THE CORD
News
URBAN EXPLORING
Arts & Culture
Syrian locals share thoughts on crisis
Evil Hans and his plans for alt-Oktoberfest
Boathouse closure rocks music scene
Page 4
Page 7
Page 9
COMMUNITY Waterloo Region’s independent monthly • Vol 2 Issue 1 • October 4, 2013 • community.thecord.ca
WHAT’S NEXT? Blackberry puzzles out a new future amid job cuts and revenue losses hg watson cce editor-in-chief
B
lackBerry recently announced that it has entered into a letter of intent to be sold to a consortium led by Torontobased Fairfax Financial Holdings, after posting a loss of more than $950 million in the fourth quarter. This is just the latest twist in the BlackBerry story. In its prime, the company employed more than 20,000 people and had 80 million subscribers. They were considered one of the biggest Canadian business success stories, but now layoffs and revenue losses have critics wondering if this is the end of the company and Waterloo residents are worried about the potential loss of a major employer in the community. Despite this, there are still signs that point to a positive future for one of the biggest players in Canada’s tech sector. It has left everyone wondering: what’s next for BlackBerry and Waterloo?
A wireless future BlackBerry is most often associated with their handheld smartphone devices. But the company, started by University of Waterloo graduate Mike Lazaridis and University of Windsor graduate Douglas Fregin in 1984, began life as a technology consulting firm called Research in Motion (RIM). Lazaradis had been interested in wireless communications from an early age. In a February 2013 article about RIM, The Verge
reported that Lazaridis was experimenting with transmitting text to televisions with ham radios in high school. It was this interest that eventually led him to focus on wireless technology. The breakthrough for the young company was when they successfully created a system for pagers to send messages to one another — the forerunner of texting and wireless emailing. In the years that followed, Lazaridis and his team would continue to develop their wireless device, introducing a number of small, pager-like devices on the market. It was the premiere of the BlackBerry in 1999 that really got them noticed. Jim Balsillie, who joined the company in 1992, set about getting the phones into the hands of politicians and businesspeople. “Any consumer BlackBerry uses is a spin-off from the initial user,” said Armine Yalnizyan, a senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. “Everybody wanted one so they opened it up to the consumer.” The phones offered something no other telecom company could: a sophisticated way to communicate quickly and securely. It seemed RIM could go nowhere but up — until 2007, that is, when the Apple iPhone debuted. Rather than creating a phone that would eventually trickle down to everyone, Apple created a smartphone that was accessible from the beginning. “[Apple] basically said, ‘[BlackBerry] is for
nerds. Let me give you a cool tool that you can watch video on and take pictures with and have your music on,’” said Yalnizyan. BlackBerry was slow to respond to the new challenges of the iPhone and later the Samsung Galaxy series — so slow that they doomed their own smartphone business, according to some critics. Meanwhile, their attempt to break into the tablet market in 2011 with the Playbook was met with poor reviews. That year, RIM saw the first round of major layoffs. Lazaridis was right to bet on wireless technology — but as it currently stands,
BlackBerry has been muscled out by sleeker, more user-friendly mobile models. In December 2005, BlackBerry held more than 20 per cent of the United States mobile market. In December 2012, it had fallen to about five per cent.
Job losses – now and for the future In Waterloo, the many people who rely on BlackBerry for income have most keenly feel the blow. More than 10,000 employees have Continued on page 6 >>
THE CORD
2 • OCTOBER 2013
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
COMMUNITY
75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 Volume 2, Issue #2 Next issue: November 8, 2013 Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Angela Endicott at 519-884-0710 x3560 angela.taylor@wlusp.com Editor-in-Chief H.G. Watson hwatson@thecord.ca
Arts & Culture Editor Anna Beard abeard@thecord.ca
Publisher Bryn Ossington bryn.ossington@wlusp.com
Graphic Designer Lena Yang lyang@thecord.ca
Cord Editor-in-Chief Justin Smirlies jsmirlies@thecord.ca
Photography Manager Ryan Hueglin rhueglin@thecord.ca
News Editor Lauren Ward lward@thecord
Photography Manager Heather Davidson hdavidson@thecord.ca
Urban Exploring Editor Tegan Thuss tthuss@thecord.ca
Copy Editor Erin O’Neil
CONTRIBUTORS Cristina Almudevar Stacey Jacobs Janine Prew Lindsay Purchase WLUSP administration President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director Director Corporate Secretary Distribution Manager Web Manager
Allison Leonard Bryn Ossington Angela Endicott Tom Paddock Luke Schulz Shelby Blackley Kate Turner Alexandra Abbiento Angela Endicott George Liu
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. 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 The Guelph Mercury. 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. The Cord Community’s title font is Bebas, an open source font created by Dharma fonts (formerly Flat-it).
BlackBerry’s future is uncertain with a sale on the horizon. • KATE TURNER CORD VISUAL DIRECTOR
IN this issue FEATURE What’s next?
Local tech giant Blackberry suffers job cuts and revenue losses. Can it - and the Waterloo technology industry - survive? COVER NEWs
The Cord Community Edition is a member of the Ontario Press Council, an independent organization established to considers ethical concerns and acceptable journalistic practices. For editorial concerns, please contact the Press Council, which can be reached by calling 416-340-1981, by emailing info@ontpress.com or writing to 890 Yonge St., Suite 200, Toronto M4W 3P4. For information on the Press Council, please refer to the web site at ontpress.com.
3 Syrian locals react to the crisis at home 3 Local coalition Better Choices gears up for the 2013 election
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.
URBAN EXPLORING
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 KitchenerWaterloo. 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.
2 The Governor General gets brainy at the Perimeter instute
7 Walk like a zombie! Our guide to dressing up for the October 5 Zombie Walk 7 Evil Hans has a plan to give Oktoberfest back to the people 8 We catch up with Best Bartender winner Bill Thompson 8 Drinking and sex - a potentially dangerous cocktail
ARTS & CULTURE 9 Local musicians react to the closure of Kitchener favourite the Boathouse 10 Watermark filmmakers evaluate how the world uses our most precious resource 11 Listings CORRECTIONS
In the September 13 article “The Best of Waterloo Region”, the name of Best Mexican Restaurant winner Holy Guacamole was incorrectly spelled. In the September 13 article “Accusation”, author David Worsley’s name was incorrectly spelled.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
All letters to the editor can be sent to communityeditor@thecord.ca.
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
NEWS Governor General Kicks off BrainSTEM
OCTOBER 2013 •
3
News beat yCHARGES AFTER WATERLOO STABBING Attempted murder charges have been laid on a 20-year-old Toronto man after an apparent stabbing on September 23, 2013 in the wooded area off of Quiet Place, near Albert Street and Bearinger Road. The man, Yiyin Xie, who is currently recovering in intensive care, is being charged after attacking his estranged 20-year-old girlfriend. Neighbours stated to CTV News that the man was left lying in the forest with stab wounds on his neck and the woman asked someone to call 911. It was determined later that the stab wounds the man received were self-inflicted. The woman has been released from the hospital.
Governor General David Johnston at the Perimeter Institute to promote the BrainSTEM Festival • LINDSAY PURCHASE CCE CONTRIBUTOR
I
t’s not every day that you get to see the inner workings of the brain of the Queen of England’s representative of Canada. However, that’s exactly what happened on September 23 when GoverLINDSAY nor GenPURCHASE eral David CCE CONTRIBUTOR Johnston visited the Perimeter Institute (PI). Johnston took the opportunity to preview mind-control technology that will
be featured, along with a series of other exhibits, in PI’s upcoming BrainSTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Festival. Johnston wore a helmet that reads the brain’s electrical impulses, measuring things like focus and meditative thinking, which were projected onto a TV screen. “The Governor General is just such a good sport, to put on the mind control helmet and to focus and actually jump in and play, and make the dials move using only his brainwaves. How awesome is that?” said Greg Dick, PI’s director for educational outreach. Johnston contacted PI after he read an article about the upcoming
events, hoping to play a part in promoting BrainSTEM. The Festival, which is directed toward youth, aims to showcase the innovations that are made possible by scientific discovery. “The opportunities are really limitless and that’s what we want kids to see,” said Dick He gave the example of a baseball cap that could alert long haul drivers when they were becoming fatigued. It could also be used to evaluate the relationship between focus and progress in student learning, using the technology “to really develop those correlations so that we know how to most appropriately
engage the different learners’ minds.” The educational outreach, he said, has been “transformative in Canada.” The Governor General was also taken through the building and to visit a class in the Perimeter Scholars Program, comprised of students from around the world. “It’s pretty easy?” he said jokingly to one. -Tickets are free for the “Your Future is Now” BrainSTEM Festival, which is happening from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6. Selfguided building tours will be available.
vocal cord We went to King Street and asked:
What do you think the future holds for Blackberry?
“I think within five years the company won’t exist” Doug Kolb, Waterloo Resident
“It’s a really good business phone trying to hit the market elsewhere, when it should stick to what it’s good at.” Victoria Bernard Waterloo Resident
yiXPRESS A SUCCESS Grand River Transit has had to add four more buses to their new 202 iXpress route. Although it has only been in service for a month, the new route has already exceeded its 2016 ridership target by 50 per cent. This surge in ridership is promising for the regions transit plans.
yLAURIER AND UW RECRUIT Waterloo’s two major post-secondary institutions headed to the Ontario Universities’ Fair (OUF) over the September 27 to 29 weekend. Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo participate annually in this educational fair at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Each school had their own booth that are staffed with representatives answering questions about admissions, campus life and more. The OUF draws over 120,000 students, parents and educators over this three-day event.
4 • OCTOBER 2013
NEws // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
“It seemed unshakeable”
Syrians living in Kitchener-Waterloo share thoughts on crisis LINDSAY PURCHASE CCE CONTRIBUTOR
I
t seemed unshakeable.” This was Omar Salaymeh’s impression in 2009, the last time he visited Syria, his home for 12 years before moving to Canada. He was shocked when the revolutionary Arab Spring movement came to Syria, leading to a conflict that has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011. “There was a general sense of fear from the regime, a general resentment to the corruption that was going on, but it was just … that’s the way it’s always been.” Salaymeh, 29, now works at The Tannery in Kitchener. University of Waterloo second-year student Zeina, who declined to give her last name because of security concerns, had a similar impression. She lived in Aleppo, Syria until the end of high school, but has dual Canadian citizenship. “I never thought that there could be a president other than Assad ruling. That wasn’t something to question,” she said. Zeina recalled having to memorize a book of quotes from President Assad in school, something they were required to know with greater precision than even the Qur’an. Comments made by Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil last week suggested that the government would seek a ceasefire, but such action has yet to take place. This comes just over a month after the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in the capital city Damascus, which killed more than 1,000 people. Western governments attributed the attack to the Syrian government, while Russia maintains it may have been rebel forces. Rafah Hawa, a 23-year-old engineering student who currently lives in Damascus, heard news of the attack as it was happening.
• RYAN HUEGLIN PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER
“We heard like strange noise coming from rocket launcher, which is located inside the area that is controlled by the regional forces,” she said. “And awhile after, we heard that hundreds of people had been killed by these chemical attacks.” While she said that sometimes “it’s normal,” and she’s able to go to school, other days are too dangerous. Recently, a mortar shield landed in her neighbourhood, killing six people. “We are afraid for our lives,” Hawa said. The chemical attacks in particular have led to increased discussion among international actors about the possibility of international military action against the Assad regime. While the government and some components of the rebel forces do not support this option, Hawa believes it’s what the average Syrian wants. “Russia isn’t going to stop supplying this region with all kinds of weapons. So unless there is military action into Syria, there is no solution of any kind,” she said. “Force is the only way this regime can be forced to actually sit down at a table and diplomatically
support a solution.” It’s difficult to imagine, however, what a solution might look like. Mass human rights abuses have been committed by the government and rebel forces, and to complicate things further, groups fighting against the government aren’t united under one leadership. “We always said, from day one, the longer this conflict goes on, the more muddy the waters will be and the harder the solution will be afterwards,” Salaymeh said . “I think Assad will go eventually, but I really fear for the one after him.” Zeina used to believe in taking sides. Seeing the atrocities committed by the government fuelled her hatred. But on her most recent trip to Syria, in August, staying in a government-occupied city where posters of martyrs line the streets, she had a change of heart. “I used to say I wish they’d all die, but when I went there and I saw their pictures, they’re all between 20 and 25 years old; in the end, who are they?” she said. “They’re the Syrians who have to serve their army. They are either forced to do that or they believe they are
seriously serving their country.” She continued, “People are dying from both sides and I just wish people could stop thinking, this is the right side and this is the wrong side, because there is no such thing as that.” Living in Canada, Zeina expressed that she feels “blessed,” but struggles with being safe in Canada while her family remains in Syria. “I can’t, for example, go to the cinema. It makes me feel so bad. Or anything, just to do something for fun. It’s out of the question,” she said. One of the main impacts of the conflict on Syrians, including Zeina’s family, is mass displacement. More than 2 million Syrian refugees have been recorded internationally, with an additional 4.5 million internally displaced people. She believes that Canadians should pressure their government to accept more refugees. As for Hawa, she has a simple request for Canadians when dealing with people who have been forced to flee their own nation: “Please be kind to us in your country.”
A better choice for k-w Local coalition gears up for the 2014 municipal elections
I
n the gym at the Rockaway Centre in Kitchener – normally reserved for recreation for senior citizens – about 50 people gathered on a September evening for a very different activity. They were trying to decide what issues and which candidates might shape the 2014 municipal elections in Waterloo Region. The gathering was part of an initiative called Better Choices Waterloo Region, spurred H.G. Watson by the local labour CCE Editor-inchief council. The group is part of the Canadian Labour Congress’ (CLC) nationwide Municipalities Matter campaign. The campaign, which identifies and endorses a slate of progressive candidates in municipal elections, was created to help guide CLC members’ votes.
“We have 3.2 million members across Canada and they all live and work in cities and communities,” explained Gogi Bhandal, a CLC Ontario regional representative. “Our members are consumers of the growing list of municipal services, therefore local politics is equally important as the provincial and federal.” While originally conceived to support candidates friendly to labour issues, the CLC and its regional partners realized that by creating partnerships with like-minded community organizations, they could reach a larger number of progressive individuals. Marc Xuereb, president of the Waterloo Regional Labour Council and one of the organizers of the Better Choices campaign, explained that coalition-building in the region will make their campaign stronger. “These candidates are not only people that union leaders thought were good candidates, but that people in the community that are from all kind of different walks of life
[selected them]…that will have more resonance,” Xuereb said. The meeting at Rockaway Centre was the second of two local gatherings; the first took place in Cambridge a few nights earlier. Attendance at both exceeded organizers’ expectations, with about 50 people attending the Kitchener meeting. The interests represented were diverse, including people concerned about transportation, poverty, disability and accessibility, LGBTQ issues, and social planning, as well as a healthy sprinkling of representatives from local union chapters. At one point, participants were asked to put together a list of issues that matter to them. Everything from better passenger train service to admirable personality traits was mentioned. “Are they Mayor Nenshi?” asked one woman, noting that she hoped Better Choices could find representatives that inspire as much confidence as Calgary’s mayor. In the coming weeks, Better Choices hopes
to assemble a team that will identify the positions at the various municipal councils and school boards that could be challenged by their progressive candidates. A great deal of planning will go into choosing the best races to run candidates. “We want to have a good shot at having municipal issues passed that we believe are progressive,” said Bobbi Stewart, another one of the organizers behind the Better Choices campaign. People that want to run under the Better Choices banner will be able to use their branding and access candidate training through the CLC. The campaign has proved successful in the past across Ontario, with just over 70 per cent of endorsed candidates – including school board trustees – elected in 2010. The campaign plans to announce their slate of candidates to the region Jan. 6, 2014 – the first day people can register to run in municipal elections in Ontario.
OCTOBER 2013 •
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
CITY OF WATERLOO | OUR COMMUNITY w7 WARD 7 COUNCILLOR
Melissa Durrell t: 519.747.8784 c: 226.808.6043 mellisa.durrell@waterloo.ca
As you know, the City of Waterloo is expected to grow by over 30% during the next 20 years and we have to plan accordingly. Urban sprawl is a real issue for us – we have reached our city limits and now have to consider building up, rather than building out. Intensification is a reality
and nowhere is this more evident than in the uptown core. The Barrel Yards at Father David Bauer Drive, the condos at Park and Allen, and the RED development at Allen and King, are examples of chic uptown living that are sure to sell out quickly once construction is complete. But we know residents of the uptown core are concerned about this rapid growth and the negative impact it may have on existing neighbourhoods in that area. That’s why we have launched the uptown west neighbourhood transportation study.
This study allows us to work with residents of uptown Waterloo to find solutions to the issues around traffic volume, trail connectivity, speeding and safety, sidewalks and more – all with the goal of maintaining the uptown Waterloo neighbourhood feel.
assured that this public meeting will be held in the evening to ensure as many people as possible are able to attend. Our website is the perfect place to stay current on our progress – updates are posted at www.waterloo.ca/uptownwest
The success of a study like this is due, in large part, to public input. City staff will be hosting a public meeting in late October to discuss next steps and we encourage all residents from the uptown to attend. We will circulate an invitation, with details, nearer the public meeting date. Please be
And as always, if you have questions or concerns about this study, or intensification in the uptown core, please contact me directly. I’d love the opportunity to chat!
“Uptown West,” Waterloo
A Message From City of Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran ... Culture is the heartbeat of our community ... And we acknowledge the importance of cultural development – that’s why we’re working on a plan to guide us with cultural vibrancy for years to come. Over the past year, hundreds of Waterloo residents have been directly involved with the development of this plan – by attending our events and festivals, giving feedback as a member of the citizens’ roundtable and by participating in the culture plan summit or our culture plan socials. I would like to thank everyone for taking time to share with city staff everything that culture means to you.
As we work towards finalizing the culture plan, you have one more opportunity to share your thoughts about culture in Waterloo. I encourage you to take our culture plan survey. The feedback provided in this survey will confirm that the culture plan captures everything you have shared with us, and allow you a means to help us prioritize next steps. Completing the survey is quick and easy – you can find it at waterloo.ca/cultureplan Our goal is to begin the implementation of our culture plan in January 2014. Your input and feedback is crucial to the success of our culture plan and will ensure our city becomes an even more vibrant and creative place in which to live, work, learn and play.
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
W. waterloo.ca
6 • OCTOBER 2013
cover story // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
COLLAPSE OF A TECH GIANT
a recent announcement that fairfax financial holdings wants to purchase BlackBerry has many speculating about the company’s future. • rYan hUeGLin PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER
Continued from cover >>
been laid off over the last 10 years, with significant impact on the infrastructure that has built up around the company in Waterloo. Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo both have many graduates who are looking for employment in Waterloo’s storied tech sector. “At one time it was hundreds of [graduates] from Laurier who found their way into BlackBerry in some way or another,” said Hugh Munro, the director of the MBA program at Laurier. While he couldn’t be certain what kind of impact the job cuts would have on job prospects, Munro said he expects it will impact MBA graduates seeking employment. The two schools also rely on BlackBerry as an employer for their popular co-op programs. In 2012 Laurier placed about 50 students with BlackBerry for co-op placements, mostly from the business program. “Co-op roles have been significant to [BlackBerry] in the past,” said Karen McCargar, the associate director of co-operative education at Laurier. “We hope that will continue to be the case but we just don’t know.” BlackBerry refused to comment to The Cord outside of the information provided in its press releases, which stated that it will reduce its workforce globally by 4,500 in this most recent round of cuts. There was no indication as to whether that would include coop or intern placements. On BlackBerry’s recruitment site, they had postings for about 30 co-op placements and internships. “I don’t have any inside info,” said David Taylor, the director of the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. “But an obvious easy way for a
company that is in financial trouble to cut back is to stop hiring co-op – it’s easier than laying people off.” He estimated that there are 200 students university-wide who are placed at BlackBerry for co-op. “It’s not going to be a huge issue,” he said. “But it will clearly be an issue because we don’t get every single co-op student a job as it is now – that’s potentially some more students without jobs.”
A new path for BlackBerry It’s a safe bet that most Canadian’s didn’t know who Prem Watsa was until he made the news as one of the key people behind the po-
he knows its essential work,” said Yalnizyan. “He wouldn’t be investing in it, presumably, if he didn’t think it was a good buy.” The other rumoured members of the consortium Watsa is putting together to purchase the company are also lending confidence to the future of BlackBerry; the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Ontario Teachers Pensions Plan (OTPP) are two pension funds that are not interested in risky investments. Yalnizyan noted that Watsa’s proposal to take the company private — taking it off the stock market — may stop further financial damage caused by the markets for the time
“One of the things that people seem to have lost track of is that we were known for technology even before Blackberry came along.” —David Taylor, director of the David R. Cheriton school of computer science at UW tential sale of BlackBerry to Fairfax Financial Holdings, the company Watsa has ran since 1985. Despite his low public profile, Watsa is a big player on the international finance scene. Some describe him as a Canadian Warren Buffet because of his reputation for making smart investments and making a lot of money doing so — his company has $37 billion in assets. He is a former board member at RIM, but stepped down as he began to pick up shares of the company, which now stand at 10 per cent. “He’s seen this shop from the inside out so
being. “The vultures were circling,” she said. “You can make money off of hedging stocks and selling them so the company does fail.” It was a situation that was causing the market itself to play a roll in BlackBerry’s fall — a fall that is not inevitable given that the company still has the largest patent portfolio in Canada, millions invested in research and development and $2.6 billion in its coffers. BlackBerry also still has something that many other tech companies don’t: security. “The people who want security will pay big for that security,” Yalnizyan said.
BlackBerry’s products are still considered the most secure on the market, something that is desirable in their original market: government, military and business. It’s little wonder than that BlackBerry has announced it will now begin to focus on the enterprise market.
A technology ecosystem “One of the things that people seem to have lost track of is that we were known for technology even before BlackBerry came along,” said Taylor. It was certainly what attracted Lazaridis to come school in Waterloo in the beginning, and it’s what attracted more technology companies to the region. While BlackBerry has been the big name in town for some time, OpenText, Google and Desire2Learn, among others, continue to grow. “Absolutely we’ve got the momentum now,” said Iain Klugman, CEO of Communitech. “We still have… a ton of midsize companies and probably about 500 startups in this year alone.” Klugman is hopeful that the region can retain many of those who will be laid off by BlackBerry at other tech companies. Munro also suggested that those laid off might return to either Laurier or UW to get advanced degrees. ‘That absorption [into the community] is going to take some time,” he said. “We have lots of talent, people will have to find a way.” While BlackBerry finds its way, it is certainly not the end of Waterloo’s reputation as a tech hub. “We have this whole ecosystem of tech start-up,” said Taylor. “The companies that matter in the tech industry understand we are more than just BlackBerry.”
the education issue available now
OCTOBER 2013 • 7
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
URBan Exploring
vocal cord We went to Waterloo Public Square and asked:
What are you most looking forward to about Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest? And do you know who Evil Hans is?
“OktoberFEAST, a two-day food truck event happening in Waterloo Public Square. [Evil Hans] follows me on twitter, I think it’s the Oktoberfest Committee.” Kathleen Stahlbaum, Public Square Assistant, City of Waterloo
Going to be attending the 2013 Waterloo Zombie Walk on October 5? Here are some popular costume ideas that may help you approach how to be one of the shambling many. The fun starts at the Uptown Public Square at 1 p.m.
“This is the first year I am legal, so just going at all. Is that Hans’s evil alterego?”
Graphic by Lena Yang Graphic Designer
Sam Mercury, Froyo Slinger
INTERVIEW WITH AN EVIL MASTERSTEIND M any of us are familiar with Onkel Hans, the mascot of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. But this year, we are being introduced to his unofficial brother Evil Hans, who appeared on the scene a month or so ago. Having first posted an ad on Kijiji, August 28th, calling for henchmen and Fräulein Fatales to join his league, he has since started his own webpage, and created TEGAN THUSS urban exploring popular Twitter and editor Facebook profiles. His goal is to promote local businesses, wreak havoc on his brother Onkel Hans, and enjoy ‘gut’ beer over the month of October. Evil Hans talks on about secret ‘EvilHans’
hideouts during the Festival, but we haven’t heard much about him personally. Who is this mysterious, social network using, beer swilling vigilante? “Vell you know, it vas quite a difficult dissolution between meine brother und I,” Hans explained via email. “I needed ze time to find myself. Now, on ze 45th anniversary of ze Oktoberfest, I feel zhat it is a time to unite ze people in an uprising und remind zhem zhat Oktoberfest is a time for community.” He continues to preach about being for the people, of the people. His plans involve bringing more patrons in to local restaurants and business. “Meine ambition is for people to hold zheir own events, or contact local venues to hold ‘EvilHans’ events, to make sure ve are driving people to ze local businesses.” When asked who was the older or younger brother, Evil Hans or Onkel Hans, the
mysterious man wouldn’t give too much away. “Ve are ze same age....kind of. You see time moves very differently for meine brother und I.... und I don’t know if you have noticed, but meine brother und I have a very different look und shade to our skin. Ze fact is, ve hide a deep and mysterious secret vhich cannot be shared....all I can say though is vith good beer comes eternal youth.” When not out planning destruction and causing mayhem, Evil Hans says he likes reading und spending a lot of time underground in his lair beneath Victoria Park. Why Victoria Park? “Ze taxes vere far more preferable zhan Vaterloo, und it vorked out much easier to tap into ze public vater und power lines.” Evil Hans says not to expect too much this Festival, as he has only just returned from a long journey. He is hopeful that the small outreach he has started will grow and spread,
though he faces some challenges, what with being a six foot tall mascot. “It is hard to be taken seriously und run an inconspicuous uprising of community endorsing decent beer drinkers, vhen you are a 6 foot tall organic fuzzy individual in lederhoser,” he said. “Vhich is vhy I instead opt for an ‘all in black’ kind of look und ze social media for recruiting of ze henchmen und fräulein fatales to carry out meine plans.” He does however, find his job as an evil brother und Mastersteind easy. “It is not zhat difficult, too be honest, vith all of ze gut beer zhat we have around us in zhis area, it is not difficult to get ze ‘creative juices flowing’.” Evil Hans refused to reveal the true identity behind his mascot’s mask, so for now, we’ll continue to wonder who this mysterious dark figure could be. Say hi to Evil Hans on Twitter - @evilhans
8 • OCTOBER 2013
urban exploring // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
BILL THOMPSON, BEST BARTENDER I f you walk into Kickoff and a booming voice bellows at you from the bar, don’t be alarmed! That’s just Bill Thompson, voted by you as the best bartender in Waterloo Region, as voted by our readers. Although he is a self-professed people hater, it doesn’t take long to see why he was nominated and subsequently awarded JANINE PREW Best Bartender. CCE CONTRIBUTOR Thompson has been with Kickoff for more than thirteen years, almost as long as the bar has been open. “My birth certificate was written in stone,” he quiped dryly, as he looks over the top of his glasses. When asked why he thinks he won, he claims that he doesn’t know. “I yell at people, I’m nasty and abusive and people still come back and give me money!” He really does frequently yell at patrons, in all seriousness if you’re belligerently drunk, or in his gruff false pretense if he really likes you (which he’d never admit to, of course).
He’s the tough love father figure, full of wisdom and interesting stories. Exactly what any student experiencing real homesickness is going to be drawn towards. Kickoff is a tiny bar, but it’s filled to the brim with character. With 14 mostly craft beer taps, a fridge stocked to the brim with an atlas of world beers (and the ‘ordinaries’ – Budweiser, Canadian, Coors – relegated to the bottom corner), postcards on the wall from travellers who’ve thought to write home to their favourite drinking hole, engineering pub-crawl t-shirts signed and hung on the ceiling and, as the name implies, a collection of soccer memorabilia lining the walls. It may look like just another bar, but Kickoff prides itself on having one of the largest selections of beer and scotch in the K-W area. “I have to kind of joke about it because I’ve actually had people come in with people who are regulars and they look at the board and then they go ‘Do you actually have any real beer?’” said Thompson. “And occasionally the devil possesses me and I’ll go ‘Well I just walked in and wrote 14 names down. All those taps are Coors Light. There’s a tanker parked out back.’”
Visit Bill Thompson at Kick-Off Sports Bar & Cafe • TEGAN THUSS URBAN EXPLORING EDITOR
On the flip side of this dry deadpan humour is a guy with an impressive knowledge of beer, wine and scotch. Self-taught and well versed in all these libations, his particular passion is scotch. “I’m more of a scotch guy. I could talk for hours about scotch.” Thompson demonstrates his love of scotch, as well as wine and beer, with biweekly appreciation classes. “I don’t pair foods for you. I lay out different spices and seasonings with bread,” said Thompson. “I
encourage people to experiment with the different flavours to understand why this works with that white wine but won’t work with the other white wine because it creates a contrasting flavour.” With his unique mix of wisdom and passion, Thompson may have missed his calling as a full time teacher. However, it’s arguable that he mentors the students and professionals that come in to the bar every day. When he’s not bellowing at them, anyway.
Community Conversations Drinking & Sex, Sex & Drinking: How to stay safe this Oktoberfest If you live in Waterloo Region, October may mean one thing to you - Oktoberfest! Schnitzel, sausage, Onkel Hans and yes, drinking beer! Drinking beer and getting drunk frequently leads to sex, one night stands and possibly unsafe sex – oh dear. Sex should be fun and can be fun; unfortunately sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may put a damper on your fun times. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial STI in Waterloo Region and accounts for over 75 per cent of STI cases annually, followed by gonorrhea. Locally, cases of both chlamydia and gonorrhea have been increasing steadily since 2009. Often in my line of work I hear people brush off STIs as no big deal. They say things like, “I don’t care if I get an STI, I’ll just take the drugs.” The truth is, there are antibiotics available to treat chlamydia and gonorrhea, however, according to Public Health Ontario gonorrhea is becoming resistant to the currently prescribed antibiotic worldwide. This decreased susceptibility to drugs is more likely to be found in males. At present there is no other antibiotic to treat gonorrhea. This could mean that, if you contract gonorrhea, you might have gonorrhea for life. To prevent contracting gonorrhea, it is important to use condoms. Not using a condom is one of the most common risk factors associated with contracting an STI. Judgement impaired by alcohol is also one of the top five known risk factors for contracting an STI in Waterloo Region. Gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancies, chronic pelvic pain, painful urination and thick discharge from the penis or vagina. It may also show no symptoms at all; which often leads to no testing, no education and no treatment and therefore the spread of the infection. A simple condom can prevent the spread of STIs and prevent your fun times from turning into not so fun times. Carry many condoms with you in case there are problems putting it on or opening the package and make sure to use them. Never double up on condoms, wear one at a time and pinch the tip before rolling it on to allow for room to catch the ejaculate. Condoms are free at many places in Waterloo Region including Public Health, Planned Parenthood and many places on the university campuses. People often view STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, as a nuisance that can be cured. With gonorrhea becoming drug resistant, this complacency will have many repercussions. Education and awareness needs to increase in order to prevent gonorrhea and other STIs from increasing, and hopefully, lead to a decrease in the spread of these infections. If sexually active, it is important to get tested. So feel free to have fun this October, but do it with a clean bill of health and some condoms available. Get tested for STIs at: your physician’s office, Public Health (99 Regina Street, Waterloo 519.883.2267) or Health Services at your university. -Stacey Jacobs is the Community Sexual Health Educator at Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region (www.ppwr.on.ca) and has taught Sexuality classes at the University of Waterloo. She has a Master of Science from the University of Guelph and is thinking about completing a PhD.
OCTOBER 2013 •
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
ARTS & Culture a venue lost
Boathouse closure brings music venue issues to light
9
Arts beat y Grand River Film Festival turns 7 Harnessing the passion for film found in Waterloo Region, the Grand River Film Festival enters its seventh year on October 22. The five-day festival features eight feature length films, and nine short films.
y MT Space and Neruda Celebrate culture
The Boathouse closed its doors on September 13, 2013 • ANNA BEARD ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
W
hen the City of Kitchener terminated Kevin Doyle’s lease at The Boathouse, a popular music venue in Victoria Park, and placed the property under city control, local artists and music fans worried that the music culture downtown would dwindle. “The Boathouse was a place that built a culture,” said Jake Stallard of local band, SexDwarf. “You could just show up and you’re going to see a decent act, ANNA BEARD and have great food. ARTS & CULTURE The Boathouse put EDITOR Kitchener on the map for people outside of town.” This perspective is common among people involved with the Waterloo Region artistic community. “The Boathouse is culturally important. It is a great venue for playing downtown, hearing live music,” said singer-songwriter and spoken word artist, Janice Lee. “For us, The Boathouse was home base. Kevin [Doyle] was a huge support. His heart was always in the right place. The money we made from playing there essentially funded our first album,” said Stallard. “[Kitchener-Waterloo] is tough for bands looking to play original music,” he added. “There are plenty of venues but there’s more opportunity for cover bands or blues – the pubs all want it. As an artist, you could play original music at The Boathouse without having to bring your own crew. Besides Maxwell’s [Music House] and The Boathouse, there aren’t a lot of options.” Stallard and Lee both said that outside of The Boathouse, Maxwell’s Music House in Waterloo is the next best thing. “Maxwell’s is arguably one of the best places for sound. It’s great for performing,” said Lee. However, even the Music House has its obstacles. “It’s not accessible, it’s in Waterloo. We’re trying to foster an environment in Kitchener.” “The Little Bean [Coffee Bar] has become a
go-to place with a nice atmosphere, sense of community and a great vibe. Maxwell’s doesn’t have the same feel,” said Stallard. Steve Tulloch and his wife Deb own The Branches, an intimate venue in uptown Waterloo. Catering to a similar crowd, Tulloch worries what the impact of closure will be when few venues focus on community development. “I think K-W has at least a few good places [for live music] where artists are respected and people value their work. There are only ten or so, so to lose one or two has a big impact.” Tulloch agrees that the loss of The Boathouse as a place to celebrate and develop Kitchener’s musical scene has negative cultural implications. “It’s the type of venue that fosters community. What we’ve lost should be replaced,” said Tulloch. When the city took control of The Boathouse in early September, Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr stated, “The city is committed to The Boathouse being an important cultural venue for live music”. Silvia Di Donato, manager of arts and culture for the City of Kitchener, reinforced the statement, expressing the city’s desire for the development of a local music network. “The Boathouse is a great catalyst for music. The commitment to live music has been ongoing. The city is committed to supporting the local music industry through continued consultation,” said Di Donato. The city is already taking steps to ensure that both local musicians and local businesses continue to work to support the local music culture in Kitchener. With their program Music Works, an initiative designed to support, facilitate, and accelerate the local music business cluster, the city has come up with three focus areas that work together to support local economy, fostering community, and developing talent. “We’re looking to venues that support live music and help the ecosystem thrive. With events like KOICon , we’re using business development to help people who are looking for mentorship. These type of networking events are helpful for success – they energize the
culture of the community,” said Di Donato. KOICon is a day-long conference, awards ceremony and showcase of independent artists representing a wide range of music genres from the region including rock, folk, blues, metal, reggae, ska, country, punk, jazz and classical. “The Boathouse is a catalyst. It’s a testament to the quality of artists found in the community. Local musicians interacting with touring musicians has been essential in creating a music scene,” said Di Donato. “The Boathouse as a venue is important but at the same time, there are other venues showing the same commitment to supporting local artists.” Stallard admitted even with The Boathouse closing, the city has taken steps to foster the development of a music scene downtown. “There have been more musical opportunities recently – the King Street Art Market and food truck events are incorporating live music and building [the scene] up even more.” The Boathouse may not be empty for long. New potential owners are already lining up. Glenn Smith, the owner of Ethel’s Lounge in Waterloo has made it clear that he plans on putting forth a request for proposal. “It’s an idea and getting it past council will take work so we’ll see how that goes,” said Smith. Currently, terms of reference are being developed and the city will begin taking requests for proposals in early October. The approximate timeline is ambitious –a new tenant by December, renovations beginning in early 2014 and a reopening in time for summer. Regardless of the fate of The Boathouse, it is safe to say that residents will be tracking its progression and a new tenant has rather large shoes to fill. Stallard thinks it’s important to have quality venues like The Boathouse available to local artists. “Without these venues, artists don’t have a place to hone their craft and practice playing their music. It can be a big deterrent not having that support.”
A collaborative initiative between MT Space and Neruda Productions, We Are CULTURE is a season of events showcasing and celebrating multiculturalism. Held at The Courtyard @ Bonnie Stuart Studios, this venture presents a gutsy, transformative theatre series and a commemorative Chilean inspired music series.
yWho says Trash isn’t beautiful? Kitchener artist-in-residence, Susan Coolen, is set on changing the way we interact with litter. Updating her collection of items from the local urban environment throughout the month of October, The Litter-Arti Project is a thematic residency project displayed through new video, installations, and book works. Visitors can get a full view of the installation at the regional public landfill.
ydiy takes over Marc Lecompte, owner of Princess Café and Cheeses Murphy, is at it again but this time, food is off the table. Instead, DIY (do-ityourself) projects are the order of the day. DIYDAY is set to be a mixed-media event showcasing some of the great artists that are contributing to the arts and culture scene in Waterloo Region. With interactive features happening throughout the afternoon, live music, and a whole lot of art on display, this is certainly a day not to be missed.
10 • OCTOBER 2013
ARts & CULTURE // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
Observing Water
Why wait another month? Keep up with The Cord Community Edition whenever you want by checking us out online
Watermark showcases the effect of water on humanity
community.thecord.ca
• PHOTO COURTESY MONGREL MEDIA
A
fter a successful premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), co-directors Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky are bringing their celebrated documentary Watermark to local cinema, Princess Twin. Watermark showcases the relationship between humanity and water and the intense influence one has on the other. Baichwal and Burtynsky travel around the world, showing stark, contrasting images of the role of water where it is plentiful, paralleled with its usage in areas of water scarcity. “Where water is scarce, there’s a whole different type of respect for it and there’s a whole different mode of operation for it … it’s treated much more carefully than a much more wasteful Western society,” said Burtynysky. “Just by looking at something like Palm Springs [in Florida] … there’s over 100 golf courses and each golf course means a million gallons a CRISTINA ALMUDEVAR day.” CCE CONTRIBUTOR This is the second collaboration between Baichwal and Burtynsky, following their award-winning documentary Manufactured Landscapes. However, this is Burtynsky’s first time in the director’s chair. “I was far more engaged in the process of scouting out the locations, choosing the subjects, working in the editing room and the construction of the film itself,” Burtynysky said. “It gave me a lot more respect for how collaborative and challenging it is to make a film versus the challenges of making exhibitions and books.” So, why water? “It seemed to be a natural progression for from doing a project on oil and then looking around at another critical element to life in progress,” Burtynysky said. “It was something that I felt I could get my head around. It took some time, took me five years … I have some interesting perspectives, other ways to think about water and how to take it seriously.” The film inspires a necessary dialogue of our consumption, and potential abuse, of water and how we can change our dynamic with it. While Burtynysky hopes “that one can at least aid in raising the consciousness around these issues,” ultimately it is up to the viewer to decide how to re-evaluate their relationship with water and how they choose to consume it. The film compliments other water-related activities available in Kitchener-Waterloo right now. THEMUSEUM is currently presenting the exhibition Surface Tension, which touches upon similar themes. -- Watermark will be premiering at the Princess Twin on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Burtynysky will be introducing the film and will be having a question and answer period after the show. Tickets are $16.
OCTOBER 2013 • 11
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ ARts & CULTURE
listings music
October 4 The Gryphon Trio: For the End of Time Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, tickets @ numus.on.ca, 8:00 p.m.
October 5 Folk Night - Gatherin Sparks The Registry Theatre, $16 adv, 8:00 p.m. Russ Nolan Group The Jazz Room, $18, 8:30 p.m.
October 11 Andrew Downing Anahtar Project The Jazz Room, $18, 8:30 p.m Sloan Centre in the Square, tickets @ centreinthesquare.com,8:00 p.m.
October 13 Rocktoberfest Altes Muenchen Haus - Queensmount Arena, Kitchener, $24.99, 7:00 p.m.
October 17 Born Ruffians
Starlight Social Club, $14 adv, 8:00 p.m.
October 22 Heathers Starlight Social Club, $9 adv, 8:00 p.m.
October 23 Ron Sexsmith w.s.g. Jenn Grant Centre in the Square, tickets @ centreinthesquare.com, 8:00 p.m. Matt Mays w.s.g. Adam Baldwin Starlight Social Club, $15 adv, 8:00 p.m.
October 29
Like us October 22 7th annual Grand River Film Festival Empire Theatres - Kitchener, October 22-26
October 24 Watermark Film Premiere Princess Twin Cinemas, 7:00 p.m.
October 26 The Litter-Arti Project Waterloo Waste Management site, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m Rocky Horror Picture Show Princess Cinema, October 26-31
community October 5 Waterloo Zombie Walk Waterloo Public Square, 1:00 p.m. Video Game Night THEMUSEUM, $10, 5:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
October 9 A Blooming Affair Fashion Show Bingemans Ballroom, $35, 6:00 p.m.
October 14 Thanksgiving Day Parade Starting in Uptown Waterloo, 8:30 a.m. noon
October 19 The Cord Community Edition presents the Kitchener Waterloo Tweed Ride Waterloo Park Bandshell, $15 adv, 12:00 p.m.
October 20
Matthew Good Centre in the Square, tickets @ centreinthesquare.com, 8:00 p.m.
Water Dialogues: Water Research in the Arctic THEMUSEUM, tickets @ themuseum.ca, 1:30 p.m.
November 1
October 22
Lee Fields & the Expressions Starlight Social Club, $25 adv, 7:00 p.m.
November 5 Hannah Georgas w.s.g. Louise Burns Starlight Social Club, $18 adv, 8:00 p.m.
arts October 4 Artist Alley Uptown Parkade 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
October 7 Sign Painters A part of the Art, Design and Architecture series, Princess Cinema, 7:00 p.m.
October 19 Haunted Homestead Flashlight Tours & Storytelling Event 359 Blue Lake Road, St George, 7:00 p.m.
follow us
Ignite Waterloo 13 St. George Banquet Hall. 6:00 p.m.
October 26 DIYDAY Chainsaw, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
October 27 Water Dialogues: Local Water Issues THEMUSEUM, tickets @ themuseum.ca, 1:30 p.m.
October 29 Nerd Nite KW Rum Runner Pub, 7:00 p.m.
November 2 Night/Shift Downtown Kitchener, 9:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
To feature your event listing in the Cord Community, email details to culture@thecord.ca
cord community edition on facebook
@cordcommunity
COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA
• OCTOBER 2013
THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION PRESENTS
A fancily-clad cycling tour of K-W, including stops at local fine dining establishments for drinks,
THE KITCHENER WATERLOO
food and merriment
Prizes for best dressed gentleman and gentlewoman, plus raffle entry with registration
Leaving Waterloo Park @ 12 p.m. (@ the band shell near Westmount Rd.)
Registration begins @ 10 a.m.
TWEED RIDE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19th
Advanced registration $15 @ community.thecord.ca Register @ the door $20 To inquire about volunteering or sponsorship opportunities visit community.thecord.ca or email communityeditor@thecord.ca
W AT E R L O O R E G I O N R E G I O N A L C A R B O N I N I T I AT I V E
!"#$#%"#&!'()*+,,-&.%/0&!1*23$'%41$/%*" !"#$%&'%("%)*+,$%+-"&(%&'#$.%*/"0.+1#2#/+(#"$%("%*$.+.*%*13)"4**'%#$%*$5#,"$1*$(+)%'&'(+#$+-#)#(46 Date: Time: Location:
7&*'8+49%:/("-*,%;<9%=>;? @A?>%+B1B%C%DA?>%+B1B E,"F$*%G)+H+%I"(*)9%J#(/K*$*,9%:L
Register online at www.sustainablewaterlooregion.ca/register