Issue 9 by The Dialog

$28,000 raised for GBC professor’s cancer treatment

Pg. 5 Jan. 4–Jan. 17, 2016

What no one will tell you about Canada

Sleeping Beauty coming to Casa Loma

Pg. 6

Pg. 8 GBC Student Newspaper • Founded 1982

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

The Student Association generates a $1.3 million surplus Expenses 2014-15

Student Association Audited Financials 2014-15

Plans for surplus could include paying down Casa Loma mortgage and hiring more staff

Board of Directors : 40503 $ Canadian Federation of Students : 380679 $

General : 73700 $ Operations : 82522 $

MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

Events and Orientation : 299727 $

Marketing and Communications : 71017 $

Compensation : 1736256 $

Student Services : 162205 $ Finance : 22575 $

Board of Directors Compensation Finance Student Services Marketing and Communications Events and Orientation Operations General Canadian Federation of Students meta-chart.com

Student Association expenses 2014-15

Protein & meal replacement shakes

According to an independent auditor’s report conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, The Student Association of George Brown College (SA), which publishes The Dialog, had a surplus of over $1.3 million in 2014-15. The SA’s unrestricted fund, which funds the general operations of the organization had a $597,972 surplus. The building fund which supports renovations and maintenance of the SA’s offices and student lounges had a surplus of $445,025. The health care fund for the SA’s health and dental insurance that students receive had a $301,556 surplus. The TTC fund, from the SA’s TTC discounted metropass sale service, had a modest surplus of $9,012 According to documents provided by the SA, in 201415 the SA was under budget by $195,666 in planned full-time and part-time staff spending. Thomas Hadwen, SA director of operations, said there are two ways to use the surplus in order to benefit students. The first is ensuring the SA has enough staff, as well as hiring a human resources manager to make sure there’s less liability for the SA. The second is a plan that includes paying down the

mortgage on the Casa Loma Student Centre which came up for renewal on Dec. 30. By using part of the surplus, as well as other unused contingency funds, to pay off the mortgage Hadwen said the SA will save $219,000 on future interest payments. “This year when I created the budget for 2015-16 we took into consideration that there’s been huge surpluses year over year,” said Hadwen. “That’s why we passed a deficit budget in which we increased spending by $147,000, including $30,000 extra to our orientation. There’s been conscious effort this year to ensure that the students’ money is spent for them.” The SA collected $341,511 more in student operating fees than projected 2014-15. Meanwhile, revenue from operations such as events and movie tickets, clothing sales and advertising was $71,535 less than expected. George Brown students paid a total of $380,679, or $7.88 each, to be members of the Canadian Federation of Students, a national student lobby organization. Spending on student services by the SA was $162,205 with a surplus of $38,495. Student-oriented events cost $146,689, which was three per cent over budget, and $15,100 more was spent on orientation than planned. With files from Aliona Kuts

CORRECTIONS In the last issue, a headline incorrectly suggested that both Rochelle Dixon and Niki Tsourounakis were graduates of George Brown College. Dixon is a George Brown graduate and the general manager of both cafes, while Tsourounakis is the founder of the cafes.

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US - dialog@georgebrown.ca

CONTRIBUTING Contributions to The Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digital copies in plain-text (TXT) or rich-text (RTF) format. Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to dialog@ georgebrown.ca. Images should be in EPS format for vector files or in TIFF format at 300 dpi for raster files.

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Mick Sweetman. . . . . . . . . communications@sagbc.ca Assisant Editor Steve Cornwell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialognews@sagbc.ca Online Editor Alok Anand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogonline@sagbc.ca Art Director/Designer Michael Shea . . . . . . . dialogdesign@sagbc.ca Videographer Valerie Myronenko. . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogvideo@sagbc.ca Staff Reporters

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OPERATION The Dialog newspaper is published by The Dialog with the support of the Student Association of George Brown College. The Dialog is responsible for the overall vision and direction of The Dialog newspaper, as it coincides with the larger vision and mission of the Student Association. The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part defrayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by stu-

dent fees. Occasionally, some advertisers, products and services do not reflect the policies of the Student Association. Opinions expressed in The Dialog are not necessarily those of The Dialog, the Student Association of George Brown College, or its editorial staff.

The Dialog partners:

The Dialog is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

// STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Shana Kealey: Fighting through adversity to provide a service Co-founder of George Brown Parent Association on the motivation behind the group TINDA TODARO STAFF REPORTER

Being pregnant was not as joyful as she had hoped. Shana Kealey, a community worker student, experienced a whirlwind of ups and downs searching for support for parents that proved to be her motivation to create the first parent association at George Brown College (GBC). “When I first started school (in 2011) I was pregnant and my due date was going to be two days after the end of the semester,” said Kealey. “I was in a difficult situation because my partner had been incarcerated and was going to be deported.” Aside from not knowing how long her partner would be jailed, and whether he could support the child, Kealey said she had been laid off from work and her employment insurance was running out. Kealey “didn’t want to face having a child, my first child, alone on welfare with no plan.” Deciding to go back to college while pregnant was already a challenge for Kealey, and when she found peer-support systems for parents at the college lacking, it was even more difficult. After meeting another student mother who shared the same feelings, together they founded the GBC Parent Association for other students

who were also parents. “Right before I left at the end of the semester (before going into labour) I was trying to look into George Brown services and the Student Association,” said Kealey. “Is there anything for mothers, pregnant women who are struggling and about to have a baby? Can I talk to anyone other than trying to make a counselling appointment? Because it’s so hard to get an appointment and I needed one then.” She added that at the time she had only spoken to the diversity, equity and human rights services at GBC. It was then that she was directed to the Community Action Centre (CAC) where she first spoke to the women and trans representative, who was compassionate, not judgmental and let her know of the services offered by the Student Association. Since then Kealey has gone back to diversity, equity and human rights services equipped with the knowledge that family status is protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code; she is now in conversation with them about raising awareness around family status. “We currently don’t have any events related to family status but we do want to do some in the future and we do help students with issues related to family status,” said Heidi Mehta a human rights advisor and positive space co-

Events Free Pancake Breakfast Tues, Jan. 12, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m Student Centre, Casa Loma campus

Wed, Jan. 13, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Main Lobby, Waterfront campus

Thurs, Jan. 14, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Kings Lounge, St. James campus

As part of Frost Week, the SA is offering a free breakfast with pancakes and hot chocolate. Perfect if you’re feeling a little frosty about coming back to class.

Shana Kealey and her son Kiyan

Photo courtesy of Kealey

ordinator at GBC. Kealey said that other mothers at the college were immediately interested in the association, “from the beginning when I had the opportunity to tell people I had a club, people were always like ‘really? I had no idea,’ and ‘yeah I’ve really struggled.” While tabling during the clubs fair she also received many responses from single fathers who were attending GBC full-time. Focusing on the rights of parents at the college and their personal well-being, the GBC Parent Association

Clubs Fair Tues, Jan. 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Student Centre, Casa Loma campus

Wed, Jan. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Main Lobby, Waterfront campus

Thurs, Jan. 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kings Lounge, St. James campus

As part of Frost Week, check out what SA clubs have been up to and see about getting involved in the action.

Wes Barker stunt magician Tues, Jan. 12, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Student Centre, Casa Loma campus

Wed, Jan. 13, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

has become a well-supported initiative by the Student Association, which also publish es The Dialog. On Dec. 12, she hosted the GBC Parent Association’s first Santa Kiddie Craft Day for parents and children in the Kings Lounge, which included distribution of wellness packs and pictures with Santa for the kids. “The kids and parents really enjoyed the B-boyin’ Elves performance and the kids’ dance circle,” said Kealey. “Families took part in some crafts, cookie decorating and photos with Santa,

Main Lobby, Waterfront campus

Thurs, Jan. 14, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Kings Lounge, St. James campus

Come watch renowned performer Wes Barker pull off magic tricks, stunts, and comedy from start to finish in his engaging show.

Second City trip Thurs, Jan. 21 51 Mercer St. 7 p.m.–10 p.m.

Check out the iconic and still funny Second City with a George Brown discount. Tickets available ($5 for GBC students) at SA offices on each campus,

and the GBC Parent Association also gifted wellness packs to the parents in attendance.” After all of her struggles Kealey continues to promote her initiative and be a support for all students who are also parents at George Brown. If you know any of a student who has been an inspiration for others, share their story with us and get them featured in The Dialog. Email us at dialog@georgebrown.ca tweet us at @DialogGBC or call us at 416-415-5000 Ext. 2764.

with shuttles leaving from St. James and Casa Loma.

Paint Ball Fri, Jan 22

Sgt. Splatters 5 4 Wingold Ave, Toronto

6 p.m.

It’s a classic Casa Loma and GBC Ryerson vs. St. James and Waterfront showdown as the SA is organizing a paintball night at Sgt. Splatters. Tickets ($15 for GBC students and $20 for guests) are available at SA office on all three campuses with shuttles leaving from St. James and Casa Loma.

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

Student service desk rolls out ‘very convenient’ waiting system

// GBC FIXER

Students can now be notified by phone when their number is called EMEKA IBEH STAFF REPORTER

Caution sign for St. James patio Photo by: Emeka Ibeh / The Dialog

Closed down St. James staircase inconveniences students Staircase to open again in January as Bell installs cell tower EMEKA IBEH STAFF REPORTER

If you’ve been on the St. James campus this fall, you may have noticed that the patio staircase outside 200 King St. E is closed. The staircase has been closed while Bell Mobility installs a cell tower on the roof of the building. Francis Ojo, a first-year student in the human resources program, regularly used the staircase. Ojo said that these renovations have been frustrating as he does

not feel that students needs were considered, due the length of time the staircase has been closed. “I have to go around the school, to get access to the patio, and it’s not convenient,” said Ojo. “Plus I don’t think these renovations should take that long if they are only upgrading an antenna.” According to George Brown College (GBC) corporate communications manager Lisa Marchitto, maintenance workers from Bell Mobility are currently installing the cell phone antenna for network coverage purposes. The work should be completed by January. Marchitto said that GBC is giving Bell Mobility access to the stairs and patio so that they can get to the roof, which is where the majority of work is taking place. From staircase level, the construction is hardly visible. Marchitto said that the staircase closure was a mat-

ter of student safety. “In the process of giving them this access George Brown College is taking steps to ensure the safety of our staff and students, which is why the stairway entrance on King Street is closed,” said Marchitto. The new antenna might help improve cellular service for Bell customers in the downtown core. But until at least the end of January, tower construction will block students who use the staircase as a quick access to and from the patio. Bell was contacted, but at press time no one was available to comment. Do you know something at George Brown College that needs to be fixed? Email us at dialog@georgebrown.ca with “GBC Fixer” in the subject line, tweet at us at @DialogGBC or call us at 416-415-5000 ext. 2764. We will get answers and hopefully action!

George Brown College is developing a new mobilefriendly process to help make accessing the student services desk more convenient. “The system is already there and it will now ask if you would like to receive a text message, and as you enter your phone number, it will send you a text letting you know how you have progressed in the line,” said Gerard Hayes, director of student life. “So you can simply go grab yourself a cup of coffee and wait.” With information from student satisfaction surveys, the college worked together with Qmatic, a software company, to install the system designed to help students get through the line quicker when they are at the welcome desk of student services. According to a document from Qmatic, some of the benefits of this service will be that students can join the queue before they get to school, and users will know in

advance if the services they are looking for are available at the student services desk. “We installed a text messaging system in September that went through testing, it’s called a customer flow system which was developed for us by Qmatic,” said Hayes. Hayes explained that students are not using the text service much right now because student services is not busy. As the winter semester approaches, he is confident that the text service will be used more. “The next part of that is phase two, which is the smart phone application and they’re working on the app as we speak.” Hayes said that if all goes well, the new app will be ready in January. “I’m excited because this system allows you to wait and go over and sit at Tim Hortons, while we remind you of your place in the ticket queue,” said Hayes. “The beauty of it is that if you know that you are an hour away from school you can book a ticket ahead so it’s very convenient.”

Waiting System at St. James student service desk Photo By: Emeka Ibeh / The Dialog

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

$28,000 raised for GBC teacher’s cancer treatment in USA Doug LaPorte shocked at outpouring of support from community

Student Association LGBTQ representative resigns MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

Murray Rowe, the Student Association of George Brown College’s (SA) LGBTQ representative has resigned from the board of directors. In a letter to the board that he posted on Facebook Rowe wrote, “after considering the numerous actions of the executive membership of the board I can not, in good conscience, continue my participation on a board where transparency and accountability are not respected and demonstrated.” Gagan Deep, the SA’s director of communications and internal, said that the SA’s executive committee accepted Rowe’s resignation and that they appreciate the work that Rowe has done for the SA. Deep said that the SA will be posting the LGBTQ representative position on the SA website and that the board will appoint someone in January. “We welcome all students who self-identify as a members of the LGBTQ constituency to apply for the position and the best candidate will be selected,” said Deep.

MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

Doug LaPorte sits in a chair in Princess Margaret Hospital hooked up to an IV giving him platlets, a blood component that helps clotting. He is wearing a greencheckered shirt and is remarkably upbeat, cracking a joke about being the “bald guy” after undergoing chemotherapy. LaPorte taught at George Brown College (GBC) for 28 years in the construction trades programs. He was set to retire this fall when he got the news in late August that he had cancer. “I was pretty devastated,” said LaPorte. “My students had set up a retirement party for me on Sept. 11 and my wife and I had major travel plans, I was doing renovations with my wife and daughter, they wanted me to come back and teach part-time. All of that went ‘boom, done.’—the bubble had burst.” After two rounds of chemotherapy, his bone marrow is now “next to nothing” and he needs a bone marrow transplant. Every day he waits increases the chance that the cancer will come back. Often people struggle to find a compatible donor for the transplant. While Laporte’s brother and sisters are donor matches, the earliest he would be able to get an appointment in Toronto would be late January, so he’s going to a hospital in Buffalo for the transplant. The Ontario government covers most of the medical expenses, but not for his brother who plans to be the donor. LaPorte’s wife Cathi will also be going as a caregiver, and they will have to pay for three months of living expenses while he is an outpatient. That’s why LaPorte’s sister Jeannette Lilley set up

George Brown’s Waterfront campus wins two awards Over $27,000 has been raised to help cover LaPorte’s expenses when he undergoes treatment in Buffalo. Photo: Mick Sweetman / The Dialog

a page on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe.com. The response was overwhelming: in a day they got over $15,000 in donations and have raised over $28,000 so far. “We were shocked, totally shcked,” said LaPorte as the donations started pouring in. Joseph Lacarcia, one of his former students, posted on the crowdfunding website writing: “Doug was absolutely the best professor I have ever had the privilege of being taught by! Not only did you have the technical skills but he mastered the art of teaching…and multiple-choiceguesses.” “A lot of the tests were multiple choice and the favorite line then was ‘when in doubt, choose C,’ ” chuckled LaPorte as he recalled the

TINA TODARO story. “I used to tell them ‘no, it doesn’t always work that way.’ And I created a test where all of the answers were C—just to see who was studying and reading. That ended up being a real nerve-racker, because a lot of the guys went through and answered ‘C’ then they saw it was nothing but Cs and were like, ‘there’s got to be something wrong here.’ ” Ashely Ault grew up with the LaPorte family swimming with their daughter Jen and even going on family vacations with them. “He was like a second dad, the dad I didn’t have,” said Ault whose father died in 2011. “He taught architecture and he used to bring home the big blue prints, he was a teacher and I always wanted

to be a teacher so I used to fake mark them with him.” “It was a shock because he’s such a big, strong, jovial person,” she said about learning LaPorte had cancer. “I never thought Doug could ever get sick, he’s just always there.” GBC president Anne Sado said via email that, “Doug’s positive attitude has always been an inspiration to me, and will serve him well as he continues his health journey. The entire George Brown College community is rooting for Doug during his treatment and we wish him the very best care and support.” “It’s nice to know I left an impact somewhere,” said LaPorte as the blood transfusion ended, his eyes brimming with tears.

STAFF REPORTER

George Brown College’s Waterfront campus has been recognized by both the Canadian Green Building Awards and the Architectural Record’s Good Design is Good Business awards. The Green Building award recognizes excellence in the design and execution of a variety of residential and non-residential buildings in Canada. The jury overseeing the awards commended the campus for its “relationship to site, its accessibility to the public and its ‘porous’ program of social space.” In its rationale, the Architecture Record noted that the campus design worked well to allow health science students to mingle easily.

OPINION

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

// OPINION

Some things no one will tell you before moving to Canada Welcome to Canada: here are a few everyday facts RENUKA MALHOTRA When you plan to move to a country, there is a lot of brainstorming about where you will stay, how much you will spend, places you will visit and the experiences you will have. You will meet new people, with new lifestyles, new languages, new fashion, a new study culture and much more. But you rarely get a clear picture of the city you are going to spend your life in. Information overload is common, but here are five

things that no one will tell you before moving to Canada. Life in Canada is almost impossible without having a cup of coffee at Tim Hortons. It is a widely popular Canadian coffee brand which is present on almost every corner of the city. Whether you go for an early morning snack or to beat your fatigue after writing your exam you will soon be seen in Tim Hortons. If you are a die-hard McDonald’s fries fan, this news is for you. Poutine is a more popular dish here. Originating in Quebec, poutine is comparatively rich in quality and can come with veggies, meat, cheese curds and gravy according to your taste. You may have winter clothes, but Canadian winter can be harsh. The weather becomes the talk of the town as soon as fall approaches. And it is not just about snow. The wind chill gives you a feel of the arctic regions when the temperatures goes below -20 C or even below -30 C. You may or may not be a serious sports fan, but Ca-

nadians are known to be either avid hockey or baseball fans. This may be your first time experiencing a different county’s game but gradually you will be cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a professional ice hockey team or the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto’s professional baseball team. You have to be a beer lover in Canada. According to a Statistics Canada report, liquor stores, agencies and other retail outlets sold $20.5 billion worth of alcoholic beverages for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. Forty two per cent of the alcohol sold in Canada was beer, making it the drink of choice for Canadians. These things give you a glimpse of what to expect from your new life in Canada. But every individual has a different perspective and the more you explore the city, the better you will know Canada and its culture. You may miss your hometown at times, but always remember that Toronto is now your second home.

// EDITORIAL

Games in Casa Loma campus should have time limits The newly renovated Student Centre at George Brown College’s Casa Loma campus comes equipped with a new video games room. There is presently no time limit in place for playing the games, and some students are not being considerate of others. Not sharing the time playing the games is childish. As the majority of college students are adults, why not let others students have a chance to play? After the renovation, the Casa Loma Student Centre is now a bright and more inviting space. The new video games room is always busy with students playing and having a good time. Currently students are allowed as much time as they would like in the new games room, which has some users hogging the space. College students should be respectful of their peers and realize that it’s not fair if a small number of students dominate the consoles. Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to play the games considering the service was put in place for all

students and all students pay the building fee that funded the renovations. Jason Beeston, the facilities co-ordinator for the Student Association of George Brown College, which also publishes The Dialog, says they will be implementing a time limit on the games to ensure that all students can play. This is a good step towards fairness but to be honest you shouldn’t need to be told you need to stop playing. Just because you were there first does not mean you have the right to sit there playing for as long as you want, take turns playing so everyone can enjoy the space. While at school students should be focusing on their studies, so if you’re playing games for hours where does homework fit in? College is a place for learning, and while students certainly need breaks from their work, we should understand that it’s counterproductive to play games for long periods of time while at school. In no way do we feel that the games should be removed. We are just saying that stu-

dents should consider other students when playing the games and play nicely together. George Brown is a big community and everyone who comes here is part of it, so we need to behave in a way that reflects this. All the opportunities at the college, activities, including video games, are meant for everyone so please allow others to have a chance at them. // EDITORIAL CARTOON

OPINION

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

On the road:

Zero reported sexual assaults at George Brown

Keisha Mitchell-Pitter community worker

hospitality management

Gary Pereira

Mayowa Elemide

Victoria Contreras

“It’s such a big school and you always hear stuff happening around the school about incidents, so it’s surprising to hear that nothing is happening inside the school.”

“I can say for a fact that’s not true. I’ve known of some incidents that have happened but that does surprise me because I know it’s not true.”

“No I’m not surprised. Everyone is friendly and George Brown College students are great.”

“I’m not surprised only because a lot of the time victims of sexual assault don’t want to talk about what they’ve experienced in fear of having the blame put on them.”

civil engineering

community worker

We asked students if they were surprised that CBC News reported that George Brown College said there were zero reported sexual assaults on campus in 2014.

Dimitrije Vujcic community worker

architectural technology

Filomena Facciolo

Ana Montelibabo

Imogen Gardner

“For me the surprise is that it’s not reported. It kind of indicates that victims of sexual assault don’t talk. Maybe they don’t know where to go, because the security are men, and because there’s nowhere to go. If I was sexually assaulted I personally wouldn’t know where to go, so maybe that’s the fault of the college.”

“I am a little bit surprised but at the same time I’m not. Yes, we are in Toronto so it is a little bit shocking that not one happened but at the same time we do have a safe walk program so it helps students approach someone wearing a vest and go to the station or close to where they live so that way they get home safely.”

“I’m not surprised. I always feel safe at George Brown, and I’ve never felt threatened.”

“I’m not surprised because George Brown students are very respectful of women.”

business marketing

community worker

ARTS & LIFE

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

Ballet Jorgen to perform Sleeping Beauty at Casa Loma

Ballet in the Studio promises an “intimate” performance of Sleeping Beauty Photo courtesy of Canada’s Ballet Jorgen

‘Intimate’ shows free to George Brown students and staff ALIONA KUTS STAFF REPORTER

Are you an avid ballet fan but also a student who can’t afford tickets to the National Ballet? Good news, Canada’s Ballet Jorgen (CBJ) and George Brown College (GBC) are bringing an affordable production of Sleeping Beauty to Casa Loma campus in January. The shows are part of CBJ’s Ballet in the Studio se-

ries, and are talking place in the company’s GBC practice space. The performances are free for GBC students and staff. Ballet in the Studio is a great opportunity to watch professional dancers live in the studio, said Amanda Horn, marketing and publicity coordinator at CBJ. She added that GBC and CBJ have been partners in dance education supporting one another since 1992. According to Horn, “currently there are four GBC graduates as Ballet Jorgen members.” Heather Lumsdenn-Ruegg graduated from GBC’s dance performance studios in 2011 and has been with Ballet Jorgen ever since. Starting with a mentorship program there and becoming an apprentice, she now dances multiple roles and has six costume changes in Sleeping Beauty. With about 15 people involved in the Ballet in the Studio, “the performance is a great chance to see ballet up close in an intimate en-

Surviving a serious injury, George Brown alumni returns as a teacher Cake artist Sarah Fortunato developing a new course for culinary students

The performance is a great chance to see ballet up close in an intimate environment vironment,” said LumsdennRuegg. “It’s also inexpensive and a chance to meet dancers and ask questions after the show.” The world premiere of CBJ’s Sleeping Beauty took place on Oct. 2 in Burlington. The full production will come to Toronto in March 2016. Performances take place on Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. and Jan. 27 at noon. To RSVP call 416-961-4725 or email info@ balletjorgen.ca. Tickets for guests who are not GBC students and staff are between $15-20.

New contest offers cash prize and mentorship for fashion students STEVE CORNWELL ASSISTANT EDITOR

ALIONA KUTS STAFF REPORTER

“Unfortunately, this injury will never go away, but that’s okay,” said Sarah Fortunato a George Brown College (GBC) alumni. “I’ve learned I have a limit.” An award-winning graduate of the GBC pastry arts management program with a background in fine arts from Ontario College of Art and Design, Fortunato used to have a dream job. A severe back injury forced her to leave behind a career as a freelance cake artist. A combination of a physical job and bad genes, her injury was a wake-up call. “I couldn’t walk for a year,” said Fortunato. She thinks the injury was her body finding a way to make her slow down. “Honestly, I think that’s the most impor-

tant thing.” Fortunato enjoyed the GBC program she was in for its variety, learning chocolate and bread work on top of pastry. She then pursued a career of a freelance cake, confection and cookie artist. Fortunato made both of her passions - culinary and the arts - work together. Until her back injury changed her life. After a year of intense therapy, Fortunato is back in the kitchen. Searching for a path to take after recovery, she turned to the college for assistance. She was offered a position on the other side of the classroom as a teacher. Currently teaching a miniature desserts course, she is also developing her own course. Although she had to leave cake design, she still considers herself as an artist. Being inspired by a proj-

Sarah Fortunato describing how to make French macaroons to her students from miniature dessert class. Photo: Aliona Kuts / The Dialog

ect is key to her, “that is my priority and goal in life and in career.” In spring 2016 she will bring a new six-week sculpture and specialty cake course to culinary students. To enroll, students will be required to have a previous culinary course as a prerequisite. Beginning with creating simple-shaped cakes, students will develop the skills for a final project. By the end of the semester, each student

will have to design their own cake. “That’s the most exciting part for me, to see what other people will come up with,” said Fortunato. Fortunato’s future aspiration is to make chocolates. Inspired by all the variations there are for sweets, along with a relatively easy process, she hopes to continue teaching and creating her own beautiful chocolates in a commercial kitchen.

A contest was recently announced that might interest George Brown students in fashion design. The Heart of Fashion Scrubs Challenge is inviting fashion students to design a high fashion piece using hospital scrubs and surgical gowns. “It is a very exciting opportunity for design students to challenge thems e l v e s, t o s t e p o u t s i d e their own comfort zone, to test themselves, and to implement what they have learned so far,” said Erika Larva, the curator of the contest. Successful contestants will be invited to show their piece at the Heart of Fashion event at North York General Hospital in the spring, and be mentored by Arie Assaraf of The New Tread. The winning designer will receive $2500.

ARTS & LIFE

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

George Brown alumni make their dreams come true at The Edible Story Personalized catering and soon take-out steps from St. James campus ALIONA KUTS STAFF REPORTER

“I knew I didn’t want to work in a restaurant. I always wanted to do my own thing,” said Alanna Fleischer, founder of The Edible Story. While doing her studies at the chef ’s school at George Brown College, she met Brian Cheng. Later on, she started catering out of her house, Cheng would help out, then cooking classes came into place and eventually it got so busy they both decided they needed their own kitchen. Although The Edible Sto-

ry doesn’t operate as a regular café, take-out lunch options are in the future plans. In the meantime, Fleischer and Cheng are sharing their experience with George Brown students. Professor Philip Eng brought students from the post-graduate small business entrepreneurship program for lunch on Dec. 11. The students tasted fresh made in-house curry eggplant squash, flank steak with nori mayo, a fish pie and some pasta. They also had an opportunity to learn about running a small business in Toronto from the owners, surrounded by cookbooks, kitchen utensils and the

smells of spices and food. Founded in 2013, The Edible Story brings together Fleischer and Cheng’s own experiences and preferences along with the season to create, according the their website, “personalized menus that go far beyond a typical dinner fare.” Not only are all menus personalized, but also allergies and meal restrictions are accommodated. “We do a lot of things really well and I don’t think we have a signature yet,” said Fleischer, adding that her favourite things to cook are pastas and ri-

sottos. The urban, yet cozy, location right off Sherbourne Street will comfortably seat 42 guests or up to 75 people standing. For Fleischer, non-stop stress and long hours are the hardest part of running a business. She also said that she is doing what she loves. “We are feeding people and making them happy, and that makes us feel good.”

Photos by: Aliona Kuts / The Dialog

Specials for students near Waterfront campus Just down the street from GBC’s Waterfront campus are two great affordable restaurants

RENUKA MALHOTRA STAFF REPORTER

Photo by: Renuka Malhotra / The Dialog

Bolet’s Burrito

Photo courtesy of La Prep

La Prep

134 Lower Sherbourne Street

25 Dockside Drive

Bolet’s Burrito was established about six years ago by a husband and wife team. The place is popular for offering a wide variety of Filipino and Mexican fusion burritos. Bolet’s has a student special (ID required) on six-inch burritos for $5 including taxes. The meats and veggies are freshly prepared to order. Students mostly go for the barbecue pulled pork burrito. Located in between St. James and Waterfront campuses, Bolet’s is a great spot for students on the move between the two.

A small café located in the Corus Quay just a few steps away from Waterfront campus, La Prep is the ultimate escape for students and staff looking for better coffee than Tim Hortons. The staff at La Prep offer freshly prepared breakfast and other menu items including muffins, cookies, pastries, fruit salads, soups, bagels and sandwiches. Every day is a new story at La Prep and you will get to choose from their daily specials for lunch and breakfast as well as a variety of pre-made items. On Mondays they offer Latte’s for $2 and special on Moccas on Wednesdays for $2.50, plus tax. An average meal would cost around $8.50 with taxes included for a sandwich and a drink.

SCIENCE & TECH

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17

New app converts exercise into digital currency Turn your steps into money ALIONA KUTS STAFF REPORTER

Ever taken a streetcar instead of walking those few blocks? Nissan Bahar and Franky Imbesi have created the Bitwalking app aimed to motivate users to get out and walk. Currently available by invite only, the app generates “Bitwalking dollars” by walking and running. Bitwalking dollars is a digital currency which, according to the Bitwalking website, can be used to buy items in the company’s marketplace, traded with other users, or used for purchases from Bitwalking partners. “We believe that everyone should have the freedom, and ability, to make money,” reads the company website.

Everyone knows exercising is good for you, but it can be hard to get started. And the more we walk, the fewer vehicles are used meaning

less pollution. The app calculates the steps you take and converts them into Bitwalking dollars, which accumulate in

the your account. Bitwalking dollars can be spent at the company’s virtual marketplace, Bitwalking Market.

The marketplace will be filled with products covering a wide price range, from a Google Chromecast for about $30 (BW) and the iPhone for about $700 (BW) , said Andrew Whyte, a spokesperson from Bitwalking. “Users also have the ability to make a wish list, which will include choices that are both tech and non-tech, and also covering a wide price range - this will help us select the products you want the most,” he added. According to the company’s website, users will also get a chance to “connect with our third party partners: online retailers, brands, charities and local governments that share our belief in an economy for all.” In the future, Whyte said that “new collaborations will allow us soon to create unique solutions for developing countries such as Bitwalking dollars to cover education fees, mobile topups and other exciting opportunities.”

FUN

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 4–Jan. 17 // COMICS

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4 7

2 9 1

8 6

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// CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across

1- Old French expression meaning “goodbye”; 6- Indian garment; 10- Burrows and Vigoda; 14- Ancient Greek citystate; 15- Old Testament book; 16- Crooked; 17- Bridge bid, briefly; 18- Brouhaha; 19- “The Thin Man” dog; 20- Some wines; 21- Imperative; 23- Seesaws; 25- In groups; 26- “Hold On Tight” group; 27- Unborn child; 29- Spokes; 32- Conductor Solti; 33- Weeding implement; 36- New driver, often; 37- Fluffy; 38- Legumes; 39- Ending for legal or Japan; 40- Mends a shoe; 41- Major artery; 42- Time off; 43- Battleship letters; 44- Richards of “Jurassic

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Down

1- Opposite astarboard; 2- Gift recipient; 3- ___ France; 4- German physicist; 5- R&R provider; 6- Satisfies; 7- Latin love; 8- Got on; 9- Equality of measure; 10- Barbedwire barricade; 11- Intoxicate; 12- ___ nous; 13- Remains;

21- Debate side; 22- Stop up a hole; 24- Inventor Whitney; 27- Not as many; 28- Seemingly forever; 29- Numbered hwy.; 30- Loser to DDE; 31- Actress Ruby; 32- Olympian’s quest; 33- That woman; 34- Cereal grass; 35- Conductor ___Pekka Salonen; 37- Contribution; 38- Elementary particle; 40- Sensible; 41- Balaam’s mount; 42- Gardeners, at times; 43- Employ, utilise; 44- Put up with; 45- Radioactive gas; 46- Dot in the ocean; 47- Fall flower; 48- Goatlike antelope; 49- Belief; 50- Roofing stone; 52- “Power Lunch” network; 53- The most heavily populated continent on Earth; 57Anger; "Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission."

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