Magazine
MAY 2016
GREETINGS
Contents
“I
nstant cameras and telegrams: What if we combined them! So, you could instantly send your photos out to whomever wanted to see them.” Perhaps Kevin Systrom’s and Mike Krieger’s conversation went something like that in 2010. Then they created Instagram. Now hundreds of millions of people do just that: share billions of photos instantly. What can you say? Everyone loves photos: Taking them, sharing them and seeing them. Vancouver has some great locales for beautiful, interesting shareable photos and here we present some. Also in this issue: homegrown baseball, homelessness in Vancouver and gemstones! – Daryl
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“Greetings” Welcome to Frill Magazine and a bit about what you will find in this issue.
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Vancouver Canadians The beauty of being a fan.
06
Homeless in Vancouver Homes can be hard to come by in the city. What can be done?
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Gem Stones What can these gems tell you about your life …
#Vancouver Instagram Guess where these photos were taken …
101 Smithe Street,Vancouver, BC V6B 4Z8 vancouver@lasallecollegevancouver.com lasallecollegevancouver.com/programs/ graphic-design-courses
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Frill Magazine is produced by the Editorial and Publication class – 3rd term Graphic Design at LaSalle College Vancouver. See more magazines online: http://issuu.com/macromagazine INSTRUCTOR: Daryl Askey STUDENTS: Viancy Yahary Fierro Bermudez, Jae Hyun ’Jay’ Kim, Thitima Maneein, Leah Yee.
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SPORTS
THE ‘SIXTH’ TOOL
Players are measured by the standard five tools. Rob Fai says there might be ONE MORE in the belt that
I
some are missing.
remember the time I first came across Rich Harden. Quiet, almost meek yet armed with a three-digit fastball and the ability to change the course of a game with a single pitch. Rich was faced with being a Canadian-born, B.C. kid on the Vancouver Canadians.
With that came a responsibility and burden to become the instant ‘face’ of the franchise, garnering countless interviews and admiration from a public still trying to grasp the concept of Short-Season, Class-A baseball. Between Stroman and Harden, more than a dozen fresh-faced prospects found a way to the bright lights of the Major Leagues, having suited up previously for the Vancouver Canadians. Names like Nick Swisher, Kurt 4 Frill Magazine • May 2016
Suzuki, Andre Either, Travis Buck, A.J. Griffin and some kid named Joe Blanton. If you wanted to add more recent names, you could start with Roberto Osuna, Kevin Pillar, Aaron Sanchez and former Blue Jays prospect turned World Series standout Noah Syndergaard. They have all played here in Vancouver, and all had a certain ‘way’ about them. There are “can’t miss” guys like Syndergaard who at 6’6”, 235 pounds and a sizzling 99-mph fastball was destined for a Major League roster. Lefty Justin Nicolino got his first taste of the ‘bigs’ with the Florida Marlins in 2015 after helping the Canadians to the 2011 Northwest League Championship. He, of the big three that we had that year (along with Syndergaard and Aaron Sanchez) was my personal “can’t miss” prospect. He didn’t, and
you just knew he wouldn’t. I am asked “what is it about a player that makes you ‘know’ he is going to be a Major Leaguer?” Sometimes it’s his stuff. The blazing fastball, the lightning quick first step as he tries to steal second. Maybe it’s his glove combined with his ability to hit any pitch in any count at any time.They gotta have the ‘tools’ of the game to which scouts say there are five of them. Hard to imagine that those tools alone would be enough for an organization to determine whether or not a player is worthy of consideration, but sometimes that’s enough to get a fair assessment of a player as you can take those numbers and put them up against any other number of comparables.
But to me, and I really feel this in my heart, there is a sixth tool. The eyes can tell you so much more. The first player that I encountered that had ‘the look’ was John Rheineckar. A hard-throwing pitcher from Illinois. He only played in six games for the Canadians back in 2001 before the Oakland Athletics shot him upward to Modesto, but you could just tell that the 37th overall pick in that year’s draft was cut from a different cloth. He was 22 when he played in Vancouver, and debuted five seasons later at the age of 27 with the Texas Rangers (2006). He would pitch in 44 games for Texas between 2006 and 2007, and that was it. He retired after the 2008 season at just 29 years of age. No, he’s not destined for Cooperstown by any means, but he made it.
F
ast forward to 2011 and there stood Noah Syndergaard in the Canadians clubhouse. His shy demeanour almost didn’t fit his body which was just bigger than the others. His dusty blonde hair was still short at the time, he would keep to himself for the most part as well be it on the bus or walking around town. But stuff him into a Canadians uniform and suddenly you realized you were witness to something special. Every fastball sounded as if the catcher would need to ice his hand after the game, and maybe he did.
Syndergaard was as can’t miss as you would ever find - and the New York Mets coveted the hard throwing right-hander as they traded R.A. Dickey and Josh Thole for Syndergaard and Travis D’arnaud, a catcher with upside having just dominated the Pacific Coast League. For the Mets to give up the reigning National League Cy Young Award recipient in Dickey, you had to give something of value. I can still remember hanging with a few of the Blue Jays minor league staff at the time when the trade happened and hearing them grumble as they said ‘not Syndergaard!’ It’s in the way you carry yourself. Travis Buck had it. Daniel Norris had it too with the Canadians few years back, and we all know that Marcus Stroman had it. The look of a winner, who had his mind set on larger things. They never question themselves. They never whine when they look at the line-up card wondering why they aren’t on it. Fact is, the good ones know the time will come for them, and when it does they can and will deliver. The beauty of being a fan of the Canadians is that we get to see it
first. Before the Blue Jays plaster him on billboards and Rogers Sportsnet smears him across the airwaves. We get to see Pillar’s first step in the outfield, or Pompey’s ability to run out an infield dribbler. We hear the pop of Osuna’s fastball and stand on our feet when Art Charles hits one into the late night air. Baseball sure is a beautiful game, because no matter what happens along the journey, you always remember the first time.
By: Rob Fai / Vancouver Canadians From: m.milb.com/t435/news/ article/20160201163411706/ the_sixth_tool
Frill Magazine • May 2016 5
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
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Homeless in Vancouver
H
omelessness in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is a social crisis that has been rapidly accelerating over the last decade. According to the United Nations, homelessness can either be relative or absolute. Absolute homelessness describes people living in absence of proper physical shelter. Relative homelessness describes people living in poor conditions of health or security, including an absence of both personal safety and steady income despite having physical shelter to reside in. As of 2011, roughly 2,651 people in Vancouver are subject to one of these types of homelessness, or are transitioning between them. Homelessness as a social issue in Vancouver originated from federal funding cuts to affordable housing. After market housing increased, the cost
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of housing became one of Vancouver’s main causes of homelessness, alongside lack of income. The homeless population in Vancouver have developed or previously suffered from mental health and addiction issues, and they are subjected to high amounts of crime-related victimization. There have been several approaches to reducing the homeless population in Metro Vancouver by the city and other organizations. As of 2011, the rate of homelessness in Vancouver has stopped increasing, but it is not being reduced either.
1.
15 ways to help Vancouver’s homeless and hungry that doesn’t involve sandwich tokens
Donate money to the food bank Whether we’re talking about the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society or the Surrey Food Bank Society, the most effectively way to contribute to your local food bank is by giving cash. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank says it can turn $1 in donations into $3 of groceries.
2. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Instead of complaining about the nearest homeless shelter, why not spend some time helping out? You can find a big list of shelters—from North Vancouver to Langley—on the Greater Vancouver Shelter Strategy website.
3.
Make and hand out care packages to people on the street Wondering what to put in a care package? Vancouver resident Sheryl Kristie Yen and her friends are buying and gathering socks, gloves, scarves, ponchos, and toques. As part of “Operation Cozy Christmas”, they’re planning to bundle up these clothes with some holiday treats, and then give them out on Christmas Eve.
4. Donate gifts for women and children to the
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre Every year, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre puts on a Christmas dinner as well as Christmas and New Year’s breakfasts. The centre is looking for donations of new unwrapped gifts to pass on to women and children of the neighbourhood. The wish list includes gift certificates, blankets, towels, thermal underwear, toiletries, toys, and candy.
5. Give clothes to First United Church
There are a lot of ways to give to First United Church, which runs a low-barrier shelter in the Downtown Eastside and offers meal, foot care, storage, dental, and many other services.You can contribute property and securities and even bequeath your estate to the church. But right now, the shelter needs donations of underwear and casual pants and shoes.
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6. Stuff stockings for CIAO: Van
CIAO: Van stands for “Christmas Inside and Out Vancouver”. Although its website bears the logos of several corporate sponsors, the group still needs donations of gloves, scarves, socks, toques, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, brushes, and candy canes to fill the stockings it will give out in the Downtown Eastside on Christmas Eve. CIAO: Van could also use some help making and stuffing stockings.
7. Volunteer at Covenant House Vancouver
If you want to help homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth, consider giving some of your time to Covenant House Vancouver.The charity has a crisis shelter, transition house, and other programs. Volunteers are needed for a range of roles, including administrative support, shelter support, and food services.
8.
Contribute auction items to A Loving Spoonful A Loving Spoonful delivers free, healthy meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in Metro Vancouver. Every year, the nonprofit society holds two fundraising events which rely on donations of prizes and silent auction items. Art, pottery, jewelry, designer clothing, and gift certificates are among the needed items.
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9. Provide a rent subsidy through the Lookout
Emergency Aid Society Want to help keep someone from becoming homeless? You can provide a rent subsidy of $75 to $300 per month through the Lookout Emergency Aid Society. This kind of financial assistance makes it possible for people to find affordable housing outside of the Downtown Eastside.
10. Volunteer with the Vancouver Aborig-
inal Friendship Centre Society The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society is dedicated to serving the urban aboriginal community, which is over-represented among the homeless population. VAFCS requires volunteers for its various programs, which help youth, adults, and elders.
11. Donate surplus food from your business
to Quest Food Exchange Described as “British Columbia’s largest not-for-profit food exchange program”, Quest Food Exchange takes surplus food from local restaurants, supermarkets, and wholesalers and redistributes it to people in need. Quest runs three not-for-profit grocery markets and partners with social service agencies. If you’re a local food vendor, why not donate food to Quest that would otherwise be going to waste?
12.
Give to WISH Drop-In Centre Society Operated by women,WISH Drop-In Centre Society works to meet the basic needs of female survival sex workers. Its services include meals, showers, safety warnings, and street nurses. A $20 donation will cover Christmas dinner for four at WISH. You can give money by mail or online.
13. Contribute to the expansion of Powell
Place The St. James Community Service Society is raising funds to expand and upgrade Powell Place. That’s an emergency shelter for women in the Downtown Eastside. The plan is to double the shelter’s capacity from 26 to 52 beds. If you donate more than $500, you could have part of Powell Place named after you.
14. Add your voice to the B.C. Poverty
Reduction Coalition’s call Representing dozens of organizations, the B.C. Poverty Reduction Coalition is urging the provincial government to appoint a minister for poverty reduction and put poverty reduction targets and time-lines in legislation. “We know that BC is falling behind. All but 3 provinces either have poverty reduction plans or are in the process of adopting them, and the success of these plans is already clear across Canada,” the coalition’s call states. The coalition wants to see B.C.’s poverty rate reduced by 30 percent within four years and all homelessness ended within eight years.
15.
Tell your MLA to raise welfare rates Raise the Rates organized Jagrup Brar’s MLA Welfare Challenge and the recent Welfare Food Challenge.The coalition suggests individuals concerned about poverty and homeless meet with their local MLAs and put pressure on them to increase welfare rates, get more social housing built, and up the minimum wage to $12 an hour.
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Gemstone Your birth month
Garnet is the stone that is suggested as the suitable one for people born in the first month of the year. As a rule, these stones come in deep red color or are rich purple, however, you may happen to see garnets of other colors. It’s considered to have numerous positive qualities, including the curative power. It has a healing effect for heart and lungs. In addition to that garnet is a talisman that ensures protection and success. This gemstone is also associated with purity, faithfulness and truthfulness. January
February
The lovely Amethyst is the gemstone for people born in February. This lovely and sparkling violet coloured stone is believed that has the power of healing. It helps with pains and headaches, insomnia and arthritis. People having amethyst as their talisman are usually associated with peace, stability and balance. Such people are known for their inner strength, calm disposition and being honest.
March Aquamarine is for people born in March. The name ‘Aquamarine’ is derived from Latin and means ‘seawater’. This stone is very beautiful and is loved for its calming sky-blue color, which can range from light blue to dark blue. This talisman protects its owner from stress and throat illnesses. It is known to have a soothing effect, so it is good to use for meditation. The stone brings peace to its owner and helps reach truth and wisdom.
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April People born in April are connected with the luxurious diamonds. Typically, they are transparent but sometimes you may find coloured diamonds too. These stones are loved for that special sparkling it has and for that special feeling they give us when putting them on. Diamond’s healing properties become apparent by its help with brain problems. This gemstone strengthens its owner’s clarity of mind and power of soul. It helps to keep balance and reinforce the inner strength.
May People born in May are lucky to have emerald as their birthday gemstone. This gemstone can be found in dark green hues and totally transparent. The green coloring is very symbolic and for nature, renewal, fertility. Long time ago people used to believe that emerald would help to heal any illness connected with eyes, heart, spine. This gemstone is also considered to be a symbol of true love that binds the couple, hope, faithfulness. Some people find the emerald to be a tranquilizer for a troubled mind. It is also said to bring the wearer reason and wisdom.
June Pearls for people born in June. Real pearls are very valuable as it takes five to eight years to form. We all know pearls to be white color but they also may be of other colors, such as the black pearls or those in champagne or faded pink color. These gemstones are believed to be healing for stomach and heart. As for their positive influence on the wearer it must be mentioned that pearls enhance personal integrity and promote loyalty, truth, faith and purity. Traditionally, these gemstones are associated with feminine energy, beauty and purity.
November
July People born in July have Ruby as their birthday gemstone. This gemstone is of rich and deep red color so that it is usually associated with fire, power and energy. Wearing rubies guarantees protection from infections and wicked thoughts. This gemstone stands for strength and confidence, good luck and success, as well as vitality.
August
September
Peridot has yellowish-green color and probably because of that is believed to cure problems with digestive system, kidneys and liver. It has positive influence on psychological wellbeing as well. It helps to fight depression and to counter negative emotions. This gemstone is a symbol of dignity, truth and faithfulness, as well as of love and loyalty.
Sapphire is for the ones born in September. With its breathtaking rich and deep blue it influences the cardiovascular system, fights inflammations protects physical and mental wellbeing. This royal gemstone is believed to bring protection and fortune, it is a symbol of strength and spiritual power, as well as of kindness, wisdom, learning and mental strength. In addition to that, an interesting fact is that Sapphire protects its wearer from evil spirits and baleful looks, so it is a very powerful talisman.
October Opal is a birthday gemstone for people born in October. It may be of white or black color but with the iridescent brinks. This gemstone is typically associated with purity, innocence, hope and happiness. The main describing word for it may be inspiration, as it stimulates imagination, creativity and originality, and intensifies emotions. Opals bring confidence, will to live, strong desire and ability to love.
Topaz is November’s birthstone, and comes in various colors but golden-yellow is considered to be the most valuable. Its positive effect on health consists in healing problems with digestive system, stimulates the metabolism and strengthens the nerves. If you have Topaz as your talisman, it will bring you joy, true love and good fortune. This is a symbol of self-control and honesty, truth and forgiveness.
December
The gemstone for people born in December is Turquoise. This blue-green gem is one of the oldest protective amulets, which is thought to bring wealth, good fortune and happiness. The most fascinating feature of this stone is the ability to absorb wearer’s negative energy and transform it to help find wisdom, peace and to find connection with the universe. Apart from that, many cultures believe that Turquoise takes on all the characteristics of the wearer. This azure heaven gift from the nature stands for honesty, creativity, strength and renewal, truthfulness and success. Frill Magazine • May 2016 15