly choreographed dance moves. “The thing about our show is we put as much energy and as much fun as we can into it,” said drummer, vocalist and founding member Tayo Branston. The self-proclaimed

champions of the Vancouver party-funk orchestra scene have been playing the west coast for almost a decade now, but have built up a rabid cult following nationwide during three summers of Canada-wide touring. Even the mainstream music industry has begun to take notice. Five Alarm Funk’s last album, Rock the Sky, earned a 2013 Juno nomination for Best Instrumental Album, as well as a 2013 West Coast Music Award nomination in the same category. Accolades aside, Five Alarm Funk are only just getting started. Already they have songs ready to go for their next album, although they donʼt plan on releasing it until spring 2014. “We do our stuff backwards,” said Branston. “We write all of our songs for the next album, then we tour all those songs, get them super tight with the band, and then we will go into the studio once we are done touring.” This means that the band has a whole album of new material that fans will only be able to experience through the live show, although Five Alarm Funk have released the ﬁrst song from the album, “We All Scream,” as a video to drum up excitement for this summer’s tour. As for the album itself? “It’s a concept album that we’ve written,” says Branston. “Basically it’s Five Alarm Funk gets into an altercation with a deranged ice cream man who taints his ice cream formula with psychoactive substances. It’s a wild freak out of a story. It’s going to be one hell of an album when it is dropped.”

Local authors Katherine Anthony and Vanessa Ricci-Thode went with e-books to publish their novels. • COURTESY KATHERINE ANTHONY AND VANESSA RICCI-THODE

EBOOK WORMS TANISHKA KUNDU CCE CONTRIBUTOR

hree rows of wooden chairs have been strategically placed in front of the platform at the back-end of the Queen Street Commons Cafe. A community of writers, friends and family alike have come out to the reading of Katherine Anthony and Vanessa Ricci-Thode’s new books, published respectively by the home grown publishing house Crow Girl Publishing and Iguana Books. Konstantin’s Gifts is not Anthony’s first book. She has written a variety of fantasy novels and runs Crow Girl Publishing. Her book is set in 19th century Russia, where serfdom was a dominant feature of the social fabric. In the book however, the Russian countryside is transformed into a land of vampires, werewolves and rusalkas (a combination of nymph and siren). It is a country where not only men and women, but souls are owned. When asked about what got her interested in the issue of serfdom, Anthony tells us “It’s an issue that fascinates me. [By] Studying the law and human rights, and the idea that at one point, people could be owned & reading accounts of 19th century serfs. Konstantin and Sveta [characters in the book] were based on accounts by a house serf.” Meanwhile, Ricci-Thode’s is a first time published author with Dragon Whisperer. The book’s main character, Dionelle, is a girl immune to fire. Just after her wedding, the regents of her land decide to give her the job of dragon whisperer when the previous one dies in a bar brawl. Caught between her monarchs, dragons and the complications

of a new marriage, it is a tale of balance and harmony. Dragon Whisperer won’t be the last book from Ricci-Thode however. Publisher at Iguana Books, Greg Ioannou gives us a heads up. Ricci-Thode has written over ten books, all of which are lined up for publishing. Both books were written during the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), November 2009. NaNoWriMo is a challenge to all writers everywhere. They have to write a novel in a month. It also serves as a hub for writers and opens them up to a community that offers support and tips on how to write a novel. After many revisions and a lot of editing, the books have been printed out and are lined up to a small table to the right of the stage. Although they are big fans of E-publishing, some hard copies have been bought out for the reading. They are on sale, and for the signing. Jessica Cowan, editor-by-night and one of the many people who helped in the writing of the books. “I’m really excited. I helped with this book, and my name is on the back,” Cowan said. “I’ve been waiting for it to come out. Vanessa’s done such a great job.” The reading goes well. Where Anthony reads with a clear diction about the enchanting song of the rusalka meant to possess the human mind, Ricci-Thode reads to us about Dionelle’s frustration with the nobels’ stupidity about the dragons. As the lights dim, the audience grabs copies of the new books. With new technology, it is much easier to be a published author. As writers, both Anthony and Ricci-Thode are very excited to have more people being able to read their books and we, as audience, are awaiting more of them.

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

ARTS AND CULTURE

BLUES MAN

JULY 2013

The well-traveled life of musician Shawn Kellerman

Shawn Kellerman playing live in Berlin. • COURTESY SHAWN KELLERMAN

BOB EGAN CCE CONTRIBUTOR

ocal blues guitarist Shawn Kellerman’s upcoming birthday will be special. He will be playing in Cognac, France at the Hennessy Mansion, owned by the high-end cognac company that is part of the Louis Vuitton conglomerate. How does a Waterloo bluesman achieve such a high-status gig? “I never stop learning and I am always up for a new challenge,” said Kellerman over a coffee recently. Indeed, one look at this young man’s career and you see a textbook example of how hard work, challenge and growth leads to success. It started when he was 15 and playing in a blues band with his father and stepmother. “It was cool because the other musicians were older and I could learn so much from them.” After high school he was booked three to five nights a week and his course was set. When Kellerman was 18, the legendary Mel Brown moved to town and became a mentor. “I played rhythm guitar for Mel

until I was 22 and it was like going to college for the blues,” Kellerman reminisced. “Mel played guitar like he was having a conversation. He taught me that the feel was the secret sauce. He really looked out for me.” His time with Mel served him well when in 1997, Shawn moved to Mississippi to tour and record with African American soul and blues king, soul singer Bobby Rush. Bobby was the consummate showman and demanded discipline from his players. “When he pointed at you, you had to step up huge and give it all you got. Then you had to get out of the way.” After three years of relentless touring in the south, Ontario beckoned and Kellerman returned to work with fellow Canadians like Michael Pickett, Paul Reddick and Carlos Del Junco. It opened yet another door and learning opportunity for him. “These guys were into more acousticbased roots, jazz and country blues. That was a big switch from the electric blues I played with Mel and the soul I played with Bobby.” Once again, his time in K-W served him well. He returned to Mississippi with his

newly acquired roots style and convinced Bobby Rush to record his multiple awardwinning record Raw. “That was just me and Bobby with two microphones and a laptop in his house. I had to convince him to go back to his roots for this record but it sure worked out well.” In 2007, Kellerman struck out on his own and began touring relentlessly, up to 180 nights a year. He was a well-known sideman but had to prove himself all over again as a solo artist. “It was like starting at ground zero.” This pace took its toll and after a grueling seven-week European tour in 2011, Kellerman stepped away from the music business to regroup.

“I wasn’t growing and I was in a rut.” He put down the guitar and focused on carpentry work and house building for a year to ground himself. Then fate intervened. His first mentor, his father, passed away and two months later he received the call from internationally renowned Lucky Peterson to join his band. He has been back on the road with a new passion ever since. Now Kellerman will represent the blues tradition of K-W at the mansion of high society in France. It has been one heck of a journey but Shawn’s passion for continual learning suggests that his journey is far from over.

JULY 2013

ARTS AND CULTURE

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

REVIEWS

ECHOES OF THE NORTH

Marie A. Côté’s work is heavily influenced by her time working in the Arctic • HG WATSON CCE EDITOR -IN-CHIEF

Marie A. Côté could not have picked a more perfect place than The Clay and Glass to display her exhibit Of Vessels and Voices. The cavernous gallery space is made for the echoing Inuit throat singers that provide the soundtrack as you wander by Côté’s stark white pottery. Côté produced much of the exhibition while spending a summer in Inukjuak, Nunavik. The clay for some of her paintings that also feature in the exhibit come from the shores of Hudson’s Bay — a creative

touch that gives you a tangible connection to the place she created her work. In one deceivingly simple looking piece, she uses clay to recreate the vast and bleak Arctic horizon. Though well over 15 ft. long, the piece seems small at first glance. But as you look at it, you understand what it must be like to stand on the frozen tundra and look at a horizon miles in the distance. You end up feeling very small yourself. “Le Puits” is another piece that immerses the viewer after a short viewing. Several

beautifully made pots are displayed in a room while a soundtrack provided by one of Côté’s fellow artists. The sounds aren’t necessarily identifiable - Côté describes them as “listening through a seashell.” But in this case, as the sound begins to overwhelm the room and interact with the bright white pottery, it almost feels as if it is you who is standing inside a seashell. A good exhibition will transport you. Côté’s takes you to the North, through sound and light. The blinding whiteness of her

pottery is most certainly intentional, but it is not in anyway clinical. The addition of sound — the ambient and the throat singers — ties the work to a place many of us can at the very least begin to imagine even if we’ve never been. Of Vessels and Voices runs at the Clay and Glass (25 Caroline St. N, Waterloo) until Sept. 1. -H.G. Watson

Would people call your music taste ‘esoteric’? Do you spend every night at Princess Cinemas? Blow your allowance at independent bookstores? Do you dance?* Can you string a sentence together? Do you know what ‘esoteric’ means? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, you could be an arts writer for the Cord Community Edition. Email communityeditor@thecord.ca for more information *Dancing is not required for this position.

ARTS AND CULTURE

THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

JULY 2013

MONTHLY EVENTS THIS MONTH WE’RE GOING TO.... MUSIC The Summer of One Love Festival The Summer of One Love Festival is a special event that is inspired by The Bob Marley Exhibition, which presents a look at his influence on music, culture and his use of lyrics to deliver messages on social issues in Jamaica. The festival is an exclusive opportunity to eat, drink, dance and enjoy all things Caribbean. There will be various types of authentic entertainment, including food from Ellison’s Bistro and Rainbow Caribbean cuisine and drinks from Marley Beverage Co. There will be a variety of Caribbean music, including a steel drum band and more. THEMUSEUM, 10 King St. W, Kitchener Adults $14.95, Kids $10.95 July 6 @ 12 p.m.

ARTS 40th International Sketch Crawl by KW Urban Sketchers The 40th International Sketch Crawl by KW Urban Sketchers gives anyone interested in on-location sketching or the general public the opportunity to sketch and interact with other artists. Thousands of urban sketchers will be coming together to tell their stories of their communities with on-location sketching during the all-day event. Attendees will be able to sketch indoors and outdoors at the farmer’s market, shops and cafes along King Street, the Kitchener Library and other locations. The day will end at Bobby O’Brien’s patio tables to give everyone a chance to discuss and share their sketching Nova Era Bakery, 376 King St. E, Kitchener July 13 @ 10 a.m.

COMMUNITY Kitchener Ribfest & Craft Beer Show This summer marks the 10th anniversary of the Downtown Kitchener Ribfest & Craft Beer Show. There will be barbequed ribs and chicken, Ontario craft-brewed beer and live entertainment all throughout the weekend. Although the event is free admission, this is a great chance to give back to the community, as donations to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region will be accepted. The event will be 19+, since there will be 14 breweries with an impressive 50 different brands of beer available to be sampled. Due to the success last year, the Midway operated by Billy G amusements will be back with rides and activities for children. Victoria Park, Kitchener June 19-21, all day –Compiled by Chloe Stanois

JULY 5

Indie Noon Hour Every Friday, Free, 12 p.m. Waterloo Public Square Dinner and Dancing at The Black Forest Inn Black Forest Inn, $10, dinner and dancing every Friday night, 7 p.m.

JULY 6 The Summer of One Love Festival THEMUSEUM, $14.95, 12 p.m. Forbes Park Music Festival Forbes Park, 10 a.m.

JULY 7 Open Mic Sundays with Kyle and Brennan – Molly Blooms, Every Sunday Summer Music Series Waterloo Region Museum, 10 Huron Road Rotating artists Sundays in July & August.

JULY 8 Vinyl Mondays at Marisol Marisol, 6:30 p.m.

JULY 11 Live Music and Food Trucks Thursdays Kitchener City Hall Alysha Brilla CD Release Show Starlight Social Club , $15 ADV, 19+, 7 p.m.

MUSIC

The Gambrel Barn, 7454 Wellington Rd. 21 $60.00.

JULY 19 Allison Au Quartet/Adi Braun Quartet The Jazz Room at the Heuther Hotel, $10.00, 9 p.m. Sun Life Financial UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival Waterloo City Centre, free outdoor jazz music concert featuring world renowned and local jazz artists

JULY 21 Band Concert at The Waterloo Region Museum Waterloo Regional Museum, Kitchener Musical Society Band, family friendly concert

JULY 26-28 The Hillside Festival Guelph Lake, Single Day tickets still available, $45

JULY 27 Steven Page (Presented by the Elora Festival) The Gambrel Barn, Former frontman for Canadian alternative rock music legends, Barenaked Ladies, 7:30-9:30 p.m., $45.00

JULY 12

Call for Artists of Waterloo Region! Submissions for BOX 13 Art Show & Sale Artist Application Date: Friday September 06, 2013; from 6 - 9:00 p.m. Application Location: WalterFedy Office, 675 Queen St. S., Suite 111, Kitchener Information and applications available on-line at www.boxartshow.ca Installation submissions now accepted – new for BOX 13! More artists to be selected for this final November BOX show. BOX 13 Art Show & Sale - November 15, 16, 17, 2013 Event Location: 41A Ardelt Place (Rear), Kitchener - behind Double R Steel Inc. Contact: Cathy Farwell BOX Art General Organizer boxinfo@bell.net 519.504.3277 Twitter: @BOXArtshow FB: www.facebook.com/BoxArtShowSale

Bogdan Frank Black Forest Inn, every Friday night, $10.00 Elora Festival Opening Night – Verdi’s Requiem

ARTS JULY 5 Movies Under The Stars at Shade’s Mills Shades Mill, 450 Avenue Rd., Cambridge Free for season pass holders or day pass holders, 6 people in vehicle can get special fee of $10, every Friday night Ballroom Dancing in the Square 75 King St. Free lesson with an Arthur Murray dance

instructor

JULY 19

JULY 6

Monty Python’s Smash-Hit Musical – Spamalot St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 40 Benjamin Road East , the production runs from July 17

I.R.I.S. Entertainment 5th Year Anniversary Little Bean Coffee Bar, Celebrating the Digital Release of Velvet Rope Magazine 19+ Event, Admission

through August 3

COMMUNITY JULY 5

refreshments served, 1 p.m. 3

Waterloo Region Tacofest – In Support of Meals on Wheels 19+ Event, 10 King St. W., 6 p.m., $25

JULY 8

JULY 6 Cherry Festival Cherry Park, Family event held by the Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association, 11 a.m.6p.m. History Under The Trees Waterloo Region Museum Informal local history stories told under the marquee on the village green with light

Kitchener Community Blood Donor Clinic Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church, 19 Ottawa Street North Donors can call 1-888-2DONATE to book appointment or just drop in during open hours

JUNE 19-21 10th Anniversary of the Downtown Kitchener Ribfest & Craft Beer Show Victoria Park, Kitchener

Free Admission, but accepting donations to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region Friday 5pm-10pm Saturday noon-10pm Sunday noon-6pm

JULY 20 Open Streets Uptown Waterloo King Street, Uptown King Street will have impromptu parks, art alleys, sports demonstrations & etc. for three Sundays and one evening – June 16, July 20, August 18 and September 15th

L O O RE

ST OF E B

Coming in September