S t Nick spirit year-round
a year.
SPOKE
Page 8
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
This Santa hangs his holly 365 days
Monday, January 30, 2012
Conestoga College, Kitchener, ONT.
www.spokeonline.com
PRACTISING TECHNIQUES t o
Condors go down fighting Conestoga’s men’s volleyball team loses to Sheridan. Page 15
44th year - NO. 4
s a v e l iv e s
PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA DEER
Ian Brunton pulls Shawn Quangvan, both pre-service firefighter education and training students, across the ice while practising rescue techniques at the pond at Conestoga’s Doon campus on Jan. 19. For additional photos, see Page 7.
Bob Rae’s visit to Conestoga spades optimism Aboriginal Services hoping it creates funding awareness By KENNETH BELLIVEAU
Everyone who came out to see and hear Bob Rae speak, also heard the personal sto ries of those who have been positively affected by Conestoga College’s Aboriginal Services. Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae came to visit the college as a part of his tour of post secondary institutions and job sites across Canada. Rae was greeted by Conestoga’s aboriginal stu dent group with a drum cir
cle and First Nations danc ing. Myeengun Henry, man ager of Conestoga’s Aboriginal Services, used Rae’s visit to make people aware that his department still has not received word from the Ministry of Education that it will be funded next year. This leaves their status after March up in the air. Henry said Rae’s visit made him ecstatic. “A lot of people don’t know we are out there and that we offer help to anyone and not
just aboriginal people.” Henry said he was pleased with the turnout and he admired the way people seem to want to get involved. “During the presentation I was looking around to see the looks on everyone’s face. Most people seemed to be deeply moved by what was going on.To see them out, wanting to learn more is a good start.” Rae spoke about how the government hopes to see more students involved in trade apprenticeship pro
grams, including aboriginal students, an area in particu lar that has low enrolment. Henry said that having someone like Bob Rae sup porting Aboriginal Services’ need for funding helps create awareness. “I want people to know that there are success stories and not just poverty. We are hop ing to get more aboriginal youth involved in different career paths.” Henry said he is optimistic that by working with Rae and the Liberal Party they
can secure the funding for next year and the following years. “We were in a circle with the leader of the Liberal Party, the president (John Tibbits) and our students. “The first step will be work ing with the country of Canada. “We are trying to incorpo rate the fastest-growing pop ulation (aboriginals) in Canada into the economic development of this country,” Henry said.
See Page 7 for photos.
NEWS
Page 2 ♦SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College Random questions answered by random students
W h a t w a s y o u r fa v o u rite m o vie fro m 2 0 1 1 ?
“Anything other than Transformers.”
Burgess Markell, first-year radio broadcasting
“I really enjoyed Bridesmaids.”
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
Health Services looking for campaign volunteers By ELISSA PEN HOED
Ready to add a little pizzazz to your resume and potential ly save lives at the same time? Conestoga’s health services department is looking for volunteers in a campaign to spread awareness of breast cancer on-campus. The object of the campaign is to raise awareness of the lifestyle risk factors that contribute to developing breast cancer, in peer-topeer conversation. Health promotion nurse Teresa McQuillin lists alcohol overuse, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity as significant risk factors. The goal is to impact both the
women impacted by the cam paign and the volunteers themselves. According to the campaign flyer, volunteers will receive a gift certificate, a certificate of completion from the project sponsors and a great experi ence to add to their resume in exchange for their time and talents. The only requirement is that you are a young woman (late teens to early 30s). No knowledge is required, as you will be given a four-hour training session which includes a free meal. Bring your own creative ideas, because your input is wel come in helping to develop a rock ’em, sock ’em campaign. Interested? Contact
McQuillin soon, as training starts this weekend. You can call her at 519-748-5220, ext. 3254 or email her at tmcquillin@conestogac.on.ca. T h e Facts:
■ Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. ■ One in nine women will develop breast cancer some time during her lifetime; one in 29 will die of it. ■ Every day, 64 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer. ■ Breast cancer is most treat able when it’s detected early, and “checking yourself’ regu larly (once per month) is easy to do. You can find instruc tions at www.eheckyourboobies.org.
Bookstore works at keeping prices competitive
Crystal Brown, first-year radio broadcasting
By ERIC MCKENZIE
*
‘I can’t really pick a favourite due to I’m a hippie.”
Taylon Ledue, first-year practical nursing
“Harry Potter, definitely.”
Margaret Fuller, first-year general arts and science, health option
“I loved Arthur Christmas.”
Ashley Currie, first-year Journalism print
“I haven’t actually watched any new ones.”
»
Sarah Minaly, first-year law and security
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Conestoga’s bookstore is keeping current and competi tive. Mandatory course materi als, such as course packages and textbooks costing between $500 and $1,000, have created a stigma that products at the bookstore are overpriced. Promotional manager of the bookstore, Quinn Battersby, said although the bookstore has no control over the pric ing of course materials, his staff make an effort to find competitive pricing on all other supplies which are com parable to big chains such as Staples and Office Depot. “Comparatively, a threeinch crested Conestoga binder is actually cheaper here than the regular three-inch binders at Staples,” said Battersby. These competitive prices for extra supplies will help stu dents afford their textbooks, especially after the $150 per year technology and textbook grant received by all full-time students on OSAP was cut by the Liberal government to make way for the 30 per cent
student rebate, which only about half of the college popu lation is eligible for. Other economically priced items the bookstore has in stock include Conestoga clothing, pens, lined paper, markers and pencil crayons, as well as electronics, such as USB sticks, SD cards and Skullcandy headphones. They also sell program specific materials, such as vellum paper for engineering stu dents and Bainbridge board for design students. "We try to keep our products as relevant as possible for students - we know that they like that,” said Battersby. An online promotion that enters students who buy sup plies in a draw to win gift cards to stores and restau rants, such as Best Buy and Kelsey’s, is a further motiva tor for students to shop at the bookstore. Battersby said accessories, such as iPod or Blackberry cases, iPad cables and Dr. Dre Beats headphones, are being considered for sale in the near future. Aside from the extra prod ucts, when 100 students were asked about the purchase of
their course materials the feedback was generally good. A total of 58 students had all of their books, 32 had some of them and 10 had none of them. “I can only afford to buy the textbooks I’m going to use regularly in class. Books used once or twice in a course I look elsewhere for,” said Zach Harvey, a first-year videography and documentary stu dent. The poll also found that of the 58 students who had all of their course materials, 20 had used the bookstore online website to reserve their pur chases. The online reservation helps students avoid lines during busy periods in September and January and allows them to pick up their materials within two days for a $5 fee. The bookstore also offers a delivery service to Conestoga’s residence. “It’s a very positive environ ment. We feel the students are very happy with the help that they are getting and the expertise we are giving them,” said Vi Friend, a book store service staff member.
NEWS
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
SPOKE* Page 3
Growing green
goodies By KAREN HAYNES
Plant it, water it and watch it grow. Conestoga Acres (CA), a grassroots gardening project, will give Conestoga’s students and faculty the opportunity to do just that. The project, expected to start in April 2012, will bring together the college communi ty in a hands-on learning envi ronment that teaches sustain able gardening and food pro duction, said Jana Vodicka, an environmental co-ordinator at Conestoga College. “The project is meant to encourage sustainability, in our economy, environment and community,” said Vodicka. So, while the vegetables grown in the garden ar e yet to be deter mined, their destinations have been designated. “Roughly 30 per cent of the produce will be divided amongst CA’s volunteers, 30 per cent will be used by the college in its culinary and food processing programs and 30 per cent will be donated to the food bank.” CA will be a pesticide- and herbicide-free garden, accord ing to the project’s reference report. Also, participants will make conscious efforts to minimize water usage and maximize composting prac tices. Volunteers are needed dur ing gardening season for a minimum of two hours per
week to care for the veg etable garden. In addition, the project needs donated garden tools, including seeds and fertilizer, before April 2012. Other important items are shovels, hoes, trowels and rakes; composters, w heel barrows, gloves and water ing cans; two picnic tables, a tool shed and a shade canopy. The 27-metre by 23-metre garden will sit in the north west corner of the college’s Cambridge campus. The land has already been tilled in preparation for April 2012, said Vodicka. Conestoga Acres is depend ing greatly on community donations and potential grants to ensure its operabili ty. Although Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) is not funding the project, it has applied to the Waterloo Region for a municipal grant on behalf of CA, said Zoey Ross, Conestoga’s director of sustainability. The future of CA is bright as Vodicka envisions a green house and inviting sitting area being incorporated into the garden’s design. Also, it is likely CSI will take the proj ect under its umbrella once it has gotten off the ground this coming summer, said Ross. Contact Vodicka at ext. 2406 for more information and a complete list of needed materials.
PHOTOS BY REYHAN ENVER
Amy Duguid, above right, a general arts and science student, played the drum at the Aboriginal Student Association booth at the Get Involved Fair Jan. 18 and 19. Left to right, Santosh Sanka, Anusha Guntupalli and Biren Patel, all in first-year applied health infor matics, and Mashal Akbar, a first-year general arts and science volunteer, hand out free candy and encourage people to participate.
It’s never too late to get involved By REYHAN ENVER
The first step to getting involved is knowing how to do it. Another Get Involved Fair was held on Jan. 18 and 19 to encourage students to do just that. The first day of the fair con sisted of on-campus clubs and services that students could either volunteer for or join. The second day offered stu dents the opportunity to get involved with outside commu nity organizations as well. Thirty agencies set up booths for students to visit in the atrium and E-wing. “The Get Involved Fair is a chance for us to promote ways for students to get involved on campus,” said Ryan Connell, Student Life programmer. “Hopefully new
students that don’t know how to get involved are able to learn about it by coming to the fair. Students can some times feel intimidated about volunteering, but it’s a great way to meet new people and build skills that you might not be learning in the class room.” Some of Conestoga’s clubs that were set up for newcom ers were Campus Gamers, Aboriginal Student Association, South Asian Student Association and Right to Play. Even if students did not want to join a club, they could get involved by visiting the booths and learning about what’s going on at Conestoga College. For example, Right to Play is a group that fundraises to collect money to buy sports
equipment for kids across the world who cannot afford it. As well, Aboriginal Services may no longer have funding after March. They are cur rently awaiting word from the Ministry of Education on the situation. “It’s something we knew was coming, but we’re trying not to panic,” said Amy Duguid, a general arts and science stu dent who is a member of the Aboriginal Student Association at Conestoga. “Having it taken away; the impact would be tremendous. In what other club can you find your identity?” Just because the Get Involved Fair is over, doesn’t mean students can’t still join a club or get involved. For more information go to www.conestogac.on.ca/studen tLife/index.jsp.
Recession does not affect travellers By VANDA POBRITOIU
Although the new semester just began, students are eagerly looking for deals on spring break vacations. Despite the looming reces sion, travel agencies haven’t lost any heat. While the weather is getting colder in Canada, a vacation to the Caribbean is still as hot as ever. Among the many destina tions to choose from, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica are the hottest spots this season, say local travel agents. And, despite the violence in Mexico, it is still a hot go-to place, espe cially the Mayan Riviera. With all-inclusive vacations starting at rock-bottom prices, these trips are popular with budget-conscious trav ellers.
While the larger airports such as Toronto Pearson International Airport are pop ular, smaller airports can be quieter and less stressful. The Waterloo Region International Airport offers numerous flights to Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic weekly. If you’re looking to travel within Canada, Bearskin Airlines has flights that leave for Montreal and Ottawa daily. Also, WestJet Airlines has flights to Calgary daily, if you’re interested in taking a ski trip. According to travel agents, residents would rather travel through a smaller airport. “They are convenient to get to, have shorter check-in lines and the bags don’t take long to get from the main building to the plane. It’s very stress reducing,” said Jairus Maus,
a travel agent for Trip Central. “Bigger airports intimidate people,” said Chris Wood, general manager of the Region of Waterloo International Airport. “Smaller airports are more accessible, there is always parking and we have friendly personnel and a pleasant atmosphere that will make travelling less stressful.” All-inclusive vacations are great incentives for people who have to be conscious of their budgets. There is also the added benefit of no plan ning, no scrambling around town looking like tourists while searching for a hotel and no worrying about meals. Everything will already be set up by the travel agencies before you walk out their door. Vacation packages include deals as low as a three-star,
all-inclusive vacation for $993 per person in Varadero, Cuba. Another option is a three-star vacation to Punta Cana for $1,256 per person. Everyone loves a stress-free vacation, and the travel agen cies can help you achieve that. “Book early and make sure to get insurance,” said Devon James, a travel agent for Flight Centre. “It may cost you more, but you won’t have to turn around and cancel your vacation if you get snowed in on your way to the airport.” Good advice before leaving your house is also to check that the name on your pass port matches the name on your booked ticket — this includes your middle name. “Make sure that they match,” said Maus. “Because you are flying over the States,
the airport security is going to be attentive to little details. It is very costly to make changes to a ticket once it’s been bought.” Another thing you can do to achieve a stress-less vacation is to pack light. Replace the large shampoo containers with the small, 100 mL trav el-sized ones. And don’t pack too much jewelry, as you may lose it, and it also takes a long time to verify at the checkpoint, say travel agents. The airport and travel agen cies are trying to make your vacation as memorable as possible. At the Waterloo Region Airport, “we have a new licensed lounge and restau rant. Come early and enjoy our facilities. We hope to make the airport part of your vacation,” said Wood.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 ♦ SPOKE
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
Grant not fair By ALEXANDRIA DEER
The Ontario government recently introduced the Ontario Tuition Grant, a 30 per cent rebate on tuition costs, in an attempt to make post-secondary education more affordable for middle- to low-income families. However, only students who enrolled in college or uni versity within four years of graduating from high school are eligible for the rebate. More and more people are choosing to go back to school to further their education in order to get a better job or simply change careers. Conestoga’s student popu lation consists of mature students who have been out of high school for more than four years. In an article on the CBC website, www.cbc.ca, Colleges and Universities Minister Glen Murray said, ‘W e’re removing significant financial barriers for fami lies who are under financial stress, especially for fami lies — and there are many — who have two or three or four children now either in college or university or in the final years of high school.” But what about the families whose parents are enrolled in post-secondary education? Mature students are more financially strained than students who are still supported by their parents, especially if the mature student has children. Mature students not only have to deal with the stresses of raising children and all the costs that come with them, but they also need to pay bills including mortgage or rent, utilities, phone, insurance, Internet and groceries. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is a stu dent group that provides students with an effective and united voice, provincially and nationally, according to their website, www.cfs-fcee.ca. CFS presented a 40,000signature petition to the legislature asking that the $423-million annual cost of the rebate program be used to pay for a 13 per cent reduction in tuition fees for everyone, according to the article on the CBC website. Krisna Saravanamuttu, an Ontario representative for CFS, said, “Dalton McGuinty was elected by promising to reduce tuition fees, and students are calling for him to keep his promise and turn this grant into an acrossthe-board fee reduction.” High tuition costs discourage some students from con tinuing their education. This rebate, about $365 this year for college students, will encourage more students to pursue post-secondary studies. However, there should be no age discrimination. The views herein represent the position of the newspa per , not necessarily the author.
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than 500 words. Spoke reserves the right to edit any letter for publication. Address correspon dence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4
Investors say the captains should have abandoned ship earlier.
Anime’s popularity grows Conventions offer fans the opportunity to dress up as their favourite characters while bringing elements of the industry to life. This was the case Jan. 21 and 22 when an anime con vention was held in Downtown Kitchener, giving residents reason to believe that the hobby is a growing trend in the area. Anime is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of “animation.” In Englishspeaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons. The earliest known Japanese animation dates to 1917 and many original Japanese cartoons were pro duced in the following decades. The characteristic anime style we know today was developed in the 1960s and became known outside Japan in the 1980s. The oldest known anime in existence is from 1917. The two-minute clip is of a samu rai trying to test a new sword on his target, only to suffer defeat. The first feature-length animated film was released in 1945. In the 1980s, anime became more accepted by the main stream in Japan, resulting in more production. Following a few successful
Andrew Omran
Opinion
adaptations of anime in over seas markets in the 1980s, anime gained increased acceptance in those markets in the 1990s and even more at the turn of the 21st century. Today, anime has a large audience in Japan and is rec ognized throughout the world. Distributors can release anime via television broadcasts, directly to video or theatrically, as well as online. Both hand-drawn and com puter-animated anime exist. It is used in television series, films, video, video games, commercials and Internetbased releases, and repre sents most, if not all, genres of fiction. Anime is currently popular in many different regions around the world. The convention in Kitchener was the first of its kind to take place in Waterloo Region, but organ izers feel that this may be the beginning of the next big annual event. Some of the events at the
convention included Smash Bros, tournaments, both Melee and Brawl, Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh! and Magic the Gathering CCG tourna ments. Several anime where also shown including Star Driver, Digimon and Lil Pri. About 300 gaming, anime and comic book fans came from across Ontario for the convention, but organizers are hoping to add horror and science fiction next year and turn the convention into a major event. What does this mean for Kitchener? The convention creates more revenue for the city through sponsors and sou venirs. For families, a new, annual convention would create wholesome entertainment. As with most forms of entertainment, anime can also be uncensored and thus, takes away from the “family’ aspect of the event. If organ izers consider this and han dle it appropriately then there is no reason to believe that the result wouldn’t be a hit that fans remember for years. Most importantly, the con vention makes fans and citi zens more aware of a trend that flies under the radar in this area while it booms elsewhere.
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NEWS
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
SPOKE ♦Page 5
Vote on new U-Pass plan today By ALYSHA MILLER
Conestoga College may be one of the many post-secondary schools to include a bus pass in tuition fees starting in the fall of 2013. Conestoga Students Inc. and Grand River Transit (GRT) will hold a referendum over three days during which students can vote through their student email accounts. Voting will be held today, tomorrow and Wednesday through a link sent to every @conestogac.on.ca email address belonging to full-time students at each of the Doon, Cambridge and Waterloo campuses. CSI president, Ciara Byrne, explained the plan in more detail. “The U-Pass is a universal bus pass provided through GRT,” she said. “It allows students access to any GRT service throughout the week from September to August, or until their stu dent card expires.” The pass would be attached
to every student’s tuition fees, costing $90 per semes ter or $180 per year, “which is significantly cheaper than a bus pass now, which is $204 per semester,” Byrne said. “GRT has said they will add 18,000 more hours of bus service to the Conestoga College area, so Cambridge, Waterloo and Doon campus es. They’re going to add 10 more buses to service those areas as well.” Byrne said CSI chose to hold a vote for all students, not just students who already use the buses, because, “We’re here to represent all of our students. We’re not telling students to vote yes for it, or no for it. “We wanted to represent students who take the bus, and that’s a significant num ber. This is just something to show that we support them and that we’re giving them an option to make life a little bit easier. “We also think that it will
benefit students who do drive. Although they may drive to the college, they could poten tially use the bus pass for anything - if they need to go to the grocery store five min utes up the road and they don’t want to waste the gas. Or they’re out late and they don’t want to call a cab. We think it would benefit every student.” Aaron Tsarfati, a first-year international business man agement student and com muter, doesn’t mind the UPass idea. “I’d probably end up using it for something. I’m not really bothered by it,” he said. Randy Heath, a second-year general business student who already uses GRT, likes the idea. “If there will be more buses for less money I really can’t complain about a higher tuition.” All students are encouraged to vote on the matter. Students with questions can go to the CSI office in Room 2A106.
PHOTO BY ALISHA MILLER
Randy Heath, a second-year general business student, is happy to hear that a bus pass for ail students may save money on GRT serv ices in the future.
Is the X -F actor in you? By JESSICA MARTIN
“My advice would be if you want to pursue a career in the music business, don’t,” is just one of the brutally honest comments that came from the mouth of Simon Cowell, the well-known British personali ty and judge on the TV show, X Factor. Thankfully for the contest ants, Cowell will not be mak ing his way to Kitchener to help judge the college’s ver sion of the show. Instead, the eight finalists, picked from the auditions by CSI presi dent Ciara Byrne and CSI campus service co-ordinator
PHOTO BY JESSICA MARTIN
Sheena Sonser, CSI campus service co-ordinator, along with Ciara Byrne, CSI president, have picked the top finalists from X-Factor auditions to compete in the Sanctuary, Jan. 21. The winner will receive $500.
Sheena Sonser, will get to stand with their knees shak ing before their peers and professors at noon in the Sanctuary tomorrow. “This is the first year we’re going to let the students decide the winner,” said Sonser. “Usually there’s a panel of judges but we’ll let the stu dents who are in the Sanctuary during the compe tition choose the final two and then the winner.” This is also the first year X Factor is taking place at Conestoga instead of CSI Idol. “We learned from students
who participated in the past that they really wanted to be able to bring their instru ments in,” said Sonser. “With Idol, it’s not like that so we thought we’d change it up this year and see how it goes.” The winner will receive a $500 prize as well as the chance to compete in a compe tition against other college and university students. Sonser said she was “impressed with all of the awesome talent at the audi tions” and can’t wait for the competition. “Conestoga is full of talent and I’m excited.”
STUDENT LIFE
Page 6 ♦SPOKE
Monday, January 30,2012
THAT DOESN'T LOOK v e r y
SIGNING OUT E Q U IP M E N T
fun
PHOTO BY KAREN HAYNES
Cambria Olding, a second-year television broadcast student, makes use of Conestoga College’s media equipment on Jan. 23. The equipment is available to over 300 students for rental purpos es. Michael Toll, Conestoga College’s resident technician in 1B36, helps her out. Olding, a work-study student in the college’s School of Media and Design, needed a Nikon camera, tripod and an Arri lighting kit.
HE’S GOT T H E
PHOTO BY RYAN HORNE
Winter reared its ugly head on Jan. 19, resulting in a busy day for Conestoga’s mini snowplow opera tor, who is shown removing snow from the Doon campus.
THEY SURE s e e m
M U SIC IN HIM
co m fo r tab le
PHOTO BY ELISSA DEN HOED
Tony Schmidt, a first-year IT innovation and design student, passes the time between classes sere nading the C-wing hallway passersby with his guitar. He’s been playing the instrument as a hobby for the past two years.
PHOTO BY ELISSA DEN HOED
A couple catches some Zs in the college Atrium. W e’re guessing that they’re students but couldn’t bear to wake them up to ask.
NEWS
Monday, January 30,2012
SPOKE ♦Page 7
Keeping heads above water
PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA DEER
Pre-service firefighter education and training student, Ian Brunton, pulls fellow student Shawn Quangvan across the ice while practising rescue techniques at Conestoga’s Doon campus Jan. 19.
INTERIM LIBERAL LEADER
PHOTO BY ERIC MCKENZIE
Students practise a land-based water rescue with a synch rope at Conestoga’s pond.
p a y s c o n e s t o g a a v is it
PHOTOS BY KENNETH BELLIVEAU
Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae meets with Kristen Martin, 11, a championship tribal dancer, during a visit to the college.
Myeengun Henry, manager of Aboriginal Services at Conestoga College, leads a procession that includes Bob Rae as part of the opening ceremonies Jan. 20.
FEATURE
Page 8 ♦ SPOKE
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
T oh fe b be ui ns gi n Se as ns t a
By RACHEL HENRY
ou better not shout, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why ... With his snow-white hair and beard, round, rosy cheeks and even rounder belly, no one is a better candidate to play Santa Claus than Orangeville native Mike Pytlik, and he takes his job very seriously. From mid-November to Dec. 24, Pytlik is the big guy in the red suit at Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener, posing for pic tures and talking with children and adults alike about what they want for Christmas and doling out suggestions of how to stay off the naughty list. What started as a joke in 1984 has led to 28 years of don ning the famous red and white getup almost year-round. “At the time I was the largest in the office. My boss came in, handed me a red suit and told me I was going to be Santa for the company Christmas party,” Pytlik said. He said the idea struck him as “kind of cool,” and he was excit ed to play the part at the party. ‘When the first child sat on my knee and said, ‘I love you Santa,’ I was hooked,” Pytlik beamed behind his beard. With a Santa suit he bought from Sears, he started doing other Christmas events for family and friends. “The whiter my hair got, the more I was called Santa throughout the year,” Pytlik said. “It just kind of grew on me.” Pytlik and his wife, Virginia, have wholeheartedly embraced the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, spending the last five years volunteering in theorhometown of Orangeville. They visit terminally ill chil dren throughout the year at Hospice Dufferin, and do pet pictures with the SPCA every December in addition to the Orangeville Christmas parade and various other gigs. Together they have acquired a house full of Christmas paraphernalia and keep some of the decorations out year-round. Pytlik also incorporates the season into his daily life, while managing and maintaining two apart ment buildings. “I’ve got red coveralls, a red
Y
PHOTOS BY RACHEL HENRY
Mike Pytlik, top photo, readies himself for another day at Fairview Park Mall as the jolly old elf in the red suit in December 2011. Above left, Pytlik shows off his Miracle on 34th Street ring replica (left) and his reindeer ring (far right), which he likes to say was a gift from Rudolph. Above right, the Santa Claus Oath is signed by every professional Santa, declaring their dedication to sharing the magic and tradition of Christmas.
nose on the front of my trac tor — it’s a John Deere of course — and a reindeer stat ue in the front foyer of the one building,” Pytlik laughed. He also bleaches his hair and beard to keep it white, and sports a replica of a ring seen in the Christmas movie, Miracle on 34th Street. As if that weren’t enough, he also has his face on a Canadian stamp. In his spare time, Pytlik can be found in his workshop, though not quite making toys. He said he spends several months of the year attaching bells to leather strips with rein deer stamped on them, which he gives to children around Christmas. In 2011 he gave out almost 1,000 bells to visitors. In order to stay up-to-date on the latest news from the North Pole, Pytlik and his wife attend several Santa Claus conferences throughout the year. In March they attend
“Celebrate Santa” in Gatlinburg, Tenn., where over 400 Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves enjoy camaraderie and vendors while attending courses including makeup, costume, balloon twisting, magic, how to run a business as Santa, American sign lan guage and autism. “The event is held right around St. Patrick’s Day,” Pytlik said. “So the two are combined to celebrate the Holly and Shamrock Ball and Parade.” In June, Portland, Mich, cel ebrates Santafest, where over 60 Santas come together to share the Christmas spirit. Last year they went on a Niagara Falls cruise. Michigan is also home to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, a non-profit organization as well as the world’s longest running Santa school entering its 76th year of classes beginning in
late October. Charles Howard, founder of the school, and fellow Santa Jim Yellig were the first peo ple to be inducted into the Santa Hall of Fame and were the inspiration behind the ethics and morality of the Regional Municipality of the North Pole’s Santa Claus Oath. Pytlik is the proud Canadian ambassador of the oath, which every profession al Santa is required to sign. Those interested in the busi ness aspect of being Santa can find work with non-profit organizations, companies hosting Christmas events and photo sets found in malls. Simon Gurecki, area man ager and technical support at Photo Now, a photography company based in Hamilton, said personality is key to being hired as a Santa with their company. “It takes a special kind of person to do that job,”
Gurecki said. ‘Y ou’ve got to constantly be happy.” Photo Now hires Santas for paid positions at its Toronto, Kitchener, Cambridge, Brantford and Hamilton Christmas sets. “Pay is strictly negotiated,” Photo Now site manager Zofia Skupien, said. “A real beard can be a huge deciding factor.” In his more than 20 years as Santa at Fairview Park Mall Pytlik said he has seen every thing from screaming children to curious guide dogs. It’s clear from the twinkle in his eye and every visitor who leaves smiling that Pytlik loves shar ing the joys associated with Christmas, and judging by the treats left for him, the families appreciate his efforts. “Children are what’s at the heart of Christmas,” he said, eyes smiling above rosy cheeks. “It’s their imagina tion and spirit that keep it, and Santa, going.”
NEWS
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
SPOKE ♦Page 9
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
l ik e t h is
W EATHER It doesn’t seem like winter this January as geese fly overhead, having decided to stay in the balmy north, and warm temper atures keep melting the snow. PHOTO BY DREW LOGAN
New W ii gam e reaches fo r the sky By DREW LOGAN
The sky’s the limit with Nintendo’s new Wii game The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The game is the 16th in the franchise, offering the same typical gameplay found in all Zelda games: action, adven ture and puzzle solving. But this time the Wii Motion Plus for the Wii remote is required to play the game, which enables you to swing your sword just the way you’ve always wanted to. Or roll bombs, or fly on your gigantic bird. It’s really up to you and what you do with your hands, which is what makes this game a lot more enticing than others. As a gamer you are used to pressing a button for video games, but this new Wii game asks for a bit more. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal swings are all used to swing your
sword — adding a fantastic addition to the game. Blocking with your shield, guard break ing, all the way to catching bugs with a butterfly net — are included in this game. While hacking and slashing your enemies through this scenic world brought before you, there are two other goals you need to accomplish: find Princess Zelda and complete the puzzles and dungeons on your way there. The puzzles for the game require a lot less problem solving than other games in the franchise. This game will not leave you walking around in circles for hours, in attempts to find out where to go next to continue the game. This game is a bit more basic and tends to walk you through difficult parts. The only downside to this is that those who were finding the old Zelda Nintendo 64 games quite challenging will
Drew Logan
Opinion think Skyward Sword is sim ple and straightforward. This game starts off above the clouds on an island that is your hometown, but you’re not just limited to the sky. Progress far enough and you’ll be able to shoot down below the clouds and into forests, rocky mountains and deserts. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is an integration of Legend of Zelda: Orcarina of Time for the Nintendo 64, Twilight Princess for the GameCube, and Wind Waker for the GameCube. The Wii Motion Plus, required for the game, will soon be the new necessity for all Zelda games. In compari
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
PHOTO BY NICOLE JOBES
Traditional Korean instruments were played at Kitchener City Hall on Jan. 20 to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
son to the old Wii remote, you would have to point at the motion receiver to get the cur sor to show up on your screen. With the Motion Plus, you just point it at the television and swing away. Re-calibrat ing the Wii remote is simple with just a click of the button. In comparison to older Zelda games, Skyward Sword does not have as much “free-roam ing” as the Nintendo 64 games and the GameCubes Twilight Princess. In these games you were able to walk to every different area with ease. In this game you drop from the sky to a certain des tination, and can only roam within those areas before having to return to the sky. The use of musical instru ments, as found in other games, does not exist in the new Skyward Sword. Worldwide Nintendo has sold 62 million games from The Legend of Zelda series since it
first started 25 years ago. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has been receiving a lot of good ratings, with popular video game web site IGN giving it a perfect 10. GameSpot.com has given it a 7.5. Other than the fact that Nintendo took five years to finally perfect the Wii remote, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword shows prom ise of bigger and better Wii Motion Plus games to come. This game has endless hours of potential gameplay, and you might find yourself logging 40 hours in the game and not even being close to finishing. Overall, the gameplay is dif ferent from other Zelda games, but the change is not for the worst. If you’re looking for some in-your-face game play, with lots of pretty colours and puzzles, then The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the game for you.
dragon style
PHOTO BY NICOLE JOBES
Chinese dancers performed as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
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Monday, January 30,2012
Monday, Januaiy30,2012
ENTERTAINMENT
SPOKE ♦ Page 11
HEALTH
Page 12 ♦SPOKE
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
White winter triggers blue moods Winter got you feeling like you don’t want to get out of bed? It’s probably nothing to worry about - unless you find your mood slipping around the time the clocks go back in October, until they spring ahead in March. You could be suffering from seasonal affective dis order (SAD), a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. So grab your snowshoes, throw on your toque and get happy while the sunlight lasts. The Canadian Mental Health Association esti mates that one to three per cent of Canadians suffer from cases of seasonal depression that are bad enough to affect their ability to cope with life. Of patients suffering from a major depression, 11 per cent are also likely to develop depression as the longer day light hours of spring and sum mer fade into autumn and winter’s longer hours of dark ness, according to the CMHA. It’s a harsh reality of what it means to be Canadian. We
Nicole Jobes
Opinion have our delicious beaver tales and our ice hockey, but sea sonal depression seems to be a Canadianism that goes unspo ken and unnoticed by many. Those of us not working as lumber jacks or fur traders sometimes pull a graveyard shift. Does it mess with our mood? Absolutely. Not only is it unpleasant to stay up way beyond your bedtime, but in these long winter nights, you may find yourself slipping deeper and deeper into a Canadian coma of seasonal induced depression. Not to worry though. As with all ailments, there are a vari ety of treatments. One of the most popular to treat legiti mate SAD is light therapy. A very patient Canadian sits directly in front of a special light board designed to shine
light toward the eyes once or twice a day, from 30 minutes to a couple of hours; light therapy is estimated to be effective in up to 80 per cent of cases. The light box should emit the equivalent output of eight fluorescent bulbs. Don’t forget to remove your toque first. Light therapy works to regu late your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that lets your body know when it’s time to sleep or when it’s time to wake up. Medical experts at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota believe the dark winter months may disrupt melatonin cycles. I am a big advocate in selfhelp. Light therapy? Not for me. It’s probably true that a lot of cases of seasonal depres sion go undiagnosed, as do many diseases, and frankly, it’s difficult enough being a student as it is. Getting happy and making positive changes to your lifestyle can never hurt. If you exercise, try doing it outdoors when it’s light outside. If you live in Winnipeg it’s probably
Let the tai chi flow By JAKE DAVIDSON
Tai chi can help you relax, get into better shape and help the chi or other mysti cal energies flow through your body. An open house was held Jan. 18 during which a Taoist tai chi “set,” consist ing of 108 movements, was demonstrated by the International Taoist Tai Chi Society at their Cambridge branch located at 336 Eagle St. N., Unit 1B1. The demonstrations are held every January and April, just before the begin ner winter and spring ses sions begin. The winter classes began on Jan. 22. The society was founded by Master Moy Lin-shin, a Taoist Monk, in 1970. Taoist tai chi is practised in 26 countries, and the society has over 200 locations in Canada alone. They are a registered volunteer organi zation for health and chari ty. Those who have learned the 108-move set can attend classes on Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wesley United Church in downtown Galt. Classes held at the main Preston location on Eagle Street are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. There is also a 5 to 7 p.m. class the same
PHOTO BY JAKE DAVIDSON
A demonstration of some tai chi moves at an open house at a stu dio in Cambridge was ied by Simon Bull, right, a recruiter and instructor with the International Tai Chi Society on Jan. 18.
day. It costs $105 for a 16-week membership with access to all the classes. “The tai chi we teach is purely for its health benefits,” said Simon Bull, an instruc tor and recruiter with the society. “It is performed slow ly and is ideal for people with health conditions and of all ages.” Tai chi has several health benefits including increasing flexibility, helping people focus and it can relieve stress and increase mobility. “It was very strongly sug
gested by my doctor,” saiBruce Bryans, a Cambridge resident. “I have fibromyalgia, which is a kind of nerve degenerative prob lem, and not that the tai chi helps get rid of it, but it does help me stay in shape so I can bypass some of the effects.” The classes are open to everyone. The youngest mem ber is 12 years old and they have an 80+ member. It’s good for every part of the body from the skeletal system to the lym phatic system. For more information visit central.canada.taoist.org.
not the greatest idea in -40 C, so perhaps try doing your situps in front of a large window instead. Watch your diet. With Christmas behind us we should now be eating salads and apples to help ourselves lose that cookie belly. Eat foods that are not overly greasy or hard to digest. If you’re thinking about booking a few sessions at a tanning salon, you might want to reconsider. You need visible light to boost your spir its — not the ultraviolet rays emitted by tanning beds. The World Health Organization warns that tanning beds pose
a risk of skin cancer and no one under the age of 18 should use one. Despite the warning, I have to admit I still go tanning. If I didn’t tan I’d just blend right into the snow. Since the snow is here to stay for a few more months, it’s a good idea to make sure you are not slipping into a winter-induced sadness. So hop on your dogsleds and mush back to your igloos and enjoy a healthy lunch, and soak up the daylight as much as you can. Remember: win ter may be frigid and dark, but it’s what makes us Canadian.
HEALTH
Monday, January 30 ,2012
SPOKE ♦ Page 13
Bleeding for a good cause S pok e reporter learns the process of don a tin g blood By JAKE ROBINSON
It can be rewarding to be “blood brothers” with a stranger. Canadian Blood Services held a blood donor clinic at Forward Baptist Church in Cambridge on Jan. 20. The clinic had a turnout of 65 peo ple, including me. As a person who has never given blood before, I was curi ous about the donation process and decided the best way for me to learn, was by doing it. Having no idea what to expect when I arrived for my scheduled donation, I noncha lantly drove to the church wondering what was going to happen. As I walked into the fellowship room, I remained calm but curious. I was greet ed by a man at the sign-in table as well as a few other associates and was recog nized as “the guy with the camera.” The room was set up in dif ferent sections; chairs with machines in the middle, a refreshment station to the left, cubicles and what looked like a polling station to the right and a table where they tested the donor's iron level behind the registry booth. I was first sent to get my iron tested to make sure my iron level met the minimum requirement of 125 grams per litre (g/l). The lady at the table pricked my finger and placed a drop of blood in a small glass container
PHOTO BY JAKE ROBINSON
Spoke reporter Jake Robinson gets prepared to donate blood on Jan. 20 at Forward Baptist Church in Cambridge. Canadian Blood Services needs to collect 915,200 units of blood during 2012-13.
which she slid into a machine. My iron level measured 160 g/l. After passing the first test, I was sent to the section of tables that looked like a polling station to fill out a personal survey. Wondering why it was taking me longer than everyone else to answer the questions, I real ized that I neglected to obey the “stop here” request that was written halfway down the page. I now made my way to the cubicle where they re-asked
the questions that I wasn't supposed to answer. After answering those, and some other questions, I was ready to donate my blood. There is a constant demand for blood donations across the country. Canadian Blood Services communications spe cialist Veronica Magee said they need to collect 915,200 units during 2012-13 to have enough to respond to patients' needs. There are eight different blood types and some are in higher demand than others.
The rarest of blood types is AB- which only 0.5 per cent of Canadians have; the most common is 0+ which is in 39 per cent of Canadians. Another blood type which is highly in demand is Obecause it is compatible with all other blood types. As I sat at the station and got hooked up to the wires, the nurse informed me they take approximately 500 mL. which is a 10th of the blood that a person has in their body. After donating my blood, and feeling a little
woozy, I was escorted to the refreshment table where I had cookies and beverages with some of the other donors. One lady mentioned that she has to donate often because she has a high iron level in her blood and donating helps keep it at a normal level. While sitting at the table, I also received some prepara tion tips from the experienced donors. They mentioned that it's best to eat and drink a lot 24 hours before an appoint ment. Magee also added to the preparation list before donat ing. “To give blood you need the following: a piece of ID with full name and signature or full name and photograph, be 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in gen eral good health and feeling well on the day you would like to donate,” she said. “A donor can give every 56 days, which is six times per year.” Chris van Doom, communi ty development co-ordinator, said there is 37 mobile dona tion clinics scheduled in Cambridge this year. The next day of donation in Waterloo Region will be Feb. 11 at Heritage College and Seminary located on Holiday Inn Drive in Cambridge, as well as one on Feb. 13 at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Kitchener. To find other dates visit www.blood.ca or call 1-800 2 DONATE to book an appoint ment.
Watch what you’re eating and what your friends aren’t By REYHAN ENVER
Some people do not see their true size when they look in the mirror. Eating disorders are just like any other disease; no one tries to have one, nor can they con trol it. When people with anorexia look in the mirror, they see a large body, even if they're really small. This disease can cause people to not eat at all or to eat, binge and purge. Many people do not realize how serious the illness can become and that it almost always requires professional help for recovery, according to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). The first week of February is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. This week is
used to help people understand what eating disorders are like, what to look for in case some one you know has one and how to help either yourself or some one in your life.
“Every meal becomes a conversation about the things that she doesn’t like about her body." - Sarah Davis
People who have eating dis orders will try to hide it the best they can, according to NEDIC. It is very important to pay attention to what your friends are saying and doing when it comes to the topic of
food. “In the real world, this situation may be evident when an individual performs poorly in school and chooses to derive her sense of selfworth from physical appear ance,” said Josee L. Jarry, doctor of philosophy, and Amy Kossert from NEDIC on their official website www.nedic.com. Sarah Davis, a Waterloo resident, has a friend who has shown warning signs. “Every meal becomes a con versation about the things that she doesn't like about her body. She makes comments like that almost all of the time, it's just often during meals,” said Davis. “She never eats much, she'll skip breakfast, maybe have a couple bites of a crois sant or some veggies for lunch.” A misconception about eat ing disorders is that only
females have them, which is not true. NEDIC has released a poster and pam phlet to raise awareness about males with eating dis orders. According to NEDIC, a 2002 survey showed that 1.5 per cent of Canadian women aged 15-24 had an eating disorder. It also showed that four per cent of Grade 9 and 10 boys reported steroid use, indicating poor body image. If you or someone you know are struggling with an eating disorder, make sure the topic is approached with caution. The focus should be on health and relationships, rather than weight and their body size. After talking to family or friends, a family doctor should be seen and counselling may be the next step.
NEWS
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Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
First anim e convention held in W aterloo Region By MARIANA C. MORALES
PHOTO BY MARIANA C. MORALES
Asian ball-jointed dolls are popular among anime collectors and are very customizable.
Around 300 fans came together from all parts of Ontario for Waterloo Region’s first anime and gaming convention at Emiko’s Mini Convention (EMC). Held at the Delta Hotel in downtown Kitchener on the weekend of Jan. 20-22, fans were able to dress up as their favourite characters, watch anime shows, sign up for gaming tournaments, buy merchandise and have a great time. Most anime conventions are farther away in more populous areas such as Toronto which has the largest anime convention in Ontario. “Because Anime North is so far away, we wanted to make something more local,” said Cristina Reyes-Lyder, a student at Conestoga College studying early childhood education. EMC was held by clubs from the University of Waterloo, W ilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College as well as by anyone who wanted to get involved. The organizer of the event, Ronald Hoppe, who goes by his stage name RCEHoppe, said in this area there’s not really a venue for individu
PHOTO BY MARIANA C. MORALES
Joy Fenton, a judge for the Asian ball-jointed doll competi tion, said many of the entries should have won first place.
als to express this type of art form. This year marks their first year going public, but fourth year featuring the convention and it had a posi tive outcome. In the begin ning, it was just anime, and then they added gaming and finally comics. They hope to make the event bigger next year by adding sci-fi and horror. Conventions are like a form of expression where people can be themselves
with others who are just the same. It’s not only for anime, but also some of the cultures taken from Japan. Asian ball-jointed dolls are very realistic-looking dolls that are influenced by anime produced mostly in Japan, South Korea and China. They can be customized, however, according to the owner’s wishes. Items such as clothing, hair style, hair colour, eye colour, shoes, accessories and even facial features can be chosen. Joy Fenton, a judge for a com petition featuring the dolls at the convention, brought her creation Ryu, who wore a red and black gothic outfit with white, silky hair and “dreamy eyes.” She said many of the dolls should have won first place, but it was hard to choose the best one. Sometimes people ask her what kind of woman in her 50s collects dolls and she simply said it’s appreciating the human features. Because they are so life-like and customizable, she car ries them around instead of dressing up herself. Emiko’s Mini Convention will be held again next year with plans to make it even better.
SPORTS
Monday, January 3 0 , 2012
W inter intram urals begin at Conestoga By RYAN HORNE
A new year also brings some new resolutions and the recreation centre is happy to help out. After a long break over the Christmas holidays, intramu rals have returned for the winter semester at Conestoga. There has been an increase of 100 students who have signed up for winter intramu rals as opposed to the fall semester which is likely the result of students wanting to cut down the turkey fat accu mulated over the holidays. “Total numbers are about 450 first semester and 550 this semester. The main dif ference is the addition of soc cer for the semester,” said Katie McCartney, director of intramurals. “We see our increase in the weight room and with the fitness classes.” McCartney says intramu rals aren’t just a way to stay in shape, but they are also an outlet to meet new people and acclimatize to a new environ ment if you happen to be liv ing away from home. “Some people move away to school and don’t have the same outlet for athletics as when they lived at home or were in high school. Intramural sports allow stu dents to participate around their school schedule and meet new people,” she said. “Also, remembering that not all participants would have played the specific sport before, it gives them an opportunity to try something new.” Sports offered this semester include ball and ice hockey, volleyball, soccer and even dodge ball. Not surprisingly, McCartney says the big draw for the winter semester stems from the ball and ice hockey leagues. After a few instances with drinking in the change rooms prior to and after games, rules were implemented to provide safety for all partici pants. “If a student is found to be under the influence we will take action and have them removed from playing for the safety of other students,” said McCartney. Students must also be full time Conestoga students to participate in intramurals.
SPOKE* Page 15
Condors continue to improve despite loss By JEFF BOMBEN
The Conestoga College men’s volleyball team showed resilience but fell short to the more experienced Sheridan Bruins in an entertaining four-set match on Jan. 18. Conestoga lost the match, 18 to 25, 25 to 15, 25 to 19 and 25 to 19. The Condors’ record dropped to 1 and 11 after the loss. The team came out strong and looked determined after dominating the first set. But inexperience caught up with them as the older and more experienced Sheridan Bruins won the final three sets. The Bruins featured a line up that included two national champions and four former club players. Winning the first set meant Conestoga broke a streak of 21 sets without a set victory. Men’s head coach, Ariel Castromayor, talked about the team’s first set victory, “We came out and showed what our potential is,” he said, adding the players were crisp, had very few errors and were really scrappy. Conestoga stuck with the veteran Bruins and pleased their coach with their effort. “We stayed with them and, overall, I am much more pleased the way they played tonight,” he said. Castromayor talked about the importance of his team learning from every mistake. “I am not a coach who punish es for poor performance, I may discipline for poor deci sions because everyone is responsible for their deci sions. If you play poorly
PHOTO BY JEFF BOMBEN
Conestoga College’s only returning player, Kyle Moser, No. 8, spiked the ball past Frank Pento and Jeremy Fantin of Sheridan College during a game on Jan. 18 at the rec centre.
because of lack of experience, it’s just a part of the learning curve. If you make a poor decision, you correct it,” Castromayor said. Third-year architectureconstruction engineering technology student, Jon Moser, was excited about the team’s first set victory but talked about the team falling apart in the second set. “We were just tired of los ing. I think going into the sec ond set we got a little too com fortable knowing that we just came off a win,” Moser said.
“We still have a few things to work on but there’s posi tives coming out of every game. If we practise hard, we play well and that’s what we have been doing lately.” Moser, the only returning player from last year’s squad, has stepped up as a leader of the club and continues to be very positive about the team moving forward. “I just keep telling them that every game we have a chance. I don’t care what the stats are, I don’t care what our previous record is, it’s our
Local hall of famer retires By ANDREW OIBRAN
Hall of Famer Bob McKillop has been involved in competi tive sports for a half a centu ry but is finally calling it quits after enjoying a career that many could only dream of. McKillop recently retired from the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association but hock ey isn’t where it all started. At 17 years old, McKillop was signed to the Chicago White Sox Minor League affil iate in AA. “I decided to play pro base ball so I stopped anything to do with hockey for six or seven years while I was in the States and chasing my won derful career with the little round ball,” McKillop said. For three consecutive years McKillop was signed to a con tract to move up to the AAA level but the organization opted out of the contract
every time despite McKillop having spent two full spring trainings with the White Sox. Disappointed with their decision, McKillop came to grips with the fact that it did n’t look like he would fulfill his dream of being a major league ball player; this real ization lead to his return to school. He attended the University of Waterloo where he picked up football. After quarterbacking the University of Waterloo Warriors for three years, McKillop was drafted into the Canadian Football League by the Toronto Argonauts in 1968. However, he remained at UW in the physical educa tion department and coached football for 23 years. “I had seen several types of coaches and I knew what I liked and I knew what I didn’t like. I tried to make sure peo ple liked what they were doing,” he said.
While a student at UW, McKillop still had the desire to play ball and he took a step in that direction by contact ing John Weber, who was the general manager of the Kitchener Panthers of the Kitchener Minor Baseball Association. “He was a student at the University of Waterloo; he was going to be living here in the summer months. I was running the Kitchener Panthers at the time and he called me and told me about his baseball background and said that he would like to come out and play ball for the Panthers. “I’ll always remember this line (by McKillop). T hope I can help the team,’ which was an understatement because he had played professional baseball at the AA level and for the next 10 or 11 years, he played for the Kitchener Panthers,” Weber said.
attitude on and off the court and how we play,“ Moser said. In other action, Conestoga’s women’s volleyball team held on to win a thrilling five-set match against the Sheridan Bruins. The Lady Condors won the first two sets, 27 to 25 and 25 to 14 but then lost the third and fourth sets, 25 to 27 and 24 to 26. After the Lady Condors lost the fourth set, they dominat ed in the fifth and final set, winning 15 to 8. This was the team’s third straight win.
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Monday, January 30,2012