Uphill struggle ADHD tough on both children and adults. Page 8 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2016
SPOKE
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
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Generational impact Effects of residential schools still felt today. Page 11 47TH YEAR — NO. 7
Emotions mixed after U-Pass vote BY CHRIS HUSSEY
PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLER
Second-year visual merchandising arts students Alayna Poetker (left) and Shauna Wiley show off a poster for aWEARness 2016, the sixth annual runway performance show put on by Conestoga students.
Raising ‘aWEARness’ for Lyme disease BY JOE WEPPLER
“Paper with Purpose” is the theme of the sixth annual “aWEARness” runway performance show being presented by second-year visual merchandising arts students on Friday, March 4 at Conestoga College. “Our challenge was to create costumes solely out of paper,” said Shauna Wiley, one of the students presenting at the show. The event will take place in the library at Doon campus, and tickets are $15 for both the runway show and light refreshments at the open house afterwards. “We want to show off our program, but also show our families and friends what we’ve put our hearts and souls into these past years,” said Alayna Poetker, another second-year visual merchandising student. In vitiations will be handed out to the audience members after the show, inviting them to the visual merchandising arts room in the college for
refreshments and the opportunity to check out more displays and outfits that the class has worked on. Each year, proceeds from the show go to a different charity chosen by the class. This year, the choice was the G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases. The primary focus of the foundation is to establish Canada’s first research facility to study Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses. “It’s a personal connection with me. My sister has Lyme disease,” said Wiley. Lyme disease is an infectious disease most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of infected vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks. It can cause symptoms similar to ALS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, but remains one of the top 10 misdiagnosed diseases in the world. “My sister went to countless doctors and was always getting different diagnoses. No one was able to pinpoint what was going on with her or why
she was having these symptoms,” she said. It took heading to the United States to finally confirm what the problem was. “She got to the point where she just said ‘test everything’ and results came back positive for Lyme disease. It’s been about two years now, but, unfortunately, the treatment in Canada is not as advanced as what they have in the United States,” she said. Treatment for Lyme disease is primarily antibiotics, but specific approaches and symptoms can be dependent on the individual. That’s what makes it so hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. “She went down to Florida for a few months last year. The treatment helped, but it never really goes away. All you can do is manage the symptoms. The treatment is very expensive down there, which is why it’s imperative that they build a facility in Canada that can hopefully
help treat it,” she said. The class of second-year visual merchandising arts students is tight-knit, so it was an easy decision for them to make. “Every year the class decides together what charity to donate to. We all know each other well, and we all know about her sister’s Lyme disease, so we thought it would be great to have that as our charity,” said Poetker. For more information on the event or to check out samples of their work, go to www.visualmerchandisingarts.com. To purchase tickets, you can call 519-748-5220, ext. 2401. All proceeds go directly to the G. Magnotta foundation. There will also be a donation box at the show for those who wish to pledge more. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. on March 4 in the Doon campus library. As for Wiley’s sister, she’s not only just coping – she’s fighting back. “She’s actually my model for the event. She’ll be up there on the runway,” she said.
Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) gave students the opportunity to vote from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12 on whether they wanted a mandatory bus pass. And while the proposed “U-Pass” was intended to be universal, reactions to the result were anything but. A majority of students (57%) voted against implementing the U-Pass, with 2,139 students voting no and 1,591 voting in favour of it. As a result, students will continue to purchase bus passes individually, with those who do getting a sticker from CSI to put on their ONE Card. Student bus riders now pay $227 each semester for a Grand River Transit (GRT) pass – comparable to a parking permit. That would have been cut in half with the U-Pass, which CSI said would have been $245 for a whole year. However, that fee would have become a part of everyone’s tuition – including those who drive, ride and walk to school. Some students who voted in favour of the U-Pass said it would have made it more convenient for them. Emily Arnold, a third-year community and criminal justice student, said that was important for her and part of why she voted in favour of the U-Pass. “I think it would’ve just been nicer for it to have been included in tuition so it would have been all-inclusive instead of trying to worry about getting a bus pass,” she said. Cody Banks, a second-year protection/security and investigation student, also voted in favour of the pass and he had similar sentiments. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
NEWS
Page 2 s SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, February 29, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What is your dream job?
“Airline pilot.”
New app helps you decide BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Robert McMurray, third-year international business management
“Elementary school teacher.”
Shawn Plante, first-year process quality engineering
“Cardiothoracic surgeon or anthropologist.” Francesca Pedler, fourth-year community and criminal justice
“I’ve done everything I’ve dreamed of doing.”
Making decisions has become a lot easier with D-Side, a new innovative app created by entrepreneur and app developer Derek Boyko. According to Brittany Farquhar, who is overseeing the public relations for the new app, Boyko was in line at the grocery store when one of his female best friends sent him a message when she was trying to decide what outfit to wear on a date. He wondered why she didn’t ask her girlfriends. She said she wanted a male’s perspective. The idea for the app was born right there and then. “It’s a startup catering to millennials and helping them decide,” said Farquhar. There’s a heightened social media craze among millennials today and D-Side is supposed to fit right in there. “Millennials like to see facts and D-Side helps them have that,” said Farquhar. The app is different from every other one on the market because the user can see who’s voting and also see the gender. “We encourage users to share two images and allow the D-Side community to vote for their favourite,” said Boyko. “Trends quickly come and go, and this app allows users to choose what the next big thing is, from outfits to finding new restaurants or even choosing between two selfies.” D-Side isn’t only going to help its users make decisions. In the future, Boyko plans to grow the app and partner with brands and stores to
PHOTO SUBMITTED
D-Side is a new innovative app designed to cater to millennials and how they make decisions. The app allows its users to post two pictures side-by-side so other users can vote on which they prefer.
bring exclusive promos and coupons to users based on their location. D-Side is created by No Big Deal Studios Inc. and is available for free in the App Store, requires iOS 7.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Result: ‘Surprising; disappointing’
Matt Waldmann, first-year early childhood education
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“Broadway actress.” Lindsay Grisebach, second-year journalism broadcast
“Famous musician.”
Brandon Cunha, second-year police foundations
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
“The results are pretty disappointing,” he said. For students who voted against the pass, a common concern was that there was no guarantee students would be able to opt-out of the pass, like they can do for the CSI’s health plan. Javier Carrasco, a second-year broadcast television student, said he disliked how the U-Pass would have been mandatory for all students, with the cost being added to everyone’s tuition. “I thought it was a great idea, but not being able to optout was kind of ridiculous,” he said. Brenden Benson, also a second-year protection/security and investigation student, echoed Carrasco’s concern, and said he would have voted in favour of the pass if he would have been able to opt-out. “As a driver, I have parking I pay already, and I don’t
want to pay … for something I’m not going to use,” he said. Jeff Scherer, CSI president, said the reason the opt-out wasn’t offered was because GRT based the price it would cost to increase the number of buses needed if a U-Pass was implemented on a specific number of students. After budgeting $339,000 for the U-Pass, Region of Waterloo council decided to return the money to the taxpayers in a vote on Feb. 23. Coun. Sean Strickland said he and several others were surprised at the results of the referendum because they had taken it for granted that students would vote in favour of the pass. “I was disappointed because I think (the U-Pass) could be a tremendous value to Conestoga College students,” he said. Despite the division among students, Scherer said he was pleased to see how many of them were engaged in the
referendum. “I think students were more engaged with the conversation around the referendum than I’ve seen them being engaged in anything on campus,” he said. Scherer also said he was happy to see so many students vote. “I believe what we can take away from these results is that we have an extremely engaged and involved student population.” But Banks said that although there were a lot of votes, it seemed like there were many who weren’t interested and tuned it out. “I really don’t think (31 per cent of students is) representative (of the student body) at all,” he said. Scherer said looking ahead, CSI is hoping to work with GRT to increase bus service to Conestoga and to work on alleviating the financial burden of parking passes.
NEWS
Monday, February 29, 2016
SPOKE s Page 3
The Human Library: a sobering experience BY CHRIS HUSSEY
Jake Raey was sitting on the couch at his house, when all of a sudden he came to. The last thing he remembered was getting a pack of cigarettes as his two friends waited for him in his car. One of his friends told him that Raey had driven them home. That was when Raey realized he had blacked out for that entire journey. “It hit me in a way I had never felt before,” he said. Raey said it was terrifying for him because as he was blacked out, he could have hurt or killed somebody, including himself. He said the idea that he wasn’t in control really affected him. “The not being aware part is really what hit me, and so, in that moment, I took all my alcohol and poured it down the sink,” he said. That was in 2013. Raey said this moment was significant for him because he was and is still an addict. In fact, he started smoking weed when he was 18 years old and that eventually led to him using more lethal substances, such as cocaine. Now, after three years of sobriety, Raey is using his experiences to help others. He demonstrated that willingness to give back by being a part of the fourth annual Human Library event on Feb. 10 at Conestoga College. The event, which was held in the Library Resource Centre (LRC), was a unique experience where people could borrow a human “book” for 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, people had
the opportunity to ask the “book” questions and hear their story. Laura Black, a Student Life programmer for community initiatives at Conestoga College, said the event is intended to encourage meaningful and positive conversation. “In 15 minutes you can learn a lot about someone,” she said. The event is just one of many in the Respect Campaign at Conestoga, an initiative which focuses on promoting positive behaviours on-campus. Black said the event has been well received by both the college community and the human “books” alike. Although the event has proven to be successful at Conestoga, the concept traces its roots to Copenhagen, Denmark, and has evolved into a worldwide movement. The Human Library website, www.humanlibrary.org, describes the concept as, “a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.”
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I really feel like (helping people not feel alone) is the most important thing I can convey. — Jake Raey
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This year’s event may have done just that. Black said throughout the course of the day, she saw a wide spectrum of emotions, ranging from
PHOTO BY CHRIS HUSSEY
Jake Raey sits at his table during the fourth annual Human Library event on Feb. 10 at Conestoga College. Throughout the course of the day, students were able to loan out human “books” such as Raey for 10 to 15 minutes and were able to ask them questions and hear their stories. tears to literally jumping up and down in excitement. She said although there were many of these memorable moments, the most powerful moment for her was during a one-on-one conversation with a “book.” As the two talked, the woman told Black how much this event meant to her and how it’s benefiting her as well. Black said it reminded her that although these “books” have stories to tell, these stories aren’t necessarily finished. The Human Library may play a big role in making the stories more
CHECKING OUT THE NEW RECREATION CENTRE
meaningful. “To see the stories growing from year to year is really the most rewarding thing from my point of view,” she said. Raey echoed this statement and said the way he has approached the Human Library has changed since he first did it. He initially registered to be a part of the Human Library for his own personal benefit and to put his story out there. But now, after several years of signing up to be a “book” at the event, he wants to give back.
“It’s important to me to let this big portion of my life not go to waste,” he said. “I want to use those experiences and those stories to benefit others in any way I can.” Raey said there are many places to go for support, no matter what the situation. “I really feel like (helping people not feel alone) is the most important thing I can convey because I did a lot of what I did on my own, and if I had taken or sought help, it would have made my recovery a lot easier,” he said.
FROM ONE WRITER TO ANOTHER
PHOTO BY LEAH MORROW PHOTO BY MIKE STROMME
Spoke’s Mike Stromme follows Conestoga College campus recreation co-ordinator Ilona Romonow around the campus’s newly renovated rec centre. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
Local horror, sci-fi and fantasy author Suzanne Church (seen above holding her new book cover for Soul Larcenist) gave a talk on Feb. 12 on just what it takes to write a great story. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 s SPOKE
Monday, February 29, 2016
The failure of our prison system BY GARRETT BURCHETT
Steven Pratt is an anomaly. Perhaps that is true. Or perhaps that is just a justification. Pratt spent 30 years in a maximum security prison for the murder of Michael Anderson in 1984. His sentenced served, he returned to the world in October 2014, only to kill his own mother two days later. While this example took place in the U.S., it is foolish to believe our own prison systems are head and shoulders above our counterparts to the south. For many, this would seem to be a warning call, a heartbreaking example of why violent crimes should be met with longer and harsher sentences. But we as a society should look harder when placing blame. Pratt was 15 when he was tried as an adult and convicted. He entered the prison system barely a man, and the experience seems to have stolen from him a chance at a normal life upon his release. If he had problems in 1984 when he shot and killed his neighbour, what was his state of mind when he killed his 64-year-old mother? Given the young age at which he was incarcerated, the state had 30 years to rehabilitate him. Maybe they were fooled into thinking he had changed. But the fact remains, Pratt was released from prison just as dangerous a man, if not more so, as the day he went in. Prison is a way to keep society safe. But it needs to be more than that. It needs to be a place where men and women can improve their mental health, to see the error of their ways and work toward earning a second chance upon their release. The Waterloo Region Record reported that, according to a 2014 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, 77 per cent of released prisoners in the U.S. were arrested for a new crime within five years. However, the rate among convicted murders was much lower. There will be those who won’t change no matter what help is offered to them. But that does not mean we should give up on people who have made a mistake. We owe them a chance to succeed in life after they have served their time. Was Pratt a psychopath? It wouldn’t seem so, given his breakdown and tearful admission of guilt in court after his mother’s murder. Maybe it was a call for help. Perhaps part of the blame should fall on us. 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
Terry isn’t the best prison guard around.
High food prices hit the wallet A hand from OSAP could ease some of the pain Food prices and students don’t make a good mix. Many students already require financial assistance and, with rising food prices, this only makes it harder to put quality food on the table. I think with the recent increases in the price of food the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) should give students more money to cover these rising costs.
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Students skip meals, breakfast for example, to both save money and avoid having to buy processed foods ...
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I know that maintaining a student budget is already tough enough with the cost of tuition, buying textbooks and paying any other fees that come up unexpectedly. This doesn’t even include students who live on their own who
Matt Linseman Opinion
have monthly rent payments, possibly weekly fill-ups on gas if they own a vehicle and, of course, the almighty grocery bill. With cauliflower up astronomically and meats and cereal prices skyrocketing as well, it’s becoming extremely difficult for students to pay for basic groceries and standard meals. Many students wish they had the wiggle room in their budget for an ideal diet – one that consists of healthy and fresh foods. Instead, many students are looking for the lowest prices and the best deals. The items that are on sale are usually processed foods that are made cheaply with little to no nutritional value. Some of these foods
are even bad for those eating them and could have both short-term and long-term effects on the consumer. Some students skip meals, breakfast for example, to both save money and avoid having to buy processed foods. This isn’t the answer, of course, but students don’t have other options. On the other hand, some students spend their OSAP money on things like new clothes, alcohol or fancy tech gadgets. These are the types of students who give all post-secondary students a bad name because it makes it seem like every student doesn’t take their financial aid seriously and just wastes it. However, these students are the exception, not the rule, as most students are struggling and are just trying to meet their financial obligations. For the most part, they are not spending their OSAP funding carelessly, so an extra handout from OSAP would go a long way.
SPOKE
IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Chris Hussey Assignment Editors: Matt Linseman, Jenna Braun Advertising Managers: Christel Allison Spoke Online Editors: Emmie Siroky, Sean Malinowski, Marissa Cuddy Production Managers: Sarah Veenstra, Garrett
Burchett, Taylor Schweitzer Photo Editors (print): Jason Mota, Paul Boreham, Ashley Nequest, Ethan Kompf Photo Editors (online): Josh van Ostrand, Mike Stromme, Michelle Maisonville, Kandace Gallant Social Media Editor: Joe Weppler, Jessica Pett,
Sara Sasila Circulation Manager: Leah Morrow, Jessica Hammer Faculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina Jonas
Spoke’s address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Phone: 519-748-5220, ext. 3691, 3692, 3693, 3694 Fax: 519-748-3534 Email: spoke@conestogac.on.ca Website: www.spokeonline.com
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.
NEWS
Monday, February 29, 2016
SPOKE s Page 5
3D printing available through CSI
BY PAUL BOREHAM
Intermittent buzzing, zipping and humming sounds are echoing from a small back room in Doon’s Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) office. In a tiny workshop, a little machine scoots back and forth on its own accord, as if it has a mind of its own. It hovers around a small object, seemingly thinking what to do next. Then there’s a zap and a little more is added. It’s making something, but what? Makerbot Replicator Z18 – a 3D printer – is the newest addition to CSI’s service hub and is ready to get busy making all manner of things for Conestoga College students. “It was a cool idea that was brought up by a director last year,” said Jeff Scherer, president of CSI. “3D printing is becoming a new up-and-coming method of printing. It’s relatively inexpensive to operate, and relatively inexpensive for students,” he said. Listed at $6,500 on Makerbot’s website, it was purchased through the technology enhancement fee that is a small part of tuition. The plastic filament that feeds into the printer head costs about $50 per roll. CSI is charging 50 cents an hour and Scherer estimates a typical item will cost $2-3 and take about five hours. There’s not enough room at the service hub for the Makerbot – at roughly 3.5 ft. in height and 1.5 ft. sq. – and so it’s making its home in CSI’s graphic designer’s office for now. Students need to stop in, fill out a short application form and bring along the project file on a USB stick. Files need to be in proper formats: .stl, .obj, .thing or .makerbot. Bonnie Humphries, CSI’s graphic design manager, will upload the file and provide a time and price estimate. She takes care of it from there. Pick-up and payment is at the service hub. A 3D scanner can be used
in conjunction with software to produce and play around with images. But these options aren’t available at CSI and must be done off-site. Kitchener Public Library (KPL) has had a Makerbot working away at its main branch since its new facility opened in 2014. The Digital Media Lab includes a smaller, desktop version of the Makerbot (listed at $2,900). A long table also holds a scanner and a computer to make and edit projects. “Since we’ve had the 3D printer, it has been used almost continuously,” said Lesa Balch, director of technologies and content at KPL. “It’s very popular.” In fact, there is rarely a time it is not running, she said. The service is free to all patrons on a first-come, firstserved basis. “We want to give people an opportunity to try something new. They’ve maybe heard about 3D printing but they’ve never had an opportunity to see what it looks like, or try to build something,” said Balch. The one caveat is that patrons must stick around while their project is “printing.” What is there to do in a library to pass a few hours? “Look at books,” said a middle-aged man, who was at that moment waiting for a shiny, lime-green phone case to be perfected by the beeping, buzzing Mr. Makerbot. Delan Abbas, a KPL IT technician, also joined the conversation and said a phone case will take about two hours. Abbas then demonstrated how the scanner can capture an image and be manipulated in size and form to the whims of creativity on the software, before sending it on to the Makerman/woman to do its thing. “You can also do faces,” added Abbas. “I scanned a friend’s head and printed it for him. It’s very fun. People like that a lot.” Small items that are broken can be brought in, scanned and
PHOTO BY JENNA BRAUN
Did you know CSI has a 3D printer? Jeff Scherer, CSI’s president, says he hopes more students will use the service as usage is not picking up since its launch in January. To see the printer in action, see video at www.spokeonline.com.
PHOTO BY PAUL BOREHAM
Dan Strype, a technologist for the School of Engineering at Conestoga College’s Cambridge campus, shows off a high-tech 3D printer, a Stratasys Eden500V, in a room that is part of the Centre for Smart Manufacturing at the college. Strype is one of two faculty members who run the machine, producing prototypes and working items for students and businesses. made new again, said Balch. The sky is the limit with what can be created – for fun or for complete practicality. IT staff are there to help patrons just starting out with it, and there are workshops every so often. Both KPL and CSI staff recommend starting with a downloaded object from a website. These include everything from makeup stands to soap dishes; computer and phone accessories of all kinds; things that make noise, such as whistles, and even body parts. (How about a heart or a humerus bone?) But one of the main goals for the printer at the college is for students to use it for assignments. “When you look at students in engineering and architectural programs, they’re required to print things one-dimensional to show the dynamics of a building they’ve created,” said Scherer. “I think it’s a cool opportunity to take their design work that they’re already printing out in a program that’s compatible with a 3D printer, and access-
PHOTO BY PAUL BOREHAM
Conestoga College’s Doon campus 3D printer, located in the CSI office, can print students’ projects.
ing (CSI’s new printer).” All of this kowtowing to 3D technology is not for nothing. It’s buzzing louder than ever across the 401 at Conestoga’s Cambridge campus. A large, $400,000 machine sits in a room of its own, part of a larger facility strewn with fancy equipment, called the Centre for Smart Manufacturing. “This is the future right here – absolutely 100 per cent,” said Dan Strype, a technologist for the School of Engineering, standing in front of the Stratasys Eden500V 3D printer that he is in charge of. “The key feature about this machine is that it is accurate to within 25 microns,” said Strype. It leaves a pristine, glossy or matte finish (matte if it is to be painted). It’s used mainly for research – a tool to make prototypes of objects that would otherwise take a lot of time and money to produce by hand. A recent success story saw two Conestoga students – brothers Luke and Jesse Hambly – create something they call a Pressa Bottle. Their website claims “Pressa is the original creator of pressed water – a bottle allowing you to press flavour from fruits and vegetables into your water.” “Luke proved out his designs on this printer and they’re actually in production now,” said Strype. Besides accessing the printer through school programs, students go through the entrepreneurial office at Doon and work out their far-flung ideas on the machine. “It has to have an educational or entrepreneurial flavour to it,” said Strype, though he did admit a race car has come out of its bosom once or twice – “just to see if it could be done,” he said,
with a mischievous smile. The dental industry is also a big user of it, he said. Shiny new dentures have clicked their way out of it and ended up in people’s mouths. Additionally, companies will partner with the college to make prototypes of products being developed. “I’ve heard they’re actually 3D printing houses,” said Strype. That led to a wider discussion about how it could be used to make shelters for refugees in desert camps. (All that would be needed is a generator and materials, such as sand, that are available on-site.) They’re also used for artistic endeavours. “Movies like Ironman – a lot of the armour is actually 3D printed. You see a lot of 3D printed sculptures,” said Strype. They’re used in the medical field. Using a scanner, amputees can have their stump scanned for a perfectly-fitting prosthetic – made on a 3D machine. There’s also a green aspect to making things 3D-style. The energy consumption is much less than using conventional machines in a shop, said Strype. While the Makerbot now available at Doon is crude compared to the printer he operates, Strype said it is still valuable. “Having a 3D machine accessible at Doon campus is fantastic. The cheaper printers are an entry point into that world,” he said. “I’ll be interested to see how much it picks up as final projects are due,” said Scherer. “I think that will be the determining factor in whether we expand (the service).” To see some items that can be downloaded and printed, go to thingiverse.com
NEWS
Page 6 s SPOKE
Monday, February 29, 2016
Smile at your happy memories
BY SARAH VEENSTRA
What will it take to make you smile? It’s a simple question that requires a simple answer: a happy memory. Perhaps sometimes society forgets about how little they really need to be happy. Or at least for a smiling moment. On Feb. 23, Conestoga College hosted the Smile Epidemic, an event solely dedicated to making the students of Conestoga smile by asking them to recall a memory that triggers a happy reaction. “Student Life has been focusing on the value of a smile at Conestoga College since at least 2010,” said Laura Black, Student Life programmer for community initiatives at Conestoga College’s Doon campus and co-ordinator for the event. “The Smile Epidemic has been a meaningful event for our Respect Campaign, which is why we continue to host it once a year. The Smile Epidemic itself though is much bigger than just our college.” The Smile Epidemic was founded by Brampton-born, Jim Moss. In 2009, the professional lacrosse player lost feeling in his hands and coordination in his legs and within the following 24 hours, Moss lost his ability to walk. Doctors at a hospital in California diagnosed Moss with a rare autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome that forced him to relearn how to walk. Refusing to look at the dark side, Moss embraced the light, starting a blog that looked at
the positives in his life. In six weeks, Moss was up and walking with the aid of two arm canes, a win that his doctors attributed to his positive attitude. Currently holding a PhD in social psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University, Moss started the Smile Epidemic in order to get everyone else to look at the positives in their own lives. “February can be a difficult time of year,” said Black. “Midterms, dreary winter weather and compounding stressors. We use the Smile Epidemic as a way to keep people energized following their winter semester break and to build community on campus. It’s easy to feel isolated with all our troubles. It’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of our lives and this is a way to bring light to the positive aspects that we may not think about as much.” The event provided awareness of the benefits of smiling, positivity and gratitude that have been scientifically researched. “It was an all-day event,” said Kelly Annets, a Respect intern for Student Life and second-year recreation and leisure student. “However, if a student would like to spread positivity and smiles another day, we are more than happy to support any ideas. Participating in the event last year was so fun. I found it uplifting, and engaging other students gave me a sense of belonging and appreciation for the littler things in life.”
PHOTO BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Laura Black, Student Life programmer for community initiatives at Conestoga College’s Doon campus, shows off her smile in support of the Smile Epidemic. Black is the co-ordinator of the event which took place at the college on Feb. 23. So what makes Black smile? “My happiest memory was the day I was married last year and I smiled ear-to-ear for 24 hours straight, knowing that I was surrounded by true love,” said Black. “Smiling was not always so easy for me. Personally, I experience clinical depression and faking a smile has become a routine
while I try to uphold my bubbly self. Eventually though, your cheeks start to hurt and fake smiles fade. Real smiles became my goal in life. I would surround myself with others who expressed joy and took care of myself by acknowledging that I don’t always have to be happy. Being in a dark place made the smiles seem
so far away but it made me value them so much more. I’m now in a much better place and I’m so grateful everyday for the real smile I can now share with others in hopes that their smile will come easier too.” It’s time to ask yourself, what will make you smile today?
BY JESSICA HAMMER
The theme for Feb. 12 was how to upcycle T-shirts. People learned about different T-shirt craft ideas and created one right there at the store. Wendy Cotter, the materials resources production manager for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), ran the workshop that evening. “Inspiration comes from so many places for me. I find lots of ideas on the Internet, magazines, browsing stores and sometimes (just) looking at a find will tell me what it wants to be,” said Cotter. “I can see what the finished project could look like.” A T-shirt could be turned into a funky scarf, headband, miniskirt or could spice up an otherwise boring outfit. Another idea Cotter talked about was how to turn a shirt into a bag because it
takes about 10 minutes and is one of the easier things to make. Ideas for crafts are endless and no idea is a bad idea because you don’t always know what the finished product looks like until it is finished. The MCC is a worldwide, non-profit organization that spreads compassion and peace where it is needed. They work with churches to promote peace, help with local solutions and help with relief work. To learn more about their work, go to www.mcccanada.ca/learn/about/mission. Thrift on Kent carries everything from books and clothes to toys and household items. For more information about the MCC Thrift on Kent call 519-886-6226 or visit www. thriftonkent.com.
Get cool and crafty ideas at thrift store
PHOTO BY JESSICA HAMMER
Wendy Cotter, the materials resources production manager for the Mennonite Central Committee, holds a dog toy and a tote bag while modelling two scarves that were all made from a T-shirt.
At a thrift store someone’s junk can truly be someone else’s treasure, but it might take some imagination and a little creativity. A plain old T-shirt has endless possibilities and some of these were demonstrated during a workshop at the Mennonite Central Committee’s thrift store, Thrift on Kent, at the corner of Charles and Kent streets in Kitchener on Feb. 12. Every Friday in February Thrift on Kent offered free Thrift University classes. “It’s another way for us to showcase the amazing things you can find at the thrift shop but also to show our customers and the community different ways that they can upcycle items they find here,” said Heather Gallian, the general manager for Thrift on Kent.
NEWS
Monday, February 29, 2016
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Female coaches fight for equality BY GARRETT BURCHETT
Women have taken another big step toward being accepted in the male-dominated world of the National Football League. Kathryn Smith became the NFL’s first full-time female coach on Jan. 20, when she was hired by the Buffalo Bills to serve as their special teams quality control coach. Smith has worked in the NFL for 12 years, including the last seven under Bills coach Rex Ryan, serving as his administrative assistant last year. “Kathryn has been working in a football administrative role and assisted the assistant coaches for years,” said Ryan in a statement. “She has proven that she’s ready for the next step, so I’m excited and proud for her with this opportunity.” This follows a number of recent examples of women breaking into the male-dominated league of professional football. In April 2015 Sarah Thomas became the NFL’s first full-time female official, and Jen Welter became the NFL’s first female coach in July when she was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as an
assistant coach intern for training camp and preseason. In August 2014, the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs announced the hiring of Becky Hammon, a former WNBA player, who became the NBA’s first fulltime female coach when she was hired as assistant to head coach Gregg Popovich. Lo Locust, a former female arena league football player and current assistant/ defensive line coach with the Central Penn Capitals of the American Indoor Football league, thinks that this move will draw attention to the fact that there are potential female candidates for coaching positions who have the expertise to work in the NFL and make contributions. “I feel as though she earned it, she has been with the organization for seven years,” said Locust. “I think it speaks volumes for the Bills organization to say, ‘You’ve worked hard, we recognize the effort and you’ve earned it.” Locust thinks we are still far away from seeing a female head coach in the NFL. Given the high level and high commitment required for a head coaching position, there just
aren’t enough female coaches in positions at this point to think that one might be considered for a head coaching position in the next 10 years. “But will there be a (female) position coach in the next 10 years?” said Locust. “I would believe so and I would tell you that I could see a position coach (position) becoming available for a qualified candidate.”
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In my mind, you have to kind of earn it. — Lo Locust
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She hopes that this moves things forward, that other female coaches have the mindset of trying to get better and applying for open positions. “In my mind, you have to kind of earn it. I think we have to work a little bit harder now so we can get recognized that we are able to do the same style or level of coaching as our male counterparts,” she said. Locust has had great success coaching men, whether it be
with Susquehanna Township High School in Pennsylvania, the Central Penn Piranha of the Gridiron Developmental Football League, or now with the Capitals. She acknowledges that it helped her in her career as a coach to be put in situations where she has had a supportive staff to set the tone for the team. Locust credits Ron Kerr, who is the head coach of the Central Penn Piranhas, for giving her credibility as a coach and allowing her to come in and be respected right away. “He took a lot of flak, from the team, from a lot of the other coaches,” said Locust. “But they have never treated me as anything but a coach, and I can’t ask for more than that.” Following the hiring of Smith, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL will be implementing a “Rooney Rule” for women. The rule would require teams to interview at least one female for all executive jobs. The Rooney Rule came into being because there were coaches of colour in the league who were being overlooked for head coaching positions.
While at first glance this seems like a good idea, Locust believes that women need to earn spots based on merit first, as opposed to being ushered in through this rule. “If I ever got a chance like that at a higher level, I would want it to be because I earned it, and because I’m the right fit,” said Locust. “Not because I’m fulfilling something they have to do.” There are lots of resources out there for female’s coaches looking for guidance, support or inspiration. The Female Coaching Network (FCN) is an independent coaching organization that was launched in 2014 that allows women to connect and serve as mentors. Their goal is to further change in the equity of coaching and provide solutions to the many barriers women face. “Coaching is awesome if you love the sport and building leaders,” Laura Bond, head coach of Algonquin College’s basketball team told the FCN. “You don’t need to be a loud, in-your-face person to coach (and) to be successful, you need to coach based on who you are and never change that.”
FEATURE
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The reality of a quiet disorder BY JASON MOTA
With so much happening in the world of stress-related mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, it’s easy to forget about the other conditions that don’t fall into that category – the ones that are quiet in comparison. But they’re still as present as they’ve always been. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder that causes extreme difficulty focusing, a lack of impulse control, and, depending on the type of ADHD, hyperactivity. The cause of ADHD is unknown, but there are a lot of theories about it being genetic. ADHD always rears its head at a very young age, and a diagnosis can only be made if it appears before the age of 12. According to Kitchener pediatrician Dr. Jodi Rosner, there are two types of ADHD according to the current terminology: inattentive and combined. Inattentive ADHD includes only the lack of ability to focus and pay attention, while combined ADHD is a combination of the inattentiveness and hyperactivity. The old terminology split them up into ADD and ADHD. It is not considered to be a mental illness like anxiety, depression or schizophrenia, because there is no evidence that ADHD can be caused by stress or trauma like the aforementioned conditions can. But it’s still around, and it still makes life difficult for people who suffer from it. Take the case of Parker Semple, an 11-year-old boy in Guelph. Semple is an ADHD sufferer. He was diagnosed in the third grade, but his mother, Candice Ferguson, noticed a difference in his behaviour from other kids when he was just 18 months old. According to Ferguson, he didn’t respond to discipline like other kids, and was very temperamental. “I tried using time-outs with him since that’s what everyone kept telling me to do. I would have to literally pin him down on the bottom step to get him to stay there,” said Ferguson. “He would laugh right in my face when he knew he was making me angry, as if it gave him pleasure.” When Semple started school, he struggled from day one. “All of his report cards would have comments about how Parker struggled to pay attention in class,” said Ferguson. “By the time he was in grade three he started
to have episodes in class like crawling under a desk and pulling chairs all around him like a barricade. “That was the year I took him to the pediatrician’s and got a referral to CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association). Based on information provided by myself, my mom and teachers, it was determined that he was attention deficit.” It was also determined, through meetings with a psychiatrist, that he suffered from depression and anxiety, possibly stemming from his ADHD, and the stress it caused him. According to his mother, Semple’s behaviour has gotten increasingly difficult as he has gotten older. “Last Mother’s Day weekend was spent in the hospital because he attempted to strangle himself with his hoodie at school,” said Ferguson. Semple is currently taking Zoloft, an antidepressant, Risperidone, an antipsychotic, and Adderall for the ADHD, but Ferguson said that finding the right dosage and combination of the medication is challenging. The days that he forgets to take his meds are not fun. Dr. Rosner said, “I’ve been a part of the diabetic clinic for 15 years now and not one parent has ever asked, ever, the side effect of any of the medicines we give for diabetes, yet parents really struggle with the stigma and the social constraints with ADHD about giving a medication that will help their child be successful at school and ultimately put them on a great path to success in life.” The medication, however, is what has had the most profound effect on Semple’s behaviour and success, according to Ferguson. She also said that the fact that his best friend suffers from ADHD too has helped him to not feel so alone, and also gives him someone to relate to. Ferguson does, however, worry about her son’s future, both in regards to his education and his relationships. “He thinks he is stupid and foresees a life of crime for himself, which truly saddens me to hear him talk like that,” said Ferguson. Her worries are likely well placed, considering the difficulties Rosner says adults face compared to children. “For children, the primary difficulty they face is in school … adults suffer different challenges in terms of being able to keep their job, keep their marriage, relationships,” she said.
PHOTO BY JASON MOTA
Sufferers of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder know more than the average Joe about medication. Popping pills in order to be successful is simple reality, however, ingesting numerous drugs can be quite discomforting. But according to Rosner, it isn’t just ADHD that should be given more public attention. “All mental health illnesses are truthfully not given as much attention as they should be.” But unlike children, who have access to numerous pediatricians and child psychiatrists who can focus on their specific mental condition and give them the best possible advice and treatment, adults who suffer from ADHD don’t have as many options. “There’s very few people who are skilled and knowledgeable enough and willing to treat adults with ADHD,” said Rosner. “It’s a challenge.” Rosner recalled a number of times when a child with ADHD has come into her office with parents, and she has noticed that one of the parents also has the same condition the child has. By law, she isn’t allowed to treat adults, but she tries to give them advice. Rosner recommends that adults who suffer from ADHD and struggle to maintain their control over it should seek out a psychiatrist or counsellor who is knowledgeable at least about mental illnesses. ADHD is not like stressrelated mental illnesses, and it doesn’t reduce the mental age of people who have it, but since those, like Rosner, Ferguson and Semple, who experience it every single day can’t forget about it or push it aside, they surely would not want the rest of the world to do so.
PHOTO BY JASON MOTA
Dr. Jodi Rosner wanted to be a pediatrician since she was nine years old, and constantly goes the extra mile to try to understand and help her patients. Early in her career, she took it upon herself to learn all about ADHD so she could treat her patients more effectively.
NEWS
Monday, February 29, 2016
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Radio host ‘steps’ up for Heart and Stroke
BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Running, walking, spinning around and laughing are just a few things that someone can do on a treadmill. Doing those activities on a treadmill for 24 hours is another story. On Feb. 18 at 6 a.m., Kitchener’s 91.5 The Beat breakfast radio host Carlos Benevides, for the fourth straight year, started his 24hour walk for the Heart and Stroke Foundation at Movati Athletic in Waterloo and ended the event at 6 a.m. the following day. People were invited to drop by the wellbeing club at any time during the 24-hour time period to make a donation or they could donate by going to the Heart and Stroke website any time before, during or after the event. “I do this walk for many reasons,” Benevides said. “My dad has a pacemaker which he’s had for eight years, my aunt had triple bypass surgery four years ago, another aunt has had a pacemaker for 14 years, my uncle has heart disease, my brother’s best friend had his first valve replacement when
he was just a newborn and just last year my cousin had to start using a defibrillator (an apparatus used to control heart fibrillation by application of an electric current to the chest wall or heart). Doing this walk really hits home to me.” The event encouraged The Beat listeners and members of Movati Athletic to participate in walking or running on treadmills set up in the main lobby alongside Benevides, who ended up walking 81,000 steps for a total of 65 kilometres. “I think there’s a lot of confusion about heart disease and heart failures out there,” Benevides said. “It’s important for people to understand and be aware of the different causes and effects.” Benevides hopes the event helps listeners learn about heart disease and that they need to take better care of themselves by exercising daily while maintaining a healthy diet. “Carlos is really doing an amazing thing by participating in this event,” said Hilary Harron, senior area manager of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “This is
the fourth year that Carlos is doing the run, so we come out here and support him while collecting donations to raise awareness for what we do here in the region.” Harron was most proud of the fact that Benevides had engaged many of the station’s listeners and has increased their support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The foundation now has people from the region come and ask them what they do, what kinds of equipment they work with to help people who have heart disease, and seek additional information on strokes and heart failures. “People should give (to this cause) because we are not only creating donors, but we are also creating survivors,” Harron said. According to the 91.5 The Beat’s website, as of Feb. 22 Benevides had raised $7,300 for the foundation. For more information about events and to make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, visit their website heartandstrokefoundation.on.ca and search Kitchener-Waterloo locations.
Overdose alert system implemented BY SARA SASILA
Between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26 there were five non-fatal overdoses and one fatal overdose reported in Waterloo Region. Heroin was used in five instances and fentanyl, a similar but stronger drug than morphine, was used in the other. “The Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy (WRIDS) issued an alert to the public because of the unusually high number,” said Shirley Hilton, staff sergeant of the Waterloo Region Police Services (WRPS) – drug branch. “The alert was issued to ensure people who were using substances, those providing direct services, and friends and family were aware of the high number of overdoses.” The most severe drug used in Waterloo Region is opioids. Opioids include painkillers like oxycodone, hyrdromorphone, fentanyl, methadone, codeine and heroin. One of the concerns the WRPS has is the presence of bootleg fentanyl, which has been mixed with other substances such as heroin and is believed to be in the region. The WRIDS launched a community-based effort to
monitor, alert and respond to overdoses and tainted drugs called Overdose Monitoring, Alert and Response System (OMARS). Citizens and service providers are encouraged to report any drug overdoses to the WRIDS and WRPS. “We (WRPS) believe that the collaborative community effort across sectors including emergency responders, health and outreach services is currently our best approach to reduce deaths and injuries resulting from overdoses,” said Hilton. OMARS was developed because of the concern of bootleg fentanyl. In Waterloo Region, bootleg fentanyl in both pill and powder form has been seized by enforcement and authorities. It has been found pressed into pills and mixed in with other substances including heroin, cocaine and crystal meth. The mixed drug is driving overdose deaths to an unsettling number in Canada, especially in British Columbia and Alberta. “Currently one person dies every 14 hours from an opioid-related death in Ontario,” said Gregory Paul, Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Services co-ordinator. Paul said Waterloo Region is possibly the first in Ontario
to develop a monitoring system for drug overdoses. “The absence of a ‘real time’ surveillance system does not exist for overdoses in Ontario,” he said. “A monitoring system was first recommended in 2008 because of the concern about bootleg fentanyl killing unsuspecting members of the public.” Elements of OMARS include monitoring, alerting and responding to overdoses. “The response system can work to save lives and reduce injuries due to overdose,” said Paul. “There is limited capability at present but we are fortunate to have some naloxone (a synthetic drug that blocks opiate receptors) available courtesy of Sanguen Health Care and Waterloo Region Public Health.” Unlike epinephrine (a drug injected for emergency medical treatment), naloxone is not widely available in Ontario, which makes it harder to treat severe cases. “As part of the Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy, the goal is to make Waterloo Region safer and healthier by looking at interventions to prevent, reduce or eliminate problematic substance use and its consequences,” said Hilton.
PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Carlos Benevides, breakfast radio host of 91.5 The Beat, walked for 24 hours to raise awareness about heart disease and to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The walk started on Feb. 18 at 6 a.m. and ended the next morning. Benevides hosted The Beat breakfast after his walk.
FUN & GAMES
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Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of February 29, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 You will feel sudden bursts of energy this week; take advantage of them by improving yourself both physically and emotionally.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Someone will test your patience this week. Use your skills of persistence and determination to work things out with that person; don’t let your stubbornness get in the way.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You make it a priority to know everything about everyone. This trait will come in handy when a friend is in need this week.
Cancer June 22 July 22
You devote yourself to nurturing those who you love most, but this week an opportunity to treat yourself will arise. This week will be perfect for enjoying some “me” time.
Leo
July 23 August 22 Your creative abilities will coincide with your risk-taking spirit this week. Consider the positive and negative repercussions before taking action.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 You are often very indecisive because you require much thought and deliberation before making a decision. This week you will need to rely on your ability to be flexible.
It takes about 142.18 licks to reach the centre of a Tootsie pop.
Libra
The serial number of the first MAC ever produced was 2001.
September 23 October 22
There is a town in Newfoundland, Canada called Dildo.
With Valentine’s Day behind you, you may believe the romance is over for a while; don’t be so quick to assume!
Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
Scorpio
There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
October 23 November 21 You are an emotional and often jealous person but this week you will experience a rush of confidence that will push those feelings aside, allowing you to form a new relationship.
Non-dairy creamer is flammable.
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.
You often find yourself dreaming of what could be. This week you will have the chance to pursue those feelings but when doing so, be gentle.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
You are not typically someone who goes out on a limb but this is the perfect week to start your journey in achieving your biggest dreams.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
This year has been hectic for you but you can relax, as some down time will soon be upon you, allowing you to pursue your humanitarian interests.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 You are very adaptable to change and this week that ability will be tested.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
Word Search
NEWS
Monday, February 29, 2016
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Natives still haunted by the past Residential schools left mental and physical scars
BY KANDACE GALLANT
I never knew how much the saying, “You learn something new every day,” was true. For the last couple of years I’ve been learning things about my family that I never even thought possible … that sometimes I don’t even want to believe could have happened. These aren’t secrets that I just so happened to come across, or something that I even asked to know about. These stories were told to me by my aunts and uncles who learned that the past is in the past and you can never truly move on unless you stop thinking about the troubles of yesterday. Secrets starting spilling out, almost as if it was a huge burden they were lifting off their shoulders. My family is native, part of the Mi’kmaq people. I will always be proud to say that, though there may have been a time when I wasn’t. But after learning that my grandmother and her siblings went to Shubenacadie’s residential school in Nova Scotia, I have come to learn the true meaning of family, love and strength. Residential schools started up in the late 1870s and operated until the 1990s. They opened with the assumption that native children would learn about their cultures and languages. But not only were they stripped of their beliefs and the language they grew up speaking, they were mentally, physically and sexually abused by the nuns and Fathers who ran the schools. My grandmother, Pearline Gallant, was forced to attend in the late 1930s. I don’t know how long she was forced to attend, but many had to until they were old enough to drop out themselves at the age of 15. “My mother, Pearline, was Mi’kmaq and my father was a Frenchman,” said Noella Moore, my aunt who lives in Prince Edward Island. “When they were young and in love it may have seemed like a good idea at the time to get married, but, unfortunately, that was forbidden. When they wed, my mother ended up losing her native status. After all that she’d been through for being a native woman, I think that hit her harder than anything.” Pearline Gallant was a smart, beautiful, young woman who was forced to believe that being native was a sin. Her beliefs were “wrong,” her language was “dirty” and being native made her “ugly” and “worthless.” “After finding out what happened to my family at Shubenacadie’s Residential
School in Nova Scotia, I’m a strong believer that it has affected us from generation to generation,” said Noella. “My mom was at the school for years and was beaten and sexually abused regularly.” Pearline attended the residential school with her brothers and sisters, who, Noella said, didn’t have to face as many punishments as Pearline did. “She would often take the blame for things in order to protect them,” she said. “She would either be beaten, sexually abused or denied food and water as punishment. They would only have been around 7 to 10 years old.” Many people continue to believe the drunken native stereotype. As I was growing up, I always used to hear, “Native people are either always smoking, or they’re drunk,” and that’s exactly what I saw happening in my family. My aunts and uncles may not have attended Shubenacadie’s residential school like their mother and her brothers and sisters did, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t affect them. When Pearline was able to stop attending residential school, she married the man she fell in love with, ultimately losing her status because of him being French. She fell in love with his charm, his caring and loving side, his smile … but she realized too late that she was falling in love with someone who would treat her exactly like how she was treated in the residential school. She turned to drinking to soothe her sadness and her pain. She was an alcoholic throughout all 14 of her pregnancies and ended up losing all her children to Children’s Aid. “I strongly believe Mom drank to forget,” said Judy Gallant, my aunt who also lives in P.E.I. “She wanted to forget the pain of losing her own children to Children’s Aid. Mom may have had a hard time showing affection but we knew she loved us all.” Judy and Noella said sometimes their mother was stuck back in a time where she was still at the residential school. While still living at home, before being taken away by Children’s Aid, the kids were taught to make their bed military style by their mom. Sometimes Pearline would even feel like when she did something wrong, she’d have to go and sit in a corner, or in a closet to punish herself. At the residential schools, Mi’kmaq children would often go weeks tied to a chair in
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Pearline Gallant, shown on her wedding day with husband Edmund, suffered years of mental, physical and sexual abuse at Shubenacadie’s residential school in Nova Scotia. a closet with little food and water to keep them alive. They’d be sexually abused and beaten, to the point of barely even being able to stand. “All the things that went on … It’s just horrible to think about. We suffered too because of it and most of my family have turned to substance abuse,” said Noella. “The whole cycle keeps going around. Unless we take the stand to stop that cycle.” Judy and Noella are proud to say they no longer drink and haven’t since they were teenagers. As for some of my other aunts and uncles, we know they struggle with it, but we are always there to support them. “It’s not something you stop at the snap of a finger,” said Judy. “We were bounced around from foster home to foster home when we were younger. Some of us were abused physically and mentally. Even my aunts and uncles who are still alive who survived the abuse at the residential school still drink to drown their sorrows. They want to forget and they don’t know how else to do so.” Growing up and watching the people you love deteriorate because of substance abuse isn’t something you can easily ignore. I was always
embarrassed when people asked me about my family and what they were like … what do you even say? I was also embarrassed to tell them I’m native. That always seemed to be a part I left out. My aunt Noella has always assured me that she has felt the same way. “I was ashamed to be native for years and years,” she said. “People are always calling native people names or calling them alcoholics. It took me a long time to be proud of who I am and where my family comes from.” She said some of her proudest moments were when she danced in a powwow that took place on Lennox Island in P.E.I. and when she started basket weaving and presented her baskets to Prince William and Kate Middleton when they visited the island. Her twin sister, my aunt Nora, helped to weave the baskets too. She ended up making a career out of it. It makes me proud too, knowing my aunts’ names are on baskets that are sitting in Buckingham Palace in England. I think people have always been quick to judge native Americans, especially because of their native status cards. I’ll admit, I have always been embarrassed to admit that I have one. I barely even use it.
“If my mother was alive today, she’d be so proud that we all have our status,” Noella said. “All of her children have it and now all of our children have it. She’d be so happy that we are all proud to present who we are.” Pearline Gallant was killed on Dec. 9, 1973 at 44 years old. She travelled to Kitchener to speak to someone from the Children’s Aid Society about getting her children back. As she was crossing the street in front of St. Mary’s Hospital, she was hit by a drunk driver and killed. She died later that night in the hospital. “I think our mother’s death was something that drove a lot of us to drink more,” said Noella. “Was our mother an alcoholic? Yes. But that didn’t mean she didn’t love us or want to fix things. She was beautiful and kind. She had a heart of gold.” She is buried in P.E.I. by the beautiful ocean. “Our father wasn’t a kind man,” said Peter Gallant, my father and the second youngest of the 14 children. “He didn’t even like kids or want anything to do with us. He passed away in December of 1997. It’s hard to admit, but I think his death made a lot of us feel relieved.” My father and his brothers and sisters never knew what it was like to have a loving father. He mentally, sexually and physically abused them and his wife. All she’d ever known was abuse. “Mom never lived to see the day where she regained her status and her children back,” Noella said. “It saddens me. I know she would be so, so proud to see how far we’ve come. Natives are definitely being accepted more in this day and age, but we still have a long way to go.” Do I think people are still being affected by residential schools, even though they’ve been closed for a long time now? Absolutely. A person can’t easily forget that they were made to feel like a second-class citizen. How do you forget the Fathers and Sisters who raped you and beat you repeatedly at residential schools? I may not have been proud to admit who I was growing up, but like my aunt Noella, I’ve learned to accept it. I’m proud of who I am and I’m proud of my family and how far they’ve come. I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished and what they are still trying to accomplish. I am not ashamed to state the fact that I am native and I will continue to tell people my family’s story.
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Monday, February 29, 2016 NEWS 2016 CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW GETS VISITORS’ MOTORS RUNNING
The 2016 Canadian International Auto Show was held in Toronto from Feb. 12 to 21 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Cars, trucks and motorcycles of all makes and models were on display. Exhibits included Auto Exotica, which featured cars from McLaren, Ferrari, Maserati and other exotic brands, a Cars & Stars exhibit featuring vehicles made famous by their celebrity owners and pop-culture presence, an exhibit on the Indy 500 and a Hot Rods and Choppers display. Left, onlookers admire a flashy concept car created by Volkswagen. Below, spectators get a look under the hood of a 2016 BMW M3. Bottom photo: This 2016 Dodge Viper ACR made its Canadian debut at the show, wowing visitors.
PHOTOS BY GARRETT BURCHETT