Convergence of characters Cosplayers show off their costumes at Toronto ComiCon. Page 7 MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016
SPOKE
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
WWW.SPOKEONLINE.COM
PTSD persists It can affect every aspect of your life. Page 12 47TH YEAR — NO. 11
Small kitchen, big dreams
BY MATT LINSEMAN
Dinner was a piece of cake for second-year Conestoga College culinary students at the Rising Stars event at the Kitchener Market on March 17. Throughout March and April, aspiring chefs from the college are hosting themed pop-up dinners at the Kitchener Market. This is a chance for culinary students to showcase exciting menus in a variety of themes like Asian street food, southern BBQ, East Coast seafood and more. Shalini Govindarajan, a second-year culinary student, was the head chef for the evening and ran a successful dinner service. “Everything went smoothly,” said Govindarajan. “I think this was fancier for my first time, but I think I did pretty good.” She said the amount of prep the dinner needs ahead of time is a lot more than most people realize. Tasks include designing the menu, creating the product list and order sheet, appointing tasks to team members, budgeting food costs and finding and creating recipes. The evening offered a delicious gastropub theme to approximately 30 people. Guests got to enjoy an appetizer, soup, entree and a decadent dessert. Terry Salmond, an instructor in the culinary program at Conestoga, explained what Rising Stars is about. “This is a big part of the new generation of the culinary program and what I think it’s evolving to be,” said Salmond.
PHOTO BY MATT LINESMAN
Second-year culinary students from Conestoga College cooked and prepared dinner on March 17 as part of the Rising Stars Dinner Series held at the Kitchener Market. Until April 14, aspiring student chefs are hosting themed dinners every Wednesday and Thursday evening at the market. “It’s a very practical program the table and see them come evening’s dinner service. and the ability for the stu- to life,” said Salmond. “That’s “We have students who are dents to learn how to run off- the best part about being in first-year tourism and hotel site catering is paramount.” the kitchen. Some people go management students,” said He said to have skills like to work every day for five, 10 Rooney. “They manage the running catering, managing years and maybe once or twice floor, like the serving and events offsite and even just throughout their careers they making sure guests are comholding functions in strange really get to see the culmi- fortable.” places leads to adaptability, nation of all of their work. He said they spent the first an essential skill needed to We get to see our work in a part of January and February get a job in the hospitality/ matter of moments and the co-ordinating everything culinary market. Rising Stars looks on people’s faces when and the Rising Stars event is a chance for students to the dish comes out of the accounted for a large portest their culinary abilities kitchen. We get that recogni- tion of the students’ practical in the real world and develop tion and instant gratification work. Each student had to these skills. right away.” help out with three dinners as “Every student in the kitchMatt Rooney, an event man- part of their program. en is eager to learn and wants agement program instructor, Jennifer Fletcher, manager to bring their own talents to oversaw the front end of the administration for Conestoga’s
Centre of Entrepreneurship, has been at the back end dealing with the planning and logistics. “We have a collaboration between the Kitchener Market, the culinary school and the Centre for Entrepreneurship,” said Fletcher. “Rising Stars is a sort of entrepreneurial venture where students do the legwork by sourcing out the venue, maintaining a budget, organizing the food and basically running their own culinary or event management business. We help them and give them an idea of what it’s like.” She said there can be a big difference between the theory and practical experience in terms of the culinary industry. In your mind, you think it goes well, but what you think is going to happen and what actually happens are two totally different things and this gives the students the real life experience to see what they’re studying in action. “Let’s say you don’t get your proper inventory,” said Fletcher. “Or you have a problem with your purchases or there’s a problem with the produce. Students have to think on their feet and deal with these things right away. They’re able to go through the motions where if it’s just out of a book in a classroom in everyone’s mind everything goes perfectly. This is real life, real world experience which is priceless.” The Rising Stars Dinner Series runs until April 14. Tickets are $30 per person and reservations are required. If you’d like to take part, visit www.conestogacommunity.ca/ RisingStars2016.
Condor Cash program gives students credit BY JOSHUA VAN OSTRAND
ONE Cards are going to be used for more than just your student number, thanks to a Condor Cash program starting this fall. With the new system, students will be able to load money into an account tied to their ONE Card and use that money for purchases on Conestoga campuses much like a debit card. However, unlike a debit card, there will be no fees to use the card according to Andrea Stevenson, ONE Card manager. The only costs
to students will be the ones already associated with the cards. “It will give students the ability, if they choose, to put funds onto their ONE Cards and use them for on-campus purchasing. It’s simple, fast and convenient. (Students) are carrying around their card anyway. We’re just trying to make life really simple for them.” According to Stevenson, students will be able to load their cards through a web portal. They will be able to deposit between $25 and $1,000 in
any one transaction, but can also add more money at other times. “The web portal will be a site that (students) hit that will allow them to deposit funds. They can also share that with parents and significant others if someone else wants to load funds for them onto their cards. “They’ll also have the ability to load funds onto their cards through any of the book stores on our campuses so there are a few options for loading funds.” “I think it’s a good idea,”
said Jacob Martin, a secondyear journalism broadcast student. “People would be more inclined to use it with the program. Right now it’s just sort of an identification card more than anything. I feel like if it had more functions on it then students might actually use it.” Through the web portal, students will also be able to suspend the use of their card if it was lost or stolen. They can also get help with this by going to the ONE Card office located in Rm. 2E08 at the Doon campus.
At the end of their time at Conestoga College, students will be able to get a refund of any money in their ONE Card accounts. “We’re always looking for feedback to stay up-todate on the initiative,” said Stevenson. “We’re going to be doing a bunch of promotions and there will hopefully be discounts that some of our vendors may offer, express lines or some neat little perks.” For more information, visit the ONE Card website at www. conestogac.on.ca/onecard/.
NEWS
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, March 28, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What would horrify you on a first date? “Bad breath.”
THE MCKEEGHANS PERFORM AT CSI’S PUB NOONER
Abby Marsden, second-year marketing and advertising
“A no-show.”
Ahmad Hussain, ESL professor
“Something in their teeth.”
Cameron Doucette, first-year business marketing
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
On St. Patrick’s Day, Conestoga Students Inc. held a pub nooner. The Irish band The McKeeghans played at the event. Above and right, Jack Kay, Randy Wyatt and John Sauder play for the crowd in the Sanctuary.
“Extremely late.”
HEALTH FAIR HELD FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Hailey Lyons, first-year practical nursing
“A mismatching outfit.”
Jordan Reynolds, second-year business marketing
“Freakishly long fingernails.” Mitch Nichols, second-year radio broadcast PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLER
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Third-year nursing students Keyla Steenbergen (left) and Joshua Willen stand by one of the information boards at the International Students Health Fair on March 21 at Conestoga’s Doon campus. The event was part of Health and Wellness Week, March 21 to 25, which featured interactive displays and activities.
NEWS
Monday, March 28, 2016
SPOKE s Page 3
walked when she goes to the gym so she has the dog walker meet her at the gym. Owners can also have the walker pick their dog up from their house. An initial meet and greet can be held where the dog walker gets together with the dog owner and dog before any walks take place. This gives the walker a chance to get to learn the behaviour and temperament of the dog. Owners with two dogs can also have both dogs walked at the same time for an extra $5. However, no more than two dogs can be walked at once. Ahmed said the initial feedback has been positive so far. Vika Ribey, a first-year human services foundation student said, “I would actually really benefit from the Woggy app. I have two dogs and a very busy schedule so it would be helpful to have someone walk my dogs based on my location.” “This app is a really good idea because a lot of people have dogs and a lot of them are too busy or sick to give their dogs the adequate walks they require.” Ahmed said, “It’s been great so far and I’m looking forward to doing more great things with it.”
Woggy Walkers is an app created by Osman Said Ahmed to help connect dog owners with dog walkers in their area in a quick and convenient way. The app is currently available in the Google Play Store and the iOS version for Apple is expected to come out within a couple of months.
Local man creates the Uber of dog walking BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
A local man is changing the way people walk their dogs with Woggy, an app that connects dog owners with dog walkers in their area. Last August, Osman Said Ahmed was sitting on the front porch of his home when he overheard a conversation between an older man and a younger man as they walked a dog. He said the older man was showing the younger man where to walk the dog. The pair had met on Kijiji, an online service used to buy, trade or sell items and services, including dog walking. “That’s when the lightbulb went off in my head,” Ahmed said. The app was launched in early January in the Google Play Store. About 40 dog owners and 80 dog walkers in Canada have downloaded the app and registered since then. “We didn’t know what to expect so we set our standards low but it quickly exceeded our expectations,” he said. The iOS version for Apple devices isn’t available yet, but Ahmed said they’re hoping to launch it within a couple of months Downloading the app is free,
however, Woggy takes 20 per cent of the dog walkers’ fees. Dog owners can pay using their credit cards or through PayPal. The money goes to Woggy initially and the dog walkers get paid their portion of the money every Thursday. “It’s convenient, no cash required,” he said. Dog walkers will have to go through a background check and fill out an application. Woggy will then decide whether or not to approve them. The dog owners will also have to register with their name, address and credit card information. They can then select a 15-minute, 30-minute, 45-minute or an hourlong walk. For a 15-minute walk it’s $10, for 30 it’s $18, for 45 it’s $22 and for an hour it’s $28. The app will then give the owner a list of dog walkers in their area who have been approved. The list will also include the rating of each dog walker. You can also request to have the same dog walker you previously had. Once owners chose their dog walker they can also decide where they want their dogs to be picked up from. Ahmed said one person has her dog
NEW RESTAURANT OPENS ITS DOORS
PHOTO BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
BESTSELLING AUTHOR COMES TO KITCHENER
PHOTO BY EMMIE SIROKY
Sun Sun’s restaurant in downtown Guelph closed its doors in January after 26 years at their MacDonell Street location. Breezy Corners Family Restaurant now occupies the location.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY COMES TO CONESTOGA
PHOTO BY JESSICA HAMMER PHOTO BY SARA SASILA
Business marketing students brought Habitat for Humanity to Conestoga College. Students and faculty were encouraged to donate $2 to the organization. Visit www.spokeonline.com for video story.
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong is the Writer in Residence for 2016 at the Kitchener Public Library. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
COMMENTARY
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Monday, March 28, 2016
Vapes don’t live up to hype BY EMMIE SIROKY
There is a new trend among young adults as well as underage teens. Using vaporizers (also known as vapes or e-cigarettes) as an alternative to smoking cigarettes can be just as dangerous as smoking. Vapes have become a new craze. There are even shops that specialize in selling these products – with or without nicotine. The devices work by placing a gel-like liquid in a section that heats up using a battery. The gel is available in many different flavours, including the classic cigarette flavour which causes it to appeal to a young audience. The starter kits for these devices range from $40 to $100, with the flavoured liquid ranging from $10 to $15. The rumour is that it’s better to vape then to smoke regular cigarettes and it’s said that they are cheaper than smoking as well. If you do the math, it is cheaper to smoke these vaporizers, but it is in no way safer. Recently, a teenager in Kitchener had an e-cigarette blow up in his face and set his friend’s car on fire. Sure, you can accidently drop a cigarette in your car and it will burn your seat, but it won’t blow up in your face. This teenager isn’t the only one who has had this happen to him. In January another teenager was taken to hospital for broken teeth, facial burns and an injured tongue when his e-cigarette also blew up in his face. What we would like to know is how are teenagers legally buying these devices? When they first came out there was no age limit for purchasing them, but now, with the added option of nicotine, you must be 19 or older. However, even with this age limit, teens are still getting a hold of them. When vaporizers first appeared, no one knew a lot about them. The companies that make them brag about how good they are for you and how everyone should try them, but they’re not. No one really knows where those chemicals are coming from, what they are or what the long-term effects are. It’s in no way healthy to inhale any kind of substance including those used in e-cigarettes. It should be illegal to advertise these anywhere, just as it is with tobacco. People need to check all the facts before they go out and spend the money on one of these. Making these devices in fun colours and fun flavours isn’t helping people to quit smoking, it’s helping young kids to start. 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
Vaporizers are dangerous on two fronts - they explode and they’re unhealthy.
More than just a hit to the head Concussions have been affecting athletes for years, but football leagues continue to deny that there is a problem. On March 14 a lawsuit by a former Canadian Football League (CFL) player, who is alleging that players haven’t been protected from concussions, was thrown out of the British Columbia Supreme Court. Arland Bruce played for 14 years in the CFL on five different CFL teams. The lawsuit claimed that Bruce suffered a concussion and lost consciousness during a game in September 2012 playing for the B.C. Lions. In November he returned to play, even though he was still suffering from the effects of the concussion. The CFL should have ensured Bruce did not play again until he was symptom free. The former player still suffers from concussions, more than three years later. This case could have been worse for the CFL if Bruce had gotten hit again, as he could have gotten worse symptoms or even died. Not only have his symptoms
Marissa Cuddy
Opinion stopped him from playing football, but they have also affected his enjoyment of life with changes in his personality, headaches, memory loss and confusion. The B.C. court isn’t taking this situation seriously, but this isn’t the first time a lawsuit like this was thrown out of a court and won’t be the last. However, in 2014, there were 4,000 players who successfully sued the NFL. Situations like these show that the organizations should be paying more attention to athletes’ injuries. Concussions have been a problem for years but are often ignored because they are an invisible injury. Coaches and trainers need to make sure their players are fully healed before returning to play. No player should be let onto a field if they are still suffering symptoms of a concussion because it puts the player at
greater risk. Athletes have died because of a second impact to the head, including high school rugby player, Rowan Stringer. Concussions need to be taken more seriously. By throwing out a lawsuit and saying it isn’t an issue that should be resolved by the court but must be resolved through the grievance and arbitration process is ridiculous. The CFL should have intervened earlier and the lawsuit shouldn’t have been tossed out because the league put Bruce at risk and may have made his symptoms worse by letting him play. All leagues need to stop denying that concussions aren’t a life-changing injury or a problem in the sport. Bruce is right, athletes aren’t being protected from concussions as much as they should be. Coaches shouldn’t make athletes feel like they have to play hurt just because it may be an important game. I think more strict rules need to be put in place and enforced for athletes returning to play after a concussion. Also, lawsuits shouldn’t be thrown out because these athletes are suffering and need to know the issue is not being ignored.
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
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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, March 28, 2016
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Health centre hits the road BY JESSICA PETT
Nausea, vomiting, dark urine, pale feces, stomach pain and jaundice; these are all signs of hepatitis C. This disease can lead to liver damage, or even liver cancer. According to healthycanadians.gc.ca, if the body is often under the influence of alcohol, is over the age of 40 or if it has a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, the liver will become damaged even more rapidly. The first Sanguen Health Centre started in Guelph and has since also opened in Waterloo Region. It was created in an effort to aid in the treatment of those community members who are living with hepatitis C. Dr. Chris Steingart, an infectious disease physician, realized the need for someone like him and heroically took on the challenge. A 2005-2010 Hepatitis C Education and Prevention Society Surveillance report found that 690 out of 1,000 Canadian injection drug users have hepatitis C. It was statistics like this that made Steingart and the rest of the team at the Sanguen Health Centre realize that there is always more that can be done. It was clear to them that although their offices were a wonderful way to help community members in need,
more could be done for those who were not able to get to those offices. This is how the idea for the “Vanguen,” Sanguen Health Centre’s very first mobile outreach van, was born. “We know that when we reduce the barriers that stand between people and good health, every member of our community benefits,” the health centre’s website says. In order for that idea to work, they were going to need money. The centre’s manager of outreach, Violet Umanetz, found a way to jump over that hurdle. Every other month, another local charity called #KWawesome gives out $1,000 to a deserving project, idea or cause. The van had already been up and running since December 2015 but Umanetz had plans to extend its services to Cambridge and for longer periods of time which would mean there would be a higher demand for supplies. Umanetz jumped at the opportunity and went on to present the idea of the van at one of the foundation’s pitch nights and won. “We think the Sanguen community health van is awesome – and we felt very
strongly that others would agree. When it comes to funding for the van, every amount helps us to provide services to people who need them. We are so proud to have the support of people who live and work in our community – and who agreed that the work we’re doing is valuable,” said Umanetz. In her speech to KWawesome foundation members, Umanetz said: “People who lived outside of the downtown area of Kitchener told us that they found it particularly difficult to get the services they needed. In a lot of cases, people just gave up. We lost them. It isn’t the fault of the agencies. It isn’t the fault of the clients. But it is a big problem – because everyone should have access to the supports and services that they need in order to be healthy and to be a part of our community. We realized that we needed to expand the work that we do.” The “Vanguen” travels around Kitchener and just recently, Cambridge, delivering snack packs, safer injection kits for drug users that include 10 of everything a person would need for an
injection, safer inhalation kits for crystal meth smokers and even hot chocolate. These kits include items such as syringes, filters, cotton swabs, tourniquets, screens, condoms and lube. Natasha Campbell, the driver of Sanguen’s new van, is thrilled to be a part of this new undertaking. She has a very accommodating background in more ways than one.
“
We know that when we reduce the barriers that stand between people and good health, every member of our community benefits. — Violet Umanetz
”
Campbell received her social service worker diploma from Conestoga College and has been a peer outreach worker with Sanguen for three years. She started work as a peer because she used substances when she was younger. “I think I definitely have a unique perspective like any peer does,” she said. She is now on her way to receiving her addictions care certificate from McMaster. Campbell, who is also in charge of ordering supplies
and putting together the kits, said it is easier to hand out these packages rather than individual items per person depending on need. The demand for the kits is growing and the news about the van is spreading. Campbell said she is beginning to notice many regulars coming to the van to receive services. She carries a cellphone to let those regulars know when and where the van will be as well as responding to delivery inquiries. “That’s the nice thing about the van ... we can go right to people wherever they are,” she said. “We need to adjust our schedule, our times, where we go, according to where people want us to be.” The van operates in Kitchener from 6:15 to 9:45 p.m. on Thursday nights and in Cambridge from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday nights. To find its exact location or to request a delivery, call Campbell at 519-591-4826. Money and specific items needed to stock the van can be donated to the Sanguen Health Centre at 29 Young St. E., Waterloo. A list of items needed is located on their website at www. sanguen.com/outreach-program/mobile-van-outreach/. The centre also holds kit-making groups every Monday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at their clinic.
PHOTOS BY JESSICA PETT
The “Vanguen,” Sanguen Health Centre’s new mobile outreach vehicle, sits outside their Waterloo office. The van, which travels around Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, is fully stocked with snacks, hot chocolate, extra clothes, safer injection kits for drug users and safer inhalation kits for crystal meth smokers.
Sanguen Health Centre’s location in Waterloo is at 29 Young St. E. This is where Natasha Campbell holds kit-making groups in order to keep the mobile outreach van fully stocked.
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Relive your prom with Prom4Pups BY MIKE STROMME
Who doesn’t remember their high school prom? To relive it, attend Conestoga in Action’s latest charity event, Prom4Pups. On the evening of April 8, CIA will be holding a prom on campus with all of the proceeds going to Therapy Tails Ontario, a program that has volunteers and therapy dogs that go into the community to teach, listen, visit, mentor and become involved with numerous outreach programs. “It’s all for a good cause,” said Tom Hemingway, CIA vice-president of logistics and recruitment. “Therapy dogs are an under-utilized service. It’s good to support a worthy cause.” Therapy Tails Ontario (TTO) is a charity that has many therapy dog-based initiatives. Those who volunteer go out into the community with their dogs and visit many different people who benefit from seeing a therapy dog. The volunteers visit hospitals, nursing homes, community living homes for developmentally disabled adults, brain injury clinics and juvenile detention centres in addition to many schools, libraries and clubs. TTO even made an appearance at Conestoga last October. Liz Dirksen, CIA vice-pres-
ident of communications, volunteers with TTO herself. Along with her mother, she has been taking Titan, a Bernese mountain dog, to a community living centre for over two years. TTO is a charity that is near and dear to Dirksen’s heart. “My mom’s dog is a therapy dog with the group,” said Dirksen. “I’m very passionate about this cause.” Proms4Pups is a prom-style, semi-formal event. For the price of admission, patrons will receive access to a cash bar, a DJ, free pizza and a chance to meet a therapy dog. Despite prom being in the title, there isn’t a strict dress code. “We want to keep (the dress code) as budget-friendly as possible,” said Dirksen. Tickets are $25 and should be available at the CSI office. CIA will also have a table in front of the Tim Hortons on the Doon campus, or students can purchase tickets from CIA president Chris Hussey personally. For more information on the event, “Like” Conestoga In Action on Facebook or follow @ConestogaCIA on Twitter and @conestoga_in_action on Instagram. To learn more about TTO, visit www.therapytails.ca, “Like” Therapy Tails Ontario on Facebook and follow @therapytailsontario on Twitter.
Monday, March 28, 2016 NEWS ST. PADDY’S DAY FEATURES FREE COOKIES AND GREEN PROPS
PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDY
Reese O’Brien, a CSI part-time employee (left to right), Spencer Miller, CSI Cambridge Service co-ordinator, Navine Samaroo, a CSI part-time employee, and Frank Sonsor, the CSI’s shuttle driver, handed out free St. Patrick’s Day swag at the Cambridge campus on March 17.
CSI HOLDS MINI BASKETBALL SHOOTOUT
PHOTO BY SEAN MALINOWSKI
First-year plumbing student Patrick Pelltier signs up for the Conestoga Madness Free Throw Competition on March 16 at the Waterloo campus. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
PHOTO BY MIKE STROMME
Tom Hemingway, Conestoga In Action’s vice-president of logistics and recruitment, is helping organize a Prom4Pups event which will raise money for Therapy Tails Ontario.
PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDY
Conestoga Students Inc. held the mini basketball shootout. Above, Marcus Carroll, a heating, refrigeration and air-conditioning technician student, was the first person to take part.
NEWS
Monday, March 28, 2016
Cosplay, I choose you
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BY LEAH MORROW
It was 1984, the year of Ghostbusters and Terminator and the year that Dune was turned into a movie. It was also the year the term “cosplay” was coined. According to the website strangelandcostumes. com, Japanese reporter Nov Takahashi invented the term to describe what he saw at the 1984 Los Angeles World Science Fiction Convention (more popularly known as Worldcon). What Takahashi saw were people wearing costumes in the halls and a masquerade stage dedicated to the most extravagant of those who had chosen to come in costume. Though many had attended conventions in costume long before 1984, the tradition had finally been given a proper name. The popularity of cosplay – or costume role play – has grown immensely since the 1990s, becoming a staple in Japanese pop culture, parts of Asia and the Western world. Part of the beauty of cosplay is that inspiration can stem from anything: video games, television series, comic book heroes or villains and anime characters, just to name a few. “I’ve always loved movies,” said second-year broadcast television student and avid cosplayer Erica Adam. “So when I found out that people would actually dress up in elaborate Halloween costumes for fun, anytime of the year, it was really exciting to me.”
PHOTO BY LEAH MORROW
On March 19 thousands of people attended the Toronto ComiCon at the Metro Convention Centre. Seen above are (from left) Sined Fortnol, Emmie Siroky, Jordan Shorey and Trixie Kiliber, cosplaying as Squirtle, Misty, Ash Ketchum and War Turtle from Pokémon. Adams said she would recommend that everyone try cosplay. She said a lot of people may be scared to try it because they believe they would not do the costume justice. Adams said as long as you are having fun, that is all that matters. “It won’t matter if your shield isn’t quite round, or your cape isn’t quite the right
shade of purple,” she said. “Cosplaying has been a huge social experiment for me. It’s taught me to open up more, and be comfortable around people I don’t know.” She said getting the chance to talk to strangers while acting as the character you have dressed up as is a great way to boost your confidence. “Honestly, if you can walk
around downtown Toronto in tights, carrying a giant battleaxe or a stuffed dog, you’ll have a very hard time being self-conscious about your own self later on,” said Adams. She said comic conventions are a great way to meet likeminded people. The Toronto ComiCon has been held each year at the Metro Convention Centre
since it began in 2001. This year the three-day convention was held from March 19 to 22 and for some, unlike Adams, it was their first time attending such an event. “This is my first time coming here,” said Jordan Shorey who was dressed as Ash Ketchum from Pokémon. “It’s almost like being famous for a day.”
WORKING OUT
CAN HELP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH James Carere works out at Conestoga College’s Athletics and Recreation Centre on March 20. At just 20 years old, the second-year community and criminal justice student is already making a name for himself as a bodybuilder and is a regular at the rec centre. However, he has faced and still faces some issues with confidence and body image. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com. PHOTO BY CHRIS HUSSEY
NEWS
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Monday, March 28, 2016
Bad Reed’s just getting started BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
For a small town band, having the chance to sing on stage in a bar is rewarding. To have people sing and dance along to their music, though, is the cherry on the top. On March 19, headlining band, Bad Reed from Paris, Ont. played at The Boathouse, a pub and restaurant in Kitchener. The band had people dancing and singing throughout their set. From playing cover songs to a few tunes of their own, Bad Reed got the audience’s attention by jamming on the guitar and playing some keyboard solos as well. Bad Reed features Sydney Sollazzo on vocals, Austin Sharpe on bass, Graham Walker on guitar and Costa Chatzis on percussion. The band released its first album, Bad Reed EP, in June 2015. The three-track album includes Punch It, Slackjaw Romance and Cassava. The band said it didn’t take long to come up with a name. They wanted to keep it short and simple so people would remember it. “There is no meaning behind our band name,” Walker said. “We just were sitting around
playing with words one day and Bad Reed seemed to stick with all of us. It’s easy to remember, so we decided it was good.” The band enjoys playing and writing songs in the alternative rock music genre, but they are into many different genres of music. Lyrically, the band shows that throughout their own songs and covers. “People should go to a Bad Reed show because it’s always musically different,” Sollazzo said. “We make sure that people will have a good time. That’s why when I take a break from playing keyboards I am dancing and jumping around. Energy is everything.” The band is majorly influenced by bands like Alexisonfire and Tool because of their heavy music and powerful meaning. “I think I can speak for all of us on this one,” Walker said. “The reason why we are influenced by these bands is because they are those rockerpunk type based bands. As I say that, technically, I don’t think they could be labelled in any specific genre because they are so different. We love that because we know as a band, people will pay attention
PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Bad Reed band members, left to right, Graham Walker, Austin Sharpe, Sydney Sollazzo and Costa Chatzis headline a concert at The Boathouse on March 19, which also featured Tim Turvey and The ETs. to new sounds every night.” Playing in bars night after night, hoping to make their dream come true, can be difficult. It takes persistence and determination.
“If you want something bad enough, you will do what it takes,” Chatzis said. “As a musician, it’s going to take a while to get known and get to where you want to be as a
band. In life, everything takes practise, especially being in a band.” For more information, visit their website at www. badreedband.com/.
RAISING MONEY FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS
PHOTO BY JASON MOTA
Second-year business marketing students (from left) Megan McNally, Myra Bredin, Marissa Ouellette, Carly Green and Marie Jose Toscano, ran the Be E-special-ly Brave event in the Sanctuary on March 16 to raise money for the Special Olympics. All proceeds from the event went to the Spring Games taking place in Guelph this May. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
FEATURE
Monday, March 28, 2016
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Why not use natural ingredients? BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Spending a lot of money on hair and skin products with ingredients that you can’t pronounce can be a little frustrating. Also, you’re not sure what you’re putting in your hair or on your skin so, you can’t be sure of the benefits or disadvantages. “Growing up, my grandma, mom and aunties always used shea butter on their skin,” said Davida Selby, founder and CEO of Kate Lynn & Adwoa. “They never used store-bought moisturizers and they had great skin.” Kate Lynn & Adwoa is an Atlanta-based natural skin care company that was founded by Selby in 2015. The name of the company is coined from her grandmother, sister and mother’s names. The skin
care line currently has four products which are all made from shea butter including black bar soap, liquid bar soap, coffee mint body scrub and shea body butter. “I call my company a ‘GloCal’ company because the ingredients are sourced locally and internationally,” said Selby. The shea butter used in Kate Lynn & Adwoa products is obtained through the Fairtrade program which allows the Ghanaian women who gather these shea nuts and handcraft the butter to receive fair and steady income as well as give back to the community in the form of community enhancement projects, AIDS and malaria outreach and educational scholarships. The locally sourced ingredients include pure honey
from LittleBeeProject in East Atlanta, organic coconut oil, pure jojoba oil, vitamin E and essential oils. When you purchase natural, handcrafted products, you have the option of getting exactly what you need and know the exact benefits. Skin care products are not the only products you should think twice before buying. Natural oils are the best products to use in your hair. “I had my hair cut and dreadlocked 11 years ago and all I’ve used on my scalp since then has been organic black Jamaican castor oil,” said Yan Cousins, a hairstylist. Also, you can make your own natural skin care and hair care products in the comfort of your own home and save money.
DID YOU KNOW Benefits of black soap: Black soap firms and tones skin and improves skin texture, for glowing skin. Black soap helps even out and fade brown spots and discolorations. Black soap has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and is great for deep pore cleansing. It also is effective at removing makeup because of the oils and butters. The ashes in black soap provide exfoliating properties to remove dead skin cells, improving fine lines, softening and rejuvenating rough skin. It alleviates razor bumps. It is often used during shaving because of the high shea butter content, which protects the skin.
Benefits of shea butter: Excellent daily skin moisturizer for face and body. Dramatically helps prevent and reduce stretch marks during pregnancy and weight gain and loss. Helps reduce acne and scarring. Excellent moisturizer for both eczema and psoriasis. Helps soothe skin and diaper rash. Dry, itchy skin and scalp relief. Use after shaving to reduce razor irritation and bumps. Provides healing benefits to skin wounds and cracks. Restores luster to hair.
DIY whipped shea butter styling cream Ingredients: Raw, unrefined shea butter 3 tablespoons of Jamaican black castor oil 3 tablespoons of coconut oil 15 drops of jojoba oil 10 drops sweet almond oil 2 teaspoons rosehip seed oil
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Kate Lynn & Adwoa caters to women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Directions: In a mixing bowl, add all your ingredients and mix by hand or with a standing mixer until you get a smooth, creamy consistency. Tip: Store in a glass container to extend the shelf life. There are currently four products in the Kate Lynn & Adwoa skin care line. The products include black bar soap, liquid bar soap, coffee mint body scrub and organic shea body butter.
PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISON PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Hairstylist Yan Cousins shows her dreadlocks that she has taken care of for 11 years with black Jamaican castor oil.
Cousins’ hair grows rapidly because she uses natural hair products.
Davida Selby founded Kate Lynn & Adwoa in 2015. She grew up in a family where shea butter was a staple product and decided to share that with the world.
FUN & GAMES
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Monday, March 28, 2016
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of March 28, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 Count numbers in your head. Breathe. Will it matter six months from now? If not, don’t bother with it. Your time is too valuable.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Sometimes you’re too reasonable and peaceful. If there’s something that angers you, let it. It’s OK to get mad sometimes if you deal with the anger properly.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You know that friend who always has your back every day of the week? Buy him pizza. Treat him to a movie. He’s feeling under appreciated.
Cancer June 22 July 22
You’re going to have a rough week, not going to lie. Everybody does once in a while, and that’s OK!
Leo
July 23 August 22 You need to be a little bit more patient. Not everyone is as quick-witted as you, so stop making other people feel inadequate.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 You’ve had some awesome ideas lately, but you’re not writing any of them down. As silly as something may seem at the moment, it may prove differently in the future.
A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why.
Libra
A snail can sleep for three years.
September 23 October 22
The words “race car” and “kayak” are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left.
When someone does something nice for you that you may not have wanted, accept it anyways. Take the other person’s feelings into consideration.
If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually turn white.
Scorpio
The sentence “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in the English language.
October 23 November 21 You take constructive criticism to heart, but you need not. It’s going to help you improve if you’ll just listen rather than take offence.
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.
Stress is going to be the death of you if you don’t take some sort of a trip soon. Even for a few days. Trust me.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
It might be hard to believe, but all the work you’ve been putting in is already paying off in ways you can’t yet see. It’s only going to get better from here.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
I know you’re thinking of quitting, but don’t. Stick it out just a little bit longer and you might be surprised with the results.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 You may think your friends are going to poke fun at you if they find out, but they probably won’t. If they do, were they truly your friend to begin with?
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
Word Search
FEATURE
Monday, March 28, 2016
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Local design business taking flight BY JOE WEPPLER
In a video he filmed with the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre, Masood Rehman described a situation he found himself in when a friend asked him for help and he couldn’t provide it. “I did not want to feel like that ever again,” he said. At the beginning of 2014, Rehman, a public relations student at Conestoga College, started Khandor Brand Skateboards because he wanted to give back to the community. His plan was to create a company that offered not only excellent quality skateboards, but also one that represented his ethical, environmental and social ideals. He wanted to inspire people to embody the change they wanted to see in their neighbourhoods. Khandor decided to operate under the unofficial slogan of “a choice and an opportunity.” “A choice to make a better world today and the opportunity to do so in a meaningful way,” Rehman said. Khandor was founded in 2014 in the basement of Jonas Maata, a friend of Rehman’s. At the same time, the “Skate for the Kids” mission was born. “Skate for the Kids” was an initiative to support local
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This is the Kountessa, one of the boards designed by Khandor Brand Skateboards.
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Masood Rehman, a public relations student at Conestoga College, started his own business because he wanted to give back to the community. A portion of all sales went to homeless youth of Waterloo Region. youth in need of basic life essentials like nutrition, shelter and education. From the get-go, a portion of all proceeds went to the homeless youth of Kitchener-Waterloo. To Rehman, it was an issue that hit close to home. “Five years ago I was sleeping on a park bench in Cambridge,” said Rehman. “It just goes to show that as long as you work hard and claw through the dark times, there is a way to achieve your goals.” Rehman has faced his own share of hardship. In a blog post entitled “The Dark Side of Business,” he described the issues faced by those who live the entrepreneurial lifestyle and their susceptibility to mental health issues. “Many (entrepreneurs) have admitted to struggling with self-worth, they struggled through crippling anxiety and despair and there were times where they almost gave up,” he said. To him, Khandor Brand represents years of hard work and dedication. Demand for their products quickly surpassed what they could create themselves, so Khandor Brand made the switch to a business-to-business model. They stopped production of physical products and restructured themselves as a design company. They now sell designs to skateboard manufacturers across the world. “I was absolutely surprised
by the growth of our company,” said Rehman. “I didn’t expect the brand to see the success that it did but I am forever grateful for it.” At the beginning of 2014, Khandor operated with a budget of $6,300. By 2015, that budget had skyrocketed to $300,000. While Rehman spoke to potential investors, he often struggled with depression and worried he might have invested everything he had into a sinking ship. He found his sliver of hope in the form of a program called Summer Company, run by the Waterloo Region Small Business Council. “They provided start-up money to help with the costs as well as provided mentorship from local business professionals and experts,” he said. Summer Company is a program for young entrepreneurs and is funded by the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment. It is also supported by the Government of Canada. Successful participants in the program can receive funding up to $1,500 to help with business start-up costs. “I wouldn’t have been able to launch the business as successfully as I did without their help,” he said. Aside from Rehman, Khandor Brand employs four designers, two marketing and brand ambassadors and two
product developers. Based in Cambridge, they also operate satellite offices in Meaford and New York City, and are planning to open an office in Carlsbad, Calif. this summer. Khandor has sold designs globally, with markets in various countries including Romania, France, England, the United States, Argentina and Italy. Rehman attributes his success to hard work and motivation, but it’s been far from a cakewalk. Stress takes a big toll on him, but he manages it the best he can. “I try to relax and go to the gym or play a video game to help manage the stress,” he
on facing depression, Rehman stressed the importance of finding a strong support system, going as far as extending an open invitation for readers to contact him if they were struggling. Some more advice he has for prospective entrepreneurs is seeking help from those who came before you. “Running a business is hard, so make sure you network and find the right mentors,” he said. Thanks to the work and dedication of Rehman and his employees, the prospects for Khandor Brand are bright. Last quarter, Khandor made a profit of $71,392. As for Rehman, he plans on
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Khandor Brand Skateboards has sold designs all across the world, including in Romania, France, England, Argentina, Italy, the United States and South Africa. said. “I’ve gone through some near mental breakdowns in the past. I’m working on scaling back my workload and taking better care of myself.” Another factor in his success is the guidance of his mentors, classmates, friends and family. In his blog post
pursuing new ideas soon. “I plan to step away from Khandor in the near future and focus on new ventures,” he said. “I have a group of employees who I believe are elite and I am grooming them to take the brand on to be a success in the future.”
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FEATURE
Monday, March 28, 2016
PTSD more widespread than first thought STORY AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
Take a moment and imagine going out for lunch with your friend. You see a used CD store up ahead and begin to psych yourself up to walk past it. You’re here, in this day, so you’ll be fine. As you walk past, the friend suggests you head in and browse for the Alanis Morissette CD she had been wanting to listen to. That is when the panic you had been fighting off finally hits. The familiar nausea, shortness of breath and tears threatening to expose the war going on inside you. You stand outside the store as your mind relives a horrifying moment you faced many years before, over and over again. This is what it can be like for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Incidents from a person’s past can have such lasting, and life-altering, affects that every day events can suddenly send them into a sheer panic. “I have a client that was mugged outside of a store,” said Joy Lang, a counsellor at Cardinal Counselling and Mediation in Waterloo, who works with people who suffer from PTSD on a regular basis. “Now they go out of their way to avoid that type of store.” When it comes to PTSD the smallest thing can trigger a full blown attack. Something as simple as a type of store or the mention of rape in an overheard conversation can be enough to take a person who has suffered a trauma back to the day it happened.
“It feels like you’re stuck living that moment in a loop,” said Lang. “You can’t ever get away from it.” This is incredibly true for Amy (not her real name) who survived a sexual assault when she was 17. Six years ago, which was more than 20 years after the incident, she was asked by police if she wanted to once again pursue charges against the man who assaulted her. In an impact statement she said that more than 20 years later the trauma one man caused her still affected her daily life. “The nightmares … They happened every night for nearly two years ... As time has gone on, they have become less often, but they still happen … now I see my daughter in this situation, rather than myself … it terrifies me.” Her statement identifies other key aspects of her life that she states are not “normal.” There are activities she cannot partake in with her children, it affects her sex life, she still wakes up screaming in the middle of the night and someone touching her in the middle of the night causes her to jump, even if it is the man she has been married to for many years. She ponders on telling her daughter about her assault one day. “I finally sat down my daughter last year and told her, because she couldn’t understand why I was so mean, so strict ... I had to explain to her that no matter how big she is, how smart or how careful … very bad things can happen to her.” “I spent years trying to control the situations my daughter was in,” said Amy. “When she was 10 or 11 things got really bad … She wasn’t allowed to be out after dark, she had to tell me exactly where she was and who she was with. I tried to always have her bring her friend to our house, if she went to their house I couldn’t stop anything from happening to her. What if that friend’s father molested her? Or the brother? Or the uncle? She was (so much like) her mother. She was strong, she thought she could handle everything … I had to tell her so she knew that it can happen.” According to Lang, those who suffer from PTSD often struggle with situations like this. As their children grow up they fear that the same traumas could happen to them and it affects the way they live their lives. “When things happen as kids they struggle all over again when their kids get to that age,” said Lang. “They see themselves in their kids, they begin to picture their kids being the ones who get hurt instead of themselves. They see their child and just think, ‘Look how little they are, someone needs to protect them. Someone should have protected me.’” The PTSD Association of Canada’s website defines PTSD as “a serious condition that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic or terrifying event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened.” Using this definition of PTSD it is clear that the list of people who can suffer from PTSD is much more expansive than those who have suffered from a physical assault. In September 2014 an 18-year-old construction worker fell to his death from the 23rd floor of a
building on Father David Bauer Drive in Waterloo. In an incident like this many people are affected, including the other workers on site who saw him fall and were around his body until emergency services arrived, the first responders who rushed to the scene to look after the man, any people passing by on the street and the young man’s family. The PTSD Association of Canada includes the families of victims, first responders, journalists, emergency personnel and rescue workers in their list of people who can suffer from PTSD. In terms of first responders it is slowly becoming more accepted that the things they see and experience can take a toll on them, though there is still quite a stigma surrounding it. “We have identified that there is an issue,” said John Percy, public educations officer at Waterloo Fire Rescue. “We are doing our best to help our people but there just isn’t enough resources for them quite yet. We are slowly seeing progress in the acceptance of the illness and seeing a push for there to be help for them.” Lang said the stigma still surrounding PTSD is largely because it is not understood. The person who has suffered the trauma is no longer the same person, their brain is no longer wired the same way. “It’s an emotional thing,” said Lang. “They can’t logic their way out of their panicked state … When they are triggered they often feel younger than they are, as if they are back in the moment the incident happened.” There are many places that people can find support, including counselling and in-person support groups, though Lang said many of her clients have found the support they need online. “Sometimes they feel a sense of shame and don’t feel comfortable talking to someone in person,” said Lang. “The Internet allows them to connect with more people. Often they are surprised to find others who have had similar experiences and find there is a lack of judgment.” PTSD is an illness that can affect someone forever. Lang said people can begin to feel shame because something from years ago still affects them, that people in their lives can forget how traumatic an issue was for the individual and eventually don’t understand that the person has to live with those memories every day. “They feel like this shouldn’t happen,” said Lang. “They struggle with the idea that it shouldn’t still be a big deal, especially if they knew the incident was a possibility.” When it comes to dealing with PTSD Lang said research is always changing, there are new ways of helping heal old scars. She urges those who are struggling with an illness like PTSD to seek help. “I think what irritates me the most is when my family says things like, ‘Oh, come on. It was 20 years ago. It’s time to get over it,’” said Amy. “No matter how much I want to not think about it or move on I can’t just flip that switch. He didn’t just do this to me, it has affected everything in my life from then on. PTSD and recovery don’t have a time frame and people don’t get that. They need to understand that.”