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*Volume XI Issue 15 *March 10, 2015
Journalism Student Publication
St Clair College First-Year
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2 News
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Photo by Ryan Blevins Nicholas Tesolin (left) blocks a camp participant during the one-on-one portion of the 2015 Windsor’s Finest Football Academy camp.
ATHLETES PAGE 14
Next-generation DNA testing research gets boost Danielle Gagnier Blitz Reporter The University of Windsor’s DNA water testing research project received a $500,000 grant to fund its research. With the grant coming from the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the money was given to the university to fund
its next-generation DNA sequencing research project over the next three years. A team consisting of members of the university, collaborators from Environment Canada as well as a team of UWindsor grad students are currently researching the contamination of local beaches. They hope to develop a new way of testing
Index
the water’s bacteria levels and to make it more accurate and efficient. In total, there are seven beaches in Ontario that are being tested, including Holiday Beach, St. Clair Beach and Seacliff Beach. The standard way of testing the water for contamination is a coliform test which assesses the level of E-coli in the water
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associated with fecal matter and sewage contamination. According to the research team, this process is sometimes unreliable and timely. The new testing that is being developed now will sequence the genes of every bacteria so every species present can be identified.
DNA PAGE 2 Weather Thursday, March, 10 High: 13°C Low: 2°C
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DNA PAGE 1 Professor Daniel Heath is the director of the Great Lakes Institute of Environment Research and is the lead researcher of the project. “Our research will look at the benefits and costs of using this approach,” said Heath. “If research shows it’s a lot better and if it’s not too expensive then the health units will probably switch tests pretty quickly.” The current method of testing the beaches could take up to three days to process, resulting in inaccurate data collection. According to Rajesh Seth, a professor at UWindsor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, this could result in beaches being closed for no reason. Beaches could also be open when they should be closed due to extensive amounts of pathogenic bacteria. Seth is hoping that the new testing method will be better in all aspects. “The test could be faster so the results can come out faster,” said Seth. “It can allow
us to look for signatures to possibly determine where the organisms may have come from.” Point sources are sources such as factories that can be located and taken care of, while non-point sources are sources that come from nature. The new testing method could pinpoint these sources and find a solution as to how to deal with the contamination they create in the water. The research team holds many different levels of expertise, including Professor Chris Weisener, who will be analyzing the impact of climate change in comparison to the contamination of the water. “We’re going to be looking at the impact of storm events on these beaches and if there is a common linkage to that sediment disturbance and the establishment of pathogenic bacteria,” said Weisener. “It’s going to be interesting to see the impact on the disturbance on bacterial communities and pathogens due to climate change.”
The researchers said their main goal of the project is to identify threats in a more rapid manner and to locate species of bacteria that may pose more of hazard to humans so citizens can have a more accurate idea of the contamination in their water. Part of the data collection for this project will rely on collaboration with the public, using them as “citizen scientists.” This will allow more samples to be collected for the researchers so they can have a more accurate idea of the contamination levels. “We developed a kit that we can take out and we would give it to the citizen scientists,” said Heath. “They’ll take the water, put it through a filter to catch all the bacteria and pour the filter into a tube and stick it into the freezer and then it’s preserved.” If the research is successful, the team hopes to use this method frequently in approximately five years, two years after the project is completed.
Canadian firearm ownership Kati Panasiuk Blitz Reporter Gun laws in Canada are a debatable topic when it comes to responsible ownership of firearms and whether they are efficient at keeping the public safe. The Liberal Party of Canada has listed their new policy changes on their website, which they intend to implement in the course of their term. While most changes are widely acceptable to the firearms community, people like Nathan Soucie worry some of the changes are impractical. “Look at the statistics,” Soucie said. “Compared to the United States, we are a far safer country when it comes to gun violence. Does that mean we need more laws to continue to make it safer? No, we are at an equal part right now, where gun crime and crime in general have decreased over the last 10 years, year by year, over and over again.” According to Statistics Canada, victims of firearmrelated violent crimes have fallen each year. There have been 1,800 fewer gun-related incidents in 2012 compared to
the 2009 reports. It has resulted in a 27 per cent decrease in the overall rate of firearm-related crimes. Soucie has been employed at General Gun & Supply for five years. Soucie said the changes they want to make on implementing the imported gun marking regulations is ridiculous. “They want to take a gun that is already serialized and laser engrave or stamp ‘CAN’ on each individual firearm saying it came into Canada,” said Souice. “That right there would drive up the cost of guns by $200 or $300 per gun. By the time that you pay the labour to have someone come in, mark each individual gun and put it back out would be a waste of time and resources. If we did stamp it, it is going to rust. It is just a problem that is not going to solve anything.” The Liberal government is also planning on investing more in border infrastructure. Constable Broeckel of the Windsor Police Training Facility said he likes the idea of more money coming to aid the removal of illegal guns off the streets.
“From a police perspective, I don’t see gun ownership as a problem in Canada,” said Broeckel. “I can say that from responding to calls. You don’t see someone take their shotgun that they bought from Canadian Tire and go do a robbery. Usually that’s a gun that has been stolen.” Shawn Teskey is a registered gun owner. Teskey said while Canadian laws may seem strict, they are in place to ensure not just legal ownership but responsible ownership. “Surprisingly, I find myself agreeing with a lot of what the Liberals propose,” said Teskey. “At the end of the day, the saying is true, guns do not kill people, people kill people.” Teskey said guns are inanimate objects that, when stored correctly, are no more harmful then a baseball bat. “They cannot load, nor carry themselves,” said Teskey. “Perhaps people should be educated in what it means to be a proper owner/user of firearms, then perhaps the big stigma about guns would change.”
Photo by Danielle Gagnier Daniel Heath, the lead researcher in the next-generation DNA sequencing project, poses for a photograph in his office at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor March 4.
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Rideshares: convenient, but are they safe? Sreedha Varanasi
Blitz Reporter Windsorites are turning to rideshare services for travelling, despite possible safety concerns. The concept of ridesharing is a spin on carpooling which involves travelling to other cities with people who chip in for the ride. Classified websites such as Kijiji have separate search and post spaces for rideshares where Windsorites can find rides to desired destinations on the dates that suit them. While Greyhound Canada and VIA Rail Canada both offer trips from Windsor to other cities, the prices for rideshares are considerably lower, making them more attractive. Taron Matthews, a rideshare driver of three years, said he goes from Windsor to Toronto and back multiple times during the week. “The reason people take rideshares is because it is cheaper,” said Matthews. “When people need to go to
Photo by Sreedha Varanasi Highway 401 sign on the route to Toronto March 4. Toronto and they’re low on money, it’s a cheap option that will get them there.” On Kijiji, a rideshare to Toronto can cost as little as $25 one-way. However, Greyhound and VIA Rail ticket prices vary, reaching up to $90 or more in some cases depending on date of booking.
Due to ridesharing being an unregulated crowdsourcing enterprise, safety remains a concern. Rebekah Senko, a Windsorite who has taken a rideshare to Toronto in the past, said she took multiple safety measures before departing. “I spoke to him on the phone
to gauge what kind of person he was,” said Senko. “ I also took a picture of the licence plate and texted it to my mom.” Senko said she arrived at her destination safely and her experience was a good one. Ontario Provincial Police Highway Safety Sgt. Kerry
Schmidt said while the OPP doesn’t have an official position on ridesharing, people should do their due diligence on rideshare drivers to make sure they are safe. “If there’s any way of verifying or validating people, if they can provide references or get confirmations as to who they are, that would help,” said Schmidt. He also warns of the dangers of posting personal information like addresses on classifieds. “You’re making yourself vulnerable. People know where you live,” said Schmidt. “We don’t have a specific position on it, we don’t support it, we don’t criticize it, it is what it is.” Matthews said the reason he posts rideshares is to help people. “I respect my passengers and they respect me,” said Matthews. “There are all kinds of people in this world, and you’ll never know unless you meet them and at the end of the day it’s about providing a service that helps people.”
Condition of downtown parking meters questionable Iesha Coburn
Blitz Reporter The parking meters in Windsor are in questionable condition according to some people using them downtown. The Commissionaires have been in charge of issuing tickets for the City of Windsor Parking Enforcement since 2010, and although the headquarters claim that the meters work perfectly fine there are citizens who believe the contrary. “I’m forced to park at these meters at least twice a week and at least once a week the meter doesn’t accept my coins,” said Sherri Mann, a Windsorite who owns a vehicle and parks downtown frequently. “The least they can do is have working meters. Every time an issue occurs, they (parking enforcement) act as though I’m in the wrong, and say that I need to pay the fine that may happen from the machine not accepting my money.”
Photo by Iesha Coburn Parking meter 225 and 226 with a clear description of violations, but no bag over it for being out of use in Windsor, March 4th Mann has the most issues with meters on University Ave. around downtown Windsor. Parking enforcement is a service through the municipal government. They have permission to issue fines to a citizen with a vehicle, and also offer assistance with obtaining
permits to park on certain residential streets, or information on where to park in the city. “You want to document (the issue) it with 311,” said Jessica, an agent of City of Windsor Parking Enforcement, who did not give her last name. 311 is like a union for
Windsor residents, giving them a chance to document things that they feel are not in their best interest. 311 can give assistance to the situation or advice on how to deal with it. “You call 311 and give all the information about the meter. If you receive a ticket, you now
have a tracking number, you call to report it, and then you can fill out a screening form to dispute the ticket,” said Jessica. Even though Parking Enforcement gives steps to resolving this issue, the main focus is for the faulty meters to be fixed. “I’m tired of being given the runaround. They act like I’m being cheap by complaining about a one dollar meter when in reality it’s about the principle,” said Mann. The meters located on Victoria and University Ave have been tested by the city and deemed to be in perfect working condition. However, ask any student that parks on that street if they feel the same way, or, take a walk down Victoria Ave North on any given day and see if there are meters in service and working well. Parking Enforcement may need to test the meters on a more regular basis.
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Windsor Public Library staff brace for possible strikes Brett Henderson
Blitz Reporter Windsor Public Library services may be discontinued during a work stopage, causing job losses reaching across nine different library branches. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 62 frontline library workers, warns that a strike could occur as soon as March 24. With careers on the line, many are left wondering what will become of their futures. “We want a fair contract that will allow us to continue to serve the Windsor community,” said Amanda Meloche, spokeswoman for CUPE 2067 in a release. “That is why we are urging our award winning Windsor Library Board to demonstrate why they won this recognition by paving the way for management to return to the bargaining table with a respectable and conciliatory attitude, and bargain to reach a fair collective agreement.” Out of the nine library branches, Windsor’s Central Branch, located at 850 Ouellette Ave. is home to over 150,000 books and 180,000 total resources, and is the largest branch in Windsor.
Photo by Brett Henderson Shelves left unfilled at the Windsor Public Library central branch.
Users feel compelled to save the branches, should a strike occur. “I use the library as a place to study,” said Jillian Kaake, 19, a University of Windsor student. “It’s just a different atmosphere then my room or the university’s library. I would hate for it to be closed down.” Kaake is not the only one who would find the closure disappointing.
“The library downtown is my second home, I love studying and finding new videogames there,” said St. Clair College student Matthew Ronholm. “If it closed down, I would be really upset.” Both the libraries and the union are scheduled for mediation March 23. “Mediation talks will take place, it’s a part of the Labour Relations Act,” said Susanne
Hawkins, spokeswoman for the CUPE. “The mediator will work with us to go back and forth between the parties to get some movement on both sides. Best case scenario, we get a settlement.” The Windsor Public Library Board recently won the Public Library Board of the Year award from the Ontario Library Association (OLA). “It is very ironic that the Windsor Library Board was
recognized in January for contributing to Ontario’s libraries,” said Meloche. “By March, management could lock out library workers that are there to help patrons enjoy our libraries. Our union was prepared to bargain and hammer out a fair contract that would allow our members to continue to provide important library services. Instead, management has set the stage for an unnecessary service shutdown.” Contracts expired on Dec. 31, 2015 for the frontline library workers. “It has become increasingly difficult and frustrating to work in an environment that does not respect workers,” said Hawkins. “From a series of management scandals in recent years, to the disrespectful work environment at our members’ workplace and now an increasingly difficult round of bargaining talks that could potentially lock out workers. Our members are understandably frustrated and experiencing a very low morale at work.” The WPL was successful in gaining a $7 million investment from the City of Windsor. The funding will help the branches pay for additional improvements to the libraries, should the two parties come to an agreement.
Milk undergoes big makeover Nathan Hinckley
Blitz Reporter A Windsorite has bought Milk Coffee Bar with plans to bring it up-to-date without changing what made it a hit with locals. According to Angelo Marignani, the former owner of Milk, the bar was sold so he could venture down a different path. “The key to the success of the shop is that it is in the centre core of the city,” said Arsh Bhatia, who purchased the coffee bar. “I don’t want to change too much of what already makes Milk special to the people of Windsor, but I do want to make it a more cozy place for students.” Bhatia’s updates to Milk
Photo by Nate Hinckley Tom Lucier, owner of Phog Lounge, discusses the changes happening across the street at Milk March 4.
will include the addition of better lighting and a fresh new interior which will give a new look to the place. According to Bhatia, the goal is to make it more comfortable for its patrons. The drinks Milk is known for will stay on the menu, including absinthe and their French-pressed coffee. “It’s a good thing for the revamping of Milk,” said Tom Lucier, owner of Phog Lounge across the street. “It’s good for local businesses near us to have a re-opening which will bring more people downtown.” “It’s the perfect spot to study and get a nice coffee,” said Jeremy Huange, a University of Windsor business student and Milk customer. Milk will reopen later this month at its current location.
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The Welcome Centre for Women launches Pink Butterfly Campaign media presence. It brings awareness to the agency and to the poverty in general that is in our community,” Pilon has volunteered for the shelter in the past and said the staff are truly passionate and care about the community. Her experience at the shelter helped her realize the level of homelessness in Windsor. She said a homeless person is just like anyone else who has gone through an unfortunate situation and may simply need a helping hand. “A challenge for people facing homelessness is that they might not have the resources to check a computer or have a phone to Google it,” said Pilon. “The message is ‘if you know someone who is experiencing poverty, tell them about the facility.’ People need help and sometimes they don’t know where to go.” The WCSFW is hoping to distribute close to 100 butterflies this year. They will be everywhere from local businesses to riverfront parks. Boulbon said it will be a fun thing for someone to find if they’re downtown shopping, enjoying a walk or out at the park with their kids. It will be a nice little thing to brighten their day and bring awareness to the shelter. “It’s an amazing place and the clients that we have are incredible men, women and kids that just need a little help right now. There’s no shame in that whatsoever and we will help everyone. Being homeless can happen to anyone,” said Boulbon. “We want to hear your story. Come in tell us what your story is and let us find a way to help you. There is no reason whatsoever for you to be on your own. We’re here.”
Dawn Gray
Blitz Reporter Cards in the shape of pink butterflies are showing up across Windsor and Essex County as part of a social media campaign designed to increase awareness and support for local women experiencing poverty and homelessness. The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women launched the campaign for March. The campaign is intended to bring attention to the shelter and to start conversations about poverty in Windsor. Organizers hope to engage the public by posting hundreds of inspirational pink butterfly cards all across the city and encouraging anyone who sees them to take a picture and share it on their social media platforms with the hashtag #pinkbutterfly. The centre’s Director of Community Engagement Remy Boulbol is leading the pink butterfly campaign. Boulbol said the icon of the butterfly transcends barriers because people realize it represents transformation. “We are trying to erase some of the stigma around who is homeless and what poverty looks like,”said Boulbol. “We wanted to do something that got people talking in a different way.” The WCSFW is a full provider of emergency shelter and related services for women and families in Windsor and Essex. According to Boulbol, the shelter serviced over 6,700 beds in 2015. Although she said she thinks poverty may not be an overly obvious problem in the Windsor area, the shelter is constantly full and
Photo by Dawn Gray Yvonne Pilon shows her support for the #pinkbutterfly campaign while at the MediaPlex on March 4. often overflowing. “In Windsor and Essex you don’t see the homelessness, you don’t see the poverty the same way you do with other cities,” said Boulbol. “It’s hidden. You don’t see people sleeping on the ground but we see a lot of people here. There’s a huge need.” The shelter is very active on social media but until Boulbol started the #pinkbutterfly initiative, they didn’t have a way to engage the community. “The butterflies are in businesses, parks, they’re all over the place. The idea is that people will find them and there’s
instructions on how to share it on social media using the hashtag #pinkbutterfly,” said Boulbol. “Since the start of the campaign we’ve had a huge increase in our social media presence and also people calling and coming by the shelter to learn more about the program.” Boulbol said there is no reason why anyone in this area should be homeless with a facility like this available. “We are a locked and safe facility. It’s a safe haven to be in and it’s for anyone,” said Boulbol. “We don’t turn people away for any reason —
drug addiction, mental health, gender issues. We take anyone who’s dealing with hard issues.” WEtech Alliance is one of many local businesses showing support for the Pink Butterfly Campaign. President and CEO of WEtech Alliance, Yvonne Pilon, said having a social media presence is great because it enables a message to have both local and global reach. “Social media is free and you have a lot of eyeballs,” said Pilon. “When it comes to promoting a campaign like this, you need to have a social
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Plans for new city hall revealed Aaron Agorilla
Blitz Reporter The City of Windsor plans to begin the construction of a new city hall later this year. The design work is near completion and construction is set to begin early May. Project administrator AlYassiri said he believes in the project, even though it has faced criticism for being funded by tax dollars. “I feel that building a new city hall would be a better option rather than renovating the existing one,” said AlYassiri. The new city hall will feature innovative architecture, increased capacity, new furniture and more city council rooms. The existing city hall is located at 350 City Hall
Photo by Aaron Agorilla Al-Yassiri works on the plans for the new city wall downtown Windsor. Square W. with the new city hall being built slightly south of the existing one. The new city hall will be built on two existing parking lots, which will be relocated. Al-Yassiri said once the new city hall is
Snow can build up on traffic lights Stephanie Zografos
Blitz Reporter Despite saving the city thousands of dollars, the transition to LED traffic lights has become dangerous in severe weather conditions. A school bus accident occurred last week when the driver, who has since been charged, could not see the traffic signal because snow was covering the light. While the previously used incandescent light bulbs burn 150 watts, LED lights do not burn as brightly so the snow does melt easily. “For our transportation consortium, it needs to be a concern and it has got to be a part of their professional development,” said Scott Scantlebury, the public relations officer of the Greater Essex County District School Board. “That is something to be aware of.” While it is possible to have snow build up on traffic lights, it is also very rare in Windsor due to the warmer climate. John Wolf, Windsor’s manager of traffic operations, said it has occurred four times in the past 10 years where snow has built up so much it was a problem. “You have to have almost perfect conditions for snow to
accumulate on a traffic signal head,” said Wolf. “So the snow has to be a very moist, sticky snow, the wind has to blow hard, the temperature has to be somewhere between 31-33 degrees Farenheit, and then the wind has to blow the snow into the signal head, because the signal heads have a cover and therefore something has to be blown into them.” Currently there are no effective solutions and the only way to remove the snow is by manually scraping it off the light. “They are looking at some LEDs that have heaters in them, like a defroster on a rear window, so something like that might work,” said Wolf. According to Wolf it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure the safety of their passengers should this type of situation occur. “So say there was a hydro failure or say you can’t see the signal head for some reason, your obligation as a driver is to slow down, come to a stop and proceed only if the way is clear,” said Wolf. In order to help lower the number of accidents the traffic operations of Windsor are presently looking into more ways this could be avoided.
completed, crews will demolish the old building. According to Al-Yassiri, the construction will take around two years to complete. AlYassiri will have to tender by this month to make sure
everything is within budget and have more meetings with council to secure approval. “The majority of this project is positive because it’s going to be a newer building so it’s going to be more energy effi-
cient and more pleasing,” said Al-Yassiri. The site of the current city hall will be connected to green space. All the public space will be connected and will have a very nice landscape according to Al-Yassiri. The total cost will be over $43 million, which will include the construction cost, the demolition of the existing city hall, the engineering cost, the furniture cost and the miscellaneous costs. Al-Yassiri said he plans to stay on time and within budget to complete this project smoothly and successfully. “I’m excited and I’m sure the public will hopefully like it because it’s going to be a nice building and it will be a beautiful set up,” he said.
March break traveling Mariah Atherly
Blitz Reporter Windsorites are choosing less expensive destinations for March break, according to a local travel expert. Josie Hendry is a travel consultant with LETO Travel Services Inc. in Windsor. Hendry said there are many great destinations to visit but it depends on the kind of vacation people are looking for. "If people are looking to book a vacation-based package, one of the more expensive places to go would be the Bahamas," said Hendry. "Less expensive destinations would include Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico," Hendry said if you are looking for a quality airline, fly with Sunwing. "I love them. Their customer service is really good and I send all my clients there," said Hendry. "Sunwing offers many of benefits within package such as meal plans and last minute flights starting at $265 plus tax and additional fees." She said this month Canada is all booked up on flights, so it is recommended to fly out of the U.S. but right now it depends on when they have sales. According to Hendry
Photo by Mariah Atherly Windsor travel agent Josie Hendry poses for the Converged Citizen on March 4, 2016 they have deals for flights out of the Middle East, so she expects many people will be booking flights to Lebanon and Jordan. Emmy Aleman is from Mexico City but is now living in Mississauga . She has traveled to many places throughout the world including Egypt, France, Hawaii and Russia. Aleman said she always checks when it is cheap to travel. It also depends on the weather where she is traveling. She normally does not fly out of the U.S. but usually flies from
Toronto's Pearson Airport. Aleman said she does not care which airline she flies with or which travel agency she books with. She said her only concern is to find the best deals. "When it comes to traveling to countries it does not matter if it is a warm or cold destination," said Aleman. "It's the world. It's so big and you have so little time to travel so going to different countries and places I think is worth it." For those who plan to stay in Windsor for Spring Break, see visitwindsoressex.com for Windsor-Essex tourism information.
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Shoppers partners with Hospice to support wellness programs Séraphine Garré
Blitz Reporter The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, through its wellness centre, will be teaming up with 20 local Shoppers Drug Mart franchises thanks to the efforts by two local women. For years Sheila Nayar had been dealing with health issues and in 2006 received a kidney transplant. After a suggestion from a Hospice volunteer, she tried some of the organizations services. “The wellness centre and all the wellness programs they offered me were what I needed to keep me positive,” said Nayar. Nayar said she explained the situation to her daughter Anisha, a pharmacist and Shoppers franchisee. She noticed the positive change in her mother’s physical and mental health after using the wellness programs offered by The Hospice.
Photo by Séraphine Garré Laura Lemmon, the communications and events specialist at The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County is plan for their 20th annual LifeWalk event to be held on June 12. “I couldn’t believe the change in her whole attitude,” said Anisha. “I knew after that Hospice was something I needed to support personally, but I wanted to do more. I
thought it was a no-brainer that Shoppers Drug Mart should support community wellness through this organization and the wonderful work they do.”
Anisha, other Shoppers owners and The Hospice eventually decided to work on the LifeWalk together. Laura Lemmon, communications and events specialist
for The Hospice said the organization’s programming has expanded in its 37-year history. “We offer over 47 different wellness programs now, but those can be anything from different support groups for people who are going through a life altering diagnosis to art, to yoga, exercise (and) we run a cooking class,” said Lemmon. “We try to listen to the needs of the people who use our wellness center and offer something that would interest everyone.” Anyone interested in getting involved with the program can visit www.thehospicelifewalk.ca or for volunteering opportunities can call The Hospice at 519-974-7100 and ask to speak to a person at the volunteer department for more information. The LifeWalk will be held June 12 at the Ciociaro Club of Windsor. Registration is at 9 a.m.
Organization starts furniture bank to help refugees Alyssa Horrobin
Blitz Reporter Windsorites are collecting furniture for a furniture bank project to help Syrian refugees settling into their new homes. The furniture bank is a project of the We Love Windsor organization, a group of churches in Windsor wanting to serve the city. Daniel Gray, missions pastor at Parkwood Gospel Temple and chair of the furniture bank committee, said this initiative fits with what We Love Windsor is all about. “The idea of We Love Windsor is just how can we show the love of Jesus in very practical ways? This fits in because we’re meeting direct needs and we get to shine the light of God in dark places,” said Gray. “Where there’s a lot of need and hurt, we get to be a light here in the furniture bank.” We Love Windsor started in summer 2014 as a one-day-ayear event to reach out to and love the city. This is the first time the organization has done a project like this.
Photo by Alyssa Horrobin Dave Locke, Bob Cameron, Daniel Gray and John Curran, volunteers for the We Love Windsor Furniture Bank, make themselves comfortable on one of the couches in the furniture bank in Windsor on March 4. “We know the refugees and those in need, they don’t have much,” said Dave Locke, volunteer and committee member for the We Love Windsor Furniture Bank. “When the
refugees came here from across the ocean, they weren’t bringing anything with them other than what they could carry, so their need is furniture. It’s a big expense that
they cannot afford, so we’re giving it to them at no cost.” The idea for the furniture bank was a response by churches in the community to the influx of Syrian refugees
in 2016, but the bank is open to anyone in need of furniture. “I think the way we saw it is, once they’re here, they’re here and they’re a part of the city,” said Gray. “Our goal with We Love Windsor is to help the city and to love the city. So if they’re here and a part of that, then they fit.” According to Locke, clients need to get a referral through a church or another agency in the community such as Hiatus House or Matthew House. Then they can make an appointment to come pick up furniture. Bob Cameron, director of the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative, provides the legal assistance behind this idea. He said the DWCC is a big part of making this project happen because of their relationship with the City of Windsor, who provided the building for the furniture bank by leasing the old science centre building to the team for a year for $1. For information on donating or receiving furniture or volunteer opportunities, visit welovewindsor.ca or call Dave Lock at 519-890-4353.
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Unemployment high in Windsor, community resources available Felicia Patterson
Blitz Reporter Despite having trouble finding employment, Windsorites can receive help from government funded services. As of January 2016, Windsor’s unemployment rate was 8.3 per cent, a slight decrease from last year’s rate of 8.8 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. Government funded services are available to help Windsor’s unemployed by offering workshops and job training. One community resource, a division of the City of Windsor Employment and Training Services, offers various types of assistance including interview skill training and resume preparations. At ETS locations, the general public has access to computers, printers and are encouraged to consult staff members for help. The supervisor of the ETS said that their offices offer a number of services, dealing with issues beyond employment. “There are two components to what we deliver,” said Helen Lebert, a supervisor at ETS. “One is called Resource
Photo by Felicia Patterson Helen Lebert, supervisor of the City of Windsor’s Employment and Training Services, poses in her office March 4. and Information. The resource centre is sort of like a community hub where we have all kinds of information on community agencies and services that are available to people. Then we have what’s called Assisted Services, where a person would come in and
they would be introduced to one of our case workers. They would be assessed and the worker would help go over that person’s options as far as getting back into the workforce.” One University of Windsor student said she has accessed
ETS for help finding employment. “It has always been difficult for me to find jobs in Windsor. Not even prestigious jobs but jobs like fast food restaurants and any store in the mall,” said Chanel Beckford, 24. “About a year and a half ago I
reached out to Employment Services. Though I did not get hired or get any interviews using this service, they did send a lot of job postings which, in a sense, was helpful.” Another Windsor woman said the difficulty in finding employment has caused her to attend college in an attempt to become more qualified. “In high school I looked for part-time work with no luck. I decided to go to college, took a three year human resource program and I’m still having difficulty finding work,” said Arianna Dejesus, a single mother. “It’s frustrating being a young, single parent who did finish high school as well as moved on to college and graduated.” The City of Windsor’s Employment and Training Services offers a number of programs available to the general public, as well as other services where an application is necessary. Some of these programs include Coaching and Mentoring, Second Career Strategies and Apprenticeship Training.
Windsor’s Flex Foundation for Flint Fabricio Rivera-Paz
Blitz Reporter A local entrepreneur has found a way to motivate Windsorites to donate water to Flint, Michigan. Owner of Exclusive Fashions, Carlos Puckerin, has organized a foundation called The Flex Foundation. The foundation is donating water to Flint, Mich. Puckerin has started a competition and the person who donates the most water will win a customized grill. A grill is a cus-
When Puckerin visited Flint he noticed the town needed more than just water The Flex Foundation has donated 100,000 bottles of water to Flint, along with many other necessities, including breakfast for kids, school equipment and free haircuts for the community. Due to the increase in people wanting a custom grill, Puckerin used it to his advantage to encourage people to donate to the Flint cause. “You should be able to win
“It’s hard to turn the other cheek when people are in need of a helping hand,” ---Atova Brown tomized mouthpiece made from gold, platinum and often with diamonds, custom grills can start from $1000 and are of high popularity.
something for doing something good,” said Puckerin. “It feels good to help people who need it.” Social media has also played
Photo by Fabricio Rivera-Paz A picture of the water collected for Flint. a major role for the foundation. Posting daily content about the competition has boosted the buzz for the Flexin’ for Flint foundation and many people are beginning donate. Atova Brown, who donated seven cases of water, continues to donate. Brown donated to other charities as well
before the crises in Flint began. “It’s hard to turn the other cheek when people are in need of a helping hand,” said Brown. Always giving back when she can, Brown helps others when they need it, donating clothes that her children have outgrown.
“It’s a huge problem that can affect generations and children,” said Brown. Windsorites have come together to pitch in to the cause in any way they can. From school boards, companies and locals, all are continuing to help from with donations.
BLITZ MARCH 10, 2016
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Ovarian Cancer Canada has balls, #ladyballs that is Michelle Laramie Blitz Reporter
A campaign by Ovarian Cancer Canada has gotten people talking by using the attention grabbing hashtag #ladyballs on social media. Some people who feel the campaign is a little distasteful and unnecessary have taken to Twitter to express their concern. One Twitter user, @BeryleChambers said, “I’m one of the women who find the term ladyballs crass and offensive.” Cailey Crawford, regional director at Ovarian Cancer Canada, is excited about the reaction the campaign is getting. “I am thrilled with the attention the campaign is receiving. Ovarian cancer is too often overlooked and underdiagnosed,” said Crawford. “Finally the discussion about ovaries is happening outside doctors’ offices and in the public sphere. We see this as progress.” An OCC survey showed that 91 per cent of Canadians are undereducated when it comes to ovarian cancer. Ovarian Cancer Canada wants to create a new way into the conversation about reproductive health. They want to spark conversations and invite anyone to give the person next to them a nudge and say, “hey did you see this?” Matt Miggins, a nursing student at St. Clair College said people who are offended by the campaign are focusing on the wrong thing. “Are they not mad five women a day die from
it is a bad thing,” said Yvonne Pilon, St. Clair College instructor of social media aggregation and CEO at WETech Alliance. Pilon says sometimes with campaigns there is lack of action after. She believes after people talk about it and learn about it there is still a need for financial action. “The next piece needs to be about action and really encouraging a donation base,” said Pilon “With campaigns like this you have to keep in mind that it is also about the eyeballs and getting key people to join the conversation to make it go viral.” Ovarian cancer is extremely hard to diagnose and the symptoms can be easily confused with those of less serious conditions. Some common symptoms are frequent urination, abdominal pain and bloating. According to a survey done by OCC, one in three Canadians incorrectly believe there is a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer but there is currently not a test for this disease. “Trust that you know your body and if you notice anything out of the ordinary, advocate for your health,” Crawford urges. “If you notice new symptoms that Photo by Michelle Laramie persist for three weeks or longer, please speak with Matt Miggins shows his support for the #ladyballs campaign in Windsor on March 4. your doctor.” Ovarian Cancer Canada this? I find it ironic that into perspective. talking but hope it will gain they are mad about words. “People need to ask them- enough ground to attract has seen a sustained spike People should be mad at selves, if the word balls financial donations for in calls from women and concerned family members the fact this is happening to saves just one life, is it OCC. our mothers, sisters and worth it?” “The campaign is quite looking for information wives,” said Miggins. Marketing and social clever and people are talk- and support, that Crawford Miggins said he thinks media experts agree this is ing about it. As long as it attributes to the #ladyballs people should put things a clever way to get people creates action I don’t think campaign.
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health & lifestyle March 10, 2016
Windsor man maintains woodworking passion Aaron Lombardi Blitz Reporter Even in old age two Windsorites continue to pursue their passion in woodworking. The inside of Adam Anger’s modest Tecumseh home is filled with paintings of ducks flying over marshes in the sun. Walls and shelves hold wooden duck decoy decorations hand-carved and painted by Anger. Anger, 83, grew up outside of Puce, Ont. As a young boy living on a popular flyway for migratory birds he was exposed to the thrill of duck hunting. “When the (Great) Depression hit, it hit my family hard. That’s all we could do,” said Anger. “It was cheaper for my family to buy a gun and hunt ducks than buy meat.” The family had to ration and save during the Depression in order to survive. It was then Anger discovered a fallen tree which influenced a creative change in his life. “All we had was an axe and my brother and I began to use it to carve decoys to help us in our duck hunting,” said Anger. “I think we made about 15 together the first time.” By the 1960s Anger was working at a full time job with Hiram Walker & Sons Limited, but now he is becoming an underground celebrity
Photo by Aaron Lombardi Adam Anger displays one of his award-winning goose decoys. Anger carved each decoy himself using hand tools.
for his woodworking. Anger’s homemade decoys are being popularized by hunters and decorators. While other manufacturers were producing smooth blocks of wood that had been painted, Anger’s were far more realistic. Some would be cut in half and carved hollow, making them lighter when they float in the water. “I would use white cedar for the bodies and pine for the heads. That’s best for the details,” said Anger. “The white cedar I would
have to take from telephone poles that had fallen.” Anger is not the only man who followed woodworking into old age. Ildo Bonato, 78, is the owner of Bonato Custom in Windsor. Bonato was born in Italy and began woodworking at seven years of age. After immigrating to Windsor he found that carving religious designs for churches was his personal specialty. “I’ve done work for 32 churches so far. I’ve carved the pews, the beams, anything
with a design in it,” said Bonato. “I am an old man now but I am still very proud of my work and how I do it.” Bonato prefers to use hand tools over machines and enjoys working alone rather than in a large crew. According to Statistics Canada one in every six Canadians is an older worker like Bonato and workers over the retirement age carry an intellectual capacity in their field that assists with training new workers. Not all of these people continue to work for
financial reasons. Some continue their careers simply because they still feel able to. Even past the retirement age of 65, Bonato continues his job with no real plans of retirement. “I work because I can. I like to work so I shouldn’t have to stop,” said Bonato. “I still have high energy and I know that nobody else can do this.” Employers prefer to take older workers solely for seniority purposes. Older workers have the organization and problem solving skills that come with long term experience in a working environment, according to Statistics Canada. Anger also makes a profit off of his carvings but he said he chooses to enjoy the comfortable life he made for himself working at Hiram Walker. Although his decoys sell for hundreds of dollars online, Anger said he is glad people are enjoying his work. “They sometimes sell in the thousands. It doesn’t mean that much to me,” said Anger. “It’s just the joy I get from doing it. It brings me peace.” While Anger’s carving production has slowed over the years due to carpal tunnel syndrome, he said he still enjoys looking at the decoys he made over the years that sit on his homemade shelves. Anger estimates he has carved over 2,000 birds in his lifetime.
Eating disorders: the importance of speaking up Mayra Lacayo Blitz Reporter
Anyone can be affected by an eating disorder, according to Health Canada. It was reported those who are most susceptible to eating disorders experience low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Genetics may also play a role in this mental illness. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association an eating disorder is a mental illness that affects the way an individual feels
about food, as well as the way a person feels about their body. Nicole Boulanger is a registered dietitian at the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association. She said there are many ways eating disorders impact the body. “Someone with anorexia nervosa is someone who’s going to be very under weight. They can have electrolyte abnormality and bradycardia which is low heart rate. Often women will lose their period. They can also have fertility issues. It
can affect the bones eventually, which can turn to osteoporosis. If you are undereating your metabolism slows down,” said Boulanger. The National Eating Disorder Information Centre describes anorexia nervosa as a eating disorder described as not being able to maintain normal body weight and intense fear of becoming obese. People fast and exercise excessively. Some of the short-term effects, like using laxatives, can cause fecal inconti-
nence, an inability to hold fecal matter which can become a long-term effect. Bulimia nervosa is described as overeating and self-induced vomiting. Dana Dupuis is a clinical intake specialist at the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association. “Knowing where to get services in the community, not blaming the person for having an eating disorder and encourage them to get help,” said Dupuis explaining some things a person can do to help someone suf-
fering eatings disorders. Nicole Boulanger said some warning signs of individuals with an eating disorder are preoccupation with weight gain or loss, concern about calories and placing high restriction on certain food products. Boulanger said the sooner someone is diagnosed with an eating disorder the sooner they can get help. For more information visit the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association website.
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health & lifestyle Research needed regarding medical marijuana and pets Christian Dutchyn Converged Citizen Staff People have used marijuana as a medication for centuries and now some people are giving it to their pets to treat the ailments that afflict them. While giving marijuana to animals is illegal, a new issue that has risen is whether or not pet owners should be allowed to give the medication to their pets. Serious long-term health consequences when using marijuana are rare, but in 2012 there was a case of two dogs dying from a massive marijuana overdose after ingesting the substance. This is an uncommon occurrence the issue is usually resolved if the animal vomits. In 2001 Canada was the first country to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Since then, the movement of legalization has spread across the world. The substance is now viewed as a legitimate form of medication in several countries such as Italy and Argentina. The drug has even been recreationally-legalized in U.S. states like Alaska and
photo courtesy Google Various marijuana extracts. Colorado. Jim Sweetman, a veterinarian at the Downtown Veterinary Hospital, said it’s difficult to determine how effective the use of marijuana is in treating pets. “It’s never been tested in Canada, so we really don’t
know. It hasn’t been tried in Ontario and our association says we are not to use medical marijuana on pets,” he said. When it comes to people giving their pets the substance as a form of at-home medication, Sweetman said he feels it is a legal matter.
“If the people think it works, there’s probably nothing wrong with it, but that’s a legal decision someone else would have to make,” said Sweetman. Although its effectiveness in animals remains unknown, some people are medicating
their pets. Brian, who asked his last name not be used, is the owner of a dog named Caesar who suffers from arthritis. Caesar is a German ShepherdRottweiler mix who has been given cannabis butter to treat the pain and lack of mobility that accompany his illness. Brian said Caesar has improved since starting the athome treatment. “He used to sleep all day and only get up once a day to go outside and use the washroom. He was non-responsive and really lazy and he’d moan a lot in his sleep,” said Brian. “Other medications would be ibuprofen or another form of a pill that would be tough on his liver and kidneys. I didn’t want to put him through that in his old age so I just tried the butter first. It worked way better. I give him small slivers of weed butter every day and now he’s active all day long.” More research is needed to determine if medical marijuana is a viable way to treat animals. More information about marijuana and its effects on people is available at the Health Canada website.
Windsor phone scam warning Joshua Maskery Blitz Reporter
Windsor Police warn citizens that citizens lose hundreds of dollars every year to phone scams. Recently there have been a number of confirmed frauds being conducted over the phone. Cases range from people falsely identifying themselves claiming to be certain companies or even threatening to disconnect people from a service if they do not pay a bill up front using their financial information. For instance, a number of citizens from Windsor, greater Toronto area and Ottawa are receiving a Costco letter in the mail from an insurance broker in New Haven Connecticut. It claims that 7 million Euros (roughly $760,000) have been found and no one has come forth to collect it. This letter would go on to indicate that
the receiver must contact the author in order to collect the money. Another serious case of fraud has to do with identity theft over the website Kijiji. Who claim to be the seller of an item of a customers’ interest, but end up taking their money directly from a credit card. March is annual fraud prevention month and a number of local utilities and services are attempting to stop any further cases of scamming. Some hydro companies have experienced cases of scammers over the telephone claiming to be one of their representatives and asking for their personal or financial information. According to Barbara Peirce Marshall, manager of corporate communications and public relations for Enwin, is aware of local phone scams claiming to be part of Enwin or any other utility services across
Ontario. “This is not a tactic that Enwin would ever use. It’s not the way we would deal with any of our customers,” said Peirce Marshall. Numerous print released and media outlets suggest the best way to deal with these scammers is to spread the message. “A Toronto business called Electricity Distributers Association, are the ones who put together the campaign to actually spread the message across Ontario,” said Peirce Marshall. She also said “customers are the primary target of fraud scams because they rely on the company that provides for them to be honest and follow through with their statements. “We want our customers to be safe, customer safety is always at the top of our list so when we hear about these things sharing that information is always important, and they should be making us and
Stock photo by Alyssa Horrobin Photo of Matt D’Asti the authorities aware,” Peirce Marshall said. Windsor Police are asking people to inform them whenever a scam or fraud occurs over the phone so they can further plan to get rid of them long term. Sgt. Matthew D’Asti of the Windsor Police Service insists people need to be vigilant. “Fraudsters will develop elaborate schemes to defraud the public. Call displays may be spoofed to display ENWIN for the incoming call. Always questions any unsolicited
phone call looking for payment. Remember that there is no rush, hang up the phone and call ENWIN is you have any questions or concerns regarding your bill,” said D’Asti in a press release. According to the RCMP, Ontarians lose tens of thousands of dollars every year to phone scams related to their electricity bills - a crime that has been active in more than seven provinces and which have targeted thousands of businesses.
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health & lifestyle March 10, 2016
Misshapen produce gains popularity as prices rise Samantha Girardin Blitz Reporter
Loblaws officials have decided to sell produce usually deemed undesirable. Imperfect produce might be the new money saving trend according to Loblaws officials. Loblaws’ has announced plans to implement selling imperfect produce in all their stores. This means the produce is either not standard size or is oddly-shaped. This is to help customers save on fresh, quality produce. The University of Guelph’s Food Institute is forecasting food inflation rates across the country to be anywhere between two per cent to four per cent. With produce prices rising sharply, imperfect produce for cheaper is an alternative for families looking to save money. This idea has sparked interest in Canadian companies. Many stores have already
Photo By Samantha Girardin Gina Muzslai shops in The Real Canadian Superstore in Windsor March 4. She is a buyer of imperfect produce. been selling imperfect produce such as The Real Canadian Superstore on Dougall Avenue. The store has been selling imperfect pro-
duce for almost a year. The store currently sells imperfect apples, carrots and mushrooms, according to manager Frank Culmone.
“People are very price conscious these days,” said Culmone. “It’s all high quality product, it’s just different sizes and different shapes. I
eat it myself all the time.” Not all customers like the imperfect produce. For some people, like Enza Aiuto, saving money isn’t the concern when shopping. “I’m not really interested in imperfect produce,” said Aiuto. “I like my food to look nice. I like it perfect.” Other customers love the idea too. “I usually go to farmer’s markets for my produce,” said Gina Muzslai, “so I already buy imperfect produce. It’s great that they are putting it in grocery stores. It makes it easier for people to afford healthy food.” Muzslai has lived among farmers where all produce was imperfect. “I’m imperfect, but you’re not going to throw me out are you? The imperfect produce is just as good as the more expensive stuff,” she said. Imperfect produce is ripe for the taking. All customers need to do now is take a bite.
Spitfires bid for 2017 Memorial Cup Todd Shearon Blitz Reporter The Windsor Spitfires are preparing to formally present their bid to host the 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Unsuccessful in their previous attempts, the Spitfires lost their chance to host the tournament in 2011 and 2014 as the Canadian Hockey League instead awarded it to the Mississauga Steelheads and London Knights respectively. If Windsor is named as host, the Spitfires will earn an automatic berth to compete in the tournament against the top teams in the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “From the first two (bids) we’ve taken the foundation and added to it,” said Spitfires director of business Development Steve Horne. “Times have changed over six years and we’ve adapted with what we put together, kind of redefining what our objectives are and going from there.”
The Spitfires have experience hosting CHL events at the WFCU Centre including the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in 2009 and World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2012. “Hosting other CHL events allowed us to try out different things within the facility and city. That’s when the groundwork was laid,” said Horne. “We figured out what we needed to change and what we need to do here. That is the foundation of what led to where we are today. It was seven years of groundwork to prepare for what we presented (the CHL) in February.” Important factors the CHL considers when selecting the tournament’s host city are the quality of the team, the quality of the venue and the infrastructure of the city. “I think this year we’re really strong with the hockey team. Warren Rychel, his scouting staff and coaching staff have done an amazing job with the on-ice product,” said Horne. “I know David Branch (CHL Commisioner)
Photo by Todd Shearon Windsor Spitfires director of business development Steve Horne stands outside the team’s locker room inside the WFCU Centre in Windsor March 4.
has said they’re comfortable being here, they’re comfortable with the way we host and they’re comfortable with the way we take care of the fans, the parents, the players and the community. From a business side I think we’ve always had the boxes checked.” The nationally televised tournament puts the host city at the centre of the hockey universe in junior hockey for 11 to 14 days. “Rogers Sportsnet being here every night talking about…the City of Windsor is a definite positive,” said Horne. “It’s
going to be pretty special. Whether you come to the games or not you’re going to have the ability to feel the event in the community.” The third time could be the charm for Spitfires president Bob Boughner, who is in his tenth year of ownership of the franchise. “Our organization is honoured to be selected to present its bid to host the 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup,” said Boughner. “It has been a goal since day one of ownership to bring this prestigious event to our region and our
devoted fan base. We are confident that our organization and committee would host an unforgettable event. We eagerly anticipate the next step in this process.” The Spitfires’ formal presentation to the league will take place on April 18, 2016 in Toronto with the announcement of the official host city to follow. “It’s our chance to take a paper document and bring it to life,” said Horne. “The biggest thing we will find on the 18th is a chance to really bring our city to life.”
BLITZ MARCH 10, 2016
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Developing success Garrett Fodor Blitz Reporter The Windsor Spitfires have produced talented players in the past and have been adding names to their list this season. Windsor has produced 13 NHL draft picks in the last five years, including four in the first round. Defencemen Mikhail Sergachev, Logan Stanley and forward Logan Brown have been added to that group as they were featured in the NHL Central Scouting’s list of top 30 skaters. Head coach Rocky Thompson said while his team is an offensive one, he has laid a foundation for development and a focus on play without the puck. He said he believes Brown, Stanley and Sergachev all bring a physical presence to their game and a high skill set to go along with their thirst to constantly improve. Defenseman Logan Stanley is number 23 on NHLCS’s midterm rankings. Stanley said he owes a lot of his success to his coaching staff and his teammates. He said being
Photo by Garrett Fodor The Windsor Spitfires review a set play at practice as they prepare for their game March 4 against the Sarnia Sting. on a strong team this year has helped and that being a year older has given him with a little more confidence. Logan Brown who is ranked 14th, is the son of former NHL player Jeff Brown. Brown said having received coaching his entire life has helped in his development and has brought up his hockey sense. “Ever since I was young
I’ve been able to understand the game and my dad has taught me a lot,” said Brown. “He knows what it takes, the sacrifices to make and the things you have to do to get to the next level. He’s been real helpful in my development and coached me my entire life.” Rounding out the list is Russian defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who is ranked 10.
Sergachev said he is confident in the defensive zone and feels he can contribute in all ends and roles. He also said he credits the coaches for working with him and improving his game. Thompson corroborates this, saying that Mikhail was crucial to the team. “Mikhail is more of an offensive threat at this time, he is very physical player,
skates extremely well and can make the game look easy at times with how he can move the puck,” said Thompson. With all three combining for 125 points in 167 games, Thompson and the Spitfires hope to utilize the three and their skill sets for a deep playoff run. The Spits sit one point out of top spot in the Western Conference.
Baseball scouting service coming to Windsor Dylan Fremlin Blitz Reporter Local high school baseball players are being given a chance to showcase their talent. A one-day scouting event takes place at Central Park Athletics in Windsor on April 10. Prep Baseball Report is a scouting service that spans 24 U.S. states and Ontario. With more than 450 colleges and pro scouts subscribing to the PBR services, a player can expect to receive the exposure
Photo by Dylan Fremlin Mitchell Bouchard poses for a photo in his Dakota State Trojans uniform.
needed to make it to the postsecondary level. PBR videotapes all participant performances, and the edited performances are hosted on prepbaseballreport.com. All players can receive an entire scouting report complete with verified statistics, a picture and video. PBR also links any stories written about a prospect to their profile. “We’re always in touch with colleges,” said Ontario PBR scouting director Chris
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sports & fitness
ATHLETES PAGE 1 Ryan Blevins Blitz Reporter Windsor’s athletes are giving back to their community through the gift of knowledge. For the third consecutive year, a group of professional football players will set up camp in their hometown of Windsor. The Windsor’s Finest Football Academy camps began in 2014 when Catholic Central High School graduate and current Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford was looking for a way to share his success with the community where he grew up. Crawford and his cousin Daryl Townsend, a defensive back for the Montreal Alouettes, recruited their friends and former teammates to join them in creating the camp. Three years later, Crawford and his team are preparing for what is anticipated by many to be another successful youth football camp. The list of athletes and instructors has expanded but the one thing that stays consistent is the camp’s emphasis on hard work. Windsor’s Finest Football Academy camp coordinator Alex Guerrero said setting up this event was an easy decision for the players involved. “I think it was just something that was natural to them,” said Guerrero. “They’ve wanted to put together something like this
BASEBALL PAGE 13 Kemlo. “After an event we ship all of our stats to 250 or 300 college coaches.” PBR does whatever they can to get worthy prospects in front of schools and get the word out about player abilities. Events usually carry upwards of 100 players. In the last two years nearly 20 players have committed to play for schools. PBR also releases annual prospect rankings to ensure their top prospects will not be missed and has a section dedicated to the MLB draft for pro scouts. It costs pitchers $150 to attend the event while position players pay $175. For players who want to show off both positions, the cost is $225.
and now that they have the resources to do it, they wanted to make sure they could influence other Windsor natives.” This year’s camp will feature approximately 15 instructors including Luke Willson of the Seattle Seahawks and newcomer Corey Fuller of the Detroit Lions. The two-day event will place an emphasis on not only producing quality athletes but also encouraging participants to take a stand against bullying. The camp is broken down with a strict itinerary. Players are scheduled to go through drills with professionals at each position. After each session the staff will take time to listen to the instructors’ stories and allow the camp leaders to relay a message. The past two camps have featured a guest speaker who promotes the anti-bullying movement, although no speaker has been set for this year’s camp as of yet. Keeping with the theme of anti-bullying and giving back to the community, the camp’s slogan will be “iron sharpens iron.” After careful consideration by the organizing committee, this creed was seen as most fitting because it promotes the values of the camp. According to Guererro, the slogan represents using one another to succeed and to help those who are down. Townsend said it was important to him to provide this experience to the city where he grew up. “I never really had anything like this. There was never any
pro to come back to the city and say they want to teach you their skills and hang out with you. I thought it would be cool in our position to do that for the kids of today,” said Townsend. Campers will be split into two age groups. Youths aged 13-18 will be split up by position and complete drills coached by a professional who has played that position at the next level. The 7-12 year old group will go through a much less intensive day in an effort to entertain the young children who might not yet know which position they want to play. Holy Names High School defensive back Adem Ireyomi is a former Windsor’s Finest Football Academy camp participant and said the experience of the coaching staff is what is bringing him back this year. “It brings the best in Windsor out together and gives us an opportunity to showcase our skills to our coaches and peers as well,” said Ireyomi. “It’s the perfect learning experience for up and coming football players who have aspirations to take their game to the next level.” The event is fully non-profit and any money left over after the expenses are settled will be donated to a charity of the event’s choosing. Event planners are anticipating more than 300 participants will register for this camp. The event takes place April 16 and 17 at the University of Windsor’s Alumni field.
This summer PBR is putting together a team of Grade 9 and 10 students and bringing them to Indianapolis for a PBR showcase. “There’s a lot of talent here,” said Kemlo. “We really want to bring a strong team to this event.” Two local players from the 2016 PBR class have committed to schools. Right-handed pitcher Mitchell Clark (Sandwich Secondary) has committed to Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and shortstop Shane Paradis (Sandwich) has committed to N o r t h e r n K e n t u c k y University. According to local baseball players there are not as many opportunities to get exposure in Canada as there are in the U.S.
“I find that, just like everything in life, you must do it yourself,” said former Northeastern Junior College pitcher and Harrow native Mitchell Bouchard. “I made a video of myself pitching and emailed a few schools.” Bouchard said he had Division 1 schools talking to him but didn’t have the grades to play Division 1 baseball. He was a pitcher for two years at Northeastern Junior College and two years at Dakota State. Bouchard attributes his filming abilities with landing him his scholarship. “It is a difficult process, but even if you are from Windsor or Harrow you can do it,” said Bouchard. “Just put yourself out there.”
Sports round-up By Christian Bouchard As three different OFSAA events were held today, the Vilanova Wildcats proved to be the only victorious local team. BOYS AAA HOCKEY Despite being the lowest seed (16) in boys AAA hockey, the Wildcats were led by Jake Rosa and his three goals as they cruised to a 5-2 victory over 10th seeded Welland Notre Dame at the Vollmer Complex. The other local team, the St.10, Anne Saints took a heartbreakMarch 2016 ing 2-1 loss to the 13th seeded Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s College. BOYS AAA BASKETBALL OFSAA made the executive decision to eliminate the AAAA division for this season which now means the elite schools are also in the tournament. The host team and defending champions Catholic Central Comets lost 69-45 to the 2nd seeded Vaughan. CCH will now face 5th seeded Pine Ridge Tuesday as they face elimination. The 8th seeded St. Anne Saints fell 81-69 to 14th seeded Ottawa St. Patrick. The Saints will need a win against 3rd seeded Oakwood Tuesday in order to stay alive. BOYS A BASKETBALL 5th seeded Lajeunesse Royals took their opening game by a score of 58-47 over 15th seeded Toronto French School. The 7th seeded Kennedy Clippers opened the boys’ AA basketball championship in Timmins with a 60-52 overtime win over 13th seeded St. Catharines Eden. The 10th seeded General Amherst Bulldogs dropped their opening game at the boys’ A/AA hockey championship in Ottawa with a 2-1 loss to third-seeded Niagara Falls Saint Michael. GIRLS AAA HOCKEY St. Anne, the 11 seed at the girls’ AAA hockey championship in Stratford, split a pair of games Tuesday. The Saints lost 1-0 to 6th seeded Ancaster Bishop Tonnos but rebounded for a 32 win over Ottawa Glebe. GIRLS AAA VOLLEYBALL The 5th seeded Holy Names Knights won two of their three matches at the girls’ AAA volleyball championship in North Bay. The Knights lost a close 2-1 match (25-21, 18-25 and 14-16) to the 2nd seeded Bill Crothers but rebounded to beat 12th seeded St. Francis Xavier 2-0 (27-25 and 25-23) as well as 15th seeded Lockerby 2-0 (25-18 and 25-23). The 9th ranked Riverside Rebels won both their matches at the girls’ AA volleyball championship in Kenora. Riverside beat 8th seeded Whitby Henry Street 2-1 (21-25, 25-20 and 15-12) and also scored a 2-1 win over No. 19th seeded Mississauga Streetsville (20-25, 25-23 and 15-12). GIRLS A VOLLEYBALL The 14th seeded Maranatha Christian Academy hard a rough start at the girls’ A volleyball championships in Kitchener. The girls fell 2-0 (17-25 and 16-25) to 8th seeded Hamilton and also fell 2-0 (14-25 and 20-25) to 3rd seeded Breslau Woodland Christian. NOTE: Boys AAA hockey, Boys AAA basketball and Swimming are all held in Windsor from March 7-10.
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Thank you Blitzers!
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Thank You
Our team would like to thank Tim Hortons for their donation to the Converged Citizen and members of the Blitz team.
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