The Converged Citizen - March 3, 2016

www.themediaplex.com

*Volume XI Issue 13 *March 3, 2016

The Power Of Future

Inside

Baby it's cold outside

2 News

5 News

Photo by Alyssa Horrobin Participants in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser for the Downtown Mission in Windsor begin their 2k, 5k or 10k walk Feb. 20.

COLD PAGE 6

7 Health & Lifestyle

The thrill of the kill Aaron Lombardi The Converged Citizen Pursuing a kill rather than hunting for food can give the sport a poor reputation.

When ice melts in the spring and people begin to take walks on the beach, those in communities such as Walpole Island, Mitchells Bay and

Lighthouse Cove will find the shorelines littered with ejected shotgun shells from the winter’s duck season. If each shell were to represent a duck killed, each should also represent one duck being made as a meal. However, local hunters say this is not always the case.

The act of thrill killing is commited by those who hunt

Index

for the sake of sport with little to no interest in where the meat may go after it has been killed. It is illegal to kill an animal and abandon it when hunting but it doesn’t mean it has not happened.

Tim Walker is a hunter who lives in the county and has seen hunters abuse the sport.

“I’ve seen 32 Canadian

Contact Us Email

News.................................................................2 Health & Lifestyle............................................7 Sports................................................................9

media.converged@themediaplex.com

Phone (519) 972-2727 Ext. 4963 Twitter @The_MediaPlex

geese tossed in the creek by where I live,” said Walker.

“Not to mention other incidents out here in the county.

We need to take care of the people doing this.”

The daily hunting limit for Canadian geese in Southern Ontario is two per person dur-

KILL PAGE 3 Weather Thursday, March 3, 2016 High: -1°C Low: -10°C Weather provided by The Weather Network

9 Sports Quote of the Day If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.

—Stephen King

2

C

news

MARCH 03, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

What’s in a name?

Sreedha Varanasi Converged Citizen Staff

“Black” names may get fewer interview call backs than “white” names, according to some members of Windsor’s black community.

In a study conducted by the University of Chicago, thousands of identical resumes were sent to various employers. The only differences were the names, with some having stereotypical “white” names and others with stereotypical “black” names. The resumes with white names were 50 per cent more likely to get called back for an interview than the resumes with “black” names.

University of Windsor Black Alliance President and windsorite Loba Afolabi says this happens in Windsor as well.

“I changed my legal name from Loba to Jordan to make it easier for these types of things,” said Afolabi. “I do notice a difference when I put Jordan on my resume versus Loba. People respond a lot more to my resumes when I use that name.”

According to Afolabi, the decrease in call-backs is rooted in racial and cultural discrimination, because a name can imply a specific race or a specific culture.

In fact, a 2011 study conducted by the University of Toronto found that ethnic

Photo courtesy of Loba Afolabi

Loba Afolabi looks out onto the Detroit River, in Windsor, Ont. names were 35 per cent less likely to receive callbacks than white sounding names.

According to Rob Gyori of Impact Staffing, their competitiveness depends on their ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits.

“Diversity can have multiple benefits in the workplace such as increased adaptability, broader service range, and a variety of viewpoints and

more,” said Gyori. “Impact staffing continues to support diversity in the workplace and does not discriminate based on names.”

Afolabi said he believes the negative stereotypes in the media about members of the black community causes increased discrimination towards them.

“The archetype of a hypermasculine, aggressive black

man is a recent stereotype,” said Afolabi. “It’s not something that was associated with black culture for long. We weren’t known as a violent or aggressive community before the 50s or so.”

Afolabi’s brother, Lakin Afolabi, is a practicing criminal justice lawyer in London, Ont. According to Lakin, people often comment about his name, but it may not have

completely affected his ability to get a job.

“I’m sure people have been prejudiced because of my name before,” said Lakin.

“But there were other factors that could have been reasons why it may have been hard to find employment, I don’t know.”

Lakin said while only certain aspects of black culture are highlighted by society, there is really no one version of black culture. According to him, there are many different versions dependent on environmental influences and it is important to recognize that.

Both of the Afolabi brothers agree that presentation and education are important keys in creating a positive shift in the public perception of the black community.

“I try to present myself in a friendly way and I follow a lot of fashion accounts,” said Afolabi. “I am always working on my presentation and I’m trying to get educated as well.”

Lakin also agreed that it is important to be educated and distinguished in order to fight the prejudices people may have.

“I don’t have agency in the name that I was given, I don’t have agency in my skin colour, I don’t have agency in how big my lips are or how tall or how short I am, but I do have agency in what I wear,” said Lakin.

Price hikes in grocery affecting Windsorites Samantha Wigfield Converged Citizen Staff Produce and meat prices have dramatically increased this past year, causing various concerns for Windsorites and food related organizations.

Wages continue to relatively stay the same, while the CBC News website says in this past year alone, produce has gone up 10 per cent and meat has gone up approximately four per cent.

CEO of the Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Essex, June Muir, said all the products the organization gets are donated, relying on food drives and the Ontario Food

Bank Association to get the food on the shelves.

When going to the grocery store, it has become very expensive for low and middle income families to shop sensibly, often opting for frozen and canned goods as alternatives, she said.

“To eat healthy is very costly. It can be as costly as a mortgage payment or paying your rent,” said Muir. “Or trying to decide if you should pay your utility bills or if you should buy food that month.

Very, very hard decisions.

Families really do struggle.”

The UHC is the hub for the 15 food banks across Windsor and Essex County, receiving food from the Ontario Food

Bank Association which is then is distributed to each location.

Sometimes that is not enough and individual food banks are asked to host food drives, sometimes with specific themes. It could range from a peanut butter drive, a snack program of giving children snacks while going to school or a canned drive that seeks food high in protein or fruits, so it’s healthy for the consumer.

Cheryl Poupard, a single mother, said the hike in grocery prices is affecting her budget drastically.

“It’s hard to stay healthy when it’s so expensive,” said Poupard. “I need things to last

in my house and a few vegetables and a pack of meat doesn’t stretch as far as it used too.”

Muir also mentioned the Plentiful Harvest program, along with the food banks and employment search, help. She also said since June 2012, the program has “rescued” seven million pounds of food that would have been thrown away and wasted. The produce has been donated from partners within Essex County and the food has been redistributed to people in need throughout Windsor – Essex.

“There’s no reason why anyone in Windsor and Essex County can’t call us and get fresh produce,” said Muir. “We

have lots of it and it’s there to help people. If you want healthy nutritional food, we can help you.”

David Marton, of Windsor, said he has often had to switch to frozen alternatives, but tries to stay fresh.

“The best advice I can give is it buy what’s in season for those who are on a budget,” said Marton. “Cutting things out sucks, but fresh is always better than frozen.”

But it seems it is not just low to middle income people affected, Muir said. When the organization has to buy meat, eggs and milk, they notice how much more expensive it is to replenish their shelves, she said.

C

3

MARCH O3, 2016

news ONVERGED CITIZEN Students receive scholarships and awards Victoria Parent Converged Citizen Staff Friends and family watched as St. Clair College students received awards and scholarships at the Centre for the Arts.

The annual awards night was opened by John Fairley and awards were presented by Veronique Mandal and Darryl Danelon. There was over 600 students in attendance and $300,000 in scholarship money awarded.

“This is a great night for us as a college to celebrate amazing students, and most importantly, the amazing donors of Windsor and Essex County and Chatham-Kent,” said Fairley.

Fairley is the vice president of communications and college relations for St. Clair College. This is his eighth year hosting the event.

Photo by Victoria Parent Darryl Danelon (left) presents a scholarship to a recipient at the St. Clair College Scholarship Awards night. The night was one of three to celebrate academic achievement at the Centre for the Arts.

Jeannie Macri, 66, is a retired nurse and represents the Bill Macri Memorial Sponsorship award. This award was created

three years ago in memory of her late husband.

“He was a huge advocate for education progression and

Wine to be sold in grocery stores

Photo by Nate Hinckley John Carvalho, manager of the Superstore on Walker Road is pictured in the store’s cafe on Feb. 21.

Nathan Hinckley Converged Citizen Staff Wine lovers will soon be able to buy wine in grocery stores across Ontario.

The Ontario Government plans to allow wine sales in more than 300 locations, with 70 grocers being licensed to carry it this fall.

Wine choices, including wine and cider, will become available in late 2016 on the shelves.

“The majority of the customers that come into our store are happy with the deci-

sion. We have had very positive feedback from customers,” said John Carvalho, manager at the Real Canadian Superstore on Walker Road.

Meanwhile some existing wine retail stores will be able operate inside a store’s checkout area. They will be given a shared checkout for the beer to make it easier to buy wine.

“Ontario is expanding opportunities and increasing competitiveness for our domestic wine producers, along with international wines,” said Minister of Finance Charles

Sousa, in a press release.

Customers have been having to go to the wine stores that are located in most Superstores. Now they will be able to pick up a bottle if they want one in a normal aisle.

“I think it’s a good idea and it will make getting a bottle of wine much easier when shopping,” said Charlene Robinson, a customer at the Superstore’s Walker Road location. “Whether you’re a wine drinker or get the odd bottle, things will be changing in our supermarkets.

change with para-medicine,” said Macri.

Different awards were given to students in various pro-

KILL PAGE 1 ing their open season.

The Ministry of Natural Resources deals with people who hunt unethically. The ministry’s public relations officer Andrew Chambers speaks as both a hunter and as a naturalist.

“We don't see it too much now that the consequences are bigger. It's really what you see in the media that makes it seem common,” said Chambers.

Those caught hunting unethically are met with hefty fines and suspensions of their game licenses for a specific amount of time depending on the crime.

Duck hunting is appealing to some because of its careful precision and quick movement. Walpole Island hunting guides often take out hunters who shoot for sport, leaving the meat to their guides as a payment. Although this may be seen as unorthodox by some, it is still not considered unethical.

The fair chase laws tell hunters that every animal is an important part of the environment and not something that should be subjected to fear and torture. The fair chase promotes that an animal must have a sporting chance in the hunt. No animal may be killed

grams, ranging from converged journalism to landscape horticulture. One of the students who received an award was Michael Turner, a first-year landscape horticulture student. He received the Robert Sutherland Memorial Award.

Bob Sutherland was well known in Amherstburg for his work with rhododendrons.

“And he actually planted some in Amherstburg which is an important thing for the community for people to enjoy,” said Turner.

In total, there are three ceremonies recognizing student achievement throughout the last week of February. The event has grown bigger and more students have come out with family and friends. This year also provided opportunities for donors and students to meet up. when it is in its most vulnerable positions such as swimming across a river.

Michael Reaume from Essex County believes in the stern laws placed on unethical hunters.

“It is clearly illegal do that stuff and it should be reported to the ministry. Hunting is a sport but game should be respected and consumed,” said Reaume.

Hunting for food is the sport’s most common practice and some hunters eat wild game meat as a healthier alternative to farm raised.

“This our heritage, our tradition, let’s not let the bad apples represent us. The animals hunted will have one bad day in their lives. The cows in the slaughterhouses will have many,” said Reaume. “As for the people who look down on the sport but still eat meat, they forget where the food on their plate comes from.”

According to the MNR hunting is important for population control and ethical hunters do their part in assisting conservation.

4

C

news

MARCH 03, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Why do people help?

Rabiul Biplob Converged Citezen Staff Local clergy and social workers say there are different reasons why people donate their time, money and other resources to help others.

In Windsor religious and social organizations have donors and volunteers who help run their organizations.

In 2005, a British study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin showed bystanders are more likely to help strangers in distress when they recognize such strangers as belonging to a common group. However, what counts as group membership is not fixed.

Brandon Taylor, a pastor of Riverside Baptist Church, said God designed humans to be in relationship with one other and by helping each other, man can connect with God. “Syrians are coming to our country and we are serving them,” said Taylor. “We have a built-in desire to show God’s love to everyone.

Christians, who follow the guidance of Jesus Christ, are commanded to show love to everyone.”

He also said part of following Jesus Christ is to do works of social justice, taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves.

University of Minnesota psychologist Mark Snyder, studies volunteerism. In the mid1980s, he and psychologist Allen Omoto, began studying volunteers providing care for patients with HIV/AIDS. Snyder, Omoto and their colleagues eventually surveyed volunteers of all ages who did all kinds of other community

Photo by Rabiul Biplob Brandon Taylor is photographed in his office at the Riverside Baptist Church on Oct. 14. work. Over the years, they identified five primary motivations for volunteering: values, community concern; esteem enhancement, understanding and personal development.

Mirza Baig, secretary of the Windsor Islamic Association, said they’ve had volunteers who help them throughout the years.

“We are the biggest group of blood donors at Windsor Blood Services,” said Baig.

“We have other services like coat drives for winter coats, food bank, a Ramadan food drive, fund raising for different events and an educational program for kids. For all the events, we get enough volunteers to help us.”

It is hard to say people have often wondered whether helping is an inborn tendency or one that must be taught, and whether people ever help without receiving some benefit in return.

Social psychologist Robert

Cialdini points out that empathy is directly tied into feelings of “oneness” with the person in need.

Others point to the importance of “we-ness,” feeling that another person is a member of your own group, an idea proposed by Yale psychologist John Dovidio and his colleagues, who have conducted extensive research on the factors that contribute to discrimination.

Baig said even if one put religion aside, Windsorites are part of the city and the country and it is a social responsibility to help others.

“Windsor Islamic Association is primarily created to serve the Muslims in the community. Part of the religion itself is to help the people of other faiths in the community,” said Baig.

People are genetically programmed to learn social norms and one of these norms is altruism.

Social exchange theory

argues that much of what people do stems from the desire to maximize the rewards and minimize the costs. Like evolutionary psychology, it is a theory based on self-interest, unlike it, it assumes that selfinterest has no genetic basis.

The Buddhist faith includes a complex system of beliefs that reach back to Buddhism’s founder Siddhartha Guatama.

He became the Buddha after coming to the conclusion that desire leads to suffering and that the world suffered from an overall lack of compassion.

From that point on, Guatama tried to help others liberate themselves from suffering, an effort that set an altruistic tone for his Buddhist followers to come.

Taylor said Christian people must help others who are suffering. He gave an example of his neighbour who died of cancer. When he found out the woman had cancer, he requested everyone possible to help her within their capacity and

people responded.

The Dalai Lama said the development of human society must be based entirely on people helping each other, and not just on pursuing material interests, such as a career or dream house. He also said, overall, the world has become so engrossed in materialism that, without even knowing it, man has neglected to foster the most basic human needs of love, kindness, cooperation and caring.

Baig said they do fundraising events for any kind of disaster happening in the world.

They raise the funds and send the money or resources through Canadian Red Cross or the best organization for the circumstance.

During Ramadan, they ask people to donate $20 or buy nonperishable food and put those in a box they provide from the association. The food is then distributed to the Downtown Mission and other organizations so that they can be given to people in need.

Some social psychologists use social exchange theory to explain why people help others. They argue that people help each other because they want to gain as much as possible while losing as little as possible. The social responsibility norm also explains helping behaviour. While being a societal rule that says they should help others who need it even if doing so is costly.

Whatever the reason, people help each other. Most religious and non-religious organizations are funded by the general population.

School’s out after water main breaks Dylan Fremlin Converged Citizen Staff When an elementary school floods due to a broken water main the only thing the students hear is “No school tomorrow!”

That’s what happened Feb. 22 at Sandwich West public school in LaSalle. A water main located beneath the school burst and flooded the school.

While the students celebrated getting the day off school, the school board focused on

getting to work on cleaning up the issue. The GECDSB called Winmar on this occasion.

Winmar is a restoration company open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. That means that Winmar employees are on call at all times.

“We got the call later in the afternoon (on Monday) and we worked until 11 o’clock that night,” said Rob VidAmour, owner of Winmar.

“Then we had as many men on the job as possible the next

day.”

While another contractor was busy bypassing the break in the water main, the GECDSB notified staff and students that the school would not be open on Feb. 23. The school board sent out automated messages to the homes of every staff member and student. They also notified the same group of people updates would be available the next day through the school website and radio updates. The school board also sent employees to aid

Winmar’s employees with the clean-up. No permanent damage was done to the school.

“There was no damage that could not be repaired,” said Scott Scantlebury, head of public relations for GECDSB. “There are some things that will require some further work replacing drywall in some places and maybe a few tiles.”

Although nobody is sure about the cause of the break yet, the most common cause of a break in a water main is external corrosion of the pipe. This can

result from extreme weather changes which cause excessive pressure on the water mains. The pressure causes any pipe that is weaker than it should be to break.

VidAmour said there is a temporary line installed under the school until they are able to find the location of the break.

“We don’t know where the break is just yet,” said VidAmour. “So really there is just a temporary line going into the school right now.”

5

C

news

MARCH 03, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Tracking your every move Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Converged Citizen Staff Most people don’t know their employers have methods of tracking their every move on the Internet.

There is a debate on whether this technology is ethical, as keyboard loggers are tracking programs that allow people to see what information is being searched on a computer network. This information is then recorded and made view-able by select individuals. Other names for these programs include snoops, probes and sniffers.

Keyboard loggers are commonly used by companies to monitor the work habits of their employees, making sure the network is being used for reasonable means and security of the company’s networks.

Hackers also use these programs to obtain personal information from networks by using these programs.

Samer Rayyan has been a computer programmer for six years and has worked on several large projects, including programming banking software.

He said Internet activities are usually the ones being monitored. Employers have the ability to read emails, Facebook posts and internet searches accessed by employees at their workplace.

Keyboard loggers are often used to regulate Internet use and encourage productivity.

Rayyan said he believes this should not be the case.

“If a company is having problems with an individual not delivering, then that

Photo by Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Ruth Susannah is the Coordinator of the computer systems technician networking program at St. Clair College for 17 years. She said keyboard loggers pose threats to individuals and their privacy. employee can be fired.There is no reason to spy on your entire company,” said Rayyan.

The people do consider the program to be invasive. He said permission given for these programs should not be used in circumstances where employers can obtain personal information and used only with permission.

“I don’t think these systems have a place in an ethical business,” said Rayyan.

University of Windsor professor and author on computer

ethics, Pierre Boulos, said people believe privacy should be respected. He said keyloggers are being used in ways for which they were not initially intended.

“I think they should be forthright in warning individuals that they are being watched.

In fact, key loggers are being used in the same way as spyware, malware, and other corrupt ways,” said Boulos.

“This needs to be controlled.”

Computer programming classes, such as the ones offered at St. Clair College,

have made ethics part of the curriculum to promote proper use of technology and the legal consequences of misusing the the skills they learn.

Ruth Susannah, has been teaching at St. Clair College for 17 years and is the coordinator of the computer systems technician networking program. She said the college uses keyboard loggers within the school, primarily to monitor the actions of the students, making sure they are being used correctly. The recorded information is only available

to those in management and cannot be viewed by other students or teachers.

“In order for technology to be ethical, it needs to be used correctly. A lot of the time, it isn’t used in the way it is intended,” said Susannah.

She said this means to not use keyboard loggers for personal gain or to harm others, as there are federal laws set in place to discourage the use of trackers.

This does not make it completely illegal as there are gray areas within these laws.

According to the Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, as long as the person who installed the tracker program is the owner of the device, they have the right to use the software.

Rayyan said this should be changed, more detailed laws should be put in place to discourage taking advantage of individuals and reading their personal information.

Currently there are laws protecting other forms of privacy and Rayyan said the ones involving trackers should be no different. Although companies intend to use these to benefit the company and employees, it can ultimately result in a burnt out staff and resentful workforce.

“These systems are a result of viewing people as data instead of actual people,” said Rayyan. “It is a short sighted attempt to extract every bit of productivity from their employees without actually having any understanding of how their employees work.”

As food prices rise, consumers get wise Felicia Patterson Converged Citizen Staff As food prices continue to rise, Windsorites are using a number of strategies to save money.

According to the Food Report by Guelph University, Canadian food prices rose by 4.1 per cent during 2015. It is estimated the average household spent an additional $325 on food last year. By the end of 2016, it is estimated the

average household will spend an extra $325 on food.

Stephanie Labelle, a front end supervisor at FreshCo, said working at a grocery store helps her save money.

“I know when things are going on sale or when they’re coming off sale. Therefore I buy things when they’re cheaper,” said Labelle.

Just over 80 per cent of fruits and vegetables consumed in Canada are imported, causing the prices of these items to become affected by

fluctuations in the value of the loonie. In 2013, the average cost of grapefruit was approximately $3 per kilogram. By the end of 2015 a kilogram of grapefruit cost approximately 40 cents more. Meat prices rose by five per cent in 2015, and in the same year fish and seafood rose by 2.4 per cent.

Grains and bread products were up 2.9 per cent.

One Windsor mother of two has a few strategies she uses to save money, but says she is still forced to buy less.

“I price compare from store to store and stock up when there are mega sales.

Sometimes I cross border shop as well,” said Angela Ebeguzie, who is the owner and operator of Entice Salon.

“Even though I cross-border shop for most of my meat, the price has increased and I’m forced to buy less. I cook and prepare meals on Saturday and Sunday because I work and need to make sure each day has enough food before I shop again.”

Another Windsor mother says junk food is usually on sale and healthier foods continue to increase in price. She also uses price matching to save money.

“I price match everything I can at Walmart and I stock up on items we use often,” said recreational instructor Tasia Harris, 26, who is a mother of three.

Refer to store flyers and price-matching apps for more information on how to save money.

6

C

news

COLD PAGE 1 Alyssa Horrobin Converged Citizen Staff About 300 people took part in the Downtown Mission’s fourth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser Feb. 20.

Coldest Night is a walk that happens in communities

Photo by Kati Panasiuk across Canada on the same night.

The event was organized by Windsor’s Downtown Mission which has provided more than 12,775 safe nights of accommodation to people needing a bed since it opened more than 40 years ago.

Although temperatures were in the double digits on the day of the walk, the Mission understands nights are not just cold because of the temperature.

MARCH 03, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

“It may not have been the coldest night but nothing’s colder than being alone,” said Fiona Coughlin, development director for the Downtown Mission.

The Mission offers breakfast and coffee, two lunch sittings and a soup supper every day but sometimes there is a need for more than just food.

Coughlin said she has seen people come to the meal times at the Mission simply to be with others.

Mary-Jo Kocavs, manager of education and volunteerism at the Mission, said it is very important to foster a sense of community in a safe place for people to visit. More than 100 people come to the Mission every morning for coffee and fellowship.

“Is our coffee that good that they’re here every single day?

Our coffee is great but they’re here for that community,” said Kovacs.

“They’re here because they feel safe.”

According to the City of Windsor website, the homeless population in Windsor is made up of men, women and children who are without housing for various reasons, with hundreds more at risk of becoming homeless.

The Mission also offers clothing and winter wear for those in need and a place to stay for the night. Kovacs said people who can crash on their couch or easy chair after work take that privilege for granted. For some, laying their mat out to sleep at the Mission is the first chance they have had all day to put their feet up.

The Coldest Night of the Year is not just about raising

funds but also awareness about poverty in the community.

“There’s a lot of stigma and misconceptions about poverty and about who it affects,” said Coughlin. “I think that it’s so important for people to actually come to the mission and see our guests and get to know them.”

The event raised about $37,500 which will go toward the Mission’s next step – a dorm with beds and a counselling and support program through the Distress Centre, which the Mission recently added to their support resources.

The Coldest Night of the Year raised almost $3.8 million across Canada. For information on volunteer opportunities in the community and other ways to get involved, visit downtownmission.com or coldestnightoftheyear.org

Photo by Kati Panasiuk All photos depict individuals of the community supporting “The Coldest Night of the Year’ walk all afternoon Feb. 20. The walk raised money for the Windsor Downtown Mission and will be going towards beds for those who use their facilities. Around 300 people took part in the event and braved the not-so-cold coldest night to raise pledges and funds for the downtown facility.

Photo by Kati Panasiuk

THE CONVERGED TEAM Managing Editors

Co-Managing Editors

Mark Brown Caleb Workman

Ashley Ann Mentley Michael Hugall

Production Managers

Production Team

Caleb Workman

Jeremy James Stephanie Zografos Mayra Lacayo

Rabiul Biplob

Naureen Ahmed

Photo Editors

CP Editors

Sports Editors

Tyler Boissonneault Anthony Sheardown

Julia Poehlman Rhiannon Lotze Samantha Wigfield

Christian Bouchard Jordan Caschera

WWW.THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

EMAIL: MEDIA.CONVERGED@THEMEDIAPLEX.COM

PHONE: (519) 972­2727 EXT. 4963

Entertainment Editor Allanah Wills

CONVERGED CITIZEN MARCH 3, 2016

7

Project Push kicks off youth initiative program Dawn Gray Converged Citizen Staff A local downtown business is giving back to the community by offering free mentored workshops to local youth.

Pushers Co. on Ouellette Avenue is ready to launch their pilot program, Project Push. The program is a youth initiative aimed at helping young people aged 16 to 24 by giving them real world experience in a working environment. The program will consist of three workshops: Urban 101, Barbering Journalism and Music Artist Development. Five applicants will be selected to take part in each workshop.

Founder and CEO of Pushers Co., Ali Ahmed, started the clothing aspect of the business from the trunk of his car in 2011. Since then, it has grown substantially and now consists of six different businesses all located in their flagship location in the heart of downtown Windsor. The Pushers Co. complex houses a retail clothing store, barber shop and hair salon, photoshoot studio, design and print shop, recording studio and a supper club that serves food during the day and transforms into a lounge in the evenings.

Ahmed says developing the business has been a “hard but fun ride” and now they are in a position to give back to the

community that helped them grow.

“We have the mentors, the facilities, the expertise and the networks to give back to the community so we might as well. It’s only right,” said Ahmed.

Project Push will match the young people with mentors and allow them to learn by experience. The three workshops will all take place on location at Pushers Co. and the mentors will consist of working professionals who are a part of the Pushers Co. Photo by Dawn Gray family. The youth participants will shadow the mentors Founder and CEO of Pushers Co. Ali Ahmed starts his work day in the Pushers Co. while learning the basics of complex at 487 Ouellette Ave. on Feb. 25. Photo by Dawn Gray the business.

“We want to find out what here I never really had a a print shop to make our clothOver the years, Pushers Co. has developed a good rela- their goals are and help them chance to do anything like ing so we created one. A area, a tionship with young people get there,” said Mazhar. “This this. I’m super excited. I think photo-shoot lounge...we’re letting our dolwho are attracted to the indus- industry can be hard to break it’s sweet.”

Ahmed is also excited about lars circulate within us while try and have a natural curiosi- into. We want to help them do ty for the workings of the that. We’re going to push them the future of Project Push we also offer and provide the and make them realize that because he feels it is perfect services to others as well. business. for a city like Windsor. He That’s the perfect example of “Kids already come in here they can reach those goals.”

Joe Merheje, general man- hopes it will inspire youth to what a pusher is.” all the time asking questions Ahmed said he hopes to conand giving their ideas,” said ager of Pushers Co., will be reach for their goals and make mentoring the urban journal- them realize with hard work tinue and to grow Project Push Ahmed.

Dalia Mazhar, social media ism aspect of Project Push. and dedication those goals are in the future.

“This is just the start. If coordinator of Pushers Co., Merheje grew up in Windsor attainable.

“I hope for a better future everything goes well we’re said careers like barbering and is a graduate of the St. and music management can Clair College journalism pro- for Windsor and for the kids going to offer more worksometimes seem unattainable gram. He said this is a great that we mentor. Sometimes shops next year because we to these youth because it is a opportunity for local youth you’re in a position where you have more mentors," said difficult industry to get started and will give them a chance to quit on yourself and every- Ahmed. "I’m sure were going in. Mazhar believes these learn things that they might body around you. That’s not to get better at this and we’ll workshops will give them not learn in traditional school. what pushers do,” said be able to elevate from here."

“It’s a good way to reach Ahmed. “We needed a recordThe mentoring program connections in the industry and allow them networking their goals in a different way,” ing facility to make our music kicks off March 1 and will run said Merheje. “Growing up so we created one. We needed for eight months. opportunities.

Playing online, not outside Michelle Laramie Converged Citizen Staff Many children today are playing online instead of outside.

Teachers and parents say video games are becoming the main source of entertainment for youth today, making them simply not as active.

Limitations on use and proper education of video game safe-

ty will help keep children physically and socially fit.

A survey done on Mediasmarts.ca Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy claims more than 80 per cent of Canadians from the ages of 6 to seventeen say they play video games regularly.

While video games have some positive points like being comfortable using technology, there are a number of issues

that are associated with this highly interactive form of entertainment.

Cindy Collins, 36, a mother of two boys, aged 7 and age 11 says video games help aid in familiarizing children with technology.

“It is making them knowledgeable and comfortable with technology, which is great because everything is heading in that direction in the future,”

said Collins “It is a world of information at their fingertips.”

However, she says she sees the importance of limiting video game usage and making sure children occupy their time with a variety of things.

“I get busy, but I won’t use video games as a distraction, If I am busy so are they, but with chores, homework or playing outside,” said

Collins. She also limits her children by stopping video game play at dinnertime.

Many teachers say children who over use video games are not developing proper social skills or basic outdoor play safety knowledge.

Catherine Scandale, 27, a teacher at the YMCA afterschool program, said she sees

GAMING PAGE 8

8

health & lifestyle

C

MARCH 3, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Deadpool movie Chocolatey success increases comic sales Danielle Gagnier Converged Citizen Staff A Windsor entrepreneur is selling one-of-a-kind chocolate and sharing his profits with the hungry.

Johnny Oran, the co-owner of Licia Ruby Food Company, creates unique and “highly addictive” chocolate bars. His homemade, roasted white chocolate bars are hand crafted, hand wrapped and hand delivered by Oran himself.

Oran started as an aspiring chef who wanted to start his own catering business. He began working with his friend Merja Avena, owner of Dressed by an Olive restaurant, cooking foods for the tasting parties they host.

“He was working out of the same plaza as we were at our previous location and he would pop in and introduce himself,” said Avena. “His thinking is outside the box when it comes to food so we wanted someone like that to be creative. Our ideas were always on the same path so it just seems fitting that Licia Ruby is made from our kitchen as well as Johnny selling chocolate out of our store.”

Although he still caters small dinner parties, Oran has put his catering business aside for now so he can perfect his white chocolate roasting technique to ensure his customers are getting good quality chocolate. His chocolates do not contain any preservatives, which is why he is keeping the company small for the time being.

“It’s not something we just want to ship out in huge amounts and let them sit

GAMING PAGE 7 the effects of over use all the time “I have taught in Australia, grades two to six and now here at the YMCA grades one to eight and I have seen a variety of it,” said Scandale. “I think too much diminishes their social skills. When they spend all day playing video games they are not learning to communicate or build relationships with people. “ Scandale said when children have issues with some-

there,” he said. “We want to keep it small and we want to keep the bars fresh.”

The bars are made with high quality white chocolate and a hint of sea salt. It has a distinct and unique taste due to the fact the chocolate caramelizes as he roasts it creating a flavour similar to toffee.

Avena said she has never tasted anything like it.

“The chocolate is really unique,” she said. “I’m not a fan of white chocolate, but the taste, the caramelization and the texture just give it another element.”

Oran started the company with his wife Elise in August 2015. The couple wanted to find a way to make a living while making the changes they want to see in the world.

Their motto is “be the change you wish to see” which is why for every chocolate bar they sell, they share one dollar with Action Against Hunger to provide one packet of lifesaving food to a child in need and help provide their community with clean water.

“The more success we have, the more we can contribute to our charity that we’re working with and the more change we can make,” said Oran.

Oran said he wants to expand the company in the future and has already begun experimenting with different flavours of chocolate to provide his customers with a wide variety of choices. Avena hopes to continue working with Oran and use some of her products in his chocolate.

“We hope to incorporate our olive oils and balsamics into his recipe to give it another one they are not developing the conflict resolution skills or socially acceptable ways to show their emotions.

Scandale said it is dangerous for children to spend so much time inside immersed in video games.

“They are not learning to look for things on the street,” said Scandale. “They cannot identify the safety factors that come with outside play. They just aren’t engaging in the community to learn the safety in their neighborhood.”

Experts say there is also a health risk with excessive

dimension and another flavour, something new for the customers that they can feel good about buying.”

Oran said his end goal is to get his chocolate in small stores across Canada, but he is

Photo by Danielle Gagnier Chef Johnny Oran poses for a photograph holding his hand wrapped roasted white chocolate bars at the MediaPlex Feb. 25. not ready to start selling outside of Windsor yet.

“If it was successful enough in Canada and I had the chance to grow, I would definitely consider selling it worldwide, but that’s a huge step,” he said.

Oran currently sells his chocolate bars at three restaurants in the WindsorTecumseh area including The Little White Baking Company, Robbie’s Gourmet Sausage Company and Dressed by an Olive. video game use. If a child is playing video games for extended periods throughout the day they are not getting the proper amount of physical activity needed to keep them healthy.

Smart video game use also comes with some safety education and making sure children understand the risks of online games is important.

“It is very important to educate them on the dangers,” said Collins. “Keeping an open line of communication is important. They know to come right to me.”

Joshua Maskery Converged Citizen Staff With the recent release of the highly anticipated Marvel Productions movie Deadpool released last Friday, fans and comic readers alike have been eagerly awaiting for the movie adaptation of the mischievous comic book character.

Despite much controversy surrounding the character himself and the mature rating of this movie, long time comic readers have held their expectations high. It turns out Ryan Reynolds portrayed this character nearly perfect and flawlessly, according to box office ratings, movie critics and fans.

“Many say the “R” rating of the movie greatly contributed to the final expressions and actions of the character and how he has been presented in the comic series in the past,” said 39 year-old comic reader and movie enthusiast, Michael Poirier.

Poirier, a video productions technologist, began reading comic books when he was five years old. His first comic book was Brave and the Bold issue #192. This further provoked his interest in reading more comic books and exploring different universes as he got older. He said he was more into Marvel Comics as a young child because of the characters’ perfect nature and hero-like status. When he was older, he said DC became his primary favorite comic book universe.

“The characters are more primal, realistic and tragic.

Marvel created their characters more of as a reaction to DCs,” said Poirier.

Despite his love of the Marvel franchise, he said he is not a big fan of the Deadpool character.

“I am not a fan of the over the top action and violence, I remember reading Deadpool in 1991, losing interest but gaining more when the character became more witty and over-the-top, but the movie itself still exceeded my expectations,” said Poirier.

Many expect due to the major success of the movie within the first week, Deadpool comic sales would increase in stores. Poirier said

he thinks the release and overwhelming success of the film will increase comic sales, especially back issues and older prints which he believes will go up in price. Many fans are aware that Deadpool already has a sequel in the works, with a possible X-Men tie in. The success of the movie was so great that movie productions crews and directors are already considering changing future X-Men movies to an “R” rating to incorporate Deadpool and the full potential of his witty inappropriate character.

The city of Windsor has many comic book stores scattered throughout the different districts including Rogues Gallery, which celebrated its 10th anniversary – all comics bought in the store that day were 25 cents.

Looking back at the original story and history of Deadpool character himself, Wade Wilson (a.k.a Deadpool) was a hired mercenary who “disposed” of local criminals and bad guys.

Wilson was diagnosed with a very severe and life threatening form of cancer in his lungs, liver, prostate and heart. He was going to die no matter what happened, until he was approached by a man claiming he could recover and have super powers. Thus began Mr. Wilson’s immense torture at the hands of this secret organization.

Undergoing great pain and suffering, Wilson was mutated into an otherworldly form of his body where he can regenerate limbs, heal himself of major injuries within minutes, all the while appearing as a grotesque, charred version of his old self. As a result of the movie exceeding expectations, the sales will almost certainly increase, especially older back Deadpool issues that haven’t been discovered in years.

Some have claimed the movie to be disrespectful, perverted and immature. Others, like 18-year-old Ryan Fram believe the people who had those views.

“Those attacking the movie have no idea what the character’s motives were, and may have not read the comics or did research before seeing the movie therefore diminishing any expectations.”

CONVERGED CITIZEN MARCH 3, 2016

9

MLB strides to a safer game Opinion

Christian Bouchard Sports Columnist

Major League Baseball is back at it. More rule changes.

MLB has been inspired to help make a difference, after a scary slide by Chase Utley which led to the injury of Ruben Tejada.

This season there will be a 30 second clock, much like in basketball, timing the length of mound visits. The clock will start the moment the manager leaves the dugout and will be displayed on an instadium clock viewable for all.

While the efforts to speed up the game is admirable, MLB didn’t stop there. They also announced more clarification on the classic rule of players sliding into second base.

The 30 second manager’s clock is MLB’s way of trying to cut down on wasted time.

Far too often did managers lollygag out to the pitcher’s mound just to give his relief pitcher a few extra warm up pitches.

The second rule implemented on Feb. 25 was one that would attempt to cut down on catastrophic injuries at second base when runners try to break up a double play. It also makes the “neighborhood play” — when a fielder doesn’t actually touch second base but gets an out because he was near the bag — reviewable by replay.

The slide rule, much like the

Photo courtesy of forbes.com

Chase Utley (bottom) slides into New York Mets infielder Ruben Tejada. The slide left Tejada injured and has since been a large reason in MLB’s new rule implementation of player safety when sliding into second base. pitch clock, operates in a related fashion. It starts by stating what a runner can do by charting four main views of a legal slide into second base: Slide prior to reaching the base.

Slide so you are able to and attempt to reach or touch the base.

Slide so you are able to and attempt to stay on the base.

Do not change your pathway to the base.

In essence, a runner who follows those four rules is allowed to attempt to take out the player.

Expect this rule to encourage fielders to stand on the back of second base, where they’d likely be safe if the runner takes by the new regulations. Slides that do not will result in an automatic double play.

Making the neighborhood play reviewable brings up a number of questions. Not just about how the extra replays could add to the length of the game but regarding safety of the players.

Middle infielders have relied on the neighborhood play to prevent injury when attempted double plays are broken up.

Subjecting the neighborhood play to review will be the biggest sign yet that players are willing to adapt to the new slide rules in order to keep one another safe. The players want safety and so does the league.

Injuries to Pirates infielder Jung-ho Kang and Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada forced MLB to reconsider its stance on slides into second. This is just a small portion of a large list of injuries, including concussions.

In fact, MLB, the union and

umpires watched videos of about 20 plays at second base.

Every video contained debatable slides and after watching attentively, the umpires formed a settlement on which were legal and which weren’t.

From there, they looked for consistencies among the slides, good and bad, and made an attempt to find a rule that would require the least amount of interpretation among umpires.

The results were as follows: Beginning this season, no longer will players be allowed to kick their legs out above a fielder’s knee, start their slide after the bag or roll into a fielder. While umpires were previously advised to call such moves illegal, the rules are now official. MLB hopes the newly added rule will encourage runners to

slide into second base with greater consideration.

Finally, action has been taken, realizing the importance of player safety in the game. With the increase of Tommy John surgery and manager’s taking more action towards protecting their superstars and their mega contracts, safety is a definite concern. Pitchers such as Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey are now subject to an inning limit in order to preserve their arms and cut down on the chances of injuries. Like any sport, at any level, injuries can occur at any moment. Despite a traditional thinking of not messing with what isn’t broken, MLB has nailed it on the head with this rule.

Because of this new rule, the league and players can be successful for years to come.

Kudos to you, MLB.

C

10

MARCH 3, 2016

sports & fitness ONVERGED CITIZEN Familia nets second consecutive Mr. Basketball award Ryan Blevins Converged Citizen Staff The Windsor Essex County Secondary School Athletic Association’s Most Valuable Player award is returning to a familiar face.

February is award season for WECSSAA basketball.

Just as the NBA hands out awards at the end of the season for MVP or All-NBA first team so does WECSSAA. These awards are voted on by the coaches during a meeting after the regular season. The Windsor Mr. Basketball award is given to the league’s most valuable student-athlete for that season. In 2015 Holy Names Catholic High School guard Isaiah Familia received the award. Little did Familia know he would go on to win the award again in 2016.

Familia transferred to Holy Names in September 2014 for his senior season following a successful season with the Catholic Central High School Comets. During Familia’s first full senior season at Catholic Central he earned first team all-WECSSAA honours.

Seeking a change of scenery and academics, Familia fell into head coach Kyle Kane’s lap.

“In terms of coaching he’s probably the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Kane.

“Last year he scored a lot but he played a lot on the perimeter but this year he’s added the element of the inside game.”

The evolution of his game is one that has shaped Familia into the league’s best player.

The man known by his teammates as Zeke has made histo-

Photo by Ryan Blevins Isaiah Familia (right) rests during an early season game during the Freed’s invitational tournament ry by becoming only the second player in WECSSAA history to win back-to-back Mr. Basketball awards since Mychal Mulder won the award in 2011 and 2012.

Mulder, a Catholic Central graduate, spent some time Vincennes University before transferring to last season’s NCAA runner-up Kentucky Wildcats. The 2015 and 2016 season mark the first time the Windsor Mr. Basketball award called Holy Names home since Rotimi Osuntola Jr. Along with the Mr. Basketball award Zeke also made his third consecutive first team all-WECSSAA team and his second while at

Holy Names.

Despite these individual accolades Familia says he would trade it all in for a championship ring.

“Personally I’m more of a team player, instead of having individual goals but I also want to strive for the best,” said Familia. “WECSSAA MVP for two years is nice but the main goal for us is winning WECSSAA and hopefully going on to OFSAA and competing against the best teams in Ontario.”

Unfortunately for Familia and the Knights the WECSSAA championship will escape them for another season. Despite 18 second half

points from Mr. Basketball the Knights couldn’t mount a comeback in their semi-final game against the St. Anne Saints. The Saints knocked off the Knights by a score of 6762 ending Familia’s Holy Names career.

Head coach of the St. Anne Saints basketball team Andy Kiss said he admired Familia’s character as well as his performance following their semi-final matchup.

“I’ve never seen a player that puts the team on his back like Isaiah. You always see Isaiah deliver in the big game and he did tonight,” said Kiss.

Familia carried his team in several games this season

scoring 34 or more points four times during the regular season including a 44 point game in the University of Windsor invitational tournament. The Holy Names stat sheet was constantly filled next to Familia’s name. He averaged 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game for the Knights while shooting over 50 per cent from the field and over 40 per cent from beyond the three point line.

High school basketball is over for Isaiah Familia and his plans for post-secondary education and playing basketball at the next level are currently up in the air.

Vipers in good position for playoffs Samantha Girardin Converged Citizen Staff With the LaSalle Vipers finishing third in the Conference, players and coaches are optimistic about their playoff chances.

The Vipers played their second last home game before the playoffs on Feb. 24 against the Strathroy Rockets. The Vipers beat the Rockets seven to three.

“We like the way our team is playing,” said head coach Bill

Bowler. “We have been slowly but steadily improving over the season and I think we’re hitting our peak at the right time.” Bowler says the team is very hopeful about their playoff chances.

“We’ve tried to win as many games as possible to secure our spot.” The Vipers have won over 20 games this season, a majority of the games they have played.

“I’ve been doing a lot of extra work. I think we all have,” said Manny Silverio,

the top scoring player on the team with 28 goals.

“There’s no selfishness here. It’s all about the team.” Silverio said he was proud of the team and feels ready for playoffs.

Nathan Savage, the team’s forward, lived up to his name working hard for the win. He scored three goals for the Vipers Photo by Samantha Girardin in the game against the A Vipers player is checked in a game Rockets.

“I’m just trying to lead before playoffs Feb. 24.

by example,” Savage said. Savage is the third top scoring player on the Vipers, scoring 22 goals this season.

“If I work hard, they’ll work hard,” said Savage.

“That’s what we want, everyone doing their best.”

The Vipers have two more games before the playoffs against the St.Thomas Stars and the London Nationals.

11

sports & fitness

C

MARCH 3, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Boston bombing survivor to speak in Windsor Todd Shearon Converged Citizen Staff Organizers of the Windsor Essex Sports Persons of the Year Awards are preparing to celebrate their 11th annual event with a non-sports related twist.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Heather Abbott will visit Windsor March 28 to share her story with the sports community as the WESPYs keynote speaker.

“We bring in a keynote speaker every year to address the audience, which has been a very highly anticipated portion of the event,” said WESPYs founder Domenic Papa. “We want to make the event special for everybody.

We try to make it so if you’re not tied to an athlete or a team, we want to give you a reason to come anyway. That’s where the guest speaker comes in.”

The event’s first decade of awards ceremonies featured other keynote speakers including Cincinnati Reds baseball legend Pete Rose, Washington Redskins Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Theismann, Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden and double Olympic champion speed skater Catriona Le May Doan.

“This year we took a sporting event and found a speaker.

Even though she’s not a big name athlete like previous years we brought in, Heather Abbott comes from a sporting event that had a horrific tragedy take place, being the Boston Marathon bombing scenario,” said Papa. “She had

Photo by Todd Shearon WESPYs founder Domenic Papa stands with arms stretched across the WE-TV boardroom wall displaying posters of past WESPY award ceremonies in Windsor. to get her leg amputated as a result. Through a great deal of courage, a great deal of ambition and a smart approach, she has taken that tragic event and she’s not going to let it take her down.”

Abbott created the Heather Abbott Foundation with a mission to help provide customized prostheses to those who have suffered limb loss through traumatic circumstances and envisions a world where these individuals can live the life they love.

“Heather speaks all over North America now and she brings a great message. That’s what we really look for in our speaker. Somebody who has made it through adverse times and still found a way to rise to

the top,” said Papa. “Heather is doing that and has done that although she’s not a great big athlete name. But stemming from the event which she is coming from it was a fit for us.

We like to try different things to make the WESPYs special and one way we can do that is through our speaker. It was a bit of a twist and we’ve had a lot of interesting comments since announcing Heather as our speaker but they’ve all been positive. We’re excited about it.”

The event has grown to over a dozen male and female sports categories and features nine major awards, 33 WESPYs are handed out on their big night.

“We try to get everybody

involved. Athletes with disabilities, they have their own category. They don’t normally get much publicity, but every year they get a lot of publicity with this award,” said Papa.

“You have our major sports, football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer. But it’s those other sports that don’t get a lot of notoriety. They get it on this night. They’re very appreciative. It’s all about them. It’s their night. And we make that very clear.”

The WESPYs 10-year history of winners and nominees is pretty significant, boasting winners such as Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford, NHL players Ryan Ellis (Nashville Predators) and Joshua Bailey

(New York Islanders), Canadian national basketball player Miah-Marie Langlois and Super Bowl winner Luke Wilson who was nominated in the baseball category and not football.

“If anyone was to ever look at our past recipients, not including the nominees, I think they’d be pretty impressed and it would be pretty eye-opening to them,” said Papa. “So many have gone on to do so many great things. We’re very fortunate.

We don’t realize how deep we are in sports. The selection process gets tougher and tougher each year and this year was no different. It’s tough. We have a lot of depth when it comes to athletics.”

A chance at a repeat Garrett Fodor Converged Citizen Staff

Photo by of Garrett Fodor Mooretown Flags goalie Brandon Johnson is preparing himself for the second period against Essex Feb. 23.

Members of the Essex 73’s and Integrity Amherstburg Admirals are preparing for a potential repeat of last year’s Great Lakes Junior “C” finals.

73’s Captain Matthew Hebert said the team has been taught not to underestimate teams and believes anyone can upset them.

“Mooretown has a great goalie, he makes great saves and keeps them in the game,” said Hebert.

Flags’ goaltender Brandon Johnson is keeping his team in games by making saves he shouldn’t be, he was a large part of his team’s seven game series with Lakeshore.

The 73’s are consistent in giving up very few shots, averaging just over 23 per game in the playoffs, while putting up over 30 shots in each game.

For the 73’s to advance again they need to continue to generate offence from all four lines and make goalie Trevor Wheaton’s life easier.

On the other side of the bracket, the Integrity Amherstburg Admirals are facing the second seeded Blenheim Blades.

The Admirals added players on the trade deadline including last year’s leading scorer James Brooks.

Like Mooretown, a large part of their success comes from their goaltending in Connor Meyerink, who has put his team in a position to win.

“We are here to win. We’re

SEE PAGE 12

12

sports & fitness

Massey Mustangs gallop to victory

C

MARCH 3, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Sports round-up

By Christian Bouchard

Lancers Women’s Basketball The five time defending National Champions have advanced to the OUA quarter finals with a 82-76 victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks. All five Windsor starters scored double digits. Next up for the Lancers is a matchup with the No. 6 ranked Carleton Ravens. The Ravens (14-5) handed beat the Lancers (15-1) 80-63 back in November.

Lancers Men’s Basketball The Lancer’s Men’s Basketball team also advanced to the quarter finals with a 82-73 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs on Wednesday. Alex Campbell lead the way with 37 points. Next up is a matchup with McMaster who previously beat the Lancers 106-74 in January.

Photo courtesy of Brett Henderson

Garrison Ridpath and Greg Bogl admire an opposing shot from afar.

Brett Henderson Converged Citizen Staff Members of the Vincent Massey Secondary School curling teams have successfully returned the SWOSSAA gold to home turf.

Both the men’s and women’s curling teams received their gold medals on Feb. 24 at the Roseland Golf and Curling Club. On the men’s side, the mustangs took a 10-8 victory over the Wallaceburg Tartans. The women also celebrated with a victory, winning 15-4 over UCC. Game 2 for the men was a nail-biter, taking it to an extra end. After a long, hard-fought battle against Sarnia Northern, the ‘stangs were able to come out ahead and win their final game 7-5.

FROM PAGE 12 not going to lose this year,” said forward Dylan Muzzatti.

“We want it all and we’re probably going to get it all because we are the best team in the league.”

In order for the Admirals to

“It’s great to see the local teams win the title on both the men’s and women’s side,” said Mark Masanovich, Roseland Curling Club’s head ice-maker.

After acquiring their gold medals the winning teams took part in a Massey Mustang curling tradition by treating themselves to one of Roselands well-known snacks.

“We’ve always enjoyed Roseland’s nachos after a big win,” said Massey Mustangs men’s team skip Kyle Henderson. “Past teams have enjoyed them the same as us.”

According to Masanovich, holding the curling championships also allowed Roseland to showcase their facility and products to the athletes and the public.

“SWOSSAA is an excellent

opportunity to showcase our facility, the players enjoy the ice and the public enjoys the food,” said Masanovich.

This SWOSSAA marked momentous for Massey athlete, Garrison Ridpath. This SWOSSAA was Ridpaths first. Ridpath, along with the entire men’s team practiced at least 4 days per week. Ridpath battled through the nerves and is proud to have finished in first place.

“It came down to a really tight game against a great team, our team took a big sigh of relief and I think we are all very happy to win,” said Ridpath.

Next stop for the Mustangs will be OFFSAA in North Bay taking place March 7-10. With hopes of bringing back Massey’s first-ever OFSAA gold.

advance to the finals once again, they need to have cool heads and stay out of the penalty box. However, the team struggled with this throughout the year. In addition they must generate offence from their bottom lines and be more consistent.

Teams like Essex showed in the regular season the lack of success they are able to have when their top two lines are not producing as much.

One thing is for certain, the two best teams will be playing a hard fought series to earn the title of GLJCHL champions.

LaSalle Vipers The LaSalle Vipers took Game 1 of the Greater Ontario Junior Hocey league Western Conference playoffs with a 6-1 victory over the Sarnia Legionnaires. Liam MacDouglall had two goals and four points for the Vipers.

Game 2 is set for Feb. 5 in Sarnia.

Junior C The potential rematch of last year’s Great Lakes Junior ‘C’ Hockey League Championships looks to be set. The defending Schmalz Cup champions, the Essex 73’s have clinched their spot in the finals sweeping the Mooretown Flags 4-0. Looking to meet them in the finals are the Amherstburg Admirals who lead the Blenheim Blades 3-2.

Game 6 is tonight in Amherstburg at 7 p.m.

OFSAA From March 1-10 Windsor is set for four different OFSAA events including wrestling, swimming, boys AAA hockey and boy’s AAA basketball. In the entire calendar school year, Windsor will play host to a total of 14 OFSAA events.

13

sports & fitness

Creator of STOP program dies Jordan Cashera Converged Citizen Staff The local man who invented the S.T.O.P. sign patch, appearing on the back of minor hockey players jerseys throughout Canada has died.

Safety Towards Other Players was created by Kevin Stubbington, who coached for many years for the Windsor Minor Hockey Association.

He invented the sign to improve on safety at the minor league level.

Stubbington had the idea in 1994 to create something to

educated players on player safety.

According to Ryan Alexander, forward of the Amherstburg Admirals, the program is a huge part of what player safety is today.

“Playing safe means a lot and it plays a big role,” said Alexander. “Going into the boards head first, I’ve seen a lot of players get injured and concussed.”

The patch, which was originally intended to stop players from hitting from behind in the minor leagues, has reached far beyond that.

C

MARCH 3, 2016

ONVERGED CITIZEN

Local business hits a homerun

Photo by Christian Bouchard John LaMantia, co-owner of Back-Yard Bat Co. poses with his company’s baseball bats.

Christian Bouchard Converged Citizen Staff A local man has spun his passion for baseball into a successful idea for his family- run business.

Back-Yard Bat Co. in Photo by Jordan Caschera Tecumseh supplies local baseRyan Alexander (16) of the Integrity Amherstburg ball teams and players with Admirals and Logan Percy (67) of the Lakeshore their own personal bats. Paul Canadians fight in the first period at The Libro Credit LaMantia created the compaUnion Complex Jan. 17. ny 12 years ago in his back“Player safety is huge, even yard shed after his grandfather remind players to play safe while on the ice after seeing a in the pros,” said Broden first taught him how to spin a hit from behind injury to one Meloche of the Integrity bat on a lathe. The company of his players. After he Amherstburg Admirals. “Any has since made an impact in designed the miniature type of hit is huge. You’re the local baseball community, S.T.O.P sign, Stubbington going so fast you don’t know which is being continued with lobbied to have it placed what can happen and you can the help of his father.

“It started with my dad,” above the numbers on the get hurt.”

According to a post on the said John LaMantia, Paul’s back of player’s jerseys. After the Ontario Minor Hockey WMHA website, in 2007 father. LaMantia said his Association adopted the pro- Stubbington was given the Dr. father taught his son Paul gram, it was soon mandatory Tom Pashby Sports Safety when he was 16 how to spin a which honours bat. “My my dad was actually for all minor hockey associa- Award, tions throughout Canada to Canadians who have made a dying in the hospital that year significant contribution to so Paul made a bat, brought it follow suit.

The S.T.O.P program has prevent catastrophic injuries to the hospital and everyone received support from Hockey in sports and recreational signed it. That’s where it started. The passion was infused Night In Canada’s Don activities “Kevin was a humble man into Back-Yard Bat Co. by my Cherry, who in 2009 helped fund the program to create and well-liked by all who son Paul. It was his idea, his stickers which are still placed knew him,” reads a post on passion and his love.”

As the love for the game the Windsor Minor Hockey on the back of all helmets.

Concussions are an increas- Association website. “His filled Paul’s heart, he decided ing issue from the minor contributions to the WMHA to make bats in the summer to league level to the pro level and the minor hockey will not make enough money to pay for baseball. Paul still uses his but the S.T.O.P Program has be forgotten.”

own bats when he plays for the Tecumseh Thunder Seniors as well as during his time at Wayne State University.

In a single summer, Paul made 100 bats, all spun by himself on his lathe. An impressive number for one man considering there are only 3,000 bats manufactured each day by the world’s leading baseball bat manufacturer, Louisville Slugger.

According to Paul’s father, the Windsor Stars organization were a huge part of the success as they purchased several of Paul’s bats. This would eventually get Back-Yard Bats Co. off the ground and give Paul his first true opportunity.

With the quick success of the local business, Paul could no longer meet the demand.

“The old days on a lathe would be an hour,” said John LaMantia. “Paul would spin them around 30 minutes, sand them and then finally finish them in about an hour. They can do them over at Louisville about one bat per 30 seconds.

So there's no competing with a one man band.”

With the price of wood on the rise, making bats on the lathe is no longer economically feasible. The company now imports from its manufacturer in raw format. However, the

family-ran company still applies the labels, paints and ultimately have a burning passion for their product.

Eric Cunningham is a baseball player for the back-toback-to-back defending Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championship baseball team, St.Clair Saints.

Cunningham holds the best lifetime batting average in a Saints uniform and still uses his Back-Yard bat.

“I always wanted to support local businesses,” said Cunningham. “That family is dedicated to the sport. They love the game of baseball.

They’re huge fans from every level, from T-ball to the pros.

Just knowing they are going to put that kind of dedication into the bat you’re going to use is awesome.”

Paul’s hard work and dedication eventually paid off. Kevin Mailloux, a former MLB player for the Seattle Mariners, as well as Ryan LaPansee with the Arizona Diamondbacks, used the bats at the professional level.

“Seeing everyone use the bats now makes me think of how good the module actually is,” said Cunningham. “It’s the creation and love put into the weapon itself that make them so special.”