Craft beer co-op Sip some Wobbly Wheel at local brewery. Page 3 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016
SPOKE
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
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A celebration of Christmas 40,000 expected at Christkindl Market. Page 8 47TH YEAR — NO. 21
PHOTO BY NICOLE CLARK
PHOTO BY BRANDY FULTON
Cadets, veterans, Mounties, regional police, firefighters and K-W residents met around the clock tower in Victoria Park on Nov. 11 at the 2016 K-W Remembrance Day drumhead ceremony.
Arnold Albert, a retired member of the Royal Canadian Navy and member of the Aboriginal Services elder program at Conestoga College, recites the poem In Flanders Fields, written by Lt.-Col. John McCrae during the First World War, while at Conestoga’s Remembrance Day ceremony in the lower atrium on Nov. 11. For video story by James Wells, go to www.spokeonline.com.
A day to remember
BY BRANDY FULTON
On Nov. 11 hundreds of people from Waterloo Region came together for a moment of silence to remember those who served and continue to serve in Canada’s military, especially those veterans who died fighting for our freedom. This year there was a change in venue, from Kitchener’s Cenotaph to Carl Zehr Square. “This change in venue is to ensure that there is enough room to accommodate those who come to remember and honour those who have served and continue to serve in Canada’s military while construction continues on the streets surrounding the cenotaph,” said Colleen Collins, manager of corporate communications for the City of Kitchener, in a press release. The construction is in preparation for light rail transit (LRT), a series of electric trains that will run on tracks between the Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Fairview Mall in Kitchener. This year a drumhead ceremony was held in place of the normal service at the
Cenotaph. A drumhead ceremony was usually conducted in a battlefield when no altar or building was available. On Remembrance Day they continued this practice, placing the flags and wreaths on drums. “We had never done a drumhead service like this before,” said Dan McVey, secretary for Branch 50 of the Royal Canadian Legion. In addition to the Canadian flag the Legion 50 flag is very important. This year the flag was carried by Conestoga College’s Krystina McVey, Dan’s daughter. She is a fourth-year early learning program development student and a former air and army cadet. Approximately 300 people, including cadets, Mounties, veterans, police and firefighters, marched from the clock tower in Victoria Park to King Street in downtown Kitchener. They surrounded Carl Zehr Square to listen to the Remembrance Day ceremony. Dan said there were a few situations he was not prepared for during the ceremony. The wind often picked up, and the clanging of metal clips from the city flags made
PHOTO BY BRANDY FULTON
Flag-bearers march through Victoria Park during the K-W Remembrance Day drumhead ceremony. it hard to hear the guest speakers. And getting into the colder months of the year, rain and snow were a possibility that day. “The city kept asking if we wanted to put up a tent above the stage in case of rain or snow,” he said. “I said if it rains we get wet, it’s not like we stopped fighting when it rained or snowed.”
The future of the Remembrance Day ceremony venue for Kitchener is still unknown. Dan said Legion 50 will not be able to make a decision until the construction of the LRT in that area is complete “It presents an interesting challenge,” he said. “When talking with ION they said they can stop the trains from
running in that direction but my question is can we stand on the tracks?” The construction has also sparked a possible venue change for the Cenotaph. However, a decision will not be made until the construction around the current area is completed next year. The city is not sure where the Cenotaph would be moved to.
NEWS
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, November 21, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, what would be the first thing you would say to them? “Albert Einstein. I would ask him why he agreed to work on the atomic bomb.” Simon Gladstone, second-year broadcast radio
“Nelson Mandela. I would congratulate him on all of his success.” Tom Hemingway, first-year broadcast television
“Casey Kasem. I would explain to him how much of an inspiration he is to me.” Troy Gallant, second-year broadcast radio
“John F. Kennedy. I would ask him about all the conspiracies about Marilyn and his brother.”
There’s a lack of respect in class
I was born in pretty much the middle of the millennial era. I remember when I was growing up, everyone, not just your elders, were treated with nothing but respect. Paying attention to someone was instinct; a smile was a daily expression that I gave to everyone no matter what. Speaking out of turn rarely occurred. Today, however, there is such a lack of respect. The number of times my teachers have to stop teaching to tell us to pay attention is unbelievable. I’m 20 years old. I was raised to say please and thank you when someone does something to help me. I was raised to hold the door open when there’s someone coming in behind me, hold the elevator, to speak when spoken to and to pay attention to someone who takes time out of his or her day to better my education. In elementary school I was surrounded by other kids like me. We were polite, sweet and caring. However, these same kids have grown into people I do not recognize. They are
Melodie Lariviere
Opinion hormone-filled devils. When it became too much for me I began to distance myself from them and began to find new friends. As I’ve grown up and gone through middle school, high school and now almost a year and a half of college, I’ve noticed one thing that just confuses me to no end. As time went on my peers began to either pay attention to their friend or their cellphones or computers in the classroom. The teachers and lectures were placed at the back of their minds, while texting and whispering have become more entertaining. I’ve seen students use class time as nap time. Though I admit to partaking in these acts, there are also times and places where they begin to be disrespectful.
Teachers have always been some of my favourite people. There is always a few classes I love going to because of the teacher. It’s not just who they are, it’s their teaching styles and how they interact and include us as the learners. But I’m an exception. Many students have lost respect for the teachers. They don’t come to class, talk during lectures or play online, miss handing in assignments and then demand an extension, etc., etc. I can’t help but sometimes feel bad for the teachers. They come prepared with lessons so students can learn. I understand it’s their job but at the same time the more you pay attention in class the better you’ll do. Instead of having to ask your classmates what you missed, you’d know and have the details to succeed. It always surprises me that it is the students who aren’t respectful who complain that they aren’t getting any respect.
KITCHENER ART WALK FEATURES LOCAL ARTISTS
Brii Parks, first-year business
“Wayne Gretzky. I would ask him what his key to success was. How did he get where he is?” Nicole Clark, first-year accounting
“Beyonce. I would ask her how she got to where she is today. What is her secret?” Samantha Armstrong, first-year pre-health PHOTO BY RILEY LINESMAN
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Joey Hemingway, one of the many artists featured at the 16th annual Frederick Art Walk on Nov. 12 in Kitchener, displays his paintings. Attendees were able to buy many of the products featured at the event. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
NEWS
Monday, November 21, 2016
Together they are still bitter
BY ROLAND FLEMING
It’s been nine months since the doors opened, the beer is still flowing and together they are still bitter. Together We’re Bitter (TWB) Co-operative Brewing is a craft beer brewery that opened in February in downtown Kitchener. The business is different than most, as it is owned as a co-op. There are six equal owners who all take equal shares of the profit. Culum Canally, who has a PhD in rural tourism development, and also works as the brewing co-ordinator, hopes to build the business to a point where anyone who works there would start at a living wage of $17 an hour. Most service sector jobs pay near minimum wage. TWB’s business model promotes a more equitable share in both the profits and decisionmaking of the business. Walking in the front door there is a wide selection of unique beers on tap. The workers at the co-op are happy to offer free samples of their wide variety of flavours. The Wobbly Wheel, which has become a mainstay, has five different hops in it that are added at nine different points in the brewing process. Some other interesting concoctions include a coconut stout using fresh coconut flakes and a Belgian Wit beer. Just as diverse as the beers they brew are the owners themselves. These six owners all pitched in at the beginning and together were able to start the business debt-free. Between the six of them they have brewing experience, administrative talents, and skills such as welding, plumbing, electrical work and graphic design. This dream team hasn’t had to hire much outside help. They dug concrete trenches, painted everything, put up the insulation and did the electrical work. “It’s our blood, sweat and tears all over here, but you know cleaned up and sanitized of course,” said owner Alex Szaflarska As you walk past the front bar, the remainder of their small space is occupied by the brewing equipment. Patrons are free to walk about, as everything is out in the open. Transparency is highly valued by the owners, with each other and with the community. They welcome any questions about their brewing process and work co-operatively with
other brewers in the area. In everything they do, it seems the spirit of community shines. Even the bathroom is a display of community. The walls, made of chalkboards, are littered with the scribblings of the people. On Sundays owners bring in local talent to bring the house alive with a variety of music stylings. Recently, they had the Ever-loving Jug Band bringing back the 1920s. The brewery itself becomes the stage as spectators squeeze in around the fermenters. TWB tries to make the brewery a hub for local creative talents. The business itself is a community in a sense, with the six owners all heavily involved. The business model is a worker-owned co-op which means that to buy into the business you must actually work at the business. Each owner’s cut in the profits is directly related to the number of hours he or she puts into the business. New employees also have the option of buying into the business after a year of working there. Szaflarska and Canally are currently working full time at the brewery while the other four owners are working part time. Business decisions are decided democratically among the owners, meaning that they are taken to a vote. “It is difficult sometimes with all of us at the table, but we have found … it has led to better decision-making,” said Szaflarska. Canally said, “We put it in place hoping we’d be a demonstration that this business model is effective at making good jobs and being more democratic, more transparent.” In Quebec there are many co-operatively owned breweries, but TWB is one of only two currently operating in all the rest of Canada. Szaflarska said current legal structures make running a co-op easier in Quebec then in Ontario. The team hasn’t yet reached their goal of each worker earning a base wage of $17 an hour, but while the beer remains bitter these entrepreneurs are not. Their community of customers continues to grow and the beer keeps flowing. The brewery is located at 300 Mill St. in Kitchener and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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PHOTOS BY ROLAND FLEMING
Culum Canally is the brewing co-ordinator and Alex Szaflarska is one of the owners of Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewing, a craft beer brewery in Kitchener.
TWO ACTORS, ELEVEN DIFFERENT ROLES
PHOTO BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
Michael Peng (front) and Aldrin Bundoc rehearse for their show, Lord Sword – An Epic for Two Actors, on Nov. 19. The show had five performances at The Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts in Kitchener, and featured the two actors playing 11 different roles.
NEWS
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Monday, November 21, 2016
Art crawl lights up Kitchener
BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
There were crowds on the streets including teenagers, young adults and people with kids. All had come out to enjoy a series of colourful activities in downtown Kitchener. From art galleries to aweinspiring dance parties, from pop-up art on the streets to performances in every nook and cranny, Kitchener was booming with energy. The reason? It was the occasion of the ever-popular Night\Shift Placehacking Festival Nov. 1 to 5. Night\Shift is an annual nocturnal art crawl that has been attracting the attention of thousands of people ever since its inception in 2013. There was no set theme this year, but that did not reduce the excitement of the crowds. The event is a platform for all upcoming artists to showcase their talent in music, performance art, acting, singing and much more. The art crawl encourages artists to reimagine a range of venues with multidisciplinary shows and mind-opening interaction. This year it featured 18 downtown spaces reimagined by 23 original pieces of programming, 20 musical acts and contribution by another 40 plus multidisciplinary artists. People often make donations to help the artists in their endeavours. The event took the crowds
along a trail of 23 different locations, both indoor and outdoor. Some obscure venues, such as the very first audiovisual art piece, added further excitement. The kickoff for the chain of activities started with the awe-inspiring Infinity Tunnel at 44 Gaukel St. The LED lights in the tunnel were designed to mimic sound waves. Visitors enjoyed manipulating the lights by making sounds; an absolute hit with the kids. When asked about this tunnel, Denise Baker, a visitor, said, “It’s great! It’s interactive … it changes colour. It’s artistic. It’s infinity! You look through the mirrors and it goes on forever and ever.” She added that she greatly admired the artist for his creativity. “I am very proud of Bernie Rhodes who created this piece. He is my neighbour.” Two artists also performed live music here. One band, who was an instant hit, posed with fans and visitors for photos. The Charlena Russell Band, comprised of Russell, Shannon Soriya and Cathy King, played live music for an hour and a half. Using a variety of musical instruments such as the trumpet and the violin, the band captivated the attention of the crowd effortlessly. A map was given out to help guide people to the rest of the
PHOTO BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
Performers Cathy King (from left), Charlena Russell and Sharon Soriya welcome visitors in the Infinity Tunnel, one of the many interactive installations at the Night\Shift Placehacking Festival Nov. 1-5. activities downtown. The energy of the crowd only seemed to go up from here. Analog Arsenal, Collage Party and Reconstruction were bubbling with people of all ages. Reconstruction, a Mobile Art Studio on the fringe of Carl Zehr Square, was a hit, particularly with women. Here, participants could add their own little pieces of art to contribute to a bigger comic. The largest hustle and bustle was around Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. An event called
A Christmas celebration Victorian style BY SHARON SAMUEL
Did your grandparents teach you how to decorate your Christmas tree? If so, who would have taught them? “We can actually thank Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for some of the traditional Christmas customs we have today,” said Karen Richardson, curator at the Haldimand County Museum, at a lunchtime lounge talk at the Homer Watson Gallery. “We, as British subjects, followed every single thing that Queen Victoria told us to do. She was instrumental in telling us how to attend balls, how we should date, how we should talk, what we should wear, and even traditional Victorian mourning customs.” It is also because of her husband, Prince Albert, who was from Germany, that we have certain Christmas customs, especially the Christmas tree. The first Christmas celebration at Buckingham Palace was in 1841 and featured a tabletop tree. It
was decorated with candles which they lit briefly to get the essence of them before blowing them out, she said. “They always had a bucket of water handy nearby.” Richardson said the ornaments that hang on the tree have a special meaning as well. The decorations were homemade, mostly popcorn, dried apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks and cookies. “One of the really great things about the oranges were the smell. Even the tree had a wonderful smell to it,” she said. The first artificial Christmas tree, which was invented in the 1840s, was called a feather tree because it was made out of real bird feathers. Early decorations varied from Santa Claus ornaments to little dolls, teapots and teacups. “If a little girl was going to get a doll, you would put the little doll right on the tree,” said Richardson. It was the same for tiny teapots and teacups. Photographs of loved ones
would also hang on the tree to remember them. Birds and their nests were also popular, in part because they were said to bring good luck. “So, any kind of luck you could bring into your household was really important to our Victorian ancestors,” Richardson said. Ladies spent a lot of time doing needlework to hang on the tree. Purchased ornaments from Germany came later. Young women and mothers would spend hours making Christmas presents for everybody in the family and would put them under the tree the night before Christmas. “So, when the kids got up on Christmas morning they (would) see all their presents underneath the tree,” said Richardson. Christmas didn’t become commercialized until 1860. That was when store owners started placing dolls in their windows to attract kids. “The Victorians were romantic and followed all kinds of customs and traditions,” said Richardson.
24 Hour Dolly was set up which took video of the crowd. All cafes lining Kitchener downtown had multiple recreational activities including variety shows and musical performances. A number of DJs came to town from as far as Hamilton and Toronto to light up the night. Visitors also had the opportunity to use their imagination and participate in Dance Your Own Adventure in The Oak Room at The Walper Hotel. The ambiance at this
location was just right to not only enjoy the soul of the music but to dance the night away to meaningful tunes. The event was funded largely by the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund, Zehr Group, Scotiabank and Kitchener Public Library as well as other festival partners and contributing organizations. As the wee hours of the night approached, one could still see young people with maps in their hands as they set out in pursuit of one venue after another.
STILT WALKER RISES ABOVE THE CROWD
PHOTO BY MELODIE LARIVIERE
Conestoga Students Inc. held a Buskers Carnival on Nov. 8 in The Venue and out in the halls of the Doon campus. The event featured a psychic, magician and roaming performances, including this stilt walker.
Monday, November 21, 2016
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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Aging starts when we are born BY JOY STRUTHERS
The opening reception of the Artful Aging Exhibition celebrated aging gracefully and creatively. It was held on the second floor of the Ashlar Gallery, which is located in a limestone building that used to house the Guelph Civic Museum, and is now called the Boarding House Gallery. The museum was at 6 Dublin St. S. for over 30 years before it moved to a new building beside the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate in 2012. It was used for a number of purposes since it was built in 1847, including stores, taverns and a boarding house. The Canadian Legion and the Knights of Columbus held meetings there until it was sold to the city. Until Nov. 26 the art of eight different local and senior artists is being shown, brought together by art curator Gary Young to start the conversation about aging. The exhibit is free to attend. “I would like to encourage you all to become involved in the age-friendly movement,” said Wendy Kornelson, program director for the City of Guelph. The city developed an older adult strategy to help make sure the city is age friendly through the input of many different groups and experts. They are working to make improvements in different areas. “Across the world people are looking at their communities and their cities and asking questions. Are they age friendly?” said Kornelson. The Age Friendly Guelph Leadership Team plans to find ways to better accommodate the aging population. There are eight different domains set out by the World Health Organization that they are concerned with – outdoor spaces and buildings, housing, respect and social inclusion, communication and information, transportation, social participation, civic participation and employment and community and health supports. The different art pieces depict age-related themes but are all expressions of the artists’ own struggles and joys, what hurts them and helps them. Guelph artist Wayne Harbin shows his interest in the outdoors in his paintings. He started painting at the age of 64 when his children bought him some supplies for Christmas. He was retiring the following year, so they
Rob O’Flanagan stands in front of his two paintings on display at the Ashlar Gallery during the Artful Aging Exhibition. They depict portraits from a 1960’s yearbook and are named Mr. Handsome and Miss Steam.
Maureen Ellis performs her piece Bind, relating anecdotes of aging while wrapping herself in black cotton binding.
thought he needed a hobby. He had no formal training. On the other end of the spectrum is Grazyna Adamska-Jarecka, an accomplished artist who teaches at the Wyndham Guelph Art School and the Guelph Evergreen Senior Centre. She has many local and international honours. Her work comes from her interest in aging women finding freedom and happiness. She feels that overcoming fear can bring self-awareness and strength. Peter Howlett believes that colour can contribute to healing the mind, body and spirit. His work shows the spirituality of the First Nations’ culture and honours all living things. Howlett performed a native drum blessing to bless the land and people at the opening. Journalist, writer and artist Rob O’Flanagan shared two paintings and his collection of wooden spoons that he made with manual tools from scavenged wood. His paintings were modelled on 50-year-old yearbook pictures of people who have now grown, but their youthfulness is still captured. Instead of the small black-and-white portraits, there is now colour and life and experience. Fabina Germain is just 16 and attends the DaVinci program, a learning program at the J.C. Taylor Nature Centre in the arboretum at the University of Guelph. She was pleased to support older
“I felt like I was raped,” said Ellis, about a medical examination that went wrong. But there is a positive side to aging, specifically the knowledge and freedom gained through these experiences. While describing some more uplifting thoughts, Ellis took the binding off. The group was moved by her performance as well as the messages in the art hung on the walls. Germain addressed everyone again in closing. She had been told something before that she wanted to share. “Aging happens from the time we are born,” she said.
PHOTOS BY JOY STRUTHERS
Peter Howlett sings and drums a blessing for the land and people. His paintings, clockwise, from top left, Moose, Family & Eagle, Bear and Winter Solstice, are still on display. adults by showing her portrait of her late grandmother. Germain’s mother, Manon Germain, is the project specialist and acted as the emcee for the opening. “It’s a tough topic,” she said. “By 2031, 33 per cent of the community will be 55 or older.” Involving all age groups in this project is important. Young agreed that aging is a topic most people don’t want to talk about. “The central vision is to identify and be cognizant of all things in our life that are affected by aging but may not come to the surface in normal conversation,” said Young.
He identifies through his own aging and never expected to live a long life. He has been affected by aging family members as well. Down the stairway past her own collection of photographic sketches of aging body parts in extreme close-up, came artist Maureen Ellis, performing a piece she calls Bind. While sharing some negative things that she has experienced she wrapped parts of her body with black cotton binding to demonstrate the variety of emotions she experienced that limited her. The way she was treated changed as she aged and it was horrible.
COMMENTARY
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Monday, November 21, 2016
City council wasn’t chicken BY SCOTT BLINKHORN
The decision by Kitchener city council to allow residents to keep chickens in their backyards is a step in the right direction. When the average person sits down in the morning to a breakfast of eggs and toast he has no idea where his food has come from, supermarket aside. It is a problem that extends to virtually all food eaten today. The disconnect between consumers and their food is challenging to overcome. Certainly supermarkets provide little information. When it comes to eggs and other forms of animal husbandry, this raises serious ethical concerns. Chickens kept for their eggs live in a variety of systems, from free range, where the hens are allowed to walk the barn floor freely and go outside when weather permits, to large barns where chickens are kept in cages, unable to move. Many consumers would find the latter to be unacceptable, but the divide between farm and fork makes it difficult to see potential abuse. Keeping chickens in a backyard coop, on the other hand, promotes respect and care for the animals. Ethical concerns aside, there are also environmental factors to consider. Kitchener is blessed to sit in the middle of some of the finest farmland in North America. Sadly, due to urban sprawl, a great deal of this land is taken up by subdivisions, complete with small plots of grass which serve no particular purpose. Adding a coop would make use of this otherwise wasted land and make it productive. There are arguments against keeping chickens of course. Critics complain about the smell and the potential for escaped birds. To the first, there is no getting around it, chickens do smell, but regular cleaning can minimize the odour from their waste. Also, the city has set a precedent, having long allowed other practices that can leave a foul stench, such as composting. Escaping birds are no different than a pet dog or cat getting out of the house, and can be handled in much the same way. Perhaps the most convincing argument for keeping backyard chickens is that it appears to be something that people want. More than 1,800 people responded to an online survey from the city on the subject, with 87.9 per cent in favour of allowing chickens to be kept in backyards. If nothing else, surely this is a good example of democracy in action. 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
Canada geese are gearing up for winter in the north due to their new “Snow Mexican” status, courtesy of Donald Trump.
Racism is still rampant in U.S. For four years now, ever since the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of the man who shot him, racial tensions in the United States have been high. With the help of social media, the Black Lives Matter movement hit everyone’s phone screens and, like all movements, there was opposition. People who thought they were helping and trying to unify the country (I’m assuming they had the best intentions), scream “all lives matter” and completely disregard how that brushes over the issue. The result of the U.S. election confirms what many people already knew – that racism is still rampant. Globe and Mail columnist Doug Sanders, in a Nov. 11 article, wrote, “More than 90 per cent of Americans who voted for Mr. Trump were white, and most white U.S. voters, both men and women, cast a ballot for him (even though his opponent got more votes overall). And at least 90 per cent of non-white Americans did not vote for him. This was a white riot – an angry, rejec-
Wendy Huenul-Valdes Opinion
tionist turn by a deeply pessimistic majority within the white population against the far more hopeful and inclusive politics of the rest of the country.” The day after the election, the rest of the world replied. According to an article on angusreid.org, almost twothirds of Canadians are upset with Donald Trump’s victory. As well we should be. And The Green Party of New Zealand said they would not congratulate Trump on his presidency, despite their values on being an all-inclusive party. Protests are taking place all over the world because the United States just elected a glorified racist, rapist and misogynist. He has just been awarded the right to make decisions in a country filled with people of colour, women
and people with different sexual orientations – three large groups Trump so effortlessly marginalized in the course of a campaign. I’ve heard many people claim Americans deserve their fate. They voted him in, so a corrupt president is what they get. This is a toxic mindset that pushes aside all those who strongly opposed Trump’s values. It pushes aside all the immigrants in the country whose livelihoods are threatened. Do they deserve it too? What about the fact that Hillary Clinton had 150,000 more votes than Trump? The Americans who share the same values as Canadians don’t deserve what they got. Trayvon Martin’s family doesn’t deserve this either. The youth who now will have to grow up in a country where their president spews out bigotry also do not “deserve” this. Thousands of protesters are hitting the streets in the U.S. claiming that Trump is not their president and I stand with them. The only place Trump belongs is on reality television.
SPOKE
IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Joy Struthers Assignment Editor: Scott Blinkhorn Advertising Manager: DeeAnna Rollins Spoke Online Editors: Matthew Evangelista, Andrew Benney
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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.
FUN & GAMES
Monday, November 21, 2016
SPOKE s Page 7
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of November 21, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 Don’t let your aggressive nature get in the way of your friendships. You have some feedback coming your way; accept it with an open mind.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Take a deep breath and step outside your comfort zone. Try something new that could get you exactly where you want to be.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Getting stuck between multiple choices can be difficult; choose the one that will ensure your own happiness before anyone else’s.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Take a step down and let someone else have the spotlight for a change. This will help you get to know yourself better and maybe help you make an important decision or two.
Leo
July 23 August 22 Don’t let being a leader get to your head. Being egotistical won’t help with building any friendships or making new ones.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Other people will try to influence your decisions. Be strong and stand your ground. Don’t be nervous to stand up and make your opinion known.
In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
Libra
September 23 October 22
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
Keep your personal life and your school/work life balanced. It can be hard for you to follow your heart, but if there is any time you should listen to it, it should be now.
The cigarette lighter was invented before the match. Chinese Crested dogs can get acne.
Scorpio
Each year there is one ton of cement poured for each man, woman and child in the world.
October 23 November 21 You have a lot of things bottled up inside you. If you want to get anything done, be it work or school, you have to let these things go.
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.
Times may be tough right now, but remember to stay optimistic through it all and keep your chin up. Remember that arguing never makes anything better!
Capricorn December 22 January 19
Take a step outside your comfort zone. It may feel weird and you may feel unsure, but in the long run it will help you.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
Don’t think too far ahead. Remember that what is happening right now in your life is just as important as what will happen in the future.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Friends will come to you for advice. Give it to them as long as it doesn’t get in the way of your own personal life.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
Word Search
NEWS
Page 8 SPOKE
Monday, November 21, 2016
CSI has $340,000 surplus BY SCOTT BLINKHORN
There were lots of questions for the Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) board of directors at the organization’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Nov. 14. More than 30 students attended, ready with questions for the board members. The meeting, which was held at The Venue, began with a financial update from Tim Sothern, a partner at BDO Canada, the accounting firm that handles CSI’s finances. The report said CSI ended the fiscal year with a $340,000 surplus. According to Sothern, the surplus was largely the result of an increase in enrolment at the college. “More students means more student fees … the big driver is more bums in seats,” he said. Students asked for clarification on what several items in the financial report included and how the money was allocated. “Man, normally at AGMs I usually get one question,” Sothern said, smiling, as he finished his presentation.
Several students expressed concern that the amount of money spent by CSI was lower than the amount budgeted. Sheena Witzel, assistant general manager for CSI, said the budget was an estimation of how much an item is expected to cost. She also said that certain spending items such as clubs and scholarships are dependent on students applying for the funds. Students also had questions about Conestoga Student Services Inc. (CSSI), a forprofit branch of CSI which runs The Venue, The Pita Pit and the student health plan. The chief concern from students was that a for-profit branch of CSI would increase costs. Cameron Jones, president of CSI, said, “These are things that you would be spending money on anyway. What this allows us to do is put the profits back into services for you.” Jones added that the main reason for the creation of CSSI was to ensure that CSI was operating according to the law and wouldn’t face problems with Revenue
Canada. CSI also unveiled changes to its bylaws, particularly in how the president is to be selected. Voting board members will elect the president prior to the first meeting of the board of directors following the election campaign. “This is really just to make sure that we comply with the corporation’s act and to make sure we are legal and safe,” said Jones. Jones took some time at the end of the meeting to talk about what the board currently had in the works. Chief among the things mentioned was scholarships for student athletes, the goal of which is to aid in attracting and retaining talented athletes. The hope, according to Jones, is that bringing more athletic talent to the school will help unite students behind their teams and foster more school spirit. Overall Jones was pleased with the meeting, especially the student participation. “It’s really great to see not just so many questions but such a breadth of questions,” he said.
PHOTO BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
The 20th annual Christkindl Market takes place Dec. 1 to 4 in Kitchener at city hall. The event celebrates German Christmas traditions, including a candlelight procession through the streets.
Christkindl Market Dec. 1-4 BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
Kitchener’s Victoria Park will be filled Dec. 1 with carolers bundled up in coats and mitts, who will encircle a newly lit tree filled with dazzling Christmas lights. From there these hundreds of market attendees will march toward Kitchener City Hall, where over 90 vendors will serve traditional German cuisine and sell knickknacks and hot chocolate. A welcome ceremony will be held that includes a prologue by Christkindl (Christ child) and two angels. To close the ceremony city officials will officially light up Carl Zehr Square and the Grand Philharmonic Choir will sing Hallelujah. “We are in the top 100 festivals and events for Ontario,” said Monica Reid, a media contact for Kitchener City Hall. “We are expecting over 40,000 attendees.” The market itself will run until its closing ceremony on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. During the weekend past favourites like the interactive train display made by Fred and Jenny Aldred will be back to entertain the crowd. Their train display has reached over 30 feet in the past. The market opens to the public on the first Thursday of December. The night kicks off with a 5 p.m. onstage performance by the German Alliance Brass Band. From there the crowd will be asked to purchase a lantern or pick up a candlestick to be lit for the march to Victoria Park. Later that evening Phoenix and Mercedes, members of the band Courage My Love and past volunteer angles for the market, will close the first night by singing. Alpine Dancers, the
Transylvania Choir and Bluevale Choir are three of the nine acts that will perform on the second day. The third day will feature KW Schuhplattler and Folk Dancers along with The Queen Street Singers and Golden Key. Inside the hall, between 3 and 6 p.m., a children’s workshop will take place on the second floor. On the final day, more singers and dancers will take centre stage. The closing ceremony will include a draw for prizes and the donation presentation. “The prizes during the draw include a trip for two to Germany, tickets to a play of your choice at Drayton Entertainment, a $2,000 voucher for Via Rail and a new Broil King barbecue,” said Reid. “The donation to the Children’s Wish Foundation will also be presented. Over the last 19 years we have raised over $79,000.” The market attracts visitors not just from the area but from as far as Toronto and Barrie. Pamela Dawes, from Stratford, shared her thoughts on the market’s website. “Homesick for the sights, smells and sounds of Germany. I had been living in a small town in the Black Forest region while I was teaching on the Canadian Forces Base in Lahr. On my return to Stratford, I found the Kitchener Christkindl Market. Somehow, I did not feel quite as homesick for the sights, smells and sounds of Germany! It is a wonderful experience, one I look forward to every year.” Others left behind words of praise on how organized the event was and the Christmas cheer it brings them every year.