Rocking out in Cambridge Local talent plays at Preston Music Festival. Page 11
A flight to remember
SPOKE
Butterfly release raises suicide awareness. Page 8
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
Bike thieves strike BY KRIS MANUEL Finding out that your ride home has been stolen is not good news for anyone. Barb Eiehholz, Conestoga's security and parking supervi sor, said a number of bikes have been stolen from the cam pus since the start of classes. She has been working with Waterloo Regional Police and both have been increasing patrols to try and prevent any further bicycle thefts. Samantha Albrecht, a firstyear student in the social service worker program, said
she rides her bike to and from school but she wasn’t aware of the bike thefts. Upon learning of them, she said, “That’s good to know.” Theft prevention tips can keep your bike safe. Eiehholz said, “The majority of bikes that have been sto len have been locked so mak ing sure that you purchase the proper lock that’s either hard to pick or hard to cut is very important.” She suggested using a strong U-lock and making sure that your bicycle is always locked when it is left anywhere.
It is also important to record an accurate description of your bicycle in case it does get stolen. “The key thing is you need to have a record of your serial number because you have to be able to provide that to the police,” said Eiehholz. The serial number is usually located on the frame. Another tip is to keep your bike somewhere close by and in a visible area where there are many bystanders. Lock your bike to something that is strong, immobile and which the bike cannot be easily lift ed off, such as a bike rack.
When placing a lock on the bike, make sure that the lock is not close to the ground or near a wall where it can be easily smashed. Securing the bicycle frame and its wheels and using two different locks for each wheel instead of one will make it more difficult for thieves to steal. Older-looking bikes are also less attractive to thieves than newer ones. “If your bike is stolen or if you notice suspicious activ ity around a bike lock, con tact security immediately,” Eiehholz said.
PHOTO BY KRIS MANUEL
Samantha Albrecht, a first-year student in the social service worker program, rides her bike to school and locks it to a bike rack outside of the college on Sept. 13.
Waterloo Park gets magically medieval BY ALLANAH PINHORN P a s s i n g through the gate the smell of roasting meat wafts on the breeze, accom panied by the haunting sound of women’s voices rising in a Celtic song. Harp music pours from beyond the trees where men and women walk about, dressed not in jeans and T-shirts, but in jerkins and leather belts, billowing frocks and flowing dresses embroidered with silver and gold. It’s no longer the 21st cen tury. Hear ye! Hear ye! Welcome one and all to the 15th annual Royal Medieval Faire. The faire, which was held Sept. 15 in Waterloo Park, started out as an idea between friends over a decade ago, and now attracts thousands of people from all over the region. “Really good years we eas ily get 5,000,” said Dwayne Price, director of operations. Driven by volunteers, the non-profit event has partnered with the City of Waterloo, which donates the park space and provides a magical, and inexpensive, day out for the public - medieval aficionado or not. “It’s for the community, it’s for the families and it’s run by the volunteers,” Price said. “We thank and appreciate anybody who does anything for the faire. Without volun teers, it just doesn’t happen.” Price himself is a volunteer. Starting out by working at
PHOTO BY ALLANAH PINHORN
Knave-in-training Kohen battles the Unnamed Knight during the Royal Medieval Faire in Waterloo Park, Sept. 15. the fry stand years ago, he moved up to games and is now on the board, helping to run the show. Even after all this time he still marvels at
the size and scale of the faire. “You come out and you look around and there’s this whole village, this whole other land,” he said.
Indeed, it does seem like another place and time when stepping into the park. Being southern Ontario’s largest Renaissance festival, the
faire has over 40 vendors, and plays host to games, archery and rock climbing. SEE FAIRE, PAGES 6 AND 7
NEWS
Page 2 ♦ SPOKE
Monday, September 24,2012
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College Random questions answered by random students
“If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?”
“Japan.” Alexander Riccie, first-year business purchasing
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LEFEBVRE
“Mars. n
Ciara Byrne, president of Conestoga Students Inc., stands outside the CSI office at 2A106 at Doon campus on Sept. 13. She invites students to stop by anytime.
Kyle Shepard, first-year business purchasing
CSI is here for you BY STEPHANIE LEFEBVRE
“South America.” Daryl VandenBerg, second-year journalism-broadcast
“Southern France.” Larry Cornies, program co-ordinator, Media & Design/Journalism
“British Columbia.” Sheldon Maynard, first-year broadcast radio
“Australia.” Spencer Gough, first-year broadcast radio
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Students at Conestoga College have noticed the events going on around the school, but have they consid ered who organizes them? Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) is an entity that takes care of student interests and issues throughout the school year. Their main objective is to listen to students and what they want to see happen. Celebrating their 40th year as a separate entity from the college, CSI’s mission state ment includes three different competencies: representation, activities and services. This year, they are offering a few new services that will help students in various ways throughout the year. For example, CSI has
introduced a shuttle service. According to their website, www.conestogastudents.com, the shuttle will provide free transportation for students, faculty and staff between the Doon campus, residence and the Cambridge campus. The service will be available main ly for special events, but the details are still in the works. The CSI Leadership Conference is also a new addi tion. It’s a way for students to get some unique skills and strategies that they can bring to the workforce. Ciara Byrne, president of CSI, said the conferences will probably take place on a week end and will be a one-time com mitment that students can get something tangible out of. “This year we are looking to focus more on that skills devel
opment part of it,” she said. Byrne said they’ve noticed student focus has shifted from having fun to what they can learn to help them in their future career. CSI is keeping that focus in mind. “We’ve broken away from tradition,” Byrne said. She mentioned CSI analyzes what has worked in past years and what hasn’t gotten a lot of response, whether it’s enter tainment or an event that will help them build their skills for later in life. Byrne believes CSI staff has gotten a handle on what the students want. “If any student walked in this office and talked to any of the staff members, they would walk out believing in CSI as much as each of our staff members,” she said.
NEWS
Monday, September24,2012
SPOKE* Page 3
Cambridge councillor supports LGBTQ rights BY KEILA MACPHERSON
It’s a battle of rights and inclusion for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) commu nity when it comes to civil marriage at Cambridge City Hall. Coun. Donna Reid, an active feminist and advocate for inclusiveness, proposed that city hall perform civil mar riages for all people regard less of sexual orientation and not contract someone who will not provide these services to same-sex couples. Cambridge City Hall current ly has two people hired to per form civil marriages: Rev. Jay Brown and Rev. Marion Loree. The City of Cambridge web site, under marriage services, states that all traditional and non-traditional marriages are performed by Brown, who is under a yearly contract with city hall. The site does not name Loree. “The city would just book them in for Rev. Brown, but if it’s for the other officiant there would have to be a dis cussion with her as to when that could happen, so they would have to be treated dif ferently,” Reid said. At the Sept. 10 council meet ing, Brown said after the law changed to allow same-sex
PHOTO BY KEILA MACPHERSON
Cambridge Coun. Donna Reid speaks about her motion to only have inclusive marriage commissioners at Cambridge City Hall at the Sept. 10 council meeting. couples to marry she began interviewing ministers who would perform same-sex mar riages. “Since 2005, same-sex mar riages have been performed right here at the city hall and no one, I say no one, has ever been turned away,” said Brown. But Reid’s point is that Brown does not officiate samesex marriages, and therefore, should not be employed by the city. According to a Jan. 10, 2011 article on the CBC News website, the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan ruled that public marriage commission ers cannot refuse to marry
same-sex couples. One of the delegations at the council meeting, Susan Howard, a lawyer residing in Cambridge, pointed out the need for change in Cambridge. “When Rev. Brown got this contract 15 years ago, it was not the law that same-sex couples be treated equally, but it is the law now. Times have changed and the city needs to keep up with that,” said Howard. A list put together by Kelly Lovell, who conducted some research for Reid, shows that Cambridge is one of the only cities that allows non-inclusive marriage officiants to be contracted by city hall. Neighbouring cities that provide non-biased marriage services include Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, London and Stratford. Although Coun. Reid’s motion passed there is still some confusion from other councillors on Reid’s idea of inclusiveness. “Coun. (Ben) Tucci’s inter pretation is this: if she hires someone in her business to do same-sex marriages under her business, then the corpo ration is an applicant and it is allowable under my motion. And I am saying, 'No it’s not.’ I will not stand for it,” said Reid.
A VOICE FOR CHOICE
PHOTO BY RYAN GOODYEAR
Mike Duerrstein, a Waterloo resident, protests Motion 312 outside Kitchener Centre MP Stephen W oodworth’s office on Sept. 12. The motion seeks to create a committee to review the legal definition of when a fetus becomes a human being. See opinion, Page 4.
On Spoke Online
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(www.spokeonline.com) tweek:
See how students are getting involved thanks to a Get Involved Fair at Conestoga College. Everyday there are things we take for granted, including being able to walk. But what about those who aren’t as fortunate? What services does Conestoga College have for them? The cast of the Guelph musical “Singing in the Rain” held a “splashmob” in front of Guelph City Hall. Enjoy their performance. The 2002 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo was held in Roseville this past weekend. Spend a day at the event via Spoke Online’s video. Get a peek at the CityFieldNorthShore art exhibit.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 ♦ SPOKE
Monday, September 24,2012
One m inister should conduct all w eddings BY SARA HANAFI
The days of segregating are long gone. Everybody takes the same bus, eats at the same restaurant and goes to the same mall. Would it be fair for one person to help customers at a fast-food restaurant but pass on the duties to someone else if he didn’t like a certain customer? Or for a garbage collector to only pick up garbage from certain houses? The answer is a resounding no, because, by definition, that is discrimination. That being said, the City of Cambridge has been allow ing a form of prejudice to continue at city hall for the past seven years. Heterosexual couples have been wed by one minister and same-sex couples wed by another. Rev. Jay Brown of Guelph had been performing the heterosexual ceremonies at city hall until recently; council voted 8-1 to have only one minister perform both opposite-sex and same-sex weddings. Brown, who says she has people who are dear to her who are gay, said its her religion that will not allow her to marry same-sex couples. She is at risk of losing her job because segregation is not tolerated in Canada. We are a nation that promotes open-mindedness, diversity and tolerance. The days of separate washrooms and reserved seats at the back of the bus for different groups of people are far behind us. Quite frankly, having the two ministers was insulting and unfair to same-sex couples who are already strug gling to be seen as equals in today’s society. Is this thinking not hurting our society? Do we not want to accept everyone and be rid of blatant intolerance? Brown is entitled to her own religious beliefs. Freedom of speech and freedom to practise religion are constitutional rights. The government does not require, and cannot force, any church or other religious institu tion to perform these wedding ceremonies. But, when such ceremonies are held at city hall, they must adhere to the rules of the state, and the rules do not allow for discrimination based on sexual orientation due to another’s religious beliefs. Kudos to Cambridge council members for finally see ing the light and taking a stand. The views herein represent the position of 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. Address correspondence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4
Same-sex marriages a t Cambridge City Hall could only be performed if a backup minister was available.
Say no to Motion 312 The seedy, dangerous world of backroom abortions are a thing of the past for those of us privileged enough to be born in North America. Most of us would like to keep abortion as a safe and ster ile option for women not yet ready for the massive respon sibility that is parenting. However, Kitchener Centre MP Stephen Woodworth is trying to change all this by introducing Motion 312. The motion asks for a com mittee to be set up to help determine when a fetus becomes a human being. Woodworth’s argument for bringing this motion to the House of Commons is that the law for when a fetus becomes a human being was written before modern science could determine the actual transi tion. To start with why this is wrong, I need to remind readers that our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has already publicly stated in the past that the abor tion debate would not be reopened. Woodworth’s attempt to reopen this debate is a slap in the face to Canadian citizens, and by
Ryan Goodyear Opinion going behind Harper’s back, it is an insult to the Prime Minister. Simply trying to determine when a fetus becomes a human is what Woodworth would like you to believe. However, anyone educated enough with the pro-life movement knows that Woodworth is trying to change the abortions laws in Canada. The fact that Woodworth is trying to start a debate on anything remote ly associated with abortion is horrendous, especially after the people of Canada were promised it would not be an issue. Canadian citizens, especially those living in our region, should be outraged. If Woodworth and the rest of the pro-life movement were somehow successful in changing the moment in which a human being stops being a fetus, they would, in turn, surely move the latest
date an abortion was possible back, all the while trying to convince those not educated on the subject that the rea son for doing this would be that too many abortions are performed late in the preg nancy. This, of course, is not true; in my experience most of the statistics offered up by pro life propagandists is grossly misleading. Pro-life followers state that most abortions occur later in pregnancy. The truth is 90 per cent of all abortions performed in Canada occur within the first 13 weeks. Merely .4 per cent occur after 20 weeks and none are performed beyond 24 weeks according to Planned Parenthood Waterloo. If abortion was made illegal it would be one giant step backward for women’s rights. It would not only do nothing to deter the number of abor tions needed but would actu ally increase the death rate of women by forcing those desperate enough to get one, to have it done in an unsafe, unsterile environment. I urge the House of Commons to strike down Motion 312.
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Monday, September 24,2012
Conestoga family fundraises for the future
NEWS
SPOKE ♦Page 5
STRUMMING t h e
summer aw ay
BY KEILA MACPHERSON
Family is there to care for and show sup port to its members. The Conestoga family is going above and beyond by showing their financial support as well through the Family Campaign. The campaign is part of the college’s Be the Cause of Something Great campaign where faculty, staff, alumni and retirees can donate money toward various projects at all campuses and financial awards for students. The starting goal of the Family Campaign was $800,000, but by the end of May 2012, $865,712, had been raised. Under the leadership of chairpersons Kathryn Brillinger, Stephanie Bartlett and Monica Himmelman, and with the help of directors Julie Gillis, Tim Tribe and 128 other volunteers, the Family Campaign kicked off in April 2011. It was designed to encourage the community to make donations based on the idea of a strong internal sup port system. “It was important for people who are very intimately connected to this institution to demonstrate leadership and their commit ment to the campaign and the college,” said Tim Tribe, director of development at Conestoga. Conestoga’s family continued to donate money over the summer and the funds rose to $891,921, as of Sept. 6. “It is the highest amount any college has raised internally,” said Julie Gillis, man ager of donor relations and stewardship. “The goal is to continue to receive dona tions and support from the staff. Whether we will get that amount every year, it is hard to say.” According to Gillis, donors have a choice of where and what department their donation will go to, and she said one hundred per cent of their contributions are used for the intended purposes. “That’s what fundraising is about; letting somebody help somebody else in a way that they feel good about,” said Tribe. The distribution of funds, as of Sept. 6, is as follows: ■ $410,284 for the campaign to use for general projects ■ $169,465 to the School of Engineering and Information Technology ® $115,950 toward awards and scholar ships ■ $89,192 to the School of Health & Life Sciences ■ $44,596 to go toward other departments (Learning Resource Centre, Disability Services, recreation centre) ■ $35,677 to the School of Business ■ $26,758 toward trades & apprenticeship Renovations to the LRC, the recent addition to the F-wing at the Doon campus, the new Cambridge campus and new learning and skills centres at campuses in Ingersoll, Waterloo and Guelph were funded by donations. There are several more projects planned for the future, bringing the total cost to about $126 million. “This isn’t a one-time thing. This is going to, hopefully, take on a life of its own and become really a part of the culture of Conestoga going forward,” said Tribe.
PHOTO BY RYAN BOWMAN
Axel Clarke spends a sunny September Sunday playing his guitar in Victoria Park. Tom orrow will be just as nice.
Keep your catcalls to yourself If you ask a woman, odds are she can probably recall the first time a man sexually harassed her while she walked down the street. I was a fairly gawky-looking 13-year-old. I was lanky and if other girls my age were considered curvy, I was definitely concave. I was dressed in my Grade 8 graduation outfit. A mid-length, billowy black skirt and a fairly casual black T-shirt with a white collar - the epitome of formal wear, clearly. I felt strange enough in what I felt was, by my own standards, a hyper-feminine ensemble, but as I walked to my parents’ office to get a ride to graduation, I heard a sound that would forever make me turn my head and roll my eyes. “Nice ass, baby!” followed by sev eral car honks. As I turned, I saw a man hanging out his car window going gaga over my pre-pubescent body. Gross. In what can only be described as an act of natural reflex, I threw my arm into the air and thrust my middle finger upward with more force than I ever had before, or ever would again. Over the years I’ve had many hoots and hollers directed at me from moving vehicles and, while I almost always react in the same manner, the thought that always follows these incidents is one that I reflect on often. What gives someone the right to comment on ho w I look? It’s nice to receive a genuine and respectful compliment from some one familiar from time to time, but a perfect stranger expressing
Jessica Rediker Opinion
his fondness for my form is never flattering. It’s offensive to say the least. It can be argued that perhaps this behaviour is a male assert ing his perceived dominance over a female, or maybe he actually thinks this is a flattering way to let a woman know he’s interested in her, but whatever the reason is, it is completely unwarranted. Going out in public does not give anyone the right to comment on my body or how it looks — no mat ter what I’m wearing, what I’m drinking, where I’m going or how I present myself. Nothing I do is an invitation for you to tell me that you find me desirable, because I am not asking for that kind of attention. In an online survey conducted in 2008 by Stop Street Harassment, an activist group fighting against this kind of attention, 99 per cent of 811 female respondents said they had experienced some form of street harassment such as verbal comments, honking, whistling, staring, groping and even stalking. Nearly 57 per cent reported being touched or grabbed by a stranger in public. Unfortunately, as time goes on, women experience varied and more offensive forms of harassment.
It’s one thing when these words are being shouted from a vehicle zooming past, but it doesn’t stop there. The more confident men tend to stick to the sidewalks, often in a different tone. “Hey baby, why don’t you smile?” is never an appropriate thing to say to anyone. What if the person you just asked to cheer up was suffering from the loss of a family member? No one has to look cute and cheery just for you. Keep the suggestions for how to make people look more pleasant to yourself. Though these pathetic attempts to make a pass at me usually only illicit a vulgar response, there have, on occasion, been opportuni ties for me to try out some of my humour on the general public. “Have you always been this gor geous,” is always responded to with, “No, I used to be really ugly.” Another place women are harassed are in nightclubs. Having fun and feeling good, a woman heads to the bar to order a drink. That’s when she feels it. Warm, firm and unwanted, it’s a hand, gripping her — her hips, her butt or her breast. Was it something she wore? Was it the fact that she was drinking? Was it the idea that if you go to a club you are obviously looking for some kind of sexual attention? It was none of the above. It was the idea that a man has every right to assert his dominance over a female by putting her in a posi tion where she becomes nothing more than a helpless sex object.
Page 6 ♦ SPOKE
FEATURE
Monday, September 24,2012
A day at h et
F a ir e Photos by Allanah Pinhorn
♦ FROM PAGE 1
Sir Tobias of Smaliton, piayed by Adam Benjamin, defends his King’s honour during a tournament round at the Royal Medieval Faire. Jam es R. Nobel, playing Jean the Unworthy, was not as easily defeated as Benjamin would have liked.
Queen Charlotte, played by Tracy Biggar, scans her kingdom for potential knights at the Knighting Rock in Waterloo Park.
The faire also featured, a maze, a working battering ram and large-scale cross bow. There was also delicious snacks on sale for the fam ished. M erchandise included everything from real chain mail, apothecary setups, vampire-slaying kits, animal skulls and leather pauldrons, to swords, bows, costumes for the kids and handcraft ed magic wands. Although admission is always a low $5 for adults and $2.50 for children, some products can cost up to a few hun dred dollars. The faire has true art ists at work, ones who have spent hours per fecting their craft and embracing the medieval arts and trades. Price understands. “I just sort of fell in love with it too,” he said. Among the pirates, lords, ladies, elves, faer ies, knaves and knights attending the faire, familiar faces pop out for those who go yearafter-year. The actors too seem to enjoy the event, returning again and again, often to play the same role in a
Faire favourite, Dizzy izzy the Wanderer, piayed by Niclin McNeice, is held captive by Rivek the Mercenary (Jordan Dallaire) and Lady Terra the Pirate King, played by Caitlyn Derderian.
themed story that builds upon the previous year’s tale. These include Bernie Roehl, who plays King Bertram, and Tracy Biggar as Queen Charlotte. Since the first year of the faire, Roehl and Biggar have placed crowns upon their heads as the rulers of the Kingdom of Mearth, and entertained faire-goers, sim ply for the delight in it. Biggar also makes sure to take time out of her busy day to knight any wayward attendees. “I hardly ever stab anyone,” she said as one young boy knelt in front of her in the sun. As the clock nears closing time, the buzz of excitement in the air can be heard even above the clashing of swords. People flock to the bleachers around the tournament ring and await the next event with their families in tow. “They get drawn to every thing,” Price said, and rightly so. If anyone misses the joy and magic of the faire they’ll have to wait a whole year, until next fall, before the black smith hammers and the drag ons come back again. The park is already booked for next year’s event, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21. For more information, go to www.royalmedievalfaire.org
Renaissance buff in the making, Renya, watches the finale of the Game of Clue of Thrones, this year's themed story.
Monday, September 24,2012
FEATURE
Dave Loop, playing Pipp the Jester, reads a proclamation to King Bertram (Bernie Roehl) and his kingdom before an event begins. Bringing joy and jokes to the show, Loop was a crowd-pleaser.
SPOKE ♌Page 7
Sir Philius the Phlighty, played by Brian Gashgarian, watches smugly as the kingdoms of Mearth and Dearth hold court.
The traditional band, Floating Widget, consisting of, from left to right, Les Starkey, Kevin Grossi and Maggie Clark, entertain the crowds.
Chris Stackhouse, a custom artist, proudly shows off his wares for sale. Stackhouse owns Chrisara Studios with his girlfriend.
Newly-knighted Sir Anthony kneels before Biggar at the knighting ceremony. Tim id at first, he soon gained the courage to become a knight of the realm.
Young warrior, Zachery, battles knight Damien Coles in a timed round during the faire.
NEWS
Page 8« SPOKE
Monday, September 24,2012
Butterflies take flight at suicide prevention day BY WHBTNEY SOUTH
Suicide is a topic that not many talk about. The Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council is trying to change that, in part by holding a community event meant to help those affected by suicide find a place where they won’t be ignored. Sept. 10 marked the 10th anniversary of World Suicide Prevention Day, a day des ignated by the World Health Organization in order to bring awareness and education on a global scale. The Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council (WRSPC) celebrated the day with their annual community butterfly release in Kitcheneps Victoria Park. People from all over Kitchener-Waterloo attend ed the event, which offered a number of informational booths on everything from nutrition to emotional and spiritual health. Tana Nash, WRSPC co-ordi nator, said the council wanted to emphasize the importance of physical health which plays a big part in everyone’s life. “People don’t realize it’s as important to maintain a healthy lifestyle as it is to find an emotional balance.” The event brought in more people than last year, almost doubling in attendance.
“This year’s turnout was our largest yet,” she said. “Seeing so many families at the event with young children high lights how we are becoming more comfortable saying the word suicide.” Nash said bringing people together at an event such as World Suicide Prevention Day is a very healing process for those bereaved by suicide. “Knowing that you’re not alone is very comforting and it’s a safe place to talk about the person you’re missing without being judged.” The W orld Health Organization website states that over one million people worldwide die every year due to suicide, including around 4,000 Canadians. Tenille Maher has been a volunteer with the WRSPC for the past four months and experienced the annual but terfly release for the first time this year. “It was really beautiful to see,” she said. “There was a great sense of community and it was great to see people come together for this sort of thing, something that is just never discussed.” The butterfly release, which was sponsored by the Lisa Brown Charitable Foundation, held a differ ent meaning for everyone involved. Maher said the event
PHOTO BY WHITNEY SOUTH
Volunteers Tenilie and Teshia Maher set a butterfly free in m em ory of their father during the 10th annual World Suicide Prevention Day comm unity butterfly release at the Victoria Park pavilion in Kitchener, Sept. 10. brought out a different side of how she saw her personal situation. “I thought it was interest ing that some of the butter flies were still sleeping,” she said. “It almost symbolized how you hang on to things and eventually you let go. It was a really good way of letting go and dealing with
grief.” The release was followed by guest speakers Allan Strong, who talked about skills for safer living, and KitchenerConestoga MP Harold Albrecht, who spoke to the crowd about Bill C-300, which calls for a national strategy for suicide prevention. Nash said the council hopes
that events like this one will encourage people in the com munity to feel comfortable talking about suicide in hopes of helping families heal. “People are starting to say enough is enough.” If you are in crisis, call Crisis Services of Waterloo Region at 519-744-1813 or 1-800-366-4566.
FEATURE
Monday, September 24.2012
SPOKE ♦ Page 9
There’s Latin flare in K-W BY CALEIGH MCLELLANP
In Canada, enjoying any thing tropical is hard to do, and once September arrives, finding sun, surf and sand is an expensive plane ride away. But no need to fret because in this area the sounds, food and activities of the south can be found year-round. Over the years, the area’s Latin community has become very prominent, and people from all backgrounds are get ting involved in this vibrant and unique way of life. Moses Ojong’s love of Latin dancing started back in his native country of Cameroon, but since moving to K-W, his appreciation for this style of dance has grown. “I already had salsa in me,” Ojong said. “But my connection with the culture in Canada has made me love it more.” This summer, the Latin community was out in full force with events taking place in K-W and all the way to Collingwood and Toronto. K-W’s annual Multicultural Festival took place on June 23 and 24 where people enjoyed food, performances and stalls from many world cultures, including the tastes of El Salvador. Salsa at Blue Mountain and Salsa on St. Clair are also popular annual events that happened in June and July that attracted many people from K-W. And the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival once again filled the streets of Toronto for three weeks in July and August, where it was proven for the 45th year that this cul ture is truly international. Most recently, the Hispanic and Latino Council of GuelphWellington hosted this year’s Guelph Latino Festival on Sept. 22 where the many sounds of Latin American music could be heard all night long. “It is beneficial for all people to learn more about this cul ture,” said Ojong, who added
that there are many social and physical advantages of “expanding one’s repertoire.” Avid dancer, Craig Stephen, who often travels for work, agrees that Latin dancing is a great physical activity. He also recognizes the social benefits it offers anywhere he travels. “There are lots of salsa clubs everywhere,” Stephen said, adding that clubs are intimi dating at first if you are just a beginner. Anyone can “expand their repertoire” by participating in some of the area’s many excit ing weekly events, which offer food, music and dance lessons in intimate atmospheres, so there is no need to feel intimidated when dancing with the pros. The true diversity of K-W’s Latin community can be seen every Thursday night at the Flying Dog in Waterloo where Cubans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans and even nonLatinos dance their country’s style of salsa, as well as bachata and merengue, two styles of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. Dance lessons begin at 8:30. Other ongoing events throughout the year include Salsa Tuesdays at The Guanaquita Restaurant, an authentic Salvadorian restaurant, which has only been open for four months, located at 273 King St. W. in Kitchener. Dance lessons begin at 8 p.m. every Tuesday night followed by social danc ing to the sounds of salsa, bachata and merengue pro vided by DJ Carlos Gonzalez. On the first Wednesday of every month, E-Bar in Guelph hosts the area’s longest-run ning salsa night with DJ Gury Gury who also hosts a salsa radio program every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. on CFRU 93.3 FM. Upcoming events can always be found on “KW Salsa Dancing Socials,” a Facebook group that keeps those interested up-todate with what is going on in the Latin community.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
PHOTO BY JESSICA REDIKER
Biko Adeba works on becoming the next David Beckham at Greenfield Park in Kitchener on Sept. 16.
Craig Stephen shows off his salsa moves at the Guanaquita Restaurant in downtown Kitchener on Sept. 1 1 . .
PHOTO BY CALEIGH MCLELLAND
TECHNOLOGY
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Monday, September 24,2012
Apple does it again BY STEPHANIE LEFEBVRE
The hype has died down, but only slightly as the seventh version of the iPhone makes its way into the public eye. The iPhone 5, unveiled on Sept. 12 in San Francisco, was available for purchase last Friday at Apple stores and cellphone service provid ers across the country. Apple was proud to unveil its new product. “The biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone,” the company said on its website. Though the screen is now four inches, the phone itself is less than half an inch taller than its predecessor, the 4S. It also has the new retina display that Apple has made available on its line of com puters and laptops. “By making the screen taller and not wider, you can see more of your content but still comfortably use it with one hand,” said Jony Ive, senior vice-president of design at Apple in a promotional video on their website. Having made the phone thinner and lighter, but still more powerful, Apple was able to stay in the game with its competitors. The iPhone 5 also comes with a newly designed charg-
ing cable, called Lightning; a pair of innovative ear buds, called EarPods; and an eight megapixel built-in camera. Those who highly anticipated the release already had theirs delivered right to their house on Friday. Those who didn’t were made to wait in long lines or still don’t have one due to a lack of availability. The new phone received 40 per cent positive feedback compared to 12 per cent neg ative on social media web sites, according to Mashable, an online news source. Other responses were neutral or humourous in nature. This is a more positive release than the previous model. The word around campus does not differ much from those numbers. Several Conestoga students either
don’t care about the release or haven’t looked into it. However, Cameron Wilson, a second-year software engi neering technology student, voiced an opinion. He is an Android user and he said the new iPhone hasn’t changed much. “I’m not very excited about the iPhone 5,” he said. “It’s just a bigger screen and all the same iPhone stuff as the last couple of generations.” Even students who own a previous generation of the iPhone aren’t thrilled. Julia Peters, a second-year broad cast journalism student, said the phone may only be inter esting for people who have never owned an iPhone before. “As someone who has the iPhone 4, I’m not very eager to wait in line,” said Peters. “I’m so content with mine.” When Apple released its first model of the iPhone, the cellphone world was changed. Now they have major compe tition with Android, especially with Samsung who released the latest model of the Galaxy smartphone in May. However, only time will tell if the iPhone 5 can withstand the regular wear and tear of a smartphone user and compete with what is already on the market.
Electronics: reduce, reuse, recycle BY HEATHER KENNERY
The latest iPhone is just a finger tap away; for students, having the best, new gadgets is always important and not just because we live in a tech nology-based world but also because they are cool. With approximately 50 per cent of Canadians having more than six unused elec tronics sitting around their rooms, it makes you wonder where they can be recycled. Unlike “Toy Story,” old cell phones and laptops don’t hide away and play Angry Birds together in our desk drawers. One simple solution for old electronics is to take them to one of 31 drop boxes located in K-W. Electronic stores, such as Future Shop and Best Buy, have partnered with the Ontario Electronic Stewardship. The OES is a
non-profit organization that has kept 100,000 tonnes of electronic waste from Ontario landfills since April 1, 2009. “The majority of us, 81 per cent, own a mobile phone that we’ll replace in less than three years,” said Jonathan Spencer, OES executive direc tor. For all of your last year models that are collecting dust, you can go to recycleyourelectronics.ca, type in your postal code or city and eas ily find the closest location. There is no fee for dropping them off but the website does suggest cleaning all personal information from your unused devices before recycling them. Though more people are using the recycling program the OES is still looking for people to get involved. By signing the 100,000 tonne pledge you can also be apart of recycling
revolution. “We are seeing more Ontarians holding on to devic es for all sorts of reasons. We want all Ontarians to learn more and act to reduce e-waste,” said Spencer. When asking Conestoga students why they may hold onto their old gadgets, Ronnie Kieswetter, a first-year bio technology technician student, said, “I know that there is an e-waste program, but my old phones don’t take up much space in my drawer and I never really remember to bring them in while I’m running around doing other stuff.” Being a busy student and having to go out of your way to recycle isn’t as easy as it looks, but being able to fit something else in your desk drawers could make your life a lot easier and your room a lot cleaner.
PHOTO BY JESSICA LANTHIER
Andrea McManus (left), Greg Robertson and Jennifer Fletcher stand in front of the hefty to-do list at the Applied Research office at Conestoga College on Sept. 14.
Applied research is a win-win BY JESSICA LANTHIER
The Office of Applied Research at Conestoga can give students more than just a final project. They can also introduce them to a spectrum of innova tion and development. Students enrolled in some degree and diploma pro grams can work with busi nesses and develop highly impressive final projects, but also learn workplace skills including marketing. The applied research faculty con nects students to businesses to create a marriage of ideas, experience, expertise and knowledge. Currently, Conestoga stu dents are working hand in hand with companies such as DifTek Lasers Inc., Kendall Technology Inc., and Xiris Automation Inc. Some of the current cap stones are “Development of Prototypes of an OpticalFiber Delivery Appliance for Use in Cancer Research,” “Generating Normalized Data Streams for Use in Financial Analytics,” and “Development of Terahertz Sensors to Sort Black Plastics.” “The program provides stu dents with instant knowl edge because they are essen tially doing a job that they will later be paid to do,” said Greg Robertson, direc tor of applied research at Conestoga.
With help from the Federal Econom ic Developm ent Agency for Southern Ontario, Conestoga’s applied research office has $750,000 in funding for the students, labour and supplies. “This is a great way to build relationships inter nally and externally,” said Jennifer Fletcher, research projects adm inistrator at Conestoga. “Working on a capstone with the company will give stu dents real world experience and it will give them an edge in a highly competitive mar ket.” According to Andrea McManus, the Office of Applied Research administra tive assistant, these projects will give students a wellrounded experience. Not only do they allow students to be innovative, but they also give them an introduction to the marketing of the final prod uct. “This opportunity is a lucra tive thing,” McManus said. “Students will get a tangible result.” The applied research team strives to make the student population aware of the opportunities available to them. They are always avail able for questions regarding capstones or general inqui ries. Their office is located in the Student Client Services Building, Rm. 239.
ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, September 24,2012
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Music fest rocks the night BY MARK FITZGERALD There was no way to escape the bluesy tunes and classic rock sound of the Preston Music Festival this year, as it could be heard for miles. The free, all-ages festival was held on Sept. 15 in Cambridge‘s Central Park and along Westminster Drive. It was the fifth anniversary of the festival, and it was the big gest one yet. Organizers Matt and Gillian Storch have been at the helm of this event each year and continue to bring new additions to the show. “We want to keep it local, but we are slowly growing each year,” said Matt. They added a bike show to go along with the clas sic car show this year. Both modes of transportation were on display on Westminster Drive. Also new were two additional music stages which displayed local music talent such as Junkyard Delight, Fraser Daley and Black News Market. The main stage was the gazebo in Central Park which featured local bands and art ists all day long including the Grand River Orchestra,
Johnny No Cash and the Cash Machines, and The Paul James Band. Matt Storch also played on the main stage with his band, Matt Storch & The Usual Suspects.
"
Matt really knows what
the people want to hear. Always good music." - Norm Wilson
The event accepted food and money donations for the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. It was also sponsored by local businesses and by the Preston Towne Centre Business Im provem ent Association. The festival is about more than just the music and bring ing the Preston community together. “It's about promot ing small businesses in the area,” said Matt. A large colourful mural was painted on the side of Preston Cleaners in celebration of the festival. The mural was cre ated by Dying Wish Tattoos, a business from the Hespeler part of Cambridge.
PHOTO BY MARK FITZGERALD
This large colourful mural was painted by the com pany Dying Wish Tattoos in celebration of the fifth annual Preston Music Festival, held in Cambridge Sept. 15. Most of the people at the event were from Cambridge, but there were also some peo ple from as far as Brantford and Guelph. Norm and Heather Wilson, from Cambridge, have come to the event every year and said that it is a great way to get the community together.
“IPs a place to come and see faces you h aven ’t seen in years," said Heather. “Matt really knows what the people want to hear. Always good music,” said Norm. Another five-year veteran of the festival, Randy Chard, from Cambridge, would like to see the festival happen
more often. He said the event featured good music and it was “a nice place to have a beer, raise some money and help some people out.” The crowd grew as the night went on and there was noth ing but rocking music, danc ing and smiles all around.
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Monday, September 24,2012