MediaPlex Examiner October 18, 2019

PAGE 1

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18. 2019

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3

News

News

Health

Sports

Advance polling turnout higher this year than during 2015 election, Page 2.

Overcrowded inmates are forcing employees at detention centre to worry, Page 4.

Pregnant women may experience different symptoms as seasons change, Page 12.

People do not see the hard work athletes put in when they are off the field, Page 10.

Canada reelects Trudeau PM visits Windsor one week before forming minority

By Zachary Balogh MediaPlex Examiner

Photo by Zachary Balogh Justin Trudeau greeting Windsorites at his campaign at the St Clair College Centre for the Arts.

On the morning of Thanksgiving Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a campaign stop in Windsor, where he spoke to a crowd of about 50.

Liberal candidates, Sandra Pupatello and Irek Kusmierczyk joined Trudeau at the St. Clair Center for the Arts. Kusmierczyk, who is also a Windsor city councilor, introduced Trudeau to those gathered. Trudeau began by talking about what he calls the Conservative Party’s cuts.

“You could sum up Sheer’s platform in three words cuts, cuts and cuts,” said Trudeau. “the one thing Andrew Scheer would do: rip up Canada’s only climate plan taking back the money we have been putting in people’s pockets by making big polluters pay. Trudeau said “the middle class deserves better than Scheer’s reckless cuts.”

According to the Conservative party’s website these new policies will further lower Canada’s green-house emissions and strengthen the environment.

Trudeau was elusive about a possible coalition with the New Democratic Party. Trudeau’s response was to talk about the conservative platform.

“I am campaigning hard to stop Conservative cuts and elect a progressive government,” said Trudeau.

Trudeau’s campaign activities on Thanksgiving continued in Tilbury where dined with Chatham-Kent-Leamington.

LIB

CON

BLOC

NDP

GRN

IND.

157

121

121

24

3

1

Final election results taken from CBC https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2019/results/

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

What goes into getting the election polls ready? the elections to run smoothly. boost the local economy at the same time.

Without the mass of workers, exercising “Without them, there wouldn’t be an election,” said Grenier. “It’s pretty simple. It’s the democratic right to vote could be much It takes millions of dollars. like anything else. What would happen if harder. Lynd believes new technologies, inHundreds of thousands of ballot boxes, a store didn’t have employees ... they’d be cluding phone, online and mail-in ballots, forms, pencils and signs. closed. It’s the same for an election, except could make it easier and increase voter parAnd thousands of employees across the for the only difference [is] the huge number ticipation.

“I’ve noticed a lot of younger people are country — but what do those election of people that have to be hired, the training registering and they’re registering online,” workers do? they need to have for a very specific job and With a federal election consuming the the fact that most of them are part-timers. said Lynd. “I think that’s sort of the nature country’s attention, Elections Canada is It’s a pretty daunting accomplishment just of communications now, and I think personally, more technology has to be introduced. hard at work behind the scenes. to have hire all these people, train them and We went to the University and St. Clair ColThomas Lynd knows this better than any- have them work.” lege and we got some feedback forms back one. Back for his third term as returning Lynd said hiring locally on short contracts and over half of them said, ‘you have to have officer for Windsor West, Lynd is respon- gives people a good opportunity for people some type of phone voting, and people have sible for many areas, including hiring peo- to participate in the electoral process — and phones now with them.” ple, doing background checks and even correcting mistakes on the electoral lists.

This year, Elections Canada had 90 truckloads of election material sent across the country, including 257,000 voting pencils – about 45 kilometres of pencils laid end to end, 240,000 voting signs for voting stations and 475,000 guidebooks which will be used by polling place workers.

With all the planning, hiring and work that must be done, Lynd said the work that goes into preparing for a federal election makes him lose sleep.

“There’s sort of benchmarks that have to happen,” said Lynd. “You’re trying to get all of the leases signed for all of the 60 different locations. Once that’s done, you have to figure out where all your people are going to be working. But hiring people is significant, and we have to hire about 800 people and there’s a lot that have to drop out for personal, medical or other reasons.”

“It’s a pretty daunting accomplishment,” says Elections Canada.

Photo by Bird Bouchard Rejean Grenier, one of Ontario’s regional media advisors for Elections Canada said Thomas Lynd is back for his third term as returning officer for Windsor West. He’s repsonsible for many the election workers are a key piece to allow areas, including hiring people, doing background checks and even correcting mistakes on the electoral lists.

By Bird Bouchard Mediaplex Examiner

Higher advance voter numbers this year, according to Elections Canada Advance polling stations were available over the course of four days during both elections, but this year there were more pollAccording to Elections Canada, voter ing stations and they were open for longer. turnout to advance polling stations across the country were 29 per cent higher than turnout during the 2015 federal election.

The total ballots cast over the four-day period reached an estimated 4.7 million. Advance polling numbers hit 3,657,415 in the 2015 federal elections, which some say is a result of more polling stations being available and for longer periods of time.

“Part of it can be attributed to the fact that more opportunities were given to Canadians to vote early,” said Dr. Lydia Miljan, a political science professor at the University Voters had 6,135 polling stations to choose of Windsor. “The polls were open longer.” from this year between Oct. 11 to Oct. 14, Miljan said voter interest could be a major 2019, in comparison to 4,946 during the 2015 factor in the popularity of the advance poll- general election. Polls also stayed open from ing stations, although she said it will not be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. this year, allotting voters certain until the final votes are in. more time than in 2015 when advance polls

By Madeline Mazak Mediaplex Examiner

“We are the ones who will have to live with the political climate that comes out of an election.”

were only open from noon to 8 p.m.

“I voted in advance polls on the Monday of Thanksgiving weekend because I knew I’d be at school this Monday,” said Windsor student Dawn Farron, who also took advantage of the advance polls in the 2015 general election. “I also knew how little time it would actually take out of my day.”

According to Miljan, there was also a more concerted effort to get students to vote with on-campus voting stations at the University of Windsor and St. Clair College.

Approximately 111,300 voters utilized the on-campus polling stations last week in comparison to 70,000 in 2015.

“It is incredibly important for young adults to be involved in political voting because we want a better life,” said Farron.

“We are the ones who will have to live with the political climate that comes out of an election.”

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 3

issues

1

Lock it or lose it

By Eleanor Dhillon Mediaplex Examiner

Being a victim of theft is always scary but having someone break into your home is even worse.

Jordan Haight is a 33-yearold Windsorite whose first home was robbed when he was just 21 years old. He was living alone in London, Ont. on Regent Street off Richmond Row while studying and working part time at a bar. One evening he came home from what he described as a long shift. At first everything seemed normal, but Haight began noticing things were missing and quickly discovered his home had been broken into. It was not until his second glance that Haight noticed the screen on his window had been ripped back—this was when his nerves kicked in.

“I instantly had a panic attack because I had just moved into the facility, I ended up calling the cops,” said Haight.

Haight said he ran into his house as quickly as he could.

He needed to assess more of the damage. To his disappointment, Haight found his computer had been taken along with his digital camera, his MP3 player, some

10

headphones, his jewelry and $2,000 in cash he had kept aside for rent.

“After I got robbed, a police report was filed and I didn’t think anything of it, except for the fact that my window needed to be fixed because the steel covering that was ripped back by the robber was now currently damaged,” said Haight. “Over the next couple of weeks, I was really worried about the fact that I had just gotten robbed, and the fact that my bed was on the ground floor.

Haight’s bed position worried him a lot; to help him sleep better and prevent him from worrying more about the incident reoccurring, he moved his bed closer to the window so he could listen carefully.

Although being a victim of any type of robbery or theft is not pleasant, Sgt. Steve Betteridge of Windsor Police Services says there are a few different strategies we can use to prevent these sorts of things from occurring or reoccurring. Number one: do not keep a lot of cash inside of your residence, because if somebody takes cash it’s very hard down the road to prove that that was your cash.

Photo by Eleanor Dhillon Windsor Regional Police ‘Lock it, or Lose it” campaign encourages Windsorites to only leave their cars after having locked their doors.

in

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

focus

“ S o m e t i m e s w e can, but that’s unique,” said Betteridge. “What you want to do is take precautions.”

On the other hand, Betterage understands that nobody wants to live in a state of constant paranoia.

“You want to enjoy and live your life. You don’t want to have to make your residence into a Fort Knox with barred windows everywhere,” said Betterage.

Windsor Police encourage people in the communi-

2

ty to ‘lock it or lose it.’ This campaign is aimed at making sure vehicles are locked, but the same also goes for residences.

“Lock your windows, lock your doors at night,” said Betteridge. “Having a surveillance system can be beneficial, having outdoor lights that will turn on at motion detection can be beneficial and having good open dialogue with neighbours in the area so that everyone is keeping an eye out for the community. Prevention is the key.”

Overpopulation of Canada geese

By Manvir Kaur

Mediaplex Examiner

The geese population has boomed in the Windsor area, creating problems for some residents.

It is estimated there are around seven million Canada geese in North America.

Jill Nicholson is acting education and public programs coordinator at the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation, a bird sanctuary in Kingsville.

She said that the City of Windsor’s solution to over population of Canada geese has been to send the geese there. Jack Miner provides injured birds with a home in the winter.

“We have some geese which came from parks in Kingsville and Oakville,” said Nicholson.

“Some of them have migrated and some of them are still here. We are helping them so they can migrate with the other birds. Canada geese generally migrate to North and South Carolina.”

In June, Jack Miner took in almost 1000 birds. Most of the birds are expected to leave. Jack Miner does not receive government grants, but instead rely on donations.

“We do get less geese coming here for migration,” said Nicholson. “The issue is a lot of them are staying around because of climate change. About 50-60 years ago, there used to be thousands coming through during the migration but now we get less because they are staying year around.”

Giovanni Abati is a candidate for the Green Party in Windsor-Tecumseh.

“I think the population of geese is increasing everywhere,” said Abati. “Firstly, in Windsor because there is so much corn, there is lot of food for geese. Now, we are cutting the grass along the waterway so it allows geese to have places more to hangout.”

He said they go to bathroom everywhere and make a mess.

Also, people keep feeding them, which encourages them to stick around. If they did not have so much food, they probably would not come and would go away to different places.

“Along the river side near Ambassador Bridge, the city has tried have black wolf silhouettes,” said Abati.

He said the other way to solve this problem is that they should try using noisemakers.

3

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 4

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

Are we placing lives at risk?

not be ideal, but decisions are constantly being made to determine maximum safety for inmates.

Over-crowded cells are causing employ“The ministry has a legal responsibility to ees at the South West Detention Centre to uphold the orders of the courts and to enworry about the health and safety of staff sure the safety and security of those in cusand inmates. tody,” said Morrison. “The ministry conThe detention centre is a 200,000-square tinually assesses capacity needs to ensure foot state-of-the-art detention centre. The fa- that beds are available where they are most cility was built in 2014. Since then, the build- in need.” ing has become over-populated and the impact has had a negative effect on not just the inmates, but employees and lawyers. Andrew Morrison, a spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services said the ministry is aware the centre is experiencing some capacity pressures.

“Over crowding is a key issue for correctional facilities across the country,” said Morrison. “Sentencing of offenders is managed by the courts and the judiciary. The courts are also responsible for determining whether or not someone is remanded into custody before trial.”

Most of the inmates at provincial correctional facilities are remanded into custody by court order awaiting their trial or senJason Stroud, a correctional officer at the tencing. In 2019 the monthly average of remanded inmates in custody across On- South West Detention Centre and OPSEU tario was around 74 per cent. However, the Local 135 President said, in April 2019 the monthly average for remanded inmates at SWDC reached its excess capacity, which the South West Detention Centre in 2019 breached the building’s design.

“The physical size of each unit was dewas around 80 per cent.

The facility holds 315 beds for both male signed to ensure inmates could live collaboand female inmates. Each cell carries up to ratively within the walls of each unit,” said two people, but due to capacity, some cells Stroud. “The staff are very concerned that are now accommodating up to three people. we have breached the capacity of multiple The decision to accommodate for three may areas. Are we placing lives at risk?”

By Eleanor Dhillon Mediaplex Examiner

“Due to overcrowding, our officers are now subjected to substantial increased workplace violence.”

Classification is a tool used to properly assess, evaluate and place inmates into established units based on multiple risk factors. The inmates at the SWDC are managed without physical barriers. Typically, this would not be a problem but because it is over capacity, inmates are harder to supervise. Stroud said proper classifications are not being made.

“Today, due to overcrowding, our officers are now subjected to substantial increased workplace violence,” said Stroud. “Assaults within our institution have increased by 167 per cent over the same period last year. Inmates are left with no alternative than to revert to self-preservation comprising of isolation, fabricating weapons, compensation for protection, grouping with other inmates that have displayed poor judgement.”

Stroud said locally, the SWDC Senior Administration and OPSEU Local 135 have been drafting contingency plans to control the direct access with officers.

“Despite extraordinary efforts from OPSEU Local 135 members, the facility will continue to be plagued with exponential operational failures,” said Stroud. “Unless overcrowding is addressed with the health and safety of all people who live and work within the walls.”“Lock your windows, lock your doors at night,” said Betteridge. “Having a surveillance system can be beneficial, having outdoor lights that will turn on at motion detection can be beneficial and having good open dialogue with neighbours in the area so that everyone is keeping an eye out for the community. Prevention is the key.”

Windsor’s vehicle theft problem: 80 vehicle thefts in 15 days

By Tyler Stein

Mediaplex Examiner

As winter approaches, some Windsorites may want to get some extra layers — but not the kind to combat cold weather.

It’s layers of protection — for their vehicles — that might be necessary, as data shows vehicle theft or theft from vehicles occur four times more in Windsor than they do in other cities.

CrimeReports, a website and system used by participating police departments, shows between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, there were 80 incidents of thefts from vehicles in Windsor, occurring all over the city, but concentrated in the downtown area.

That’s about five thefts per day, with most occurring between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Public Information Officer of the Windsor Police Service, Sgt. Steve Betteridge, said this may be because of thieves “taking advantage of people at work, or even people on shift work sound asleep, and it’s happening. Vehicle-related thefts in most cities analyzed by MediaPlex News occurred between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

“People are breaking into vehicles because they have the opportunity to get money quickly,” said a security expert.

In Ottawa, there were 96 vehicle-related thefts in the same 15 days ... but Ottawa’s population is about four times that of Windsor. In Oshawa, there were just 11 cases. In Oakville — only 17.

Betteridge said Windsorites should follow the ‘Lock it or lose it’ idea, as well as keep items of value out of the vehicle.

President of Lockdown Security, Jeff Bates said “layers” of protection will help keep cars and the belongings left in them safe from theft.

“If you can park your vehicle somewhere [safe], do so. Make sure you’re not leaving valuables in the vehicle. Make sure you’re locking your doors. From there, putting a car alarm on the vehicle that has a bright visible indicator that there’s an alarm and that when it triggers it’s extremely loud,” said Bates.

Bates also recommended the use of dashboard cameras.

According to Bates, vehicle-related theft can easily become a theft of the

entire vehicle.

“It really is a crime of opportunity,” said Bates. “People are breaking into vehicles because they have the opportunity to get money quickly.”

“I’m always worried about it,” Ashley Lennox has been a resident in Windsor for several years and experienced her first vehicle theft Thanksgiving weekend.

“It was about 6 a.m., I know it was that early because my neighbour actually woke up and heard someone come through the side of our houses,” said Lennox. “[They were] coming from my car, and he got onto his porch and was trying to get in his house.

So he started yelling and screaming at him to get away and he took off.”

When Lennox got to her car, bags had been ripped open with their contents thrown about the vehicle. Chargers for her phone and some gift cards had been taken.

“I’m always worried about it, so I try to be careful about what I do leave in the car,” said Lennox.

And she always makes sure her car doors are locked.

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

Monumental week for Windsor firefighters

By Nadia Mear

Mediaplex Examiner

Local firefighters had their hands full this week when three major fires broke out, but the community joined together Sunday to show their gratitude.

Windsor’s new waterfront memorial honours local firefighters Over 100 people gathered on Sunday morning to witness an emotional unveiling of the new firefighter memorial along Riverside Drive East. The bronze and midnight granite statue has been 20 years in the making and was installed earlier this week at the foot of Glengarry Avenue, overlooking the Detroit River.

The monument pays tribute to past and future sacrifices made by local firefighters and will eventually have the names of 32 people who lost their lives trying to save others.

The already subdued day took an abrupt turn of events when two separate fires broke out: one in the Walkerville neighbourhood and one on Louis Avenue. $1M up in flames at historic Walkerville church An ordinary Sunday-after-service pot luck lunch turned into in a massive fire evacuation at the 107-year-old Walkerville Evangelical Baptist Church in Windsor. Around 1 p.m. Sunday, fire crews were called to the 800 block of Windermere Road where a second alarm fire broke out on the upper level of the three-story church. Heavy smoke filled the area and around 4 p.m. the roof collapsed.

According to Windsor Fire, “everyone exited the church safely,” but at the time advised that local residents keep their windows closed and furnaces off. Houses between the 600-900 blocks lost power, and it was unclear when it would be restored.

Apart from the reported $1 million in damages to the building itself, no one was hurt in the fire. The cause appears to be accidental.

Photo by Nadia Mear Fallen firefighters were honoured on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 with a memorial on Riverside Drive East. The unveiling was timely after two fatal fires that occured in Windsor last week.

Scouts Canada educates kids on concussion safety

By Kanal Patel

Mediaplex Examiner

Scouts Canada set up camp at the Forest Glade Arena this October to educate the community about concussion safety.

Scouts Canada brought their Head Safe initiative to Windsor after stops in Ottawa and Peterborough. The travelling exhibition is meant to educate the public about the hidden dangers of concussions.

“Concussions are one of the leading injuries sustained by the students in the province of Ontario but only 15 per cent of Canadians

actually know what to do when someone sustains a concussion and how to manage it,” said Shibon Ward, youth spokesperson for Scouts Canada. “It seemed like an easy fit in the gap of knowledge that could be filled and we could help out.”

100 participants attended to support playing safe — and parents were just as involved in the activities as the children were.

465 Canadians suffer a head injury every day and concussions make up more than 1 in 5 injuries treated by a doctor or nurse among Ontario students.

Fatal apartment fire marks fifth tragedy in Windsor Sunday evening, rescue crews were called to a tragic apartment fire in the 500 block of Louis Avenue. Around 6 p.m., a fire started in a lower unit of the building where one person was pulled from the fire who died as a result of injuries. This marks the fifth fire-related death in Windsor for 2019.

Windsor Fire and Rescue are still investigating the origin and cause of the fire.

Cause of fatal fire on Ouellette Avenue determined Police say that the man, who died as a result of fire related injuries, in an Ouellette Avenue apartment fire Thursday, was responsible for intentionally setting the fire.

As a result of the man’s passing, no criminal charges are anticipated.

Photo by Kanal Patel A Head Safe volunteer teaches a kid a lesson about head safety through fun games at an event hosted by Scouts Canada over the weekend.

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 6

Taejai Travis uses music, poetry and other forms of art to tell the stories of his family history.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

Photo by Ryan Percy

Hidden histories: Exploring the real stories of Windsor’s African, Caribbean communities not know about it. My family ty in Windsor from 1867 until wouldn’t know. Who knows 1967. how many generations would Irene Moore Davis, the presiTeajai Travis wasn’t sat down have gone by before somebody dent of the Essex County Black as a child and told stories of his made the connection.”

Historical Research Society, is in family history — instead, he One of the key works of liter- the process of editing and pubpicked up information from his ature on Windsor’s black com- lishing her own work entitled grandmother by listening to her munity is Charlotte Perry’s The Our Own Two Hands focusing sing.

Long Road. The book covers the on communities of colour in “A lot of the stories a grand- stories of the African communi Windsor from the 1700s on mother would pass down to her grandchildren I did not get in a direct way,” Travis said.

“It was more abstract. Listening to things she would say or sing as she would walk around the house and trying to piece together those stories.”

Travis was the only black man at Reclaiming Hidden Histories, held at the ArtSpeak Gallery in Walkerville. The event saw members of the community coming together to celebrate the untold stories of Windsor’s African and Caribbean community.

The artist discovered his love for history through his grandmother on his father’s side, a challenge due to her Alzheimer’s — but managed to trace his family tree back to the 1800s in Virginia.

“When I went to the Mercy County Historic Society in Pennsylvania, I was the first person to be in that location since my famPhoto by Ryan Percy ily left in the 1800s,” Travis said.

“Had I not gone there I would Irene Moore Davis’s new book is set to release Spring 2020.

By Ryan Percy

Mediaplex Examiner

ward. Moore Davis said her goal is to expand on the work Perry’s novel has already built.

Irene Moore Davis’s new book is set to release Spring 2020.

(Photo by Ryan Percy) “Perry took the limited resources which she had access at that time and really spun gold out of it and made a wonderful comprehensive history of black Windsor,” Moore Davis said. “But what was missing are the voices of a lot of the ordinary people who make up black Windsor.”

Davis said the goal of her new book is to put a light on people of colour in the community who are not just African-Canadians.

She said particular focus was put on Caribbean-Canadians and Canadians who came directly from Africa.

Travis has been following a similar path with his own family tree research, trying to pin down the entire story and not just the extraordinary.

“It’s the kind of work I’ll probably be doing for the rest of my life,” Travis said. “Right now I am really working on the narrative of my oldest known ancestor but also trying to weave all the way through my family tree and make sure none of those stories go forgotten.”

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 7

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

Windsor develops along with local business

Accelerator CEO Arthur Barbut at the main entrance.

By Tyler Clapp

Mediaplex Examiner

The Downtown Accelerator is helping Windsor’s economy by training, teaching and investing in one entrepreneur at a time.

In 2011, the Accelerator was created to fund the growth of local businesses. As of 2018, it had an economic impact of $20 million according to a report on the Accelerator’s website. An

Photo by Tyler Clapp

eclectic array of businesses here includes: a Libro Credit Union branch, Bam Bam’s Boxing Club and Fitness, an Invisalign Braces office, a woodworking shop and an art studio.

Siddique Sheikh, 27, is a special projects manager at the Accelerator who explained what it does.

“Our specific business accelerator allows small businesses and startups as well as creative

Windsor-Essex shops local

By Madeline Mazak Mediaplex Examiner

In a world turning increasingly to online shopping and big box stores, local businesses are giving people a reason to shop close to home.

As part of small business month, the Windsor Essex Small Business Centre (SBC) hosted its fifth annual W.E. Shop Local Show Oct. 24. Nearly 1,000 residents came out to the Fogolar Furlan Club to shop at 50 unique vendors from across the region.

“This is a really cool way that we can showcase the diversity of our small business sector and invite our residents to shop local and experience local together all under one roof for one night,” said Sabrina DeMarco, executive director of small business and entrepreneurship development at the SBC. “Residents are learning about a lot of new businesses and a lot of new products that they didn’t know about in the region.”

The SBC is a department of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation that provides entrepreneurs with training and support to help them grow their businesses.

Windsor-Essex is home to nearly 20,000 small businesses.

This year to date, the SBC has

helped create 467 jobs with local businesses.

According to DeMarco, the event is valuable for business owners, several who have participated in the show during previous years. She said it is an opportunity for small businesses to connect with the community and directly sell their products to customers.

“It’s good to support small businesses because they’re small businesses; they don’t have the push of a big chain,” said Dillon Erwin, a Windsor resident who attended the show. “Coming out to an event like this and getting to see stuff that local people in our community made and knowing that money is going towards a local family is just super important to me and makes me feel good about buying local.”

Wendy Nantais, co-owner of a home décor boutique called The Dandelion said owning her own business was a life-long dream.

“I have to say Windsor-Essex is all about shop local,” said Nantais, participating in the show for the first time. “I can’t believe how many people come out and shop local. It’s awesome.”

Satisfied shoppers left with full tote bags following an evening of exploring, shopping and tasting what small businesses in Windsor-Essex have to offer.

people to have a location, where they can work on their own craft, their own business, while still being beside individuals who also work on their passion,” said Sheikh.

Such a wide range of businesses in one location fosters the potential relationships that can aid entrepreneurs to succeed.

Colin McMahon, 33, is a co-owner of a local internet consulting company the Accelerator helped by cultivating client relationships.

“Anybody that they introduced us to knew that they could trust us and it made it a lot easier, more just ‘Hey, we need this work done. Can you guys do it?

“Yeah, we can do it,”’ and then we’d go at it,” McMahon said.

The Accelerator itself has made many connections while providing networks for entrepreneurs.

Accelerator CEO Arthur Barbut, 40, said this included a project named CityThrive which taught unemployed people business skills. It was done with nonprof-

it group Enactus and the City of Windsor.

“About 20 per cent of the people actually continued their business afterwards, but even the folks that did not continue their business said that they were able to gain employment, felt more confident, and felt they had new skills they could apply to anything,” Barbut said about CityThrive’s results.

“We want this region to become a thriving entrepreneurial and creative hub. We want the Accelerator to lead that movement and I think we’re in for a really exciting time in the region,” Barbut said.

Budding entrepreneurs can reach out to the Accelerator either by phone at 519-551-3733 or by e-mail at info@downtownaccelerator.com. They can also be visited in person at 1501 Howard Avenue. Online, business people can join at www.downtownaccelerator.com and apply for memberships.

The anti-bucket list

By Ashley Gholampoor Mediaplex Examiner

Being lifted off of the ground in a basket by a grand balloon is not exactly on everyone’s bucket list. But, it could be on someone’s anti-bucket list.

Rachelle Chiasson, 31, said she wrote a bucket list about six years ago.

“I had a major health issue and was worried that it might become fatal,” said Chiasson. “I realized that there was so much that I still wanted to do before my time comes. Even if I can’t complete the whole list, I at least want to accomplish most of it.”

Shortly after creating her bucket list, Chiasson said she also came across many things she does not want to experience in her lifetime.

“The first idea on my anti-bucket list would be to never ride in a hot air balloon, “ said Chiasson. “I have a massive fear of heights and the thought of being up that high with very little security makes me anxious. I’d rather not risk the chance of me falling, even if it is a very low chance.”

Nancy Praill, 35, has a master’s degree in the field of social work and is a registered social worker.

“I have since become fascinated with the science of the brain,”

said Praill. “The most important element to finding happiness in a person’s life is the ability to find the pleasant in situationseven if it’s just the pattern on the rug.”

Praill said she has never written or heard of an anti-bucket list, but the first thing on her bucket list would be to travel to China or Europe depending on her current goals.

“I could see the utility in writing a list to help change problematic behaviours and focus values,” said Praill. “I think people write bucket lists to keep goals and dreams in mind, to eventually make them plans. I love goals, concrete, measurable and hopefully celebrated success, even if that’s only a mental pat on the back.”

Chiasson said anti-bucket list could help people feel secure about their discomforts and what makes them anxious. Furthermore, if something makes a person uncomfortable, they write it down and say they will never do it. That solidifies it mentally for the individual.

“Being happy to me is living a full life,” said Chiasson. “I strive to make the most of everyday and remember that life is short so you may as well enjoy the good even if it comes with the bad.”

PAGE 8

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

WIFF celebrates 15 years of film

By Liam Adams

Mediaplex Examiner

Photo by Patrick White Julinar (right) and Roya (left) Alhakani, dressed up as Darth Vader and Yoda from the Star Wars Franchise and trick-ortreated at Ottawa Street businesses on Saturday afternoon.

Trick-or-treaters hit the streets early

By Patrick White

T

Mediaplex Examiner

rick-or-treaters filed up and down Ottawa Street collecting candy from local stores during afternoon hours on the Saturday before Halloween.

Between noon and 2 p.m. on Oct. 26, local business owners along the participating stretch of Ottawa Street opened their doors to costume-clad children and their families.

Some storefronts ran out of candy before the event ended.

“It’s a huge deal in comparison to last year,” said Catherine Goulet, sales representative at Diane Shoes. The retail store, specializing in shoes and accessories for men and women is more than 100-years-old and located on Ottawa Street near the corner of Pierre Avenue.

Costumes ranging from Dorothy Gale (Wizard of OZ) to Wolverine (Marvel Comics) were spotted on the city blocks between Walker Rd. and Howard

Ave., taking part in the neighborhood’s third annual trick or treating event.

Julinar (right) and Roya (left) Alhakani dressed up as Darth Vader and Yoda from the Star Wars Franchise, were present Saturday afternoon Parents were thankful to have the opportunity to take their young ones out during the day.

“Its especially good for kids who have special needs, or ones that are scared of the dark,” said Roya Alhakani, who participated with two young ones.

The event helped close-off the province-wide Too Big 2 Ignore campaign for small businesses.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) held the campaign in conjunction with Small Business Week 2019 “to raise awareness of the important contributions of small businesses to local communities across the province and the economy.”

The community aspect of owning and operating a small business really hits home with local

entrepreneur Wayne Chapieski.

“Its good just to get the little guys and girls in here,” said Chapieski, part-owner and president of Canada Salvage.

The family owned retail and hardware store has been at its current location on Ottawa Street since the mid-1950s. The store opened 83 years ago, on Chatham Street downtown.

That day, businesses located on Wyandotte Street between Argyle Road and Gladstone Avenue hosted their own trick-ortreat event, to prepare Old Walkerville residents for the night of the 31st.

Joan Charette Exec. Director for Walkerville Business Improvement Area (BIA), said that the Wyandotte Street event gets bigger every year.

“It was packed,” said Charette.

“We have businesses that said they had to stop after giving out about 800 pieces of candy. And that was in only two hours! It’s a big success and it grows every year.”

The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is set to take place at the Capitol Theatre from Nov. 1 to 10.

2019 marks the 15th year anniversary of the festival with many of the films over the years racking up major awards and nominations.

To date, WIFF has accumulated 128 Oscar nominations, with 28 winning awards, 81 Golden Globes nominations, including 18 winners, as well as 65 Cannes Festival, and 11 Palme d’Or Festival awards.

Many local filmmakers and producers will be featured in this year’s festival, ultimately highlighting the talent that Windsor-Essex boasts within the film industry.

After a recently setting an attendance record for a Windsor-born director’s film debut, Gavin Michael Booth’s Last Call swept all top awards at the Chatham-Kent International Film Festival, earning Best Director, Best Feature, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Score.

One of the festival’s feature films, Prey was directed by Windsor-born Matt Gallagher. The documentary focuses on the journey behind a sexual abuse survivor’s court battles against the Catholic Church.

As the documentary progressed, “more and more cases of abuse and the church’s effort to cover them up became public, forcing the Vatican to address the issue directly,” said Gallagher about the momentum. “This documentary has been heartbreaking, rewarding and essential work.”

Prey will play at WIFF Nov. 6 at 7:45 p.m. and Nov. 7 at 3:45 p.m.

This year also presents a film entitled Boys v. Girls, which was written and directed by Windsorite Michael Stasko, as well as being produced and co-edited by St. Clair College’s own Theodore Bezaire.

“As a filmmaker one of my goals is to showcase our region and having a world class film festival put a spotlight on local films is really exciting,” said Bezaire.

To attend any of the festival’s films this year, visit https:// windsorfilmfestival.com/ to purchase tickets, or the Capitol theatre box office.

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PAGE 9

Detroit Free Press Marathon runs for 42nd year

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

How to: Keeping your cool during exam season

By Madeline Mazak Mediaplex Examiner

Over 26,000 runners crossed the 42nd annual Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Marathon finish line Sunday.

Marathoners came from all 50 states, as well as over 72 countries. The 42.2 kilometer course lead runners over the Ambassador Bridge, along the Windsor riverfront, through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, and around Belle Isle.

The Ambassador Bridge was shut down between 5:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel was closed between 6:45 a.m. 10 a.m.

Christopher Kipyego Cipsiya of Guadalupe, Mexico was the overall winner of the marathon, completing the course in two hours, eighteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds. Cipsiya also took home the gold prize during the 2018 race.

Joan Massah of Savage, Minnesota was Photo by Eleanor Dhillon the top finisher in the female division, running the marathon in two hours, thirty-nine A St. Clair College student tries to practice stress management while studying for his midterms. minutes and twenty seconds.

The next annual Detroit Free Press/TCF

By Eleanor Dhillon tions may not be as complex as you think.

Bank Marathon will take place on Oct. 16 to Mediaplex Examiner Don Crowder is the counselor for the Oct. 18, 2020. downtown campus at St Clair College. He The word college often conjures thoughts says a lot of the students he helps usually of partying, drinking, staying up late and get way too ahead of themselves, which is having fun. For some, that may be true, but never fun, and almost always ends in tears. for the majority there are other realities.

“Understand that really what we’re doing Unfortunately, open house days neglect is not trying to cope or control anything,” to mention the stress, nail biting, anger and said Crowder. “Lots of students get ahead sadness included in the journey of higher of themselves and that’s when the addBy Patrick White education.

Mediaplex Examiner ed stress turns into a level of anxiety and After a long day of studying and conperhaps even conflict with those closest to A hit-and-run stabbing, resulting in death, templating dropping out approximately 37 them, particularly their parents because occurred on Tecumseh Road near McKay times, the majority of Windsor-Essex stu- they’re not measuring up.”

Avenue over the weekend, marking the fifth dents get to go home to their families. This He said when you find you are in this sort homicide investigation in the region this sounds great: coming home after a hard day of situation, ask yourself, is it working so year. to your loving family, the smell of cooking Police responded to reports of the stabbing dinner as you walk through the door, tele- far? The answer to that question is always no. around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 19. The victim was vision on, the fireplace spreading warmth “The alternative to that would be to bring rushed to the hospital with life-threatening around the house. But we do not live in a what’s in front of us down to a reasonable, injuries and later died. fairy tale, and most students are not greetPolice say two suspects fled the area on manageable, operational kind of peace,” ed, they are bombarded.

Bombarded with foot. said Crowder.

This is the fifth homicide investigation questions, work, stress and more stress from In order to survive your time at college or of 2019, according to Sgt. Steve Betteridge, their parents. any sort of higher education you have to reWindsor Police public information officer.

Boundaries need to be set. main positive and think, if you’ve made it By this time in 2018, one of the worst years Questions like ‘when are you going to get this far, you can definitely keep going. in Windsor’s recent history for murder rate, a job’ and ‘when are you going to stop being “Just focus on what’s in front of you,” said Windsor had nine homicides. By the end of so lazy’ are heard everyday by St. Clair HuCrowder. “One of the things I would suggest 2018, Windsor police tallied a total of ten man Resources student, Elora Beaton. She doesn’t happen is that we become isolationmurders in the region. says they do not seem to understand, she is ists and not discuss whatever’s happening.

The attack was not random, according to just too stressed. investigators. The investigation remains acFirst of all, trust yourself. The second thing “When I get stressed, I tend to shut down tive. is to take some time to actually get a visual A 19-year-old male from Windsor has and stop trying to succeed for obvious rea- concept of what your future looks like.” sons, but it’s not something I can specificalbeen charged with first degree murder.

You never know what could be waiting Police have said they are unsure how ly control,” said Beaton. around the corner. College is a never-endmany suspects were in the involved vehicle.

Beaton said she worries too much about ing window of opportunities. If you manage However, two more suspects, wearing dis- exams, and results. Although this behaviour tinctive clothing, were involved in the phys- is not abnormal, too much worry can lead yourself and your time properly anything is ical attack. Police have asked residents for to problems. But where there is a problem, possible. And if you are tough enough to stick it out till the end, the world is yours. help in identifying them. there is always a solution, and these solu-

Windsor’s fifth homicide of 2019

PAGE 10

sports

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

‘The only thing I knew I had to do was fight’ Coach teaches kids to take a different approach

By Garrett Fodor

Mediaplex Examiner

While needing to throw a few punches growing up black in Kentucky, one basketball coach is encouraging youth to find another way and changing how they approach life.

Dwane Casey, the former University of Kentucky basketball standout, said the growing up he was often the only African American in the gyms and was often targeted because of that. In Casey’s speech at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg on Oct. 12, he described his life and growing up in Kentucky with the discrimination he faced and overcame.

“The first instinct you want to have is to fight, which is wrong. But that’s what I did.

That was a mistake,” said Casey. “I wasn’t articulate enough to talk them out of how they felt, I wasn’t as informed as far as what their parents had taught them. So the only thing I knew I had to do was fight. That’s what I tell my kids. And, unfortunately, today there are situations that you know you have games you have other situations where there is violence and that’s not the way to do that.”

Casey, 62, grew up in Kentucky playing basketball and baseball. He would receive his first coaching job at the age of 13, where he coached little league, with kids being three years younger than him. Now, Casey is coaching the Detroit Pistons and won the 2018 NBA Coach of the Year, with the Toronto Raptors and was an NBA champion in 2011, as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum launched their ‘Freedom Achievers’ campaign and mentorship program in front of a sold-out crowd of over 200 people, with Casey as the keynote speaker on Saturday. The ‘Freedom Achievers Program’ is put on in partnership with the Amherstburg Community Foundation. The campaign is designed to connect successful achievers and mentees in hopes of inspiring youth, providing insight on potential career paths and network with high-profile speakers and professionals.

Casey said that he believes sports are what really began to open doors and change how he and others were viewed, knocking down several of the barriers.

“My blood is the same, it bleeds red, just like anyone else,” said Casey. “We’re not where we used to be as far as diversity, and we’re definitely not, where we should be but we’re making steps. There’s still issues. So let’s be inclusive, a more inclusive society in everything we do and say.”

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum hopes to continue this program, with keynote speakers coming every quarter. The next event is in March of 2020.

Photo by Garrett Fodor Dwane Casey signs autographs for fans who attended the Freedom Achievers event in Amherstburg on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.

Fantasy sports players at an alltime high, according to FSGA

By Marco Rovere

Mediaplex Examiner

Research says approximately 59 million people played fantasy sports in 2018 in the United States and Canada.

Fantasy sports is an online game where participants assemble virtual teams of real players and draft, trade and drop players based on their real life stats. Fantasy sports is a billion-dollar industry that generated over $7 billion in 2018. Fantasy has taken over the sports viewing experience and increased sports gambling to a level it has never seen.

Kevin Ota is director of communications at ESPN and said he views fantasy sports as another opportunity for ESPN to serve fans and enhance their enthusiasm for the sports they follow.

“It gives you more elements to care about, besides only your favourite teams and players,” said Ota. “Researching players and teams, as well as the fantasy teams in your league, increases your knowledge of the game in terms of on-the-field match ups and strategies.”

Ota says playing fantasy adds a different and deeper layer for following a sport.

ESPN has a yearly fantasy football marathon which features a 28-hour uninterrupted marathon strictly dedicated to fantasy football.

“We have a lot of shows across our networks and digital platforms focused on

fantasy football, and the Marathon brings it all together in a way that celebrates the beginning of the season and helps fans get ready for their drafts,” said Ota. “It’s a great way to encourage people to join a league and play ESPN fantasy football, but it’s really just about enjoying fantasy football and having fun.”

The Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association is the only organization nationally that represents fantasy sports and gaming companies and is the voice for over 60 million fantasy sports players. Paul Charchian is president of the FSGA, and said he believes fantasy sports turns regular fans into super fans.

“Fantasy Sports takes everything you like about being a sports fan and turns it up to 11,” said Charchian. “If you live in Buffalo and are probably a Bills fan, why would you care about Tampa against Dallas? Unless you’re a fantasy player you will have a routing interest in that game when you have players on your team or your opponent’s team.”

Charchian said he believes fantasy sports has become a way for so many people to keep in touch with people they would not otherwise keep in touch with.

“There’s so many people that say, ‘I’ve only seen this guy at my draft in August once a year’ and it’s just how people stay in touch and communicate with friends,” said Charchian.

PAGE 11

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

The spits are on fire

By Sierra Ross

Mediaplex Examiner

Photo by Sierra Ross After a close 4-3 win over the Sudbury Wolves, the Windsor Spitfires celebrate their newly extended 5-game streak.

It was a fire-filled weekend for the community, but the Spitfires are one blaze that Windsor is not looking to extinguish.

For the first time since December 2016, the Windsor Spitfires are on a five-game win streak after defeating the Sudbury Wolves in a close contest. The Wolves shrunk the 4 to 1 deficit in the third period, coming within one goal, but it wasn’t enough to best the Spits.

A strong effort by centreman Tyler Angle resulted in a 3-point game by the senior player. Angle, number 77, has been an integral part of the team in their successful run, with at least one point in each game of the streak, and only one game without a point this season.

Other goal contributions that lead to the win over the Wolves include assistant captain Connor Corcoran, Egor Afanasyev, and game winning goal scorer Thomas Stevenson.

The Spitfires look to keep the fire alight with a sixth win on the road in the Sault-Saint Marie

A day in the life of a student athlete

By Daelyn Davis

Mediaplex Examiner

The life of a student athlete may seem glamorous to someone on the outside looking in, but the word student always comes first.

When thinking of a collegiate athlete do you think of an easy and perfect lifestyle? Maybe you think things are given to them, or they receive special privileges? Felix Daniels is a student at St. Clair College who assumes some student athletes do not know the true meaning of hard work.

“Do you honestly think people like Rj Barret, former Duke University Star basketball player, did homework or went to class consistently if at all,” said Daniels. “There is no way he was actually taking school seriously because if I knew I was

going to the NBA after one year of University I would not take school seriously either.”

But people do not see the hard work and dedication athletes put in when they are off the field. They do more than just play sports; they are students, employees and human beings.

St. Clair College soccer player Natalie Turner and Detroit Public Schools teacher Dematrice Davis can attest to that.

Turner is enrolled in the Paramedic program which is demanding. Not only is she taking one of the most challenging programs at the college, she also plays on the women’s soccer team and has a job, yet still maintains good marks in her classes and excels on the field.

After going into week seven of the semester, 10 to 15 people have already dropped out.

“My classmates think I am

absolutely insane. They always ask me how do I manage to have a life outside of this program,” said Turner. “Honestly I actually need both soccer and my job to help with my financial situation because I am paying for school all on my own and being a paramedic is a goal of mine so I really try to do whatever it takes.”

Imagine awakening to the sound of an alarm at 4:45 a.m. to study for anatomy and physiology before attending your 8 a.m. patient care procedures class. After a four hour class, you have an hour break to drive to work for your shift from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.. After work is complete you now have soccer practice from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Are you tired yet?

Once soccer is over you get to go home, eat, shower and… complete your homework as-

signments and fit in some more studying before you finally set your alarm to sleep, wake up and repeat your day all over again.

“Soccer really keeps me sane because it gives me the time to socialize and hangout with my friends,” said Turner. “It gives me the break that I need from my busy school schedule.”

Demeatrice Davis has been an educator for 24 years and made many connections with different students and teachers.

“From what I have seen in my time of being a teacher there are teachers that love student athletes, there are teachers that dislike student athletes and there are teachers that treat student athletes equally to a student that does not participate in sports,” said Davis. “There is no right or wrong answer.”

PAGE 12

health

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019

Changing seasons may affect your pregnancy ThanksLIVING

By Ashley Gholampoor Mediaplex Examiner

As the seasons change, so do health concerns. Especially in pregnant women.

Michelle Fortuna, 41, gave birth to her third child almost a month ago.

“I had morning sickness and was sick all day for four months,” said Fortuna. “I wasn’t pregnant during the cold months. Going from hot summer days to inside air conditioning was a relief from the heat.”

She said she was pregnant for 38 weeks and she was induced because of low lying placenta.

At the end of the pregnancy she said she had low platelet count and high blood pressure.

“Get all the rest you can before the baby is born,” said Fortuna.

“Take any help that is offered after the baby is born, newborns

are a lot of work. Pregnancy when you’re older is very hard and way different then in your 20s or 30s.”

Fortuna is not the only woman who had complications with her pregnancy.

Wendy Ouellette-Hill, 42, has four children. She said she had different complications from two pregnancies, one being high risk.

“First pregnancy I had no problems,” said Ouellette-Hill.

“The second pregnancy was twins and I had to monitor very closely because they were losing amniotic fluid. I had them six weeks early because of it.

Third pregnancy was hard on my body after the twins, I had morning sickness from them all nine months. I had no problems going from the hot to the cold season.”

She said she thinks some wom-

en have issues with changing seasons because their hormones are uncontrolled. The impact of seasonal change on mood- less daylight, cooler temps, changing routines - is well documented. Added to the normal - or even abnormal - challenges of pregnancy and autumn may not engender warm and cozy feelings in all expectant mothers.

“Things can happen so fast, “ said Ouellette-Hill. “When you are pregnant people pay so much more attention to you, but once you have the baby it’s all about the baby. For new moms I think it could be a trigger for postpartum depression, feeling alone and overwhelmed.”

Ouellette-Hill said she suggests for moms who are struggling to not hold in their feelings and to talk to someone without feeling shame.

A look at the benefits of pet reiki

By Matt Flood

Mediaplex Examiner

Dogs, cats and many other animals share a variety of problems such as chronic pain, illness and anxiety. The conventional option to most of these problems is simple: take your pet to the vet. However some people think an alternative form of treatment may work just as well, or better, for their pets.

Reiki as it is known today, is a holistic medicinal practice originating from Japan, and has been in practice since 1922. The word reiki is a combination of two Japanese words: “Rei” meaning spirit or soul, and “ki” meaning life-force energy or vital energy. While the validity of reiki has been challenged and many are skeptical, it has not stopped practitioners from applying their technique to animals.

Caitlyn Lloyd, a 30-year-old animal reiki practitioner, works on pets.

Her reiki sessions are held in the homes of the pets she is treating. For Lloyd, the treatment process begins before she arrives.

“As I’m traveling to a home, I will go into a meditation of sorts that is taken to while driving,” said Lloyd. “I imagine myself connected with the earth. And I imagine myself connected to the sky above… and with that, I ask for reiki.”

Within this meditation Lloyd asks for permission from who she is treating. But with animals,, Lloyd can only be sure permission has been given when she arrives.

“Animals are so innate in their intuition, right, they’re so connected. So they actually recognize energy from the get-go,” said Lloyd.

Lloyd claims animals she works with display openness through their body language and behaviour upon picking up on her ‘healing energy’. For example, an aggressive and hostile cat who often attacks its owner and guests, rolls over and exposes its belly to her—a known sign of trust or love which is out of character for that cat.

Once she feels permission has been granted, the real session starts.

With people, it is clear the reiki practitioner is in control of the situation. However, with animals being relatively uncontrollable, the individual in charge is the recipient, not the reiki practitioner.

“They could be in a closet, they could be under the stairs, they can be lounging on the couch,” said Lloyd. “And the thing is, is that I go with what they want.

So If I have to sit in a closet, if I have to sit behind a couch, have to sit on the floor, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to do

what they need.”

Now that the stage is set, the healing energy must be applied.

With the animal in control, Lloyd takes a different approach when bringing in energy. Rather than applying it directly, she claims to fill the room with ambient healing energy which the animals are free to interact with as they wish.

“They may not be right in my space, they may be three feet from me, they may be 10 feet from me. They can still receive us,” said Lloyd.

While Lloyd claims her work has helped animals deal with aggression issues, separation anxiety and more, many remain skeptical.

Theresa Warriner, 26, graduated from the University of Windsor with a masters in biology and says her mother has attempted to use energy healing on her cats.

“I look at it as her way of sending love to my cats,” said Warriner. “She doesn’t always tell me when she does it, I view kind of like how grandmas will sneak cookies to the grandchildren.

My mum just sends positive energy and love to my girls.”

Whether or not the claims about reiki are true, people are continuing to look into the technique and try it for themselves as the alternative medicine market is projected to grow.

weekend

By Jessica Tatton Mediaplex Examiner

A vegan potluck dinner brought many vegans to Optimist Park Monday evening to celebrate Thanksgiving without animal products.

Meaghan Marton, 26, hosted about 45 people for dinner, completely without animal products. This was Marton’s fifteenth vegan potluck this year.

Marton is the founder of The Sweet Life of Being Vegan on Facebook, and Coordinator at Charlotte’s Freedom Farm.

She asked others to bring their own reusable dishes and utensils to the dinner, to combat the amount of waste they produced.

“I don’t believe we need to celebrate our gratitude over another beings life.”

“Everything is vegan, which contains no meat, no eggs, no dairy, no honey. I don’t have people sign up. The idea is for people to bring what they want to make,” Marton said.

While many follow the tradition of cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving, Marton and her friends said they find it is unnecessary. Marton said that she ate meat for 22 years of her life and did eat turkey for Thanksgiving before going vegan.

“I have been vegan for four and a half years. I think it’s unfortunate that some of these animals are killed every single year for celebrating our thankfulness, and I don’t believe we need to celebrate our gratitude over another beings life,” said Marton.

Recurring guests and new ones all say they enjoy the tasty food without the need for meat.

Some members of the vegan community experience health benefits from going vegan, such as improving heart diseases and dietary restrictions.

There are multiple vegan potlucks of this nature throughout the year and local vegans hope that more will attend.