The Voice • March 29, 2012 • Volume 44 • Issue 20

Enter “the chamber of extreme”...........................8 Last week, The Voice took in the Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling’s latest event in Surrey, featuring a steel cage, barbed wire, thumb tacks, weapon free-for-alls and a blood-stained ring

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produced by langara journalism students

MARCH 29, 2012 • Vol. 44 no. 20 • vancouver, b.c.

Dean out in leadership change John Belshaw’s sudden departure comes after just 2 years of service

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I have detemined that there is a need for [a] leadership change MARTIN GERSON Langara’s vice-president and provost

By ASHLEY VIENS

J

ohn Belshaw, former dean of social sciences and management, has left Langara suddenly.

In a faculty-wide email sent mid-March, Martin Gerson, vice-president and provost, expressed the college’s sentiments regarding Belshaw’s departure.

“I am sending this message to let you know that I have determined that there is a need for leadership change in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Management,” said Gerson.

“Consequently, effective immediately, John Belshaw is no longer with the college. I have expressed my gratitude to John for his contributions while he was with us, and for his commitment, hard work and loyalty to Langara College and its students.”

Neither Gerson nor Ian Humphreys, associate vice-president, would com-

ment further.

Veronica Yeung, one of the deans’ administrative assistants, also refused to comment after repeated attempts.

Belshaw was hired as a dean for Langara in September 2010.

He was appointed to work with the provost and faculty members to revamp Langara’s academic planning and program offerings.

A media release in July 2010 stated that Belshaw’s addition to the college was “a significant part of Langara’s strategic reorganization of its academic leadership structure.”

In the Oct. 21, 2010 edition of The Voice, Belshaw commented on the upcoming term and the changes that were in motion for Langara.

“I think it’s an important time for the colleges, with the new universities being established recently,” said Belshaw in the article.

“We have an opportunity and re-

sponsibility to define ourselves all over again.”

Belshaw was previously the dean of academic programs and the associate vice president of educa- John Belshaw tion and research Former dean of at North Island social sciences and management College in Courtenay, B.C. for four years. Belshaw could not be reached for comment.

Gelson assured staff in his email that the “chairs of the division of social sciences and business and the division of community programs will report directly to me . . . giv[ing] me an opportunity to consult much more widely in the college before putting in place a longer-term solution for the vacancy in the dean position.”

IAN McALLISTER photo

A female grizzly takes a bath in the cool waters off B.C.’s central coast in what is now known as the Great Bear Rainforest. Langara journalism instructor Effie Klein and members of a Global TV crew won a broadcast award this month for a four-part series on the forest that was broadcast late last year.

Instructor wins broadcast news award Effie Klein honoured for her work in Land of the Spirit Bear, a feature on the Great Bear Rainforest

By SASCHA PORTEOUS

L

angara journalism instructor Effie Klein, took home a broadcast news award for Land of the Spirit Bear — a four-part news feature film on the Printed on recycled paper

Great Bear Rainforest.

Editor Klein, reporter Linda Aylesworth and cameraman Mike Timbrell were honoured with the Dave Rogers award for best long feature news coverage earlier this month.

The award comes from the RadioTelevision News Directors Association (RTNDA). The association is an organization that speaks for the leaders of Canada’s radio and television news operations on issues that impact the newsroom.

“This was something that was special to us. We were able to reach people with this [series] and to win an award for it was just extra special,” said Klein.

“The idea was to bring a little more awareness of this area . . . and just letting people know it’s there. It is its own little sanctuary for these wild creatures,” said Klein.

This temperate rainforest lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast

See KLEIN PASSIONATE, page 2

SPIRIT BEAR statistics

Weigh 150 to 300 pounds on average

An estimated 1,200 are in B.C.

Can run 55 km/h Source: bcspiritbear.com

Feds cut summer employment opportunities Canada closes its youth resource centres to save money, opting instead for a greater online presence

By Omar Shariff

T

he federal government has recently made cuts to programs that help students find summer employment.

The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development, which saved $6.5 million from the cuts, is planning to improve their website to provide students with the same amount of help.

The offices that are normally set up every summer were closed after attendance rates began to decrease and more of a demand was heard for online services.

“By enhancing the online features on [the website], and offering services at Service Canada offices, there is no longer the need for these seasonal, temporary locations to be established,” said Alyson Queen, a spokesperson for Human Resources Minister Diane Finley.

The Service Canada Centres for Youth offered students a wide range of help with many different tasks, such as resume and cover letter writing tips, preparing students for interviews, providing students access to computers to search for job listings, and access to printers for resumes and cover letters.

Despite the closures, Langara Economics instructor Fulton Tom thinks that the job search won’t be any harder for students this summer because the economy has remained fairly similar to this time last year.

“I would think that job opportunities for students should remain the same,” said Tom. “Although, it may mean less service for job seekers and more difficulty for locating those jobs.”

Alexandria Everitt, a clerk specialist with the Financial Aid Services at Langara and former employee of a Service Canada Centre for Youth in Duncan also believes that the job search may not be more difficult for students.

“It depends if employers are hiring this summer and if students are out looking for the work,” said Everitt.

“SCCY was a one-stop shop, [students] are just going to have to use the online resources that Service Canada is offering.”

First year arts and sciences student Natasha Killian thinks that finding summer employment without the SCCY won’t be all that challenging.

“I think it will be harder for those who depended on the services,” said Killian. “But I think most schools teach kids how to write resumes in high school.”

Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.com/

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news & features

Editor MATT HYNDMAN

The Voice, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

J-students benefit from million dollar fellowship Two students will be given the chance to produce a major work of journalism

By DANA BOWEN

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angara College is receiving its largest donation yet of over $1 million from the Read/Mercer Fellowship for journalism students to pursue major media projects.

Every spring, two journalism students will be chosen to produce a major piece of work for publication, and each will receive $10,000.

The winners this year are Carly Wignes, who will be working with The Tyee on BC First Nations treaties, and Derek Bedry who will work with CBC British Columbia.

Anne Roberts, chair of Langara’s journalism department, said Wignes and Bedry were a step ahead everyone else.

Wignes said her interest in aboriginal issues was first peaked when she studied for her masters in political science at the University of Victoria.

She said she wants to be the go-to person for aboriginal issues.

“I can’t think of CARLY WIGNES a better way to beJournalism felgin a career in lowship winner journalism,” said Wignes. “I think it’s the perfect bridge to begin in the real world.”

Bedry plans on showing both sides of the story on alternative housing in Vancouver.

“This is a light story. These people are not victims. They are happy to be living in the West End for $200 a month, rather than the people who shell out 50 per cent of their incomes on boxes in the sky,” said Bedry.

The fellowship was left in the will of Jeani Read and Michael Mercer.

“They wanted their gift to make an impact,” said Sue Street, executive director of college advancement. “They felt they could make a difference at Langara.”

Read was a journalist for The Province, and Mercer was a playwright, who wrote an award winning play, Goodnight Disgrace, as well as TV shows such as The Beachcombers and Lonesome Dove.

Read and Mercer’s decision to donate to Langara’s journalism program was prompted by Read’s family ties to Langara journalism instructor, Nicholas Read.

“It’s an extraordinary gift,” said Roberts. “It shows students are capable of doing significant work.”

Each year, two media outlets that are dedicated to socially aware news will be chosen for the students to work with. This year it will be The Tyee and CBC B.C. The Tyee is an online publication based in Western Canada.

“It’s about doing progressive journalism, and the type that will make the world a better place,” said Roberts.

“The Tyee and CBC B.C. meet those requirements.”

A senior reporter from The Tyee and CBC B.C. will be working with Wignes and Bedry as mentors. Each mentor will receive $2,500 for his or her work.

Roberts said the fellowship will be a great thing for Langara journalism and not only entice students to choose Langara over other colleges, but it will create more incentive for journalism students at Langara to thrive.

MICHELLE GAMAGE photo

Joshua Ranville holds one of the many buckets used to catch the greasy liquid that drip from the cafeteria down into Studio 58.

Leaky caf concerns Studio 58 Liquids still drip into the acting space despite last year’s renovation

By MICHELLE GAMAGE

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tudio 58 is trapped directly underneath a greasy, leaky problem.

The cafeteria kitchens are located directly above the studio and leak grease, water and occasionally foam into rooms used by the acting students.

“One of the things about fluids is that they go down,” said Bruce Kennedy, Studio 58’s workshop coordinator.

“There is an occasional, unintentional flood from the sinks in the cafeteria and water escapes beside a drain instead of down the drain.”

Whenever a leak is discovered, a bucket gets hung from the ceiling underneath the drips as a temporary solution. Langara’s resident handymen from Besco Trades Corporation are called to help patch the leak. If the leak cannot be fixed, the bucket gets painted black to blend in with the ceiling and is left there.

Studio 58 students spend long hours in the theatre and are often the first people to notice a new leak.

Emily Henney, a third-year Studio 58 acting student, had been eating dinner in the back-stage room nicknamed “the kitchen” when grease started dripping down her back.

“That’s the grease trap from the kitchen,” she said, pointing up at the open ceiling. “[The dripping] happened a few times, so we called the [Besco] guys and hung the bucket . . . it’s also a safety thing. If that thing is rusted and leaking, how long before it falls?”

The college is working toward fixing the leaks. The cafeteria renovation in September made the leaks less frequent and the kitchen staff is using extra caution to avoid spills. Meanwhile, the Besco engineers’ hours were extended to make sure help is almost always nearby.

“There have been some leaks recently coming from the dish washing area,”

said Wendy Lannard, director of facilities and capital planning.

“A new sink has been ordered to replace the old one. When removing the old sink we will also be able to address the old piping in the wall behind the sink.”

The leaks are not always a horrendous experience. Kennedy once had “lovely fluffy foam” float down from the ceiling, though more frequently the liquid is dark and smelly.

“During [Studio 58’s rendition of] Julius Ceasar, I heard a dripping [into a bucket]. Audible dripping. Not just drip drip, but more of a pouring out,” said Henney, concerned the audience might have heard the sound.

“It’s something that comes with the territory,” said Kennedy. “I guess it’s just a matter of waiting it out.”

Kennedy said Studio 58 faculty are looking forward to the possible construction of a new creative arts building, when it will no longer be located underneath the cafeteria.

BRUCE KENNEDY Studio 58’s technical director

“

There is an occasional, unintentional flood from the sinks in the cafeteria

Klein passionate about B.C. rainforest Continued from page 1

IAN McALLISTER photo

Klein’s goal was to raise concern about wildlife in B.C.

Mountain Range on the west coast of B.C. and it is one of the largest remaining intact temperate rainforests in the world.

Klein said there are many different kinds of animals in B.C.’s unique ecosystem.

“We have got whales, we have got different types of fish, the bears, birds, otters and sea lions.”

The series raises concern for the wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest and specifically the Kermode also known as the white Spirit Bear, which is a black bear with a recessive gene.

“The Kermode is actually a black bear, but because it’s a recessive gene in the black bear you don’t see as many of them,” said Klein.

“Out of say four cubs that are born one will be a Kermode, it’s a 25 per cent chance.”

Klein said the concern is that the rainforest is being encroached upon by things like the proposed Enbridge pipe-

line, hunters and fish farms.

Fish population in the area has been declining which raises concern for the wildlife. “The fish are an issue because that’s what the bears feed on, so if the fish are endangered, then so are the bears,” said Klein.

“It’s all interconnected.”

Klein started her broadcast career at Global TV in 1987.

She still works at Global TV but has been keeping busy EFFIE KLEIN with other purWinner of best suits like running long-form feature her own production company, Round Table Communications. She has been a television journalism instructor at Langara since 2004.

The series was split up into four fiveminute episodes and was aired during the 6 p.m. news on Global TV.

Campus news

EDITOR JEN ST. DENIS

The Voice, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Grad show prep is time to reflect

Latin Week shakes things up

Design formation students have been working hard on this year’s grad show

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By JEREMY SALLY

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midst the whine of power saws and pops of staple guns, students in Langara’s design formation program are painting the walls white, readying their canvas for next month’s grad show.

The program merges industrial and interior design and architecture, all of which will be shown off in late April.

Tip-toeing over plywood frames, second year student Laureen Takeshita tapes up window frames in preparation for painting. She completed her associate of arts degree in 2009 at Langara, but found herself attracted to design formation’s dramatic displays.

“I passed by these windows every day and I saw all the amazing stuff they made,” laughed Takeshita. “So I’m here.”

Now nearing her second graduation, she cannot say enough about the program. “It’s been absolutely amazing!

The stuff you learn here, you cannot learn at any other school.”

“This is only one of the two display design courses in Canada,” says Marchel Eang. He’s interested in creating window displays for retail stores. “I was initially interested in fine arts but the career choices in this field are way cooler.”

The show is intended for students to show off their individual works to potential employers.

“Our grad show is going to have a more simple look so we can focus more on our individual portfolios,” says Andrea Diaz.

But she also said there will be some subtle, visual treats that students may enjoy.

“We’re doing an anamorphic wall by the entrance,” says Diaz. “The logo will shift as the person moves.”

Creative use of arrows will also be a major part of the theme for the show.

Diaz and her partners aim to incorporate them in their group effort, the ‘wow wall.’

“It’s something that will be a little more showy and it may be a backdrop for pictures and speeches,” said Diaz.

But she was mum about what the group had planned.

Students have been equally hard at work fundraising for the show.

“Lots and lots of bake sales,” sighed Eang. “And chocolate, too. But I think our budget is fine now, though we may have yet one more bake sale in the future.”

Opening night for the show is April 26 at 6 p.m. in the design formation studio, room A101. The show runs until April 29.

3

Students can learn all about social justice issues in Latin America

By ASHLEY VIENS o you eat bananas? Do you drink coffee?” asks Jessie Smith.

It’s an illustration of how “we are intimately connected to Latin America all the time, even though it seems so far away,” said Smith, program coordinator for Langara’s Latin AmerJESSIE SMITH ican studies.

Latin Week Langara is host- organizer ing its first ever Latin America Week from March 26 to April 3 to raise awareness about issues that affect both Canada and Latin America.

Smith hopes this week will provide an open educational forum for students and faculty.

“If you learn about Latin America, you learn about the world,” said Smith.

“It’s a channel that allows you to understand the whole world.”

The fair includes a “tour” of the booths and a passport that can be stamped at each table.

“If you answer all six questions, you get to fill out an entry for prizes,” said Smith.

Organizations such as CoDevelopment Canada and Amnesty International have booths set up in the main foyer of the college with information on how closely Latin America and Canada are linked.

“There have been more protests against Canadian mining companies in Latin America because mining tends to be more controversial,” said Steve Stewart, program director for CoDevelopment Canada. “These mining corporations are affecting intact indigenous cultures and areas of ecological signifi-

cance by contaminating water sources.”

Stewart also gave a lecture on Monday about Latin America perceptions of Canada and Canadians because of the activities of mining companies.

“We at CoDev want to help make students aware of what’s being done in [Canada’s] name,” said Stewart.

University-transfer student Hilary McIlvride started helping out with Latin America Week through the SWAP program. She said she’s learned a lot in the process.

“I’m just reading that banana workers there are being assassinated,” said McIlvride. “All they’re asking for is a better quality of life, and they are getting murdered because of it.”

The fair also includes conversations with Guatemalan and Canadian journalists about their work in Latin America, and a screening of the film Return to El Salvador.

“

If you learn about Latin America, you learn about the world JESSIE SMITH Program Co-ordinator Latin American Studies

ASHLEY VIENS photo

Alberto Gonzalez and Theresa Szefler show off their moves as part of Latin Week. Gonzalez and Szefler are both instructors at Hot Salsa Dance Zone.

SOS sent out to raise money for student awards Annual silent auction aims to raise big bucks to help outstanding Langara students pay for school

by CARA McKENNA

T

his spring, Langara College hopes to raise $25,000 through online and silent auctions.

The Support our Students campaign aims to raise money for student scholarships and bursaries. The $25,000 goal was set by Shirley Kamerling-Roberts,

manager of student assistance programs, and Sue Street, executive director of college advancement.

In past years the auction has raised between $4000 to $7000.

“If we have strong employee participation in the auction we shall raise considerably more money than in past years,” Kamerling-Roberts said.

An online auction is already underway.

“We have about 180 items that are being auctioned off online through our employee intranet,” said KamerlingRoberts. “Another 30 items will be auctioned off at a live employee event.”

Items being auctioned off include yoga and photography lessons, gift baskets, jewelry, paintings and tickets to various events.

“We currently have items that add up to a total value of almost $20,000,” said Kamerling-Roberts.

The SOS campaign also included a tulip sale in March.

The SOS live auction will take place in the Employee Lounge at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, April 4.

New this year, the school will match donations to the SOS campaign, and double-match them if the gift is over $100 and up to $20,000.

ON THE block

Unusual auction items: custom orthotics

CARA MCKENNA photo

Some of the items up for auction to raise money for scholarships.

teeth whitening

custom graphic design

social media set-up service

Source: Shirley Kamerling-Roberts, Manager of student assistance programs

4

The Voice, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Editor PATRICK JOHNSTON

Vibrant fashions for business Langara students show off spring duds and raise money for charity

Mon Dieu!

A funny flick from France?

C’est vrai!

L’Alliance Française is offering dinner and a movie, with a comedic twist from famed director Luc Besson

By CARLY RHIANNA SMITH

E

veryone was dressed to impress and raise money at the third annual AWEAR fashion show on Tuesday, March 27th.

Organized by the Langara Business Association, the show demonstrated creative ways to dress for a business setting, with proceeds going to charity.

“The purpose of the fashion show is creating awareness through style,” said project manager Zlata Gurevich.

A spring 2012 trend report was presented to the audience that forecasted bold patterns matched with metallics, double-breasted jackets and vibrant colours.

“My objective was to design outfits that expressed the positive and constructive outlook that is so important in business, while being functional and comfortable in an office setting,” said designer Jen Cameron. Her ensembles consisted of feminine frocks in neutral tones and floral patterns.

The other designers and stylists were Leah Mosoff, Annching Wang, Lauren Popadiuk and Anya Melyukova.

Each had a unique take on the concept of business casual.

“I think it’s really good to see that you can look on-trend and business appropriate while being affordable,” said Popadiuk. She put together several trendy and colourful outfits with a vintage feel. Each outfit was found at Value Village for under $20 apiece.

Mosoff designed shirts or dresses with bright, eye-popping colours paired with business basics.

Wang showcased her line Avery, which includes feminine basics like button-down shirts and dresses.

Melyukova chose sweaters and blazers with bright reds and bold stripes.

“I really liked the clothing from Value Village,” said arts and sciences student Aska Leung. “[But] it didn’t seem so much for a business setting,” said Leung. “It was so colourful and kind of informal.”

Before and after the show there was time for people to mingle and place their bids on silent auction items, while enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

The proceeds from the fashion show and auction go to the Kettle Friendship Society, a non-profit organization that supports people with mental illness.

“There’s a huge stigma attached to mental illness and if people are more aware then they can be open to these people getting help,” said Gurevich.

entertainment

By BRANDON REID

F

lip your expectations on their head about French films only being serious and introspective.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec is being shown at L’Alliance Française cultural centre on Cambie Street for Ciné-Diner, a movie and dinner night on March 30th.

The movie follows Adèle, a witty heroine in early 20th century France, on an Egyptian trek in search of a life-reviving sarcophagus.

She encounters many tribulations along the way: pterodactyls, campy villains and incompetent detectives.

“It’s like Indiana Jones with a girl,” said Hélène Creusot, event coordinator.

“It’s really cool and teenagers love that movie.”

The film will start at 6:30 and is in French with English subtitles.

“The movie dinner is always something family, so we tried to choose a recent movie,” she said. “People come from every age and every language.”

The meal consists of shrimp cocktail with avocado, grapefruit and celery to start and chili con carne with cornbread and grilled tortillas as the main course. Dessert will be pears with sweet cream, assorted fruit and coffee.

Creusot said the menu is spicy, adventurous and not too French in accordance with the film.

L’Alliance Française organizes CinéDiner once a month.

“Next month it will be a tribute to Jean Dujardin who won the Oscar for The Artist,” said Creusot. “In May it’s the Cannes Film Festival in France, so we’ll do a movie dinner about that with a Dujardin movie.”

Luc Besson, director of Adèle BlancSec, achieved critical success after premiering Le Grand Bleu at the famed Cannes festival in 1988.

He has since built up a reputation for making mega-budget flicks, such as The Fifth Element and The Transporter series.

Admission is $12 for children, $14 for members and $16 for non-members. All 40 tickets will sell out fast, so moviegoers are encouraged to reserve tickets arly, Creusot said.

CARLY SMITH photos

Spring fashions from Langara’s AWEAR show on Tuesday, March 27th: (clockwise from top left) models show designs

by Leah Mosoff, Annching Wang, Anya Melyukova, Lauren Popadiuk and Jen Cameron.

Four Studio 58 directors make provacative debuts 4PLAY

at Studio 58 Weeknight perfomances Start at 8 p.m.

weekend matinees Start at 3 p.m.

PERFORMANCE RUN On now until April 1st

TICKETS $10 available from Studio 58 website www2.langara.bc.ca/ studio58

REVIEW: New works from Langara’s theatre program stage wit and imagination

By Hayley Doctor

S

tudio 58’s latest production, a series called 4Play, has a title that suggests a fun night out. Although some of you may be misled as to what kind of ‘fun’ to expect, this is an engrossing evening of plays that is worth every penny.

4Play is four one-act plays written by Studio 58 students, split into two different programs. Program A and B run alternating days. The two halves are shown as a pair only once, this Saturday March 31.

The witty writing and brilliant act-

ing means it’s doubtful anyone would be able to tell these are debuting writers.

The imaginative world that develops on-stage draws viewers in and holds them there until the very end. The ambition and drive of the writers and performers glows as they bring together four separate concepts and stitch them together with ease.

Program B, previewed by the Voice on Friday, includes the one-acts plays Sacred and Profane and The Surrealists. Both are witty and funny plays that toy with the idea of morality.

The Surrealists is actually five short pieces combined together with a mutual setting and idea. Tim Carlson, Jennica Grienke, Daniel Doheny, Katey Hoffman, and Max Wallace wrote this compilation that centres itself around an art gallery and the crazy goings-on

within.

The Sacred and Profane is about a man’s confusion over whether God told him he’s immortal or not.

The set design and costumes for Program B are somewhat simplistic, but they work. There is nothing to draw your eyes away from the acting and the scene in front of you.

Sacred and Profane’s lighting effects are very well done, adding an air of drama to important scenes. While some theatre-goers might not consider lighting and ambient music to be important, without them we’d all be sitting in a dark and silent room.

Program A pairs You Are In a Play

by Cheyenne Mabberley, a comedy with a twist, with A View with A Room is written by Carol Macdonald. Both these pieces focus on relationships in different ways.

EMILY COOPER photo

Kazz Leskard as Rupert in Studio 58’s Archibald and Rupert

lifestyles

Editor CARLY WIGNES

The Voice, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Bunny’s bounty comes to city Vancouver’s chocolatiers have options for even the fussiest bunnies

By ROSS ARMOUR

TOP FIVE

A

s Easter approaches, Vancouver’s chocolate stores are hopping busy and pulling out all the stops in hopes of satisfying taste buds in early April.

An earlier study from a multi-authored popular blog called Inside Vancouver ranked chocolate shops around the city and determined Daniel Le Chocolat Belge, which is just north of Langara, to be the third best in Vancouver.

“This Easter we have your typical chocolate bunnies and eggs in store,” said Robin Fletcher, a sales clerk at Daniel Le Chocolat Belge. “Special caramel-filled eggs are a feature this year, as well as many other Easter-themed treats.”

“We also have numerous assorted boxes of chocolates this year that can be gift wrapped. You can order boxes of 18, 27 and 36 from our store,” said Fletcher. “They cost $19, $27.50 and $35, respectively.”

Born and raised in Belgium, chocolatier Daniel Poncelet opened the Belgian chocolate shop – the first of its kind – on Robson Street in 1981. Now, the brand has locations throughout the lower mainland.

Though rival company Purdy’s did not make the cut on Inside Vancouver, it also has its typical Easter extravaganza in full force for the season.

“We actually have a gift delivery service for this time of year,” said one Purdy’s sales clerk who did not want to be named. “As always, we have numerous milk and dark chocolate boxes on offer as well as our trademark chocolate hedgehogs, caramels and creams.”

“We also have special baskets that we are coming up with for this time of year,” she added. “We make the baskets up in the store and give our customers a quote on the spot.

The baskets include a variety of filled eggs containing marshmallow and peanut butter among others.”

Larger baskets are priced at $139.95, medium baskets at $59.95 and smalls are $14.95.

in Vancouver 1 2 3 4 5

Chocolate Arts: 1620 West 3rd Avenue Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates: 2539 West Broadway Daniel’s Chocolates: 2820 Granville Street Charlie’s Chocolate Factory: 3746 Canada Way Roger’s Chocolates: 389 Water Street Source: insidevancouver.ca

Clockwise from top: Displays from Daniel Le Chocolat Belge, Thomas Haas and Purdy’s show how each shop is fully prepared for the Easter season rush. Easter falls on April 7 this year, just before the start of exams.

Photos from Daniel Chocolates, Thomas Haas and Purdy’s

FUN FACT DID YOU KNOW? Cacao beans were used as currency in parts of Latin America until the 19th century. Ten could buy you a rabbit or a prostitute and 100 could buy you a slave.

Source: facts-about-chocolate.com

Newest iPad receives big praise Apple’s latest tablet model proves popular with more than three million sales in its first three days of release

By AlexANDER Skerdzhev

A

pple recently released its newest version of the incredibly popular iPad tablet, and according to the ALEX SKERDZHEV tech giant, the results are remarkable. photo Though not changing the design of Avril Easton the tablet, Apple drastically upgraded shows off her new its hardware components, opting for a iPad 3 that she better rear-facing camera, almost dousays is a “worthy ble the screen resolution and a specially designed quad-core graphics proimprovement” from the previous cessing unit, which is rumored to give the iPad the same amount of raw model.

graphical power as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

“There’s no doubt we’re once again looking at the leader in the tablet race,” said David Phelan of techradar.com in his online review.

Even though the new tablet is a little bit thicker and heavier than its predecessor, Phelan went on to praise the tablet’s design – especially its screen quality.

“The first and most obvious highlight of the new iPad 3 is the Retina Display,” he said. “It’s clear, bright, it’s crisp. Essentially, it properly expands the smartphone experience onto a larger tablet and takes us into a new generation of displays.”

Avril Easton, an 18-year-old general studies student, said she was very happy with the tablet.

“It’s great. It’s a little bit heavier and bulkier than my previous [iPad], but

I’m really liking the new display, and it hasn’t lagged on me yet when watching movies or playing games,” she said.

“Even though it kind of sucks to try and set it up the way my other one was, with all the apps and settings and stuff, I definitely think it’s a worthy improvement and I am not sad at all for getting it.”

At 2047x1536 pixels, the new iPad screen doubles the resolution of its predecessor. It features a five megapixel, front-facing camera, the same one that is on the iPhone 4S, as well as a nine-hour battery life. In other words, the new version is a big improvement on what was previously available.

The new iPad is available at any of the local Apple stores, as well as in places like BestBuy and Future Shop.

It retails for $650 for the 32GB Wi-Fi and 4G models, and is available in both black and white.

5

Exercise stimulates the brain Experts link exercise to mental health and say a good workout can improve a sour apple mood

By DENNIS PAGE

A

t this time of year when students face high pressure deadlines and stressful exams, you have a recipe for stress-induced fatigue that can lead to poor concentration.

But research shows that a solution for tired minds is possible because mental health is linked to exercise.

Jennifer Timer, a nurse educator at Langara, described the process in which the positive benefits of exercise are applied to the brain.

“Things like dopamine and serotonin are released when you have intensive physical activity and they actually have a physiological effect on the brain that makes you less anxious and more relaxed,” she said.

Students gain JENNIFER TIMER Langara nurse both physical educator benefits and academic advantages through exercise, according to Timer.

“When you exercise, you increase glucose and oxygen to your brain, you have clearer thinking and often more positive thinking because of serotonin,” she said. “Exercise increases cognitive functioning, so if you go work out and then go study, you’ll do better.

Nursing instructor Bethani McLeod agreed and said exercise can alter your consciousness.

“Along with physiological alteration, you get mood alteration and nobody ever goes out for exercise and comes home depressed,” she said.

Valery Romanchik, a human kinetics student and soccer player at Langara, said exercising has a noticeable impact on his school life.

“There’s definitely mental benefits [to exercising],” he said, “You feel better about yourself, so you’re more applied and into what your doing.”

Romanchik pointed out that exercise can be used as a good stress reliever.

“I like to kick soccer balls really hard sometimes just because of othVALERY ROMANCHIK er things in life and Langara soccer it helps take player [stress] away,” he said. “It’s a good way to focus your energy.”

He noticed a drastic change when a concussion left him temporarily unable to exercise.

“The fact that I was not able to be active was wearing on me emotionally,” he said. “Physically I felt like I was deteriorating.”

“When you work out it becomes addictive,” he added. “You feel better about yourself so you want to do it more and more and more.”

Even light exercising such as walking can have significant benefits if you make a prolonged effort to stick to a routine, McLeod said.

“If you can identify what works best for you for exercise, stick to it in a disciplined way and be in the moment of the exercise. You will definitely have an appreciable positive increase in your mood.”

6

Editor daniel palmer

The Voice, THURSDAY, march 29, 2012

Government cuts to job centres will hurt students L

ast week, the federal government announced it would be closing all Service Canada Centres for Youth in an attempt to save $6.5-million annually.

The centres, in existence for more than 40 years, functioned as a one-stop shop for teenagers and students hoping to find mostly summer employment.

The Ministry of Human ResourcDaniel palmer es claims the resources haven’t disappeared, but instead have migrated online after officials noted a drop in attendance at the job centres.

But with a government agressively slashing the budgets of every ministry during the worst recession in two generations, it seems unlikely the same level of service can be delivered in digital format.

Youth unemployment is estimated to be nearly 15 per cent across the country, twice the non-student youth unemployment rate.

In addition to providing personal coaching and mentorship, the job centres employ many students in and around universities and colleges.

The closure of the centres, including one in Vancouver, marks one fewer option for students looking to bank enough summer income to make it through the year.

The federal government seems to be focused on short-term budget balancing rather than long-term investment in its population.

A lack of robust support for post-secondary students is not only demoralizing, it’s dangerous.

OPINION

viewpoints

Public art enriches cities L

angara is doing a service to the Vancouver art scene by getting more involved in public art.

By hosting public art tours for high school students, youth are seeing what they could do for the future of public art.

This is Langara’s second public art link since the Canada Line operator, InTransitBC, agreed in 2009 to display student works in the stations, stimulating commuters’ minds.

In January, Langara College students contributed a Plexiglas and steel structure to the Langara-49th Ave. station. The college’s 2011 Public Art Studio Practice students created the piece entitled Tread Lightly, dotted with footprints symbolizing carbon footprints.

I’ve been an artist in this city before. It didn’t feel like there was much room for new local artists.

It was hard to get my name out there. Even after selling almost $5,000 worth of art and a complete body of work in 2007, I was short on venues in which to show my work and gain recognition.

After a while, I was short on cash Audrey Mckinnon to support my habit, as I sometimes called it.

People kept telling me to go to Toronto to carve out a name for myself, which only told me that our dear rainy city was not quite cutting it when it came to enabling artists.

But programs like this, where the city and local artists — including students — can get their art out

OPINION

there, could change the Vancouver art scene by helping new artists break into the world of look what I can do, recognize my style, know my name and buy my stuff.

The fine arts program is now expanding the class and inviting high school students to consider art as part of their futures.

Although the tour only invites students from schools with art programs, participants don’t have to have a background in the arts to get into the Langara public art program.

This opens the doors of artistic creativity to anyone, even if they haven’t dabbled in art before.

Langara is taking advantage of the city’s visual initiative. Bravo, Langara, for getting on the public art train. It could mean the college raises some currently closeted artists into established brands of their own artwork.

The Photo-Imaging Department was delighted with the exposure the Voice newspaper gave to our second year student Kezia Nathe. I was, however, shocked that her name was spelt incorrectly. I would have thought Journalism students this close to the end of the year would have caught such a basic error.

Catharine O’Brien-Bell Department Chair Professional Photo-Imaging

We want to hear from you Did we get a fact wrong?

Tell us.

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Write to us.

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Let us know.

Journalism instructor Nicholas Read oversees The Voice. Email him at nread@langara.bc.ca

The Voice is published by Langara College’s journalism department.

Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student government and administration.

We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must be signed. They may be edited for brevity.

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EDITORIAL STAFF THIS ISSUE: MANAGING EDITOR/ PAGE 6 Daniel Palmer

PAGE EDITORS PAGE 1 Jennifer Fong

PAGE 2 Matt Hyndman

PAGE 3 Jen St. Denis

PAGE 4 Patrick Johnston

PAGE 5 Carly Wignes

PAGE 7

Cartoon by MICHELLE GAMAGE

LETTERS to the editor

V

the oice

Alexandra Grant

PAGE 8

The new iPad 3 lives up to hype A

pple’s latest offering — the first of the post-Steve Jobs era — the new iPad, or the iPad 3 as it’s colloquially known, is now available worldwide.

Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, the new iPad has roared out of the gates and is flying off store shelves from Australia to the United States. Also unsurprising is the fact that there is one major question that gadget aficionados everywhere are asking about the revamped device.

Is it really worth it for the consumer to shell out another few hundred dollars (anywhere from $500 to $830, depending on the model ordered), or is it just a mere glorified version of the past iPads with miniscule improvements that are seldom noticed?

According to a number of factors, the answer is a resounding no to the latter. The new iPad is a gamechanger for the tablet computer industry.

When the new iPad was first unveiled at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March

7, Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed how the device would be a key cog in the wheel of the “post-PC world,” and backed up his claim with a laundry list chock-full of new features in the latest iPad. Among them, an improved retina display estimated to have a million more Quinn mell-cobb pixels than an 1080p high-definition television, a faster processor and a five-megaThe new pixel camera, a drastic improveiPad is ment over the a gamerelatively measly 0.7-megapixel changer iPad 2 offering. for the The new iPad also contains the tablet same dictation computer technology as the industry iPhone 4S, which

OPINION

“

enables users to have their spoken words typed onto the screen for them, provided they are connected to the internet or a cellular signal.

Skeptics will argue that these improvements are minor and that the hype surrounding the new iPad is overblown, but sales figures suggest otherwise.

The new iPad is a hit.

Apple said customer response to the release was “off the charts” and also announced in a press release shortly thereafter that approximately three million new iPads were sold in the first three days following its release.

To suggest that these millions and millions of people are somehow misguided, wrong or brainwashed is laughable at best.

As the rave reviews continue to pour in from satisfied customers and critics alike, those debating back and forth about buying the new iPad needn’t torture themselves any longer.

A tablet computer revolution is underway, and the new iPad is leading the charge.

Devon MacKenzie

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community

Editor ALEXANDRA GRANT

The Voice, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

SPRING IN FULL BLOOM AT SOUTH VANCOUVER PARK

7

New complex in Marpole area raises concerns A proposed multi-tower complex has some Marpole residents worried

By OMAR SHARIFF

T

DANA BOWEN photo

After a slightly delayed start, spring has finally come into full force at the Fraser River Trail, which is located at Hudson Street and South West Marine Drive in the Marpole neighbourhood.

he community of Marpole is bracing itself for changes of giant proportions.

Construction on the Marine Gateway project, a new multi-highrise tower complex, will start this May at the south end of the Cambie Corridor.

The project, which sold out in four hours, has proven popular among buyers; however, it is still unclear what effects it will have on the South Vancouver neighbourhood.

The proposed complex, which would be on the doorstep of the Marine Drive Canada Line station, would have two condominium towers – one 36 storeys and the other 28 storeys high.

The project would also include a third 15-storey tower that would house a movie theatre, restaurants, cafes, office space and small businesses.

With 415 new condominium units and 46 rental housing units, the population of Marpole has the potential to increase by about 1,000 people, and this has residents concerned.

“I think many people welcome redevelopment in the Marine and Cambie area … but are concerned about the effect of the tall buildings, extra traffic and additional people on the existing community and amenities,” said Janet Fraser, an organizer of Marpole Mat-

ters, a residents’ special interest group.

A voluntary survey distributed by the Marpole Area Residents’ Alliance found that 63 per cent of residents supported major development around the Marine and Cambie area.

Another 82 per cent wanted the height of the towers to be reduced to around 29 storeys to be in keeping with the lower skyline of the area.

In spite of these concerns, Rennie Marketing Systems, the marketing company behind the Marine Gateway project, believes the increase in residents will be beneficial for the Marpole community.

“With more residents, come more new businesses,” said Linda Chu, the director of marketing at Rennie Marketing Systems. “Marine Gateway will be the first and main retail hub for the south end of the Cambie Corridor. As development and urbanization increases, all the new residents will use Marine Gateway’s retailers and services.”

The project is a part of the larger Cambie Corridor plan that intends to increase urban development and density around the Canada Line and SkyTrain routes.

The plan aims to decrease the number of vehicles on the road, and hopes to do so by placing more amenities such as shopping centres near transit hubs.

South Van police officer works with community Const. Shayne Savage parlayed his long career with the police force into a community liaison position, which works with residents

By LEV JACKSON

of South Vancouver

T

FACES

here was hardly a time in Const.

Shayne Savage’s life when he didn’t want to be a policeman. Ever since taking his first steps, Savage knew he wanted to get into police work.

“Policing is something I always wanted to do,” said Savage. “Whenever I played cops and robbers as a kid, I always wanted to be the cop and catch the bad guys.

Savage has been with the Vancouver Police Department for 15 years. He has been all over the city in his time with the force. Currently, he is the VPD liaison officer to the community police of Vancouver’s west side. As such, he serves as the middleman between the police department and the volunteers in the community policing centre.

His current jurisdiction ranges from UBC to Richmond, and the eastern boundary ends at King Edward and Fraser.

Before beginning his community liaison role, Savage spent 10 years as a patrol officer in the Downtown Eastside.

From there he was moved to the Youth Squad, where his responsibility was child protective services. He held this position for six months before being transferred to the Community Policing Office.

Savage said the main job of community police is to be proactive instead of reactive. This means they focus on crime prevention education, rather

than reporting them once they happen.

A simple example of this would be urging residents to put a club on their steering wheels to help prevent car theft in the first place.

“The main thing we do here is crime prevention, and keep people aware,” said Savage. “We don’t want to deal with break-ins or car thefts, we want to teach people how to prevent this from happening.”

Instead of working with other officers, Savage now leads a team of volunteers. He delegates volunteers to community policing tasks such as graffiti paint-outs, house patrols, parking issues and finding lost children. The volunteer team also provides the police with as much information as they can in regards to criminal activity.

Currently the biggest initiative the community police are undertaking is the “Riot Roundup”. Thousands of posters are being handed out across the Lower Mainland with pictures of those who took part in the Stanley Cup riot in June. The hope is people can identify those rioters so authorities can bring them to justice.

“An important part of this is handing out the posters strategically, we have to go to the places young people hang out.”

Savage said those looking to get into police work should embody three important qualities.

“If you want to get into it, education, volunteer work and being a good person is the best place to start.”

LEV JACKSON photo

Const. Shayne Savage stands before a map of his jurisdiction, where he currently operates as a liaison for the community policing force.

sports YMCA is budget friendly

Editor DEVON MACKENZIE

The Voice, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Local wrestlers battle it out

Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling’s latest event excites fans

By CLAYTON PATERSON

E

The Langara facility can help those looking for an affordable way to get fit and have fun this spring

By AGUSTINA COCCARO

W

ith classes winding down and beach season right around the corner, there is no better time than spring to join a local gym and get in shape for summer.

The Langara Family YMCA offers a wide variety of programs and activities at an affordable price.

For $46 a month plus tax, plus a $50 one-time join fee, students have full access to more than 50 group classes, a pool, sauna and steam room, squash/ racquetball courts, a complimentary fitness orientation, free lockers and free parking.

Members also have access to all other YMCA facilities in Vancouver.

Annie Lin, who works at the Langara Family YMCA, said this spring they will be featuring boot camps for people who want to jump start their fitness.

They will be available in May at no extra cost.

The YMCA also offers a financial aid program for those who may not be able to afford their programs, because as arts and science student, Emma Taeb points out, “$50 a month is still pretty expensive for some. I think it’s very convenient, considering it’s so close to school, but it could be even more affordable for students,” she said.

“We offer financial assistance through the YMCA Access Program for anyone who faces financial barriers to participating at the YMCA. The YMCA believes that no one should miss out on pursuing a healthier and happier life,” said Kelly Walker, Communication Manager of the YMCA. Some of the most popular classes offered at the YMCA are Zumba fitness classes, yoga, Pilates, and Aquafit.

The YMCA also offers a more interesting variety of programs such as the Punjabi-speaking swim class they offered last winter.

The Langara Family YMCA offers memberships and programs for youth, families and older adults.

For more information or to view class schedules, visit vanymca.org.

Those interested in becoming new members can drop by the centre for a complimentary facility and fitness orientation.

8

CLAYTON PATERSON photos

Clockwise from top left: Aaron Bolo prepares to body slam Sid Sylum; Alex Plexis, “Ravenous” Randy Myers, Artemis Spencer and Tony Baroni; Sid Sylum and El Phantasmo prepare to double suplex Aaron Bolo; Scotty Mac prepares an aerial assault on his opponent “Dastardly” Danni Deeds. Azeem “the Dream” and El Phantasmo were victorious in the main event of the Chamber of Extreme match held Friday, March 23 at Surrey’s Bridgeview Hall.

lite Canadian Championship Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion based in Vancouver, returned to Bridgeview Hall in Surrey on Friday, March 23 to put on a show dubbed “Chamber of Extreme”.

ECCW began as Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling in 1996, only holding events on Vancouver Island under the previous ownership.

Scotty Mac, the current owner of ECCW, assumed control in January 2010. He changed the name to Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling two years later and introduced a new championship belt to the promotion. Later, he expanded the organization into new areas such as Vancouver and Surrey.

“There is nothing right now in the world that makes me happier than ECCW,” said Mac in an interview with reviewfix.com. “I am loving every minute of it.”

True to the nature of independent wrestling shows, the crowd at Bridgeview Hall was fairly small with about 100 people in attendance, but the passion of the wrestlers and fans alike gave the feeling of a much larger event.

The card saw six matches take place, two of them contested under “hardcore” rules where wrestlers are free to brawl anywhere in the arena with any weapons they find including steel chairs, street signs, and wooden tables.

One of the hardcore matches saw Cremator von Slasher and Hellion face off against Ray Brooks and Jordie Taylor. The action spilled out of the ring to every part of the venue, with some of the wrestlers even going outside to battle in the cold.

“I almost crapped my pants when [von Slasher] came bursting through the door,” said ECCW fan Doug Knight.

“That was the last thing I expected to happen when I went out for a smoke.”

Mac was victorious against “Dastardly” Danni Deeds, but the match had an interesting stipulation: due to a loss last month, Mac was forced to compete in Deeds’ tie-dyed attire, along with a bright red bow tie.

“It’s all about putting asses in the seats,” said Mac. “I do it because I love it, and when it comes down to it, I would do it for free.”

The Chamber of Extreme match saw two teams of four compete inside a steel cage that enclosed the ring. The extreme part of the match’s name referred to the barbed wire that was wrapped around the top of the cage.

“These guys are insane,” said fan Adam Gagnon. “I could never do what they do.”

Competitors Azeem “the Dream” and El Phantasmo were victorious in the main event, pinning “the Natural” after slamming him through a table.

Falcon’s Gurjote Jhaj named to CCAA’s All-Canadian Team in Truro After being named Player of the Week and Year by PACWEST, Jhaj has now been named to the CCAA’s All-Canadian Team

By STACY THOMAS

L

angara has a rising star in its ranks.

Gurjote Jhaj, 22, shooting guard for the Langara Falcons men’s basketball team, has not only been named both Player of the Week and Player of the Year by the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), but he has also just been inducted into the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s All-Canadian Team.

“It just shows my hard work has paid

off throughout the season,” Jhaj said.

“I’ve been working really hard with the team and off the team.”

Only ten individuals from across the country join him on the men’s All-Canadian basketball team.

There are five conferences across the country, of which PACWEST is one.

Two individuals are voted on to the team from each conference. The inductees are voted on by coaches in the players’ own conferences.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” said head coach Jake McCallum. “He was very highly thought of by the other coaches in the league.”

The last Falcon to win the CCAA’s All-Canadian Team honour was basketball player Clint Wickham for the 2008/2009 season.

This year’s awards were announced at the national tournament held in Tru-

ro, Nova Scotia last week.

“I had to dress up, wear a tie and all that, go up to the podium, my name was called, pictures were taken. It was cool,” Jhaj said.

And although he says he “pretty much” knew the award was coming, he doesn’t take all jAKE Mccallum the credit.

“My point guard Falcons men’s basketball coach Brody (Greig), he’s a really good point guard and he makes my job a lot easier,” he said.

[Jhaj is] He also credits a talented his family for helping him on and off player.

“

the court; practicing, finding summer camps and with his SATs, which will be important in deciding where he goes next year.

“I’m hoping to go down to the states for college for basketball, or I might just make the jump to CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport),” Jhaj said.

McCallum hopes Jhaj’s time at Langara will point him in the right direction.

“He’s a talented player,” McCallum said. “It’ll depend on what he does in the classroom because he’s done well on the court. I know he wants to play at a higher level. Hopefully we can help him move on.”

Jhaj says he isn’t picky about where he goes next.

“It doesn’t really matter. Wherever I get a chance,” Jhaj said. “I’m more than happy just to play on the team.”

HISTORY

of the CCAA

Interprovincial competition was initiated in the west in 1971 in the form of the 4-West Championships

In 1972, Quebec and Ontario initiated similar interprovincial competitions

By 1974, the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association was founded Source: Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association