Raising alpacas Animals have own personalities and quirks. Page 8 MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016
SPOKE
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CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
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Living off the grid One family survives and thrives in a yurt. Pages 6 and 7 47TH YEAR — NO. 9
Fitness centre up and running BY JASON MOTA
It’s here. It’s finally here. The recreation centre at Conestoga College’s Doon campus has finally opened its long-awaited new fitness centre. The 35,000-square-foot facility, which opened on Feb. 22, features all new equipment, including Woodway treadmills, Atlantis strength equipment and TRX suspension trainers. The space is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows to make for a bright, welcoming atmosphere. In addition, there are three new multi-purpose rooms in which fitness classes, such as yoga and zumba, will be held. The design for the new facility was formulated after a survey at Conestoga College was conducted in 2013 to determine whether or not students were satisfied with the facilities at the time, and what they wanted to see more of. “Everything about the fitness centre is completely new, including the location, which
has moved to the opposite side of the building,” said Matthew Maguire, manager of athletics and recreation at Conestoga College. This is true even for the entryway of the fitness centre, which has moved to the side facing the main campus building, and now features steel security gates that can only be opened with your ONE card or gym pass. In addition to this, CSI’s Health and Wellness Office, which offers massage and chiropractic therapy, as well as information regarding the student health plan and spiritual rooms, has moved to the recreation centre and is currently operational. Maguire confirmed that a Pita-Pit is also scheduled to open in the second-floor student lounge area around the middle of March, offering healthy food options and smoothies. The final stage of the renovations, expected to be completed in the spring, will have the recreation centre’s old ice rink repurposed into a triple
PHOTO BY JASON MOTA
Conestoga College students enjoy the rec centre’s new fitness centre, which opened Feb. 22, featuring all new equipment in 35,000 square feet of space. gymnasium, with a four-lane running track overhead. “All the (new) machines are designed to be easier on the body,” said Scarlett Jarquin, a nursing student at Conestoga College who is also a member of the recreation centre staff. “They’re state-of-the-art for
high-performance training, which is what a lot of varsity athletes and non-athletes are looking forward to.” No membership is required for Conestoga students, as each student pays a recreation/athletics fee of $68.15 per semester along with their
tuition. Hours of operation for the fitness centre can be found at www.conestogac. on.ca/athletics/contact. “We are excited to showcase our new facility and know that it will support the positive growth and well-being of our students,” Maguire said.
Runway features dresses solely made out of paper BY JOE WEPPLER
PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLER
The sixth annual aWEARness runway show was on March 4 in Conestoga’s Doon campus library. This year’s theme was “Paper with Purpose.” Mauryah Burattini (left) poses with her sister and designer of the dress, Shauna Wiley. For more photos, see Page 16.
It was a full house at Conestoga College’s Doon campus library on March 4 for the sixth annual “aWEARness” runway performance show. The event showcased the final products of months of labour by the second-year visual merchandising arts students at Conestoga. The theme was “Paper with Purpose” and inspiration for their dresses ranged from Disney princesses to Vatican staircases and everything in between. Each dress was made solely out of paper, ranging from tissue paper and paper plates to napkins and card stock. Each student took inspiration from a designer, painter or architect and painstakingly handcrafted their dresses to mimic their unique stylings. The event was half runway show and half fundraiser, with the charity of choice being the G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases. The goal of the foundation is to establish
Canada’s first research facility to study Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases. “We were just thrilled overall – the whole thing was a huge success,” said Laura Harding, the co-ordinator of Conestoga’s visual merchandising arts program. Each dress and designer were introduced by a unique video created by students from Conestoga’s broadcast television program. They ranged from upbeat, perky collages to emotional rollercoasters. Each video captured the essence of the dress and featured the designers talking about their inspirations, materials and the hard work they put in. “There was so much hype leading up to it, so walking down the runway and seeing the months and months of work was kind of amazing,” said Samra Mushtaq, a second-year visual merchandising arts student. After the runway show, attendees were invited back to the visual merchandis-
ing studio for refreshments and the chance to meet the designers and check out the dresses up close. “Being able to talk to everyone about the costumes we took so long to make was very cool,” said Mushtaq. Shauna Wiley, one of the students, designed her dress to be modelled by her sister, Mauryah Burattini, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in December 2013, but struggled with symptoms for years before then. Her lowest point came around the summer of 2014, when she could no longer walk on her own. “I felt emotionally dead. Drained. You lose hope a bit,” she said. Since then, after travelling to the United States to receive proper treatment, Burattini has made leaps and bounds. As the final model in the show, Burattini received a standing ovation as she walked down the runway with her arms raised above her head. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
NEWS
Page 2 SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What is your favourite restaurant in Waterloo Region?
“Tim Hortons. I like their coffee.” Anna Jacob, first-year enhanced nursing practice clinical and critical care
“Crabby Joe’s. Their pulled pork sandwiches are delicious.”
A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT EPILEPSY Matt Bentley, a second-year journalism broadcast student, sat down to speak about his experience living with epilepsy. To hear his story, see video at www.spokeonline.com. PHOTO BY ETHAN KOMPF
Brandon Cunha, second-year police foundations
“Ye’s Sushi because it is an all you can eat and because I like sushi.” Jade Loehle, second-year business marketing
““Wildcraft because I like the steaks there.” Jordon Maxwell, second-year business management
“The Three Kretans. They have fantastic lamb souvlaki.” Kim Denstedt, co-ordinator integrated marketing communications
“The Mango King. Their sticky rice is so good.” Vincent Eudemoni, second-year recreation and leisure services Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Monday, March 14, 2016
NEWS
Monday, March 14, 2016
SPOKE s Page 3
Celebrating diversity at Conestoga BY SARAH VEENSTRA
On the evening of Feb. 27, the final Syrian refugee of the 25,000 the Liberals planned to bring in, landed on Canadian soil. The moment marked the end of phase one of the Liberals’ resettlement plan for Syrian refugees in 2016. It was the perfect occasion to kick off Conestoga College’s Cultural Diversity Week which is presented twice a year by Student Life. The opening ceremony, which was held on Feb. 29, commenced with a speech from Student Life programmer and chair of the event Laura Black, followed by a performance from Fusion Girls, who choreographed a dance for the occasion. The event, which was held until March 4, offered numerous activities including Qigong Moving Meditation on Wednesday and henna tattoos on Thursday. “The main activity this year was the displays by Campus Service Learning Projects and it’s something I was excited about,” said Black. “We’ve had students working on these projects for over a month now. They’ve each picked a culture and have researched it and are able to talk about it while having the information on display. They also have an interactive activity at each table and there’s lots of variety. From food sampling, to writing in different languages, to actually participating in sport activities, it just depends on the culture.”
Another part of Cultural Diversity Week is the film Human, which will be screened for different classes at several of Conestoga’s campuses. “We screened the film for the first time last year and it went so well, we knew we had to do it again,” said Black. “It’s an internationally acclaimed film with an international movement. It has different human stories answering the same questions from across the world. It’s an opportunity to pose questions and think critically about how we, as humans, have progressed over the years. It makes you wonder if we’re really that different. It’s a really interesting piece.” Started approximately nine years ago, Cultural Diversity Week aims to celebrate the cultural differences in our society, something that Canada, as a country, prides itself on. “It really started by wanting to welcome and build an inclusive campus for everyone,” said Black. “It’s expanded beyond that. We’re getting a larger influx of international students, refugees and immigrants, so it’s really important that we celebrate it and keep it growing at this point. This event is a great way to showcase that and get everyone involved in the discussion. It creates dialogue between different communities. Going somewhere new can sometimes be isolating and people, especially if they’re homesick, will try to
PHOTO BY SARAH VEENSTRA
The opening ceremony of Cultural Diversity Week was held at the Doon campus on Feb. 29 with a dance choreographed and performed by Fusion Girls. find people who come from that same culture. But this is an opportunity to break out of those comfort zones and bring cultures together.” Celebrating diversity and learning about heritage is something that one student admits she can appreciate first-hand. “I was born in Canada but my
mom wasn’t,” said Margaret Tavares, a first-year computer programming student. “She came to Canada from the Philippines when she was 29. Growing up, it was very obvious that I was Filipino. Some of the foods that we ate were odd to some people, stuff like that. Then last year, I was able to travel to the Philippines
for the first time with my mom and meet her family for my cousin’s wedding. It just opened my eyes to the culture and it made me understand some things about my mom that maybe I didn’t before. Learning about other cultures creates an open-mindedness that I think everyone could use a little more of.”
SPRING ARRIVES WITH SPRING ROLLS
PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDY
Conestoga Students Inc. held a Free Food Friday where they served complimentary chicken and vegetable spring rolls. Students lined up down the hallway to get a sample on March 4.
PHOTO BY KANDACE GALLANT
Cultural Diversity Week continued until March 4, and encouraged other students to learn more about different countries, food, culture and religion.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 s SPOKE
Monday, March 14, 2016
Religious rights cause conflict BY JOSH VAN OSTRAND
As the right to physician-assisted suicide in Canada is being legislated, Catholic hospitals have come forth, saying that they will not allow doctors in their employ to carry out that right. And the Supreme Court supports them! Despite ruling that terminally ill patients have the right to physicianassisted suicide, the court decided that the religious right of a building, an ethereal entity of board members, has precedence over the rights of patients. In guidelines published by the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada (CHAC), Catholics and Catholic organizations are asked to not allow physician-assisted suicide. When the new legislation is enacted, doctors will have the right to refuse to partake in physician-assisted suicide as individuals. This makes sense, doctors are people with their own religious beliefs and the right to express them. The problem is that, as it stands, hospitals in Canada have the same religious rights as the doctors who serve them, and these rights trump the rights of doctors working there. Would people not be enraged if Catholic hospitals declined care because of lifestyles deemed unchristian? So why are hospitals allowed to deny people’s rights based on religion? Similar dialogues took place over abortion when that was legalized. If you look for a Catholic hospital that allows abortion, without the impending death of the mother, you’ll find that the pickings are slim. In a release published in 2005, during the first readings of Bill C-407, the right to die with dignity, the CHAC said physician-assisted suicide is “contrary to the practices of holistic health care, cannot be regulated to prevent abuses, and (is) inconsistent with Canada’s reputation as a protector of personal dignity and human rights.” They claim it is contrary to holistic medicine but do doctors not swear to uphold the best interests of the patients? What patient would ask for prolonged suffering? They claim that it cannot be regulated, but, while regulation may be difficult, it is far from impossible. A small council of doctors and specialists in medical ethics could consider each decision, rather than just one doctor. When it comes to human rights, what is right about prolonging suffering? A hospital is an institution and like any other public institution, it has no right to religion. The CHAC should put patients first, letting them and their physicians decide their fate.
The views herein represent the position of the newspaper, not necessarily the author.
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Bus etiquette 101
In my experience, I have found that several things in life come equipped with an unwritten rule book. For instance, everyone knows you should always tip your server, you should never pick your nose in public, and it is important to be polite when riding the city bus. In my 20 years on this earth I have learned a thing or two about some of these situations. In fact, just yesterday I was in Toronto on a city bus and a man took a swig from a bottle of rum he had secretly stashed in his coat. He then proceeded to ask the elderly woman sitting beside him for some money. I could be wrong but I would like to believe most people on the bus could have done without that performance, especially the elderly woman. Considering I only use public transit once or twice a week (if that), I don’t know how qualified I am to be assuming there should be a particular etiquette for riding the bus. I do believe though, that common sense is closely related to these socalled “unwritten rules.” It’s common sense that when choosing to sit in a double seat, you sit on the
Jessica Pett
Opinion inside seat so that another person can take the second seat. Your backpack doesn’t need a seat; people need seats. A closely related issue is when people don’t give up their seats at the front of the bus for the elderly, disabled or those with young children in strollers. What makes you think that your comfort trumps theirs? Nothing bothers me more than when I do leave the outside seat beside me empty and someone comes along and doesn’t respect the personal bubble. The personal bubble is another unwritten rule that requires you to give strangers an appropriate amount of personal space. There is an understanding between parties that neither of you invade that space. I cannot count the number of times I have been nudged, hit, leaned on and even sneezed on during a bus ride. This leads me to believe I
am one of the few bus-goers who is aware of the personal bubble rule. My biggest pet peeve though, is when smokers stake their claim on my breathing space. Regardless of my view on smoking, nobody should have to be forced to inhale the stench of smoke from a stranger’s clothes. If you want to smoke a quick cigarette before hopping on this confined, slow-moving transportation vehicle, by all means, you have every right to. But would it be too much to ask that those people choose a seat where there are fewer people sitting? Obviously a lot of the time this is an unavoidable issue, but nevertheless, it will always grind my gears. I am clearly the type of person who doesn’t enjoy taking the city bus and, in fact, I avoid it at all costs. When I do take it, there are many other happenings that take place during my hour-long commute back to Waterloo that drive me crazy. My best solution to any of these problems is to put on some headphones and suck it up. People will be people and there’s nothing I can do to change that.
SPOKE
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NEWS
Monday, March 14, 2016
SPOKE s Page 5
Escort discusses the profession BY SARAH VEENSTRA
It’s one word. One unclean word. It refers to a female who is considered a stain on society. If the word prostitute came to mind, the stigma is alive and well. While the word “prostitute” is still used today, and more vulgar terms have come and gone, there is another word that has come to be more common: escort. It’s a seemingly less abrasive word that society deems more acceptable, perhaps because it suggests an upscale service. But who’s being judged? Is it the women, as the Googled definition references females as the “typical” persons who engage in the “activity.” Or does society judge the men who use the “service.” In the 21st century people think of the word “escort” and think of companionship, something society can relate to and, therefore, find more acceptable. In the last few years, websites that look like online dating websites have emerged, changing the common practices of sex work. People create a profile similar to an online dating site where they upload a picture and state their age, gender and who they are seeking. Some sites even have an area where people can set asking prices for specific forms of sexual favours. An escort who was involved in the industry for several years, agreed to talk about some of his experiences. His name has been changed to protect his identity. “A friend of mine had mentioned loosely to me what she was doing,” said Brad Marley, an online escort. “She didn’t mention the job specifics or go into it too thoroughly but she said she was making some easy money and meeting some new people.” Marley, who is an escort based out of Toronto, created his first online profile on Name Your Price in 2012. Despite Marley’s friendship with the female escort being new, her openness allowed him to see the large sums of money she made weekly. “At first I was obviously extremely skeptical and judgmental but I couldn’t argue with the money,” Marley said. “There were things attached to the money. I was in some financial debt, I had – I don’t want to say dreams but goals of travelling and going to school. There were things I wanted that I couldn’t have bought with the money I was making as a waiter at the time.” Marley spent the weeks prior to creating his profile preparing himself. He admit-
PHOTO BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Some dating websites offer a way for people to get paid for sex. Individuals simply create a profile similar to one for online dating and then name their price. ted he hoped he would meet someone who preferred an arrangement based more on companionship than sex. “The concerns were really more, could I go through with it, could I live with it,” Marley said. “Had I been a girl, my concerns would have possibly switched more to violence. There’s always that fear whether you’re male or female. But I wouldn’t say that violence was the biggest concern of mine.” After nearly three weeks of contemplation and advice from his now close friend and “mentor,” Marley logged on, checked the box for seeking men and uploaded his photo. “Her advice was the same advice as you’d give to somebody who’s new to any online dating world,” said Marley. “The obvious ones: be safe, condom-wise, and make sure someone knows where and when you’re going, have a thorough conversation before going, not a two-minute email or text conversation, and show up somewhere you’ve never been before. But also just some friendly, wise words of ‘have a few drinks first.’” As Marley navigated the online trade he came up with only one underlying commonality between all of his experiences: there wasn’t one. “Some people were pretty upfront about what they were looking for and what they were willing to pay for it,” Marley said. “I would be offered $5,000 for just a meeting, that was the most. We would meet on the Friday night for whatever we had arranged at a hotel and in addition, I would have the room for the rest of the weekend for myself. The prices went down as low as $500 for
just dinner. Most often, there was bartering that took place over the price. Even though we’d be number pitching, we wouldn’t talk about what would go on in fear of privacy.” The privacy to which Marley is referring to, is in terms of law enforcement. While prostitution is a legal form of work, the laws surrounding the trade make it nearly impossible to engage in the activity. The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act that was put in place in 2014 by Justice Minister Peter MacKay, criminalizes making money on the sale of sex, buying sex or third party advertising of the sex trade or workers. While the laws put in effect on Dec. 6, 2014 in reference to the act were designed to aid sex workers in safely and effectively removing themselves from the trade, those in the profession were outraged, stating that the laws pushed the trade further underground, thus making it more unsafe. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne voiced her own objection to the act. “I am not an expert, and I am not a lawyer,” Wynne’s statement read. “But as premier of this province, I am concerned that this legislation (now the law of the land) will not make sex workers safer.” “There is a market for sex work,” said Marley. “This is an industry that has existed I would say, at the very least, since the dawn of the monetary system and you can’t seem to shut it down so, I think it best that the government learn how to deal with the industry and do their best to keep it regulated and keep
it safe for workers. The issue with pushing it underground is the lack of regulation.” While Marley insists he’s never personally experienced or witnessed any violence in the industry, he recognizes that it does exist. “Being a male is one thing, but being a female and being in dark rooms and unknown locations, the safety factor is decreased exponentially,” Marley said. “My friend that’s in the trade has also been extremely safe and taken the time to cross her t’s and dot her I’s.” Marley’s real fear lies with the lack of knowledge associated with meeting the men he met online. “It was different every time,” he said. “I would meet them and think, ‘Wow, you posted a photo from 20 years ago,’ or ‘You’ve gained 100 lbs. since you took this photo,’ or this guy isn’t actually that bad. But you don’t know what these people are doing, where they’ve been and there’s still things that you can get when you’re being cautious.” The pressure to go sexually further was an ongoing battle, despite boundaries being set from the onset. Marley’s tactic to offset the feeling of obligation was to collect the money upfront. “A lot of men weren’t extremely attractive and I think that society makes them feel as though this is their last option,” said Marley. “Others were extremely busy and just enjoy the company of a younger companion. I personally think, in some cases, it’s a power thing. To purchase something makes it yours, to use and dispose of it at your leisure.” The position of power is well
known, and is so common that Hollywood has depicted it in Pretty Woman with Richard Gere’s need to elicit control and power and even in HBO’s Sex and the City, where the protagonist questions the life of an escort after a one-night stand, puts $1,000 on the nightstand and leaves. “Money is power, sex is power, therefore, getting money for sex is simply an exchange of power,” said Samantha (played by Kim Cattrall) in the episode. Marley equates the stigma surrounding the idea of trading money for sex, to perceptions of gender orientation or various other human characteristics, perceptions that as a gay man he’s regularly exposed to. “There’s a range of perceptions, and there’s a range of where someone will stand on an issue,” Marley said. “I can’t tell them not to think the way they do, but at the same time, I think there’s misinformation. A wealth of misinformation. There’s a lack of education on the subject. For instance, the association with the street corner, a drug addict, trying to make a few dollars to get her next fix. So, I wouldn’t say anything to these people except for do your research because just as there’s a range of perception, there’s a range in the trade.” One year ago, at the age of 24, Marley deleted his profile. Currently enrolled in a public relations program at a Toronto university, his debts are paid. He insists there are no regrets. “There were times where I had a fleeting moment’s thought of ‘Uh oh, this could end badly,” Marley said. “But it was often me misreading the situation and being paranoid. More often than not, these were respectable men, just like me, simply attempting to fill their time or unmet need.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Sex trade laws in Ontario include: Illegal: To sell sex near an area where persons may be under 18 years old. Illegal: To communicate with the intent of purchasing sex. Punishable by up to five years in jail and fines starting at $5,000. Illegal: To advertise sexual services of others (back of magazines, online ads, etc.). This extends to publishers and websites. Legal: To advertise or communicate for yourself when selling sex. Legal: To communicate with the intent of selling sex.
FEATURE
Page 6 s SPOKE
Monday, March 14, 2016
Family lives in forest on their own terms BY PAUL BOREHAM
Being a reporter for Spoke has led me to places I would never have gone otherwise. One of these places is down by the river just east of Guelph where a family of four have been living in a yurt for several years. They live off society’s grid – no indoor toilet, electricity or running water. An inquiry at their neighbour’s home led to a meeting with one of the occupants, Chris Green, who also runs the Guelph Outdoor School across the road from the family’s rustic home. He invited me for a visit, first to check out the school followed by a tour of the yurt. Arriving It’s so close to home I choose to walk – it just seems the appropriate thing to do. With a small backpack on, I travel along the road to the edge of the hill, where there is a panoramic view of Guelph in the distance. Two successive hills lead deep into the Eramosa Valley, where the melting glaciers of 10,000 years past roared through and formed the valley. At the bottom the river is just a small watercourse now, with a bridge over it. The area, including a dozen or more homes, is known as Cook’s Mill, but there is no sign. Instead of continuing toward the city limit of Guelph, where a line of street lights can be seen ahead, I turn left down Cook’s Mill Road. Past a few more homes and a barn I come to the river again, where it has made a curve, and stand on a smaller bridge, meant for one car. The chunky buttresses of the old dam stand on the south side of the river. Water was once dammed and diverted to run a saw mill here. Later it became a much-loved swimming hole. The river, flowing freely despite it still being winter, rushes toward Guelph, where it joins with the Speed River and later the Grand. Across the bridge a couple of homes stand near the road, like secluded riverside cottages. A recently paved road gives way to gravel and a relative wilderness of cedar trees and swamp takes hold. A small yellow sign on the left states, “Guelph Outdoor School,” where a blue porta-potty hides behind cedar branches. Outdoor School I enter the woods and 35-year-old Chris Green appears before an inviting fire, sitting on one of many
PHOTOS BY PAUL BOREHAM
Arlene Slocombe and Chris Green stand with their children Meadow (left) and Ivry, in front of their home southeast of Guelph, near the Eramosa River. They live in a 24-foot diameter yurt and they have no access to running water, electricity or plumbing. cut logs that circle around. With his long carrot-coloured hair spun into dreadlocks, and sporting a healthy beard, he looks very much the gothic warrior. “You made it,” he says. “Have a seat.” He was stirring a big pot on the fire, an orangey broth that he says is squash. I’ve arrived just in time for lunch. Groups of young boys and girls start trickling in from paths that lead into the snowladen bush, followed by their older “mentors” or teachers. All make me, the guest, feel welcome as I try to make myself at home around the fire. After lunch groups of kids split up and go back off on their adventures – some go on a long hike to explore some cliffs. Green invites me to go for a walk during which I can ask him any questions. We start strolling down the road, back toward the onelane bridge. “My partner (Arlene Slocombe) moved here nine years ago on her own and spent the summer in a large, durable tent,” said Green, walking along. Slocombe and her partner at the time then built a small 10x10-foot cabin, hoping that would suffice for the two of them. “She got pregnant with Meadow, my stepdaughter, the following year,” said Green. “(The cabin) was not spacious enough so they ordered a yurt from Pacific
A group of students from the Guelph Outdoor School sit in their “classroom” doing school work, in a forest southeast of the city. Yurts, on the West Coast.” A foundation had to be carefully prepared and once the yurt arrived it took only a weekend to erect, with the help of some friends. The yurt is 24 feet in diameter. Green moved in six years ago and the couple have a child, Ivry, who is four years old. Meadow is seven. All that time the family’s energy needs have been supplied by one 80-watt solar panel (worth $400), which
powers a 12 volt deep cycle nautical battery (a special type of battery that can charge right down without damaging it). A laptop, an LED light, drill batteries, a small blender and cellphones are just some of the things they power up with the battery. “It’s good livin’. It goes well,” he says. However, pointing out the negatives, “We don’t have a bathroom inside, so (especially in the
middle of the night) it can be cold. But you’re forced to look up and see the stars.” Keeping the fire stoked in winter takes some effort as well, he said. Standing on the bridge, a white pick-up truck rumbles up and stops. I’m introduced to James, the owner of the land Green’s family calls home. “Just telling him about yurt life,” Green says. James lives right beside the river: “The last house on the river before Guelph,” he says from the pick-up. The conversation twists and turns. I later learn he instigated the whole deal with the family. Walking back, Green says he grew up on a horse farm near Hillsburgh, a 20-minute drive north. “I was just let to go free,” he said, roaming the fields and forests. Learning about nature came a little later in life. It’s been a process and he is still learning. “Kids pick up on the fact that I’m excited about new discoveries. I try to stay one step ahead of them,” he says. Green is a certified primary teacher and taught for two years in the city before starting the outdoor school in 2013. They have a variety of programs throughout the year, catering to specific age groups. Classes take place most days of the week. “When I was a teacher, I was seeing a lot of young boys who were really struggling. Not for lack of smarts, but, because they just weren’t designed for the classroom. The classroom wasn’t designed for them,” he says. Green came across a copy of Coyotes Guide to Connecting with Nature, and now uses it as the manual for teaching at the school. “I knew that there was nothing like it around here, I knew that kids needed it, and I think I can do it with the help of that manual.” A car pulls up from behind and it’s his wife and two young daughters returning from the city. (Yes, they do own a vehicle.) After introductions and talk the trio head home to their yurt while Green and I head back to the fire. There’s been a bit of an incident. A boy stepped into a swampy quagmire and got a soaker. He’s sitting by the fire in bare feet, trying to get warm. A small group of boys are gathered round, working on a braided wrist lanyard made out of parachute cord. Jason Bennett, a volunteer, has brought the cord and is teaching them. Elliot, one of the boys, has already learned and starts showing me how it’s done. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
FEATURE
Monday, March 14, 2016
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How would you like to live off the grid in a yurt?
Smoke from the fire is billowing around. Snowflakes are drifting down ever so slowly in the calm afternoon. Green comes and goes. The boys have learned various animal calls and these echo in the cedar bush. “This gives children a new perspective on the world around them outside the confines of urban civilization,” says Bennett, adding electronic devices are not allowed. It’s a chance to leave these behind and reconnect with the natural world, he says. Everyone arrives back at four o’clock and passes around a gnarled stick and says what today has meant to them. Everyone listens intently and then a final word from Green, their captain. Their homework is to find a good “sit spot” at home – a place where they can just spend time looking around and be present. Parents arrive, the teachers debrief each other and then it’s just me and Green, heading over to the yurt. The Yurt
Green has pulled the dishes and other things from the school day across the road in a sled and asks me to take it while he fills up another with blocks of wood from the woodpile. Then he directs me along a snowy path that leads through a grove of young cedars. It winds and winds – farther back than I expect. “Are you sure we’re on the right path,” I shout back. He laughs. I see small animal tracks in the snow and point them out to him. “Looks like a cat,” I say. He looks. “Very perceptive,” he says. They are Kitty’s, their cat. His day at work is over and we head to his abode. The clearing comes. We pull our sleds into a ramshackle arrangement of aerie structures and buildings amidst low shrubbery. It’s backed by a tall curtain of green cedar. Passing under an overhanging roof, we drop off the sleds at what must be the front door of the yurt. He’ll show me around before going inside, he says. An outdoor kitchen is set up under the overhang, complete with pipe-less sinks. It’s used in summer, he says. We peek into the cabin for a quick look. At the front of the cabin is a completely visible toilet. The seat has a large bucket beneath. When you’re through your business, a few handfuls of wood shavings are tossed in and it composts. He dumps it in the bush when it’s full, he says. We walk past the small solar panel attached to a long pole and enter the root cellar. It keeps vegetables at an even temperature, winter and summer. It’s shallow because solid rock lies not far below the sur-
Facilitators Chris Green (back right, looking up) and Jeremy Allen (back left), debrief a group of students at the Guelph Outdoor School, located southeast of Guelph. face. Now, it’s yurt time. Inside a small vestibule, the wooden door to their home is sticky. He gives it a good push and it opens stubbornly. I’m to take my boots off and bring them inside to keep them warm. I obey and shuffle into the warm room. Slocombe is washing dishes. The sound of kids jumping about fill the air as I enter their world. My first time in a yurt is eye-opening, a feast for the senses. The roundish room is filled with too many things: the kitchen area at the far end; the kitchen table on the right; bunk beds toward the left and a large black stove on the far left. In the middle is the common area, with low, legless couches. A wall of books shield the beds. A few baskets hang from the curved ceiling. A couple of animal skins are stretched out on the wall, along with some guitars and other instruments. Bottles filled with various shapes and colours line shelves. A few windows let light in, but at the very top of the yurt a big skylight shines down from above, like an eye to the heavens. I try to unthaw on the couch after being outside all afternoon. Slocombe realizes she left her phone at the library and heads out after some discussion. She works for Wellington Water Watchers, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the area’s water resources. I had read a story in the local paper that morning detailing their efforts in a current campaign. That leaves me with Green and the girls. Tea is poured and slices of salami are set out. He shows me the pipe-less kitchen sink, with buckets set where pipes would normally
be. In the floor, he lifts up a wooden panel and, voila, various foods appear – a refrigerator under the floor. Drinking water is retrieved from a nearby spring, they said, and rain gutters catch water for washing dishes. There is no tub or shower. All personal washing is done by the “splash method,” I am told. “I fell in love with Arlene and Arlene was living here,” he said, explaining the situation. A lot of it has to do with economy. “The rent is free because our landlord is just letting us be here. “It’s fun making decisions on how you’re going to use your power. You have to choose whether to charge the drill or the laptop. Sometimes you can do both. There is a satisfaction in not having unlimited power.” They start getting supper ready, chopping up some potatoes for the wood stove. Ivry washes them with a brush while Green cuts them on a wooden board. Meadow gets the baking sheet ready. The subject gets around to television. “We love Little House on the Prairie,” says Meadow, jumping up. In fact, they had picked up a DVD filled with several episodes that afternoon. She shows me the cover. They’re excited about watching it on the laptop. It seemed the perfect place to watch such a show. When the subject of animals comes up the girls remember the time someone had gone out to use the washroom one evening. Meadow says, “One time Mama, or somebody, almost tripped over a skunk.” “Mama did!” Ivry shouted, making the situation clear. This brings memories of an actual skunk spraying, with Green being the recipient. The skunk had been hiding in the
Green and his daughter Ivry prepare dinner in their yurt. Ivry scrubs the potatoes and Green cuts them up. The walls of the circular yurt are seen, along with the skylight at the top. vestibule and stank up the place and everyone for days. “The next day Mama had a meeting with the mayor,” says Meadow, adding to the drama. “We get to hear the animals around us because the walls are so thin,” says Green. We hear the bird language and the peepers down by the swamp and the redwing blackbirds …” The howling of coyotes and the hooting of owls are also common, he says. They paint an interesting picture of life off the grid. Both girls have lived in the yurt their entire lives. Meadow and Ivry currently attend the outdoor school rather than a public school. Slocombe returns and I ask her about them as she returns to the dishes. “It’s not like we’re in the middle of nowhere. We have kids at the outdoor school all the time. They’ve got friends. We’re so close to the city – I can bike downtown in 20 minutes. They’re not in an isolated, sheltered little world. They’re familiar with all the stuff that goes on out there,” she says, in spurts. At one point Meadow gets a finger nipped by the hot pan and Slocombe rushes outside to get a cup of snow to dip it in. It’s not bad. “They know how to navigate a computer screen,” she says, adding “even though we try not to do that. You can’t avoid it in this culture.” The kids are listening. “Papa’s phone, you can colour on Papa’s phone,” says Meadow, interested in our conversation.
Asked why she moved here, the primary reason, she says, is to reduce her ecological footprint. There was so much waste in previous homes she has lived in. But there’s more to it. “My friend (James), who owns this property, he’s been a friend of mine since we were young. We did a lot of outback camping together, and he would always hear me say, ‘oh I wanna live like this,’ whenever we were camping. I would say I wanted a wood stove, get my water and ... The day he put an offer in on this property, he said, ‘If you want to live here in the back, you’re welcome to.’ Which was just awesome. And that was almost nine years ago. “It was never intended to be permanent – we are going to be moving along. But he’s been very generous about it and not worried about our timing. So we’re looking for the right next place to be able to do this,” says Slocombe – a place of their own, where the school can flourish and grow and they can live a similar lifestyle. With the potatoes cooking, a meat dish on the go, and plenty of thank yous, I take my leave. Departing Walking back out of the valley, stinking like wood smoke, the mystery of the yurt was no more. It got me thinking about Conestoga College students. What kind of lives do they want to live? Are they satisfied with a cookie-cutter type life? Am I?
FEATURE
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Monday, March 14, 2016
All about alpacas
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
Alpaca Acres is a farm that offers alpacas for sale, alpaca shearing services and finished alpaca products. It is run by Ann Clayburn and her husband Dan. BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
When someone walks up to the pen where the alpacas are housed it’s likely the animals will all crane their necks to look at who it is. “They’re very curious, they don’t miss a thing,” said Ann Clayburn, who owns Alpaca Acres along with her husband, Dan. Alpaca Acres is a farm located in Perth County, Ont., between Stratford and Shakespeare. It is roughly a half hour drive from Kitchener. They breed huacaya alpacas, a breed with a dense, fluffy fleece, which makes it able to adapt to the Canadian winter. They also offer alpacas for sale, alpaca shearing services and finished alpaca products. Dan first got the idea when he saw an advertisement for alpacas. At the time they didn’t have a farm property they could raise the alpacas on. However, he had grown up on a dairy farm so he had a background in livestock. “A little bit of farming background went a long way,” he said. “The more he read the more he was intrigued by how different they were compared to cows,” Ann said. They said the ad sat in their desk for at least seven years,
even after they moved onto a farm property. Dan kept teasing his and Ann’s parents that they were going to get alpacas all those years until Ann found out she was pregnant with her now 13-year-old son, Colby. Neither Ann or Dan’s parents lived nearby, so they didn’t have their help to take care of their newborn child. It was decided that Ann
“
It’s fun. We have no regrets ... They make us smile every day. — Ann Clayburn
”
would stay at home to take care of Colby and Dan would continue to work. Dan brought the idea of raising alpacas up again after that decision was made. “My grandparents had a farm so I was exposed to farm living but I just wasn’t sure how we were going to make it work,” Ann said. They started by researching alpacas online and from there it progressed to going and visiting a few farms that bred alpacas, which then lead to purchasing six pregnant females. “We just jumped right in and ran with it,” she said. When they bought their herd they didn’t realize they had purchased show quality animals. Once they realized that they started showing their alpacas and entering their fibre in competitions. The Clayburns have won many ribbons, which can be seen hanging in their store, which sells alpaca fibre products. However, they made the decision not to compete anymore. Their son plays hockey so they decided to focus on that, rather than competing. Ann said going to shows means travelling and it takes a lot of time and energy. They currently have 35 alpacas, each with its own personality and quirks Ann said. The animals live in a barn but are free to come inside or go out to the pasture. In the warmer months the alpacas enjoy spending their
time outside. They love water, so the Clayburns spray them with a hose to cool them off. “They keep us active and always give us something to do. It doesn’t feel like a chore,” said Dan. Their fibre is sheared once a year in the spring, typically in April or May, over the span of three days. Eight pounds is considered to be a good amount of fibre to get off an alpaca, but one of the Clayburns’ male alpacas, Timmey, has a shear weight of 12 pounds. Their fibre is used to make alpaca products, which are sold from their home, along with some alpaca fibre products imported from Peru. The products they sell include rugs, blankets, socks, shawls, slippers, hats and mittens. Ann said the fibre is as soft as cashmere, however, unlike cashmere, it will not lose its lustre after washing. She also said it’s five to seven times softer than a sheep’s wool. The fibre also has an antibacterial property that resists staining and odours. For example, Ann said if you spill something on a rug made out of alpaca fibre it takes longer for it to soak in, giving you more time to wipe it off. Their close proximity to Stratford, home of the Stratford Festival Theatre, brings plenty of tourists to their store. The visitors who come to purchase alpaca products are allowed to go back to the barn and see the alpacas. They also have potential buyers who visit the farm to see the alpacas for sale. However, Ann wants to be clear they are not a petting zoo, nor do they wish to be one. She said they receive many requests from people who want to come and visit, and others who just show up on the farm unexpected. There are times when they will let visitors come or the alpacas to be shown but they are selective about it. For example, a few alpacas are brought to the Stratford fall fair each year where fairgoers can see them and pet them. A few alpacas have also been borrowed from Alpaca Acres
Ann Clayburn feeds two of her 35 alpacas. The farm started with only six alpacas.
The Clayburns’ store sells a variety of products made of alpaca fibre, including rugs, blankets, socks and mittens. by their friends in Tavistock to use in a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s walk to the stable. The alpacas are used in place of the camels, and they have kids dressed up as the Three Wise Men who walk the camels, or in this case alpacas, to the stable. They’ve also let a small movie company film their alpacas for The Alpacing Dead, which can be found online on Vimeo. The short film features what they call “a new breed of zombie.” Instead of people getting bit and turning into a zombie, they turn into an alpaca. Ann said they didn’t make money off of it but it was something fun their alpacas got to take part in. The crew even attached a GoPro to one of the alpacas to get their viewpoint. “We’ve done stuff like that but we don’t do it a lot because we’d have everyone phoning us for everything,” said Ann. “That’s not what we’re all about.” Although breeding the alpacas is mostly a positive experience it can be hard on their son. Ann and Dan said some-
Their alpacas have won dozens of ribbons, which can be found hanging in their store. times Colby gets attached to the alpacas, which can be difficult when they sell them. Ann said when you breed animals you have to remember that even though they might not be with you anymore, they’re still going to a good home. “It’s fun. We have no regrets ... They make us smile everyday,” Ann said. “I still enjoy it. It doesn’t feel like it’s been 12 years,” Dan said. “We’ll probably still be doing it another 12 years from now.”
FEATURE
Monday, March 14, 2016
Time to try crystal healing
They are used to help with spiritual and physical ailments BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
As time has gone on the world has seen a shift from holistic medicine to what is now referred to as mainstream medicine, though some people are trying to take us back. “We’re like a stream,” said Christine Ball, an employee at The Rock Spa located at 396 Victoria St. in Kitchener. “Both our spiritual and physical selves need to flow freely. When we get all dammed up we have issues. That is what we do here, we help people flow freely.” The Rock Spa is a stunning place, with a public showroom filled wall to wall with crystals. According to Ball, crystals have been used for thousands of years in ancient healing rituals. Crystals can be used in a variety of ways – for some people having them in a bag on their bodies is enough, while others prefer more direct contact. “Crystals have been part of my life for 30 years,” said 52-yearold Jenny Delaunt, who works in sales. “I have quite a collection now. I went through a dark time in my 20s and this was a way out for me. The energy the stones give off has always soothed me, so I always have them with me now.” Delaunt carries a variety of stones with her throughout her day, a little baggie of mixed stones in the pocket of her smock at work, turquoise on her watch and an always changing pair of earrings that have some spiritual meaning. ‘’I wouldn’t call myself an expert,” said Delaunt. “I just know that when I am really struggling I feel better with these in my hands. They are always in my pocket, so if I have a particularly difficult client I can just reach in my pocket and feed off the positive energy from a crystal. Plus, they’re pretty. What other type of ‘medicine’ can you use to decorate?” The fact that crystals are a “pretty” way of healing is something that is a relatively common statement. As customers pick up stones, turning them over in their hands, they once again comment on how pretty they are, esthetics usually being the main reason they reach for the stone they take home with them. “That’s just as valid as using
them for a healing purpose,” said Ball. “When you feel good your brain sends out good chemicals to your body. So when you look at something and you enjoy it, because it’s pretty, that’s also healing.” According to Ball, crystals are a way of channelling energy. They are used in forms of spiritual therapy, such as reiki, as a means of focusing universal energy to deal with spiritual and physical ailments. The idea is that the universe is full of a variety of energies, so using crystals in day-to-day life can help pull those energies closer to you. There are thousands of books about crystals and crystal healing, many with different ideas of what energies the stones are geared toward channeling. Many times the differences in the text is indicative of different experiences, but this type of healing is all about what feels right to the person involved. “When I am doing some of my spiritual healing I often ask the person to walk around the store and pick up a stone that speaks to them. They bring that in and we use it as a grounding tool,” said Ball. The advice Ball gave was quite simply to do what feels right. If you have decided to begin looking into options such as crystal healing, do what feels right to you. Pick up a stone, walk around with it and make sure it helps you feel good. There are “prescribed” uses for the crystals, but the most important part about it is how it makes you, specifically, feel. Crystals can be used to help with a variety of issues, though Ball is careful to emphasize that it is not an alternative healing method, it is a supplementary healing method. “People have walked in looking for a solution, they need help now,” said Ball. “We are here to help, we want to, but it needs to be safe. Sometimes the best way we can help is telling the person to see their doctor, then come back to us. They need to make sure they are safe, and we can help along with their physician.” Both Delaunt and Ball spend their days encouraging others to give holistic healing a try. As Ball said “the only time crystals hurt is when you throw them at someone.”
Crystals have been used in healing rituals for thousands of years. Top photo: Christine Ball, an employee at the Rock Spa in Kitchener, is one of the people who continues to promote the healing properties of crystals. Ball speaks with a customer who is buying her first set of crystals. Above, the customer picks up a celestite cluster sphere, which can be used to elevate a person’s spiritual development and physical abilities. Right, crystals and salt lamps, both used in healing, are displayed throughout the Rock Spa to continue the flow of energy.
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
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NEWS
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Monday, March 14, 2016
Students developing research magazine BY CHRIS HUSSEY
When Tom Bishop, co-ordinator of the bachelor of design program, met with the applied research department in the summer of 2015, he didn’t really know anything about the research being done at Conestoga College. So, when he learned about what kind of projects the college was doing, he saw an opportunity. “I found myself thinking, ‘This is amazing. We have to tell this story,’” he said. About a semester and a half later that idea had evolved far beyond what anyone ever imagined. Bishop has overseen the students in his program take the lead this year on designing a publication which will showcase the research and work being done at Conestoga College. This publication will come in the form of a magazine, named Archive, and will be published annually. The name combines the acronym A.R.C., which stands for applied research at Conestoga, and the word hive, which is intended to portray Conestoga as a “hive” of activity. Greg Robertson, director of the applied research and innovation department, said Bishop’s observation really made him realize that the department needed a way to communicate their message to the broader community. “We realized we definitely needed a lot of help to make that story more successful,” he said. In order to do so, Bishop suggested that the students in his program collaborate with the department to produce a magazine, similar to what other post-secondary institutions do. Robertson loved the
idea and the two started the process of bringing it to life. From there, it was a matter of designing and shaping what it would look like. That’s where the design students came in. Bishop and his colleagues in the program actually incorporated this project into some of the courses students were in. They brought together the first- and second-year students to work in teams to create a design for the magazine. The instructors were available throughout the process to give direction and provide support, but for the most part, it was the students doing the actual work. After they had developed their designs, the seven teams pitched these mock-ups to judges outside of the program. These judges eventually settled on a design, and Joschka Sawatzky, a second-year student in the program who was part of the winning team, said a big part of their success was thinking outside of the box. “We had this opportunity to be involved and say, ‘no, we’re going to put a creative spin on this and do things that may not have been seen as much in other academic journals,’” he said. It’s easy to see that creativity present itself in their design. Sawatzky and his team members took the imagery of a beehive and used it as a visual theme to connect to the name of the magazine. They used a lot of hexagons and similar shapes to do this, and they also used a lot of design elements like photography and typography. Steven Curtis, also a secondyear student and Sawatzky’s teammate, said it meant a lot to him and his classmates that the applied research
NATURE’S THIEF WATCHES THE WORLD
PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
A raccoon explores while climbing a tree on March 5 at River Valley Golf and Tube, a golf course and snow tube slide facility in St. Mary’s.
department was willing to work with them, especially considering how their program is still new. “The fact that they trusted us with this is nothing short of incredible,” Curtis said. This semester, faculty took the project out of the program itself and made it into a cocurricular opportunity. To provide an incentive for students and recognize those who worked on it outside of class time, the program reached out to the Student Life department to get them recognized on the Co-Curricular Record (CCR). The CCR is a document that is similar to a transcript, but is intended to officially document involvement outside the classroom.
“
The fact that they trusted us with this is ... incredible. — Steven Curtis
”
Now, in the students’ second term, the goal is to turn that design into a printed publication. Bishop said the challenge they have faced is generating the actual content for the magazine, as they need writers to produce those articles and information. To deal with this, Bishop reached out to Bernard Gauthier, co-ordinator of the bachelor of public relations program, to possibly collaborate with them as well. However, Bishop said putting all the content together and figuring out the logistics might mean the magazine might not get published until next year. “We’re on a fairly tight timeline, that’s the challenge,” he said.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Above is the possible design for Archive, a proposed research magazine for Conestoga College to showcase the work being done at the college. While pulling it together in time this year might be difficult, there are certainly no shortages of interesting research being done at the college. Some of these research projects include a solution for electronic waste recycling, an automated manufacturing system and an engineering project that provides an ergonomic solution for a manufacturing company, to name a few. The department itself focuses on research activities in the college community and
refining the various centres of excellence at Conestoga. Clearly, there is lots of research happening at Conestoga, but the future of the magazine remains uncertain. Bishop said despite this, putting the magazine together was a terrific learning experience for the students and is something that would really benefit the college. “I think we have an opportunity here that I would hate to slip by,” he said.
LRT CONSTRUCTION AT KING AND ERB
PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
LRT construction is still ongoing. The intersection at King Street West and Erb Street East is one of the newly blocked off locations. These road blocks are causing detours and alternate bus routes, and will be going on for at least nine more months.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, March 14, 2016
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Jumping into the comedic mind BY MATT LINSEMAN
Waterloo Region residents had some good laughs at the seventh annual KitchenerWaterloo Comedy Festival opening night gala at Centre in the Square on March 3. The night’s lineup featured comedians Steve Patterson, Sean Cullen, Pete Zedlacher, John Wing, Chad Daniels, Scoot Herring, Emily Galati, Dwayne Perkins and Deanne Smith. Behind the curtain, though, two comedians gave a little advice and shared some insight into how they warm up their funny bones for each show. “When you prep for a show you tailor it to the crowd,” said John Wing, a Canadianborn comedian with over 36 years of experience. “With a Canadian crowd, you might do a certain joke that you wouldn’t do with an American crowd or vice versa because they wouldn’t get the reference. Everyone laughs at different things and I have to discover what it is in my psyche that can make them laugh.” When asked what his favourite part of being on stage was he said, “What do you do where you’re most alive and your mind is going so fast where you can deliver a whole paragraph in your head in a second and a half? It’s more than just adrenalin. It’s the way your brain works.”
Wing said it’s like playing pinball where you’re hitting a lot of targets. He described the experience as keeping everything in your head so it can be unravelled later and put together in a different way. He also said every night is a new group and, in turn, a new challenge. “If you like performing, it’s about as pure as performing gets,” Wing said. “And it’s my naked ass, nobody else’s.” Dwayne Perkins has been writing comedy and telling jokes for at least 18 years. He most enjoys the process of having an idea or a point, figuring out how to make that point funny and then seeing it actually come to fruition and be funny. Perkins also shared a little bit of advice about being a comedian. “You have to have tough skin,” Perkins said. “You can’t give any moment, good or bad, too much power because you have another show. It’s always the next show, it’s always the next show. I would say that for any comic though once you bomb, then the next time you go on, you’re officially a comic at that point.” He said people usually do well on their first set because it’s their energy and they don’t know to be afraid. Perkins described it like when Bugs Bunny steps off a cliff and doesn’t fall because he doesn’t know what gravity is. “Once you bomb, you know
there’s gravity and if you can keep going then you know you’re a comic. For me, I was doing it two or three years and I had to do a half hour. I did the time but I didn’t get many laughs and that was brutal. Five minutes in I knew it wasn’t going well and on my watch I still had 25 minutes left. It felt like two days, but I still got through it.” He said getting booed off stage is still not as bad as 30 minutes of silence with close to no laughs because if you get booed off you don’t have to suffer. “That wouldn’t happen now because 10 minutes in I would decide to just have fun with it. It’s always important to have fun on stage because that’s how you take the power back. Some people think we’re clowns or that we seek acceptance. I think in the beginning maybe, but it’s very important that you let the crowd know you do not seek acceptance and that you have something to say and it’s going to be funny. So when you sense a crowd trying to take your power from you, you have to find a way to respectfully take it back while not making it tense.” Perkins compared being on stage to being a teacher on the first day of high school. A good show is when the students are kind of afraid and don’t know what’s going to happen, but the teacher puts them at ease and
PHOTO BY MATT LINSEMAN
Dwayne Perkins, a Brooklyn-born comedian, and Scoot Herring, a comedian from Oregon, share an intimate moment backstage at the seventh annual Kitchener-Waterloo Comedy Festival opening night gala at Centre in the Square on March 3. The lineup featured a number of comics including Steve Patterson, Sean Cullen, Pete Zedlacher, John Wing, Chad Daniels and Deanne Smith. they like the teacher. When it’s going badly for the comic, though, it’s like a substitute teacher with spitballs being thrown. The students have already set a standard and know what to expect. That’s
why it goes back to having fun on stage because even if you’re not doing as well as you normally would the crowd doesn’t know that. So it’s up to you to let them know how it’s going to go.
Deadpool doesn’t disappoint
BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Deadpool is a unique film based on Marvel Comics’ anti-hero Deadpool, with the funny and charismatic Ryan Reynolds leading the way. Be warned though, this isn’t your typical superhero movie. It has everything that shouldn’t be in a comic superhero movie and that’s what makes it so refreshing and different. Deadpool, or Wade Wilson, a Special Forces soldier, is making his living as a mercenary. He hasn’t had an easy life, but lately his luck has changed. He’s met the girl of his dreams and they recently got engaged. However, his good fortune comes to an abrupt end when he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer. This being a superhero movie, Wilson obviously does the only sensible thing anyone would do in his situation: he volunteers for a shady experimental procedure offered by the main villain, Ajax, that will turn Wilson into a super-
human. It’s at this moment where he gets his superpowers which include enhanced reflexes and increased healing, but, during the procedures, Ajax also burns off all of Wilson’s skin and leaves him disfigured. This sets up the plot of Wilson turning into Deadpool, finding Ajax and winning his girl back, who he left when he went to get his procedure. Deadpool is a humourous, offensive yet light-hearted movie, while holding a serious plot all at the same time. It has brilliantly choreographed action scenes, hilarious writing and the best opening credits ever to roll onto the big screen. Not everyone will love Deadpool, it will be too vulgar and violent for some and too rude and crude for others. Deadpool is an action-filled movie that will make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the film. Overall, Deadpool deserves a 4 out of 5 star rating.
INTERNET PHOTO
Deadpool is currently playing in cinemas. The movie is based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool, and how a rogue experiment leaves him with accelerated healing powers.
FUN & GAMES
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Monday, March 14, 2016
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of March 14, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 You will be going on a road trip and making an important decision. Be prepared to leave soon, so keep an overnight bag ready in case you have to make a quick getaway.
Taurus April 20 May 20
When you go out on the weekend beware of a seductive man in black. He will be your undoing. Do not fall for his dazzling smile.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Your hard studying will pay off and your grades will thank you. With all that studying going on be sure to take a break this weekend and treat yourself.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Go for a nice long walk this Saturday morning because you will find something beautiful and unexpected.
Leo
July 23 August 22 You are going to bop to the top and get that promotion you have been working hard for. But stay away from balding men or you will end up back to where you started.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 You are good at a lot of things but you need to improve your self confidence. You are perfect just the way you are.
Isaac Singer invented the sewing machine for home use in 1851.
Libra
Most burglaries happen above the first but below the seventh floor in a hotel.
September 23 October 22 You must find a balance in your busy life. Try writing down and prioritizing your time and eliminate those nasty time wasters. Game of Thrones can wait.
Each of the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket motors burned five tons (5,080 kilograms) of propellant per second, a total of 1.1 million pounds (500,000 kilograms) in 120 seconds.
Scorpio
Babies are born without knee caps. They don’t appear until the child reaches between two and six years of age.
October 23 November 21 Your friend will be needing you soon so be there for him or her because you are the only one who can help them.
Sudoku Puzzle
Sagittarius November 22 December 21
Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1-9, without repeating any.
Watch your temper because it might just cost you something you have been working hard for. Try finding your centre and concentrate on your breathing.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
You have to take your future more seriously because things are going to be changing soon and you need to have some things figured out.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
This is for you, good friend. You have been having a hard time but the end is near. Always remember that your friends are here for you no matter what.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Your friends are plotting against you. Watch your back because one of them will betray you in the most heart-wrenching way.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
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Monday, March 14, 2016
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‘It’s like darts, but with an axe’ BY MARISSA CUDDY
Axe throwing makes it possible to relive your action film dreams. The Backyard Axe Throwing League (BATL) started in 2006 in a backyard in Toronto. It began as a private league, but eventually expanded, and moved inside in 2011, starting their first public indoor leagues. A few years after that they expanded to a second location and now have eight locations across Canada, seven in Ontario and one in Alberta. Nick LaFace, the general manager at BATL in Kitchener, said people can book a time with them or go to one of their walk-in sessions, which are Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. or Sundays from 1 to 8 p.m. They can also book a private event. “Whenever people come to battle there are always coaches there monitoring safety, explaining how to throw and making sure everything is done correctly,” LaFace said. “(A coach) is never not with you.” They have other safety precautions as well. They don’t allow any horseplay and they have lines painted on the floor to indicate where you need to stand. They also have heavy, ninegauge chain link fencing up to serve as protection in the throwing lanes. For the walk-in service, it’s $20 per person for roughly an hour of throwing time, which can change depending on how many other people are there. Private events have a $40 per person, 12 person minimum, standard charge. The
company hosts larger and smaller groups with the smallest being six and largest being 35. The cost per person still remains the same but the bookings have to be done specifically through the venue. Playing in the league for the season costs $135 after tax. Jay Hodgson, a coach at BATL in Kitchener, said the customers are way more diverse than people may think. “There’s a misconception that it’s only meant for the “tattooed lumberjack” type, but I coach doctors, teachers and software developers,” she said. “We’re getting more and more girls involved too, despite people thinking it’s male dominated. Women do very well here and we’re always glad to see more and more come through each month.” The leagues have five seasons a year. Each season lasts seven weeks of regulation play where all the statistics are tracked online including how many games are played, the number of losses and average points. “We like to get a little baseball with it,” LaFace said. After each season there is a week of playoffs, where the winner gets to hold the trophy and his or her name gets written on a champion’s scroll that is up in the arena. Each location has their own league. LaFace said they have approximately 1,000 league members. He also said every year they have what is called a champions league, where the top four throwers from each league compete in a tournament. “The thing with us is we
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Competitors in the Backyard Axe Throwing League in Kitchener battle each other to figure out who is the best over seven weeks. The league has five seasons and after each season there is a week of playoffs. hold private events and do the walk-in stuff, but our league is the real deal,” LaFace said. “We have a rule here – be good to each other or get out. We like everyone to treat each other equally and we’re huge on having a positive community environment that we try to bring everywhere we go.” He said league members start off not knowing each other at all and slowly become good friends. Everyone’s tight and everyone knows each other and everyone respects each other. “We like to have a positive effect on the community as well as foster a really
Food bland at Red Lobster BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
If you’ve been anywhere but under a rock recently, you know that sales at Red Lobster have spiked due to the lyrics from Beyoncé’s new song Formation. Red Lobster is a popular seafood franchise that was purchased by San Franciscobased private equity firm Golden Gate Capital in 2014. The Kitchener location is at 1732 King St. E. Once you walk in, there’s a bar across from a large window that lets light in. That’s the only area to sit in if you’re interested in feeling the sun on your face. It’s a dimly-lit, bungalow style location with wooden floors and tables. I usually skip appetizers but
I opted for the sweet chili shrimp ($10.79). It’s a reasonably-sized serving of handbattered shrimp tossed in chili sauce. It was good at first but by the fifth one, I could taste a hint of blue cheese. I wasn’t sure why but it turned me off and I was ready to order the main course. Some of the other seaside starter items include a crispy shrimp lettuce wrap, island jumbo coconut shrimp, seafood-stuffed mushrooms, signature shrimp cocktail and crispy calamari and vegetables. They are all priced at under $15. For my main course I ordered the Canadian snow crab legs off the lunch menu ($21.49). It was meant to be sweet, steamed and come with a side of roasted corn
on the cob and baby gold potatoes. Tasteless is the only word that can properly describe what I was served. It was so bland I reached across the table to pick food off my friend’s plate. He had ordered the crunchy popcorn shrimp. It was dry but edible. I gave up on the food and sipped from my glass of berry mango daiquiri until the cheque came. The daiquiri was the only thing I could justify paying for. It was done right. The tropical mangoes, although overpowering, complemented the taste of the strawberries. Red Lobster in Kitchener is worth the visit if you’re looking for bland, reasonably priced seafood and friendly waiters.
positive community within our space to promote a safe, fun, open environment where everyone is welcome,” LaFace said. Hodgson said her favourite thing about BATL is the culture. She said people you meet become like family. “I’ve played and coached a lot of sports in my life, but I’ve never thrived in a competitive environment as much as I do at BATL,” Hodgson said. “Honestly, even though I always want to win my games or league, I’m still rooting for my opponents. When anyone does well it pushes the bar for the rest of us and makes for tougher competitions and a higher
standard of throwing.” She said their culture sets the bar for axe throwing everywhere. “My favourite part is, honestly, the people you get to meet. Don’t get me wrong, I like throwing an axe, but the friendships I’ve made over the years doing this and just the positive experience that comes from this is definitely the best part of what we offer,” LaFace said. For more information on BATL visit www.batlgrounds.com. “You can also see a ton of videos and photos online. We post frequently on Instagram and Facebook,” Hodgson said.
MURDER MYSTERY AT THE ROM
PHOTO BY SARA SASILA
Urban Capers Scavengers Hunt partnered with The Royal Museum in Toronto to hold “The Mummy’s Curse.” Groups of two to six people could wander around the museum for two and a half hours finding clues to solve the murder mystery. The hunt runs through April on weekends. Tickets, which include access to the ROM, are $42.
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NEWS
Monday, March 14, 2016
Weighing in on the problem
Is the fashion industry responsible for eating disorders? BY SARA SASILA
Most people think the fashion industry is one of the biggest triggers for eating disorders. That being said, is it safe to assume that those in the industry are suffering as well? Being a model doesn’t sound like a bad profession. The free clothes, endless amount of money, parties and most importantly, a name for yourself would make anyone want to be in the modelling business. But, do we know what happens behind closed doors? In 2013, Georgina Wilkin, 23, a former Prada model, left the fashion world after fighting an eating disorder for eight years. “I started modelling when I was 15 years old. I was a size eight but I was told to lose a few inches from my hips so that I could be eligible for the best jobs,” Wilkin said to The Telegraph, a newspaper in the U.K. “This was normal in the fashion world, so I didn’t think too much of it.” After losing the weight and winning a contract to go to Japan, Wilkin said she expected her life to be glamorous and fun, but it ended up being the complete opposite. “I was standing in a lineup with 12 models. We were
all naked apart from fleshcoloured thongs, standing in front of a panel of casting directors,” she said. “They went through us and said ‘yes’ or ‘no’ depending on whether you were thin enough. If you weren’t thin enough you were sent out of the room immediately. I was sent out.” Wilkin was admitted to a hospital a year later for anorexia and was sent to The Priory, a rehabilitation centre for people who suffer with mental illnesses. “At the end of the day, my modelling career lasted for three years and as a result, I’ve had anorexia for eight, and I’m still battling it today,” she said. “It was amazing to work on shows and I loved the clothes and the work itself. But, for the sake of a couple of years of modelling success, it’s just not worth it.” According to the New York Better Business Bureau, high fashion models need to be between 5’9 and 6 feet and weigh between 110 and 130 pounds, with eyes widely spaced. The reality is, if a woman is 5’9 and weighs 110 pounds, she is considered underweight. However, just because she is on the thinner side, doesn’t mean she is unhealthy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANN BONA
Hailey Merkt said the modelling industry shouldn’t be blamed for eating disorders. Audrey Wilson, CEO of Gemini Models in Waterloo, said the fashion industry isn’t to blame for eating disorders. “It’s all about how you perceive yourself,” she said. “If you look at a photo of a model and you want to look like that then I don’t think you can blame the media for how you feel.” Wilson added models are routinely told “no,” they don’t have the right look which is just part of the industry. “Women are told no too often or someone says something negative about their appearance and they manifest that,” she said. “That is unfortunately what leads to psychological problems and eating disorders.”
At the end of the day, it’s a business. There are going to be bad agencies that only look for skinny girls and then there are good agencies where there is no criteria. “At Gemini everyone is welcome,” she said. “You don’t have to be a certain size or height. We are here to make people feel better and happy about themselves. That is our mission statement.” Hailey Merkt, a freelance journalist who modelled for eight years, said she had a great experience in the modelling industry. “I started modelling when I was 13,” the Conestoga graduate said. “I never felt pressure when it came to my size. I was actually told to gain weight.” Merkt said the industry does not cause eating disorders. In fact, women have issues as is before entering the modelling world. “A lot of women go into the industry with mental disorders, they go in insecure and they want people to tell them that they are beautiful. They go into modelling to better their self-esteem,” she said. “People want to blame the modelling industry because it’s easy to put the blame on something else.” It’s understandable that
there are certain standards in fashion, huge businesses like Victoria Secret want thin women to carry the brand name, but it doesn’t make them a bad company. “Some modelling places present unrealistic beauty standards. No one is 100 per cent confident and people generally look for others to compliment them,” Merkt said. “What you hear in the media about modelling isn’t actually how it is, people speculate. They want to talk about the bad and the negativity. Of course there are agencies that only want skinnier girls, but that doesn’t make them a bad place.” Merkt said people are always shaming; there are always people who want to bring others down. “Our culture works that way. People want to say that it’s bad being skinny just like being bigger is considered bad,” she said. “I think society puts pressure on women, not modelling and that leads to mental issues. “Eating disorders have a lot to do with the person and how they view themselves,” said Merkt. “A lot of people are insecure about themselves and they go into modelling insecure and hope that people make them feel beautiful.”
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Merkt, a Conestoga College graduate from the journalism print program, modelled for eight years. Although she gave up that profession, she loved the experience.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HONG LI
Merkt modelled for numerous agencies. She has done dozens of shoots including one in Africa. She now works as a freelance writer and photographer.
Monday, March 14, 2016
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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How to be Single entertains viewers BY KANDACE GALLANT
How To Be Single recently hit the movie theatres and instantly entertained its viewers. On its opening weekend it made $18.7 million. Since then it has grossed over $42 million. Hilarious, quirky, awkward and, of course, featuring the charming star Rebel Wilson, this movie was bound to be a hit. Dakota Johnson, Leslie Mann and Alison Brie also star in this comedy that teaches people it’s OK to just be single and let loose sometimes. Johnson’s character, and main character of the story, Alice, takes a break from her college boyfriend after graduating to “find herself.” She moves to the heart of New York to live with her sister Meg, played by Mann, and becomes friends with the buoyant and funny Robin, played by Wilson. Their friendship blossoms quickly into what Alice realizes, is something that she’s not quite used too. Robin lives life freely. She doesn’t care what people think, she doesn’t let others make choices for her and she’s the girl everyone wants to invite to their parties. And more importantly, she knows who she is. Alice struggles to find herself and Robin makes it clear that she needs to find out who she is, because once she does, her life will be so much easier. But as Alice tries living like her, it proves to be harder than she thought. She’s not used to
not being in a relationship or not having her boyfriend to rely on. Meg tries to teach her it’s OK to be single too, although she secretly wishes for a long-term boyfriend and children because she thinks she’s getting old. Brie’s character, Lucy, is quite the opposite of these party girls. Her wish is to find her match. The One. Her one true soul mate. Being single isn’t an option for a girl in New York who wants to settle down and get married and have children all within the next few years. She meets guy after guy at a local bar, but not only does she not find her match … she realizes there just isn’t a man out there for her. Until, of course, she has a mental breakdown at her work and the guy watching her finds it hilarious and then they gaze into each other’s eyes and fall in love and get married. A bit cliché, but entertaining all the same. Her character was witty and fun to watch. Her attitude, though things didn’t quite go as she planned, was positive and her smile was contagious. Throughout the movie, Alice has a hard time adjusting to her new life and soon regrets breaking up with her college lover. When she tries to get back with him, he announces that he has found someone else and they are engaged. Alice is heartbroken and not sure how to take the news, so Robin is there for her, showing her that a night out on the
INTERNET PHOTO
How to be Single entertains its viewers and teaches them it’s OK not to always have a partner. town can fix any problem. It doesn’t fix her problems … It makes them worse. Alice is becoming a girl who she never thought she’d become. She isn’t where she wants to be or who she wants to be. All she wants to do is follow her life-long dream of trekking through the Grand Canyon at night so she can watch the sun come up over the beautiful horizon. She plans a trip out of the blue and finally realizes this is what she was meant to do. She doesn’t need men in her life to keep her happy all the time. Her sister Meg settles down with a man she meets
and ends up having a baby (from artificial insemination, not by him), and they live happily ever after. Her story was definitely funny to watch, especially her reaction when she finds out a guy actually loves her and wants to help her raise a baby that isn’t even his. He’s very funny and has a hard time taking things seriously and he likes to drive Meg crazy, but that’s what keeps the audience laughing. The crowd was definitely entertained the whole way through the movie and cheering on the main characters to find their happy
endings. It was hard not to rate it a 9/10. On IMDb, the international movie database, it is rated a 6.4/10. Not quite the greatest rating, but not the worst. The main characters couldn’t have been played by anyone else. Rebel Wilson and Leslie Mann never fail to make people laugh and Dakota Johnson definitely stepped out of her comfort zone to play a sarcastic and awkward character. Stepping away from her serious and romantic roles, she did a great job and it’ll be interesting to see what other comedy roles she takes on in the future.
KOI Fest partners with Centre in the Square BY MIKE STROMME
Kitchener-Waterloo’s biggest showcase vehicle for local indie rock is receiving an upgrade, as KOI Fest expands to Centre In The Square. KOI Fest At The Parking Lot will be a two-stage, indie rock bonanza featuring a mix of local talent and established acts coming to the Centre In The Square (CITS) parking lot on June 25. “The Parking Lot is an exciting new venture and creates new opportunities for community partnership and revenue generation that previously weren’t an option for Centre In The Square,” said KOI Fest general manager Rob Sonada. “The opportunities are endless with this new venue and we’re excited to see what the future holds.” One stage will be headlined by Canadian rock icons Sam
Roberts Band along with The Strumbellas, Kalle Mattson, Highs, Poor Young Things and Le Trouble. The second stage, headlined by indie rock veterans Tokyo Police Club, will also play host to Hannah Georgas, Ria Mae, Teen Violence and Ivory Hours. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks and months leading up to the event. Since the birth of KOI Fest in 2010, competition for the attention of music festivalgoers in southern Ontario has been fierce. KOI founders Curt and Cory Crossman have since recognized that they can no longer handle this task alone. With the help of Centre In The Square, KOI Fest has found a way to expand the festival, all while staying true to its roots. “The synergy between CITS and KOI works perfectly,
meshing years of festival experience and a decade and a half of growing the local music scene with an organization that brings in top tier talent and culturally important productions to our region” said Curt Crossman.
“
KOI Fest At The Parking Lot is not just another event but rather a vehicle to revitalize the under served young audience. — Aleta Wilson
”
Not only does KOI Fest shine a spotlight onto indie rock in Kitchener-Waterloo, it reaches out to a younger audi-
ence – an audience that the festival’s organizers believe is under served. “KOI Fest At The Parking Lot is not just another event but rather a vehicle to revitalize the under served young audience,” said Aleta Wilson, publicity and communications co-ordinator at Centre In The Square. If all goes well, and the synergy between Centre In The Square and KOI Fest goes off without a hitch, it’s possible that Centre In The Square could see more events that utilizes the venue’s parking lot. This could lead to bigger outdoor acts coming to Kitchener-Waterloo. “This new initiative is a new opportunity for Centre In The Square to generate revenue streams that didn’t exist before,” said Wilson. “The centre is really excited to be doing something out of
the ordinary.” Festival tickets are on sale. Stage A (headlined by Sam Roberts Band) are $69.50 plus applicable fees and is a 19+ event. The other stage, Stage B (headlined by Tokyo Police Club), is free for all ages. Garage VIP tickets are also available for $125. This includes access to a private lounge and bar, catering from Chef D, official KOI Fest At The Parking Lot merchandise and lanyard, private washrooms and a covered VIP viewing from a side stage with an exclusive bar. Just like Stage A, these tickets are only available for those who are 19+. For more information, visit www.centreinthesquare. com, “Like” KOI Music Festival on Facebook or follow @koimusicfest on Twitter.
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Monday, March 14, 2016
aWEARness raises $4,200 for charity
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“It was overwhelming. I was trying not to cry,” she said. For her, the moment in the spotlight drove home just how much she’s accomplished since being confined to a wheelchair. “It was very symbolic to me, to be able to physically walk out there. It brought back how far I’ve come and that was overwhelming too,” she said. Wiley described it as the highlight of the night for her.
“When she came out I was really emotional – you could tell everyone else was too. It definitely pulled at some heartstrings,” she said. After Burattini’s ovation, the models and designers took one last walk down the runway for the finale before the show came to an end. “We expected greatness, we absolutely did,” said Harding. “They were the ones who had to present – it was their work and they really put themselves out there. They did a fantastic job.”
On March 4, visual merchandising arts students held their sixth annual aWEARness runway performance show, raising $4,200 for the G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases. Clockwise from photo above left, Emma Hickey modelled a Rabanne-inspired dress, designed by her sister, Rachel Hickey; Alayna Poetker drew inspiration from designer Pnina Tornai for her flower and paper plate-based dress; Darienne Voisin, who was inspired by designer Christian Dior, crafted the skirt of her dress from red napkins; and this flowery, one shoulder dress was designed by Tahmena Abdul and modelled by Mona Chleilat. PHOTOS BY JOE WEPPLER