It's a storybook ending, that's all you can say, just close the book and put it on the shelf.
Volume XLV, Issue 2
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
– See page 26
November 26 - December 20, 2019
Really good sports Unique stories of DC, Ontario Tech athletes. See pages 6-12, 17-24 Photograph by Tara Sottile
She skated here from Australia
page 22 Photograph by Brandon Wright
Dempster walks away as champion Lords MVP Lee
page 6 Photograph by Ryan Hahn
page 26 Photograph by Ryan Hahn
2
The Chronicle
November 26 - December 20, 2019
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
Campus
Photograph by Emily Barnes
Kevin Watson (right) moderates an International Education Week panel in The Pit at Durham College. Joining him are (from left) Tara Sottile, a journalism student who travelled to Guatemala in October. Jessica Thomas who studied abroad, Emily Ruecker, a domestic student, Paulina Zorner of Germany and Gabriel Dietrich of Brazil.
DC celebrates International Education Week Emily Barnes The Chronicle
International Education Week (IEW) was held in The Pit at Durham College in Oshawa. The event took place Nov. 12-15 and included singing, dancing, drums and an enlightening conversation about the quality of having an education abroad. Kevin Watson, the events moderator is from Jamaica and former DC student.
I feel like you get a more diverse education. He explained the exciting benefits of receiving an education abroad. “I feel like you get a more diverse education,” he says. “The way the material is delivered is different.” IEW has been celebrated around the world since 2000 and recognized by 100 countries. The point of the festivities and events is to educate DC’s community on different cultures and opportunities. International students in universities and colleges are bene-
fiting from not only the different form of education, but being introduced to different cultures. “I think that having a direct and intimate kind of experience makes you learn more, and you get to emerge yourself in the culture a little more,” he says. Watson kicked off the event by introducing five different students and getting them to share their individual experiences about travelling abroad. Gabriel Dietrich, an international student from Brazil, spoke about his experience being an international student in both Canada and the United States – and why he chose to attend Durham College. “In the United States it’s a lot harder to stay there after you graduate,” he says. “I applied to schools close by Toronto, but I chose DC because price-wise it was more affordable and the school is great itself.” Paulina Zorner, an exchange student from Germany, spoke the new experiences she’s had here in Canada. “I came to DC because my college at home has a partnership with DC,” she says. “I had never been to Canada and it looked beautiful on the pictures so I thought I’d come here.” IEW is showcasing all the opportunities provided by DC to its students. Those opportunities include exchange programs, receiving an education abroad and travelling
opportunities within programs. Chandeep Kaur is an international student from Jalandhar, India. In her free time she practices traditional Punjabi Bhangra
dance. She has been dancing for more than 10 years and used to be an instructor back home. She is in her first year at DC in the Chemical Engineering Tech-
nology program. “I just love Durham College, I love British and Canadian people…They are so nice, whenever they meet you they just smile,” she says.
Photograph by Emily Barnes
Jessica Thomas (holding microphone) discusses the benefits of an international education in The Pit at Durham College.
Tech
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
November 26 - December 20, 2019
The Chronicle
Google phone transcribes audio in real time
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Dennis B. Price The Chronicle
Have you ever recorded someone or a class lecture and wished that audio would magically be transcribed for you? Well, that oddly specific wish is a reality, on a smartphone no less. The phone in question is the Google Pixel 4 has a new pre-installed app that records audio and transcribes it to text in real-time. The Pixel 4 was revealed at the 'Made by Google' event on Oct. 15, which showed off the new phone and its feature to the public. One of the most talked-about features is the new recording app. The app itself is a new addition to Google's Pixel phone series, as it's the first time a recording app will be on a Pixel phone right out of the box. Google describes the new feature as a recorder that uses more technology than what's currently on the audio recording market. "The new Recorder app uses speech recognition and AI to transcribe lectures, meetings, interviews and more," says Google representative Christina Peck. Also, the app lets you search for keywords within a Pixel 4 recording and jump to that point in the transcript. It makes it easier to get the information quickly, instead of listening through it manually. Also, the Recorder app doesn't require an internet connection, so the app can still record and transcribe the audio in real-time even in airplane mode. Transcription technology isn't new, but the idea of putting it in a device that people use everyday is new. The question is if a machine like the Pixel 4 will be a changing force in the transcription industry. CBC accessible transcript journalist, Luke Williams, 27, says the Pixel 4 will put transcription technology in the hands of a new
Photograph by Dennis B. Price
Smartphones with the Google Pixel 4 phone and the Google logo on the screens. audience. "I know people who are hardcore journalists, who aren't using transcripts in any way, shape or form now," Williams says. He adds transcripts that have already been created for journalists who own a Pixel 4 will create more work opportunities for him than he sees right now. As an accessible journalist, he can use transcripts to make it easier for an accessible audience to get more context of the stories he helps produce at CBC. Williams says the Pixel 4 won't immediately make an impact on the journalism or the transcription
industry because it's too early. It would be a different story If an organization like CBC transitions its reporters to own or be provided with a device like the Pixel 4 as a requirement for the job, Williams says. This type of automation could create fewer opportunities in journalism as early as late 2020, Williams believes. Still, he doesn't see this type of automation affecting journalism in a big way like other industries. "I know a lot of people who tell me we (journalists) will never reach 100 per cent accessibility," Williams says. "The same can be
said about automation." The technology is not perfect, occasionally transcribing inaccurately due to auditory issues. Those issues are the Pixel 4's most worrying aspect, but reviewer of GameReviews.com, Adam Roffel is still impressed by the technology. "It misses every once in a while, but for me, it's 98 per cent accurate," Roffel says. Williams says that as long as the Pixel 4 or any transcription software isn't perfect, there is still an opportunity out there for people like Williams who work with transcripts. Until that time comes, Williams
is thrilled to pick up the slack for the imperfect transcribing technology. He adds he's interested to see the phone in the hands of early adopters, especially those who are journalists and if the journalism landscape will change or not because of the Pixel 4. The Pixel 4 comes in three distinct colours, including ‘Just Black,’ ‘Clearly White’ and ‘Oh So Orange’ colour variants. The phone in the Google Store costs $999 for the 64 GB Pixel 4 base model, $1,129 for the 128 GB. The Pixel 4 XL model is $1,129 for a 64 GB and $1,259 for the 128 GB.
3D printers on campus can make almost anything Fiona Campbell The Chronicle
Photograph by Fiona Campbell
One of the library's three 3D printers printing a bookmark.
Ever wanted to print your own key chain, whistle, phone stand or Monopoly piece? You're in luck, the library's 3D printers are ready for use and available to all Durham College and Ontario Tech students. The campus library has three 3D printers on its main floor, which can be accessed through the library's website or front desk. It is the only 3D printing service on campus which is available to all students regardless of program. Students can submit their own designs or pre-made designs on Durham College's or Ontario Tech's library websites. They first need to fill out a 3D print request form asking questions like what the item is for and approximately how big it will be. Printing through the library costs $1.50 an hour. "We are charging for the price
of the materials only," says librarian Kate Gibbings, one of the people who oversees the printers. All help with designs and adjustments are free to students, she stresses. Students can book a consultation request for help choosing or changing a design. "I've actually never rejected a design," says Gibbings. She works with students to keep their design realistic and printable. She carries a bin of example pieces to help students visualize possibilities. Among the examples are a skeleton, a pumpkin and a dragon. "We choose fun ones for examples," she says. As long as students are learning, Gibbings is pleased to help. The printers use a Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament plastic made from corn starch to print each layer of the object one by one. The more layers an object has, the longer it takes to print, she says.
Thingiverse is a popular website with thousands of 3D printing designs, which Gibbings recommends students use to find premade designs. Ian Chen, an adult student in Contemporary Web Design at Durham College, is using Thingaverse to see if he can find a Nerf Gun attachment for his son. "I thought I could print it instead of buying it," he says. Gibbings helps him through the process and they land on a sword instead. Printing is the final step. When his design is ready for pickup, Chen will be notified by email to get it at the library front desk. Students can only pay for designs in cash at the front desk. No more than 10 of the same design per person is allowed, says Gibbings. Students can use the printers for projects or just for fun, she says. The printers are available all year round.
4
The Chronicle
November 26 - December 20, 2019
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
Editorial
PUBLISHER: Greg Murphy EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Brian Legree AD MANAGER: Dawn Salter
CONTACT US NEWSROOM: brian.legree@durhamcollege.ca ADVERTISING: dawn.salter@durhamcollege.ca
Cartoon by Melanie Lennon
Simcoe and Conlin, an 'unsafety zone'
One year after the death of Ontario Tech University student, Rhyss Glenfield, road safety for students at Durham College and Ontario Tech is still in question. Glenfield was struck and killed while waiting to cross the intersection at Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. on Nov. 14, 2018. Don Lovisa, president of Durham College, says road safety is not a new topic around campus. “When you have a fatality, everybody sits up and pays a little more attention to it,” Lovisa says. One year later and very little has changed. The community safety zone around Durham College is not enough to make the area of Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. safe for students. On Sept. 5, 2019, two accidents happened at the intersection within hours of each other. The region responded quick-
ly, announcing the next day the stretch of Simcoe St. near Durham College would be a community safety zone. This band aid solution was also announced on Dec. 28, 2018, following Glenfield’s death. It obviously did not work. According to Durham Regional Police Const. George Tudos, there were 28 motor vehicle collisions in the Durham College area between January 2019 and September 2019. Tudos says other steps have been taken, like posted speed trackers, to try and decrease high speeds and accidents. “Does it decrease? It's really hard to say,” says Tudos. “Even if it prevents one injury or one death, I think it's worth the money.” A speed tracker is currently installed just north of Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. The location of this tracker is
too close to the intersection for any driver to reduce their speed approaching the campus area. Not to mention the proximity to the 407 Highway exit, where drivers are already going at high speeds, funneling directly into campus. “That stretch between Conlin and the 407 has to really hit drivers multiple times, in my mind, with how they need to slow down when they're coming south off the 407,” says Steven Murphy, president of Ontario Tech University In some cases, these speed trackers provide the idea to drivers of “how fast can I go?” “People still speed and get caught literally a block away, people keep going and ignore the signs,” says Tudos. The area of Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. is made up of housing, amenities, shops, restaurants, and hundreds of students every day.
“In a five-kilometre radius, within the next four to five years, we're going to have 29,000 additional people,” says Lovisa. If the area keeps growing in student population, why isn’t more being done to protect them? Something as simple as a sidewalk is still not installed at Simcoe St. and Northern Dancer Dr., forcing many students to walk on the shoulder of the busy street. Another instance where the region is talking the talk, but not walking their walk is the installation of red-light cameras. Regional council carried a motion to install red-light cameras in community safety zones and school zones on Sept. 25, 2019. None have been installed. Steven Kemp, manager of traffic engineering and operations for Durham Region, says redlight cameras will “not necessarily help” with traffic issues involving
Tracey Bowers-Lee Ryan Hahn Tara Sottile Brandon Wright
PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Audrey Bangala, Nikita Beharry, Shikhar Bhugra, Lance Bucknor, Christian Buraga, Frankie Cavallari, Alxya Crain, Alex Conti, Roxette Diosina, Alecia Forgeard, Sam Kabungu, Adnan Lalji, Mat Lavigne, Lydia MacGillivray, Eyuel Markos, Harry Moir, Breanna Nowen, Nic Orgias, Matthew Phinn, Abigail Reynolds, Pietro Sales, Teresa Serio, Lana Sheppard, Janette Sigua, Akash Singhal, Jordan Stojanovic, Aaron Uduwelagedara, Amanda Wilson, Donte Young
EDITORS: Emily Barnes, Brandon Beharry, William Black, Tracey Bowers, Fiona Campbell, Jeremy Corrivault-Luxton, Liam David, John Elambo, Ryan Hahn, Brittany Hebelka, Melanie Lennon, Marcus Levy-Ash, Courtney McClure, Soyra Mokashi, Dennis Price, Piri Sinnathurai, Tara Sottile, Marc Stuemple, Brandon Wright.
The Chronicle is published by the Durham College School of Media, Art and Design, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7L7, 7212000 Ext. 3068, as a training vehicle for students enrolled in Journalism and Advertising courses and as a campus news medium. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college administration or the board of governors. The Chronicle is a member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association. Publisher: Greg Murphy
pedestrians and cyclists. While the solution may be great for other roads, the intersection of Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. is full of pedestrians, who just happen to be students, at all times of day. “I would like to see other solutions not only proposed but implemented as well,” says Murphy. Durham College and Ontario Tech cannot afford to lose any more students to preventable accidents at Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd Students should never have to worry about being hit by a car on their way to class. Durham Region needs to step up and make the changes they promised.
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chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
November 26 - December 20, 2019
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5
Opinion
Durham Region needs more colour The regional council Works Committee proposed to ban rainbow crosswalks on all regional roads in a Sept. 4 report. Durham Region is home to six rainbow crosswalks across four cities and as of Sept. 4, the regional council has decided to ban rainbow crosswalks on all regional roads. Council members noted despite the vote, they are in support of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) community. If the regional council is as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community as they say, why are half of the current rainbow crosswalks in the region on private not public property? The only rainbow crosswalks in Durham Region on a public street are in Bowmanville, at Mearns Avenue, in Pickering near the library, and on Brock
Brandon Wright Road. The other three, Trent University, Durham Region headquarters, and Iroquois Sports Complex, are all in private parking lots or spaces, not public streets. One way Durham Region could illustrate support to the LGBTQ+ community would be to install more rainbow crosswalks. John Presta, interim acting commissioner of the Works Committee, said the crosswalks would be a distraction to drivers. Whitby mayor, Don Mitchell, agreed because “small children are attracted to bright colours,” citing it as a possible cause for
children to run out into the street. While child safety is definitely an important concern, one could argue the general functionality of a crosswalk isn’t erased the moment you add a splash of colour. Preventing tragedy is as easy as having a simple conversation about crossing roads safely, so this justification is nothing more than a half-hearted excuse for inaction. If rainbow crosswalks became a standard part of the urban landscape, children would recognize it as nothing more than an ordinary crosswalk. Mitchell added the installation and maintenance costs are too much for the region to install the crosswalks.While the costs may add up to a few thousand dollars per year, you can’t put a price tag on support. Regional councillor Brian Nicholson said the costs to install
a crosswalk of this kind would be between $4,000 and $8,000. Nicholson noted the regional budget and said this cost would be “hardly an excessive amount.” Meanwhile, the city of Oshawa was willing to spend millions of dollars on other community projects like a gymnasium divider at Northview Community Centre, at a cost of over $150,000, according to the 2018 Approved Capital Projects report. A rainbow crosswalk, like any kind of crosswalk, is exposed to a lot of wear and tear. Whether it is foot traffic, vehicle traffic, or the weather itself, the colourful paint could easily be washed away from the road, making the investment a harder pill to swallow. However, different communities in Durham Region have proved there are alternatives to spending a lot on installation.
In Bowmanville, the community fundraised for the costs of paint and came together as a group to paint the rainbow colours onto the crosswalk. Another example of cost reduction took place in Oshawa. Trent University Durham added a rainbow crosswalk to their campus through the Trent Durham Student Association and student volunteers. Not only do these initiatives lower installation costs, they also bring people together to support the LGBTQ+ community. A rainbow crosswalk is little to ask for in the grand scheme of diversity and inclusion. The region is hiding behind poor, bureaucratic excuses like safety and cost to justify their lack of support. The LGBTQ+ community is a visible of society, let's make it a part of the urban landscape.
Let's start cancelling 'cancel culture'
Have you ever done something you regret? Chances are the answer is “yes”. Now think about being fired or permanently shamed by your community because of it. This is the reality for many celebrities and public figures. Having an event from their past, even if it’s just one, can shape how they are thought of today. This can result in public shaming, boycotting and overall negative attention.This is known as cancel culture. It is toxic and creates a world where people are defined by their mistakes. Cancel culture encourages people to rush to judgement and is often based on one mistake or event. It does not consider any good actions or recent activities but focuses on one comment or action. Some public figures that have been “cancelled” include Kevin
Fiona Campbell Hart, James Charles and Kanye West. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has felt the toxic effects of cancel culture. Most recently though, Don Cherry has been “cancelled” after his inappropriate comments on Hockey Night in Canada. While some like West and Cherry have a history of controversy, others like Hart, have not. It is important to hold public figures accountable but when we don’t give someone a chance to change, cancel culture becomes toxic. Cancel culture is not all bad, sometimes it gives a much-needed kick to someone who is continual-
ly offensive. Cherry is an example of this. Cherry has had a history of making offensive comments. His last sentiment, which implied immigrants do not wear poppies and don’t care about Remembrance Day, got him fired. It was a series of comments which got Cherry fired. However, too many people are getting caught in this cancel craze. Hart was set to host the 2019 Oscars when tweets from 10 years ago surfaced. These tweets included homophobic sentiments. Even after saying he would not repeat the jokes from the tweets of 2015, Hart was banned from hosting the Oscars. Hart has not said anything homophobic since and has issued multiple apologies. If actions and apologies are not enough then what is?
Hart is now associated with the term "homophobic.” Hart will never be better than this moment in time. This is not a message we want to send. This is not holding public figures accountable, it is holding them back. Someone we definitely want to hold accountable is our prime minister. Recently, pictures of a 30-yearold Trudeau wearing blackface have surfaced. This was followed by cries of racism. While blackface should be criticized, calling Trudeau racist is based on these incidents from a decade ago. Will Trudeau ever be better than this moment in time? Trudeau issued a swift apology and addressed the issue. He acknowledged he was in the wrong and has grown. If actions do truly speak louder
than words, Trudeau's got them to back him up. Trudeau has repeatedly shown his support for minorities in Canada, something people forgot in the wake of this scandal. In his first term, he issued over three-hundred thousand permanent resident cards per year. It takes less time to see someone's mistake and judge them based on that than it does to take the time to step back and research the person. This is why cancel culture is so dangerous, it is easy to retweet and hold onto a headline than it is to look at the whole picture. This creates a toxic environment where people are not allowed to grow, but are forever defined by past actions and mistakes. Society should strive for a world where we can learn and grow from our mistakes, not one that holds us back.
The future of gaming is not subscription-based services
Gaming is in a transition period, and it's not because of new PlayStation and Xbox's consoles coming next year. The change is in the way gamers play. Game subscription services like PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass have been rising in popularity in the last few years. They are inspired by streaming services like Netflix. For a monthly fee, subscribers have access to a more than 100 game library with new games added to these services each week. While it's a good deal for consumers, these subscription services are not the future of gaming. As the main focus, they would do
Dennis B. Price more harm than good in the long run for the gaming industry. If all games are exclusively on these services in a possible future, the over $150 billion industry would lose out on revenue. Subscribing to these services means less money for game creators. What's bad for game creators is good for gamers because these services are a great deal for any-
one who plays games. Subscribers have access to the big-budget games while giving exposure to the smaller games for a brand new audience. A service like Xbox Game Pass has tons of value for gamers. Xbox Exclusive games are added to the service the same date as games launch in stores. These services aren't just on game consoles, they are coming to your smartphone too. On September 19th, Apple threw its hat into the ring and launched its gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade. Apple users on iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, and Macs have access to 100+
premium games for $5.99 a month in Canada. The emphasis is on 'premium games' with no ads or microtransactions, and that is a step in the right direction, especially in a market full of games that take the opposite approach. The game subscription approach is not new for anyone who has used services like Netflix, but for game players, it's a different approach. Buying a game is now an option with these services, which gives game consumers more choice. Enjoying a particular game doesn't mean you have to own it. In one way, these services are the
modern version of Rogers Videos or Blockbuster minus leaving your house. The negative side is that subscribers don't own these games, and if a specific game leaves the service, the opportunity to play that game disappears. Gaming subscription services aren't the future of gaming in a big way, but in a small way. They add to the value gaming supplies for the people who play them. These services are one possible outlet for consumers to get more value for their hard-earned money, plus it's another way for game companies to make more revenue.
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The Chronicle
November 26 - December 20, 2019
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
Campus
Photograph by Soyra Mokashi
Joshua Lee, 19, is a striker for the DC Lords soccer team. He was recently awarded championship MVP after Durham won the soccer nationals on Nov. 9.
'Smiley' DC soccer star racks up awards Soyra Mokashi The Chronicle
Blades of grass crunch under Joshua Lee's blue Adidas cleats as he speeds across the field, his sight fixed on a soccer ball. Harsh November wind whips his face as he gets close, snatching the ball away from a Vancouver Island player with skilled footwork. A moment later, he smashes home a goal, beating the keeper and opening scoring for Durham College (DC) in the 17th minute of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) soccer gold medal game. Durham went on to beat Vancouver Island 3-2 to claim the championship. Lee, 19, is a striker for the Durham Lords' soccer team. A first-year student in the Entrepreneurship and Small Business program, Lee enrolled at DC with the intention of joining the Lords and pursuing his passion for soccer. Furthermore, the school’s role as host for the national soccer championships was all the more incentive for him to apply. “I knew I was going to play soccer wherever I go,” he said. “And with the nationals being hosted here, it meant all the more to come to Durham. That was kind of like the ticket for me to go show what I got.” Lee, who is from Ajax, has been playing soccer since he was 12, which he considers “later than others. “One time after elementary school, I came out and I saw one of my friends playing out in the field. I thought to myself, that looks fun,” he said. “And I figured
if he can do it, maybe I can.” After playing the sport for a few years at the rep and academy level, Lee's soccer took a backseat to his health. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at 17 after several seizures which he initially mistook as “complicated migraines. “I had my first grand seizure two days after my birthday, which kind of sucked. And then I had my second one on the new year, so I spent my New Year’s in the hospital,” he explained. “Yeah, it's tough not being able to do most things but for what it is, I'm still
alive. So, I go play soccer.” Lee said his condition doesn’t affect his games as playing soccer is “a stress reliever” to him. “It's kind of like therapy…I always have fun on the field,” he said. “Coach would call me 'Smiley' because I always walk with a smile. Ready to go, ready to train.” In the short span of three months, Lee has accumulated a number of awards: Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Rookie of the Year, followed by OCAA all-star, CCAA championship all-star and most
importantly, CCAA championship most valuable player after DC won the 2019 title on Nov. 9. This year’s national championships was held on home turf, as DC hosted the matches Nov. 6-9 on Vaso’s Field. The Lords won the gold medal game for the first time in school history, concluding the season with 11 wins and two losses. Lee was DC's leading scorer on the season with 10 goals. “I’m proud of myself,” he said. “I put in a lot of hard work, lot of bumps and bruises to get those goals, but hey, it was well worth
Photograph by Ryan Hahn
Striker Joshua Lee scores the opening goal in the national soccer finals against Vancouver Island.
it.” In the months leading up to the nationals, head coach Dave Ashfield conducted practice sessions for at least two hours every day, including weekends. “Joshua’s a very good, very strong player. He’s quick, always attentive to detail and always willing to learn,” said Ashfield. “He’s been a great find for the Lords this year.” According to Lee, the season has been a “roller-coaster. “At first, it was a little tight finding my spot on the team,” he said. “But the season turned out to be really fun, with all the guys wanting to work for each other. “We were all there through the cold nights of training before a game, planning and strategizing against the opponent we were playing. The little laughs and giggles, the little battles that we had in practice was a lot of fun.” Outside DC, Lee is also a part of Master’s Futbol Academy, a competitive Ontario soccer league. The biggest challenge he faces with soccer and school is time management but with the conclusion of soccer season, Lee wants to focus on his classes again. “I would rather play football (soccer) for the rest of my life if I could,” he said. “But you kind of have to have a plan B because it doesn't always work out. “I just try and keep it simple, one thing at a time. It's a marathon, not a race. So if you miss one thing, it's not the end of the world,” Lee said. “Make the best of what it is and go from there.”
Campus
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
November 26 - December 20, 2019
The Chronicle
7
Photograph by Al Fournier
Jose Flores plays in the Canadian colleges championship soccer game. Durham beat Vancouver Island 3-2 to win the gold medal.
DC soccer's Flores finds passion in dance Jose Flores hopes to open his own dance studio one day Brittany Hebelka The Chronicle
Durham Lords' soccer player Jose Flores believes it's important to be comfortable with who you are and confident in yourself. Flores, 23, is in his third year of the sport management program and a midfield player for the Lords who recently won the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association soccer championship. And he's also a competitive ballroom dancer and teacher. Flores got involved in Latin and ballroom dance a year ago in a "funny" manner. Flores says he was approached by a couple he was cashing out at the Sobeys grocery store in Ajax. A lady asked him if he danced. Flores explained dance was em-
bedded in his Mexican culture, but he never danced professionally. "She said ‘we will train you’ and not to worry about it and to come in for an interview tomorrow. They said we will train you and see how it goes. I went in for an interview and they liked me." Since then, Flores has been teaching one-on-one private lessons and group lessons to men and women ranging from age 15 to much older at the Arthur Murray Dance Centres in Ajax. "My main clientele is wedding couples so I would have to choreograph their wedding dance which is pretty special because that’s something that hopefully they remember for the rest of their life." Flores recently went to Las Vegas and Chicago for work. "I haven’t competed yet but me and my dance partner plan on competing next August. We’ve done friendly competitions, but it's not really anything substantial." Flores grew up playing soccer but says dance is a growing passion and something he would like to pursue long term. "There’s so much opportunity for me to be a travelling coach and travel the world and teach people how to dance, then eventually own
my own franchise dance studio. I can put my school program and my knowledge there and apply it to when I want to open that studio." As much as he grew up playing soccer, he also grew up watching his mom and dad dancing in the kitchen. Flores explains, at family functions in Mexico he would dance with his family but he couldn't get the steps down. Flores manages to balance personal life, dance, soccer, work and school in his schedule. "It's tough, but it's just about staying organized so making sure I have a day plan and just following through with it and making sure I hit everything that I should," he says. Apart from his busy schedule, Flores says he enjoys listening to music. He says his favourite is hip-hop and R&B but he listens to a lot of Latin music as well. He explained he's a huge fan of The Weeknd and his favourite hip-hop artist is Drake. Flores explains he is comfortable with himself and he knows dance might not be viewed by some as the Photograph by Arthur Murray Dance Centres most "masculine" thing. However, he says it's his passion and he is confident enough in himself to not be Jose Flores teaching dance class in Ajax. bothered by the stereotypes.
8
The Chronicle
November 26 - December 20, 2019
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
Campus
Brothers in life and sport
Campoli clan carries on soccer tradition at Ontario Tech Ryan Hahn The Chronicle
The Campoli name has been in Ridgebacks soccer since 2015. It started with Fabio, who recently finished his playing time with the men's team at Ontario Tech. But as one Campoli departs, another arrives on the pitch. His brother Chris joined the team this and was given the same number 10 Fabio wore when he played. "Pass on the torch," said Chris. Fabio was a good player for the Ridgebacks and was named Ontario Tech athlete of the year in 2016. Chris wants to be even better. "Hopefully I can make a bigger impact than him," said Chris. Fabio was an elite goal scorer playing the striker position and breaking the school's single-season goal-scoring record in his second season with 10. Chris has just wrapped up his first season with the Ridgebacks and demonstrated he can contribute offensively, notching six goals
and six assists for 18 total points. Not surprisingly, the Campoli family has deep roots in soccer. Chris started playing at the age of four. “I fell in love with it and I have been playing ever since,” Chris said. He was introduced to soccer by his dad, who is from Italy and grew up around soccer. Chris's family came to Canada before he was born. They are big fans of soccer and basically told me “it’s either this or nothing,” Chris said. Chris was comfortable following Fabio to Ontario Tech. His brother gave him advice about the school size and the smaller classrooms which is why Chris chose to come here. “I wanted to be a part of the culture here and build a winning team,” said Chris. Before Ontario Tech, Chris played soccer in his hometown of Woodbridge, Ont. He also played for the Toronto FC Academy team. Chris went through one of the rougher times in his soccer career when he played with TFC Academy. “I wanted to hang them up,” Chris said. Ultimately, he was cut from the team and he thought it could be the end of his soccer career. After having a conversation with Fabio and his father he decided it was not time to quit - he went back to playing soccer in Woodbridge. “I wouldn’t be where I am to-
Photograph by Ontario Tech Athletics
Fabio Campoli hands over his jersey to his brother Chris who is wear it in his time playing for the Ridgebacks.
day without them,” Chris said. He also said he owes getting his game back to his coach at Woodbridge, Fabio Panetta. “I got the confidence back I started to become myself again I think I owe a lot of that to him,” Chris said. Chris recalls one of his favourite moments watching his brother play. Fabio scored the game-winning goal in the first playoff game Ontario Tech played. The goal came in extra time, at the
120-minute mark, giving the Ridgebacks 1-0 victory. It's a moment Chris won’t forget. But he also had a moment of his own this season. Chris scored his first two Ontario university goals in the same game, including the tying tally in the dying minutes. He also remembers Fabio's response to his goals. “Congrats on the two OUA goals, but the work doesn’t stop there - get back to training tomor-
row,” he said. He has taken his brother's message to heart. “I’m a strong believer that if you set high goals and you have to work hard to achieve them it all pays off in the end,” Chris said. During the offseason, Chris wants to continue to put his time in on the field - indoors - as much as he can. He also wants to put on some muscle and stay fit by going to the gym.
From Cuba to DC, baseball love story a big hit William Black The Chronicle
Photograph by William Black
Fernando Suarez working in the FLEX gym on campus.
Fernando Suarez's love of baseball has seen him play on diamonds in Cuba and in Canada, including right here at Durham College. Suarez is a 25-year-old Cuban native and DC student, who led the Lords to a National College Baseball Championship in October. Listed by the Lords as a catcher-first baseman-designated hitter, Suarez hit .500 in the championship and scored the winning run as Durham beat Thompson River 2-1 in the final in an extra inning. "It feels good, it kind of reminds you that all the work you have put in is worthy, but on the other hand don’t get attached to it,” is how he describes his performance this season. Suarez moved to Whitby in February, 2018 with his wife, a Cuban-Canadian who was already living in Canada. He got a job coaching the Ontario Cardinals and was working alongside Sam Dempster, the longtime coach of the Lords. Dempster then recruited Suarez to join the Lords. The first part of the season, Durham didn't play like a championship team. The Lords started with only
It feels good, it kind of reminds you that all the work you have put in is worthy. two wins in their first eight games. At that point, Suarez says a meeting was held and he told his teammates the Lords were better than their record indicated. “We were two and six and I told them, 'guys we are a good team, I don’t see why we cannot win',” he says. Following that meeting, the Lords went on an 11-game win streak. Suarez was not surprised. “I was expecting this to happen, it's not like that came out of the blue. I knew that was the team we were, not two and six,” he says. Suarez has just started his time at Durham - but for Dempster it was a storybook ending to his career. This was the final year
Dempster coached at Durham, after leading the program since its inaugural season in 1992. “I learned a lot from him," says Suarez. "I tried to pick his brain as much as I could because I knew this was going to be his last year.” Suarez still recalls his first exposure to the game of baseball. "I remember since I was three years old I would watch baseball on TV and I was so amazed." He says the moment life changed for him was in Grade 2 and his teacher asked if anyone wanted to be on his town's baseball team in Cuba. He enthusiastically volunteered himself. This was the start of Suarez’s baseball career. In addition to being a student in the Fitness and Health Promotion program, Suarez is working at The FLEX, the gym on campus. Suarez and his wife are also expecting a baby in January. Suarez has offers for other baseball organizations like the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), which has teams throughout southern Ontario. But for now, he's unsure of his baseball future. “Honestly I don’t know what’s going to happen” says Suarez. “I don’t know if I’m going to play IBL, because of the baby. All the teams are far away and that doesn’t help.”
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Quintyn Walcott practice field.
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at
the
Photograph by Jeremy Corrivault
Walcott's soccer game travels to Ontario Tech from Barbados Jeremy Corrivault The Chronicle
Soccer player Quintyn Walcott made the transition to Ontario Tech University from Barbados three years ago. Born in Bridgetown, Walcott says he played soccer as a "hobby" but concedes he played at a high level while in high school. After some friends in Mississauga alerted him about university soccer in Ontario, he reached out to Ontario Tech University head coach Peyvand Mossavat. Walcott sent the coach video highlights from his team in Barbados. Mossavat invited Walcott to come to Oshawa in August, 2016. He came out to a couple practices and made the team. Walcott says he grew up in a soccer-oriented family and started playing at the age of four. When he was in high school, Walcott always knew he wanted to come to Canada. "I always wanted to try something new compared to Barbados," says Walcott. In addition to getting an education, playing soccer was also part of his plan. Canada also has more specialized school programs than Barbados, says Walcott, adding he is in Networking and Information Technology Security at Ontario Tech. His mom told him that the world
is evolving around technology and he should take a program around that. “My mom made that decision for me to be in the program,” says Walcott. Soccer in Canada is a bit different compared to his hometown, he says. “In Canada it’s a bit more competitive - we train 4-5 times a week and it's more demanding,” says Walcott. Canadian soccer tactics and techniques are different from what he is used to in Barbados. Balancing soccer and school is a challenge, but he has a really good support system to help him, says Walcott. “Make sure your schoolwork is done before soccer practice and games,” says Walcott, about his approach to his education. He says the process of living on his own was challenging but he managed to get through it. “It’s a bit difficult at first and not having no home cooked meals but after the first year I got the hang of it,” says Walcott.He says the cold and snow of Canadian winters was an eye-opening experience. “Oh, let’s not talk about winter. Quintyn Walcott getting ready to take a free kick. It was very hard having to walk to class in the cold,” he says.Ontario Tech soccer is getting better, Wal- of 5-11-0. The Ridgebacks lost in The Ridgebacks scored the cott says. the quarter-finals to first-place- second most goals in the league with The Ridgebacks finished with Carleton. 35, up from 13 in the previous seaa 7-2-5 record this year, a marked "This season I think we had a son. He says he is looking forward to improvement from 2018's record fantastic year," says Walcott. next year, when all but two players
Photograph by Jeremy Corrivault
are eligible to return to the team. "From here we can really grow, we have the right mindset and we know we can challenge the big teams," says Walcott.
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Photograph by Tara Sottile
Lords Ty Jacob makes a tackle during the gold medal OCAA game against Georgian Grizzlies.
From teammates to brothers Ty Jacob's DC team is his family Tara Sottile The Chronicle
Ty Jacob is a member of Durham Lords men's rugby team that has just completed back-to-back Ontario championships. He says the team's success is based on team members bonding like brothers. “With rugby and the way you’re putting your body on the line, every single game for your teammates, your brothers, it just elevates the mutual respect for each other,” says Jacob. Within those two years Jacob says he's grown not only as a player, but as a person. "It's taught me that sacrifice can often result in positive results. It's opened my eyes to how much being a part of a team means to me," he says. Jacob learned about the DC team from head coach, John Watkins, who also is his coach on the Oshawa Vikings club rugby team. Jacob began to look at programs at DC and decided Mechanical Engineering was a good fit for him. “When I first started playing rugby, it was just something to pass the time,” Jacob says. “It wasn’t until later in high school until I realized that I enjoy the sport and I’m good at the sport.” Once he discovered rugby, he abandoned both football and
hockey. When Jacob made that decision he says his family didn’t really understand. “It’s obviously a really rough sport, but I think once you’re involved around the culture of rugby and the social aspect it’s a different sport,” he says. Not only had Jacob played on two straight championship teams, he's been named an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association all-star both years. This wasn’t something he was expecting, because he says the
Lords are blessed with lots of talent. “The biggest accomplishment was the gold medal, but obviously it’s an honour to be named as an all-star on such a great team with so many good players too,” he says. Team captain Malcolm Hooper says Jacob is a fierce competitor. “He would throw his body on the line to make a tackle, but there was a certain level of fear in the opposition’s eyes when he had the ball in his hands,” says Hooper.
Lords Ty Jacob talks to his teammates before the next play.
In turn, Jacob says it’s Hooper who actually inspires him. Jacob knows Hooper's story that the team captain was homeless while in high school and has gone on to lead the Lords while also becoming a motivational speaker. “There’s something about Malcolm where when he speaks you listen. When he says 'jump', you jump,” Jacob says. Jacob also explains the Lords do everything together as a team and because of that when they go out on the pitch they’re not only
teammates, but feel like brothers, too. “We push each other to be better on and off the pitch every day and pick each other up when we fall,” Hooper adds. After graduating, Jacob wants to continue with his rugby career. Specifically, he's interested in connecting with the Toronto Wolfpack, the city's professional rugby team. He says they’re running an academy program starting in January, so being part of that is his goal for next year.
Photograph by Tara Sottile
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Kierstyn Hawke racing on a mountain bike. Photograph courtesy of Kierstyn Hawke
Hawke is a real sporty scholar Marcus Levy-Ash The Chronicle
Kierstyn Hawke is an Ontario Tech University student who shines on the water, on a bike - and in the classroom. Hawke is on the women’s rowing varsity team at Ontario Tech, does competitive mountain biking in the summer - all while maintaining her scholarship with a 90 per cent average. The 21-year-old was born in Oshawa and is in her third year of studying health sciences. Hawke focused on her academics in her first year at Ontario Tech before getting into athletics. “I actually started rowing in my second year and it was kind of just a spur of the moment. I saw some posters around the school and my friend was like 'let’s try
it',” says Hawke. Hawke says she was able to learn how to row thanks to Ontario Tech's excellent novice program because she previously had no rowing experience. Athletes in the novice program participate in a tryout. They have to partake in a two-kilometre run and an in-water skills assessment. These tryouts usually take place in late August or early September. Hawke started mountain biking four years ago when she was a student at Oshawa's O'Neill Collegiate, deciding to try out a new sport after 15 years of gymnastics. “My mom used to be a pro (cycling) racer and that’s what spurred that idea, but basically I quit. Gymnastics wasn’t really doing anything and one day I said I was going to try the (mountain bike) racing series and that’s when
I fell in love,” says Hawke. Even though Hawke’s mom inspired her to mountain bike, surprisingly she wasn’t the one who taught her. “Nobody really taught me. I just kind of got on a bike and it was almost a little bit of a natural talent, but since then I’ve been coached by Adam Morka, who is married to Emily Batty, who is our mountain biking Olympian,” says Hawke. She says learning from Morka is special. “It’s amazing being coached by Adam to put him on that pedestal like that it’s just incredible the motivation it provides that’s always where you want to inspire to be,” says Hawke. Hawke says she’s fortunate the seasons of her two sports don’t really overlap.
“Rowing is my off-season sport so, as the mountain bike season tapers down, I typically pick up rowing and that becomes my main priority. I still keep up training and do a little cyclo-cross racing during my down time, but the seasons work out pretty well,” says Hawke. Before choosing Ontario Tech, Hawke was looking to go to McMaster University in Hamilton. She stayed in Oshawa because of a scholarship offered by Ontario Tech. “At first I was actually going to go to Mac. I came to the campus and I loved it, but the deciding factor on choosing Ontario Tech was when they offered me a major scholarship. Once I saw the amount of money they were giving me my decision was made,” says Hawke.
Kierstyn Hawke (right) of Ontario Tech, shown on the water rowing (left). Left photograph courtesy of Kierstyn Hawke, right photograph by Marcus Levy-Ash
Hawke had to write a few essays to be able to earn the Presidential Scholarship. The requirements of this scholarship are that she has to maintain a minimum 80-84 per cent overall average in all her classes for the four years she attends school. Since Hawke knows she has to have high grades to maintain her scholarship, she understands school takes priority over sports.“Academics are always number one in my family so as soon as marks start to go, my parents say it’s time to step away from all the training that you are doing,” says Hawke. “The way I look at it is I am personally driven to have high success in school so, it really comes down to budgeting my time and knowing when I have to get things done,” she says.
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Ontario Tech welcomes Alaskan goalie Melanie Lennon The Chronicle
Michael Bullion is a long way from home – but it doesn’t always feel that way. The 22-year-old goalie for Ontario Tech University’s Ridgeback hockey team was born and raised in the state of Alaska. At the age of ten, he and his dad moved to Oakville, Ont. to pursue Bullion’s goal of becoming a pro hockey player, but said his dad moved back to Alaska when he was 17. Bullion manages to go home and visit his parents on Christmas and for a few weeks in the summer. He said he misses it a lot of the time. “People are a little nicer I think, than in the big city,” he said with a smile. “You have a bit of a closer-knit community there, for sure. It’s definitely a different world than in Canada.” Bullion’s passion for hockey began at the age of three. His journey to playing hockey began with figure skating in Alaska. He said both of his parents were big fans and decided to sign him up. On his first day of figure skating, things didn’t go too well. “I obviously couldn’t skate particularly well. So, I went stampeding towards the line where all the little girls were,” he laughed. "I didn’t know how to stop and I just went barreling through and knocked every single one of them down. The figure skating coach kicked me off right away.” From there, his dad decided to go for the next best thing and put him in hockey, where he quickly established his forte. “When I was four or five, I had a look at the goalie gear and I was like, ‘That stuff’s cool, I want goalie gear every year’,” he said. “I switched to being a goalie after
Photograph by Melanie Lennon
Ontario Tech University’s goalie for the Ridgebacks hockey team, Michael Bullion, watches their home game against the Windsor Lancers on Nov. 8, 2019.
that.” Bullion said he’s played for various Canadian teams. When he was 17, he joined the Western Hockey League (WHL). He said he was originally try-
ing to go pro. Bullion also said he considered playing at both Ryerson University and Waterloo University. Both were really interested in recruiting him, but the deals fell
Photograph by Melanie Lennon
Michael Bullion’s Ridgebacks goalie helmet.
through. In 2018, Bullion signed with the Ridgebacks. He said the recruitment process with Ridgebacks coach, Curtis Hodgins, really appealed to him. “Curtis brought me out and showed me everything. He said… you’re going to have a chance to really make your mark upon it,” he said. “Leaving your mark and building something with your own hands is something that really appealed to me.” He said he felt included right away. A few of his team members reached out and helped him through the transition. “[They] made me feel like part of the team right away, which is something that, especially in the WHL, doesn’t happen a lot.” Bullion has played more than 20 games with the Ridgebacks. He said he has quite a few pregame rituals that get him through each match. “I’m a big sewer ball guy…It’s hacky sack with a volleyball or a soccer ball. It’s just one of those things where I’ll play that for two or three hours before the game,” he explained. “Another thing I do is…eat a giant plate of pasta. Which is weird, because lots of people to eat three meals and get in a lot of energy.” Bullion is taking political science at Ontario Tech University. He said it’s something he’s always been passionate about, and would
like to one day move back to Alaska to pursue politics after completing his career in hockey. He said he’s been able to manage both school work and hockey.
They made me
feel like part of the team right away,
which is something that...doesn't happen a lot.
However, he also said it’s easy to fall victim to the pressure of his position, but it’s important to understand that, in the end, it’s just a game. “You just have to take it as a game, treat it as a game, relax about it. Because if you’re super wound up about, that’s typically when things don’t go well,” he said. "When you’re relaxed and enjoying your time, that’s when things go a little bit better for you.”
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Ice cream flavours with a twist at Demetres Soyra Mokashi Oodles of sweet liquid pour over a plate, drenching its contents in the dulcet tones of rich, dark chocolate. A spoon scrapes the melting edge of a scoop of ‘Cocoa Chanel’ before it finds its way to the creamy, cold centre, gathering brownie bits and Oreo chunks along the way. The whole ensemble sits on top of a neatly folded crepe, with Belgian milk chocolate buttons scattered across its surface. The creation, called ‘Tongue Depressor’, can be found on the menu at Demetres, which is known to be a dessert-only café in Whitby, Ont. Situated in the Whitby Entertainment Centrum, the establishment is one of 13 franchises in the GTA. Surrounded by an array of restaurants, retail stores and entertainment venues, its prime location draws in customers at all times. Upon entering you are greeted by a friendly host who shows you to your table. On the rare occasion the café is empty, you are allowed to pick where you want to be seated. Its colourful interior and toe-tapping music sets the right tone for a pleasant evening out, ideally for date-nights. The café also features a small outdoor patio, which is a great spot when the sun is out. Desserts for two at Demetres cost between $30 to $40, including tax and tip, which may be more than most are willing to spend for just
dessert. Don’t let this steer you away from a visit though, as the café also serves hot and cold drinks, which are priced at $5 to $8 each. The drinks are delicious enough to be worth just a milkshake run. Demetres' menu lists only sweet treats, ranging from ice cream scoops to sundaes, cakes, crepes and waffles. The establishment has your run-of-the-mill flavours accompanied with a twist. All of their ten ice-creams are made in-house. The café boasts quirky names and interesting flavours like ‘Dulce & Banana’ which is a blend of marinated bananas and Dulce de Leche, finished with swirls of Nutella, and ‘Cocoa Chanel’ which is French dark chocolate topped with brownies and Oreo pieces. Popular items include the afore-mentioned ‘Tongue Depressor’ crepe at $15.50 (Cocoa Chanel ice cream, brownies, Oreo bits, French dark chocolate sauce, Belgian chocolate buttons) and the ‘Split Personality’ sundae at $18.25 (Four-scoop banana split with Dulce and Banana, Chocolat, Honey Vanillla and Strawberry Royale ice cream with fresh strawberries, fudge brownies, Belgian milk chocolate sauce and butter caramel sauce.) Demetres also serves select vegan items. One sip of the ‘Severus Shake’ ($8) hits just the right spot, inducing a slight chocolate-high, which you can’t complain about. However, the chilled glass of thick, creamy texture topped with fluffy whipped cream and chocolate sauce is best shared: unless you are immune to
Photograph by Sora Mokashi
Chocolate crepe Demetres in Whitby.
overdosing on chocolate. The in-house ice creams are just as delicious, with a unique taste for flavours as standard as chocolate. However, the brownies that are served along with some of them are dry. If you are not a chocolate aficionado, try the ‘Katy Berry’ ($10.50), which has a refreshing yet sweet taste. Strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberries and white chocolate sauce never disappoints. Demetres seems to have something for everybody’s taste buds but for all its positives, one cannot overlook its scarce but significant slip ups. On the day I visited the café for a review, the water glass served came with lipstick stains. If Demetres cleans up its act, it might be the cherry on the cake of all dessert places.
Disney+ is a DisneyDisney started to pull content from Netflix back in August of 2017. There is still some available now but it'll all be gone by January 2020. It was only a matter of time before Walt Disney Company mainly known as just Disney released its own streaming service. They call it Disney+ but so far it has been nothing but a minus. The brand-new streaming service was released on November 12, 2019, into a highly-populated market filled with other streaming services like AppleTV+, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. A monthly subscription costs $8.99 and the full year is $89.99. So far that price is not worth it. Countless issues continue to arise like the overall quality of shows and the functionality of simple features. The TV shows and movies available are great and with many new shows on the way, the possibilities seem endless with Disney+. From movies like the classic 1994 Lion King to the 2019 box office buzz Avengers EndGame. Disney is the ‘Happiest place on earth,’ as their slogan says, but viewers who subscribe to Disney+ are often left feeling the opposite. The day the service launched
Ryan Hahn there were so many people trying to log on at once, the service couldn't handle the overload and it crashed. The whole point of the service is to provide a good viewing experience of old and new Disney content all in one place. So far the quality on certain shows is blurry and makes viewing difficult. Shows like Boy meets World are unwatchable since the quality is so bad. At the end of a long day people want to log on to watch shows in order to dissolve any headache they may have not add to it. The Simpsons is another example. The ratios are completely wrong leaving viewers missing half the action. It’s as if you are watching the show zoomed in on the centre of the screen. The nostalgia of these old shows and movies can be a reason to use the service to rewatch some old favourites, but yet again with the poor quality, it makes it hard to fully enjoy.
from
Simple things like the service not remembering what episode you left off on or not being full screen after one episode ends and another one starts, but hey at least the skip intro button is there. Disney has missed the mark, these simple features should have been there before launching its service at full price. Issues like this could end up causing people to leave, especially if not fixed soon. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope intro credits aren’t even in English, another mistake that should have been noticed. It is simply bad to not have these features out and working right at launch, especially because this is a service based around the viewer and their experience. Things like the next episode not playing automatically and having it play in full screen should be an easy fix. But still exists. At the end of the day, the service Disney+ provides brings viewers back to childhood memories, which is great, but the full experience falls flat. Disney+ gets a minus until they fix these issues.
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An Exhilarating Culinary Journey Like Never Before. Mexican fare has seen somewhat of a revival in the recent past, with more palates growing accustomed to the eclectic (and sometimes fiery) flavors of the country that put guacamole on the gastronomic map. Similarly, Indian food has also gone through a culinary renaissance with the global celebration of butter chicken, naan and other exotic dishes that are synonymous with the many regions of India. However, something that arguably hasn’t been done before is the combination of two food juggernauts; and that, is exactly what Rajesh, proprietor of The Bollywood Tacos aimed to do. Expertly combining the warm flavors of Indian spices with lush, tropical hits of Mexican ingredients; this delicious marriage of Mexican and Indian delicacies is the very foundation of what makes The Bollywood Tacos standout from your average Mexican taco restaurant. For new customers, this cultural collision piques curiosity- whilst The Bollywood Tacos’ regular clientele come to revel in the scintillating flavors and delectable dishes that the restaurant has to offer.
Curry Chicken Butter Chicken Curry Lamb and more...
(in a Taco, Burrito or even a Poutine!)
Conveniently located in the very heart of downtown Oshawa, the interior of the space is inviting and sleek; echoing black minimalism with flurries of rich orange. Stenciled across the wall is the menu, which acts as a step-by-step pharos on selecting and curating o nes’ very own fusion fiesta.
36 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa Ontario, L1G 4S1
905-576-5030 thebollywoodtacos@gmail.com
First, choose a base layer from Mexican-inspired food formats (with an Indian twist of course): taco (folded naan bread), a bowl of rice (or salad greens), burrito (wrap), nachos or – for a Quebecois twist – poutine. Upon selecting your foundation, add a layer of protein from one of several Indian inspired curries boisterously bubbling away on the stove behind the counter. These stews are scratch-made daily and include butter chicken, curry chicken or curry lamb, shrimp or paneer tikka, and chana masala. Next, add texture and flavor with exquisite toppings which truly add a unique dimension to the entire composition of the meal. Purple cabbage minced to confetti, sweet and tangy pineapple salsa, sour chunks of pink pickled onion, paper-thin pickled cucumber, or bright red pickled Thai chilies, plus familiar taco-bar standards like cilantro, Pico de Gallo, cheese, Guacamole, and lettuce are all at the ready to spruce up your already exhilarating concoction.
Finally, top it off with an exuberant selection of scrumptious sauces; a creamy mint chutney, sweet tamarind, hot sauce and a vibrant in house TBT sauce. Although The Bollywood Tacos doesn’t have any seating (the whole concept revolves around the mobility aspect of street food), the piece de resistance of the restaurant is a superb union of two culinary giants, uniquely melded with the combination of exotic spices, lavish sauces and hearty ingredients. The Bollywood Tacos truly is a magnum opus of Indian inspired Mexican street food.
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'A strong leader on and off the court'
Jessica Joensen is in her final year and a standout team captain at DC Emily Barnes The Chronicle
Jessica Joensen is a standout on the court for the Durham Lords volleyball team. Joensen has been playing volleyball for eight years, four at Durham while studying Business Fundamentals. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter from Newcastle is the team's captain. Joensen is a natural leader, says coach Tony Clarke. “She’s a very strong person and has a good work ethic on and off the court,” he says. She started playing volleyball because of her dad, who played from 1988 to 1994 in the Molson semipro beach volleyball tour and the Labatt pro tour. He went on to to coach her in the Durham Attack Volleyball Club. “How much he loved the sport really made me love it as well,” she says. After high school, Joensen wasn’t sure if she would attend college or university. She was leaning towards university, however her future coach would change her mind. “Tony Clarke, our head coach, reached out to us and he came to
one of our club tournaments,” she says. “I wanted to go to university but he came up to me and talked to my dad and really convinced me that Durham College was the place to be.” Joensen says Durham has provided her and her teammates with lots of support. Joensen says she deals with school stress on top of being team captain. “There's a lot of resources the school provides for you as a student-athlete to help you maintain your studies,” she says. “We have our own athletic study room, they’re available for us throughout the day, if we need anything we go to our athletic coordinator and they’ll help us with anything school-wise.” Even though the resources are available to the student-athletes, Joensen still feels the pressure of being captain. “I do feel pressure, especially on the court, if I make a mistake, I feel like I shouldn’t be making mistakes. There's a lot of pressure on my shoulders to try and be this perfect player, but my teammates are very understanding and they get it," she says. "Team captain...yes it’s a title, but we’re all players, we're on all equal playing field here, making mistakes… it's no big deal just shake it off and get the next one.” Clarke says he saw leadership in Joensen when she came in her first year and saw qualities in her that would lead her into becoming team captain. Allyson Terwillegar, another outside hitter for the Lords, has been teammates with Joensen since first year. The pair used to play on opposing teams before coming to DC. “I’ve always looked up to her when it comes to defence and she’s always been a strong leader on
Photograph by Emily Barnes
Team captain Jessica Joensen (left) holds a volleyball during a team huddle.
and off the court. Having her as a captain has always been in my mind from the beginning,” she says. “Seeing her being a leader to everyone else makes me see the potential she has even outside of volleyball.” During the season, the team practises three times a week for two hours each, attend a fitness class every day of the week and have weekly games. Joensen says they spend lots of time
together so it’s very important to have a strong support system. Clarke explains the importance of having a close-knit team and acknowledges the hard work the girls put into their sport and studies. “I always stress the second family-type thing,” he says. “As a father myself, being away from my family quite a bit, I have three girls out of province, some are away from home so it’s like let's have a second family here and
make memories that last a lifetime,” he says. .Joensen is in her final year at Durham and is looking forward to going to university after graduation for a business and law program. She says she wants to be known as a dedicated student-athlete. “I am a hard worker, I give it all I got, I want my teammates to look up to me so I make sure that no matter what I’m giving 100 per cent.”
Photograph by Emily Barnes
Lords volleyball team huddles before practice.
Photograph by Emily Barnes
Jessica Joensen (right) practises with her Durham team in the gym.
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Photograph by Tracey Bowers-Lee
Ontario Tech Athlete Alex Cafik-Irwin balances her athletic talents with her love for playing the guitar. "Aside from all the sports, training and physical things I do like to play guitar. That's one thing people don't about me," says Cafik-Irwin, seen here playing in The Pit.
Ontario Tech athlete moving mountains Tracey Bowers-Lee The Chronicle
When Alex Cafik-Irwin was little her mom would read the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” to her and it became one of their favourite shared memories. The Ontario Tech student’s favourite quote from the book is – “kid you’ll move mountains.” It turns out she just may be that kid who moves the proverbial mountains as a bobsledder. Cafik-Irwin has been on a unique athletic journey since arriving at Ontario Tech in 2016 expecting to play on the women’s hockey team. Due to ligament injuries in her knee, her hockey career stopped before it started. Cafik-Irwin was then asked by field lacrosse coach Liane Chornobay to play for the team and she accepted. “It was a pretty smooth transition between hockey and lacrosse. They are a little different but for the most part very similar,” Cafik-Irwin explains. Along the way, the Vancouver native has also caught the eye of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton as a possible candidate for the national bobsled team. Last Christmas break, while back home, Cafik-Irwin went to the Whistler Sliding Centre. They have a program where anyone can get into a bobsled with a national athlete and go down the Whistler Olympic bobsled course. “I loved it,” says Cafik-Irwin. “I had a rush of adrenaline and I just wanted to go down again, I was hooked.
“While I was in Calgary for the prospect camp (this summer) the first time that I ran, push the sled and hopped in it, it was just like that first time, the same deep breath of fresh air,” says Cafik-Irwin. “That different thrill.” Unlike hockey and lacrosse, where athletes depend on the ball or puck coming to them and teammates being in position for a play, bobsleigh is all about being in control of a specific part of the
operation, says Cafik-Irwin. “You control how fast the sleigh goes from the push, if you have a bad push it’s not going to go as well. You have control of the steering; you have control of the brakes,” she says. Being a rookie to the sport Cafik-Irwin thinks she would start as a brakeman. Her job would be to help push the sled to get momentum, help with weighing down the sled and
at the end of the track control how the sled slows down and comes to a stop. She explains athletes usually enter the sport between 26 and 30 years old because “that’s when you are strongest physically.” Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is starting to recruit athletes at a younger age, says Cafik-Irwin. “I think the youngest person on the development team is 23 and I’m 21, so it’s exciting if I make it next
Photograph by Juliana Cafik
Alex Cafik-Irwin at the Canadian Bobsleigh Skeleton Summer Prospect Camp this past summer.
year.” This past summer in Calgary, Cafik-Irwin completed training with Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton’s national prospect camp and was re-invited for further training. She declined because she wanted to complete her final year of communication and digital media studies at Ontario Tech. She says she is looking forward to training again. Teamwork and ambition are deep rooted, with both her parents being competitive on the World Cup circuit – in different sports. Her father, Mark Irwin was a downhill mountain bike racer and her mother, Juliana Cafik was an alpine skier. Cafik-Irwin credits her family as a major component of her success. Her mother is her number one inspiration. “She does it all. She was an athlete, she owns her own business. She’s selfless and she’s very professional,” she says. Cafik-Irwin is very close to her mom, says Ontario Tech teammate and friend Dale Wilson. “I know her mom pushed her to be her best self and is very supportive of her as an athlete and just in life. That’s been a big inspiration for her,” says Wilson. Wilson says Cafik-Irwin’s teammates weren’t shocked by her invitation to try out for the Canadian Olympic bobsled team. “She is one of the hardest working people and a true team player,” says Wilson. They will all be cheering her on when she starts training again after she graduates from her program in June 2020.
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November 26 - December 20, 2019
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Photograph by Allan Fournier – Ontario Tech Athletics
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks rower, Arda Celik, at the docks of Otonabee River near Trent University getting the row boat ready for team practice.
Ontario Tech student discovers passion for rowing
First-time rower Arda Celik makes his debut in his fourth year Dennis B. Price The Chronicle
Arda Celik waited awhile before jumping into the athletic waters at Ontario Tech University. The fourth-year Ontario Tech student picked up a paddle for the first time and joined the men's novice rowing team this semester. Celik, 22, is a software engineering and international student, who is from Turkey. Celik has lived in Canada for the last five years. His mother was with him for the first four months, but she returned to Turkey after a McMaster University project she came to Canada for was finished. Celik remained, lived on his own and finished his last year of high school in Oakville. A year later, he applied to Ontario Tech and moved to Oshawa to live on campus. He says the first two years living in Canada were a transitional period.
Photograph by Dennis B. Price
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks rower, Arda Celik, is a novice rower who joined the men’s rowing team this semester in his fourth year. Celik says he had many reasons to try out for the men's rowing team in his fourth year. One fac-
tor was that he always wanted to be part of a team. "Growing up I played tennis,
and in Grade 12 I did cross-country, but I never really played any sports competitively," says Ce-
lik. "Even tennis was more like a hobby." Another motivation for him was that he likes to inspire people to be the best version of themselves and step out of their comfort zone. Rowing gave him the best opportunity to do that. Celik couldn't attend the first training camp to try out for the team. He was part of an extended tryout process, which involved additional tryouts and connecting with the coaches on-campus. Even though Celik is a fourthyear student, he found the coaches open to him and another classmate trying out. Christie Attwood, Ridgebacks' men rowing team novice head coach, says she realized quickly how much Celik was interested in the sport. "Arda really strived to understand as much of the sport as quickly as he could," Attwood says. "He was keen to ask questions, figure out how to improve and to also make a positive team environment for everyone around him." The rowing season is over, but Celik says he wants to continue rowing next year. It won’t be with the Ridgebacks because he graduates next spring, but he says he's looking into other options. "I already looked into different clubs, rowing clubs in Toronto," says Celik. "I want to pursue moving forward and something I want to do competitively."
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Christine Yogaretnam (right) and Jolesha Allen (left) play point guard for the Ontario Tech women's basketball team. Photos by Courtney McClure (left), courtesy Ontario Tech Ridegbacks (right)
Ontario Tech features local talent Allen and Yogaretnam join Ridgebacks for inaugural season Courtney McClure The Chronicle
Jolesha Allen and Christine Yogaretnam play on the women's basketball team at the university. Allen attended Whitby's Henry Street High School and Yogaretnam attended Oshawa Maxwell Heights Secondary School. Before coming to Ontario Tech, Allen, 19, had the chance to play for Western University, and Wilfrid Laurier University. The main reason she chose to stay in Oshawa and attend Ontario Tech was because she didn't want to move away from home. And she wanted to be part of the legacy of the new team at the university. She said it's different for Ontario Tech because this is the first year for the team, while opposing schools have fourth and fifth year students playing for them. Allen started playing basketball when she was 12. She is studying Communication and Digital Media Studies at Ontario Tech. Allen is a self-proclaimed introvert, but basketball made her open
up and become more outgoing. Now she enjoys meeting new people and developed an interest in travelling. Through basketball she has been to Boston, Montreal and Syracuse. She said she is still working at finding the balance between school and basketball. She tries to get her assignments done early so she can focus on basketball, too. But she says school comes before extracurricular activities. Although Allen couldn't remember why she started playing basketball, she did say it helps her clear her head and that's why she enjoys it. While she's on the court, she can forget about the stress in her life and focus on the game. Yogaretnam, 18, is studying Commerce at Ontario Tech. She says the program has a lot of content, but she chose it because she is considering opening her own business in the future. She chose to attend Ontario Tech because it is a local university, allowing her to stay home with her family. Two areas of business interest she has are a new fast food
line or creating a clothing brand similar to Nike, where the brand represents every sport, and creates products for various sports. She started playing basketball because her brother used to playwhen he was younger with his friends and neighbours. He taught her how to play and she also partially learned from watching NBA games on TV. But admits she only watches the NBA games during the playoffs. Her favourite player is Kyrie Irving, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets. Yogaretnam plays point guard for the Ridgebacks. "When I heard that it’s the first year ever in history for Ontario Tech to have a basketball team, I wanted to be a part of that experience and opportunity to make history," she wrote in an email. She says she started playing competitive basketball towards the end of Grade 8. Before joining the university, she played for the Gladiators, a rep team in Whitby. When she was younger, Yogaretnam played soccer, but grew to prefer basketball. According to Yogaretnam, she
So when I first started coming here, I already knew that we won't be, like, winning all our games at first, but, like every day, if you get one per cent better, we'll start winning and coming closer in our games.
works well with her teammates. “I’m close with a lot of them,” she said. “It makes it easier.” The team’s first game of the regular season was against the Laurentian Voyageurs. During the game, Yogartenam described how she felt nervous before the actual game.
“I was very nervous, but after I was on the court, I didn’t feel very nervous,” she said. The team lacked in some parts, according to her. The team didn’t communicate as well as they should have, and they didn’t box out like they are supposed to do. The Ridgebacks lost 68-48.
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November 26 - December 20, 2019
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Krabi: From DC captain to cop? Fifth-year volleyball veteran Tyler Krabi decides to leave sports as a hobby and pursue a career in policng Fiona Campbell The Chronicle
Durham Lords men's volleyball captain Tyler Krabi is on the team for a fifth season, but it wasn't volleyball that made him stay. Krabi graduated the three year Sports Management program at Durham College (DC) two years ago with a passion for a totally different career path - becoming a police officer. While a student at Stouffville District Secondary School he coached minor hockey and currently coaches his nine-year-old sister Caitie's Stouffville baseball team. From golf to hockey to volleyball, Krabi gravitates to sports. As a result, he initially thought the business of sports was his passion. By the time he graduated though, Krabi realized a sports career wasn't for him. "It was actually my third year internship at Golf Ontario that I realized, I'm not sure I can do this for the next 30 years or so....I decided I really wanted to become a police officer so that's what I set out to do," said Krabi. He considered studying Criminology at Ontario Tech, but ultimately decided to stay at DC. "Being able to continue playing (volleyball) was a bonus for me, I was focused on my education," said Krabi, who won the most valuable player award last season. He stressed this will be his last diploma and he has found what he wants to pursue as a career. Krabi is now in his last year of the Protection, Security and Investigation (PSI) program and hopes to become a police officer. "I have a friend who is a police officer, so it's nice to be able to see what it's like," said Krabi. He has also been taken on six ride alongs with his friend where he is in the car while his friend is on duty and observes what it's like. "I was nervous my first time, but also expected it to be a bit boring," he said. On one of the rides, Krabi did more than just observe. He was asked to help escort a man with an expired licence into the back of the police car. Nervously he agreed and while
Photograph by Fiona Campbell
Durham Lords men’s volleyball captain Tyler Krabi sitting in a sports therapy room after a late night practice. Krabi is playing his fifth and final season. He will be graduating the Protection, Security and Investigation program in the spring.
pushing the man's head into the car, the whole experience felt real, he said. This was the first time he had assisted in an arrest.As part of his program, Krabi is training for the Physical Readiness for Police (PREP) test. He said campus gyms 1 or 2 are set up with physical obstacles while professors supervise the students. Students navigate around obstacles like walls, weights and stairs while completing the course. Krabi completes this course a couple times a semester, however, as part of his fitness class he does
Being able to continue playing was a bonus for me, I was focused on my education. a shuttle run every week. This run consists of sprints between two or more points. The run builds stamina and
tests agility. There are also practice sessions I've attended on the side that are run by Durham (Regional) Po-
lice Services - that are getting me ready for the actual (PREP) test," Krabi said. With one Krabi leaving the team, another one enters the spotlight. Younger brother Spencer Krabi is in his first year of Trade Fundamentals at DC and is playing his first season on the volleyball team. "Yeah, I think I inspired him to play," Krabi said, while laughing. Only time will tell if younger Krabi can live up to his older brother. For now the elder Krabi plans to finish out the season strong and focus on his studies.
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Photographs by Brandon Wright
Emily Davis-Tope plays for the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks against the Guelph Gryphons on Nov. 16.
Success in Oshawa for Aussie Emily Davis-Tope is one of three Australian siblings to play hockey Brandon Wright The Chronicle
The journey for an Ontario Tech hockey player has taken her from Australia to British Columbia before landing in Oshawa. Emily Davis-Tope, a firstyear player for the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks women's hockey team, is from Bendigo, Australia, about a two-hour drive north of Melbourne. Davis-Tope, 18, says her family is the main reason for her success on and off the ice in Canada. She was born in Toronto but her family moved to Australia when she was two-and-a-half years old.
It can be hard because family is simply the most important thing for me. Davis-Tope says life on the other side of the world isn’t a lot different from living here. “I went to school there and played sports like everybody else,” she says. “I started playing soccer when I was seven and then I also started to figure skate as well.” She decided to play hockey to follow in her older brother’s footsteps. She says she looked up to her older brother, Jayden, who is a goalie. Her twin brother Charlie
also plays. The twins both play defence. “I’d always watch [my older brother] play and it just made me want to try it. I liked it and moved to B.C. after Grade 10 to play hockey,” she says. Davis-Tope moved back to Canada to be a part of the Pursuit of Excellence program in Kelowna. The program ran a skating camp in Australia and asked her if she was willing to move to Canada to join their team. It was there she learned there was an entirely different world of hockey. “[In Australia] it was the only hockey I ever knew, so I didn’t know the level of hockey I could have been playing,” she adds. Australia may be better known for cricket, Australian football, and rugby but Davis-Tope is encouraged by the growth of hockey in her home country. “The sport is growing in Australia a lot more than when I started,” says Davis-Tope. “When I started playing hockey, there were only four girls in my whole age group playing. I’m glad to see it’s growing.” After playing for two years in Kelowna, Davis-Tope moved to Oshawa to join the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks women’s hockey team. “I came to a practice with the team around Christmas last year, and honestly I just knew that I wanted to come here instantly,” she says. “I really liked the forward-thinking from the coaches and I really liked the way they run the team.” Off the ice, Davis-Tope is in her first year of the kinesiology program at Ontario Tech Univer-
sity, something she says can be a challenge to balance sometimes. “You just have to really focus on your time management,” says Davis-Tope. “I have to really focus on my homework when I have downtime instead of just relaxing.” Madi Schroder, 18, from Kitchener, is Davis-Tope’s roommate and teammate. She says having Davis-Tope around at home, in class, and around the rink is a great experience.
“Being in the same program allows us to help each other with study schedules outside of hockey,” Schroder says. “We both have different studying techniques and having a balance allows us to work together on concepts the other isn’t quite sure about.” “As a roommate, she is great to have around,” Schroder adds. “She is always looking to improve both athletically and academically.” Davis-Tope has now been away from home for three years, while her parents and two brothers are still in Australia. She is in touch with her family almost every day
despite the 16-hour time difference. “They’re always asleep when I wake up so it’s a little complicated,” she says “FaceTime is amazing for that. I feel like when I FaceTime them, I’m really in touch with them, and I get to see what’s happening. It’s just hard being away.” Davis-Tope recognizes the irony that her strong family has allowed her to explore her hockey abilities, yet the experience is keeping her away from her loved ones. “It can be hard because family is simply the most important thing for me,” says Davis-Tope.
Photograph by Brandon Wright
Emily Davis-Tope is in her first year playing Ontario University Athletics with the Ridgebacks.
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November 26 - December 20, 2019
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'Yuill' be impressed with these Ontario Tech hockey brothers
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Piri Sinnathurai The Chronicle
The Yuill name has been synonymous with Ridgebacks' hockey since 2012. It started with Cam Yuill, who played at UOIT (now Ontario Tech), for five seasons, serving as captain for his final season before his graduation in 2017. For his final two years, Cam was joined on the Ridgebacks by younger brother Alex. Now Alex is in his fifth year and he is carrying on the family tradition by being named captain of the team. Alex takes over for Danny Elser, who graduated last season. Yuill says being named captain was special. “It was amazing. When I was chosen it was a special feeling. I remember my brother being a very good captain." The two seasons the brothers played together here allowed them to do something they've never done before; they were able to play together. It helped the brothers get closer. “It made me get to know him better as a brother because you get to see him as a teammate,” says Alex. Cam was instrumental in helping Alex grow as a player and set the example of how to be a good leader. “I remember people coming up to me and telling me how good of a captain he was,” Alex says. “He helped me a lot and made me realize what kind of captain I wanted to be for my teammates. I got to experience him as a captain and model my leadership styles after him.” The past few years, Alex has enjoyed some very successful seasons with the Ridgebacks, including being named Ontario Tech athlete of the year last season but it wasn’t always good times for the fifth-year captain. After being chosen in the first round by the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, Alex had a strong freshman year but couldn't crack the lineup on a regular basis. The following year was his last one in Barrie and he got traded closer to his home of Wellington, Ont. and finished his OHL career with the Belleville Bulls. “That was really hard on me,” Alex says. “My career never excelled to where I thought it would at one point.” Alex says he learned a lot from his OHL experience and how the adversities can take a toll on a young player. “The OHL can be a pretty tough environment,” he says. “If you’re not one of those top guys you can get stuck at the bottom.” Alex says he enjoys the lifestyle of playing university hockey over the OHL. “I knew I wanted to come to university to get an education and
Photograph by Ryan Hahn
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks' captain Alex Yuill looks to make a pass against the Windsor Lancers.
hopefully play hockey,” he says. After speaking with then-Ridgebacks' head coach Craig Fisher and his brother in 2014, they were able to convince him to come play at Ontario Tech. The idea of playing with his brother for the first time in his life was too good to pass up. “It’s unreal because growing up we never got play together,” he says. “We worked out together a lot and we joked together bout playing together and how awesome it would be.” In 2018, Alex was named to Team Canada for the Winter Universiade along with teammate Jack Patterson in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. He says the tournament was an amazing experience for him. “When we got over there it felt like we were part of the Olympics,” he says. “I got to meet a lot of athletes from Canada and made a lot of good friendships.” Looking back at his time at Ontario Tech, he says the things he will remember the most is all the great teammates and friends he made throughout the five years. “I’ve made so many good friendships from playing hockey,” says Alex. After this year, his time as a hockey player at Ontario Tech will come to an end. Once his career is finished at Ontario Tech, Alex hopes to play professionally overseas.
Photograph by Allan Fournier
Ridgebacks' captain Cam Yuill being honoured in his last season with head coach Curtis Hodgins (left) and athletic director Scott Barker (right).
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Danielle Bates, 20, dances for the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks while also balancing her job as a dancing instructor and her placement as an athletic therapist.
Photograph by Brandon Beharry
Student by day, award-winning dancer by night Brandon Beharry The Chronicle
Danielle Bates believes the more connected she is to the campus, the more successful she will be in her school endeavours. A fourth-year Ontario Tech Kinesiology student by day and competitive dancer for the Ridgebacks by night, Bates is also the athletic therapist for her school's women's basketball team. In her 'spare' time, she coaches dance in Whitby. Bates, 20, does all of these things while still maintaining the top GPA of all female athletes at her school. A student-athlete who dedicates all her time and effort into both her studies and her athleticism, Bates enjoys the experiences she receives as an athlete through dance and and working as a therapist with the basketball team. “I have a very unique perspective on the athletic set at Ontario Tech,” says Bates, who lives in Bowmanville. “I’m currently doing an internship with the athletic therapy department. So I'm working with the women's basketball team in their first year and I’m also an athlete as well.” One of the perks of Bates' position is being able to see the inner workings of a sport other than dance. “I get to see two sports now and I get to see the behind the scenes of another team which is really cool,” says Bates. “Their sport is very different than mine so it's been a very nice experience to get to know the coaches and get
Everything about teaching dance is rewarding. to know how they travel as well as their vibe as a team.” As an athletic therapist, Bates has to spend a lot of time with the team. Attending the majority of their practices, Bates’ job consists of patching the players up, while communicating to both the coaching staff and the players about injuries. Although she enjoys basketball, dance remains her passion. This is her third year on the Ridgebacks dance team, which practises regularly as they gear up for several competitions in March. Bates also makes time to be involved in the sport outside of the Ridgebacks through her teaching job at the Living Arts Academy. “Dance has always been the number one priority,” says Bates. “I’ve just been drawn to it since I was little and it takes a lot of time. If you want to be good at it you obviously have to focus on one thing.” Bates has been teaching at the Living Arts Academy for four years. She loves her job and strives to leave a lasting impression on all of her students. “Everything about teaching dance is rewarding,” says Bates, who currently teaches one to two
nights per week and is contemplating becoming a teacher or pursuing a master's degree following her undergrad program. “I’m sure everyone has had that one teacher in their lives that has had a big impact on them and it’s nice to know that I’ve been that for some girls, that I'm the person they can go to and remember when they’re looking back at dance when they’re older.” Bates stresses the importance of making sure every student gets specialized treatment. “I enjoy giving them pieces that are special. I really try and put 100 per cent of my effort into them and make sure that each and every one of them is getting attention because that’s what I would have wanted when I was little." Danielle’s younger sibling, Natalie, 18, is inspired by her big sister and is driven by the dedication that she shows when balancing her studies and dance. “My sister never stopped - she’d always continue her studies after dance. She made time to do both. She was able to prioritize both without cutting either out,” says Natalie. Bates attributes her success to her involvement in her own campus community, crediting her teammates and cohorts for their support. Ever since I’ve been on the team I’ve felt like I’ve had a better support system around me and I feel like that really contributes to Photograph by Brandon Beharry my grade because I’m not so isolated from the school,” says Bates. Danielle Bates practising her routines in Ontario Tech's “I feel the more connected I am to aerobics room. this community, the more successful I am.”
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November 26 - December 20, 2019
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Photograph by John Elambo
Lords men's soccer players Marcellus Paul and Matthew Berry celebrating after winning a national gold medal.
Canadian champs! The Durham Lords men's soccer team win its first national collegiate title John Elambo The Chronicle
The Durham Lords men’s soccer team has won its first Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) gold medal. The Lords beat the Vancouver Island University Mariners 3-2 in a thrilling final at Vaso’s Field Saturday. “It’s phenomenal for the kids, for the young men that are on the team,” said Lords men’s soccer coach Dave Ashfield. “Everything is about them, what we do here is about the student-athlete, so for them to be able to win a gold medal is just phenomenal.” On a biting cold Saturday, on home soil, the Lords had all the support they could ask for – the stands were packed. Some fans
Photograph by Al Fournier
The Lords men's soccer team posing for pictures after winning its first CCAA title.
were covering themselves with blankets to keep themselves warm. In program history, the Lords had previously won bronze medals in 1987 and 1999. This was Durham’s first time hosting the finals since 1999. “It was really important for us to come out and show our fans that we could win the grand prize at home,” says Lords’ forward Joshua Lee. The Lords came up with the first
two punches as they scored at the 17th and 20th minute, goals from Lee and Ryan Cullen. They went into halftime with a 2-0 advantage, but it was a game once again when Mariners’ defender Cole Senchar made it 2-1 at the 60th minute. In front of a boisterous, rowdy crowd, the Lords reclaimed a twogoal lead from a free kick goal by Jose Flores. The Mariners continued to push and were able to put the game back within one courtesy
of a goal at the 81st minute from forward Michael Heppelle. The Lords had to defend hard for the rest of the game, as the final whistle blew they were all celebrating, fans came running onto the field to celebrate. Players were hugging each other, some were dancing. Coach Ashfield says he had a different celebration plan. “I might just relax with family and friends, I think their might be
some libations up there for me to have but it’s a wonderful experience for the guys so they could celebrate whatever way they want,” he said. At the championship ceremony, all the teams in the tournament gathered on the field. The Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers were handed their bronze medals, the Mariners were handed the silver medals and the newest champion Lords were handed the gold medals along with their first CCAA champions banner. Durham College athletic director Ken Babcock handed Durham goalkeeper Kevon Grant the championship trophy and the Lords were all screaming, jumping, dancing and singing. “It’s big what we’ve accomplished and I’m glad that I was a part of the first team to win the CCAA gold medal,” says Lee, who was named championship MVP. Lee, Cullen and Grant, along with teammates Nick Payne and Colin Reilly were named to the championship all-star team. The Lords officially conclude their season with an overall record of 11 wins and two losses. This is Durham’s second national sports title in less than a month as the men’s baseball team won the Canadian championship in October.
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Photograph by Ryan Hahn
Sam Dempster, 72, coaching his final game at Kinsmen Stadium, talking to his players after finishing second at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Baseball Championship.
Durham coach retires as champ
Ryan Hahn The Chronicle
Sam Dempster has called it a career - and what a storybook ending his Durham Lords authored in the end. After 28 seasons - and more than 400 wins coaching the Durham baseball team - Dempster has left as a champion, guiding the Lords to a Canadian crown. Durham's dream season didn't begin with championship-calibre play. The team started this season losing six of its first eight games. They went on to win 10 straight to get into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Baseball Championship, which was held at Kinsmen Stadium in Oshawa, Oct. 18-19. The team did well at the tournament but fell short in the final to the Humber Hawks, earning the Lords a silver medal. That second place finish also helped them qualify for the National College Baseball Championship, held at Humber, Oct. 24-26. En route to the national final, Durham avenged it loss to Humber, beating the Hawks in the semifinals 5-2. “It was the icing on the cake,” said Dempster. They were on to the final and the Lords eked out a 2-1 extra-inning decision over Thompson Rivers University, to claim their first national championship since 2011. “It’s a storybook ending, that’s all you can say, just close the book and put it on the shelf,” said Dempster. Dempster has been at the helm of Durham's baseball program
since its inaugural season in 1992 when the players took to the field wearing basketball T-shirts and baseball pants. He got into coaching when his son Colin Dempster was playing and he wanted to coach him. “I got the bug for it,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t find your niche in life till later.” Dempster has made many friendships and relationships with staff, players and alumni during his time as a coach, including one with DC athletic director Ken Babcock. Babcock had already built a relationship with Dempster and knew he was the guy for the baseball program. “He’s the guy we wanted, we wanted the best coach available,” said Babcock. All it took to get him to agree was a "burger”, said Babcock. Babcock and Dempster often have morning meetings at the athletic office. The two speak about how the team is doing and Dempster checks in with Babcock on how his players are keeping up with schoolwork. Dempster makes sure his players know school is first and that they need to focus on their studies. One of his former players, Rob Leth, knows Dempster is focused on academics as much as athletics. Leth felt bored with school leading to him often skipping classes. “I would skip school with two of my buddies and we would just play baseball,” said Leth, who played at DC in the mid-1990s and actually played for Dempster prior to arriving at Durham when both were at Eastdale Collegiate in Oshawa.
Leth admits he missed some high school classes as well and credits Dempster with confronting him on it, telling the student, “look if you want to play baseball you have to go to class.” That moment "turned my life around.” Leth said. It made him realize he had to focus on school and he had to go to class. “It wasn’t just baseball with him it’s like he actually felt like a father figure to me,” said Leth. Leth and Eastdale - under Dempster's leadership - went on to win the 1994 Ontario high school championship at the Rogers Centre. “It was the greatest baseball highlight of my life,” said Leth. Leth and several Lords' alumni were at the last home game of the season to honour their former coach. Dempster is done with the Lords, but said “I’m not done with baseball.” He is running hitting clinics starting in November and still plans to be around the school. Dempster also plans to spend a lot more time with his family and wants to learn how to play the guitar - something he did when he was 16 but now wants to revisit. He will still be around the school and the team at times to talk with friends like Babcock. “We’re going to miss him, I’m going to miss him, and the program is going to miss him,” said Babcock. There’s no word who will replace Dempster next season, but the coach said, “it’s got to be a fresh start for somebody, let them put their stamp on.”
Photograph by Ryan Hahn
Sam Dempster returns to his team after getting his medal.
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The Chronicle
November 26 - December 20, 2019
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Lords win second straight gold Tara Sottile The Chronicle
Photograph by Tara Sottile
Lords' player Daniel Cooper breaking through a tackle in the OCAA rugby final.
The Durham Lords men’s rugby team is back-to-back Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) gold medal champions. The Lords defeated the Georgian Grizzlies 22-17 in the championship final in Barrie Nov. 10. “My expectations were to win for sure. We knew that we had all the tools to do it and that if we stuck to our game, the win was ours,” says Lords' player Ty Jacob. Jacob was honoured as the OCAA scoring champion and an OCAA East all-star for the second year in a row. The Lords are now 14-3 in their two seasons, making them one of the best post-secondary rugby programs in the country. “The feeling of winning backto-back was amazing. Not many people get to go to two finals, let alone win both of them,” Jacob adds. At the half, the Lords were up 12-7, both teams scored 10 points in the second half, giving Durham the victory.
The Grizzlies began to add pressure to the Lords at the end of the game, but with the Lords ready to win it all, they knocked the ball out of play and that’s when they knew the medal was theirs. “When I knew we were going to win I just wanted to celebrate with all my brothers. We worked very hard to get here and that made me a little emotional because I know each and every one of us put our bodies on the line to get that win,” Jacob says. For team captain Malcolm Hooper winning consecutive titles is an amazing feeling. Even though he was out due to a broken leg suffered during the regular season and couldn't play in the championship game, he was on the sideline supporting the team. "We knew from day one that on paper, we had the talent to win another OCAA championship, but we needed everyone to play their game effectively," says Hooper. Even though the game was in Barrie, and the weather was cold, the Lords had a large fan base watching them claim the gold medal.
Challenges don't scare DC's rugby captain
Teammates say Malcolm Hooper is 'inspirational' Tara Sottile The Chronicle
Once homeless, Malcolm Hooper, 22, has found a home both with the Durham College rugby team and as a public speaker. Hooper, captain of the Lords' team, has been on an emotional, rocky journey that started in Orangeville, Ont. before his arrival at Durham in 2016. Growing up, Hooper didn’t have the easiest life. He was in the foster system since he was born. He was adopted at the age of three by a family in Orangeville, Ont. but that transition was met by many difficulties. Hooper says he saw therapists and there were times when the Children’s Aid Society was called to the house. The therapists told his parents that when Hooper had a temper tantrum, they should put him outside to ‘cool off’ - and that’s exactly what the family did. “This was the first big sign of being alone and being isolated,” Hooper says. Fast forward more than a decade. Hooper was late from basketball practice one night and his adoptive parents kicked him out. “They dragged me upstairs, packed all my stuff up. They took
out my birth certificate, passport, and debit card and gave it to me. My dad dragged me down the steps and threw me out," he says. "I was 16 years old, with $15 in my bank account, out on the streets in the middle of January.” When his parents left that night, he snuck into the garage attic where there was a storage space and laid there and cried. There was no heat and it was pitch black. Hooper had nowhere else to go, so banged on the door to go back inside. His dad finally let him in, but kicked him back out the next morning at 5:30 a.m. “I went to high school and pretended like nothing happened, it was a six-hour distraction for me,” Hooper says. His adoptive parents didn’t let him play sports besides hockey, but when he was on his own he tried out for every sports team his high school offered. “I ended up with the coaches’ award one year because I was on all the teams and the captain of the basketball, rugby, and badminton teams,” he says. After being alone on the streets for two weeks, he went to his friend Blake’s house - and still lives there. Tammy and Everton, Blake’s parents, told Hooper they were going to do everything they could to help him reach his goals. “At 16, my goal was to be an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. I wanted to go to the Royal Military College (RMC) and finish with a degree in business,” Hooper says. His RMC dream died, even though he was accepted into the school, after he failed his medical due to his asthma. Hooper never really talked
about his past until one day he saw an email saying he could win $250 for giving a two-minute speech about the theme of ‘community’. He entered and ended up winning the contest. He then found a website called Speaker Slam and decided to sign up for it. He got accepted into the competition and walked away winning again - by speaking about growing up in Orangeville. Those experiences have led him to become a regular at Speaker Slam events. With RMC out of the question, Hooper found himself at Durham, currently studying business. The first year he played rugby at Durham was the inaugural season for the team, and that was when he became captain. Last year the Lords won the Ontario colleges' championship, and Hooper was announced as the MVP for the season. “Our captain wasn’t chosen because he was the highest point scorer or some statistical reason," teammate Jordon Henry says. "He’s captain because he is able to make every player no matter what skill level or age, feel a part of this team. He makes everyone feel valued and included. “Malcolm has never been one to hide his past and the difficult road he’s taken to get where he is. He is truly one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet,” Henry adds. But now Hooper has another challenge ahead of him. During DC's Oct. 11 game, Hooper broke his foot, which required surgery. “The team said they were going to win the game for me, everyone knew how much it meant to
Photograph by Tara Sottile
Men's rugby captain Malcolm Hooper sits on the sidelines and cheers on the team. me,” Hooper says. Hooper wanted to play pro rugby in 2020, but because of the injury he hopes to try out in the future.
“All it does is motivate me to take this surgery well and get into athletic therapy. The goal didn’t change, just the time frame did,” he adds.
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The Chronicle
November 26 - December 20, 2019
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