The Queen's Journal, Volume 141, Issue 30

PAGE 3

Feature:

Aboriginal culture at Queen’s

F R I D AY , J A N U A R Y 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 — I S S U E 3 0

THE JOURNAL QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY — SINCE 1873

B Y O LIVIA B OWDEN S EBASTIAN L ECK Journal Staff

AND

Team WRL won the AMS executive election Wednesday night with approximately 60 per cent of the student vote.

The win was announced by the AMS Elections Team at the WRL party near Alfred and Johnson Streets. Around 100 students gathered at the party.

Team WRL includes Allison Williams, ArtSci ’14, for president, Justin Reekie, ArtSci ’13, for vice-president (operations) and Philip Lloyd, ConEd ’13, for vice-president (university affairs).

The current AMS executive arrived to deliver the news along with Chief Returning Officer Chris Parker, Rector Nick Francis, several AMS commissioners and other AMS and student society leaders.

SMH received 40 per cent of the student vote.

According to Parker, turnout was approximately 34 per cent.

Allison Williams, the newly elected AMS president, said she’s excited to start her work.

“I can’t speak for all of us, but I think we start tomorrow, not on May first,” she said.

The campaign wasn’t quite what she expected, she said.

“Everyone told us it would go by very quickly, but it was incredibly slow,” she said. “The 10 minutes before the announcement was the longest 10 minutes of my life.”

Team SMH joined the WRL party after the announcement was made. Williams and SMH presidential candidate Scott Mason shared a hug and shook hands.

“We’re good,” she said. “He and I are one for one now.”

Scott Mason and ASUS Vice-President Irfan Tahiri defeated Allison Williams and Zaeem Anwar during last year’s ASUS executive elections.

Justin Reekie, who was elected the new Vice-President (Operations), thanked his supporters after hearing the announcement.

Inside this issue:

WRL wins

Allison Williams, Justin Reekie and Philip Lloyd celebrate election victory

NEWS

CFRC clears first hurdle to gaining fee increase

page 8

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE GAGNIER

OPINIONS

Debating the merits of Canada Post’s situation

New Rector elected

page 10

Queen’s welcomes Mike Young as its 34th Rector page 2

SPORTS

Mike Tomlinson returns to the court

page 16

See Lloyd on page 8

PHOTO BY JONAH EISEN

ARTS

Do we need vinyl?

page 13

PAGE 7

#BellLetsTalk QSIC wraps up PAGE 16

2 •queensjournal.ca

News

Friday, January 31, 2014

Elections

Young wins Rector race Mike Young takes position over Marcus Threndyle, Aman Partap B y E rin S ylvester Opinions Editor

said she was happy to be a part of the campaign.

“He’ll do amazing things and His supporters and the AMS help lots of people,” she said.

Elections Team gathered around “I’m so happy I could help him.” him and called for a speech. Young Many of the campaign thanked his volunteers, his dad, his volunteers said they were pleased campaign manager, Erin Maguire, by how successful the campaign and said that after the night’s was at getting Young’s face festivities he would jump right in around campus. to his new role.

Taylor Katzel, one of the “It’s time to get to work and volunteer coordinators, said he was make good on what I promised,” feeling “very accomplished.” he said.

The win came at the end of “I can’t describe it. I’m going a tense night for Young, who to try and show gratitude to described himself as “super nervous” everyone,” he added. at the beginning of the night Maguire, his campaign manager, and “in a panic” as the

Young celebrating his victory last night.

announcement was imminent.

Young was happy with his campaign, saying that his volunteers did an amazing job and that his campaign manager, Maguire, is a “saint.”

“She ran the entire campaign and controlled everything I did,” he said.

Young began his thank-you speech by tearing up and saying “I usually have words.”

He thanked his team and supporters, and was greeted with clapping and cheers.

One of the loudest responses Rector-elect Mike Young. was when he thanked his dad for being there.

His father, a Queen’s alumnus, said he watched the campaign from afar and was “very impressed with all three candidates.”

Marcus Threndyle and Aman Partap, the other candidates for the position, said they were glad they had the opportunity to run and that they learned a lot from the experience. ”I’m really proud of the campaign we ran,” Threndyle said.

“If we’re not what ultimately what Queen’s felt would do the best job, then they shouldn’t have picked us … we gave them that option and that’s what mattered.”

Threndyle said that Young “has this absolutely unparalleled passion and drive … he will do such a fantastic job in this role.

“I can’t wait to see all the amazing things that he’s going to do.” photo by david carpenter Regarding his future, Threndyle

supplied

told his supporters, “I’m sure we’ll come up with a new adventure to embark with one another on in the very near future.”

Partap, who was on West Campus with his supporters, said he was pleased with the results.

“I’m proud of Mike,” he said. “I knew he’d do a good job.

“I’m going to party it out, have some fun with my friends and then go do some physics and chemistry.”

Nick Francis, the current Rector, was the first one through the door to deliver the good news to Young. He said that Young is “incredibly dedicated and inspiring.”

“I’m very happy he’ll succeed me,” Francis said.

— With files from David Carpenter and Chloe Sobel

asus elections

Grotsky and Butler take over ASUS

Uncontested team wins society election with 94 per cent vote of confidence and 29 per cent voter turn out B y N ick Faris Sports Editor

as many voters as possible.

“We wanted them to vote for us because they have confidence Adam Grotsky and Blake Butler we’re the best people for the job,” won the ASUS executive race last Grotsky said.

“That’s why we worked so hard, night in an overwhelming show even though we were the only of confidence.

The duo received word of team,” he added.

Even with such a significant their victory at an Alfred St. party.

Current ASUS Vice-President show of support, Grotsky said Irfan Tahiri burst through the reaching out to students will be a door at 9 p.m., bearing a bottle top priority for him and Butler as of champagne that was quickly they transition into their new roles.

“I’m interested in making sure popped open on the front porch.

Grotsky and Butler, both we represent 100 per cent of the ArtSci ’15, earned a 94 per cent students, the way they want,” vote of confidence. 29 per cent of Grotsky said. “We’re going to work Arts and Science students voted in hard to approach that six per cent, whoever they might be.” the election.

Grotsky and Butler said they’re “I’m really at a loss for words to be honest,” Grotsky, the excited to start implementing their president-elect, told the Journal platform points as soon as possible, after a brief celebration. “94 per including the hiring of ASUS’ first cent – that’s a really strong vote Human Rights Officer.

One issue they’d like to address of confidence. I’m just so excited is voter turnout. 71 per cent of right now.”

Grotsky, the current ASUS ASUS members failed to cast a Academics Commissioner, missed ballot in this year’s election.

Grotsky said he’d like to the start of the 10-day campaign period due to Queen’s Model promote ASUS elections earlier Parliament, but he said Butler bore next year, to encourage a plurality of potential candidates. the load well in his absence.

“There’s simply not as much Though they didn’t face any opposition, the team said they interest in voting with one team,” were committed to running an Grotsky said. “I want a competition. active campaign and engaging with I want it to be up to students to

pick who they want – not because it’s the only option, but because there’s people to choose from.”

Butler, who currently works as a fitness supervisor at the ARC and as a service staffer for Walkhome,

said he plans on devoting as much time to his transition into the vice-presidential role as possible.

“I don’t feel it’ll be a challenge for me, but I want students to recognize that as an external body

Grotsky and Butler cracked open a bottle of champaign post-victory.

coming in, I’m going to put in the time and effort required to do the best job possible,” Butler said. “As of tomorrow afternoon, I’m going to be emailing Irfan asking when I can come in next week.”

photo by Alex pickering

Friday, january 31, 2014

queensjournal.ca

Feature

Photo By Jessica Chong

Current Four Directions director and Tyendinaga Turtle Clan Mother, Janice Hill, founded a private high school, Ohahase Education Centre, and the Kanhiote Library (above) on the Tyendinaga Reserve near Belleville, Ont.

First Nations

Proudly indigenous Queen’s is expanding its indigenous studies curriculum while growing its support for Aboriginal students B y J essica C hong Blogs Editor Ashley Maracle didn’t wear a cap and gown to her convocation.

Instead, she wore her traditional Mohawk regalia.

Dissatisfied with the lack of support and programming offered

by Queen’s Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre prior to 2009, Maracle and two other students wore graduation ensembles reflecting their indigenous heritages.

“I don’t necessarily know if people knew why we were doing it,” Maracle, ArtSci ’09, said. “Aboriginal issues at the time weren’t really discussed on campus.”

While Maracle and others acknowledged their First Nations roots at convocation, the limited resources and lack of staff at Four Directions, located on Barrie St., compromised Maracle’s undergrad experience outside of the classroom.

“I really didn’t like the fact that it wasn’t a well-supported program at the time,” Maracle said.

Previously, Four Directions lacked the full-time staff, leadership and cultural programming it now offers.

Now, almost four years later, Queen’s is integrating indigenous culture in its limestone lecture halls and beyond.

The University’s languages department is currently offering both Inuit and Mohawk courses for a second year and a Toronto-based Aboriginal playwright and poet joined the drama department in 2003 as a Queen’s National Scholar.

Four Directions, previously located on Bader Lane, now offers cultural programming including

traditional drum-making, beading and moccasin-making. Functioning as a safe space for indigenous students, it provides educational opportunities for those with personal or academic interest in indigenous cultures.

Maracle, a graduate from the University of Victoria’s Masters in Indigenous Governance program, was the full-time Aboriginal Community Liaison at Four Directions for three years. “[The University of Victoria] was much more native-friendly than Queen’s at the time,” she said.

However, when Maracle returned to Queen’s to complete the community project requirement for her Master’s in November 2010, she found a newly transformed Four Directions, with four new full-time staff members.

“What I love about the team now is that [they are] actually pushing Aboriginal [issues] on campus they’re very dedicated to,” Maracle said. “At the time nobody was able to do that because there was no one working here really.”

Maracle said a lack of staff had previously created a negative dynamic, but the new Four Directions staff made themselves visible at Queen’s by attending Frosh Week events and ensuring an active indigenous presence on campus.

“It really gained back the trust of students who had stopped coming here,” she said. “They realized that the staff was actually really great and interested in working for their benefit.”

Its current Aboriginal Advisor, Vanessa McCourt, said the Centre’s safe space for indigenous and non-indigenous students was a cornerstone of her Queen’s undergrad. As a student, McCourt frequented Four Directions and was the president of the Queen’s Native

Students Association (QNSA).

While McCourt diversified her undergrad experience with intramural volleyball and Queen’s Dance Club classes, joining QSNA was a nice respite, where cultural acceptance and understanding went hand in hand.

“Outside of that circle, you have to answer questions,” McCourt said. “People … don’t understand the history of why some Aboriginal people get their tuition covered.”

Under Canadian law, post-secondary students with Registered Indian status receive funding for tuition, books, travel and living expenses while enrolled at a Canadian university.

Queen’s in particular offers both merit-based and need-based Aboriginal admission awards.

McCourt, who grew up on the Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve just east of Belleville, said she wouldn’t discuss her Aboriginal identity outside of Four Directions unless it came up.

“People tend to then bring up stereotypes, try to ask you questions that they think they know, but don’t really know, so it just gets frustrating,” McCourt said.

McCourt takes a casual, collaborative approach when counseling students now, and isn’t the only Four Directions staff member with a passion for fostering a sense of community.

Tyendinaga Turtle clan mother Janice Hill became the director of Four Directions in 2010. Having founded a private high school, Ohahase Education Centre, and the Kanhiote Library on the reserve, she’s a passionate advocate for Aboriginal education.

Tyendinaga, situated between Belleville and Deseronto, is the home of the Mohawks of Quinte.

While the band’s membership exceeds 8,000, Hill explained that

2,400 people live in Tyendinaga, making it the third-largest band in Ontario. A handful of them commute to Queen’s with Hill daily to study at Queen’s.

Hill brings the same positive attitude to Queen’s, and the change at Four Directions under her lead was noticeable. According to her, there are currently two or three students who chose Queen’s specifically because of the resources offered at Four Directions.

Previously the Co-Director of the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at Queen’s Faculty of Education from 1997-98, Hill said she’s known these students all their lives.

“I’ve known them since they were little girls … I know who their families are, their cousins and their aunties,” she said.

The indigenous community at Queen’s extends beyond those from Tyendinaga, however, and Four Directions now hosts early move-in day for new Aboriginal students as well as welcoming activities including group bowling, paintball and movie outings.

Hill speculated there are more indigenous students on campus than Four Directions currently works with, as she only knows those who reach out to her at the Centre.

“Self-identification is one of our biggest hurdles because we can’t identify all of our students,” she said. “I always guesstimate if I identify 150 [Aboriginal] students there’s probably 400 [Aboriginal] students here.”

Graduate and upper-year students tend to reach out more than first-years. Hill said Four Directions has sought to change this with early engagement strategies targeting high school students for the past four years. For example, the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program began this month, welcoming high school students to Queen’s campus each Thursday to acquaint them with campus life.

Hill said there was Aboriginal interest in starting government-funded centres like Four Directions at all postsecondary institutions in the early 1990s, due to the struggles many indigenous students have faced in their pursuit of university education.

“That’s for a lot of reasons: ties to home, closeness to family, being very sheltered sometimes in their lives and then not having the same academic foundation as other students who are coming here,” Hill said.

Despite these challenges, indigenous education is expanding at Queen’s.

This coming academic year, Queen’s will welcome Ojibwe poet, filmmaker and critic Armand Garnet Ruffo, as the English department begins cultivating indigenous literary studies.

“I teach Aboriginal literature from an insider’s perspective, understanding the culture and bringing that to my work,” Ruffo said.

Ruffo, who works as an associate professor at Carleton University, said the Aboriginal literary community in Canada is relatively small. He explained that Aboriginal writers have long been marginalized, as non-Aboriginal authors previously wrote the majority of Aboriginal literature.

The fact that Queen’s has both a growing indigenous studies program as well as an

•3

active Aboriginal centre, he said, prompted his move to Kingston.

Indigenous education has recently emerged at the undergraduate level Queen’s, however.

Five years ago, Iehnhotonkwas Bonnie Jane Maracle, BEd ’02 and MEd ’02, said she couldn’t have fathomed Mohawk and Inuit language instruction as an accredited university course.

Yet, Maracle, a member of Tyendinaga’s community, has taught the newly offered Mohawk language courses at Queen’s since the fall of 2012.

“Normally there’s a waiting list to get into our program,” she said.

While there are few indigenous students enrolled in her Mohawk language course, many non-indigenous students registered in the indigenous studies stream are enrolled in the class, which integrates aspects of Mohawk culture with language instruction.

“That’s really unique for our program,” Maracle said. “The amount of information the student gets out of it — not only strictly language, but how language works within the culture.”

She explained that her students voluntarily attend events and workshops, such as traditional moccasins and cornhusk doll creation.

This dialogue continues in other faculties as well.

Since 2008, English professor Sam McKegney has been teaching indigenous literature, though when he was first hired it was taught under the “Canadian literature” banner.

“I was absolutely committed to making sure that course got onto the books and ultimately that it became a standalone entity,” he said.

McKegney explained that the expansion of indigenous studies has been well received by his colleagues. Since 2011, indigenous literature has been offered as a fourth-year seminar.

“My sense is that students are very interested in the colonial circumstances of the lands they themselves have inhabited,” he said.

McKegney said there was a profound lack of indigenous texts when he was completing his undergraduate degree in the mid 1990s.

“That’s really where the fire was lit within me to look into more of these matters to engage with indigenous people and cultures and communities in a more sustained way,” he said.

While McKegney encourages his students to attend indigenous events, he also holds office hours at Four Directions, forcing students to treat course material as more than just theoretical.

Several of his students have gone on to graduate school intent on studying indigenous literature, while some have pursued teaching in indigenous communities.

McKegney said that he thinks Queen’s has a different climate today towards indigenous issues than when he first arrived.

“I certainly feel that my work is validated now [more] than it was in 2008, but there’s certainly still a lot to do,” he said.

“That’s what makes the years ahead so exciting.”

4 •QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

ELECTIONS

New executive for EngSoc Carolyn Fisher wins as presidential candidate, with Peter Davidson and Alexander Savides claiming vice-presidential spots B Y D AVID H ADWEN S EAN S UTHERLAND Journal Staff

EngSoc president is to hire the new what I can do for it.”

The final member of the directors and get them to work new executive is Vice-President together as a team.

Thomson said he’s been friends (Student Affairs) Alexander Savides, Standing arm-in-arm, the newly with Fisher since he came to who came out on top over Eric elected Engineering Society Queen’s two years ago and was McElroy in the race.

Savides said he was grateful executives were applauded excited for her win.

“I bounce back better than I that the society’s voters had by a crowd at Clark Hall jump into things, so I’m excited to faith in him to carry out the Wednesday night. position’s responsibilities.

The newly restructured executive see where I end up,” he added.

He also spoke with admiration The Vice-President (Operations) will be led by President-elect Carolyn Fisher, who came out on election became a vote of about McElroy.

He said he was happy to call top in the race over the other confidence for candidate Peter Davidson, as his original opponent him a friend. candidate, Robert Thomson.

“My first priority is transitioning During her acceptance speech, in the election, Janeil Johnston, Fisher, Sci ’15, said she never dropped out of the race earlier this with these wonderful people,” Savides said, “and figuring out how thought she would end up winning week, citing personal reasons.

For Davidson, Sci ’16, it was to better the Engineering Society the presidential spot, stating that important to see that he had the for students. she felt “over the moon.”

The percentage of votes cast for “From the day that I applied here support of the society. this was exactly where I wanted to “I’m so happy I can go forward the candidates weren’t announced be,” she said. in the next year as Vice-President this evening, however, individual voter turnout for the society’s “I feel like I’m going to cry, but I (Operations),” he said.

“I’m glad I got all the support election was 39.8 per cent. don’t want to.”

Fisher said her first priority as of the society and I’m excited for AND

PHOTO BY NICOLAAS SMITH

EngSoc election winners celebrating their victories.

ELECTIONS IN BRIEF Team BACK takes CESA

“kind of surreal”.

Cressman said she was most excited to start transitioning.

“I really just want to get that backbone knowledge, so that we can really build something out of it and really make it into our own,” she said.

Kong added she’s looking forward to working with the rest of CESA Council.

“On top of that, Extended Council is hiring, so we’re looking forward to whoever’s going to come out for that because there are a ton of opportunities … and a lot of ideas that are floating out there, so we want to pursue those as well,” she added.

Team BACK, the only team that ran for the Concurrent Education Students’ Association (CESA) executive, won a vote of confidence Wednesday night.

Team BACK consists of Abbey Cressman, presidential candidate, Elisabeth Beard, vice-presidential (internal) candidate, and Gladys Kong, vice-presidential (external) candidate. All three are ConEd ’15 and have served on CESA Council for the past academic year.

Cressman is Queen’s Conference on Education Chair, Beard is events director and Kong is treasurer.

The team’s platform focused — Chloe Sobel on generating greater student involvement in CESA Council.

In their platform, they promised NKC claim confidence in a “how-to” book to encourage ResSoc election students to attend Council meetings, financial transparency Friends and supporters of as they re-evaluated the use of NKC erupted into applause at Tower after the recently increased student fee Waldron and an education speaker series Heather Donkers, Residence that will connect students with Society (ResSoc) chief electoral officer, announced that team education professionals.

All three were visibly excited NKC had won this year’s about their win. Beard called it ResSoc election.

The team won with an 89 per cent confidence and a 28 per cent voter turnout.

President-elect Nathan Utioh, ArtSci ’15, said he had no idea what to expect for this year’s voter turnout, but was pleasantly surprised.

“It’s great to see so many people turned out to vote,” he said.

Vice-president-elect (residence affairs) Kisook Yoo, ArtSci ’16, said she’s excited to start working for the society.

The incoming ResSoc exec team will continue to promote events and activities for both main campus and West Campus residents, following the amalgamation of the Main Campus Residents’ Council and Jean Royce Hall Council last year.

“I feel really good … especially with all the campaigning that we did,” Vice-President-elect (Judicial Affairs),” Cameron Yung, ArtSci ’16 said.

— Jessica Chong

NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

•5

TOWN-GOWN

Campus noise angers local residents

The University is seeking a noise exemption after several neighbours near West Campus express annoyance B Y S EBASTIAN L ECK AND VINCENT B EN M ATAK Journal Staff Kingston resident Tom Monahan says his complaints about noise levels at the West Campus sports field have so far been ignored.

“We were told by the City in July that Queen’s campus security would respond to noise complaints,” he said.

However, after he contacted campus security numerous times, nothing was done, he said, and he had to complain to the City about the noise bylaw violations.

“When complaints are being ignored we’re in the position of having to escalate,” Monahan said.

Queen’s is seeking a noise bylaw exemption for the West Campus field after the City received complaints from local residents about noise coming from the field.

The current bylaw forbids noise from whistles at all times and forbids yelling, shouting, hooting, singing and playing of musical instruments from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on Sundays.

The exemption will allow noise from sporting events to continue in the field until midnight.

A public meeting was held by the City’s Near Campus Committee on the application on Jan. 15 to gather input, and City

Council considered the application for an exemption on Jan. 21.

In the fall, Monahan said, varsity team members would yell across the field at each other after 9 p.m., and games hosted on the field were accompanied by amplified music and commentary.

“What we’re talking about is persistent yelling and shouting and it is very, very clear in our house,” he said. “[Campus security] implied they had a noise exemption, but the noise would persist until around 10:30 [p.m.].”

It’s especially disruptive for families with children, he said.

“A very common bed time for children is more like 8 o’clock, not 9 or 10 o’clock and we do have children in these houses that are quite close to the field,” Monahan said.

Leslie Dal Cin, director of Athletics and Recreation, said the University was first approached by the City about a noise bylaw violation in July last year.

Once they knew about the complaints, they began applying for the exemption in late October, she added.

“The intent of the application is to be able to continue using the field as we have been which is until 11 p.m.,” Dal Cin told the Journal via email.

The exemption will apply to noise that is

The practice field near West Campus, where the noise originated from.

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JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

normal for sporting events, she said, and not all noise prohibited by the bylaw.

“For example, there is no need for the exemption to include percussion instruments or singing to be permitted on the field,” she said.

The City has been involved in ongoing discussions about the bylaw since the summer, according to Dal Cin, but the University hasn’t been charged for violating the bylaw.

“Those discussions had progressed to the point where the University was aware that continued activity on the field after 9 p.m. would result in a noise bylaw infraction charge,” she said.

However, at that point the fall season was ending, she added, so sports teams haven’t used the field after 9 p.m.

The West Campus artificial turf field has been in use since 2011. Dal Cin said the adjacent grass field has been used for sporting events for decades.

The University and the City have also met with local residents to discuss noise coming from the stadium, Dal Cin said.

She stated that Queen’s representatives recently attended a meeting of the Near

Campus Neighbourhoods Advisory committee to discuss the application for an exemption and hear from nearby residents.

According to Dal Cin, there is currently no activity on the field.

However, if the application for the exemption is not approved by the City, future activities will be greatly affected, she said.

“If the Queen’s application is not approved, we will have to make use and schedule adjustments based on that reduced field availability,” she said.

Queen’s varsity teams would be prioritized, followed by intramurals and clubs, she stated.

“There would likely be a reduction in our ability to offer our fields to community and school user groups,” Dal Cin added.

The City of Kingston wouldn’t comment on the noise complaints, but confirmed via email that they’re currently under investigation.

“The City has received complaints regarding noise coming from the sports field at the Queen’s West Campus and those remain under investigation by the City,” the City stated.

NEWS IN BRIEF Knife-point robbery at West Campus The Kingston police are searching for two men suspected of committing a knifepoint robbery on Queen’s property last Tuesday.

The robbery occurred in a parking lot behind the An Clachan residence at Macpherson Ave. and Van Order Dr. around 6:30 a.m., according to the Kingston Police Force (KPF).

The An Clachan residence is a University-owned housing complex designed for students and University faculty and staff.

The victim was approached by two men in the parking lot when one asked the victim if he or she wanted to buy drugs. One of the men then pulled out what the police believe to be a knife, according to a Kingston police report.

The two suspects forced the victim to hand over his or her wallet before heading

west on MacPherson Ave. The police believe they then ran north up Van Order Dr. The Kingston police summary described the suspects as white males between 20 and 30 years old. They were both between 5 ft. 6 in. and 5 ft. 8 in. tall One wore a black hooded jacket with red pinstripes on the sleeves, while the other wore a white hooded jacket with blue pinstripes.

Both wore bandanas to conceal their faces.

Campus security is assisting the KPF in their investigation, according to the KPF Twitter account.

The KPF has asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Adam McMullen at (613)549-4660 ext. 6281 or by email at amcmullen@kpf.ca.

-— Sebastian Leck

6 •QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

REFERENDUM

Results released

The Winter Referendum saw a 33 per cent voter turnout B Y VINCENT B EN M ATAK News Editor

Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.95 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the Kingston Loving Spoonful Charity?

The AMS executive election and Winter Referendum saw a 33 per 76 per cent yes, 24 per cent no. cent voter turnout. Of the 10 opt-outable fees on the ballot, only -------------------one was unsuccessful.

Fifty-three per cent of students voted against a $0.90 opt-out fee Do you agree to the establishment to support Enactus Queen’s, which of a $0.25 fee (subject to undertakes programs to empower individual opt-out) to support the local people and businesses. Nyantende Foundation?

Programs range from teaching 56 per cent yes, 44 per cent no. prison inmates entrepreneurial skills to reducing carbon footprints, -------------------according to their website.

Groups require a 50 per cent plus one vote in favour in order to Do you agree to an increase in the Oxfam Queen’s fee (subject be successful in the referendum.

Kristen Olver, AMS to individual opt-out) from $0.35 commissioner of internal affairs, to $0.75, an increase of $0.40? said although voter turnout had 55 per cent yes, 45 per cent no. decreased from last year, the AMS is satisfied with the outcome of the -------------------election process.

Last year saw a 41 per cent voter turnout. Olver said the decrease Do you agree to the establishment could be attributed to only two of a $0.50 fee (subject to teams running for AMS executive, individual opt-out) to support as opposed to three last year.

Queen’s Helping Haiti?

“Generally what we find is the more number of candidates the 69 per cent yes, 31 per cent no. higher turnout there is, as [they] attract different groups across -------------------campus supporters,” she said.

In order to boost voter Do you agree to the establishment turnout, the internal affairs of a $1.00 fee (subject to commission launched an individual opt-out) to support the advertisement campaign, which Tea Room? featured students describing their “first time” voting.

65 per cent yes, 35 per cent no.

The advertisements were created in collaboration with Queen’s TV -------------------and Walkhome.

They also incentivized students Do you agree to the establishment by offering free coffee or tea at of a $0.50 fee (subject to Common Ground for voters. individual opt-out) to support “There weren’t any problems the World Wildlife Fund at and the elections teams worked Queen’s University? really hard and we’re proud of them and there weren’t really any 73 per cent yes, 27 per cent no. problems at all,” she said.

Here are the results of the 2014 -------------------winter referendum: Do you agree to the continuation Do you agree to the establishment of the Camp Outlook fee of of a $0.90 fee (subject to $0.85 (subject to individual individual opt-out) to support opt-out) for the next three Enactus Queens? years? This fee was originally established in 2001 and last 47 per cent yes, 53 per cent no. went to referendum in 2011.

-------------------Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.25 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the Kingston Canadian Film Festival?

65 per cent yes, 35 per cent no.

--------------------

67 per cent yes, 33 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Baja SAE Design Team fee of $0.40 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2003 and last went

to referendum in 2010.

58 per cent yes, 42 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Chapter- West Africa AIDS Foundation fee of $0.30 (subject to individual optout) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2010 and last went to referendum in 2010.

74 per cent yes, 26 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Mostly Autonomous Sailboat Team fee of $0.30 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years?

This fee was originally established in 2010 and last went to referendum in 2010.

59 per cent yes, 41 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Musical Theatre fee of $0.50 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years?

This fee was originally established in 2004 and last went to referendum in 2010.

68 per cent yes, 32 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to an increase in the Queen’s Aero Design Team’s fee (subject to individual opt-out) from $0.15 to $0.25, an increase of $0.10?

62 per cent yes, 38 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to an increase in the Queen’s International Affairs Association (QIAA) (mandatory) fee from $0.65 to $0.80, an increase of $0.15?

54 per cent yes, 46 per cent no.

-------------------Do you agree to the continuation of the Golden Words (mandatory) fee of $2.00 for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 1973 and last went to referendum in 2010.

66 per cent yes, 34 per cent no.

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Friday, January 31, 2014

queensjournal.ca

•7

Research

University looks to acquire research funding Ontario government will grant $190 million to universities to increase employment

B y C hloe S obel Assistant News Editor The University could receive a portion a $190-million research fund, set to attract scientists and create jobs over the next six years.

The announcement was first

made in Toronto last week. On Monday, the Honourable Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation, visited Queen’s to reiterate the announcement.

Minister Moridi was accompanied by the Honourable John Gerretsen, Member of

Steven Liss, Vice-Principal (Research) and professor Praveen Jain welcome Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation, at Queen’s on Monday.

Provincial Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, and welcomed to Queen’s by Steven Liss, Vice-Principal (Research), and Praveen Jain, a professor in the department electrical and computer engineering.

The funding will go to two

photo supplied by the whig-standard

“[The] program has been Ontario Research Fund programs and will support research programs reinvested in, and that has provided significant operating monies across Ontario universities. $65 million will go to the … supporting all the operating Research Excellence program, aspects of conducting research and $125 million will go to the programs in key areas,” Liss said.

Some examples, he said, include Research Infrastructure program.

In order to receive funding, the fuel cell research center at a researcher must go through a Queen’s, Jain’s lab and ePOWER. Liss said that Ontario accounts thorough application process and for about 40 per cent of Canadian peer-to-peer evaluation.

Jain is a Tier 1 Canada Research research investments.

He said that despite a Chair in Power Electronics and Director of the Queen’s University constantly changing economy Centre for Energy and Power and the increasing costs of public Electronics Research (ePOWER). institutions such as healthcare and Jain is hoping secure a portion of education, Ontario continues to be a strong supporter of research. the funds.

Comments from the Ministry of “This funding is going to help Research and Innovation said that me,” Jain said.

“I have a fairly large group of the Research Excellence program students and researchers here resulted in 64 spin-off companies as part of ePOWER … so that employing over 570 people. The funding will help to maintain this Research Infrastructure program centre and conduct research in trained over 20,000 people, energy expediency and renewable resulting in 86 spin-off companies and over 5,000 jobs. energy power sources.”

“The province is very much Steven Liss, an internationally-recognized an equal partner and a strong researcher in environmental contributor to advancing research biotechnology and engineering, excellence and keeping our and applied microbiology, told the universities at the cutting edge of Journal that the program will help world-class research,” Liss said. support research at the University.

mENTAL hEALTH

Let’s talk Bell Students take part in #BellLetsTalk campaign B y O livia B owden Assistant News Editor Bell Canada launched its “Let’s Talk” campaign on Tuesday, raising awareness and funds for mental health initiatives.

Queen’s students took to Twitter to show support for the campaign.

In its fourth year, Bell pledged five cents to mental health initiatives for every tweet made featuring the hashtag. Donations were also made for Facebook shares, calls and texts.

Bell said that 109,451,719 tweets, texts, calls and Facebook shares were made on Tuesday, with almost $5.5 million raised.

Queen’s students and faculty took to Twitter to show support for the campaign.

Principal Daniel Woolf tweeted “It’s #BellLetsTalk Day. Please retweet to support mental health and combat stigma.

Jon Wiseman, ArtSci ’16, tweeted “Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.

That needs to change (Canadian Mental Health Association) #BellLetsTalk”.

In February 2012, Bell announced that Queen’s Faculty of Health Sciences professor Heather Stuart would fill the newly created role of Anti-Stigma Research Chair.

Bell committed to giving Stuart $1 million for five years to pursue anti-stigma research, with funding coming from previous Let’s Talk campaigns.

Stuart said that anti-stigma programs are a pillar of the

campaign, and her work fits well with the company’s mandate. “[Bell] gave Queen’s some money to protect some of my time so I could do more research and consult with [Bell] from time to time and do a public lecture every year,” she said.

In her role as Research Chair, Stuart works with Canada’s Mental Health Commission to identify programs across Canada that are doing anti-stigma programming.

“We try to set up an evaluation strategy so we can systematically access whether our programs are actually reducing stigma,” Stuart said.

“Then we identify which programs are doing the best … and make them available to other parts of the country.”

Stuart said she saw many Queen’s students participate in “Let’s Talk”, and that it gave them the opportunity to get involved with mental health awareness.

The key to reducing stigma is to encourage those who have dealt with mental illness to reach out to others who are suffering, she added.

“They can relate to people who are having problems, and help normalize the situation and give recovery messages so that people … don’t feel like it’s a death sentence,” Stuart said.

“They’ll see people around them who have recovered.”

Sebastian Gorlewski, director of the Peer Support Centre, said that although Bell is a corporation, their motive to promote mental health awareness is genuine.

Bell launched its Let’s Talk Twitter campaign on Tuesday.

“Sure, it’s corporate, but that’s not the point of doing it, they don’t have a hidden agenda,” Gorlewski, ArtSci ’14, said. “They are wanting to advertise that their company supports mental health issues, and the de-stigmatization of mental illness.”

He said that as an influential company, Bell’s support makes an impact.

“If a big telecommunications

company is saying that they support the de-stigmatization of mental health issues, that goes a long way,” he said.

Improvements still need to be made at Queen's, despite recent efforts to reduce stigma on campus, such as Queen’s Talks launched by the Peer Support Centre, a week-long campaign involving different events with guest speakers.

Gorlewski said that there

photo by Sam Koebrich

should be focus on specific student groups, like athletic clubs, so that more specific experiences can be examined.

“We’re not at a point where stigma has been eliminated. I think one of the biggest drives moving forward is trying to get the message across to more diverse student groups,” he said.

Follow @QJnews

8 •QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

CAMPUS MEDIA

CFRC fee gets nod Station fee may increase from $5.07 to $7.50, a huge boost before official separation from AMS on May 1 B Y C HLOE S OBEL Assistant News Editor

after the devastating loss last year, and today … we showed that it was apparent that there had been that work done.”

Owen, ArtSci ’14, and McElroy CFRC successfully lobbied for a fee increase said because Queen’s doesn’t have at AMS Assembly last night.

In Motion 5, CFRC proposed raising journalism or media programs, CFRC is a its mandatory fee from $5.07 to $7.50, an valuable resource to students looking for increase of $2.43. AMS Assembly carried journalistic experience.

AMS Media Services Director Devin the motion by a majority, with two votes McDonald presented a slideshow on against it.

The vote sends the CFRC fee to the AMS CFRC’s financial situation, outlining Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will four possible scenarios: the status quo, raised rent without a fee increase, take place on March 18.

The fee must be approved at the AGM, raised rent with a fee increase of one where any AMS member can vote before it dollar and raised rent with the $2.43 raise.

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE GAGNIER In all scenarios but the final one, Brenna Owen and Eric McElroy present at Assembly. can be raised.

The fee increase has taken on extra CFRC was slated to run a deficit every year urgency as CFRC transitions to full financial after it began to pay rent.

Assembly members spoke passionately autonomy, effective May 1.

A new budget model at the University has in favor of the fee increase and keeping faculties paying rent for space on campus CFRC afloat.

The next step for the CFRC fee is the and, as CFRC transitions to financial autonomy, the University intends to AMS AGM in March.

“I hope that a lot of people will come implement this model with it as well.

CFRC will have to begin paying fees out, people who will inform themselves going to inform friends and supporters. in 2017, and says that the increased fee of the issues, people who are open to our Continued from page 1 Mason popped a bottle of champagne, will allow it to absorb rent expenses, as sides of the case,” McElroy said.

“I’m very hopeful that it will pass.” well as upgrade its facilities and revitalize “I don’t even know what to say because and said he supported the decision of Tyler Lively, member-at- I’ll start crying,” he said. “I don’t think it’s my student voters. the station.

“I feel absolutely fantastic because my Brenna Owen and Eric McElroy large, contested the decision to win, I think it’s the win of my volunteers.” made the case for the fee increase at bypass the fee increase in the referendum.

Philip Lloyd, the WRL Vice-President good friends, Ali Williams, Phillip Lloyd and “Tonight, AMS Assembly let CFRC (University Affairs) candidate said he felt Justin Reekie are the next AMS executive,” the meeting, describing the station revitalization that CFRC will use the pull a fast one on students. CFRC overwhelmed by the news.

Mason, ArtSci ’14, said. refused to consult regular students funds for.

He said he was satisfied with “I can’t describe how happy I am,” he a referendum process, said. “I’m overjoyed.”

“I’m incredibly grateful that the members through SMH’s campaign. of Assembly were able to see the station’s and instead are going to stack the “We ran a clean campaign, we ran Lloyd said he’ll start preparing for his value and to see the work that the station March AMS AGM in their favour,” Lively, position soon, but not before taking a break. a positive campaign,” he said. “I feel as has done this year,” McElroy, Sci ’16, said ArtSci ’16, said.

“I’m going to have a drink, talk to my though that everything ended the way it “In bypassing a democratic referendum, parents and then we’ll get an agenda going should be.” after the presentation.

“The station has put in a lot of long CFRC showed that they are scared of to do this,” he said.

Mark Asfar said he was happy that the hours trying to revamp itself, especially facing students.”

Troy Sherman, the WRL campaign election period was over.

“This was more exhausting than anything manager, said the campaign strategy I’ve ever done … I’m happy to be done,” contributed to the win.

“I felt really good,” Sherman, ArtSci ’14, Asfar, ArtSci ’14, said. “God damn I’m happy said. “As long as you’re consistent as a to celebrate with [friends] right now.”

Hasina Daya said that she is looking campaign, you’ll get the results as well.”

Team SMH was informed by phone that forward to see what WRL will do in the new they had lost the election just before 11 p.m. school year.

“I’m really excited for Team WRL, they Presidential candidate Scott Mason answered the call from the AMS are going to do amazing things,” Daya, ArtSci ’14, said. “I’m really grateful for the Elections Team.

He informed his teammates and campaign people I have around me today.” manager Stephen Smith in the hallway outside Mark Asfar’s apartment, before

Lloyd: ‘I’m overjoyed’

piece together a sustainable future what is mscsm?

The MScSM degree is a 20-month graduate program for individuals interested in management careers in sustainability related divisions and organizations.

Visit our website for the details of the program and to mark the calendar dates for our visit to your campus.

university of toronto Mississauga mscsm.utm@utoronto.ca | 905-569-5803 | www.utm.utoronto.ca/mscsm WRL hugs campaign manager Troy Sherman.

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE GAGNIER

Friday, January 31, 2014

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Janina Enrile Alison Shouldice

Production Manager

Alex Pickering

News Editor

Vincent Ben Matak

Assistant News Editors

Olivia Bowden Sebastian Leck Chloe Sobel

Features Editors

Rachel Herscovici Emily Miller

Editorials Editor

David Hadwen

Editorial Illustrator

Katherine Boxall

Opinions Editor

Erin Sylvester

Arts Editor

Brent Moore

Assistant Arts Editor Sports Editor

Justin Santelli Nick Faris

Assistant Sports Editor

Sean Sutherland

Postscript Editor Photo Editors

Katie Grandin

Charlotte Gagnier Sam Koebrich

Graphics Editor

Web Developer

Jonah Eisen

Michael Wong

Blogs Editor Copy Editors

Jessica Chong Anisa Rawhani Megan Scarth

Contributing Staff Staff Writers and Photographers Natasa Bansagi Josh Burton Chloe Grande Nicolaas Smith

Contributors

Jack O’Donnell Gaby Schachter Corey Schruder

queensjournal.ca

Dialogue Religious education

Ontario should scrap its outdated Catholic school system and replace it with a model that provides a subsidy to all religious groups.

Last week, the Globe and Mail published an editorial that was heavily critical of Ontario’s Catholic schools. The Globe also published an online poll asking respondents if they support public funding for Catholic education.

While the Globe is responsible for the latest skirmish over religious education in Ontario, the overall debate is longstanding.

Catholic schools in Ontario are fully funded while other religious schools flounder due to lack of funds or charge students a hefty amount to attend. In 1999, the United Nations admonished the Ontario system for its selectivity in education. The UN is correct: Ontario should fund all religious schooling equally or create a completely secular school system.

As it stands, some parents send their children to Catholic schools because they believe it will provide a more disciplined, religious or socially conservative environment.

Still, others seem to want their children in a more culturally homogenous setting. In some areas, parents prefer Catholic schools because they receive more funding than public alternatives.

Most of these motivations are either reprehensible or short-sighted. While there exists a fundamental right to religious education, it shouldn’t

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Friday, January 31, 2014 • Issue 30 • Volume 141

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Editorial opinions expressed in the Journal are the sole responsibility of the Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

Contents © 2014 by the Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the Journal.

The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Subscriptions are available for $120.00 per year (plus applicable taxes).

Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief.

Please direct editorial, advertising and circulation enquiries to: 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Telephone: 613-533-2800 (editorial) 613-533-6711 (advertising) Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca The Journal online: www.queensjournal.ca Circulation 6,000 Issue 31 of Volume 141 will be published on Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Editorials — The Journal’s Perspective

“The creation of one secular school system would be an improvement on the status quo.”

Catholic schools are outmoded

Business Staff

James Bolt Clara Lo Stephanie Stevens David Worsley

•9

Megan Scarth

Food for thought

You are what you eat.

That’s probably what your mother told you as a child so you would eat your veggies, but think about it: our physical bodies are, quite literally, the re-construction of the elements that we consume.

A few months ago, I offered a close friend a snack. Before even tasting it, she wanted to know how many calories were in it. I waited as she meticulously studied the label.

She eventually took a tiny piece.

“I’m terrified of calories,” she explained, logging her intake into an app on her phone.

It was an offhand comment, but it stuck in my mind. When did we, as humans, begin viewing food as a threat rather than a means of survival?

I began to worry about my friend, and truth be told, I still do.

Yet I find myself hesitant to voice my concerns. For many of us, food is an incredibly emotional and sensitive topic. That piece of cake is more than sugar, butter and

be fully funded by taxpayers. history. Now, however, Ontario is Similarly, cultural homogeneity is a much more secular society with something to be avoided rather many different religious groups. than encouraged with public While reforming the current money. Moreover, inequalities system may be tough because between schools would be softened it would require a long battle if Ontario’s current school system and a constitutional challenge, was eliminated in favour of a it should at least be attempted. completely secular one.

The creation of one secular school Ontario’s system was originally system would be an improvement established to ensure that a large on the status quo. A more realistic Catholic minority would have its option would see religious schools religious freedom protected during of all faiths receive a set amount a more sectarian period in our of funding.

Ontario should abandon its current system of Catholic schools as they are a relic from a societal context that has long passed. Our values have changed and, as long as we’re going to have religious education at all, we should cater to new religious groups that deserve funding every bit as much as Catholics.

— Journal Editorial Board

illustration by Katherine Boxall

flour; it can be a treat, a source of guilt, part of a tradition or a childhood memory.

We seem to have this bizarre dichotomy in our culture: on one hand, nutrition labels allow us to be more aware than ever of the composition of our foods.

Yet we seem strangely apathetic to the myriad of unpronounceable ingredients within the packaging.

Think of diet foods, with ingredients like “neotame” or “acesulfame potassium” used as artificial sweeteners. Do you really want to be putting something that sounds like part of a science experiment into your body?

But most of these snacks come prepackaged in seemingly benign portions. I mean, if it’s only 100 calories, it can’t hurt you ... right?

It’s ironic because, in trying to keep ourselves healthy, many of us develop an extremely unhealthy mindset. By reducing foods into calories and grams of fat, we begin to view them as numbers and not as fuel.

With the increased prevalence of eating disorders in recent years, it’s time we take a critical look at our relationship with food.

Relationships can be complicated, and are more difficult for some than others. But they are worth putting some time into — both your mind and your body will thank you for it.

Megan is a Copy Editor at the Journal.

She’s a second-year English major.

Editor in Chief election Voters List 2014 Vote on February 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 190 University Ave.

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Adam Laskaris Sebastian Leck Sean Liebich Vincent Matak Katherine Meagher Emily Miller Brent Moore Filza Naveed Alex Pickering Chris Radojewski Anisa Rawhani Jacob Rumball Justin Santelli Megan Scarth Kate Shao Alison Shouldice Nicolaas Smith Chloe Sobel Erin Stephenson Andrew Stokes Sean Sutherland Erin Sylvester Styna Tao Colin Tomchick Michael Wong Meaghan Wray Jerry Zheng

Dialogue

10 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 31, 2014

Talking heads

Opinions — Your perspective

... around campus Photos By Erin Sylvester

Vinyl or digital music?

“Vinyl, because the sound is more authentic and rustic, especially when you’re listening to older music.”

Some Kingston residents have rallied to keep Canada Post’s home delivery service.

Photo by Sam Koebrich

Panel — Canada Post

Kate Henning, PheKin ’14

Federal parties go postal Our panelists debate the government’s decision to cut services and jobs from a Crown corporation NDP

Liberal

Conservative

“Vinyl, because I like the music of that era and it has a more crisp sound.”

Zach Weima, Sci ’17

Jack O’Donnell, ArtSci ’14

Gaby Schachter, ArtSci ’15

Corey Schruder, ArtSci ’16

The recent announcement that Canada Post will be ending its door-to-door delivery service in urban areas has, to say the least, come as a surprise to many Canadians.

To see a Crown corporation as old as the country itself have the axe taken to it is somewhat jarring, not unlike when we learned the CBC would no longer be able to afford its NHL television contracts.

Both of these unfortunate circumstances have arisen in the wake of irresponsible Conservative austerity. In the case of Canada Post, a downsized budget has come at the cost of quality jobs, affordable service and the stature of a national icon.

Canada will be the first country in the G7 to eliminate door-to-door delivery.

This raises significant concerns about the accessibility of postal service for seniors, small businesses and the disabled. In addition, police and local officials have expressed concerns about the dependency on community mailboxes, saying that they can cause problems, ranging from garbage issues to identity theft.

Then there are the 6,000-8,000 jobs which will be phased out as the result of this decision. The New Democrats have taken a firm stance against the elimination of this valuable service, and on Tuesday, MP Olivia Chow submitted a motion articulating this view.

The Harper regime knows that cutting services, driving away customers and raising prices is no way to save a failing business. In many ways, this seems like a concerted effort to gradually end the national mail service as a whole.

It’s 2014, and there’s no doubt that the terrestrial post does not hold the same social significance it once did.

However, before we are willing to do away with this old icon, the state needs to be prepared to have a discussion about what kind of services may be necessary to fill its place in the information age.

As a way of mitigating further financial hardship, the federal government has decided to phase out Canada Post’s door-to-door delivery services in urban areas, as well as a number of other job services.

For those of us that live in suburbia and already get our mail from a communal box, this means little change, but for those who live in urban and rural areas, this means getting your mail from a post office or alternate location.

In the midst of this inconvenience for consumers, 6,000-8,000 jobs will be lost through the removal of services like manual mail sorting, route restrictions and parcel delivery to communal boxes. Though many of these jobs will be phased out through retirement and voluntary leave, thankfully, what concerns me the most is the lack of consultation on the part of Canada Post, both in the professional and public sphere prior to this decision.

My concerns echo those of many on Parliament Hill. I feel there’s a fine line to balance between fiscal responsibility and loss of jobs and services. My main concern is that the public should have been notified, or at least consulted, before this action was taken.

To me, the loss of door-to-door service seems a small change in the short run, but the lasting effects on the job force and service domain are much higher. Even so, I feel that employees are more hard-pressed to adjust than the consumer.

Further to this point, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has voiced concerns regarding the depth of study taken prior to the decision to cut services. Aside from lack of consultation on both ends, the hastiness of this decision would lead the average onlooker to believe that little calculation was made to predict the effects of the job losses as well as the changes to the nature of manual mail service.

Though I can’t speak to what processes led to this decision, and though I agree fiscal responsibility is important, I believe that conversation, fact-based policy decisions and transparency are paramount. From what I can see by the outcome of this decision, little of that was attempted.

In today’s digital age, Canadians are choosing to communicate in ways other than sending letters. In light of this shift, Canada Post can’t continue to use the same business model from the pre-digital era.

According to Canada Post, mail volumes have dropped almost 25 per cent since 2008 and are continuing to fall. This will lead to a steep decline in revenue for Canada Post, which is of great concern to Canadian taxpayers.

Since 1981, Canada Post has held a mandate to operate on a self-sustaining basis. Our government firmly believes that taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for Canada Post’s losses. It supports Canada Post’s five-point action plan to help ensure that it stays on solid financial footing and better reflects Canadians’ choices. As an arms-length Crown corporation, Canada Post is responsible for its operations, including business and financial decisions.

Some of these actions involve staff reductions through attrition, the expansion of community mailboxes and increasing the price of stamps. Canada Post will roll out these changes as thoughtfully and smoothly as possible over a five-year period.

These changes are in line with the global transformation of the postal sector in general.

More than two-thirds of Canadian households already receive their mail through community mailboxes. In its five-point plan, Canada Post has indicated it will make accommodations for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

It already does this for those who currently receive mail through this method.

The NDP advocates for the interests of union bosses from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, rather than the interests of taxpayers, and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals continue to add nothing to the debate.

Our government, on the other hand, has tackled reality head-on to protect Canadian taxpayers.

Jack is the Co-President of the Queen’s New Democratic Party.

Gaby is the President of the Queen’s University Liberal Association.

Corey is the Senior Director of Issues Management for the Queen’s University Conservative Association.

“Digital music, because it’s portable and cheaper (or even free).”

Joey Wen, ConEd ’15

“Digital music, because I’ve never listened to a vinyl record.”

Zain Saleem, ArtSci ’16

“Records, because they have more character.”

Jane Lee, ArtSci ’15

“I very much prefer vinyl because I have a soft spot for the crackles.”

Ryan Picard, Sci ’16

Friday, January 31, 2014

queensjournal.ca

• 11

local theatre

Seeing Red at the Grand

Arts

Great performances bring Tony-award winning play to life B y J ustin S antelli Assistant Arts Editor

Randy Hughson and Ben Sanders star in Red.

photos supplied by mark bergin

Red is many things, but it’s ultimately a story of generations locking horns.

The Grand Theatre has just debuted a production of John Logan’s Tony award-winning play about legendary abstractexpressionist Mark Rothko, and it’s unmissable.

In 1958, Rothko was commissioned to create a series of paintings to decorate New York City’s Park Ave. restaurant the Four Seasons.

Rothko worked on the paintings for almost two years before the collection, which would come to be known as “the Seagram murals” after the alcoholic beverage company who commissioned them.

The works, however, were eventually withheld from his contractors after Rothko suddenly deemed the restaurant unfit to house his work. Red is a fictionalized account of what led

to that seemingly-sudden decision.

The play brings a fictional assistant, Ken, into the narrative.

A whole generation behind the brilliant but ornery Rothko, Ken is berated and challenged and educated so intensely over his time under Rothko that eventually — as it must always be — the pupil rightfully challenges the teacher and everything he’s been taught.

Masterfully directed by Charlotte Gowdy, the drama simmers and boils when it should and the humour shines through admirably when it can.

The play only features two characters, and that’s all it needs.

Ben Sanders plays Ken as a perfect rube who believably grows through stages of awe, skepticism and finally exhaustion in the presence of his mentor. Randy Hughson barks and howls his way through the role of Rothko, successfully portraying him as the play calls for him to be portrayed: a man who is every bit as much a fervent slave to his vanity as he is to

his passion.

Peter Hartwell’s set design suits the Baby Grand extremely well. As the entire play is set in Rothko’s studio, the entire room becomes the stage, with the lines between the action and the audience being finely drawn. This is not unusual for a space as compact as the Baby Grand, but it’s done exceptionally well here — including one very meta moment which would be a shame to spoil here.

This is an excellent play, but know going in that it’s essentially 90 minutes of two men arguing about art: what it can and should be, how it can and should feel, and why anyone would or should care about any of it.

If that sounds boring to you, then you probably haven’t even made it this far into the review. But the Grand Theatre’s production of Red proves how exhilarating something as simple as that can be.

Red will be playing at the Grand Theatre on Princess St. until Feb. 15.

local theatre

King’s Town Players show their Underpants Local production of Steve Martin play is laced with laughs B y M egan S carth Copy Editor What would you do if your underpants fell down in public?

In King’s Town Players’ latest production The Underpants, that’s the situation housewife Louise finds herself in. One moment, she’s attending a public parade, and the next, her white bloomers are around her ankles.

Her accident inadvertently draws the attention of two lusty men: Versati, a passionate poet, and Cohen, a sickly barber. Both rent a room at Louise’s house and attempt to win her affections under the nose of her oblivious husband.

Lies and laughter ensue, propelled by a lively script filled with innuendo. Yet there’s much more to this play than pure bawdiness: the script provides witty aphorisms and social commentary

in the style of Oscar Wilde.

The audience was kept laughing for the entire evening. In fact, The Underpants was written by famed comedian Steve Martin.

As someone who had only been familiar with his recent movies, I found myself pleasantly surprised by his skill as a playwright.

Much of Martin’s skill comes from his ability to create memorable one-liners. As an English major, “Poems are like giraffes: they both make no sense” was probably my favourite of the evening.

Of course, these lines wouldn’t be nearly as amusing if they weren’t delivered by skilled actors. Though King’s Town Players was formed just four years ago, many of the actors have years of experience.

One of the stand-out actors, however, was much younger than his co-workers. Gabe Meacher, a grade 12 student at a local high

school, played the role of Cohen, a nerve-wracked barber vying for Louise’s love.

Even when he was not speaking, he never broke character, and entertained the audience with his humorous reactions to the characters speaking centre-stage.

His demonstration of his character’s personality was aided by the play’s use of costumes and make-up. He wore a baggy suit, making him appear thin and fragile, and red circles framed his eyes, giving him a tired appearance.

The play was set entirely in the bottom floor of Louise and her husband’s home. The cheerful decor of the set matched the lively tone of the play: colourful plates lined the shelves of the mint-green walls, framed by bright yellow trim.

Old couches and chairs gave it a homely feel.

See Tailor on page 15

Photos supPlied by JOHN A. GEDDES

Steve Martin’s The Underpants is on until Feb. 8.

12 •queensjournal.ca

Arts

Friday, January 31, 2014

ARTS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

POINT/COUNTERPOINT

Vinyl or MP3?

Two of our editors go head-to-head on music formats

MP3 B Y E RIN S YLVESTER Opinions Editor The main issue with our vinyl-loving times is accessibility.

Although vinyl inarguably has a better sound quality than CDs, tapes or digital music, these other media, particularly digital tracks, are much more accessible to the average person.

To even begin listening to a vinyl record you must have a record player, a significant investment.

Record players are also difficult to fix once broken because the parts aren’t always easily replaceable.

For young people and students that are used to communally listening to music, perhaps at a party, the danger of bouncing the needle off the record isn’t a pressing concern. Damaging a record and buying a replacement can set you back much more than even needing to re-download a song from iTunes.

It’s also frighteningly easy to damage both record and machine.

My sister once fell asleep listening to a record and left the player on, scratching a groove in the vinyl and damaging the point of the needle.

Kingston is lucky because there are a few places downtown that sell records, but they’re not nearly as readily available as digital downloads. They’re also not as portable.

Digital downloads allow the consumer to be flexible in buying music. They don’t have to commit to an entire album if they only like one or two songs. Consumers can also create entire curated libraries of music they enjoy, and one that they don’t have to worry about getting damaged as easily as a record would. Files can be lost, but with advances in cloud technology, as long as we have an internet connection we’ll have access to our music.

The digital format also allows users to create playlists to suit their personal taste and mood. If you put on an album it seems nearly blasphemous to pull the needle off before it’s done — unless you’re a DJ, of course.

Not only is the consumer awarded more flexibility with digital music, the artists are too.

Musicians can upload music online and get noticed without having to sign any record deals with music producers. Many artists don’t have the means to put out a hardcopy album on their own, but most are able to record themselves and upload it online.

The innovative possibilities of digital music also allowed Beyoncé to release her surprise digital album last year, including music videos for all of her songs. This multimedia content would be more difficult to facilitate with vinyl records and allows artists different ways to share their talents. As much as I

think about Beyoncé dancing when I hear her songs, it’s quite another thing to be able to see her dancing to them, and an experience I wouldn’t trade for an easily breakable record that can only be played on a clunky machine.

If we’re worried about the authenticity of a musical experience, perhaps we should foster digital technology, and the more direct relationships between artist and listener that it can create.

VINYL B Y A LEX P ICKERING Production Manager Over the last decade and a half, advances in technology have allowed for the rapid expansion of the music industry. A number of different services have had their heyday during this period, with notable ones being Napster, iTunes and the up-and-coming Spotify.

These services all share the common goal of making music as accessible as possible. But it doesn’t matter how these files are being emanated, one thing still remains — analog recordings are being pushed out of the picture.

Maybe it’s problematic that excitement surrounding modern music stems from the virality of the accompanying video. Maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s just a natural progression, and us vinyl-loving luddites need to get with the times.

Regardless of your stance, the fact of the matter is that record stores are closing en masse.

Afternoons spent diving through crates at your local record store are vulnerable to the digital shift.

Should we simply stand by the wayside and let the wave of digital revolution take over?

Personally, I think that vinyl records are something worth fighting for, and so do other

vinyl advocates.

Jack White, front man of the now-defunct band The White Stripes has spoken on the topic.

“I want to be part of the resurgence of things that are tangible, beautiful and soulful, rather than just give in to the digital age. But when I talk to people about this they just say, ‘Yeah, I know what you mean,’ and stare at their mobiles,” he said.

Nothing could be more tangible, beautiful and soulful than the first few scratches of the needle spinning on your favourite record.

Nothing can compare to the feeling of inheriting your parents’ dusty old records from the 80s, and nothing can top the experience of finally tracking down that coveted album tucked away behind The Boy with the Arab Strap.

To put it simply, vinyl is a medium that allows you to fully appreciate and dissect an album in its entirety. It gives you the opportunity to slip away from the busy technical world and reflect on the artist’s message — something that often gets lost in an age of short-sighted distractions. With the focus that modern music places on releasing hit singles, it’s refreshing to sit back and absorb the entire narrative of an album.

There is a stigma around those who collect or listen to vinyl as being overly nostalgic, or dare I say “hipsters”. However, there are quantifiable reasons defending vinyl’s inherent benefits that oftentimes get overlooked. Vinyl has the largest capacity for high quality audio and remains the rawest platform that a band can put forth their music on.

Ultimately, the conflict between vinyl and mp3 lands on convenience.

If people aren’t willing to take 40 minutes out of their day to listen to a complete album rotate then the fundamental idea behind vinyl is lost. It’s unfortunate that the lethargy shown towards vinyl has become another symptom of a throw-away culture. On the other hand, those of us who love and appreciate vinyl will carry on its legacy, because hey, Record Store Day will be here in three months.

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE GAGNIER

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

• 13

ARTS

14 •QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

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Tailor-made to delight Continued from page 11

The sound effects were infrequent, but used to good effect: one of the few sound effects was of a chirping cuckoo clock, whose noises reflected the current emotions the characters were experiencing.

The music was even more subtle, used only during scene changes. Though they were not featured prominently, upbeat tracks such as “The Entertainer” kept up the lively overall tone of the play.

In the end, the play left me with a smile on my face. When else are you going to get to listen to people talk about underwear for an hour and a half at a yacht club?

Tailor-made to delight, The Underpants is laced with plenty of laughs.

The Underpants runs from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 and Feb. 5 to 8. It will be shown at 8 p.m. at the Kingston Yacht Club.

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY JOHN A. GEDDES

The Underpants is filled with innuendo.

ARTS CALENDAR Music CFRC Presents: The Huaraches and Teenage Frankenstein The Grad Club Friday, Feb. 7 9:00 p.m.

Beethoven and Dvorak The Kingston Symphony Orchestra Sunday, Feb. 9 2:30 p.m.

Tiger Uppercut/Beta 58s The Mansion Friday, Jan. 31 10:00 p.m.

Black Violin The Grand Theatre Thursday, Feb. 6 7:30 p.m.

Art Arctic I: Sovereignty in Pink Agnes Etherington Art Centre Jan. 25 to April 6 Ipseity.

Union Gallery Feb. 6 - Mar. 7 “Where the Line is Drawn” Preview Show The Artel Feb. 1 - Feb. 28

Film Inside Llewyn Davis The Screening Room Begins Jan. 31 See www.moviesinkingston.com for showtimes

Artist Talks An Evening With Author Miranda Hill Speaker’s corner, Stauffer Library (north end of the ground floor) Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

• 15

16 •QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

QSIC — PART 3 OF 3

• Preview

• Sim Saturday

• Speaker Q&A

Shnarped in the show From the pros to the Den: speaker shares his hockey story B Y N ICK FARIS Sports Editor Dustin Sproat grew up in Red Deer, played hockey in England and was enlightened in Nashville.

The former professional hockey player arrived in Kingston last Thursday to appear on a speakers’ panel at the ninth annual Queen’s Sports Industry Conference (QSIC).

A former captain of the Princeton University hockey team, Sproat played four pro seasons in the United States and abroad. In 2011, along with an ex-teammate, he founded Shnarped Hockey, a social networking app that allows fans to send and receive messages from professional players.

Sproat tested his entrepreneurial

chops on the CBC reality show Dragon’s Den in 2013, eventually settling an on-air deal with all five Dragons. Despite this, it was an earlier experience that spurred his entry into sports business.

As his playing career was ending in 2011, he attended an NHL game in Nashville, during which the home Predators clinched their first-ever playoff series victory.

Surrounded by emotional season ticket holders, Sproat was suddenly committed to making it in hockey once again.

“I got to thinking, ‘I don’t know what exactly I’m going to do, but I’m going to stick with sports,’” he said.

Before addressing QSIC’s delegates, Sproat sat down with the Journal to discuss his business

ATHLETE PROFILE

Gaels hitter back in service Tomlinson feeling no ill effects after injury B Y B RENT M OORE Arts Editor Tomorrow, one of the OUA’s biggest offensive threats will be back in full force.

Third-year outside hitter Mike Tomlinson will be wearing #12 and stationed in the front row during the men’s volleyball game at the ARC — leaping, lunging, challenging and never hesitating.

He completely tore his ACL less than a year ago, but there won’t be any evidence of it this weekend.

Since returning to the court in late November, Tomlinson has rocketed to second in the OUA in points per game. That’s up from fifth overall in 2012-13, his breakout university season.

“I would say I’m back to where I was at the end of last season,” Tomlinson said.

Last year, the team’s season ended in the OUA quarterfinals, where they went back and forth with the York Lions before losing in five sets. York was ranked one spot behind the Gaels, but pulled off the upset in Kingston.

Tomlinson had 16 kills that game — more than anyone else on the Gaels. He also had 10 attacking errors and six serving errors, both team-high stats as well.

A few weeks out from that defeat, Tomlinson tore his ACL while playing basketball at the ARC. Projected recovery time for an injury of that sort is anywhere between nine and 12 months, and sometimes longer.

It would mean no summer volleyball with Team Ontario, and a drastic reduction in the off-season weight gains he’d need to reach for a spot on this year’s OUA All-Star Team.

Now, he had a new goal: to get back on the court by Christmas.

For seven months, Tomlinson worked to get healthy. There was “pre-hab” before his knee surgery — getting strong before the operation to improve recovery time. There was physiotherapy, strength and conditioning and, eventually, a return to practice six months in.

Gaels head coach Brenda Willis initially limited him to the back row instead of his usual outside front position. Tomlinson worked heavily on serving and digs, a neglected area of his game.

It wasn’t long before he was able to play at the net again, but his time in the backcourt wasn’t forgotten.

In 62 sets last year, Tomlinson had 65 digs and 15 service aces. In 36 sets so far this season, he has 66 See Back on page 18

venture, his dance with the Dragons and the passion of his student audience.

What made you want to come speak at QSIC? I just finished my MBA at UBC. A lot of interesting people came to speak to us, and it was an honour to be approached in that way [by the QSIC executive]. I’ve never been out to Kingston, and I didn’t really understand the journey it was going to be, but it’s been great.

How did the idea of Shnarped Hockey come about?

A bunch of us played hockey together at Princeton University.

We first started this charity called Hockey Fights for Cancer. It was this player-driven initiative where we’d go out and do reading programs and children’s hospital visits in different communities.

It worked really well for the guys, because guys move around from town to town a lot and you can kind of bring these programs with you. We came up with Shnarped out of that. We had built this big network of 150 hockey See Social on page 19

PHOTO BY SAM KOEBRICH

Dustin Sproat founded Shnarped Hockey with a former teammate in 2011, soon after his retirement from professional hockey.

SPORTS Football First recruit signs

PAGE 17

SOCCER

English expedition As defender heads abroad, Kingston FC cuts deal at home B Y N ICK FARIS Sports Editor Joe Zupo’s professional chance has arrived.

Before he graduates from Queen’s this summer, the fourth-year men’s soccer captain has a shot to boost his burgeoning pro career. He’s flying to England next week, bound for a three-week trial with Exeter City FC, a club in the English fourth division.

Zupo revealed the news at the ARC on Tuesday, in a season-opening press conference held by Kingston FC — the local pro franchise he suited up for this past season.

“To go over there, I’m not expecting it to be rainbows and butterflies,” Zupo said. “I’m expecting to go over there and do my best. If I come back and nothing comes out of it, at least I don’t regret going over there and

PHOTO BY SAM KOEBRICH

Flanked by Kingston FC head coach Colm Muldoon (left) and assistant coach Mike Akai (right), club chairman Lorne Abugov announced the team’s new facility deal with Queen’s at Tuesday’s press conference.

not putting my best foot forward.”

Named an OUA East All-Star in each of his four collegiate seasons, Zupo thrived alongside seasoned pros during a 13-game stint with Kingston FC, which competes in the third rung of North American soccer.

Learning from his veteran teammates, the defender said, inspired him to commit to the tryout and test himself against England’s elite.

“This is their livelihood. These players are playing in order to progress and to be professional football players,” Zupo said.

“That’s my hope: mentally and physically, that I can compete at the level they play at.

“I’m confident in my abilities.

If nothing else, I’m going to enjoy the experience.”

Tuesday’s press conference cast Zupo as the face of Kingston FC’s relationship with Queen’s — a connection that’s set to highlight the club’s third CSL season.

The team plays its home games at West Campus Field and has extensive access to Richardson Stadium and the ARC. Club chairman Lorne Abugov announced Tuesday that the franchise has signed a new agreement with Queen’s, cementing their use of these facilities for the next three years.

The new deal will also see Queen’s Athletics promote See Three-year on page 18

Friday, January 31, 2014

Sports

queensjournal.ca

• 17

FOOTBALL

Linebacker signs on Prized CEGEP recruit commits to retooling Gaels B y J osh B urton Staff Writer Queen’s football has signed its first recruit of 2014.

Last Friday, head coach Pat Sheahan introduced linebacker Brendan Coffey as the newest member of the gridiron Gaels.

The 6’1”, 215-lb. Coffey is a top recruit out of Québec’s CEGEP system, hailing from Montreal’s Vanier College.

“Today is the accumulation of the hard work of a lot of people who invested a lot of hard work and time in me,” Coffey said.

“I’ve learned so much from my teammates and now I’m ready to take the next step with those people behind me.

“I’m excited to join one of the biggest and storied programs in Canada in Queen’s football.”

Coffey describes his game as “cerebral.”

Not the speediest or strongest player on the field — though he isn’t lacking in either category — he relies on excellent on-field vision and intuition that he forges through extensive film study and practice.

He also has the Québec-only bonus

of being a year older than the rest his recruiting class, because he attended CEGEP and faced a high level of competition in Québec’s AAA junior league.

At Vanier, Coffey was a star on and off the field, receiving top honours as a linebacker while winning the Bol D’or AAA CEGEP provincial championship in 2012.

He also claimed the 2013 CEGEP Division 1 Academic Merit award.

Queen’s values of balancing education alongside athletics helped Coffey commit to wearing gold. “[Queen’s has] the academic reputation, the history of the football program, but above all I thought it was the people I would be working with … [that made it] a fairly easy choice for me,” he said.

Coffey joins Gaels football in a period of flux.

Long-time defensive coordinator Pat Tracey recently accepted a job as special teams coordinator with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, leaving a large hole in the coaching staff.

Combined with the potential departure of up to seven all-star members of the defence,

Brendan Coffey is the first recruit to commit to Queen’s in 2014.

including linebacker and top-10 CFL draft prospect Sam Sabourin, the future of the Gaels’ defence is unclear.

With the departure of talent, however, comes opportunity. Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan doesn’t think his defence will revert to square one, and sees Coffey playing a major role in the near future.

“There’s no question that one of the priorities in the recruiting class was to reload the defence,” Sheahan said. “In every year you expect some graduation. That’s the

SUPPLIED BY Michelle kasaboski

nature of university sport.

“I think we’re bringing someone in who’s going to make us a better football team and compete on defence.”

The Gaels are set to introduce another defensive recruit this afternoon at the ARC. 6’2”, 240-lb. defensive end Palmer Simpson will join the squad next year from Sault Ste. Marie.

Queen’s football finished second in the OUA in 2013, falling 51-22 in the Yates Cup to the Western Mustangs.

Sports

18 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 31, 2014

Three-year deal Continued from page 16

Kingston FC tickets and merchandise, both online and at the ARC’s Q-Shop.

“There’s a huge soccer fan base of Queen’s students,” Zupo said.

“When kids are starting to come back to school [in September], hopefully they can make their way out to games and be the fan base that Kingston FC rightfully deserves to have.”

Queen’s hefty on-field representation was a key part of Kingston FC’s meteoric rise up the CSL standings in 2013.

Zupo was one of four Gaels products to suit up for Kingston in a campaign that saw the squad win the First Division regular season title. They earned 37 more points than in 2012, the club’s tumultuous expansion season.

Ex-Gaels midfielders Jordan Brooks and Nathan Klemencic should be back with Kingston FC when the new season kicks off in

May, according to Abugov. Asutin White, last year’s and a current Queen’s law student, will rejoin the club in September, after he returns from summer employment with a firm in Toronto.

Abugov said he plans to meet with Gaels men’s soccer coach Chris Gencarelli in the coming weeks to evaluate other potential prospects.

In the meantime, he’s hopeful Zupo won’t return to West Campus Field anytime soon.

“If he does well [in England], we won’t have him,” Abugov said, “and if he doesn’t do as well as he hopes or if it doesn’t work out, Nathan Klemencic (right) played four years with the Gaels before joining Kingston FC in 2013. PHOTO BY SAM KOEBRICH then he would be welcome to play with us in a heartbeat.

“It’s part of our commitment to push our players into the next level of soccer and help them progress their own career,” he added. “The CSL is a stepping stone league, Continued from page 16 looked to use his time off the court and we’re quite content to play effectively. Tomlinson continued the role.” digs and 15 aces. attending practices and games “That side of my game has seen throughout the fall, and spent a lot some much-needed improvement,” of time scouting opposing players. he said.

“Stepping back from the game It takes a community to bring [and] not having to be ready to an athlete back to top form, and jump in at any moment allows you Tomlinson is quick to credit the to see the game in a different light,” people around him. Physiotherapy he said. teams in Kingston and back in He picked up on key players, Stratford, his hometown, were watching the shots they took and involved in the recovery process. the decisions they made. From this He also spent a great deal of standpoint, he could offer advice to time working with strength and teammates who may have been too conditioning coaches at the ARC. focused and close to the problem to “I had so much support,” see what he saw.

Tomlinson said. “That’s how But the bench was also an Journal file photo I managed to come back [ahead anxious, torturous place.

Mike Tomlinson “All you want to do is get out is second in the OUA in points per of schedule].”

Like any injured player, he there and help your team,” he said. game, after returning from injury.

Back at the front

SPORTS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

Social app links players, fans Continued from page 16

players in eight countries around the world.

We noticed some players had a tough time staying in contact with one another, and we were trying to reach these guys all the time. Cell phones change all the time, guys don’t respond to email, and once you make it big, you can’t be on Facebook any more, basically. We created this social network to bring guys together.

What was it like appearing on Dragon’s Den? It was pretty nerve-wracking.

We decided we wanted to do it for PR purposes. As a digital media company, they’re an older demographic than you usually pitch ideas to. We were prepared for the worst and pleasantly surprised at how things turned out.

What’s the process of applying to Dragon’s Den? A bunch of producers show up, and you go in and pitch to them. You have to come up with something entertaining that you

can do. I always say it’s about 70 per cent entertainment, 30 per cent business model. I think they get a lot of people that pitch digital products and apps, and it’s really hard to make an entertaining pitch.

What’s happened since Dragon’s Den? There’s been a really nice boost in users. It’s a social product, so the more users that are on there, the more content and the better it is for everybody. The Dragon’s Den experience was just a really good introduction to who we are.

What perspective are you hoping to get across at QSIC? It’s about breaking into sports, basically. For us, we had the advantage of a huge network in the pro community, but that didn’t necessarily get us into the fan community.

Everybody has business ideas,

What about QSIC are you most excited for?

I love the student experience.

I’m excited about all the events here and the fact that people seem to care what I think, for whatever reason. A lot of people want to get into the business of sports, and I’m sure there’ll be a lot of enthusiasm here this weekend. I like being a part of it.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Follow @QJSports.

ACROSS

1. UNKEMPT SORT 5. BANNED INSECTICIDE 8. ROSE FEATURE 12. BRAVE ONE 13. DEBTOR’S LETTERS 14. GROW WEARY 15. TERRIBLE GUY? 16. LEGISLATIVE BODY 18. TALL BEER GLASS 20. HEART LINE? 21. HELP 22. CRIB 23. “THE CRUELLEST MONTH” 26. MORAYS’ COUSINS 30. UNDERWEAR WITH UNDERWIRE 31. MANDIBLE 32. GREET THE VILLAIN 33. DANCED IN A LINE 36. ICE, OFTEN 38. STERNWARD 39. JOKER 40. SPORTS VENUE 43. EVIL 47. “WELL DONE!” 49. PIANIST PETER 50. USPS DELIVERY 51. KNOCK 52. UNFORTUNATE FATE 53. VORTEX 54. LETTERMAN’S NETWORK 55. HATHAWAY OR HECHE

DOWN

and a number of times I’ve heard people say something like, ‘If you can get Paul Bissonnette or Alex Ovechkin to tweet about it, it’ll just take off.’ We thought that too, and it’s not true at all.

Generally, what’s been really good for us is creating value for everybody along the way, and if you do that, they’ll keep you around and want you to be a part of it.

1. FLEET COMPONENT 2. STRAUSS OF JEANS FAME 3. VERBAL 4. DWARFED POTTED PLANT 5. PREPARED FOOD, IN A WAY 6. ENTRY 7. VINTNER’S VESSEL 8. MIGHTY 9. LAYER 10. FORMERLY, FORMERLY 11. SMALL PLATEAU

17. PROFIT 19. ZERO 22. ACKNOWLEDGE APPLAUSE 23. 1970 JACKSON 5 SONG 24. EXPERT 25. SCOOTED 26. SCOUNDREL 27. RECEDE 28. FISH EGGS 29. “MAYDAY!” 31. LUSTROUS BLACK 34. UNGRACEFULLY TALL AND THIN 35. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE 36. GARFIELD, E.G. 37. KAMPALA’S COUNTRY 39. NASTY STINGERS 40. PINNACLE 41. HIGHWAY 42. OKLAHOMA CITY 43. IMPALE 44. NIGHT LIGHT? 45. PRESS AGENT? 46. APPEAR 48. JOAN OF —

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

• 19

20 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 31, 2014

postscript Hospitality

Hosting history Local inns provide a small town charm

B y J essica C hong Blogs Editor A rich history can define the character of a bed and breakfast, transforming a typical stay into a glimpse into the past.

Kingston residents John and Maryanne Baker had always shared a dream of owning a bed and breakfast.

In 1996, after two years of renovations, that dream became a reality with The Secret Garden Inn. Housekeeper Shirley Babcock, who is also a friend of the Bakers, said she was looking for a way to occupy her time while her kids were in school.

“There’s always something different.

You’re meeting people from all over the place,” she said.

The most memorable experience she can recall is meeting a TV personality, though they seemed different in person than she had expected.

Babcock, however, couldn’t expose the celebrity’s identity.

Despite the change in ownership, Babcock said she has remained at the inn, entranced by the beauty in the home’s craftsmanship.

In 2011, Kathy Davidson, bought The Secret Garden Inn, trading in retirement life on Howe Island to manage her own bed and breakfast. She had been living on her own, and, aside from neighbours, she was missing the social aspect in her life.

“Here there’s always someone in the house. It keeps life very interesting,” she said.

Descendants from the home’s original owner, John McKay, also make visits to the inn from time to time, though they have since moved to various places, like Virginia and other parts of Ontario.

Long before the house was converted into a bed and breakfast, the McKays’ residence spanned four generations. The building and its architectural preservation is still reminiscent of their time on the quaint streets of Sydenham Ward up until the 1940s.

The subsequent owners, the McCulloughs, also enjoy staying in touch with the inn. Davidson said that when she had previously lived on Howe Island, one of her neighbours was a McCullough from that same family.

“She brought her father, now 90, who was a boy growing up in the house [to the inn] so that was interesting when I first moved in,” she said.

During its transformation into an inn, the architecture and the essence of the home has been preserved, styled with antique furniture, harbouring memories of the past.

One of Davidson’s favourite aspects is the personal interaction between guests, which contrasts with the anonymity of large hotel chains. “[Guests] will end up sitting on the porch and sharing a little bit of their history and what they’re doing here and where they’re traveling,” she said. “Certainly over breakfast we have some really lively conversations.”

A short stay at the inn allows for brief encounters that leave resounding impressions from interesting faculty members, key researchers or Nobel Prize winners.

Davidson said that the family of the original homeowners don’t usually run bed and breakfasts, but instead, the innkeepers purchase historical homes to open an inn.

“If you’re thinking that historic inns are run by people who have been in the family for 125 years, that’s not true,” she said.

[Guests] will end up “sitting on the porch

and sharing a little bit of their history and what they’re doing here and where they’re traveling.

”

— Kathy Davidson, owner of The Secret Garden Inn Returning guests enjoy the quaint charm of a historic inn fashioned in the Victorian style. Routines such as a light tea in the afternoon and a garden with conventional English roses, lilies and lilacs foster a sense of tradition and homey warmth.

“We’re well-known for our candlelit gourmet breakfast and certainly because a lot of guests return, you don’t want to change too much,” Davidson said.

As with many of the old houses in Sydenham Ward, the Secret Garden Inn has a historic designation, Davidson explained, which means the exterior of the house has to be maintained exactly as it was originally built.

“It’s not hard to comply with that part of the heritage designation because you wouldn’t want to change it,” she said.

Despite sharing a street with three other historic inns, Davidson said each inn is distinct and guests often wish to experience each one.

If all seven rooms are booked, she will send guests interested in staying at a historic inn to another one in the area.

“So yes there’s competition, but there’s also lots of cooperation,”

The Secret Garden Inn first opened for business in 1996.

she said.

Anne Boyd, the owner of Hochelaga Inn, said she and her husband fell in love with Kingston when they came to see the inn, which went on sale 11 years ago.

Boyd, who has been in the hospitality business for 35 years, was preparing for retirement and wanted to downsize from their Muskoka resort. She now owns the largest bed and breakfast in Kingston.

“We still didn’t want to be out of the business ’cause we enjoyed it so much,” she said.

Compared to the Boyds’ Muskoka resort, which had hired chefs to provide full meals, their 21-room bed and breakfast was a drastic change, where breakfasts are prepared and served by Boyd herself.

A bed and breakfast, Boyd said, is similar to a hotel, but more personable.

“It’s totally different,” she said. “A resort on the lake we had like a hundred people a day. So there were children’s programs, boats and a bar with entertainment.”

Boyd said if you’re serving people, you’re constantly making conversation.

The breakfast, which is highly anticipated by guests, is both locally sourced

and homemade.

Fielding questions about the inn are a constant joy for Boyd.

Questions about ghosts and the age of the inn are most frequently asked. “[The ghost] is dressed in black with a black veiled hat on,” she said. “She always sits in the same corner in the dining room.”

Boyd said she doesn’t know how the ghosts have gotten here, but people have seen and felt them.

Mediums, she said, speculate they’re in a place of transience between the worlds, where some are unable to move beyond.

Sir John A. Macdonald also lived quite close to the inn and resided in many of the surrounding properties, Boyd said.

A ghost of a child that lingers around the inn is speculated to be Macdonald’s son.

“He had a child who was ill. His relatives stayed here quite often so maybe it was his child,” Boyd said, “because otherwise why would a child be here?”

Behind the inn and the courthouse, Boyd said, is a hanging yard where prisoners used to be executed by hanging. This, she said, rouses questions

Photo by Sam Koebrich

among visitors.

“One time there was a ghost who attached himself to the inn … and some ghost mediums have told us he was angry because he had been hung,” Boyd said.

ghost] is dressed “in[The black with a black veiled hat on ... She always sits in the same corner in the dining room.

”

— Anne Boyd, owner of the Hochelaga Inn

Though now, she reassures me, he has left the inn.

Boyd’s love of the building extends from the history rooted in Sydenham Ward. Built in the 1800s, Boyd explained that the historical aspect of the building provokes the curiosity of guests, and is one of her favourite aspects of the inn.

“Many generations of people have walked the floors in the building and you can almost feel it,” she said. “It’s warm.

It’s homey.”