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*Volume XII Issue 15 *March 31, 2017
The Power Of The Future
Inside
Mismatched socks for down syndrome awareness Joy Chen Converged Citizen Staff
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Windorites wore their craziest socks to support the Rock your Socks campaign, to increase awareness for those with Down syndrome. Stephanie Seguin, whose four-year-old daughter Hazel was born with Down syndrome, sees her daughter’s disability as a gift, not a problem.
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Photo by Joy Chen St. Clair College students and staff found a colourful way to celebrate Down syndrome Day.
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U.S. environmental cut, wake up for Canadians Nantanaa Mutharasu Converged Citizen Staff Home to the largest freshwater lakes on earth, Canada plays a pivotal role in protecting its water but U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to cut 31 per cent of the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget raises concerns. Initiated by the United
Nations and celebrated throughout the world, this year’s theme for World Water Day is ‘Wastewater.’ The University of Windsor hosted a panel discussion “Protecting Water, Confronting Challenges” featuring experts such as Doug Haffner, a researcher at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research as well as community experts
such as Mark Bartlett, Community Environment Representative of Unifor 444 and Randy Emerson from Windsor On Watch & Council of Canadians Windsor-Essex. Panel experts used this opportunity as a call for action. They discussed the Great Lakes, recycling, pipelines and Trump's budget proposal. “Maybe we should look at
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ourselves and say what we allowed our governments to do and how can our government ignore our Great Lakes that generate 60 per cent of GDP for our country,” said Haffner. Haffner hopes Trump's proposal forces Canadians to take action to protect the Great Lakes. “We need to make this into
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9 Sports Quote of the Day Journalism is what maintains democracy. -Andrew Vachss
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The ratty side Aaron Lombardi Converged Citizen Staff Windsor has been ranked Ontario’s seventh most rat infested city and experts say it will only get worse after the warm winter. Rats are omnivorous rodents that make themselves at home anywhere they see fit. These are mainly areas near sources of food, water and shelter. Cities are a prime choice for the animals since dumpsters and abandoned buildings provide all three. According to a survey done by Orkin Canada Pest Control Services, Windsor is one of the 25 most rat-infested cities in Ontario. Chris Ortner of Orkin Canada in Windsor said he believes the rat problem is solely based on the city’s warm winters. “Rats are not cold weather animals, so when they get areas where they can be warm year-round they will take advantage and multiply,” said Ortner. “And they multiply
FROM SOCKS PAGE 1 “I hope to create an environment where people don’t mind talking about difference. Hopefully, when she understands all of this, this community will be more welcoming of her,” said Seguin. “My daughter is beautiful and dif-
quickly. About three to four litters per year.” A litter of rats typically ranges from eight to 12 babies. The 2016 municipal budget included funding for a rodent trapping program giving any resident of the city free inspections by exterminators until May 2016, when the program was cancelled. It will resume in April as part of a $20,000 item in the 2017 budget. Until then, those with pest problems will have to hire private exterminators. Rats are usually difficult to spot during the day as most of their scavenging is done at night. The critters can be seen running across Windsor alleyways travelling from one dumpster to the next. Rats live in large groups and usually burrow underground but will sometimes live inside the walls of abandoned buildings and underneath sidewalks. Mike Heimbach of Abell Pest Control in Windsor suggests ways people can prevent the animals from coming into
Seguin created the blog Chasing Hazel where she shares her family’s daily life. This year, Seguin and her husband Matt have launched the Chasing Hazel Foundation in Windsor. It strives to educate and raise awareness about how important individuals with Down syndrome are to
“We are excited people are helping other people.” -Stephanie Seguin ferent. Different is not a bad thing.” Seguin has been a vocal supporter and promoter of the Rock your Socks campaign. Aside from sharing her family’s story worldwide, she is the organizer for this year’s event at St. Clair College. “This is an important event for our daughter and my family to raise awareness for Down syndrome,” said Seguin. “Students donated a few dollars to support our new foundation. We are excited people are helping other people.”
the community. World Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21 every year and has been officially recognized by the United Nations since 2012. According to the WDSD website, Down Syndrome International encourages people to say "My Voice, My Community," enabling people with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action. Anyone interested in supporting the cause can visit www.ChasingHazel.com.
their space. “Food, water, shelter - that’s what they want and they can find it very easily,”said Heimbach. “Woodpiles in your backyard, cracks in your foundation, that’s shelter. Compost bins, gardens, garbages with open lids, that’s food. If you get rid of what they want you won’t have a problem.” Abell Pest Control receives
most of its rat based calls in the springtime and although they deal with other animals such as possums and raccoons, Heimbach says rat-related calls are becoming the majority. Rats carry diseases such as rabies that are harmful to both humans and pets. The rats are usually trapped and destroyed by poison baiting. However,
exterminators have begun using dry ice as it cuts the cost of poison and is equally effective. The dry ice is placed in areas where rats are known to burrow and upon melting, lets out a gas that suffocates the rodent. Anne-Marie Albidone, manager of environmental services in Windsor, said people can do their part in keeping the animals away. “You have to keep the rats away from the three things they are looking for - food, water, shelter,” said Albidone. “If you have a fruit tree you should always rake up the fallen fruit because the rats will eat that. If you have water nearby or a pond, your chances of having rats are high. If you’re feeding feral cats, the rats will eat the cat food.” With sightings on the rise, both Heimbach and Ortner believe this coming spring will be one of the most rat infested they have seen in the city.
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ore to make into aluminium cans, a tremendous amount of water goes into that,” said Bartlett. “For every barrel of oil they take out of the ground, it can be four to eight barrels of water used to take the oil out.” Emerson brought attention to the pipelines that are being approved by the government and its effects on Canadians. “There’s going to be a new section of pipeline from Ohio which is called Utopia from Kinder Morgan,” said
Emerson. “It’s going to be built up and around and will come into Windsor where it will store ethane and ethanepropane mix.” “There’s also pipelines underneath the river, so if there’s a leak, there’s going to be problems,” said Emerson. Haffner explained that large lakes have long retention times, impossible for rapid water renewal and Canada must develop a national water policy to adapt to changing global environment.
Photo by Aaron Lombardi Chris Ortner of Orkin Canada Windsor Branch speaks to reporters regarding the recent infestations and sightings of rats in the city.
a political issue where there is a responsibility in the government to recognize the resources of the Great Lakes,” said Haffner. “We spend billions of dollars putting instruments into the ocean from East Coast to West Coast of Canada but we put nothing into the Great Lakes.” The panel pointed out there is a lot of water used in the process of transportation. “When you’re mining raw
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Ontario to cap kindergarten classes at 30 Felicia Patterson Converged Citizen Staff The Liberal government of Ontario has agreed to cap the number of students in full-day kindergarten classes at 30, according to reports of a tentative agreement with elementary teachers obtained by the Canadian Press. There is no cap currently but each school board, including the Greater Essex County District School Board, is required to have an average of 26 students per full-day kindergarten class. The terms of the deal would ensure a maximum class size of 30 for the 2017-18 school year with a goal of 29 for the following year. Superintendent of Education and Elementary Staffing and Information Technology at the GECDSB John Howitt says the ETFO has been pushing for smaller class sizes. "It wouldn't impact the GECDSB at all," said Howitt. "We are already meeting the class size cap. We had no classes that were above 30 at the time that the class size report went in, in September." Kindergarten teacher Lindsay Jones said there are eight Kindergarten classes at Giles Campus French Immersion. "We have 28 students currently and I think 30 students is plenty," said Jones. "With a teacher and an ECE, 15 per educator is a fair number." If the proposal is approved,
Photo by Felicia Patterson Superintendent of Education and Elementary Staffing and Information John Howitt said GECDSB schools won't be effected by the cap, as kindergarten classes within the board are below 30. Ontario will also invest $50 million to hire special education teachers. According to People for Education, approximately 17 per cent of elementary school students receive special education assistance, a percentage that has been increasing steadily over the last 20 years. Meeting the needs of special education students continues to be a challenge.
Jones said there is one full time special education teacher and one part time altogether at GCFI. "In our classroom we have an educational assistant, which obviously is a little different from a special education teacher," said Jones. "She helps with our students who need some extra attention, but we could definitely use more. We need the parents to be on
board with wanting their child to get some extra help so that we can get special education teachers from the board." In 2014 there was an average of 37 students with special education needs per special education teacher in Ontario, as stated in a publication on peopleforeducation.ca. A focus on early intervention means more younger students entering kindergarten require
services and supports. Because of the lack of funding in that area, 83 per cent of these students are in regular classrooms. Educational assistant and early childhood educator Tasia Harris said she has experience with elementary students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and feels there is a lack of support when it comes to children who require extra attention. "If there's 30 kids in a classroom with one teacher and one ECE, that's a lot," said Harris. "I couldn’t imagine being in a class with more than that, especially if we have a kid that has attention deficits and we have a kid who is shy. How are you going to be in both places at once?" ETFO and the Ontario government are still negotiating the details and no confirmations have been made. Superintendent of Special Education Lynn McLaughlin, at the GECDSB, was reluctant to speak about the cap. "We would not be able to comment in any way until ETFO members have voted on the agreement," said McLaughlin. "It has been embargoed until that time. We also do not know whether or not it will be ratified." If the plan is approved, elementary teachers within the public board will receive a four per cent raise over the next two years.
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CONVERGED CITIZEN MARCH 31, 2017
Digital dependency Converged Citizen Staff Alyssa Horrobin In a time where technology is advancing and being consumed more than ever, it is important for people to set limits for themselves to avoid negative effects. Some see too much of this consumption becoming an issue of mental health in children and teens. The GECDSB is putting on its fifth year of mental health seminars for the community. There are three sessions each year in the county and the city. These are free for the community to attend and geared towards parents and teachers. Tracey Rilett is the principal of A.V. Graham Public School and chair of the mental health seminar series committee. The topics presented each year are chosen by popular vote from people who attended the previous year's sessions. "We really want to reduce the stigma of mental health, and part of that is getting the conversation going," said Rilett. "You can't have the conversation without the education." The first seminar this year was on youth and children becoming addicted to the Internet and video games. Jennifer Forfitt, problem gambling counsellor at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare Problem Gambling Services, said this is definitely becoming a more prevalent topic as the use of electronic devices increases throughout the community. "Technology is definitely booming," said Forfitt. "It's very important to educate people on the pros and cons, the dangers and benefits of being able to partake in such technology." She said the use of technology and electronic devices is not necessarily good or bad,
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St. Clair’s downtown Health Centre offers more than you know
Photo by Alyssa Horrobin The average user of technology spends 1.72 hours a day on social media and checks their smartphone 150 times a day. Photo by Amos Johnson people just need to know how to use them appropriately and within certain limits. For parents, this also means setting limits for their children's use of electronics. Trever Cannon is a selfemployed house builder in Wallaceburg and father to three children. Cannon said he already sees signs of addiction to electronics in his oldest son, three-year-old Emerson. "He will wet his pants while on his tablet because he's so zoned in on it," said Cannon. "I have to raise my voice or ask again if he's on it." Cannon said he does his best to limit the amount of time spent on the tablet. Emerson has been using it for about a year and has watched TV since about one year old. "You say as a parent 'oh I'll never let my kid watch TV' but you will, it's easier," said Cannon. "So you have to limit their exposure." According to study.com, organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood recommend no television at all for children under the age of two. CCFC was the company that issued a complaint against
Baby Einstein in 2009 for making DVDs specifically geared towards babies aged two and under. Baby Einstein responded by offering a refund or exchange for CDs on all DVDs purchased in the previous five years. Cannon said he is not sure if his son's addiction to technology will grow into something he uses for a job or something potentially dangerous or negative. He believes most things in life should be kept in moderation.
"We really want to reduce the stigma of mental health, and part of that is getting the conversation going." -Tracey Rilett. "We do talk about people using things in excess, but we don’t talk about how to use them responsibly or how to use them safely at all," said Forfitt. "The more information we get out there, the better people can set limits for themselves or question what they're doing." If you would like to know how you can have a say in the topics chosen for next year's mental health seminars, contact the WECDSB.
Marcus Harrison waits in front of the St. Clair College Health Centre at the Centre for the Arts in downtown Windsor. Converged Citizen Staff Amos Johnson Many students are unaware of the health facilities the St. Clair College Health Centre has to offer in downtown Windsor. The Health Centre offers pregnancy testing, bloodwork, smoking cessation, STI testing, health counselling and education on sexual health. Treatment is provided for staff and students at St. Clair and anyone involved with the University of Windsor’s social work department if they provide their student ID and health card. Nancy Costa is a registered nurse at the centre and wants students to be aware of the services. “A lot of the students believe they have to go over to main campus because that’s such a large clinic setting, but we do have the ability to take care of you. If I can’t meet your needs then I will put you in the right direction to those who can,” said Costa. The clinic also has a nurse
practitioner in every Thursday who is seen by appointment to perform physical examinations and write prescriptions. Marcus Harrison is a student at St. Clair College studying in the Community and Justice Services program. He said he believes the Health Centre is not any different from going to a regular doctor.
“If I can’t meet your needs then I will put you in the right direction to those who can,” -Nancy Costa. “They ask you the same general questions and they’re able to do the same stuff to figure out what might be wrong with you,” said Harrison. The Health Centre at St. Clair’s Centre for the Arts is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room B014 in the basement.
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health & lifestyle Canadian documentary brings attention to fisheries
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Antique auction
Photo by Vanni Zhang. A Canadian documentary What Lies Below was screened on World Water Day at Lakeshore Cinema. Vanni Zhang Converged Citizen Staff As a celebration of World Water Day, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup brought What Lies Below to Lakeshore Cinemas on March 23 The Canadian documentary What Lies Below is a six-year project featuring and is written by Lawrence Gunther, a graduate from York University in environmental studies. Gunther visited and interviewed people across Canada to learn about their concerns and hopes for their local fisheries. “The goal of the movie is to inspire people to take responsibility for the rivers, the lakes and the oceans,” said Gunther. “And just say ‘hey, it’s my resource and I’m going to make sure it’s in good shape for not only my children but for seven generations down the road.’” The documentary examines the future of Canada’s wild fish stocks and the habitats they occupy that are at risk from overharvesting, habitat loss and destruction. It explores what local people are doing to ensure the future sustainability of Canada’s water and traditional fisheries. Gunther draws on his perspective to explore and share what others are not able to see taking place beneath the waves. “When I was a university student I had a job in the summer time on the East Coast of Canada.” Gunther said. “I was a cod fisherman and I fished
cod with my hand line. I did that every summer and in 1992 all the cod fishing was stopped because we caught them all. It’s been 25 years and they still haven’t come back,” said Gunther. "I thought to myself, how could we have caught all the fish? What happened to the fish? Where did the fish go? How could this happen? I wanted find out more about that. I started realizing that the people live by the water and depend on the water, depend on the fish. They were destroyed by the loss of those fish.” The documentary was screened twice on World Water Day, first to students in the morning and then to the general public. Joan Affleck was in the audience at Lakeshore Cinemas. “I expected to hear something has changed, maybe improvements to water quality or overall health of the Great Lakes systems,” said Affleck. What Lies Below has been selected to compete in the Canadian Feature Film category at the 2016 Planet in Focus Film Festival. Claire Sanders is the remedial action plan coordinator for the DRCC. “We are working towards restoring healthy fish populations,” said Sanders. “We are doing things like building fish spawning reefs for fish to come.” The documentary will be part of the International Eco Hero Awards ceremony honoring Alexandra Cousteau, a filmmaker and an environmental activist.
Photo by Kerry Mayhead Chris Paterson and Al Lucier at Willistead Manor. Kerry Mayhead Converged Citizen Staff
Windsorites turned out for a chance to buy unique one-ofa-kind pieces at Willistead Coach House’s antique auction sale held earlier this month. The Manor auctioned many collectible and antique pieces during the event from March 3 to 5. The pieces were donations from the Willistead area and other people who wanted to help. Chris Paterson, owner of When I Was Young antique
store on Wyandotte Street East, said the Willistead auction may have been the best kept secret in Windsor. “More competition means the prices go higher. They have great pieces when they have sales. The less people that come the more I can get,” said Paterson. According to Paterson, there were a lot of “little treasures” to be found, including the 1901 pump organ he bought. He attended the last auction three years ago and said, “People were lined up around the corner” to get a chance to find little treasures of their
own. Chair of Acquisitions Robert Gauthier said the auction format was changed this year to reduce the line-ups and waiting times for customers. “Everyone had a chance to get in and bid,” said Gauthier. This year’s sale was a great success according to Gauthier and by the third day, almost all of the items were purchased. The silent auction and fundraiser helped raise money for the manor's restoration fund. “It is a worthy cause and everyone feels good,” said Gauthier.
MEDIAPLEX MELTDOWN Come to phog lounge for a night of photography, comedy, artwork, live performers and a silent auction. Date: April 4 Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $5 19+
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Behind the snapshot Sreedha Varanasi Stephanie Zografos Converged Citizen Staff Lights, flashing cameras and the bustle of people pulling your hair, curling your lashes and adjusting your dress. How did you get here? What are you working for and why are you doing this? What about the story behind the snapshot? Models dedicate much of their lives to meticulously improving every aspect of themselves to remain relevant in the fashion industry, often sacrificing their physical and mental health. Outside the industry bubble, fashion may seem expressive and glamorous, but for the people on the inside it can be a whirlwind of chaos and beauty. Jamie Pfeifer is a 19-yearold model from Windsor. She worked with Supermodels America and competed in Miss Universe Canada. She has worked on many platforms within the fashion industry, including commercial shoots, runway walks and beauty pageants. Her love for the industry comes hand-inhand with acceptance of its challenges. “I know that I am not always what they are looking for,” said Pfeifer. “I am taller and not a size two and I never will be and I am okay with that. So I just accept that as it is and I try out and if that’s not good enough for them, then I just move on.” Body qualifications are to the modelling industry what skillbased resumes are to conventional 9-to-5 jobs. They are used to weed out models that are not preferred by casting agents. Pfeifer said she has been physically measured at casting calls, a common practice she says makes her uncomfortable. While size is arguably the most judged aspect of the modelling world, there is an industry standard for height with most agencies. This can restrict a model’s career, causing many talented models to never set foot on a runway. Cherisse Fernandes is a 20year-old model from Toronto who was signed with Elite
women who are muscular and flat chested and call them plus sized. There isn’t that same respect and appreciation for curvaceous women in the industry, even if they say there is.” As the general public attempts to live up to the beauty standards set by the fashion industry, models face the pressure of being the standard. The obsession with appearance has surpassed conscious decision-making and has become engrained in our everyday behaviours. Rosu-Sieza said the feeling of isolation in regards to body image issues often makes people feel like no one else has the same self-esteem issues. The universal truth about body image is that everyone, no matter the age or gender, struggles with body image. She says she sees people from all different walks of life walk through her doors seeking
Photo courtesy of Milana Radic Cherrise Fernandas poses for a photo shoot by Milana Radic
Model Management at the age of 16. Having participated in commercial and artistic shoots, her main goal now is to walk the runway. Her only setback is that she falls below the industry height requirement of 5-9”. “I’m not tall enough to go into high fashion or anything,” said Fernandes. “The comments [Elite would make] were that I was too short to pursue a serious modelling career. At the time it hurt, because it meant that I couldn't be a model or continue in this industry professionally.” Luciana Rosu-Sieza, Executive Director at Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association of Windsor, said that when it comes to trying to look a certain way, people need to understand their genetic composition. “I think there are a mix of standards,” said Rosu-Sieza.
“You hear things like slim and thick and all of these different types of terminologies where people are trying to acquire something that naturally their body is not meant to do.” Rosu-Sieza said standards are changing every year, and people are using different methods such as extreme dieting and exercise regimes to fit into the two per cent of people who achieve the ideal. The acceptance of curvier women that was prevalent in the past is returning to society now, but in a way that still distinctly separates them from standard models. The threshold for being considered a plus-sized model starts at size 8, which also is the size of the average woman according to WebMD. “Often, when they say plussized, they use women who look like the average woman,” said Fernandes. “Or they use
help. While many body image issues stem from the unrealistic standards of the fashion world, Fernandes said people involved in the industry hope to see improvements in their inclusiveness. She acknowledges there have been improvements made in regards to size discrimination, but maintains that there is still a long way to go in diversifying mainstream standards of beauty. “It’s about embracing your uniqueness,” said Fernandes. “No one else has your face...your features or your poses, no one else can copy that. It’s really about taking care of yourself. [There is] nothing wrong with clean eating, it’s self care, but you can't restrict yourself. It’s about health, not about a number. It’s about realizing your individuality.”
CONVERGED CITIZEN MARCH 31. 2017
Venom - supervillain or antihero? Cody Rusan Converged Citizen Staff The Marvel character known as Venom may be seen as a bad guy, but this is not always the case. The Marvel franchise has seen much success with its wide variety of characters, many of whom originated in Spider-Man comics. One of the more popular figures to rise from the comics first appeared in issue 300 of The Amazing Spider-Man: the character Venom. With a power making him undetectable by Spidey-sense, he was the perfect supervillain for the comics. People who read comic books throughout the 90s will know that comics had a very confusing period. In fact, the decade turned many readers away from comics. Not many of Marvel’s storylines were picking up much interest and many were goofy or just
downright awful. Any review of the decade in comics will prove such claims, but comic fans continued to purchase Spider-Man comics. It was also the first time Venom was seen as a solo character, turning him into more of an antihero than a supervillain. In the 1993 six-issue miniseries Venom: Lethal Protector, Venom and Spider-Man made an agreement to leave one another alone under the condition that Venom did not commit any crimes. In the series, the father of one of Venom’s previous victims decided to go after him with a team of superpowered mercenaries. This all led to Venom being portrayed in a horrible light on television which made Spider-Man confront Venom. Once SpiderMan reached Venom, it was made clear that Venom was not the bad guy in the situation. Spider-Man ended up fighting alongside Venom
against five new offspring of the Venom entity. Fighting alongside SpiderMan would not be the only major Venom surprise for readers. Venom also saved an underground city buried under the streets of San Francisco, making him look like a superhero rather than anything he was originally portrayed to be. Since then, Marvel has focused on the good that Venom is rather than the bad. Look for Venom on the big screen in the future as Sony Studios announced an Oct. 5, 2018 release date for its Venom spinoff film. The film will have nothing to do with the current Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it in no way will be related to the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming film. Casting and information on who will be behind the scenes for the Venom film is yet to be announced.
Celebrate 150 Minutes
Photo by Janeen Kratochvil Director and president Dann Bouzide and wife Eva display brochures from their charitable organization. Janeen Kratochvil Converged Citizen Staff Celebrate Canada with 150 minutes of art, music and food. Mark your calendars for an evening of fun. Ford City and St. Clair College are about to celebrate. The graduating students of the
public relations program at St. Clair College are honouring Canada’s 150th birthday with a free community event called 150 Minutes of Art, Music & Food. The event will feature live performances, activities and artisans. Beaver tail pastries will be sold by Midgees Café and the Optimist Club of St. Clair Beach
will provide food at a low cost. “Windsor-Essex is so tremendously talented, and this is a great way to showcase all that we have to offer,” said Rebecca Wright, journalist and public relations professor at St. Clair College. Proceeds will be donated to the Windsor Historical SocietyVeterans Memories Project. The WHSVP was established in 2002 and is dedicated to preserving and sharing treasured stories of sacrifices and victories from the experiences of veterans. “The WHS-VMP is honoured, excited and very much looking forward to attending the 150 Minutes of Art, Music & Food event,” said Dann Bouzide, director and president of the project. All are welcome to come celebrate 150 Minutes of Art, Music & Food at the Heimat Banquet Centre located on 1367 Drouillard Rd. in Windsor on April 6 from 6:30 – 9 p.m.
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Book Review
It is 1970. You are 15 years old, getting on a plane to boarding school. You say bye to your parents at the airport with no thought you won’t see them again. You board the plane. The plane takes off. But the plane does not arrive at its proper destination. The man with the gun is mean, hollering orders and your adolescent mind is confused. You don’t understand what is happening, but the truth is… you’ve been hijacked. At the age of 15, Anna often hopes that her reality is a dream, that she will wake up one day to find herself surrounded by normalcy. This is not the case though. While travelling to boarding school in England, Anna’s plane is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and lands in a Jordanian desert. The terrorists give Britain an ultimatum; either they release a member the prime minister holds captive or the plane tethered with bombs will be detonated. Four days and the decision must be made. Do the people on the plane survive? Through scorching weather, fear and homesickness, Anna is forced to find strength on her journey. One of my favourite characters in this book is, some might say, way out in left field. He is a supporting character but he helped to place the story in perspective. Jamal is a boy who is a member of the terrorist group, around Anna’s age. Anna would often converse with Jamal towards the end and asked him why he was doing this. His answer was so profound it sent chills down my spine. He talks about what happened one day when he and his brother came home from school. When I was eleven, we came home from school down the long, straight track that lead to the farmhouse. Our mother, then our father, ran out of the house. There was a burst of gunfire. They fell, face down. Dead. I dragged my brother into the long grass, and we hid till it was dark. Then we left. We never went back. Couldn’t.’ He turns toward me. “Tell me - where would you be if that had happened to you?’ He looks right at me. ‘Might you be here too? The writing was exceptional. Simple and to the point, written for any age group. Be aware though the storyline itself is a sensitive topic. Usually there are a few quirks that I do not like in a novel but I find none within this story. This fiction created from a true story is suitable for anyone. I highly recommend this novel, by far one of my unforgettables. Yours truly, Biblio Virgo
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arts & entertainment
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Book launch sends hometown author to the stars Ryan Jones Converged Citizen Staff It was a full house at Biblioasis to meet hometown author Emily Schultz last week. Schultz’ new novel Men Walking On Water was released March 20. The novel is set in the 1920s and focuses on the rum running business between border cities Detroit and Windsor. The launch took place at the bookstore March 22. Biblioasis, a local bookstore and literary press on Wyandotte Street East focuses on publishing works of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. They also sell books to satisfy the interest of any bookworm. Bookstore manager Bob Stewart, said he was pleased with the event and appreciative of donations made by Hiram Walker. “We tried new things as far as getting Hiram Walker involved. It was a good fit for the subject matter of the book. It fit their product, so they were able to chip in with some props from their archives and also some of their product,”
Photo by Ryan Jones Schultz reads aloud from her book Men Walking On Water at Biblioasis.
said Stewart. “We brought in a lot of people who had never been in the store before, which is always good to have people coming up to you and saying ‘This is the first time I’ve been here.’ We’re
pleased.” The room went silent as Schultz read a portion of her book aloud. People laughed at humorous lines and when the reading finished they lined up to get their copies signed.
Sharing her roots, Schultz said she began her career in the 1990s at the University of Windsor as a creative writing student. “I always wanted to be a writer,” said Schultz. “I think I
was about four years old when I declared to my brother Dave that I would be a writer. I think it’s because my parents were both English majors. Stories just seemed very important.” Schultz began writing her historical fiction piece in 2009 and said there were starts and stops in the process. She said she was not ready to write something of that era and wanted to do more research. Finally, the book was completed. “This was kind of based on my family history,” said Schultz. “My grandfather was a rum runner and my father was dying of lymphoma and that was his father who was a rum runner, so he was very interested in this project. After my father died I said I had to finish this.” Schultz will continue her book tour travelling across Ontario and then to Montreal, with an appearance on Breakfast T.V. A note to aspiring authors and writers from Schultz - listen to your own impulse and find what interests you.
Legend Chuck Berry Dead at 90 Joe Gibel Converged Citizen Staff "The Father of Rock 'n' Roll," has died. Chuck Berry, legendary musician and music pioneer was found Saturday at his home outside St. Louis. He was 90. With songs such as Maybellene, Johnny B. Goode and Roll over Beethoven, Berry helped redefine rhythm and blues music into the major elements that make rock and roll stand out. Berry developed a music style including many guitar solos and showmanship as well as focusing lyrics on teen lifestyle and consumerism. "Chuck came out when the guitar was not real popular, it was all ballads and teen dream pop. He came out with an electric, bluesy, rock and roll
guitar at the forefront of his songs about teenage life in the late 50's everyday life,” said South River Slim, local blues and rock musician. “It had fantastic word play and a great beat with the electric guitar all over them.” Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 18, 1926. He was inspired to pick up the guitar after singing in a high school talent show. Maybellene a rewrite of an old country tune called Ida Red was released in 1955. Within a few weeks, it had topped the R&B charts and hit No. 5 on the Billboard pop charts. Berry became an overnight star, and the hits kept coming. Berry had a rough patch starting in 1959, arrested for transporting an underage woman across state lines. He
was convicted in 1960 and was sentenced to three years, but served 20 months. In 1963 Berry's music reached a new generation when The Beach Boys reworked his song Sweet Little Sixteen into Surfin' U.S.A. The Beatles and Rolling Stones also covered his songs. This helped rejuvenate Berry's career and he responded with hits such as Nadine and No Particular Place to Go. In 1972 Berry recorded his only number one hit, My Ding-a-Ling. "I learned about Chuck through the Rolling Stones covering his songs. I have been playing his songs since I was a teenager," said Slim. Berry has earned many honour including a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and a statue dedicated to him in St. Louis.
Photo by Joe Gibel
Chuck Berry record on display at Dr Disc
Measuring up to success Garrett Fodor Converged Citizen Staff
The sport of hockey is evolving, yet there is still a notion that size makes a player. One local player is proving this stereotype and teams wrong. Listed at 5-5 and 140 lbs, Tyler Scott is skating in his fourth and final season with the Essex 73’s. The 73’s have won the PJHL Stobbs division for six straight seasons and in 2014-2015 season won the Schmalz Cup, as Ontario’s best junior ‘C’ hockey team. However the Belle River native’s career could have been a lot different. In minor hockey, if you play for a team that has an affiliation with a junior team, your rights belong to that team. Scott grew up playing Belle River minor hockey so his rights belonged to the Lakeshore Canadiens. Scott appeared in a pair of games as a AP call-up but was held pointless. “They had invited me to their tryouts then cut me for being ‘too small’ to play in the league,” said Scott. “At the time (17 years old) I was really unhappy because I knew I was capable of playing in the league.
Photo by Garrett Fodor
73’s head coach Cam Crowder said their history with the Canadiens was definitely a factor in the series and was a chip on their shoulders. “It’s huge, I think it plays into the series,” said Crowder. “They were unwanted there, we took them and they are key parts to our team. Michael Ruttinger is a great offensive threat, Ryan is our starting goalie and played great and Tyler Scott is Tyler Scott, no more explanation there.”
Scott said he was the last person to sign their rookie card that season and was told to prove himself, knowing not many people thought he deserved to be in the league because of his size. It is safe to say Scott has proved himself to all the doubters. Scott and his 73’s teammates are currently in a quarterfinal matchup against the Dorchester Dolphins. Essex is vying for their Ontario leading eighth Schmalz Cup victory.
Tyler Scott evades two Integrity Amherstburg Admirdals defenders during the 2016 season.
I asked the Belle River general manager (Mark Seguin) if I can go try out for Essex and he said sure.” While Scott did not make the 73’s in his first attempt, he said the organization treated him extremely well. The following season he tried out only for the 73’s and earned a spot on the roster. However before he could suit up for the 73’s, he would need to be released. The Canadiens released Scott without hesitation or cost, something that would come back to haunt them. Since Scott put on the
orange, black and white jerseys of the 73’s, he has been a prolific scoring force and a fan favourite among the Essex faithful. He has not let his small stature hold him back, suiting up for 245 games for the 73’s so far and tallying 269 points, putting him near the top of the team’s all-time scorers. To earn his fourth straight Stobbs division championship, Scott, along with teammates Tyler Ryan and Michael Ruttinger, would all have to face their former team, the Lakeshore Canadiens.
Photo by Garrett Fodor Tyler Scott celebrates a goal during the 2016 playoffs with teammate Luke Gesce.
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sports & & fitness fitness sports Sports round-up NHL The Detroit Red Wings travelled to the Bell Centre to take on the Montreal Canadiens on March 21. The Wings came out with a goal in the first period to take the lead 1-0 which they held for the first 40 minutes of the game. The Canadiens were able to break the shutout in the third period tying it at 1-1. The teams were unable to find the net again in regulation which sent the game to overtime where the Wings managed to slide one in, winning the game 2-1 in overtime. The Montreal Canadiens have clinched a playoff spot and are set to play the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Red Wings sit in second last place in the Eastern Conference and will not make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the New Jersey Devils on March 24. Both teams opened up scoring quickly in the first period but the Leafs managed to take the lead going into the second period, 2-1. The Devils lost their edge in the second, failing to score a goal themselves but allowing the Leafs another to bring the score to 3-1. William Nylander's first period goal, he extended his point-streak to 10 games, a new rookie franchise record for the Leafs. Auston Matthews also got two points on the night, putting him only six points from Peter Ihnacak's 66 point rookie record. Mitch Marner was also able to add his name to the Leafs rookie record book. Marner assisted on Van Riemsdyk's second period goal giving Marner 40 assists and tying him with Gus Bodnar who set the rookie record in the '43-'44 season.
NCAA March Madness The NCAA March Madness Tournament is taking place with universities across America competing against each other. There are currently 68, Division I institutions competing in this year's March Madness Tournament and teams are dwindling down as they determine who will be going to the finals. The tournament is now in its third round with 16 teams left, including the University of Michigan. Michigan played Oregon University on March 23, with Oregon pulling off a 69-68 win. Oregon moves on to the next round to play Kansas, who beat Purdue. The final game is scheduled for April 1.
MARCH 31, 2017
ONVERGED CITIZEN
Lancers overcoming odds
Garrett Fodor Converged Citizen Staff The University of Windsor men’s hockey team is proving the benefits of staying the course. The Windsor Lancers were eliminated last season in the first round of the OUA playoffs after having a mediocre .500 season. One year later they are showcasing the benefits of staying the course and not panicking. The Lancers 2016-2017 roster is made up of 42 per cent of skaters from the Windsor and Essex area. Entering this year with eight new faces on the team, expectations were tempered. That quickly changed when the Lancers held the University of Michigan Wolverines to one goal in their first game of the season. The same Wolverines team which had nine players on their roster drafted to the
NHL. Wolverines captain and Victoria B.C. native Nolan de Jong said he feels there are similarities between the Wolverines and Lancers following their Oct. 2 meeting. “The style of play is a little different,” said de Jong. “The shot blocking stands out for me. When you get to the Big Ten you see more people sacrificing the body and I think the face shield has something to do with it. The skill level is definitely there and there are guys who have played in similar leagues as us.” Fast forward to February and the Lancers ended the regular season with a 13-13-2 record, while having one of the youngest teams and also coming in under sized with the team average standing 6-0 and 183 lbs. Their road in the OUA playoffs was not going to be easy. Lancers captain Blake Blondeel said the team is used to being looked at as the underdog. “We have faced adversity all year,” said Blondeel. “It’s just a little bit more now.” The Lancers would go on to defeat Laurier and then the
Number One seeded Ryerson Rams to advance to the OUA semi-finals. In order to make to the OUA gold medal game, the sixth seeded Lancers would have to beat the Number Two York Lions. The Lancers dropped game one before traveling to York for Game Two and Three. The Lancers won Game Two 4-2 to avoid elimination but dropped Game Three 6-3, losing the best of three series. Lancers head coach Kevin Hamlin said he likes his team’s chances. “Against a team like York, McGill, Queens you can’t give your opponents opportunities, you have to play all 60 minutes,” said Hamlin. “We have been underlooked all year and this does not change it.” The Lancers faced off against McGill for OUA bronze and a chance to go to Nationals. However with the Lancers playing on the larger ice in McGill, the team struggled offensively and fell 6-3. With the loss it concluded their season, finishing fourth in the OUA after being seeded fifth in the Western conference.
Spitfires The Windsor Spitfires closed out the regular season March 18 in Saginaw at the Dow Event Center. The Spitfires scored twice in the first period and kept the Spirit to only one goal, leading 2-1. The Spitfires took the 4-2 win, and advance to the OHL playoffs to play the London Knights in the first round. The first game will be March 24 at the Budweiser Gardens. The second game will be March 26 also at the Budweiser Gardens and the third game will be March 28 at the WFCU Arena.
SPORTS SHOT OF THE WEEK
Lancers The Windsor Lancers women's basketball team played off against the McMaster Mauraders in the fight for the bronze medal on March 4 at the St. Denis Centre. The Lancers started out slow but caught their stride in the second half, winning 75-64 and taking the bronze medal for this year, adding their ninth OUA title.
PJHL (Jr. C) The Essex 73's defeated the Lakeshore Canadiens in the Stobbs Division finals of the PJHL Western Conference. They are now facing the Dorcherster Dolphins in the Western Conference finals. So far they lead the series 1-0 with a 3-2 overtime win in Game One. They are set to play March 24 in the Dorchester Rink and then on March 26 at the Essex Centre Sports Complex
Photo by Garrett Fodor Leamington forward Zach Guilbeault lays down to block Brendan Soto’s shot March 24, in Leamington’s 6-1 win over LaSalle to advance to the GOJHL West Finals.