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*Volume XII Issue 14 *March 10, 2017
St Clair College First-Year Journalism Student Publication Inside
Survival of the Bookworm
3 News
5 News
Photo by Julianna Bonnet Robert Earl Stewart owner of Windsor’s Biblioasis bookstore stands infront of a book display on March 3.
SEE BOOK PAGE 14
13 Lifestyle & Health
Photos at funerals, not a hashtag movement Cody Rusan Converged Citizen Staff Photos being taken at funerals are seen to be normal, just not from a cell phone camera. Once upon a time, photos with dead relatives were a common practice. In the
Victorian era, when photography first started, the majority of people wanted a photo with their relative(s) who had passed away. From sons and daughters to fathers and mothers, hundreds of archived photos are available to view under post mortem photography - a
final and peaceful visual of someone who meant a great deal to a family or group of people. With today’s use of social media, people are painting a more grim image around the history. People posing with the bodies on display and
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using hashtags leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many internet users. However, disrespect is not shown through all photos on social media. “I couldn’t really help but take photos at the wake,”
SEE FUNERAL PAGE 1
Weather TFriday, March 10, 2017 High: 8°C Low: 0°C
15 Entertainment Quote of the day Ratings don’t last. Good journalsim does. -Dan Rather
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High electricity rates shock Windsor business owners
Local non-profit to employ the forgotten
Photo by Noah Gecolovsky The entrance of the Downtown Mission on Victoria Avenue.
Jessica Kapasi Converged Citizen Staff
Photo by Barry Hazlehurst Ljubice Cajan holds an electrical cord at Tunnel Discount Convenience in Windsor. Barry Hazlehurst Converged Citizen Staff Windsor business owners are finding it difficult to make a profit with the high electricity rates in Ontario. In November 2016 the Ontario Energy Board announced business owners will have to pay time-of-use rates which at peak hours is 18 cents per kilowatt hour. The peak hours that fall into the time-of-use rates are from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. For most Ontario
FROM FUNERAL PAGE 1 said Tracen Gage, an Instagram user who took photos at a recent funeral. “Everything was so nice and I’m a photographer, I couldn’t help it.” Gage recently attended the funeral of his grandmother where he had taken photos of the wake. Even though he sees no issue with what he
business owners these are their peak hours of operation. Katherine Wu, owner of the Downtown Smoke Shop in Windsor, said the electricity rates are causing a negative effect on local businesses. “If business owners cannot make a profit, how will they stay in business?’’ said Wu. “The rates are just too high for business owners in Ontario.” In response to high electricity costs in Ontario the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses has made a petition for Ontario business owners to sign. The
petition will be sent to Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne to protest the high rates. Ljubice Cajan, an employee from Tunnel Discount Convenience, said it is not only hurting businesses but also hurting everyone. “They should make electricity normally priced like food,” said Cajan.” Its not fair and I don’t respect Canada for doing this.” At a press conference in Toronto, Wynne said she will cut electricity costs for Ontario residents this summer by 17 per cent.
did, he says his issue lies with a recent hashtag popping up across many social media platforms. He feels the term and hashtag “funeral selfie” is disrespectful. “When I was tagging the photos, I saw ‘#FuneralSelfie’ and that’s just insane,” said Gage. “That’s so disrespectful to the dead and everyone else who's grieving.” Gage is not alone in his thinking. Kevin Reid, owner of Reid Funeral Home in
Leamington, expressed concerns for the families who may find someone taking selfies during visitations. “My concern is for the family of the deceased. If the family has an issue with what is happening, we would attempt to put a stop to it,” said Reid. There are respectful ways to go about taking photos during a funeral service. However, selfies are not one of the recommended methods.
The Downtown Mission is to provide jobs and skill building opportunities to the homeless in Windsor. The Do-Good Deli is a restaurant and one of two social enterprise programs run by the Downtown Mission. The restaurant will provide food service training such as cooking and serving food to those looking for job opportunities. The mission will accept referrals from other agencies and interview potential participants. “They go through a sixweek program where they develop skills such as resume writing, interviewing, how to fill out a job application, people skills and onsite training for culinary service,” said Fiona Coughlin director of development for the mission. “After the six weeks they have a list to choose from where they want to work.” Donors from the WindsorEssex community will help supply the Do-Good Deli with funding and food. One such
supplier is Fresh, a food rescue company that donates all unused food to 42 different food banks and schools and community services.They have been the Downtown Mission’s food supplier for over five years. “We don’t turn people away," said Dorothy Davis, chair of the Downtown Mission. “If people with mental health problems and addiction want to change their lives for the better, we work closely with them. It’s hard to fail.” Executive Director Ron Dunn, along with several members of the board of directors for the mission worked together to come up with the Do-Good Deli. “I think this is a fantastic opportunity for people. Unemployment is high in Windsor,” said Davis. “Some guests at the mission have difficulty getting hired, so this opportunity prepares them for that.” The Do-Good Deli will officially open in late March and will be accepting applications as soon as possible.
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Massey gets a facelift Noah Gecelovsky Converged Citizen Staff Vincent Massey Secondary School is 57 years old and with the rise in student enrollment, the school is looking at getting some big renovations. On Feb. 20 workers and supervisors from Loaring Construction met with principal Joan Rankin at Massey to discuss the project and the stages involved. Workers installed fences and began construction for the renovations on Feb. 21. According to Rankin, Massey's student population is over 2,000 meaning the school will need more classrooms. The last time Massey saw a student population this high was in the early 1960s when the student population was at 2,200. This called for the opening of a new high school which later became Centennial high school. The first step is turning the pool, which was filled in with cement, into a new cafeteria and kitchen for the staff and students. As of right now, students occupy the entire cafeteria and stage even with lunch periods split between juniors and seniors. With the cafeteria full, this forces students to find other places
Photo by Noah Gecelovsky Vincent Massey Secondary School pool area is under construction to become the new cafeteria. around the school to eat like hallways, stairwells and empty classrooms. The new cafeteria is projected to fit approximately 550 students with possible additions and still meet proper regulations. While the new cafeteria will seat more than the old, it still does not accommodate all students. The renovation will decrease the number of students who are left sitting in the classrooms and stairwells.
The renovations will also create a smoother flow in and out of the cafeteria and the kitchen area. The students are excited about the change but the kitchen staff are even more excited about the new kitchen. "We're looking forward to a new kitchen and we hope everything goes okay," said Loree Demcie, one of Massey's kitchen staff. Demcie has been at Massey serving hot lunches to students for eight years.
"Hopefully the transitions are smooth. This should be a lot easier for our delivery guy as well." Loree Demcie, Lisa Arnold and Susie Walker work in the kitchen and each have a positive view of the renovations. All three are excited about the new cafeteria. The new cafeteria will have two sets of doors opening onto the pre-existing parking lot which will help decrease congestion at the front of the
school a regular problem at Massey. The old cafeteria will stay in use until the new one is built and functioning. Once students are able to use the new cafeteria, the old cafeteria will be transformed into six new classrooms and a washroom facility will be installed in the centre of the space. The murals past students painted have also been taken into consideration. Rankin's plan is to have them digitally scanned and move them over to the new cafeteria to preserve the art as well as the history. The cafeteria move is the largest renovation but there are also many other updates being made to the school to keep it running smoothly. The bathrooms, vents and heaters throughout the school will be updated to work more efficiently. The gymnasiums will have new bleachers installed to accommodate more fans. The cost for the project has not been released yet but the renovations are all expected to be finished by Sept. 2017. Rankin assures parents, students and teachers that during the construction process, students will not be distracted or affected by work being done around the school as some of it will carry into the summer months.
Library strike ends after 251 days Jessica Moore Converged Citizen Staff Librarians have returned to the librarians in Essex County which reopened after over eight months of being closed due to a strike. The strike was in response to issues between the county and librarians and the process to resolve all of the issues was lengthy. According to the union, the county refused to come to an agreement with the issues brought up in meetings and the lack of communication between the parties had led to the strike. Desk clerks were laid off just before summer when it was too late to apply for most
Photo by Jessica Moore Professor Wypych reads a book at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts Library on March 3rd. summer jobs, while librarians were striking in front of the most visited libraries. Librarians and desk clerks returned to work Feb. 23, dealing with logistical matters and placing books back into
their respective places on the shelves. According to Sara Hinch, a former desk clerk at McGregor Public Library, desk clerks had received a few letters indicating that a strike
could occur. “It put me in an awkward position,” said Hinch. “I didn’t know whether I should look for a new job or stick with the library in case we didn’t strike.” Hinch and all other desk clerks in the district were laid off suddenly, leaving them without jobs for most of the summer. She said she received little to no information on the strike besides what she heard from media. After waiting the whole summer, she made the decision to seek other employment. Frequent library visitors were upset by the strike. Students had to find different spots for studying if they did not have a quiet place at home. Madison
Bottle, a student at Toronto Film School, used the library to work on assignments and catch up on reading and said she is pleased to be able to go back to her favourite study spot. “I’ve been going to Tim Hortons instead of the library and I can say I’m glad to be going back to my quiet library,” said Bottle. “I’m one of those people who needs complete silence and I honestly missed it so much.” Regular visitors are heading back to the libraries and are now updating their cards, according to a librarian who asked not to be named. The librarian said business has been picking up and will likely continue to expand.
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Say Yes To the Prom Dress underway
Windsor’s low crime rate has become a pull for its real estate market
Photo by Grace Bauer Windsor’s real estate market is booming, and its low crime rate might be a factor. Photo by Bela Antonio Dresses that have been donated to Say Yes to the Prom Dress at New Beginnings. Bela Antonio Converged Citizen Staff Prom season is underway and New Beginnings Windsor is helping students find their perfect dress. Windsor high schoolers are now able to pick any dress they want because of an event called Say Yes To The Prom Dress. New or used dresses are donated for young women to come and pick out a formal gown for their prom and graduation. Windsororite Chantelle Gabrieau, who is planning to donate to Say Yes To The Prom Dress, believes this is a perfect way to make girls feel more beautiful and confident about themselves. "Women need to uplift each other and have each other's support," said Gabrieau. "We need to focus on the positive things each other has to offer." Gabrieau feels this will bring the Windsor community together. "I think that this event will shine a light on how great our city is," said Gabrieau. "Windsorites are amazing, we have so much to offer. I'm glad to be a part of this community" Mary Kay Morand is executive director at New
Beginnings and said this is not just about dresses. "The event has developed over the years to become a way for youth to feel good about themselves, to increase their self-esteem, promote diversity and positive image," said Morand. "For us it is not just about the dress. We have information, activities and handouts all geared toward positive youth development." When this event started in 2008 they did not have as many dresses to give away. Over the years things have changed and more donations have been coming in. Last year they had 1,500 and this year they topped it. According to Morand, this event started because they felt the need to help out young women in the community." "These females were unable to participate in important rituals such as high school prom or Grade 8 graduation because they could not afford the cost associated with these events," said Morand. "New Beginnings strives to advocate for inclusion with all youth so we became active in finding ways to ensure every youth could participate." This week they received 200 dresses from the OPP who had their own dress drive to help out with this event.
Grace Bauer Converged Citizen Staff Windsor’s first homicide of the year took place Feb. 21, prompting the question of whether or not crimes such as this affect the city and its housing market. According to sergeant Steve Betteridge, public information officer at the Windsor Police Service, Windsor maintains a low crime rate that continues to decrease. The violent crime rate dropped 17 per cent in 2016. When it comes to people looking to invest in a house in Windsor, it is clear that crime is not a huge detractor. “Unless we have rampant crime, I don’t think it will affect people’s decisions to move to Windsor,” said Mike Kelly, a sales representative and accredited senior agent at Deerbrook Realty Inc. “We are not a crime city.” Kelly said the most important thing when it comes to real estate is that agents disclose as much as possible or
else it will come back to haunt them. Kelly also said there are stereotypes for different parts of the city; most people say the west end has more crime, when in reality that is not true. “If I blindfolded you and dropped you somewhere in Windsor, you would not be able to tell if you are in the east or west end,” he said. “If you look at Windsor, it is the centre of North America. Temperature is great - we are surrounded by water. We are next to a huge city that is on an upswing.” Rob Benneian is also a sales representative at Deerbrook Realty Inc. and said he agrees with Kelly’s thoughts on Windsor being a safe city. “People want to buy a house where they can raise a family,” said Benneian. “The real estate market is booming in Windsor and it looks like it is only going to get better… The reason people from out of town come to Windsor is its affordability. We have all of the amenities of a big city here and across the border.” Windsor’s safety and low
crime rate can be greatly accredited to the involvement of the WPS, but Betteridge said community involvement helps as well. “The bottom line is that Windsor police are very much about community engagement. The public and police are always working hand in hand,” said Betteridge. “We are working with our community partners. “In order for people to feel safe they have to trust our officers. A community cannot be safe if the police and citizens do not work hand-inhand to keep it safe.” Betteridge said they are proud of the crime statistics at the WPS and will continue to work hard to ensure Windsor remains safe. While Kelly said crime rate in a city can affect its real estate market, it does not seem to be a deterrent for Windsor. “What we are known for [here in Windsor] is solving crime,” said Betteridge. “We put the bar high and we shoot high.”
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New YouTube Sensation Kylie Turner Converged Citizen Staff A local YouTuber has more than doubled his subscribers within the past five months. Jesse Garant has been a YouTube gamer for more than a year and his channel Thrash94Gaming, is continuing to grow. In the beginning of Nov. 2016 his channel had 1,400 subscribers and 160,000 views. His YouTube channel now has 6,300 subscribers and 834,349 views. Garant works full time at Tim Hortons but considers his job title to be a YouTuber. “I say I am a YouTuber first, always,” said Garant. “I am actually making money from it. YouTube has turned into a job instead of being just for fun.” Garant said he chose YouTube as a platform because it is one of the best for sharing videos and likes that he can edit his own videos on it. He said he started a YouTube channel because he would go to work and would get bored when his girlfriend was not around. “I got really bored, honestly I had nothing to do,” said Garant. “I saw all these other people recording videos and I thought ‘why not me.’”
Vincent Manzerolle, a communications professor at the University of Windsor who specializes in media studies, said it is an interesting field. “It offers a lot of different ways to understand our contemporary culture, politics, and economy,” said Manzerolle. “Media technology is weaved directly into each of these. Media studies provides several fruitful ways of thinking and doing research in an era where network digital media is all around us, at all times.” Manzerolle said the smart phone and social media are ubiquitous, that digital media will become more embedded in our everyday environment. He believes there will be a greater integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into our devices and platforms. Garant said he has a new editing software and a professional microphone which help make cleaner videos. He does not know exactly what has changed to helped his channel grow but he said the timing strategies he uses to post videos and using more tags on his posts help. “If I don’t grow and one day it stops completely I know I did something wrong,” said
Garant. “If it stops I know I have a problem especially since I have others in the NHL gaming community tell me I am one of the fastest growing NHL YouTubers. You have to be adaptable that’s how you grow.” Manzerolle said if your goal is to leverage a specific social network you should spend more time cultivating a particular audience. In some cases this means more carefully curating your content to match a particular “personal brand identity,” while in other cases it could mean creating audience engagement. “In order to become iconic, particularly in a highly competitive attention economy, you must carve out a niche on a particular platform and in doing so create a niche in the mind of your audience,” said Manzerolle. “The single and most important thing they can do is first understand who their audience is currently, and who they want to be in their audience in the future.” Garant continues to upload at least one video a day and is receiving attention from other gamers for his progressive growth. He said he is not worried about going to school right now but will think about it for the future. He said
Photo By Kylie Turner Jesse Garant in his NHL gaming studio. YouTube as a full-time job would be his ultimate goal because he enjoys connecting with others in the gaming community. For anyone aspiring to be a media icon, Manzerolle says
to stay authentic. “It’s a tightrope walk because you can’t really ‘engineer’ authenticity, but you can stay true to your own goals, personal aspirations, and audience.”
Ontario businesses worry about of provincial economy Cade Ryan Converged Citizen Staff The Ontario Economic Report shows owners of individual businesses are optimistic about their economic future but are not optimistic about the economic future of the province. The OER comes from all of the chambers of commerce across Ontario and is led by the Toronto office. The report showed there are vulnerabilities within the economy based on the results from the Business Prosperity Index. The report also shows many factors discouraging businesses from increasing their production. These factors include
diminished profitability, less people working and slower market activity. The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Matt Marchand said one of the biggest problems for Ontario businesses is a lack of skilled workers. “Windsor-Essex estimates that we are leaving $600 million on the table every year because of the skills gap,” said Marchand. Another problem businesses face in Ontario is a high tax rate when it comes to healhcare. The current health care system is inefficient and is contributing to the financial deficit currently in Ontario, according to Alfie Morgan, a professor of business admin-
Photo by Cade Ryan Matt Marchand is the president and CEO of the WindsorEssex Regional Chamber of Commerce. istration. “If we had an efficient healthcare system, we could save a
lot of money and it would create less of a burden on the taxpayers,” said Morgan.
Something else covered in the report was the cap and trade program which is a government-mandated approach to controlling pollution. It has been put off for a year at least because Canada needs to negotiate an agreement with the United States about pollution control but the U.S is not discussing the cap and trade. If put in place correctly, these initiatives could create new opportunities to improve economic growth. If not, they could create new costs for business and more debt for the province. According to Marchand, 98 per cent of all business in Ontario are small businesses, so almost no one escapes these concerns.
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news Essex plans to be even greener Kaitlynn Kenney Converged Citizen Staff
The Essex Region Conservation Authority is aiming to cover 12 per cent of natural land in Essex County with greenery. ERCA, along with Forests Ontario, share a goal of restoring Ontario's natural land and watershed to stop global warming. ERCA has restored 8.5 per cent of natural areas in Essex County with 5.8 per cent being forest. Both work together in support of the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, allowing landowners with around 10 acres of forested lands to pay 25 per cent of the municipal tax rate set for residential properties. Forester and Managed Forest Plan Approver Robert Davies said landowners who want to restore forest habitat in watersheds of an acre or greater with 500 trees or more are offered 75 - 90 per cent grants towards planting and warranty of these trees. ERCA plants a mixture of native tree species and shrubs provided by multiple partner nurseries and plants them throughout April and May. “Landowners contact us with
Photo by Kaitlynn Kenney ERCA has planted six million trees in the Essex region. their interests and we conduct on site visits to discuss planting goals, objectives and plans,” said Davies. “An acre to 4.9 acres are eligible for 75 per cent grants while projects greater than five acres are eligible for 90 per cent grants.” Davies says the MFTIP works well in Essex County,
but he wants it to be more available for people with smaller forests. “Currently landowners cannot apply unless they have 10 acres of forest or more,” said Davies. “We would like to see this number reduced so that more landowners can benefit from this program.”
With the 50 Million Trees Program run by Forests Ontario, forestry outreach coordinator Suzanne Perry said landowners with 2.5 acres or more can apply to receive funding support and technical assistance to have trees planted on their property. Perry said the 50 Million
Tree Program is the Ontario government's initiative to plant 50 million trees across the province by 2025, and has been running since 2007. Perry also said the program was inspired by global efforts by the United Nations to plant billions of trees worldwide each year but has been designed with Ontario landowners in mind. “This program was created to increase forest cover throughout the province as part of the Ontario government's commitment to fight climate change,” said Perry. Forests Ontario also hopes to provide opportunities for private landowners to learn about Ontario's forests and have trees planted on their property, providing resourceful programs to make it more affordable for landowners also involved in the MFTIP. “I think more and more people are becoming aware of the program and taking part in it, both for the tax incentives and in order to manage their woods’ sustainability,” said Perry. “We encourage landowners from all areas of the province to take part in the program.” ERCA hopes to plant 90,000 new trees across the county this year.
Temporary relief on hydro bills Vanessa Cuevas Converged Citizen Staff
New legislation in Ontario has been passed, relieving those with unpaid hydro bills from being disconnected during winter months. The Ontario Energy Board banned electricity companies from disconnecting customers for non-payments from Feb. 23 to April 30. Enwin Utilities’ manager of corporate communications Barbara Peirce Marshall said the company is a regulated industry. Enwin is complying with the new legislature and is trying to help their customers.
One concern for Enwin customers is the buildup of debt when the winter months are over at the end of April. Customers are still responsible for those bills that were not paid during the winter months. “Thirty-nine Enwin customers were disconnected so far this winter, however many of those properties were vacant,” said Marshall. While hydro prices have gone up in Ontario, Marshall said Enwin has prevented fluctuating rates by finding efficiencies wherever they could, and by managing the company well. “Enwin rates have been with very minor fluctuations, up
and down around 20 per cent of the bill,” said Marshall. Special education teacher at H.J. Lassaline Catholic Elementary Catholic School John Sobhi has lived in his home for four years. Sobhi said he was paying about $250-$300 per month in hydro the last few years. "After some of the changes were put into place, this number has since doubled.” said Sobhi. She believes the prices for hydro should not be so high, thus leaving families struggling to pay. The new legislation from the OEB was quickly passed. This will offer temporary relief for those struggling to pay their hydro bills.
Photo by Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Enwin Utilities workers standing outside their vehicles on a work site.
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Future of Windsor’s cyclists uncertain Quentin Doak Converged Citizen Staff Windsor cycling has been developing for many years but real change to allow cyclists to reach downtown is slow. In 2001 the Bicycle Use Master Plan was developed to help create a safe, connected and well used space for cyclists, however the plan did not include a route to get into the downtown. As recent plans have been in the works for an upgrade to Ouellette Avenue, cyclists hoped these plans would include bike lanes. These hopes were dashed as councilors said no to the bike lanes on Ouellette between Wyandotte and Elliott Streets. “We believe this was a big mistake,” said Lori Newton, executive director for Bike Friendly Windsor Essex. Newton feels there is no safe way for cyclists to get into downtown Windsor. Although the issue has been addressed many times in the past, no progress has been made. “In 17 years, we’ve done
very little to address the recommendations of BUMP,” said Newton. “It lays a really wonderful, solid foundation for how to think about creating safe streets and safe cycling infrastructure.” Recently, the city undertook the Downtown Transportation Plan. It is a strategy to bring more vehicle access to downtown Windsor. Cycling was not included in this plan, which is now in its final phase. “There was a streetscape plan which is now in phase six. This includes the area closest to the river,” said Joesette Eugeni, manager of transportation planning for the City of Windsor. “It does not call for cycling on Ouellette,” said Eugeni. There are a few factors that come into play when it comes to planning bike lanes. The BUMP plan included a map of networks as a reference for future bike plans. However infrastructure considered for cycling is discussed on an individual project basis. BUMP is a good guide for getting projects connected
Photo by Zander Kelly Photo Quentin Doak Lori Newton stands inside Bike Windsor Essex.
The Canadian government is looking to dramatically reduce the amount of smokers and has proposed new rules to accomplish that goal. A consultation document released by Health Canada stated the government wants to reduce the current rate of smoking from 13 per cent of the population to five per cent by the year 2035. They have suggested raising the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21. Currently the legal age is either 18 or 19 depending on the province. The government also proposed banning smoking from all post-secondary campuses
and multi-unit dwellings. Some Windsor residents do not agree with the idea. Cydney Tremblay, a 19-yearold student at St. Clair College has been smoking for three years. She said she is not worried about the possibility of an age increase in tobacco sales. “I would still get my smokes some way or another like I used to when I was 16,” said Tremblay. She said she does not agree with the age increase but has mixed feelings about banning smoking in condos. “It all depends,” said Tremblay. “If there are kids upstairs you would think people would have the respect to take it outside but if your neighbours are cool with it
An upgraded Transit Windsor bus waits at the Terminal in downtown Windsor. Zander Kelly Converged Citizen Staff
although it is not definite and can change with city planning. The Downtown Transportation Plan identified other routes that run parallel to Ouellette Avenue which do not have bike lanes. “The planning department was trying to create a consistent feel with what was previously achieved,” said Eugeni. Although parts of the BUMP plan have not been implemented, cyclists still hope it will help with future planning.
Butt out Torcia Velthuizen Converged Citizen Staff
Transit upgrades mean talking buses
then it shouldn’t be a problem.” Jason Neufeld, 37, said it is none of the government’s business if people are smoking in their own homes. “You pay to live there, you should be able to smoke there. It’s a legal activity, it’s in your own house,” said Neufeld. He said colleges should have a designated area for people who want to smoke. “We’re all adults, just make a smoking area. I don’t see the problem with that.” The current set of policies known as national tobaccocontrol strategy will expire in March 2018. The consultation document is open for public comment until April 13.
Windsor’s buses are now talking to their riders. Since late February, 10 Transit Windsor buses have been fitted with a system providing verbal and visual announcements regarding the location of the bus and the next stop on the route. The system, costing $3 million, will include GPS upgrades to all Transit Windsor buses, new bus stop signs and bus tracking technology. Pat Delmore, executive director of Transit Windsor, says the upgrades are a long time coming. “A number of transit properties across Canada began to implement (systems like this) as many as 10 years ago,” said Delmore. “While we weren’t required to, we wanted to do this because we felt it was the right thing to do.” The first 10 upgraded buses, one for each model of bus Transit Windsor currently has, are being used to test the system and help work out technical issues. Once this is completed, the rest of the fleet will be upgraded. According to Delmont, this process may take weeks to months. Another part of the the new system is the new “smart signs” that are slowly replacing the old yellow bus stop signs with blue ones. The new signs display the names of buses passing and a service number that can be called or
texted with the stop identification number for an accurate indication of when the next bus will arrive. This part of the system is still being installed and there will be a formal announcement when it is completed. The systems were developed in cooperation with Strategic Mapping, a Toronto-based company, with Windsor specifically in mind. “This is not an off-the-shelf system,” said Delmore. “This is a computer system that was built from the ground up for our city.” Once all of the buses have been outfitted with a GPS, the third part of the new system will be released to the public. This application is a bus tracker app which will be available online. The app will allow the public to see the current location of all Transit Windsor buses on any route at any time. This will reduce the chance of riders missing buses as well as making customer complaints easier to solve. Alan Connors is a visually impaired bus rider, and says he is very happy with the new developments. “For people like myself, some of the bus drivers forget your stop,” said Connors. “I’m not totally blind, but some of my friends are. Now they can ride the bus to the mall by themselves and not miss their stop.” Delmore said while Windsor is not the first to have systems like this, they aim to be a step above the rest.
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Nintendo switches it up Kurlis Mati Converged Citizen Staff Nintendo has released a new hybrid console that can be used by gammers at home or on the go. The Nintendo Switch game console was released March 3. The console is built into a portable seven-inch tablet and can also be played on the television with the Nintendo Switch Dock. The console was released with much fanfare to the Windsor gaming community. Many Nintendo fans in the Windsor area stood in line waiting for the new piece of hardware including George Villedas, 18, a long-time Nintendo fan. He says the main reason he was in line for the Switch was because of the new games coming out such as the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. “The launch lineup seems pretty small, but I think the overall hype of the games that are to come, carry [the sys-
Photo by Kurlis Mati George Villedas is the first person in line to purchase the Nintendo Switch at the Tecumseh Mall EB Games on March 3. tem] through,” said Villedas. “ My favorite game for the Wii U was Splatoon so Splatoon 2 is definitely on my list.” The console comes with two Joy-Con controllers that can be connected to the controller grip when hooked up to the
television. The Joy-Cons can also be connected to the tablet when taking the console on the go. According to Kris Darbison, an employee of EB Games at Tecumseh Mall, they have had over 40 pre-orders at their
location and pre-orders were sold out as soon as they were available. “Being the first ever home and portable console is huge,” said Darbison. “Being able to play ‘A-list titles’ on the go is amazing.”
According to Nintendo’s press conference about the Switch, they are working on improving their relationship with game creators and third party game companies. In addition, the console has smaller cartridges instead of CDs like their competitors,Sony and Microsoft. Jordan Girard, a lifelong Nintendo fan and EB Games employee, said the change from CDs back to cartridges is an interesting move on Nintendo's part. “It’s classic, the market loved the nostalgia with the Nintendo Classic edition so to go back to cartridges, it touches on that nostalgic bone in people,” said Girard. “I also feel like it would be a lot more difficult to pirate games on cartridges in comparison to CDs.” Game console companies continue to use advancements in technology to create new and innovative ways to keep their consumers happy.
Canadian visits to U.S. drop Maryam Farag Converged Cititzen Staff
A wide variety of new international flights are encouraging more tourists to visit Canada and more Canadians to travel abroad, with one notable exception: the United States. According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians travelling to the U.S. decreased for the third consecutive year in 2016, down 7.7 per cent from the previous year. This appears to be the result of the weaker Canadian dollar, which is trading around $0.76 USA. “You’ve got three reasons for this,” said Gordon Orr, chief executive officer of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island. “First you’ve got the U.S.
election, you’ve got the economy which is better and stronger on the Canadian side, and at the end of the day the U.S. dollar. The Canadian dollar doesn’t have the power that it once did, so the United States becomes less attractive.” According to TWEPI, the number of U.S. citizens coming to Canada through the Detroit tunnel has actually increased by four per cent in 2015 to 2016. Another reason for fewer Canadians visiting the U.S. is because southern Ontario’s school boards have cancelled all U.S. trips due to concerns of safety and equity. “They used to do field trips to Henry Ford and other places in Detroit, but because of the proposed travel ban they decided not to do it,” said Orr. “They don’t want stu-
dents to be turned away.” One Windsor woman, Joy Louangrath, has been a frequent visitor to the U.S. She has recently been more cautious about crossing the border. “I used to go to the U.S. every weekend, but now I don’t like going,” said Louangrath. “I get harassed and I get asked a lot of unnecessary questions at the border about my background and my past record.” According to Statistics Canada, the trend is opposite for U.S. visitors to Canada, which since 2015 has risen by 8.3 per cent in 2016 and 8.4 per cent. “You’re always going to choose to go to a destination where you feel comfortable,” said Orr. “There is nothing like travelling in Canada for its safe, comfortable and wel-
Photo by Maryam Farag Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, outside of his office in downtown Windsor. coming environment.” said Orr. Overall visitors to Canada from abroad increased by 9.4
per cent last year to 30.1 million, the highest number and the largest increase since the 2008-09 recession.
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news
WEtech supports new entrepreneurs MD Nuruzzaman Converged Citizen Staff WEtech Alliance is starting an epic journey for local entrepreneurs with more commitment and responsibility. WEtech is now operating from its new office in the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre at the University of Windsor after graduating from the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator. WEtech spent five years in the Business Incubator at the Accelerator to strengthen their business foundation. “Like many startups, WEtech Alliance found its strength and built its network of partnerships at the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator,” said Yvonne Pilon, president and CEO of WEtech. Pilon said this is the right time to yield that space to other new entrepreneurs that can benefit and receive support from the Accelerator. “Our goals with the move are going to be for even further collaboration with our key partners,” said Pilon. “Our
Photo by MD Nuruzzaman WEtech at their new office in the EPI Centre at the University of Windsor. (Left to right) Irek Kusmierczyk, Yvonne Pilon, Cathy Mombourquette and John-Marc Vachon. biggest support would be the business advisory services and we have entrepreneur residents who have started a successful technology-related company.” Pilon said WEtech comes together more often with their key partners to work on accelerating the business community forward. Pilon considers the main core business sectors to be
manufacturing, renewable energy, life sciences, ICT and digital and social development. WEtech provides business advisory services like connection with mentors, business acceleration and connecting to academic insight, research and development of a company profile. “We love the co-working space, the energy that it
brings is a perfect partnership,” said John-Marc Vachon, director of programs and marketing at WEtech. “The beauty is there are so many startup entrepreneurs in Windsor looking for space. We advise our clients with social media strategy and marketing strategy.” Vachon said they amplify the message of their clients to support the local entrepre-
neurs to enhance the job market and be successful as local business people. “We have space for our incubator members, dedicated space for free when they start up the company,” said Wen Teoh, venture start director of the EPI Centre. “We want to help them to grow the business.” Teoh also said they run several programs like EPIC Discover, RBC EPIC Founders, innovative courses, business counseling, legal consulting and venture competitions to promote young entrepreneurs from the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. They also provide help to develop a business idea and assistance from entrepreneur residents to identify the validation of a business idea. WEtech provides all the services free of charge including mentorship, market research, education for professional development, national and global networking. They provide their services to 150 clients. WEtech is mostly funded by the provincial government.
Local developers create vehicle to discover undersea mysteries Justin Crouch
Converged citizen Staff
Windsor’s EnviroDrone team will be using their underwater vehicle to compete for the top prize in Shell’s Ocean Discovery XPRIZE contest. With roughly 95 per cent of the oceans unexplored, there could be endless discoveries just waiting to change the world. As Shell’s 21 group competition for undersea research continues, teams across the globe are putting up
a fight for the prize with millions of dollars in play. Ryan Cant is the CEO of EnviroDrone, a small Windsor company dedicated to their Sea Devil project. The Sea Devil is a vehicle the team claims will be able to dive 4,000 metres into the ocean. Cant is inspired by the ocean’s mysteries and is well aware of the technical details. “At 4,000 metres, the temperature hovers around freezing and there’s no sunlight at all,” said Cant. “Yet there is life – an astounding variety of
creatures that will boggle your mind.” The team at EnviroDrone is very interested in the possibilities at hand. They have been working on a variety of sophisticated technologies to explore this last frontier. “We can discover new biological species, geological features, chemical compounds and even natural resources. The opportunities are as abundant as our curiosity,” said Cant. Cierra Bray is EnviroDrone’s social media specialist who
designed their website and GoFundMe page. She developed an in-depth display of what the Sea Devil hopes to achieve. “We created an interactive, educational and fun web page to involve the community and show how deep 4,000 metres really is,” said Bray. The website portrays key relevancy to the project. The more you scroll down the page, the further down the Sea Devil travels. The “deeper” you get, the less you see aquatic species.
“The milestones and number of fish disappear because there is a tremendous amount of pressure when you go deeper and deeper in the ocean, making the habitat unlivable for most sea life,” said Bray. With this new technology emerging from promising young engineers, they may soon be finding a lot more in the world’s oceans than ever thought imaginable. The Sea Devil will be splashing into the ocean towards the end of this year.
CONVERGED CITIZEN MARCH 10, 2017
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Art therapy: the latest way to relax Chelsea Girard Converged Citizen Staff
Photo by Chelsea Girard Debbie Anderson, founder of Art with Debbie, shows one of her many art therapy techniques.
Art therapy is allowing cancer patients to relieve stress through creative expression. The brain has neuroplasticity, allowing the neurons or nerve cells in the brain to compensate for injury and disease through self-healing, empowering aspects of the gentle approach of art therapy. This therapy is used to improve emotional state or mental well-being. Art therapy is a recognized form of psychotherapy that enables people to illustrate their inner experience beyond words. Debbie Anderson, an art therapist from Toronto who volunteers at Metropolitan Hospital, is combining her two passions. art-making and working with groups or individuals facilitating the creative process. “I observed the anxiety calming effects of simple art making while working with groups
of women making art items as fundraisers," said Anderson. "People feel known and heard because what they create amplifies their voice while in a safe space." There are many different artbased assessments from pottery and card making to colouring and painting. Art therapists are trained in art, counselling and therapeutic techniques. Many art therapists also have degrees in social work or psychology. Art therapy is gaining momentum as the medical community becomes more aware of the link between the mind and body. Windsorite Douglas Niell, 67, a prostate cancer survivor, said art therapy at Met Hospital was something he looked forward to every day during his treatment. He still comes back to visit other cancer patients. "It kept my mind from wandering and helped me focus on my paintings rather than my
illness," said Niell. "I now come back to see my friend who has cancer. Instead of playing chess we share our drawings." A 2006 British hospital study by Heather Stuckey and Jeremy Nobel, found that art therapy helped to significantly decrease symptoms of physical and emotional distress during the treatment of cancer patients. This alternative to medication is also helpful among people dealing with other conditions such as depression, dementia, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. Many individuals can find healing using art therapy. There is no art experience necessary. Art In Deed in Windsor and Met Hospital offer private sessions as well as clinical practices for children, adults and seniors ranging from self-expression classes to engage the imagination.
Navigation device created at U of W Christina Chibani Converged Citizen Staff A local university student and professor have created a device that can fit in your shoe to help you move around using acoustic waves and sensors. The device can help measure the distance from an object to where you are standing and can track an individual's position in a room. This device can be used for individuals with visual impairment or who work in places where it may be hard to see, such as mine workers or firefighters. Jalal Ahamed is a University of Windsor assistant engineering professor working with third-year student
Photo by Christina Chibani Joshua Jaekel (left) and Jalal Ahamed sit in an office at the University of Windsor. Joshua Jaekel on the device which will be taken to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Symposium. “We are developing a
device for indoor navigation. We use GPS for outdoor navigation but for indoors if you look at your GPS it won't give you an exact location,” said
Ahamed. The device will be able to tell the individual exactly where they are inside a building. The device tracks your footsteps, knows how long your footsteps are and what direction they are going in. “The device has a special sensor that can tell you if you are heading towards barriers or towards a wall,” said Ahamed. Jaekel has been working on the application part of the device for a year and Ahamed has been working on the sensors. “The device can be used for anyone who wants to track their motion and build a map of their surroundings,” said Jaekel. “Turning the
device into an actual product would depend on a company willing to take the technology and bring it to market. Ideally, we don't want this product to be very expensive. We are trying to market the device mainly for those who are visually impaired.” Jaekel will be attending the IEEE Inertial Sensors and Systems conference in Hawaii on March 25 to present the sensor and has been getting positive recognition for his work from the public. “Being a third-year student and being young, it is nice to get recognition for what I am doing,” said Jaekel. The device is Ahamed and Jaekel’s first project together and is being documented every step of the way.
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health & lifestyle Short Film Contest News and democracy offers $5000 in Cash Prizes
(Photo courtesy of CTV) Manny Paiva CTV News Director. Photo courtesy of John Goundwater Matthew Carro, a young film camp student, working with a Canon camera. Amos Johnson Converged Citizen Staff Young Canadian filmmakers will be showcasing their talents for a short film contest hosted by the Film Camp for Kids & Youth. The contest is for National Youth Arts Week from May 17 with a theme celebrating
Gellman. The Film Camp for Kids & Youth educates young people about filmmaking. Every week, mini-production teams with five kids per instructor are created and they learn and perform screenwriting, editing and filming. “They have less than 20 hours to make a film with a
“They have less than 20 hours to make a film” -Amanda Gellman Canada and Ontario’s culture, history, environment or future. Contest participants must be between the ages of 11 and 25 and live in Essex, Kent and Lambton counties. The money for the cash prize is provided by the provincial government. Short films submitted must be from one to five minutes long. Amanda Gellman, board member of the Film Camp for Kids & Youth, explained how the contest will work. “We are hoping for 50 applicants and then we will run an open contest where the films are chosen by the judges as well as a public vote. The films are judged by age group, so a person who’s eleven isn’t going to be competing with a person who’s 25,” said
team they have never met before,” said Gellman. John Groundwater, the business manager for Film Camp for Kids & Youth, is impressed with the results of the camp. “The result of the films is just incredible to see…some of the youngest ones are nine to 12 years old and it is shocking to see the results. They finally show their film at the end of the week on Friday. We have a screening and the parents come in and it is really rewarding for them,” said Groundwater. According to a study from ACTRA Toronto, Canada’s film and television industry supported 262,700 full time jobs in 2013.
David Lafreniere Converged Citizen Staff The decline of traditional media, looking for news to support a view and the rise of fake news pose a growing threat to is Canadians democracy, according to a new report. The Shattered Mirror: news, democracy and trust in the digital age, commissioned by the government, has spurred discussion in the media industry. The report, produced by the Public Policy Forum, is meant to offer insight into the state of news and the crisis it faces. It also gives ideas for how to respond. “We hope it will stimulate a necessary debate and necessary Edward said action,” Greenspon, the report’s author and CEO of the Public Policy Forum. “This report is not about the journalists, with whom I feel great solidarity, but rather the role they play and what we may be putting at risk if we are inattentive.” The report calls for an overhaul of the part of the Income Tax Act which currently blocks tax deductions when Canadians take out an ad in foreign-based media. It effectively changes the current dynamic where Google and Facebook get the majority of the revenue generated from ads. Google is sharing an infographic arguing against the recommendation. The report also calls on the CBC to focus on its civic-func-
tion mandate and stop selling digital adds in an era where, it says, much news is tainted. Manny Paiva, news director at CTV News Windsor said that would make life a little bit easier for the private news companies like CTV. There are strong opinions, debate, conversation and feelings about whether the government should be in the business of funding the CBC. He said he does not have a position, but wants competition in the community. “It will make everyone better at finding compelling stories and different sidebar stories that must be told in our communities,” said Paiva. The report makes several recommendations to support civic-function journalism at the local level, it calls for The Canadian Press, a private company that provides news stories to media outlets, to have a public mandate to provide journalists to cover local news at places such as city halls, courts and boards of education. “The Canadian Press – they don’t necessarily have to put people on the streets of Windsor. They can rely on the people who are already in Windsor to supply stories to them,” said Paiva. “There are really good stories that can be shared with media across the country.” There has been a decline in local journalism both in its volume and its quality accord-
ing to Blake Roberts, a professor in the University of Windsor’s digital media program. “I would support that (local journalist from CP), but how do you maintain it?” said Roberts. “How to you make it sustainable?” There is a crisis in the news media, according to Roberts. He said if you define traditional media as news where you have enough resources to research, balance opinion and address different aspects of a story then it is in crisis. He said others would argue traditional news, or “real news” has an inherent liberal bias and it is not a bad thing that it is in decline. Paul McDonald, AM 800 broadcast journalist and former news director said the internet and social media have created a new frontier and it is a world that is somewhat lawless. “The effect on mainstream media is a struggle between being first and being right,” said McDonald. “I would rather be right first than be first. It is part of the problem that some of the stuff on ‘socalled’ news sites are held to a different standard.” McDonald said there may be some bit of truth in their fake news, and it has put pressure on mainstream media to run with or quote it. He said journalism must get back to fact checking, making sure stories are accurate and objective.
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health & lifestyle The power of a International Women's Day flower
Photo coutesy of Wikipedia This picture presents pancratium, the family of spider lily, used to create the component pancratistatin. Ryan Jones Converged Citizen Staff A team of chemistry students from the University of Windsor have found a new way to fight cancer through the extraction of the spider lily flower. The specific type of spider lily used is called pancratium which inspired the component’s title pancratistatin. The idea has been studied since 2005 by biochemistry professor Siyaram Pandey and his students. Recent help came from Tomas Hudlicky, a professor at Brock University and James Mcnulty a professor at McMaster University. With this new discovery came complications, one being the extraction process.
“There was a problem with that compound. One problem was the small amount from the plant. One kilogram of the flower buds gives one milligram of the compound,” said Pandey. “Dr. McNulty and Dr. Hudlicky both started synthesizing the compound. Hudlicky synthesized seven different compounds similar to the natural compound.” Pandey said the synthesized version of PST was more effective compared t0 the natural version. A fourth year biochemistry student from the university, Jesse Ropat, is a team member of Pandey’s group. He said that he and his colleagues work long days in the laboratory characterizing the drug. “We first screen PST and the PST analogues against cancerous cell lines to determine whether or not the compound possesses anti-cancer efficacy. When select compounds show promise, we pursue them further to evaluate the mechanism, and further analyze the cytotoxicity against normal cells and in mice models,” said Ropat. No clinical trials have been conducted but Ropat says they have demonstrated successful cellular experiments on mice models and hope for the same outcome in humans. “It’s a rewarding feeling to have contributed to the field,” said Ropat.
Photo by Jamal Hamadani Stephanie Lyanga observes as Rose Anguiano starts to begin her assignment. Jamal Hamadani Converged Citizen Staff People from across Essex County will celebrate International Women’s Day at an awards gala March 8. The gala is a celebration of the 30th anniversary for Women’s International Skills Training. According to a press release, WEST provides women in WindsorEssex with support and programs to aid them in securing employment and enhance their skills, along with providing immigrant women with services to help them
integrate into Canadian culture. Awards include the Share the Light award, Woman of the Year award and the Community Service award, plus many more. “The L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Employment and Development) program and the computer training that we offer, Employment Ontario and Employment Services are open to anybody so it just depends on your status,” said Stephanie Lyanga, a program manager at WEST. Some of the programs which this agency offers to women include language and
skills training, support services and research partnerships, among several others. These programs help women gain skills they have not yet acquired. “WEST is a non-profit agency, we are funded both from federal and provincial grants,” said Lyanga. WEST exists to provide training for severely employment disadvantaged visible minority women in order to improve their employability in the workforce and to further their education. They also have a Canada-Ontario job grant to help employers train staff. “We have Microsoft Office and Excel certified training. We also have the L.E.A.D. program, which is 10 weeks of in-house training and then eight weeks of a work placement,” said Lyanga. WESTwas developed in 1984 as a response to disproportionately high levels of unemployment among women. “It is very important for WEST to be connected to the community,” said Rose Anguian Hurst, executive director of WEST. “We participate in area committees as partnerships to serve the community.” WEST hopes to continue to offer these programs and is hoping to expand in Windsor and Essex County.
Weather whiplash John Perry-Goodson Converged Citizene Staff The extreme weather conditions this year have people worrying about the side effects. The freezing and thawing weather has people concerned about what could happen to their gardens if the weather continues to fluctuate. Crops and fruit could be damaged. The average temperature in February last year was -2.6° Celsius. This year the average temperature is up to a concerning 2.1° Celsius. With the increase of temper-
ature, the buds on plants and flowers start to swell, which cause them to lose the ability to withstand cold temperatures. Plants like witch hazel have already started blooming, however once the temperature drops those plants will start to die. Having weather too warm can damage plants, since it speeds up their normal living process. The hotter it gets, the more the plants suffer. To counter this, orchard growers will put fans in fields to bring down the temperature. Sap from trees, like sugar maples, will start running in warm weather before
they start to get tapped. This in turn lessens the quality of the sap. If there is no freezing temperatures, sap will stop flowing all together. Hardy plants such as plum trees or apple trees would be fine, but flower buds will be in danger. “We could just have normal temperatures, and plants will be fine,” said Jay Terryberry, a professor of landscape and horticulture at St. Clair College. The weather change gets businesses thinking about spring ahead of time, while garden centres start getting calls to buy plants. However with the warm and cold
weather, garden centres are running out of produce. Gardeners are not the only ones who are being affected. Michelle Turnbull, employee at Colchester Ridge Estate Winery said “too much humidity will send vines into a heat shock, which can cause fungal rots." For the last two winters the temperature changes had an effect on buds. In 2015, crops held a 45 per cent yield, and no fruit. The cold weather also affects inventory as the crops start to run out of fresh fruit. Residents will find their grocery shopping will be affected by the weather whiplash.
Photo by John PerryGoodson Jay Terryberry at St.Clair College in Windsor on March 3.
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health & lifestyle
Solar flare
Gordie Howe International Bridge to be open to pedestrians
Photo by Alyssa Leonard Photo by Kaitlynn Kenney
Windsor’s Fire Chief Bruce Montone at Fire Station 1 on Goyeau Street. Alyssa Leonard Converged Citzen Staff With the increase in solar panels on residential homes, firefighters are taking extra precautions when battling a blaze. Solar panels are great for producing energy for homeowners who have them. However, they can be potentially dangerous for firefighters. Some reasons include reduced area for ventilation, less surface area to walk on and higher risk of electrocution if the panels are not properly shut off. The panels produce a direct current, meaning the flow of electricity is constant. Windsor’s Fire Chief Bruce Montone said if a firefighter were to come into contact with a direct current, their muscles would not allow them to let go. Montone said just switching off the breaker in a house will not shut down the panels. “As long as there is light, solar panels are going to be producing energy,” said Montone. Lisa McDonald, office administration for Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies Inc., said there are ways to reduce the risk by decreasing the energy in panels. One method is called tarp-
ing, where the firefighters can place a tarp over the panels to block out any sunlight and keep them from producing energy. When the fire investigation begins, the power in the panels will be reduced to almost zero. Solar panel installation also comes with a rapid shutdown box, which stops the flow of electricity between the solar system and the metre. According to a solar panel fire safety presentation provided by Unconquered Sun, switching off all associated disconnecting switches and circuit breakers, then covering all of the panels with a densely woven, non-transparent material can de-energize solar panels in any light condition right away. Another concern is the panels can get in the way of proper and quick ventilation. Montone said firefighters will often cut holes into the roof directly above the fire to ventilate the smoke from inside the house. “It’s a bit of a challenge for us to work around them,” said Montone. “We try not to remove them whenever possible.” Montone said it can be slippery and difficult to navigate up the roof with panels in the way. Firefighters are encouraged not to walk on the panels due to their fragility. If the
fire is significant and there is any structural failure, there is the risk of the panels falling into the building on top of the firefighters. Even though solar panels can make a firefighter’s job a little tricky, it is extremely rare for them to cause fires. So, homeowners with solar panels do not need to worry about increased safety measures. Montone said residents want to be as cautious as they would with any electrical fire. That means not doing certain things such as overloading a circuit or using too many extension cords. According to McDonald, a modern large solar system weighs no more than adding an additional layer of shingles on the roof, meaning there is no increased risk of roof collapse during a fire. Montone said adding solar panels to your roof does not require a significant change in a fire escape plan. “In terms of planning your escape, it needs to be the same. Two ways out. A central meeting place,” said Montone. “And of course, once you’re out — stay out.” Montone also said having working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor is the law. “Aside from it being the law, it’s just a good idea. And it will save your life.”
WDBA members hold up banner at press conference on March 2. Kyle Rose Converged Citizen Staff Board members of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority are making plans to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The bridge is a joint project between Canada and the United States and is expected to cost between one and 2.2 billion dollars. Between nations, the bridge will stretch about two miles. Due to the result of public consultation and many cyclists who frequently travel between countries, the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have been cooperating. WDBA director of communications Mark Butler sai this project is important to both countries. “This project provides redundancy. It is the busiest international border crossing between Canada and the U.S.,” said Butler. He said early next year the public will be provided information on who will be constructing the bridge. “We have been working on this project for over 11
years. The joint statement between Trump and Trudeau further certifies the importance of a new border crossing between these two countries,” said Butler The Ambassador Bridge, prior to Sept. 11, 2001, used to provide easy access to each border with opportunities to walk and cycle across. Today there is still cycling lanes and pedestrian pathways on the bridge but maintenance and security is an issue. Blaine Thomas, a cyclist who has lived in Windsor for 10 years, is excited about the Gordie Howe bridge development. “Cycling is huge here. I think it is important to have an easier way about Canadians to cross the border without having to worry about the tunnel bus which is expensive once you buy a ticket both ways,” said Thomas. “Not to mention the traffic on the Ambassador and tunnel that we experience every day." The plans for the new bridge are creating many happy citizens and encouraged an already strong and healthy relationship between the Canadian-U.S. border in Windsor and Detroit.
CONVERGED CITIZEN MARCH 3, 2017
FROM BOOK PAGE 1 Julianna Bonnett Converged Citizen Staff Jerry Seinfeld once said… “A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.” Indigo, Canada’s largest bookstore has an unofficial monopoly on the nation’s bookstore market which makes it very difficult for any independent bookstore to survive. According to Indigo Books & Music annual reports, sales for this year have increased in revenue by 4.5 per cent. Revenue in the third quarter was $400.3 million, up $17.1 million from last year. With a declining number of bookstores in Windsor, independent bookstores are finding it hard to stay in business. Roger Wurdemann, owner at Juniper Books, said owning a bookstore has always been a lifelong dream of his. “This has always been a
Roger Wurdemann at Juniper books in Windsor.
dream for me from the beginning. My mom was the one who got me so interested in books. She always had a book in her hands,” said Wurdemann. Wurdemann said the reason why people keep coming back is the atmosphere. “The point of opening this bookstore was to make it feel like a comfortable atmosphere for anyone,” said Wundemann. I wanted it to
feel like somewhere you could just come in, sit down and open a book and relax.” He said what separates thems from stores like Indigo or Chapters is the fact that they have rare books you cannot find anywhere else. According to Authorearnings.com, ebooks are being sold at twice the rate of printed books. Additionally, a significant
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bookstores,” said Wisdom. The store was open for 17 years. Wisdom said they closed the store in 1995 before the tech industry came in. Amazon and online stores made it hard to keep up with the business. With an underwhelming numbers of independent bookstores in Windsor, Bob Stewart, manager at Biblioasis said their business will always be unique in its own way. Photo by Julianna Bonnett “What the big box stores like Chapters and Indigo can’t offer is books in translation, said Stewart. “I think our graphic novel section and number of hard cover books poetry section are some of the are sold online for a cheaper best in the region. We’re the price. bookstore that worries about Jerry Wisdom, former owner what kind of book is in your at South Shore Books which hand, not what kind of pillow closed in 1995, said owning a or mug you’re using while bookstore was just too much reading.” work. As Wurdemann said, “Even “My wife Sheila and I though there’s a declining opened South Shore Books in number of independent book1978 and at that time we stores in Windsor, there will didn’t have much competition never be a declining number besides other independent of bookworms.”
Local business overcoming the odds Dacotah Erwin Converged Citizen Staff Although small business is the driving factor in the economy, many small businesses do not survive longer than a few years. Out of all small businesses that enter the market, only 70 per cent last longer than two years and only 51 per cent will last longer than five years, according to startupcan.ca Craft Heads Brewing Company is a local business that has found and maintained success and celebrated their second birthday on the weekend of Feb. 24. Located in downtown Windsor, Craft Heads was founded by two homebrewers who followed their passion and started their own brewery.
Craft Heads has managed to find success with their combination of craft beer and specialty coffees. “Some say luck [but] I think luck is when opportunity meets preparation,” said Bryan Datok, co-owner of Craft Heads. “Not owning a small business or working in a bar prior to this, we tried to be as prepared as possible.” Although prepared, they said their true success comes from the passion they have for the craft. “This is what we love to do and people appreciate that [we] are pursuing our dreams and passions.” said Datok. Not everything goes according to plan when it comes to small businesses and there are many different reasons a startup could fail. According to an article posted on fortune.com,
Photo by Dacotah Erwin Bryan Datok at Craft Heads Brewery some of the common reasons include running out of cash, a lack of passion, or simply
because the owners burned out too quickly. Brothers Jacob and David
Dunn became two of the youngest local business owners when they purchased Riveria Pizza back in 2015. Riveria Pizza has been in business since 1987 and the brothers will be celebrating their second anniversary as owners this year. “It takes a really good work ethic to run a business,” said Jacob. “You just need to be motivated and be willing to work long hours to ensure that your business is running the way you want it to.” Small business is a critical part of Ontario’s economic strength and accounts for over 28 per cent of GDP in Ontario and more than 30 per cent nationwide. Small businesses may not be big box stores, but they have just as large of an impact on the success of the economy.
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arts & entertainment Cassette tapes making a comeback Joe Gibel Converged Citizen Staff Cassette tapes are back in demand in 2017 as more artists release content in the format. According to an article published by the Windsor Star, sales of cassette tapes jumped almost 80 per cent to about 7,000 copies in 2016. The unexpected revival could be traced back to when a group of music retailers launched Cassette Day in 2013. The celebration was inspired by Record Store Day, which acknowledges the importance of record stores and the vinyl music format. The resurgence in vinyl collecting could also be a factor in the interest and the overall cheapness of collecting tapes. “I definitely had a big increase in tape sales last year
from the year previous. Hard to nail down just one reason,” said Scott Woodall, owner of Vintage and Vinyl in LaSalle. “Some people who just like to collect may be a bit miffed how the vinyl resurgence has driven prices on records upwards, so they are looking for other media to collect. They can still buy low before the hobby grows larger.” Artists like Kanye West, Metallica and Eminem rereleasing cassette tapes also brought back interest in mainstream collecting. However, some stores are still skeptical about the trend and claim sales have hardly changed for them. “We never bothered getting back into cassettes. We sell them occasionally, maybe a few a day and only used copies,” said Liam O’Donnell, owner of Dr. Disc in Windsor. “New tapes, nobody showed
Photo by Joe Gibel Collection of cassette tapes owned by Dane Amlin on display at his house in Windsor too much interest. Most people buy them for their cars. That’s one trend that’s hard to get behind.” Even though there is an interest in new tapes being bought and sold, some collectors are still out hunting in
thrift stores and used bins at independent record stores. “As a collector, it’s too easy to find CDs, and vinyl is back in full swing with reissues and new releases,” said Dane Amlin, music fan and longtime tape collector. “But if
you want to have a rad tape collection, you have to hunt for it.” With the increased interest in cassettes it may only be a little longer before Sony might reissue the legendary Walkman.
SportsPlex pushes Windsor sports tourism
Jared Berg Converged Citizen Staff With the recent addition of a sports tourism officer, as well as the SportsPlex located at the St. Clair College main campus, Windsor has been establishing itself as a premiere sports tourism location. The state-of-the-art facility has been host to multiple tournaments since its construction just over three years ago. It has not only helped college students live healthier lifestyles, but has helped Windsor become a major sports city with athletes coming from around the country to compete.
Photo by Jared Berg Student Mike Pastorious defends fellow student Shayne Howell in the SportsPlex gynmasium, March 3.
The SportsPlex was built in 2013 and is home to multiple athletic activities for St. Clair students. The facility’s main attractions are its fitness centre and gymnasium, but it also has classrooms for courses that require the SportsPlex’s resources. Christina Gatto, director of recreational services at the college, said the SportsPlex plays a major role in decision making when students are
choosing a school. “Specifically for student athletes, it may make them decide to actually come to this college,” said Gatto. “They may see the facilities and go ‘Wow, this is where I want to train, this is where I want to play.’” The relationship the SportsPlex has with the city is essential, according to its students and faculty. It plays host for multiple sporting events,
which benefits both the college and the city of Windsor. Kevin Corriveau, head coach for the college’s golf team, said the facility’s existence helps the city in multiple ways. “Having a complex like this available to the community for additional events has proven worthwhile for the college from a marketing perspective,” said Corriveau. “We have the ability to allow and host not just events in Windsor-Essex, but also the opportunity to bring people in from across the country for national events.” Sports tourism has become more important in Windsor, which is why the city hired sports tourism officer Samantha Magalas. She said the SportsPlex is one of the most essential parts of Windsor’s sports tourism. “It’s a gorgeous facility,” said Magalas. “I’ve met and worked with the staff at St. Clair and we were able to bring in the Juel Basketball Championship. Part of that was the draw of how nice the
SportsPlex is and being able to play there.” Even though the SportsPlex was constructed for the college and its students, it is used for multiple outside events. This includes a national basketball championship and two provincial volleyball championships. According to Magalas, sports tourism is important for the city's economy. “We know that sports tourism is having a huge economic impact,” said Magalas. “ When people are here, we want them to experience the city. They might come for sport, but we want them to experience other things while they’re here as well.” While sports tourism continues to grow in Windsor, so will the facilities and level of competition that gets brought in. The SportsPlex will continue to be essential for St. Clair College students while also being a hotspot for athletes across Canada, which will help elevate Windsor’s sports tourism industry to new heights.
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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