The Converged Citizen - December 3, 2015

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The Power

*Volume XI Issue 9 *December 3, 2015

Of The Future

Inside

3 News

6 Health & Lifestyle

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Santa comes to town...

Santa waves to a crowd standing along Ouellette Avenue for the fourth annual Winter Fest Parade Nov. 28. A few thousand Windsor-Essex County residents packed the side of the road for the event. The parade, which was held by the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association, started at the intersection of Ouellette Avenue and Giles Boulevard and went norht before ending at Pitt Street. More than 50 floats were in the parade. Some of the participants included Miss Teen United Nations Chelsea Girard, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and city councillors Rino Bortolin, Jo Anne Gignac and Fred Francis.

Photo by Justin Prince

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Entertainment

10 Sports Quote of the Day In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

- George Orwell

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news ONVERGED CITIZEN Accidental kitchen fire causes $50,000 in damages 1

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An accidental kitchen fire at a house in downtown Windsor has caused $50,000 in damages.

Multiple fire trucks for Windsor Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the scene of a house fire in the 500 block of Church Street Nov. 30. Prisoner transport vehicles from the Windsor Police Service were also on scene.

No one was in the house at the time according to WFRS. 1 - A member of the Windsor Fire and Rescue Services prepares to enter the house.

2 - Members of Windsor Fire and Rescue Service helped with each other’s oxygen tanks outside of the house.

3 - A member of the Windsor Fire and Rescue Services smashed a window to let smoke out after the fire.

4 - Members of the Windsor Fire and Rescue Services discuss the situation at the house fire.

5 - A member of Windsor Fire and Rescue Services has his oxygen tank removed.

6 - A picture of the house after the windows were smashed to let out smoke.

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ONVERGED CITIZEN

Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board to move forward with accommodation review modified process at a school board meeting Nov. 24.

The school board is required to hold one public meeting with the school communities affected and one school board meeting before it makes its final decision.

The WECDSB currently has about 3,000 empty student spaces in its system. Paul Picard, the director of education for the WECDSB, said the board was also concerned with the number of students at its secondary schools.

“If the trustees ultimately accept these recommendations or some modifications thereof, we will get our empty space total down to below 1,000 which is optimal as far as the Photo by Justin Prince board is concerned,” said Picard after the meeting. “It Emerson Valley (left) and Kerri Stephenson, members of St. John Catholic Elementary will also maximize our School’s Advisory Council, listen to a discussion by the Windsor-Essex Catholic District secondary schools so they do School Board’s trustees about three proposed accommodation reviews at a school board not become at-risk.”

Picard said during the board meeting at the Windsor Essex Catholic Education Centre Nov. 24. meeting that empty spaces in schools have become a focus which, if approved, could close Windsor and St. Louis Justin Prince for the Ontario Ministry of and consolidate schools in Catholic Elementary School in Converged Citizen Staff Education. He said it should be Amherstburg, Leamington and Leamington in June 2016. The for the board too because it is Windsor West. proposals would also create Three elementary schools losing money from the empty The proposals, which were two middle schools at could be closed in June 2016, seats that could be used for put forward by the board’s Assumption College Catholic which could lead to two new funding school programs. The administration, could lead to High School and Cardinal middle school facilities school board has closed eight The Windsor-Essex Catholic the closures of St. Bernard Carter Catholic Secondary schools since 2005.

District School Board’s Catholic Elementary School in School for students in Grades The WECDSB is now St. John 7 and 8. The trustees voted to trustees have decided to start Amherstburg, starting to look better three accommodation reviews Catholic Elementary School in start all three studies on a financially. The board is

reporting a surplus of about $5.1 million for the end of the 2014-15 school year. It also has an accumulated surplus worth more than $18 million, much of which can be put towards the board’s $14 million capital deficit.

“The exercise of accommodation reviews, as I’ve said as we’ve gone through this multiple times, is extremely difficult,” said Picard during the meeting. “It’s difficult on school communities. It’s difficult on trustees. It’s difficult on students. It’s difficult on staff.

We’re all in this. But much of what we’ve been able to achieve over the course of the last few years has involved effective fiscal management.”

As part of the proposals, St. Bernard’s entire school population would be consolidated with Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School in Amherstburg.

The junior kindergarten to Grade 6 student populations of St. John and St. Louis would also be consolidated with nearby elementary schools.

Students in grades 7 and 8 at the consolidated schools will attend the proposed middle schools.

The proposed middle schools

SCHOOL PAGE 4

New hope, new plans, new faces for Windsor Downtown Mission David Dyck Converged Citizen Staff The giant cathedral-like church echoes the bouncing syllables as Windsor Downtown Mission’s new director of development throws her audience a barrage of fact after fact. The audience is made up of delegates from Leadership Windsor-Essex, who try to pepper questions back with as much interest. But they have a lot to compete with their tour guide’s insatiable dreaming is what’s keeping her going.

“We sort of are the frontline, we’re the place that people stumble through the door (as a)

last resort. Maybe you’ve been turned away from everywhere else, but we don’t turn anyone away. We get you in the door and we help you get to that next step” Fiona Coughlin.

A fitting statement to make immediately after telling the story of a previous guest who is now opening their second sandwich and coffee shop after graduating from the culinary arts program.

Finding fitting statements for every person and every moment helps define Coughlin, the mission’s new director of development, taking on the job less than

MISSION PAGE 4

Photo by David Dyck Standing third and fourth from the left, Fiona Coughlin and Ron Dunn help serve food at the lunch counter at the Windsor Downtown Mission on Nov. 27.

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ONVERGED CITIZEN

Street Labourers Unite

Photo by Michelle Laramie Richard Dalkeith holds up a banner in the slow hall on Nov. 19.

Windsorites working and living on the streets now have their own union.

The Street Labourers of Windsor opened a union hall on Tecumseh Road East.

“This has been a combination of quite a few years of work,” said member and organizer Andrew Nellis. SLOW’s goal is to offer solidarity to members working on the streets. Each member will offer their own individual talents to each other. According to Nellis, they will stick together and help carry each other’s burdens, making them stronger as a team. “We want to be able to watch each other’s back.”

SLOW union hall will act as a gathering place that welcomes members. The hall will also offer different activities such as music lessons, arts and crafts and tips on working

MISSION PAGE 3 three months ago. A tour through the building is just one of her daily tasks where this is necessary. The quotes drop left and right as she moves purposefully, with the occasional nervous giggle.

“We’re going to renovate the whole thing,” she explains, pointing out the enormous space sitting unused.

Dormitories will be installed for both genders, with beds to soon be shipped in for guests who need to spend the night.

There will even be dorms for families who may have been recently evicted from their homes. “If a family is in a crisis situation, it can tear them apart. We can’t have children on the streets, so we’re here to give them a place to go to.”

The subject of potential family upheaval is a special concern for Coughlin, who still vividly recalls being a single mom just barely out of high school. Working in a Hallmark store with her infant son colouring behind the cash register, she credits a strong sense of family at both home and work that helped her pull through. It’s no wonder then

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and living on the streets. They want to give members an opportunity to learn a new skill if they want, according to Nellis.

The organization wants “to make sure members feel welcome and useful,” said Nellis.

Spokesperson Richard Dalkeith is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. He said his past addictions will be helpful to others.

“I can use this in my organization. It’s useful, it’s educational, because some people have these experiences and nowhere to turn to,” said Dalkeith. The organization wants to make sure the members feel welcome and useful, said Dalkeith.

The SLOW union hall will be open Thursday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

that she looks to bring the same qualities to the Mission.

“I feel like we’re all brothers and sisters on the same journey. A lot of us experience very similar things and we’re all fighting battles…I feel a sense of responsibility towards the community, towards everyone that’s in our mission.

They’re our guests, but they’re also our friends and colleagues,” said Coughlin.

The group she's guiding moves downstairs and enters a narrow hallway, where she rattles off future plans while pointing out the rooms they pass. The kitchen provides culinary arts students the chance to find work in the hospitality sector. The food bank used to be only open to people once every three months, to soon be available once a month. For this, contact with various donors needs to be made to keep up with the demand, which Coughlin says take up the majority of her day.

Sitting at her work space with a poem entitled “If I had to live my life over again, I’d make more mistakes next time” and a mini-figurine of Doctor Who for inspiration, please and thank yous are sent out to build

relations with everybody anywhere. And what else does her day involve? Chestnuts.

Soup mix. Article printouts.

Nine skids of crackers coming in from Toronto. Facebook.

And finding contacts for the upcoming Coldest Night Walk needs to be done too.

And speaking of fundraising, Coughlin remembers being involved in it from the very beginning. Growing up in Kitchener, her dad was a hospital administrator who regularly hosted golf tournaments and radio drives to raise funds. Repeatedly tagging along with him soon gave her incentive of her own and she became the chair for the youth committee in college. Pulling through business administration at the time, she decided to "use her business powers for good instead of evil.” That’s where non-profit sector fundraising came in.

But Coughlin’s future ambitions still rest ahead for her tourists, as the next stop calls for a visit to the meal room. On a normal day the room will be packed with over 250 people and she says she has to get to know everyone.

SCHOOL PAGE 3 are also slightly different. At Assumption, the WECDSB would expand its International Baccalaureate programs to be offered to younger students.

Meanwhile, the school board would create a campus-style community with Queen of Peace and Cardinal Carter, which are located next to each other.

“It’s a disappointing decision because our community at St. Louis is thriving and has been thriving,” said St. Louis’s Catholic School Advisory Council chairperson Marianne Baeiri. “It’s a small-knit community, a small community you don’t want to mess with.”

Emerson Valley, the treasurer for St. John’s Catholic School Advisory Council, said he thought the decision to start the review for his school was inevitable. An accommodation review involving the school was done in 2009. In the end, St. Francis Catholic Elementary School was closed and was consolidated with St. John. If the current proposal is approved, Windsor’s west side would have one Catholic elementary school – which Some of the visitors even come solely to socialize, to get “support for their souls and spirits.”

Part of doing that is showing that it’s not an “us and them” mentality, with fundraisers only the elite can afford. The recent trivia night they hosted was open to the public. As Coughlin says, by creating events that would be inaccessible to the community, what kind of message would you be sending to your own guys?

And another way to make an event accessible for the public is to get the public involved.

Coughlin’s sense of responsibility is praised by Angela Matei, the mission’s data clerk. Matei also applauds Coughlin’s creative backing behind the trivia night, which helped raise $11,000.

“Her planning of every event is huge…everybody knows you do this or (that), she has on a schedule everybody’s job.

She knows where to put people and (how to) keep them busy,” said Matei.

And to send that point home, Coughlin warns Leadership Windsor-Essex they might end up finishing their tour sorting

would be west of the Ambassador Bridge – and one Catholic secondary school.

“It’s a huge concern,” said trustee Fabio Costante, who represents Windsor West wards. “These are concerns we’re going to discuss moving forward. What needs to be in the discussion and in the report is all the risks that are involved with having just one grade school and all the risks of having a huge geographic area that would have no Catholic presence.”

Valley said it is important for the voices of the parents and students to be heard and that the school community plans to work with the board to create the best outcome possible for their students.

“Long-term, we have to now convince the trustees that we have a good vision and our vision is not the same as what the board has presented,” said Valley, who has been in his position for four years. “We’re going to work towards having our vision executed.”

The final decision will not be made for each of the accommodation reviews until March 2016. The proposals can also still be changed before the final decision is made. out donated clothes. That is, after she shows them the new hair salon upstairs. And here her creative juices begin to really flow as her speech becomes even more excited and her plans begin to topple all over each other. That, she says, is the benefit of working in the non-profit sector- not a lot of red tape. Here, anything can happen.

“I hope that the mission inspires me to come up with creative solutions. I would love to be the person (who) figures out the solution to poverty and I know that’s a crazy dream… some researchers are looking to cure cancer, we’re looking to cure poverty. How do you do that? We keep working on it and trying new methods and I feel like we can do it,” said Coughlin.

And so whether it’s new hair salons, culinary students going to open their own restaurants, or even something as simple as finding chestnuts for the next Christmas fundraiser, poverty alleviation dreams keep growing. They might even be substantial one day. They certainly already are for Windsor.

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ONVERGED CITIZEN

Windsorites may pay more for road taxes

Ward 9 councillor Hilary Payne addresses city council at the executive committee meeting at City Hall Nov. 23.

Aaron Sanders Converged Citizen Staff A revised road tax levy was brought up at the executive committee meeting at city hall on Nov. 23. The proposal is an

incremental tax levy of point five per cent. This puts roughly $2 million to use for repairing and reconstructing the city’s roads. According to this year's Asset Management Plan, the very good road conditions were

at approximately 41 per cent which is a two per cent increase from 2013. However, the “very poor” percentage increased by point one per cent. Ward 9 councillor Hilary Payne has been requesting the road tax

Textbook prices worry students Rhiannon Lotze Converged Citizen Staff High school seniors are beginning to apply to postsecondary schools for September 2016 and many are worried about more than just the cost of tuition.

On average, undergraduate programs cost about $6,200 in tuition for the 2015-16 school year, according to Statistics Canada. That number has been steadily increasing. Last year, undergraduate students paid an average of $6,000 a year.

However, tuition costs are not the only ones students have to pay. In addition to the price of the program, students can pay from $800 to $1,000 a year for textbooks alone, according to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

The high costs have many students worried, including Mikaela Russell who said she is planning on applying to the respiratory therapy program at St. Clair College.

"I'm most worried about financial troubles and paying off loans if I need to get them,"

said Russell. She is planning on going to college after graduating from high school and said the only thing that could stop her would be if she had to work full-time for a year to save up money.

While students are worried about the high costs of schooling those around them also worry, including their parents and teachers.

Mitzi Fujs is a teacher at Sandwich Secondary School in LaSalle. She tries to help her students as much as possible.

"I direct them to guidance (counselling), vice principals and social workers as necessary," she said. "A key issue for some is that several have to put off school for one year to work to afford school."

Fujs also said for some, textbooks aren't as much of an issue because they are "viewed as a downloadable file."

Downloading PDF versions of textbooks is one of many ways students can save money.

Russell said she plans to find as many used books as she can.

Students can also purchase ebook versions of textbooks, rent them or search websites

for the lowest prices.

"I would suggest using slugbooks.com as it compares prices for a textbook among multiple sites so you can find the cheapest price," said Himani Dhar, a third year student at the University of Windsor.

Dhar has purchased her textbooks from various websites, including Amazon.

However, she said not all books are available through Internet stores and must be bought fullprice at campus bookstores.

According to a study published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, tuition costs for students in 2017 could be around $7,500 a year and the costs of textbooks will rise as well.

levy and said he is confident about the proposal.

“I’m very confident because all of us councillors have issues in our wards that (the) roads need reconstruction and rehabilitation,” said Payne.

With the current city budget, the roads’ poor and very poor conditions would increase from 196.8 km to 358.5 km in the next 20 years. The proposed point five per cent tax levy would decrease the negative conditions to 73.4 km in the same time span. For the average homeowner, there would be a $14 tax increase.

Our West End outreach coordinator, Tamara Murray, said she has seen some improvements to the roads in the west end.

“We’ve seen some wonderful improvements along the Wyandotte West business strip, the beautification has brought

communities together and businesses are filling themselves in naturally,” Murray said.

According to the City of Windsor agenda most of the money would go towards repairing EC Row Expressway. The arterial roads would be next, followed by collector roads and any money remaining would go towards the local roads. Payne said the City’s roads are a more concerning issue when it comes to other levies.

“This is an internal levy,” said Payne. “We have to do a better and a quicker job of reconstructing a major city asset which is of the course the city roadways.”

City council will decide whether or not to approve the road tax levy at the budget meeting on Dec. 21.

CONVERGED CITIZEN December 3, 2015

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The spirituality of crystals Allison Crease Converged Citizen Staff

Photo by Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Students gather in the games room of St. Clair College residence to meet with the three therapy dogs at the event. the next therapy dog event will be held in April 2016.

Lending a therapeutic paw to students Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Converged Citizen Staff Therapeutic Paws of Canada are working together to bring therapy dogs to meet with students at the University of Windsor, following a visit at St. Clair College Residence.

The University of Windsor will be holding a Therapeutic Paws event on Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 at their main campus.

The events are being put together to reduce the stress in students.

Gemma Chatwin, an English post-graduate exchange student at the University of Windsor said she will be attending the event. She said the event will allow students who may be away from home for the first time to connect with pets they may be missing.

“I think university creates a lot of stress for students, especially for those who might be experiencing university for

the first time,” said Chatwin.

“I think it will give students the ability to connect with an animal that they might be missing. This familiarity of being with a pet will de-stress them.”

Therapy dogs have already visited the students living at the St. Clair College Residence.

Andrew Mackereth, the residence life coordinator at St. Clair College, said the dogs from Therapeutic Paws of Canada were brought in to help students with the stress they may be feeling at the end of the semester. He said he knew the dogs would make a difference to the students at this time of the year.

“December is a really stressful month for students with their exams coming up and their midterms just finishing up,” said Mackereth. “We planned it for students as a stress buster as well as a way to remind them that the residence is still thinking about

them at that time and that animals are a really great way to relieve that stress.”

Therapy dogs and interactive social dogs are trained to work with a handler to provide comfort and service to people in need, including those in hospitals, retirement homes, schools and children with disabilities or learning challenges. They are also trained to support people in stressful situations like those dealing with the aftermath of a disaster.

Therapy dogs come from a variety of breeds since certain dogs work better in different circumstances, but one of the things they have in common is their temperament. Therapy dogs need to be confident and social dogs who are patient, gentle and friendly in all situations.

“With our visits we can reduce stress, anxiety, loneliness or depression whether we

DOGS PAGE 7

Citizens of Windsor and Essex-County have been turning to crystals when looking for more than traditional healing and spirituality practices.

Dating back six thousand years, crystals were used as healing tools by ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egyptians. Their use is based on concepts borrowed from Asian cultures and religious practices. Each crystal is assigned different properties which are believed to be beneficial in many ways.

All crystals are meant to pull and put in energies through chakras, the seven main energy points located from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

“People are scattered. Their energy is scattered because every time you go and do something you’re giving some of your energy to that and what the crystals help you to do is to pull all of your energy together and keep you centered,” said Linda Amicarelli.

“Keeping centered helps you live in the moment. Nothing can phase you.”

Amicarelli is the owner of Pelee’s Rock Bottom in Leamington. She opened her shop in 2002 and has been involved with crystals for nearly 30 years. She’s been mining for crystals in Peru, Egypt, the southwestern states, Nova Scotia, and in northern Ontario.

Amicarelli believes crystal healing is the roots of humanity. She said people who are willing to seek out the information through awakening will find their own path.

According to transcendingconsciousness.com, awakening is a shift in consciousness

where thinking and awareness separate. It is considered a form of universal awareness and presence to the here and now.

The whole world is connected through vibrations and energy according to Spirit Science. Some people can feel the energy and vibrations, whether you have awakened or not.

“I am not sure it’s to one thing or object but I have had moments where sonder (calm) sinks into my head and I feel spiritually connected to everything around me,” said Cassidy Van Der Boose.

Van Der Boose does not really believe in crystal healing, but said if she knew more about them she would try it.

She believes there has been a link between religion and spirituality, but her beliefs are agnostic.

“I feel like crystals in themselves are not a spiritual journey and not the be all, end all.

I believe that they are a placebo that allows people to open their minds and focus on the positive,” she said.

Enlightenment has been derived from Buddhism and Hinduism, where a follower of the faith would open their minds fully and see their truth in life. It is believed certain crystals help a repetitive person become closer to awakening and seeing truth.

“It’s just when people wake up they automatically seek all of this information because they remember it from way back when because of all of the lives we’ve lived,” Amicarelli said.

There is about seven metaphysical and crystal stores around Windsor and EssexCounty. Across Canada, there are thousands more.

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Vaping in the Wild West Todd Shearon Converged Citizen Staff A Windsor man is providing a viable option to help people quit smoking, through vaping.

Mike Hart, owner of Vape Me Vapables, has been running his home-based business for three years and it has a growing success rate of people quitting smoking.

According to Hart the number of smokers is dropping in favour of vaping. He said people are exchanging their smoking habit for vaping, but the second habit is not nearly as addictive as the first.

“It’s ridiculous how effective it is,” said Hart. “You get numbers published like six to 20 per cent, but I’m being really generous saying 20 per cent, for the patch and Zyban.

Whereas anecdotally speaking I’d say my success rate is 70 to 80 per cent. It might even be higher.”

Creating his own e-juice in the lab based out of Hart’s home, he said if someone else is talking about his product he loves it. He does not like talking about himself.

After smoking for over 15 years, Teresa Knight decided to start vaping in order to quit smoking after a friend who tried vaping mentioned it to her. She also watched her parents, who were smokers for over 40 years, quit smoking through vaping.

“I never ever in my life thought my mom would quit smoking,” said Knight. “I

DOGS PAGE 6 are at hospital or a school or a senior residence. That’s why it’s so important,” said Jane Stewart, team leader of the Windsor-Essex branch of Therapeutic Paws of Canada.

“It offers residents, or whoever, a stress relief for many different reasons.”

Therapeutic Paws of Canada is a national organization of volunteers and their registered animals who provide those in need with resources through regular visits to hospitals, residences and schools. The program tailors to physical, mental, educational, motivational and social needs. TPOC uses

Photo by Todd Shearon Mike Hart of Vape Me Vapables is seen here in his home office. vaped for about a month and a half and forgot it one day when I went to work. I realized I didn’t need it. I didn’t miss it. I decided I was going to continue on and see how long I could go without it. I never touched it again.”

Hart said his business has increased with the success rate of people quitting smoking through vaping.

“Vaping is split into two markets,” said Hart. “You’ve got the people who are quitting smoking and generally go down in the amount of nicotine they’re vaping. And you’ve got the recreational vapers who spend hundreds of dollars on a monthly basis blowing big clouds that have

no nicotine. That’s what vaping is turning into in the public eye. They see low milligram vapers blowing big clouds.”

Customers are quitting and losing their dependence on nicotine by lowering the milligrams of nicotine they’re vaping with every new bottle of juice they order.

Hart said there are currently no laws creating obstacles for him in the vape business and he looks forward to when there are actual regulations on making e-juice and selling hardware.

“It’s like the Wild West in Canada. I can do anything,” said Hart. “I chose to take the

high road and built a lab and make sure I get my flavours tested. Joe Blow juice maker could put bleach in his juice if he wanted. There are no regulations and no one inspecting them. He could make it in his bathtub.”

However, Hart said he is concerned with how vaping might be regulated in Canada.

Like the United States, Canada could aim to declare everything related to vaping as a tobacco product. He said this could wipe out the entire vape industry overnight as he would be regulated in a completely different way. He said he hopes the government acts reasonably and suggests they regulate him like a micro-

both cats and dogs when conducting these visits depending on the situation or the requests of the people asking for the services.

Stewart became part of the organization three years ago with her therapy dog Harley, a 10-year-old black Labrador retriever. She said in order to be accepted her dog had to be tested to make sure he was a right fit for the program.

The animals have to meet requirements to ensure the safety of the people who use the services. The cats or dogs and their trainers are analyzed as a team and must complete a formal evaluation and a behavioural assessment. Only

those who have passed the evaluation will be allowed to handle the pet during a therapy visit from the TPOC. “It gives students that needed break time from studying and they get to come down and play with some dogs and have a great time,” said Mackereth. “It also allows them to reconnect with themselves, their friends and if they have pets at home they can kind of mock play with those pets.”

Mackereth said the residence hosts these events twice in the academic year. Nov. 25 was the first therapy dog event of the school year for students living at the St. Clair College

residence. Mackereth said when he was planning the event students where approaching him and asking when it was going to happen.

Dana Peeler, a resident in the building, said she did not attend the event last year but did this year.

Peeler is a second year student in the veterinary technician program at St. Clair College. She said she understands the connection these students feel toward the dogs.

“When I see a happy dog it makes me happy,” said Peeler.

“When I see other people happy it makes me happy especially with my desired career. When I see a dog it

brewery.

“They’re working with alcohol which is technically a poison, like I’m working with nicotine which is technically a poison,” said Hart. “You have to have general manufacturing procedures that apply to every juice maker. That would bring us into a golden age of juice making. If it goes the opposite way it will turn them into criminals. If you want to start a black market that’s how you do it.”

There is no timeline as to when Canada might regulate vaping as an industry. He said in his opinion it is not about people’s health, it’s where the dollars are coming in from the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.

“The pharmaceutical industry would be the scarier of the two in Canada. They would love to own this technology and sell it over the counter like the patch,” said Hart.

“You need someone like me to teach someone who’s starting vaping and how to do it properly. These are the things required for quitting smoking.

Do it the wrong way and it’s not going to be a viable option for people anymore. They’ll just smoke again. It takes a little bit of effort to quit smoking.

Make that a big effort and it won’t happen.”

To see what Health Canada says about vaping visit - www.healthycanadians.gc.ca reminds me of my dog at home and that’s what the therapy dogs do and it takes away a little of my stress and replaces it with happiness.”

St. Clair College residence will also host a free massage day Dec. 3 for its students.

Mackereth said this will continue the stress free environment the residence staff are trying to provide its students.

The next therapy dog day at residence will take place in April 2016 the second semester begins to come to a close.

For information about Therapeutic Paws of Canada, the services offered and information on becoming a member of the team visit tpoc.ca.

CONVERGED CITIZEN DECEMBER 3, 2015

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Call of Duty: Still the Same Game

Screenshot of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Caleb Workman Converged Citizen Staff The new Call of Duty game is appealing to a general gaming audience but some are worried it isn’t bringing anything new to the table.

The newest game release, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, is on track to have more than $1 billion in sales after reaching $550 million in just three days. The first Call of Duty game was released in 2003 and has since had 12 main franchise games and 10 games not connected to its main series line.

Bryan Holmes, a self-taught game programmer and design-

er from Windsor, said the appeal in Call of Duty is its accessibility and ability to make a single player carry an online match, unlike more technical games like CounterStrike: Global Offensive.

“Activision Blizzard has been successful by appealing to a non-competitive crowd,” said Holmes. “Call of Duty appeals to the ‘sit down, game a few hours and then move on’ crowd. Counter-strike targets the e-sports crowd who cares more about time put into the game equalling skill, not that Call of Duty doesn’t require skill but the easier learning curve means acquiring it is a much faster process.”

A combined 22 games is no small feat. The series and its publishing company, Activision Blizzard, has done very well with all of their games totalling a lifetime gross of $11 billion but some people think the series is getting old fast, such as Holmes, while other say it still has positive things to offer.

Local gamer Matthew French said he is neutral on the Call of Duty series and says often gamers who say they like it are considered casual gamers as opposed to having skill.

“At this point there’s such a strong stigma it seems counter

intuitive to admit liking it,” said French. “If I admit to liking it then people will perceive me as a casual gamer who doesn’t know anything about first person shooters.”

French said the game is considered watered-down but if you take it at face-value it can be a lot of fun, especially with friends.

According to Holmes, developers of the series know their formula and stick to it, but it comes with a risk.

“There is little inherent risk as a buyer in picking up a Call of Duty game because your expectations would easily be met,” said Holmes.

“Publishers need to be careful with this because it can lead to fatigue which is why players mention ‘it’s just the same game with slightly different graphics.’”

Holmes said the general audience appeal will always be a main selling point but the fatigue-factor of having the same game with slightly better graphics is bound to get old unless they make some major changes.

One thing is for sure, as long as people keep buying, Activision Blizzard will keep selling and gamers can expect to see more games coming in the near future.

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December 3, 2015

arts & entertainment ONVERGED CITIZEN Local film producer shares experience

Photo by Jordan Caschera A student watches the film “The Birder” directed by Ted Bezaire.

Jordan Caschera Converged Citizen Staff “I was in my early 20s, it was a comedy called The Putting Edge and I was thrown into it,” said Ted Bezaire. “I wanted to go big.” You’ve heard it before, Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, well that’s how Ted Bezaire describes his life. “If I didn’t love it as much as I do, I would’ve stopped a long time ago,” said Bezaire. “It’s my dream.”

Ted Bezaire is a producer and writer who graduated from the University of Windsor and Sheridan College but his interest in producing was sparked well before post-secondary school.

“Growing up, some of my earliest memories were in the theatre with my dad, now it’s the best feeling watching the crowd, watch my movie.”

While attending F.J. Brennan High School, Bezaire came across a teacher by the name of Steve Kristof and it was in his computer technology course Bezaire began film making. “We started a videography club and every year we would have an end-of-theyear film festival.”

While at school he became friends with eventual movie co-writer, Mike Stasko. The duo both wrote the 2012 comedy The Birder and filmed the whole movie in Windsor. But it wasn’t the first of their movies to be filmed in their home town.

The two wrote Things to Do after Bezaire and his producing partner flew out to Los Angeles to attend the

Sundance Film Festival. “The energy there was really palpable, I remember saying ‘imagine we had a film here.” After the festival Bezaire and Stasko became motivated to show their film at the festival.

The plan was to film the movie in the summer and submit it for the January Sundance festival. “We got into Slamdance, the sister festival of Sundance,” said Bezaire. “In one year we went from idea to premiering in Park City.” The duo pitched the idea for The Birder to Telefilm Canada who developed movies in Canada.

“They liked ‘Things to Do’ so they asked us what else we had.” Telefilms liked the concept and began to develop the movie.

Bezaire went into Slamdance with the idea for The Birder in his back pocket for the odd chance someone asked ‘what was next?’ He got the idea from his former high school teacher.

“It was a weird experience, we were having wine and talking more as peers rather than student-teacher, It was a weird experience.” Joking he said before that he never seen teachers as “real people and not robots who just show up to school from 8 to 3.” It’s about the context of someone’s profession he said “It’s how you see people.” Stasko and Bezaire had a mutual friend who was an avid bird watcher, Bezaire admitted to having the small idea of a teacher who lives in the school during the summer. Stasko said they like doing comedies so they combined the idea of the character being a teacher and an

ornithologist.

Their first movie was shot in Windsor and the two wanted to come back to replicate the great experience they had.

“We wrote the story with Windsor in mind, the area is a hot-bed for bird watching.”

The Birder stars Fred Willard and Tom Cavanagh but the story is set in a fictional Essex County and wasn’t written for any specific actors in mind.

“When it came to casting all we wanted was someone who could embrace the roll of the main character Ron Spencer.’’

Tom Cavanagh reached out to Bezaire after reading the script and was onboard right away.

Fred Willard in Bazaires opinion is a comedy icon, Willard’s comedic roles are endless and he’s best known for starring in Anchorman, Anchorman 2 and recently on the hit sitcom Modern Family.

“I’m a huge fan of his, so we tried and he loved the script.”

With Fred Willard being such a big name and a busy guy the movie was filmed with him set for only three days. “The trick is to find interesting actors we

can shoot with for a short amount of time.” The whole movie was shot in a total of 14 days spread out over four weeks.

The movie premiered in Calgary in 2012 and was the first time an audience viewed the film with no sentimental relationship with any of the cast. “It was a huge relief when we got the first laughs because they don’t know me, they don’t care if they hurt my feelings.” According to Bezaire the reaction at the Capitol Theatre for the premier in Windsor was much different. “The audience at the Capitol was the biggest reaction we could’ve imagined, they were super into it.” He admitted the audience was one of the best rewards. “What is the point of making a movie if there is no audience, then It’s just an expensive home video.”

Since The Birder Bezaire has been a busy guy, hes been writing and producing short films and has been attempting to get a television project offthe-ground. Bezaire most

recently worked on a BravoFact short film in Toronto with Bell media and will be in post-production for the next few months. Though he is busy, he kept going back to its all about doing what he loves. “To get one project off the ground you need to be working on nine others.”

Though he said only one of those projects will be successful but it always ends up evening itself out.

The duo of Ted Bezaire and Mike Stasko started making films together in college and completed dozens of short films. Now the duo have completed four feature films together. “It’s been a long time working together and we complement each other.”

He admits times can be difficult and there are always up’s and down’s but you’re working for the one to be successful. “If I didn’t love it as much as I do I would have stopped a long time ago, You have to really love it.”

Thank You

Our team would like to thank Tim Hortons for their donation to the Converged Citizen and members of the Blitz team.

525 University Ave. W. Windsor, Ont. (519) 253-0012

CONVERGED CITIZEN DECEMBER 3, 2015

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Comets basketball team welcomes student from Sudan Ryan Blevins Converged Citizen Staff

An international student-athlete arriving at Catholic Central high school has big shoes to fill, literally and figuratively.

Seventeen-year-old Jonothan Nicola is a six foot nine inch forward who is enrolled at CCH and is the newest member of the Comets basketball team. Nicola arrived in Canada on Nov.23 after a long journey overseas. A native of war-stricken Sudan, Nicola joins the Comets just four days before the CCH basketball team saw their first game action in the 29th annual Freeds-St. Clair College Tip Off Tournament.

Due to the absence of a Canadian Embassy in Sudan the process of obtaining documentation to live in Canada took more than six months.

After 24 hours of flights, Nicola landed in Toronto facing extreme jet lag due to the eight hour time difference between Sudan and Toronto.

Catholic Central principal Sherrilynn Colley-Veigh is working to see where Nicola fits into the school academically.

“We have been assessing him all day,” said Colley-Veigh. “I mean we have students that have gaps in their education

Photo by Ryan Blevins Coach Peter Cusumano (left) instructs his team while they line up on the side line at their practice Nov. 25 from similar situations.”

Having no formal schooling over the past two years Nicola finds himself in a great situation to succeed. Catholic Central is home to over 100 international students and the school has several amenities to assist students who are new to Canada. Services such as the Secondary Assessment and Reception Centre, Secondary Language Proficiency Assessment and Translation Assistance are all

available at Catholic Central.

Catholic Central basketball head coach Peter Cusumano has liked what he has seen from his newest player so far.

“You can’t teach height, he’s athletic. There’s a big learning curve but hopefully we get there with him,” said Cusumano.

Nicola is not only in a great place to succeed academically, but will be able to flourish athletically as well. Coach Cusumano has coached the

Comets for 28 years and has produced National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball players such as Bill Davis and Mychal Mulder. The Comets have also won eight Windsor Essex County Secondary School Athletic Association championship and three Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations champions under coach Cusumano. It is this resume that made coach Cusumano a nationally recog-

nized name in the Canadian basketball world. Meanwhile it has been his national recognition that led international basketball scout Gregg Dole to reach out to coach Cusumano about developing Nicola’s talents.

“They are really welcoming.

I love them a lot,” said Nicola referring to his teammates.

“Since I arrived here, especially when I was outside. They just came up to the car, one of my teammates said ‘Hey Jonothan I was waiting for you so long.'”

Nicola’s teammates will also welcome him into his first Freeds-St. Clair College Tip Off Tournament. The Comets have finished second in the last five tournaments losing all five finals games to Toronto St. Michael.

Returning players such as Richie Akinsanya and Najee Brown Henderson look to rebound from their teams performance in last year’s tournament and end Toronto St. Michael’s run.

Coach Cusumano and the Catholic Central Comets basketball team began their season Nov. 27 in the Freeds-St. Clair College Tip Off tournament. The Comets now focus their attention on the WECSSAA season and their home opener against the Vincent Massey Mustangs Dec. 3.

Vagnini wins coach of the year Jordan Caschera Converged Citizen Staff The St. Clair Saints Women’s soccer head coach has won two college Coach of the Year awards at the CCAA Women’s Championship Banquet.

Steve Vagnini won the 2015 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association awards. Vagnini was named the

OCAA Coach of the Year for the second year in a row at the provincial championships two weeks ago. This past season Vagnini lead the Saints to a 9-1 record and a tie for first place in the OCAA West Division. In the playoffs the Saints had a record of 3 – 1 record.

St. Clair won OCAA Bronze, its first medal in women’s soccer since 1999. It was the fourth medal won by the women’s

soccer program and according to assistant coach Kris Geier, Vagnini deserves it.

“He takes lots of time off from work to be sure the team is prepared and ready for each and every game,” said Geier.

“His passion is contagious.”

Geier also said Vagnini earned respect from many of the coaches in the OCAA because of his preparation and dedication to the team.

“Steve always has the best interest of the program first and foremost,” said Geier.“He is the most prepared coach I have ever worked with.”

“Everyone on the team knows this and buys into it,” said Geier. “He has dramatically changed the entire culture of the program.”

Coach Vagnini said winning this award was an honour because he gets to share it with

his team and coaching staff. He said no individual can win this award on their wn without a great supporting cast.

“Our motto has always been ‘team’. We are taught to live and die together” He said the team’s goal has always been to make the final four and anything less would have been devastating.

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DECEMBER 3, 2015

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Collector defies odds with baseball stash

Photo courtesy of @zack_hample Zack Hample lying in his collection of baseballs. Hample has caught 8,633 baseballs in his lifetime Christian Bouchard Converged Citizen Staff Some people have all the luck in the world, but a little skill helps too.

Catching a baseball at a MLB game is something many people dream of their entire lives. However, more often than not, whether their team wins or loses, fans will walk out of the stadium empty handed.

What are the odds of catching a ball at a game? Here’s the math: In an average MLB game, 30 balls enter the stands with an average attendance of 30,000. Therefore, the odds of catching one ball are 30,000 fans divided by 30 balls, which is 1 in 1,000.

But in a single game in 2011, one fan at a Cincinnati Reds game at Great American Ball Park snagged a total of 36 baseballs – a once in several lifetime’s achievement.

The odds of that happening are 1 in 9 trillion. That’s 12 zeros, for those wondering.

Including batting practice, Zack Hample has caught more than 8,500 baseballs in his lifetime. Still, the 38-year-old said it took time before catching his first one.

“I was first motivated to

COACH PAGE 10 “This has become our culture and winning this award proves that we are headed in the right direction as a program,” said Vagnini.

Vagnini said they work with a positive attitude and deal with controversy when it

catch a ball by seeing people doing it on TV,” said Hample.

“I went to games for six years before I finally got my hands on one. Ever since then, I’ve developed a lot of tricks and strategies to increase my chances.”

The tricks and strategies have proven to work over the years. Hample finished the 2015 MLB season having caught at least one ball in 1,166 consecutive games.

“I think it’s a crazy feat and probably one that won’t ever be repeated,” said Tristan Bouchat, a pitcher for the Tecumseh Thunder and St. Clair Saints. “Some people have season tickets their entire life and would be lucky to catch a handful of balls.”

Dereck Matte, a baseball fan his entire life, said Hample’s talents are amazing.

“Catching a baseball comes with practice,” said Matte, 19.

“For a fan in the stands, you must be attentive and have to fight against other people wanting the same baseball.”

Hample estimates he’s been attending around 90 games per season while spending upwards of $100,000 on games in his lifetime. He’s been to more than 50 different ballparks, catching a ball in

each. In the end, the goal is to reach the 10,000 baseballs and the 100 home run baseball plateau.

Although Hample spent much of his time chasing after foul balls, his life changed forever on June 19, 2015 when he caught a home run ball off the bat of Alex Rodriguez.

The home run was Rodriguez’ 3,000th career hit – a milestone only 29 players have reached in the history of the game.

“I’m always happy when I snag any ball,” said Hample.

“But when I catch a home run during the game, it’s absolutely exhilarating. I get a major rush even after all these years.

That’s what keeps me going back for more.”

Catching that ball meant more than any of the other 8,632 balls he has ever caught.

However, he never expected the backlash he would get for deciding to keep the souvenir.

For many fans, the 3,000th career hit ball should have been returned to Rodriguez.

After months, Hample still had fans heckling him, calling him names, screaming sexual and derogatory slurs as well as even physically assaulting him.

On top of receiving so much

arises and this allows the players to be relaxed and confident.

“From the first day the team is picked, I let the girls know that our ultimate goal is a national championship,” said Vagnini. “But we approach that one day at a time and one practice at a time and one game at a time.”

According to Vagnini this allows the players to be prepared to face anyone or anything in their way and he verbally reinforce this goal every day.

On top of all the outdoor soccer success, Vagnini has led the Saints to an OCAA Indoor Soccer Championship last March. It was the first ever gold medal for the Saints program.

hate for catching the ball, Hample said it has since made his favourite hobby even harder to do because of the increased popularity.

“It’s now impossible for me to attend a game and keep to myself,” said Hample. “It’s flattering and I don’t mean to complain and I try to be patient and friendly with everyone, but I do now face some added challenges.”

Despite all the hate in response to his decision to keep the baseball, after a two week holdout, Hample decided to sell the ball back to the New York Yankees for $150,000. All the money was donated to his favourite charity, Pitch In For Baseball.

Wanting to share his talents and tricks with the world, Hample is also the proud author of several books including How To Snag Major League Baseballs. The book was written after Hample’s freshman year at college, when his summer job had fallen through.

Among some of the tips shared in the book, Hample said most noticeably the best advice he can give to an amateur who wants to catch a baseball at an MLB game is mobility.

“It’s all about lateral mobility,” said Hample. “Don’t get trapped in the middle of a long row. Make sure you have room to run. And duh, bring a glove.”

Preparation is another vital weapon for catching baseballs, according to Hample.

Although there are only so many languages spoken in the MLB, Hample can ask for a

baseball in 36 different languages.

While ball hawking is one of his favourite hobbies, he has also gone to some extreme measures to receive baseballs.

After a game in Kansas City in 2009, Hample hid inside Kaufman Stadium until all the security guards had left.

“I climbed down into an area behind the centre field wall where there were a bunch of baseballs,” said Hample. “The way I see it, I did the Royals a favour by preventing them from sending one of their employees down in there.

That employee might have gotten hurt and sued them, but I removed the baseballs free of charge without incident.”

Hample also holds the world record for the highest elevation a baseball has ever been caught from. On July 13, 2013, he caught a baseball dropped from a helicopter at 1,000 feet in the air at Edward A. LeLacheur Park.

Beel Veeck is often remembered for his famous quote “There are only two seasons – winter and Baseball.” For Zack Hample, winter means he eats better, exercises more and is more active on social media. He goes out on dates, catches up with friends and pursues other hobbies.

Contrary to popular belief, winter is Hample’s favourite time of the year.

“My favourite time of the year is when there’s no baseball,” said Hample. “No one understands that or believes me, but it’s true. If the offseason could last three years, that would be ideal – even just once.”

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DECEMBER 3, 2015

ONVERGED CITIZEN

‘Be proud, but never satisfied’ Christian Bouchard Converged Citizen Staff Ecole secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse are celebrating their silver medal finish at OFSAA after battling through adversity all season long.

Although slated as the number seven seed at the beginning of the tournament, the girls were able to do what no other sports team in school history could accomplish.

After a 26-year wait, Ecole Secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse made it to the championship game at OFSAA. Entering the fourth quarter down 12 points, Lajeunesse would fight back but eventually fall to top-seeded Ecole secondaire catholique JeanVanier by four points.

“You can’t imagine how proud I am right now,” said Thomas Couvillon, principal of Lajeunese. “It is not about winning or losing, it’s about how they won all tournament long and it’s about how involved our staff and students were throughout the tournament.”

Linda Carriere, head coach of the Royals said the team battled through a lot of adversity the entire year. Despite the loss or what the silver medal represents, there is only one championship team for her.

“To me, they’re champions,” said Carriere. “This is my family. It’s been my family all year. We’re really close together and we’re going to cherish this moment forever.

Photos by Jordan Cashera Ecole Sencondaire E.J. Lajeunesse host Westminister at the OFSAA Championship Tournament Nov. 28 Even though seven of them are leaving, they’re going to be in my heart forever.”

On the road to the championship game, Lajeunesse found themselves down one point in the quarterfinals with 1.5 seconds left in the game.

Asina Wabisa stepped up to the free-throw line and hit one of two to send the game to overtime. Taylor Whitehead

would eventually hit the game winner for the Royals resulting in a wild celebration.

“I was so nervous,” said Wabisa. “I didn’t know what to do but I knew if I missed one shot I would at least make the other. That’s sort of my routine.”

Lauren Goulding, a Grade 12 senior for Lajeunesse, said her team came together to play

their best game all year.

Despite the loss in the championships, her coach gave her some advice to cope with the loss.

“Her famous line is be proud, but never satisfied,” said Goulding. “But since we got the silver medal at OFSAA, she said be proud, and now you can be satisfied.”

Couvillon, also believes in

the culture of never being satisfied. However, by teaching students not to be satisfied, Couvillon believes they will push themselves to reach their full potential.

“I do think we really stride that we can’t be satisfied,” said Couvillon. “I tell the girls all the time they can’t be afraid to succeed. I think it’s something we’ve overcome now. We go into every game now expecting to win the game. Whether it’s in the classroom, the gym or wherever, it’s a key to saying ‘I’m going to bring my best every day.’”

With a student body of just over 400 students, the Lajeunesse gymnasium saw a couple hundred of students cheering on the girls.

Couvillon said this is the culture and winning mentality WHICH is starting to grow at the school.

As the school now has its very first appearance in an OFSAA championship, Couvillon believes even with the loss, it will motivate the school to bring championships in the future.

“I think it’s a development process,” said Couvillon.

“We’ve learned to win and we expect to win now.

Everyone’s joined into that.

These young ladies who did so well in basketball will carry that culture into the volleyball season then the next.

The junior girls were a huge part of this as well. Giving them a taste of an OFSAA championship will make them ready for more in the future.”