The MediaPlex Examiner - Feb. 8, 2019

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 9

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

News

Photos

Sports

Entertainment

A community is concerned about the city taking their park, Page 3

Windsor is full of activites and winter is here, Page 4

A former Windsor Spitfire hockey players moves to the NHL, Page 7.

LiUNA! Bluesfest announces their lineup for 2019, Page 8.

St. Clair staff, students, investors and key members of the local community broke ground for the St. Clair College Sports Park, the project is planned to be finished by 2020.

RYAN PERCY/MediaPlex Examiner

St. Clair College breaks ground on Sports Park

By Ryan Percy Mediaplex Examiner

Students, faculty and community members gathered for the groundbreaking of St. Clair College’s new Sports Park on Feb. 1, 2019.

Plans for the $21.5 million Sports Park were unveiled during a presentation at the college’s South campus main building. Speakers at the presentation included Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Essex County Warden Gary McNamara, Barry and Stephanie Zekelman.

The Sports Park will be located in the space across from the main

campus building, replacing the current baseball diamond and soccer fields with a state-of-theart facility which will include volleyball and tennis courts, amongst other features.

After the presentation, attendees went out in the cold, crisp air for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Gold shovels were passed around as key members and donors of the project lined up and together broke ground on the new project.

Members of the college’s Student Representative Council are overseeing the project and have already budgeted roughly $13

million for the park scheduled to open in 2020. Secured investors include Barry and Stephanie Zekelman, Dominos Canada, and the WFCU. The majority of the building contract was given to FORTIS Group.

Holly Nicholson, 23, is the president of the SRC and said the new sports park is an investment in the future.

“To see it come to light is extremely exciting and for the college it is great,” Nicholson said.

“It’s not only good for the current students but it is going to help us get more students in the future.”

Once the park is finished con-

struction the day to day responsibilities will shift from the SRC to the Student Athletic Association. The SAA has put forward $1 million to aid in funding the project.

Laura Walker, 20, is the SAA president. She said the new facilities will help further unite the student body of St. Clair College.

“To me the Sports Park is a new generation,” said Walker.

“We’re bringing so many innovative concepts to the campus, it’s bringing people together in all aspects of student community coming together as one.”

Continued on Page 2

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Continued From Page 1 The Sports Park is intended to be an area for both recreational and varsity sports. The design for the Sports Park was done by local architecture firm Architecttura Inc. Facilities included the Zekelman Indoor Tennis Court, a softball dia-

mond and a soccer stadium.

More than 2,000 spectators will be able to watch across the various fields.

St. Clair College President Patricia France said with the facilities the athletes can compete on their own turf.

“What this park means for St. Clair is that we can provide the amenities that the students have been requesting for years and years,” France said. “It’s been really important to us to bring some of our sport teams home.”

Upon its completion the Sports Park will round out a decade of major advancements in St. Clair College facilities joining the MediaPlex, HealthPlex and SportsPlex and further expanding the options available to students for the next decade.

SNAPD WINDSOR Heather Grondin, vice president of communications and stakeholder relations at Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority answering questions.

Questions answered at Gordie Howe Bridge Community Q&A

By Nicole Neuts Mediaplex Examiner

A community Q&A was held at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare about the upcoming construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The event was organized by the Windsor-Essex Community Benefits Coalition hoping to provide the answers to the questions from the public and making sure people are aware of the process surrounding the new bridge.

Sarah Morris, coordinator at Windsor-Essex Community Benefits Coalition, hopes those who came had their questions

answered.

“The process for community benefits is almost done,” said Morris. “This is a really exciting time where $10 million is being invested in Windsor Essex.

Having the bridge out here today answering those questions, making sure that they’re part of that conversation, ensures that the public stays up to date.”

Terry Kennedy, who is a resident of Sandwich and a member of the coalition, encourages Windsorites to get involved and have their opinions heard.

“There’s something happening here and we want to get involved now. It’s no good once the bridge starts,” said Kenne-

dy. “This is an open process and we’re hoping that the city in itself will continue to come to the neighbourhood to talk to us not not keep these things bottled up until the last moment.”

Kennedy is hoping to bring the protection of historic Sandwich Towne to the top of the city’s priority list.

“With the traffic of course comes the dust and the pollution. We already have it on Huron Line, you know coming off the 401 you can see what’s going to happen if these strategies are not taken care of now,” said Kennedy.

“Not only do I want to protect the people that are breathing

this air— I want to protect the heritage that’s here. We already get 500,000 visitors a year so I want to make sure that those tourists continue to come to Sandwich Towne to be part of our festivities that are there that want to learn about their families, their heritage in this neighbourhood.”

Windsor Essex Community Benefits Coalition and Windsor- Detroit Bridge Authority is encouraging everyone to fill out a survey concerning community involvement in the bridge’s development before Friday, Feb. 8, on their website at: www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com

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The Man Who Loves Orchids

By Suraj Sasi

Mediaplex Examiner

Men are not usually considered your typical orchid lover.

However, John Marcotte runs OrchidsCanada.com and has a particular fondness towards this species of flowers.

Marcotte has been growing orchids for more than 35 years and recently spoke at an event called Orchid

Stew-All Things Orchid, organized by the Windsor Orchid Society at the horticultural greenhouse of St.Clair College.

“I have a big greenhouse that was a hobby greenhouse when I first built it … it was for orchids,” said Marcotte.

Marcotte explained a lot about orchids during this event. He also talked about those who try hard with little success to grow the del-

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

icate flower.

“Most beginners kill the orchids because they care for them too much ... they overreact if they see a single gnat and they are bombarded with heavy chemicals and they just over care,” said Marcotte.

“In the orchid world a little neglect goes a long way to growing good orchids so my advice is like your orchid and enjoy.”

Among the people who came to learn was Cherie Tupling who has been with the Orchid Society for two years and was fascinated to learn new facts about orchids.

“Today was a fantastic day. John is such a great speaker because he has got

the pictures to show you what it is and what are you are going to have as the end result,” said Tupling.

Tupling wants orchid lovers to know that coming to these events will help them learn more about them.

“Come to the Orchid Society because if you have any problems growing you can bring it in and in our group some of the guys are smarter than others they would be able to help you troubleshoot.”

The Windsor Orchid society holds monthly meetings at St.Clair College and every year they organize a huge show during the fall when people from as far away as Ecuador come and show their orchids.

Community concerned about future of Black Oak Heritage Park

By Matt Flood

Mediaplex Examiner

The City of Windsor’s activity in Black Oak Heritage Park is causing concern for park goers.

Recent work including prescribed burns and cutting of invasive species of trees over restricted trails has community members growing concerned.

For nearly 13 years this community of runners, cyclists and dog mushers now known as Friends of Black Oak, worked with city naturalists as volunteers to preserve BOHP. But in 2015 the city began to work on the park as part of its parks master plan, Rediscover Our Parks .

The community gradually reduced approximately 18 kilometers of natural trails to 9 km of city-approved trails between 2007 and 2015. The park closed in 2015 as construction preparations for the Gordie Howe International Bridge began and dangerous structures including ramps, mounds and bridges made of natural materials were discovered. BOHP reopened in 2018. Most trails were restricted by the city and the entire south section of the park has been fenced off. Currently, an approximately 2 km trail is available for use as an environmental study is performed on the rest of the park.

Lindsay Cole is a team leader and administrator of the

Friends of Black Oaks Heritage group.

“The community has been without their trails for over a year and they have been unable to have access to the park they’ve had for 20 years and I think they’re very very very concerned about what’s happening with the trees when they see live trees being cut,” said Cole.

BOHP is characterized by black oak savanna, black oak woodland, tallgrass prairie and many at-risk species of flora and fauna.

According to the City of Windsor’s website tallgrass prairie is characterized by a low number of trees, approximately 21/2 trees per hectare. This information and the recent cutting of trees within BOHP has brought concern to Friends of Black Oak as they fear the park may lose its tree coverage.

But according to City Forester Paul Giroux, this is not an accurate assessment of the future of BOHP. “We will be taking out the invasive species there will be parts that perhaps once we just take the invasives out that it will open it up because that’s what it naturally was,” said Giroux. “But by no means are we going to go in there and start cutting down oak trees and taking away that forested feel.”

The recent cutting of trees in BOHP is a result of maintenance

MATT FLOOD/ MEDIAPLEX EXAMINER The entrance of Black Oak Heritage Park.

work from the city beginning in the winter months. According to Jan Wilson,The city’s executive director of recreation and culture, the city removes dead, unhealthy and invasive tree species that are unsafe or inhibiting growth of natural species.

Regarding the restriction of trails within BOHP, Wilson asks for cooperation from the community.

“We obviously encourage people to be in the parks, We ask that they can work with us with respect to improving our parks so that they can be managed in a way that’s responsible from many different perspectives,” said Wilson. “We’ll have to see what the management

plan comes back with so the consultant will bring forward some recommendations and options that will allow us to manage the area in a responsible way to protect the habitat.”

Currently, BOHP is undergoing an environmental study to determine what can be done with the park in the future.

Environmental consulting firm Sage Earth will finish its’ study in late spring. Once it is done the parks and recreation department will review its’ plan and bring it to city council for approval.

If it passes, the future of Black Oak Heritage Park and its trails will start to become more clear.

BEHIND THE LENS PAGE 4

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

An Amestburg Sunset on a cold day.

Ignore The Evidence played at the RockStar Music Hall on Feb. 2, 2019.

JULIANNA BONNETT/ MEDIAPLEX EXAMINER

TRAVIS CONANT/ MEDIAPLEX EXAMINER

On Feb. 2, 2019, newcomers came to Charles Clark Square to learn how to ice skate. (Above)

KRISTIAN BEAUDOIN/ MEDIAPLEX EXAMINER

SURAJ SASI/ MEDIAPLEX EXAMINER

Beginners at the Orchid Society classes can learn about different species of orchids.

JULIANNA BONNETT/ MEDIAPLEX EXAMINER

A sunset in Essex.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Windsor Regional Hospital celebrates World Hijab Day

By Abdulraheem Alhusami MediaPlex Examiner

World Hijab Day is celebrated in 145 countries around the world, including Canada.

On Feb. 1, the diversity committee at the Windsor Regional Hospital and volunteers decided to celebrate World Hijab Day by letting hospital patients, staff and visitors experience wearing a hijab.

The event lasted for two hours in the vendors’ hallway at the Metropolitan campus

and the Ouellette campus Pamphlets, photos and ambassadors were there to help explain the purpose of hijab and the reason behind wearing it.

“We have a booth set up, We have hijabs for people to try on and mirrors set up so people can look at themselves after they have tried it on. Basically, we’re here to answer any questions people have about why people wear hijab,” said Nadia Hedadd, administrative assistant in human resources

at WRH. The diversity committee at WRH and volunteers made sure people were able to experience the feeling of wearing a hijab and then taste some sweets before they moved on.

Many of those who stopped by wanted to try the hijab for a particular reason.

“I think it’s really important to understand people from diverse backgrounds, we’re all Canadians. We have a lot of immigrants who come into the Windsor community and it’s a

privilege to be able to journey with them while they’re here and the broader I can make my understanding the better,” said Terry Tribe Johnson, a spiritual care support person.

“It feels very light, I thought it would be heavier. I feel cozy, I feel elegant and I feel kind of international.”

Anyone wanting to learn how to wear hijab are encouraged to watch tutorials on YouTube.

Voting now open for best of Windsor-Essex awards

“We anticipate that this list will inspire locals and visitors alike to explore our region’s What do you do for fun in iconic experiences, hidden gems Windsor- Essex? and everything in between,” Where are your favorite places said Gordon Orr, chief executive to eat, drink, and dine? officer of Tourism Windsor EsVoting is now open for the sex Pelee Island.

Best of Windsor Essex awards.

By Renjie Zhao

MediaPlex Examiner

Voting categories included in the best in contest are arts and entertainment, attractions and events, drink, food, outdoor adventure, stay and photo op.

Finalists and winners can use this campaign to differentiate their business, increase their

visibility and validate their achievements.

Voting takes place at www. bestofwindsoressex.ca between Feb. 4, 2019 and Feb. 24 at 11:59 p.m.

Only one vote will be valid per email address.

GECDSB Launches 2019 School Climate Surveys

By Zander Kelly MediaPlex Examiner

The Greater Essex County District School Board has issued its biannual School Climate Survey to the 15 elementary and 15 high schools in the district.

The surveys are issued so students, faculty and parents can offer critique and suggest areas where the climate in schools can be improved.

“We want as many parents as possible, guardians and mem-

bers of school communities to fill out the survey,” said the board’s public relations officer Scott Scantlebury. “That will help us with our future planning and will make our school environments as safe and welcoming as we possibly can.”

Scantlebury said the board has spent the past two years focused on fostering a welcoming environment and at least some parents claim the effort is paying off.

Patrick Faraci has a young son

who is in senior kindergarten at W.F Herman Academy and said the school has been good to them so far.

“Almost all of my concerns have been addressed,” Faraci said. “When I talk to the school they take care of it pretty quick.”

This year, the survey has a particular focus on equality and discrimination issues.

“If you do not feel that you are welcome or that you belong do you think it is because of any of the following?” reads one ques-

tion listing sex, race, grades, religion and disabilities as possible options. Others ask respondents to identify where on school properties they think incidents tend to happen.

In 2017, stairwells were identified as being a problem area.

The 2019 School Climate Survey can be filled out until March 8.

Anyone wanting to participate can do the survey available online.

tive was held during the last week of January. On this day, Bell donates five cents each time someone uses #BellLetsTalk, watches a video or uses

a special filter on their photos and shares them to social media websites and apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Bell also donates

five cents each time a Bell customer sends a text message or places a call. This year’s campaign raised more than $7.2 million.

Bell Let’s Talk raises millions for mental health

By Miranda Monahan MediaPlex Examiner

Bell Canada’s annual Bell Let’s Talk mental health initia-

Transit Windsor borrows bus to help crowding Bus. The new model will fit about 90 people instead of the tradiTransit Windsor is borrowing tional 60, due to its extended a bigger, better, bendy bus. size and large hinge joining two The bus is an 18 metre-long halves of the bus. articulated city bus, owned and Transit Windsor is currently loaned by Quebec-based Nova training drivers for this specific

By Emma Butler MediaPlex Examiner

bus and will be testing to see if it works with the current transit system.

The bus will be used on the 1A route to Devonshire Mall, the Crosstown 2 route and the Dominion 5 route, routes that consistently see large crowds.

Transit Windsor will be gathering information during the trial on fuel costs and passengers carried.

If the new bus works out, Windsor could add an articulated bus of its own to the fleet.

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Art Roth standing outside of the rink at Charles Clark Square.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

KRISTIAN BEAUDOIN/MediaPlex Examiner

Community welcomes newcomers on ice

By Kristian Beaudoin MediaPlex Examiner

New Windsorites came to Charles Clark Square to learn skating, thanks to three Windsor organizations.

All Saint’s Anglican Church, the YMCA Settlement Services and Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative hosted their fourth annual family skating event on Feb. 2 at Charles Clark Square. It was open to the public and encouraged newcomers to Canada to learn how to skate.

Art Roth is the skate coordinator at All Saint’s Anglican

Church. Roth believes the event is a great opportunity to bring the community together, as well as a way for Windsorites to enjoy the cold weather.

“We’re a cold country, we have these cold spells in the winter. If we’re always complaining about the cold, it’s going to be a long winter,” said Roth. “If we get out and enjoy it a bit, spring comes quicker.”

All Saint’s Anglican Church provided free pairs of skates to borrow as well as food and beverage for everyone that attended. Roth said the church’s biggest shortage of supplies for the event is skates.

“If people have skates in their basements, garages or whatever, if you want to pass them on, we’d be glad to take them and we’ll guarantee they will be used again by someone who doesn’t have skates,” Roth said.

Hugo Vega is the regional manager of settlement and Immigration for the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario and one of the managers of the event.

Vega said the event was created because of an influx of newcomers in the last few years.

“What inspired this particular event was the arrival of the Syrian refugees,” said Vega.

“Shortly after the first winter All

Saint’s Church reached out to us and said they wanted to do something to welcome them and we think there’s nothing more Canadian than ice skating and being able to show them, teach them and integrating them that way.”

Vega thinks the most important things for newcomers is social connection and a sense of community. Vega believes this event is an opportunity to experience both.

“The integration is the main theme of the day. We’re all just human beings trying to make a place in this life,” said Roth.

Forest Glade arena down an ice pad A problem with the rink’s chiller has caused officials to shut the rink down.

Forest Glade Arena is down to Minor sports have become one ice pad after a cooling issue. a priority with some games The arena, which normally has and practices being moved to two pads, will only be able to the WFCU Centre. This has reuse one for the next three weeks. sulted in some adult rentals at

the WFCU being cancelled as well as public skating times.

Current cancellations include: Forest Glade Arena Public skating on Friday nights from 7:45-9:45 p.m.

Adult/Senior Skating on Thursdays from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m.

Parent and Tot Skating on Thursdays from 10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

WFCU public skating on Saturday afternoons from 4:20 6:20 p.m.

goalie Thatcher Demko suffered a lower body injury before yesterday’s game against PhiladelThe Vancouver Canucks have phia. called up former Windsor SpitDiPietro will join his team fire and Amherstburg native in Washington to take on the Michael DiPietro on emergency Capitals on Feb. 5. The young basis. goaltender will most likely only The Canucks need for goal- dress as the back-up goalie with tending came after their current

Jacob Markstrom getting the start. DiPietro will be the fifth goalie to dress for the Canucks this season.

This is not the first time an opportunity to play with the pros has come for DiPietro. He was the third goalie on Team Canada’s World Championship team

this past summer. A team that included players like Connor McDavid, Ryan O’Rielly and fellow Canuck Bo Horvat.

Since DiPietro is with the Canucks on emergency call-up, as soon as Demko feels healthy again he will be sent back to the Ottawa 67s.

By Tate Harris

MediaPlex Examiner

Ex-Spitfire DiPietro goes to ‘the show’

By Tate Harris

MediaPlex Examiner

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 8

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

TRAVIS CONANT/MediaPlex Examiner

Ignore The Evidence performing at Rockstar Music Hall in Windsor, Ont.

LiUNA Bluesfest Windsor 2019 nominations

By Travis Conant Mediaplex Examiner

LiUNA Bluesfest Windsor has announced its 2019 lineup. With each show there are different themes. The themes for the four shows are 90s throwback, hot rock night, traditional blues and the final night:tribute night to Prince. The shows are expected to take place in July. Some of the artists

expected to perform over the weekend include: Vanilla Ice, X Ambassadors, Buddy Guy, Eric Gales and many others. For more information visit www.

BluesfestWindsor.com.

Local magazine, 519 Magazine has partnered with the Windsor Express and the WFCU Centre to put on mini concerts before the home games.

There are eight local art-

ists set to perform. Some of these artists include R.Y.O.T., Krisalyn Bell, Crissi Cochrane, Flower Face and many others.

Feb. 6 was the first and featured R.Y.O.T. and Bell.

For more information visit 519 Magazine’s Facebook page.

In world entertainment, Ariana Grande has a new album called Thank U, Next released Feb. 8 at

midnight. There are a total of 12 songs on the album.

Some of the songs on the new album will include: 7 Rings, Thank U, Next and a new song featuring Riverdale star Charles Melton called Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored.

Grande took to her Twitter to say “Hello, happy thank u next (album) day, I love you very much.”

LiUNA! BLUESFEST line up

Fri. July 5 ‘90s Throwback Vanilla Ice 2 Live Crew Tone Loc Young MC Rob Base C & C Music Factory ft.

Sat. July 6 Hot Rock Night X Ambassadors Billy Raffoul Greatest Live Hits

Fri. July 12 A Night of Amazing Blues Buddy Guy Eric Gales Sugaray Rayford Scott Holt

Sat. July 13 Celebration of Prince

Morris Day & The Time Purple Reign Kathleen Murray & The Groove Council