33rd Year
— No. 26
Plaque planned for Sanctuary
What’s Inside
Memorial
to
honour students who die while attending college
By Tracy Ford
Catharines to drop off fishing gear, before coming back to Kitchener.
The recent death of a Conestoga College student has inspired the
travelling
college’s Student
the accident occurred.
install
commemorating while enrolled
The
students
who
die
at the college.
student to
latest
die
Brenner was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital, but died around noon on Sunday.
A
was
native of Kitchener, Brenner
Terry Brenner, a mechanical engi-
attended
neering (automated manufactur-
before entering his studies at the
ing) student
who was car he
Security supervisor Al Hunter comments on crime.
association to
a plaque in the Sanctuary
At about 3 a.m. as the group was back to St. Catharines,
on summer vacation,
fatally injured after the
was
in with four other
men
swerved and went off Highway 58, near the Welland Canal tunnel, on the Canada Day weekend. The 20-year-old had gone to St.
St.
Mary’s high school
college.
Lebeau, president of Conestoga Students Inc. (formerly Phil
Doon Student Association) said Brenner’s death inspired the group the
to install a plaque
commemorating
Brenner and other students
PAGE 3
who die
while enrolled
“We
at the college.
decided
(to
do
this)
would have a lasting effect. Lebeau said the CSI will donate $50 to the charitable organization. The plaque will cost $100 initially. that
after
hearing about Terry’s death,” he '
said.
The plaque, which will display name and program of the
When
a student dies during the
the year,
school year, the registrar’s office
student, will be displayed in the
and then the program coordinator and faculty of the program in which the student was enrolled. A faculty member can ask for counsellors from the student
Sanctuary to remind other students
about the ones
who
died.
The plaque
will
be continually
added to as each year passes. Lebeau said three students died last
is
notified,
services office to talk to the class if
The option of planting a tree was also discussed by the CSI. In the past the CSI has donated
they are having difficulty dealing with the loss.
money
to a charitable organization
make
individual appointments for
of the family’s choice but this year
those
who
year.
the
CSI wanted
to
do something
If necessary, the counsellor will
are taking the loss par-
ticularly hard.
program gives special needs students head start on learning for coming semester Pilot
By Jes Brown
successful people.
Then there was a question and answer period with a panel of three
Thirty-one students attended the special needs department’s second post-secondary accommodation
students with learning disabilities
who
support strategies (PASS) program
4 to 7. The program provided an oppor-
at the college July
Focus
change graduates head
tunity
for
PAGE
to use its resources.
with specific
students
The
day students were back computer literacy lab completing hands-on exercises to learn writing skills and learning strate-
learning disabilities to get a head start
towards the future. .
for
on learning for the coming
“It’s an opportunity to get on campus, meet staff and learn about resources,” said Rick Casey, a special needs transition counsellor. “It’s an -intensified orientation
nology specialists
process.”
ual learning needs.
The program gives
gies as well as tive
students
“The numbers are up considerhe said, “We were able to
ably,”
into contacting students earli-
Pamphlets went out to 22 high earlier this year so stu-
with
diagnosed
learning disabilities
COMMENTARY Page 2 The huft family tragedx
accepted
last
day,
territory
in
September,” said Casey.
schools in Kitchener- Waterloo and
dents
unfamiliar
into
er this year.”
Cambridge
the
to complete assignments on the adaptive technology. Casey said the program was a lot of fun and helpful to students. Students had the chance to voice their concerns about disclosure issues and to get comfortable with the college and staff. “They don’t feel they are walking
attended last year.
PAGE 7
meet individ-
to
was given
store.
Storm.
lab.
day was spent on indi-
evaluation took place and free time
special needs office and the book-
jump
last
The afternoon of
the students a
12
use the adap-
vidual training with adaptive tech-
Centre, literacy lab, writing centre,
Casey said only
how to
technology in the
The
chance to get acquainted with the college staff, services and supports such as the Learning Resource
George Clooney stars in The Perfect
third
in the
year.
5
currently attend the college.
The afternoon on the second day was spent in the LRC learning how
into
specific
LRC
information services co-ordinator Cathy Potvin helps
Duchesne work on a
project
The program kicked
programs
off
at
up.
graduate of the college
The underlying theme for this summer’s PASS program was success. “The students have shown success by getting here; we want to build on
provided on the
Casey said
(Photo by Jes Brown)
beginning in September could sign
on July 4
10 a.m. with a speech from a
who has a diagnosed learning disability, and an overview of the learning opportunities project. It
was followed by a
that success while they are here,”
Doon campus
said Casey.
resource areas and staff
to
tour of the
key members.
identify
The afternoon was spent computer
in the
literacy lab “to get peo-
ple familiar with the computer
eracy lab and
its
cost the stu-
dents anything and a free lunch
on the LRC computers using computer programs Ebscohost and Newscan participant Laura
who have been
college
The program did not
PASS
lit-
adaptive technolo-
gy such as voice-to-text software,” Casey said. The second day, learning disability specialist Barry Cull gave a presentation on the attributes of
lege
is
first
and
last
was
days.
that next year the col-
looking for ways to accom-
modate long distance students, possibly having them stay in residence.
The PASS program learning
is
part of the
opportunities project,
a
four-year pilot funded through the learning opportunities task force of the Ministry of Training, Colleges
and Universities.
Page 2
— SPOKE, July
17,
2000
Local tragedy turns into media circus famspread about the murder-suicide of a local street of small the to flocked Ontario ily, media from all over Mooregate Crescent. homicipe rate The startling event sky-rocketed Kitchener’s of the city. resident down the spine of each
When news
and sent chills years to three Four children, ranging in age from seven Luft, Bohuslava mother, their with months, were killed along Jr. on July 6. Luft (Bill) Vilem and her husband, semi-detached home late Their bodies were taken from the the family s court file that night. Justice Gary Hearn sealed notified of the murders. just hours after the public was media specuBefore the police called it a murder-suicide, gun on himthe turned then family, lated Bill Luft killed his was self. It was believed that he
The
experiencing financial troubles and battling a mental illness. Without speculation, there
public can’t
hear enough about the worst
would be nothing to tell the onlookers, whether they were on
multiple murder in the history of
the
or
street
in
homes
their
that the pub-
watching the news wants to know. Photographers shot the bizarre scene in front of the house as
lic
the region. reporters tried to gather as
much information as possible from
clock was ticking neighbours and friends because the press incident. and police were revealing little about the situation gets tricky
The
and the privacy of the collide. It
was the
reporters and the
when
the public’s right to
know
remaining members of the Luft family
of curiosity of neighbours, the speculation duty of the officers that turned the already
tragic situation into a free-for-all. Three pages of the local paper the following
day continued
coverage of the situation, dissecting the family’s history. street as dusk Flashes from photographers’ cameras lit up the selling sandwas house the canteen van parked outside fell.
A
wiches and soda pop. occurred It was a major tragedy that
normally sub-
dued community of K-W. A tragedy that was across Canada. The spotlight is on Kitchener now. The actions of the will be police, as they try to investigate the murders, all
regional
The conclusions drawn by neighbours, longer media professionals and outsiders will be remembered investigators. than the final conclusion drawn by the
closely scrutinized.
reminiscent of the car crash that killed Princess Diana crashed into the or the death of JFK Jr. when his plane about the worst enough hear can’t public The Atlantic Ocean. It is
multiple murder in the history of the region. of the murders or that It may be because of the proximity of a quiet community. backyard the murders happened in the the way a driver will to similar human curiosity,
A
public
at the
is
scene of an auto accident. by the horrific nature of a crime unthink-
fixated
able to most people.
shake their heads in disbelief, wipe lingering tears four from their eyes and stand in silent awe at the idea of
Many
small children killed for no reason. The media is a necessary evil. It
may
infringe
on the
pri-
but vacy of the family and take over an entire block for days, without it the public wouldn’t be satisfied. Media tell their community what they can and look hard to people more. They are the voices for a community the find
with
all
the questions trying to find
all
Toronto
sounds strange. In fact, it sounds downright
being invad-
the answers.
city
filled
moose. seems there
with It
like
a corner.
Some
guard the entrances to banks and stores, others are standing in front
of Nathan Phillips Square and the old Toronto City Hall. They are part of Toronto’s continuing millennium celebration.
The 325
statues
around Toronto
is
will be auctioned off
both live and on line, with the proceeds going to support local charities and Toronto’s Olympic ath-
Toronto gave a call to artists in February seeking designs and sponsors for 300 moose. The response was overwhelming.
sponsored by a
Labatt Breweries of Canada headed up the charge and was followed by hundreds of other sponsors each paying $6,500 for one
moose
or $30,000 for a herd of
four.
artist.
There’s everything from the Olympic Moose, sponsored by the Toronto 2008 bid committee and designed by Charles Pachter, that stands in Nathan Phillips Square, to the Moosepaper, sponsored by the Toronto Sun and designed by stands in the
Toronto exceeded the goal of 300 by 25 moose. The moose were intended to bring attention to Toronto and it seems to be working. There have been articles in USA Today and the
Chicago Tribune. Inspired by Chicago’s Cows on Parade
event
summer,
last
Keeping Conestoga College connected
Photo Editor: Jes Brown Julie Porter, Production Manager: James Campbell; Advertising Manager. Frank Jerry Supervisor. Circulation Manager: Julie Porter; Faculty
Phone: 748-5220,
streets
in
strange statues aren’t limited
to animals, either.
Norfolk, Va„ has had a mermaid population explosion and there has been a drastic growth spurt in 111.,
six-foot ears of
where there
com
are
decorating the
streets.
The unique,
or formerly unique,
idea began in Zurich with cows and was aped in North America originally by Chicago, which naturally would have a strange attachment to
cows
after the tragic events started
by Mrs. O’Leary’s fateful beast. The moose in Toronto are definitely works of art, and give the interesting, off-
downtown core an beat attitude.
But
how
long will
it
be
until there
are large fibreglass animals invad-
ing every
town?
What could be
next?
on parade Waterloo? pigs
in
Six-foot
Kitchener-
is
this
Conestoga College or the CSI. Advertisers
of Conestoga College. published and produced weekly by the journalism students Lampert; Petra Editor: News Ford; Tracy Editor:
address
the
ment from Conestoga Students
Spoke SPOKE’s
The
stalking
mainly funded from September to May by a payInc. (CSI), formerly called the of Doon Student Association, in exchange for the insertion expressed in advertising in the paper. The views and opinions newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of
SPOKE
is
moose
Bloomington,
letes.
corporation, individual or organization and designed by a local
Margaret Glew, which
multi-coloured cows in New York; five-foot New Orleans, La.; and more
more
son each patron will be invited to donate their moose to an auction.
not be cows, but the city will milk them for all they are worth.
There are
six-foot -hares in Saginaw, Mich.;
Whitefish, Mont.
Yorkville village park.
SPOKE
are not the only
that event.
fish in
may
Each moose
moose
from
But the moose are for a good cause. At the end of the moose sea-
The moose
moose on every
spin offs
Manhattan,
Toronto.
is
is
silly
moose to have over 300 fibreglass on display around downtown
The downtown core of the
Toronto’s
It
is
ed.
in the
reported
Maybe it’s slow down
Herd of moose let loose in downtown Toronto
is
ext.
N2G 4M4. 299 Doon Valley Dr„ Room 4B14, Kitchener, Ontario, spoke@conestogac.on.ca E-mail: 748-3534 Fax: 694 691, 692, 693,
in
SPOKE
are not
contain the endorsed by the CSI unless their advertisements arising CSI logo. SPOKE shall not be liable for any damages
amount paid for the out of errors in advertising beyond the sent to the editor by space. Unsolicited submissions must be acceptance or 9:30 a.m. Monday. Submissions are subject to a WordPerfect rejection and should be clearly written or typed; must not conor MS Word file would be helpful. Submissions be accompanied by an tain any libellous statements and may illustration (such as a photograph).
1
SPOKE,
Crime not major problem Students and By Tracy Ford
Conestoga College
staff at
— Page 3
Doon
at
feel safe
July 17, 2000
on campus
Hunter said in each assault case were injuries, but they were
there
Students and faculty feel safe at Conestoga’s Doon campus, according to A1 Hunter, director of security services.
“There
is
certainly a feeling of
safety here,” he said.
A recent
study conducted by the
Canadian
Centre
for
Statistics reported that
Justice
Canada’s
crime rate fell 22 per cent between 1991 and 1998 and is at its lowest rate in 19 years. Experts are also seeing the same
hensive measures.
“The most common crimes would be theft - we have some mischief problems like willful damage but not a lot,” he said. Security services also responds
such as fighting,
some
swearing.
To the
mischief prob-
eighth
lems
straight year.
like willful
age but not a
But even with lower
the
instances
dam-
students
lot.”
feel
especially
safe, if
security supervisor
The study said the majority of is committed by people between 18 and 25, the ages where most of the population pur-
has
up ways to help staff and
of
crime is rising, according to a 1998 Environics poll. Three-quarters of Canadians feel that crime is getting worse.
deter crime
college
set
Al Hunter,
crime, the fear of
and
yelling
— we have
theft
rate
has dropped for the
disturbances
to
where
crime
the
There were 307 incidents that services responded to last year, but Hunter said he wants to concentrate on preventative measures rather than appresecurity
“The most common problems would be
results across the
border,
not serious.
they are leav-
ing
the
school
late at night.
The walk safe program under which students can get an escort when travelling across the campus runs from 6:45 p.m. to 12:45
crime
p.m. Students can contact security to request this service.
sues post-secondary education. Hunter, who retired from the
the
Waterloo Regional Police after 3 years, said crime isn’t a major problem on campus. “There is a general level of maturity here.”
The most common crimes com-
is also a camera system in main building, which moni-
There
tors the halls.
The study
also said the youth
violent crime rate
is
still
77 per
cent higher than
10 years ago, mostly because of youth fighting
mitted on campus are thefts of vehicles, books, equipment or
each other. Half of youths charged in- 1998 were charged with property crimes and 21 per
wallets, but the security office has
cent with violent crimes.
responded
“We
some vandalism.
to
don’t really have a lot of
crime,” he said.
There were four assaults reported at the college during 1999 and two incidents this year to date.
years
Ten 10 per cent were
ago,
Al Hunter, supervisior of security services at
itself
is
preparing
new
graduates of the
for
Ontario high school curriculum
who
the province
is
described as a des-
tinations-based curriculum rather
than an ability-based one. It
asks that students determine
where they think they
will
ing in the future
college, uni-
—
versity or the workforce
be head-
—
and
phere partly to the fact that the
campus,” he said. He did say, however, that because the campus
the
college,
said
that
from time to time students or staff have raised concerns about feel-
colleges were consulted in
new
cur-
riculum and the ‘C’ level courses were designed by college academics to
meet college requirements.
“The biggest concern will be dealing with all
the
new
secondary school applicants who have graduated from the
new OSSR
worth 30
curriculum and the
ate.
Partial
credits
granted for
are
transition courses that will allow
students to cross over to different
streams In
if
20003/2004, when students taken the
lum
arriving
start
new
at
curricu-
graduated from the old one.” Jennifer Leith, associate registrar
Conestoga,
they will not have taken the level
one who have
they wish.
who have
OAC
and will have either graduat-
ed with a ‘C’ level (college level) or a ‘U’ level (university level).
we
dents
then asks them to take courses, credits, that are appropri-
are not situated in the core
of transient people walking on
will start arriving in 2003.
The controversial new curriculum designed and implemented by
‘We
ing unsafe, but generally every-
atmos-
at
The weighting that has been done in the past, when colleges evaluated courses high school students have taken, like adding 20 extra
fills
out after security
(Photo by Tracy Ford)
one
the development of the
Conestoga College
though reports he
charged with violent crimes. Hunter, who keeps a log of inci-
The
Julie Porter
sifts
during 1999.
comfortable on campus.
is
He
attributed the
Doon campus
is far
safe
from the
(of the city),
city
centre.
marks
new
advanced course level
to
marks, will no longer be done.
According
Jennifer
to
Leith,
associate registrar, problems will arise
so close to
is
College prepares for grads from By
Doon,
services responds to an incident, on his computer. Security personnel responded to 307 incidents
when
trying to select students
from both programs. “The biggest concern
be dealing with all the new secondary school applicants who have graduated from the new OSSR curriculum and the ones who have graduated from the old one. How do you compare the two? They are so difwill
don’t have a lot
Highway 401,
the
auto theft.
family
“It (the college) is like a
or any other
one has
community; every-
to participate to prevent
crime.”
high school system
“The Waterloo board was concerned about problems Grade 9 students were having
with the these
new
curriculum,
were
students
but
literally
plunked right into the new curriculum of course, they have to learn to adapt, and of course it’s going to be difficult initially.”
—
She said she has hopes
new curriculum to
parking lots are perfect targets for
will
determine the
English
skills
that the
make it easier grammar and
of applicants.
“Perhaps the new curriculum be back to basics,” said Leith. Leith said the college has had to begin promoting the college programs to younger and younger students, as students will be asked to will
make
decisions about their futures
earlier.
“There are
now
recruitment ses-
sions for kids in Grades
8, 9,
said Leith, “I’ve had requests
Grade 8 teachers who are up career displays.”
setting
ferent,” said Leith.
be a challenge to make a comparison between the two.” Leith went on to say that a lot of “It will
fair
important information about the old curriculum was unavailable.
“The
jury’s
still
out on
how
many Grade
were having the
new
this
systerm
Second Language
to
judge the two programs because this curriculum is so new. We have to judge its difficulty,” said Leith Leith said that there is an assumption that the new curriculum is more difficult and cited the difficulty
Teaching English as a
9 students
year adapting to
A One-Year Starts this Call for
Certificate
Program
September
more information
519-748-5220,
ext.
656
10,”
from
Conestoga College fi
r
Page 4
— SPOKE, July
17,
2000
Confederation College
released
recently
summary
report of key performance indicator statistics, used to rate colleges’ per-
formances, shows
gram
at
how each
pro-
Conestoga College stacks
up against those
in the rest of the
College
Conestoga
Confederation College in
and Thunder
of Conestoga’s programs exceeded the provincial average by
academic support for Conestoga, said a KPI sub-committee estab-
up
how
to
the college meas-
provincial
Some
much
as
as 17 percentage points,
while others fell below the provincial standards by 14 percentage
tied for first place overall in
The
lished at the college council’s May 8 meeting met recently to brain-
storm ways to use KPI results to improve the college.
recreation and leisure servic-
program and the early childhood education program ranked highest
es
satisfaction
student
at
“KPI’s will
and ISO
improve
2000 KPI survey. However, Conestoga failed to place first in
in
Conestoga, with 93 and 92 per cent
inter-departmental
any of the four survey areas - graduate employment rate, graduate
respectively, while the provincial average was 77 and 80 per cent.
systems, which
Conestoga’s management studies program (89) and graphic design
will
the
satisfaction,
employer
satisfaction
and student satisfaction. KPIs are annual surveys which are compiled by the provincial government to rate Ontario’s 25 community colleges and consist of 95 mutual and
five
college-specific
program (83) ranked high but the provincial average was low at 67
provincial standard.
and facilities. The an accountability and excellence benchmark that the government uses to determine which
Some programs at Conestoga that ranked lower than the provincial average were civil engineering technology, at 59 per cent, broad-
schools should receive additional
casting
funding.
per cent, and electronics computer systems, at 42 per cent. In those
services
survey
The
is
five
college-specific ques-
improve
communication and feedback.”
— radio and
television, at
67
co-ordinator of
academic support
Some
of the items that were dis-
meeting were publiand working with faculty to improve programs and schools that need work.
cussed
at the
cizing
KPI
Bamford
Conestoga’s competition was
standards for constancy and qualiThe college is trying to become
for faculty to confer with stu-
dents to get a better understanding of what students expect.
ty.
“If we better understand each other, we can do a better job help-
in the
ing,” he said.
at the college.
said the college received low scores on questions about students
Ways to improve communication between students and faculty, which Bamford said are on the
ISO 9001
results
said another suggestion
certified
sometime with-
next year, which will result in clarifying workplace procedures
He
receiving feedback from faculty
committee’s agenda, include estab-
and the college. Ideas compiled from the subcommittee’s meeting in June and an upcoming meeting scheduled for August will be summarized and
Web sites to post program information and modernizing faculty computer systems.
lishing
Incentives for faculty to improve low on the survey
presented to college council in
areas that ranked
August.
are also being discussed, according
Bamford, including possibly rewarding teachers on a monthly
said he has high hopes for improvements in the college
to
Bamford
obtained through analyzing
KPI
basis.
to the survey are cur-
Changes
results.
Bob Bamford,
and 66 per cent. All of Conestoga’s mechanical engineering programs exceeded the
questions regarding programs, faculty,
is
standards.
ures
points.
province.
Bay
Thunder Bay
programs the provincial averages were 64, 77 and 56 respectively. Bob Bamford, co-ordinator of
determine
A
in
called capstone questions,
tions,
By Laura Czekaj
KPI survey
ties for first in
Conestoga
works, said Dave Ross, media spokesperson for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and
rently
“KPI’s and ISO (the International will Organization) Standards
improve inter-departmental systems, which will improve communication and feedback,” he said. “We will improve relationships with students by focusing on the
Universities.
The
Ross said
due
that
question pertaining to the program’s usefulness for life outside work, the ministry will be issuing the next
the question and will
a group that establishes documented and definable is
Fresh coat
KPI
survey with a re-worded version of
Standards
International
to
of the capstone
misinterpretations
college as a whole.”
Organization
the
in
remove
it
as a
capstone question.
Six faculty enrolled
in
teaching program
upgrade
to
gram
By James Campbell
skills an employee to
entitles
progress to the If
become
to
who wants
you’re a teacher
what you
better at
do, not to mention get paid more, then the In-Service
Mr
Teacher Training Certificate Program may be for you.
The program, by
offered
College
which
was
Confederation
Windsor.
program
salary grid.
three years
is
self-directed and
a
who
it
don’t
formal education in
Tellier
said
that
there are six faculty
j une 29
who also works in physical preparation for the esthetics class on (Photo by Petra Lamport)
currently
members
from Conestoga and 98 others enrolled from 17 colleges from within Ontario.
1996-2001 collective agreement states that this pro-
The
can up
the
teaching.
in
between
progress to the maximum step on the
appeals to teachers
2C9
module can
program
officer,
of operations,
self-directed
18 and 54 agreement hours in states that this program length the entitles an employee to and entire
According to Kathy Tellier,
resources during the summer, paints room
Each
collective
have
delivery,
instructional evaluation and content update and integration.
The 1996-2001
course
plan-
educational
instructional
ning,
started in 1987
the
step
in
and is now being offered St. through Clair College
Brad Whiteford, the CSI’s vice president
strategies,
Thunder Bay,
in
maximum
on the salary grid. The program consists of six modules: introduction, learning
take to
to
complete. Tellier said the
more
experi-
ence someone has as a teacher, the fewer modules they would have to take, though the first and last modules are compulsory
and each can cost from $425
to $880.
Internet
required course.
access to
is
complete
also the
SPOKE, July
17,
2000
—Page 5
2-week program 1
women
helps
get their
back
lives
on track
Danijela Ninkovic, a focus for
change graduate,
immigrated to Canada from Macedonia with her two children 11 years ago. (Photo by Julie Porter)
Loretta Morrison holds her focus for change graduation Morrison plans to work with computers in the future. (Photo by Julie Porter)
certificate.
Focus graduate says course changes lives By
Focus
for
change
grads plan
Julie Porter
Kim Crane
calls herself a strong
advocate for focus for change, the 12-week Conestoga College course
women
geared for single
for
with chil-
dren. their tragedies,”
“Everyone has
their futures
graduated from
who
said Crane,
the focus program
in
December
1999 “but everyone should have a chance to move on from them.” Crane understands tragedy and moving on very well. ,
By
their plans for the future. All
Julie Porter
plan to pursue post-secondary
Twelve people graduated from Conestoga College’s focus for
education.
change program June completing a 12- week course re-evaluating to devoted
interested in pursuing careers in
my
social work. Others listed jobs like administrative assistant,
the
30, after
out goals,
figuring
strengths,
Focus
are raising children
prepare
themselves
by
helps
change
for
for
school and work. Debbie Cox, co-ordinator of
focus
change,
for
women and
the
told
children gathered at
the Waterloo
campus she was amazed
for the cer-
emony that the immense challenges
women have
at
the
taken on in such a
short period of time.
have a tremendous respect “ All for all of you,” said Cox. you kids that are here with your moms, listen. your moms have worked very hard. They’ve done “I
.
.
it
to provide
you with a high
“I
12 very empowered
see
women
today,
who took
a risk
and gave themselves permission to grow.
You have demonstrated what focus for change
is all
about -
seeking knowledge, empowering each other and growing,” said Cor.
women
When Cox asked the how many of them felt 12 weeks ago,
when
they started the pro-
gram, that they would one day go to college, only three raised their hands.
Upon cate,
receiving their certifi-
each graduate revealed
were
computer software analyst and as
assistant
employment opportu-
potential
One
said she
wanted
to
go
to
university to pursue sciences.
Bemie Billson, an academic upgrading teacher, said that he wanted to congratulate the graduates on being brave and for handling the course with such patience.
hoped the graduates would make new discoveries that would challenge Billson said that he
and delight them. Carol Sampson, program co-
employment servicof Waterloo, Region the for es said when you are working in ordinator of
it
is
sometimes
hard to see that what you’re doing is worthwhile.
“Focus graduation makes me feel as if I’m in the right field. I feel immensely glad knowing that
“I thought I
had met the man of
dreams. I thought I’d get married,” said Crane. “Then one day
man
my dreams came home me with a shovel. That
of
and beat
was
it
— one
day for
me
day.
to
It
took only one
become a welfare
People don’t understand it can be.” With no support, no home and no one to look after Crane’s two toddlers, one of whom had a disabilijob ty, going out and looking for a
victim.
nities.
social services,
quality of life.”
they
that
said
physiotherapist
and preparing for the future.
women who
Some
women
are
really
head
challenges
taking said
on,”
Sampson.
Kim Crane, a 1999 graduate of focus for change, told the graduates that for her, the classroom they were sitting in was where her life started to change.
“This
from.
I’ll
strength
Crane.
where
is
it
never
it
all
started
forget
the
took to get here,” said
how
easy
was impossible. “At
that time, $3.15
was mini-
mum wage. It was like, why bother giving up welfare,” Crane remembers. “The thing is, though, the
longer you stay on welfare, the
more beaten down your spirit self-esteem Your becomes. declines. You think you’re not going to get out, like you’ll always
be on welfare.” Crane said she knows what it is like to try to stretch one dinner’s hamburger so that it can last over three days.
But the hardest thing came when her daughter’s daily medicine cost
$600 a month. “Mike Harris wasn’t going to help me. I could only get $110 covered, so I couldn’t afford to give
my
baby
medicine,”
her
said
Crane.
When
Crane heard about focus
for change, she thought she’d give it
a
“When
down
at
the desk
I
was no room for failure,” she said. “I had lives depending on me. It was both empowering
realized there
and
Crane finished focus for change and then went on to complete upgrading and a sociology course. Now Crane is planning to take social
the
terrifying.”
work
program
at
Conestoga.
She aspires to be in a position one day to challenge politicians and decision-makers on policies for people in poverty. She said she wants people to know that not everyone on welfare
be there. “I’ve never met anyone on wel-
wants
to
who’ve said ‘Oh, I love being on welfare.’” She volunteers at the Salvation Army, where she often recom-
fare
mends focus
try. I sat
(Photo by Julie Porter)
career goals.
for change.
“Focus is the first step to success. out of It lets you get all your fears the way and lets you get down to your goals.” Crane said her whole
life
has
changed since she attended focus for change. “I
speak differently.
myself
I
present
so that
differently,
when
my
door and says ‘let’s sleep together,’ I can say ‘you’re not good enough. You re
some
loser
comes
to
not even near good enough.’” Crane said she has been known to
even give out the phone number for Debbie Cox, focus for change’s coordinator.
“Debbie gets you up and going,” said Crane. “Focus instructors are not only teachers, but support systems for people who don’t have anyone.” Crane said she is happy about the messages she is sending out to her children.
“Children learn what they see. My children’s chance of success
becomes greater success becomes
as
my
chance of
greater.”
— SPOKE,
Page 6
July. 17,
2000
Job market good By Tracy Ford
months
completion of their
after
studies, according to a survey con-
When
comes
it
after college,
ates
to finding jobs Conestoga’s gradu-
have a high success
com-
rate
first for
grad-
uate job placements in a survey
taken
year evaluating
last
all
25
Ontario colleges.
The most recent key performance 1999-2000, Conestoga placed eighth, with a surveys in
indicator
graduate employment rate of 91 per cent, two per cent less than the two tied for first place Sheridan and Georgian - and one
colleges
per cent less than five colleges with
92 per
and Colleges.
“A
pared to other Ontario colleges.
The college placed
ducted by a company hired by the Ministry of Training, Universities
cent.
Mary Wright, manager of student
of our grads stay fairly
lot
great opportunities,” she said.
She recommended students focus on a specific target or field, and keep in contact through profession-
going a
al
further afield as
little bit
well, but there
is
a lot of local sup-
really important
you are prepared ahead of time because you don’t want to miss out on some great that
employers.
student
It
(the service)
couple
last
we
we
employment
office
Wright,
port for our grads.”
said
it is
Wright said the best time to start is during your last
you are
professional associations.
There is
no
is
treating
it
similar to
you are putting into you put a bit of energy
six
said
gy),
which everyone hears so much
about,
is still
a very strong area.
ness
we have had a lot of job oppor-
a course,
seen an increase in opportunities for
if
a long period of time, chances are
first
with
tunities,” she said.
each week into your job search for
found jobs within the
boom
opportunities,
the energy that
Last year the office posted
Wright said Conestoga graduates are doing well in the job market. Figures show 91 per cent of Conestoga’s 1998-1999 graduates
specific job field that
hitting a particular
“Certainly in the school of busi-
4,269 jobs through the entire year and 2,983 during the 1997-98 graduating year.
from networking.” important to expand
Wright. “IT (information technolo-
looking for a job “If
find that a lot of our
still
get are
the grapevine and establish links to
Mary
year of school.
has posted 4,538 jobs so far this year, with July and August still to go.
get,
employment
of years.”
The
we
jobs
She
able to graduating.
has really grown in the
who
“Even though it’s a healthy job market and there are lots of live jobs out there that people are aware of, in the newspaper or the postings
opportunities.”
employment
employment opportuni-
with people
associations
might have information on job opportunities.
“It’s
college’s extensive resources avail-
ties for
the ending dates for specific programs may recruit people in January to start work in May. “It’s really important that you are prepared ahead of time because you don’t want to miss out on some
- Kitchener- Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge area,” she said. “Certainly, some of them are area
gle
manager of student
post
know
local to Canada’s technology trian-
employment, co-op education and alumni services, said some of the success could be attributed to the
“We
graduating students
for
you are going to find it pays off.” “If you leave it to the last minute then you are probably going to be a little bit
out after graduation.”
She said resources
in the office
are helpful in job searches.
Wright said
that
employers
who
She
said she has
managers, buyers and purchasing department personnel as well as an increase in the health sciences area.
“There are
still
some
great oppor-
Wright said. “People sometimes have a bit of a negative connotation about the trade opportunities and I think that is really old thinking about what tunities
in
Mary Wright, manager of student employment, co-op education, and alumni services, looks through pamphlets displayed in the Student employment office. (Photo by Tracy Ford)
trades,”
mean.” Wright said that more students
trades really
are pursuing further education after
receiving their diploma.
“We have
seen university graduates coming
to the college to get a
complement what ies are
“You
diploma
and vice versa,” she said. are always going to be
learning.”
Quality Policy Conestoga College continually seeks opportunities for improver, ent to Conestoga College
[-j
meet and exceed the needs of our students, employees
to
university stud-
and communities.
SPOKE,
Special effects steal the True story of Perfect Storm By
is an odd adjective to use describing a storm so hostile,
Perfect
when
so full of rage that
it
left
a
woman
without a lover, children without fathers, and a Massachusetts town
unable to bury six of their dead. It is an odd adjective to use unless you love storms, or if you are telling the story of the Andrea Gail,
fishing
a
who
ing boat captain
Julie Porter
found
end
When
Clooney
film,
based on the selling is
crew
tells his
water,
all
are
Mark
reluctant.
Lane.
The
who
characters find them-
selves cast in the
in
story
sec-
are
the
ondary;
incredible character
The is
New York Times best-
book by Sebastian Junger.
It
the real life account of the 1991
—
of culmination a storm savage a and Grace, Hurricane nor’easter, a term fishermen and those living on the battered northeast use for massive Atlantic
storms like the one that wreaked havoc on the poor souls who found themselves on the Atlantic that role of
Billy Tyne, a seasoned sword-fish-
of
the
storm,
which
special
effects
make incredibly alive, overshadows their performances, no matter
how
It is
only after the crew leaves the
dock that the real story is played out on screen. It is then, after the crew of the Andrea Gail has loaded a successful catch into the
doomed
boat’s ice
hatch, that the audience meets the mighty and ruthless protagonist of the story, the storm.
the audience
is
taken aboard
Andrea Gail and forced to fear its own demise. The audience rocks with
the
Junger and is the real Storm is based on the New York Times best-seller by Sebastian (internet photo) crew. its and doomed the Andrea Gail fishing boat life account of a 1991 storm that What the movie forgets is the aspect of the movie, the real story of waves so enormous it can almost feel the Andrea Gail is the men who intuition of two rough and tumble
The
Perfect
seasick in the cool of the ater. It is
brilliant.
Then
October.
George Clooney plays the
that
Wahlberg’s character is particularly hesitant, having to leave his lover, played by Diane
meteorologists.
The
left
they are to go back out on the
one of the worst ever storms by recorded
Perfect Storm,
which
richer than
him and his crew hardly when they set out.
which its
the big screen
decides to
for a poor-paying catch,
Gloucester, Mass.,
come through on
show
play with fate and voyage past the Grand Banks in the fall to make up
from
boat
fails to
— Page 7
July 17, 2000
movie
forced to almost
the-
swim and
cry and feel the ice cold water of the freezing Atlantic hitting
But what
this film
its
misses
face. is signifi-
fishermen
who
agreed to swordfish
on the Andrea Gail
that fateful mis-
sion but walked off the boat seconds after getting on it, days before the left the
dock
saying that all they
cant.
boat
Anyone who has read lunger’s novel knows that what the film for-
One man could feel was doom. spoke of a cold chill spilling down
gets to include is the
through his body as his foot hit the
nitions
many premoof doom that made the
Andrea
Gail’s very exit
deck on the Andrea Gail. This is an important aspect to the
shore that day
all
from the the more horrify-
story that the
movie leaves
While the storm
ing.
is
out.
the strongest
fished the seas and died on
it.
It is
about the families whose fives are put on hold from the time their father’s boat
made
its
harbor, until the time
way
it
out of the
docked again
month later. While a small boat being thrown around on a savage sea makes for a
a
great action movie, the true and
interesting
Storm
story
fails to
of the Perfect
come through on
the
big screen.
370 HIGHLAND RD, W.,
WOO BASICS PLAZA
744-1011 385 FAIRWAY ROAD
ST.,
KITCHENER CANADIAN TIRE PtAZA
893-2464 402 KIIIG STREET N„
WATERLOO BETWEEN HARVEYS & BURGER KING
884-7376
Visit us it
www.bMtqoeson.coni
|
Page 8
— SPOKE, July
17,
2000
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