The Converged Citizen - February 12, 2015.

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NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN GALLERY

THE

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VOLUME X ISSUE 9

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SPORTS

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CCAC nurses strike province wide Allanah Wills Citizen Staff Reporter Community Care Access Centre nurses are on strike in Windsor and across the province.

Almost 3000 nurses from nine different regions hit the picket line Jan. 30. Using the slogan “forced out for fairness,” they are being represented by the Ontario Nursing Association.

“The nurses support us,” said Kathy Bourque, ONA VP for Erie St. Clair. “It’s our employer who’s not willing to step up to the plate and use the money to give us the raises we deserve.”

After 10 months of bargaining, an agreement on wages could not be met. The nurses are fighting for a 1.4 per cent wage increase over two years.

They say this increase would bring them pay equality with nurses in other health care sectors, like hospitals and longterm care.

“We were offered a lump sum but it doesn’t support

Photo by Melissa Amiouni CCAC nurses picket in front of Windsor Regional Hospital on Ouellette Avenue on Feb. 4, growth for future,” said Bourque “It doesn’t help with pensions and our young people who want to be able to retire and have decent pen-

sions.”

There are 260 CCAC nurses in the local area. The CCAC is responsible for providing patients with care options in

their areas.

“It’s a very complicated role.

It’s very complex. It requires a lot of knowledge and patience,” Bourque said.

“Being able to handle the dynamics. Knowing not only the patients, but the families too.”

SEE PAGE 14

Amherstburg considering regional police force Chris Jackman Citizen Staff Reporter The town of Amherstburg is considering merging police forces with Windsor or integrating with the Ontario Provincial Police to reduce costs.

Amherstburg mayor Aldo DiCarlo said there are three different policing models for the town to consider. Currently, the town uses a municipal policing model, but according to DiCarlo is looking at both regional and provincial policing models to save money. The

regional option the town is considering would mean merging police forces with Windsor and possibly LaSalle.

According to Sgt. Matt D’Asti, public information officer at the Windsor Police Service, the city of Windsor and the WPS are planning to present a proposal to Amherstburg which would outline the costs associated with merging their police forces. DiCarlo said once they receive that information from Windsor, Amherstburg’s council will be able to meet to discuss the town’s options.

The mayors of Windsor,

Amherstburg and LaSalle have talked about it, according to D’Asti, though he added it was “strictly dialogue at this point.” He said Windsor police viewed the situation as an opportunity.

“We have an Emergency Services Unit, a K-9 unit, a drugs unit and everything else so we have the specialized services that those municipal police services need, and we’re able to provide them,” said D’Asti.

The regional police model for Amherstburg would also have to include LaSalle, according to the Ontario Police Services Act. It

states that if two or more municipalities want to have a regional police force, they have to be connected by shared borders.

LaSalle Mayor Ken Antaya also expects to receive a proposal from Windsor that would outline the potential costs associated with regionalizing the forces of all three municipalities, but said it wouldn’t likely be a good choice for LaSalle financially. DiCarlo said if LaSalle doesn’t agree to merge forces, the regional plan would become more complicated.

“Without LaSalle it’s not as simple as Windsor saying they’re

going to provide services for Amherstburg,” DiCarlo said. “It’s my understanding that legally you would actually have to dissolve both police forces and create a new one.”

Amherstburg is also looking into the provincial option, which DiCarlo said is more common for smaller municipalities. It would mean the Amherstburg Police Service would become a detachment of the OPP and would be run by the province. According to DiCarlo, the OPP has recently

SEE PAGE 15

CONVERGED CITIZEN2 NEWS Caregivers need help too FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Naureen Shafi Citizen Staff Reporter Caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease are twice as likely to suffer from depression as those providing care for someone without it, experts say.

Shohba Desai works as a psychologist in a local hospital and said caregivers often are so busy caring for others they neglect themselves physically and emotionally.

“We read a lot about Alzheimer’s disease, its symptoms, causes, risk factors and complications, but we have never thought about their loved ones, what they feel being a caregiver of someone who is no more the same person,” said Desai.

Julius Martin, who works as a cashier in a local grocery store, looked after his 88-year-old mother diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two

years ago.

“It is heartbreaking and painful to see someone who has taken care of you, loves you, nurtured you, reach a point when they can’t even recognize you,” he said.

Caregivers may experience feelings of happiness, accomplishment and a strong sense of responsibility but, at the same, it is stressful and overwhelming. At times, they may feel hopeless, sad and experience an inability to control the situation.

“If it persists, it can affect the body’s immune system, leading to illness,” said Desai. “The key to cope with stress is to identify the cause of it in your life and learn healthy ways to deal with it.”

According to Desai, there is a difference between being busy and being productive. She said to try to be productive for your loved ones and avoid the

emotional trap of feeling sorry for yourself or searching for someone to blame.

“Set 30 minutes every day for yourself. Find different ways to pamper yourself,” said Desai. “Read a funny book, watch a comedy or call a friend who makes you laugh. You will feel more energetic and more focused thus resulting in a better caregiver.”

Maria Hussain, a mother and a grandmother of four, takes care of her husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease three years ago.

“I feel very frustrated and angry sometimes,” said Hussain. “We had made all kinds of plans for our retirement. It will not happen anymore. I miss my husband and the man he used to be. I love him so much and I am so sad watching this horrible disease taking him away from me everyday. I still want to

Police make arrest in homicide Brett Quinn Citizen Staff Reporter

A LaSalle man has been arrested in connection with the death of Cassandra Kaake.

LaSalle resident Matthew Brush, 26, was arrested and charged Tuesday following an interview with Windsor investigators. Brush is charged with break and enter, arson causing property damage, possession of incendiary material for arson, arson with disregard for human life, first-degree murder and indecent interference with a dead body.

Firefighters found the body of Cassandra Kaake, 31, on Dec. 11 after extinguishing a house fire at 1564 Benjamin Ave. in Windsor. Police said the fire did not cause her death and that she died from blood loss caused by severe trauma. Police wouldn’t comment on the nature of her injuries, but investigating detectives have said the crime scene was one of the most disturbing things they have seen.

Staff Sgt. Mark Denonville said hundreds of leads from the public and numerous interviews through canvassing led police to Brush. They were given infor-

mation about vehicles, people and suspicious activity in the area. He would not give any details about what they found.

“I take pride in our community because without them, like in many crimes, we wouldn’t have the success that we do have,” said Denonville “By no stretch of the imagination is this investigation over, but without their cooperation and without their assistance, we wouldn’t be at the point we are today.”

According to Denonville, officers are still conducting search warrants in relation to the investigation, which could create more charges against the suspect who police believe acted alone.

Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick applauded his team of about 40 officers and the public for their work in the investigation. Police made repeated public pleas for information. They launched several large-scale canvasses of the area around Benjamin Avenue, knocking on more than 800 doors and asking people to fill out questionnaires.

In a rare move, police also asked residents if they were willing to give DNA samples and more than 500 people said yes. Investigators took samples

from only half a dozen people. but police did not say what it was that made them focus on that small group.

Despite the willingness of many people to donate DNA, the request caused some controversy and made national headlines.

“We fully appreciate the intrusiveness of taking DNA samples,” Frederick said. “All aspects of the canvas were voluntary.”

He said the technique of asking for DNA is not unique, but the breadth of the investigation and number of volunteers continued to expand.

“As chief, I am proud of the investigative team and our community, who co-operated from the beginning,” Frederick said.

“I would like to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of Cassandra Kaake.”

Police will not comment as to whether or not they believe Brush to be the father of Kaake’s unborn child, but will confirm that he is known to the victim’s family.

Brush will appear in court for a bail hearing Feb 11. None of the charges have been proven in court.

look after him myself inspite of my own health issues.”

Ayesha Haroon, 53 works part-time as a medical assistant at a doctor’s office in Windsor. She been looking after her 85-year-old mother-in-law for more than four years.

“It is very difficult to manage between work and responsibilities towards my family but it is not impossible,” she said. “I have been diagnosed with depression too. I feel exhausted and irritable but still we are not ready to send her to a nursing home. I get this strength from my religion and Holy Quran.”

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging said Dian Norman, who was a volunteer at “Walk for Memories” in Devonshire Mall.

“When my mother Terrynado was diagnosed

with Alzheimer disease three years back we went through a lot,” she said.

“Dementia does not only affect one person but it affects the whole family.

Everyone feels shattered when you see your loved ones are moving away from you.”

Caring for a loved one can be very rewarding, but at the same time it comes with stresses ranging from physical to emotional, especially if caregivers feel they have little control over the situation. The key point is that caregivers need care too. Managing the stress levels in your life is just as important as taking medication on time, said Norman.

“Caregiving allows you to give something back and make a difference in your loved one’s life,” said Desai. “If you think you’re depressed, seek help.

Proper treatment can help you feel your best.”

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CONVERGED CITIZEN3 NEWS Super Bowl snow storm FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Kenneth Pastushyn Citizen Staff Reporter The Super Bowl is one of the two biggest football events of the year at the John Max sports bar on Dougall Avenue, according to one of the managers.

The other is the Detroit Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game.

While every seat in the house was booked solid, one big concern on the minds of every John Max employee was whether or not football fans would show up despite Snowstorm Linus, the biggest blizzard of the year.

“Last year’s Super Bowl was busy,” said Amanda Ioannidis, a bartender at John Max. However, last year ’s forecast didn’t include up to 10 inches of snow.

There were 10 cancellations in the early afternoon but as soon as there was a cancellation, a reservation was quickly filled up. Potential customers were constantly calling to see if American commercials would be shown on the 24 TV screens at John Max since Canadian cable TV channels show only Canadian commercials.

A half -hour before kickoff, six reservations had been cancelled. John Max still had 20 reservations but the managers were con-

Photo by Kenneth Pastushyn Bartender Amanda Ioannidis and Jason Noble, a server/manager at the John Max sports bar on Dougall Ave. are trying to find a balance between cancellations and new reservations during the snowstorm on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1. cerned about how many of manager at the John Max on We buy the jerseys out of the The crowd at John Max wasthose would show up.

Dougall Avenue and current goodness of our own heart,” n’t what managers said they Even with the snow, much manager at the new location said Osbourne. “Its like being expected but it was probably of the staff said they believed on Lauzon Parkway, said pro- Santa Claus for a day.” the same at sports bars all over And customers expect more Windsor, there would be a good turnout motions bring customers in according to because it is the Super Bowl. and John Max was giving prizes every year.

O’Kane.

“This is our fourth Super “They will come if they have away Detroit Lions jerseys “I’m happy despite the to use a horse and sleigh or a during the game and a grand Bowl and we have to live up weather. I’m glad they snowmobile,” said Josh prize plasma TV near the two- to expectations,” said John showed up,” said O’Kane.

O’Kane, one of the three co- “People love their time here Henley, a bartender at John minute warning.

Max. “We give away prizes owners of the John Max every year and it keeps on Jay Osbourne, a former because people like the stuff. group. spreading.”

Search is on for Canada’s official bird Eugenio Mendoza Cititzen Staff Reporter Canadian Geographic is conducting a survey to select Canada’s national bird.

The National Bird Project was initiated by the magazine in an effort to get the public involved in a decision that is often left to specialists and political officials.

Jessica Rabideau, 20, studies at the University of Windsor and said she always thought the Canada

goose was the national bird. She also said she believes the survey is a good idea.

“I think it would be cool for people to see a bird and think of Canada,” said Rabideau. “It will remind people of Canada all over the world or wherever the bird goes.”

Cordell Green, a child and youth worker student at St. Clair College, said he doesn’t believe the survey is important.

“I think having an official bird wouldn’t do

much,” said Green. “It isn’t important to me personally, because the way I see it is that Canada is known for more than just a bird or a leaf.”

Many countries, such as the U.S., identify strongly with their national bird.

While some people are concerned Canada’s identity would begin to rely on a national bird, others don’t see it as a problem.

“If Canada were to have an official bird, I believe it wouldn’t change its status to the way others view the

country as a whole.

Canada already has enough symbols to represent themselves,” said Gordon Gacic, a student of Catholic Central High School, said he is not worried about this becoming a dilemma.

Green said he believes the United States’ relationship with their national bird the bald eagle, has more to do with traditions being passed on rather than identity.

“They see the eagle as a symbol because it’s what

they grew up hearing. They grew up with people giving it meaning that it didn’t have originally,” Green said.

The birds currently with the most votes are the common loon and snowy owl with the Canada goose in fourth place.

Voting is open until the end of December with the winner being announced in the January 2016 issue. Canadian Geographic hopes to have a decision made and votes tallied in time for 2017 which coincides with Canada’s 150th birthday.

CONVERGED CITIZEN4

NEWS

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Windsor loses out with Super Bowl XLIX Christian Bouchard Citizen Staff Reporter Windsor is just one of many Canadian cities to lose out on millions of dollars due to the Senate stalling Bill C-290.

Bill C-290 was introduced in the House of Commons on Sept. 28, 2011 by Joe Comartin, M.P. for WindsorTecumseh. It would allow gamblers across Ontario to bet on single game sporting events.

“We would get a ton of business from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and not to mention our local action,” said Joe Carnevale, an advocate for single game sports betting in Windsor. “We need it in our community. Not just to create jobs, but to shore up the jobs we have now.”

As it stands, gamblers must wager a minimum of three games and correctly predict the outcome of each in order to win. This is known as a parlay bet. It’s more difficult to win as the odds of winning decrease with the more games needed to win.

In essence, the bill would eliminate the Criminal Code section that prohibits betting on a single race, fight, sporting event or athletic contest.

The Canadian Gaming Association estimates $150 million was wagered illegally in Canada this year on the Super Bowl. That is compared to the $3 million through legal sports lotteries.

According to a report by the Canadian Gaming Association, Caesars Windsor and Fallsview Casino located

in Niagara Falls could add an estimated 250 full-time jobs if the bill is passed.

Local MP Brian Masse is one of many people fighting for the bill to pass the Senate.

He said the legalization of single event sports betting will benefit Windsor because it will attract many Americans.

Bill C-290 was passed unanimously in the House of Commons in 2012 but has been with the Senate ever since. Carnevale said Windsor and the casino are losing out on more than just the Super Bowl. He believes action should be taken soon to legalize the bill.

“It’s not just the Super Bowl.

It’s the NCAA March Madness, it’s all the college football games and more,” said Carnevale. “People would stay for days on end at our casino. If they came from out of town, they would stay long enough to collect their winnings at least. Our downtown restaurants and hotels would benefit tremendously as well.”

With an upcoming federal election, there are worries that Bill C-290 will die in the unelected Senate and Windsor will continue to lose out on the estimated $10 billion a year sports gambling industry.

If the bill does not pass the Senate, the whole legislative process must start again from scratch.

Masse said the entire process of legalizing Bill C-290 is frustrating.

“Three years is long enough.

We could have had hotels active and buzzing this weekend,” said Masse.

The union representing

Photo by Christian Bouchard Jordan Caschera fills out a Pro-line slip on Friday, Feb. 6 employees at Caesars Windsor said the change would create jobs and allow Caesars to be unique and offer a wager that is illegal at the three casinos in Detroit and another in Ohio, just 45 minutes away.

Gordon Watkin, 23, has been a sports fan for as long as he can remember. He said he tends to shy away from betting because of the mandatory selection of other games that come with it.

“A huge turn off of gambling through Pro-line is that I can’t bet single game events,” said Watkin. “Often I lose my overall pot because of the obligatory pick I made to process the ticket.”

Carnevale said he believes the odds are better with singlegame betting and it is potentially that reason why most people lean towards online gambling and other illegal methods.

“Pro-line or sports select take almost 40 cents of every dollar bet, while single game, if you bet $50 for example, on a football game, you wager $55 to win $50,” said Carnevale.

According to the State of Nevada Gaming Control Board, $116 million was wagered on this year’s Super Bowl, a slight drop from last year’s record-breaking $119.4 million.

The Canadian Gaming Association also estimated $26 million in single-event sports betting has been wagered illegally while the Senate has been debating it Although there are many benefits for legalizing singleevent sports betting, particularly in Windsor, many professional sports leagues strongly oppose the bill. They argue allowing single-game betting could lead to the corruption of

officials and players, games being fixed, as well as social problems associated with gambling.

“With single game betting, I feel there’s a lot more risk for the addicted bettor,” said Babula, a 24 year old sports fan. “It comes down to that mentality of telling yourself ‘one more game,’ which can cause many people to spiral out of control.”

In November 2012, the NHL urged the Senate not to pass the bill, saying the game’s integrity was essential to its popularity. Major League Baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays also opposed the bill.

There is no telling when the bill might be legalized but Carnevale has his predictions.

“In a perfect world, I would hope September of this year, but I would say maybe April 2016, realistically,” said Carnevale.

LaSalle Public School raises money for childhood cancer Caleb Workman Citizen Staff Reporter Six LaSalle Public School students have raised almost $200 for early childhood cancer by making rainbow loom jewelry.

Aubryn Boivert and her five friends – Emma Lauzon, Emme Faubert, Lily Clayden, Nicole Watson and Aneesha Bhullar – have been selling their homemade jewelry during morning recess. The girls set up in the library

and sold everything they have made.

“Everything we sell is three dollars or less,” said Boivert, who started rainbow looming when she received a kit from her parents at Christmas.

The program ran from Jan. 26 to 30 at LPS. Watson, who also received a rainbow loom kit from her parents, originally wanted to start the initiative for AIDS. “We wanted to do this last year but it was too close to

the end of the year to start a big project like this,” said Watson. “I didn’t know we had switched from AIDS to childhood cancer until I got back to school after being sick for a while. I was surprised and happy when I found out we were doing it for childhood cancer.”

Rainbow loom is a plastic loom used by mixing and weaving colorful rubber bands into bracelets,

SEE PAGE 7

Photo by Caleb Workman From left to right) Emma Lauzon, Lily Clayden, Aubryn Boisvert, Aneesh Bhullar, Emma Faubert and Nicole Watson, founders of the Rainbow Loom initiative, sell rainbow looms for charity. Here they pose for a picture at LaSalle Public School on Jan. 29.

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN5 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Future downtown business owners offered incentive Bobby-Jo Keats Citizen Staff Reporter

Business owners are being encouraged to open stores downtown in an effort to enhance economic development in the heart of the city.

The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association is offering potential applicants a commercial rent subsidy program as an incentive for retailers to occupy available locations downtown with new venues. The program subsidizes up to 50 per cent of the approved applicant’s rent each month for a period of one year, up to a maximum of $625 a month.

Debi Croucher has been the acting director of the DWBIA for almost four years and says the program is intended to attract new business to the downtown core. She says the program was launched during the fall of 2013 and since that time six businesses have taken advantage of the incentive.

She said as more people learn about the subsidy, the more interest she has seen. Four businesses using the subsidy are currently open and two are still to be announced.

“In 2011, the DWBIA determined that new retail in the city centre was essential to driving traffic downtown and supporting business that were already here,” said Croucher.

“The rent subsidy program identifies a number of businesses that are missing or absent in the core and we really need to support those that are already down here.” The DWBIA has identified areas of retail that are specifically desired. Croucher says it takes approximately two-four weeks before applicants are reviewed, approved and awarded the funding.

Neelam Sharma opened her beauty boutique, Little India, using the commercial rent subsidy program incentive.

She said the process of getting approved was not difficult.

“According to my experience, downtown has potential,” said Sharma. “Walking to work walking home and walking to shops. If business owners come together then we can do something good in Windsor. This is the heart of the city.” she said.

Croucher said downtown residents have been very vocal about what they require to support themselves. She says the DWBIA believes residents should have the ability to get what they need without having to leave the city centre because that will further enhance their experiences and way of life.

She says the DWBIA feels strongly that this program will help drive additional traffic and visitors to the downtown area and will better support

Photo by Bobby-Jo Keats Neelam Sharma, owner of Little India, a beauty boutique, poses for a picture after serving customers at her store in downtown Windsor. people who come here for events or conferences.

Eligible businesses include apparel, home decor, hardware and home, grocers, art and more.

“I’m very passionate about downtown Windsor. It’s not just the downtown of our city, it is also the gateway to our regional province and our country as a whole,” said Croucher. “For many people visiting downtown Windsor it may be their first impression of Canada. So it’s really important that we drive the traffic here and we give people the opportunity to visit, to

stay and play in the downtown and that they have a multitude of experiences when they’re here.”

The Downtown Residents Association represents community interests and encourages activities that highlight public safety, neighbourhood beautification and residential and economic development.

Mike Holdsworth is president of the DRA and also sits on the DWBIA’s board of directors. He believes people who live downtown will especially benefit from the rent subsidy program.

“The DRA believes that our

downtown should be viewed as a neighbourhood from the residents’ perspective,” said Holdsworth. “Being a neighbourhood, it should be walkable. In saying that, you should be able to walk and get everything you need. For example, groceries, clothing, services, food and entertainment to get you through the day.

When there is an increase in retail development, it all contributes to the neighbourhood. We work with the DWBIA in many regards and finding the balance for business and residents is always top of mind.”

Ontario looking to lower the speed limit Anthony Sheardown Citizen Staff Reporter The province of Ontario is considering lowering the speed limit on secondary roads from 50 km to 40 km.

There will be a debate whether to lower the limit to 40 km, keep it at 50 km or let communities decide on their own speed limits.

Lowering school zones to 30 km will also be discussed.

Lowering the speed limit could cost Windsor $100,000 to redo all of the road signs in the city said Windsor’s executive director of operations, Mark Winterton.

“I think it’s a bad idea. I understand where the provincial government is coming from and

where it might be a good idea, but I also think the problem doesn’t lie in where the speed limit is but more with the drivers of vehicles,” said Jarret Sorko, a 23-yearold Windsorite.

One reason people approve lowering the speed limit is for safety.

Other people say there are other ways that bad driving can be prevented.

“I feel it’s too easy to get a license in Ontario. If we want to protect the roads, we need to better educate drivers and create a better program for how you get your license. I personally feel there are too many people on the roads that shouldn’t be,” said Sorko.

Some citizens feel this is just

another way for the government to generate more revenue. Ben Orlando, 21, of Windsor thinks the Ontario government is targeting drivers unfairly.

“There are drivers who drive 60 km in a 50 km zone. By lowering the posted from 50 km to 40 km it would make driving 60 km, a speed people are used to going, an offence with a hefty ticket and demerit point loss,” said Orlando. “This seems to be the Ontario government’s way of recouping costs they’ve spent.”

Orlando said lowering the speed limit is a way for insurance companies to profit more money from demerit point loss of driver’s licenses’. When driving 15 km or more over the

Photo by Anthony Sheardown As the province waits for the decision on lowering the speed limit, Windsorites continue to drive down Dominion Boulevard at 50 km/h. speed limit a demerit is taken off your license which will make insurance more expensive.

Jacob St. Pierre, 21, said he thinks it is definitely safer to drive faster. St. Pierre said peo-

ple pay more attention when they are speeding.

Other local media polls have shown that the majority of people do not want the speed limit to be reduced.

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN6 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

University students bring new teaching methods to Tanzania David Dyck Staff Reporter

Student teachers at the University of Windsor will spend three weeks in April bringing the twenty-first century Canadian school to Tanzanian orphans who are thirsty for knowledge.

Heading to Tanzania’s “forgotten city” Singida, 18 volunteers will spend their time instructing both teachers and students in schools suffering from out-dated teaching methods, language deficiencies and a need for supplies and qualified teachers.

In 2002, Tanzanian legislation eliminated primary school tuition. Free tuition led to schools becoming available to the masses, but not enough teachers or supplies came to meet the demands. In 2010, it was estimated there were approximately 54 students to every one teacher.

“They’re overworked, they’re swamped, the classrooms are large,” said Andrew Allen, a professor and the leading figure in the “Teachers for Tanzania” project, currently in its sixth year. “We’ve seen classes of 80, maybe 100 children.”

School resources are also in short supply. The group will be bringing pencils, erasers, markers, pencil crayons, rulers, protractors, compasses and other necessities with them.

Teachers are also dealing with what Allen describes as an “old-school British colonial system.”

“We notice when we go into the schools, the vast majority of classrooms do not have teachers, they have writing on the board,” said Elisa Graceffa, a member of the university’s alumni group who has been on two of the group’s past trips. “A lot of their teaching from what we’ve seen and experienced is very robotic, where the kids just repeat what the teacher tells them. They don’t necessarily know how to apply what they learning.”

That concerns Natalie Browning-Morgan, who has been to Tanzania on one of the trips.

“I remember in one classroom the teacher kept saying bell. Bell. Bell. She had a picture of a bell, but she never said, “Where’s the bell? Why do we use a bell? Where do we hear a bell?”

Teachers though, rather than being put off, say they are excited to teach new methods.

“We try to do different ways of applying knowledge through fun, making learning fun,” said Graceffa. “That way the kids can remember.

We’re teaching the teachers different methods of teaching and knowing how to apply the knowledge.”

Students are also enjoying the new techniques.

Attendance tends to be “spotty” during the year, but “shoots right up” when they know the Canadian teachers are coming.

Attendance problems also stem from the rural backgrounds the children come

from with chores and other responsibilities often taking priority over schooling.

When they ask the students what they want to be when they grow up, Allen said they are always surprised.

“What really blows us away when you ask them what they want to be is nothing different from what kids here would say. We hear doctors, lawyers, we hear a lot of teachers, airplane pilots, prime ministers, presidents.”

Allen remembers one boy named Baracka who nicknamed himself “Baracka Obama,” who recently developed aspirations to be president of Tanzania one day.

To face such a task though requires the mastery of kiingereza, otherwise known as English. Primary students are taught in the official language Kiswahili up to age 13, but upon entering secondary school, learning English becomes a must.

Alumnus student Kim Cox has been to Tanzania twice and said it can be difficult for students to shift abruptly from one language to another. This can lead to students unable to understand their assignments, due to language barriers.

“There is an issue, because the students write exams in English … they’re not necessarily understanding the questions and the content, even though the students are very bright.”

But for many residents, learning English may be the only way out of simple rural living.

Photo by David Dyck Professor Andrew Allen poses in a group photo for the Teachers for Tanzania organization. Allen created the group in 2007 to meet the need for adequate teachers and supplies in Singida, known as Tanzanian’s “forgotten city.

“The folks there are connected to the world, they see what’s going on,” said Allen.

“Knowing English is a tremendous advantage in terms of schooling, jobs and opportunities.”

To learn English takes resilience, which Allen said is one of the reasons he returns.

Along with resilience, Faisal Ishac, an alumni member, said he is impressed with the happiness and kindness which is commonplace in Tanzania.

“Here you ask people about their values, you still hear people say love, family, but then their actions might not reflect that. But over there, they reflect that 1,000 per cent,” said Ishac.

The teachers are also impressed by what they say is a “very respectful” culture.

“We buy food from the market and getting out of the taxi, the kids will drop what they’re doing and run to us and take the bags from us

because we are adults, we’re not supposed to be carrying bags,” said Allen.

This attitude has rubbed off on several past volunteers, many of whom have said they have become more appreciative of the bounties of western culture upon coming back.

A definite reciprocal relationship has developed with the Canadians teachers the Tanzanian children who in turn are teaching them back. Both turn to their lives afresh, with new ideas and new plans for their future.

“I asked a student two or three years ago what he wanted to be when he grew up,” said Allen in what he said was the anecdote that has stuck out to him the most in the years he has gone. “He looked at me and said, “I wanna be just like you daddy. I wanna come back here and help orphaned children.”

Windsor high school students perform in youth program Rabiul Biplob Citizen Staff Reporter High school students in Windsor are using artistic talent to illustrate the challenges they face as young people.

The students are members of the Youth Empowerment and Safety initiative.

Windsor Chief of Police Al Frederick started the YES! program at a school assembly at Westview Freedom Academy Nov. 7, 2014. The program is aimed at mentoring youth in how to reach out for life help.

Windsor Police and The

Safety Village hosted the students’ first show at Major FA Tilston Armoury & Police Training Centre on Jan. 29.

They showcased their talents in the form of skits, songs, poetry, video, artwork and drama. They illustrated the challenges youth face with topics such as bullying, peer pressure, stress, self-esteem and violence.

Windsor Police Staff Sgt. Maureen Rudall and Lorraine Oloya, youth program coordinator of The Safety Village, were official hosts of the program.

“This kind of program will encourage the youth to face their day to day challenges with a positive mindset,” said Rudall.

Parents and relatives of the participants were present for the performances.

Family members of the Police officials were also present.

“We are working with youth who have difficulty in their lives. This program is to promote safety awareness, healthy relationships and positive decision making skills in youth,” said Oloya. “This will help the students to

have positive frame of mind.”

The final drama performed by a group of students was also well received by those present.

Several students shared their experiences in the school, some positive, others negative. Two guest performers also recited poems.

One of the participants, Raymond Tran, delivered a motivational speech. He gave the example of people who stood up against the oppression, like Martin Luther King Jr. and brought change in society

and to countries.

Meredith Garswood performed a monologue.

“I am excited and like to share my experience,” said Garswood.

Const.

Lindsay Flemming helped the participants prepare.

“This is the first program for us and we will try to have one program every month. Students recorded and submitted what they want to do in the program and today they are performing,” said Flemming.

The best performer of the evening received an Apple iPad.

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN7 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Communities fear schools at risk Johnathan Hutton Staff Reporter

Tensions ran high at the Greater Essex County District School Board’s Program and Accommodation Review Committee’s first meeting.

It was a tense atmosphere at General Amherst Secondary School when members of the community filled the high school’s gym to hear how the public board would evaluate their school and if it was on the chopping block.

The meeting is the first of four to be held regarding the future of General Amherst, Western, Harrow and Kingsville secondary schools.

The committee will also evaluate Harrow Public School and then submit a report to the GECDSB’s board of trustees on their recommendations Todd Awender, superintendent of education and accommodations for the school board, explained why these schools in particular are being evaluated.

“These five schools have been chosen to be evaluated because as a whole, they make up for 25 per cent of the empty space of the 71 buildings acting as schools,” said Awender.

“Enrollment projections are to remain low for the next 20 years and we feel that the current situation is unsustainable.

Renewal needs are also a factor with a combined total to fix each school being around $40 million.”

One student who attended Western Secondary and

FROM PAGE 4 charms and other jewelry.

“To start this whole thing up, it took a whole month.

We had to figure out who would donate the money and who was going to get it all ready,” said Bhullar who made much of the jewelry the girls themselves wear.

“We decided to do it during this season because a lot of people get really sick and I thought it would be best to do it for childhood cancer because a lot of people from our school have suffered from it.”

The girls said they had been broadcasting news of their project on the early morning announcements

By: Johnathan Hutton Amherstburg, Jason Lavigne, a town councilor for Amherstburg, questions the GECDSB on how they evaluate the schools in the community on Jan. 29.

General Amherst said it is worth the money to keep the schools open. “ I feel that Western especially is a school that shouldn’t be closed down,” said Kayla Benneteau, 21. “It is a school where kids can go and not be judged and the staff there doeseverything they can to help with students learning needs. You feel welcome and you fit in there.”

The next meetings are all scheduled on the same day as council meetings for Harrow, Essex and LaSalle. Jason Lavigne, a town councillor for Amherstburg, believes the school board should have scheduled the meetings so that councillors could be involved.

He believes it is crucial the school board be more involved with the community in their decision-making

process.

“General Amherst is the life blood of our community and it will affect everything we as a council do over the next four years … I hope they hear us loud and clear that we need to be a part of this process,” said Lavigne.

The committee, which is made up of the principal of each school at risk, four community representatives and a staff member from each school, will present a report to the board of directors. They are expected to decide what to do with the schools by next year.

Awender said they have not decided to shut down any schools yet as a result of the committee findings, but they are “keeping an open mind about everything.”

every day during the week of the sale.

“I’m usually the one who says the announcements,” said Watson. “When I went on, I would say ‘Bring your loonies and your toonies and both of those things,’ every morning.”

Clayden said all of their sales have been inside of the school but there are ways for people outside of the school to make purchases as well.

“If parents have kids that go to the school, they can give them money to buy the rainbow loom,” said Clayden. “People can bring the jewelry they buy to the hospital and they’ll give them to the kids who have

cancer and it’s not just us who do this kind of stuff.

People all over the world do this kind of stuff to try and help raise money” The girls said they encourage everyone to try their own initiative.

“Anyone can make their own little store and raise money for people,” said Clayden.

Next year, the girls said they are hoping to do it for Hospice Life Walk.

The school sales have come to an end but they will still be able to provide service to those who wish to purchase jewelry with some of their rainbow loom creations.

Photo by Rhiannon Lotze Himani Dhar, a student at the University of Windsor, catches up on her studies following the school closings on Feb. 2 because of poor weather conditions.

Rhiannon Lotze Staff Reporter School closings following a blizzard in Windsor and Essex County may have boosted morale for staff and students.

A record-breaking snowfall swept across Windsor and Essex County Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. Windsor International Airport recorded a total of 37 centimetres of snow. It was the third heaviest snowstorm on record, according to Detroit Metro Airport.

St Clair College was the first school in the area to announce that all classes would be cancelled for Feb. 2. The University of Windsor and all public schools, including those with the Greater Essex County District School Board and the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, were also closed for the day.

Many staff and students said they feel the closures increased morale in the schools.

“Even one day off has a massive effect on a student’s mind,” said Cameron Beggs, a Grade 12 student at Sandwich Secondary School. Beggs spent his day off tobogganing and drinking hot chocolate with friends. He said he believes the day off was a “huge boost.”

Many students at the University of Windsor also said they feel the day off was a welcome break.

“A day off allows me to destress if I need to,” Himani Dhar, a student in the behaviour, cognition and neuroscience program at the University, said. However, she also said there are potential downsides to snow days.

“School closings do bring out my laziness quite a bit,” said Dhar.

The closings were welcomed not just by students but by teachers as well.

“Everyone enjoys an unexpected change in routine,” Janice Pennington said.

Pennington is an English teacher at Sandwich Secondary School and said snow days “offer teachers the opportunity to catch up on marking or lesson planning.”

Other school staff, such as the librarians, also felt an improvement.

“Staff morale goes way up when there’s a snow day,” said Martha Martin, a librarian at LaSalle Public School. “We are like kids. Who doesn’t love a break?”

Monday marked the second time in as many years that poor weather forced the closure of schools in the area, an event that had been fairly uncommon in recent decades.

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN8 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The business of Valentine’s Day Ashley Ann Mentley CP Editor

Local businesses are getting ready to cash in on an ancient holiday through the sales of flowers, baked goods and jewelry.

According to History Canada, by the middle of the 18th century it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes.

The American Greeting Card Association now estimates one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent around the world each year.

A report published by the Retail Council of Canada found that in 2013 the average household spent $37 on items for the holiday. This is significantly less than Americans, who reportedly spend around $150.

Brandi Sullivan, who works at Janette Florist in Windsor, said sending something as simple as one single flower can help to make someone smile.

People do it to surprise their loved ones and “show them that they still think of them on special days like that,” Sullivan said.

The flower shop has been open since 1947 and has to hire extra help on Feb. 14 just to keep up. Sullivan said other holidays are steadily busy for the weeks leading up to it, but Valentine’s Day is all about

that one day.

“On Valentine’s Day, we’ll have 10 designers in all day and the day prior. We have a stock girl and we’ll have another helper and we’ll have six drivers out all day long,” said Sullivan.

She said roses are by far the most popular item, which is what causes them to be more expensive. A recent study by Statistics Canada found that in 2010, Canadians purchased over 12 million roses for Valentine’s Day. Historians have been debating the origins of Valentine’s Day for many years. One thing they all agree on is that there were three saints named Valentine, all of whom were martyred in the name of love.

Somewhere throughout the years, however, the day became celebrated as one when people buy flowers, chocolates and jewelry for their loved ones.

Renee Pratt of Renee’s Fine Cakes in Tecumseh said she is ready and excited.

“Last Valentine’s Day was my busiest in over 20 years,” Pratt said. “I couldn’t believe how crazy busy it was.”

Pratt’s most popular items for Valentine’s Day are cupcakes, cake balls and chocolate covered strawberries. She said she began adding heart shaped sprinkles to her baked goods during the last week of January.

Phoenix Jeweller’s on Walker Road starts preparing

Photo by Ashley Ann Mentley Brandi Sullivan arranges an early Valentine’s Day bouquet at Windsor’s Janette Florist on Feb. 3. for this holiday months in advance. David Ashekian has worked there for 10 years and said pieces that have heart, infinity or tiara designs are the most popular.

“We’re ordering a lot of heart-themed jewelry for Valentine’s Day,” he said.

“We usually start ordering in November.”

Both Pratt and Sullivan said Valentine’s Day purchases in their shops are often last minute. While Sullivan estimated her clients spend $50$100 on flowers, Pratt averages about $20-$30 for her baked goods and considers this a smaller “cake holiday.”

“People are in business to

make money,” Pratt said. “You have to jump on the bandwagon, the same way stores put out all the Christmas decorations in September, it’s just business.”

Sullivan said people have many choices when it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts. For some, price is no object and they just want what she said is called the “wow factor.”

“It’s anybody’s choice whether they buy flowers or not,” she said. “Some people will go out and spend a fair bit of money on dinner or different gifts.”

Ashekian agreed and said he doesn’t think the holiday has been commercialized or that

people feel pressure to buy only jewelry. When it comes to celebrating the holiday with his wife, however, he said she expects jewelry.

“I have no choice,” he said with a laugh.

Other Windsor businesses are banking on the fact that not everyone has a valentine with whom to share the day.

At the new Snack Bar-B-Q restaurant downtown customers can bring in a picture of their ex to burn in the smoker on Feb. 14. This gets them a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée and the company of other like minded locals on a day usually reserved for romance.

Windsorites ‘Walk for Memories’ Kenneth Bullock Citizen Staff Reporter People recently came together to show they remember those starting to forget.

Multiple organizations gathered at Devonshire Mall to promote awareness of those people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease in Windsor/Essex. The “Walk for Memories” is a province-wide event with the goal of bringing awareness to the disease. The money raised goes towards care for people with dementia, along with financial support and education. Every year, the walk focuses on a broader message depending on the year’s theme. The choice this

time was women with Alzheimer’s.

“The Alzheimer’s Society across Canada is educating the public that 72 per cent of people with Alzheimer’s are women,” said Sally Bennett Olczak, CEO of the Alzheimers Society in Windsor and Essex County.

“Women are shown to live longer than men, thus making it more likely for them to get the disease.”

Volunteers came to the event early in the morning to begin the walk. For an hour, people walked around the Devonshire Mall asking others to support the cause. Once the walk concluded, an activity was set up.

According to Olczak, it’s pur-

pose was to emulate how difficult it is to do for people in the late stages of dementia to do common tasks.

Jason Laba, a volunteer, said he was asked to put on a pair of blurred glasses and oven mitts. While wearing these, Laba had to do routine tasks such as folding laundry, counting change and holding drink cups.

“Going through the dementia challenge was unbelievably difficult and exhausting,” said Laba. “It really brings awareness to the fact that people who are suffering from this disease need the help in place to get through daily routines.”

Another organization who helped plan this event was

Photo by Alex Temple A woman attempts the dementia challenge by folding clothes while wearing oven mitts and wearing blurred glasses at the Devonshire Mall on Jan. 31.

Amy’s Helping Hands. This home & care centre sends certified care specialists to elderly people’s houses to assist them. They specialize in help-

ing them deal with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The job Helping Hands had

SEE PAGE 16

GALLERY

CONVERGED CITIZEN9 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

POLAR BEAR DIP ST CLAIR COLLEGE HOSTED THE 2015 POLAR BEAR DIP ON THURSDAY FEB. 5. THE EVENT BEGAIN WITH ST. CLAIR COLLEGE VICE PRESIDENT JOHN FAIRLEY ADDRESSING THE CROWED. ST. CLAIR STUDENTS AS WELL AS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY WERE IN ATTENDANCE AND PARTICPATED AND PROMINANT FIGURES LIKE FRED FRANCIS WERE ALSO SPOTTED. THE EVENT RAISED MONEY FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND SAW A GREAT TURNOUT.

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN 10 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Bonduelle seeking on-site migrant worker housing Chris Jackman Staff Writer The housing arrangements of Tecumseh migrant workers remain uncertain following a town hall meeting this month.

Tecumseh’s Bonduelle plant is requesting permission from Tecumseh Town Countil to house approximately 45 seasonal migrant workers on-site. At a public meeting to discuss the decision on Tuesday, Jan 13 before council’s usual meeting more than 50 people attended and shared their opinions.

“Whenever there’s re-zoning to be had, the public has a right to know what’s happening and provide their feedback,” said Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Dowie.

Rob Anderson, vice president of operations at Bonduelle, said a similar plan was originally proposed to the council last summer but was put on hold after the plant was damaged by a fire in July. He said Bonduelle is looking to convert the plant’s office building on Lacasse Boulevard into housing for the seasonal workers who migrate to Tecumseh from Jamaica every year from June to early December.

“Right now, what (Bonduelle is) proposing does not comply with our zoning law,” said Dowie.

“They’re asking for the ability to add residential uses to industrial, which do not exist anywhere else in town and they’re currently not legal.”

The zoning law was not

the only issue discussed at the meeting. Dowie said several attendees asked why Bonduelle wasn’t hiring from the local community.

Anderson said while the majority of the Tecumseh plant staff is local, they still needed to employ migrant workers for part of the year.

“We don’t have the seasonal people we need,” said Anderson.

Chris Ramsaroop from Justice for Migrant Workers was also in attendance, and said housing the workers on-site would segregate them from the community.

“They should be living amongst us,” he said. “The employers should be providing rental properties and rental units at no cost to the workers in the community itself.”

Ramsaroop also raised

concerns about the health and safety of the workers if they are housed at the plant and said the workers would be “confined to an employer, industrial setting.”

“Employers cannot be dictating the total control of workers in our society.

Migrant workers are tied to their employer. They can be sent back at the whim of the employer.”

Anderson called the attendees’ reaction to the plan at the meeting “disappointing.” He works at the plant in Strathroy, Ont., where he said Bonduelle also employs seasonal migrant workers.

“We do not treat these workers any differently than our regular workers.

They become members of the community,” said Anderson.

As for the health and safety concerns raised at the meeting, Anderson said the housing facilities would be inspected by health inspectors as well as the Jamaican liaison office.

Dowie said council is planning another public meeting within the next month before they vote on the issue, and they plan to speak to officials from other communities where similar situations have occurred.

“So there’s a lot more information that I need as a councillor in order to make a decision,” said Dowie.

“I’m not prepared to make a decision on this until that information is available, and the various questions that I have, and many of the residents’ questions too, can be answered.”

Tax freeze implications debatable

Photo by Ashley Ann Mentley Kevin Awram speaks to customers on the phone at Windsor Truck Maintenance on Jan. 27. Awram discussed taxes and the effect on him as a homeowner.

Ashley Ann Mentley CP Editor The recently released 2015 budget has put a freeze on taxes, but not all Windsor residents are celebrating.

For the seventh year in a row, the city voted to neither increase nor decrease property taxes. According to the report, “The recommended budget for 2015 achieves council’s directive of holding the line on taxes.”

Kevin Awarm, 48, said he believes a zero per cent increase in taxes is a bad

thing for the city, but that it doesn’t affect him either way.

“Maybe someone in a lower tax bracket might have a hard time if taxes go up,” he said.

“But that’s all part of taxes, right? To help pay for things, for improvements, to make it a better community to live in.”

Awarm, who has lived and worked as a mechanic in Windsor for over 20 years, said he currently pays approximately $3,200 a year in taxes. He pointed out, however, that he pays nearly as much for his family of four to

maintain their cell phone plan.

“We never complain about our cell phones, and we don’t complain about the amount we spent on TV all year.

Those are big amounts,” Awram said. “People don’t like paying taxes, but they do.

If they do what they’re supposed to do then they’re fine.”

Glen Benson is retired from Chrysler and now collects Canada Pension in addition to his pension from the automotive company. He said holding the line on taxes hasn’t

affected him.

Even though property taxes may not have gone up, Benson said his property assessment from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation has.

This caused taxes on his house to increase from $2,800 to $3,200 last year, despite the line being held.

Though the 2015 budget report states holding the line, “…has generally been achieved without significant impact on services,” both Windsorites mentioned the roads and infrastructure as needing more funding and attention.

Ken Regnier, a co-worker of Awram in Windsor, has a twoyear-old daughter. He said he would like to see more of his tax money be put towards activities and entertainment for young people.

“I can take her to Adventure Bay but she can’t play in any of the pools. She can play in the splash pads because she’s little. What else is there,” he said, referring to how much of the tax money went towards building the aquatic centre.

The 2015 budget requires all

city funded agencies, boards and committees to request the same, or a lesser amount than they did in 2014. It also indicates increased funding to departments such as police and land ambulance.

While Awram said giving less to those agencies than last year feels like going backwards, he also said he supports an increase to the emergency services departments.

Benson agreed and said he supports emergency services getting better funding.

“Since I was unionized all my life, I’d tell them to go for it…I wouldn’t take their job,” he said.

Windsor Police Services will see a $1.2 million increase this year.

The report also stated, “It is likely that service levels will start to deteriorate due to inflationary pressures without at least modest increases to the tax levy in the near term.”

Windsor residents will enjoy at least one more year of a zero per cent tax increase, but with no promise on the conditions of service levels and public maintenance.

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN 11

Students react to negative comments at St. Anne’s High School

Photo by Jillian Goyeau

Students protest with homemade shirts reading #TransLivesMatter” on Jan.20 phobia and homophobia have Melissa Amiouni been going on for a few Citizen Staff Reporter months but it wasn't until Jan. Students at St. Anne’s high 20 that hateful comments were school are reacting to the posted on Twitter. online incident that took place “A specific individual who on Jan. 20. identifies as trans was sent a With Valentine’s Day just comment ‘I pray you die,’” around the corner, the student Goyeau said. “That student council at St. Anne’s Catholic who was targeted has been High School decided to make repeatedly told to let it be and a matchmaking survey that encouraged not to respond to has left students talking and these messages.” protesting. The survey gave an Goyeau said although the “other” gender option which advice was understandable, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual some students felt it was and transgender) students wrong of the school to not were excited about, but it address the issue. Goyeau and escalated to confrontations 14 other members of the online. Grade 12 student schools Gay Straight Alliance Jillian Goyeau, 17, said trans- group wore homemade shirts

that said “#TransLivesMatter” the day after the tweet was posted.

“That shows that we were affected by the comments and that Trans issues are important to us and should be to the school community,” Goyeau said. “But the next day on Friday, that’s when the vandalism was discovered in the parking lot.”

On Jan. 22, St. Anne’s high school parking lot was vandalized with hateful graffiti writing saying “God hates trans,” which the O.P.P. is investigating. St. Anne’s issued a statement saying the person who vandalized the school will face serious consequences.

Staff and administration are still trying to figure out who the person behind the vandalism is. Another student in Grade 11 who doesn't want to be identified said she doesn't believe it should have gone as far as it did.

“I don't know why they (GSA) were protesting so hard, No one was being transphobic, but the next day someone vandalized the school and we don't know who it is,” She said. “St. Anne’s is not like that, We have never had anything like this before so I was just shocked.”

St. Anne’s plans to bring in a speaker and hold an assembly addressing the issue within the next few weeks.

Schools closed after snowstorm Malak Zubaydi Citizen Staff Reporter Windsor and Essex County were blasted by a winter storm on Sunday, Feb. 1.

Approximately 37 centimetres of snow fell in Windsor during snowstorm Linus which arrived Sunday night.

Cleaning up the snow will likely cost the city $500,000.

Schools were closed on Monday and many people struggled to get to their jobs or even leave their homes.

Scott Scantlebury, public relations officer at the Greater Essex County District School Board, said it was the first board-wide closure in 10 years.

School boards decided to close the schools because the amount of snow created haz-

ards, it was unsafe to get to school and parking lots were not cleared out.

Kaitlyn Smith, a student at St. Clair College in the social service workers program, was surprised at how much it snowed and how dangerous the storm made road conditions.

“I think it was really scary, there was a lot of snow,” Smith said.

Smith said it was a smart decision to close schools because she knows many students who live an hour away and were scared to drive. She said she was also happy because she got an extra day to catch up on work, which relieved a lot of stress.

Yousif Breesam, a student at Westview Freedom Academy, was also amazed that it

snowed for such a long time.

He said wanted to go to school because it was the first day back for the second semester.

But unfortunately, the day was off.

“I think this is worst storm I’ve ever seen,” said Breesam.

At first, Breesam was completely against the decision to cancel school, but after realizing how hard it was to drive out on the roads, he agreed with it and said it was very important for people to stay safe in their homes.

“I wanted to stay home to be safe because it was very dangerous out there, I just hope this snow melts as soon as possible,” said Breesam.

People are now happy that the roads got cleared out so they could get back to their jobs and students are back to school.

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Photo by Taylor Bucsh

Participants prepare to take the Polar Plunge at St. Clair College on Feb. 5.

Saints are freezin’ for a reason Taylor Busch CP Editor Students and staff of St. Clair College gave back to the community in a big way by participating in the Ontario Law Enforcement’s Polar Plunge at the south campus on Feb. 5.

On a cold morning in February, a crowd of students and various members of the media gathered to witness a St. Clair first – ice swimming for charity. The day started at around -14C and slowly warmed to a high of minus nine degrees around noon, just in time for the participants to jump in.

Divers were called in earlier to break up a layer of ice that had formed on the surface of the newly assembled pool while registration wrapped up.

“I was prepared for it to be cold, but when I touched the water this morning, it still shocked me,” said Const.

Celia Gagnon who is also the local liaison for Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run. “This is our first time in Windsor but it’s not my first time participating in it. At least we have good weather for it.”

According to the Special Olympics Ontario website, funds raised through events like the OLETR’s Polar Plunge are put into programs that help more than 18,000 special needs athletes and their families afford to participate in their games each year. Some of the costs these families incur include travelling, accommodations, meals, training and special coaches. Because many of them are already faced with high medical and educational fees, programs that help take away added burdens, like the polar plunge, are greatly appreciated.

St. Clair’s vice president John Fairley, who did not plunge as previously suggested, instead chose to make a sizable donation to the cause.

“They came to us with this idea in the summer and it seemed like such a good idea,” Fairley said jokingly before taking the stage. “But it’s all for a good cause and it’s something new for us, so we said we’d do it here because that’s what we do as a community college, we help the community.”

Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick also commented on the cold weather and said he was nervous to plunge.

“I have to be honest, I’m not looking forward to jumping in,” said Frederick. “But this is giving back to some very needy and deserving individuals so it’s positive.

This is the first time I’ve been coaxed into a polar bear dip and I am looking forward getting warmed up again after it.”

To encourage participation, the St. Clair’s Student Representative Council choose to have prizes on hand to award individuals and teams who impressed the event’s judges through their fundraising, costumes and even their pool entry technique. The panel included college president John Strasser who donated $5,000 to the cause and Windsor’s newly appointed Ward 1 Councillor Fred Francis.

Students who choose to take part in the polar plunge said they had different reasons to support it. For St. Clair College student Greg Montgomery, he said he has always tried to help his special needs classmates when-

SEE PAGE 13

NEWS

CONVERGED CITIZEN 12 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Local teen stars in new CBC sitcom

and crew members regarding my performance...Eugene Levy told me that I left a very big impression on them, which was one of the most memorable parts of this experience," said Rollo. "Working on Schitt's Creek was an extraordinary learning experience Photo by Julia Poehlman where I got a glimpse into the Alex McHardy (center) waits with Cubs for the next race. career I'm pursuing."

Rollo said his friends and family have been proud of his role in the sitcom.

“I think the show is extremehence the cars rely on the Julia Poehlman ly funny and it must be a great force of gravity to race.

Citizen Staff Reporter experience for Brandon for his Walter, 9, is a Cub who has Chatham-Kent Cub Scouts made it to the regionals. He future career,” said Robert Roeder, a friend of Rollo’s. raced to the finish with their said he’s been working on his “It’s nice to see people be handmade Kub Kars at J.G. Kub Kar for four weeks. given the chance to prove Taylor Community Centre.

“It’s fun. I like building it, About 39 Kub Kars raced at racing it and getting the what they can do and I think the annual Chatham-Kent Brandon took advantage of it.” awards,” said Walter, who has According to Rollo, he has Scouting Tartan Sertoma Kub been racing for two years appeared only in the back- Kar rally. The cars that did now. ground of the second episode well in the races received Scout leader, William and only has a role in the fifth awards for originality and Dodman said he enjoys the speed.

Some of the cars qualiepisode of the season. racing event. He has been “Schitt’s Creek” is a Canadian fied for the regionals which with Scouts Canada for more sitcom starring Eugene Levy will be held at the community than 20 years and started parand Catherine O’Hara and airs centre in Chatham on April 18. ticipating because of his chil“All southern Ontario is dren. on CBC at 9 p.m. on Tuesday going to be here,” said Ernie nights.

“I just got involved with it, I McKaig, a volunteer at the did what the kids did. I got to rally. meet a lot of interesting peoThe Cubs, age eight to 11, ple,” said Dodman. marketing and advertising pro- create their cars from blocks The Windsor area Kub Kar races gram, said he believes it is a good of wood. They carve and take place on Feb. 16 to 18 with change for the community. design their own vehicles and the finals on Feb. 21 at the Scout “Well it’s nice to see in terms of race them down a track with Service Centre. Those moving on our local economy,” said Glenn. other Cubs throughout the from the finals will compete at the “Actually I think it’s excellent to area. The track is a ramp, regionals in Chatham. see especially because Chrysler in the coming weeks will be retooling for the 2015s, and it’s nice to know that these changes they are “It would be nice if they Kristine Klein making will affect a large number could come up with a different Citizen Staff Reporter of people.” solution to raise more Parking meters are going up money,” said Amber Sauve, Glenn said he hopes to see an increase in jobs in the com- for Windsor downtown.

18, attending St. Clair College City council is weighing a Centre For The Arts, in the munity because of this sudden proposal made during budget Paralegal program. rise in sales.

“I also believe that the deliberations to boost parking The extra 25 cents at meters Windsor assembly plant is meter fees by 25 cents. and lots in Windsor should College students and busi- generate an extra $300,000 in essential to our economy and seeing that much of an ness owners say council revenue according to city offiincrease can only add more should not go through with cials. jobs to the already staggering this idea.

“I’m aware of the situation “We already pay so much for and the reasoning behind it workforce,” said Glenn. “I hope that Chrysler continues tuition, books, gas and food. but I do believe the price is to invest in their minivan line Increasing the costs for park- going up a lot because it really up, even though they eventu- ing meter would be harder for does add up,” said Tricia ally plan to axe the Dodge me and many other students Petryschuk, 55. “Being a sinGrand Caravan variant and that drive,” said Amara gle mother of a daughter who stick with the Town & Tatton, 19, currently attending doesn’t work, I do give her Country, I hope that does not St. Clair College, in the mar- money for parking, so the affect their sales or work- keting and advertising pro- increase cost in parking gram. force.” meters really does affect me Chair of the DWBIA Larry because I also pay a lot of In addition to retooling, Chrysler will be updating and Horwitz said it would be bet- taxes to add on top of that.” remodeling the factory and ter to look at the possibility of Windsor is currently running creating a new line within the free parking on Saturdays. a $1.8-million off-street parkThat idea is supported by building these next three ing reserve deficit according many students. months. to Blackburn News.

Cubs race for the finish

Brandon Rollo playing the part of Eric the Goth Kid in the new CBC “Schitt’s Creek” (photo courtesy of CBC) Jordan Caschera went smoothly and filming Citizen Staff Reporter started in April of last year at Pinewood Toronto Studios, a A local teen is starring in the studio which has been used to fifth episode of the opening film blockbuster films like season of the CBC sitcom Carrie, Robocop and Kick“Schitt’s Creek.”

Ass 2.

Brandon Rollo, 18, is a “It’s a surreal feeling to be a University of Windsor first- part of a show that stars year student in the drama pro- comedic legends like Eugene gram who auditioned in Levy and Catherine O’Hara,” March and got the part of said Brandon Rollo. "I “goth kid." According to received very positive feedRollo, the audition process back from actors, producers

Chrysler sales are soaring Chelsea Turnbull Citizen Staff Reporter Chrysler Canada minivan sales have grown significantly over the past year and workers see it as a positive sign for the city.

As of January, 18,054 vehicles were sold compared to the 17,698 sold in January 2014, which shows a rise of two per cent. The company now has 62 months of year to year sales increases, ranking it as their longest growing streak.

The Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans remain top sellers for Canadian customers. On Jan. 4, 309 Dodge and Chrysler Minivans were sold 33 per cent more than the 3,242 sold in January 2014.

Mitch Renaud, a 19 year old Windsorite, said he feels this will have a large impact for not only the city, but for him and his family as well.

“An important thing that it's not just Chryslers, it's all the feeder plants that supply Chryslers, like me. I work at Veltri Lakeshore, I make the rails for the minivan,” said Renaud. “It's probably one of the most important parts to the framework on the car.”

Renaud said that Windsor is very dependent on Chrysler and their sales and that it is important for the city's economy.

“Like, for Windsor to survive and flourish, they need Chryslers to keep the sales going. Imagine how many families are tied to the automotive business and how many parents are depending on that job, to support their families,” said Renaud.

Taylor Hollinsky, a temporary part-time worker at Chrysler who has been there for 14 months, said this may be the opposite of what many think.

“With all the new hires and planning going into Chryslers maybe the automotive industry is not destroying, but just might be helping Windsor,” said Hollinsky. “After this three month renovation, maybe sales will continue to increase even more and breathe life into our dying city.”

Chrysler has had strong sales for Jeep brand, Ram brand and minivans. The company's positive sales numbers are seen as a good sign for many young people Chris Glenn, a 19 year old student from St. Clair College in the

New parking cost

NEWS CONVERGED CITIZEN13 Snowstorm’s financial effect felt locally FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Blake Wilson Citizen Staff Reporter

The latest snowstorm cost Windsor $500,000 in snow removal services, but some local businesses were also affected by the storm.

The sounds of scraping shovels, revving engines of snow blowers, snow plows and salt trucks rung through the city beginning Sunday night.

Mountains of snow were piled up everywhere and snow banks lined the streets. The storm caught some citizens off guard who weren’t prepared.

The ones not prepared for the storm were blocked-in and unable to reach places of business that sell the equipment needed to clear away the snow. The irony was not lost on some business owners whose sales were also affected.

Brian, the sales manager at Canada Salvage said that some employees were snowed in and couldn’t make it to work.

“Because of the amount of snow, the store had one third less sales, but our seasonal department’s highest seller was snow shovels. We also had customers come to purchase copper piping because of frozen water lines. There was also a small increase in salt and gloves,” said Brian.

But not all businesses were negatively affected by the snow.

Lisa, a receptionist and dispatcher for Quinlan Inc. in Maidstone, said her company deals with 24 hour snow removal, plowing and salting.

“My guys have been working long hours very hard and trying to catch up on their sleep anticipating more snow,” said Lisa. “My duties are to keep things organized like the paperwork and keeping records of the workers log of snow.” The team worked by hand, with machines and whatever else was necessary.”

Quinlan Inc.’s clientele consists of parking lots, contract work, commercial, industrial and institutional as well as fire routes.

Photo by Blake Wilson Jaimie, an employee at Canada Salvage in Windsor shovels snow in front of store.

“Our increase in business is partly related to last year’s consistent snowfall. We had bookings from last year because clients were anticipating another year of the

same.” Lisa said.

Meteorologists at Environment Canada said the amount of snow during the storm was 37 centimeters, breaking Windsor’s previous

record of 13.4 centimeters in February of 2011.

Environment Canada cautions people that this may not be the end of the snow or the cold weather.

Windsor band plays Music Week

FROM PAGE 11

for the cause. All participants emerged from their change rooms looking refreshed.

Const. Joe Chauvin, who co-chaired the event, said he hopes to see St. Clair College host it again next year.

“It was a huge success for the students and staff of St. Clair College and a huge success for Special Olympics Ontario,” said Chauvin.

“We know approximately $15,000 has been raised so far and we still have a few initiatives happening so hopefully within a week or two we can get the final totals on our website www.polarplunge.ca.”

The next OLETR Polar Plunge is scheduled to take place in Ottawa on Feb. 21.

Tyler Boissonneault Citizen Staff Reporter

A local band is on the bill for Canadian Music Week while also working on a new album.

Windsor band Better Weather is one of two local talents who will be performing at this year’s Canadian Music Week in Toronto. The five-piece band will be preparing for the show and recording a full-length album expected to be released for their performance at the music week in May. According to David John Zelko, the vocalist and guitar player for the band, they have come a long way.

Zelko said the band began as a Kijiji ad for Zelko’s solo work, but he soon found being a band would be the best fit.

“After getting to know these guys, it started turning more into a full band project more than a solo project. We then added a second guitar player and played together as a four-

piece for just about two years,” said Zelko.

After the four-piece played a show with the band Life as Love of Water, Zelko became good friends with guitar player, John Moore. Zelko said after finding out he was originally a piano player, he asked him to jam with the band.

Shortly after, Moore was added to the band’s lineup.

Since then, the band has played several shows in Windsor at various venues and bigger local shows including Phog Phest.

According to Zelko, Canadian Music Week will be their biggest show to date.

“We’ve played big shows before, but nothing this big.

This is a big deal for us and we plan on making an impact and letting everyone know just who we are,” said Zelko.

Joseph Maria, the group’s drummer, said he is hopeful their performance at music week will open doors for the band, but it’s not necessary for bands to find success outside

of Windsor.

“This is a great city to play in and there are so many incredible bands to play with. It’s a great time to be a band in Windsor, right now. Although it’s also important to us to expose as many people as possible to our music,” said Maria.

The band will not only be expanding by playing in Toronto for music week, they will also be releasing a new album. This will be a followup to their previous album, Seasons. Maria said it will be tough to work up to the show and release the album, but he is looking forward to it.

“Having our new album ready for music week will be very rewarding I feel. It’s a huge chance for us to get a lot of exposure and we want the disc ready for that,” said Maria.

Both Zelko and Maria said they are giving thanks to their fans who gave them this opportunity. They said they hope to put out as much energy as their crowds give to them.

ever possible and hopes to continue doing so after he graduates.

“I’m a very social person, I want people to notice me and the cause itself is amazing so I’m happy to be associated with it,” said Montgomery. “Just to be able to be here is great and I figured if I could come out here in costume it would be a great way to draw some attention to this great cause.”

After the last plungers were pulled out of the pool, everyone was invited to warm up inside the college lobby with free hot chocolate, chili and beaver tails.

T-shirts and other memorabilia were sold to raise additional funds and awareness

HEALTH

CONVERGED CITIZEN14 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Shoppers invited to Seasonal depression thriving but treatable experience dementia Alexandra Latremouille Citizen Staff Reporter

David Dyck Citizen Staff Reporter On the final day of Alzheimer Awareness Month, visitors to Devonshire Mall were given a chance to understand the regular trials experienced by Windsor’s older adults.

Participants were given common tasks to complete including folding laundry and counting change. To mimic dementia, they had to wear oven mitts, taped-up glasses and earmuffs to perform the tasks.

“You don’t really know or understand what people are going through until you go through it yourself,” said Amy Szewczuk, care director for Amy’s Helping Hands. The organization provides homecare services to patients living with dementia and hosted the event along with the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

“It’s not even that we’re asking somebody to do a complex activity. We’re actually putting them through a daily task that you or I would do and just really showing the challenges that patients with dementia face every day.”

There were than 100 community members participating in the challenge. The AHH provides homemaking services, personal care for patients living at home and memory therapy to stimulate brain activity for people who are beginning to find ordinary tasks difficult.

“I think the most prevalent comment we’ve heard today is how frustrating it is,” said Szewczuk. “There’s definitely

FROM PAGE 1 In a statement placed on their website, CCAC promises patient care will not be compromised during the strike.

“All CCACs are focused on delivering on our commitments to patients and families during this challenging time,”

a sense of empathy and understanding.”

In one of the tasks, participants must don taped work gloves, glasses specially designed to impair vision and ear plugs and are then told to go through a wallet and write down the required personal information provided. Many of the cards displayed in the wallet have no bearing on the task at hand, helping participants feel the frustration of spending too long on seemingly ordinary activities.

“Just be patient with those people who have it,” said Mary-Anne Shavon, a 21year-old student at the University of Windsor who helped visitors through the challenges. “It’s something they don’t know they have and they’re just trying to live their life.”

Szewczuk founded her business after seeing a need for services catering to dementia victims in Windsor. Frustrated by her dad “consistently falling in between the gaps of the system,” she started the company for people willing to pay for the care but unable to find it.

“The event intends to raise awareness of people coping with the disease,” said Szewczuk, who also said it is already more well-known than before she started the organization six years ago.

Szewczuk said people can help just by looking to help those older than themselves through their daily living tasks.

More information can be found at www.amyshelpinghands.ca said provincial CCAC spokesperson Megan AllenLamb.

No word has yet been released on when the strike is hoped to be resolved. Both CCAC and ONA say they are ready to return to the bargaining table if they believe a fair settlement can be reached.

Seasonal affective disorder is troubling local residents this time of year, but effective treatments are becoming more readily available.

SAD is a type of depression primarily affecting people during fall and winter. According to the Mood Disorders Associations of Ontario, up to 15 per cent of Canadians experience SAD in their lifetime.

Windsor psychotherapist Robert Goulard said the illness is starting to be more widely accepted and understood.

Windsorites, like many other

Canadians, are more understanding of seasonal depression because they’ve noticed how prevalent it is in themselves,” said Goulard, owner of Robert Goulard Counselling Service. “I’ve noticed it in my life. My wife has it. It drags you down and is really difficult to ignore.”

Associated with lethargy, moodiness and weight gain, SAD is generally believed to be caused by lack of sunlight and vitamin D, according to local physician Natasha Zajmalowski. She said outdoors activity is one of the best cures for it.

“Getting outside during the day is essential, if even for five minutes,” said

-

Tel: 519-972-2727

Zajmalowski, a naturopathic doctor at Proactive Healthcare. “This is especially true on sunny days, as it helps regulate rhythm.”

According to Goulard, not all adults are inclined to do this, especially if they have other mental illnesses. For some, it can get to the point where they don’t want to leave their house.

For those in this situation, other treatments include light therapy, counselling and medication, as listed on the Canadian Mental Health Association’s website.

Between 60 and 80 per cent of people who used these treat-

SEE PAGE 15

OPINION CONVERGED CITIZEN15 Detroit’s toughest newsman FEBRUARY 12, 2015

would cover events currently affecting the region, such as Detroit’s emergence from bankruptcy or the tug-of-war over same-sex marriage in Michigan.

Bonds ruled television news in Detroit during a career that spanned four decades. In the age before 24-hour news channels and multiple news networks, he is remembered fondly in Windsor as well. He forever changed the way the news was presented and was the TV personality the common man could identify with.

He set the standard from which current journalists and journalists-in-training would benefit.

Bonds was the ultimate Detroiter with a personality that matched the Motor City – tough and compassionate.

Raised on the city’s east side, he was by his own account not a very good student. But he always knew he wanted to be a journalist. Graduating from the University of Detroit Mercy, he worked for several Detroit area radio stations, most notably at WKNR-AM (1310), or what was known as “Keener 13.″ The station was known for its just-the-facts style of news presentation, unlike the blood-and-guts

style of its Top 40 rival, CKLW-AM (800) in Windsor.

But Bonds thought he had more to offer and he claimed he didn’t have a great radio voice.

He unsuccessfully auditioned several times for Detroit TV stations, but Channel 7 took notice after Bonds covered a tornado in Macomb County for radio.

Bonds interviewed victims, the governor and others then climbed a telephone pole with his tape recorder, hooked it to the wires with alligator clips and fed his stories back to the station. WXYZ hired him soon after that, at a time when their news division was struggling.

Management at Channel 7 saw something in Bonds and began to build a team with him. When Detroit exploded in insurrection in July 1967, WXYZ covered the story wall-to-wall and things just went up from there. By 1973, with Bonds as anchor, Channel 7 was number one.

ABC owned WXYZ at the time and they had Bonds briefly working for their stations in Los Angeles and New York, but Bonds would always end up back home.

If there is one thing today’s

journalists could be grateful to Bonds for, it was presentation.

Before TelePrompTers became commonplace, Bonds believed viewers would trust an anchor who looked them in the eye, so he made eye contact important. He certainly had no problem inserting his own opinion into some of the stories he covered and for that reason he became the most loved and hated personality in Detroit television.

The most important lesson that today’s journalists could learn from Bill Bonds?

He would strive to make sure his A-game was on and he made sure everyone he worked with was as well. If you were a reporter doing a live shot, you’d better know your story inside and out or you’d look like an idiot. One YouTube clip shows Bonds throwing a profanity-laced tirade over a poorly-written promo script. One newscast I watched when I was younger had Bonds suddenly stop and bark “Let’s go, prompter!”

As tough as Bonds was on others, he was certainly toughest on himself. His battles with alcoholism were very public.

The death of one of his children in a drunk-driving accident in the 1980s didn’t help

matters either. He went to rehab several times, once after he challenged Detroit Mayor Coleman Young to a boxing match on live TV. It was a very public drunk-driving arrest that cost Bonds his job in 1995. Bonds would later return to the station to do commentaries and host specials.

There was no question Bill Bonds was the most dominant news anchor in Detroit. Why? Because he asked the questions we wanted asked. He held newsmakers accountable for their actions and called them out on their BS. He was, you could say, the last of Detroit’s old-school newsmen.

I was an assignment desk intern at Channel 7 in the fall of 1996, my last semester pursuing a communications degree at Wayne State University. I was just a kid at the time. Bonds was gone by then, which I thought was unfortunate. Although I would have certainly found him intimidating, I would have loved to ask him those questions I thought about when I did that assignment so many years ago.

Bill Bonds.

A newsman with the personality of the city he covered and loved.

Suspicious package found at Detroit- Windsor tunnel

FROM PAGE 14

and energetic.

“Everyone takes time for their family at some point,” said Goldfinch. “Maybe just contact each other every once in a while, to cheer each other up a bit.”

Anyone who feels they have seasonal depression is advised to be diagnosed by their health care practitioner. According to WebMD, SAD symptoms can sometimes overlap with other types of depression and hypothyroidism.

Although there are many effective remedies to help counter the illness, the best one has not been agreed upon.

”

Mark Brown Columnist

OPINION When I was in grade school we had an assignment in English class on interviewing.

One of the questions on the assignment asked which famous person I’d like to interview. There was only one person who came to my mind and still does after all these years…

Bill Bonds.

Bonds, the former anchorman at WXYZ-TV Channel 7 in Detroit, died of a heart attack on Dec. 13, 2014 at the age of 82. When I heard the news, my mind went back to that day in grade school and some of the questions I wanted to ask him, but never had the chance to. I also spent some time over the holiday break thinking about how he

Kassandra Coates Citizen Staff Reporter Windsor police arrested two males who are facing weapon charges after a smoke bomb was discovered on the Canadian side of the border.

On Jan. 20 at approximately 5:45 p.m. the Canadian Border Services Agency evacuated the DetroitWindsor tunnel after a suspicious package was found. The unmarked cardboard cylinder with a fuse attached to it was found during a secondary inspection of the vehicle.

The two Michigan men entering Canada were detained at the border, while the tunnel was evacuated and the explosive disposal unit was examining the package.

“The vehicle made full crossage into Canada, made primary, and was directed to secondary,” Sgt. Matthew D’Asti of the Windsor police said at a press conference Tuesday evening.

Photo by Kassandra Coates Police cars block the entrance of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Jan. 20.

“They are in Windsor police headquarters, they are being detained under the authority of CBSA that can transfer over to us at any point.”

When the Emergency Dispatch Unit identified the smoke bomb, it was not considered a serious threat.

Through the investigation police found a pair of brass knuckles inside the vehicle, which is a prohibited weapon. D’Asti said those will be brought into the investigation as well.

D’Asti had very little information about age, the make or model of the vehicle, and said he could not comment on whether the men were detained without incident.

The tunnel reopened around 9 p.m.

“There is no reason at this point we believe, to have any concerns regarding security,” D’Asti said.

If anyone has any information about the incident they can call the Windsor police at 519-255-6700 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477.

ments noticed significant health improvements.

Some Windsorites have discovered even minor lifestyle adjustments help counter their SAD symptoms.

“I definitely suffer from it every year,” said Vanessa Goldfinch, a substitute teacher in the Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence.

“That’s why I take vitamin D supplements. They seem to help, at least just a bit.”

Goldfinch said family activities also help her stay happy

FROM PAGE 1 come up with a new model for municipalities that could save the town “probably somewhere between one or two million dollars a year.”

D’Asti said while talks may move forward, for the time being the City of Windsor and the WPS are putting together the proposal

for Amherstburg, and will see where things go from there.

DiCarlo said they’re just waiting for offers from both Windsor and the OPP, but expects it will be a few months before that happens.

“Once we get those offers we’ll be in a position to sit down as a council, compare costs, service levels, anything and everything related to policing,” DiCarlo said.

SPORTS

CONVERGED CITIZEN16 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

What can Brown do for you?

those banners (in the rafters) and are reminded of what home court advantage means, and we take pride in that.”

The Express battled to a 114100 win in the front half of the home-and-home as Quinnel Brown tied for the game high in points with 22.

“We went out there with the idea of everyone being aggressive. We ended up just getting DeAndre (Thomas) going early… And Quinnel (Brown) was our leading scorer, we expect those things from him,” said Jones.

The Express were able to control the game in the paint, outscoring the Lightning 52 to 38. Six foot eight Centre DeAndre Thomas contributed

16 of those “trench” points.

“My teammates believed in me,” said Thomas. “I just had to make the plays and execute the foul shots when I got the opportunity.”

Seattle native Ryan Anderson contributed with a combined 34 points in both games, shooting 50 per cent from beyond the arc on in the front half of the home-andhome.

“I didn’t know I shot 50, I’m just grateful to be playing,” said Anderson. “To be sitting on the sideline for so long you just want to get in there and (play) with all your heart.”

Anderson who had to sit out a majority of the season bounced back in a big way scoring 20 points on seven of 14 shooting at the WFCU. “We can’t forget what we did, play through adversity and we need to be more dialed in with a back-to- back playoff style (format),” said Anderson On Feb. 5, both teams went back to London, Ont. With the Lightning looking to get back into the win column having lost four of their last six games.

Forward Kevin Loiselle and Anderson scored early baskets helping the Express to a 22-17 lead after the first quarter.

After going on an 8-5 run to start the second quarter, London took a 33-32 lead.

The lead would be short lived as Quinnel Brown netted 16 points in the first half and 14 in the second on route to a 111-93 victory.

“We just play one game at a time,” said Jones. “We know London Is gunning for our number one spot.”

The Express now have a five game lead on the Lightning going into their next match-up with the Halifax Rainmen on Feb. 8.

atric care manager and owner of Amy’s Helping Hands.

“What this does is keep the brain synapse firing and slow down the deterioration of the patient’s memory.”

Szewczuk said she is a bone marrow transplant nurse by trade. She became more involved in Alzheimer’s when her father fell was diagnosed with the disease. Since then, she founded Helping Hands

and dedicates much of her time to. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s website, in 2011, over 700,000 Canadians lived with a cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s.

If the rate of Canadians being diagnosed with the disease doesn’t decrease significantly by 2031, research shows the figure will jump to 1.4 million.

Photo by Jordon Caschera Ed Horton of the London Lightning (left) defends Quinnel Brown of the Windsor Express on Wednesday, Feb. 4. at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre.

Mike Hugall Citizen Staff Reporter The Windsor Express won back to back games over the London Lightning Feb. 4-5 at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre and Budweiser Gardens.

The Express (19-7) began the week three games in front of the London Lightning (1311) for first place in the National Basketball League Central Division. With the win, the club remained undefeated at home.

“Our objective is to refuse to lose at home,” said Windsor Express head coach Bill Jones. “Every time we come to the WFCU we look up to

FROM PAGE 8 at the walk was to shed more light on what it is like to live with a failing memory. The business’s owner said they have an effective memory therapy program.

“A cognitive coach works with someone having Alzheimer’s and goes through activities with them,” said Amy Szewczuk, certified geri-

Photo by Jordon Caschera Josh Collins of the Windsor Express attempts to complete a play on Wednesday Feb. 4 at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre

Windsor Express victorious over London Lightning Mike Hugall Citizen Staff Reporter Former University of Windsor stand-outs Josh Collins and Enrico DiLoreto met at half court after the Windsor Express and London Lightning squared off at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre, Feb. 4.

Both players attended the university from 2009-2014 as members of the Lancers who went to a Canadian Inter university Sport championship tournament.

Collins, who led the Lancers all-time in assists is grateful that the two can continue their friendship on and off the court.

“It’s a good opportunity to keep playing basketball,” said Collins. “We were roommates when we started and we were roommates when we ended our careers.”

DiLorteo, who was the Windsor Lancer’s all-time leader sat out the home-andhome due to a shoulder in jury, but still feels some sort of passion when watching his

former teammate take the court.

“I’m happy for him,” said DiLoreto. “I like seeing him play professional ball and I miss him.”

Having played together for four years in CIS basketball, Lancers head coach Chris Oliver reflected on what both players meant to the program.

“Josh and Enrico were incredibly impactful during their careers at Windsor, both as players and as greater members of the university and Windsor community,” said Oliver. “It was a perfect fit as teammates and friends as both complimented each other in a positive way. They acted as each other’s yin yang.”

DiLoreto said he has plans to play overseas when given the opportunity. He would like to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Lien Phillip by playing in Europe.

Both players will meet again on Feb. 13 when the Lightning travel back down the 401 to take on the Windsor Express at the WFCU Centre.