Last century weddings Fashion and style from the era 1816-1970. Page 6 MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
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CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
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Culture on display Special week highlights college’s diversity. Page 7 47TH YEAR — NO. 18
The rise of the zombies
BY JOY STRUTHERS
The Kitchener Zombie Walk dug up more zombies and characters this year than ever before. The eighth annual walk on Oct. 15 started at the Kitchener Public Library and featured zombies of all types and ages, zombie hunters, predator and even a man dressed up as a wrestler, the Ultimate Warrior. The event’s organizer, Ronald Hoppe, greeted people enthusiastically and walked around the front of the building, checking in with volunteers. Hoppe was pleased that around 20 people registered for the walk. Another 10 people showed up and took part. A few onlookers also joined in. Each participant donated canned goods and volunteer Katie Brogee said they ended up with over three full bags of food to donate to the food bank, and around $15 in cash. “Every little bit helps,” she said. Brogee had never volunteered at the walk before, but is involved with Kitchener Comic Con. Lichwood Grove, a group that plays amtgard, a live action role-playing game, demonstrated their fighting techniques and encouraged people to take part. Kendall Patterson was dressed in garb that would be typical for a warrior caste and showed people some sim-
A girl walks with her mother in the Kitchener zombie walk and shows off her detailed makeup. ple sword fighting with soft weapons. “We use a hit location-based system. If you get hit in the leg you lose a leg, if you get hit in the arm you lose an arm. If you get hit in the body you’re dead,” said Patterson. This group encourages people to dress up in costumes that they love and show off their personalities. They are not all warriors, but also magical creatures and fantasy characters like wizards, heal-
PHOTOS BY JOY STRUTHERS
Zombies start the walk on Queen Street in front of the Kitchener Public Library on Oct. 15. ers and bards. den area by the sidewalk and come prepared. Combat is a big part of amt- quickly got used to the rules “All you have to do is show gard, but so is acting and of combat. up,” she said. socializing. Many artists get Patterson encouraged everyThe walk began with a few involved by creating weapons, one to join them Wednesday instructions from Hoppe, who armour, costumes and cloth- evenings at 5 p.m. and jumped up on the concrete ing. Writers and musicians Sundays at 3 p.m. at 10 step to address the crowd. can perform poetry and song. Chopin Dr., near the Victoria “Do not jump into traffic, Children and adults enjoyed Community Centre. The I don’t care if you’re dead or sparring with each other in group has lots of weapons to not,” he cautioned the zomfront of the library in the gar- share so people do not need to bies. “Do not eat the people.”
Behold the changing horizons
BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
Quantum – The Exhibition, is part of the Government of Canada’s Innovation150, which celebrates Canada’s technological advances in the past as well as future transformations. The exhibition, which ends on Dec. 31, was created by the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. The exhibition is scheduled to travel to different science centres across the country in 2017. It is the first of its kind in the world. The main goal of the exhibition is to introduce people to new concepts of quantum mechanics and how these can
be merged with the principles of information technology to revolutionize our daily lives. From the cellphones we use to our health-care system, everything under the sun will be revolutionized. Canada is at the frontier of these technological advances. Quantum mechanics takes the most fundamental aspects of our lives and the teachings of the universe and “collides” them, thus producing massive forms of usable energy. The characteristics of waves, particles and light are used extensively to achieve this goal. The key is to control particles like atoms and their photons. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
PHOTO BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
Mike Manley, a chef at Charcoal Group Associates, presents “hot ice cream” to guests at Quantum – The Exhibition on Oct. 13 in downtown Kitchener’s THEMUSEUM.
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Page 2 s SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, Ocrtober 31, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
If you had a time machine, would you go to the past or the future? Why? “I would go to the past to meet historical figures. Living in the renaissance, and experiencing the music of that era would be cool.” Erik Kok, first-year bachelor of community and criminal justice
“I would go to the future to see if I could change anything that might happen.” Jessica Jardim, first-year pre-health science
“I would go to the past because I want to be a child again.” Leyla Ramadani, first-year health office administration
“Past, to see what it was like in the country I lived in before moving to Canada when I was seven. Or to experience the ’80s.” Nemanja Mrkajic, first-year general mechanic
“I find the 18th century really interesting so I would go to the past.” Paige Crocker, first-year pre-health science
“I would go to the past to fix a lot of my mistakes, and maybe to be more dedicated to school.” Stephanie Kroonen, second-year hearing instrument specialist Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Exhibit answers questions about quantum computing
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Held at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, the opening ceremony was attended by notable personalities including Carl Zehr, the longest mayor in office in Kitchener, and Bardish Chagger, Minister for Small Business and Tourism and MP for Waterloo. There were a range of scientists at the exhibition as well. A video message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was telecast. He mentioned how important it is for Canada to transform our scientific technologies for the betterment of the world because “Canada has always been a nation of innovators.” Stephen Hawking, a wellknown cosmologist and physicist, also sent a video message for the exhibition. “I am delighted to welcome you to the launch of Quantum – The Exhibition at THEMUSEUM,” he said. He outlined the importance of quantum computers by saying: “Quantum computers are potentially more powerful than our computers.” David Marskell, the CEO of THEMUSEUM, welcomed guests. He said, “Our board has five high-level strategies for the organization and a couple of them came together to monetize our creativity and diversify our revenue. Another one was to reach out into the community and work with the local talent like with universities and colleges such as Conestoga College.” The exhibition opened after 18 months of hard work by the professors at the Institute for Quantum Computing, the federal government and THEMUSEUM. The exhibition covers a total area of 5,000 sq. ft and includes various interactive displays to help visitors understand some of the basics of quantum computing. Some of the key concepts represented by the models were those of bits and bytes. Our conventional comput-
PHOTO BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
David Marskell, CEO of THEMUSEUM, awaits his guests at Quantum – The Exhibition on Oct. 13 in Kitchener.
PHOTO BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
Benjamin Lillico, a chef at Charcoal Group Associates, talks to visitors about exotic food options at the exhibition. ers use this form of storage to store information but lots of energy is wasted thus heating up the device. Also, there is a limit to the amount of storage available. Quantum computing aims at making it impossible to exhaust the storage capacity of your device. To its credit, the Institute of Quantum Computing has built the world’s largest quantum computer at 12 qubits. Some of the most significant applications of quantum computing is in the field of cancer. With the help of
this technology, it is now possible to detect cancer in its early stages. For those with diabetes, the good news it will be possible to measure blood sugar levels without having to take a single blood sample. A model of time travel, the rabbit hole, was also on display to give visitors an idea of how it would feel to travel through time. The one thing that stood out was the format of the exhibition. It was designed for the common person with not a single equation on display.
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See Me. for who I am
Monday, October 31, 2016
BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
See Me. See them. See people for who they are. It’s important to look past what someone looks like on the outside. That is exactly what the See Me. project is doing. It’s shining a light on people who are considered different or special. Hilary Gauld-Camilleri got pulled into this project a year ago not knowing what to expect; she ended up loving it and taking it to a level that no one ever expected, but many anticipated. The Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society (WRDSS) started this project as a way to help showcase people with Down syndrome and help them to feel important. The calendar, called 31 days, 31 faces, is how it started. Through time with the models and time editing the photos, Hilary realized that the project wasn’t just about shining light on people, young and old alike, with Down syndrome, but rather seeing them from the inside out. She wanted the project to be more than just photographs, and thus she came up with the idea of See Me. This is the fifth year for the 31 days, 31 faces calendar and the first year for the See Me. project. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and starting on the 1st, 52 different faces were posted on Facebook for the See Me. project. Ranging in age from four months to 44 years old, all of the people who were part of
PHOTOS BY HILARY GAULD-CAMILLERI
Rene Ruppe and Chase Beattie took part in the See Me. project, which showcases people with Down syndrome. They are two of 52 faces that were posted for the project. this project had a different story to tell, and wanted the world to hear. “Let’s minimize his differences and maximize his sameness while simultaneously respecting his uniqueness,” said Curt
WHAT IS DOWN SYNDROME? Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by a difference in the genetic makeup of a human being. They have a little bit more than we do; they have an extra (or part of an extra) 21st chromosome. This disorder is connected to things like stunts in physical growth, differences in physical features (like facial characteristics), and intellectual disabilities. It is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities. Typically, the parents of a person with Down syndrome are genetically, what is considered, normal; the extra chromosome is completely random, as far as science can tell, and although science has come a long way, there has yet to be a cure found for Down syndrome. In Canada, approximately one in every 781 births result in the birth of a child with the genetic disorder, which means there are about 45,000
Canadians living with Down syndrome right now. That is less than one per cent of the total population. Down syndrome goes back as far as AD 500, according to paintings and drawings that have been found that exemplify the prominent facial features of someone with the genetic disorder. It was fully described by British doctor John Langdon Down in 1862 and was officially identified as trisomy 21 in 1959. Throughout time, the treatment of people with Down syndrome has greatly improved, so much so that in the last 33 years the age expectancy of people with Down syndrome has increased from 25 to 60 years. Committees, like the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) have made it easier for parents or guardians to get the help and information they need to care for a child with the genetic disorder.
Beattie, a father whose son, Chase, is in the project. The project doesn’t end here though. These people deserve to be seen and their stories deserve to be heard year-round, and they can be with the new calendar being made and sold.
Another one of the 52 faces is Rene Ruppe, who is one of the most inspiring children I have ever met. She was so enthusiastic; an absolute charmer. With her back walkovers and handstands, her outbursts of the most contagious giggling and her overall exuberance, the only thing that makes her different from any other 12-year-old girl is the fact that she was born with Down syndrome. Nicholas Popwich, a member of the Voices of the Table Committee of the WRDSS, once said, “The world needs variety in every sort of living thing. It is the same with people … I would want to say to the people: Change your definition of ‘normal.’ Make it bigger because we all fit, we all belong, we all contribute.” Living with someone who has Down syndrome is one of the most difficult yet rewarding things anyone could ever dream of. My 57-year-old uncle has the genetic disorder, making me connected to this project. He just recently moved into my home, and I never expected it to be as endearing as it is. It is difficult because it can sometimes get frustrating when it takes him 20 minutes to do something it takes me five minutes to do. It is difficult because I have to ask him to say the same thing six or seven times because I can’t always understand what he’s saying. It is difficult when I see people look at him like he’s some sort of monster, when in reality, he’s more special than they could ever even consider being. It is rewarding in a sense
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that if I ever need anyone to make me smile, he’s there. Rewarding in a sense that he doesn’t know sadness the way that you and I know sadness, he has such a positive outlook on life. Rewarding in a sense that he knows he’s different and he owns the things that make him different. Rewarding in a sense that he’s not afraid to say hi to anyone. He knows no weakness.
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Change your definition of ‘normal.’ ... we all fit. — Nicholas Popwich
”
The See Me. project has brought with it a huge weight; a weight that has been lifted off of many shoulders, mine included. Rene’s mom, Bernadette, has felt this weight lift off her shoulders as well. “I was so excited to hear that Hilary was taking this project a step further,” she said. “She doesn’t have a child with Down syndrome, and when people have seen what she’s done, maybe they will be able to understand and see my daughter like she does.” The 52 faces posted in the last 31 days will now shine a little brighter. Their moms and dads will have something they can be proud of as parents. The viewers will have a little bit of a wider eye and a stronger heart toward people with Down syndrome. To see this project in its entirety, visit www.facebook. com/WaterlooRegionalDSS or www.facebook.com/ ONEFORTHEWALL.
YOU MAKE ME WANNA THROW MY HANDS UP AND SHOUT!
PHOTO BY NICOLE CLARK
Beth Becker directs the 23rd and newest chapter of the Shout Sister! Choir, which practises in the basement of Breslau Mennonite Church every Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. For video story, visit www. spokeonline.com.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 SPOKE
Monday, October 31, 2016
Clown coverage must end BY ROLAND FLEMING
It’s time the media circus moved on, and the clowns went home. What started as an isolated incident in August has now spread to more than 20 states and other countries such as Canada and the UK. The media serves to inform the public about what is going on around them. In turn, this helps people to be aware and protect themselves from threats that may exist in their area. At the same time, the media, although sometimes not intentionally, actually assists in creating the threat by sensationalizing small incidents. The first clown sighting recognized as the beginning of this “movement” happened at the end of August in South Carolina when someone in a clown costume was reported trying to lure children into the woods. This was a legitimate threat that needed to be reported for the sake of local parents’ awareness. Following this event, many pranksters dressed up in costumes and scared people. These copycats do not merit the attention they have been given and it is this that has helped to perpetuate these acts. The media is not the only one to blame as social media has also helped the clown crisis to grow. All kinds of clown sighting videos have surfaced showing the reactions of those being terrorized by clowns. Many of these have gone viral. Most of these clowns are harmless attention-seekers; the problem is the ones who do actually mean harm. The added problem is that the masks make it hard to read body language or facial cues. Someone is either going to get hurt by a clown, or end up hurting a clown playing a prank. The media is right to report legitimate threats in the goal of public safety. But many of these clown sightings are just youth in costumes trying to scare others for giggles. On Halloween this is expected, but it shouldn’t be something that is happening every day. What we see and hear about is the “funny” reactions of people fleeing in terror in the paper, on TV, on social media. Media coverage is inspiring the clowns, rather than dissuading them. The most responsible thing media could do at this point is to stop talking about it. When the constant coverage stops, so will the clowns. The views herein represent the position of the newspaper, not necessarily the author.
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Fortunately Canadians don‛t have to see multiple Trumps and Clintons this Halloween.
Where is the policy in politics? Policy is, or at least should be, the heart and soul of politics. Why else would we send hundreds of people to Ottawa every four years to make decisions for us? Sadly, that is rarely the case. Often politics focus more on personality than on position. In Canada, we know this as Trudeau-mania part two. To our cousins to the south of the border, it’s on full display in the clashes between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. Trump is an easy target of course. His campaign’s main proposal is the infamous wall along the border with Mexico. It’s supposed to stop illegal immigration, which experts agree it will not. Never mind the insanity of his plan to make Mexico pay billions of dollars to construct it. Clinton is little better, which is surprising for a candidate who has been in the political world for the majority of her life. During the Oct. 9 debate she spent most of her time explaining to America how revolting Trump’s personality is, as if it were not already obvious. In Canada we often like to
Scott Blinkhorn Opinion
think we are immune from the failings of American politics. Sadly we are not. Shortly after the Liberals were elected with a majority in 2015, they announced that “Canada is back” – three words which sound nice when used together but have little substance.
“
... I can’t even blame politicians for being so light on policy, it’s not their fault, it’s ours.
”
The worst thing about all of this is that I can’t even blame politicians for being so light on policy, it’s not their fault, it’s ours. Rather than be treated like adults and be
told what the plan to fix the nation is, we wanted to be coddled, to be reassured that Ottawa cares about our local festival, or that people abroad think of Canadians as peacekeepers and not peacemakers. The truth is that most people around the world don’t think much of anything about Canada, other than that its people are just so gosh darn nice and that they live in a frozen wasteland. So is there any hope for policy to make a return to politics? In the United States I don’t see much chance of that in the near future, but in Canada, there may be. The race for the Conservative leadership has resulted in a number of policy suggestions, many of which are serious attempts at grappling with issues. Of course, there is still the populist claptrap, like Kelly Leitch’s nonsense about screening immigrants for “Canadian” values. On a whole, I think there is reason to be hopeful that in the next election, in this country at least, there may be more talk about the issues affecting our nation than Trudeau’s hair.
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IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Joy Struthers Assignment Editor: Scott Blinkhorn Advertising Manager: DeeAnna Rollins Spoke Online Editors: Matthew Evangelista, Andrew Benney
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Monday, October 31, 2016
Kashmir – the lesser known tragedy
There is a piece of land in South Asia which has been described by many as “paradise on earth.” However, the countries adjacent to it describe it differently. These are big countries with even bigger claims on that piece of paradise. While China and India call it their integral part, Pakistan calls it its jugular vein. Amidst of all these claims, Kashmir bleeds. And it has been bleeding for more than six decades now. The princely state of Kashmir found itself in turmoil ever since the Partition of India in 1947. When the British decided they had had enough of their imperialistic adventures in the subcontinent, they created two countries by literally drawing a line on a map. To speak of the massacre and utter chaos would require a number of books and still not do justice to the events. It was at this time that all princely states in the region, which had their own rulers and were capable of existing independently, were given a choice to accede to either of the two newly created states or to be independent. These states were Hyderabad, Junagadh, Jammu and Kashmir. While the two former ones acceded to India, the paradise on earth was torn apart. It belongs to everyone except the Kashmiris. The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, was the Hindu ruler of the Muslim majority state of Kashmir. When asked to make the decision for his state, he could not do so. What he did was to sign an interim “standstill” agreement to maintain several services including transport with Pakistan. Islam was and still is the dominant religion in
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Shafaq Parwez
Opinion the region which would align them more with Pakistan. But, many other factors hindered joining either state so the British suggested a plebiscite be held in the territory to give the power to choose to the Kashmiri people. India decided to bring in its army at this time which infuriated the Pakistani authorities. So, no vote was held. Riots broke out in which all communities suffered massive losses of lives and property. Be it Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims, nobody was spared from the bloodshed. The delay in making a decision by Hari Singh led to the invasion of the Kashmir valley by Pakistani tribesmen in October 1947. The Maharaja ended up asking for assistance from the Indian army and a full-fledged war started in the valley. After all this turbulence, Lord Mountbatten, a British Viceroy to the Asian subcontinent, proposed that in order to obtain peace, Kashmir should join India on a temporary basis. Hari Singh agreed and signed the Instrument of Accession, hence ceding control over defence and foreign policy to India. Until this day, Pakistan believes the Maharaja was forced to sign the agreement due to the presence of the Indian army in the valley. The result was a brutal turn of events which led to the division of Kashmir in not two, but three parts. Two
INTERNET PHOTO
This map shows how Kashmir is controlled by its neighbouring countries. major wars between India and Pakistan followed. A Line of Control was established with international help and a ceasefire declared but rape, murder and other atrocities are a daily norm. A war between India and China also broke out over the Aksai Chin area in the 1960s which led to China’s “victory.” Yet another war broke out between India and Pakistan in the late 1990s over the Siachen Glacier which could not be divided by the Line of Control due to its challenging geographical position and was still a free zone to contend for. The current geographical situation has Kashmir divided in four parts: India has Indian administered
CALLING ALL PROSPECTIVE FEMALE ENGINEERS
PHOTO BY CASSIDY FOULDS
Girls attending the annual Go ENG Girl event at Conestoga College’s Cambridge campus on Oct. 15 work on their first task, which was to make a ‘bug’ with eyes that lit up. For video story, go to www. spokeonline.com.
Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh with the latter contemplating the formation its own separate Buddhist union. Pakistan has Azad Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan. China has Aksai Chin. And the Kashmiri people have murder on a daily basis. This is a short narrative of events that have occurred for the past six decades. For all of this time, the UN and the UNHCR have tried unsuccessfully to resolve this issue as peacefully as possible. The Muslim majority regularly hold pro-independence and pro-Pakistan protests. India, on the other hand, maintains that Kashmiris have no such sentiment. My only concern is, if there is no such sentiment and they would love to unite with India, why is the Indian army carrying out a systematic series of attacks on a section of people who already want to be part of India? Why is it easy to overlook the fact that these people have little food, infrastructure, education and weaponry. If Pakistan cannot do anything extremely monumental for the cause of Kashmir, shouldn’t Kashmiris start a fierce international movement advocating for the independence of Kashmir? Isn’t it high time that the nations learned that killing people on a daily basis is far more unethical than the pleasure of knowing you have acquired a piece of land? I cannot comprehend how anyone can live a normal life knowing they have raped a three-year-old or killed a hun-
dred people. The new form of mass violence is to use pellet guns to disperse protesters. This kind of gun fires a cluster of small, round pellets which have blinded thousands of Kashmiris. But there is no one from the international community speaking up. The entire world is also ignoring the fact that these guns were supposed to be used as Standard Operating Procedure which calls for targeting legs of protesters in extremely volatile situations but, according to the BBC, more than 90 per cent of all injuries being reported are above the waist. It is time for the Pakistani and Indian authorities to think of the bigger picture, to think of humanity. To think of their very own children and their kin in situations similar to the plight of the Kashmiris. It is in utter desperation that I have written this piece. All the time I have Led Zeppelin’s song Kashmir in my ears: All I see turns to brown, as the sun burns the ground And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land Trying to find, trying to find where I’ve been. Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace, like thoughts inside a dream Heed the path that led me to that place, yellow desert stream My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon, I will return again Sure as the dust that floats high in June, when movin’ through Kashmir.
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Monday, October 31, 2016
Can you hear the bells?
PHOTO BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
Clockwise from top left: A dress and veil worn during separate weddings in 1922. Both were donated by the wearers’ daughters; First documented Canadian dress, worn in a 1816 Quebec City wedding. It is kept in a glass case at the front of the exhibit; Dress designed by Italian designer Simonette, worn in a Montreal wedding the same year; Jonathan Walford, co-founder of the museum, stands inside the Tying The Knot display on Oct. 14. Around him are three of the late 1900s dresses; Kenn Norman is the other cofounder; A 1908 American dress features cream-coloured silk layers and beads that give it a look of rich lustre. BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
The Fashion History Museum in Cambridge is celebrating 200 years of Tying The Knot. Kenn Norman and Jonathan Walford, co-founders of the museum, have 35 dresses dating back to the early 1800s up to designer gowns from the late 1900s displayed in the showroom. The oldest documented Canadian dress is kept in a glass-protected case and was worn in an 1816 Quebec City wedding. “It takes us through the Victorian period right up to present day. All of these dresses pretty much have a Canadian provenance, so they were either worn by Canadians or made here in Canada, so there is a good connection that way,” said Norman. Weddings are special. The day signifies two people coming together. The “traditional” white wedding dress didn’t make an appearance until the 1800s. Prior to that the dress chosen would also be worn as a night-out gown during the first year of marriage and, since the silk material used to make the gown was too hard to keep clean, brides opted for more practical colours like creams and browns. Due to
middle-class wages rising in the 1830s having a silk dress in white became more feasible. Queen Victoria herself wore one to her wedding in 1840. The dresses in the exhibit were either found in antique shops or donated by families. “The wedding dress is one of the most popular items donated to museums overall, not just ourselves. It’s something that has a very sentimental attachment, it’s something people tend to really care for. It’s been fun to collect the stories at the same time which is also a part of what the museum does,” said Norman. Over time the style of dress has changed to show individuality. The evolution of wedding dresses comes along with new technology and fabric availability. “It has become very individual to the person. There is wanting to follow current fashion, but, for instance, when we were establishing this show one of the women that we talked too, who had just gotten married last year, used neoprene as her wedding dress,” said Norman. Neoprene is a flexible synthetic rubber commonly used to make wetsuits. Both men agree that the era of fashion they like most is
when the clothing is changing and more complex. “There are periods that I like maybe a little more than others simply because they are more complex. There are lots of things happening. I think right now we are kind of boring, because things haven’t changed dramatically in the past 20 years,” said Walford. “Then there are periods where a lot happens, and in a really short period of time. The 1960s to 1972 the world just changed. The clothing is so indicative of that. We started off with everyone looking very 1950s and by the time we got to the end it was a completely different world.” Walford added that he is fascinated by how quickly society can adjust to fashion change, and how easily it becomes normal. “I’m particularly fond of periods that are transitional. For instance, the turn of the century – last century – the 1900s because you move from Victorian into Edwardian,” said Norman. “There are dresses that have great trains and they are very elaborate. Then we get more into contemporary fashion and just the change in society reflected in that is quite amazing. The 1980s in particular when we opened up in this location had
such a period of rejuvenating the Canadian fashion industry but also creativity. People loved colour, patterns and just going crazy with ideas so it was really wonderful to see that.” Norman and Walford met during university in Vancouver. Walford was interested in the history angle whereas Norman was looking at it on the business side. “I’ve always been fascinated by history and clothing, it is really the most personal you can get. We don’t know anything more personal that has survived our own lives then the clothing that we wear. And, I find it interesting how the body is a very strange shape and there’s only so many ways of covering it, and we’ve pretty much covered everything we could think of. Every sleeve style, every type of hat, every type of shoe and at some point in history that has always been considered beautiful and other points in history it is considered ugly. I like that. I like to know why, well, what is the reason for that,” said Walford. “I think by looking at clothes we can understand an era quite well, we can understand what is going on.” Norman said, “I wanted to get into fashion design but
didn’t follow through with that. So I went through the business side of things.” Through this their ideas merged which led them to cofounding the museum back in 2004. In 2008 they were officially incorporated as a federal non-profit organization and then in 2009 they received their charitable status with the Canada Revenue Agency. “That enabled us to build upon the founders collection started by Jonathan Walford back in the 1970s,” said Norman. “That was the basis of what we grew from and we have over 12,000 objects now of original fashion worn by real people, dating from the mid-1700s to the present day. We do have some older pieces and this is the first time we’ve had a permanent home; we’ve had travelling expeditions, we’ve had a palette gallery but now here in Hespeler, which is northern Cambridge, this is our home.” On the side Walford keeps a personal fashion blog. “It keeps me tuned in to what is going on in fashion,” he said. The museum is located at 74 Queen St. E. in Cambridge and will continue to show the Tying The Knot exhibit until Dec. 18.
NEWS
Monday, October 31, 2016
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PHOTO BY MATTHEW EVANGELISTA
To keep their culture alive, these Salvadoran dancers take part in a traditional cotton-picking dance representing one of their biggest exports during Conestoga’s Cultural Diversity Week.
Conestoga celebrates diversity
BY MATTHEW EVANGELISTA
Conestoga’s Cultural Diversity Week kicked off Oct. 17 with the beating of a drum. This, according to Myeengun Henry, manager of the college’s Aboriginal Services department, symbolized “the four nations’ relationship existing forever in this land of the creator.” Henry said the four nations
are the four people of the land: white, black, yellow and red. Henry and Laura Black, the Student Life programmer of community initiatives, addressed a packed atrium, both upper and lower levels, on Oct. 17, discussing improving relations with the First Nations people of Conestoga. Henry spoke about the importance of First Nations’ rights
and history while also promoting the new native studies course he now teaches at the college. He used four drum beats to represent the four nations coming together in his closing speech. Cultural Diversity Week is hosted once a semester by Student Life and Conestoga Students Inc. Events run all day throughout the week in The Venue and the lower atrium. The events are designed for students passing through so they can grab some international food and enjoy the entertainment, which included traditional dance and song. “We also acknowledge that there are many communities that experience margin-
alization, discrimination, and oppression,” said Black, “and in partnership with our Respect Campaign I will continue to strive to be an ally for other community members’ stigma and inequity.” Conestoga educates more than 2,000 international students representing over 78 countries. The week promotes more than just fun activities and delicious food, it also allows international students to feel welcomed in the community by wearing their traditional garb. Around the school at booths, students could strike up casual conversation with international students coming from many different countries,
from South Africa to central and eastern Asia. Conestoga supports the diversity that their international students bring to the school, and its local students take something away from the week. Other events included a turban tying, a free film screening of HUMAN and a First Nations elder teaching circle. Diversity at Conestoga is not limited to a single week. In addition there are international CSI clubs and events. Students are encouraged to strike up a conversation with a fellow international Condor or to visit Henry in the Aboriginal Services office to get to know the cultures of our world a little better.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW EVANGELISTA
Janani Maria Antony, a first-year international technology and business analyst student, and Terese Maria James, a first-year embedded systems development student, sing two songs at the opening ceremony: one in Malayalam and another in Tamil, both South Indian languages.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW EVANGELISTA
Myeengun Henry, Aboriginal Services manager, addresses students on The Creator and the importance of protecting our land, with a history on the four nations coming together.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, October 31, 2016
Draw-a-thon gets creative juices flowing BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
The fourth annual drawa-thon at the KitchenerWaterloo Art Gallery was host to those who wanted to have a free friendly day out on Oct. 15. The full day drawing marathon featured two workshops with two different local artists. Isabella Stefanescu held an Exquisite Corpse Workshop, which was a collaborative drawing activity used by artists where one person drew one part of a piece while the next person followed without seeing what the person before drew. The second workshop of the day was led by Soheila Esfahani. The focus was for participants to use her work, which is a mix of Arabic calligraphy and different markmaking, to make their own pieces. This year one of the newest additions to the draw-a-thon was the availability of beer or wine during Esfahani’s workshop. Perfect for date night, family time and everything in between, the draw-a-thon started at 11 a.m. and ran until 11 p.m. accommodating everyone’s schedules. Tables were set up around the main entrance of the gallery which had all types of supplies for people to use. Clipboards holding bunches of paper with little instructions for inspiration could also be found. In the middle of all the tables were separate instructions for different types of art one could do which correlated with the exhibition taking place in the gallery itself. This event provided a safe and fun environment for people who want to create art but Kate Carder-Thompson, the school programs co-ordinator, says it strives to be so much more. By it being free it is
Jack Giesen, a volunteer at the K-W Art Gallery, works on the feet of the Exquisite Corpse drawing during the gallery’s draw-a-thon on Oct. 15. possible for everyone to be able to learn from and work alongside their community’s artists. The draw-a-thon is an event that aims to promote the importance of being able to express the creative self if even for only an hour in a day. “It’s important for us in terms of accessibility that people can come in and feel comfortable in the space and just explore and not have to pay out of pocket for it because we know sometimes that’s a barrier. It’s a barrier to the arts in particular,” said Carder-Thompson. The gallery hopes to be able to keep hosting the draw-athon each year and to also bring light to all the different types of cultures and arts in the city. To learn more and keep up with events at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, visit www.kwag.ca
PHOTOS BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
Giesen and Taylor Singh work together on the drawing as part of a workshop.
The finished collaborative drawing.
K-W Art Gallery celebrates its 60th anniversary BY SHARON SAMUEL
From a bicycle shed to a purpose-built accommodation in the Centre in the Square, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery has come a long way. This year it is celebrating its 60th anniversary. In the 1920s, four women – Ida E. (McMahon) Cram, Geneva Jackson, Florence K. Sims and Sarah Williams – came up with an idea to start an art gallery to promote art pieces in the community. Their vision was fulfilled in 1956. The K-W Art Gallery
first started in a bicycle shed beside K-W Collegiate on King Street with an exhibition of artworks by Canadian artist Tom Thomson. Jennifer Bullock, Assistant curator and registrar at the K-W Art Gallery, said from September 1956 to June 1957 there were 17 exhibitions. “The first exhibition was an exhibition of Tom Thomson’s works that was opened by A.Y. Jackson (and) that was 35 paintings.” Jackson was a Canadian painter and one of the founding members of the Group of
Seven. “During the first year there was an exhibition of students art work in kindergarden through Grade 12,” said Nicole Neuseld, director of public programs “In fact, Mondays and Tuesdays the gallery was closed so that school kids could come through.” Shirley Madill, executive director at the art gallery, began looking into the gallery’s history in 2015. She sent a press release to CBC asking for the community’s help. In August 1956, the first board of directors was formed
and Gerald E. Eastman, a lawyer at the firm Smith, Clement and Eastman, was elected president. There were 16 members on the board. Volunteers and the founders, themselves, helped paint and clean the first gallery, which was a bicycle shed. In 1968, the gallery moved to 43 Benton St., and there were 400 works in permanent collection. In 1980 it moved again, this time to 101 Queen St., Kitchener, and held 4,000 works in the permanent collection. “We raise 55 per cent from
the private sector, 29 per cent from municipal funding from the City of Kitchener and Waterloo,” said Madill. “We also get eight per cent from the Canada Council Arts Federation organization and 11 per cent from Ontario’s Arts Council.” The art gallery also showcases the work of international artists in addition to Canadian artists. The gallery is open to the public from Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more information, visit www. kwag.ca.
Monday, October 31, 2016
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Waterloo Region Museum goes retro
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WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU APPLES
PHOTO BY RILEY LINSEMAN
Hepcat Swing, a group of swing dancers from Kitchener, pose for a photo during Retro Family Fun Day at the Waterloo Region Museum on Oct. 16. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
PHOTO BY SHARON SAMUEL
Philip Klassen-Rempel, a historic teacher interpreter at the Joseph Schneider Haus in Kitchener, put apples into a wooden box which has blades that cuts them into pieces. Those pieces then fall into a barrel and are crushed, making juice. The demonstration was part of an Apple Harvest Festival on Oct. 15 and 16.
PHOTO BY ANDREW BENNEY
Danielle Jewinski, a teacher at the Waterloo Region Museum, stands in front of a Conestoga wagon exhibit Oct. 16. The museum is now hosting Family Fun Days on various Sundays throughout the fall. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
GUELPH ISN’T ‘BASH’FUL ABOUT BOOKS PHOTO BY ROBERT JANES
People gather at the Red Papaya restaurant in the Old Quebec Street Mall on Oct. 16 for Guelph’s third annual Book Bash Festival. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
FUN & GAMES
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Monday, October 31, 2016
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
Week of October 31, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 Watch how you say things around other people. In the past people have taken to heart what you have said to them and not in a good way.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Don’t be afraid to show your sensitive side this week. Although you may not want to, it might just prove to someone that you really care.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You are going to make some new friends through your interests this week. Don’t stop talking about your passions because it will bring people closer to you.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Try to open up more to people around you this week, whether it be in school or at work. Meeting some new people might help you at future events.
Leo
July 23 August 22 Take a adventure this week. You may find something new about where you’re visiting, or about yourself.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 You may feel a little overwhelmed this week, try to declutter your life of negative people and unneeded things.
It’s possible to lead a cow upstairs ... but not downstairs.
Libra
September 23 October 22
Table tennis balls have been known to travel off the paddle at speeds up to 160 km/h.
You may find yourself giving people advice. Try listening to the advice you give and see how it plays out in your life. You may find something worthwhile.
If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-2333. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall.
Scorpio
A cat’s urine glows under a black light. (I wonder who was paid to figure that out.)
October 23 November 21 Continue to support your friends and family. They appreciate it more than you think.
Sudoku Puzzle
Sagittarius November 22 December 21
Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1-9, without repeating any.
Watch your temper this week. People have taken things you have said to heart and not in a good way. Pick your battles.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
It is always good to help your friends and family during hard times. Make sure, however, that you are also taking care of yourself.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
The people in your life really appreciate your outspokenness and openness with them. A lot of them have been able to see truth in what you say.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Use any time you can get to rest for things to come. Whether that means going to bed early or taking a day off for yourself, rest for the busy road ahead.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
Word Search
NEWS
Monday, October 31, 2016
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Kitchener scary inside and out
BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
Kia and Leela Taggar, creators of Spooky Tours Haunted House, stand outside their family home which they converted into Saint Lucifer’s Hospital for the seventh annual event. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
PHOTOS BY JOY STRUTHERS
Top to bottom: Organizer Ronald Hoppe announces the rules to the group before the zombie walk begins Oct. 15 on Queen Street. Kendall Patterson, from the Lichwood Grove live action role-playing group, demonstrates fighting techniques for the crowd. A young girl sits with her mother and waits for the zombie walk. The group of zombies and costumed characters pose by the front doors of the Kitchener Public Library on Oct. 15.
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NEWS
Monday, October 31, 2016
Condors clawed by Grizzlies BY MELODIE LARIVIERE
PHOTO BY MELODIE LARIVIERE
A Conestoga women’s volleyball player spikes the ball at the Grizzlies on Oct. 12. The Condors lost the first three of five sets, giving the Georgian College team the win over the Condors.
The Condors had their second women’s volleyball match of the season on the new rec centre’s courts, against the Georgian College Grizzlies on Oct. 12. Brad McClure, head coach, said this is a rebuilding year, with nine new players on the roster as well as one player who is returning after taking a break. The team’s volleyball skills were plain to see, but they just couldn’t win a set. Each match is five sets but the Condors ended up losing the first three. Their first set was a little bumpy, because the players hadn’t played together that much before. Despite this, they had some reasonably long rallies, but still lost 11-25. In the second set they picked
up the pace and performance. They made an effort to come back, throwing in some hard spikes and those sneaky open hand tips. Their rallies became longer and more efficient but it was too little, too late. In their third set the Condors were looking good, as they were moving faster and getting more into it. With each round they were getting better and better. However, the team still came up short. “I think it went well, I think that coming off the Thanksgiving weekend and not having a practice kind of hurt us in the first set and a half but we made it back,” said McClure. He believes his team will improve with more practices and games. The Condors’ next home game will be on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. against the Sheridan’s Bruins.
COLOURFUL LEAVES MEANS WINTER IS ALMOST HERE
PHOTO BY ROLAND FLEMING
We are in the middle of fall, the temperature is starting to drop and the leaves are changing colour – all signs that winter will soon be upon us. Above, a caterpillar enjoys some of the last warm days before he will burrow into the ground and emerge as an Isabella tiger moth next spring.