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algonquin times algonquintimes.com November 7, 2019

Summerhays Earlug/ Grill

summerhayes

Pound $7.95 Of Wings

YOUR COLLEGE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

See pg. 23 for more

THE FACES OF

MENTAL HEALTH How will the college’s extended health services make a difference?

Interior design students creates new design space

Women create sparks in the steel program

Algonquin grad helps break barriers in the workplace

2 algonquin times Mental Health Matters The clocks have been turned back and the short days and long nights of late fall and early winter are here. Spring forward, fall back, as the saying goes, reminds us how easy it is to look forward with optimism in spring and, conversely, how difficult it can sometimes be to see the light at the end of the tunnel as fall turns to winter.

At this time of year, it is easy to feel ourselves “falling back.” That’s why it is especially important now to pay attention to our mental health and well-being.

It is also why, in collaboration with the Algonquin College Students’ Association, we just had our first-ever Fall Mid-Term Break Week, a time for our learners to have a break, catch up on assignments, visit friends and family, and take some much-needed time for themselves.

Just before the Mid-Term Break Week, we announced an exciting new partnership with The Royal, one of Canada’s foremost mentalhealth care, teaching and research hospitals.

This groundbreaking collaboration will provide new mental-health resources for students and employees. In particular, it will allow students to take advantage of many services from the comfort of their homes. They will also be able to use technology to participate in psychiatry clinics and a psychological therapies mood disorder group covering topics such as anxiety and depression. Algonquin’s Counselling Services also provides help for personal issues, mental health, career counselling and academic counselling. If you feel you need assistance in any of these areas, call the service on the campus where you study and make an appointment to meet with a counsellor, who can also tell you if the services provided by The Royal are a good fit for you.

You may have also noticed that many of our employees are wearing colourful buttons that indicate their mood, whether it’s upbeat or cautious, chill or confused. This is part of our new Not Myself Today initiative, which aims to get our employees talking about mental health.

A button may be a small thing, but it is a good conversation starter, and a way to help break down the stigma of talking about our feelings. If you see someone wearing one of these buttons, don’t hesitate to strike up conversation — we can help one another just by taking the time to stop and chat.

All of these efforts contribute to the greater atmosphere of support that we are creating at our College. The days may be short and the nights long, but remember that we can generate bright lights of understanding, compassion and caring wherever we go.

Claude Brulé President Office C-520 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2G 1V8 Algonquincollege.com/president Twitter.com/Claude_Brule

November 7, 2019

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR SA PRESIDENT

Welcome back from fall break Hello AT Readers! Can you believe we’re already more than half way through the term? And a mere two months away from embarking on a new decade? Time really does fly.

I love this time of year for reasons like, the beautiful autumn weather we’ve had, the fact that there’s so many holidays to bring us all together (Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, my mom’s birthday), and overall, I fi nd that it’s a really great time to reflect. How has the fi rst half of the semester gone? How has the year been going? Are you on the path to making your dreams and goals a reality?

Some of the things we’ve been reflecting on in the SA is the progress of our priorities. Things like having the celebration of Diwali and how we can better advocate for our growing population of International students. And

our consultation and collaboration with our indigenous students and staff around the college to begin the process of a potential rebrand of varsity athletics and building an Algonquin identity for all students. And speaking of Athletics, construction for the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) is underway!

With so much on the go, I was defi nitely relieved to have that mid-term break.

What did you do for the week?

These are just some of the things the Board and the SA has been working on and with the end of our Federal election, opens the elections season here at the SA. For those of you who are interested, the Board will be holding a Meet the Board session on November 26th at 12:00pm in E206 for students who are interested in applying to be a Director. It’s a chance to gain some context before having

DEIJANELLE SIMON to submit anything and it’s a great opportunity to ask questions about the SA, the Board and what we do (or can do) for students.

With that I’d like to wish everyone a great second half of the semester and extend a hand of support for anyone

who’s feeling the pressures of school, work, life in general- you can do it. We have the resources to help, you’re not alone and we’ll get through it together.

Good luck to everyone and thank you for taking the time to read my column!

Issues beyond OC Transpo with Lil’ Claire FARAH KHAN Claire Barasubiye was 17 years old when she wrote the recently acclaimed OC Transpo diss track, Bodak Transpo. Although the track was written well-before the LRT launch, it is very relevant today. The Algonquin and uOttawa student discussed her song’s popularity and how it has made her think more about issues that affect students.

In light of her song’s popularity, Barasubiye now feels conflicted when asked about her commute between Algonquin and uOttawa.

“Sometimes I’ll have a good bus experience and I’m like, oh man, the song is so mean, but then other times the buses won’t come, or they’ll be super late, and I’m like, this is why I wrote it,” Barasubiye said. “I saw all the frustrations that other people have too.”

She’s passionate about music and agrees that it’s a great medium to talk about many issues.

“There’s more positive rap music and people talk about struggles that they’ve been going through and how they’re overcoming that,” Barasubiye said.

FARAH KHAN PHOTO

Claire Barasubiye, who goes by Lil’ Claire, said she’s going to improve and have better content for the future that relates more to students in college and univeristy.

Although she feels good about being recognized for her work, she wants to talk about other issues that impact students.

“Things like OSAP cuts, that’s a big thing, and with this upcoming election, let’s get political with this,” Barasubiye said.

Wild and surreal is how Barasubiye described her experience when CBC news reached out to her and interviewed her about her song in September following LRT. But she also shed light on

“I guess, it’s sharing more of student persectives on different things too.”

Claire Barasubiye

the comments the article received, where she found not everyone could relate. “One comment that I got was like ‘oh just go and buy a car,’ and

in my mind, I was like yeah that’s a simple solution. But I was like, wait I’m a student I can’t afford to have a car,” Barasubiye said. “I guess, it’s sharing more of student perspectives on different things too.”

With the OC Transpo track in the rearview mirror, Barasubiye has her eyes set on a different goal.

“I want to do one against uOttawa but I also want to get my diploma, so I don’t know when I’ll release that,” she added with a laugh.

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November 7, 2019

news

“We talked about how we can actually integrate the students and the timing was kind of just right.”

Interior design students create for new MakerSpace CAMILLA SOLA Third-year interior design students talk amongst themselves in their groups of four as they review their group’s concept art for the new ArtEngine’s MakerSpace.

Groups look at their presentation slides that include a color palette of what the room would look like and the type of furniture they would want to have.

As they review during class, the artistic director from ArtEngine, Ryan Stec, walks in the class and looks at the presentations to gather ideas on what the Makerspace could look like.

It will be located in the Arts Court Theatre, which is connected to the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) in downtown Ottawa. Pallavi Swaranjali, one of the interior design professors at Algonquin College, was asked by Stec to help assist with the making of the commons room in the new MakerSpace.

“It’s a kind of project when they go out there,” said Swaranjali. Stec and Swaranjali decided that it would be a great opportunity for students to be involved

and be a part of a project that will be built in the city.

“We talked about how we can actually integrate the students and the timing was kind of just right,” said Stec, who also teaches in the visual arts department at uOttawa.

The empty commons area of the Arts Court needed to have a concept design over the course this fall, so it made sense to connect the program to the ArtEngine Project.

ArtEngine Project is a non-profit organization to helps drive creativity to the community as well as allows people to view a variety of art pieces. Within the Arts Court, this Makerspace will have a studio that has equipment such as a; digital caliper, hand, and industrial tools.

It will also include a digital lab that incorporates 3-D elements such as printing, scanning, VR and AR production and motion capture.

Upcoming workshops will take place in the commons room, as well as an office room and public art for citizens to view. Swaranjali and Stec wanted to convey to the students on how they could make a place feel welcoming

when entering the room.

“I think it’s always important to involve students in kind of high-level thinking that is none the less ground in real space,” said Stec.

Over the summer Swaranjali got help from a couple of her students -one of them being Delaney Leefe.

Leefe knew that she wanted to pursue her passion for interior design at Algonquin College. In April of this year, Leefe helped her professor in ArtEngine for a couple of

hours each week. “It was interesting. It was different on what you do in school,” said Leefe.

One of Leefe’s favorite moments during the project over the summer was to 3-D scan the commons room to get an idea of what the room could look like.

This was her first time being involved in a big project that was outside of school.

Now that she’s in school, she hopes to continue contributing ideas towards the project.

Ryan Stec Artistic director from ArtEngine

Anita Vandenbeld keeps hold of MP seat following the federal election in the Ottawa West-Nepean ward

EMILY BRITTON PHOTO CAMILLA SOLA PHOTO

(From left to right) Delaney Leefe group with Genevieve Bowlby, Pia Marin Barra and Jade Scatliffe.

VANESSA BOBAI PHOTO

Halloween fun for everyone Students were invited to the AC Hub to pick and carve their own pumpkins on Oct. 30. The AC Hub supplied all the materials and the pumpkins themselves.

Infographic relfects the results of the federal election in the Ottawa-West Nepean ward EMILY BRITTON On Oct. 21, Liberal candidate Anita Vandenbeld of Ottawa West-Nepean held on to her riding and retained her seat as MP for another four years.

The vote difference from Conservative candidate Abdul Abdi and Vandenbeld was 11,108, as the latter won by 45.5 per cent of the votes.

Although Vandenbeld was the MP since 2015, she is the first Liberal since 2006 to be MP of the ward.

This election, Vandenbeld was up against eight other candidates including 2015 election’s challenger, Abdi who came in second with 16,491 votes.

Vandenbeld’s election party was held at Colonnade Pizza on Carling Avenue which started at 8:30 p.m.

After polls closed, supporters started rolling in an hour later.

The venue of Colonnade Pizza was decorated with all things red from balloons to posters saying, “Re-elect Anita Vandenbeld”.

As the results poured in, anxiety filled the room amongst the supporters.

People stood and watched the TV at the back of the restaurant.

Majority sat at tables facing the front as they eagerly waited for the Ottawa West Nepean results to appear on the TV. Around 10:15 p.m., it was announced that Vandenbeld was re-elected and will now serve as the incumbent.

Vandenbeld showed up for her party just after 11 p.m. to thank all the volunteers and supporters throughout the campaign.

On Nov. 20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be sworn in along with a new gender-balanced cabinet.

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November 7, 2019

New campus fire space EMILY BRITTON The spacious courtyard situated next to the DARE district is a tribute for the Indigenous people.

Surrounded by buildings on all sides, this courtyard brings sunlight shining on it, while providing a social place in the middle and a study spot along the sides with chairs. This place is the Ishkodewan courtyard and in Algonquian it means there is fi re.

A fitting name for the courtyard as there is a fi re pit in the centre with a gravel floor and wooden logs surrounding it. Stretched back a bit further there is wooden benches for the students to sit, socialize or lay down and bask in the sunlight.

The top is covered with metal wire made to resemble the inside of an Indigenous fishing weir.

Jeffery Turner, partnership development specialist with a focus on the DARE District, talked about the thought behind designing and creating the fi re pit.

“The structure itself replicates an Algonquin fishing weir which is really quite unique in its own right,” said Turner.

“It’s inverted actually so that people can come underneath it, but the Algonquin very interestingly and intelligently and creatively drive

4 scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded

EMILY BRITTON PHOTO

There’s a new fire pit located in the courtyard outside the DARE District. The fire pit will be the venue for social and spiritual fires. little trees into the creek beds and they make it a passage way and they guide the fish where they want to go and where that is, is a net so they’re guiding the fish to the net.”

The architects took the story behind the Algonquin fishing weir, inverted it and created the structure so that it also incorporates all the other Indigenous elements that are found throughout not only the courtyard, but the DARE district as well.

Spiritual fi re ceremonies are not done on a regular basis, Turner says there has to be a demand for it because the fi re keepers come in from hours away outside the city.

The sacred fi re – or spiritual fi re – requires the presence of a fi re keeper, someone who is sacredly trained with the Indigenous culture. The spiritual process starts with

birch bark and a piece of flint. After, they would add cedar, kindling and wood brought in by the fi re keeper themselves.

“Fire is a very unique and special place for people to gather,” said Turner. “It’s about storytelling and you’ll see it in those places in a circle, as in a lodge and no one has their backs turned to each other, you can always look them in the eye.”

160 different plants occupy the courtyard, all Indigenous and sourced mostly in southern and eastern Ontario.

SA president Deijanelle Simon explained that she is not directly working with the fi re ceremonies, but the SA heard from students that they don’t see themselves in that space so the SA wanted to help them feel more comfwortable.

“We were speaking with

Ron and he was like ‘Okay well I want students to feel comfortable in the space and we want to make it more inclusive’,” said Simon. “So we said why not make it a weekly thing so that students can participate at their leisure.

We can have fun chill sessions that students can participate in.”

Before the SA can move forward with the social fi res, they are looking for students who can take a couple hours at night to become fi re watchers. They will learn how to extinguish a fi re as well as how to start one.

“We’re fi nding more people interested in being out here,” said Turner. “So now, we just had a meeting with the Students’ Association, they’re going to start having weekly events out here with the fi re so we can have more people come out and enjoy the garden.”

BOG honours students VANESSA BOBAI Two Algonquin students, along with a student from Carleton University, were awarded the People’s Choice Award in June’s Hacking Health Ottawa competition.

Their accomplishment was recognized by the Board of Governors meeting on Monday.

This was one of the sweetest events to happen at the Board of Governors meeting on Monday, Oct. 28 in T102 A&B. Mohamad Akel, mobile application design and development student and Wilfred Turcotte, Interactive media design student, along with Erin Wiles, Carleton psychology student, pitched an idea at the Hacking competition for a Gamified Mental Health Resource Library App. Over one weekend, the team

built up the concept, which is now known as Mindus.org.

The People’s Choice Award is voted on by all the participants at the Hackathon.

“We hope that we’ll be able to provide earlier intervention and prevention of more serious issues,” said Wiles.

Here are the highlights from Monday’s meeting.

The board of governors has authorized funds for the college to replace the current student information system.

The team in charge of the project led by Patrick Devey, acting vice president, innovation and strategy, informed the board that a request for proposal for the project had just been put out on Oct. 25.

A student information system is a tool that provides the administration of student information and is responsible for managing academic progression and student data.

Devey also stated that they would be looking at software as service systems to work with on this project.

“We made the decision to go ahead with a SAS system because we are at the end of the era for the current system,’ said Devey.

There were concerns about data privacy with the cloudbased system by a member of the board.

“I’m concerned that if the company’s servers are in the US, then our student’s data is subject to the patriot act,” said James Roblee, board, vice-chair.

Devey assured the board that this is one of the concerns they are looking at and are prepared to screen companies properly to ensure all details are covered.

In other BOG business, the board has made revisions to the sexual assault policy

in response to the provincial governments assessment.

Students are made aware of services available to them through Project Lighthouse.

“We currently have ongoing training available for staff, they are not compulsory but highly recommended,” said Laura Stanbra vice president, student affairs.

Based on the recommendation of the academic and student affairs committee, the board approved the creation of two new programs.

The two programs are a graduate certificate program in cybersecurity analysis and a bachelor of commerce in marketing.

These programs were created to meet the demands of growing industries.

Both programs The programs are expected to start in fall 2020 and fall 2021, respectively.

November 9, 2019 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

223 Main St., OTTAWA

Register online!

algonquin times 5

November 7, 2019

From left to right: Chefs Evilien Santa T Santuri, Grant Buttrey, Nghi Do and Luwei Cheng present their vegetarian banh mi, which was voted the guests’ favourite sandwich at Breaking Bread, Breaking Stigma on Oct. 23. The team prepped for nine hours for the big night.

Algonquin culinary team named fundraiser favourite EMILY HSUEH Thunderous applause engulfed the dimly lit horticulture building at TD Place in Landsdowne, as four students from Algonquin’s culinary skills program received the People’s Choice Award at Hopewell’s fundraiser sandwich competition for the second year in a row.

Evilien Santa T. Sianturi, Nghi Do, Grant Buttrey and Luwei Cheng formed the second team of Algonquin students to participate in Hopewell’s annual Breaking Bread, Breaking Stigma gourmet sandwich competition. The chic event raised awareness of eating disorders, the most fatal mental health diagnosis. The third edition of the gala held on Oct. 23, saw Algonquin’s sandwich, a vegetarian bánh mì – Vietnamese for bread – voted the favourite overall dish by patrons.

Grant Buttrey had never participated in such an event before, and was thrilled to be part of the team. “You see these kinds of competitions on TV and it’s exciting to actually be a part of it,” said Buttrey, while chopping cucumbers during prep.

“There are great chefs, and

it’s a great opportunity for learning.”

In their striking white attire, the chefs served numerous attendees as they flocked to the table to try the chefs’ Vietnamese sandwich. The team worked efficiently as a unit and avoided the long waits that the other competitors experienced at their booths.

“I found it extremely flavourful, very authentic and subtly complex. They are on are par 1,000 per cent,” said Eileen Mlikan, a guest who was incredibly enthusiastic about the college’s team.

The student chefs, along with their professors Chefs Cory Haskins and Scott Warrick, spent nine hours over the course of two days to prepare for the big night.

“It’s a student team, so everybody is involved in putting it together, which is great,” said Chef Haskins.

“All of these students are in Chef Warrick’s class, and they were chosen on their involvement in volunteer activities, willingness to assist and hard work and dedication.”

“We need to serve 225 portions quickly,” Haskins added. “We need to serve it under strict conditions. We can have one burner, there

is no oven. It’s like an outside-catered event, we have very limited capabilities there.”

Despite the challenge, the team was well-prepared and welcomed with open arms, as Hopewell chair and volunteer president Andrew Jones said.

“Through members of our volunteer organizing committee [...] we knew of the Algonquin School of Hospitality and Tourism and the program, and we decided it would be a great addition to our evening to invite them as one of our teams,” said Jones.

“We’re happy to have them back and I would expect that they’re going to be a permanent fixture.”

Following the competition, Nghi Do couldn’t help but smile as the Algonquin team held up their People’s Choice certificate.

“I feel so proud of myself and my team,” she said.

“I don’t have a lot of experience but this competition has made me more confident.”

“These guys did an excellent job,” said Chef Haskins with pride. “They were organized, their service was really really good, their work today and yesterday was fantastic. They were just excellent.”

EMILY HSUEH PHOTO

The team served patrons an “extremely flavourful” vegetarian Vietnamese bánh mi.

EMILY HSUEH PHOTO

Evilien Santa T. Sianturi and Grant Buttrey prep for their first big culinary competition.

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November 7, 2019

Investors club teaches moneymaking skills A dedicated group of business management and entrepreneurship students came up with a plan to teach others about marketing JOSEPH WANG

JOESPH WANG

Seneca College graduate Joshua Baril is one host of the investors club’s event.

Co-founders of the club, Moe Thomas and Ross Palfrey consider him a mentor.

Over 30 students gathered in a lecture room in Algonquin College’s C-building on Oct. 4, where they heard Moe Thomas, a business management and entrepreneurshipstudent, introducing how the financial system works.

At the first meeting of the college’s investors club, the session provided the audience with some basic knowledge about the foreign exchange market, cryptocurrency, stock market and investment in start-up companies.

“It’s a new way to invest,” said computer programming student Artem Fetissov.

Having already invested in the foreign exchange market before, Fetissov said that the session gave him more insight into the market based on experience he has.

“I’ve learned some new stuff about the market and how the system works,” said Fetissov. “They teach you how to make money.”

The club was founded this semester by Thomas and his friend Ross Palfrey. They are both students in the business management and entrepreneurship program. Seeing students swarmed them with questions filled them with optimistic feelings.

“Only two people left after the session,” said Thomas.

"Most of them stayed and they were very interested in our club. It smells like success to me."

According to Palfrey, the idea to build the investors club came from his professor of the entrepreneurship class, who suggested that somebody in the class should start an investors club to challenge themselves.

“The first thing that popped out of my head was, ‘Why isn’t it me?’,” said Palfrey.

His professor helped him to promote the club in the class to get some of Palfrey's

classmates to participate in the club.

After being told by Palfrey about the idea of forming the new club, Thomas joined as a co-founder of the club. He helped more students outside of his program to pay attention to the club.

"Moe really took this [club] to another level," said Palfrey.

"I couldn't have gotten the session we have today and the words spread out fast without his help."

“We can give people investing tips and stock tips, but we will not give them financial advice because that’s illegal.”

Ross Palfrey business management and entrepreneurship program Seneca College graduate Joshua Baril is Thomas’ partner and one of the hosts of the session. He explained what the new club has to offer students.

“Here, we train students to give them the skill sets needed for investing in different financial markets,” he said.

“We help people to measure their capability and teach them how to organize their resources for investment.”

Moe and Palfrey said that the club is an extra step to refine their skills in business and entrepreneurship besides studying in class, and it helps them to share their knowlegde with students from other programs.

"By doing this club, we are also hoping to inspire others who are not inside of our program to also consider the option of entrepreneurship,"

said Palfrey. They aim to help participants understand not only what they are investing, but also why they are investing.

“We have an educational platform where you can learn and teach yourself,” said Thomas about the online financial courses that the club provides.

The educational system focuses on imparting different level of financial skills, starting from the foundation, which include the concept of various financial markets, to technical analysis. In addition, students are taught how to predict the fluctuation of the markets, as well as how to reach an expert level where learners would be taught to trade with skills of professional investors.

Even for some participants who have zero experience in financial investment, Palfrey said they are encouraged to join the club. Because it would be more convenient to teach them from the very beginning.

He hopes that members of the new club could bring their friends to the club so more people can learn about the skills to invest in financial markets.

“People who are interested in investing can work with me and Moe for free,” said Palfrey. “We can give people investing tips and stock tips, but we will not give them financial advice because that’s illegal.”

Thomas and Palfrey were also planning schedules for bi-weekly and monthly seminars of the club. In the next session, they are going to invite participants to look into some basic investing strategies.

“We are going to make sure everyone is on the same page,” said Thomas. “We are going to make sure everyone’s benefitting from the program.”

algonquin times 7

November 7, 2019

Algonquin on track for Horoscopes sustainable energy venture Capricorn

In times of distress, remember that nothing is ever permanent, everything is constantly changing and better times are inevitable.

STEPHEN RICCIO Algonquin College’s $9-million sustainable energy venture will start producing results on Oct. 31 when the project’s solar panels and new-energy network will be completely built.

With the increasing number of Canadians coming together and demanding government action on climate change, the college’s administration has been working to create a plan that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In April 2018, the Ontario government sent Algonquin a $9-million grant as part of the Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofits Program.

John Tattersall, executive director of facilities management, says that the college has invested the funds into three projects that will all be completely built by Oct. 31 of this year.

“The total venture will reduce our GHG emissions by 361.60 metric tonnes per year,” Tattersall said in an email to the Times.

To put these reductions into perspective, it’s useful to use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator. According to the

calculator, an average car driving 4,074 km would produce a single tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.

The three projects that have been underway since the funding was released are the “installation of solar panels; installation of a battery electricity storage capability; and expansion of our thermal network,” according to Tattersall.

Eric Fruhauf, coordinator of the green architecture program at Algonquin, says that there are many areas to focus on when thinking about a sustainable future.

“Production of sustainable energy is certainly a worthy goal as part of a comprehensive sustainable strategy,” Fruhauf said in an email to the Times.

The solar panel and battery electricity storage projects will connect to the campus micro-grid next-year and will produce one megawatt of green electricity for on-campus use.

Typically, a single megawatt can power up to 1000 houses.

Meanwhile, the thermal network project will boost Algonquin’s already existing co-generation plant.

The micro-grid, which is a

Dec. 22nd - Jan. 19th

Aquarius Don’t stop, believing. Hold onto that feeling.

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Pisces Optimism is food for the soul and cleanses the mind, keep sending out those positive vibes and feeding the minds of those around you.

Feb. 20th - Mar. 22nd

STEVE RICCIO PHOTO

Two solar panels positioned on top of the ACCE building are part of Algonquin’s project to reduce emissions on campus. network of electricity users that flow from a central location but can each operate independently, will be performing at 50 per cent of it’s one megawatt potential until Spring 2020 when the grid will connect to Hydro One’s grid.

Once this Hydro One connection has been completed, the college will be producing the full megawatt as well as the four megawatts of green energy that will flow from the co-generation plant.

Students are largely in favour of Algonquin making efforts to combat climate change. According to an

online poll done by the Times, 59 of the 63 respondents believe that institutions such as Algonquin should play some role in sustainability efforts.

The poll was posted on the Algonquin 2018/19 Facebook group for students over a twoweek stretch of time beginning on Oct. 11.

When the funding was announced as part of the province-wide retrofit program in 2018, then-school president Cheryl Jensen outlined the goal of Algonquin becoming carbon-neutral, stating that the school “is making sustainability and the environment a priority.”

Chiarelli attends first November council meeting PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA After being absent from the public for about a month, College Ward Coun. Rick Chiarelli attended the council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6, after saying he would not attend.

Chiarelli had to attend this budget meeting (a meeting that he has not missed in 30 years) in order to keep his seat as councillor of the College Ward, which Algonquin College sits in.

Chiarelli was re-elected as councillor of the College Ward in the 2015 municipal election. Since his role as councillor, he has played a crucial role in addressing student concerns such as affordable housing, proper inspections as well as infrastructure. He has also paid visits in the past, to political

science and local government classes at the college.

On Sept. 12, Chiarelli had been accused of sexual harassment by an applicant who had applied for a job at city hall. He denied the allegations at that time. Two weeks later, six more women shared their stories with CBC. Since then, he’d be out of the public eye.

However, in a letter written by Chiarelli on Oct. 3, he stated that “since the middle

TREVOR OATTES PHOTO

Rick Chiarelli, College Ward city councillor.

of August” he had been dealing with health issues and that he has never treated any of his staff inappropriately, calling the allegations a “mob mentality.”

In a city council meeting, which took place on Oct. 23, Chiarelli was denied a request to take additional leave by city council.

It was also requested that in order for him to stay on as council, he needed to make an appearance for scheduled council meetings in November.

So far, he has missed two monthly meetings and according to the Municipal Ontario Municipal Act, when a member of the council misses a third monthly meetings, their seat will become vacant, “without the council’s approval.”

The vote was 20-0, where

19 city councillors opposed Chiarelli’s request to take leave.

This is not the first time Chiarelli, put in a request to take leave. On Aug. 14, Chiarelli said that he fell ill and was rushed to the hospital due to an “unspecified illness” and two days later a video revealed that he was on vacation in the Czech Republic.

A day before the decision was made to deny his leave, Chiarelli threatened to appear in court in order to stop the investigations of “multiple complaints” against him.

In the meantime,the city’s intergrity investigator is currently investigating all the comments and questions that were said by Chiarelli. He has still denied all of the claims.

Aries Help, I’m trapped in B building and I could only manage to send this last message before my phone died, please send he…

Mar. 23rd - Apr. 24th

Taurus Take a moment of your busy day and compliment someone on there sweater. It can get pretty chilly out their and a compliment can warm someone right up.

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Gemini Remember to chew plenty of gum, you never know when you’ll be in close proximity to someone who doesn’t appreciate the musk of your morning mouth.

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Cancer It’s never too late to tell someone how you truly feel about them. Whether it’s a compliment, a threat, an opinion or a hot-take. They need to know the truth.

Jun. 27th - Jul. 29th

Virgo Keep up the hard work, even though it’s hard, the hardest work is always hard to work on, so don’t let the hard work keep you from working hard.

Jul. 30th - Aug. 26th

Leo Come clean with your crush about how you feel. Or don’t. I’m just a piece of paper not a cop.

Aug. 27th - Sept. 22nd

Libra Like a great jazz beat, it’s always important to move to the beat of your own drum and always keep things fresh and original.

Sept. 23rd - Oct. 25th

Scorpio As the fall season reaches its peak and we begin to see the signs of winter, it’s important to take every opportunity you can to enjoy a big pile of leaves.

Oct. 26th - Nov. 21st

Sagittarius Enjoy the little things in life, it can give you a fresh perspective on some of the things we make too big of a deal about.

Nov. 22nd - Dec. 21st

8 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

College staff talks about mental health PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA Students in post-secondary institutions are often encouraged to have open conversations about mental health as well as the stigma surrounding mental health.

Recently, the college has shifted its focus to encourage staff and faculty to not be afraid to talk openly about their mental health within the workplace. Not Myself Today was launched on Oct. 7 at all of the college’s three Ottawa-area campuses in hopes to promote mental health conversations within the workplace.

This program was established in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association. This project has been in the works for roughly about a year and a half with CMHA, while also keeping in reference with the National Standard of Canada.

“With Not Myself Today, we decided as a task force to bring that in so that our employees would start having something to foster conversations around mental wellness at work,” said inclusion and diversity specialist, Sarah Gauer, adding on that recognizing stress levels and creating a positive workspace are also crucial elements.

“All these factors (are) really important for creating a mentally healthy workplace.” Gauer also works for the human resources department at the college. Although

PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA PHOTO

These are the buttons that are provided for the Not Myself Today campaign, by the Canadian Mental Health Association. The buttons are worn by staff to encourage conversations about mental health in the workplace. there wasn’t enough conversation around mental health before the launch, the college was quick to respond to the concerns of staff in the workplace.

Therefore by investing in the task force - which includes a variety of employees including subject-based experts - the college was then able to train 30 ambassadors with Not Myself Today.

The team effort on the campaign allowed everyone to get on board, according to Gauer. On the first day of the campaign, there was

an online portal that was launched whereby staff can register to receive advice, different activities to better educate them about mental health.

The program which was first launched nationally in 2013, is composed of three outcomes: Increasing mental health literacy, reducing the stigma and building more support around work cultures.

Jordan Friesen, national director of workplace mental health, said in a phone interview with the

Times, that because students make up the majority of the population in post-secondary institutions, it creates an interesting dynamic.

Since there are more students, there is a bigger push for mental health support, on campuses especially.“It gives us an opportunity to work with interventions target, which is an important group typically underserved in terms of mental health support,” said Friesen.

“We see Not Myself Today as an opportunity to kick start that conversation.”

On the campus itself, there have been physical materials to promote the campaign that staff can use, such as buttons with emotive words on it such as “proud,” “calm,” or “sad” -- words that express an employee’s state of mind. The campaign runs until 2020 and within that time, the college staff evaluates the program by giving feedback as to what worked and what didn’t work. “It’s been overwhelmingly positive,” said Gauer. “You’ll see people having conversations, different things

happening, different partnerships.” Gauer hoped that it should have been launched sooner and why wasn’t she doing more despite hearing the feedback from staff prior to launch. It was a team effort to establish this program and the college is working to grow the campaign for the future.

“It’s not designed to be something that you have to be an expert in mental health or have a PhD,” said Gauer.

“It’s for everybody to start having safer conversations around their emotions.”

College security remains the same after uOttawa carding incidents What can Algonquin College do to ensure the safety of all students and staff?

PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA Security training on campus is always the first priority especially when it involves the protection of students and staff on campus, however, how much can campuses do to ensure the safety of students?

In September, the University of Ottawa saw two incidents on separate occasions, whereby black students were carded for no reason while on campus property.

Despite the changes that were implemented shortly after the first incident, a second incident occurred. Only this

time, the black student, who was also an employee had allegedly been forced to provide his ID upon entries at a university residence building.

Algonquin College, however, has a policy in place to ensure every student is protected, which is not necessarily from a carding incident.

According to Michael Laviolette, manager of security and emergency services, the college does have policies that protect not just students but also visitors as well.The training also plays a role in the college’s safety. “Training is always being updated to

meet the needs of our people and the college community,” Laviolette wrote in an email to The Times. Algonquin College Corporate Training has also partnered with the Ottawa Police in order to provide not just mechanical training but also de-escalation and disengagement training.

When Laviolette was first employed at the college, he worked closely with the management team to modify changes based on the “current best practices in the industry.”

According to the Student and Employment policy which was first approved

in 2005, it states that if an Algonquin College employee (while still on the property) is asked for identification, they are obliged to present it to security personnel If any students or staff refuses to comply with this request, the college would take “disciplinary measures.”

This may mean, depending on the situation, “Removal from the premises.” The mandatory review date for this policy was on Nov. 23, 2016.

Although it is not uncommon to see policies that have not been updated accordingly to their review dates, the policies are still effective.

“This particular policy is still effective and there have been no significant changes in practices but is overdue for

review,” said Laviolette. “This will be given a priority focus to correct this condition.”

Training is always being updated to meet the needs of... the college community.

Michael Laviolette, Manager of Security and Emergency Services

On June 28, 2019, Algonquin College security forced a non-student off the campus.

Noah Coker, who was 21 at the time, was walking from

Loblaws to his home near Tower Road, was warned by campus security that he was crossing private property.

According to the CBC report, security staff at the time stated that the young man, who was black, was “noticeably intoxicated” when security approached him.

Although Laviolette cannot comment on any incident specifically, he does, however, make sure his team is equipped to better handle these situations.

“As a team, we always perform a review when we have any type of notable incident,” wrote Laviolette.

“To see, what, if anything we can learn to better prepare our team to serve our community.”

algonquin times 9

November 7, 2019

Smoking ban: the aftermath

BY JOSH AMBAR Outside of building A across from College Square some of the smokers of Algonquin huddle around to light a smoke hoping security doesn’t catch them. The cold air is setting in, the leaves are changing and the students stand on the cigarette-butt-infested dirt just next to the sidewalk hoping that it’s city property.

Because since a smoking ban was introduced at the college on Jan. 1, cigarettes and vaping are forbidden on college property.

Since then, security staff have engaged with a total of 23,883 smokers. Some of these are repeating individuals. Most security run-ins result in the smoker re-locating or extinguishing the material.

Eleven infraction notices have been given out so far, which are only used when situations take place where there is a repeated non-compliance following ample re-direction by security.

Chris Lackner, a communications officer at Algonquin College, says that although the numbers are quite high with engaged smokers, many of these occurrences happen along the boundaries of the campus. The school has acknowledged a change in behaviour with less smoking occurring in the central parts of campus.

With new and returning students this new school year, the Security Services has engaged with 3,217 smokers, repeated individuals included. This number shows the decrease of approximately 36 per cent from March and April, which were the two highest months of engagement.

Over email,Claude Brulé, president and CEO, said that the college conducted extensive consultations with the community, including an online survey receiving more than 4,000 responses about the ban and whether it should be instated or not.

“The College endorsed a very moderate approach that focused on engagement and awareness with anyone who was not in compliance with the policy,” wrote Brulé.

Jess Carty, a second-year social service worker student, and Julian Lleida, a medical radiation technology student, are both smokers at the

college who have experienced the negative effects of this ban.

Lleida believes that the ban only came to the college because of the legalization of marijuana and that the school did not want cannabis on school property.

Carty explains that the school should focus on bigger security issues than smoking because the ban is putting stress on students who smoke as they do not have enough time to take breaks in between classes. She said that students like to reduce stress after exams by having a smoke, but now they have anxiety about getting caught.

“It’s stressful though, we are all under a lot pressure,” said Carty. “There is bigger fish to fry in terms of security issues.”

Brulé was the senior vice president academic when the decision was made to make the college smoke-free. He fully supports the decision despite students’ problems with the ban and the challenges they now face.

Penny Reed, second-year social service worker, is not happy at all about the ban because she says that it is a freedom of choice that is being stripped away by the school.

It’s the alienation and isolation... if we are looked at as lesser, then what are we going to think of ourselves?

Jess Carty Second-year social service worker

Reed stated that the college is pushing smokers towards the park by the play ground near kids instead of smoking on campus in a designated spot. Municipal bylaw officers have started to hand out fines to people found smoking around that area.

“I for one, hope he [Brulé] reinstates designated areas,” said Reed.

Although the ban is affecting the community park near the school due to the increase of smokers in the area, Brulé said that they are sympathetic

JOSH AMBAR PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Even though the ban is in effect, many people – including this student who wishes to remain unnamed – still smoke. They say they don’t have enough time in between classes to go off campus, which puts stress on them. to any concerns expressed by the community.

“That’s why we communicated with them ahead of our plans to become a Clean Air Campus, and we keep those communication lines open,” said Brulé.

Kendrik D’Aoust, a second-year nursing student, is in favour of the ban because he believes that smoking is a “victim-less” habit that should not be placed on non-smokers. He states it is damaging to others through secondand third-hand smoke.

“I don’t begrudge anybody who chooses that for their lifestyle,” said D’Aoust.

“That’s their own choice but I don’t think that should then be affecting or pushed on others who chosen not to indulge in that lifestyle.”

Carty, Lleida and Reed see this ban as one that results in a lack of security for students, especially for women who must venture off campus to have a smoke at night in unsecured areas. They feel as if smokers are treated like second- class citizens at Algonquin.

“It’s the alienation and isolation and if we are looked at as lesser then what are we going to think of ourselves?” said Carty.

Video Games in the COMMONS Friday, November 8 11:00am – 4:00pm

10 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

lifestyle

“Turn Me On podcast and Project Lighthouse open the dialogue to push beyond sex taboos.”

DANA SIMPSON Lifestyle Editor

Conversations about sex steam up the Ob Project Lighthouse joins Turn Me On podcast hosts to discuss opening up about sex

DANA SIMPSON PHOTO

DANA SIMPSON PHOTO

Project Lighthouse’s Sarah Crawford joins Turn Me On for a live taping in the Observatory. The event, which took place Oct. 7, touched on sex, consent and taboos.

DANA SIMPSON Sarah Crawford is no stranger to conversations about sex.

As the coordinator of the sexual violence prevention and harm reduction program for Project Lighthouse, the topic is part of her day to day work life.

So when Crawford met Turn Me On podcast hosts Jeremie Saunders and Bryde Maclean backstage at last year’s live taping at Algonquin, they had an instant connection – sex.

On Oct. 7, Turn Me On hosted their second live taping in the Algonquin College Observatory. This time they brought the home advantage with them: Sarah Crawford.

Trained with a Masters in sexology from Curtin University in Australia, Crawford joined Turn Me On to discuss a range of topics from relationships and consent, to sex surrogacy, porn, as well as how drugs affect the sex drive.

“In real life, people need to have conversations about what they want,” Crawford said in reference to one of Project Lighthouse’s favourite activities, the Consent Sandwich.

Crawford noted that when ordering a sandwich from the

shop, you typically tell the sandwich artist exactly what you want. Why shouldn’t you be able to do that when it comes to sex with a partner?

Crawford’s position was created at Algonquin three years ago specifically to help students navigate conversations about sex and encourage them to have healthy sexual relationships.

Sex is one of the very few things that we all have in common Jeremie Saunders Turn Me On host

Saunders and Maclean created Turn Me On with the same idea in mind.

“Sex is one of the very few things that we all have in common,” said Saunders, backstage before the show. “If it wasn’t for sex, we wouldn’t be here.”

And because sex ties everyone together at the root of our existence, it’s also something of interest to many at some point in their lives – even if many people aren’t quite sure how to start the dialogue.

“I look at the conversation surrounding sex in the exact same way I look at the conversation surrounding death,” Saunders said. “We, generally as a society, have been raised to be afraid of it. We are a death-phobic society. We are a sex-phobic society.”

But given the societal taboo surrounding sex, the fear of starting a conversation is still very real.

For some, Turn Me On has been a great deal of help in breaking down the barriers of that taboo and proving that sex can be openly discussed. For others, the help has stemmed from Crawford and Project Lighthouse’s safe space including its many on-campus events.

“We had a really good chat with Sarah the last time we were here and when this opportunity came back up we were like, ‘Let’s do that. Let’s chat,’” Maclean said, backstage before the taping.

Should students feel the need to chat, they are encouraged to seek counselling and at keeping an eye out for Project Lighthouse events on campus.

Listen to Crawford on Turn Me On when her episode is released later this month.

New episodes are released every Wednesday.

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329 March Rd Unit 202, Kanata

algonquin times 11

November 7, 2019

New program guides women into welding female students use college’s opportunity to gain professional skills as welders JESSICA ALBERGA When Keri Davey took the Introduction to Welding Program this past summer in the college’s multi-million dollar welding lab, one image got her through those first few intimidating hours.

She imagined a small piece or bead of sun in her hands.

And she imagined waking up the entire universe by dragging its power and light across the sky.

Davey imagined this because the fear of the fire and power of the machine was all too real in those beginning days.

“The welding itself was actually terrifying the first day I almost went home twice,” said Davey. “I didn’t expect the spark in the ark to be such a terrifying thing.”

But she didn’t go home.

In fact, Davey was one of 12 women who participated in the new program and now holds a Canadian Welding Bureau qualification in a fillet weld; flat position [the process of joining two pieces of metal together, whether they’re perpendicular or at an angle.]

Due to the lack of women in the trade, the federal government granted the Canadian Welding Bureau funds to put forth a new phase of social engagement, and so the Introduction to Welding Program was created. It’s a 30-hour all-expenses-paid program that is offered at six post-secondary institutions throughout Canada.

Algonquin College was one of them.

In Canada, there’s a significant labour shortage, especially in the welding trade.

And there’s less than 4.3 per cent of women in the welding workforce. Despite being such a small number, the women welders who compete in the Skilled Trades competitions frequently display higher performances over their male counterparts.

In total the initial program was open to 72 participants split up between the six partnered post-secondary institutions.

Shaun Barr, academic chair of construction trades and building systems at Algonquin, said that because of the federal push for more females in the trades, this campaign was launched.

“We have an excellent relationship with the Canadian Welding Bureau,” said Barr.

“They donated funds to our $2.6 million welding lab that we built a couple years ago and they do all our testing and certification for our post-secondary students.”

The CWB supplied all the necessary equipment: gloves, helmet and coats. The students were required to bring their own steel-toed boots.

“If anyone would have ever told me that I had a welder inside me, I would have said ‘Oh yeah sure, that would be awesome,’” said Davey.

Once Davey developed a method of balancing the power of the arc she became more comfortable and really started to enjoy herself.

“I said to myself, ‘the spark is the opening note to the song, and you can’t have the music without the spark.’”

Each post-secondary institution was allowed 12 participants. Barr has a relationship with some of the people in Akwesasne Ont. and after pointing this program out to them, he was able to get nine interested women to join.

The other four were scouted locally.

“The spark is the opening note to the song, and you can’t have the music without the spark.”

Keri Davey Student, welding program

Having the other women around in the lab lifted Davey’s spirits whenever she’d feel overwhelmed or wanted to give up. The enthusiasm from others helped her push through.

“I don’t know if the dudes have that, I hope they do but that was really cool,” said Davey.

Barr said the program was a success and worked out really well overall.

He felt lucky to have met instructor Charlene Hayes at an educational panel in Vancouver before the launch.

They were both at a conference for the Canadian

JESSICA ALBERGA PHOTO

Professor Lydia Okum from the welding program welds Christmas ornaments while waiting on her students to complete their assignments. The $2.6 million welding lab at the college is truly state-of-the-art.

Apprenticeship forum’s supporting women in the trades.

After chatting briefly Barr hired Hayes on the spot, and just as quickly Hayes accepted.

“I love welding,” said Hayes. “I love the creative aspects of it, the challenge it offers, the skill it takes to learn how to weld, and how amazing a finished product looks once it’s designed, built or repaired.”

Hayes believes a career in welding can lead to many opportunities and would be a benefit for anyone willing to try something new and financially gaining.

“It is a very rewarding career,” she said. “Obtaining the skills and qualifications [Red Seal] to work in this industry will open doors not just in the welding industry, but also the opportunity to go to Teacher’s College and teach welding as well.”

For Hayes, the most rewarding part about that week was watching the women as they faced every challenge, and yet chose not to give up when it became too much. Hayes notes that their pride and confidence

grew daily and she enjoyed watching how empowering it made them feel.

Once the inspector from the CWB evaluated and tested the women at the end of the week, they were each given a Canadian Welding Bureau qualification in a fillet weld, flat position.

The common assumption that welding is a male-dominated sector may still remain,

but for women like Davey, that thought never stopped her.

Even being a smaller woman and not necessarily all that physically strong, she was able to grasp everything like everyone else.

For now, Barr awaits the next launch from the Canadian Welding Bureau to host another round of female participants. Until then the post-secondary welding

apprenticeship program is offered at the college and Barr says the enrollment numbers this year show a rise in females.

“The old stereotype of ‘it’s a man’s job, or it’s too dirty for a woman or they physically cannot do this type of work’ doesn’t fly any longer,” said Hayes. “Women are very capable and have shown that for centuries.”

JESSICA ALBERGA PHOTO

This infographic reflects the ratio of men to women in the welding trade. IWP program meant to inspire more women to come.

12 algonquin times

entertainment

November 7, 2019

“I have to put myself in that almost moment of fear to push myself to get things done.”

Matt St. Jules Music Industry Arts Alumnus

Grad’s music strikes a chord

Algonquin alumnus, Matt St. Jules, is building his unique brand in a competitive industry BRIAN G. SHARBIN Matt St. Jules’ nerves were setting in. He barely had a day to craft his guitar part for a song he was about to perform in front of a private crowd. He knew industry officials would be scouting his performance, so he needed to make sure everything was perfect.

He was ready to give it his all, as a contract offer to play with longtime friend Jamie Fine and fellow Algonquin music industry arts alumnus Elijah Woods was on the line.

The song he had to perform just happened to be Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine’s certified platinum hit, Ain’t Easy.

Although the anticipation was nerve-racking, St. Jules knew that the past two years he spent playing patio

shows and small venues with Fine prepared him for this moment.

He stepped onto the stage and let his talent shine through in a performance which impressed Scott Borchetta – the CEO and founder of Big Machine Records – to the point where he praised St. Jules’ chemistry with the band.

Shortly after the show, St. Jules signed a contract and has been touring with the band since.

His long-standing personal and professional relationship with Fine and Woods might’ve helped him get there, but the dedication and hard work that St. Jules put in is the reason why he’s been able to carry that success and pursue his own path in

this unforgiving industry. As a next step, St. Jules quit his day job as a server at Moxie’s to tackle his music career full-time.

“I think that as a musician, you have to cross that line at some point,” St. Jules said. “I have to put myself in that almost moment of fear to push myself to get things done.”

St. Jules knew it was time to move on after missing out on some opportunities – something he didn’t want to happen again.

“I had a chance to go backstage and party with Nickelback and Guy Fieri one night, but I had to work,” St. Jules said with a chuckle.

“There’s been so many times where my support job has gotten in the way so I felt like it was the right time [to quit].”

With a flexible schedule, St. Jules can now spend more time on his own band, Hot Donna.

“In the last month or so, I’ve contacted so many people and I think we’re gonna be organizing a little tour next May,” St. Jules said.

In addition to organizing a potential tour, St. Jules has dabbled in fashion by creating band t-shirts that have been popular so far.

“I made merchandise for one show as a test, and I sold the 25 t-shirts immediately,” St. Jules said. “Either people like the band or they like the t-shirts – or maybe both – so I figured, yeah, let’s keep doing this.”

According to Hot Donna bandmate and fellow music industry arts alumnus Félix

Lebeau, St. Jules’ creative output and work ethic are next to none.

“As a musician, it’s ridiculous how talented the guy is,” Lebeau said. “He has a new song literally every two days and he’s working on new things every day.

“He’s always striving for more instead of being content with what he has. He’s always trying to better his art and to better himself.”

This work ethic is exactly what is needed to succeed in the music industry.

By simultaneously working on his band and his touring career with Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, St. Jules is doing what needs to be done to achieve his goal of a self-sufficient music career. Colin Mills, the coordinator of the

music industry arts program at Algonquin College, echoes that statement.

“Everyone in the industry these days needs to look at multiple streams of revenue, and multiple projects is kinda what that is,” Mills said.

“It also allows him to be more creative on his own part – writing the songs and being the visionary of that group – so I think that’s great.”

Handling multiple musical endeavours is not an issue for St. Jules, as music is an irreplaceable part of his being.

“Music has been my outlet for facing my fears, for dealing with my low points in life,” St. Jules said.

“Ultimately, I just want to live my life and be involved with music in any way, shape or form.”

BRIAN G. SHARBIN PHOTO

Musician Matt St. Jules of the band Hot Donna, relaxes with his guitars. St. Jules has been working hard to make a name for himself in the music industry.

algonquin times 13

November 7, 2019

From Soundcloud to the main stage Canadian singer/songwriter Bad Child sets his own boundaries in music PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA

In high school, we don’t really think about the implications of our actions, unless it’s the impact of thousands of fans responding to an online hit single.

Canadian singer/songwriter, Isaiah Steinberg (a.k.a.

Bad Child) released his first self-titled track Bad Child in 2015, through the waves of Soundcloud.

Having grown up in Kitchener, Ont., Steinberg credits the town for its eclectic and unique sound. At the age of nine, he started playing instruments, however, he wanted to isolate himself in order to find his own sound. And by the time he was in high school, he released his first single.

“I just wanted to use it as a way that I could escape,” said Steinberg. “I [wanted] to work in private and explore this world with no boundaries and not mingle too much,” When he began creating music at a young age, he did

not think he can make a career out of it.

Steinberg, who is now 22, had plans to study photojournalism at the University of Toronto, but he thought because he was young, he should pursue his passion instead.

“It was something that I did almost as a diary to just explore myself emotionally.”

The singer, who is currently embarking on a tour to cities such as Ottawa, Toronto as well as back to his hometown, said that touring has been a memorable experience in it of itself.

He’s performed at multiple festivals over the summer such as Ottawa Blues Festival and the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. One of the memorable moments that he recalled was when he met up with American singer/songwriter Jaden Smith. “Overall, it’s just been really positive,” he said. “I mean, interacting with people on a soulful and meaningful level is just so rewarding.” Steinberg describes

his music style as “Neapolitan ice-cream” because it incorporates a wide range of elements, with no restrictions in place.

He doesn’t believe in creating one particular style of music but rather encapsulating a wide range. “I think it’s just so important that people can explore music freely and not have any restraint,” he said. “(When) you make music and be free and honest with it, it’s so much more satisfying.”

After the release of his single, fame and fortune was not something he was striving for, but sharing music from the soul, he discovered, was a way to connect with listeners.

He also shared advice to newer musicians to recognize their intention of why they’re making music in the first place.

“You need to work from the soul and make any meaningful impact you need to. You just need to do what’s truthful to yourself,” said Steinberg.

“When it comes to music, there’s no greater education than just going and doing it.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Canadian singer/songwriter Bad Child, 22, rapidly gained success after releasing his debut self-titled track, Bad Child. He is currently on the Canadian leg of his tour.

Discover Progress Visit algonquinsa.com/arc for construction updates JESSICA ALBERGA PHOTO

Community Harvest

President Claude Brulé welcomes college faculty to their Harvest Coffee Break on Oct. 9. The event was created to be a time for colleagues to come together, share a few stories, share a small meal and enjoy a good laugh.

14 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

focus

“Unless we have a meaningful, substantive conversation about it, nothing is going to change.”

Jennifer St George Paralegal student

Algonquin partners with The Royal CAMILLA SOLA Algonquin College and The Royal announced a partnership on Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day, that will create new programs for students to get easier access to support services.

As a result of the partnership, health services on campus are offering students the opportunity to book a consultation with a member of The Royal through telemedicine. This will allow students to chat about any concerns with a medical professional through video calls.

“Working in collaboration [with] our leveraging telemedicine technology while creating virtual and mental services that can easily fit into students’ busy lives,” said Susan Farrell, vice president of patient care services and

CAMILLA SOLA PHOTO

Algonquin and The Royal members proudly annouce their patnership on Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day. community mental health at The Royal. Farrell was one of the members who spoke at the college during the announcement event.

This partnership can expand community services to make mental health more accessible to people where they live, work and study.

Before the event started, Ben Bridgstock, director of student support services, explained that students will be able to refer and get access

to different services being offered.

As well, health services, residence, security, counselling and CAL staff will receive training from a speaker who will be coming from The Royal.

With the help of The Royal, students are able to get 12 free sessions of psychotherapy either at the hospital or they can do an online session from their personal device at home.

Joshua Kellar, who is part of the Project Lighthouse and the Umbrella Project says that he succeeded because of support services.

“But one thing the mental health services here has given me is the ability to walk with that fear and still go on,” he said. “Because of these services I have been given the tools and built confidence to fight and to

The many, many faces of mental health LAURA NELSON Rebecca Baker, a first-year community justice program student, started feeling suicidal when she was a young teenager. The older she has gotten, the better she has become at learning how to manage the feeling.

“I wanted to kill myself when I was 13,” she said. “I

did not follow through, but that’s the earliest I remember.”

Baker, who is now 27, is not alone. In fact, she is just one of the faces behind mental illness.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), she is the one in five people in Canada who experience a mental health problem or illness.

But the stigma around mental health has led to an estimated 49 per cent of Canadians who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety not to see a doctor about their problem. Yet it affects people from all walks of life.

“Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not

only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community,” according to the CMHA website said.

I understand this fact first hand. I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression and PTSD from childhood trauma this year after waiting six months to be seen at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. This has made my recovery a slow

EMILY HSUEH PHOTO

Different factors play a role in mental health. One in five people in Canada experience a mental health problem or illness.

process. It took me ten years in my journey with mental health to get to a point where I can admit that I am not well, and that is okay.

But different factors play a role in mental health, including environmental factors such as in Bakers’ case.

For some people, medication helps with their mental health.

Jennifer St George, a paralegal student, takes medication to help with her mental health. But it took her years to find a combination of medications that worked for her.

“The thing that people don’t tell you is that with medications, it’s an experiment,” she said.

St George lost her best friend to suicide in university and since has had more friends take their lives.

Suicide has become one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from childhood to middle age.

“It’s not just in our heads this is an epidemic, this is a problem we need to deal with this,” St George said about the mental health crisis.

“Unless we have a meaningful, substantive conversation about it, nothing is going to change.”

reclaim a future that once seemed to be impossibly out of reach.”

He was once filled with anxiety, shame about his sexuality and was working in a mindless job that provided him with a paycheck but left him emotionally bankrupt.“Not that long ago I was literally drinking myself to death,” said Kellar.

Before he attended Algonquin, he became sober and sought help within the support services that could bring light into his life.

“With an army of support behind me it’s a battle I know I can win,” said Kellar.

Students can do a referral process to be able to go to the health clinic or counselling in order to make use of The Royal’s support services. There is also a psychiatry clinic at health services on a weekly basis.

PLAYSAFE: Don’t Let It Happen to You The War Amps new “kids-tokids” safety video, featuring stories from young amputees who have lost limbs in accidents, delivers the hard-hitting but positive message: “Spot the danger before you play!”

Visit waramps.ca/ playsafe for the video and safety resources.

algonquin times 15

November 7, 2019

Students get a fall break from stress BRAD LEGAULT Meagan Willman, a second-year student taking the child and youth care program, has benefited from the week off in October. She caught up on schoolwork, spent a whole day in her pajamas and ate popcorn and snacks while watching shows and movies all week long.

“I think that everybody needs a break sometimes,” said Willman. “I know last year my hardest time of the year was right around midterms, and it would have been nice to be able to have a week off to sit down, study (and) catch up on everything.”

Although it was late to the party, Algonquin College joined colleges and universities around the province last week giving its students a fall break week.

The first fall break in the history of Algonquin has allowed many programs - excluding 29 chosen programs - to take a break from classes.

This is because the college has now implemented the 14week model: seven weeks of school, one week break in the middle, then another seven weeks for the rest of the semester.

The 29 programs that didn’t have this break were requested by the programs themselves. If they wished to seek this exemption, they had

to request it through Claude Brulé, the senior vice president academic at the time, now the president.

Emilie Laundriault, a firstyear hairstyling student, enjoyed the break and felt for those students who didn’t receive it. “I was able to catch up on a lot of work,” said Laundriault. “I can’t imagine not having it.”

Other colleges across the province had already started the fall reading week, such as Durham College, Niagara College, Sheridan College and many more.

A study and survey conducted by a team at Brock University showed the effects of having a reading week in the fall as opposed to not having it using Brock University students.

The survey included 713 student participants, of those 267 being male and 446 being female.

Many of the students preferred having the fall reading week and over 50 per cent of them agreed that stress level during the mid-term season was very high.

They used data from the previous year without the break, 2012-2013, and compared it to that of the data used with the break from 2013-15.

The majority of students agreed that it reduced stress in their lives and had a pos-

BRAD LEGAULT PHOTO

Algonquin College has implemented the fall break for the first time this year.

This has students very excited and a chance to catch their breath for the rest of the semester. itive impact on their mental health.

So why was Algonquin late to the party?

“Starting September 2019, the College moved to the 14week teaching term from the current 15-week model,” said Brulé in an email. “Algonquin College saw this as an opportunity to highlight its adaptability and its concern for students’ well-being. The change is a positive move for our students that will support improved student mental

health and promote long-term academic success.”

The study by Brock had an effect on the college as well, further pushing the school to implement the 14-week model.

“Many large colleges in Ontario have been using the 14-week model for years so we knew it could be successful – and our students have been saying they would benefit from the change,” said Brulé. “We know that the mid-term break will help stu-

dents in several ways, such as having a break from their studies to recharge.”

Weeks nine and ten in the first semester are typically seen as the weeks where most students tend to drop out according to Brulé.

With the break essentially in the eighth week, the college hopes to see that number go down as students have a chance to catch their breath and refocus. SA president, Deijanelle Simon, sees the new fall break as a benefit

for Algonquin students. “The main focus when the SA presented having a reading week in the first semester was for student’s mental health,” said Simon. “In most cases, post-secondary schools do have one in each semester and so we really wanted to push for that. I’m very excited that it’s rolling out.”

Simon knew many students were speaking up to get the break in the fall and is happy that she is able to see it come to light while still enrolled.

“Students were talking about it way before,” she said. “The SA presented it to college administration. We talked about the implications of what it might look like.”

One issue that students seem to have taken notice of is the lack of Monday classes.

Holidays such as Thanksgiving and other Monday holidays have only allowed for 12 of the possible 14 classes.

“Monday classes are something that we’ve heard from students,” said Simon. “It’s something that we’re talking about with college administration in terms of how we can offset that.”

Simon mentioned that at uOttawa they switch the last class before winter exams from Monday to Wednesday to combat the class being missed so many times during the year. It’s something the college may be looking into.

New sustainability group is wasting no time MIKE ATHEY A group of students met on Tuesday, Oct. 29, to discuss the new campus sustainability initiative that they are in the process of developing.

The meeting was goal-oriented, organized and focused.

The group systematically reviewed one issue after another, working through the growing pains of starting a new organization.

Today’s first order of business is what to call themselves. The Sustainable Campus Council was agreed upon before they adjourned.

The council was started by students in the environmental studies program after their environmental citizen professor, Mark Brooks, told them about a grant opportunity being offered by the World Wildlife Foundation’s Living

Planet @ Campus program.

“We met after class and started bringing up ideas,” said co-founder Lisa Lake “What were we concerned with, what kind of ideas we have as individuals and what we can do together as a group.”

Her classmate, Jordan Morlidge said they applied for the grant and a response is expected in a few months. Before they applied, they studied what other schools were doing in their funding applications.

“Schools across Canada have gotten funds for starting community gardens, beehives and other nature-specific projects at their campuses,” said Morlidge. “So, we started thinking about what we could do with our lump of money.”

They settled on a zero-waste initiative to reduce the use of single-use paper and plastic across campus and get a better

idea about how students and staff are disposing of these items.

“This includes the utensils that we use when we’re buying food in the cafeteria,” said member Rylan Campbell.

“Where do most of those utensils go? Do a majority of the utensils go into the recycling?

Do they go into the garbage?”

The council also wants to work with faculty and students at the college to build a composting system on campus.

They would like to use the compost collected to create a community garden and offer the compost to other community gardens in the surrounding area.

Although Professor Brooks planted the idea, he was surprised to hear that the students had already applied for funding and decided on a focus for their new group.

Brooks, who also worked with WWF Canada, said that the organization is trying to facilitate these kinds of groups on campuses, but it isn’t the first time Algonquin has had a group focused on sustainability issues.

A few years ago, there had been a group called Earth Allies, but it only lasted for a year and disappeared when the founding students finished their studies.

“It’s this problem of continuation from year in to year out,” said Brooks, which is difficult in a one-year program.

“What’s key is funding,” said Brooks. “If you could become an official student club with a name, then we could start to seek out annual appropriations funding on a regular basis.

“So, when students come into the program each year

MIKE ATHEY PHOTO

Jordan Morlidge, Rylan Campbell, Danika Giguare and Joie Howard develop their new zero-waste initiative. Calling themselves the Sustainable Campus Council, they intend to work with the school to implement green solutions.

I can say, ‘There’s a student group on campus that already exists and it’s already funded.’”

The Sustainable Campus Council has begun to look at what it would take to get that official club status and are

planning to contact the Students’ Association in the near future.

With these formative steps behind them, the group is well on its way to becoming as sustainable as the issues they are trying to tackle.

16 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

sports

“We just want to maintain our level of consistency as much as possible. We did that today.”

Everton Senior Women’s volleyball head coach

Fall sweeps for AC volleyball VANESSA BOBAI

EMILY BRITTON

The Algonquin Thunder women’s volleyball team made short work of the opposition as they swept the Canadore Panthers on Nov. 2.

The game was played at Algonquin College, and the final set ended with a score of 25-21.

Tatiana Weissflog led the Thunder to victory with nine kills, followed by Rylee Leger and Emily Porter, who had six kills each.

The game started on high spirits for the Thunder as they scored points quickly in the first five minutes of the game.

The women showed the depth of their team, capitalizing on a strong team ethic and relying on each other to get the job done.

“Our teamwork paid off today,” said Weissflog. “We were able to make a lot of kills because of this.”

The Algonquin Thunder men’s volleyball team blundered, losing three sets to none against the Canadore Panthers on Nov. 2.

The men came into the first set with high energy hoping to prevail as they lost their previous game against the George Brown Huskies, however, their liveliness wasn’t enough losing 25-18.

When the second set began, Richard Bucar made a kill and scored a point for the Thunder but afterwards was quickly cut short leaving everyone - both teams and crowd - wondering what went wrong.

The game was paused for over five minutes with both teams deliberating with the referees and officials.

Head coach, Jelle Kooijman, wrote down wrong numbers for Algonquin’s

VANESSA BOBAI PHOTO

Emily Porter serving the ball at the volleyball game at Algonquin College on Nov. 2.

Head coach Everton Senior liked the way the girls played today and is hoping they can keep it up all season.

“We just want to maintain our level of consistency

Under The Jersey

as much as possible,” said Senior. “We did that today.”

For their next game, the Thunder will travel to La Cité Collégiale to take on the Coyotes on Nov. 6.

Advertorial

The Scisson Finale Name ................................................ Melissa

Scissons & Fitness Sport......................................... Women’s Soccer Position .................................... Striker Seasons Played ..................... 5 Seasons Program ................................... Health

“I’m excited to start my career, but it’s bittersweet this will be my last year.”

When I first met Melissa Scissons on a warm fall afternoon she was deep into her studies. She immediately came across as an amibitious student both on and off the field whose confidence and determination for success were evident throughout our interview.

Melissa’s spent a lot of time at Algonquin College and on the Women’s Soccer team and was eager to share her experiences over the years and plans for the future.

How did you get into Soccer? Did it find you or did you find it?

“My brothers always played, so I’ve played forever, I grew up playing with them and then started playing in leagues and I’ve just always loved it so I always played it, I can hardly remember a time where Soccer wasn’t the sport I played.”

What’s the key to a strong team?

“A lot of bonding. You have to work for the team and not just for your own interests. It’s something I find really makes our team stronger on the field, even when we’re tired or down points or exhausted, everyone is out there working with each other and giving everything, they can to the team.”

Any words of encouragement for aspiring players?

“I know it can be scary getting into something new, but just go for it and do it, you’ll be glad you had the experience. I don’t know what I would do without the team, it’s another family to me at this point and having all those girls to go to made coming to Algonquin one of the greatest experiences of my life. Just put yourself out there and don’t be afraid.”

Algonquinsa.com/thunder-athletics

Admission to varsity is free with valid student/staff card.

Otherwise $2 for entry.

lineup that was not caught by the down official. At that point, players were called out of rotation, but the set did not restart.

We gotta get back into the gym and work hard to make sure we can excute those skills at a high level.

Jelle Kooijman Head coach

“The correct decision would’ve been to replay the set right at the beginning with the lineup that I gave them,” said Kooijman. “In the end it got resolved and we were able to continue playing but it was a confusing situation.”

It was a long, gruelling set

as the score matched up 2424. Every time the Thunder thought they had a lead, the Panthers inched right behind them.

The second set was a close loss with a score of 29-27.

For the third set, the Thunder started off strong by consecutively getting five kills, but they ultimately lost the game with a score of 25-21.

Although they lost, coach Kooijman is hopeful for the team’s future.

“We go on runs, we have moments where we’re better than our opponent and we’re not able to do that consistently,” said Kooijman. “So we gotta get back into the gym and work hard to make sure that we can execute those skills to a high level every time.”

The Algonquin Thunder is set to play against the La Cité Coyotes on Nov. 6.

Final home game for AC seniors JESSICA ALBERGA On Oct. 11 the Thunder women’s soccer team welcomed the St. Lawrence Vikings to their final home game of the season.

Before the start of the game coach Basil Phillips made an announcement to the crowd that this would be the final official Thunder game for four of his senior players. Both teams lined up at center field as Phillips called out each senior player.

Goalkeeper Mariah Harper, striker Melissa Scissons, winger Jazmine Short, and goalkeeper Vanessa Cavanaugh, all received a framed plaque with a photo from Phillips in recognition.

There was a chill in the air but it was all fire on the field as The Vikings did their best to keep up. Thunder senior and goalkeeper, Mariah Harper, was impeccably sharp with a total of nine saves at the end of the night.

JESSICA ALBERGA PHOTO

Thunder players are sharing laughs duing a pre-game ceremony. The game on Oct. 11 was the last home game for four senior players.

The moon was on full display as the Thunder held on to their lead all night, with a final score 6-0 for Algonquin.

“It’s playoffs now so you’re getting into do or die which is always tricky with any opponent. Now it’s just a

matter of, we need to focus, and get ready to play whoever it is were going to play,” said Phillips.

The Algonquin Thunder eventually lost their playoff game to the Sheridan Bruins on Oct. 23.

algonquin times 17

November 7, 2019

Thunder siblings shine light on soccer team

JOSEPH WANG PHOTO

From left to right: Silvia, Michael, Georgia and Dino Iliopoulos. Michael and Georgia have scored five goals each this season so far. the family standing together with Silvia and Dino Iliopoulos, Michael and Georgia’s parents.

JOSEPH WANG

Georgia Iliopoulos, the captain of the Thunder women’s soccer team, started playing soccer when she was five. She found herself passionate about the game, especially being part of a team and winning games with her teammates.

“Sharing that experience with people that you’re close with and winning is just satisfying,” said Iliopoulos.

Her enthusiasm for soccer inspired her brother Michael Iliopoulos, who soon dove into the game right after his sister. Today, he plays for Thunder soccer too on the men’s team as a midfielder.

He sees her as a role model in playing soccer. “She has a very good work ethic,” said Michael. “I wanted to have that drive in soccer, just like her, and she’s always there to push me to get to where I am right now.”

Georgia Iliopoulos Georgia, a defender, has scored five goals this season.

Basil Phillips, head coach of the Thunder women’s soccer, said Georgia is outstanding.

“Offensively, she’s been good,” said Basil.

“Defensively, she’s been good as well. She’s going well with her role as the captain.”

Veteran Thunder player, Georgia’s career began four years ago. After finishing high school, her talent in soccer was discovered by the then-Thunder women’s head coach Dominic Oliveri, who recruited her to join Thunder at one of her club games.

This is the first year that Georgia is playing out of her defensive position. She and her brother have both played as defenders for years.

Because she is the captain, she has to change her position sometimes.

She is moving from the fullback position into midfield this season. This gives her the opportunity to become more versatile. She was trained to be on the ball in a different position.

Phillips said that it was not easy for Georgia to adjust to

the change within a short period of time, but she did it.

“She’s been playing up a bit in the midfield already,” he said. “She’s able to bring herself to perfect positions on the field so she can get the ball, and shoot it into the

We’re Greeks.

We’re Europeans, so soccer’s in our family.

Dion Iliopoulos father of the sibilings

net.” Her teammates see her as someone with a huge impact in games, they say she has an accurate calculation and control for the pulse of the games.

“If there’s a game where she doesn’t show up, I can feel it because we need the way she envisions the games,” said Philomene Sully-Bitsi, striker for the Thunder women’s soccer team. “She’s capable of knowing where to go, and when to slow down or speed

up the pace.”

Georgia has also just broken a record in her career as a soccer player.

During the Thunder women’s first game versus Fleming College, she scored three out of five goals that her team scored.

“I would say that was my best performance because I achieved a hat trick that I have never done before in my whole life of playing soccer,” she said.

Phillips considers Georgia a player with high potential.

“It’s hard to say how far she can go, but she’s definitely moving forward,” he said.

Michael Iliopoulos Michael’s journey in Thunder began with being Thunder’s rival team at first.

Back in 2017, when he was still playing for Futuro Soccer Academy against Thunder, Mike Gagliano, head coach of Thunder men’s soccer team, found Michael ideal for Thunder to recruit.

“He was tenacious,” said Gagliano. “He has a very explosive burst, and that’s kind

of what we have seen from him so far.”

After joining the Thunder this year, Michael is also going through a transition to a new position. He has just started this season as a midfielder, but he is rising swiftly by scoring five goals for his team.

It took a bit for Michael to warm up in the new position, but once he figured out his role, he started to love scoring and he takes pride in doing so.

“I think his biggest potential is more in attack instead of defense,” said Ali Bensaci, Thunder men’s wing-back. “I think if he continues to play in the position that the coach put him in, he will grow immensely as a striker.”

Bensaci said that If the Thunder men’s team is a machine, Michael is the lubricant. He pushes forward the game rapidly.

“As soon as Michael comes in, he changes the whole game,” said Bensaci.

“Say if we’re leading at 1:0, then Michael comes in next, and we’re winning at

like 4:0. He gives energy to the team. That’s what I like about him.”

Bensaci still remembers Michael’s performance in the game versus Cambrian College, where he scored two goals in five minutes.

“He was very close to getting a hat trick,” said Bensaci.

He made his debut in the game versus Fleming College by making some effective passes to his teammates and scored the first goal for Thunder.

During Thunder’s second game of the season versus Sault College, Michael contributed two goals for his team.

“It was that day that he put himself on the map,” said Gagliano. “He opened a lot of people’s eyes. I’d say that’s a big one because people started to take notice of him as a new player.”

“He has already done a great job as a rookie by scoring five goals so far,” said Bensaci. “I can imagine that by his third or fourth year he can score like 15 goals a season.”

18 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

careers

“The people that we work with here really love the work that they do.”

Gillian Cummings Algonquin Heritage Carpentry Alumnus

Woodshop planting seeds of opportunity PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA

Although it’s only been a year since Algonquin heritage carpentry grad Gillian Cummings became the program coordinator for Grow Studios Woodshop, the space is already filled with a variety of supplies and dedicated employees.

Located on the second level of the City Centre complex in Unit 220, Grow Studios Woodshop serves as a space of fine wood making, ranging from tabletops to coasters to plant stands.

“The people that we work with here really love the work that they do,” said Cummings.

“We’re that middle ground of (providing) soft and hard skills training.”

Cummings said that the shop opens doors for people who have barriers to employment, which then helps people to “re-enter the workforce.” It also serves as a

PERUSHKA GOPALKISTA PHOTO

Steve Hambleton, Paul Morrow, Dave Murray and program coordinator Gillian Cummings in Grow Studios. The studio provides space for fine wood working. space for people to learn skills in carpentry as well as connect with people within the community.

The program offers two lines of products: bigger projects such as custom furniture and then smaller items such as cutting boards and growth charts for smaller craft markets.

Cummings graduated from the heritage carpentry program in 2018 from the Perth

campus and said that she enjoyed the different aspects which the program had to offer.

Before attending Algonquin College, she completed two degrees in Women’s Studies and Media, as well as Information and Technoculture from Western University in London, Ontario. However, she was aiming for something with a more hands-on skill set. “I

started to explore carpentry and worked on a carpentry degree first to see if I liked it,” said Cummings. “I found out about the Algonquin program and decided it was a good fit.”

Although she took a few months off after graduation, she kept herself busy working on her parents’ family cabin. Over the summer of 2018, she was notified that there was a position open at

Grow Studios and decided it was something she was interested in.

Over the year that the company has grown, Cummings says that they have quite a few exciting projects in the works. “We are currently doing a couple of different things for the community,” she said, adding that they’re also currently creating furniture for a daycare in Kanata.

“Right now (we’re) working on an order from CANEX, making coin holders for them, which is the bigger order for us.” Mark Reinisch, who has been with the company for almost two years, says that he enjoys the many aspects of his job, such as smoothing down rough edges on wood pieces before the staining process.

There are also other tools in place that are used for sanding such as the table saw and palm sander. “I’m sanding off basically extra stuff

that’s not supposed to be there,” said Reinisch, adding that he didn’t have any carpentry experience prior to this job. “So, we have to take time, stay in control and get the job done.”

The staining process is completed by John Lauder, who has worked with the company for eight months.

He sits in a swivel chair and gives each piece a base coat before giving it a final coat of stain.

Cummings says that her employees are involved in every step of the process including when they have to make big purchases as well as having the opportunity to make newer connections in the community. She hopes that she is able to reach out to more people in the future.

“We’ve been trying to be more active on social media and be present and reach out to more people in the community.”

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Changing Futures

Chris - Grad

algonquin times 19

November 7, 2019

Autumn Activities tvearsh ____________

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Unscramble the words all about Fall!

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plpae deicr ________ ________ svlaee _____________ beeestrmp _____________ wecsracor ______________ qrisurel

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Answers on our instagram @atpromo on November 11th.

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20 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

Algonquin grad on the hunt for a $25,000 prize BARAA JAFAR When Alec Brownscombe was 16 he started a small vlog about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Today the vlog, Maple Leafs Hot Stove, gets about a million and a half visitors a page per month.

Now, Brownscombe works as a senior search engine optimization analyst at Marie Hynes Consulting Inc. in Kanata. The Algonquin College graduate and his colleagues - among them, four other Algonquin grads - is hoping for some other big numbers: the company is competing in a contest that could see them collectively win $25,000.

The contest goes like this: the company has been selected by the website-building company Wix to be one of two SEO teams to compete head to head. Both teams are competing to rank their websites. The site with most visitors ranks first and wins the contest.

On Dec. 19 the contest’s judge will determine which site ranks the highest and the

winner will get $25,000 as a prize. Brownscombe’s path to this adventure has been interesting.

After earning his BA in history at Trent University in Peterborough, he joined the journalism program at Algonquin College. He graduated in 2015 to start working with the Academic Partnerships Office at Algonquin College.

“I was their digital dude,” Brownscombe said. He used his journalism and web development skills to write press releases to school boards and to the Academic Partnerships website.

After working for two years at Algonquin, Brownscombe started working with TSN 1200 Ottawa, as a co-host of Battle of the Atlantic, a weekly show that covers the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens, the Maple Leafs and the NHL in depth.

He continues to work on this show still today. He also continues to work on his vlog with six other freelancers.

Around the same time in 2017, Brownscombe started

BARAA JAFAAR PHOTO

Alec Brownscombe and his colleague Summer Bourada show off their website for the Wix website-building contest. The winner of this Wix-contest will win $25,000 and the prize winner will be announced on Dec. 19. working with Maria Haynes Consulting Inc. “The hiring application came across my Twitter feed,” he said.

Two years into the job he’s now a senior SEO analyst alwith four other Algonquin

REACH OUR STUDENTS. Advertising with the Times!

graduates from different programs.

“If you want to learn something you have to merge yourself into it,” said Brownscombe. “After two years, I still feel like I know nothing.”

His colleague, Summar Bourada, has complimentary things to say about him.

“There are two reasons for

Our Times sales team will develop a custom advertising solution to drive results.

Contact us to learn more 613-727-4723 ex. 7739 algonquintimes.com For students, about students, by students

Haynes appreciates how Brownscombe is very passionate about what he does.

“We have challenges to face in the business to continue to grow but I enjoy most aspects of my job,” said Brownscombe.

However, if he got offered to work for the Leaf’s, he’d definitely think about a career change.

Familiar face in the halls: Algonquin’s new president JESSICA ALBERGA

Use the Algonquin Times student run website and newspaper to reach this engagaged audience.

Alec to speak,” she said.

“One is because there’s something super important we need to know or two because he wants to blow our minds.”

His boss, Marie Haynes, agrees.

“Every time Alec speaks I know I have to listen,” said Haynes, the company’s founder and owner.

Over the summer, Algonquin College welcomed its ninth and newest president, a familiar face at the college, Claude Brulé.

President Brulé has worked at the college since 1999. He’s been a driving force behind personalized learning and continues to place individual learners’ needs at top priority. The Times sat down with Brulé and asked about his new role and life on campus.

What does it mean to be president of Algonquin College?

For me, being president means being in service of the institution and being able to support all our employees to be their best, in support of our mission at Algonquin College. We have a great team and I’m delighted to be

leading the institution. We have some exciting projects and initiatives that are underway right now, leading with our learners. Our first goal is always to be learner focused, and enhance the personalized learning experience and college experience for our students.

What advice would you give to new students?

I always tell students to follow what they want to be passionate about. Study well, study diligently but don’t forget to have fun and find meaning in what you’re learning. It’s so important that you don’t want this to be a chore, you’re developing your craft, make this something you’re going to enjoy doing.

How do you handle stressful situations?

Well, I have a couple of puppies, that certainly when I get home, I can go for a walk

with them and my wife. We have a gym in our basement as well if I need to sweat it out. (He has two Shih Tzus, both of which are small, portable and hypoallergenic.)

What’s your most memorable summer moment?

Ah there’s so many, hah.

Being with the family, our daughter and her boyfriend at our house, doing an activity. It doesn’t have to be anything big, just spending family time together.

What would you say your spirit animal would be?

Gosh... well, my wife always says I’m an otter.

What’s your favourite place to eat on campus?

I like the main food court area. (Marketplace Food Court in D building) I usually end up at the salad bar, I’m a vegetarian by the way. So for me, I always go for those things that cater to the vegetarian diet.

algonquin times 21

November 7, 2019

by the fire

Algonquin students from any program can submit writing that they would like to share. Submissions must meet the following criteria: 650 words max for prose; 20 lines max for poetry. Deadline to be considered for the first winter issue: Nov 21. Submit work to chateln@algonquincollege.com via your Algonquin Live e-mail.

Plastic Fruit A poem showing us the difficulties of writing about love.

time. Surely I asked you, remember? “Are you in love with me or do you just love me?”

I’m a liar writing. and the words came out About a love I’ve only in... breathed the smoke of.

About a love I’ve onStammers. Dribbles. ly seen a shade of. I’ve Like crushed ice from seen love’s shadow pass between my teeth; like across the cave wall, my poetry scribbles. but I’ve never turned around.

Short. Bursts. Across the page fueled by thinI’ve only felt it. In ly veiled hurt and frostthe negative spaces in ed coffee stains fueled the absences. In the by it. Freezing fire, the aches of unrequited- shaky guilty writings of ness. In the gaping lim- a liar. I’m a liar writing. bo of distance. In the unsatisfying lull of the About a love I can’t imagination. define; I can only desire. About a love that’s Have I ever felt it tart and crisp taking in the body pressed a bite out of the air, up against mine? The about a love I keep feelwrong body. The wrong ing. I’m on the cusp of NICOLINE ANTONOVICH

feeling. Wisps of light, a love that isn’t rotten...

But ripe. I’m a liar writing, but you’re the liar reading, pleading, begging, needing. For a love not even rotten, a love that isn’t.

Plastic. Fruit. Because you asked me, remember? “What’s the difference?” And your question rattled painfully down my throat.

A. Hard. Pill. To. Swallow. Plastic fruit is painfully hollow, blinding in fluorescent lighting, shining and in that low hum say, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Winter Willow A bittersweet message about winter.

SAMANTHA MASON

Hunched against the wind arms laden with white blankets she weeps tears of ice.

I’m a liar writing.

About a love I’ve only read about in poems.

Lady Cardinal

New Rules After leaving her abusive boyfriend, a woman makes a new set of rules.

A momentary glimpse into the life of a hard worker.

MATTHEW W. SMITH

SALWA ABDELSAMIE

running into him. You probably people in. Not everyone will be won’t. And if you did, you’d be

like him.

Wake up. Wash your face. Put surrounded by people who would something cute on. Not what he intervene if he tried to grab you.

You’re safe now, safer than

told you he likes on you, what you He probably won’t. You know he’s you’ve ever been. But whatever like on you. Don’t put your hair smarter than to do that in public. you do, don’t leave your blinds up. He’s not around anymore, he

open at night. Your windows are

can’t get mad at you. Your choic-

Remember: you were a person big. He watches at night. Don’t

es are now fully yours to make. before you met him. A real hu- accept any packages you didn’t Don’t make them out of fear.

man. One that acts out of passion order. Always keep a car parked and love, not out of fear. Be that in your driveway. It gives off the

When out, stay in public places. person again. Mind your body impression there’s people home Now’s your chance to live. Don’t language. Certain things you do spend the day worrying about show that you’re guarded. Let

with you, even if there isn’t.

In her little canopy; vast emerald to one so small and dusty, probing where the light leaks in.

With her candied beak, carrying cracked leavings to pad the bowl of home.

Happy, not happy.

Sad, no, not sad.

The clock of never – for in that grey breast over-beats a heart.

In that dry nest there is perfect need.

Shuddering beneath feather, building against the weather, and hu nge r-fa nge d predator.

Gathering and waiting; what else is there to do?

22 algonquin times

November 7, 2019

opinion

“People are motivated in different ways, they live different lives.”

Tafhima Ali Mental health nurse and co-cordinator

Women continue to face sexism in politics LAURA NELSON When someone wrote a sexist slur on the window of Liberal MP Catherine McKenna’s campaign office in late October I was very upset.

I know I wasn’t alone.

I’d had a conversation in person with her just days before.

I live in the neighbourhood and so the vandalism felt even more personal.

But this recent incident was only one of many that McKenna has faced since first being elected in 2015.

Being a politician should not give others the right to harass them. No one would have written that that sexist, slur on the campaign office of a male candidate. There is not even a word that is equivalent to it. This goes beyond

politics. This recent attack on McKenna is an example of gender inequality in politics.

Emilie Taman, an NDP candidate who ran against McKenna in Ottawa-Centre, tweeted that what happened to McKenna was an act of violence.

“In the replies, it was all men getting into debates, posting dictionary definitions arguing if it constituted as an act of violence,” Taman said in response to her tweet. “Talk about missing the point.”

We should be celebrating the highest number of females being elected this past federal election.

“This is happening, you are going to see more women in positions of power, and you better get on board or you are getting left behind,” Taman said.

Although female MPs represent 29 per cent of the House of Commons, it is still not equal representation. Women

“Being a politician should not give others the right to harass them.”

Laura Nelson Reporter, Algonquin Times

have come a long way in politics since Agnes Macphail became the first female MP in 1921.

But instead of celebrating, we have another story about a female MP being harassed.

What example does this set

for females who want to run for political office? It’s telling them that the price that comes with politics is gender-based harassment.

“If you follow her on social media, she is subjected to the most disgusting misogyny,” Taman said.

We need to start calling it out for what is and holding politicians who partake in this accountable.

Terms such as “Climate Barbie” were used to describe McKenna, by Rebel Media and used by a Conservative MP, Gerry Ritz in a Twitter post-two-years ago.

When the media and MPs partake in this gender-based harassment, it is giving the notion to others that it is okay.

“I think there are some men who can’t accept that change is happening,” Taman said.

knitting my way through lateness How I tried to manage my time with yarn and knitting needles

MOIZ ADIL Walking in late to a lecture has become second nature for me.

I have significant time-management issues that I have never treated. But there are also factors out of my control like someone holding up the O-train’s doors resulting in a thirty-minute delay.

As we’re now moving into the second half of the fall semester, it’s as good a time as ever to understand the steps

that can be taken to maximize my learning experience.

With the help of a few college services such as mindfulness and wellness workshops, I have been trying to solve my issues.

I tried out a few mindfulness seminars first. The one that made a difference was Knit and Knatter held in the Spiritual Centre, Room E211 in early September. Knitting is not a skill set I had anticipated gaining this year. It was awkward and intimidating

at first. Walking into a room with mostly women - both staff and students - knitting away at their creations. I felt out of place and anxious as Shelley Neilson, coordinator for the Spiritual Centre, explained the basics.

“Take these and pick any colour,” she said, while handing me two seven-inch metal prongs.

I picked up a ball of maroon yarn and learned the basics from Neilson. There were moments within the sixty

minutes where I thought this was leading nowhere.

Until I figured out what I was doing.

“Students just come and knit, it’s lovely to knit and just create something,” said Neilson.

“But the act of getting out of your brain and making it with your hands feeds your spirit in some way.”

It was more of the mindless repetitive hand motion that helped me.

Getting lost in what I was creating helped me to create a makeshift safe space to think.

There are many escapes people use to cope with stress in their life.

Knitting was a subtle one that just clicked and seemed to work for me for the time being.

Tafhima Ali, a mental health nurse and co-ordinator for health services, says every student is different in the strategies they use to manage their time.

“People are motivated in different ways, they live different lives,” Ali said.

Students prioritize in different ways. They motivate

“There are many escapes people use to cope with stress in their life. Knitting was a subtle one that just clicked.”

Moiz Adil Reporter, Algonquin Times

themselves in a way that works for them. it is often left for them to understand the

most effective way to study and live their life.

“Some may need the planning and the buildup to tackle an assignment or project others might rely on last-minute pressure,” Ali explained.

Knitting did not change my life. I am, in fact, still late to class from time to time.

It did however provide me with a space to think, a new skill to share with people and it worked as a coping mechanism.

And I made a neat little mini wool blanket for my imaginary dog.

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algonquin times 23

November 7, 2019

editorial

“Say what you want but tweak it to fit everyone else’s views, not your own.”

Bradley Legault Managing Editor

MELANIE ARUL ILLUSTRATION

Speak up, but don’t put people down You can complain, throw a tantrum, or sit quietly on the sidelines. If you don’t use your voice, you’ll lose it. Free speech is essential.

During the Ontario provincial election campaign in 2018, Doug Ford announced he would tie funding to free speech on campus.

“Colleges and universities should be places where students exchange different ideas and opinions in open and respectful debate,” said Ford in August 2018 in a released statement.

Soon enough, students across Ontario became well TIMES STAFF Editor Perushka Gopalkista Managing Editor Bradley Legault Multimedia Editor Jessica Alberga

aware of Ford’s plans to cut school funding if the institutions did not develop free speech policies.

Isn’t that ironic? You give the impression that you’re defending free speech when you’ve also been critiquing the exercise of free speech in the first place.

This is, unfortunately, the message we are being sent. Say what you want, but tweak it to fit everyone

Sports Editor Darius Shahheydari Opinions Editor Farah Khan Focus Editor Laura Nelson

Photo Editor Burak Edirnecik Design and Production Editor Stephen Riccio Joshua Ambar Lifestyle Editor Dana Simpson Social Media Editor Farah Khan Entertainment Editor Joshua Ambar

ADVERTISING Ad Manager James Pavelich Sales Manager Justin Watt Creative Director Brendan Taggart Production/ Traffic Andrew Traynor Jackson Picco

else’s views - and not your own. According to this year’s Campus Freedom Index - an annual report by Calgary’s Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms - of the 60 Canadian universities rated for their status of free speech, more schools earned F ratings than As. This is an issue that so often slips between the cracks and conversations of our daily lives. It rarely sees the surface

it so desperately needs. We value freedom of speech because it unites us and gives us our sense of independence and the right to voice our opinions.

But when that “freedom” is purposely restructured, things can get a little dicey.

Take for example the protests in Hong Kong.

The ongoing series of demonstrations have resulted in at least 10 deaths

Social Manager Shiann Aronson Promotion/ Distribution Grant Pederson Sophia Kandar Creative Director Kyla Smuck Social Team Selina Rattani

Digital Manager Jadyn Lanteigne

Account Executives Dior Carley Guilherme Dehichi Terzoni Noah Fridgen

Copywriting Adam Starkey

Digital Team Jacob Gibbs

and 2000-plus injuries.

The country has ties to the NBA - National Basketball Association - which allows players and the organization to have freedom of speech.

But when one of the teams’ general managers tweeted to show his support for the Hong Kong protesters, the league bent to China’s will and sacrificed one of America’s core beliefs. So much for freedom of speech. I guess money is

valued more than our rights.

We can’t stand by while we watch others twist and contort our words for us.

We need to fight for the right to have our voices heard. Sure- we do have so called freedom of speech, but there are forces out there that are trying to bend and manipulate our voices.

BRADLEY LEGAULT

algonquin times The Algonquin Times is produced every three weeks during the fall and winter semesters by journalism and advertising students. Funding is provided by the Students’ Association.

The Times is printed by Performance Printing.

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24 algonquin times

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24 · 8:00PM ALGONQUIN COMMONS THEATRE

November 7, 2019