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Get cooking! CSI creates recipe book for students. Page 3 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
FUNDRAISER ADDS A SPLASH OF COLOUR
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Winterize your car It’s time to start thinking about snow and slush. Page 7 46TH YEAR — NO. 20
Get mellow on Mondays BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Meghan Parkinson (left), a Conestoga College police foundations student, and Allison Howardth stand with coloured powder on their faces on Oct. 24 during the Mental Health Colour Run or Walk at Conestoga College in support of Lutherwood. For story and additional photos, see Page 6.
Discounts galore after graduation College wants alumni to stay connected BY JESSICA PETT
It’s no secret … everyone likes getting discounts. As Conestoga College students, you are on the brink of receiving a multitude of discounted tickets and services that many students don’t even know exist. All you have to do to qualify is to graduate. Once you officially become a Conestoga College alumnus, you have access to over 20 different discounts on things like tickets, services, credit cards, home and auto insurance and on-campus benefits. Some available discounts include Hamilton Tiger Cats tickets, Wonderland passes, Centre in the Square admissions and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada passes. Some major affinity partners include National Car Rental, Johnson Inc., an insurance company, and Maryland Bank of North America. Tim Tribe, Conestoga College’s chief development officer, said the college continues to form relationships with affinity partners and contrib-
utors in the hopes that alumni will keep a relationship with the college in a way that will benefit both parties. “It is our hope that alumni will stay connected with the college. Perhaps they can nominate someone for an Alumni of Distinction or a Premier’s Award. Or, as they go forward in their careers, consider supporting the institution, as their situation allows.” However, despite the monthly e-newsletter sent out by Alumni Relations and
mail sent out to alumni by the affinity partners themselves, many former students still aren’t aware that these benefits are even available to them. Brian Major, a recent architecture project facility management graduate, was surprised to hear of the benefits he was now able to receive, and considered how these benefits could raise a sense of familiarity amongst alumni. “I was not aware of these advantages but it is a good idea as I feel Conestoga does lack an alumni sense of family compared to the major universities in the surrounding area,” said Major. “I think it is a great resource for recent graduates who are possibly looking to travel and/or still need to live on a budget.” Tribe said in order to access these benefits, alumni must create an account by registering online at www.conestogacommunity.ca/login-page. Once logged in, alumni can then see a full list of services available through the Office of Development and Alumni page.
It can be hard to find time to relax with constant assignments, tests and projects that need to be done for school but Conestoga Student Inc. has started a new event aimed at focusing on student wellness. Jeff Scherer, CSI president, said in previous years CSI held The Yellow Umbrella Project as their mental health awareness campaign but this year the board of directors decided they needed a new campaign. “Our board felt that it was something we wanted to focus on for longer than just a week,” said Scherer. That’s how the idea of Mellow Mondays came to be. “The goal of Mellow Mondays is each week to focus on a different type of student wellness and promote activities for things that they can do to promote better wellness,” he said. “A lot of students deal with stress in different ways so as a student association we like to just give them opportunities for other things they can do to deal with stress.” Some of the past Mellow Monday events have included outdoor games, walks, massages and yoga, however they haven’t all been successful. “We’ve had hits and misses,” he said, adding that they didn’t get a big turnout when they held the guided outdoor walks but other events, like the palm and aura reading, were successful. “Unfortunately you can’t predict that an event’s not going to be successful … we can’t go back and change it to something else,” Scherer said. “Some things weren’t successful so we kind of just look at those and say, ‘Well we just won’t do those again, what else can we do in their place,’ and the ones that were successful, how can we make them better.” Josh Dunsmore, a first-year protection/security investigation student, thought the activities were a good idea and provided something that the college doesn’t have already.
“There’s not much at the college to actually wind down and relax,” Dunsmore said. However, he thought having it on another day might work a bit better. “I think it’d be better in the middle of the week because on Monday everybody’s just had the weekend,” he said. “Having it in the middle of the week would be perfect.” Lynn Robbins White, a Conestoga College counsellor, thought it was a positive event for students. “I think any opportunity to engage students, breaking down the stigma of mental health, any kind of activity that is promoting wellness can’t be a bad thing,” she said. Robbins White said it can also be good because students can go to events like these that are supporting mental health and maybe learn about the other resources that are available on campus. “(Students may think) if students are promoting this, your government’s supporting it, it’s an activity, maybe there’s something else that I can get for the wellness of my mental health,” she said. Having it on Mondays could be a good thing, she said, because sometimes over the weekend students get disconnected from their friends or something bad could happen that students may need to get away from. Some upcoming activities for Mellow Mondays include palm and aura readings, Lego and Connectix, mediation, a drum circle and crossword and sudoku puzzles. Students can find exact dates on when these events are being held on CSI’s website, www.conestogastudents.com, or on posters hung around the school. CSI is already looking ahead and planning Mellow Mondays for next semester.
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, November 2, 2015
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard? “How are you ever going to know if you don’t give it a try?” Luke Driver, first-year business administration marketing
“Learn to shrug things off –everything happens for a reason.” Jocelyn Hanson, first-year broadcast television
“Stay consistent with your work and with anything else that you’re doing. Just stay on top of your game.” Andrew Piluk, first-year journalism broadcast
“Be your own influence. Don’t let other people’s opinions overpower you.” Josee Priestap, first-year paramedic
“Be kind to everyone you meet – everyone’s going through something.” Naichel Purewal, first-year health office administration
“By this time next year, it probably won’t matter.” Alex Schmitt, first-year accounting, audit and information technology Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Tips and tricks to stay motivated BY KANDACE GALLANT
If only there were more hours in a day … People find it hard to fit everything into their schedules, such as work, projects, eating and kids, so the first thing to go is exercise. Drew Harvey, faculty member in the fitness and health promotion program, agreed that these things prevent people from getting a good workout in. “Often the thought process goes like this, ‘I want to exercise but I also want to get a jump-start on my research project,’” he said. Upon entering school full time, students’ priorities start to change. They may have gone to the gym every day before, but now their projects are taking over their free time. Exercising regularly is important for your body and your mind and is beneficial in the long run. It can help improve poor posture and diet and is proven to help prevent diseases, according to the Health Discovery website, www.healthdiscovery.net. “Recognize that any kind of activity is better than no activity,” said Harvey. “The greatest improvements in health occur when you go from no exercise to some exercise. Even if you do not feel like doing an intense workout, a brief walk is far better than nothing.” He suggested you track your workouts and the exercise you get with a calendar or by using an app. This can help track any improvements you are making, even if it’s just a small one. Seeing your improvements can also help boost your confidence and your mood. When asked if he had any tips for people to stay motivated to work out, Harvey said a normal part of the process is changing your mindset from wanting to hang out with friends to wanting to exercise regularly. “Some days it will be really important to you and other days it won’t,” he said. “Expect your motivation to vary. You can plan for days when your
PHOTO BY KANDACE GALLANT
The gym at Conestoga College’s Doon campus is available for all full-time students and includes many different types of equipment. motivation is low. Strategies to overcome the urge to skip the workout session is necessary.” Ryan Borman, a second-year student in police foundations, said he definitely loses motivation some days, but other days he’ll have a lot of energy. “I just try to picture what I want my body to look like and what I want my health to be like in the long run,” he said. “Working out definitely makes me feel better about myself, but when I want to take a break from it, I will.” Another great way to stay motivated is going to classes. Harvey said you’ll learn new exercises and be social at the same time. But, he said, going to a gym can be intimidating and you’re taking more time for everything, instead of focusing on your exercise. “Time is required to get to the gym, change in and out of clothing, shower, and so on. For many, a home-based option is more time effective.” He said people need to ask themselves questions instead of trying to choose between going to a gym or staying at home. “I recommend having numerous options for exercise so the question becomes, ‘What type
of exercise am I going to do today?’ rather than ‘Do I feel like going to the gym today?’” Even just a five-minute workout everyday can be effective, but being consistent is very important, according to Health Discovery. Stopping and starting again can cause injuries and a lot of unwanted strain on your muscles and tendons. Stretching is important too, as it increases flexibility and prepares and warms up your body for the next moves. People need to remember that workouts can be fun too. Harvey said the most important factor for fitness fun is including others. “This might mean a workout buddy, a friend for a ‘walk and talk,’ signing up for rock climbing classes or playing sports.” The Health Discovery website states finding upbeat music and funky tunes can help get people in the mood, as well as having something distracting on in the background to keep your mind off of how long you’re working out or what you think your body should look like, such as a movie or Netflix. Signing up for fun classes like Zumba can help people get in the mood too.
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Monday, November 2, 2015
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Cooking with Conestoga Students Inc. BY MARISSA CUDDY
Conestoga Students Inc. has created a cookbook for students who need a little help in the kitchen. The book, which is free, gives advice on how to cook and eat healthy on a student budget. Jeff Scherer, CSI president, said the board of directors has been talking about a cookbook since he became president a few years ago. However, he said it takes a lot to create a cookbook. All the organizing, design and research on recipes takes time and dedication. “It’s always been kind of a plan to put together a cookbook for students,” Scherer said, adding the plan was to promote healthier eating for students rather than fast food or dining out, and to promote low cost and easy meals. Scherer said the cookbook gives students an opportunity to cook relatively easy meals that are cost friendly and have healthier ingredients. Andrea D’Ambrosio, a registered dietitian and owner of Dietetic Directions, said it is important people see cooking nutritiously as budget friendly and that it can be a delicious meal. She said it can
inspire students to get in the kitchen. Dietitians Canada says 43 per cent of Canadians say they do not cook balanced meals for themselves or their families. Scherer said a person coming to college for the first time may experience the difficulties of cooking for themselves and resort to easy, unhealthy meals. The cookbook offers meals that are a healthier choice than mac and cheese or fast food. Scherer said he hopes that CSI can add to and update the book each year. He said they will wait for feedback and see how popular the book is at the smaller campuses. It is currently only available at the Waterloo and Cambridge campuses and there are about eight recipes in it. Hopefully, the cookbook will be at the Doon campus within the next few weeks. “The board last year had talked about student submissions so if students have family recipes or recipes they came up with, we would have contests,” Scherer said. This is an idea they may run in the future to choose the best or most popular recipes. “There are many such cookbooks out there, some good
and some not so good,” said Keith Muller, the chair of the School of Business and Hospitality. “Students need a reliable and trustworthy source for healthy eating.” He suggests having some cooking classes to accompany the book and help students get started cooking. “Nutrition affects everybody in how they think and how they feel. Eating well helps optimize our health and can help our emotional state,” D’Ambrosio said. This is why it is important students have healthy meals and pay attention to their diet. Muller and D’Ambrosio have some tips for students on the best ways to be healthy at college. They encourage students to cook their own meals and eat out less. They also said to plan for extras and put them in the freezer, so they can be heated up later, and learn how to shop wisely because bulk purchasing is not always the best and so much ends up being thrown out. “I would like to just say when you are able to make your own meals you are in the driver’s seat of your diet. You are in control of the items you put in your meals,”
PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDY
Thomas Orendi, (left) communications and media producer for CSI, and Jeff Scherer, CSI president, show off the new student cookbook created by CSI. D’Ambrosio said. Many of the ingredients for the recipes in the cookbook are healthy. Scherer said the cookbook centres around items a student already has or would want to purchase.
“If students have feedback or comments on it than come in and tell us,” Scherer said. Students who want a cookbook or want to know more can go to CSI’s main office at any campus.
Just Breathe, Just Run group helps reduce stress BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Deep breath in, deep breath out. On your mark, get set, go! When it comes to mental health, finding ways to eliminate stress and anxiety can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Counselling Services at Conestoga College wants to make the word, “stress,” disappear from all aspects of your life. The Just Breathe, Just Run group helps with that by offering tips and ways that can be fun and beneficial for an after school extracurricular activity. Erin Kravetsky, a counsellor at Conestoga College and the facilitator of Just Breathe, Just Run, said running is the best way to calm the mind, regardless of the situation you are in. “A big thing with running that we try to show in this group is the tip of staying present. I think that helps to calm the mind,” Kravetsky said. “We’re always worrying about everything. I think one way running can calm us down is because you’re in the present, you’re grounded with your surroundings, you’re focused on what is going on right now and that’s important.” Everyone is encouraged to
join the running group, regardless whether you are a great runner or not. “It’s been a really positive experience joining this group,” said Emma Schmidt, a student in Conestoga’s bachelor of public relations program. “I love showing up every week and doing something active with a group of people. It’s been really nice where you can hold each other accountable and encourage each other. So, you’re helping yourself and others. I think that helps people and that’s why people should join.” Rebecca Rees, a student in the general arts and science program, said, “The group has made me more aware of mental health because we always talk about it. Every day at the end of our run, we do stretches and talk about lessons on mental health, as well as working on exercises that can help us out on our own time as a stress reliever.” The running component of the Just Breathe, Just Run group is eight weeks long, the same time frame as mental health awareness that happens every fall. However, Kravetsky said the group will continue to meet. “I picked eight weeks for how long I wanted the event
PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Emma Schmidt, a student in Conestoga’s bachelor of public relations program, practises some routine warm-ups before a run on Oct. 21 on the trails behind Conestoga College. She is a member of the Just Breath, Just Run group which focuses on reducing stress. to run because most running events are eight weeks long,” Kravetsky said. “Eight weeks is a good period of time where you can see a difference if you never ran before, but eight weeks also gets us to November and a perfect time
where it’s not snowing yet.” At some point in life, we all can experience different mental health issues. Sometimes we can deal with it on our own and sometimes we need help to get through it. At Conestoga College, students
and faculty are there to help whoever is in need by joining groups or talking one-onone with someone. For more information, call 519-7485220, ext. 2324 or email Erin Kravetsky at ekravetsky@ conestogac.on.ca.
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Feminism not just a fight for women
COMMENTARY
Monday, November 2, 2015
BY SARA SASILA
A certain F word has been around for years, yet, in today’s world it is a word that makes some people cringe. Feminism. We will never really understand why people are so against feminism – what is so wrong about fighting for equality? Some would argue that feminism in today’s society is far different than it was years ago. What once meant “a group fighting for equality” now means “an anti-male group consisting of bitter women,” which in all cases is completely ludicrous. Where would we be without feminism? Being a feminist means believing in the power of equality. However, some say that feminists only believe in the power of other women. That being said, those who say that don’t understand the impact that feminism has had in our era for women. For centuries, women have and are still fighting for gender equality – socially, politically and economically. So why are feminists being bashed? Could it be that those who hate feminism aren’t educated about what exactly it means? With the way our culture and the media treat women, and the immense anti-feminism movements that have been going on for decades, it is difficult for young people to get the right information about feminism and gender equality. The ever-so-popular actress Shailene Woodley said she is not a feminist because she “loves men.” “I think the idea of ‘raise women to power, then take the men away from the power’ is never going to work out because you need balance,” she said in an interview. “I don’t know how we as women expect men to respect us because we don’t even seem to respect each other.” She later goes on to talk about how she considers herself a “humanist” instead. Emma Watson, of Harry Potter fame, is a United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador. She launched a campaign called HeforShe back in 2014, which aims to get men involved in the gender equality movement. “I was appointed six months ago and the more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with manhating,” she said. “If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop. Feminism, by definition, is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” We, as individuals, need to acknowledge that feminism is not just a women’s fight. It is a fight for all those who don’t have a voice. It is a fight for equality for all, which, despite being a problem for centuries, is still a problem today. 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
This is not feminism. Feminism is about equality for all.
Escape the obsession of social media I want to live in the days where you had to look someone up in the telephone book. When you had to put an effort into pursuing a relationship with someone, whether a friendship or more than that. Nowadays you can flex your social muscles over social media platforms. There are, of course, benefits of social media that make our lives as social mammals more efficient. But these platforms are also artificial, and are practically a simulation of face-to-face communication. Call me pessimistic, but culturally speaking, we aren’t headed in the right direction. To rely on social media heavily today is just unhealthy. This social revolution is at a point where it’s not bringing us together, but tearing us apart. The egotistic upkeep of some social media accounts can be just nauseating. Obsessive social media users are more concerned with the message that they are trying to present than discovering what other people are up too. It’s simple to exhibit confidence from behind a cellphone. Everyone takes advantage of it, including me. We revise and edit mes-
Sean Malinowski Opinion
sages and photos to confirm we are coming across just smart enough, just funny enough, or just persuasive enough. Whatever message you want to present, whatever persona you want to promote, the Internet is your oyster. The phone app Tinder shows just how far we have gone. The app simply posts an individual in your area, and you assess if he or she meets your standards of appearance by reviewing photos. If you decide to swipe the photo left, you are saying you’re not interested in this person. If you swipe to the right, you are saying you find that individual attractive. If the two same people “swipe right” on each other’s photos, they are considered a match, and will be given the chance to privately message each other. That’s right, a relationship built strictly off of looks. Good luck on the first date, I hope he or she isn’t a
murderer. Isn’t the most attractive part of an individual on the inside? A little far-fetched, but isn’t that what was advocated on every cartoon show and family sitcom? We promote these norms in our culture, but falter to the efficiency of privately swiping people from the comfort of our bedroom. Naturally we compare ourselves to others. But on social media it’s a whole other level. We compare the number of likes, views, friends, and followers. We know where our friends have gone and where they are going. Through this comparison we are competitive, making sure our message stands out above all others. This obsession brings a great amount of added stress to people’s lives. So don’t be afraid to get old-fashioned, and have the mindset to enjoy the long time tradition of face-toface communication. Be the social revival. Don’t resort to using apps and gadgets. Spend that time developing your own real-life individuality. Instead of striving for some illusion online, be yourself in person. We are a social species, don’t let us become endangered.
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IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Paul Boreham Assignment Editors: Leah Morrow, Garrett Burchett Advertising Managers: Sarah Veenstra, Sara Sasila Spoke Online Editors: Kandace Gallant, Joe Weppler, Christel Allison, Matt Linseman
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The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.
Monday, November 2, 2015
BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Behind the nails
It’s a work of art. A modern day Picasso designed to withstand the simple, mundane activities of everyday life. It’s more than just a manicure. There’s a new business in town, travelling around, colouring women’s lives in a small but uplifting way. “There is nothing like working with someone who truly loves what they do,” said longtime client Erin White. “It was evident from the moment I met her that she was a gifted artist.” Alyssa Allen, an esthetician in Cambridge, created her own business cleverly named Nail’d It, offering clients manicures and waxing in the comfort of their own home. “It honestly happened by accident,” said Allen. “I didn’t have a space in my own home to do it. So, I thought, why not just go to someone’s house and when I’m done, I can pack up and go? I felt it made a lot of sense. It’s easier to do bigger groups this way and new moms love it for convenience.” Since starting the business nearly one year ago, Allen has renovated a small area in her home so clients can come to her but admits 90 per cent still prefer her to go to them. “A lot of my newer clients will come to my house,” said Allen. “A lot of my Cambridge clients also come to me, or clients who live in Kitchener but work in Cambridge or Guelph will come to me on their way home from work.” While the bulk of her clients are located in Waterloo Region, Allen finds word of mouth is travelling fast. “It’s started to trickle out,” said Allen. “I now have a few people in New Hamburg, a few in Brantford, London and even a group of friends in Georgetown that I do a nail
THE PRICE ISN’T RIGHT
The cost of parking at Conestoga College is the highest in the region for post-secondary schools. Students can be expected to pay as much as $379 for a twosemester pass. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com. PHOTO BY ADAM SCHWARTZ
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PHOTO BY SARAH VEENSTRA
An after shot of a Nail’d It manicure. party for when I go. I’m willing to go farther, especially if it’s for a group, then it’s totally worth it for me to pack up and go.” Nail parties, in which a group of three to eight women will get together to all have manicures and their eyebrows waxed and tinted are far more poplar than Allen predicted. “The one I did two weeks ago was for a girl who got engaged,” said Allen. “It wasn’t for her shower or anything, it was just an excuse for everyone to get together. They get together and drink wine and get their nails done. They all hang out or circulate in and out. It’s pretty cool.” Allen admits that her clients’ dedication is what’s made her so successful in such a short time. “A client that I have from way back in the day, is in university now in Montreal,” said Allen. “She’ll actually wait to get her nails done until she comes home so she can see me. It’s crazy! I never thought in a million years that a 19-year-old would care
PHOTO BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Alyssa Allen shows off the design she painted on her own nails. Allen is the esthetician behind Nail’d It, a business that colours the lives of women. that much about her nails.” What is it that makes Allen worth the wait? The art. “She has so much passion for what she does,” said White. “The creativity is inspired and I feel so special I get to wear her artwork on my nails.” Allen credits her nearly seven-year background in esthetics and her own flare for fashion for her ability to create the coin-size wonders. “Nails are my life,” said Allen. “It sounds so stupid and cliché but when I’m not doing nails, I’m at home looking up what’s next. Everything that happens from New York Fall Fashion Week to an Aritzia fall/winter collection, I’m making sure I know what’s happening on the runway. I can tell people which colours or patterns are in.” The top three colours for right now? Allen admits although black, deep maroons
and purple are trending (a normal indication of fall), the “it” colours are whites, greys and a clear nude. Nail shape of the moment? Allen said it’s something she’s termed the “Kylie,” after Kylie Jenner’s repeated display of long tapered nails with a squared edge, something Allen herself is currently sporting. She added that the almond shape is also “not going anywhere for a while.” “My thing that I love is linear, geometric shapes and patterns,” said Allen. “My love of this seems to be rubbing off on my clients. They always bring me pictures and I’ll show them my ideas and we collaborate. I feel that’s what they now look for too, lots of lines, lots of dots. You can do a lot with those two.” A Nail’d It manicure costs $35 for one solid colour or $40 for a manicure with artwork,
lasting anywhere from two to three weeks. “I feel like I have so much more to bring to the table than Joe down the road who possibly isn’t certified or doesn’t clean his tools,” said Allen. “If you want people to comment on your nails, I guarantee people will, but by no means do you have to do nail art.” Allen makes a point of sterilizing her tools between every client and wrapping them in antibacterial packaging that’s sealed and opened only right before each use. “I try to keep it classy,” she said. “No palm trees please but if you were to ask I would do a palm tree. I would do it in a cool way without the tacky flowers and wispy lines, you know the ones I’m talking about. I would make sure I nailed it.” For more information go to www.naildit.ca.
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Showing one’s true colours Page 6 s SPOKE
Monday, November 2, 2015
Students participate in fundraiser for mental health BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Green- and yellow-coloured powders were the colourful part of a cold, rainy morning when Condors came out to run and walk for mental health. On Oct. 24, Conestoga Students Inc. held a five-kilometre Mental Health Colour Run or Walk to raise money in support of Lutherwood. Lutherwood is a non-profit health and social service organization in Waterloo that provides mental health, employment, housing and family support services to people in Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Their mental health services include social skills training for youth with autism, family counselling, short-term crisis stabilization, safe haven (an alternative to living on the street), and school-based services. Lutherwood is located at 285 Benjamin Rd. in Waterloo. The skies were grey and it was raining heavily when students came out with their families and friends to show support and try to have a colourful day while making memories they would cherish forever.
“She brought me here,” said Isabella Kalenik, an early childhood education student, as she stood next to the friend who invited her. “It’s fun, I love it.” The morning started with a special presentation in the Sanctuary on transforming pain into progress by Nova Rutherford, a personal development coach and speaker. By the time her presentation was over, a few people were in tears and everyone was motivated to be involved regardless of the downpour. Before running or walking, students had fun dousing each other with cups of coloured powder to get in the spirit of the day. “It’s for a good cause. Why not?” said Beth Schneider, a health science student. Colour runners and walkers happily made it to the finish line in all their colourful glory. Speed was not the goal of the day, making sure the coloured powder didn’t get in your eyes was. A free lunch was provided after the run. Approximately 30 people participated, raising $1,452 for Lutherwood.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Beth Schneider, left, a Conestoga health science student, and Isabella Kalenik, an early childhood education student, participated in the Mental Health Colour Run or Walk on Oct. 24.
Darren Falcone (left to right), Rachel Wall and Sarah Shortt throw coloured powder in the air during the event that was organized by CSI.
Conestoga students make the environment colourful with green and yellow powder in support of Lutherwood’s mental health programs.
NEWS
Monday, November 2, 2015
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Winterize your car
BY MATT LINSEMAN
PHOTO BY BREA BERGEN
A group gathers while Paige Bolta, Homer Watson House and Gallery’s education and administrative assistant, (third from left) tells stories about ghost sightings at the gallery.
Local gallery hosts psychic soiree BY BREA BERGEN
Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, visiting a psychic is definitely an experience. You could do just that at the Homer Watson House and Gallery’s fifth annual Psychic Soirée event on Oct. 24. The sold-out fundraiser provided a comfortable yet elegant atmosphere for people to have readings with the psychics in attendance, roam the gallery sharing their experiences and admiring the displays. Proceeds went to planning and programming for the gallery. In TV shows and movies, psychics stereotypically are shown wearing head scarves and ornate jewelry, hovering over crystal balls. These were not part of the event. The Homer Watson psychics were seated at small, round tables in all corners of the room, dressed casually, awaiting their visitors, who had scheduled 15- or 30-minute readings. Ceceillia, one of the psychics, said her family is gifted, something she’s known her whole life. Being 16 years old, she has only been reading other people for about five years. However, she has always seen things, but wasn’t always as accepting of her gift. “Once I hit about (age) 11 or 12, I understood it more,” she said. Lucy James, who attended the event, said her reading went really well. “She told me some things that were very accurate about my father and my two sons, particularly my younger son,” she said. She was surprised, being a bit of a skeptic, but she said she is a little bit more of a believer
after the session. Staff were also present during the event, telling the history and stories of the Homer Watson house, which they believe spirits of the Watson family still visit. According to the staff, there have been sightings of not only Watson, a famous Canadian painter, but also his sister Phoebe. People have reported seeing a woman dressed in historic clothing, as well as a man wearing suspenders with a long beard, resembling both Phoebe and Homer Watson. Helena Ball, director of marketing and public programs at the gallery, described an experience she had. “I just want to say, I am the biggest skeptic here,” she said before beginning her story. She had been sitting in on an interview with a transfigurationist before an event much like this one. The lights turned off, and she could see a woman in oldfashioned clothes, including a hat and a veil, staring at her. “And then I freaked,” she said, “because I’m the biggest skeptic and didn’t think I’d see anything.” After speaking with her colleagues and looking at some photographs, it is believed that the woman she saw had been Roxa Watson, Homer Watson’s wife. Although no sightings were reported on the night of the recent event, one woman did say that her reading had been interrupted. The psychic she was speaking with told her he could not read her because there was a little boy standing beside her, interrupting him. When she looked, no one could be seen.
The winter season is your vehicle’s worst enemy, especially if you don’t winterize it. There are some steps you should take before the first snowfall if you want to keep your vehicle in good condition all winter long. There are some important parts that you must prep for the winter to reduce the chance of breaking down and ensuring you and your vehicle are safe to drive on slippery roads. “Snow tires are probably the first thing people think of when it comes to preparing for winter driving,” said Kevin Bell, a professor in the motive power programs at Conestoga College. “Once the temperature has dropped below 7 C consistently, it’s time to put on your snow tires.” Make sure that they are suitable for use in colder weather and low traction conditions like snow and ice. If they aren’t, purchase a good set of winter tires because they are worth the extra cost. Checking your fluids and changing them if necessary before the snow hits is just as important. Windshield washer fluid is often one that is overlooked. There are summer blends which will freeze around 0 C, effecting visibility. When it comes to the quality of washer fluid, it’s well worth spending the extra money on a better brand. Wiper blades are also an important tool when driving in snowy conditions. With all of the blasting our windshields take, it’s important that we change them at least annually because the winter season is rough on them and they can wear out more quickly.
PHOTO BY MATT LINSEMAN
It’s crucial that you prepare your vehicle for the winter season. There are some components that you risk damaging if you don’t. Also, you never want to end up stranded due to a dead battery. Conducting a quick test can determine your battery’s charge confirming that you’ll be able to start your vehicle in the cold. Most hardware stores offer a maintainer/charger that can be left connected while your vehicle is in storage. “The heater in your vehicle typically doesn’t require any type of annual service, but you’ll want to make sure it’s working properly before the deep freeze arrives,” said Bell. “For safety reasons, the defrost setting is the most important and is actually part of a provincial safety inspection. Also, most temperature gauges should be running at the halfway mark once your vehicle has warmed up.” Motorcycles and other power-sport vehicles need to be winterized as well and there are a few things riders should complete before winter hits. Some important procedures include fogging the engine with oil (which should only be done by professionals), adding a fuel stabilizer
to protect the fuel system and changing the oil. “The corrosion of metal surfaces including internal engine components can be minimized by using fogging oil,” said Matt Lowry, an instructor in the motorcycle and power-sport vehicle program at Conestoga College. “Fogging oil and WD-40 are ideal products for protection and will even prolong the life of rubber components, excluding tires.” “Once spring rolls around, you should have the vehicle re-inspected for any wear and tear that’s occurred over the winter. This will keep your investment in good condition for the summer months,” said Jeff Oakes, program co-ordinator of the automotive fundamental programs at Conestoga College. “Also, don’t forget to remove your winter tires. The softer tread design does not last long on dry pavement.” There will be a cost for winterizing your vehicle, but it’s worth it. Look for a winter package that includes a winter inspection.
CONESTOGA COURTS FUTURE STUDENTS
PHOTO BY MIKE STROMME
Prospective Conestoga students gathered at Conestoga College for the student fair that was held on Oct. 21. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
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Monday, November 2, 2015
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
SPOKE Page 9 NEWS RED CROSS CELEBRATES 100 YEARS IN WATERLOO REGION
PHOTO BY EMMIE SIROKY
Christmas is only nine weeks away. Finding the perfect gift can be hard if you don’t know the person very well. Visiting local shops is a good way to get ideas. Meagan Gier from Simply Wonderful Toys in Guelph loves giving people ideas. For video story, visit www. spokeonline.com.
PHOTO BY JOSH VAN OSTRAND
The Red Cross celebrated its 100th anniversary in Waterloo Region with an open house at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery on Oct. 24 featuring speakers and historical objects from the organization’s history. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
Children should read daily BY JOE WEPPLER
According to www.literacy. ca, 42 per cent of Canadian adults between the ages of 16 and 65 have low literacy skills. As recently as 2013, Statistics Canada found that not even a quarter of workaged respondents scored above level 3 – the minimum level of proficiency – on the International Adult Literacy Survey. According to professionals, the key to increasing the literacy rate in Canada is simple. Introduce reading to children at an early age. “It’s incredibly important. It’s the most important thing, as far as I’m concerned,” said Tina Runstedler, the children’s team leader for the Preston branch of Idea Exchange, Cambridge’s version of a modern, city-wide library service. “It lets them build a foundation for everything in their life, no matter what they’re going to study or what they’re going to do,” she said. Conestoga students agree with Runstedler. “It’s vital to me,” said firstyear practical nursing student, Brooke Rier. “It’s important for children to develop good reading and writing skills in order to ensure success in both schooling as well as their future careers.” “(It helps) develop children’s minds towards intelligence and imagination,” said Portia
PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLER
Mata Campbell, 2, holds the 2015 Let’s Read Selection of the Year, Big Bear Hug, by Nicholas Oldland at the Preston Library in Cambridge on Oct. 23. Bejjany, a second-year television broadcasting student. Runstedler played host on Oct. 23 at the Preston library
to around 20 children and their parents for a drop-in morning of songs, crafts, dancing and, most important-
ly, storytime. The story of choice that week was Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland, an endearing tale about a large, treehugging bear who comes face to face with an axe-hefting lumberjack. The story, with its simple yet powerful message of environmentalism and violence avoidance, is the most recent title selected by the Let’s Read committee. Let’s Read is a family literacy initiative in Waterloo Region dedicated to getting children, and their families, reading. Hosting events across Waterloo Region, Let’s Read is a large proponent of not only teaching and encouraging children to read, but also being a role model and using literacy skills in every day life. Let’s Read urges anyone with children involved in their lives, be it parents, uncles, aunts or siblings, to set a solid example and read with and engage them on a daily basis. For those who never got in to reading as a hobby at a young age, or are interested in reading but don’t know where to start, Runstedler has a tip for you. “Read whatever you love,” she said. “If you love comic books, games, anything that hooks your interest, read it. Not everyone wants to read heavy political science journals. And you don’t have to. Read what you find interesting.”
FUN & GAMES
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Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of November 2, 2015
Aries
March 21 April 19 Avoid making any large purchases. The price is not right – at least not at the moment.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Don’t forget to take a good, long walk from time to time to enjoy the scenery. The fall colours won’t last forever.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Show your friends how much they are appreciated, and don’t be afraid to make new ones. Strike up a conversation with a stranger – you might just hit it off.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Take some solid time to relax. You may not be able to do so again for a while.
Leo
July 23 August 22 You are a bit of a workaholic, but everyone needs some time to appreciate what is going on around them. Don’t forget this.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 There are many people out there with the same concerns as you. Seek them out and solve them together.
Male bees will try to attract sex partners with orchid fragrance.
Libra
Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day.
September 23 October 22
A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why.
Lighten up. You don’t need so much stress. Enjoy a good laugh with a good friend.
Americans are responsible for about 1/5 of the world’s garbage annually. In Utah, it is illegal to swear in front of a dead person.
Scorpio
October 23 November 21 It’s your time of the year. You know you enjoy this kind of weather more than anyone, so make the most of it.
There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
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.
That’s enough time for play. You have to take the bull by the horns and set yourself to work – no more putting it off, or else you’ll end up regretting it.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
You know well that life doesn’t come on a silver platter. You enjoy working hard to achieve your goals, so keep on doing the work that makes you happy.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
Don’t travel far for a little while. Stay close to your friends and family and express that great sense of humour you have.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Your days are busy with studying and socializing, but take some occasional downtime for you and your thoughts. Don’t bottle things up.
Go forth and make all of these things happen. It is written in the stars.
Word Search
NEWS
Monday, November 2, 2015
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The connective magic of music BY PAUL BOREHAM
The thick smell of pepperoni and cheese usually wafts from the Coz-E Corner, which adjoins Subway and Pizza Pizza at Conestoga’s Doon campus. But recently it was filled with the sweet sound of live music. It is the birth-twangs of a musical community consisting of employees at the college. The initiative was started by Erin Caldwell, a human resources employee, and Dave Smiderle, chair of the School of Business and Hospitality. “It’s a time for employees to come together and share creativity with one another, and foster some relationshipbuilding through music sharing,” said Caldwell, who has a degree in music and sings professionally outside of her day job at the college. Smiderle said, “We started these jam sessions as a way to continue building our community here at the college. It doesn’t matter what department you work for, whether you are faculty, management or administration. What matters is your willingness to share a piece of yourself and a willingness to take a risk by doing so. By connecting in this way, we are strengthening our college as a whole.”
The pizza and sub shop were putting away their dough and toppings when the first musician arrived with electric guitar and amp in hand. It wasn’t long before John Brown, a sales events and retail services employee, had his guitar out and was flying up the fingerboard like there was no tomorrow. No wonder – he’s a music teacher at a Long and McQuade music store when not at his day job, he said. Smiderle arrived next, clad in suit and tie, and promptly strapped his acoustic guitar around his shoulders and strutted over to Brown to discuss the songs they were going to play. Stefan Pantazi, a health informatics and life sciences professor, followed, and he pulled out his acoustic Dobro guitar. “I haven’t played in many years,” he said, but in a few minutes it was clear he could still carry a tune. John Fleming, who works at the Welcome Centre in international education, arrived with his electronic drum kit and was soon tap-tapping and making tinkling sounds in time with the others. As introductions were being made and a screen set up where words and chords to songs were projected, Caldwell arrived with
PHOTO BY PAUL BOREHAM
Dave Smiderle (from left), chair of the School of Business and Hospitality, John Fleming, who works at the Welcome Centre, Stefan Pantazi, a health informatics and life sciences professor, Erin Caldwell, a human resources employee, and John Brown, a sales events and retail services employee, gather at the Coz-E Corner at Conestoga College’s Doon campus for a jam session. her voice and got things rolling. They put it all together and filled the room with song by artists such as The Beatles, Bob Marley, Leonard Skinnard and Coldplay for an hour and a half. Smiderle used his baritone voice to accompany Caldwell. There were stops and starts, the switching of some instruments and some discussion sprinkled through-
out. They ended with a strong version of Summertime, an old jazz tune. “Summertime, when the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’, and the cotton is high … ” sang Caldwell. There were cheers and talk of the next jam. Pantazi, while putting his guitar away, said, “I was looking forward to playing with
someone, and they’re great. It’s just a matter of getting some songs that we all know. It’s something to look forward to.” The next jam is Thursday, Nov. 5. They run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Room 1E04, the Coz-E Corner. Caldwell said students are welcome to drop in and have a listen, and even make some requests.
NEWS
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Studying abroad a life-changer Extensive planning the key to success
BY JESSICA HAMMER
Students might not be aware that they can go to school in a different country and get credit for their Conestoga courses. But there are things they should consider first. Some of the top things are expenses and which country to go to. A lot of research is required. If a student decides to study abroad, he or she should know it is going to be more expensive. Additional health insurance will be needed and tuition will be higher because Canadian students will be considered international students. In Canada post-secondary tuition for Canadians is lower because it is subsidized by both the provincial and federal governments. However, just because tuition is higher aboard, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. There are other things to consider. “Some of our programs you can study may be a full 12 months in Australia to get a degree and the alternative in Canada might be you study three years,” said Tao Cruikshank, a career adviser at Conestoga’s Career Hub. “Even though that tuition
in Australia is really expensive, at the end of the day because you’re studying for less time it may come out to be the same amount of money.” Students can get help from various organizations when applying to international schools, trying to find living arrangements and filling out paperwork for visas.
“
No matter where you go you are going to learn a lot about yourself and what your strengths are. — Tao Cruikshank
”
“It’s more for the experience than the actual studying,” said Abby Schlupp, a first-year media foundations student, who added that she had some friends who studied abroad last year. The countries that are most popular are Germany, Australia and England. Students from business and graphic design programs are often the ones
PHOTO BY JESSICA HAMMER
Tao Cruikshank, a career adviser at the Career Hub, flips to a section in a binder about Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, that provides information about studying abroad. who tend to go overseas. “No matter where you go you are going to learn a lot about yourself and what your strengths are. It shows a lot
A WALK IN THE GARDEN
about yourself and you’re much more independent, you can think for yourself and you’re adaptable,” said Cruikshank.
“When you go to a job later, if you can adapt to a whole new country then you could probably adapt well to a company culture.”
‘DRINK SMART’ AND ARRIVE HOME ALIVE
PHOTO BY SARA SASILA PHOTO BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
Cambridge residents enjoy a crisp fall morning in the Cambridge Sculpture Garden, which contains approximately 10 sculptures. Some of them are rotated out every few months. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
Mothers against Drunk Driving estimates that there are between 1,250 and 1,500 impairment-related crash deaths in Canada each year. Above, Walberto Ramos and Kristin Doerr, two second-year advertising and marketing communication students, promote ‘Drink Smart,’ an organization that brings awareness to the dangers of drunk driving. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.