Cord Community Edition - March 2014

Street parties on lockdown

Toyota workers organize

Who is the girl on the poster?

News, Page 4

News, Page 7

ARTS, Page 11

COMMUNITY

THE CORD

+ Kitchener and Waterloo real estate go head to head

urban exploring, Page 9

Waterloo Region’s independent monthly • Volume 2 Issue 6 • march 7, 2014 • community.thecord.ca

School board voting Blues When people go to vote for their school board trustee this fall they may find a hoop to jump through instead The CCE investigates why ‘school support’ matters H.G. Watson Editor-in-Chief

T

here’s no reason nuns can’t vote, but that’s the situation one group of sisters found themselves in during Waterloo’s last municipal election.

“When they went to vote in the election, they were told they couldn’t vote for the Catholic school board candidates because they were considered public school supporters,” explained Wayne Buchholtz, the chair of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.

The nuns were just one group of many that found themselves the subject of a strange part of Ontario election law that makes it difficult for supporters of alternative school boards to run for or vote in school board elections.

Unlike voting for candidates for city council or regional council, where you simply need to be a Canadian citizen who lives in the district, to vote for school board trustees you have to be a school supporter — which means your property taxes have to go towards supporting the school board you wish to vote in.

But, by default, all property taxes go toward the English public school board. Voters who want to ensure that their taxes — and

their votes — go to another school board have to declare themselves as school supporters.

The onus, therefore, is on the homeowners and renters to change their affiliation if they want to vote — or run — in an election.

“If they have children in the school, there is no problem,” said Buchholtz. Parents can fill forms out to switch their taxes to the school board of their choosing when they sign their children up for school.

But as Waterloo Region’s demographics change, it becomes more challenging for the Catholic district school board, as well as other school boards, to ensure that everyone who is meant to be identified as a school supporter is.

“The issue is that a majority of our rate payers no longer have kids in school,” continued Buchholtz. “They’re older and if they change their residences they suddenly find themselves a public school supporter.”

It’s also an issue for renters. Unless their landlord is already a Catholic school board supporter, renters again are likely paying taxes to the English oublic school board by default. The result is that many people don’t find out they aren’t supporting the right school board until the day they show up to vote.

“It is a big issue that the Catholic school

system has tried to change quite a few time,” said Anthony Piscitelli, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board trustee representing Kitchener/Wilmont. “I know a lot of people don’t realize it.”

As the population swells in Waterloo Region, this will become more important for the school boards. Between the 2006 and 2011 census, there were over 10,000 new households in the region and over 1,000 new renters.

In theory, switching school board support should be simple. But in practice, it can be a complicated if you don’t know the right channels to go through.

In all cases, the homeowner or renter has to go Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and designate the school board that they want to support. It’s worth noting that when the CCE went to the Kitchener city clerk’s office to find out how renters could change their school board support, it took them a business day to find the answer.

For a person without the time, or patience, of a media outlet asking for the information, it could be a barrier to even starting the process.

But there is a process. MPAC has created a variety of forms to fill out, including one for renters and for people who may co-own

a home with someone who supports another school board, which can be filled out in order for someone to designate support to a new school board.

However, the Catholic school board has been advocating for the simplification of this process for some time. They want a check box added to any new housing purchase agreement that would allow the homeowner to indicate what school board they want to support. “It’s a simple change that politicians don’t want to seem to [do],” said Buchholtz.

Part of the problem is that this issue is a multi-ministry one, involving both of Ontario’s Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. At press time, officials from the Ministry of Education were not able to comment, but were working on pulling together information from all the ministries involved.

But as the upcoming election looms, Buchholtz believes that there will still be problems.

“It’s a ludicrous situation,” he said. “But its something that presently exists, so you run into that problem. You’ll probably find in this election the same thing will happen.”

For more election watch 2014 coverage, turn to page 5 or visit community.thecord.ca.

THE CORD

2 • March 2014

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

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75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 Volume 2, Issue #6 Next issue: April 4, 2014 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

Photography Manager Ryan Hueglin rhueglin@thecord.ca

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

Photography Manager Heather Davidson hdavidson@thecord.ca

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Copy Editor Erin O’Neil

eric Moon CHeryl simmons Mandy brouse jason shim jeffrey mcdonald

CONTRIBUTORS Dan Herman Stacey Jacobs Janine Prew Kaitlyn Severin Lisa Umholtz

Rebecca Allison Cristina Almudevar Laura Buck Samantha Estoesta Scott Glaysher 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.

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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.

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.

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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.

IN this issue FEATURE School board blues PAGE 1 Voters for the local schoolboards have to jump a few hoops before they can cast a ballot NEWs 3 4 5 6 7

Tasers are under review in the Region WRPS tries to stem the sea of green Childcare needs to be an issue Fighting poverty stereotypes Toyota workers in Cambridge organize

URBAN EXPLORING 8 New wool shop roars in to town 8 We say goodbye to the Rum Runner 9 KW real estate showdown 10 Vagina, vulva — which is which?

10 Having a mindful relationship.

ARTS & CULTURE 11 Who is that Kitchener sister?

12 Bearface gets grizzly 13 Criminal minds take centre stage 13 A studio space too far 14 Reviews 15 Listings LETTERS TO THE EDITOR All letters to the editor can be sent to communityeditor@thecord.ca

Every issue we highlight five people who have made a contribution to keep the CCE going. Want to help? Email communityeditor@thecord.ca

#CCEinvestigates - the short investigations Dear readers, Over the past two months, we’ve started a new venture called #CCEinvestigates. It’s an opportunity for you to come to us on Twitter or at one of our events and let us know what you want us to write a story about. Some of our favourite recent stories — the search for Kaiser Wilhelm’s bust and geeky gamers — have come from this online and occasionally in-person suggestion box.

This issue, we thought we would to address some of the more whimisical questions we got at a Engage! KW fundraiser held in our honour.

We hope you find our answers illuminating. If you have a question or a story you want us to investigate, tag it #CCEinvestigates on Twitter or Facebook, or come find us at an event — we’ll be at KW Nerd Fest later on March 29.

Remember — the truth is out there. - H.G. Watson Why doesn’t the CCE publish exclusively online like the Huffington Post?

Call us crazy, but we still love picking up a newspaper and getting a little ink on our hands.

Why is Greg Lehman such a babe-a-tron?

Are you asking why is he such a babe, or why is he a robot?

Or both? Get back to us and we’ll look into this for you.

If only one Prime Minister could be featured at Victoria Park, which would it be? I vote for Harper.

That makes sense — he already looks like a statue.

Where is Waldo?

Famed American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson was buried in Sleepy Hollow, Massachusetts, in 1882.

Is Beerg Arden any relation to Jann Arden?

We are all related to Canadian songstress Arden through the power of song.

What is the LRT plan? Where will it be? How is it going to benefit me?

Doug Craig, is that you?

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

NEWS taser use under review

Police seek input as they consider widening use laura buck CCE contributor

News beat y POLAR PLUNGE Fundraising goes up as temperature dips

y City rental by-laws call for more awareness

• LENA YANG GRAPHICS DESIGNER

to the use-of-force guidelines is supported by medical research and recommendations by coroners’ inquests.

“This approach supports local decision-making based on operational needs,” Morrison said.

“It responds to coroners’ inquest recommendations regarding expanded use and will bring Ontario in line with the majority of Canadian provinces who do not limit CEW use to designated officers.”

A report will be issued next month at the WRPS board meeting, where police chief Matt Torigian will bring forward a recommendation and potential alternative options for increased taser deployment within the region’s force.

“We’ll certainly be doing some consultation

with the community and our key stakeholders so that they have an opportunity to express their views and opinions,” Morris added.

According to the ministry, the use of CEWs are less likely to cause significant injuries than alternative use-of-force options, and that overall the risk of serious injury is relatively low.

“The needs of communities vary,” Morrison said. “Local police services are in the best position to determine that nature of consultations within their communities depending on their local needs and circumstances.”

WRPS is encouraging public input regarding their plans to expand the use of CEWs, a move that is recommended directly from the ministry.

vocal cord We went to Charles Street Terminal and asked:

Do you think it’s smart to move the St. Paddy’s party to Seagram Drive?

3

Polar Plunge raised approximately $7,092 in support of KidsAbility, a local organization that assists children with cognitive and physical disabilities, on Feb. 22. Participants took turns plunging into the pool set up in Waterloo Public Square, some of whom sported costumes. First aid as well as a heating tent were nearby to assist any participants in case of a situation, but the event remained safe.

W

aterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) is turning to the community for input regarding the expanded distribution of tasers among their officers.

While there is strong support for the expansion of tasers, or conductive energy weapons (CEWs), within the police force, the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the issue next month.

Last August, Ontario’s ministry of safety and correctional services announced a change in the restrictions concerning which officers could carry conductive energy weapons.

The ministry revised the use-of-force guidelines to support the expansion of the use of these weapons.

This allowed local police forces to determine which officers would be permitted to carry CEWs. WRPS currently has 369 officers who are qualified to carry CEWs. However, the force only possesses 77 of these weapons, which are spread throughout the organization.

According to staff sergeant Shaena Morris, the use of these weapons had previously been restricted to designated positions and police teams, such as members of emergency response units.

“The ministry initiated a review to explore the expanded deployment of CEWs and after the review they actually revised the use-of-force guidelines to provide a wide expansion of CEW deployment throughout all of Ontario,” Morris explained in an interview.

Andrew Morrison, communications official for the ministry of community safety and correctional services, explained that the revision

March 2014 •

“I think that’s a good idea. Students should be focusing on their studies instead of focusing on drinking.”

“I definitely do — it’s not right that everybody around students should be subject to their rants and riots.”

Tiffany Gauthier, student

Tyler Nagels, line cook

Housing landlords in Waterloo are under increasing pressure to comply with the rental licensing by-law, which came into effect in 2012. Now, municipal officials have launched a campaign to increase awareness. The rental housing licensing by-law aims to balance the needs of property owners and residents looking for safe and properly maintained rental accommodation.

y local group calls for stop to pipeline Members of the Waterloo Region Coalition Against Line 9 met on Feb. 21 at the Region of Waterloo building to oppose the reversal of an oil pipeline that passes through the Region.

The press conference was intended to publicly discuss a report prepared by activist groups that outlined negative social and environmental hazards associated with the Enbridge pipeline, Line 9B. Enbridge is planning to ship bitumen through the pipeline despite opposition and significant safety concerns.

It is awaiting a decision from the National Energy Board to determine if it can reverse the direction of the oil flow in the pipeline from North Westover, Ontario to Montreal.

4 • March 2014

NEws // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

How much trouble does Waterloo Region get into on one St. Patrick’s Day? We break down 2013’s enforcement numbers, provided by our friends at Waterloo Regional Police Services.

113

17 14

4

open liquor violations According to Olaf Heinzel, the public affairs coordinator for the WRPS, tickets are a last resort — so 113 is just the tip of the iceberg

noise complaints “We find that having officers present helps to maintain order and civil behaviour,” Heinzel said.

“A lot of times it just means a knock on the door.”

Over 7,000 people gathered on Ezra St. in Waterloo last year for St. Partrick’s day partying. • SHELBY BLACKLEY CCE CONTRIBUTOR

Green sea change

WLU hopes to move the St. Paddy’s party Kaitlyn Severin CCE CONTRIBUTOR

F

or the past few years, St. Patrick’s Day on Ezra Street has been a popular celebration for university students in Waterloo.

But after a gathering of over 7,000 people last year—exceeding the street’s limit of 2,100—officials have been thinking of ways to spread out the crowd to deal with safety concerns.

After a series of conversations between Wilfrid Laurier University administration, Heinzel asserts that the Laurier Students’ Union, the University of the best way to Waterloo, Waterloo Regional Police Service avoid drinking (WRPS) and officials from the City of Waterrelated fines loo, this year there will be an alternate celis to act reebration for university students. sponsibly and XL Lifestyle, the event planners that also in a respectful organize 12 Barz of Christmas, will be cremanner. The ating an Oktoberfest-style event called St. CCE assumes that Paddy’s Day at the Outdoor Pub. The event is includes not peeing being held on Seagram Drive. in public.

Already, 2,000 students are planning to attend with the maximum capacity being 2,500.

A task force comprised of the above parties was created to discuss options after last year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

“The committee was forced to evaluate how to move forward, recognizing St. Pat.Another reason not rick’s Day on Ezra —which began as a very to get a ticket? organic-type event—was at the point where The fines can both size and scope-wise it was perceived to run high — upbe a safety issue for people in attendance, a wards of $550 significant amount of which are not Laurier for a noise students,” explained Leanne Holland-Brown, complaint. dean of students at Laurier.

“We wanted to with files from make sure we are addressing what we are Ashley Denuzzo

public urination

under 19 consuming alcohol

going to do to move forth.”

They decided that the event with XL Lifestyle was the best solution.

“It was a good solution because they’re an external business that doesn’t fall within the city or the universities to plan it,” explained Annie Constantinescu, president and CEO of Laurier’s Students’ Union.

“It’s just an external vendor who’s really excited about engaging in the St. Paddy’s Day culture here, so hopefully it will alleviate some of the Ezra population.”

She explained that the Students’ Union’s biggest concern was the fact that the celebration often attracts people from all over the Greater Toronto Area, high school students and others with no attachments to the universities.

After last year’s celebration, the WRPS expressed concerns that they couldn’t control the crowd and that first responders were unable to get clear access to the road.

As well, $50,000 worth of damage was sustained from vandalism and robberies.

“The main concern was the concentration of people on Ezra Street just got to the point where it was too dangerous and we had to do something to address that,” Kevin Chalk, deputy chief of operations for the Waterloo Regional Police Services, said.

According to Chalk, only a minimal amount of people had huge safety concerns.

Chalk hopes the new event will minimize the tickets given out to students drinking illegally on the streets.

“Personal safety is always a first and foremost concern,” he continued.

Despite the hope that the new event will detract from Ezra Street, WRPS is still

planning on increasing enforcement and security on Ezra.

Since the holiday is on a Monday, the Union said it’s debatable whether the event will be successful.

“If students want to go to Ezra, they have a right to do that,” said Stephen Franchetto, vice president of student affairs with the Students’ Union. “So what we want to do is to provide a vital other option that they can engage with and hopefully, people can make safer choices with.”

Mike Horner and Pat McDonald, representatives of XL Lifestyle, said the event will include an outdoor heated tent, live music and food.

A special mystery guest appearance, rumoured to be a DJ, will also be announced at the event.

“It’s not so much we’re trying to distract students [from Ezra], but because of the initiative the city and the police are taking, we thought it was a good way to give back and a good opportunity to give the students another place to hang out to keep the party going and not be fighting with the authorities,” Horner said.

According to Constantinescu, the city isn’t involved in promoting the event, as they are more concerned with having a safer St. Patrick’s Day. The Students’ Union is also doing an educational campaign with the city on what to avoid on St. Patrick’s Day, such communicating fine amounts and common infractions.

“If we can educate students to avoid doing anything dangerous, that would be beneficial from a student perspective,” said Constantinescu.

march 2014 •

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ news

5

2014 election

WATCH Investing in our childcare system should be an election issue • Photo CoUrtESY CrEatiVE CommonS

dan HErman co-founder of the Waterloo-based Centre for digital Entrepreneurship and Economic Performance (deepcentre.com)

A

s a relatively new father, one whose son just entered daycare, I’ve quickly learned that the early childhood educators (ECEs) who care for my son are some of the most important people in our life. Every day he returns home with new words and new skills, benefits that help moderate the stress that the cost of this service brings.

I’ve quickly learned that sending my son to a registered daycare centre here in Waterloo costs the equivalent of small car and far more than a year of university tuition.

It’s an investment, right?

Well, if so, we might want to revisit how we fund daycare in Ontario and across the

country.

Having just returned from a couple of days in Montreal, I was struck by the loud debate currently taking place around the Quebec government’s decision to raise the daily cost of its subsidized daycare program from $7 to $9 a day by 2016. Compare this to my $40 daily payment here in Waterloo and the difference couldn’t be starker.

While my wife and I are fortunate enough to be able to cover these costs, many are not.

Thankfully the Region of Waterloo provides subsidies to cover a significant share of the cost for 2,800 local children. However, as this year’s regional budget process highlighted, without a long-term commitment from either the provincial or federal government, such support is not guaranteed.

Quebec’s model is instructive for several reasons. While its system of subsidized daycare is not perfect, it ensures that all families who wish to send their children to a registered, licensed daycare are not limited by its

affordability. Introduced in 1997, the subsidy sees parents pay approximately 15 per cent of the cost of service with the provincial government covering the rest.

Setting aside the question of whether this split is appropriate, what matters most is research that highlights the significant benefits of early childhood education, notably for children from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Moreover, a study by University of Montreal economics professor Pierre Fortin found that Quebec’s subsidized daycare system pays for itself thanks to increased tax revenue due, in large part, to an increased rate of female participation in the workforce.

Fortin’s study found that for every $1 invested in the system, $1.49 returns to the federal and provincial government.

Despite these benefits, Quebec is rather lonely in its approach to early childhood education. Only Prince Edward Island has implemented a similar system of support. In fact, as a whole, Canada spends just 0.2 per cent

of GDP on childcare, placing us last among comparative Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) economies. We spend a tenth of what the Swedes do on childcare, a fifth of the Finns, and half of what the Brits spend.

Increasing our public investment to meet the OECD average would take upwards of $3 billion a year, and some will certainly scoff at this figure.

Yet given the demonstrated financial returns in Quebec, and the long-term impact on inequality and social mobility that a level playing field for children provides, we may want to reconsider our unwillingness to make such investments.

As a small fish in a big pond, Canada’s economic success in a global knowledge economy will be built on our ability to get the most out of every one of our citizens. A significant commitment to childcare and early childhood education is an important step in this direction.

CITY OF WATERLOO | OUR COMMUNITY A Message From City of Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran ...

Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet here in Waterloo, so why not take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this exceptionally snowy winter?

Free public skating is still available in the public square, and thanks to the hard-work and dedication of Waterloo community members there are also many well-maintained neighbourhood skating rinks to enjoy throughout the city.

March Break is right around the corner, and there are plenty of programs and activities to keep kids busy and entertained. Take advantage of the many drop-in programs running over the course of the week at RIM Park, the WMRC, and Albert McCormick Community Centre. Visit the March Break page at waterloo.ca for further details on all of our March Break activities.

Day celebration. There will be traditional Irish dancing, giveaways, face painting, and activities for kids. This is a free public event, and will run from 2pm to 4pm on Friday March 14th, 2014.

If a stroll through history is more your speed, be sure to pop into the City of Waterloo Museum to take in their latest exhibit.

“Arresting Images: Mug shots from the OPP Museum” features a selection of 19th and early 20th century mug shots, and will run until May 9, 2014.

However you choose to spend these last few weeks of winter, I hope you enjoy a safe, happy, and healthy March.

As always, I’m open to any questions or comments you have.

Please send me an email or call 519.747.8700 to get in touch.

And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Get your green on mid-month and join us in Waterloo public square for the Shamrock Shake-Up; a family friendly St. Patrick’s

Mayor Brenda Halloran

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 • MARCH 2014

NEws // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

ALIENATION vIA GENTRIFICATION How can we change the stigma surrounding poverty?

SamanTHa ESToESTa CCE ContriBUtor

We are essentially teaching our citizens gentrification.

S

eb Bonet is no stranger to anti-poverty action on the West Coast.

Bonet has more than 15 years experience in anti-poverty action across British Columbia, with the majority of his focus falling on Vancouver Island and Victoria, as a staff member at Victoria Island Public Interest Research Group. Leading a multi-province discussion on poverty reduction at the first annual National Public Interest Research Group Conference on February 15, 2014, Bonet said, “We have three major problems that need to be addressed before poverty can be eliminated,” listing marginalization, stigmatization, and criminalization.

Marginalization of the poor comes from systemic and institutional obstacles such as the elimination of the national housing program, the decreases in funding for food programs, the cost of public transportation, and changes in the availability and accessibility of Employment Insurance (EI). The accessibility of social programs can also be a factor, especially in rural areas.

Stigmatization of the poor comes in many forms. Good Neighbour Agreements, which are contracts used to keep areas clean and beautiful, are often used as ways for communities to become exclusive to middle and upper classes. Media coverage paints all low socio-economic level citizens as deviant, problematic, or burdensome. There are even programs nation-wide that allow property owners to act as instruments of surveillance, such as Neighbourhood Watch and Citizen Police, calling in infractions as small as loitering or placing down bags in front of property.

Criminalization of the poor comes through a combination of police and business intervention. The commodification of public spaces transforms places that could be used as gathering or temporary resting places into a product of the municipality that needs to be protected and beautified. Bill C-10, the omnibus crime bill, takes relatively modest crimes, such as loitering, and assigns harsh sentences for repeat offences. With the removal of services from city centres, there are limited options for individuals of low socio-economic status to gather, let alone rest, without

Kota Kimura, activist and graduate student at the University of Manitoba

anti-poverty activists in Kitchener earlier this year • CCE ContriBUtor LindSaY PUrChaSE

being charged with loitering.

Kota Kimura, an activist pursuing graduate studies at the University of Manitoba, added that Community Watch and Citizen Police programs can sometimes be abused by police services. “We are essentially teaching our citizens gentrification,” Kimura passionately expresses. “We become more interested in snitching than helping.”

“Exactly,” Bonet agreed. “Look at the media too; when there are issues over shelters and social services, it is the property owners that get a say, not the people accessing

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the services or those who see how that will change the community positively.”

How does this relate to the Tri-Cities?

Even with patterns of criminalization and legal stigmatization, the Tri-Cities fare better than most. There is only one Good Neighbour agreement and it falls between the Region of Waterloo International Airport and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Looking at the daily summary logs in mid-February, there have been no tickets of loitering in the region. The Neighbourhood Watch program is specifically built around robbery, theft, and

break-and-enter.

Services continue to be accessible to those who need them. On the Grand River Transit (GRT) 7 bus route, there are 15 social services within walking distance from a bus stop just between Columbia and Benton. And while fares for monthly passes increased, the cash fare of a single ride has held steady at $3. When looking at single bus fares for four communities of closest size, the Tri-Cities is one of the lowest.

Our biggest problem as the Tri-Cities lies in the social stigmatization of citizens of low socio-economic status. For example, news that a new women’s shelter might be built in Cambridge created a backlash among nearby residents. It was clear from news reports that the would-be neighbors were linking a shelter for women and children leaving abusive families to drug use and violent offenders.

The proximity to an elementary school (along with other services that would be helpful to those individuals at the shelter) also alarmed residents.

It is not the constant cuts to governmental funding of social services that keeps these three techniques of alienation in place in the Tri-Cities and across the country. It is the myths perpetuated by media and citizens alike that alienate those who need support.

While we can hope (and vote) that our government systems put more focus on social services, it is our duty as citizens to make sure that we are not creating and supporting barriers to a poverty-free Waterloo Region, but are removing them.

march 2014 • 7

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ news

Do you ask questions about:

The LRT, municipal elections, where that ambulance is going, local festivals, new condo developments, what’s happening with old factories, new tech, Google and BlackBerry, statues in Victoria Park, animals in Waterloo Park, local social services - or anything else?

A worker marches outside the Cambridge Toyota plant • PHOTO COURTESY UNIFOR

Union Forward WE like people who H.G. Watson Editor-in-Chief

A

fter almost 30 years and several different attempts to organize the Toyota plant in Cambridge, the organizers behind the campaign are getting a good feeling about their most recent effort.

“I think we’re closer than we’ve ever been,” said Darryl Watkins. He’s been a contract worker at the plant for the last 21 months, where he delivers parts from incoming trucks to the line. He’s also been actively involved with organizing the union.

The drive at Toyota in Cambridge, run in conjunction with a plant in Woodstock, has become the centre-piece organizing campaign for Unifor, the union born of the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworks Union (CEP) just six months ago. For the new union, this is their first high profile test of organizing strength.

The history of organizing at Toyota in Ontario goes back to the late 1980s, when the Japanese automaker first began to open plants in North America. Initially, their employee agreements were very similar to the collective agreements that unions like CAW had in place with the big three automakers.

As a result, any attempts to organize the plants in Woodstock or Cambridge were hindered since many workers didn’t necessarily see the need for a union.

But as the auto industry has declined, so have the rights and wages normally enjoyed by its workers.

“Toyota has got the ability to unilaterally to make changes in the workplace whether it’s good for the employees or not,” said John Aman, the director of organizing at Unifor.

“All that has culminated into workers at Toyota saying they don’t like the patterns they are seeing.”

At Toyota in Cambridge, the workers are fighting for higher wages, as well as better benefits and protections for contract workers. Toyota did not respond to requests for comment on this story.

As of press time, Aman says that over 3,000 workers at both plants have signed their union cards, which they believe puts them close to the 40 per cent threshold they need to pass in order to proceed to a

certification vote.

The new campaign has also been helped in large part by the considerable resources Unifor has committed to the workers.

In forming the new union, Unifor delegates and executives at the founding convention voted to make organizing new workers a key part of the union’s long-term strategy, devoting ten per cent of all revenue to organizing which works out to about $10 million.

Since that convention six months ago, this campaign represents one of their largest organizing efforts.

“Any campaign of this magnitude does take significant resources especially if you want to do it right,” said Aman. “But that’s the mandate that our union has received from our membership and leadership. We’re not throwing good money away — we’re utilizing the resources in a smart fashion trying to assist employees at Toyota.”

One of the challenges for the two organizers is fighting the misconceptions of unions held by people both inside and outside the plant.

“I think it is because a lot of people are afraid of change or they have heard negative media portrayals of unions,” said Watkins.

The organizing campaign has drawn comparisons to the failed United Auto Workers campaign to organize a Volkswagon plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee earlier this year. In that case, outside interference played a large role in the failure of the union to win their certification vote.

However, while the scope and importance of the campaigns are certainly similar, Unifor organizers have not experienced the kind of outside antagonism that was so crucial in turning the tide in Chattanooga.

But they still want to make sure that the wider public is aware of the benefits of having a union at the plant in Cambridge.

They are also not worried about a negative response from Toyota management — Aman noted that since the campaign has been revived, the company has been a good employer and not interfered with the vote process.

But the biggest hurdle for these organizers is proving that Unifor can do what it said it was going to do — organize new workers.

“It’s going to be hard to go back because we’ve been going at it for almost a year and half now and it’s been a long haul,” said Watkins. “At the end of the day I hope it’s worth it.”

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8 • MARCH 2014

URBan Exploring New knitting space

Elvis inspiration behind wool store in Kitchener

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

URBAN BEATS y It’s Getting hot in here An electrical fire broke out in a storage room in the Science of Sexuality exhibit, at THEMUSEUM, the morning of February 28th. Damage was not extensive, but further inspection is required to determine cost. After a short closure the day of the fire, THEMUSEUM is back to regular opening hours.

y four options for airport expansion

Inside Woolverine in downtown Kitchener, owned and operated by Tia Menich. • JODY Waardenburg CCE CONTRIBUTOR

Janine prew CCE Contributor

W

hile unemployed and soul searching, Tia Menich knit 2,976 one inch sized squares, and Elvis appeared. In the heart of downtown Kitchener his quilted likeness hangs on the wall, keeping watch over the spacious new Woolverine Knit Boutique.

“I spent so much time with Elvis that he had to come here with me; I couldn’t leave him at home alone,” said Menich. It was while knitting her woolly tribute to the King of Rock and Roll that she realized it was time to go forward with her dream of opening a wool shop.

She even had a name all ready to go, thanks to

her “macho truck mechanic” partner Chris, who came up with ‘Woolverine’ years ago.

The Kitchener native started up her shop with the basic products, and is now expanding her stock by listening to customers’ suggestions and bringing in their favourite brands and fibres.

Menich has been knitting since her grandma taught her at the age of five. A closet knitter for years, she struggled with the uncool image knitting seemed to have, but found it to be an important outlet.

“I think the reason why I continued knitting is I always found it de-stressing and very therapeutic. I would get home from work, when I worked in the animation industry, after a 10 to 12 hour day, and I would have to knit for an hour just to unwind.”

A month after opening her wool shop, Menich has been pleasantly surprised by the downtown

atmosphere and culture, as well as the wide spectrum of customers who walk through her doors. In addition to the elderly ladies, there is a growing number of university aged kids and male knitters picking up the needles. With their shared passion for everything wool, Menich encourages them all to drop in with a coffee, knit and talk fibre.

Plans to conduct classes for knitters at all levels are also underway. But for now, Menich has simple advice. “Start with a good sturdy acrylic and a 4.5 mm needle,” she said. “The reason I say acrylic is you can rip that sucker out and start over a hundred times and it’s not going to fray.”

She encouraged everyone to have patience and keep at it. “I think you learn by making mistakes while knitting. I still make mistakes!”

Wise words in knitting and in life.

the end of an era

Rum Runner Pub’s old management says goodbye HG Watson Editor-in-chief

T

he week leading up to March 1 was hard for Liz Howie. But that Saturday — the last Saturday she would oversee a busy night at the Rum Runner Pub in the bottom of the Walper Hotel— had begun to turn around.

“Today I feel pretty good,” she said.

For the last four years, Howie and her husband Darryl have operated the pub that has long been a local hangout for the downtown Kitchener crowd. But a change in the ownership of the Walper Hotel signaled an end of an era for the pair, and they decided they would have to move on.

“When we first were going to close it was devastating,” said Howie. The pub will now be under management of Perimeter Development Corporation David Strucke and CK Atlantis Ltd. — the group that purchased the Walper property

last fall — on March 2.

Howie had worked at the Walper for 20 years.

Just four years ago, the then owners decided to lease the historic space, named for its role in running alcohol to Chicago and New York during the prohibition years of the twenties — rumours have long persisted that tunnels built for the rum runners exist under the bar, though Howie said she has never seen any evidence of them.

It was the perfect opportunity for Howie and her husband to take over. She wanted to create a comfortable space where people could meet to enjoy good food, drink and company. “I’ve always maintained that it would be more of a Cheers like atmosphere,” she said. “You’re not going to hear the music or TV blasting. It’s about friends getting together to have conversations.”

The Rum Runner is one of the more unique spaces in Waterloo Region. Comprised of several small rooms, the pub had the cozy and chaotic

feel of a traditional English pub.

However, now that it has come time to say good-bye, Howie is looking forward.

She’s very close to signing the lease on a new space in downtown Kitchener, and with it she’s decided that she’ll be making some changes. “I plan to tap a market that I think is really needed in the downtown area, which is breakfast.”

Howie said that the new space will be open for breakfast and lunch, and will be open on Sunday’s — welcome news for hungry residents who are starved for options after a Saturday night out.

She is confident her crowd of regulars will follow her, and make a new bar that the can all call home.

Already, she knows that many people have her back.

“It’s been really nice the public support that I have received from the downtown community,” she said. “That’s what keeps us going.”

Region of Waterloo Airport has four potential options for growth within the next 20 years. The options range from status quo, costing around $5 million, to high growth, coming in at $100 million. There was a public open house February 6th to present the potential options, with an emphasis on the options being less about charter traffic and more about passenger planes, which are generally newer and quieter.

y Investing in education The Province of Ontario is funding the building of three new schools in the Region, as well as expanding two others. The project will cost an estimated $36 million, and is tied to the $700 million that Ontario has set aside in the annual funding for school building. Two public elementary schools to be built, on in Elmira and one in Vista Hills area of Waterloo. A Frenchlanguage high school will be built in Waterloo. The expansions will be made to two catholic schools in Cambridge.

y HIgh Ranks for schools in waterloo region Several schools in the Waterloo Region ranked high in the Fraser Institute’s annual School Report Card ranking system. Created in 2003 as a means of gauging success in individual schools, the ranking is done from zero to ten.

The highest graded school in the Region is Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic school with a rank of 8.7.

march 2014 • 9

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

WATERLOO vS KITCHENER If you’re in the market for a home, you’ve probably heard that owning a home in Waterloo is exponentially more expensive than in Kitchener. While this has traditionally been the case, Kitchener has seen a rise in housing prices over the last few years. you will definitely find more options in Kitchener on a lower budget than in Waterloo, but with a little patience, potential homeowners may now find exactly what they’re looking for without having to compromise on which part of the city they call home. LISA umHOLTz CCE CONTRIbuTOR

Let’s get sticky There’s something particularly Canadian about this time of year: temperatures are rising, snow is melting, and maple tree sap starts running. What could be more Canadian than maple syrup season and all the festivities that go with it?

Enjoy springtime tapping season while it lasts with this guide to the perfect day of pursuing Waterloo Region’s maple mother lode. - Lisa Umholtz

yDon’t miss the old-fashioned maple syrup toffee at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival! You can only get this sticky treat once a year. This year’s festivities happen on April 5.

in Waterloo, high prices get you great location. But you might get some unruly neighbours. • RyAN HuEGLIN CCE CONTRIbuTOR

Waterloo $150,000 — Lakeshore North District, Waterloo 323 NORTHLAKE Drive 2 bed, 1 bath Pros: Great location with easy access to Highway 85 and major routes of Northfield, Weber, and King Street. And who needs a gym? Top floor unit makes for great daily exercise!

Cons: Small indoor space and no private outdoor area. Additional monthly maintenance fees of $257.50. You either need to bring your own laundry appliances or factor in the cost of the local laundromat.

$275,000 — Willowdale District, Waterloo 320 BRIDGEPORT Road East 2 bed, 2 bath Pros: Huge lot and stunning back yard is a great draw if you love to garden or entertain outside.

Cons: Smaller rooms are the compromise for the large lot. Located on a very busy stretch where Bridgeport merges with Erb and Highway 85 exit ramp.

$450,000+ — Kitchener Central, Waterloo 129 ALBERT Street 4 bed, 1 bath Pros: This stunning century home with modern updates could not be more perfectly located in the heart of central Waterloo, surrounded by our two local universities, Waterloo Park, and uptown amenities. Beautifully landscaped, back deck, mature trees, enormous fenced back lot.

Cons: Albert Street is a busy traffic bypass. With lots of student houses and traffic along the street, you might want to take a vacation during Welcome Week and St. Patrick’s Day.

Kitchener $150,000 — Forest Heights, Kitchener 175 ELM RIDGE Drive 3 bed, 2 bath Pros: Oversized windows brighten up the condo, the kitchen features modern updates. This condo also includes a fenced backyard – perfect for a family with children or pets.

Cons: Located a fair distance from the city centre, and need to factor in monthly condo fee of $255.35. A beauty on the inside, this older building lacks curb appeal of newer builds.

$275,000 — Laurentian Hills, Kitchener 41 RISTAU CRES 3 bed, 2 bath Pros: High-end laminate flooring is a beautiful feature throughout the main and upper floors. Located on a quiet crescent with a large fenced back yard.

Cons: The skinny, rectangular shape of the basement rec room is more suited for a bowling alley.

$450,000+ —Country Hills, Kitchener 227 SOUTHWOOD Drive 4 bed, 4 bath Pros: Doon Heritage Park and many other green spaces in close proximity. Close to Conestoga College, the 401 and Highway 7/8. Impress your friends with the marble floor and oak staircase, and invite the entire family over for awesome outdoor entertaining with 2-tiered back deck.

Cons: Bleams and Homer Watson are busy streets, but a treed backyard reduces noise. House looks like old man with white eyebrows and moustache – which could be a pro, if you like houses that have literal character.

ySet your post-festival dinner sights on the Jane Bond in Waterloo where you can find the Maple Caramelized Pear Salad on their menu year round. Feeling thirsty?

Maple syrup is a feature ingredient in their Apple Pie Tini, sharing the flavor stage with spiced rum, cinnamon schnapps, and apple juice. yFor dessert, head up King Street to Honey Bake Shop to enjoy the perfect pairing of sweet and savory with a maple bacon cupcake. If it’s decadence and richness you’re after, the maple pecan cheesecake from Marisol is worth the trip. yHit up Matter of Taste for some caffeine reinforcement with a Canadian Fog latte. Think: London Fog, but made with maple tea, steamed milk and sweet caramel syrup. yAfter a full day of hunting for the best maple products our region has to offer, retire to the comfort of your own home for a well-earned nightcap. Go for a traditional Hot Toddy, but try using Crown Royal Maple Finished Whisky for a maple Canadian twist.

Photos courtesy owner/creative commons/CCE file photos.

10 • MARCH 2014

urban exploring // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

Community Conversations Vulva or vagina, which is which?

Pure & local

Your monthly guide to living clean in K-W

Sheena Bounsanga is a mindfulness coach. She is the owner of Blue Bamboo Holistics (.blue-bamboo.ca) and the creator of Mindful Kids.

W

Stacey’s vulva puppet, Vivian. • PHOTO COURTESY STACEY JACOBS

Stacey jacobs Stacey Jacobs is the Community Sexual Health Educator at Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region,.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.

hat if the way you communicated with your spouse or significant other directly affected their health and well-being. Are you communicating mindfully?

My husband was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease more than 12 years ago, at the age of 21.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, which causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. Although stress doesn’t cause Crohn’s, it does make symptoms worse and may trigger flare-ups.

What does that means for both my husband and I, and our marriage as a whole? Simply put, stress makes my husband very sick — so much so that sometimes he has to visit the hospital.

In order to cope with this, we have had to learn different techniques to deal with stress - or, more importanly, learn ways to avoid stress all together.

The most effective technique that we have implemented in our lives is mindful communication. Mindful communication means listening and speaking with compassion, kindness and awareness. In order to engage in effective communication using mindfulness, we have to listen mindfully and speak mindfully. Easy enough, right? Here are some tips to help.

Cultivating mindful listening:

L

et’s start out the spring with some fun facts about female genitalia.

If you are referring to external female genitalia the correct term is vulva. Vulva means covering and includes the inner and outer labia, the clitoris and the clitoral hood, the vestibule (the area between the inner labia), and the mons (the padding on top of your pubic bone covered in pubic hair).

However, most people refer to the entire external female genital area as the vagina. The vagina (or vaginal canal) is involved in menstruation, pregnancy and delivery. It is usually five inches long and leads to the cervix. This is separate from the vulva, although you can see the opening to the vagina (and the urethra) on the vulva.

These two terms are often confused. This may be because the vagina has many important functions in the reproductive process. Or it may be because the vagina is more often discussed medically.

Another reason could be because people rarely discuss female sexual pleasure, which is often derived from the clitoris and other areas of the vulva such as the vestibule and labia (most women do not orgasm with penetration alone).

Or it could be that as a society we are predominantly concerned with heterosexual intercourse, reproduction and where a penis can go.

Whatever the reason, it is important to know that there is a difference between a vulva and a vagina, and what this difference is.

Now that you know, please pass this information on to others; including children, who I have heard confuse the term vulva with Volvo.

Vulva’s come in many shapes, sizes, colours, with attitude or without. However, if you are unhappy with how your vulva looks you can now design your own.

Not only can breasts get augmented — vulva’s can as well. Vulval and vaginal augmentation can include: liposuction of the mons pubis, labiaplasties (the surgical reshaping of the vulva or labia — often a decrease in the labia minora), vaginal tightening, clitoral unhoodings and hymen repair. Often women are looking for nice, neat, small and symmetrical vulvas.

One of the reasons for these requests is that women want their vulva to look like the vulvas they have seen in magazines, in pornography or on the Internet. Men often expect the same.

What they don’t realize is that most of these women are airbrushed and cropped and have had surgery to look the way they do. They often bleach or dye their vulva skin and anus to make it pale and pink, usually adding a Brazilian bikini wax, sometimes a tattoo or piercing.

Women do not understand the beauty of their vulva, because they have never seen one that looks similar to theirs.

Worse yet, many women have never seen their own vulva. They know it is there, but they don’t want to see it, examine it or admire it. Every vulva is unique and beautiful in its own way and deserves respect.

If you have a vulva, make it your resolution to brush the dust off the hand mirror and take a look.

1) One focus Clear your head of any thoughts that are occupying your mind.

Clear your hands of any devices that are occupying your fingers. Don’t look at your feet or a spot on the wall. When someone is talking to you, look into their eyes. It shows that you care about them and that they have your full attention.

2) Don’t assume If the person says something that you don’t understand and you need clarification, don’t assume but rather ask them to clarify their statement. Just be sure to come from a place of compassion.

Cultivating mindful speech: 1) Pause, breathe and respond When responding to either a question or comment, don’t just immediately start talking. Pause, breathe and then respond. Be less reactive and more responsive. It’s amazing what this one little technique can do!

2) Be honest The best thing you can do for yourself is to be yourself. That means speaking your truth. This doesn’t mean that you have to be mean or rude. You can speak your truth with compassion and kindness.

Cultivating a mindful relationship: 1) Lose the ego This isn’t a competition or a battle to be won. This is your significant other and, although you may not see eye to eye right now, ultimately the end goal is the same.

2) Be gracious and grateful Too often we focus on the negative. You love this person — seek out the good in them and in the relationship that you’ve built together.

Seek it out, write it down and tell them, over and over again. Gratitude can cultivate some pretty amazing things.

My husband and I have quickly learned about the importance of ‘picking our battles’ — pick the wrong battle and communicate it poorly and you’ll hear his gut grumble from across the room. The physical effects of stress on my husband’s body are immediate and severe. But Crohn’s or not, stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to long-term health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes as well as short term problems such as headaches, insomnia, and indigestion.

So let me ask you again, knowing now that the way you communicate with your spouse or significant other directly affects their health and well-being: are you communicating mindfully?

Images courtesy Creative Commons.

march 2014 • 11

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

arts & culture Who is that girl?

Mystery art looks to change perceptions of K-W Cristina alumdevar CCE Contributor

T

he most interesting art is shrouded in mystery, such as the true identity of Banksy, a popular United Kingdombased graffiti artist, which has long been debated. In the past month, Kitchener-Waterloo has gained their own Banksy in a series of posters put up around the cities entitled “The Funner Sister.”

The poster in question, which can be found in multiple locations around Kitchener and Waterloo, features an illustration of a smirking girl with edgy purple hair and tattoos of various symbols, such as the University of Waterloo crest, with the words “The Funner Sister – Kitchener” emblazoned on her chest.

“The ultimate goal is to give people something to wonder about,” said the artist and creator of “The Funner Sister,” who wishes to remain anonymous. “Posters normally advertise things like a band [coming to town]. So Mysterious posters have been showing up around town • RYAN HUEGLIN PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER when you walk through the city you kind of asThe artist recently put up another similarly that stuff, and see what’s going on with the tech sume that’s what you’re looking at but then you styled poster in Uptown Waterloo depicting an community.” look closer and you realize that it’s not.”

One of the only aspects surrounding the post- old BlackBerry pager receiving an email with the She wants to make the viewer pay attention lines, “The powerful play goes on, and you may er that isn’t mysterious is the inspiration for the and make them wonder about the purpose of title “The Funner Sister”—the artist said that the contribute a verse,” which is a quote from the the art. poem “O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman. inspiration for the name comes from the sister “The goal is just that — to make a bit of a “The whole thing is a compliment,” said the cities of Kitchener-Waterloo. mystery.” artist on the lingering effects of the posters.

The artist, a recent transplant to Kitchener By putting the posters up around town, the “I’m focusing on the positive and giving peowho has lived in both cities, finds that the “vibe” artist is also trying to challenge common misple a bit of inspiration. I know it’s graffiti and and reputation of the two cities are completely conceptions of Kitchener, which typically that people will eventually take them down but different. gets a poor reputation throughout the town of hopefully they get stolen and that people iden“I feel like from talking to the people around Waterloo. tify with them. I hope no one is mad.” town, that there wasn’t a great sense of iden“I think it’s a great place to live and there’s so tity or positivity around living in Kitchener,” she much going on. They have such a great energy If you see a copy of the posters, be sure and share said. “There are so many amazing things going and that wasn’t there like ten years ago … it’s your photos with us by tweeting @CordCommunity. on and so many young people who are moving gone through so much change,” said the artist. to the downtown core, that I just felt like it called We’ve seen them all the way down King St in Waterloo “When you look at the manufacturing hisRegion. for like some positivity. I wanted to give [the tory of Kitchener, and how many cool things Editor’s note: We would like copies of both. have been made in the town — it’s neat to see all city] a positive identity.”

vocal cord We went to Uptown and asked:

What is the biggest issue facing the arts community?

“Studio space! It’s so expensive and not everyone has that kind of space at home.”

“I would say jobs. It’s easier if you’re not picky but a lot of people want to do jobs that fit them just right and those are harder to find.”

Danielle Hyde Sales Associate

Emily Victorilaeorza Factory worker

Arts beat yKitchener artist gets residency Dwight Storring, who we featured in the February issue, has been named the City of Kitchener’s 2014 artist-in-residence. No doubt Storring will use this opportunity to give his art the profile it deserves. His venture, entitled Neighbourhood Voices, will document and preserve the stories of Kitchener’s neighbourhoods by collecting and sharing personal stories of residents.

y Clay and Glass Gallery preps for new exhibits The end of March brings forth three new exhibits to the Clay and Glass Gallery located in Uptown Waterloo. Glass artist and Renaissance man John Paul Robinson explores the mythic potential of science with his exhibit Art, Science, and Myth. Accessible yet scientific, Robinson’s work intersects visual art with science’s greatest mysteries. In addition, two other exhibits will join the gallery – New Function/ Non-Function: Design as Exploration, and Jessica Steinhäuser’s contemporary Kachelofen.

y youth short film Contest still accepting entries There’s still time to submit your original video for consideration in Downtown Kitchener’s Youth Video Competition. Three cash awards of $200 for the 12-17 year old category will be awarded in addition to three cash awards of $300 for the 18-25 year old category. Entries must be between 50 seconds and three minutes, independent of sound, and meet a variety of technical criteria.

The winners of the competition will be projected on the ‘Cube,’ located on the exterior of Kitchener’s Berlin Tower. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2014.

12 • March 2014

ARts & CULTURE // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

A Grizzly take on design

Jon ‘Bearface’ Johnson is keeping local design clean and fresh We asked Jon to walk us through the creative process for some of his latest projects.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

NOVEMBER 29 Check kitchenerdowntown.com for a list of participating businesses Free Carriage Rides from 5:30-9:30pm and Ice Skating at City Hall

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE BUSINESSES OF DOWNTOWN KITCHENER

“I made the City of Kitchener a poster that I would make, the way I want. It’s not a ‘city’ poster at all. I did something for their New Years Eve event and that was directed by them, but everything that I’ve done with the City of Kitchener or the [business improvement area] is how I would like to see it. They’ve said they like the way what I’m doing looks, so I just keep doing it. When it comes to the style of my work, what I’m doing for them is just what I like doing. My process with a lot of these takes time. I look for inspiration and rough sketches and then I put together reference material and build things from there.“

Johnson’s studio is full of screen-printing tools and inspiration • ANNA BEARD ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Anna Beard Arts & Culture editor

F

or local artist Jon Johnson, becoming a graphic designer wasn’t always his plan — but a combination of opportunity and hard work gave rise to a career, as well as his famous non-de-plume, Bearface.

After completing a degree in English and film studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Johnson was holding down jobs at the Princess Cinemas, Starlight, and Jane Bond. He was also casually browsing the blogs of other designers, including that of Aaron Draplin, an American artist who co-founded the Field Notes line of stationary.

“Around the same time I started reading Draplin’s blog, the person who was doing the film guide at the Princess Cinemas was leaving and I convinced John, the owner of the cinema, that I could learn how to do that. Then, John Kutt, who was doing all the posters at the Starlight was leaving and he told the owners of the Starlight and the Jane Bond that I could probably do his job,” explained Johnson. “So then they asked me to do an ad for the Imprint and I’ve been doing their ads and posters ever since.”

But it was his tenure as a one time DJ at Jane Bond that brought ‘Bearface’ to life.

“I started using that name as a joke, as a DJ,” said Johnson. “I started calling myself that as a joke when I DJed Halloween with DJ 88 at the Jane Bond. Then I just kept using it.”

Bearface abandoned the decks, but he kept the design work. Johnson has since built his brand into a successful graphic design and screen-printing business. He’s responsible for most of the beautiful gig posters promoting upcoming shows at Starlight Lounge in Uptown Waterloo, as well as for a host of other clients.

He has also done branding and advertising for clients as diverse as Taco Farm, Whiting Design and the City of Kitchener.

He has also branched out into screen-printing under the moniker BRFC. “I learned how to screen print before I learned how to design because we were making a zine called Ctrpllr and I wanted to make merchandise,” he said. “Then I just stopped screen printing for a long time until I decided I wanted to start using handkerchiefs and wanted to make my own.”

Handkerchiefs, t-shirts, coasters, and placemats are just a few of the items that Johnson screen-prints before taking them to market at events like Stitch n’ Kitsch, a local craft market, and Kitchener’s downtown art market.

Bearface continues to grow. Johnson has developed a sub brand for kids called Cub, and is collaborating on a brand called Ours — French for bear — with his wife Jenna.

“Another part of my design process is that I always run things by Jenna. It’s handy to get feedback and have somebody to bounce stuff off of,” said Johnson.

Relationships have been vital to building Johnson’s career.

“I’ve done a lot of things and met a lot of people and it seems to have paid off,” said Johnson.

“The friendships that I’ve made for other reasons sometimes turn into something that leads to something. I don’t know if it’s that people like my work, or they like me, or both but it’s kind of great.”

Beer drinkers can even see Johnson’s designs on bottles of the “Frost Quake” beer from Wellington Brewery.

What else can we expect from Bearface?

“I never know what’s next because what’s next is somebody saying ‘Hey, I need this,’” explained Johnson. “I’m just a guy who was like I like design and then I taught myself how to make things look a way I thought looked good and then other people said ‘Hey, that looks good.’ I like doing what I’m doing. I love the fact that when I want to screen print, I just go into my basement. I just want to keep doing that.”

“If I could design for anything, it would be beer. I really love small businesses and I love the mentality of craft breweries. I met one of the guys who work at Wellington Brewery and this past year they started doing a one-off series. We started talking about labels and I mentioned that I do graphic design. On my birthday, I got an email from them asking me to do a label for them.”

“Originally I needed a screen saver so I just made my own.

I’ve always loved motorcycles and ‘Live to Read, Read to Live’ comes from the classic phrase ‘Live to Ride, Ride to Live,’ so it’s been a motif that’s been in my head since I was a kid.

At some point after posting it online I found it on Tumblr and found that it had hundreds of reblogs. I redid it for the outdoor book event where Mandy Brouse from Words Worth Books saw it, and now the shirts are in my favourite bookstore. I did it because I’ve always loved reading and it’s something that supports that.”

March 2014 • 13

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ ARts & CULTURE

exploring criminal minds

Notorious criminals from the past make a stop in Waterloo Rebecca aLlison CCE Contributor

P

hotographs have always been able to capture a feeling of mystery and intrigue.

Each photo holds unknown stories and untold tales. These mysterious tales come to life with the current exhibit at the City of Waterloo Museum, located at Conestoga Mall.

Hailing from the Ontario Provincial Police Museum in Orillia, Arrested Images gives visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the criminals of the past with an astounding collection of over 100 mug shots taken between 1886 and 1908.

Walking along the portrait wall, multiple faces gaze back at you. Some suspects seem indifferent, given their situation of having their photo taken before being placed in a cell not much larger than a closet.

Others seem confused or even proud to be photographed.

For example, Charles L. Green is calm and overdressed for the occasion, in a nice hat and well-kept suit and tie. His crimes included pick pocketing and penny-weighting — removing cash and belongings from the pockets of his victims, replacing belongings with worthless weights in order to avoid detection.

Another striking mug shot in the exhibit

The touring exhibit of historical criminals features 100 mug shots from 1886-1908 • REBECCA ALLISON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

belongs to F.E. Larkin.

After his arrest in 1903 for ‘burglary of the 3rd degree,’ Larkin would have almost disappeared if not for the arrest of a Frank Larking, three years later for grand larceny.

The men were similar in appearance and age. It would be later assumed that the photographs and arrests were of the same man.

In the photograph, Larkin’s eyes, though shaded by a bowler hat, are unnerving. The sharp glint caused by the flash of the camera makes his gaze appear pointed and off-putting.

Other crimes seem unfit and out of place in comparison. A woman was charged with

‘elopement.’ The photo hanging on display was not a mug shot but rather a portrait given to the police by her distraught husband. She had apparently eloped with another man and had been missing ever since. No information was recorded regarding whether or not she had been found.

The centre and foundation of the exhibit rests in the tools used to capture these stories.

The history and evolution of the camera is portrayed through the numerous mug shots as well as a variety of vintage equipment.

Past methods of photography such as the daguerreotype, cabinet cards or the tintypes,

showcase cameras as an integral part of the history of law enforcement throughout time.

In addition to the portraits of those accused and the instruments used to document their arrests, the exhibit showcases handcuffs from their early days, the ever-changing size of cells, and the uniform of the OPP officers of the time.

Arrested Images takes visitors on a trip through history and explores the justice system throughout time.

Arrested Images runs at the City of Waterloo Museum (550 King St N, open Tuesday-Friday) until May 9, 2014. .

no room for artists Studio space and resources are few. What’s an artist to do?

Cristina alumdevar CCE Contributor

With Kitchener’s healthy reputation as a growing arts community, and the region actively supporting the arts, it’s a surprise that it’s still a challenge to find the space to create art.

The hunt for studio space has always been difficult, but local artists are coming up empty in their search.

“It truly was fairly difficult to find a space in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Most places have long wait lists of artists waiting for safe and affordable studio space. The key words there being safe and affordable,” said Desiree Lichty, marketing manager at The Button Factory and independent artist.

“Working as a professional artist is just like running a small business. Often times finding spaces that are clean and safe and in a budget range that can be attainable is rare. I can only think of a handful of affordable studio spaces off hand.”

Over the past decade, there have been organizations created to help artists struggling to find a place, such as Globe Studios and Creative Enterprise Initiative (CEI), but there are still challenges.

“I’m not aware of any city sites that talk about studio space for artists,” said Litchey.

“It needs to happen – even if they provide

information to the not for profit organizations in the area. I don’t think they have that on their website.”

The problem may in part be because local government is simply not aware that there are so many artists looking for space in Waterloo.

“The Region does support the arts but not in a studio space kind of area,” said Lichty. “I don’t think anyone has brought it to the attention of the region how many local artists there are and how big of a need for a studio space that is a safe and affordable environment.”

While artists are finding resources scarce, the arts community has taken it upon themselves to try to create affordable studio space for in-coming artists. Places such as Globe Studios, The Button Factory and Station 2 Studios have become well-known and respected resources within the arts community.

“I guess we’re part of the problem as artists because we haven’t really cried out asking for more and letting them know of this need,” said Lichty on a potential solution on how to begin to fix the problem.

“They recognize that there’s a great community for technology but I do notice a small increase with their awareness with their dealings of the culture section of the community.”

The Button Factory hosts studio space for local artists • ANNA BEARD ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

14• March 2014

ARts & CULTURE // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

Congratulations to the winner of

THE REALLY SHORT, SHORT FICTION CONTEST THE CORD

Presented by

COMMUNITY THE ARCHIVIST CARINA RAMPELT

At the end of the universe, there is a library.

A crumpled note falls out from among the dusty tomes. A young woman — straight blonde hair, grey pencil skirt, cat’s eye glasses — bends to pick it up. It’s an ancient to-do list, written with glitter pen on a purple sticky note, a ghosting of dirt where the stickiness had been.

She always hopes she’ll discover love letters, or snippets of poetry (it does seem like that sort of place), but she rarely does. People did well with the clean up, didn’t leave much junk for the archives. She pockets it anyway, because it’s important — to her, anyway. A memory. A reminder that someone besides her was here. Or somewhere. Once.

From a cupboard she pulls out her own antique writing supplies: a quill, a ruled exercise book, crayons, sealing wax. She writes carefully in orange crayon: “Darling, I can’t bear to be without you any longer. Let’s run away together, never mind what your father says. Yours forever, X.” A tenderness that defies her circuitry fills her eyes. She tears it out, folds it in quarters.

Presses it gently between two volumes of Hemingway. Then she puts the crayons neatly away.

RUNNER-UP

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS ALIX PRIEST

What a day to fly a kite. Jacob knew it was too windy for beginners. But he’d always loved a challenge. So off he went, his seven-year-old slim self lugging his father’s 17-year-old kite across the park. Jacob had seen the seventh grader’s fly these two really cool-looking, spacethemed kites last summer. By the next March, he couldn’t wait until summer was really here.

He needed to go now.

The park isn’t the safest place for a seven-year-old child at five am, but Jacob’s parents didn’t know he was gone. He usually slept in until eight on Saturdays, when he got up to watch cartoons. And eat his cereal. His stomach growled. Jacob sped up, lifting his ‘Old Chiper’ just off the ground now as he went.

Old Chiper was a dingy orange, mixed with some white and yellow that had faded from summers past. The material hung and was missing in a few spots, but Jacob knew it would fly just fine. He would make it fly.

Picking his spot in the middle of the park’s three baseball diamonds, Jacob prepared to cast off. He threw Old Chip up, holding as tightly as he could to it’s tail, as the sun peaked yelloworange over the hill. Kercrrump. It fell back down.

Up, up, again and again. He remembered old Pooh Bear and Eeyore saying, “What goes up, must come down.” How positively dreadful he thought.

Until his seventh toss, when Old Chiper caught a gust of wind and flew. Oh how he flew.

Back and forth, higher, lower, always with the grace of his many years. Jacob felt he had given his father’s kite new life. And that kite was giving him new inspiration. That what others say isn’t always true. They’re afraid to leave the ground.

But no one was there to see it.

REviews Music Beck Morning Phase

anna bEard artS & CULtUrE Editor

J

ust when Beck falls of the radar, something like Morning Phase comes along and he ends up right back in the centre.

Too many other reviewers have condemned this album for its flatness and maturity, but for this listener, lo-fi, down tempo Beck is the best Beck.

Almost as if they were twin albums released ten years apart, Morning Phase drips of resolution giving beautiful welcomed nods to the critically acclaimed Sea Change. In fact, the opening track on Morning Phase, “Cycle,” sounds so remarkably similar to “The Golden Age” that one could easily mistake which song came from which album.

There was no cheating girlfriend to inspire Morning Phase like there was for Sea Change but it’s equally melancholic in its sound.

With tracks like “Say Goodbye” and “Unforgiven” though, you may suspect otherwise.

Morning Phase, produced by Beck himself, resurfaces the production legacy left on Sea Change by famed producer Nigel Godrich.

Beck mimics Godrich’s tendency to focus on colourful and textured transitions, while painting a masterpiece for listeners.

Slow, steady, and deliciously smooth, this album is perfect for those Sunday mornings in bed, sipping fine flavoured Americanos while reading the paper or, if you’re lucky,

Slow, steady, and deliciously smooth, this album is perfect for those Sunday mornings in bed sipping fine flavoured Americanos Anna Beard, arts & culture editor

discovering the brilliance of tangled limbs and getting lost in someone.

MUSIC ScHoolboy Q Oxymoron ScoTT GlaySHEr CCE ContriBUtor

2

013, launched a plethora of quality hiphop albums into the mainstream. Fans grabbed LPs from rappers like A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, Drake and the almighty Jay-Z. However, missing from 2013’s list of acclaimed records was one by LA rapper ScHoolboy Q. Often referred to as ‘Q,’ in the hip-hop community, this South Central emcee got some well-deserved shine for his 2012 mixtape entitled Habits & Contradictions, which propelled him into hip-hop stardom. Immediately after its release and commercial success, fans and critics alike were excitedly anticipating his debut LP. However, due to pushback after pushback, his debut studio LP entitled Oxymoron didn’t drop until February 25, 2014.

Oxymoron employs a mix of dark, introspective rhymes with some youthful ignorance, laid over flawless production. As a bar-for-bar emcee, ScHoolboy Q has no problem flexing his lyrical abilities with rapid fire delivery as heard on tracks like “Collard

Greens” with label-mate Kendrick Lamar and struggle ballad “Blind Threats” assisted

by Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon.

In addition, ScHoolboy’s anthem-making capabilities are nothing to scoff at. Songs like “What They Want” and lead single “Man of the Year” provide the perfect turn up tunes for any party.

Although the album has many stellar moments, it has some hiccups. Certain songs on the 12-song track list seem lost, as they don’t fit into the album’s clear theme of dualities within street life.

Nevertheless, Oxymoron meets the challenging task of appealing to casual fans without straying too far from the formula that attracted ScHoolboy Q’s core audience in the first place.

March 2014 • 15

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ ARts & CULTURE

listings music march 15 Cambridge Live Music Scene Meet-Up Kiwi Cambridge, 2:00 p.m., RSVP via Facebook

march 16 Sultry Brazilian Beats Hacienda Sarria, 6:00 p.m., $35

march 19 The Pack A.D. wsg, Pkew Pkew Pkew Starlight Social Club, 8:00 p.m., 19+, $12 adv

march 20 Alex Price CD release party wag Pocket City and The John Orpheus Experience Starlight Social Club, 8:00 p.m., 19+, $15

march 22 Silver and Diamond Starlight Social Club, 7:00 p.m., 19+, $10 adv

march 20 Dr. Strangelove Screening The Original Princess, 7:00 p.m., $10 Old Trout Puppet Workshop: Ignorance Centre in the Square, 8:00 p.m., $10-$25

MARCH 24 CAFKA General Meeting, Kitchener City Hall - Schmaltz Room, 7:00 p.m.

march 27 VOC Silent Film Harmonic: The General The Registry Theatre, 8:00 p.m., $15

community march 10 March Break at Joseph Schneider Haus Museum Joseph Schneider Haus Museum, 10:00 a.m., $5

march 27

The Freddy Fusion Wacky Science Magic Show Dunfield Theatre, 10:30 a.m., draytonentertainment.com

Camm Hunter wsg Dog Bus Starlight Social Club, 8:00 p.m., 19+, $12 adv

march 13

march 29 The Hanson Brothers aka NOMEANSNO Starlight Social Club, 7:00 p.m., 19+, $18 adv

Sex Dialogues | Woody Allen Film: “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Too Afraid to Ask” The Original Princess, 7:00 p.m., $10

march 14

april 1

Shamrock Shake Up Waterloo Public Square, 2:00 p.m.

James Vincent McMorrow wsg Aidan Knight Starlight Social Club, 8:00 p.m., 19+, $20 adv

march 16

arts

march 18

Zonita KW: Say “No” to violence against women and girls train ride Waterloo Central Railway, 10:00 a.m.

Sex Dialogues | Nerd Nite KW Presents: Nerd Nite Episode 21 THEMUSEUM, 5:30 p.m., $5

Pop Art Exhibition Studio 32, 10:00 a.m.

march 21

Coalescing: Berlin Tower ARTSPACE March exhibit by CEI Studio Artists Berlin Tower Artspace, 12:00 p.m.

UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Kitchener City Hall, 8:30 a.m.

Gallery M Presents: Offbeat Calling Gallery M, 12:00 p.m.

march 28

Twist and Shout: The British Invasion Dunfield Theatre, 2:00 p.m., draytonentertainment.com

march 12 I’ll Be Back Before Midnight St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 2:00 p.m., draytonentertainment.com

march 13 Pinocchio The Registry Theatre, 10:00 a.m., $15

Rectory.

Uranus.

These words sound dirty, but aren’t.

And neither are the conversations started by:

Sex Dialogues | Café Scientifique: Sex, Lies & the Media THEMUSEUM, 1:30 p.m., free by donation

mARCH 8

unforms: Rotunda Gallery March exhibit by Rick Nixon Kitchener Rotunda Gallery, 12:00 p.m.

Titular.

It’s time for the talk.

Kitchener’s State of Our City Address Kitchener City Hall, 7:30 a.m., $30, greaterkwchamber.com

march 29 Community Market Day Queen Street Commons, 11:00 a.m.

Nerd Fest Victoria Park Pavilion

To feature your event listing in the Cord Community email details to culture@thecord.ca THEMUSEUM.ca

D OW N TOW N K I TC H E N E R

• March 2014

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

Ideas to Change Waterloo

On Newsstands April 2nd We’re bringing you ten great ideas to make Waterloo Region a better place Vote for the people’s choice idea from March 10th to March 16th on community.thecord.ca