Bring it on! Jan. 09 to Jan. 22, 2017

New dance pac steps up the Huskies’ show pg. 8 Jan. 9 to Jan. 22, 2017

Jessica New Locke turns affordable adversity into units coming a career path to Casa Loma area pg. 3

pg. 7 GBC Student Newspaper • Founded 1982

2

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

George Brown locks Waterfront campus expansion down new funding approved by Toronto City Council for scholarships and Agreement says George Brown must operate a non-profit infrastructure child-care centre at any new building at Waterfront campus MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

George Brown receives a $500,000 cheque from Legacy Private Trust.

Photo courtesy of George Brown

MALCOLM DERIKX REPORTER-EDITOR

For students looking for a financial boost, the college recently announced some new grants and awards for students made possible by donations.

The Legacy Private Trust Foundation donated $500,000 to George Brown, with $400,000 going to capital funding and the remaining $100,000 to scholarships intended to help students the centre for business. The donation will support the creation of the Love and Whalen Leadership award that is intended for students in financial need, who achieve a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

The award is also for students who have demonstrated an involvement in George Brown’s Enactus team.

Former Toronto Argos football star Michael “Pinball” Clemons announced that his foundation will donate $100,000 to George Brown College to fund 31 new scholarships for full-time

students who have overcome obstacles in the undertaking of their studies. Additionally, the Pinball Clemons Foundation is creating two awards for full-time student athletes exhibiting good sportsmanship, as well as attaining a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

“We are so grateful to the Pinball Clemons Foundation and the Legacy Private Trust Foundation for their investment in George Brown students,” said Cindy Gouveia, president of the George Brown College Foundation. “These awards are an important part of ensuring access to education and will provide critical financial support for students to continue their studies here at the college.”

The college also announced a scholarship to honour Georgia Quartaro, George Brown’s former dean of the centre for preparatory and liberal studies.

Quartaro retired in September.

George Brown students can apply for these scholarships and awards through STU-VIEW

A gravel parking lot in front of Waterfront campus may soon be the site of a new building for the college.

Toronto City Council has approved the sale of a parcel of land known as “Block 3” to the college with the stipulation that George Brown College (GBC) operate a nonprofit child-care centre with spaces for at least 72 children in a new building there.

“If someone else had built on that property it would have been a bit of a tragedy,” said Mark Nesbitt, GBC’s vice president of corporate services,

SA approves redirection of Athletics Building Fund MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

With newly renovated athletic facilities at both the Casa Loma and St. James campuses, revenue from the Athletic Building Fund levy will be redirected to fund operations at the athletics and student life departments.

The Student Association’s (SA) board of directors approved the request from George Brown College (GBC) to redirect the funds at the Dec. 12, 2016 board meeting.

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adding that securing the land required a lot of consultation.

Nesbitt said that when the college built Waterfront campus they did so with the plan of future development and they can link the two buildings at the concourse level and bridge on the fourth floor.

The agreement with the city requires that the college begin construction within four years of the land sale closing. Nesbitt estimates that a new building could be in use around 2024.

The child-care centre would be partially funded by Waterfront Toronto, who is providing up to $3.62 million, with the college owning and operating it.

An $8 million gift from

Jack Cockwell to GBC in 2015 for the development of Waterfront campus will “more than cover the cost of land,” according to Nesbitt.

GBC still needs government funding for a new building on the site which is estimated to cost $100 million.

Nesbitt said the college would look at moving some classes from Casa Loma to Waterfront to free up existing space there for students in the construction programs that are currently at capacity.

Other options would be to move operations from buildings that the college now leases commercially such as 230 Richmond St. East, 341 King St. East and 210 King St. East.

“From a financial perspective, it would be good to move some of those uses into a building that we own, particularly if the government helped us build the building,” said Nesbitt.

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The SA funds The Dialog.

According to numbers presented by the college, the Athletics Building Fund, which students started paying in 2007, had funded the renovations of the St. James and Casa Loma athletic facilities that cost approximately $10 million.

With the gyms at George Brown’s two major campuses renovated, Gerard Hayes, the director of student experience at GBC, said the college would rather use the money to fund student life operations such as bringing the Student Leadership Academy on campus.

@dialoggbc

Hayes said that some userfees such as the ones currently being charged for yoga classes could also be eliminated with the redirected funding.

Hayes also said that the college would like to build another athletics facility at any new building at Waterfront campus, which city council approved the sale of a block of land to GBC on Dec. 13, 2016.

Under the new structure the Athletics Building Fund would receive $29.84 per student and the Athletic and Student Life Operations Fee would increase to $47.60.

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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

THE DIALOG PARTNERS defrayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by student 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 is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

EVENTS LISTING

// STUDENT SPOTLIGHT “I got a call in Asia from my mother and (she said) my father had been hospitalized, he had a fall”

Jessica Locke overcomes challenges, finds path with nursing

ALEX RESENDES REPORTER-EDITOR

For much of her life, George Brown College (GBC) practical nursing student Jessica Locke’s story was one familiar to many young Canadians. She grew up, went away to Ottawa for school, and graduated from Carlton University with a degree in communications.

She hoped to get a job in public relations to make use of her degree, but that could wait a little while. First she was going to see the world. Then everything changed, and her life took a very different direction.

“I was already finished school, I was backpacking in Asia and I got a call,” said Locke. “I got a call in Asia from my mother and (she said) my father had been hospitalized, he had a fall.”

It was worse than just a fall.

Locke’s father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and was no longer capable of caring for himself. Her mother had to work, so Locke shouldered much of the responsibility of caring for him.

“I guess my life was on hold for about two years,” she said.

“There’s a long waiting list for nursing homes.”

Most people would struggle with this difficult responsibility, but Locke rose to the challenge.

“I took care of him for two years, he was in and out of the hospital for lengthy stays with

delirium. He had congestive heart failure, had a few conditions,” Locke said.

Not only did she rise to the task, she found that she flourished in it.

“So in that process, I said ‘hey I kind of like what I’m doing, I’m researching enough about his medications and going to all his appointments,’ I decided to do a pathway to nursing,”

with her father being professionally cared for, Locke has enough time to work as a peer leader, helping other students in her program get to where she is.

And, make no mistake, she has a bright future ahead of her. Locke is currently applying for three-year bridge programs that will make her a registered nurse, with high hopes of a productive career at a hospital in the greater Toronto area.

Locke has found a supporter in Cindy Gouveia, GBC Foundation president. In a letter on George Brown website, Gouveia wrote, “I have com-

“I have complete confidence she will be an incredible nurse, able to help other families like hers face the unthinkable, with kindness and compassion” said Locke. “It was definitely not planned, not at all.”

In 2015, Locke applied to George Brown’s practical nursing degree program, and began her classes while still caring for her father. Balancing two fulltime responsibilities left her with little time for paid work, but with student loan and grants from GBC, she managed.

“I was fortunate enough to get OSAP, and my marks were pretty decent, so I did get a couple awards, a couple bursaries, so I was fortunate in that sense,” said Locke.

Now in her second year and

Frost WeekPlaces: SA Morning Wake UpTuesday, Nov. 8

plete confidence she will be an incredible nurse, able to help other families like hers face the unthinkable, with kindness and compassion.”

For other people thinking about following in her footsteps and pursuing nursing, Locke has sage advice.

“It’s never too late, there’s always hope, if you see yourself in the career of nursing and you truly want it, give it a try. It’s definitely not for everybody but with hard work and determination you can pretty much do most things, nursing included.”

New Music, New Places Featuring: Supaman

Tuesday, Jan. 10 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 18 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 11 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Supaman infuses traditional indigenous music with hip-hop.

Casa Loma Student Centre

Waterfront, Main Lobby

Thursday, Jan. 12 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

St. James, Main Lobby

After caring for her father, Jessica Locke discovered she had a knack for nursing. Photo: Scott Murdoch

Practical nursing student finds calling through helping her ailing father

3

The Student Association welcomes you back to school with some free morning snacks to start off your day.

SA Café 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Casa Loma Student Centre

Wednesday, Jan. 11 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Waterfront, Main Lobby

Thursday, Jan. 12 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

St. James, Kings Lounge, Room 150

Join us for a fun day with board games, Lego station, free refreshments, info on SA services and prizes.

Silent Party Friday, Jan. 13 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

St. James, Kings Lounge, Room 150

Everyone wears wireless headphones (provided) listening to two DJs spinning at the same time from two DJ booths. You control what you want to hear from a switch on your headphones.

Hip Hop, Top 40, Reggae & EDM Wristband policy in effect.

Please note: No access into the college during the event from Kings Lounge. Coat Check will be available for jackets and bags

DJ Skate Night: La Rumba Buena Saturday, Jan. 14 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Harbourfront Centre, Natrel Rink 235 Queens Quay West

Join us for a night of skating while we listen to the best in Latin music. DJ Skate Night is one of the most popular outdoor winter events in Toronto.

Free admission (skate rentals available on site).

Wear GBC swag for a chance to win great prizes.

St. James, Kings Lounge, Room 150

The Second City Thursday, Jan. 19 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

51 Mercer St., Toronto, ON

$5 for GBC students / $10.99 for guests Join us for an entertaining evening of improv and sketch comedy at the Second City.

Tickets available from SA offices: Casa Loma: E100 / St. James 147 / Waterfront 033 Shuttle buses leave from St. James campus at 7 p.m. (corner of George St & Adelaide St)

Battle of the Campuses: Paintball Casa Loma vs. St. James vs. Waterfront Friday, January 20 Sgt. Splatters Paintball 54 Wingold Ave

Tickets are only $5 for GBC students / $10 for guests.

Tickets available from SA offices: Casa Loma: E100 / St. James 147 / Waterfront 033 Shuttle bus #1 leaving from St. James at 6 p.m. (Corner of George & Adelaide Streets) Shuttle bus #2 leaving from Casa Loma at 6 p.m. (Corner of Bridgman & Kendal Avenues)

GBC Winterfest Friday, Jan. 27 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Phoenix Concert Theatre 410 Sherbourne St Toronto, ON M5X 1K2

Hip Hop x EDM Metro Boomin x Laidback Luke The hottest party in the coldest month!

Tickets: $10 for GBC students / $20 for guests (one guest per student).

Visit www.eventbrite.ca and search “Winterfest” to pay & register for your guest tickets. Pick up your event tickets by showing your Eventbrite registration at any SA office: Casa Loma: E100 / St. James 147 / Waterfront 033

4

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

Carlos Carli appointed SA’s new director of equity A student activist from Venezuala, Carli says he will work to support international, LGBTQ and black students at George Brown College Carlos Carli was appointed as the SA’s new director of equity following a grilling from board members. File photo by Renuka Malhotra/The Dialog

MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

After half an hour of being grilled by the Student Association’s (SA) board of directors, Carlos Carli was appointed the new director of equity at

a Dec. 12, 2016 board meeting.

The SA funds The Dialog.

Carli was up against Masini McDermott competing for the executive position that was va-

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cated after Rajai Refai resigned as the director of equity in November.

Steve Cornwell, the assistant editor of The Dialog, had also applied but was disqualified because he was not a fulltime student.

Carli has worked as a peercoach in Peerconnect at George Brown College (GBC) and is an international business management student from Venezuela.

McDermott was the president of the Mosaic club and is a program advisor with the Black Student Success Network (BSSN) at the college.

During the question period Carli emphasized that he was a student activist in Venezuela against the “communist and very oppressive” government, which was voted out in 2015.

He said that as an international student he understands their issues best but also wants to work to support LGBTQ and black students communities at the college.

McDermott said she would work on raising awareness of mental health supports that are available at the college.

The board held a vote by secret ballot and Carli was announced as the winner and appointed the new director of equity effective immediately.

“Thank you for the opportunity,” wrote Carli in a tweet that night. “Truly honoured to be representing the interest of such a diverse student body.”

“I think Carlos is a great candidate and he will be great as a director of equity,” said McDermott after the results of the vote was announced.

“I’m not going to stop to raising awareness with some of the things I feel need to be addressed with the Student Association and the college.”

Before McDermott and Carli presented, the board heard a recommendation from professor Neil Price to establish a black student constituency representative position. Price presented to the board as a representative of the BSSN. McDermott said she plans to run in the spring elections if the position of a black students constituency representative is created.

“For me racialzied students need a voice, specifically black students, we’ve had different groups of minorities that have representatives and I think it’s about time that we had a black student representative for the Student Association.”

The SA is still searching for candidates for the vacant satellite campus director position.

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NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

5

Mentoring Partnership demystifies the workplace for skilled immigrants Unemployment rate of educated immigrants is double that of similarly skilled Canadians MALCOLM DERIKX REPORTER-EDITOR

The often repeated story of a taxi driver with a PhD is actually more common than you’d think. But George Brown College’s Mentoring Partnership intends to make that story a thing of the past for skilled immigrants in Canada by matching international students with local business mentors.

Pamela Glaser-French, manager in the school of immigrant and transitional education, explained that for many new immigrants, it’s difficult to navigate the tumultuous work landscape of Canada, where lan-

guage and social behaviors may prove to be unexpected barriers for otherwise talented workers.

According to Statistics Canada, 51 per cent of immigrants arriving in Canada between 2001 and 2006 had a university degree. Yet, the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) found that the average unemployment rate for all university educated immigrants is double the unemployment rate of their Canadian counterparts.

The Mentorship Partnership, which has operated for 11 years, is an initiative of TRIEC. Glaser-French hopes that the Mentoring Partnership, now in its second year at the college, will grow to fifty partici-

Caption description will be placed here. Photo: credit placed here

Pamela Glaser-French wants the Mentorship Partnership to be in George Brown’s consciousness. Photo: Malcolm Derikx/The Dialog

pants. With more participants this year, Glaser-French wants the program to find its way into George Brown’s consciousness.

“We would like to attract the interest of faculty and staff who might serve as mentors,” GlaserFrench said. “There are people who work in a very diverse capacity through the whole college and

they could be just as valuable as somebody external to the college.”

“There are questions like where do I go to get certifications, do I have to speak to specific people, those are big questions that unless you are in the industry, you don’t have answers to,” said Patricia Ramos, a mentoring coach with the program.

“The fact that there are services available that can acknowledge that these people are actually really educated, that their experiences are really valuable, I think that’s really amazing.”

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6

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

Finding ‘purpose’ and ‘gratitude’ Transitions to post-secondary education helps students find a path through adversity WILLIAM WALKER REPORTER

Getting through post-secondary education can be one of life’s great challenges for even the most dedicated students.

Add in mental health or addiction issues and the process of attending college or university may seem impossible.

Enter George Brown’s transitions to post-secondary education (TPE) program, which according to coordinator Jo Petite has existed at the college in one form or another for forty years. Designed specifically for those who have experienced difficulties relating to mental health and addictions, TPE is meant to help prepare students for the workforce, further learning opportunities, or any similar objectives that pro-

spective attendees might have.

TPE is a free, three-semester program, though there is certainly some degree of flexibility in terms of how long students can take to complete it, and is funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Students engage in a wide variety of courses, building skills in group work, writing, computers, public speaking, career development and more.

Former TPE student Carolyn Mooney has elected to continue on at George Brown in the social service worker (SSW) program. She serves as the accessibility representative with the George Student Association (SA).

The SA funds The Dialog.

Mooney has experienced a number of obstacles in her pursuit of academic achievement.

Following difficulties in high school, Mooney was adrift until TPE helped her rediscover her potential. Classes in English, art, and writing particularly encouraged Mooney, she said to use her “voice and pen to great effect.”

But for Mooney, TPE’s most valuable lesson proved to be self-advocacy. “I had learned how to ask for what I needed, and how to ensure what I needed was respected.”

Don Fleming, also a student in the SSW program, reflects the experience of many TPE students. Away from post-secondary education for twenty years, Fleming said he enrolled in TPE to move to a life of “purpose and gratitude” following struggles with mental health and substance use.

“The most valuable thing I learned from TPE is that I don’t need to allow myself to be held back by my challenges,” said Fleming. “Everyone needs help sometimes. I’m a member of the ‘everyone’ demographic.”

Fleming’s decision to dedicate himself to social work and his status as a mature student indicate a number of

the program’s strengths, especially its orientation towards public service and diversity. Many TPE students, having experienced the frequently difficult process of seeking social assistance, have come to know the system, and as a result want to help make a positive change in the community at large.

The TPE program aims to welcome students from all walks of life who have had challenges staying in school, including brushes with the criminal justice system. The program’s diversity is one of its very best qualities.

TPE offers a second chance to those who might have never experienced a first, especially within a post-secondary education system that often marginalizes those who require some additional help in order to succeed.

The TPE program is hosting information and English as-

Carolyn Mooney learned how to self-advocate through the TPE program.

Photo: Wai Yip Tam/The Dialog

sessment sessions from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, 21, 28 and March 7. All of the sessions are at 200 King St. E., in B155 with the exception of the one on Feb. 28, for which the room is yet to be determined.

With files from Wai Yip Tam

NEWS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

7

Caption description will be placed here. Photo: credit placed here

82 units of affordable housing will be built near Casa Loma campus. Photo: Steve Cornwell/The Dialog

More affordable apartments to be built near Casa Loma campus 200 Madison Ave. will offer rental units below market rates but only nine units will be rentgeared-to-income STEVE CORNWELL ASSISTANT EDITOR

A new social housing complex is under construction near George Brown’s Casa Loma campus and while housing advocates welcome the building’s emphasis on providing affordable apartments for low-income tenants, they said the affordability of rent remains in question.

According to a city staff report the buildings at 200 M a d i s o n Av e. w i l l h av e 82 apartments in total including 45 one-bedroom, 27 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom units. Nine

of these apartments are approved as rent-geared-to-income units, meaning that the monthly rent will be 30 per cent of the renter’s income.

The remaining 73 apartments will cost 77 per cent of average rents for similar units in Toronto, which at 2015 rent levels means a one-bedroom would cost $825, a two-bedroom $973 and the three-bedroom $1,143.

According to the 2016 Toronto Vital Signs report, housing is considered affordable only if it costs 30 per cent or less of a household’s income. At the 2015 rates, tenants of 200 Madison would need to make between $39,600 and $56,864 to pay 30 per cent or less of their incomes on rent according to the city staff report.

Natalie Illanes Nogueira is a tenant support and engagement co-ordinator with the Toronto Christian Resource Centre and a graduate of George Brown’s community worker program. She said that its unrealistic for people with low-incomes to afford to live at 200 Madison.

“I know that we are calling that affordable because it’s less expensive than (the market price) but really it’s actually not affordable.”

While Illanes Nogueira said it’s good that 200 Madison is being built, she is concerned that buildings where the units are mostly below-market rent, as opposed to rent geared to income, will become the definition of affordable housing across the city.

Tim Neeb, the developer of 200 Madison, said that the building has been, “designed to create an increase in supply of a mix of affordability levels.” He added that 25 per cent of households in the building will get a housing allowance from the city of $250 or $400 monthly to help make rents more affordable.

Several agencies are signed on to refer and support tenants at 200 Madison, including Community Living Toronto (CLT). While finding affordable housing is a challenge for folks with complex needs, Matthew Poirier, CLT’s manager of policy and stakeholder relations said that they would “never put someone in a place if they are not able to afford it.”

Poirier added that for an organization like CLT, which helps people who are ageing and have mobility issues, 200 Madison represents an opportunity to better support its clients.

For Neeb, creating an active social environment for the tenants at 200 Madison is an important goal. 200 Madison will feature two large common rooms, a library, a green roof, as well as a self-serve pet spa so tenants with pets can interact with each other.

Rusa Jeremic, a professor for George Brown’s community worker program likes the mixture of units at 200 Madison. Jeremic said that while there might be some questions about affordability, the single bedroom apartments offered are helping to address problems with adequate housing in the city.

“It can be hard to find affordable rents for someone who is single, or to find (housing) that is affordable and adequate that’s not an illegal basement or a room-

mate situation,” said Jeremic.

“So the fact that they’ve allocated a number of units to single dwellings is another step in the right direction.”

As of 2014, there were 78,248 active households on Toronto Social Housing wait-list. Between 2010 and 2020, the City of Toronto’s Affordable Housing Action Plan aimed to build 1,000 affordable rental units per year, but has fallen below those targets.

“We’ve been slow. We haven’t met the target every year and that’s based on the availability of funds,” said Simon Liston, manager of housing development in Toronto’s Affordable Housing Office.

Liston explained that 200 Madison is part of Toronto mayor John Tory’s Open Doors program, which aims to cut red tape and provide financial incentives for developers building affordable housing.

A 2015 staff report on 200 Madison projected the building to cost a total of $21.7 million, with the developer chipping in $7 million. With direct funding and exemptions to taxes and fees, Toronto, the federal and provincial governments are putting a total of $14.7 million towards 200 Madison, according to the report.

The apartments are scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.

8

SPORTS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

Wolfpack Ticker The Huskies dance pack is aimed at improving student experience at varsity games. Photo: Philip Iver/The Dialog

Huskies dance pac aims to light it up at varsity games Performances are an opportunity for practical, program-related learning PHILIP IVER REPORTER-EDITOR

Spectators at George Brown varsity basketball and volleyball games will no longer have

letics and recreation Melanie Gerin-Lajoie with being open to the idea, one he believed is a perfect match between athletics and dance for enhancing student experience.

“It was a new platform when we pitched it, to do it for first-year students,” said Ortiz.

to release tension in stressful situations.

Boutilier was happy to bring greater awareness of George Brown’s dance programs and saw real value in what she’s learned so far.

“We’re learning a lot of dancing big and projecting out,” she said of her program. “It really helps with this, because it boosts my confidence when I dance, knowing that when I go out into a group, I can perform to my best.”

While Boutilier possesses some pep rally know-how from high school, performing at a sports venue is a new experience for dance pac member Elizabeth Bravo. The fellow dance performance preparation student saw the unfamiliar setting as “good pressure,” and a situation where there is a direct line between this opportunity and the workforce afterwards.

“Our program considers that after you graduate, you can do this work in a professional way,” said Bravo, who is taking all aspects from her

program to the court. “This is actually our after graduation work, this or something like it.”

The dance students involved needn’t look far for a success story. An alumna of George Brown’s commercial dance program, Lindsay Aquin was brought on board in a paid capacity to co-ordinate and choreograph the Huskies dance pac.

Similar to Ortiz, Aquin, who is also a former member of the Raptors 905 dance pak, considers the squad an important improvement to school spirit.

“It’s definitely bringing a sense of community,” said Aquin. “It’s entertainment value. You have the contests, you have the dancing, you have the basketball, the cheering, it brings it all together and then you bring other parts of the school together.”

Happiness with the new initiative is across the board.

In tandem with George Brown mascot Helder the Husky, the dance pac has delighted not only students, but staff as well.

“These girls are very talented,” said director of student experience Gerard Hayes, who cited the dance pac as an example of gaining good experience right on campus. “It adds a tremendous amount of excitement to our game and it brings us to a new level of professionalism.”

First-year student Haley Boutilier believes the dance pack experience boosts her confidence. Photo: Philip Iver/The Dialog

to twiddle their thumbs during breaks in the action. The Huskies dance pac, a group of seven first-year students from George Brown’s dance programs, are bringing a more complete experience to the games.

First unveiled on Nov. 12, the initiative is the brainchild of Federico de Jesus Cortes Ortiz, event specialist with George Brown athletics and recreation.

Ortiz credited manager of ath-

“They never had the opportunity before, now they have it. It’s a great thing for them, and it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Throughout timeouts and intermissions, the dancers come out and give the audience a different kind of athletic experience. For dance performance preparation student Haley Boutilier, the dance pac is an important way to keep audience spirits high, helping

Scores from George Brown College athletics Men’s basketball December 2 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Georgian College . . . . . . . . 60 December 7 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Seneca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Women’s basketball December 2 Georgian College . . . . . . . . 83 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 58 December 7 Seneca College . . . . . . . . . . 76 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Badminton George Brown Invitational Men’s singles Ivan Chan t-3rd (3-1) Ben Yong (2-1) Howard Wong (2-1) Women’s singles Yunji Kim 2nd (3-1) Tiffany Yeung (2-2) Men’s doubles Alex Chao and Ben Yong, 1st (5-0) Women’s doubles Yunji Kim and Angeline Alviar, t-3rd (2-1) Mixed doubles Alex Chao and Yunji Kim 2nd, (4-1) Ben Yong and Angeline Alviar t-3rd (3-1)

Elizabeth Bravo (10) brings an infectious enthusiasm to the court.

Photo: Philip Iver/The Dialog

SPORTS

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

9

The general: Matthew Bukovec is a commanding presence on the basketball court Huskies guardforward adds a crucial element of non-stop communication PHILIP IVER REPORTER-EDITOR

This year, the Huskies men’s basketball team has as many types of leadership as there are flavours of ice cream.

There’s the leadership of lived experience, which head coach Jonathan Smith has in spades, or that of leading points-getter Ajahmo Clarke, a five-year veteran who lets his scoring do the talking.

And then there is Huskies’ guard-forward Matthew Bukovec, who seem like he was born yelling.

On a veteran-heavy squad, Bukovec brings a crucial dynamic. These Huskies have scoring talent, experience and unquestionable passion.

But when it comes to nonstop vocal communication, the Toronto native’s leadership is unmatched.

Bukovec yells like he gets paid by the word. A constant stream of communication, whether it’s directing his teammates, making players aware of opposition movement or simply keeping everyone involved.

“We have guys here that can all score the ball really well, but it comes down to defensive stops down the stretch, and talking, communicating on defence in order to get those buckets offensively,” said Bukovec, a product of the Etobicoke Thunder Elite program.

A three-year Ontario Collage Athletics Association

In terms of on the court communication, Matthew Bukovec (6) is unmatched. Photo: Philip Iver/The Dialog

(OCAA) veteran who models his game after Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller, Bukovec is in his first season as a Husky. The event management student brings top-level experience, having gone to national championships in back-toback years with the Humber Hawks, winning gold in 2015 and silver in 2016. Bukovec lists defensive intensity and communication as takeaways from his time with Humber.

“No one else on this team that plays has ever been in a national final,” said coach Smith. “We told Matt he’s a captain, told him to take that vocal role and he has. He’s yell-

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ing at guys, ‘engage the ball’, ‘talk’, ‘let’s go.’ It does come across as a general, but that’s what we need.”

Far from a one-trick defensive pony, Bukovec has broken out offensively as well.

After a self-described scoring slump of 41 points over the first six games of the season, he’s posted 57 over the last four. Through the ups and downs, Bukovec credited the environment created by his head coach. “(Smith) gives you the confidence to shoot the ball,” said Bukovec. “You miss a couple jumpers, as long as it’s rotated in the offence well, you know

he’s not going to get mad at you, not get down on you.”

For this grizzled squad to be successful, it must be aware and accepting of every player’s strengths. While vocal leaders risk rubbing folks the wrong way, there is a clear appreciation of what Bukovec brings to the table.

“In basketball, you need communication, guys are confused without communication,” said Clarke, who has cracked the top-five OCAA all-time scoring leaderboard.

“We need a leader, every team needs a vocal leader and Matt’s that guy.”

10

ARTS & LIFE

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

Thomas Bradley on 20 years of substance use “I went from being a hopeless dope fiend to a dopeless hope fiend.” Photo: Manseeb Khan/The Dialog

Now a community worker student at George Brown College, Bradley wants to help others survive addiction THOMAS BRADLEY

Hello, my name is Thomas and I am a recovering addict and alcoholic.

For 20 years I’ve struggled daily with addiction and alcohol issues and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Why not? Because today I have my life back.

I’ve overdosed seven different times over the years and had it not been for de-

tox, treatment facilities, and 12-step meetings I probably wouldn’t be alive today. Every time I left a rehab or a detox I always thought I had my addiction beat. Here’s the truth: you can’t beat addiction. It’s a one day at a time battle for the rest of your life.

I didn’t grow up wanting to be an addict or an alcoholic but my choices created a lifestyle that was hard to escape.

My addiction told me that I’d never be able to amount to any-

thing and that one more drink or toke would solve my problems. When I was an addict, I didn’t take any days off. I was a 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, addict. Using was my job.

Today when I find myself struggling or thinking about using, I pick up the phone and call someone or go to a meeting.

I play the tape through again and I remember all of those consequences I put myself through because of using. I remind myself that being homeless sucked and how hard it was to survive each day when I was using. I remind myself of all those degrading things I did just to get that next fix.

I remind myself that I’m worth it and I’m deserving of

a life without the use of drugs and alcohol. I don’t want my mother having to bury her firstborn son. When I die, I want to be remembered as being someone, not as a dope fiend and a drunk. I want to create my own family and hear the word, “dad” come from my child.

I never thought I would be able to be like other people, but today I am a full-time community worker student on the dean’s List at George Brown College. If I can get clean and sober and go to school after 20 years of mistakes then anyone can. I went from being a hopeless dope fiend to a dopeless hope fiend. And now I’m on the road to becoming an addictions counsellor.

Some folks are simply afraid to admit that they have a problem or to reach out for help.

There is help out there and someone that will listen if you can muster up enough courage to reach out. If I didn’t reach out many times over the years there’s a good chance that I wouldn’t be alive to write this.

Addiction or alcohol issues are not the end of your life, trust me. There’s a way out of the misery. The number for a detox bed in the city of Toronto is 1-866-366-9513. This number has saved my life and many others over the years.

Reach out, don’t become a statistic: nobody likes a funeral.

FUN

The Dialog • dialognews.ca // Jan. 9 - Jan. 22

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// CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across

1- Uterus; 5- Toothbrush brand; 10- Soviet news service; ww.websudoku.com/ 14- Caesar’s wings; 15- Dillies; 16- Finetune; 17- Put on the market; 18- 4th letter of the Greek alphabet; 19- Getting ___years (aging); 20- Mattress of straw; 22- Songs for two; 23- Crone; 24- Cloudlike mass; 25- Reconstruct; 29- Naught; 33- Run away to get married; 34- __ about (approximately); 36- Winter Palace ruler; 37- ___enProvence, France; 38- Alley Oop’s girlfriend; 39- Mil. address; 40- Slay; 42- Hey, over here!; 43- Highfives; 45- Metal marble; 47- Leads on; 49- Very early; 50- Popeye’s Olive; 51- Ankle bones; 54- Cemetery;

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11/24/2016

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Puzzle #1 for November 23, 2016

PREVIOUS ISSUE'S SOLUTION

BestCrosswords.com ­ Puzzle #1 for November 23, 2016

Across 1­ Ditto; 6­ Teri of "Tootsie"; 10­ Trading center; 14­ Dispatch boat; 15­ Olive genus; 16­ Hebrew month; 17­ Certain print; 19­ Palm starch; 20­ 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit; 21­ Trompe l'___; 22­ Myopic Mr.; 23­ Accelerate; 24­ Eggs order; 26­ Soon; 28­ Shores; 29­ Rose essence; 30­ Final Four org.; 33­ Farthest from the west; 38­ Yours, in Tours; 39­ Tropical fruit; 42­ One of the Furies; 47­ Cricket team; 48­ Make indifferent; 52­ Cornerstone abbr.; 53­ Lacks; 54­ Anderson of "WKRP in Cincinnati"; 55­ Chicago paper, for short; 56­ Nights before; 57­ Harmony of sounds; 59­ Actor Auberjonois; 60­ Arrow poison; 61­ Writer ___ Rogers St. Johns; 62­ Cabinet dept.; 63­ Kiln; 64­ Less covered; Puzzle #1 for December 7, 2016

Down 1­ Swampfever; 2­ Plain; 3­ Spruce up; 4­ Dept. of Labor division; 5­ Winning tic­tac­toe line; 6­ Bridge expert Charles; 7­ Actor Delon; 8­ Answer; 9­ Go, team!; 10­ Ancient fortress in Israel; 11­ Sayings; 12­ Highly seasoned stew; 13­ Soldiers; 18­ Joint problem; 22­ O Sole ___; 24­ Letter opener; 25­ Swindle; 27­ Ewe said it; 30­ Safety device; 31­ ___­Magnon; 32­ Black cuckoo; 34­ Santa Fe Trail town; 35­ Give the eye; 36­ Bring civil action against; 37­ Person behind bars?; 40­ Cyst; 41­ Aardvark; 42­ Cling; 43­ Yeast; 44­ Ancient ascetic; 45­ It spreads aromatic smoke; 46­ Explosive letters; 47­ Opera singer Pinza; 49­ Actress Massey; 50­ Musical sounds; 51­ Map feature; 55­ And here it is!; 57­ AFL partner; 58­ Arrest;

BestCrosswords.com ­ Puzzle #1 for December 7, 2016

60- Burnoose wearer; 28- Off the leash; 61- New Zealand native; 29- Nick of “Lorenzo’s Oil”; Across 62- Sneaky guy?; 30- Sir ___ Newton was an 1­ Uterus; 5­ Toothbrush brand; 10­ 63- Marquand sleuth; English mathematician; 1/1 Soviet news service; 14­ Caesar's 64- Light purple; 31- One of the two equal wings; 15­ Dillies; 16­ Fine­tune; 17­ 65- Son of Zeus in Greek sections of a cone; mythology; Put on the market; 18­ 4th letter of 32- Vulgar; 66- Nosegay; 35- Rejections; the Greek alphabet; 19­ Getting ___ 67- Actress Graff; 38- Mayberry kid; years (aging); 20­ Mattress of straw; 68- Flat circular plate; 41- Paperboy; 43- Eye sore; 22­ Songs for two; 23­ Crone; 24­ 44- Frog’s perch; Down Cloudlike mass; 25­ Reconstruct; 46- Wreath of flowers; 1- Stinging insect; 29­ Naught; 33­ Run away to get 48- Beginner; 2- Olive genus; married; 34­ ___ about 51- Pack down; 3- French Sudan, today; 52- Buck follower; 4- Bellboy; (approximately); 36­ Winter Palace 53- Phooey!; 5- Methuselah’s ruler; 37­ ___­en­Provence, France; 54- Olympian Devers; claim to fame; 55- Portrayal by an actor; 6- Regrets; 38­ Alley Oop's girlfriend; 39­ Mil. 56- Irish island group; 7___well...; address; 40­ Slay; 42­ Hey, over 57- Ethereal: Prefix; 8- Stringed instrument; here!; 43­ High­fives; 45­ Metal 58- Hwys.; 9- Youth org.; marble; 47­ Leads on; 49­ Very 59- Writing table; 10- Notion; early; 50­ Popeye's Olive; 51­ Ankle 61- Year in Edward the 11- Topdrawer; Confessor’s reign; 12- Foul mood; bones; 54­ Cemetery; 60­ Burnoose 13- Chamber workers: Abbr.; wearer; 61­ New Zealand native; 21-Fill with cargo; 22- Speck; 62­ Sneaky guy?; 63­ Marquand sleuth; 64­ Light purple; 65­ Son of 24- ___ song (cheaply); 25- Peruses; Zeus in Greek mythology; 66­ 26- ”Silas Marner” author; Nosegay; 67­ Actress Graff; 68­ Flat 27- Pluck;

http://www.bestcrosswords.com/bestcrosswords/printable/Home,printable.sdirect?formids=loadSolution%2CpuzzleNumber%2CpuzzleDate%2CDatePicker%2Cform…

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circular plate; "Crossword puzzles provided by bestcrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission."

Down 1­ Stinging insect; 2­ Olive genus; 3­ French Sudan, today; 4­ Bellboy; 5­ Methuselah's claim to