It’s a 450-week streak Condor hosts a weekly potluck and invites all. Page 3 MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015
Rec centre opening delayed
SPOKE
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
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Word on the Street Hundreds gather for this downtown Kitchener festival. Page 6 46TH YEAR — NO. 16
SHANTZ FAMILY FARM A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PUMPKINS, SQUASH AND MORE
BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Conestoga’s athletics and recreation centre, which was supposed to be fully open last month, and then had its opening date changed to December, will now not open until January. At Conestoga Students Inc.’s first board of directors meeting of the school year on Sept. 24, CSI president Jeff Scherer said the delay was caused by difficulty obtaining steel due to switching steel providers. Currently, the old fitness room, which has undergone changes, is open and available for student use. Its current equipment is a preview of the new equipment that will fill the rest of the facility in the new year. The rec centre will also house CSI’s new boardroom, clubs room and a wellness office. CSI is also looking for student feedback in regards to any special equipment they would like to see. One item being considered is a light-weight punching bag. Board members were shown a blueprint of the new rec centre to help them better understand the size and dimensions of various rooms and facilities. Also at the meeting, Jenni Bauer from Student Services gave a presentation on the co-curricular record, an official document, complementary to students’ academic transcript, which recognizes and records learning that they have achieved through approved co-curricular experiences at Conestoga College. The presentation was done in part due to CSI’s new and growing partnership with Student Services and to inform CSI on volunteer student opportunities. The final item discussed at the meeting was printing costs as CSI looks at ways to cut costs for students. Scherer made a motion to stop charging nurses for their sticker name tags that they are required to purchase for their scrubs at the beginning of the year. “The fees only bring in $473 over the whole year,” said Scherer. “They cost like half a penny to make. So, I really need to ask, do we need to be charging for this?” A motion to make the stickers free was carried, with all board members voting in favour of it. The next CSI meeting will be held Oct. 29.
PHOTO BY SARA SASILA
The Shantz family farm, which has been operating since 1870, sells pumpkins and various varieties of squash. It also features a corn maze for older kids and adults and a straw maze for the wee ones. It is located just west of Mannheim, Ont. Above, Keiren Shantz, who hams it up for the camera, is one of eight children who help on the farm. For story and more photos, see Page 7.
New traffic laws could cost you
BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
Many Ontario residents have been adjusting to new driving regulations since Sept. 1, the day they came into effect. However, others aren’t even aware that changes were made. One of the biggest changes was to the consequences for those violating the distracted driving law. Prior to Sept. 1, drivers were subject to a $60 to $500 fine. There is now a mandatory $490 fine as well as the addition of three demerit points. Novice drivers, those without a full letter licence, will be subject to a minimum 30-day licence suspension. According to the Ministry of Transportation, it is currently illegal to “operate hand-held communication and electronic entertainment devices while you’re driving” or “view display screens unrelated to your driving” in Ontario. In addition, drivers will be subject to a $365 fine as well as three demerit points for “dooring” a cyclist or other vehicle. Dooring is when a
person in a parked car opens his door, blocking the path or hitting a cyclist or other vehicle with the door of the car. The third change that will greatly affect drivers, especially around Conestoga College’s Doon campus, is in regards to pedestrian crossovers. This law will not come into effect until January 2016. Under the new legislation, drivers in all lanes will not be allowed to enter an intersection until all pedestrians have crossed from sidewalk to sidewalk. With the main entrance to Doon campus involving a multi-lane intersection, students should be aware of this upcoming change. “The new laws are amazing,” said Victoria Amorim, a second-year office administration-executive student. “It is really going to help keep students safe.” Not all students are as pleased with the legislation, particularly the change in how drivers are expected to handle pedestrian crosswalks. “I don’t like the crosswalk law,” said Amanda French, a
PHOTO BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
Ontario residents are urged to put their phones away while operating their vehicles or face stiff fines and demerit points. second-year office administration – executive student. “When you’re at a busy intersection, like the one just by campus, and you’re trying to make a left-hand turn only one or two cars can get through because you’re waiting so long for students (to cross the road).” When asked, four out of five Conestoga College students at the Doon campus were not
aware of these new rules of the road, despite many articles being published in the past few months. Of those who were aware of the changes, approximately half said they had to actively search for information on the changes themselves. For more information regarding the new laws pertaining to road safety, go to www.ontario. ca/home/ontario-government.
NEWS
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, October 5, 2015
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What is your biggest fear?
“Giant bugs, I hate bugs.” Kyle Thiel, first-year computer programmer/analyst
“Heights.” Ryan Pease, second-year community and justice service
“Emptiness.” Paige Armstrong, second-year dual-credit
“Being helpless when something bad is happening.” Scott Runstedler, second-year business administrative marketing
“Being alone.”
Canadian Youtuber causes controversy BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Many are in agreement, including those at Conestoga College: those taking part in fatshaming should be ashamed. A YouTube video (youtube. com/watch?v=CXFgNhyP4-A) posted on Sept. 3 by Nicole Arbour, a Canadian online comedian, has caused extreme controversy in North America. The video, entitled Dear Fat People, consists of Arbour discussing her distaste and lack of patience for those who are overweight. Arbour claims her comments were not cruel but honest and that those who are “fat” should thank her for doing what their own friends and family can’t. “‘Fat-shaming,’ who came up with that?” said Arbour near the beginning of the over sixminute YouTube video. “That’s brilliant. Shame people who have bad habits until they stop. If I offend you so much that you lose weight, I’m OK with that.” The video has since had 6.4 million views, sparked over 2,000 YouTube video responses and so many dislikes and negative comments that YouTube disabled the comments below the original video. “She obviously knows she went too far,” said Margaret Tavares, a first-year information technology innovation and design student at Conestoga College. “In the video, she said she even was looking forward to people’s comments. She
knows what she did was wrong and she should just apologize.” Two days after the posting of Arbour’s original video, she posted a second video defending her remarks, accusing the public of lacking a sense of humour. On Sept. 16, Arbour appeared on The View, where she defended herself once again, saying, “That video was made to offend people. Just like I do with all the other videos that have satire. That topic was voted in by my fans, some of who are fat.” “I saw some of the reaction videos and the stories were so sad,” said Tavares. “I think all she did was make people who feel overweight, feel even worse after hearing that. I definitely agree that you’ll have health issues if you don’t take care of yourself but that’s not for her to decide.” In 2014, a study of 2,944 participants from the United Kingdom was conducted by the University College London on the effects of fat-shaming. The study concluded that individuals suffering from weight discrimination actually gained more weight, an average of 0.95 kg, while those who weren’t subjected to discrimination lost an average of 0.71 kg. “I would compare fat-shaming to bullying and would consider it to be verbal abuse,” said Deborah Moskal, a cognitive behavioural therapist in Kitchener. “It tends to feed into the person’s already low
opinion of themselves, thereby causing them to emotionally eat to soothe themselves. There are many factors that contribute to obesity and it is seldom as simple as eating more calories than you expend.” Moskal said two-thirds of her patients struggle with being overweight or obese and would either like to, or are working on losing weight, with positive reinforcement and helpful lifestyle changes. “It is important to know that our thoughts produce our emotional consequences (how we feel and what we do),” said Moskal. “Therefore, in order to have neutral or positive emotional consequences, we create thoughts that will produce the emotions and behaviours that we want. The key is not to rely on willpower but by forming thought habits that we can repeat three to five times daily.” While Moskal admits that good and open relationships can create a safe space for talking to loved ones about concern for their weight, she encourages to proceed with caution. “It is important to remember that a person dealing with a weight issue is probably already dealing with so many negative and self-limiting thoughts,” said Moskal. “That could mean comments may seem more like a criticism or an attack on their character, increasing their feelings of worthlessness and decreasing their self-confidence.”
GET INVOLVED FAIR ARRIVES AT COLLEGE
Colton Wilson, second-year protection/security and investigation
“Extreme heights.” Jordan Hamming, first-year woodworking technician
PHOTO BY JESSICA PETT
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Laura Black, Student Life programmer for community initiatives, helped organize the Get Involved Fair on Sept. 23 at the college. For video story, see www.spokeonline.com.
NEWS
Monday, October 5, 2015
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Condor hosts weekly community potluck BY SEAN MALINOWSKI
Are you looking for unique dinner plans this Wednesday night? Al Parrish and Wendy Pearle have hosted a weekly neighbourhood potluck at their Kitchener home for more than 450 consecutive weeks. Every Wednesday evening, they tidy the house, make some pizza or chili, and open their doors. Attendance varies each week, with the average number ranging between 10 and 20 attendees. Occasionally they’ll see just five or six. Sometimes they’ll get up to 30 or 40. Regardless of the number of people, the demographics of the crowd is always different as well. The potluck brings in newborns, teens, grownups and seniors, all brushing shoulders and engaging in conversations under the snug layout of their Duke Street home. Guests can choose where they would like to eat, either on the newly built deck, or in a comfy spot in the living room. Both Parrish and Pearle create such a welcoming environment that even
the most averse neighbour will eventually join in. “People can be a little hesitant at first,” Parrish said. “But they come around.” Their last potluck had an average crowd. Families funneled in as if it was their own home. Parrish and Pearle knew them all by name. They smile and ask how their guests’ weeks have been. Unlike normal dinner hosts who are eager to please and impress, they are both relaxed, serving the meal with ease. Attendees talk over the sounds of forks meeting plates, while kids run laughing in and out of the house. The potluck is famous in the community, enough so that new home owners are aware of its existence far before Parrish or Pearle have the time to formally invite them. They all show up at different times, bringing all sorts of different foods, from casseroles to pastries. Parrish said it’s not a hassle for them. They always get plenty of help with the dishes, and enjoy the abundance of tasty leftovers their guests leave them. What they really
get out of it is far better than a fridge full of Tupperware. “I’ll be making dinner anyway, might as well have some company,” Parrish said. “By far, the most important thing we get out of it is the community.” A trusting community at that. The potluck has developed many new relationships in the Duke Street neighbourhood. So when fellow neighbours need a pet looked after or someone to babysit their child, they know that help is literally doors away. “We borrow each other’s cars, pools, lawn mowers,” Pearle said. “It’s like an unofficial neighbourhood watch, we know everybody.” The pair got the idea for the potluck from living in an eco-village in Ithaca, N.Y., where the community would meet for meals several times a week. When they moved to Kitchener eight years ago, Pearle wanted to incorporate that lifestyle into their new community. The potluck has been going eight years strong ever since. “I didn’t want just a mailbox wave,” Pearle said. “Breaking bread with people, it enhanc-
PHOTO BY SEAN MALINOWSKI
Al Parrish and Wendy Pearle stand in their kitchen after a successful Wednesday night potluck.
es and brings more depth to your life.” Parrish, a second-year radio broadcast student, has had a few fellow Condors stop in for the potluck. He invites
Fundraiser supports cancer society BY LEAH MORROW
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. On average, 68 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer on any given day, and 25,000 will be diagnosed this year. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that breast cancer cases in Ontario will hit 12,730 by 2030 – a 30 per cent increase from 2015. The increase, which is due mostly to the aging population, will create a serious challenge when it comes to the quality of treatment available for patients in the years to come. What can women do to reduce their risk of breast cancer? Recently, employees at a local consignment store called Carousal Clothing put together a fashion show and fundraiser to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Society and help raise awareness. “Everyone knows what normal feels like,” said Alcyia Fisher, one of the event co-ordinators for Carousal Clothing’s “First Ever Breast Cancer Fundraiser.” “If you feel something beyond that, then you should get checked out, early signs help save lives.” Many women are alive today because of early detection. Breast cancer screening programs are set up across Canada that offer regular testing, even if you don’t have symptoms. The Waterloo
everyone looking for a good chat and chow to stop in at 309 Duke St. this Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. Just remember rule No. 1 of potlucks, no knocking.
Town and Gown brings community together BY JOSH VAN OSTRAND
PHOTO BY LEAH MORROW
Ann Neville (left) and Alycia Fisher, employees of Kitchener’s Carousal Clothing consignment store, co-ordinated the “First Ever Breast Cancer Fundraiser” on Sept. 23. The event raised $2,800 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Society. Wellington Breast Centre at Grand River Hospital is one of these, offering mammography services at their 3570 King St. E., Kitchener location. “Everyone should be very in tune with their bodies,” said Fisher. “A lot of people avoid certain signs within themselves. If you feel like something is wrong it probably is.” Knowing personal and family history is also very important, as well as limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy body weight. These are just a few ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Since the 1980s, the Canadian Cancer Society has invested more
than $100 million into breast cancer research and saved 26,000 lives. During October, men and women can paint their nails pink to show support as well as purchase a pink ribbon and wear pink on Friday, Oct. 23. “We have seen so many success stories, but we have also lost a few women, that is why we decided to hold a fundraiser,” said Ann Neville, also an event co-ordinator for Carousal Clothing’s breast cancer fundraiser. Women helping women, that’s what it’s all about.” The event raised $2,800. For more information about breast cancer go to www.cancer.ca
The Town and Gown barbecue on Sept. 22 was held to bring Conestoga students and homeowners living near Doon campus together. The event is thrown every year to encourage and foster community. According to Laura Black, Student Life programmer, the event is always enjoyed by students and their neighbours. “I think it’s a good, safe way to introduce people to one another and to show that the permanent residents aren’t there to harm the students or accuse them of anything,” said Black. “If anything, they’re just wanting to create a relationship so that they can check in with each other before any problems come to fruition.” Feedback after the events has always been positive, Black said, and people are always looking forward to it. “You can never go wrong with activities and free food, and I think that’s a really positive way to start the year. It is a proactive, positive event for students to really get involved in the community.” While this is the only neighbourhood barbecue being held this year, Student Life will be holding a community cleanup event on Earth Day, April 22, as another way for students to give back to the community they live in.
COMMENTARY
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Monday, October 5, 2015
Get out and vote BY ETHAN KOMPF
Low voter turnout is the greatest menace to the democratic process. It is a citizen’s most important duty to vote, because voting is the only way citizens can have a say in their government and policy. The last federal election saw a voter turnout rate of only 61.1 per cent. This means that our government is not an accurate representation of what its electorate desires and 39 per cent of the population is not being represented. The turnout rate of young adults was even worse. According to Elections Canada, only 38.8 per cent of people aged 18-24 voted, which has not changed in any significant way since 2004. When compared to people aged 65-74, who have a 75.1 per cent voter turnout rate, the difference is staggering. There are many reasons youth cite for not voting. One is there is no one to vote for, because no one is addressing them directly. During a campaign, candidates spend the majority of their efforts trying to win over the population which is most likely to vote – that’s just sound strategy. Unfortunately, this means that most political issues which are raised are those which don’t affect younger generations. Many youth believe that their vote is just a drop in the bucket and will not make a difference. According to Statistics Canada, however, there are more than 2.5 million people in Canada between the ages of 18-24. If all of those people voted they would easily make a difference. Major issues concerning youth, such as the rising cost of post-secondary education, are largely overlooked. According to the Canadian Federation of Students, the average debt load of post-secondary graduates is $27,000. This has gone up by $3,000 in the past three years and is expected to climb. These are issues that the government could address – if they had any incentive to. Sadly they do not, when so little of their support comes from youth. The Green Party is the only party which directly addresses student voters, promising free tuition by 2020 and the elimination of any student debt over $10,000. The NDP and Liberals both state that they will create more opportunities for 40,000 young Canadians, but this is not enough and is rarely touched upon in their political conversations. Youth are not being addressed by politicians. The candidates know the statistics and will not waste their time trying to sway a population which will not support them. If youth show up and vote in this election, they will be voting for change, and the parties will have no choice but to address them in the future. 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
Don’t forget to vote on Oct. 19!
Share your reasons to be thankful Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and as Canadians, we have an incredibly long list of things we should be thankful for. Some of these we’ve gradually come to take for granted, like health care, voting rights, education, food and freedom of speech. These are things that people in other countries continue to fight for. Other countries also face major, complicated crises, like Greece’s crumbling economy, Japan’s recent massive flooding and Mexico’s war on drug cartels, while in Syria and Ukraine, to name just two, there are horrendous human rights violations occurring daily. We, as Canadian citizens, should be grateful that we are not Syrian refugees, facing terrible treatment at the hands of traffickers, risking everything for a chance at freedom and safety. These refugees, despite trekking hundreds of miles, are being turned away by countries with enough food, water, shelter, money and space to accept them, but without
Jason Mota
Opinion compassionate enough governments. Canada is one of the countries not doing its part. On Oct. 12 we will sit at our dinner tables, hold hands with our families and give thanks, although for many it will be nothing more than empty words. Some will thank God for their food, but will forget to also thank the farmers around the world who toiled away from sunrise to sunset to bring the food to their tables. We will fail to thank the animals that, often violently, gave their lives for the meal before us. We will later rest our heads on our fluffy pillows, in our warm homes, browsing our phones and making big deals out of the stupid, little things that occur on our social home front, thinking nothing of the overcrowded refugee camps
outside of Syria, ripe with disease and lacking sufficient medical aid, food or space. We will think nothing of the First Nations reserves in our very own province where people fight to maintain a clean source of drinking water. We will not think of the struggles and strife of our fellow humans. Does this make us bad people? No. This just makes us the same lazy people we always were, who, although we may want to deny it, spend more time making excuses to not make a difference than thinking about how we can. There are people in this world who are grateful simply for being alive. So this Thanksgiving, please do something, anything, to help someone else in need, whether in your own city, province, country or somewhere in the world. Donate to a food bank, sponsor a refugee, contribute to relief and cleanup efforts in Nepal or Japan, or hand over some loose change. The list of ways you can help, much like my previous lists, goes on and on and on.
SPOKE
IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Paul Boreham Assignment Editors: Leah Morrow, Garrett Burchett Advertising Managers: Sarah Veenstra, Sara Sasila Spoke Online Editors: Kandace Gallant, Joe Weppler, Christel Allison, Matt Linseman
Production Managers: Jessica Hammer, Ashley Nequest, Ethan Kompf Photo Editors (print): Jenna Braun, Marissa Cuddy, Adam Schwartz, Brea Bergen Photo Editors (online): Emmie Siroky, Sean Malinowski, Jason Mota, Jessica Pett
Social Media Editor: Chris Hussey, Mike Stromme, Josh Van Ostrand Circulation Manager: Michelle Maisonville, Taylor Schweitzer 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.
Monday, October 5, 2015
40th festival a sweet success BY JESSICA HAMMER
The aroma of apple fritters and other wonderful delicacies filled the cool, crisp fall air in Wellesley, Ont. on Sept. 26. Wellesley’s Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, otherwise known as the ABC Festival, was celebrating its 40th anniversary. The town’s main street, arena and roads were full of people from all over the region. The lines for apple fritters and dumplings were long but the delicious apple treats were well worth the wait. Clog dancers from Ontario Rhythm Cloggers entertained those waiting in line. There were over 100 vendors in attendance and the Wellesley library had their annual book sale. A blacksmith demonstration and a 50-50 draw were added to the festival this year. “I thought everyone had lots of fun and there was something for everybody,” said Judy Johnson, a local resident.
Glen Smyth, the founder and CEO of Apple Flats, was one of the vendors at the festival. Along with selling crab apple jelly he was also featuring his new product, a crab apple cocktail mix. “Just talking to people, the thing they would recognize is probably the apple butter and cheese. It’s something that’s important to the community,” Smyth said. “This festival is what brings people home.” Approximately 35,000 people were at the festival this year. “We’ve been very successful for the small town we are,” said Bob Reid, chairman of the ABC festival. Proceeds from the event go toward many projects around town including the arena, park land and sewer systems. The most recent funding was spent on Google Chromebooks for the school. For the festival’s anniversary, signs were put up around town with facts and information about the festival and the local businesses.
NEWS
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PHOTO BY JESSICA HAMMER
Ontario Rhythm Cloggers entertained people in line for apple fritters and dumplings at Wellesley’s Apple Butter and Cheese Festival on Sept. 26.
Returning students struggle with healthy food choices BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
Every student must grab their books, pack their backpack and set their alarm clock prior to heading to school. For many this is the first time they have lived on their own or with roommates. This means most students have to buy their own food and make their own meals. For some students this is no big deal, but for others this means they start reaching for quick and convenient snacks and meals over ones with nutritional value.
With lots of food options on campus, such as Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza, Subway, Be Right Burger and plenty of vending machines, it’s easy for students to just grab food from there instead of going home to make a meal. Beth Hoare, a first-year business administration accounting student, said she’s currently living with her boyfriend and her parents, all of whom are vegetarian. “It’s really hard because I like meat so it’s hard from that aspect, so I’d have to go out if I
PHOTO BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
Josef Birkes, a second-year woodworking technology (co-op) student, gets food from a vending machine on campus, one of the many ways students get quick food while at school.
want a burger,” said Hoare. She also said healthy foods are typically more expensive so often she will reach for unhealthier food simply because it’s cheaper. Hoare said she brings her own lunch and snacks to avoid reaching for all the unhealthy options available on campus. Josef Birkes, a second-year woodworking technology (coop) student, said point blank students are lazy. “No one wants to come home from a full day of school and cook a full-course meal,” he said.
He said he tries to stick to cooking basic foods that don’t take a long time and are easy to make. Lyndsay Enright, Conestoga’s on-campus nurse, agreed with Hoare that because healthy food is more expensive students reach for the cheaper option. “Fast food is cheap. Students don’t have a lot of money so they make choices based on cash flow,” she said. “You’re in a hurry, you grab a bag of chips or you’re running somewhere and you grab a doughnut or a croissant from
Tim Hortons because they’re cheap and they’re quick.” Some tips Enright gave to stay healthy this school year are to make sure you’re eating fruits and vegetables throughout the day and to pay attention to what you’re eating. “If you’re always eating something that is prepared by someone else you don’t have control over what’s going into the preparation” said Enright. She also said to avoid foods that give you a quick energy boost but make you crash later, like energy drinks.
NEWS
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Monday, October 5, 2015
Festival celebrates literacy
BY JOSH VAN OSTRAND
The Word on the Street festival was held in downtown Kitchener Sept. 26 to promote literacy and Canadian authors. It brought artists from all over the region to celebrate the spoken and written word. The festival is part of a national organization, conveniently named Word on the Street, that runs festivals in four major cities across Canada. “Literacy is the building block for everything,” said Laura Reed, a volunteer and representative for the Kitchener Public Library. “The importance of reading is invaluable so we like to promote books and reading and get excited about literacy.” The area outside the Kitchener Market was set up with games, arts and crafts, and a small stage. All morning volunteers read books to children, who attended with their parents, who seemed to enjoy the stories just as much. Further down King Street was the main stage at the Carl Zehr Square, where tables and chairs were set up. On stage, the ever-charismatic Janice Jo Lee, Kitchener’s artist in residence, introduced each performer and did some performing herself. “It’s good to have poetry in the public,” said Lee. “It’s good for your health.” Local artists such as Richard Garvey drew people to the event and as the morning went on, seats filled. By noon, most of the tables were filled. A wood-fired street food cart kept everything smelling like a pleasant fire. Bashar Jabbour and Beth Murch, members of the KW Smash Poetry team, watched
the performances of Lee and Garvey as they got ready to perform themselves. “I think it’s important to support the local arts and use the local spaces we have,” said Jabbour before sharing a poem about authenticity and hummus. “I think it’s important to celebrate literacy and teach people to not be afraid of words,” said Murch. “I think we live in a culture where people are quick to turn on Netflix or get caught up on television and we forget about the power of books and magazines and even blogs. I think it’s important to hold onto that.” Murch performed a poem about why she sings the blues, about personal depression and the desire to feel happy.
“
The importance of reading is invaluable so we like to promote books and reading and get excited about literacy. — Laura Reed
”
Inside city hall, renowned Canadian authors shared readings from their books and advice to young readers and writers. Authors like Kenneth Oppel, known for the Silverwing and Airborn series of young adult fiction, talked about how he got ideas for novels by asking “what if?” Journalist and author, Amanda Lindhout, a journalist who wrote about her experiences being kidnapped and held for ransom in Somalia, was interviewed about her memoir, A House in the Sky.
PHOTOS BY JOSH VAN OSTRAND
The Word on the Street festival took place on Sept. 26. Clockwise from top photo, Kenneth Oppel shares his writing secrets with the audience. Janice Jo Lee, Kitchener’s artist in residence, performs at the event. Bashar Jabbour shares the poem he wrote with the crowd in Carl Zehr Square.
HEALTH STUDENTS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
PHOTO BY MATT LINESMAN
Conestoga paramedic students participated in an ambulance simulation on Sept. 25. Many of the school’s programs feature practical training, including the college’s nursing students. See their story in a video at www.spokeonline.com.
LOCKED DOWN AND NOWHERE TO GO
PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLER
Danielle Koebel, a first-year nursing student at Conestoga College, discusses her experience with Conestoga’s first lockdown drill on Sept. 24. See video story at www.spokeonline.com.
Monday, October 5, 2015
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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October is a month of screams and shrieks BY SARA SASILA
October is screaming season, which could only mean one thing … Halloween is near. From haunted houses to pumpkin picking and carving, Halloween is the best part about October. One of the most popular venues for haunted houses is located right in Kitchener. For the past 10 years, Screampark at Bingemans has featured multiple haunted houses that test the bravest of guests. This year, the park features three haunted houses: Freak Show, Cabin in the Woods and The Dormitory. Each house has its own unique way to make the hairs on your arms stand straight up. “The Dormitory scared me the most,” said Alicia Hoffman, a visitor at the park who attended opening night. “I don’t think I’ve ever screamed as loud as I did in there, it was horrific.” Sarah Wood, another visitor, said she couldn’t believe how realistic the haunted houses were. “I actually felt like I was in a horror movie.” Bingemans showcases other Halloween events, such as
the Saints and Sinners Ball, 13 Hours of Hell and Horror Cinema Night, but none are as popular as Screampark. “Going to Screampark is my favourite thing to do during the Halloween season,” said Hoffman. “I’ve been going every year and every year it gets better.” Since Screampark has been open, over 6,000 visitors have chickened out. “I love how scary it gets,” said Ben Seymour, a firstyear community and justice student at Conestoga College. “One moment you’re completely fine, the next you’re screaming for your life. It’s great.” If you aren’t sprinting for your life, each house takes about seven minutes to go through. Each house costs $12. “The scariness never stops,” said Wood. “Every corner you turn there is something waiting for you. I’ve been to a lot of haunted houses, but Screampark never seems to disappoint.” Another Halloween favourite is visiting family farms and picking out pumpkins to carve. The Shantz Family Farm, located at 1544 Bleams Rd. in
PHOTOS BY SARA SASILA
Above, various Bingemans’ Screampark actors stroll around the park scaring visitors. Top right, the Anderson family enjoys a visit to the Shantz family farm on Sept. 26. The farm is now open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., until Nov. 1. Right, the Shantz family’s colourful fall decorations, which they made by hand, welcome visitors.
PHOTO BY SARAH VEENSTRA
Bingemans opened its haunted Screampark gates on Sept. 25 for its 10th year. The park features haunted houses that petrify guests. Petersburg, has been in business since 1870. While they don’t focus on just Halloween, the farm has a variation of Halloween fun-filled activities for everyone to enjoy during the season. “Our focus is more on fall family farm fun, rather than Halloween,” said Angela Shantz, one of the owners of
the farm. “We do not focus on the theme of Halloween, other than to sell pumpkins for people to carve, but we do offer other activities for the celebration.” Shantz said, “We sell around 20,000 pumpkins and squash yearly.” Shantz’s husband designs a large corn maze every year
for visitors along with a small kiddie-sized straw maze for children to enjoy to celebrate the month of Halloween. “Our straw and corn mazes were created with family fun in mind,” Shantz said. “We feel fortunate to be able to share a bit of what we have to create a family experience for others in the community.”
NEWS
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Monday, October 5, 2015
Programs start with collaborations BY CHRIS HUSSEY
Do the next generation of health professionals have the means to care for the dying? With two new programs, Conestoga College might be able to say yes. The college introduced two certificate programs in the spring designed for registered nurses and personal support workers to give them the skills to provide end-of-life care, otherwise known as palliative care. The National Cancer Institute website defines palliative care as, “care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease.” It notes that the goal is not to cure any diseases a patient might have but rather to pro-
vide comfort and support. The programs were introduced in an effort to fulfill the growing demand for endof-life care. Don Wildfong, chair of continuing education and specialty programs at Conestoga College, said most Canadians would prefer to die in their home if the services, like palliative care, were available to them. He added that these services are currently not available to the extent they need to be. “Conestoga has received a lot of positive feedback on the role we’re playing by putting these two new programs out there,” he said. The programs were developed in collaboration with Lisaard House, a residential cancer hospice in Cambridge. It’s a six-bed hospice, and
NEW BOOTHS ELECTRIFYING
PHOTO BY JASON MOTA
New booths magically appeared outside of Conestoga’s newly renovated Library Resource Centre on Sept. 28. The booths are already popular, especially since they feature electrical outlets.
struggled to meet the demand for end-of-life care. In fact, in 2013, the hospice was only able to accommodate 147 of the 391 residents who requested care, according to the Lisaard House website. In an effort to expand its impact, the hospice worked with the college to establish a new residence, Innisfree House, which opened its doors on July 9. While Lisaard House still operates from Cambridge, Innisfree House sits on Conestoga College land in Kitchener and is a 10-bed hospice. Marlene Raasok, executive dean of the college’s School of Health and Life Sciences and Community Services, said this collaboration provides many benefits for the community. She also
said the additional placement opportunities that these programs provide ensure that they are beneficial for students too. “We can make the programs we have at the Doon campus more impactful because we have real life learning coming from industry,” she said. Raasok said this might impact more areas of the college beyond these two programs. She listed potential opportunities for media students to do media work for the organizations as one example. Like many programs at Conestoga College, the programs combine classroom theory with hands-on experience. Students in these programs get direct experience working alongside health profession-
als within Innisfree House itself, and Wildfong said having an opportunity to work with experts in this setting is invaluable. Although the programs are still young, they are already being recognized and sought out from outside the community. According to Wildfong, Steadman Community Hospice in Brantford asked the college if they would be able to run the programs directly within their hospice. He said that would start in November. Raasok said improving endof-life care for patients who are dying is an important part of care for people in the community. “We believe we’re able to do a better job of supporting that with these courses,” she said.
CONESTOGA BREAKERS CLUB WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
PHOTO BY CHRIS HUSSEY
Kevin Nguyen, a Conestoga Breakers Club member, performs a hip-hop dance during a club meeting on Sept. 22. The club often has informal meetings several days a week, but their official meeting day is on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in the Atrium. Everyone, regardless of skill or experience, can join.
Why is pain not bringing students’ gain?
BY KANDACE GALLANT
Students who have threehour lectures or longer may be finding it a pain. Literally. Teenagers today are complaining about sore backs now more than ever. Scoliosis, a common back issue in which your spine has a curve, has become a serious issue in children and teenagers who are still growing. Some cases are only minor and the curvature of the spine can be 10 degrees or less, but in severe cases the degree will continue to get worse. It is found more often in females and one in 10 people who have it will need correctional surgery. Does Conestoga College provide for students who have
issues like this, or something similar? John Anderson, who works in the Occupational Safety office, said he doesn’t normally receive complaints from students regarding discomfort caused by furnishings or equipment. He said the job of the staff is to ensure the school is up to code with the Health and Safety Act. But he agreed most staff and students are sitting for long periods at a time. “Workers who have duties that are primarily at a computer workstation and are in a seated position for extended periods of time are most at risk. Alternating tasks, positions and taking micro-breaks are methods that reduce the risk.” Students who sit in three-
hour lectures admitted that it definitely takes a toll after a while on their body. Madison Fennell, a first-year student in pre-health sciences, said she gets very uncomfortable. “I end up losing focus on what’s going on in the lecture because all I’m thinking about is ways to take the discomfort away.” She suggested maybe having cushions for some classrooms that have harder chairs, but every classroom is different and the cost might be too high. “Chairs in the D-wing are terribly uncomfortable. The chairs in F-wing are great,” said Janet Mannella, manager of the Occupational Safety office. “But I have not had any student requiring
accommodation with sitting.” Another student, Meghan Fennell, who is in her third year in practical nursing, also suggested having cushions in certain classrooms, but said it might be too expensive. “More breaks might be necessary too for longer classes so we aren’t stuck sitting for hours at a time,” she said. “I definitely focus more on how uncomfortable I am in lectures. I try to find ways to rid the pain in my back or legs.” When asked if he had suggestions for students on how to be more comfortable in class, Anderson said they should practise proper posture while in a seated position and try to find several different positions to alternate
between. “Incorporate some stretching when required to sit for extended periods,” he said. “For students who do have issues with back or hips when seated in class, I would refer them to Accessibility Services and a physician. Proper posture early in their career would be beneficial long term.” Are students too afraid to admit that they’re uncomfortable in class? As rates in scoliosis continue to increase in young adults, will the school start to receive more complaints? If you do have an issue and need to talk to someone about it, Accessibility Services is always available for students with medical or accessibility issues.
NEWS
Monday, October 5, 2015
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Revolutionizing horse care
BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
You’ve probably heard of devices for humans that track calories burned, heart rate and steps taken, but did you know there’s now a similar device for horses? Jessica Roberts, a Conestoga College graduate, was in her final semester of business administration – marketing when she had to work with a client for her applied marketing class. That’s when she met Peter Mankowski. At the time Makowski was working on Cleo Collar, a device similar to SeeHorse, but for cats and dogs. Cleo Collar was intended to be used to track steps, calories burned, temperature, respiratory functions and the fitness level of the cat or dog it was attached to. “When I was sitting there listening (to his presentation) I’m like, well, no wonder it’s not working for the dogs and cats, it’s perfect for horses,” said Roberts “That’s your whole livelihood.” When Mankowski heard Roberts’ idea of making it for horses instead of cats and dogs, he thought it was a great idea, and decided to set Cleo Collar aside. Together the two launched SeeHorse. Since then Roberts, who is the business development manager, has worked at bringing SeeHorse to life. “Jessica was very persuasive ... I never thought the horse industry was an opportunity to be successful selling
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Jessica Roberts, co-founder and business development manager of SeeHorse, is shown with her horse Buddha which wears one of the SeeHorse devices attached to its bridle. The device sends various information to an app, including heart rate and temperature. to. Before I met her I never considered doing this for horses,” Mankowski said. The device attaches to the horse’s bridle or halter, between the eye socket and ear, and sends the information
it collects to the app on your phone through Bluetooth. There are three SeeHorse models, the SeeHorse Trot, the SeeHorse Canter and the SeeHorse Green. The SeeHorse Trot is the
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES IN THE REGION
PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Light Rail Transit construction continues in the region. Regional Road 6A is one of the locations affected by this project. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
most basic model. It tracks the horse’s steps, calories, movement and activity. The SeeHorse Canter tracks steps and calories as well, but also tracks the horse’s heart rate, temperature and
respiratory rate. It also has a movement function so you can monitor when the horse is walking or trotting. The SeeHorse Green is the same as the Canter, but also has an energy harvester. This charges when the horse moves around so it doesn’t have to be taken off the horse to be charged, unlike the other models. “There’s nothing like this in the horse industry yet, everything is really traditional and kind of old school so this is the first thing that’s kind of revolutionizing how people care for their horse,” said Roberts. Although the devices are not currently available, Mankowski said they have over $50,000 in pre-orders. They expect to double that amount by the time the devices are ready for use, although Mankowski didn’t know when that would be. Mankowski said they are also planning on branching into making these kinds of devices for farm animals as well, like milking cows. “Now that people know more about SeeHorse we are receiving requests to build SeeHorse-like devices for agriculture,” he said. Mankowski said the devices will be manufactured locally. “This region used to have lots of manufacturing, now it’s gone ... this is just my small attempt to bring some jobs back,” he said. “I will register less profit for every device sold, but I want to create jobs locally.”
FUN & GAMES
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Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of October 5, 2015
Aries
March 21 April 19 When life gets busy, remember to take time for you. Centre yourself and find peace.
Taurus April 20 May 20
A busy and stressful time approaches, but keep motivated and power through it. You’ll be glad you did.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Take the time to talk things out. Hearing different points of view will help you come to the right decision.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Take a moment to assess your financial decisions. A rash choice may come back to bite you.
Leo
July 23 August 22 The world won’t end if you have a little fun. Blow off some steam and come back to a task recharged and ready to go.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Sometimes it’s good to take a risk. Just close your eyes and jump, good things will happen.
A healthy (non-color-blind) human eye can distinguish between 500 shades of grey.
Libra
A syzygy occurs when three astronomical bodies line up.
September 23 October 22
Shakespeare invented the word “assassination” and “bump.”
Happiness will find you when you least expect it. So stop looking so hard, and wait for it to find you.
Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day!
Scorpio
There is a town called Okay, OK. It has a population of 600 people.
October 23 November 21 Friends help us lighten our burdens. Don`t be afraid to ask for help.
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.
Don’t be discouraged when things don’t work. Stick with it, the results will be worth it.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
Stop and listen to the world around you. Inspiration is all around us.
Word Search
Aquarius January 20 February 18
A focused mind helps you avoid disaster. Listen to your instincts.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Don’t be afraid to help others, the best
Go forth and make all these things happen. It is written in the stars.
NEWS
Monday, October 5, 2015
STUDENTS PROVE THEY’VE GOT THE MUSIC IN THEM
PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDY
Derek Drury, an IT innovation and design student, tests out the drums at the Music Club’s booth at Clubs Day at Conestoga College on Sept. 24. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
Star gazers migrate to Waterloo Park BY JENNA BRAUN
The constellations shifting west are one way to signify the arrival of fall. For star gazers, Sept. 27 was a particularly special night. People of all ages bundled up and headed to Waterloo Park, awaiting nightfall. Kitchener-Waterloo’s Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (KW-RASC) hosted a “star party” at the park in celebration of Astronomy Day, a worldwide event observed each spring and fall. It was also a perfect time to view the rare lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into Earth’s shadow and appears darkened. This lunar eclipse was a full super moon lunar eclipse combination which is quite uncommon; it hasn’t occurred since 1982 and won’t occur again until 2033. According to www.space. com, a super moon is a full moon at perigee (the point in orbit of the moon when it is nearest to Earth). The moon appears abnormally large; 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than apogee full moons (farthest from Earth).
PHOTO BY ETHAN KOMPF
A rare supermoon eclipse began at 8 p.m. on Sept. 27, lasting five hours. This was the first of its kind in 30 years. Cloud cover prevented most of the region from seeing the event. This is the moon nearing the end of the eclipse when it finally became visible. It is also nicknamed “blood moon” for its bright red glow. “Every sunset on Earth is refracted, making (the moon) extremely red,” said Stephen Holmes, a KW-RASC member. There were quite a few clouds obstructing the view of the blood moon, but astron-
omy lovers came out regardless. KW-RASC members brought several telescopes to the park so visitors could take a better look. Star constellations and even Saturn are usually visible this time of year. “KW-RASC’s mission is to encourage inquiries and questions about our universe,” said Holmes. “We think it’s important to know what’s out there. Earth is just a tiny pebble.” According to Holmes, the club has been operating since the early 1900s. KW-RASC members don’t have to be scientists, only individuals with a passion for astronomy. “When I was a young fella, I spent many nights on the roof of my parents’ house, star gazing,” said Holmes. The astronomy enthusiast said KW-RASC offers informative public meetings, free of charge, as well as an observational beginner’s stargazing 101 club. “We get a thrill, standing under the night sky,” he said. “I like to think people (left) with a better understanding of what Earth’s place in the universe is.”
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Worth the vote
So, you want to change Canada? Well, here is what you have to do on Oct. 19, vote. I don’t care who you vote for, but you have to vote. Many of the most apathetic voters are young people who think their vote means nothing. We all know that’s just a bunch of malarkey. If you want to see real change, if you want Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau, Steven Harper or Elizabeth May to pay attention, you have to give them a reason. According to Youthvote.ca, 71 per cent of Canadians are dissatisfied with politics, yet only 60 per cent of Canadians voted and only 38 per cent of young Canadians voted in the 2011 federal election. We blame the politicians for not distinguishing themselves, but we don’t give them any reason to, because we don’t vote. If we want the party representatives to listen we have to give them a reason to. The only way to do that is through action, not inaction. It’s not as though the options are not there. Although the parties’ platforms don’t distinguish themselves particularly well, there is a difference between them. Mulcair and Trudeau both want to change the way the election system works in Canada, citing flaws in our First Pass the Post system. Mulcair even expresses interest in abolishing the Senate and in regulating, taxing and legalizing marijuana, while Trudeau wants to decriminalize it. May strongly supports moving away from fossil fuels and developing new ways of generating renewable
Adam Schwartz
Opinion
energy and wants to make sure that our Canadian environment remains protected and pristine. Harper emphasizes economic security and tax relief for small businesses. It’s because so few young people vote that politicians don’t target their campaigns toward them. If you want to win you have to target the older demographic. They do vote, they will vote. That’s the reason why Harper also promises a $2,000 tax credit to single seniors if re-elected. It’s a pretty sweet deal for an aging population. We could have cheaper education, maybe a free post-secondary system. Unfortunately, that was something we didn’t bother to take advantage of. But that was before and we can now. There are resources available to help educate voters about the nuances between the political parties, like Votecompass.cbc.ca. These can point you toward the parties which most closely align with your political leanings. Will the change be immediate? No, it won’t. Rarely does change ever have an immediate, gratifying payoff. Change might not come this election, but with the casting of each ballot, politicians will have little choice but to take notice.
NO FEAR AT CSI’S ZOO TO YOU EVENT
PHOTO BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
Pamela Fraser (left) and Candice Fendelet, fourth-year accounting audit and information technology degree students, hold bearded dragons on Sept. 22 at CSI’s Zoo to You event.
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Monday, October 5, 2015
Grads say goodbye to fallen classmate Helicopter crash takes life of former Conestoga student
BY PAUL BOREHAM
Graduates and faculty of the aviation program at Conestoga College are in shock over the death of a wellloved colleague. Jeremie Belanger, 24, from Kapuskasing, graduated from the program in May 2014, and was an employee with Apex Helicopters Inc., based in Wingham, when the accident took place. The Waterloo Region Record reported the company had an aerial spraying contract south of Timmins, and on the evening of Sept. 8 Belanger and another employee, Ken Mielke, 41, from Kitchener, went missing while flying to a nearby camp. Belanger was the pilot in command. A massive search was undertaken, the report said, and on Sept. 11, Apex owner Chris Vankoughnett found his missing helicopter, along with the bodies of the two men. The aircraft had crashed in an area of dense bush. “Everyone treated it as a lost helicopter,” said Kerry Townson, co-ordinator of the aviation program. “They weren’t expecting to find a crash; they were expecting to find them and bring them back.” What made it even more heartbreaking was the fact that Belanger had established himself as the most kind, fun-loving companion to the rest of the students in his program, not to mention the faculty. He was also a top student with high involvement in school activities. The aviation program partners with Great Lakes Helicopters and Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre at the Region of Waterloo Airport. Students choose rotary wing or fixed wing flight training as an elective. Belanger and Shane Chambers were the only two out of approximately 27 students who chose to be helicopter pilots. “I remember the first day of class,” Chambers said. “He knew everybody by name, and was friends with everyone. One of the first breaks we had, we were all going down the hallway, and he’s right in the middle, talking to people, and we’re laughing our heads off.” The two pushed each other to excel, both in the flight training and on the academic side. “We were within five per cent of each other all the time, so it was pretty cool,” said Chambers, who now teaches ground school for Great Lakes. Chambers ended up
graduating with honours, Belanger with distinction, perhaps because Belanger was busy helping others with their studies. “He was big on that – especially with math and physics. If they had trouble, he would tutor them, sometimes staying up pretty late,” said Chambers. At the flight school, Belanger would sometimes be found taking catnaps on a comfy chair, from the late nights. Chambers smiled when remembering this about his friend. Jeremie had wanted to fly helicopters his whole life, said Chambers. His “end-all, be-all job” was heli-ski pilot. This involves taking skiers and snowboarders to remote mountaintops and dropping them off. As one might imagine, landing on some unknown, craggy outcrop can take some skill. Chambers painted a vivid picture of a helicopter landing on a mountainous ledge with skis half on the snow, the other half hanging mid-air while the skiers jump off and Belanger flying away through the wild and snowy mountains. “Helicopter pilots are the adventurous type,” said Chambers. It would have taken him five to 10 years to achieve that goal, he said. At the college, Belanger promoted the program to the hilt. Both Belanger and Chambers were on the program advisory committee, or PAC, and “they presented the best report the committee had ever seen or heard,” said Townson. She added that Belanger “helped with orientation, career fair and open house. “Jeremie was outgoing, friendly, he would help anyone with anything,” she said. “In a team situation he would take the lead and organize things. He was always happy, always had a smile on his face. He was a real cheerleader for Conestoga.” Over at Great Lakes Helicopter, Jo Anne Leyburne, general manager, has the same sentiment. “Jeremie helped out at every single event we had, from monthly informational sessions, to ride events. I don’t think there’s one he missed.” Belanger and Chambers often did these together. Graduation for the class was in May, 2014. Chambers said Belanger had been out job hunting since February, and landed the job with Apex. The first summer he was on ground crew, driving a truck, refueling aircraft, etc., but
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Shane Chambers (from left), flight instructor Adam Tastula and Jeremie Belanger are shown at graduation in May 2014. Belanger and Chambers took helicopter training together through the aviation program at Conestoga College. Belanger died in a helicopter crash on Sept. 8. in the summer of 2015 he was promoted to flight crew. Their contract in September brought Belanger close to his hometown of Kapuskasing. The crew was spraying chemicals for a forest operation, he said. And then, the accident happened. By this time, many of Belanger’s classmates had spread themselves across the country, having obtained jobs of their own. On Sept. 8, news of the missing helicopter rallied them. When the helicopter was found, they came from all corners – some by aircraft, some driving 11 hours by car. They came from the east and the west, as far north as Yellowknife and Rankin Inlet and south from the Kitchener area. All but two were able to make it to Kapuskasing and say a final farewell to their classmate, who had helped them out so much, who had been the “entertainer” of the group, the “rock star,” as one of his teachers wrote in an email. “It definitely sucks to say goodbye to a friend. But the way they did it, it was a good tribute to him,” said Chambers. The night before the funeral, the class had a gathering in the local rec centre, where photos were shown and stories told well into the morning hours. “Being who he was, so many were funny stories, and it actually got people laughing, rather than getting down
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Belanger, a graduate of the aviation program, took his first solo helicopter flight on Dec. 14, 2012. about it,” he said. The crash has caused all kinds of rumours. Chambers wonders what happened. They’d had so much training. It could easily have been himself, he said. “He was such a natural pilot,” Chambers said. “Of all the students at Great Lakes, he was probably, if not one of the best, the best. He was always further ahead in training than the rest of us.” Chambers said it could be a year before Transport Canada finishes its investigation. Leyburne, who presented Belanger with his commer-
cial helicopter pilot licence 16 months ago, said the school and the flying community has been shaken. She and her husband, Bill Leyburne, owner of Great Lakes Helicopter, went to Kapuskasing for the funeral and were touched by all the classmates and friends that gathered to say goodbye. “He was a wonderful kid. I know every time something like this happens, you say they were a good person, but he just truly was. He had the smarts about him, knew what he wanted, and was going for it. It’s just tragic.”