Tea time Beverage changes woman’s life. Page 8
MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013
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Cosplayer passionate about creating costumes.
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR J OUR NA LI SM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
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44TH YEAR - NO. 4
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lenges facing First Nations people and communities and the effects of Bill C-45 on indigenous people and the environment. He also praised the young native people who are spear heading the Idle No More movement, using social media to get the message out to people across the country. Young people such as C onestoga’s Stephanie Tschirhart. Tschirhart said it can be a bit of a struggle trying to grapple with all of the issues being raised. “I was raised predominantly in a Caucasian family, so I never really knew my native roots until I started learning when I was about 15 years old.” Tschirhart started going to the Aboriginal Services cen tre at the college where she said she’s been learning many things about her culture and history. But it was Idle No More that pushed her to become more involved. “It sparked something in me,” she said. “I don’t know what or where or how it came about but it just made me very interested to learn more and more and more.”
The name Janie Renwick may not ring any bells with Conestoga College students, but a recent Waterloo Region Record story that published her annual salary raised questions about who she is and what she does. Renwick is the general man ager of Conestoga Students Inc., and according to the Record article, she makes $92,000 annually. Her earnings were pub lished, along with those of several other student gov ernment general m anag ers from Waterloo Region, after controversy erupted at McMaster University in Hamilton over the allocation of student fees by their parttime students’ association, whose executive director was paid $126,151 in 2011, according to the Hamilton Spectator. Though The Record cited Renwick’s supervised staff as being 10 full-time employ ees, her staff also includes more than 40 part-time employees. While it’s not $126,000, Renwick’s paycheque is a con siderable amount - one that Ciara Byrne, the president of CSI, says is completely justi fied given Renwick’s respon sibilities. “She’s the adviser to the board, she manages the whole organization, she deals with the financials and she sits on every college committee there is,” said Byrne, explain ing that everything CSI does, Renwick’s name is attached to - including every risk. “God forbid a student drives home drunk and dies or gets hurt. She can be sued not only through the company, but per sonally because her name’s on the liquor licence.”
SEE IT IS TIME, PAGE 3
SEE SALARY, PAGE 3
PHOTO BY LINDSAY TESSIER
Aboriginal Services manager Myeengun Henry, Conestoga student Stephanie Tschirhart and Metis elder Jan Sherman spoke to a group of first-year students about the Idle No More Movement on Jan. 18.
Idle No More sparks conversation BY LINDSAY TESSIER
Idle No More. It’s a phrase that’s been popping up in newspapers, around water coolers and on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Yet some Canadians still don’t know what it’s all about. Myeengun Henry wants to change that. Henry, m anager of Aboriginal Services . at Conestoga College, met with a group of first-year journalism print students to talk about the growing Idle No More movement and dispel some of the common misconceptions surrounding it. “That’s why Idle No More is here,” said Henry. “To address some of these con cerns with people because racism and stereotypes and anger against a segment of the population starts to increase when you don’t understand the issues. “I think it’s at that stage where people need to know what it is all about, the issues at stake and how they affect everyone, not just aboriginal people.” Metis elder Jan Sherman and Conestoga police foun dations student Stephanie Tschirhart also shared their
experiences with the class. The grassroots movement Idle No More is rapidly gain ing indigenous and nonindigenous support across the country. Yet some Canadians are still scratching their heads wondering what it’s all about. The movement began in late October, when four women in Saskatchewan began a conversation through email about Bill C-45, which had just been introduced in Ottawa. Sylvia McAdams, Nina Wilson, Sheelah Mclean and Jessica Gordon were concerned the bill eroded indigenous rights and put federally protected waterways at risk. However, Idle No More is not simply a protest against Bill C-45. The movement wants to start a conversa tion among Canadians about aboriginal issues in general. They started organizing “teach-ins” in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert to bring awareness to these issues. To help spread the word they turned to Facebook and Twitter, using the slogan Idle No More as a rallying cry. That conversation went viral as people around the world used social media to
express their solidarity with Idle No More. The movement gained wider attention in late November and early December with what were called flash mob round dances at shopping malls. More events began pop ping up across Canada. The movement has now received support from people around the world.
" I think it’s at that stage where people need to know what it is all about, the issues at stake and how they affect everyone, not just aboriginal people." - Myeengun Henry Round-dance flash mobs perform ed in New York, W ashington, D.C., and Chicago, to name just a few American cities. Video messages of support (soli darity) have been uploaded to YouTube from around the globe, including Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico and France. Henry spoke about the chal-
NEWS
Page 2 ♦ SPOKE
Monday, January 28,2013
Health plan has you covered Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College BY HEATHER KENNERY
Random
questionsanswered by
If you could get paid in anything other than money, what would it be?
“Camera equipment. That would be awesome.” Zak Whitford, second-year journalism broadcast
“Land or property,”
Steven Oaks, second-year accounting
“Free vacations.”
Latysha Felix, first-year general arts and science
“I like baseball, so ... baseballs.”
George Jayaweera, second-year protection/security and investigations
“Self growth and gaining skills.”
Alannah Garslde, post-grad human resources
“Food.”
Diane Sousa, first-year bookkeeping
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
The sounds of sniffling fill the hallways at Conestoga College. Getting sick at this time of year isn’t unusual but with all the benefits that come with the Student Health Plan, you would think more of us wouldn’t be sporting Rudolph’s red nose. Conestoga Students Inc. offers health coverage for Conestoga students under the age of 71 and who are in a full-time, fee-paying program. Most students are eligible but, like any insur ance, there are restrictions. To find out more information on this you can visit the CSI Health and Wellness Centre on Doon campus, located in Room 2A100. The benefits cover most of your medical needs includ ing dental, prescriptions and vision care. Monica Suljovic, health plan administrator, said finding information on what your CSI health and den tal plans cover is simple.
“Students can easily find information on what their ben efits cover by visiting www. mystudentplan.ca, or by drop ping by my office (Room 2A100) to pick up a brochure and ask ing me any questions that they may have,” Suljovic said. The CSI health plan also covers supplemental health care such as massage ther apy, physiotherapy and chi ropractor. For students who like to take a more organic approach to medicine, naturo path is also covered. If you’re needing some relaxation you can visit the Massage Therapy Clinic on campus for a hot stone mas sage. The CSI health plan covers massage therapy when it is referred by a physician. When covered by the health plan a hot stone massage costs $12 for a half hour or $18 for an hour. Regular mas sages range from $10 to $16 depending on length of time. Students who are not covered by the health plan or do not have a doctor’s referral can still get a massage, but the
cost increases to $50 to $80 for a regular massage and $60 to $90 for a hot stone mas sage. Getting an appointment is easy. Book it online by going to www.conestogastudents.com and then clicking on services, massage therapy. Another place in Conestoga you can visit for your health needs is Health Services, located in Room 1A102. They are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday and have an on-campus physician and a chiropractor. They also hold annual flu clinics among other things. To see the doc tor, who is on campus parttime, you need to book an appointment by calling 519748-5220, ext 3679, or visit the Health Services office. Susan Wienecke of Health Services said you can learn about all the services they offer by visiting Conestoga’s home page, and clicking on Student Services and then Health Services. You can also follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/conestogahealth.
NEWS
Monday, Januaiy 2 8,2013
Salary the norm: Renwick ♦ FROM PAGE 1
Renwick has held her cur rent position for four years and her responsibilities include overseeing CSI’s staff ing and organization, making sure every service area runs smoothly, handling business negotiations and signing con tracts that affect all campus es. Renwick says her pay can not be compared to anyone else’s. “There’s different dynamics. How long have they been in their position? I’ve been here for 14 years. I have a lot of experience under my belt,” said Renwick, who graduated from the office administra tion executive program at Sir Sandford Fleming College and filled various positions there over the years before joining the team at Conestoga
as executive assistant to the Doon Student Association, (CSI’s predecessor), in 1999. Renwick was recruited internally and hired to her current position in 2009, with a starting salary of $ 88, 000 .
That wage was determined using a website specifically designed to compare wages across all industries. At PayScale.com users enter specific information about location, duties, staff, expe rience and years of service, and are presented with the spectrum of wages for similar positions. According to Byrne, all CSI staff pay is in the 50th per centile, including Renwick’s,
and this is comparable to the wages of other general man agers in the region. The Record published the earnings of the student gov ernment managers at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, whose earnings were both in the $73,000 to $109,000 range, a $36,000 difference that Renwick says is stan dard across the board. “We’re all within that range. That’s what we get paid.” While the pay is good, it isn’t the only silver lining. “It’s giving back to the stu dents - that’s the key thing. There are some people who can work in this area and there are some people who cannot. “I personally have loved it here and I’ve had the oppor tunity to grow and I’m very fortunate,” Renwick said.
SPOKE ♦Page 3
I t is time for things to change’ ♦ FROM PAGE 1
She said many classmates who know that she is aborigi nal approach her and ask her questions about Idle No More but she doesn’t always have answers for them. “So it’s nice for me to know that other people are inter ested to learn about it as well but I need to learn and I need to be educated so that I can help educate people.” Jan Sherman, a Metis Elder, described Idle No More as being about “peacefulness and friendliness and coming together.” She said she found the outpouring of support from non-indigenous Canadians at a recent rally in Guelph
encouraging. “We had between 375 and 500 people there,” she said. “But I will tell you that prob ably 70 per cent of those people were not aboriginal and they were there with big clear voices saying enough is enough. “It’s time for things to change and we’re standing shoulder to shoulder with you because we know it’s not just about you. It’s about all of us.” Aboriginal Services is planning a teach-in event to show solidarity with the Idle No More movement on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Myeengun hopes to address the many questions that stu dents and faculty have.
SNOW DAYS MAKE GREAT TUBING
DAYS
PHOTO BY ALLANAH PINHORN
Conestoga College students Kevin Bluck and Tori Denby have been elected to Waterloo Region’s triPride board of directors. By using the skills they’ve gained at the college they hope to help tri-Pride grow in 2013. Charlene LeDuc, another Conestoga student, was also elected to the board.
Three students join tri-Pride board with more than 7,000 peo ple attending the festival Conestoga College has in 2012, rivaling Ottawa’s long been a place of higher Capital. Pride in size and learning, preparing young scope. and old minds alike for their The weeklong event, held future endeavours; for three every June in downtown Conestoga students their Kitchener, includes live enter proving ground is the tri- tainment, food and licensed Pride board of directors. beer areas, silent auctions Kevin Bluck, Tori Denby and the Miss tri-Pride pag and Charlene Le Due are eant. about to undertake their As two of the 17 members first term on the board for , Bluck, a second-year public Waterloo Region’s annual relations student, and Denby, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisex who is in her second year of ual, transgender and queer) rec and leisure, are thrilled to festival. be working with tri-Pride to Called tri-Pride, it has plan and execute new events been a LGBTQ celebration and keep old traditions, such in the region since 1995 as Lesbo Bingo, the GLOW when a mere 86 people Bonfire and Cliterature, attended the first gathering going. at Kitchener’s city hall. It’s Both Bluck’s and Denby’s now the third largest pride programs lend themselves to celebration in Ontario, their new positions. BY ALLANAH PINHORN
“I’m excited to put my skills to use,” said Denby, who will more than likely be working with volunteers and youth. “There is such a variety in what people’s strengths are and with those better resourc es we have better means to grow.” Bluck agrees. “It’s exciting to be a large contributing factor to the growth of the event.” Bluck will use his PR skills in promotions, publications and media-related endeav ours within the community, a community that has been supportive and involved. “Community, tolerance, acceptance, that’s it, I think, at the end of the day. It’s forging ties and bonds,” Bluck said. “When passion drives you, you can go a lot further.”
PHOTO BY ROB MENDONSA
Despite the frigid temperatures, people were out enjoying some tubing fun at Chicopee Tube Park on Jan. 20. Costs range from $19 - $24. The park is located at 1600 River Rd. in Kitchener and is open seven days a week.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 ♦SPOKE
Monday, January 28,2013
Armstrong a fraud BY KRISTIN MILANI
Lance Armstrong has been one of the biggest names in the athletic world for more than 10 years. He was renowned for holding a record seven consecutive Tour de France titles and was once seen as an inspirational cancer survivor who accomplished something no one else had. On Jan. 17, 2013, all of that came to an end. Back in October, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency stripped him of all seven titles. Eleven days ago, the International Olympic Committee took away his bronze medal. After years of denying allegations of doping, Armstrong finally came clean in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Jan. 17. It took him 13 years to man up and do the right thing. Winfrey asked him to answer a series of questions with a yes or no answer. When asked if he used performance enhancing drugs such as human growth hormones, eryth ropoietin (EPO), testosterone and cortisone, Armstrong answered yes. He also admitted to blood doping before all seven Tour de France races and other competitions. This type of situation shakes people's beliefs about accomplishment and success to the core. Cycling is already under the microscope, but now every rider will pay a price. Anyone who does well will be looked at with suspicion. To know that someone can sleep at night knowing that they're living a complete lie is truly frightening. What happened to having a moral compass? Armstrong threw that out the window to get what he wanted. His integ rity is shattered and will never be repaired. People were robbed due to his ruthless actions. Armstrong stole the titles from others, although many of them have either confessed or have been accused of cheating as well. Armstrong is now getting exactly what he deserves. His actions impacted countless people, some of whom blew
the whistle but who were ridiculed and threatened. Defiant right up to his confession, Armstrong even had the audacity a few weeks ago to post a picture on Twitter of himself lying on a couch with his framed Tour de France jerseys on the wall behind him. It's as if he was trying to trick himself into believing he earned the titles when he put them up. Livestrong is now being called Liestrong. Everyone involved with the organization has been implicated because of how selfish Armstrong is. But all is not lost, because Armstrong has a new title, the Guinness World Record's biggest liar. \ The views herein represent the position o f the newspa per, 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 contact ed 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. Email letters to: www.spokeonline.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor,” or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.
Lance Armstrong finally comes clean after more than a decade of deceit.
Teachers’ union needs a new lesson plan The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, in an effort to get even more from an impoverished public purse, have decided to hold our children as hostages in their silly game of chicken. Now, it’s one thing to say you deserve to be paid well and I for one have always championed that very notion. After all, it takes three years of university followed by one year in a teacher edu cation program. Then you need to be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers. That doesn’t even take into account the years it takes of part-time teaching just to get a full-time position, I am not begrudging a fair salary. What I have a problem with, are the insane benefits that are given in addition to that handsome salary. This notion of banking sick days until you retire, then cashing them in so you can retire early with full pay, is not only unsustain able but is a slap in the face to most taxpayers who are fight ing just to keep a job in these tight economic times. The fact that teachers can't understand why taxpayers find that notion unpalatable is telling of where teachers' mindsets are in these times
Rob Mendonsa
Opinion
of huge provincial deficits. The money is simply not there. Teachers are acting like the very children they are supposed to be teaching, who when you take them shopping simply can't under stand why they can’t have every toy on the shelf. By the end of January the Liberals will hold their leadership convention and Ontario will have a new pre mier calling the shots. Keeping this in mind, would it be asking the teach ers union too much to stop withholding extracurricular activities until then and give students and parents a break until a new premier is actually in place? Then they could start negotiating again. Continuing to withhold students extracurricular activities while the province is leaderless, is not only hurting students but is doing nothing for the teachers in the eyes of parents.
On Jan. 13 the federation had called for a “day of pro test” which was nothing more than an illegal strike dis guised as a protest, leaving parents scrambling to find child care for their kids while the teachers union flexed its muscles. After a mara thon session at the Ontario Labour Board the protest was deemed illegal and the protest called off at the last minute. This did nothing but further anger parents and widen the rift that has been growing between teachers and parents since all this began in September. What really has angered parents in all this postur ing is the fact that Catholic teachers were able to nego tiate a fair and balanced agreement in the summer, averting all this grandstand ing with our kids' education. Which begs the question, what makes public school teachers any different than their counterparts in the Catholic school boards? I guess that question, among others, will be answered very shortly after we have a new premier, at least it better be. And until then, enough with the silly games already, our kids deserve better.
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NEWS
Monday, January 28,2013
SPOKE ♦Page 5
A hard day’ s fight BY RYAN BOWMAN
This is the third o f a five-part series examining the causes and consequences of homeless ness in Waterloo Region. When KP used to walk the cobblestone streets of Montreal as a McGill University student, he would pass the panhandlers without acknowledging their weary faces and outstretched hands. “I used to avoid homeless people,” says the 51-year-old, who graduated from McGill in 2007 with an MSc in psy chiatry. “Not because I had anything against them, but because I always feared that one day it would be me.” A little more than five years later, it is. KP, who does not want his real name used, took his first sip of alcohol as a teenager and has been struggling with substance abuse ever since. He has been homeless since Aug. 6, 2012 - the day he was released from Maplehurst Correctional Complex after serving a sentence for assault with a weapon. Penniless and on the brink of bankruptcy, he says his cur rent situation is in many ways a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” “I always sensed in the back of my mind that if I didn’t drink myself to death, I would be living on the streets at some point down the road,” he says. “I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.” And though he’s always been half-expecting it, KP says life as a homeless man has been a difficult transition. “It’s definitely not what I would choose,” he says, “but I’m rolling with it.” It’s a life that has seen him sleep in parks and in stairwells, and on occasion, in dumpsters. “The dumpsters that recycle cardboard are good,” he says. “They keep you warm and they keep you dry. Newspapers are good for that too. You can put them under your clothes to stay warm.” But as the temperatures at night are beginning to drop, the shelter situation for the area’s homeless popula tion is looking up; last week, Waterloo Region’s Out of the Cold program started. Hosted by a different church every night of the week, the program provides the home less and working poor a hot meal and a warm place to spend the night. ‘Without the churches, we’d be fucked,” KP says. “There’s just nowhere else to go. We’d freeze to death.” ■ ■ ■
It is at the United Trinity Church program in down town Kitchener that I meet KP for the first time. He’s dark-skinned and clean shaven and wears a pair of thick-rimmed eyeglasses. Even though we’re indoors, he’s bundled up in layers of clothing. Atop his head sits a trapper hat with earflaps. We find a table in the qui etest corner of the church’s sanctuary, which is filled from wall to wall with sin gle mattresses covered with multi-coloured blankets. As KP speaks about his life on the streets, he pulls a Ziploc bag from the pocket of his oversized parka. He crumbles the tobacco from several ciga rette butts onto the table and begins rolling a cigarette with his dark, dirty fingertips. “They were saying it was going to rain today, so I went to the bus depot early and col lected as much dry tobacco as possible,” he says. Without looking up from his task at hand, he answers my next question before I have a chance to ask it. “I’ve had to learn to swal low my pride and embrace the notion of not caring what other people think of me,” he says. “I need tobacco and I have no money to buy it. It’s more important for me to pick up that butt than to worry what other people think.” He puts the finishing twist on his rolling paper and says it’s time for a smoke. KP stands against the cold brick wall of the church and lights his homemade smoke with a Coors Light lighter. After a couple of long drags he says he’s craving a drink. “Today was a horrible day,” he says with a sigh. “It was cold, it was rainy. Some days are worse than others, but today was just terrible. “If I had enough money for mouthwash, I would drink it. I’d rather have Jack Daniels, but I’d drink it. I have 97 cents in my pocket.” A typical day for KP begins at 7 a.m., when the Out of the Cold staff wakes up the guests. After breakfast, he’s out the door and on his own until sup pertime at the next site. It makes for long, boring days, KP tells me more than once. When he’s not collecting cigarette butts, KP spends time wandering the streets or hanging out at one of the pub lic libraries, where he reads or surfs the Internet. Mostly though, he’s focused on sur vival. “Right now my priorities are all about where I’m sleeping
PHOTO BY RYAN BOWMAN
Many homeless people rely on “dumpster dining” for food, especially on weekends and holidays, when services are cut.
tomorrow, where I’m getting my next meal. Is it gonna rain? How much snow is there gonna be?” He takes a final pull from his cigarette and throws it on the damp concrete between his Rockports. “Weekends are pretty bad,” he says. “Places like the soup kitchen and government buildings are only open five days a week. And holidays are dreaded because all the services are cut. “When you’re homeless, you can’t take a day off.” “Now I have $1.07.” KP unzips his backpack and deposits the crushed Molson Dry can among his rolled up clothes and toiletries. It’s 9:30 p.m., and we’ve been wandering the streets of downtown Kitchener for nearly an hour. KP has shown me the best garbage bins for “dumpster diving” (scroung ing for food), the porta-potty in which he’s spent more than one rainy night curled up on the floor and the dumpster where he slept off his 51st birthday celebration a week earlier. “I used to take for granted the value of a penny,” he says. “I would put everything on credit and now that I can’t do that, I can’t buy anything.” KP says there was a time not too long ago when he was mak ing $50,000 a year, tax-free. Now he receives $161.50 per month from Ontario Works. Other than a 2007 Audi, which he keeps parked at a friend’s house and cherishes too much to sell, all of his belongings fit within the zip-
pered confines of a red and black gym bag. They consist of two or three changes of clothes, a small can of shaving cream, a wom en’s razor (“They’re better than men’s because they’re made for sensitive skin.”), a tube of toothpaste, a stick of deodorant, a green bar of soap, a hotel-sized bottle of shampoo, a pen and a notepad and two Lifestyles condoms. According to KP there’s a multitude of reasons why one can become homeless, but the primary reason one remains that way is the lack of afford able housing in the region. “Unaffordable housing is the main, complaint amongst the homeless population,” he says. “What we get on OW and ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) is not nearly enough to get your .own place.” While KP says sharing expenses with a roommate is a possibility, security is a major concern and he hasn’t met anyone he trusts enough to live with. “Even at the churches, I have to sleep with all my clothes on and my stuff under my pillow because people would steal them.” But while KP may be selec tive about who he lives with, he says he’s not overly picky about his accommodations. “Some people have an over idealized view of what their housing should be. They’re not willing to accept sub-stan dard housing because they want something they used to have when they had an income,” he says. “But I’m willing to let that go and say all I want is a roof over my
head. So what if it leaks? As long as it’s safe, substandard housing is better than living on the streets.” As we navigate the quiet streets, KP stops to pick up the occasional penny and sift through trash cans. He comes across a half-eaten dinner in a Styrofoam container; he throws away the french fries but eats what’s left of the cheeseburger. By the time we arrive at the Charles Street Transit Terminal, he’s back to searching for butts. At one point he’s down on his hands and knees and a passerby shoots him a dirty look. I don’t think he notices, so I’m surprised when he speaks up. “Most people are afraid and ashamed of homelessness,” he says. “People are afraid of what they don’t know, and they’d rather not see it.” He says what upsets him most is the judgment. "It bothers me because they haven’t walked a mile in my moc casins. They have no clue who I am or what I’ve been through. “We’re human, you know? But we’re treated by some peo ple like something much less.” KP finds a battery-length butt and adds it to his Ziploc bag before crossing the termi nal and continuing his search. “I’ve shed a lot of values in the past few months, but I’ve maintained my core values,” he says. “I don’t look down on anybody, and I don’t want others to look down on me.” Next week, see how Waterloo Region is responding to home lessness and whether or not itfs enough.
FEATURE
Page 6 ♦ S P O t# '
Monday, Januaiy 28,2013
Taking on the impossible Master class cosplayer is all about the challenge BY WH8TNEY SOUTH
This is the third of a fourpart series on geek girl culture in Waterloo Region. Dressed as a warrior or a wizard, an elf or an enchant ress, cosplayers have created a world all their own. For Waterloo’s very own interna tional master class cosplayer Alexandra Gerlach, costumes are more than just a hobby, they’re a labour of love. “To me, it’s the challenge of putting something togeth er that really shouldn’t work within our scope of gravity and physics,” she said. “I like the challenge of taking some thing that is animated and turning it into real life, mak ing it possible.” Owner of Queen of Hearts Costumes in uptown Waterloo, Gerlach was introduced to the world of cosplay at an early age. After a friend encouraged her to check out their high school anime club, it wasn’t long before she found herself pounding curtain rods into swords and cutting crazy car pets into epaulets. “I watched a few episodes and really liked it,” she said. “My friend told me people actually dressed up as this stuff and I thought that sounded like fun.” When she was told there were actual conventions where fleets of people dressed up, Gerlach said that sounded even better.
" I want to inspire that same awe that I felt the First time I competed." - Alexandra Gerlach Cosplay is the blending of two words, costume and play. That is to say, it’s the prac tice of portraying a fictional character, drawing inspi ration from anime, comics, video games and everything in between. But don’t confuse cosplayers for folks craving year-round Halloween, it’s just not the same. Despite the prominent influ ence of Japanese anime some times involved in modern cosplay, many claim Forrest J. Ackerman, an American science fiction writer, was the first to suit up in the name of fandom. While attend ing the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939 Ackerman sported the first
“futuristicostume,” paving the way for future costume play ers everywhere. With cosplay attracting more and more attention over the years, the media has gone wild, sometimes helping to perpetuate stereotypes which are not ahvays appreciated by professional cosplayers. For a professional like Gerlach, cosplay is more about the craftsmanship and hard work than who can wear the raciest costume. Passionate about sewing from a young age, she even took on the daunting task o f creating her own wedding dress. After finding a base dress for a mere $250 at Value Village, Gerlach took apart the gar ment and added everything from long capped sleeves to embroidery and beading. “I chopped it up and added a top portion to the dress with a v-neckline and sleeves in the style of Russian royalty,” she said. “I also installed a cor set in it because let’s face it, everything looks better when it’s in a corset.” Her most recent creation, a character named Sophitia, is a re-creation from the video game Soul Caliber IV. Fellow cosplayer Jessica daym an, who met Gerlach through a mutual friend, was already used to dressing up in amazing costumes, made by her mother, and taking home prizes for them at Halloween. “We were always the kids who brought home the prize pumpkin,” she said. “My moth er was a great seamstress and it got to a point where the teachers said even though we came in costume we couldn’t compete anymore.” After her mother stopped making her costumes, daym an was inspired to start creating on her own. She said she admires Gerlach’s talent and has learned a lot from her over the years. “Alex can do amazing things,” she said. “There was a costume she made of Bowser from Super Mario Brothers that was amazing and huge and spectacular. It was an
PHOTOS BY WHITNEY SOUTH
Costume shop owner Alexandra Gerlach takes great pride in creating costumes that defy gravity and bring out the soul of each character.
epic piece of art.” « For daym an, cosplay isn’t just about dressing up, but about telling a character’s story and finding something that is relatable, even if it’s not real life. ‘When you’re a woman, it’s fun to play powerful women,” she said. “When you get control over that you get the opportu nity to portray things that are a bit more interesting.” Gerlach explained that one of the reasons women may be so attracted to cosplay is the opportunity to try on a differ ent persona. “When you’re in costume, you’re someone else,” she said. “You can try being a crazy, bouncy My Little Pony character when in real life you’re an accountant working in an office.” Competing for the first time as a nervous 16-year-old, Gerlach won a workmanship award for best sleeve con struction. Receiving a nod for a job well done her first time out was a great confidence booster and it’s that confi dence that has taken her from a novice to an international master. Far from retired, Gerlach has not competed the past few years, choosing instead to take on commissions designed to challenge herself and her skills. Hoping to help new and upcoming cosplayers, she makes time to speak at conventions and organize instructional tutorials. “I want to inspire that same
Queen of Hearts Costumes, located at 91 King S t N., in Waterloo, offers well-tailored and unique costumes and accessories for events year-round.. awe that I felt the first time I competed,” she said. “I want to instil knowledge nuggets upon those who want it.” Though certain cosplayers may have the view that if it’s not going to be perfect, it shouldn’t be attempted, Gerlach said she believes that couldn’t be further from the truth. Whether it’s making a suit of armour out of duct tape and cardboard, or trying to tailor something from scratch, Gerlach wants newcomers to know they shouldn’t be afraid to fail. “Try things and screw up, that’s what teaches you,” she said. “If you succeed, that’s only taught you one lesson. When you fail you learn twice as much.”
UPCOMING CONVENTIONS Think you have what it takes to try your hand at Ontario is home to several conventions in 2013. CON-G 2013 Feb. 22-24 Delta Guelph Hotel & Conference Centre, Guelph ■ Toronto Comic Con 2013 March 9-10 Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto ■ Ad Astra Markham Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Markham
FEATURE
Monday, Januaiy 28,2013
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HISTORIC BEAUTY
Shown above is just a portion of Waist Management: A History of Unmentionables, created by Jonathan Walford. It is on display at the Guelph Civic Museum until April 14. As part of the Waist Management exhibit, there is a cotton corset on display made for an adolescent American girl from the 1820s-1840s.
PHOTOS AND STORY BY STEPHANIE LEFEBVRE It’s a small exhibit, with about 50 pieces on dis play. But the objects being viewed are ones few were privy to see. From bustles to corsets and girdles to pantyhose, the Waist Management: A History o f Unmentionables exhibit at the Guelph Civic Museum, that opened Jan. 11, is one that sheds a little light on the lengths women went to for beauty. Jonathan Walford, cura tor and co-founder of the Fashion History Museum, created the exhibit with pieces he had been collect ing for the past two years. “A lot of it was finding pieces that were miss ing in the collection,” said Walford. “It’s relatively easy to find a corset from 1900, but it’s very difficult to find an older one because the style didn’t change quickly enough. Women wore them until they wore out.” Still, he managed to find enough pieces in decent condition to logically put together an exhibit. And he found them everywhere. ‘I ’ve taken things out of houses that are being torn
down, I’ve bought things on eBay, I’ve bought things from Christie’s and Sotheby’s, I’ve rescued things out of the gar bage, I’ve had gifts from little old ladies,” Walford said. “I’ve found things everywhere I’ve looked.” And he’s always had an interest in fashion and histo ry. Both of Walford’s parents were involved in the fash ion industry and he majored in Canadian history and minored in museum studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. So when the idea for an exhibit focusing on under wear through history came to mind, he ran with it. “There’s been a lot of inter est in underwear,” said Walford. “People like to look at underwear.” He also did all of the research and write-ups for each piece in the exhibit. The museum he curates has a large collec tion of books and he pulled all 18 that focused on underwear. Walford also said he uses the Internet to get a jump-start on his research. “And, of course, there’s always Wikipedia. It’s a good place to start. You never fin ish on Wikipedia but you start on Wikipedia.” From there, in order to get his exhibit into the Guelph Civic Museum, Walford had to talk
to its curator, Bev Dietrich. She looks after the collec tions and figures out the exhibit schedule and has been doing so since 1991. But she didn’t design the layout. That was Walford. “He knew how he wanted to highlight his collection,” said Dietrich, “including having the crinolines and that figure right there in the door that attracts everybody’s attention.” Dietrich did take a special interest in Waist Management though because she has always had an interest in costume. “I think just showing the underwear, which is what’s worn under the costume, is kind of a different route to go,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize that the cos tume shape is because of the underwear.” Dietrich also said the exhibit showcases the unmentionables in a way that is legitimate and respectable. And sometimes shocking. “Seeing the rubber girdles. I didn’t realize they were rub ber,” Dietrich said about the one thing that surprised her the most. “Women wore those because they felt they had to.” She added it was gross imagining wearing them in the heat. And though Guelph is not the typical spot for an
exhibit based on historical fashion, Dietrich said that since it opened, the number of people coming into the muse um has almost doubled. Waist Management: A History o f Unmentionables will con tinue at the Guelph Civic Museum until April 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday to Sunday. Also on display is a white summer corset from late 1880’s America. This is just one of the many items Jonathan Walford found in his search for historic women’s underwear.
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Monday, January 28,2013
Tea studio brewing up new things BY CALEIGH MCLELLANP
Nobelia DaSilva never would have guessed that one newspaper article would change her life. Soon after becoming preg nant, DaSilva decided to quit her career as a successful real estate manager. She had struggled to conceive for 10 years, and didn’t want the stress of work to affect her chances of carrying to fullterm. While on maternity leave, DaSilva began volunteering at Rogers TV, where she was eventually hired. During this time, she gave birth to her second child. But when her mother became ill and was unable to look after the chil dren, DaSilva left her job. She also began volunteering again, but this time it would take her down a path she never expected. “You never know where des tiny will take you,” she said. After reading an article about tea in the Waterloo Region Record, DaSilva, who was a board member at the Cambridge Fire Hall Museum, decided that the shirtless fireman calendar was getting old. Instead, she put on a very successful tea party fundraiser. To prepare for the event, DaSilva went to a tea shop in Waterloo where she was given different teas to sample. “Is this what tea really tastes like?” she thought. Like-many people in the cor porate world, DaSilva was a coffee lover, and the only tea
she had really known was the store-bought, bagged tea. But after this day, tea became more than just a bev erage. It became a way to reconnect with her children at the table every day after school. And it became her pas sion. Every two weeks she would go back to the tea shop in Waterloo to try more tea and learn more about it. DaSilva, who was on the board of directors at the Cambridge Farmer’s Market, set up a stall where she began by selling 20 tea blends. Today, not only does DaSilva still have her stall at the mar ket, but she is the owner of the Red Teapot, a family-run tea studio on King Street in Cambridge. “We pride ourselves on try ing new blends all the time,” said DaSilva, who creates her own teas, along with help from other local blenders. Currently, the Red Teapot has about 140 different teas, many of which are blended for specific health issues such as stomach problems, sleep problems, stress, cold and flu and anxiety. “We blend from a health perspective, but our focus is making sure our teas taste good.” DaSilva also custom blends teas for her customers, who she often gets ideas from. “I think that is what makes us unique from the bigger chains that are pre-blended,” she said. And from her customers, DaSilva has learned not to
Red is a lucky colour in the Chinese culture, and represents pros perity - one of DaSilva’s reasons behind the name “Red Teapot.”
PHOTOS BY CALEIGH MCLELLAND
Red Teapot owner, Nobelia DaSilva, pours a cup of her studio’s signature “Cambridge” tea, from the cleverly named “Tri-ci-teas” tea collection at her downtown Preston studio on Jan. 17.
make assumptions about who tea drinkers are. “We have customers as young as 10,” she said. But no matter the age, DaSilva loves to educate peo ple about tea. “She is very knowledgeable,” said new customer and first time tea drinker, Steve Hahn. DaSilva began by taking courses in the U.S. She is also a member of the Specialty Tea Institute as well as the Tea Masters Association, where,
by continuing to educate her self about loose-leaf teas, she is working toward becoming a tea master. “I want people to think of us for quality and education, as well as for being fresh and local,” DaSilva said. “I love supporting local busi nesses,” she added. The Red Teapot has teamed up with Barrie’s Asparagus Farm and Country Market to create a dehydrated aspara gus tea, for example.
Next up, DaSilva, dreams of travelling to China to expand her knowledge of tea, so she can better edu cate her loyal customers who inspire her to constantly try new blends. DaSilva never expected such a following, or that her business would take off like it has. “If somebody was to tell me I’d end up here, I wouldn’t have believed them in a mil lion years,” she said.
DaSilva loves to team up with local businesses to create unique products such as tea-infused choco lates. Her teas are also sold locally at Tiny Cakes in Galt, Oakridge Acres and David’s Gourmet.
NEWS
Monday. January 2 8 ,2013
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Frost Week has some laughs Three comedians have the crowd roaring in Sanctuary BY MARK FITZGERALD
Frost Week is the time of year to welcome new and old students back with some laughs, drinks and free food. It is the winter counterpart of Frosh Week. Conestoga Students Inc. held the event from Jan. 14 to. 17 to ease everyone back into the swing of things. The week kicked off with a movie marathon in the Sanctuary on Jan. 14 which showcased comedy classics such as Happy Gilmore and Dude, Where's My Car? Students who stuck around long enough were able to enter a raffle for a movie prize
package. It included tickets for free food. Jan. 15 was the clear highlight of the week as the Sanctuary was packed with students to watch the Comedy Nooner. The free stand-up com edy show had the crowd laughing at everything from “comedy guardian angels” to “rivers of vomit on a Gravitron.” There were also the occa sional jokes about the male anatomy. All seemed to be crowd pleasers. All three comedians have performed at either Yuk Yuks, Just for Laughs, or both, as well as other venues. Karen O'Keefe hosted the show, giv
ing the other comedians, Dom Pare and Eddie Della Siepe, brief introductions as well as performing her own stand-up routine. Della Siepe was a lastminute addition as Graham Chittenden was originally supposed to perform, but had to cancel due to a job offer from MTV. K evin B ennett, of Kitchener, came to the school with his friend just to see the show. “It was awesome. It's nice to see some good comedi ans. None of them bombed,” Bennett said. The Sanctuary was selling their in-house beer, which
PHOTO BY MARK FITZGERALD
Dom Pare screams as he mimes a river of vomit flowing toward his face, at the Comedy Nooner in the Sanctuary on Jan. 15.
Don’t be a test subject I was fairly certain that peo ple had taken modifying foods too far when I first heard about the Grapple, an apple designed to taste like a grape. However, after reading an article on AquaBounty Technology and their AquAdvantage salmon, I know people, and specifically corporations, have gone too far. AquaBounty Technologies is an American company, yet they hold operations here in Canada, specifically on Prince Edward Island. The are cur rently awaiting permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a genetical ly modified salmon, and if they receive it, they will be the first company to successfully put genetically modified animals on our dinner plates. AquAdvantage salmon are Atlantic salmon which con tain a growth hormone gene that allows-them to grow quicker and pack on more pounds than your normal everyday salmon. The compa ny has managed to create this frankenfish by splicing genes from a Chinook salmon and adding DNA from another fish known as an ocean pout. Now you may say to your self, well, that’s not so bad, at least they are only using genes from other fish. But the simple
Ryan Goodyear
Opinion matter of the fact is it’s just not natural. I will admit that a McDonald’s Big Mac isn’t natural either, but I would still rather scarf down 12 quarter pounders with cheese and fin ish it off with a bag of pure MSG than even consider eat ing something that has had its DNA genetically modified. I understand that we li ve in a society where bigger, better and faster are what's coveted, but since when did letting an animal grow to maturity the natural way become a problem? What's next, veal that's ready to eat the moment it comes out of the womb? The line needs to be drawn somewhere. There's a whole array of unforeseen problems that could arise if this food is approved. For example, if these franken fish were to somehow get out into the wild en masse they could become a serious prob lem. These genetically modified salmon would become a sort of native, invasive species, com
peting and eventually destroy ing wild salmon. Do I even need to get into the fact of what the long-term effects of this could be on humans? We simply do not know what effect genetically modified food, specifically ani mals, has on people because it has not been around long enough, and certainly hasn't been tested long enough. We could find out years from now that this food causes or is linked to serious health compli cations. I understand that I could be wrong and this salmon could be a massive breakthrough in food. But, the fact that we don't know the long-term side effects scares me. The general popula tion should not allow them selves to be guinea pigs. Let’s keep our food natural, or, as natural as we can get these days. We already spray our crops with multitudes of pesticides and ingest who knows what chemicals and preservatives with every bite of fast food we take. At the very least let’s let our animals grow at a normal, healthy speed. I would rather eat a salmon that’s slightly smaller than eat a frankenfish that has been pieced together using different species.
helped loosen up the crowd in the latter part of the show. Some students became jokes themselves as the comedians made their witty remarks, but it was all in good fun. Becky Saba, program and communications co-ordinator for CSI, said the Comedy Nooner was a huge hit. “The comedians went for an extra 30 minutes. They said they were feeling a great energy from the crowd and just kept going,” Saba said. To give exposure to the Den, CSI held a raffle for an X-Box 360 there on Jan. 16. Saba said the students need to be made aware that the Den is a
great place to hang out in. On Jan. 17 CSI’s free pan cake breakfast was held in the Sanctuary, which seemed to attract even more people than ever. There were lineups for hours and they managed to dish out several large serv ing trays of pancakes before calling it quits. Saba said the week went really well and that she thought everyone enjoyed themselves. “It was a great week,” Saba said, adding CSI has more events planned in the com ing weeks. “We have stuff planned every Tuesday in the Sanctuary for people to check out.”
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NEWS
Monday, January 28,2013
Creative chaos takes over THEMUSEUM BY KELSEY HEELEY
On Jan. 19 THEMUSEUM held its second edition of The Brush Off, a live painting com petition where artists painted originals for prizes while art enthusiasts watched. The day of the event THEMUSEUM on King Street in Kitchener was crowded. There were camer as flashing and videos being recorded during each round of the four-round competition. The first round consisted of 21 artists being divided into two groups of which the win ners of this round went on to round two, which featured the top 12 artists. Winners from round two proceeded to round three where the top six faced off and the final round featured the top three artists. Each 30-minute round had different rules. In round one artists could create whatever inspired them. Round two had a theme, which was light, and dark was round three’s theme. The final round was also an open category. Rather than have official judges the contest was judged by the audience. “Each round the audience voted for which artwork they like the best. The spectators became the judges. It was important that people go from artist to artist before making a final decision,” said Laurel McKellar, one of the event planners. After each round, the art
pieces were put in a silent auction and attendees could bid on them throughout the night. McKellar said the proceeds from The Brush Off go not only to THEMUSEUM but to the artists who participated in the event as well. The art ists also benefited from self promotion. “Artists could use the event as an opportunity for net working and showcasing their existing work as well as their new work. They could make connections to drum up fur ther business for themselves,” McKellar said. Contestant Ivan Stocco said, “I spent years living in Spain and going to events similar to The Brush Off, except they were outdoor. Since living in Canada, I’ve been looking for an event and I found The Brush Off.” Stocco said he enjoys the camaraderie of so many art ists and art appreciators. Another contestant, Chris Austin, said it was exhilarat ing being in a competition such as The Brush Off. Contest participant James Nye said, “It’s creative may hem. You never know what can happen when you have 30 minutes to make a piece of art with crowds of people watch ing you.” Stocco, who had to paint four paintings in four hours, was crowned the winner, beating last year’s champion Meredith Blackmore.
PHOTO BY KELSEY HEELEY
Brush Off contestant, Ivan Stocco, creates his light’ painting in round two of the competition on Jan. 19 at THEMUSEUM.
NEWS
Monday, January 28,2013
SPCA and humane society hold National Cupcake Day fundraiser BY JESSICA LANTHIER
Helping save the lives of orphaned and abandoned ani mals has never been sweeter. For the first time ever in Ontario, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society will be holding National Cupcake Day on Feb. 25. They are inviting everyone to bake a batch, host a cupcake party and collect donations all in support of SPCAs and humane societies across Canada. All funds raised in the area will stay with the K-W and North Waterloo humane soci eties. This tasty fundraiser, which is similar to a pledged event, is designed to help raise muchneeded money for all types of animals, from kittens to cows that have been abandoned, abused or just need help. “This is really a fun, grass roots way to help fight animal cruelty and make a differ ence,” said Marc Ralsky, direc tor of community and donor development for the Ontario SPCA in a press release. “Everyone loves cupcakes, and they taste even sweeter when you know it’s for a good cause.”
PHOTO BY JESSICA LANTHIER
Becca, an animal care worker, cuddles Fancy, a five-month-old female cat, at the KitchenerWaterloo Humane Society on Jan. 20. Fancy is still waiting to find a new family and home. Each and every donation can make a difference in the lives of animals, from a $10 enrichment toy for a cat which assists in behavioural devel opment, to a $100 spaying and neutering surgical proce dure which helps get them on the road to adoption into their new forever home. Marjorie Brown, the develop ment director at the KitchenerWaterloo Humane Society, said
she is proud of all the work done at this location. “We all go above and beyond to take care of animals,” she said. The K-W Humane Society, which is the fourth largest in Ontario, took in 1,165 canines, 3,574 felines and had a 70-80 per cent adoption success rate last year. “Our goal is to have 90 per cent adoption success,, wheth er it is finding the original owners of an animal, or find ing them a new forever home.” According to Brown, the soci ety has Kathy Innocente, ani mal care manager, to thank for a great deal of the success and devotion at this location. The team, led by Innocente, went into action last June when they came across a pos sible outbreak of ringworm, a non-deadly but highly conta gious disease, in some of the animals at the facility. To prevent spreading, Innocente rented two trailers: one for intake and one for iso lation. The project cost a total of $50,000 but it was a success. “She is amazing,” Brown said of Innocente. “A total animal care person.” To register or for further information about National Cupcake Day, visit www. nationalcupcakeday.ca.
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NEWS
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Monday, Januaty 28, 2013
When you fret the frost, you forget the fun BY KRIS MANUEL
Although it wasn’t snowy outside on Jan. 19, the winter bliss was not missing at a Fergus museum’s Winterfest. The second annual event is one of several held at the Wellington County Museum and Archive throughout the year. The three-day long event ran from Jan. 19 to 21 and reminded folks of the joy that used to be associated with the cold season. And as the day went on, fami lies and some snowfall trickled in to join the season’s festivity. However, the unique activi ties we get to experience liv ing in Canada are becom ing more difficult to enjoy. As seen over time, snowfall hardly stays on the ground for more than a few days, and Canadians are seeing fewer white Christmases. . “We tend to complain about winter, but we forget that it’s unique,” said Beth Dyer. “It’s just nice to celebrate winter.” Dyer has been the muse um’s assistant programmer for about four and a half years. She introduced guests, along with Sue Hosking, a volunteer, to two miniature ponies, 11-month-old Barney and his mother Butterscotch. Both Dyer and Hosking were quite content spending the
day introducing the soft and gentle barn animals to smil ing visitors who curiously made their way to the stable. The event started off quietly, with only a few families showing up. Tobogganing, skating and snowshoeing had to be cancelled due to a lack of snow. Instead, outdoor activities such as mini putt, Frisbee golf and an outdoor scavenger hunt took place. “The weather really plays a key role in whether people come, especially to an event that has an outdoor compo nent,” said activity program mer Libby Walker. There were also indoor arts and crafts and exhib its throughout the museum.
And volunteering her time to share some joy, Betty Knight had brown bags full of treats from a popcorn machine and steaming cups of hot choco late to warm chilly guests. Winterfest was created so families could spend time together without the distrac tions of modern technology. Dyer said, “We try to keep the basic things that people don’t experience anymore. “Nowadays we might sit inside and have all the elec tronics and things but for years people went out and snowshoed, they went out with horses and they enjoyed the outdoors. So it’s kind of nice to bring that into focus again.”
PHOTO BY KRIS MANUEL PHOTO BY KRIS MANUEL
Volunteer Sue Hosking brushes miniature pony Butterscotch while awaiting visitors to Winterfest.
Anne Cournelise (right) assists sisters Mara and Hannah Svensson (far left) with some arts and crafts during Winterfest. The second annual event took place at Fergus’s Wellington County Museum and Archives from Jan. 19 to 21.