The Converged Citizen - April 7, 2016 by Larry Forsyth

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The Power

*Volume XI Issue 16 *April 7, 2016

Of The Future

Inside

2 News

Relocation for struggling market

5 News

Photo by Todd Shearon Photo by Dan Gray

Cafe March 21 owner, Henry Kim, believes moving the market will be good for his and surrounding businesses.

CAFE PAGE 4 Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Converged Citizen Staff Two members of the Converged Citizen staff have been nominated for awards based on their coursework in the journalism program. Ashley Ann Mentley and Naureen Ahmed have been selected as semifinalists for the Emerge Media Awards. These awards recognize and showcase the achievements of media studies, journalism and communications students in Canada. Individuals in post-

Emerge Media Awards

Index

secondary education are recognized for editing, writing, videography, audio, communications, digital design and public relations. The announcement of semi-finalists were made March 18. Mentley is a semi-finalist in the advertising and graphic design categories and Ahmed is a semi-finalist in the graphic design category. “It’s very exciting to have not only one, but two of your students nominated for awards in the category of the subject

News.................................................................2 Health & Lifestyle............................................7 Sports..............................................................10

AWARD PAGE 6 Weather Thursday, April 7, 2016

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Health & Lifestyle

10 Sports Quote of the Day There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind. —C.S. Lewis

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ONVERGED CITIZEN

Local elementary school donates to Flint Allanah Wills Converged Citizen Staff Two local elementary school students are giving back in a big way. St. John Vianney Grade 5 students Ella Mauro and Jada Malott, both 11, are hoping to collect 1,000 cases of water to donate to Flint, Mich. The city is currently experiencing a water crisis with many residents having to use unsafe tap water. “We saw on the news that these people have been drinking this water that’s so unsafe and people have been getting sick,” said Malott. “We got the idea to, as a community, donate water and as a school encourage other schools to do the same.” Flint made international headlines earlier this year when their water supply was switched from the Detroit water supply to the Flint River. Toxic levels of lead were soon found in the water and a federal state of emergency was declared in the city.

April 7 , 2016

Windsor to make parks more accessible for the disabled Johnathan Hutton Converged Citizen Staff

Photo by Allanah Wills A local man drops off cases of water bottles in the lobby of St. John Vianney March 29. “Water is a staple in life. You need it to shower, cook and especially drink,” said Malott. School principal Lee Ann Poisson said the girls thought of the idea on their own and approached her about making it happen. “I’m extremely proud. This is what we strive for,” said Poisson. “We have students who take it upon themselves to reach out beyond their own little individual bubble and help others. That’s what it’s all about.”

The school has collected around 100 cases so far. Mauro said she believes their goal of 1,000 cases will be reached quickly. “We are letting people come during school hours to bring cases,” said Mauro. “We also know our school is very giving and we are almost positive that we will reach our goal.” Members of the public can donate by dropping cases off at the school or calling to arrange pick-up.

According to City Council, Windsor parks will be receiving new playgrounds this year. Council passed a motion Tuesday to allow for the construction of six new accessible parks in Windsor. The parks are to include features such as splash pads, tennis courts and play structures. Several parks will be themed but all will be accessible. The playgrounds will be installed in Bridgeview, Walker, Stodgell, Lakeshore Woods, Esdias and Avon Court. The planning for the parks has been undertaken by Windsor’s director of parks and recreation, Phil Roberts. “I am looking forward to modernizing Windsor’s parks to make them accessible for

all,” said Roberts. “Right now we are back to request for proposals for five new playgrounds, and it’s getting us closer to this year’s goal of two accessible playgrounds per ward.” Canadian Safety Agency standards include new rules requiring all Canadian cities to have accessible parks for the handicapped and elderly. According to Roberts, the new playgrounds will cost approximately $300,000 each. “We have upgraded the equipment at several parks already and I think parks need to be as accessible as possible for everyone in the community to enjoy,” said Fred Francis, Ward One city councilor. “Accessible parks will be a great asset to this community.” parks with accessible playgrounds.

Some students struggle when leaving home Ryan Blevins Converged Citizen Staff Tens of thousands of postsecondary students reside in Windsor and some of them have financial difficulties. Each student comes from a different background with most students falling into the category of a broke college student. With two major postsecondary facilities in the city there is no shortage of local education options. Programs such as human kinetics and business and engineering thrive at the University of Windsor while St. Clair College is known for its nursing and skilled trades programs. Yet some students feel the need to live and attend post-secondary school outside of their hometown, despite the costs being higher. There are pros and cons that lead to a person’s final decision about most things in life and where to attend school is no different. Some students, such as Windsor native and current McMaster University student Anthony Bontorin, 19, were guided to their school based on their athletic needs.

Photo by Ryan Blevins Jonathan O’beid is pictured in his Students Offering Support T-Shirt. “I think it’s a good experience because you’re not used to doing all the things you do when you live on your own,” said Bontorin.

McMaster has been costly for the communications student. A quarterback on McMaster’s football team, Bontorin’s fulltime job is being a student ath-

“I think it’s a good experience because you’re not used to doing all the things you do when you live on your own,” -Anthony Bontorin Bontroin has lived in Windsor his entire life. Attending

lete. Between class and yearround practice schedules, he

has no time to find a part-time job and therefore has no income. In anticipation of this, Bontorin saved $3,000 to spend on school-related expenses, 20 per cent of which was spent on books. Aside from academic resources, Bontorin pays for the medium meal plan designed by McMaster, allotting him $3,700 to spend on food for the school year. With roughly two months to go both Bontorin and his roommate have spent all of their funds on their meal plans and were forced to add more money to the plan. With a meal bill tallying roughly $4,500, not including his monthly grocery trip and the mandatory $125 per student in-room fridge fee, eating has been a hefty tab for Bontorin. Toiletries, cleaning supplies, parking and travel are the other main expenses for the McMaster quarterback who estimates he has spent $500 on a monthly trip home throughout the year. After paying his $16,000 tuition and boarding fees Bontorin estimates he has

spent an additional $7,000 this year. While $7,000 might not seem like a lot for some young people, University of Windsor student and Windsor resident Jonathan O’beid, 19, is thankful he has not had the same bill. “I come home to a house that has food,” said O’beid. “I come home to a house that has my room and my bed that I’ve been living in forever.” O’beid is a second year biomedical student at the University of Windsor and has lived in Windsor for his entire life. Not having to pay boarding fees has helped O’beid save money. He spends around $8,000 a year on tuition. Having the benefit of knowing many older students attending the university has given O’beid the opportunity to purchase used books. He has spent an estimated $1,550 on university-related expenses this year. These expenses include food while at school, a parking pass, gas to and from school and books. While some students may feel the academic benefits of attending school outside of their hometown there are much greater, financial limitations may prohibit them.

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April 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Please don’t feed the animals

Photo from shop.zehrs.ca Visit shop.zehrs.ca to see what is available near you for online shopping and pickup.

Photo by Rhiannon Lotze A white-tailed deer grazes on corn in Ojibway Park left behind by visitors to the park. Corn is actually not good for deer because it makes them feel full but doesn’t offer the nutrition they need. Rhiannon Lotze Converged Citizen Staff Windsor and Essex County are home to an extensive deer population and some residents have been creating problems by feeding the deer, according to officials. As herbivores, deer live on a diet of plants, fruits, acorns and nuts. They are well adapted to foraging for food, even in the winter. While it may not look like there is food for the animals in the colder months, deer adapt their diets to consist of twigs, fallen leaves and woody plants. Because of this, they do not need to be fed by humans. However, many Windsorites have been putting out food which, at first glance, may not seem like a bad thing because it keeps the deer docile. But, according to Tom Preney, a naturalist at Ojibway Park, the cons of feeding the animals far outweigh the pros. “They’re getting used to humans and they’re relying on people for feeding,” said Preney, who has been working at the park for over 10 years. “They’re crossing the roads more frequently to get to people’s backyards where they’re putting out the food. That makes the potential of hitting a car with a deer … you know, it’s not a good thing.” According to Statistics Canada, thousands of accidents involving animals like

deer and moose happen each year in Ontario alone. Feeding the deer not only entices them to cross roads to get the easily accessible food but it also acclimates them to humans so they are less afraid of oncoming vehicles. Brent Hathaway, a Windsor resident, has seen the tame behaviour of the deer firsthand. “(My dog and I) walk on the trails and we definitely see deer on the trails,” he said. Hathaway visits Ojibway Park to walk the paths about once a month. “They’re quite friendly. As long as I keep the dog away from the deer, they’ll come up to you. They’re quite tame.” He also said he did not know feeding the deer could be detrimental. According to Preney, the

nutrition they need.” Feeding the deer also aggravates the issue of overpopulation the Ojibway area has been experiencing for the last few years, said Preney. Over the winter, Ojibway Park conducted its first population counts of deer in the area. They did two aerial surveys and found between 60 and 80 deer. Comparatively speaking, the ecologists at Point Pelee National Park recommend a deer population of about 30 deer for the 15 kilometere area of the park. The section of Ojibway surveyed is smaller but had more than twice a healthy deer population. Because the deer in the area are being fed more food

“A lot of the stuff that people are feeding the deer is not good for them.”

-Tom Preney food is not only making the deer more dangerous to humans but it is also not the right kind of food. “A lot of the stuff that people are feeding the deer is not good for them,” he said. “For example, people feed deer corn but what corn does is basically swell their stomach and they think that they’re full but they’re not getting the

over the winter months than usual, they are surviving longer and the population is continuing to grow which could throw off the ecological balance in Ojibway. The park is the last place prairies exist in Ontario and the deer population perpetuated by deer feeding puts its existence at risk, according to Preney.

Online shopping just got tastier Danielle Gagnier Converged Citizen Staff Two local grocers are offering a click and collect service which allows shoppers to purchase their groceries online and pick them up without having to leave the comfort of their car. Employees at Zehrs in Tecumseh and Malden Village can now be shop for customers and bring the bags of groceries out to their cars which will be parked in reserved parking spots. The new service was scheduled to launch March 17 but there were issues with the server that needed to be addressed, pushing the start date to March 29. The Zehrs in Tecumseh had between 15 and 25 people ordering online each day during the first week and the store in Malden Village averaged between six and eight, making it a successful first week, according to Paul Dawson. “People are using the website a lot already,” said Dawson, manager of the click and collect department at the Tecumseh location. “We’re very happy with the response from the public so far. Our goal is to hopefully have two per cent of store sales be online shopping within a year.” Each location also hired at least 10 new employees to shop for online customers. If the service goes well, Dawson said they may be hiring more employees to keep up with business. Before making the website

public, the employees were able to use the service for themselves to test it. According to Rachel Zaleski, manager of the click and collect service at the Malden location, there have been nothing but good reviews so far. “There was a lot of positive feedback from customers I talked to,” said Zaleski. “They thought this was a great idea, a great program that was being launched. They’re really looking forward to this service.” Employees have been scanning every item in the store in order for them to be available for customers to order on the website. Dawson said there are over 15,000 items already on the website and they plan on adding another 1,000 items. Kristine Beaton, a newly hired employee, said although she will not be using the click and collect service, she understands how it can benefit the public. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Beaton. “It’s kind of neat that it offers people who don’t have the ability to come in, or just are too busy to come in, a different option.” Shop.zehrs.ca requires customers to create an account that will remember the location of the store where they shop, their favourite items, and their PC Plus card. There is no limit on how much a customer can spend as long as it is more than $30. The cost for the service is $3 throughout the day unless it is prime time, between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. or on weekends, otherwise it will cost $5. Customers are able to pay with cash, credit, or debit at the store or online.

news

April 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Cafe owner offers advice on how to change Windsor market for the better CAFE PAGE 1 Dan Gray Converged Citizen Staff Photo by Naureen Ahmed Rose Anguiano Hurst is the Executive Director of Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) posing for the photo.

Gala to promote women’s rights Naureen Ahmed Converged Citizen Staff The International Women’s Day gala at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts was celebrated in honour of all the amazing women in WindsorEssex, said organizers. The event hosted by Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor was meant to recognize the accomplishments achieved by women of the past, present and future. This year’s event was called Accelerate Gender Parity and over 400 guests attendance. Keynote speaker, honourable Jean Augustine, was the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons. She was elected in the riding of EtobicokeLakeshore in 1993 and held a seat in parliament until 2006. W.E.S.T. is a communitybased training organization which has been working to improve the employability of visible minority women in Windsor and Essex County since 1987. Rose Anguiano Hurst, executive director of W.E.S.T., said she is grateful to all its past participants, local employers and other supporters who have demonstrated a belief in the W.E.S.T. mission. “W.E.S.T. has been providing training to visible minority and immigrant women who are trying to champion their situational barriers and reach their employment goals,” Hurst said. “In this event, W.E.S.T. will recognize Journey Towards Success

Award recipients.” The recipients were past W.E.S.T. participants, local employers and other supporters who have demonstrated a belief in their mission and continued to support women on their journeys toward success in the community. Mona Stonefish, a community elder in the local Aboriginal community in Windsor, also attended the event. In her speech she said W.E.S.T. has been working to improve the employability of visible minority women in Windsor and Essex County. Each year W.E.S.T. provides training and support to approximately 2,000 women and their families within the Windsor and Essex County area. Anna Walls, one of the past participants of W.E.S.T. urged everyone to come forward and support the organization. “W.E.S.T.’s International Women’s Day Gala is an opportunity to celebrate our participants, businesses and community partners within Windsor and Essex County,” said Walls. “It demonstrates a commitment to embracing diversity in our community.” She said this event highlights the accomplishments achieved by women and advancing them further towards equality and gender parity in all aspects of life and work. “All proceeds will assist WEST programs and services in providing training to women in Windsor & Essex County,” said Hurst.

The Downtown Farmer’s Market is on the move again. For the third time in five years the market, operated by the Downtown Residents Association, will uproot its operation to change location. The new location on Pelissier Street between University Avenue and Wyandotte Street East comes with renewed optimism for the downtown core. Cafe March 21 Owner, Henry Kim said he believes the market moving will be good for his and surrounding businesses. Although operating successfully for the past three years from the Charles Clark Square location, Ward 3 councillor Rino Bortolin suggests a move might benefit the downtown core. Bortolin said Charles Clark Square is a little too far from the business district to have much of an effect on businesses downtown. “We want the amount of people that come down to the market exposed to the business district and we want those people walking the streets of the business district,” said Bortolin. “Putting the feet on the ground on Pelissier Street has a different impact than having them come to Charles Clark Square.” The DRA has their own reasons for wanting the market moved. Mike Holdsworth,

president of the DRA, said construction of the new city hall could have impacted their ability to operate out of the square. In the past, the DRA has approached city council to have fees reduced for use of the square because they were not making money. By moving, the market also stands to gain some financial stability. “Financially, we have a sustainability issue in terms of going forward in sponsorships and the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association has come forward and they’ve closed that gap for us,” said Holdsworth. “The DWBIA is going to pick up the charges for closing the streets and marketing so that will cost us less in the long run.” Moving the market could

agreed to take up only one lane plus the sidewalk, allowing for the safe passage of emergency vehicles when needed. An issue with Transit Windsor using Pelissier Street as an alternate route when Ouellette Avenue is closed was also remedied before the council meeting. Business owners are looking forward to having the market outside their door. Some plan to change their hours in order to accommodate the farmers market. Café March 21 is located on Pelissier Street and offers fresh baked goods and coffee. “It will help the whole street and will also bring more people to downtown and be more active so it will definitely help my business too,” said Kim. Kim said he will be offering

“Financially, we have a sustainability issue in terms of going forward in sponsorships and the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association has come forward and they’ve closed that gap for us.” - Mike Holdsworth incur costs of up to $30,000, a tab the DWBIA will be picking up as sponsor of the market. In the report before council the city’s Special Events Resource Team noted many concerns that had to be cleared before they would approve the relocation. One of the issues was in relation to emergency services access to Pelissier. The market has

special hours to meet the needs of the market in hopes of bringing more people into his business. The market season starts Saturday, May 28, and Pelissier Street will be closed from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.. Local fruit, meat and crafts as well as other commodities will be offered until the middle of October.

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April 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

CRTC requiring more pick and pay options

Photo by Stephanie Zografos Jeff Durham poses with a photo of Cassie in a Tim Horton’s March 10.

New bill to protect unborn children Stephanie Zografos Converged Citizen Staff Photo by Lyndi-Colleen Morgan An Android box can cost anywhere from $80 to $160 with a one time loading fee of $40 or more. Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Converged Citizen Staff Cable and satellite customers can expect to save money on their bills in the future, as the Canadian government is requiring service providers to offer more affordable pricing and packages. The Canadian RadioTelevision and Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission is making it compulsory for cable and satellite providers to provide a $25 package and pick-and-pay options for customers. In March 2015, the CRTC decided, starting in March 2016, Canadian licensed TV service providers will be required to offer basic packages that cost no more than $25 per month. The bundles or services will incorporate local and regional stations, channels related to public interest and educational channels. The option to pay for individual channels or smaller packages must be offered before December 2016. A report published in 2012 by the CRTC found Canadians who had basic cable packages, without add ons, paid an average of $52 a month. That comes to a little over $620 a year. The new $25 package could bring it down to $300 a year. Orrie Ecker and his wife Sue recently switched satellite companies to save money. Ecker said he had been with

Shaw Communications for 16 years but it became too expensive. “We had a basic package with a sports and history channel bundle which cost us about $100 a month but we didn’t watch everything we were paying for,” said Ecker. “This and the money we could save are the reasons we decided to switch to Execulink.” He said when switching to Execulink they were able to bundle their phone, internet and cable into a package which costs them about $100 per month. They were previously paying this amount for just satellite with the added cost of phone and internet. Altogether the total came to almost double what he pays now at around $2,400 per year. “I don’t get as many channels as I did before, but I do save about $1,000 a year,” said Ecker. Ecker said he thought the more affordable packages that are being offered are a great idea and can help those who need to save money. He also said in the future he might consider looking at this option but he is happy with the package he has now. Kris, who asked his last name not be used, has been with several satellite providers over the last few years including Bell, Cogeco and Shaw Communications but recently switched to a dif-

ferent option. “We switched over to the free option about a year ago,” said Kris. “We switched because our bills were getting out of control, it was just too much for just TV.” He said they were paying $180 per month for satellite and about $2,200 a year before purchasing the Android TV Box which provides customers with a library of shows to choose from. He said the box he purchased cost a one time fee of $85 with the streaming channels already loaded. Kris said even with the cheaper packages that are going to be offered in the future, he would not switch back to “paid” TV. “Now that we have access to a variety of shows and the Android Box, it would not make sense to add this back to our budget,” said Kris. Jason Laszlo, a member of the media relations team at Bell, said Bell cannot comment on the decisions of the CRTC and the Canadian government. He said the packages offered by Bell meet the current requirements and new standards developed by the CRTC. Laszlo also said Bell customers have always had the ability to build and customize packages to fit their needs. For more information about the packages and pick and pay options visit news.gc.ca.

A Windsor man is supporting a new bill to protect the rights of a woman’s unborn child, should the mother be killed. Jeff Durham started the campaign Molly Matters when Cassandra “Cassie” Kaake, the mother of his unborn child Molly, was killed in their home when she was seven months pregnant. Since then the alleged killer Mathew Brush, 27, has been charged with first degree murder, break and enter, indecent interference with a dead body, arson causing property damage, possession of material for arson and arson with disregard for human life. The trial will be held in Superior Court and he is currently being held in jail until his trial date is set. Durham said this is an injustice as his unborn child should also be considered a person since she was intended to be born. Durham started Molly Matters with Kaake’s mother Nancy Kaake. They have created Bill-225, Cassie and Molly’s Law, with the help of Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall. The bill, which is being introduced as a private member’s bill, will make it a criminal offense to harm an unborn child while attacking the mother. The bill has been given a considerable amount of positive reinforcement by Windsor’s community. “We have a lot of support,” said Durham. “The people who have voiced opposition to it have clearly been not educated on it themselves, about

what we are actually trying to say, which is that a pregnant woman’s child should be protected when someone kills her.” Currently, the Molly Matters lobby is using social media to raise awareness about their campaign. Rallies and protests have also been held around the city. A challenge against the bill is coming from the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada. “The perception is that, that is a prochoice coalition but it’s not,” said Durham. “It’s only pro-abortion. If they were prochoice, they would stand behind a law that would protect a woman’s choice in such circumstance. Joyce Arthur, from the ARCC, has done everything to counter our effort to have these circumstances acknowledged.” The next step for this campaign is to have Bill-225 passed by the House of Commons. “I just hope that we can get parliament to look at it outside of abortion politics,” said Durham. “That this should be considered separately of prolife and prochoice.” Wagantall said it is a challenge to get private members bills passed in the House. “That being said, it is an amazing opportunity for individual MPs to put forward issues important to them and their constituents that they feel passionately about,” said Wagantall. For more information about Molly Matters and Bill-225 visit mollymatters.org.

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ONVERGED CITIZEN

Windsor's biggest Easter egg hunt Samantha Wigfield Converged Citizen Staff Hundreds of families gathered in Jackson Park together on March 25, to celebrate an old tradition of hunting eggs filled with treats. Breakthrough Walls Church in Windsor organized the hunt. There was an area for children to decorate plastic eggs and another table where people could buy food to snack on during the long line for registration. Jonathon Nantais, lead pastor of the church, said he was a little

surprised by the turnout at the event. Preparing for only about 300 people, he said, it was a little overwhelming that there were roughly 1500 in attendance. "This is our egg hunt we want to put on for the community. Usually, we only get a couple hundred kids participating,” said Nantais. “We've had to scramble a little, but we made it work." Nantais said his family gets together to attend church and enjoys time with his family

AWARD PAGE 1 you are teaching,” said Karen Fallon, professor of the digital convergent design course at

April 7, 2016

Local church celebrates Easter

over the Easter long weekend. Katherine Roberts, a volunteer with the church, said her family has always hunted for eggs and she also said she was excited about the day’s events. “Even though hunting for eggs is fun, it’s not just about getting chocolate and little gifts, it’s about spending time with family and friends.” According to localhistories.org, the Easter bunny was originally a hare, because a hare symbolized fertility. But, since the Americans were unfamiliar with a hare, they redubbed it a bunny. The website also says the eggs from the h u n t c a m e from the Middle Ages rule of not being allowed to eat eggs during Lent, which is the 40 days before Easter. At that time, Easter eggs were painted red but towards the 18th century, people were painting them different colours, filling them with little treats and giving them as gifts. In the 19th century, Easter egg hunting turned into the tradition most people know today. St. Clair College. Fallon has been teaching design at St. Clair for the past 20 years. She said design can be used to help bring written words to life.

Photo by Rabuil Biplob People listen to music during the Easter celebration at the New Song Church March. 27.

As Christians throughout the world celebrated Easter, Windsor’s New Song Church also had a service on March 27. About 100 people gathered to listen to music, recite verses from the Bible and pray. Rielly McLaren, the church’s community chaplain, led the event. “Through resurrection, people’s lives change. They are healed inside, they are able to love again and they are able to receive love again,” said McLaren. “Throughout the

story, the larger story that leads up to Jesus is this narrative where God is remaking the world because God just loves it so deeply, loves creation and loves us.” McLaren said the resurrection of Jesus is the crown jewel or the pinnacle of the story. “Easter is more than a belief, it is an event that changes our understanding of the universe,” said Kevin Rogers pastor of the church. “The resurrection of Jesus cuts through all the hopelessness and all the darkness and says that this is not the end.” Rogers said the death of

Jesus was the final act of God so he will no longer have the barrier between us. “When the fall happened meaning then death entered the world there is primarily four ways the world was broken. There was a broken relation with God, broken relation with creation, broken relationship with one another and finally broken relationship with ourselves,” said McLaren. “That’s why resurrection is not an idea, it’s something acted out in healing relationship.” Rogers said as people celebrate Easter in spring there is a natural reminder even though death comes new life.

“To know the elements of design can enhance the education-outlook of a converged journalist,” said Fallon. “Today more than ever before journalists and those in related

professions need to understand the concept of design and how it connects with the audience.” The announcement of the winners will be at the Rose

Garden Banquet Hall in Toronto on April 25. This is the first time members of the Converged Citizen staff have been considered for the Emerge Media Awards.

Rabiul Biplob Converged Citizen Staff

THE CONVERGED TEAM Managing Editors

Co-Managing Editors

Mark Brown Caleb Workman

Ashley Ann Mentley Michael Hugall

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Production Team

Caleb Workman

Jeremy James Stephanie Zografos Mayra Lacayo

Rabiul Biplob

Naureen Ahmed

Photo Editors

CP Editors

Sports Editors

Tyler Boissonneault

Julia Poehlman Rhiannon Lotze Samantha Wigfield

Christian Bouchard Jordan Caschera

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Entertainment Editor Allanah Wills

CONVERGED CITIZEN APRIL 7, 2016

The journey to Mount Etna Ashley Ann Mentley Converged Citizen Staff There’s a familiar saying that it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And while this may be true for many road trips through areas with beautiful scenery, it is not often the case when the journey involves an eighthour flight overseas. But when a trip is booked around flying on a specific airplane and the destination is of little concern, it certainly becomes more about the journey than anything else. If anyone had seen the itinerary of my latest six day trip they probably would have thought it sounded like the opposite of a typical, relaxing vacation. And that’s because my dad, a 59-year-old diesel truck mechanic who used to fly small planes when he was younger, had a bucket list item of flying on the largest passenger airplane in the world. The Airbus A380 can hold up to 853 passengers, has two floors, an elevator and (for those lucky enough to fly first class) showers, beds and a bar. Being so big, however, means these planes only fly in and out of select airports and Detroit’s airport is not one of

Photo by Ashley Ann Mentley Travelers walk around the rim of one of Mount Etna's craters in Catania, Sicily. them. So instead we made our way to New York’s JFK airport where, after a whirlwind tour around the city, we boarded an eight-hour flight to

Milan, Italy – one of the few airports in Europe where the Airbus can land. After arriving (and in my case, not sleeping) we immediately took the

train two hours north to Lake Como. The very next morning we were back at Milan’s Malpensa airport boarding yet another flight, but this time to

Catania, Sicily. Many people asked why we were going to Catania and in truth, we didn’t know. Aside

SEE PAGE 12

Will taxing sugar to help control obesity? Samantha Wigfield Converged Citizen Staff A study has recently been released by health advocates about how to combat the obesity epidemic in Canada, and involves a potential hike in sugar products. Following in the footsteps of Mexico, the Canadian Senate Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee has outlined how to reduce the obesity problem in the study,

including taxing food and drinks that contain added sugar up to 20 per cent. Melissa Alexander-Dionisi, manager of patient food services and clinical nutrition at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette Campus said while a sugar tax could be the right step, it will most likely only have a small impact on the obesity epidemic. “Sugar is kind of like smoking. If there’s some kind of addiction to it, it (the tax) at

first will probably defer people from purchasing it. However, if they truly want it, they’re still going to buy it,” said Alexander-Dionisi. The senate also suggests the outdated Canada’s Food Guide should be revised, banning food and beverage advertisements to children and increased awareness of the potential harmful side effects of processed foods. The report also said since 1980, obesity has doubled in

adults and tripled in children. There are 48,000 to 66,000 deaths every year due to excess weight in Canada, which in turn, costs the health care system 4.6 to 7.1 billion dollars a year. Some feel taxing sugar is the wrong way to go, like local mother of three, Sherry Hearns. “If people want it, then they want it. Taxing sugar won’t stop people from buying it, it just means they can buy less

of it. I think if they want to fix the problem, they should ban excess sugar,” said Hearns. Alexander-Dionisi said being overweight or obese can lead to many health-related problems later in life, such as heart disease and diabetes. She also said it is not just sugar that makes people gain weight but also sedentary lifestyles and a willingness to eat something that is readily available as opposed to something people have to prepare themselves.

health & lifestyle

APRIL 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Spring rite to celebrate East Indian culture in Windsor Mark Brown Converged Citizen Staff East Indian fashion, colours and music marked the arrival of spring recently at a showcase event in Windsor. Dozens of people gathered at the Gourmet Emporium in Walkerville to celebrate Rang De, an observance of colour and culture to mark the pending arrival of spring. The event was conceived by Treasures Entertainment, a local business dedicated to organizing events promoting East Indian culture and fashion in Windsor-Essex. Co-founder Satnam Virdi says it is a concept he has been wanting to promote for as long as he has lived in the area. He says there was something missing from the ethnic and cultural canvas of Windsor-Essex. “You have a social scene for university students. You’ve got a social scene of family events for the Asian community,” said Virdi, 37, of Belle River. Virdi said one aspect Rang De supports is a platform of fashion. London Treasures is a promotional vehicle for

Photo by Mark Brown Harpreet Virdi (right) mingles with attendees at the Rang De event at the Gourmet Emporium March 5. local sellers of East Indian fashion, such as saris. London Treasures was conceived by Virdi’s British-born wife Harpreet and was also featured at the Walkerville event. “She deals with a lot of the boutique stuff so it’s a platform for her as well,” said Virdi. Rang De not only showcased East Indian fashion and

jewelry but also businesses that acted as sponsors for the event. Attendees, wearing a mix of saris, western suits and Nehru jackets, enjoyed a full bar that included a “Rang De” cocktail. A buffet of Indian delicacies such as rice and curry was available along with live entertainment from a Bollywood performer. Mukesh Vara was the pri-

mary performer at the event. A native of the United Kingdom, he has performed for at least 20 years, specializing in vocals, Indian drums and keyboards. He has lived in Windsor-Essex for over 10 years and believes the East Indian community in the area is very strong. “We just built the new Hindu Temple (and Cultural

Centre), which is on Enterprise Way,” said Vara. “We have a large community here. When we had the inauguration way back in November we had over 600 people just come for the opening ceremony. We have a diverse Indian community with the Sikhs and so on. We have a large contingency.” Virdi, who is Sikh, was born in Singapore but grew up in the Toronto area. He also lived in England for years and married his wife there. Virdi is also convinced there is a big East Indian community in a diverse place like WindsorEssex. “All we’re trying to do is cater to that growing community,” said Virdi. “Coming from the UK there is an urbanized Indian theme. That’s the kind of culture I’m trying to bring in here.” Virdi said he would like to continue doing single events such as Rang De throughout the year. “I’d like to create one-off events and give everyone an opportunity to try something different.”

Sharing platforms make it easier for musicians

Photo courtesy of Justin Stone Justin Stone of Ohio is releasing his first album “Long Time YouTube and Sound Garrett Fodor ing it mastered to writing. The Converged Citizen Staff creation of programs like The music industry is evolv- SoundCloud and YouTube, ing and unless artists take on both free music and video the task to do everything sharing platforms, has made it themselves, expenses are easier for musicians to get their music heard but that does high. For musicians to get their not cover all platforms. The content out to listeners there cost associated with putting a are costs from paying to hav- song or album on iTunes is

Coming” April 5th on iTunes, steep for artists who must pay an upfront fee and give 30 per cent of sales to Apple as reported by Mashable.com. Justin Stone is a 19 year-old rapper from Ohio and he is releasing his first album Long Time Coming on April 5. Stone’s 13 song album took him nearly four months to pre-

pare and he began working on it following his first headline show in December. He did it all while in a full time job. Stone said he hopes to be a voice for the unheard, for the ones who can not speak for themselves. “I’m not saying this is the album that helps me blow up at all. But I think this is the album that will start my come up,” said Stone. “I have a five year plan to get to where I want to be and I think with my drive and passion I will achieve it. But another goal for this album is I want to get 300,000 plays just from the songs on the album in a month or two.” From the planning process to creating the album, there are costs. Writing, Stone says, takes two to six hours per song and recording takes another three hours.That means time is the most important factor. Ryan Oakes is a rapper from Virginia who is working on several albums and releasing

music while touring and going to school. He describes the costs as being the hardest part of releasing an album. “The hardest part of making an album is definitely getting the money,” said Oakes. “It costs three to five grand, I’d say. And writing is the most underrated part of an album.” While Stone absorbed most of the costs for his upcoming album by mixing and mastering it himself, he had friends who helped him out along the way and gave him instrumentals to lower the costs. Stone says he likes to write about exactly what he is feeling or thinking and writes about what he is going through in his life. But when he writes music he has to be in his room alone or in his car at night. Stone hopes to wow listeners with his style and ability to change his sound between songs, while also doing it all with clean lyrics.

health & lifestyle

APRIL 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Epilepsy medication in short supply Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Converged Citizen Staff According to Epilepsy Ontario, 42 people are diagnosed with epilepsy daily. Epilepsy is treatable with prescription drug use but due to the shortage of epileptic drugs, people are not receiving treatment. Since 2010, approximately 15-23 drugs used to treat Epilepsy have had supply disruptions. This has resulted in some people being left without forms of treatment for long periods of time. Epilepsy is a brain disorder caused by recurring seizures and can be treated with medication, non-drug treatments and surgery. Epilepsy Ontario says one of three individuals will seek other forms of treatment because their bodies do not respond to the medication. Two out of three will achieve good control of their epilepsy with medication but the shortages have put some at risk. According to the Canadian Drug Shortages Database major drugs in Canada are in facing shortages, including Levetiracetam, Pregabalin and Lamotrigine are listed as having supply shortages. Suzanne Nurse, director of information and client services for Epilepsy Ontario, said the majority of the drugs listed are not at a major risk of depletion. Although there are cases of drugs where the shortages are severe and there has been no sign of it stopping. This includes Epival and its generic brands which have experienced the highest level of shortages.

Nurse said variations of Clobazam products are examples of drugs at risk of shortages that could escalate quickly. “For example, ApoClobazam is in shortage and there are only two other formulations marketed in Canada, Teva-Clobazam and Frisium,” said Nurse. “ Since there are only three products marketed and one is in shortage, this could result in a serious problem as the other two products become depleted quickly.” The depletion of certain products can cause difficulties for individuals using them, said Nurse. Some shortages will result in patients having to switch medications. This switching can be difficult and the transition to a new antiepileptic drug can result in a number of side effects, including increased seizures. Judy Cartwright, 39, was diagnosed with epilepsy several years ago, after having a seizure while waxing her friends eyebrows. After diagnosis, she was placed on three medications to help stop the seizures, but she said they have not stopped completely but they are under control. Cartwright said although the medication does not stop the seizures, she knows taking the medication helps because she can feel a change when she forgets to take them. She also said she could not imagine what it would be for those who could not have theirs for an extended length of time or who have to switch due to shortages. “It’s very scary, I know that even if I miss one dose I feel

Photo by Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Judy Cartwright, 39, is a mother of three and was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 32. She has tried several medications to help control epileptic seizures, but the seizures have not stopped yet. it and things are different…I can’t imagine if those (medications) weren’t available,” said Cartwright. “I definitely think my quality of life would change. I would have no control over the seizures and there would be adverse effects.” She said she is thankful she has not experienced a shortage herself and knows there are support networks in her community that are available to help her when needed. The Windsor-Essex Epilepsy Support Centre, is one of the groups available to the community to help those living with epilepsy.

Bailey Scott is the director of outreach and events for the ESC and said this organization is available to offer the support those living with epilepsy might need. This includes education, support groups, one on one and where they can receive medical assistance. “We try to help all of our clients in the best way we can. We give them guidance in terms of directions they can take, but we can’t give them medical advice,” said Scott. “We recommend that patients seek assistance from their doctor or pharmacist first if

they are experiencing a shortage.” She said people should not switch, ration or stop using medication without consulting a medical professional. Nurse said when the shortages began the Canadian government and epilepsy organizations began working together to start toolkits for drug companies, doctors, pharmacies and epilepsy support groups to combat the shortages. She said the next step is to provide support for those directly affected and to pinpoint a permanent solution to the problem.

Health fair showcases local services Abass Wali Converged Citizen Staff Organizers of an annual health fair hope to help those less fortunate in the community. The University of Windsor hosted the health fair at the Windsor Water World gymnasium on March 16. The Community University Partnership is among several

different organizations in the area that have come together to help Windsorites gain a better understanding of their health. University of Windsor nursing student Sarah Clarke said the health fair program works with the university and the community. This is to get the community involved and make residents aware of the programs Windsor has to offer

and to provide them local health services, she said. “As nursing students we work with social work students to try and make the community a little bit better and to help out with those who are less fortunate and who live in subsidized housing,” Clarke said. Senior project manager Cheryl Taggart said they work in areas such as Glengarry.

She said they provide information about resources, support and work with people to help build the community and make it a better place. Taggart said the health fair is held once a year and dozens of people come together to get the information from their services. “These kinds of events and getting together as a group is really important because it allows people to get together

as a community,” said Taggart. “When they see their neighbours and they recognize we all have the same kind of questions, we all have the same type of concerns and need the same kind of information.” Besides the health fair, the Community University Partnership’s main goals are to bring communities together to be safer, happier and healthier within the neighbourhoods, said Taggart.

CONVERGED CITIZEN APRIL 7, 2016

Windsor athletes commit to Kings Performance Systems Ryan Blevins Converged Citizen Staff A local athletic training facility is celebrating its one year anniversary. Kings Performance Systems is an athletic training facility in Windsor and has now been specializing in weight and speed training. KPS is home to many young athletes in the Windsor and Essex County area. King Performance Systems was founded by Windsor native Jake Francis-Taylor. Francis-Taylor, a trainer and Holy Names Catholic High School graduate had aspirations of providing local student athletes a place to hone their skills. He was able to secure an internship with one of America’s top athletic training facilities Barwis Methods Professional Grade Sports Training. According to Francis-Taylor he learned everything he knows about training while interning under Mike Barwis. “Growing up I was like a lot of high school athletes. I watched YouTube videos to find out what other trainers were doing in order to get stronger,” he said. As an intern, Francis-Taylor worked with professional and

Photo by Ryan Blevins From left: Trainers Marcus Kentner, Norvell McGlaun and founder Jake Francis-Taylor in front of the sign that hangs at Kings Performance Systems gym. collegiate athletes to develop a resume. While interning with Barwis Methods he was able to work with 32 professional athletes including players from the CFL, NFL, MLB and NHL. Taking the knowledge he acquired as an intern, along with his many athletic trainer certifications, FrancisTaylor sought employment with the goal of offering the same level of athletic training to Windsor athletes. “Some of the biggest struggles have been location and target audience but I’ve been trying to get it across to the kids is that this isn’t a money

grab,” said Francis-Taylor. Windsor athletes took little time in discovering the benefits of Kings Performance Systems. There are approximately 40 athletes receiving group or individual training with Francis-Taylor. Many local football players call KPS their home. A total of 30 Windsor Essex County Secondary School Athletic Association All-City players, 12 Canadian Interuniversity Sport football commits and two NCAA Division I football commits are using the gym to prepare themselves to play at the next level.

Catholic Central High School student and University of Buffalo football commit Dominic Johnson credits KPS for strengthening his abilities and preparing him to play at the next level. “Working out here has made me faster, stronger and smarter too,” said Johnson. “This isn’t just for football, this is for any sport or even just for yourself.” Strength and conditioning are not the only tools highlighted at KPS. Athletes looking to play at the next level such as Johnson are able to improve their abilities by

combining specific drills. Athletes trying to garner the attention of coaches are instructed on various techniques while also using methods to improve their physical capabilities in their 40 yard dash times and vertical jumps. Kings Performance System puts an emphasis on training football players mainly because of Francis-Taylor’s experience in football, with hopes of expanding into sports such as baseball, basketball and hockey. After one year of training athletes KPS owners say they seem to have found a market in which to excel.

sports & fitness

No Canadian NHL teams is good Opinion

Christian Bouchard Sports Columnist

Millions of hockey fans across Canada will be hitting the road to recovery during the playoffs, but there is still good news - there is nowhere to go but up. The nightmare and seemingly unthinkable has quickly become reality. For the first time since the 1969-70 NHL season, there will be no Canadian hockey teams represented in the playoffs. A Stanley Cup drought in this country which dates back to 1993 is going to continue another year. In fact, it will probably be even longer as a Canadian team has not even reached the Cup Finals in over

Canadian teams in the NHL. Despite being dominated by the presence of NHL teams south of the border, Americans tend to watch less and less hockey during the playoffs every year. Two of the three highest rated games on NBC since the network took over NHL coverage from ESPN in 2006 involved the Chicago Blackhawks. More than 8.27 million viewers watched them win the Cup in Game 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers in June 2010 and 8.16 million watched them top Boston in Game 6 in June 2013. The only game to top those was a Game 7 between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks in June 2011, the dramatic ending to one of the most combative series in NHL history. This is great news for the growth of hockey. When the Blackhawks are in the Cup Final, the city of Chicago watches. Game 6 against Boston produced a 30.2 rating in Chicago. When the Blackhawks aren’t in the Cup

Photo courtesy of feed.nchl.com A graphic of all seven Canadian NHL teams and the last time they won the Stanley Cup. For just the second time in NHL history, there will be no Canadian teams in the playoffs this year. five years. When it comes to the big stage, Canadians expect nothing but gold for Team Canada. However, as of March 30 of the 10 teams in the bottom standings of the NHL, seven of them were Canadian. This is including the bottom three of Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver. Perhaps the lack of Canadian pride in this year’s playoffs won’t leave many Canadians proud. But more importantly, when looking at the bigger picture, this is a great stepping stone for hockey’s growth. Currently there are 23 American teams and seven

Final, America doesn’t seem to care. Game 5 of the 2014 Final between the Rangers and Kings produced a 5.4 rating in Chicago. But fans in Boston also seem to care come playoff time. The city of Boston had a 33.0 rating for Game 6 against the Blackhawks and a 6.3 rating for the Rangers and Kings. The lowest rating in recorded history came in 2007 when the Anaheim Ducks won the Cup. The rating was a 1.2. Perhaps the presence of the Canadian team Ottawa Senators are to blame. That’s what Americans are known for in the post season. Turning off the television and

getting their summer on instead of watching pucks fly deep into the playoffs. It’s for this reason why the NHL desperately needs a massive local audience from at least one of the Stanley Cup Final participants in order to have a respectable rating. But this brings up another question. Why don’t more American hockey fans watch the Final? Basketball. Like it or not the NHL must battle with the NBA for viewership as they both begin playoffs around April. But as history shows, the NBA will have more viewers regardless of a lack of Canadian presence come playoffs. In fact, the highest viewership total for the NHL would equal the lowest rated NBA Final game in 23 years, Game 2 between the Nets and Spurs in 2003. The reality is the big loser in the struggles is not the NHL. Canadian hockey fans who continue to throw good money after bad teams who never seem to get much better are those who lose. Four of the seven Canadian teams played at capacity or better this season (Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal and Edmonton) and no Canadian team played at anything less than 93.9 per cent capacity (Ottawa). Those are remarkable attendance numbers when you consider that in just two more years, the Stanley Cup drought in this country will begin being measured in quarter-centuries. Despite not having a single Canadian team in this year’s playoffs, fans of hockey should be excited. Regardless of who is in the playoffs, Canadians are going to be watching and cheering for great hockey. In order for the game to grow, the NHL needs a larger viewership from Americans who may not have wanted to watch a Montreal team play a Toronto team from the west coast of San Francisco in previous years. It makes more sense to cheer for the Warriors and watch Steph Curry lead the Warriors to what they hope will be back to back championships. The NBA and NHL will forever be in a viewership battle come playoffs. But only this year, the NHL will have a major opportunity to grow their fan base. This is thanks to all seven Canadian teams.

APRIL 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Spring has sprung Opinion

Michael Hugall Sports Columnist

Spring is defined by the wonder it brings to the western world. The buds on the trees are blossoming to represent a new lively year, everyone’s favourite ice cream shop is going back into service for another year, and the great game of baseball is providing excitement and exuberance in another season. April 3, marks the 113th year of Major League Baseball’s existence and for many fans it is a time to enjoy the warm weather and cheer on their favourite teams (not to mention eat their fair share of ballpark hotdogs and crack a cold one). Indeed, 2016 is looking to be like any other year and not disappoint the fans. In this offseason particularly we have seen some pretty worth while changes around the world of MLB. From big free-agency signings: Zack Greinke signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks (6 yr - $ 206.5million) Justin Upton to the Detroit Tigers (6yr – $132.75 million) Due to controversial rule changes throughout the league, it will be a season which will take a brief digesting period before fans can accept the great pastime that is baseball. This offseason also saw two more players enshrined in the baseball hall of fame located in Cooperstown, N.Y. as Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr. were elected to represent MLB’s greatest on Jan. 6. And with that said we had to say goodbye to some

journey-men in the off-season. As teams take the field to begin the 113th season there is one big storyline to watch for. It is not the Blue Jays' rebound from last year’s American League Championship series nor will it be the collapse of the AL West Powerhouses, the biggest storyline to keep an eye on come April 3 will be the Chicago Cubs. Last year saw the best Cubs record since 2008. However, it could not reverse the World Series drought which is now entering its 108th season nor could it reverse the “curse of the goat,” which has lasted since the 1945 world series against the Detroit Tigers. Although the past is shady, there is new hope in the windy city. After a breakout season from starting pitcher Jake Arrieta and the acquisition of Jon Lester, the rotation is looking like it once did with Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior. In addition to the pitching prowess, the young stallions Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler combined with veteran’s Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist is certain to turn heads around the league. Going to be exciting to watch Joe Maddon’s Cubs take the field. Finally, the article would not be complete without extremely early World Series predictions, so here is the Converged Citizen’s sports staff with their ideas. Let the 2016 season begin. See bottom page 10 Those we bid farewell: Chone Figgins: 12-year veteran for three teams, 2009 All-Star and holds a career batting average of .275 Rafael Soriano: 14-year veteran for seven clubs, 2010 All-Star and holds a career ERA of 2.89 while saving 40plus games in the 2010, 2012 and 2013 seasons. Adam Laroche: 12-year veteran for six clubs, 2012 Gold Glove winner also 2012 Silver Slugger recipient.

health & lifestyle

APRIL 7, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Photo by Ashley Ann Mentley The skyline and view of rooftops in Catania, Sicily.

beneath it was still warm from previous eruptions. The rock takes up to 20 years to fully cool, but Etna is in a state of constant activity and rarely gives the land around it enough time to reach that point. Back down at sea level we found ourselves around endless supplies of pizza, pasta, gelato and local wine – distinct for being produced in soil high in minerals thanks to the lava stone. And all this in a beautiful old city with history as far back as 730 BCE. With only three days on the island before we did the entire trip again in reverse, I only regret there was not enough time to try all the flavours of gelato. And as for the Airbus, while we may not have been lucky enough to experience the flight in first class, it was well worth it to know we flew on the largest passenger plane in the world and that my dad can check one more item off his bucket list.

Etna PAGE 7 from having already visited Milan two years prior and wanting to spend time elsewhere, we had no real ties or knowledge about the Mediterranean island of Sicily. What we do have, though, is a shared sense of adventure and impulse that has led the two of us on many interesting trips over the years. And Sicily did not disappoint the explorer in either of us. Our second day on the island brought us up the side of Mount Etna – Europe’s tallest active volcano. “Active” is not a term used loosely either. Etna erupted as recently as December 2015. We traveled by Jeep, cable car, and a machine I can only describe as a snow tractor, 9,000 feet above sea level. There, we were able to see the highest peak of Mount Etna as well as areas where past lava flows had destroyed all vegetation and buildings in their paths. Though it had recently snowed and we were underdressed in our spring jackets and running shoes, the snow was already melting. Not because of the sun, but because the black lava stone

Photo by Ashley Ann Mentley The Sicilian coast seen from the elevated town of Toarmina.