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VOLUME IX ISSUE II
WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM
FEBRUARY 13, 2014
Adventure Romance and roses come together on Valentine’s Day Bay to close temporarily Justin Prince Citizen Staff Reporter
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Photo By Bobby-Jo Keats
Brandi Sullivan prepares floral arrangements for Valentine’s Day at Janette Florist Feb. 7. Bobby-Jo Keats Citizen Staff Reporter
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For one local florist, red roses are the focus of romance on Valentine’s Day. Co-owner of Janette Florist Brandi Sullivan is preparing for Feb. 14 with a large assortment of flowers and arrangements. The local, family owned shop located at 686 Janette Ave., has been in business since 1947. “Traditionally, red roses mean love, so they are the most popular on Valentine’s Day. But we do sell many different
colours,” said Sullivan. “Also, we do a large number of mixed flowers, Valentine’s arrangements and plants. We make sure we have a selection for every budget.” Sullivan said orchids are also popular items this time of year. Along with flowers, Sullivan says they also sell a lot of chocolates, teddy bears, balloons, and baskets on Valentine’s Day. In preparation for the upcoming day of romance, the owners make sure the flower buckets are clean and customers are encouraged to pre-order their purchases before Valentine’s Day.
Culture inspiration for local artist Hailey Trealout Citizen Staff Reporter
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From spirited cave paintings and hieroglyphics to the Mona Lisa and Starry Night, people have been using art to tell a story – this is the concept that has Vince Allen Kogut picking up his pencil. The Art Gallery of Windsor showcases local talent and holds themed exhibits every couple months for local artists. Kogut submitted a piece to the ‘Border Cultures Part Two’ exhibit at the gallery.
“Being from Windsor, you have skateboard culture, you have the live music culture around here, obviously the labour culture,” said Kogut. “There are all these little subcultures that I’ve been a part of or experienced in my time living here that have their own influential qualities … My art is more focussed on the people involved in the labour community.” Kogut’s piece shows a woman in a Chrysler uniform standing with an electric drill in her left hand. See LABOUR Page 3
The Adventure Bay Water Park will be temporarily shutting down after receiving complaints about having slippery floors. According to Don Sadler, the project manager for the Windsor Family Aquatic Complex, there have been multiple complaints about the floors being too slippery when either walking or running since its opening on Jan. 18. The park is planning to use an aftermarket sand-based coating to prevent slipping and will close the park to apply the coating Feb. 2328. “We felt that we wanted to make the experience a little better in there,” said Sadler. “Water parks and water park floors are going to be inherently a little bit slippery. So it’s one of those things that we noticed.” According to Sadler, the floor coating is made by Sika Canada which is compatible with the current floor at the park. The current epoxy flooring meets both friction and safety standards in Canada, but the coating will be used to improve its slip friction. Sadler said the coating will be covered within the facility’s current $78 Million budget. “We want everyone to enjoy themselves at the water park,” said Ward 1 Coun. and chair of the Windsor Aquatic Complex’s Standing Committee Drew Dilkens. “We don’t want people to get hurt. Safety is our primary goal.” Park officials are also planning to investigate building an elevator or conveyor belt in the facility to be used for the rafts. See CLOSURE Page 7
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The Crimson Canuck continues to help those in need
Photo by Chris Mailloux
Crimson Canuck prepares to patrol the streets of Windsor to help the homeless, Nov. 19, 2012. Chris Mailloux Layout Manager Windsor’s own super hero is working to help the homeless even outside of
Windsor. The persona of the Crimson Canuck was created in October 2011 and is being used to inspire others to get involved in their communities.
According to the Crimson Canuck, he hasn’t been able to patrol the streets of Windsor as much as he would like lately because of work and supprting his family taking up most of his time. He even considered leaving the Real Life Super Hero life behind at one point but decided against it. “I still do not fully understand what my role will evolve into as Windsor’s costumed activist but I am sticking around for now, appearing in costume when I have the time,” said Crimson Canuck. On Jan. 24 Crimson Canuck took a trip to Toronto and patrolled the streets with fellow Real Life Super Heroes and members of his team called The Trillium Guard. The Guard was co-founded by Crimson Canuck and includes other Real Life Super Heroes from Canada. The heroes walked the streets of Toronto with a film crew documenting their patrol.
Crimson Canuck was contacted by Lauren Toyota from MTV about trying to promote the RLSH movement. “We always love to share our story with the media so we took them on a real patrol,” said Crimson Canuck.” Despite the cold weather the Trillium guard continued to patrol the streets of Toronto. Crimson Canuck also said he met a homeless man who urinates in bottles and puts them under his armpits just to stay warm. “We brought many socks, snacks, toques, mittens and anything that could help someone living on the street,” said Crimson Canuck. “We were able to hand a bunch of things out to as many people living on the sidewalk as we could.” Local comic book creator and publisher, Tony Gray, said he admires the concept of inspiring others to become active in their community. “The Crimson Canuck is great guy,” said Gray. “How
can you do anything other than applaud all the Real Life Super Heroes that are willing to go out on their own and their own time, their own dime to try and make those that are suffering aware they aren’t forgotten.” Gray also said seeing people walking around dressed in costumes offers validation for him as a comic book creator. “It shows that the message we’re trying to promote through stories is hitting home hard enough for people to inspire some people to actually emulate the heroes and do what they can for a good cause,” said Gray. The Crimson Canuck said he believes being a bright and interesting character is a great way to spread the word about any causes you have. “Through the Real Life Super Hero movement, I’ve made best friends, formed bonds that will last a lifetime and memories that can be passed to the next generation,” said Crimson Canuck.
Sports tourist facility could be in jeopardy Justin Thompson Layout Editor
Plans to finish building a $17 million sports tourism facility could be stopped if developers are not granted tax and business incentives by the city. James King, owner of King Development, said the company will not continue the remaining phases of the building plan if they do not secure a $1.9 million grant. “We won’t build it, right now my feeling is that it just doesn’t make sense,” said King. “I believe that council members will come together and will look at the whole thing and see that this community needs this type of facility here.” The Windsor Central Park Athletics facility is eligible to receive tax and business incentives through the Economic Revitalisation Community Improvement Plan. The facility is being built by King Development on Grand Marais Road East. The company is asking for $1.9 million but city
Photo By Justin Thompson
Rowan Faludi (left) from urbanMetrics Inc. and James King(right) from King Development listen as city councillors discuss King Development’s request to be granted tax and business incentives at city hall in Windsor on Jan. 13. administration has suggest- complete the construction Hilary Payne and Ed Sleiman were at the planed $607,380 spread over 10 of an indoor soccer pitch. “We qualified for the ning and economic develyears. economic development,” opment committee meeting The company intends to build the facility to a pro- said King. “It’s that sim- Jan. 13 to vote on the recfessional standard. Two ice ple. If we qualify, we ommendation. Dilkens and pads and a gymnastics should be granted. That’s Payne voted against the recommendation. facility have already been the way I feel.” City Councillors Bill “There is a need in the built. The company has Marra, Drew Dilkens, community for this kind of applied for the grant to
development for an indoor soccer area for kids to play,” said Dilkens. Marra and Sleiman voted in favour of the recommendation. Because of the tie the decision will go before city council. “It appears that the economics of it won’t work if they don’t get the grant,” said Marra. “I think that’s the other selling feature to me. The part that surprised me is that what’s triggering the substantial development charges is that it’s going to be an enclosed facility.” Though Marra did say the facility is ‘‘unique,’’ because it could bring great tourism benefits to Windsor. The facility will replace the former Windsor Ice Park, a privately owned arena complex that opened in 1996. The complex was no longer profitable and filed for bankruptcy in 2011. The Ice Park was sold to King Development in January 2012. If the company does receive the grant, the facility is expected to be fully
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Metadata deemed valuable to business
Photo by Rick Dawes
Director of Marketing Brandy Vaillancourt sends a text message from her cellphon, inside the Alphakor satellite in office on Tecumseh Avenue Feb. 4. Metadata is the information behind all online communications and reveals a number of things about the sender and receiver but not the message itself. tion and number of calls made soil. Rick Dawes Using the public Wi-Fi of an from a device. The content of the Citizen Staff Reporter international airport, metadata of private message is not part of the internet users in the airport was metadata. Metadata takes the form of meta collected for two weeks. CSEC Who’s after your metadata? chief John Foster appeared before tags on webpages, also known as A local tech professional says the Senate national defense com- “key words.” metadata, the digital information mittee to defend the operation and Windsor IT company Alphakor behind online communications, is said CSEC was acting within the handles search engine optimizavaluable to businesses and can be law. tion for businesses. categorized to make understandBrandy Vaillancourt is director He said the information was not ing large amounts of information being used to make profiles of of marketing at the firm and uses easier. Canadians, which is illegal for tags like these to bring customer’s There are also a number of CSEC to do, but rather the data webpages to the top of search cues. things metadata can reveal about was to study network access “Metadata to us means developyou. ing a website that speaks to what around public Wi-Fi. Ex-NSA contractor Edward The redacted PDF document can consumers are looking for today Snowden leaked a document be found on the CBC website. on the web through Google, revealing a top secret Cell phone metadata may tell the Yahoo, Bing,” Vaillancourt said. Communications Security location where a call was made, She described meta tags as a Establishment of Canada exercise the phone number of the device “behind-the scenes” infrastructure that was conducted on Canadian used, the duration of communica- to a webpage.
Severe weather affecting students Chelsea Lefler Citizen Staff Reporter The severe weather this year in Windsor is preventing students from getting to school and is affecting their education. “It’s affecting my schooling because the care for the sidewalk and roads makes it difficult to get to class,” said University of Windsor student Tiffany Bolton. “I had a midterm today and a lot of other students didn’t get to write, because they physically couldn’t get to school.” The severe weather is caus-
ing students to stay home because it’s either too cold or the roads are too dangerous they are unable to drive to school. Feb. 5 there was a severe weather warning for the city with temperatures reading -12C. The temperature was nine degrees colder yesterday than it was on Feb. 5 2001. Twice since the beginning of the winter semester St. Clair College cancelled classes for part of the day. Scott Scantlebury works in public relations with the Great Essex County District School Board. Scantlebury said the board
cancelled it buses four times since the new year. On Jan 6, 7 and Feb 8 both city and county buses were cancelled, making it difficult for students to get to school “For computer students it makes it difficult to get to class, especially when the roads aren’t plowed and salted,” said Tyler Girard, University of Windsor student. “It sucks when you actually want to go to school and get your money’s worth of education but can’t because of Mother Nature.” According to the Weather Network’s website the daily snowfall record in in southern Ontario had been broken for Feb. 5.
“It’s kind of like a means to catalogue,” she said. “So it’s like taking a website that has a thousand words a page and 50 pages, down to the top 50 topics. So instead of analyzing word by word it’s analyzing by topic.” This makes it easier for people to find what they’re looking for on Google. Google offers meta tag suggestions for web sites and reports on which keywords are being used in certain industries around the world. Vaillancourt said this can then be filtered down to find out top key words by county, city or town. “They actually go and capture those searches that people are making every month and will show you the most popular search term,” Vaillancourt said. “So if you change one word by one way you can drastically change the traffic to your web site.” Vaillancourt said in her industry, metadata is valuable because of what you can do with it, not necessarily the content linked to it. It is easy to figure out what tags are attached to a web page so other businesses may base their strategies off high ranking web sites. “The person who gets to the right keywords first will typically do better because they’ve been established in that topic for longer. So if it takes six months for you to get to where your competitors have already been, it’s difficult to jump them at that point,” said Vaillancourt. Moe Hachem is a downtown resident who lives on University Avenue near Pelissier Street. He regularly uses the Internet and occasional logs on to the free public Wi-Fi in Starbucks down the street from his apartment. He had no prior knowledge of metadata. “I never really heard about it,”
said Hachem. “Never heard that term before.” When Hachem messages with friends on Facebook or when he uses a search engine he is using metadata that can reveal a variety of parameters. According to the leaked documents CSEC was using the data collected from Canadians to run simulations involving hypothetical kidnappers using mobile devices. The Wi-Fi and cellular data were being analyzed by a program called Tradecraft. Using other monitored Wi-Fi spots, metadata could be filtered by search parameters to triangulate the origin of the data and the device that sent it. Hachem doesn’t think being tracked all the time by the use of data would be good but in some occasions it could be beneficial. “Maybe to feel safe if you have that option, to turn that on when you want that option on, then ok,” Hachem said. “But there should be an off switch.” Downtown St. Clair College Hospitality student Krystina Bigelow said she uses her mobile device all day and connects to public Wi-Fi also. She said the possibility of someone using her metadata makes her uneasy. “I think everyone just wants privacy, like to an extent right?” Bigelow said. “I think it would just be creepy. It’s like the government is stalking you.” While privacy issues are being raised concerning CSEC’s mass collection of people’s metadata the redacted PDF said, “all the previous analytics, while successful experimentally, ran much to slowly to allow for practical productization.” With the U.N. announcing privacy a human right, do you know who sees your metadata and what it could reveal about you?
From LABOUR Page 1 Before Kogut begins his sketch, he sets up photo shoots with his subjects. Using various poses and props, he combines the different traits he likes onto one canvas using a layering technique. Eventually coming up with the final product. “My favourite thing is when I’m doing a show, I have people come up to me and they’ll look at the pieces and they’ll tell me what they got from it. That’s more effective to me than me telling you exactly what I want to say,” said Kogut. “It’s the idea of introducing new ideas to other people. To take a look at things a little differently than they would. To really look at
your community in a positive light or at specific people in a positive light.” Kogut said he thinks the labour culture is an important topic no one should forget about. “The labour culture is a very complex situation,” said Kogut. “Looking at Detroit and how that region really flourished through labour, and now it’s taken a turn. Whereas Windsor is in the same kind of… I don’t want to say ‘one trick pony’ nature but I guess we can go that route, and just how instances like that affect Windsor. Who knows what the future holds for this kind of work, for what really defined this region.” The Border Cultures exhibit will be displayed at the Gallery until April 13.
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Climate change linked to extreme weather events
Photo by Richard Riosa
Co-director of the Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research at the University of Iowa Dr. Jerry Schnoor gives a free lecture on climate change at the University of Windsor Jan. 30. Richard Riosa Copy Editor A climate change expert is warning people to become more informed about climate
change and the effects it has on the planet, but few people showed up to hear him speak in Windsor. Jerry Schnoor, co-director of
the Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research at the University of Iowa, gave a free lecture on climate change at the University of Windsor Jan. 30, but fewer than 50 people attended. Douglas Haffner of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research said he invited Schnoor to give the lecture in Windsor because he believes Essex County must work harder to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “I don’t think people are aware of how important it (climate change) is,” said Haffner. “This room should be full and it’s not because people really aren’t aware yet just how this is going to affect their lives, how this is going to affect their jobs and what kind of jobs they have. This is going to affect their quality of life.”
According to Schnoor, climate change refers to the trend of increasing temperatures on the planet. He said statistically warmer average temperatures throughout the last century have been causing the recent increase in frequency of extreme weather events. “As it (Earth) gets warmer, there’s more evaporation from the seas. More evaporation means more moisture in the air and more moisture means more clouds, particularly high clouds, which seem correlated with these intense precipitation events,” said Schnoor. Schnoor said emissions created from burning fossil fuels have created a blanket of greenhouse gasses within the atmosphere trapping radiation coming off the Earth, causing temperatures around the planet to rise. Although average temperatures are projected to
consistently rise over the next century, Schnoor said people need to become more aware of the effects of this climate change and become more involved in transitioning to renewable energy. Mechanical engineering student Dustin Rivard, 23, attended Schnoor’s lecture on climate change and said although he was disappointed by the number of people in attendance, he was optimistic about reducing fossil fuel emissions. “Everyone asks themselves ‘What’s the point of life,’” said Rivard. “The point of life is to leave a better future for your kids and the generations after you, so if you’re not informed of climate change, then what are you doing to help the future?” See CLIMATE Page 6
Transition to junior hockey is proving to be difficult Evan Mathias Sports Editor Almost every Canadian hockey player grows up dreaming to play in the NHL, to play hockey at the highest level for their favourite team. For many of these kids that dream will never be achieved. For some however, they have the skill necessary to play at a level of hockey high enough to be drafted into major-junior hockey in one of the three Canadian Hockey League teams For these players this is just one step closer to their final goal, the NHL. These players though, might not initially realize how different playing junior hockey is compared to the minor hockey they have grown up playing all their lives. Everything about the game changes when you make that jump from AAA hockey into the OHL. Hockey is no longer just about having fun. The OHL is a business and teams expect their players to perform at a level that brings success to the team. As a player you are also expected to be mature and act professionally as not to bring negative media attention towards the organization you play for. Andrew Sykes, owner of the Windsor-Essex Hockey
Prospectus Website and scout for TheScout.ca said players who come into the OHL straight from minor-midget hockey need to adjust to a variety of things, with one of the main adjustments being the business mentality of the OHL. “In minor-midget the player experiences some pressure of the OHL Draft and coaches that are fairly demanding, but it is still very much a fun season and not nearly as demanding as junior,” said Sykes. “In junior you are expected to be entirely focused on hockey, focused on your workouts, every day at practice and every game.” Rob Benneian, marketing coordinator of the LaSalle Vipers sees the transition into a business world differently for players making the jump into junior hockey. He said that many already understand much of the business side and what it means to be a professional athlete. “I think young hockey players who have an eye on making a living in the sport learn early on that it’s a business so that isn’t that big a difference at the junior level,” said Benneian. “They all already have agents and treat it like a job if they are serious about advancing. Competitive midget hockey is as much a
business as anything.” Despite minor-midget hockey being a business, there is no comparison to being under the eye of the media almost 24/7 and being under public scrutiny every game if you are under performing. Many players cannot overcome that pressure and are unable to successfully advance at the OHL or Junior B levels. The added pressure of a business world isn’t the biggest difficulty for players coming into the OHL, according to Sykes. He said there are two main challenges and differences for players to adjust to, the first being on-ice differences. “On the ice the most obvious difference is the gap in age,” said Sykes. “Not only are you playing against older players who are much stronger and more physically matured, but also those same players are also the best of the best and have so much more experience on their side. Junior hockey is a constant learning experience and it takes a special talent to come in and excel as a rookie.” The second difference generally has nothing to do with being on the ice. “The other part is the off-ice changes. Most have to move away from home, which is difficult in itself. Add in having
to balance hockey, school and an incredibly compressed schedule makes it a massive change from what they would be used to. It requires a young person to mature mentally and emotionally very quickly to be able to take it all in.” What about those off-ice difficulties though, the difficulties that can’t just be overcome by hard work and practicing more. Difficulties such as leaving family and friends you have grown up with your whole life for eight or more months out of the year, very seldom getting to visit. The challenge of moving in with a new billet family players live with, often for the duration of their junior hockey careers is just as difficult as learning the new style of game on the ice. The off ice impacts might actually be the ones that are more difficult for players to adapt to, because they are things they may not have expected or thought about when they were drafted into the OHL. The level of maturity expected of these players to just make a jump to a new league, a new life and leave their old one behind can be baffling. Sykes said there isn’t really any way for these players to prepare
for this transition. He said for a lot of players, whether they think they are prepared or not, it doesn’t really hit them until the change actually happens and they are living away from the family and friends that they depended on so much, just weeks or months before. However Sykessaid though that there are some players who make seamless transitions into the junior hockey lifestyle despite moving away from home. “The players that can easily make the transition have to have a high level of maturity both on and off the ice. They have to be able to adapt to situations and circumstances and meet any challenges head on with a clear head,” said Sykes. The players who can overcome this challenge of junior hockey can often endure another challenge, the pressure of the league and the expectations of the coaches and team management. There are some cases where players are able to make the adjustment of living away from home during their junior hockey r See JUNIOR Page 7
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Life goes on in frigid cold of Windsor With a temperature of -16C gripping Windsor and Essex County Feb. 7, people are continuing their everyday lives. Postal workers, food delivery and heating and constructions workers are among the many people who have to work in this weather. People still have to get around and work. The snow causes them to struggle on days when it is extremely cold or the sidewalks are covered in snow and ice. Bill Poirier, a Windsor resident, said he struggles to operate his motorized wheelchair in the weather while doing his errands. The snow and ice building up at street corners and on sidewalks, make getting around almost impossible. “Nobody clears anything,” said Poirer. “I have been forced to drive on the road.” Sarah Clozza, a mail carrier for Canada Post, said she has to work outside and go up and down slushy sidewalks. She said the cold weather makes doing her job difficult. “It’s slippery,” said Clozza. “The temperatures can make it challenging.” Bitterly low temperatures are expected to stay in Windsor and Essex County until at least Feb. 12.
Icy sidewalks can be a challenge for many Windsorites, this unidentified man walks on Ouellette Avenue Feb. 7.
Sarah Clozza, a delivery person for Canada Post, waits for a bus to take her to the start of her route Feb. 7.
Bill Poirier travels the city in his motorized chair on Feb. 7. Poirier says unplowed sidewalks and clogged corners make it difficult for him to manoeuvre in the city.
Scott Duchesne, a service tech with CK Mechanical, works out in the cold Feb. 7. He said they have been kept busy during these frequent cold snaps.
Steam rises from the Detroit River Feb. 7. The warm water hitting the cold air causes the steam to rise from the breaks in the ice.
Bundled up to protect herself from the cold, this Windsorite gets ready to cross University Avenue Feb. 7.
Photos by Dan Gray
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Which next generation video game console is right for you?
Photo By Chris Mailloux
An Xbox One display and attendees playing the system at the Toronto Fan Expo Canada 2013, August 22.
Chris Mailloux Layout Mangaer All three next generation gaming consoles have been released and gamers continue to line up to buy the console they want. Within 24 hours of their release the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One sold more than one million consoles in North America. A recent survey on the newest gaming consoles was conducted with 31 people participating online and 40 taking it in person. The survey was conducted through social media at the St. Clair Centre of the Arts. The majority of those sur-
veyed said they wanted the PS4 as their next console with a total of 37 per cent voting for it. The least preferred system in the survey was the Nintendo Wii U which had only four people choose as their preferred console. Entertainment Design and Research Vice President of Analysis and Insights Jesse Divnich said consumers need to determine what use they want from a device. I think both systems converge to meet consumers’ needs in the long run. I don’t believe there will be strong distinction between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One three to four years from now,”
said Divnich. When asked which specific feature draws the consumer to the system they prefer, the majority said exclusive games was their top reason for purchasing a console. Twentynine people picked exclusive games which is 41 per cent of the people who took part in the survey. Divnich said he believes price is also a factor when it comes to deciding on a system. “Price is incredibly important. It will always be. Price is a key variable in the purchasing decision process,” said Divnich. According to 13 of the par-
ticipants the retail price of a system is the most important deciding factor for picking their next system. At the same time, 33 people said price is often the biggest reason stopping them from buying a console. Overall, 46 per cent said price was a big reason stopping them from moving to a new system and 18 per cent said price was an important factor for choosing which console they wanted more. One of the participants in the survey, Tyler Head, said the biggest selling point for a system is how flexible and extensive the features are. “Price was more of a solidi-
University baseball club hosts movie night Sean Frame Layout Editor The University of Windsor’s Club Baseball is raising funds by creating a movie theater experience on campus. On Jan. 30 the University of Windsor Club Baseball team hosted its first of many movie nights on campus in room 1120 at Erie Hall. UWin Cinema was created in order to raise funds for the team. The proceeds will go towards new equipment, uniforms and transportation to games. The cinema offers students and residents in the area an authentic movie theatre experience a cheaper
price than an actual night at the movies would usually cost. This also ensures students living on campus will not have to travel long distances to go out and see a movie. Rush, Ron Howard’s racing drama, kicked off the first night of UWin. Adam Hyslop, co-manager of the baseball club, said the classroom really felt like a movie theatre. 1120 Erie Hall seats 455 people, whereas, an average theatre in SilverCity Windsor Cinema seats 579 guests. “Almost everything went according to plan,” said Hyslop. “Sound was great and picture was great.
Everything went as planned except unfortunately we did not get the numbers we were wanting.” According to Hyslop, the baseball club was hoping to raise $300 per night, but ended up only raising $63 in tickets and concessions. He said if they got the initial numbers they hoped for, they would have profited $250 after expenses. At $3 a ticket for University students and $5 dollars for the general public they would have needed a minimum of 100 people. Hyslop said although they did not get the numbers they wanted they are positive word of mouth will bring in more
people for their next screening. “It felt pretty close to being a real movie theatre,” said Heather Filiatrault a chemistry student at the University of Windsor. “It actually surprised me the quality of the movie.” UWin has a distribution deal which allows them to play movies shortly after their theatrical run. Hyslop said it is a long term goal for the club to have screenings on various different nights, but will continue regular screenings on Thursdays. UWin will be screening The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Feb. 13.
fying factor for me. After Microsoft’s price announcement, Sony’s price announcement further solidified my switching to Sony as my platform of hour this next generation,” said Head. Results showed that 21 of the participants in the survey said they usually spend four to eight hours playing video games. While 21 per cent said they spend over 20 hours a week playing video games. Overall 57 per cent said they prefer console gaming while 34 per cent said they prefer to play games on computers. The Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are all now available. From CLIMATE Page 4 Schnoor said he believes society is slowly accepting the legitimacy of climate change and it must now decide how to respond to the effects. According to a 2013 online Angus Reid Global poll, 58 per cent of Canadians believe climate change is a fact and caused by fossil fuel emissions. Schnoor said he believes the world must complete the transition away from fossil fuels and fully embrace renewable energy in order to stop climate change. “We need to change,” said Schnoor. “We’re in a fossil fuel age that’s lasted since the beginning of the industrial revolution, a couple hundred years, and it’s been a good run. It’s powered our economy, it’s created wealth and prosperity to be sure, but there are limitations on continuing that.”
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Minimum wage not enough for young workers
Photo by Justin Thompson
Adrian Hutchison prepares donuts at Tim hortons in East Windsor Feb 7. Justin Thompson Layout Editor Ontario workers earning minimum wage are struggling to live on $10.25 an hour, especially if they’re under the age of 25. According to a 2009 labour force From JUNIOR Page 4 careers because they have already experie n c e d a s im ilar adjustment. “Living away from h o m e fo r the f ir s t time ca n b e a big adjus tme nt b u t a t t h e s am e time a lot of these kids are mo v i n g a way f r om home lon g b e fo r e junior hoc ke y t e a m s come calling, whether its at a prep school or they move from their hometown to a better minor hockey market where they will have more eyes on them,” said Benneian. “They have to learn to deal with the pressure at a young age.” These players who can make the move to a new city without many issues are often better on the ice because they are not worrying about their off-ice life. They can focus on hockey without many outside distractions. “I think players who have experienced that already, by going to a prep school or moving to a bigger market away from your family, are ahead of the game and come out better for it.” Two members of the Windsor Spitfires have recently made the transition from minor hockey into the OHL. Forward Josh Ho-Sang was drafted fifth overall in 2012 by
survey by Statistics Canada, about 60 per cent of minimum wage workers were under the age of 25. Many of these workers are students with part-time jobs. Adrian Hutchison, 24, is a fulltime business student at the University of Windsor and has been working a part-time job at
Tim Hortons for more than five years. Over that time Hutchison has seen minimum wage increase by $1.50. “Living on minimum wage affects me because that is the only type of job you can find while in school and the limited income makes it hard to live comfortably,”
Windsor and Ryan Moore was drafted in the second round this season. Both had troubles transitioning into the OHL. For Ho-Sang it was a matter of letting go of his ego he developed from being a dominant force on his minor-midget AAA team. “At the start of last year I was very hard headed and I’ll be the first to admit that,” said Ho-Sang. “But this year I’m really buying in to what (head coach Bob Boughner) is saying and I really believe in our coaches and our team and I know we can go far.” Sykes said it is not uncommon for players at young ages who are stars to develop egos, but that mindset can come back to bite you when you begin playing at higher levels of hockey. Ho-Sang grew up just outside Toronto so for him moving from a big city to a smaller market like Windsor was something he had to get used to. Moore also grew up in a bigger market, Troy Mich. He said that Troy is bigger and busier than where he is being billeted in Tecumseh. For him a lot of the challenges he deals with come on the ice. Not because of skill level, but because of size. “Coming in as a rookie is tough, 16-years-old coming in the league and you’re playing against men,” said Moore.
Balancing school and practice almost everyday was difficult for Moore but he says he has gotten used to the full schedule he has every week. Sykes said there are exceptions to the rule, but in most cases players coming into the OHL have to go through the learning process and develop their game. “Most players who advance to the junior level were generally pretty successful in minor hockey,” said Sykes. “The elite talents can come in and excel right away but those of course are few and far between. Most players will have to undertake a progression curve where they are constantly working to improve.” “That player can either let the frustration of going through early struggles get the best of them, or they can cite it as needing to work hard every day, learn more every day, and get better.” No matter how you look at it, junior hockey is a challenge for all players. Some are better able to cope with the hardships and face the challenges head on. The ones who are able to do that and come out successfully in their junior career are often able to make the jump to the next level. Despite the challenges that go along with junior hockey it is a lifestyle that players would never give up and is one that kids grow up dreaming about.
said Hutchison. Ontario’s average hourly wage was $22.75 in 2009 that is more than double the current minimum wage. Students have a hard time finding well-paying jobs because they have not completed their education and have limited availability, according to notes in the survey. “The main struggle I have faced is the ability to pay tuition and buy textbooks while being able to have money to also buy things that I enjoy.” said Hutchison. Statistics Canada also reports that close to 60 per cent of all minimum wage workers, not just those under 25, live with their parents or a family member. Josh Kaiser, 22, works full-time as a consultant at Sutherland Global Services. He currently lives with his parents but has made plans to move into his own place in a couple of weeks. “Right now while I’m living with my parents minimum wage gives
me a pretty easy life,” said Kaiser. “But this is only because I get most of my food free, and my living expenses are covered. When I move out this will be a very different story and I know with my OSAP payments, rent, utilities, and food costs my savings account will drop back down to zero.” Minimum wage will increase to $11 June 1. The increase is being made because of the rate of inflation. Kaiser said he was hoping to see a greater increase and is going to have a hard time saving his extra 75 cents an hour. “Eleven dollars isn’t going to help me much more than $10.25 per hour,” said Kaiser. Full-time workers earning minimum wage can expect a weekly wage increase of $30. Depending on how many hours part-time employees work they could still fall short of the Ontario poverty line of $19,719 for single adults.
Trivia for a great cause Sarah Ryrie Citizen Staff Reporter St. Clair College hosted its second annual trivia game at its main campus to raise money for United Way. Eight teams signed up for the trivia game and each team member was required to pay a ten dollar donation. Gemma Gray-Hall, manager of Resource Development for the United Way of Windsor-Essex County, said more than $300 was raised for United Way at the trivia event “The United Way is a community organization,” said Gray-Hall. “We have a series of strategic priorities that we focus on to help address needs within the community. We came to those strategic priorities through conversations with people that live in the community.” Roger Faubert, a team member of the “Mad Mentors” said they wanted to hold a fun event to mirror the ways United Way raises funds. “Part of it is the fact that this is for From CLOSURE Page 1
The park’s website said the ride goes through a course above the park and can hold up to 600 lbs. According to Dilkens, the cost to have this installed could be at least $200,000. “It’s more of a convenience for users,” said Sadler. “Right now they carry the rafts up to the top of the slide tower (of the Python.)”
the United Way. The other part is you get to have your fellow workers and everybody else together in a fun challenge,” said Faubert. “I played, I ate some cookies, I had a lot of fun and that’s what the United Way does. They raise money through ways of having fun and getting people together so we can help others. The money raised from the event will go towards United Way’s three strategic priorities of community funds, basic needs, positioning children and families for success and creating thriving neighborhoods. “All of the money raised today will go towards our programs and 82 per cent of all the money we raise at the United Way goes toward the programs we support within Windsor and Essex County,” said Gray-Hall. There are more than 100 United Way offices across Canada. They are all independent, non-profit organizations directed by a volunteer-led, local board of directors. Each United Way raises money and allocates funds locally to support its community.
Sadler said the elevator will have to be custom-made and the cost can increase depending on the company. According to Dilkens, the elevator would be used to help the water park’s younger guests get to the top of the tower without having to carry the rafts. “What we are doing is trying to enhance the experience of users,” said Sadler.
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Extreme weather dangerous for animals Mandy Matthews Citizen Staff Reporter
Whether they’re from the barnyard or the backyard, animals have been suffering through the extreme weather of January 2014. In January, new record low temperatures put Windsor ’s 72-year-old record into a deep freeze when Environment Canada reported the temperature of -25 C with wind chill of 40C making it nearly impossible to step outside. Shortly after the seventh day of the new year, Windsor Essex County Humane Society started receiving phone calls from people about animals outside for long periods of time. Amy Reaume, OSPCA officer said over 60 cases have been investigated due to following citizen phone calls. Doctor of veterinarian medicine and professor of the veterinarian technician program at St. Clair College, Chuck Fuerth, said even though humans may not want to brave the frigid weather for some exercise, it is in the animals’ nature to run and play. “Pet owners should make sure they are only leaving their pets out for a brief period of time, perhaps be out there with them,” said Fuerth. Bill No. 66, by-law 8156 states, “provide the necessary food, water, housing and attention as required to keep the animal in good health and free from harm.” Once a phone call is placed to the Humane Society, the OSPCA must initiate an investigation in order to ensure an animal acquires an adequate shelter. Reaume said the Humane
Photo By Mandy Matthews
Seven-month-old Archie reaches through the bars of his cage which he shares with his sister, Veronica, at the WindsorEssex County Humane Society on Jan. 30. They have been waiting for homes for two and a half months Society’s volunteers give all of their animals, rescued and adopted, their daily exercise by interacting with toys and bringing them to the park next to the building. Three dogs have been seized so far this year because of insufficient care. One of the three cases has been rectified by its owner; however the other two are residing in the Humane Society. Reaume, who has witnessed dogs freezing to death, said she was the one to remove the dogs from their owners. She said one of the two was lying in the snow when she arrived. “It’s not easy going out to these houses and seeing that,” said Reaume. According to Reaume, an
adequate shelter is a fully insulated structure with an optional wind flap on the front and is an appropriate size to house the animal. If the owners are not meeting Windsor’s by-law, Reaume writes an order and gives the owner a date to comply. It is not until after the specified date, the animal is taken by the Humane Society. However, the owner is given another date to adhere to in order to obtain the animal once again, but by this time there is an undetermined seizure fee involved. Dog owner of two different breeds, Angela West has learned a lot since starting her part-time job of two years at PetSmart.
“Like a lot of other people, I had no idea what I was doing,” said West. “I had a dog and I didn’t really know how to care for him, but after working there, I learned so much through my co-workers, the trainers and even the customers.” Additionally, Fuerth said there are certain times throughout the year when the weather is cold enough to carry the threat of hypothermia or hot enough to risk heat stress. “You have to be observant of your pet even though they are used to the cold weather,” said Fuerth. “You should be looking and checking on them if they are out longer than that brief period of five to ten min-
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utes.” Despite the weather, West’s one-year-old Sheltie named Duke and three-year-old American Bulldog named Feud exercise daily. West said during the record low temperatures, instead of walking her dogs for an hour straight, she limited their time outside to five to 10 minutes five to six times each day. Fuerth said much like humans, animals will experience the same symptoms caused by extended periods of time in extreme weather. He said the best way to treat an animal who is showing signs of suffering such as shivering or panting is to gradually bring their body temperature back to normal while also massaging the extremities and indirectly applying hot or cold packages. “Unfortunately, as a veterinarian, I’ve seen situations where a dog has been hypothermic or too cold for too long or suffered from heat exhaustion and I tell owners, if your dog is not responding within a couple of minutes, then it is best for you to get your coat on and take your pet to the vet hospital as soon as possible,” said Fuerth. Despite the by-law, Reaume said it is not enough. Since there is no other by-law setting a limit to outside exposure for animals, Reaume said it may not be as obvious to leave it up to the owner. “There really is not a perfect temperature. It is more or less what kind of shelter is provided to them, whether they can get in and out of the elements,” said Reaume. “A bigger dog can handle more than a little dog, but it is always good to treat your animals as little kids.”
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