Play is for big kids too A day of play keeps the doctor away. Page 4 MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
SPOKE
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
Experience the paranormal BY CASSIDY FOULDS
October is a time of the year where adults get in touch with their inner child, and children get in touch with the spirit of Halloween. This October, people can also get in touch with the paranormal. The Canadian Haunting and Paranormal Society (CHAPS), an Ontario-based paranormal group, is hosting a public 101 Oct. 15 in St. Thomas where anyone can come in and learn about the paranormal and the field of paranormal investigation. They are a sister group of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) that stars in the popular show Ghost Hunters. CHAPS’ event, called A Spooky Night, will cover the process of investigations, with tips and warnings for perspective ghost hunters, and they will also talk about how televised paranormal
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The Venue gets crafty New taps to get plenty of use, and keep beer flowing. Page 5 47TH YEAR — NO. 15
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT MARCHES THROUGH KITCHENER
groups differ from their own. An investigation in the St. Thomas Princess Theatre will follow the seminar as a way to give attendees a brief, first-hand experience in paranormal investigating. The 101 runs from 7 to 9 p.m., and the tour goes from 9:30 until 11 p.m. “I think it’s a great way to get hyped for Halloween,” said Skylar Norheim, a 22-yearold Cambridge resident who has already prepared both a costume and her home for October. “I’d definitely go. If it’s got ghosts, I’m down.” David Gibb, who founded CHAPS 11 years ago, is excited about this year’s event. “It’s been a very successful tour,” Gibb said. “There’s always a great turnout, whether it’s because of an interest in the paranormal or research for someone to start their own group.”
PHOTO BY SCOTT BLINKHORN
Participants walk in solidarity during the 33rd annual Take Back the Night event in downtown Kitchener on Sept. 22. The march and accompanying rally aimed to raise awareness of sexual assault and gendered violence. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
Brantford campus to vote on U-Pass BY SCOTT BLINKHORN
PHOTO BY CASSIDY FOULDS
Cambridge resident Skylar Norheim, a paranormal and horror enthusiast seen modelling her Jason costume from Friday the 13th, looks forward to both A Spooky Night, a seminar on paranormal activity and investigation, and Halloween.
Conestoga students attending Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus will soon have the chance to vote on whether or not they want a universal bus pass (U-Pass). On Sept. 26, the Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) board of directors agreed unanimously to hold a referendum that asks if a Brantford Transit pass should be mandatory and included in students’ fees every semester. The U-Pass would allow students to use their ONE Cards as the bus pass. The pass would cost Brantford Conestoga students $48.35 a semester according to CSI president Cameron Jones, who helped negotiate the deal. CSI would take 50
cents of the fee to recoup the cost of holding the referendum and to pay for other associated costs, with the remainder going to Brantford Transit. The cost of the pass is expected to increase with inflation. Jones was adamant students were getting a good deal, saying, “They are giving us the same deal they give to Laurier Brantford students.” According to Brantford Transit’s website, a standard student pass costs $55.50 a month. The referendum, which will take place from Oct. 11 to 13, must have at least 10 per cent of Conestoga Brantford students vote to be considered valid. Students will be able to vote in person or online. This past February a U-Pass with Grand River Transit (GRT)
was rejected by Doon, Cambridge and Waterloo students, with 2,139 voting no and 1,591 voting yes. Director Steffanie Panchaud asked if another referendum could be held at these campuses this year. Jones said a bylaw prevented the same question from being put to students two years in a row, adding, “I think that the margins of that vote made students’ opinions clear.” However, he said once the Brantford referendum concluded CSI could begin to focus on preparing another GRT U-Pass referendum, possibly for the 2018-2019 school year. In his report to the board, Jones said he is currently in negotiations with Guelph Transit, with the hope of providing a U-Pass to students at the college’s Guelph campus.
NEWS
Page 2 s SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, October 3, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What is the one thing you always wanted and did you get it?
“I have always wanted to have my own car.”
CANADIAN-MADE ETSY PRODUCTS TAKE OVER KITCHENER
Brendan Pletch, second-year business administration accounting
“I always wanted to go to school – and now I’m here!” Claudia Newdick, first-year biotechnology
“A good career. And I’m working toward that goal.”
Erick Timm, first-year IT support services co-op
“Materialistic-wise, I wanted a drum set and I was able to buy it from my first part-time job.”
PHOTO BY MELODIE LARIVIERE
Kim Bennett, a volunteer, shows off custom jewelry Sept. 24 at the Etsy: Made In Canada show at Kitchener City Hall. For video story, go to spokeonline.com.
Meghan McCallum, second-year supply chain and operations management
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR TOWN AND GOWN BBQ “I had always wanted a good husband and I have him now. He is truly a blessing from God.” Satvir Kaur, second-year mobile solutions development
“I had always wanted a good education and I am getting that now.” Vikas Joshi, second-year mobile solutions development Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
PHOTO BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
Attendees of the ninth annual Town and Gown barbecue gather around for the announcement of prizes on Sept. 20. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
NEWS
Monday, October 3, 2016
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IT Support website new and improved BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
PHOTO BY JOY STRUTHERS
Students stand outside Conestoga College during a lockdown drill on Sept. 19. Many people chose to leave the building instead of hiding in a dark, locked room. This is a new option the school is recommending in the event of a violent threat.
Lockdown drill held
BY JOY STRUTHERS
Conestoga College had a lockdown drill Sept. 19 that was successful in some ways, but it left many students feeling confused about the changes in procedure. Janet Mannella, the occupational safety manager at Safety and Security Services, said learning about options was the purpose of the drill and that she thought it went well. “It’s always great to have the drill as a learning tool,” she said. There are different ways in which the school communicates a threat or drill. It is important to test equipment and practise using safety measures. Internal speakers broadcast a message stating the emergency, and a beacon flashes in the hallway to signal the threat to those who can’t hear the announcement. Messages also show up on faculty computers and on phones. The school has a safety app that they tell new students about during orientation. “As long as you subscribe to the app, the text message will come up on your phone. It will tell you that a lockdown drill or a fire drill is going on, or whatever message we put up there,” said Mannella. “We did have about a thousand people who recognized the text message during the drill.” The option to run in the event of a violent threat is new to students, especially those just out of high school where they were taught to stay in classrooms or hide
in safe places, barricade themselves in and turn off the lights. This is definitely an option, but adult students should be able to make a decision about what they want to do. A new video made in partnership with the University of Alberta advises students to get out, hide or fight in an active shooter situation.
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I would just run, but I have no idea what you’re supposed to do. — Casey Vanleeuwen
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Conestoga’s website states that in the event of a violent threat you should assess the danger and either hide and conceal yourself or evacuate the building. If there is gun fire they recommend these options: Run and get out, choosing a safe exit if safe, and moving far away from the building. Hide in a secure room or space. Turn off the lights, lock and barricade the door and seek cover. Notify security at ext. 5555 immediately. Assist people with disabilities exiting the area. Notify others in the area to exit the building immediately. Do not attract the shooter’s attention Running to safety, especially if a student is close to an exit, would be the first option. Security Services is working on setting up locations for students to meet farther
away from the property if they choose to run. If there is an active attacker the options are similar. First, evacuate if possible, then barricade if you have to. Conestoga also suggests if students are taken hostage they should stay calm and follow instructions. One student said she wouldn’t run outside of the building in a lockdown. “In high school we learned about shootings in the States. If you were to run outside, there were gunmen waiting out there,” said Alysha Kirk, a first-year applied health information science student. Amy Alcott, from the same program, agreed. “I don’t think I would run. I would probably lock myself in somewhere.” Many students who saw and heard the alert during the drill did go outside, and stood around the school. Casey Vanleeuwen, a second-year broadcast - radio student, had never heard of “run, hide or fight.” “I would just run, but I have no idea what you’re supposed to do,” he said. “I don’t want to be anywhere near any violence or guns, and the fighting part seems a little dangerous.” “It’s a good idea to practise,” said Marcella Aldana, a third-year office administration - executive student. “I didn’t recognize it (the alarm) and didn’t know what to do.” Even if it was just a drill, Security Services wanted students and staff to take it seriously. The drill was a chance to educate and have discussions about safety.
Conestoga’s IT Support website has a new look, with some of the features updated and made more accessible. The department was quick to act on suggestions from students, working diligently over the past year to enhance the features of the website and make it as user-friendly as possible. The work was completed by website developers, all of whom are Conestoga students. According to other students on campus, the most frequent problem is being logged out of either eConestoga or college email. Humna Sayed, a secondyear business administration student, said, “Sometimes we get locked out of the Wi-Fi at college.” This happened mostly at the beginning of the new term. When asked about this issue, Jesslyn Wilkinson, an IT training specialist in the IT department, said, “The reason why you get locked out is because a lot of people don’t know that when you change your password for your account, that password change doesn’t get pushed out to your other devices.” This is why a lot of returning students get locked out of all the devices they use to access eConestoga. To solve this problem, the IT department says that students should turn off their Wi-Fi and then reconnect to the school’s Wi-Fi again. The new IT website notifies students that they must change their password first and then reconnect to the Wi-Fi. This ensures the security of the students. The department also says that it strives to do its best to solve all issues that students face promptly. However, the department wants students to understand that there is a small staff serving the more than 12,000 full-time and more than 30,000 part-time students. There are three members at the IT Service Desk and a rotating group of approximately eight
to 10 students who are limited in how many hours they can work. For the most part, it is 10 hours a week per student. The department also actively tries to encourage staff to work at the IT Service Desk in order to cater to as many issues as quickly as possible. One of the other problems experienced by students is the slow speed of the Internet. When asked about this issue, Wilkinson said,” It really is reliant often on downloads. And streaming.” According to Wilkinson, regular training sessions are held every three days for staff. One thing students may not be aware of is Conestoga’s IT department has been offering free downloads of Microsoft Office Suite 2010, 2013 and 2016 for the past five years. Windows 7 and Windows 10 are also available. For Mac users, the department offers Parallels. Students can also get Adobe Creative Cloud for $10 a month. These downloads enable students to carry out all academic programming not only on campus, but also in the comfort of their homes. Despite offering this service for more than five years, students aren’t aware of it. Students can access the free downloads by going to it.conestogac.on.ca and clicking on the “downloads” tab. The department is looking into the possibility of doing a campaign to increase awareness. This summer, the college began providing free access to Lynda.com to Conestoga students in collaboration with the college library. This website is the most widely used online platform for business, software, creative skills and technology. The website provides tutorials in five languages in a range of fields such as photography, animation and Dreamweaver. This helps students to take their learning experience to the next level without even having to come to school, say, for the weekend. Lynda.com can be accessed through the library’s website.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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Monday, October 3, 2016
More than just child’s play
BY BRANDY FULTON
With the hustle and bustle of a nine to five job, it is hard to find time for yourself. For the past five months the City of Waterloo offered a helping hand, organizing an event that brought people back to their childhood. Since May, every third Wednesday of the month has been known as the Day of Play. Residents from the tricities were invited to the town square to participate in some thrilling, oversized activities. “People don’t have this scheduled into their day,” said Cameron Turner, one of the “makers” of the Day of Play. “We want to catch them off guard, show them that it is OK to have fun, even while working.” The event consisted of many giant versions of commonly known games, from Jenga, Yahtzee and Dutch Blitz, to Scrabble and Snakes and Ladders. There was something for everyone. “We are trying to encourage physical exercise as well as cooperation and a positive environment,” said Josh Bean, the co-ordinator of the event. He said play is important, and can do so much more than just make you happy. “It truly helps you out mentally,” Bean said. “You think critically, your brain is doing something different than normal and it relieves your stress by bringing you back to your roots.”
Tara King and her children William and Emma participate in a City of Waterloo Day of Play. Emma, shown with a Jenga structure almost as tall as she is, later placed a block on the tower that made it tumble.
PHOTOS BY BRANDY FULTON
Raymond Boudreau enjoys a game of Giant Scrabble in Waterloo Public Square on Sept. 21. This event fulfills the “Peter Pan market,” where adults get nostalgic for their stress-free days of childhood. One example of this is the popularity of adult colouring books that have been sold worldwide since 2013. U.S. author and psychiatrist Stuart Brown uses the metaphor of oxygen in his book Play saying, “… it’s all around us, yet
goes mostly unnoticed or unappreciated until it is missing.” Brown touches on the same aspects in his book that Bean and the other makers were aiming for in their Day of Play activities. Brown studied how the lack of play had as much to do with criminal behaviour at Texas prisons as did other factors such as
abusive homes and the loss of family. He also found that couples who are no longer close have an opportunity to reconnect and gain different forms of emotional intimacy through play. “If we can get people to slow down for even 15 minutes we consider that a success because that means there is 15
minutes where that person is not working and having fun,” Turner said. Over the summer one event had approximately 200 people in attendance, however, construction on King Street did reduce the number of participants overall. “We had a lot of families but most people didn’t stay long if there were machines going off.” However, once people got into the games, many stayed for their whole lunch break or families spent the afternoon at the event. On Sept. 21 the last Day of Play for 2016 came and went. The makers are already thinking of ways to improve and revamp next year’s events, hoping to continue to tap into the sixyear-old inside of everyone.
Cambridge’s International Festival celebrates diversity BY JAMES WELLS
Three festivals down, plenty more to go. Cambridge’s annual International Festival, held on Sept. 24, came together in a celebration of cultural diversity. The event, which has been held every year at Cambridge’s Riverside Park, featured many different cultures that shared their country’s love of music, food and apparel as well as words of global unity. “We’re hoping to keep going and going. I mean, we’ve gotten bigger every year,” said Luke Moyer, director of community relations for the YMCAs of Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo. It all began when a number of community partners came together and wanted to create a city event that celebrated the diversity of cultures that makes up Cambridge’s population. The International
Festival is run by the YMCA in partnership with Idea Exchange, the City of Cambridge, Waterloo Region and the Waterloo Regional Police. This year the festival was fortunate enough to have a Facebook page and website to advertise the event to the public, something they did not have the two previous years. According to Moyer, one-quarter of Cambridge’s residents are born outside of Canada, making cultural diversity a celebration. The festival included stage entertainment with many different forms of song and dance performances throughout the day. They included the Cambridge District Pipe Band, aboriginal drummers, the Islamic School in Cambridge, Romanian dancing, Chinese dancing and a Syrian band. Along with food and entertainment, the festival featured vendors who set up
shop for a small fee. Items for sale included art, jewelry, clothing and pottery. Vendor Kimi Bois, who owns her own business called Gypsy Scents Aromatherapy, was a first-time attendee at the festival. “I am a traveller and I am a healer and an entertainer and so the name gypsy really connects with me although I am not of Romanian descent,” said Bois. She decided to attend the festival to market her business, which features her natural products for everyday use. Bois found the event to be a great place to embrace her self-proclaimed gypsy title, one that highlights her diversity and openness to all those around her. The 2016 festival was the largest one yet. Moyer said that he and all partners involved hope it continues to grow and be an even greater success next year.
PHOTO BY JAMES WELLS
Volunteers (from left). Theresa Munoz, Dani Dickinson, Lisha Bali and Diana Palmerin enjoy the final hour of Cambridge’s third annual International Festival at Riverside Park on Sept. 24.
NEWS
Monday, October 3, 2016
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Cost of flying high for pilots
BY ROLAND FLEMING
If you are not afraid of high costs, high stress and just being up high, then Conestoga’s aviation program might be for you. While the job of a pilot may seem glamorous, the road to get there is often not. Chris Shiels has been working toward a commercial pilot licence for around five years. In 2011 he found himself working in a restaurant washing dishes in Wiarton, Ont. This is where he met a pilot who was the fiance of one of the servers. After talking with the man several times, Shiels was convinced to go on a flight. It was after that first flight he knew he wanted to be a pilot. He started his training at Wiarton Aviation. “I quite enjoyed it, but it was not financially feasible at the time,” he said. A couple of years went by and Shiels moved from Wiarton to Cambridge where he undertook some flight training again. But still, with his work schedule and other factors, he wasn’t getting many flight hours in. That’s why he decided to enrol in Conestoga’s general arts and science aviation program. The two-year program is a fast track to getting both a diploma and a commercial pilot’s licence. This sounds great on paper, but in reality it can be a stressful and expensive undertaking. “You need three things to be successful in this program; a passion for flying, you
PHOTO BY ROLAND FLEMING
Pilot-in-training Chris Shiels is starting at the bottom of the ladder in the aviation business. have to love that more than anything else you have ever done or ever will do in your life, determination to succeed, and money,” said program co-ordinator Kerry Townson. Entering this program is not something you do on a whim, but something you do with relentless determination and passion. If you think being a pilot “might” be what you want to do, then this program is probably not for you. One of the reasons why students must be strongly committed is the cost. As Townson mentioned, students
in this program must have money to succeed. As you can imagine, it is not cheap to fly an airplane. In order to obtain a commercial pilot’s licence students must complete a minimum of 200 flight hours. The estimated cost of the program listed on the college’s website is $60,000, which is over and above tuition costs. The real cost, however, depends on how quickly you can complete the program. Townson said students who complete the program quickly may pay less than $60,000. She said it also depends on
the physical size of a person. A tall person may have to use larger aircraft that cost more to fly. Although it is a two-year program, students are given up to three years to complete it. For students who need the extra time, they must also pay the extra cost of continued flight training. “It’s important that you know that you will have enough to get through the program,” said Shiels. He is close to obtaining his licence and graduating, but is now entering into his third year. He estimates that his
costs are now up as high as $85,000. This is why money is necessary to be successful in the program. You could be a few hours shy of obtaining your licence, but if you don’t have the finances there is no way to continue. Student loans will not cover any of the flight costs. “I’ve been lucky enough to borrow money from various members and they’ll all get it back later,” said Shiels. Most students entering the program must have strong support from family. The pressure to succeed is high, as many students have family who have invested tens of thousands of dollars. Still, only two-thirds of those who enter the program come out with their commercial licence said Townson. But surely for all the expense and toil put into the training, pilots must be well compensated? Actually, most entry level pilots have annual salaries under $30,000. You can actually make more working on the ground at the airport than you would as a new pilot. “That’s the thing about aviation, every time you get promoted you get a pay cut,” said Shiels. As you move your way up to larger companies with higher pay ceilings, you start on the bottom of the ladder and must climb your way up. “If you are going into it, make sure you’re not going into it for the money,” he said.
More craft beer coming to The Venue
BY ANDREW BENNEY
Conestoga College students returning for another year at the school may have noticed some slight changes around Doon campus. One of the most noticeable is the complete renovation of what used to be called The Sanctuary and its transformation into a more modern and inviting space, under the new moniker of The Venue. Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) operates the space which functions as a cafeteria, bar and lounge space. The restaurant is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Friday until 4 p.m. The bar is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and during special events. In addition to the renovations, there is a new selection of drinks and all new menu. “It’s definitely going to be different,” said Josh Deming, a third-year international business management stu-
dent, adding he never really went to the Sanctuary much before, but he will be checking it out now that they are selling different beer. January will bring more changes, with two of the largest being a William’s-style restaurant service and menu, and the extending of the bar hours to five days a week. William’s is a popular fresh café known for breakfast and their signature wraps, sandwiches and soups. As for those who cannot wait until the new year, a selection of craft beer will be on tap by Oct. 17. According to Cameron Jones, president of CSI, this $85,000 renovation came about thanks to student input obtained by CSI and its board of directors. “The changes to the Sanctuary were inspired directly by student feedback. Last year our board members were told that the space felt dated and uninviting so we changed things around to make it some-
thing the students wanted,” Jones said. The Venue will be hosting a number of pub nights (events that run outside of the normal hours) in the coming months. These include renowned XXX-rated hypnotist Tony Lee on Oct. 20, as well as various Halloween events and Oktoberfest celebrations. The annual general meeting is scheduled to take place at the establishment on Nov. 7. This may also be great news for some students in need of a part-time job for the school year, as The Venue is currently looking for new employees for the coming months and is accepting resumes for bartenders and servers interested in joining the team. On top of that, there will no longer be a maximum drink policy in effect, but, as always, maturity and common sense should be used when in attendance. “We (CSI) always encourage everyone to practise safe and responsible drinking regard-
PHOTO BY ANDREW BENNEY
Conestoga College students try out The Venue located at 2A109. Run by CSI, it functions as a cafeteria, bar and lounge space. less of if they’re in The Venue or not,” Jones said. He added, “It’s a great space. We’re happy we could pro-
vide the students with what they wanted and we encourage everyone to come check it out.”
COMMENTARY
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Monday, October 3, 2016
The price of pipelines BY NICOLE CLARK
Between 1962 and 2015 there have been 25 pipelinerelated incidents in Canada alone. According to the CBC, the five most prevalent oil spills in recent history happened in 2011, 2012 and 2014. This year, the Husky Energy oil pipeline spilled between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of oil into the North Saskatchewan River. Those in charge of the Husky Energy pipeline and its cleanup said they took care of the spill within 14 hours of the incident occurring. That is a long time; enough time, in fact, according to thestarphoenix.com, for some oil to travel far downstream and sink into the riverbed. How do these big oil companies plan to fix this issue? In 2011, roughly 4.5 million litres of crude oil leaked near a First Nations community in Alberta called Little Buffalo. The CBC said the oil contaminated more than three hectares of beaver ponds and muskeg in a densely forested area northeast of Peace River, Alta. In 2012, both the Red Deer River and Elk Point were victims of their respective pipelines leaking oil into the surrounding area. Red Deer River was subject to almost half a million litres of crude oil spilling into a major connecting creek. Elk Point’s Enbridge pumping station northeast of Edmonton leaked around 230,000 litres of crude oil. 2014 saw two more major pipeline malfunctions resulting in dramatic spills. Slave Lake, which is approximately 250 kilometres north of Edmonton, had 70,000 litres spilled nearby. Red Earth Creek was also a pipeline casualty that same year with 60,000 litres of crude oil leaking. The CBC said low amounts of hydrogen sulphide gas were also detected along with the crude oil. Aboutpipelines.com said the pipelines provide jobs and prosperity and describes them as “the most practical way to deliver oil and gas from the remote producing regions to our country’s more populated areas” and are “an important industry to Canadians, providing jobs in communities large and small, as well as considerable tax revenues.” What the website does not express is the turmoil it causes communities and the devastating long-term effects it has upon the environment. These spills have become a common occurrence, contaminating lakes and rivers and affecting drinking water and air quality. Many people see no way around the use of pipelines. Only when we’ve depleted our natural resources, seen many species pushed to extinction and created a bleak future for next generations will the industry change its ways. The views herein represent the position of the newspaper, not necessarily the author.
Letters are welcome Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contacted for verification. No unsigned letters will be published. Letters should be no longer
than 500 words. Spoke reserves the right to edit any letter for publication. Address correspondence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4
It’s not all smooth sailing.
Learning to coexist Wildlife and humans can’t be at odds The debate of humanity versus wildlife has been going on for years. People are up in arms about animals infiltrating residential areas. But, it is us invading their homes. Humanity and nature have coexisted since the Stone Age. But often not harmoniously. Way back then, wildlife ruled the globe. People lived in caves and leaving them was a huge risk. Today, we’ve reached a point where we’re the ones forcing the animals into solitude. The population continues to grow to the point where people are even complaining about people. There’s too many of us now. The United Nations estimates there are now more than seven billion people on Earth. In 1900, there were only 1.6 billion. Forests and jungles have been destroyed, rivers and lakes polluted, and food sources ravaged, leaving animals with little choice but to seek new land. How would you feel if you were backed into a corner
Riley Linseman Opinion
by some foreign race that you can’t even understand?
“
Today, we’ve reached a point where we’re the ones forcing the animals into solitude.
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All animals know how to do is survive and we’re giving them less and less ways to do that. It’s gotten to the point where some of them are even forced out of their own territory into ours, which is terrifying to them. Imagine how many deer have seen family members get hit by cars. They stick to their own territory for a reason and
they’re absolutely horrified going through ours. Just the other day a deer was seen breaking through a window at a Victoria Street Tim Hortons in Kitchener. Speaking of which, we have to remember that this is a risk to us too. People must stop encroaching on nature. If we must build, it should be up, not out. Helmut Gabbar, a Kitchener resident, raised concerns about coyotes in his backyard the other day. They hadn’t made it into the fenced-in area yet, but his property backs onto a forest. He saw two coyotes eyeing his dogs through the fence. But Gabbar also raised a good point. While I’m still talking about all this wildlife vs. humanity stuff, he said he knows that we’re getting too close to what little territory the animals have left in our city and he expects it to get worse. This is something we all need to realize. Not to be afraid of wildlife, but so we can prepare ourselves for what’s to come.
SPOKE
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 Benny
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The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.
FUN & GAMES
Monday, October 3, 2016
SPOKE s Page 7
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope
Thomas Edison, the creator of the lightbulb, was afraid of the dark.
Week of October 3, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 Time to finish up all pending chores before your energy wears out! Expect a few guests to drop by over the weekend. A new relationship is heading your way!
Taurus April 20 May 20
You will be busy the entire week. Your studies, kids, work and social life will all get mixed up and might become a bit overwhelming. Plan ahead to be stress-free.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You have been on an endless chatter the past week. This might lead you into uncomfortable situations now. Make it a point to stick to your own business!
Cancer June 22 July 22
Your life is stable now and it depends on you whether you maintain it or not. There can be sudden changes, be focused on how to get the best out of everything.
Leo
July 23 August 22 The sun is favouring new growth and opportunities in terms of career and finances. However, your personal life might suffer if you act impulsively.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Bad decisions during the past week have made you a bit apprehensive. It is not too late to mend your ways. Focus on your health issues during this week.
a
Useless Facts
Blueberry juice can help boost your memory.
Libra
September 23 October 22
When cats are happy or pleased, they squeeze their eyes shut.
You might encounter a difficult situation with your friends. Be sure to follow your gut feeling; it never leads you astray!
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and the chocolate bar in his pocket melted.
Scorpio
The average person is about a quarter-of-an-inch taller at night.
October 23 November 21 There are many friendships and relationships that feel abandoned by you. Break away from your regular selfinvolved and withdrawn attitude to bring positivity.
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.
Your new spiritual journey begins this week as you detach yourself from the noise of your surroundings. This week will bring a wave of passion in your life.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
Your humour will ease out all current difficulties in your life. It is advisable to wear a little garnet in your ring finger in the winter to lock the good energy in you.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
Perhaps it is time to let someone enjoy your loyalty? Your zodiac ruler Uranus favours the formation of new bonds; both romantic and spiritual.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Your generosity will be taken to a whole new level. You may change your mind a few times when it comes to critical decisions but it will all end well.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
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NEWS
Page 8 SPOKE
Monday, October 3, 2016
CITY ON EDGE SHOWCASES 100 YEARS OF KITCHENER
A uniform from the First World War is shown beside a wall painting of one of the victory bonds issued between 1914 and 1916.
PHOTO BY SHARON SAMUEL
Helmann Wilhelm and Ava Torres, founders of Canted Pictures, a film production company in Toronto, were in Kitchener Sept. 22 to host their workshop on making a film on a micro budget.
The art of micro-budget filmmaking BY SHARON SAMUEL
PHOTOS BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
James Jensen, supervisor of exhibits and collections for Waterloo Region Museum, stands beside a wall memorial of Lord Kitchener on Sept. 25. The artwork is part of the City on Edge exhibit, which tells the story of how and why the city’s name changed from Berlin to Kitchener. For video story, go to www. spokeonline.com.
Nurse Maude Brown enlisted August 1916. She worked with Canadian Army Medical Corps until 1918.
Have you ever thought you could make a movie with a small budget? Meet a duo who has. Ava Torres and Helmann Wilhelm, both graduates of cinema studies at the University of Toronto, founded Canted Pictures, a micro-budget film production company in Toronto. They have financed, produced and directed the films Killing Time and Through Rose Coloured Glass and are currently producing their third one. They were in Kitchener on Sept. 22 to give a workshop on how to make films on a micro budget. “A micro-budget short film is below $10,000,” said Torres. Hopefully your budget is even lower because people who produce micro-budget films finance them with their own money. The minimum amount needed to produce one of these movies is $5,000. “Ava does all the production and cinematography and I do the writing, editing and directing,” said Wilhelm. He said micro-budget filmmaking is so important to them that they learned about localities, permits, insurance and the appropriate process to go through all by themselves. “We still have lots to learn. We are still growing. We want to share what we have learnt with the people,” he said. Torres said people generally think the films have to have a big budget, but movies can be shot with any budget. “Sacrifices are made and if you are calculated and smart about it and fair you
can mobilize quicker than you think,” she said. You have to pay for lawyers to ensure there is no copyright infringement and for contracts, but you save money on the cast, because they are usually volunteers. “You have to find dedicated cast and crew. They have to have your back 100 per cent,” she said. “At least budget for food and transportation. Give them appropriate breaks.” Wilhelm said they use a DSLR camera to shoot their movies and the output is the same as one shot with bigger cameras. They also operate with a skeleton crew. Instead of having multiple camera assistants they only have one and each person has several roles. Wilhelm said he likes to edit because he then feels like he has complete authority over the project. “When you write the film you have a different (story) going in your mind. When you shoot the film it’s very different from what you pictured and when you edit the film you have to go with what you wanted and what you have been given,” he said. Torres advises that you embrace your limitations as the comfort that one had in school is not found out in the field. Wilhelm said one has to be realistic about their age, budget and experience when they think of shooting a film. “People keep telling you that the sky is the limit,” he said, adding that is not always the case. He said money is definitely a limitation, as is lack of experience.