SPOKE
The Tree of Hope Families get help during the holidays. Page 5 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
WWW.SPOKEONLINE.COM
Out of this world Former astronaut shares his stories, images and music. Page 3 47TH YEAR — NO. 22
Ho, ho, ho, rain turns to snow
PHOTO BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
Santa Claus and his nine reindeer float along King Street in the annual K-W Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 19. For more photos, see Page 8. The Lovelaces weren’t the for Christmas as loud as they keep us away,” said motherBY DEEANNA ROLLINS could over the sound of their of-three, Emily Lovelace. “It’s only family at the parade celpretty cold, they’re all shiver- ebrating tradition. Fifty-eight years. That’s chattering teeth. Canada Post workers weren’t ing, but only one of them is “I’ve been coming for six how long Santa Claus has been coming to town for the far behind Santa, collecting all complaining. They just really years,” said six-year-old Lily McNaughton. annual K-W Santa Claus of the letters handwritten with want to see Santa.” crayon to Santa Claus himLovelace has been attending The McNaughton family Parade. However, this year, he came in the rain rather self. The onlooking children the Santa Claus parade ever came to the parade prepared begged the elves and post office since she was a kid, and when for the cold. The four of them than the snow. People, young and old alike, workers to make sure that St. she had children she felt like were all bundled up in winter scattered along King Street Nick received their letters on she needed to carry on the jackets and blankets and were hiding underneath a covered to watch the jolly old man time for Christmas. The work- tradition. “I always used to come to area at Kitchener City Hall to float along the parade route, ers would share a wink and waving and ho-ho-ho-ing to a smirk with the parents and the parade as a kid with my stay out of the rain. “I’m happy we remembered all of the shivering – yet, still make their way to the next parents,” she said. “I loved coming as a kid, and knew my to bring the winter jacket,” smiling – children. They were group of waiting children. said Lily’s mother, Kristen. “The rain definitely couldn’t kids would too.” shouting what they wanted
A TRUE
SNOWBIRD
PHOTO BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
The temperatures are dropping and some creatures are heading south or are hibernating. However, some of the smallest animals tough it out including birds like this female rose-breasted grosbeak.
“The blankets wouldn’t have been enough. That wind is really chilly.” The wind may have been cold and crisp, but that didn’t stop Lily from being excited to see Santa. “Seeing Santa is my favourite part, even though I don’t know what I want for Christmas at all yet,” she said. Just as Santa’s float passed city hall the rain started to turn into a light snow, making it feel just a little bit more like Christmas.
Fantastic Beasts lives up to expectations BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
Saying it was magical may seem a bit cliché, but that’s what Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was. As the Waterloo theatre lights dimmed and Hedwig’s Theme filled the room with its classical chime, the crowd fell silent. Like myself, many in attendance for the Nov. 17 premiere have waited for more than five years for a new Harry Potter movie. I felt like shouting the famous Sirius Black line, “I’ve done my waiting, 12 years of it – in Azkaban!” After waiting so long for a new movie there was worry the film would not live up to expectations or the magic would not feel realistic. Once the movie was over and I had sat through the
full two hours and 13 minutes of Newt Scamander trying to save New York and his creatures, I can safely say fans will not be disappointed. David Yates, the director, perfectly transformed J.K. Rowling’s book into a cinematic masterpiece. The movie’s special effects team brought multiple magical creatures, like the Niffler, Bowtruckle, Graphorns and Swooping Evil, to life. To me, how the creatures looked and acted would help me decide if the movie was a good adaption. The original Fantastic Beasts book is a short Harry Potter library book. Inside is a list of magical creatures and a page explaining what they look like, their behaviour (danger level), diet and habitat. Most are accompanied by
photos so fans already have an idea of what the creatures do look like. The film version matched the description in the books without making them look overly computer generated. The magic itself was done flawlessly, from Sen. Henry Shaw Jr. being whipped around and killed by an invisible creature to simple baking spells done by Queenie Goldstein, a flirty blond and sister to Tina Goldstein who has been roped in to helping Newt. Each actor and actress made each spell look different. It wasn’t just a few hours of the same arm flailing. Instead, to distinguish the different spells the characters put different emphasis on where their arms jabbed or swooshed. It made
the scene more intense to see the dramatic arm movements. As a longtime fan of the Harry Potter world I have read all the books and gone to as many premiere nights as possible. Though this was the first year I did not dress up as a character, I was nostalgic seeing others proudly displaying their house colours. J.K. Rowling always says that Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home, and in a sense, it did feel like home at Waterloo’s IMAX theatre. It was as if I had just been on a long holiday and now that I am back, so is the magical world of Harry Potter. I applaud Yates and his team for once again creating a movie that brings to life what the fans imagined.
NEWS
Page 2 s SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, November 28, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
If you could travel anywhere in time or anywhere in the universe, which would you pick? “I would go forwards in time, the past has already happened.” Morgin Goldingay, first-year human services foundation
“I want to go to the future and see what kind of aliens we have met.” Katherine Ross, first-year broadcast television
“I would travel back in time so I could see a Tool concert.” Jordan Macconnery, first-year broadcast television
“I would go to Mars to see if we can live there or just go to Australia.” Samantha Sawicki, first-year broadcast television
“I would go back to the 1920s and then leave as soon as the crash happened.” Megan Minielly, first-year bachelors of public relations
Taco ’bout community
BY CASSIDY FOULDS
The Idea Exchange’s Queen’s Square branch in Cambridge dished out a little bit of traditional community love along with a serving of tacos. On Nov. 25, the Taco Stand Project was set up at the branch to kick off an exhibition that prompts and promotes social and economic interaction. The project was developed in conjunction with an exhibition called With Mexico, From Love. The project runs until Feb. 18, but tacos will no longer be served. However, it will continue to be an open space where the community can come and share stories, skills, items and anything else for the three months it will be up and running. “The intended outcome is for the community to come together and to think about different ways of dealing with life,” said Tamara Louks, the Queen’s Square branch publicity and promotions specialist. “It’s very easy for us to run off to a store and to buy things that are cheap, and we dispose of them quite easily. We’re hoping that, through this project, people will realize that we can repurpose a lot of things, we can swap or share items that we no longer need.” There’s hope that, once the project has run its course, it will be picked up by the community. Maybe not
Hannah Charleston, first-year bachelors of public relations
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
exactly in the form of a taco stand, as taco stands are unique to Mexican culture, but as a place where people can share what they have and what they know with those who seek it. Iga Janik was the one who brought the concept to Idea Exchange after visiting a major international art fair in Mexico, where taco stands pop up unregulated in areas where people congregate to share resources, experiences and knowledge in exchange for food, resources or services. Janik’s goal in bringing it to Ontario is to give a broader perspective on ways to interact with the community
Good vibes and good music BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
I would go back to the 1980s to see the beginning of the pop punk movement.”
PHOTO BY CASSIDY FOULDS
Karen Murray-Hopf, Idea Exchange’s cultural programs and special events planner at the Queen’s Square branch, is helping promote the Taco Stand Project, an experiment in sharing.
you live in. “What we’re borrowing from it,” Janik said, “is this idea of navigating towards improving or finding solutions that are outside of the main system framework.” There are two ways to participate in the Taco Stand Project, one of which is booking the stand to give a workshop, perform a demonstration, tell a story, or to talk. Culture, skills and expertise can be shared. The stand can also be used to trade things without any cost. For example, walking someone’s dog in exchange for getting your car washed, or trading old items that someone else wants for something you need. Anybody can book the Taco Stand Project by going to the Idea Exchange website, ideaexchange.org, and searching for Taco Stand Project: An Experiment in Sharing under “Upcoming Exhibitions.” The only rules are that the stand has to be environmentally friendly, it has to contribute to the wellness of the community, it can’t be about money and it should promote the spirit of exchange. There are no fees to participate. The final day for submissions is Feb. 16. “It’s about cost-free resources and empowering the community to do better with less,” Louks said. “We really hope it spreads its wings.” For further information, go to ideaexchange.org.
It feels like floating on a bed of twinkling stars. Donald Glover’s new song Me and Your Mama takes you into a different time and space. The song was released Nov. 10 and is to be included in his upcoming album Awaken, My Love!, which is expected to be released on Dec. 2. Me and Your Mama starts off slow and then progresses with the addition of the soft
chanting of a gospel choir and a soft R&B beat. Two minutes after being coddled by the soulful voices of the choir a deep blues bass drop interrupts and Glover belts out his lyrics and explosive vocals which fans have never before heard in his work. Glover shows he knows how to focus on his melodies and how to properly blend genres. He beautifully takes soul and integrates it into modern blues, underlined with a rock-
toned electric guitar. Like so many other artists before him, Glover is shedding his stage name Childish Gambino and that persona. The release of Me and Your Mama seems to be a new beginning for Glover, who has changed his Facebook name from one to the other as well. The whole song is a journey through outer space best enjoyed in a dark bedroom with a distant nightlight, if available.
NEWS
Monday, November 28, 2016
SPOKE Page 3
From orbit to Kitchener-Waterloo BY NICOLE CLARK
Few people have lived on the ocean floor or high above Earth. Chris Hadfield has done both. As he took the stage at the Centre in the Square Nov. 16, the audience rose and cheered the retired Canadian astronaut who rocketed to fame in 2013 when he was commander of the International Space Station (ISS) for five months – during which time he would see the entirety of the Earth in just 92 minutes, 16 times per day. The audience was visibly in awe of the man who has seen and experienced so much, and they were ready to take in all he had to offer them as the show began.
“
Part of being an explorer is leaving home. — Chris Hadfield
”
Hadfield went right into a song and spent the majority of the show playing his guitar and singing with short anecdotes in between. “Part of being an explorer is leaving home,” he said before beginning a song about Canadian Tire. He spoke of his family history, including moving to Moosejaw and the alarming number of infant deaths that came with relocating to the West. His uncle’s son, Austen, was one of the many children to pass away during that time and is the person from whom Hadfield received his middle name. He also discussed when his inspiration to become an astronaut first appeared. He told of how much he enjoyed the stories of comic book protagonist, Buck Rogers, and fictional captain of the Starship Enterprise, Captain Kirk. Though these two were what ignited the passion for heroes in space travel, they were fictional and there were not any real-life role models to look up to in the field at the time. That is, until July 20, 1969 when, just shy of his 10th birthday, Hadfield watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the surface of the moon. “That was real, that wasn’t pretend. That was something that actually happened. And so, to me, that was like a slap in the face of opportunity,” he said. After watching the event take place on his parents’ television, he went outside and looked up at the night sky to see the moon and there the
passion fanned into flame. Hadfield was the first Canadian to walk in space, earning two EVAs, also known as extravehicular activity, for the two trips that totalled 14 hours, 53 minutes and 38 seconds. He has also escorted Soviet bombers out of Canadian airspace and has lived in a research vessel at the bottom of the ocean. He is also a published author with Postcards from Space, and You Are Here, a book of photos he captured of the Earth while aboard the ISS, as well as more recently, a children’s book called, The Darkest Dark. Despite all of the extraordinary things he has done, Hadfield was able to create an atmosphere for his audience that was down to earth, more closely resembling a coffee house performance with its lowered lighting and guitar accompaniment. Hadfield ended the night with a short question and answer period. “What is your favourite NHL hockey team?” was asked by a little voice in the front of the theatre. Hadfield answered with an anecdote of how his grandfather was a physical trainer for the Toronto Maple Leafs and so he is a fan of the blue and white. “Are you allowed to bring phones into space?” another small voice asked. He said it wouldn’t really work, that there are too many cell towers for the phone to be usable in space.
“
That was real, that wasn’t pretend. That was something that actually happened. — Hadfield
”
A final question, this time from someone in the balcony, was, “What would be your best advice to get people interested in science?” Hadfield said science is just organized curiosity. He told the audience to feed their curiosity and that maybe a better question to ask children would be, “What do you want to change?” instead of the generic, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Hadfield finished with a song and then another after a standing ovation and encore request by the audience who were thrilled to be in the presence of a man who has made history.
PHOTO BY NICOLE CLARK
Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield entertains the audience during his performance at the Centre in the Square on Nov. 16. He spoke about his life and time in space, and performed some original songs as well as David Bowie’s Space Oddity. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
NEWS
Page 4 s SPOKE
Monday, November 28, 2016
Open Sesame: It’s a store and cultural hub
BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
Open Sesame won’t be the only words coming out of your mouth when arriving at a Kitchener business by the same name. Lauren Weinberg, owner of Open Sesame, a store and arts and culture hub in Kitchener, moved to the city from Chicago hoping to start her own art space and, on Halloween of 2015, she did. Weinberg realized that she and her husband have an unique ability for finding items no one else has. So she opened the store, stocking it with items that she finds in Toronto and other favourite places such as smaller hole-inthe-wall boutiques. Her store is like those more commonly seen in bigger cities like Toronto and Chicago. “I got to know the art scene and there were a lot of really small spaces like apartment galleries that were student-run … I was sort of used to these very DIY and kind of hybrid spaces that were not officially non-profit but had that kind of mindset,” Weinberg said. This is what makes Open Sesame so unique. While during the week it is a cute little consignment boutique with a different assortment of sweet knickknacks, on the weekend Weinberg has
space set up for the local music scene and artistrun workshops. Acts have included The Maras, Jojo Worthington, Jean Daddy and Safe as Houses. In addition, artisans can display their artwork throughout the week. Open Sesame sells items such as books by independently owned publishers, enamel pins, cards, art prints and baby clothes, all with unique designs and, for the most part, designed by local artists. Weinberg said it is important that a community come together to support the arts and local businesses. “Pay attention to things that might not seem that interesting and are actually really shaping your community,” she said, “like the fact that we only have a few big developers that own property in downtown and they really don’t have a reason to rent it out to independent businesses.” Although having built up a good reputation amongst the arts community, Weinberg is waiting to hear back on whether or not she will be able to lease the space she is currently in again next year. If she can’t, she said she is already looking for a different place with her primary goal being to have enough space to continue to be able to hold shows and workshops.
PHOTO BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
Lauren Weinberg, owner of Open Sesame, shows off one of her favourite items in the store on Nov. 5.
Pregnant women ‘often treated terribly’ in Canada
A kind, polite bedside manner is what all patients should receive from their doctor. This is Canada and that is simply expected. When you entrust someone with your health and wellbeing, quite literally sometimes putting your life in his or her hands, you hope that person would not take advantage of their position by treating you in anything but a dignified and respectful way. Yet despite this expectation, there are horror stories of mistreatment from all across Canada, which, until recently, have gone unnoticed; stories from mothers of newborn children no less; stories which should never take place in a healthcare system such as ours. Recently, thanks to an investigation by CBC News, Canadian mothers have begun to speak out and bring light to the real problems that women face in delivery rooms and with maternity care at hospitals. Their experiences show the reality of the abuse endured by unknown numbers of patients at the hands of nurses and doctors, and it is truly beyond disgusting.
Women have been victims of non-consensual, painful vaginal examinations, which often left bruises, while others were submitted to abusive and patronizing verbal comments. Then there were others who suffered far worse, such as Marie McMahon who, right after giving birth, had her doctor attempt to manually and forcibly remove her placenta – without enough anesthesia or even her permission. In a November 2016 CBC news article, Polina Gorodetskaia, who had a child in 2015, said when she expressed uncertainty over the number of cervical exams being performed during her labour, her doctor replied, “If you want to call the shots you may as well not take up a hospital bed.” With this matter finally garnering media and public attention, it’s time for change. There has to be more concrete and well-known rules in place about how far doctors can go when a patient is under their care. I understand that during a process as stressful and difficult as childbirth, the
Andrew Benney
Opinion attending physicians are doing their best to ensure the safety of the newborn and mother. However, if a woman’s dignity and emotional stability are sometimes the cost of this safety, then new, better methods have to be put in place immediately. On top of this, the current system for filing formal complaints about hospital service during maternity care must also be amended. Typically, all physicianrelated complaints involve the patient’s representative informing the chief of staff at the hospital of the grievance, who then follows up with a thorough investigation. This, however, has proven to be an unsatisfactory method for instigating change where it is needed. With no in-depth research currently being done to
track mistreatment during childbirth, mothers deserve a better way to voice their opinion about the care they receive. CBC reports finding hundreds of complaints about mistreatment experienced when delivering. Alberta and British Columbia alone have tallied up almost 800 complaints between them in the last six years. Yet somehow leaders at health institutions across the country are adamant on remaining ignorant to this blatant problem. “(The profession’s) systems are rigorous at all levels such that Canadian women can be firmly reassured this is not a concern in Canada. Hospitals have well developed policies to address any specific individual concerns,” John Kingdom, chair of the University of Toronto’s department of obstetrics and gynecology said in a Nov. 7 CBC news article. Unfortunately, to many mothers this kind of care is not totally unexpected and has even caused cases of post-traumatic stress disorder in women who dealt with especially grievous mistreatment.
Columnist Emma DurandWood said in an article for Pregnancy Winnipeg that, “I was enraged but not at all surprised by any of the accounts shared in these articles or on the radio. But, I am really pleased to see the mainstream media start to cover what those who are passionate about good maternity care have known all along: women are often treated terribly – even abusively – during their maternity care.” The bottom line is that no one should fear going to the hospital, especially not women going through what is one of the most demanding periods of their life. The challenge of childbirth does not need more obstacles for parents to overcome. If a hospital’s goal is truly to deliver a happy, healthy baby, then it should also be to ensure that the mother who takes the child home is equally as happy and healthy. Unless action is taken against our current broken system, women will continue to be scarred during what should be one of the most beautiful moments of their life.
NEWS
Monday, November 28, 2016
Tree of Hope Christmas campaign underway
BY RILEY LINSEMAN
Are you someone who celebrates Christmas? Think of your daily routine every year on Christmas Day. You wake up extra early in the morning (if you were able to sleep at all), race downstairs as fast as you can to see all the presents under the tree and then, if your parents (or whoever it is you may be living with) aren’t up already, you immediately go racing back up to their bedroom so you can open your presents right away. Now imagine if you didn’t have that. You’d wake up late with a sigh and think to yourself; “Man ... What I’d give to have Christmas ...” But you can’t afford it. You’ve never had a true Christmas experience. Now once more ... Imagine you’re a family that can’t afford presents and you’ve gotten used to the routine of waking up to nothing under the tree, or maybe not even having a tree. But one year ... there is a gift! How happy would you be? The Family and Children’s Services Foundation can provide that kind of experience. In partnership with CHYM FM, the foundation has been hosting a Tree of Hope fundraiser for 24 years. Lighting the Tree of Hope kicks off the event that runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 31. Last year the foundation raised $418,241. Their goal this year is $275,000.
Alison Scott, the executive director of Family and Children’s Services, described the event as, “The heart of community because that’s when the whole community comes together and really shows the support for our families and children.” But while the Tree of Hope may be one of the foundation’s bigger events, they’ve done much more than that to support residents who are struggling to get by each year. According to CHYM FM radio host Cash Conners, the foundation gave out 58 post-secondary scholarships this year, sent 240 children to summer camps to enrich their daily lives, purchased 400 new backpacks for families that can’t afford this expense on their own, and made 700 families’ holidays happier thanks to the foundation’s Holiday Support Program. Similar to Food Banks Canada, the program supports families by accepting monetary and gift donations then sending gifts to families who can’t afford them. The foundation accepts a variety of gifts for this fundraiser including, but not limited to, household items; sleeping bags, blankets, towels and air freshener; hygiene items such as razors, soap, diapers and toothpaste; games (think more like board games and puzzles), and finally, sports items. Donors can also check the Holiday Gift Shop wish list on the
SPOKE s Page 5
PHOTO BY RILEY LINSEMAN
The CHYM 96.7 Tree of Hope is celebrating 24 years of supporting youth and families in need in Waterloo Region. The radio station and the Family and Children’s Services Foundation team up each year to hold the event. A tree lighting and kickoff event was held Nov. 20 at Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener. Above, Alison Scott, the executive director of Family and Children’s Services, is shown with Dom Esposito, the Wolfpack Charity Club’s sergeant-at-arms. The motorcycle club supports the foundation through various initiatives, including giving food donations and volunteering at their Thanksgiving dinner. foundation’s website at www. facswaterloo.org/tree-of-hope/ holiday-support/holiday-wish-
STANDING TALL AT BINGEMANS
PHOTO BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
Ahadullah Khan, a visitor at the Canadian Diabetes Expo, gets his posture checked at the Martin’s Chiropractic Clinic stall in Bingemans’ Conference Centre in Kitchener on Nov. 20. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
list to see what people are asking for. But don’t forget about monetary donations.
The foundation also accepts $25 gift cards and custom donation amounts online.
A DRIVE-THRU CHRISTMAS DISPLAY
PHOTO BY ROLAND FLEMING
Jenna Berlett, Bingemans’ attractions and resorts manager, stands in front of a 200-foot tunnel of lights at Bingemans’ Gift of Lights display in Kitchener. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
COMMENTARY
Page 6 s SPOKE
Monday, November 28, 2016
Wynne’s not a winner BY JAMES WELLS
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne took responsibility for soaring hydro bills on Nov. 18, during her speech at the Ontario Liberal annual general meeting in Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals are still as popular as ever. Wynne’s popularity, however, has plummeted. Ontarians are furious with the large increase in hydro prices over the past five years. Wynne’s popularity is now below 20 per cent according to the most recent poll, meaning she is in trouble if she hopes to remain in power after 2018. She has made it clear in a recent speech that the increase in hydro prices is “her mistake” because she cared more about winning the fight against coal than how it would impact residents struggling to pay their bills every month. In a recent study by the Hamilton Spectator, some homes have seen an increase from an average bill of $120 a month, to more than $300 a month. With the large increase, many low-income Ontarians have described their monthly living situations as deciding between paying for heat or paying for food. Ontarians question the energy ideology of the Liberal government, specifically why the prices increase when energy is saved? It turns out some of the money is being used to improve Ontario’s power grids. The extra money being collected on monthly hydro bills is being used for renewable and clean energy upgrades. More solar and wind contracts are being signed which means we will have a much cleaner and reliable grid. Unfortunately, these improvements take time. Experts say hydro prices will continue to increase until 2023, but should stabilize shortly afterwards. Regardless of the improvements, huge bills are frustrating and annoying us all. With that being said, it takes a patient and understanding individual to look past these hard times, to see the prosperous future of Ontario and Canada’s clean energy initiative as a whole. Wynne is going to try her best in the upcoming campaign to smooth things over, to reconnect and explain what it is and why she has done the things that she has. All we Ontarians can really hope for is that she and the energy experts of Ontario know what they are doing. 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
We can’t wait to see what else Melania Trump steals from Michelle Obama.
Cellphone addiction rampant
It’s rare these days to see someone without some kind of electronic device. Technology has become part of everyday life. I got my first cellphone when I was in Grade 7 and I only have four contacts, my family. I also only got a Palm and one of the first models, so it sucked. In school we used overhead projectors and had those huge Macs instead of the nice thin models we have today. I’ve seen technology go from 0 to 100. When I look back, it’s like there was a time when it wasn’t there, then all of a sudden it was everywhere. It’s helpful, of course, but it’s addicting. Laptops and computers allow us to see what’s new on our social media accounts. We can do so at any time, any day. You no longer have to wait to talk to your friends face to face. You can do it at the tip of your fingers. Why would you want to put that down? According to The Statistics Portal, a website that compiles statistics and studies from more than 18,000 sources, by 2019 the global number of mobile phone users will pass five billion. There
Melodie Lariviere
Opinion were 4.43 billion phone users registered in 2015. The world has around 7.4 billion people in it, with more than half having a cellphone. Reliance on cellphones has gotten so bad that people have begun having panic attacks when their phones die. The Internet has given it the name “Nomophobia.” No-mobile-phone-bia is where it came from. Psychiatrists have confirmed it is indeed a phobia. Every summer my mom’s side of the family get together in Guelph for a family picnic. This year we were the first to arrive. We set up the tables and chairs and placed the food we brought on the tables. The park was pretty full like it usually is that time of year. There were family and group gatherings all over. We were sitting and conversing, having put our devic-
es away. We then saw a family of five walking in a vertical line on the sidewalk, no one looking where they were going, all on their phones. A few people passed by, then a couple, both on their phones. No one was paying attention to anyone else. At school I see the same thing – students with their eyes glued to their phones or tablets. Driving home these days I hardly see kids playing outside. I live in a small country town, where there’s not a lot of traffic on the residential roads. There’s a group of kids who play on my street but that’s the only kids I’ve seen around. Parks have lost their popularity. Instead of playing board games they are now playing those same games in virtual reality, detaching them from this reality. We give technology too much credit for our own intelligence. We use it too freely because it’s right there at our fingertips. Elbert Hubbard, an American writer, once said, “One machine can do the work of 50 ordinary men. No machine can do the work of an extraordinary man.”
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
Production Managers: Riley Linseman, Sharon Samuel Photo Editors (print): Shafaq Parwez, Brandy Fulton, James Wells Photo Editors (online): Meghan Weatherall, Cassidy Foulds, Robert Janes
Social Media Editors: Roland Fleming, Wendy Huenul-Valdes, Melodie Lariviere Circulation Manager: Nicole Clark Faculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina Jonas
Spoke’s address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Phone: 519-748-5220, ext. 3691, 3692, 3693, 3694 Fax: 519-748-3534 Email: spoke@conestogac.on.ca Website: www.spokeonline.com
The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.
FUN & GAMES
Page 7 s SPOKE
Monday, November 28, 2016
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of November 28, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 It can be difficult for you to listen to others. Giving them time will lead you to new ways of thinking.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Your mind has grown over the last few weeks but do not forget to take care of your body or both will suffer.
Gemini May 21 June 21
A recent experience has left you emotionally and physically drained. There will be a helping hand offered if you know where to look.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Do not let your recent success go to your head. People may take your confidence as arrogance.
Leo
July 23 August 22 New events and new people are always in abundance and it can be exhilarating to experience so much novelty but you must give time to your responsibilities.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Your individualism is your strength but you can sometimes take it to excess. Be careful lest you compromise your reputation.
Money isn’t made out of paper; it’s made out of cotton.
Libra
The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottles represents the varieties of pickle the company once had.
September 23 October 22
On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.
Love is difficult to find but not impossible if you take chances and stay determined.
Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark’s stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.
Scorpio
October 23 November 21 You are now feeling better after a great deal of stress. Be careful not to become complacent.
Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
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.
Luck has not been with you lately. Perhaps it is time to make your own luck. If you seize the incentive, you may find unexpected success.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
You need to keep moving forward, never back. This may be a good time to break some of your bad habits.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
This is a week to test your limits and push yourself. Try something new, you may be surprised how much you enjoy it.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 You may have recently experienced a setback but don’t let it discourage you; the way forward is not always a straight path.
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 s SPOKE
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS (Clockwise from right): Emily Lovelace and her three children, Chloe (from right), Spencer, Gabriel and Vanessa Chaplin, enjoy the annual K-W Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 19, despite the cold, rainy weather. The Grinch who stole Christmas showed up to shout “Bah! Humbug!” to the children watching him float along King Street. Lily McNaughton enjoys one of the many free candy canes she was given during the parade. Canada Post workers followed Santa Claus through the parade collecting the letters children had written to the jolly old man. Santa himself sat in his sleigh and waved to the onlooking children, who waited for him to shout “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” PHOTOS BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
LIPOFFKW FIRST OFFICIAL WINNER NAMED
PHOTO BY BRANDY FULTON
Mike Farwell, morning show co-host from Country 106.7, (from left), Dave Schnider, Kitchener city councillor, winner Kate Harris, and Gayle O’Brien, morning host at 107.5, celebrate Harris being named the first official LipoffKW winner on Nov. 16. Performers danced and sang their favourite songs. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
Monday, November 28, 2016