Students outraged Visit to campus by pro-life supporters creates controversy. Page 3 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016
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Water worries Protesters take on Nestle. Page 7 47TH YEAR — NO. 16
Shaving heads for charity
BY JAMES WELLS
Waterloo Regional Police were joined by friends, family and members of the Galactic Empire for the annual Cops for Cancer event on Oct. 1. The local fundraiser was hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society at Cambridge City Hall, one of the many event locations throughout October. Officers from the Waterloo Regional Police Service participated in the fundraiser. According to the Canadian Cancer Society’s website, it’s a tradition every year for the participating officers to collect pledges from co-workers, friends, family and the community in order to raise funds for cancer awareness. “This year we’ve specifically donated all the funds raised to children’s cancer research,” said Auxiliary Const. John Klager. Once all the money was collected and counted, the top 10 officers with the most money raised got to show their support for cancer awareness by getting their head shaved. Klager was one of the winners. “This is my seventh year doing this event,” he said. “My dad was diagnosed with cancer, so that was the first year I decided to shave my head in support of him.” This year Cops for Cancer also included a silent auction, a draw for a chance to win a dinner with Chief of Police Bryan Larkin of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, a con-
PHOTO BY JAMES WELLS
Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers stand guard as volunteers from the community get their heads shaved during the Cops for Cancer event, Oct. 1. cert by Collective and a Jail ’n’ Bail, where people were thrown into a mock cell and set free only after getting a certain amount in donations. Darth Vader, two Stormtroopers and Astromech R2-E6 of the Galactic Empire, were also in attendance to show their support for cancer
awareness from a galaxy far, far away. There were many volunteers for the Canadian Cancer Society helping out at this year’s event, one of whom was a cancer survivor himself. Jon Constable (“like the officer,” he said) is a first-time volunteer for the Cops for Cancer
event. He beat prostate cancer shortly after it was discovered back in 2011. “Ever since my cancer was removed, I go in for a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test every six months. So far all of my tests have been clear,” he said. Constable and his family
have experienced the physical and mental stresses of cancer. He now gives back to those who, like him, have been touched by cancer in a direct or indirect way. For more information about the Canadian Cancer Society or the Cops for Cancer events, visit www.cancer.ca.
Parking is expensive, so are tickets BY ROBERT JANES
Parking at Conestoga is expensive, however, a local business is selling parking permits for half the price of those sold at the college. David Coros, a first-year general arts and science student, spoke to the owner of Mango King last month about possibly purchasing one of his parking lot permits. The restaurant is located near the college across Homer Watson Boulevard. “It’s 220 bucks for the two semesters and they have a
$50 down payment. So as long as you return the permit when you’re done you get the 50 bucks back,” he said. Coros ended up purchasing a parking permit from the school after being ticketed twice, once by Conestoga Parking Services and again by the City of Kitchener when he parked at the McDonalds on Homer Watson Boulevard. He chose not to purchase the cheaper permit from Mango King because he was worried about the legality. Janet Mannella, occupational safety manager at
Conestoga College’s Parking Services, had concerns about the offsite parking. “It is not a secure lot,” she said. “There is not a lot of lighting … (students) park at their own risk.” Mannella said there were three rounds of waiting lists this year and that they all opened up within two weeks. To accommodate students, warnings were placed on vehicles before an actual ticket was given. Parking Services also reduced the weekly rate from $40 to $20 while students remained on the waiting lists. Casey Vanleeuwen, a sec-
ond-year radio broadcast student, was ticketed $120 for parking without a permit. “I neglected to buy a parking pass and I didn’t get ticketed in the first week, so I was like OK, I might just wait it out,” said Vanleeuwen. “I just didn’t get to it and I got four tickets in two weeks.” Manella said there are many ways to avoid tickets and that Parking Services encourages students to take the bus, the shuttle or to carpool. “You can put up to four vehicles on one pass so if you meet people in your classes and you
have the same timetable, we encourage people to carpool,” she said. She added there are repercussions for students who either don’t purchase a parking pass or use a fraudulent one. “A fraudulent permit is a $200 fine, and their account can be put on hold,” she said. “It can also result in a student code of conduct (sanction). Repeated tickets, when it reaches a certain threshold, will also impact their account and result in a student code of conduct (sanction).”
NEWS
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
If you were given $100 everyday but couldn’t spend it on yourself, what would you spend it on? “Family, because I know what my friends would do with the money.”
JUVENILE VISITS DOON CAMPUS
Gouled Hassen, second-year electrical industrial technician
“Family.”
Jessica Eitel, second-year wood technician
“I would buy coffee for my friends everyday.”
Vipul Joy, second-year business marketing
“I would donate to the food bank.” Bimal Alberd, second-year general business
“I would give it to my family because they have done so much for me.” Sara Sasila, first-year human resources
“I would give it to people in my friends’ circle to go towards their education.” Kayla Snow, second-year protection security investigation Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
PHOTO BY NICOLE CLARK
Percy, the African spurred tortoise, visited the lower Atrium of Doon campus on Sept. 30. The tortoise was brought to the college along with other animals and reptiles by Zoo To You, a small travelling zoo that takes its show to birthday parties, schools and daycares across Ontario. Percy is just eight years old; the lifespan of an African spurred tortoise is up to 100 years.
Minimum wage isn’t enough
The minimum wage increasing in Ontario from $11.25 to $11.40 per hour is great for anyone with a part-time job. However, I did not see an increase and many of you might not have either. I did not get a raise because I already make more than the minimum wage working as an assistant manager at Zumiez, and I can tell you that an extra 15 cents isn’t going to help much. In fact, an extra dollar an hour isn’t going to be a life changer. Being a student is tough; it can include doing 20 or so hours of school each week, another 20 at our part-time jobs, and then the countless hours spent working on assignments from home. Yet we are expected to pay for our vehicles, insurance, rent, food, bills and wants. Tuition isn’t free yet, so we just keep sliding a little bit more into debt. What about parents making minimum wage, needing to support their children? It isn’t as if the Ontario child
Robert Janes
Opinion benefit payment will pull them above the poverty line. Single mothers get this benefit (a maximum payment of $1,356 per child per year) and hopefully child support as well, however, it is still a constant struggle regardless of whether they are on government assistance or working full-time making the new minimum. I believe that the New Democrats were right when they said the minimum wage should be raised to $15 per hour, and not just because that is more than I am making right now. Many Canadians believe that a minimum wage of $15 an hour would greatly benefit the economy by lowering staff turnover rates, increasing
production and cycling more money through the economy. It would also raise all workers above the poverty line, which only seems fair. The low-income line in Canada in 2015 was $19,157. Working 40 hours a week at the new minimum wage would generate earnings of $23,712. I think it is imperative that the minimum wage increases simultaneously with the cost of living and the inflation of the dollar. I also think the entire tax bracket in the lower fifth should see a respective raise. It is not fair for any person to work 40 hours a week and not make enough money for their food, shelter and transportation. Yet many people are either working from paycheque to paycheque or sinking into debt to accommodate a lower than lavish lifestyle. Maybe there should be a maximum wage. The money paid over and above that could be used for minimum wage increases.
NEWS
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
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Advocacy group outrages students BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
On Sept. 28 at 11:30 a.m., the students of Conestoga College received an email from President John Tibbits stating that the Canadian Council for Bioethical Reform (CCBR), an anti-abortion advocacy group, would be on campus. In fact, they were at the college … before the email was even received. Mike Dinning, Conestoga’s vice-president of student affairs, confirmed that the CCBR contacted the school late the night before they arrived on campus. The email to students said the CCBR would have “signs and literature that may be graphic in nature.” The email also stated that the CCBR’s visit was allowed in accordance with Conestoga’s “existing policies and procedures (which) is a reflection of our commitment to creating an inclusive culture where all voices can be heard.” Unlike an email that students at Sheridan College received on Sept. 15, when the same group visited their Trafalgar campus in Oakville, the one from Tibbits did not inform students where or when the group would be on campus that day. Many Conestoga students were outraged that the group was allowed on campus and they expressed their anger on the popular Facebook page Spotted at Conestoga. Kat Wombwell, a first-year social service worker student, was very involved in the discussion online. “Five-foot, full colour images of dead bodies is NOT a conversation starter,” she said. “The allowance of (the CCBR) on campus was disrespectful and the complete opposite of
all the values we’ve been told Conestoga aims to uphold.” Wombwell also started a petition that demanded Tibbits “apologize for allowing such a hateful display on our campus, and that anything that discriminates against students ever be allowed on campus in this capacity again.” In the first four hours the petition had 226 signatures. Mwenda Ball, a second-year public relations student, started a “pro-choice” movement at the school. On her pro-choice support rally event page, she
PHOTO BY JOY STRUTHERS
PHOTO BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
The fact that they had to warn people about this ... should have been a huge sign.
All quotes are directly from Spotted at Conestoga.
TLDR: No one wants to see dead babies. This is a school, not a place to push agendas.
n’t t you ca ion u b , n o -aborti eir opin I’m pro one sharing th ke it. me ’t li deny so ause you don c e b
Everyone talking about free speech forgets that just because they have the freedom to speak doesn’t mean anyone is obliged to listen.
history
ve in ga College belie We at Conesto means EVERYONE that . RESPECT and el safe at school fe ld shou
(Clockwise from above): Caroline Slingerland, from a pro-life group, holds a graphic image of an aborted 10-weekold fetus. Mwenda Ball, a public relations student, and Megan Pries, a bachelor of design student, discuss Pries’ unalome tattoo that she got after the anti-abortion advocacy group was on campus. Siobhan McLeod, CCBR, and Slingerland stand with disturbing images. Noah Newman and Rachel Young-Hunter, both petition supporters, and Jaymee Indoe and Kat Wombwell, both firstyear social service worker students, stand with signs promoting their petition; a petition started to “end gender discrimination on campus.”
“
“
Whatever si de o on, this was f the argument you’re totally inapp ropriate.
PHOTO BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
said, “We are silent but powerful and we are here to support those who had to endure not feeling safe in their own school. We are here to support the women who have chosen to abort and the women who have chosen not to.” One student, Megan Pries, even got a tattoo to remember the time; an unalome, which is a symbol of enlightenment in the Buddhist culture. “It’s a tattoo that I’ve wanted for a while,” said Pries, a first-year bachelor of design student. “I was so outraged it just seemed like a fitting time to get a tattoo, especially this one.” Another buzz around the school was focused on how triggering and painful these graphic images were. “Good job Conestoga College. You are literally kicking your students when they are already down. Making students afraid to come to school? Willingly allowing students to be traumatized by triggers of past events? Shameful and sickening. Severely disappointed in my school,” said Jenna Kudoba, a thirdyear bachelor of community and criminal justice student, in her response to an anonymous post on Spotted at Conestoga, from someone who can only be assumed to be another student, who talked about the CCBR and its posters triggering painful emotions. “Obviously the school realized these images were graphic and someone could of been triggered by this,” said Cameron Henderson, a practical nursing student. “This possibility alone should of had parameters around the CCBR presenting themselves.” There were other people in the school who didn’t think
there should have been any discussion based on what the CCBR was doing or showing. Some of the students even agree that Tibbits allowing the CCBR on campus with these graphic signs was the right thing for him to do. “The college is an educational institution meant to educate students on various issues. You can’t blame the college for allowing a group of individuals supporting a cause to enlighten students and professors on their beliefs. What matters most is that you still have the right to distinguish between what is right and wrong,” said Alfred Paul, a Conestoga College alumni and previous CSI employee. “This is an educational institute and you want to censor out a collection of people’s opinions and arguments because you don’t agree with them?” asked Catalin Floca-Maxim, a University of Waterloo student, on Spotted at Conestoga in response to multiple other comments centred around censoring opinions and graphic images. Dinning agreed with FlocaMaxim. He said “someone once said ‘free speech can be messy.’ Many us were very offended by what occurred, but does that mean that you can therefore limit someone’s free speech?” Dinning said in his 11 years at Conestoga, the CCBR has never been on campus before. “Free speech is not unlimited. It can be very difficult to listen to. It was never our intention to put people at unease,” he said. “(Conestoga) is somewhat of a sandbox, and if you’re going to play in the sandbox, you have to play by the rules,” Dinning said, explaining that the CCBR were given specific rules and regulations they had to uphold.
PHOTO BY DEEANNA ROLLINS
PHOTO BY JOY STRUTHERS
The Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform (CCBR) consider themselves an educational pro-life organization. It was founded in 2001 “to expose the hidden injustice of abortion and create a public discussion concerning the rights and personhood of the preborn,” according to their website, www.endthekilling.ca. In 2013, after a graphic banner was hung on an overpass in Hamilton, motorist Christy Loftchick claimed the group caused her accident. She said that the CCBR should stop doing what they are doing before someone gets seriously injured. Seven months later, in May 2014, hanging any sort of banner on
an overpass became illegal in Hamilton. In 2015, CCBR sued the City of Peterborough for refusing to allow a graphic image to be used as a public transportation advertisement. The city claimed the ad was “divisive and controversial.” “The City of Peterborough violated our Charter rights, plain and simple. Speaking about abortion does not negate our right to free speech,” said Nicholas McLeod, legal co-ordinator for CCBR, according to Peterborough This Week. In February 2016 the City of Peterborough decided to allow the ad to be posted, based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
COMMENTARY
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Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Water wars BY SHAFAQ PARWEZ
It is hard to believe a piece of paper can spark a water war. Unfortunately, that is the case. Nestle Waters Canada is fighting to get its water-taking permit renewed in Aberfoyle which is being opposed by residents and environmentalists. The reason? Not only are the residents worried for their future drinking water supply but the available Nestle water is more expensive than the gas you put in your car. The company only pays a measly $3.71 for every million litres it extracts from wells. Yet, the government is allowing this business to not only continue on its own terms, but thrive. It is for this very reason that environmentalists have come forth to take action. Chanting the slogan “water should be for life, not for profit,” these people have taken it upon themselves to advocate for change. The major cause for concern is that even though Nestle’s permit expired on July 31, they are still being allowed to extract water. And, residents don’t know how long the water will last. Another disturbing aspect is Nestle continued to extract water from the wells in southern Ontario despite being fully aware that the region was suffering from a severe drought. Moreover, residents were never consulted when Nestle was given an automatic extension with regards to the permit. In the midst of all this commotion, the company maintains that it is committed to remaining engaged with the community. But, if that is the case, why didn’t Nestle officials talk to residents about their permit renewal request? The only beacon of light has been the former environmental commissioner Ellen Schwartzel, who has spoken against the Liberal’s silence. She also pointed out that not even half of the government’s total water-quantity management expenditure is being recovered from the company. This is not the first time that the government has shown so much leniency. Not a single government has updated the Water Act, which was established in 1909, despite people’s calls for action. Just imagine the amount of groundwater that has been extracted over these years and how much this has affected the water tables. While everybody else remains on the sideline, Nestle keeps rolling in the dough, not bearing in mind the destructive effects of its actions. It is completely preposterous that the company is taking pure and clean water from wells and selling it to the public in plastic bottles for a hefty price. 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
Money - the new essence of life.
The newest religion is no religion A recent study done by National Geographic reveals religion is quickly becoming an impractical part of people’s lives. Frankly, this doesn’t surprise me. I grew up with religion. I did the whole going to church on Sunday, saying grace before dinner and praying every night before bed. When I was a baby my parents had me baptized. I went to a Presbyterian church until I was around 10 or 11 years old, I learned about God, Jesus and all the grand tales from the Bible. I grew up watching Veggie Tales which included both moral and religious principles in their movies. All of this being said, people change. I really believed in God, a devil, a Heaven and a hell. However, as I got older, the notion of religion never stuck with me. Now when I say I am not religious that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in anything. In fact, I actually identify as being more spiritual, putting my faith in humanity and nature rather than believing in a religion. Religion is so old and rooted in the history of humanity that I’ve questioned if it belongs in our modern day
James Wells
Opinion society. Religion was there to teach us love, compassion, trust, respect and unity, but through history, religion has been twisted and corrupted by those who seek to use its followers for their own malicious desires. War, politics, racism, gender and even love have all been subject to the use of religion in a hateful manner. Christianity and Islam, the two biggest religions in the world, are perfect examples of how a faith can be corrupted. Both religions have had their issues with racism, war and politics in the most controversial ways possible. Some say these people are not following religious teachings. I say it is just human nature. Should we believe in blind faith? Shouldn’t we be embracing and believing in our own humanity and living to our fullest potential. We have evolved, revolutionized and engineered
our way through history, constantly upgrading our technology from sticks and stones to wireless devices, electric cars and rovers on other planets. When it’s time to upgrade something, we upgrade it, whether it’s housing, health care or cellphones. The one thing that has never been upgraded is religion. However, we have conjured up new ones that we claim are “better” or “more practical.” Religion has had its hold on a growing world for too long. We are even looking to leave the “one world” that “God created.” Elon Musk, the founder of Space X, wants to make our mark as a species on other planets starting with Mars. If this was meant to be our one true home created by God, then why are we so close to leaving it? I am thankful for religion; it gave us hope when we needed it the most – in the darkest of times in human history. But, we’ve evolved as a species, and we’ve taken all we need or could have learned from religion. Instead of focusing on an afterlife we should worry about our lives, our world, our hope and our future.
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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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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.
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Tuesday, October 11, 2016
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YOU WON’T WANT TO MAKE A GRAPE ESCAPE AT THIS EVENT
PHOTOS BY MEGHAN WEATHERALL
Jennie Krymen-MacMillan (in photo at left) and Andrew MacMillan enjoy their glasses of wine at the Grape Escape fundraiser Sept. 29 at the Victoria Park Pavilion in Kitchener. Andrew won a pair of diamond earrings from a penny table, which thrilled his wife. Above, Tonya Verburg, executive director at Monica Place, calls for everyone’s attention so they can begin the penny table draw on Sept. 29. All proceeds from the food and wine tasting evening went to Monica Place for young mothers. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
FIND A WAY TO GET INVOLVED
PHOTO BY MELODIE LARIVIERE
Students at Conestoga College enjoyed the Get Involved Fair Sept 26 to 29 at the Doon campus. The event connected students with opportunities to volunteer on-campus and in the community.
PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT AT CJIQ
PHOTO BY ROBERT JANES
Myranda Weiler (clockwise from bottom left), Lyndsay Bartz, Casey Vanleeuwan, and Tiffany Kleinsteuber, all second-year radio broadcast students, present the CJIQ morning show on Oct. 3. Located at 88.3 on the FM dial, the station bills itself as the tri-cities rock alternative.
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Run for the Cure
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
PHOTO BY SCOTT BLINKHORN
Runners make the final push toward the finish line at the CIBC Run for the Cure, held at Conestoga College on Oct. 2. The run aims to raise money to fight breast cancer. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com
When zombies invade
BY BRANDY FULTON
Kitchener City Hall was filled with everything gory and grotesque for the fifth annual KW Zombie Walk and Halloween Expo on Oct. 1. From Elsa the Disney princess, to Pennywise the dancing clown, residents young and old celebrated Halloween a little early this year. The event started as just a walk through Waterloo to raise money for different charities and awareness groups five years ago. Since then it has grown into a full day of walking, talking and scaring, with vendors tables, DarkCon displays and costume contests for every Halloween lover out there. “It started with me having just a crazy idea,” said Karen Andraza, executive director. She said she called up her friend one morning five years ago to discuss the idea. From there her kids, family and close friends worked together to create the first Waterloo Zombie Walk. Every year since then, something has been added, and it has been tweaked and perfected to meet everyone’s satisfaction. This year the new additions were a new location, inside Kitchener City Hall, and DarkCon displays that were on the second floor. “We tried to keep the DarkCon stuff upstairs,” said Andraza. “Those displays can be a bit more gory, and as much as that is what Halloween is, we still want most of it to be
Scott Sander played Joker at the Halloween Expo. family friendly.” This year the event raised money for the Canadian Women’s Foundation, which helps women and girls move out of violence and poverty and into confidence. Andraza said she gives the proceeds to charity because she doesn’t need the money, and she holds the event because it gives her a reason to celebrate her favourite time of year. The co-ordinators hope to hold the event for many more years, celebrating Halloween with fellow residents, and raising money and awareness.
ZOMBIE WALK OCT. 15 If your love for Halloween has not yet been fulfilled, join the Kitchener Zombie Walk on Oct. 15. Bring your creepiest costume and a non-perishable food item for those in need. The event takes place at noon at the Kitchener Public Library and welcomes even the youngest Halloween fanatic. For more information go to www. KitchenerZombieWalk.com.
Benjamin Cooke does his best zombie impression. PHOTOS BY BRANDY FULTON
PHOTOS BY BRANDY FULTON
The fifth annual KW Zombie Walk and Halloween Expo was held on Oct. 1, bringing Halloween lovers young and old to downtown. The event also featured cotton candy, a kids’ walk and DarkCon displays.
NEWS
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
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Guelph rallies to protect water BY JOY STRUTHERS
Around 300 citizens protested in front of Guelph City Hall Sept. 26 before the council meeting regarding the Nestle water deal in Aberfoyle. Coun. James Gordon was to introduce a motion that would allow the community to speak about the deal at a future meeting, before any decisions would be made, and many wanted to show their support. People of all ages from all different backgrounds gathered by the doors, under the covered area in front of the building in Market Square. They listened to emotional speeches, poetry, songs and prayers. They cheered, clapped and chanted. “Water for people, not for bottles,” they said. Many held signs targeting Nestle and declaring their belief that water should not be for profit by corporations, but used freely by citizens. “It’s rare to see such a great turnout,” said activist and poverty task-force worker Tina Brophey. “I came to help raise awareness and to support James Gordon’s motion. It’s amazing to see the community so strong, fighting for our water and for future generations’ water.” Many people brought their children to the rally, although some just ran around the
water feature and splashing fountains. It was a little cool on the overcast day, with a light sprinkling of rain, but no one seemed to mind. Anne Marshal brought her son Simon, even though it was before dinnertime, but she promised him they would get something special afterwards. “I felt strongly about bringing my son,” she said. “It’s really his future and that of the community at stake. We need to ensure that our children’s children don’t have to keep fighting this fight perpetually. We can’t let corporate greed and political shortsightedness lead us into environmental disaster.” Amelia Meister, one of the organizers, drank water proudly from her reused maple syrup bottle. “Water for people, not for bottles,” she called out into the microphone. Local sound healer Gary Diggins recited, sang and led people around the splash pad in a march while playing a pocket trumpet, accompanied by drums and other instruments. Gordon became emotional when he addressed the protesters. He said it had been a long time since so many people had gathered for a cause like this. “I’ve stood in this spot and yelled into a microphone for
PHOTO BY JOY STRUTHERS
Protesters carry signs while marching in Market Square in Guelph on Sept. 26. They have pledged to boycott Nestle products and are opposed to Nestle bottling water in nearby Aberfoyle. probably 20 years,” he said. Coun. Phil Allt said he planned to second Gordon’s motion and also encouraged people to join them. Although citizens were not allowed to speak or make any
noise at the Sept. 26 council meeting, they were allowed to gather in support. The crowd advanced quietly and streamed steadily through the automatic doors past the security inside.
“I want people to know that water is a human right and that we are fundamentally against the commodification and privatization of water in this province. That is it,” said Meister.
is outraged. In fact, many people decided to join in a “Boycott Nestle” campaign, which urges people to stop using or consuming Nestle products. The campaign was started by The Council of Canadians, Canada’s leading social action organization, which has 60 chapters across the country. It states, “Wasting our limited groundwater on frivolous and consumptive uses such as bottled water is madness. We must not allow groundwater reserves to be depleted for corporate profit.” “People shouldn’t be buying water bottles anyway,” said Steven Paylor, a first-year Conestoga advertising student. When asked if he would consider signing the pledge to boycott Nestle and their products, after much consideration, Paylor said, “I would sign it, but would I actually never use something from Nestle again? It’s pretty impractical. Definitely for bottled water, but I don’t know about the rest of the stuff.” Alyssa Rubenstein, a firstyear bachelor of public rela-
tions student, agreed the recent actions by Nestle are not good ones, although she did not see the boycott as a reasonable option. “Would I refuse to buy their products ever again? Probably not. It’s bad but at the same time there’s so many things happening that you are going to buy what is convenient for you at the time.” The pledge itself states “Nestle pays just $3.71 per one million litres (less than $15 per day) for this water and then ships it out of the community in hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bottles for sale all over North America – at an astronomically marked up price.” Maude Barlow, chairperson for The Council of Canadians, told the Canadian Press the well “sits on the traditional territory of the Six Nations of the Grand River, 11,000 of whom do not have access to clean running water.” If you wish to join the 23,749 people who have already committed to boycotting Nestle, head over to canadians.org/ nestle.
Protesters call for Nestle boycott
BY NICOLE CLARK
Nestle, the Swiss food and drink company, recently laid claim to a small municipality’s five-hectare safe-water well. The company dropped set conditions it attached to a previous offer made in 2015 and matched the competing offer; an offer by the Township of Centre Wellington itself, subsequently outbidding the growing Ontario community. These conditions included conducting pump tests to determine if the watershed met the company’s quality and quantity requirements, reported The Canadian Press. Nestle, which has brought you mouth-watering candy such as Aero, Smarties, Kit Kat and Turtles, as well as beverages such as Nesquick, Nescafe and Nestea, has put a price on safe drinking water in the interest of ensuring future business growth. Amanda Mooser, a firstyear Conestoga bachelor of science and nursing student, said, “It’s obviously affecting a lot of people, which is bad. Something should defi-
PHOTO BY JOY STRUTHERS
Coun. James Gordon addresses the crowd at Guelph City Hall about his motion Sept. 26. Coun. Phil Allt is shown in back. nitely be done about it but I don’t know what you could do. They’re obviously going to resist anything that people try to do.” The corporate giant already owns and operates a plant in Aberfoyle, approximately 35 kilometres southeast of the Township of Centre Wellington, where it extracts up to 3.6 million litres of water per day and makes
more than $2 million a year in profit. Nestle claims it plans only to use the new site, purchased from Middlebrook Water Company, as a backup. However, officials did say they plan to draw up to 1.6 million litres of water a day which would then be transported to its bottling facility. The community, which was attempting to secure a future safe drinking water supply,
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NEWS
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
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Have a positive relationship with your body BY SHARON SAMUEL
Mindfulness, compassion and discernment are all you need to sustain a positive relationship with your body. Sydney Bell, a social worker, counsellor, “health at every size” educator and body acceptance advocate, moved to Kitchener from Saskatoon on June 1 with her husband and dogs. “My husband and I, we resigned (from) our jobs, sold our house and packed our dogs in our car and drove here,” she said. “We wanted a change in our lives. We wanted to live in southern Ontario.” Bell conducts workshops on body sovereignty, which is about being comfortable in your skin, revelling in a healthy and nourishing relationship with your body. She hosts the workshops at the Hive and Groove in Kitchener, a wellness centre owned by her friend. “It’s her business. I rent counselling space there and use spaces for workshops and classes,” she said. Bell said her own life experiences have taught her that mindfulness, compassion and discernment is what is needed to have a positive relationship with her body. Mindfulness is being aware of oneself and the world around you, compassion is being able to forgive oneself for the negative feelings you
PHOTO BY SHARON SAMUEL
Sydney Bell, counsellor and body image coach, recently moved into town and conducts workshops on body sovereignty at the Hive and Groove wellness centre in Kitchener. have and accept yourself for what you are, and discernment is being able to determine what is helpful in the sovereignty journey. “I think in my own journey towards a positive relationship with my body and all
the studying and reading and learning I have done from amazing teachers, what has been helpful in that journey (are) those three things,” she said. She said her teachers were her life experiences and she
has also learned a lot from books she has read. “There is a book called Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon and she is just an amazing woman,” said Bell. “The book is really encouraging a real signifi-
cant shift, the theory being if you take care of yourself to the best of your ability your weight will be at a good weight for you.” She said she had the opportunity to do a week-long intensive workshop with Bacon which was valuable to her. She added the benefits are huge if people work on mindfulness, compassion and discernment as those three things can help a person when she gets negative thoughts and spirals downward. “Compassion gives you an opportunity to move upward instead of spiralling downward,” Bell said, adding practising the trio to have a positive relationship with the body is a lifelong journey. Every now and then there will be a disappointment but people must remind themselves that it is normal to have that negative thought and they should have self-compassion instead of criticizing themselves. “It’s important to be able to offer comfort to somebody who is in that dark place. Your worth as a human being isn’t determined by your outside appearance, it’s determined by your very existence.” For more information on mindfulness, compassion and discernment, to make an appointment with Bell or to find out when the workshops are conducted, visit www.sydneybell.ca.
FUN & GAMES
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Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of October 11, 2016
Aries
March 21 April 19 Don’t be impulsive, otherwise you will run into difficult situation. Try slowing down this week and you may discover an inner patience you never knew you had.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Someone may provoke you to anger this week, but you can avoid engaging this person by focusing on more pressing tasks that need to be completed.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You will grow apart from an old friend, but find happiness with someone you have yet to meet.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Life will take you somewhere where you’ve never been before. It could be somewhere close like a new restaurant, or somewhere far such as a new country.
Leo
July 23 August 22 You will be promoted or gain a new position of influence in the coming weeks. From this position you will find yourself to be a positive influence among your peers.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Although you are quiet, and not always outspoken, you will be celebrated with a surprise for your significant but quiet contributions.
When howling together, no two wolves howl on the same note. Instead, they harmonize to create the illusion that there are more in the pack.
Libra
September 23 October 22
A single tree can absorb more than 10 lbs of CO2 per year.
You will be a friend to many people this week. Important people in your life who have been in a long-term conflict will see eye to eye.
The oil in cashews helps prevent tooth decay. Canada has the largest coastline of any country in the world.
Scorpio
The longest jellyfish on record measured 160 feet, more than half the length of a football field.
October 23 November 21 Your intensity is deemed to be intimidating to those around you. That same intensity will lead you to a rare and life-changing opportunity this week.
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.
You will find both failure and success in the coming week. Though a failure will cause you anguish it will only make your success shine brighter.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
While your boss, or professors will commend your work ethic, your friends miss your presence. An old friend will reach out to you this week.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
Pride usually comes before a fall. Your pride is high and the fall has come. You will find yourself humbled before the end of the fall season.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Now is the time to make a decision. An answer will be required of you this week and if you don’t make a choice, the choice is going to be made for you.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
The play is afoot
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A WORLD OF OLD AND NEW
Cambridge theatre keeps its audience coming back night after night BY CASSIDY FOULDS
The 2016/2017 season started on a good note after the Cambridge Community Players performed The Game’s Afoot, a show that not only kept the audience thinking, but it kept them grinning. The play, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Patsy McCleery, is set in the 1930s, and revolves around a group of actors. Broadway star William Gillette, played by Randolph J. Johnston, invites all of his acting buddies to his mansion after he is almost killed on stage. When one of his guests is murdered, Gillette slips into his character persona, which happens to be Sherlock Holmes, in an attempt to solve the crime. The entire play took place in the living room of Gillette’s Connecticut mansion, needing only the one room to create a multitude of scenes and atmospheres. On one wall were two portraits, one of them being Gillette’s deceased wife. On
the adjacent wall, there was a decorative wall of weapons that ranged from firearms to small blades. Beside it, a bust of King Tut and a victrola. As the play progressed, it became clear the audience was to pay attention to the décor. The play is set up in the typical sense as all characters and their histories are introduced. Many hints are given toward who the real killer is, keeping the audience guessing. The play ends with a lovable cliché twist. Then, quite literally, at the very last second of the play, the real and unexpected twist is revealed. What was most striking in this performance was how easily the actors slipped into that perfect film noir comedy style, complete with the perfectly timed humour, expressions and twists. It was like watching a live performance of Arsenic and Old Lace. What really helped keep that tone were the characters’ costumes and makeup, which were done to a T. Interestingly,
Randolph J. Johnston looks like the late actor Robert Young, a most likely unintentional coincidence that added to William Gillette’s odd personality. Overall, the acting was well done, with too many unique personalities to call out. The cast worked well together, which showed on stage, especially when someone would accidentally say the wrong thing and delve into hilarious ad libbing with everyone in the scene. Many audience members left after the play with grins on their faces, and many were heard making plans to come back the next night to see the same play once more. The Game’s Afoot kicked off the 2016/2017 season. The Cambridge Community Players will put on three more plays: A Dickens Christmas Carol, Albertine in Five Times and Don’t Dress for Dinner. Tickets for future performances can be purchased at www.cambridgecommunityplayers.com.
PHOTO BY CASSIDY FOULDS
Jaime Doucet and Shane Steward, who play Aggie Wheeler and Simon Bright, pose in front of the set of The Game’s Afoot at the Cambridge Arts Theatre after performing in the two-hour play on Sept. 30. Their next play is A Dickens Christmas Carol, being performed from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10.
PHOTO BY WENDY HUENUL-VALDES
Vendor George Turzanski sells a print of an original old school movie poster at the Kitchener Collectibles Expo Oct. 2 at Bingemans. For video, see www.spokeonline.com.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 SPORTS CONDORS GET DEVOURED BY GRIZZLIES
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PHOTO BY MATTHEW EVANGELISTA PHOTO BY RILEY LINSEMAN
Laura Rumph, the Condor’s backcatcher, waits for the perfect pitch during women’s softball action on Sept. 29.
A scrum is formed by players from Conestoga’s men’s rugby team and those on the Georgian Grizzlies during a game on Oct. 1. A scrum is a faceoff after the ball has gone out of play or there has been an accidental infringement. The Grizzlies won the game 46-17.
It’s time to sign up Softball team’s for winter intramurals season a hit and miss BY ANDREW BENNEY
BY RILEY LINSEMAN
Cool music, good food and flying balls. Sounds like Friday night softball. Last year, as students may remember, Conestoga’s women’s softball team made it to the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) National Championships for the first time. As a quick refresher, the CCSA championships only accept eight out of over 25 university and college teams across Canada. The women’s team earned a spot after finishing second in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association provincial championships.
Women’s softball team plays their next home games on Oct. 16 at 1 and 3 p.m. against Durham. The season this year has been mixed, with almost an equal number of wins and losses. The Conestoga team won both games of a doubleheader on Sept. 30 against Fanshawe by a score of 9-6 in the first game and 7-4 in the second game.
An interesting contrast to the near silence of Condor fans on the one side of the field was the wild cheering of the Falcon fans on the other. The stands and the area around the field were packed. From the Budd Park bleachers to the dotted hills, fans from both the London and Kitchener areas were gathered for the same purpose. “I just thought we’d watch some local college softball,” said Colton Dodsley, a neutral fan who said if he had to pick, he would cheer for Fanshawe. In the second game, the score was tied 3-3 in the fifth inning. However, the momentum changed and Conestoga took the lead in the sixth inning, scoring four runs. The team didn’t do as well against Humber College on Oct. 2, losing 6-5 and 10-8 to the Hawks. The team plays again tomorrow against Fanshawe at Stronach Park in London. They play again at home on Oct. 16 at 1 and 3 p.m. at Budd Park.
The school year is now well underway, and so are all of Conestoga’s intramural sports leagues. Most sports are taking place in the newly renovated recreation centre, with the exception of hockey which is played at the Activa sportsplex on Lennox Lewis Way in Kitchener. With eight sports to choose from, students looking to get some extra exercise this semester certainly had some choices on how to go about doing that. Mondays feature dodgeball and volleyball, followed by basketball and ball hockey on Tuesdays, flag football and hockey on Wednesdays and then soccer and squash on
Thursday nights. Anyone who missed registering in September can still sign up for the winter semester season, which will also feature all of the current indoor sports. Even students with packed schedules can participate thanks to all sports being scheduled to finish by 10 p.m. The one exception to this is hockey, due to it being played off-campus. Kelsey van Ymeren, a fourth-year architectural design student, wishes this was not the case. “I love playing hockey every year, but I’m always home way later than I would like to be. It would be pretty nice if they could kind of move it up a few hours so I can actually wake up easily the
next morning,” he said. Hockey is also the one sport which costs money to register for, with a $100 individual fee required to play. Intramurals are open to all full-time students at both Doon and Cambridge campuses. If students are part-time or attends another campus, they can purchase a recreation centre membership which includes registration for intramural programs. Conestoga’s campus recreation co-ordinators encourage any and all students to come out and enjoy the competition. According to their website, “Intramural sports give you the opportunity to make new friends, stay active and enrich your college experience.”
PHOTO BY ANDREW BENNEY
You will need your ONE card in order to get by the Student Recreation Centre’s front desk receptionist, Scarlett Jarquin. Whether participating in intramurals or just going to work out, remember to keep it with you.