Issue 24 Volume 50

A review of Dreams of Beans new lunch menu

Trent and Fleming sign new partnership

Electric City Gardens offers students 40% off

Trent Grads successfully start Salti Yoga!

INside:

Photograph by Hamza Khattak

It’s been a blast.

See you next year Trent!

Mauricio Interiano and Adriana Sierra receive the 2016 Jack Matthews Award.

Inside:

Volume 50 | Issue 24 | April 18, 2016

Independent Press

The Peterborough & Trent University

Contents

Volume 50 | Issue 24 | April 18, 2016

Official masthead by Jackson Creek Press 751 George Street N • Suite 104 Peterborough, ON • K9H 3T2 tel: 705-745-3535 editors@trentarthur.ca • www.trentarthur.ca

Co-Editors Arthurwriters Yumna Leghari Zara Syed

Business Manager Jenna Pilgrim

Proofreader Gurki Bhullar

Photographer Samantha Moss

Betelhem Wondimu Adriana Sierra Tyler Majer Ugyen Wangmo Troy Bordun D Keith Hodder Jordan Porter Keila MacPherson Matthew Douglas

Board of Directors Chair: Keila MacPherson

Page 3- 4: Opinion/National

Page 10- 13: Community

• • • • • •

Pg 4: Poverty in the UK

• • • • •

Pg 4:Family denied permanent residence

• Pg 13: Editor’s Picks: Dreams of Beans

Pg 3:Editorial Pg 3: Editorial Pg 3:Neoliberalism in activism Pg 4: Language of Monogamy

Page 5-8: National/Campus • • • • • •

Pg 5: The war on drugs Pg 5: UN Conference Pg 7:Trent and Fleming partnership

Pg 10: The karma of Salti Yoga Pg 11: Electric City Gardens Pg 11:Booklover’s Guide Pg 12: Unemployment in Peterborough Pg 13: Review of Soupcon

Pages 14-15: Arts

• Pg 14: Trent Film Society • Pg 14: Interview with Jill Stavely • Pg 15: Hollywood at Home: Quantum Break

Pg 8: A word on Transit from TCSA Pg 8: Mental Health on Campus Pg 9: Jack Matthews award 2016

Page 16: Listings

Letter to the editors:

Secretaries: Zachary Cox • Member at Large: Natalie Guttormsson

Contributors • Jordan Porter • Troy Bordun • Keith Hodder • Samantha Moss • Keila MacPherson • Reba Harrison • Tyler Majer • Ugyen Wangmo • Dan Morrison • D Dmuchowski •OPIRG •Betelhem Wondimu • Adriana Sierra • Ryan Newman • Alaine Spiwak • Caitlin Coe • Trent Film Society Conributors are encouraged to attend our weekly story meetings(date TBA) at the Trend Pub at Traill College, or to contact the editors if considering submitting to an upcoming issue. Our email address is editors@trentarthur.ca.

Submission guidelines Articles Articles should be submitted via email to editors@ trentarthur.ca, in the body of the message, or as an *.rtf, *.doc, *.odt, or *.txt attachment. The body should be approximately 800 words. Listings, announcements, or briefs should not exceed 100 words. Feature pieces can be up to 2000, but must be arranged in advance with the editors.

Images Images should be submitted via email, Google Drive, Dropbox, or some other filesharing site. Please save as *.tif, with a dpi of no less than 300 pixels.

Letters Limit letters to the editors to 500 words. Letters longer than 500 words may be published but Arthur reserves the right to edit for length and clarity (but not content),

Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of Arthur staff, volunteers or its Board of Directors. Contributors are encouraged to attend the story meetings or contact the Editors to discuss story ideas. All article submissions are due Thursday at noon. Letters, Listings, Classifieds, and Events are due Thursday at noon and should be sent to listings@trentarthur.ca. Advertisers are encouraged to contact advertising@trentarthur.ca for ad rates and contracts.

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www.trentarthur.ca

My article, “The cure to mental illness” was met with some mixed reactions.

I want to apologize if I offended anyone. I want to emphasize that this was just my personal perspective and not that of Active Minds or any of the members therein. I apologize for not making that clear.

I want to clarify that I do believe some people need medication - I did 12 years ago when I started mine. I also want to clarify that I do not think mental illness is anyone’s fault.

“Cure” was intended to be ironic, as in “the cure is to not cure.”

The article was intended to emphasize the importance of a community, like Active Minds, that does not try to “cure” mental illness, but embraces people’s mental illnesses, their methods of treatment and their own unique experiences exactly as they are; a community that accepts our mental illnesses instead of trying to cure them.

-Shawn Wallis

Editorial: reflecting on it all

By Yumna Leghari

Just over a year ago, I wrote my first editorial for Arthur. I was flushed with excitement, surprise, and a certain apprehension of what was to come. It’s been one hell of a ride.

In that first editorial, I wrote about how I often fantasized about being Rory Gilmore as young person. For those who aren’t familiar with who I’m talking about, Rory Gilmore is the young female protagonist looking to fulfill her dreams as a journalist in the show Gilmore Girls. *Spoiler Alert * I reflected upon Rory becoming editor of the Yale Daily News and how in some way, this is a sort of magical full circle situation, a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. Dreams do come true!

One year later, I’d like to say that Arthur Newspaper is not the Yale Daily News. You’re probably thinking, obviously, so what?

The cinematic romanticism of the Yale Daily News office is what I’m going off of here, but even looking at their actual website, it is staggering how large the team is involved in creating this paper. Now, using this publication as a contrast to Arthur, I can make some learned observations.

Yale Daily News was established in 1878.

That’s 138 years of print publication. I recall learning that Arthur was hitting its 50th year in our editorship and marvelling at the half century this paper has existed.

Over the year I have come to realize just how young this paper is, and in turn, how young Trent University is.

We do not have a bustling news room with editors for each section of the paper.

There are only two of us, and at the end of the day, it all falls on the editors to make sure the paper comes together.

Equipped with a small staff, one copy editor, and ourselves, and with a readership of thousands, Arthur is an expansive paper with little resources.

With what we have, Arthur has managed to cover major news stories from the time of the Cold War, spanning feminism through

By D Dmuchowski

It seems as if grassroots activism has recently become more popular, and more accessible than ever.

In addition to the ever-increasing number of grassroots organizations, communities have scaled down to the microcosmic level in holding each other, and themselves, accountable for oppressive language, ideas and behaviours.

In many radical communities, this extends to becoming accountable towards the food we buy (locally produced, organic, fair trade) and clothing we buy (ethically sourced and made).

While these choices may seem obvious, making socially conscious decisions can be incredibly difficult, as most of the products available are mass produced by cheap labour, not to mention expensive.

Accountability often falls disproportionately on the individual, which may be a product of neoliberal paradigms insidiously filtering into these youth activist cultures.

Liberal democracy is defined as being a political ideology and a form of government in which representative democracy operates under the principles of classical liberalism, which stresses protecting the rights of the individual.

However, it can be argued that it has become less a development of freedoms than an increasingly administered society: one of bureaucratic agencies, procedural-

the later 20th century, travelling through the October Crisis, until the present day, with the most recent political headlines such as the Paris Attacks and the Canadian elections. That’s right, This is Arthur’s second time seeing a Trudeau in power.

We are the main source of news for campus affairs and the medium for open dialogue between students and administration, and always have been.

Mary Norris, copy-editor of The New Yorker, recently stated in a Ted Talk, “Copy-editing ...is like playing shortstop for a Major League Baseball team: every little movement gets picked over by the critics -- God forbid you should commit an error.”

This statement is apt.

Every publication has a house style, and Arthur’s has evolved over the years.

With little continuity, Arthur has managed to create a certain image for itself, despite the constant shift in editorships.

Not everyone will agree with these choices, but taste is subjective.

As Morris’ Ted Talk indicates, even the most prestigious of publications fall to common human error. Thus, I am proud with what we have done with this little rag.

Zara and I have really discovered how we percieve the paper, and this vision is only going to solidify itself next year.

We love this newspaper so damn much we are here for another year. We love sleep, but we love Arthur more, so sleep can wait.

It’s been said before that this job is overwhelming, but the outcomes of this paper, the relationships built and the visions manifested are all worth the struggle.

Why climb the damn mountain if you have to descend it, over and over? Because for that one peaceful moment, you get to gaze out onto everything and bask in all its glory.

Arthur is the mountain that we climb every week, only to start at the bottom again. We love this mountain.

We are Sisyphus, but like, happier.

Although, if there was a purgatory, and that purgatory was Arthur, we’d be okay with it.

Opinion

Editorial: moving forward

By Zara Syed

As the elected editors of Volume 51, we are honoured to be a the first two editors moving forward at Arthur Newspaper together.

James Kerr, who you all might know from Trent Radio, had been present at most elections and has a knack for always asking the right questions.

Kerr asked a question at this year’s election that has given me a lot to ponder going into September. “Arthur Newspaper now has a larger staff than The Peterborough Examiner,” he said at the election, “how will you ensure that this newspaper, which is surpassing other print publications, will be taken seriously as one of the key sources of news in this community?”

That’s a heavy fact to consider, with print publication on the decline with the emergence of online news media. We are all battling our reputations, and Arthur’s one of being a student left- wing rag is something we have often discussed in the paper. To take Arthur to new heights, to be a better source of truth in the Peterborough community, these are ideas I hope to take forward in our next year of editorship.

To say we did everything right, that we got everything right, would be incredibly silly. What is more important for a leader is to admit is that you aren’t always right in the way you go about things, and to have the ability to listen to constructive criticism and ask how you can better yourself for the next stage.

So how have we showcased our vision in this last paper? Well, this year we have covered Traill College and the colleges restructuring extensively, to be left with a reflection of the impact it has had on Peterborough and downtown businesses.

We actively went out to the community to speak with business owners about the impact the Traill review might have, and were surprised to see that current decisions Trent is making is what we should have really been talking about.

In this paper we had the opportunity to

Neoliberalism in activism

ism and litigiousness. In addition to these tenants, a liberal democracy also strongly puts pressure on the individual to become increasingly self-regulating. This has interesting connotations for the individual and their relation to the state.

“The role of the individual is only able to interact with the state through their individual acts, most primarily voting… the act of voting strips the decision-making process from any intimation of social interaction or mutual accountability,” stated Jacqueline Kennelly in her essay, “Learning to Protest.”

She suggested that voting has come to represent an “economic rationality,” which views democracy as the total result of individual choices or purchases in a political marketplace.

Kennelly also argued that due to this individualization, youth activist subcultures face an incredibly heavy burden of individualized responsibility, and also guilt.

Neoliberal paradigms further instill this sense of responsibility by inundating people, through popular media, with “self perfecting” subjects of how to be healthier and happier, as if achieving these idealized, and often unattainable, states fulfills any political or ethical obligations they may feel they have.

This concept extends into activist subcultures in the form of fatigue, guilt, emotional exhaustion and never being able to “do enough,” where the belief in the individual’s lack of ability to create enough

change can result in feelings of guilt or hopelessness. Notions of what it means to be a good person in nations that occupy privileged positions within global hierarchies, and still have vestiges of Victorianera codes of charity, tend to focus on the helping of others as being one of the most commendable merits.

Kennelly suggested that burnout occurs because of this acting on the behalf of others, as opposed to self-interest. She found that those who joined activist communities out of self-interest were able to stay within movements without the same levels of emotional exhaustion.

There also appears to be a certain exclusivity of who is allowed to participate in these subcultures.

For example, those possessing the necessary social capital to produce “authorized language,” receive greater legitimacy than those who do not.

This social capital often revolves around the ability to attend institutions such as post-secondary education. In this way, the white, middle class stratum often dominates the majority of youth activism in Canada. There is also a certain code of aesthetic and demeanor in some activist communities, which is policed by its members.

The subtle expectation of consumption patterns can include second hand clothing without brands or logos and DIY fashion.

These practices speak to the idea of the “active citizen,” which emerged in the 1980’s.

This is the citizen who is not involved in

speak with downtown business owners. Jin Chanana, owner of Dreams of Beans, discussed the impact the Student Centre will have on downtown businesses. “The moment they set up private residences along the Tim Hortons, I felt it, we all felt it,” he told Arthur, “the Student Centre is going to take away more students, and further separate the culture of campus and downtown by offering chains like Starbucks. Most of the time, first years wander downtown and discover this community much later in the year. The Student Centre will only further isolate those kids, with no incentive for them to check out what cafes and alternative spaces exist where they can hang out and do homework in downtown.”

It’s true, we’re getting a Starbucks at Trent. It’s so corporate it makes me want to barf, though many will argue that this is what students wanted. Which is laughable, considering the Student Centre is infamous for the lack of votes gathered from the student population to justify building the thing.

Trent University and the Peterborough community have an interconnected relationship- this community has a huge part to play in Trent’s success, so we must ask ourselves, how are we as a University giving back to this community?

I am hopeful that having a President that revitalized a University’s presence downtown will unveil a solution as to how to bridge this ever- growing gap between our downtown and main campus.

The current state of things, in the meantime, can be given a voice in this newspaper.

Arthur can act as a bridge, as it does in this issue when asking Mark Jokinen and Toby Tylor about what things were like when Trent had an active presence downtown. We hope to support these businesses, and that you will read with great interest, and support the innovative local initiatives of this rich and vibrant community.

Thanks for reading, we will see you in Volume 51.

the political sphere, as much as becoming more attuned and active in their own selfregulation.

Kennelly astutely points out that “this is one manner in which liberalism and, more relevantly, neoliberalism has penetrated youth activist subcultures: consumption practices and what they mean for rituals of style, and struggles for belonging cannot be separated from forms of active citizenship, and has become increasingly about one’s identity as a consumer.”

This set of unspoken practices and beliefs can marginalize those who are not able to fulfill those requirements.

Ultimately, it is essential that we look critically into how the realm of politics has turned into an arena where concerns about individual behavior and identity take precedence over forms of real ethical action, which takes place at a more macrocosmic level.

While buying organic and secondhand are great practices, they are not accessible to everyone, which can exclude some from activist cultures. In addition, the focus on the individual is potentially a distraction from ethical issues that need to be addressed on larger scales.

A critical focus on the class and race structures in activist communities is essential, as is questioning how these cultures are shaped, how we operate in them and how we can reorient them towards the larger, structural issues that also need to be considered.

Volume 50 | Issue 24 | April 18, 2016

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Opinion

Column: “The Language of Monogamy”

By Troy Bordun

This column is an ongoing project. I welcome submissions from everyone and anyone. The space can be used for written texts and artistic creations on the subject of language and relationships, particularly compulsory monogamy. Written submissions can be up to 250 words and artistic creations sent in .jpg format to troybordun@trentu.ca. Past columns can be viewed at trentarthur.ca.

Authors and artists may discuss and present their personal experience(s) with compulsory monogamy or take a stab at developing new words and phrases to improve our colloquial language around

National

and about relationships. Your submission may be published under your name, a pseudonym, or anonymously.

In the absence of submissions this week, I provide another short piece.

--It was only at the beginning of my 20s that I realized something was missing from my health and sexual education. I had received the anatomical lessons in high school and experienced first-hand the pleasures and perils of young romance. Through peers, parents, and media I passively adopted the sexual and social mores of the day.

In the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, we perhaps heard a low rumbling. By the end of the decade something had bubbled to the surface. It now makes its presence felt through various means.

This column is one of them.

I mean the development and somewhat normal use of two phrases: compulsory monogamy and non-monogamy. Had I heard either of these during my upbringing – early childhood or young adulthood – hours of misunderstandings, grief, and heartbreaks could have been avoided (or at least lessened or better understood). Growing up, I knew of no alternative to compulsory monogamy (cheating or an affair is not an alternative but is, in fact, part and parcel of many monogamous relationships).

In this column my aim is to stress the importance of shifting language to better suit our practices, experiences, and needs.

My personal experience with my lack of appropriate language inhibited romantic expressions in my earlier years.

The philosopher Charles Taylor writes that our discovery of new language is one of the most wonderful parts of being human; with each new word we become more adept at understanding ourselves and social relations. Language is a toolbox for ethical behaviour.

In many ways, then, I’m envious of the younger generation. I wish I grew up with their tools. Fingers crossed for the changes to primary and high school health and sexual education.

Poverty in the UK: a real problem

By Dan Morrison

Poverty is a problem in the UK, contrary to the opinions of some. In recent years the amount of food banks rise from 50-odd to over five hundred within the last five or six years. Homelessness is rising, child poverty has been rising…though the government sought to solve this by redefining it (facepalm).

When the current government took over the UK’s economy was a shit show following the global financial crisis, so they chose austerity as their remedy. This led to cuts on sectors, but arguably fell hardest on the poorest.

First, some definitions: there is relative poverty and absolute poverty.

Relative poverty means that somebody does not have the means to live the life that most people lead, so they are excluded from activities and opportunities that the average person can enjoy.

In the UK, if your household income is 60 per cent of the median (middle number) household income, then you are defined as living in relative poverty.

Absolute poverty is a state where you cannot afford a basic standard of living, so food, shelter and clothing are beyond your means. This is not measured relative to your own population’s standard of living, but to a fixed standard.

According to Full Fact, since 1998/99 ab-

solute poverty has fallen by around 10 per cent. Before housing costs, it has reduced from 27 to 17 per cent, while after housing costs it has fallen from 31 to about 23 per cent. The latter figure is more troubling, because absolute poverty after housing costs has risen over the last 10 years, and before housing costs absolute poverty has remained the same.

Relative poverty has been falling consistently, with 2013/14 before housing costs relative poverty is the lowest since the 1980s.

Child poverty has made a lot of headlines over the last year. Enshrined in the Child Poverty Act 2010, the government has a statutory requirement to eliminate all child poverty by 2020.

Currently, there are 3.7 million children in poverty, more than a quarter of all children. “[B]y 2020/21 another one million children will be pushed into poverty as a result of the Coalition Government’s policies,” predicted Barnardo’s, a children’s charity.

Sixty-six per cent of these live in families where a person is in work.

Last year, the government sought to redefine child poverty. Its critics argued that this was the government’s attempt to fudge the statistics and eliminate child poverty by definition rather than in practice.

However, the government believed that changing the measure from family income

and financial deprivation to statistics like educational attainment and household worklessness would be more effective. In capturing the child’s life chances, so the argument goes, you more accurately capture the poverty of their upbringing.

Plans were abandoned this year due to widespread opposition. Whatever your opinion on the measure, child poverty is still rising.

Food banks are another topical issue, due to the sheer scale of the increase in use.

Last April the Trussell Trust, an organization that gives out free emergency food to those struggling, reported 19 per cent a year on yearly increases in food bank use.

In 2008-09, before the ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition, there were 29 food banks. By the end of it, the Trussell Trust was operating 445.

Forty-four per cent of 2014 referrals were the result of delays to their benefits or “stopped altogether as a result of the strict jobcentre sanctions regime,” as The Guardian wrote.

This “sanctions regime” had come under the welfare reforms imposed by the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith.

These have been seen as particularly harsh, with policies ranging from increasing sanctions for people on sickness benefit to scrapping a fund to help people living with disabilities.

In this climate, it is no surprise that homelessness has risen, too. You wouldn’t need statistics to sense this either. Maybe five years ago you could walk through the centre of Southampton and see one or two homeless people at best, now you’d be surprised if you saw only one or two.

The charity Crisis has noted some startling statistics. In 2015, the number of people that slept rough at least once, 3 569, was double the 2010 figure, according to government statistics.

“Local agencies report 7,581 people slept rough in London alone throughout 2014/15. A 16 per cent rise on the previous year, and more than double the figure of 3,673 in 2009/10.”

According to the charity, last year 112,340 people made homeless applications, a rise of 26% since 2009/10.

Raw figures are difficult to interpret and, given that the Office for National Statistics noted that in 2013, levels of UK persistent poverty were the lowest in the EU, there is an argument that these statistics could be a lot worse. Or, given the prevalence of poverty in other parts of the world, these statistics are good.

But as one of the world’s largest economies, any level of homelessness or poverty in the UK is unacceptable, enough to turn a liberal into a socialist. What’s more, the rising levels of homelessness and food bank usage are a worrying trend.

Family denied permanent residency because their child has Down Syndrome

By D Dmuchowski

4

A recent media flare brought to light the situation of the hopeful family of four that moved to Canada in hopes of starting a new life here several years ago, like many.

Felipe Montoya was offered the opportunity to fill a position as a tenured professor of environmental studies at York University, so he left his native Costa Rica in pursuit of this new start.

Their family was much like any other; a mother, father and two children. However, the Montoyas, after having made a life in Canada, were denied permanent residency because of the fact that their son, Nico, was born with an extra chromosome.

The Canadian Immigration Center (CIC) states that people living with Down syndrome have the potential to use up to five times the standard allotted resources Canadians can be expected to use per year.

www.trentarthur.ca

Canadian citizens can usually be expected to claim up to $24,030 over the course of five years. Any further home care, special education services, rehabilitation services, devices and additional services the prospective resident may require is deemed to be an excessive demand of health services, and they can be denied permanent residency on these grounds.

The rationale behind this stipulation is that in allowing immigrants with complex and costly medical conditions to receive permanent residency, the inevitable result would be increased wait times to health care for Canadian citizens as well as higher taxes.

As a result of this, the CIC determined that the Montoyas should not be permitted permanent residency in Canada.

Montoya contested the denial of permanent residency on the grounds of a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights, in

addition to the fact that he claims Nico had not been accessing any additional resources due to Down syndrome.

“We consider it to be in contradiction to the Charter for many reasons, and we think that it’s based on outdated views of so-called disabilities and that it needs to be looked at again and brought up to date,” he stated.

The Halton Down syndrome Association of Canada (HDSA) stated that the levels of daily functioning and cognitive, motor and sensory capabilities vary so widely across individuals with Down syndrome that they should be treated and considered on a case-by-case basis.

In response to this, the CIC did allow the family of the individual with Down syndrome to submit a report which outlines the expected healthcare, mobility and educational costs associated with their specific family member, as an appeal to the law

stating those with chronic, complex health needs should not be granted admission into the country.

If it is found to be within what the CIC deems to be reasonable, they may be permitted permanent residency.

These policies exist for salient reasons.

However, the government could have had the foresight to administer these medical tests which screen for suitability and medical needs before families’ settle, create lives in Canada and set their long-term plans for continued residency in this country.

Policies ensuring families are aware of the potential barriers to immigration, including medical inadmissibility, should be implemented to prevent further disruptive situations for families.

Based on this lack of lack of knowledge made available to them in terms of their options for residency, the Montoyas should have been permitted to stay.

National

“The War on Drugs”: an examination in light of the #BLM movement

By Betelhem Wondimu

The “war on drugs” is a phrase historically coined by President Nixon that resulted in the dramatic increase in the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants.

Ultimately, it was intended to put an end to the era of the ‘60s, where drugs served as a symbol of youth, youthful rebellion, social upheaval and political dissent.

The media frenzy over drugs and negative portrayal of drug users led to a drug hysteria and skyrocketing incarceration rates, with first lady Nancy Regan (in 1981) beginning a highly publicized anti-drug campaign, using the slogan “Just Say No.” Although Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton was elected on the platform of advocating for treatment instead of incarceration during his 1992 presidential campaign, after only a few months in office he reverted to continue the rhetoric of aggressive tactics that ultimately resulted in the imprisonment of drug addicts and small-time drug dealers.

Impoverished low-income Black and Hispanic communities were hit hard by such policies.

Recently, the rhetoric has been focused on recognition of addiction as an illness, advocating for policies that place an emphasis on providing treatment and less

campus

strict sentences to de-criminalization of drugs, such as marijuana.

This was due to the increase of drug addiction among mainly white middle-class and high-income households. However, the marginalized communities that have been impacted by the “war on drugs” haven’t reaped the benefits of such advocacies.

In actuality, the systemic barriers continue to prevent marginalized communities from acquiring fair services involving the police, justice system and social security and health systems.

Although the “war on drugs” rhetoric seems to be mainly American, is reflected in Canadian systems.

“Studies show that white persons in Canada are actually documented to be more likely to sell and use drugs than Black. Yet Black lives have been disproportionately represented in surveillance, drug arrests and incarceration since Brian Mulroney declared a “war” on illegal drugs in the late 1980s.

The ‘war’ on drugs has not been a metaphor for Black persons in Canada, and it is easy to see why it is referred to by so many as the ‘War on Blacks,’” read the Report of the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System.

A recent study of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) arrests of Black and white youth in Montreal found that Black “youth are seven times more

likely to be arrested for possessing or selling marijuana than white teenagers. This was found to be caused by the over-surveillance of Black youth, not by their overinvolvement in the behaviour.”

This is supported by a leaked internal police report, revealing that, “in 2006-7, at least 30-40% of all Black youth in St. Michel and Montreal-Nord had been subjected to ‘random’ identity checks, as compared to 5% of whites.”

A 2011 investigation by the Commission des droits de la personne et droits de la jeunesse Quebec found “that young Black persons had difficulty accessing public space such as parks or metros without being harassed or told to disperse.”

Similar practices in Toronto have been compared to South Africa’s apartheid-era passbook laws by Ontario criminologists and Justice Harry Laforme.

Criminalization of Black communities has led to the justification of heavy policing. Contrary to the evidence that exists in 2009, only 1.6 per cent of reported crime was related to street-gang activity.

Nonetheless, over-policing has led to the disproportionate incarceration of Black communities whereby Black individuals represent three times their percentage within the Canadian population, and Black incarceration rates have skyrocketed, having increased by 69 per cent between 2005 and 2015.

The inherent anti-Blackness and systemic de-evaluation of Black lives in Canada and the world has led to yet another Black life lost, Jean-Pierre Bony. The 47-year-old Black man was shot in the head by a rubber bullet by the tactical squad of the SPVM in Montréal-Nord.

As the Black community mourns the loss of cis-gendered Black men, it is important to remember that Black women and trans folk also face police brutality.

Amidst such atrocities, the Black Lives Matter-TO (BLM-TO) has shone a light to the systemic injustices faced by Black communities. It has essentially served as an agency for the commonly supressed Black voices across Canada.

BLM-TO has made great strides, and among its achievements are the recent coroner’s examination of Andrew Luko’s body (a South-Sudanese refugee shot and killed by the Toronto police), and the recent agreement of the Province of Ontario to having an open public meeting to discuss anti-Blackness in policing.

Despite media attacks and efforts to deter the message carried by the movement, the admirable dedication to fighting injustices and the amazing goals achieved by the movement have been recognized by fellow Torontonians.

A recent poll showed that the majority of Torontonians agree with the goals of the BLM-TO coalition.

The conference was hosted at Canada’s flagship military education institution, the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont. The Trent delegation was very outspoken with respect to refugee crises in particular.

Representing the Republic of Turkey as part of the combined Maritime Forces crisis committee at the Model UN was head delegate Sam Khaira.

Ludwine Atangana represented Spain in the committee set up to tackle refugee crises in the Middle East.

Acting as ambassador for the state of Libya, Manpreet Kenth took part in the ‘Forsaken Continent’ committee, whose task was to stabilize the African nations.

By conclusion of the conference, Libya was able to persuade member nations to pass a resolution aimed at securing its borders with infrastructure-related aid from

China and military help from the United States.

The engagement created greater understanding regarding the issues at hand and provided further insight upon the possible steps forward.

Model UN conferences engage thousands of people every year, across dozens of countries. Collectively, the conferences contribute to discussions on a larger platform.

The Trent Model United Nations Society (TMUNS) offers teaching and learning opportunities with regards to public speaking, drafts of resolutions and general tactic, in addition to appropriate dress.

TMUNS promotes the community discussions, which may one day contribute to global debate.

Amidst such atrocities, the Black Lives Matter-TO (BLM-TO) has shone a light

to the systemic injustices faced by Black communities. It has essentially served as an agency for the commonly supressed Black voices across Canada.

BLM-TO has made great strides, and among its achievements are the recent coroner’s examination of Andrew Luko’s body (a South-Sudanese refugee shot and killed by the Toronto police), and the recent agreement of the Province of Ontario to having an open public meeting to discuss anti-Blackness in policing.

Despite media attacks and efforts to deter the message carried by the movement, the admirable dedication to fighting injustices and the amazing goals achieved by the movement have been recognized by fellow Torontonians.

A recent poll showed that the majority of Torontonians agree with the goals of the BLM-TO coalition.

Role- models at the Model UN Conference

By Ryan Newman

Early in March, a Model UN Conference welcomed students from across Ontario to role-play and discuss current international affairs pertaining to war.

The mission of this conference was to engage delegates in a unique conference environment.

By effect, those involved engaged in discussion and debates, thereby generating awareness of the impact of various political mandates on the battlefield.

The conference, held between Thursday, March 3, and Sunday March 6, created dialogue on global issues.

Taking on the persona of global leaders, Trent University’s representatives participated by offering their perspectives throughout the event.

Volume 50 | Issue 24 |April 18| 2016

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Campus

Trent and Fleming bridging the gap in Environmental Studies

By Jordan Porter

On a beautiful sunny and warm April 14, Trent University and Fleming College signed a Memorandum of Understanding in an effort to bridge yet another gap between the two Peterborough-based institutions.

Trent President Dr. Leo Groarke and Fleming President Dr. Tony Tilly have both consented to the memorandum.

This will serve to foster the collaboration of teaching and research programs in environmental and natural resource studies in order to continue the two institutions current statuses as leaders in environmental research and academics.

In addition to the Trent and Fleming presidents, there was a who’s who of environmental minds in attendance for the signing.

Dr. Stephen Bocking, Trent’s Director of the School of Environment, Dr. Linda Skilton, Fleming’s Frost Campus president and dean of the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at Fleming, and Dr. Tom Whilans, a professor in Trent’s environmental resource program, among many others who are both invested and excited about this agreement.

Bocking spoke at the event.

“This agreement is an exciting step for the new Trent School of the Environment,” said Bocking.

“We have enjoyed a long and productive collaboration with Fleming College, and this agreement will be the foundation for even more opportunities for our students to benefit from the wide array of environmental and natural resource programs offered by both institutions.”

It was noted during the event that this memorandum would allow much more fluidity in the sharing of both academics and facilities for each institution. This includes faculty, and students as well.

The agreement brings the opportunity for students at both institutions a much easier pathway from Fleming to Trent, or vice versa.

This continuity will allow students to share in freedoms to attend conferences, guest speakers, community-based research projects, co-op opportunities, field camps and various workshops.

Groarke and Tilly took turns addressing a few of the benefits of the program at the signing event last Thursday.

“We are very pleased to be signing an MOU with Fleming College which will strengthen and further an important partnership,” said Groarke.

“In the university sector we are leaders in environmental study and research, as Fleming is a leader in the college sector. This agreement will combine our expertise and offerings in a way that will provide students with exceptional opportunities to pursue environmental studies and research.”

Tilly has a few words to say as well.

“Fleming College and Trent University have a longstanding relationship that goes back to the early days of each institution,” said Tilly.

“Through this agreement, we look forward to the opportunity to further advance our partnership with Trent in this sector.

Creating more seamless pathways between Fleming and Trent will ensure students receive the best of both worlds – access to hands-on education in the field, as well as theoretical knowledge.”

Excited about the merger between these two leaders in environmental sciences, Skilton spoke about how the new project collaboration will advance both Trent’s and Fleming’s already stellar reputation in the fields of environmental research and academics.

“Fleming has been a leader in environmental education for more than 40 years,” Skilton shared.

“As such, we are constantly looking for ways to continue to advance - to improve and innovate.

Expanding access for our students and faculty to new possibilities within Trent School of the Environment is an important aspect for our growth as an institution and further formalizes our existing, significant partnership with Trent.”

Trent and Fleming seem to be in constant unison on so many platforms, it only seems natural that this memorandum of understanding would come to fruition in order to advance the reputation of both schools in the fields of environmental sciences.

Volume 50 | Issue 24 |April 18| 2016

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|Double Feature|

Self Love Week

Improving your transit service, a word from the TCSA President Source: evmustang.ca

By Alaine Spiwak

Since around 2012, Trent University has charged the TCSA $60,000 a year to help pay for snow removal on campus.

Both the TCSA and Trent have not been able to find proper documentation about this snow removal fee, or proper record of any transactions taking place.

It is thought that a conversation in previous years was had about TCSA contributing to snow removal fees via our transit levy because of our Trent Express buses utilizing the roads on campus.

Upon researching this annual charge, the TCSA began conversations with Trent about the validity of the charge.

We challenged that the university should not be using student levy money to pay for services that should already be in place.

Furthermore, the TCSA transit service does not create or require any extra maintenance in regards to snow removal.

Emergency and university services vehicles, faculty, staff, students and visitors driving on our campus use the same roads and loops as our buses.

If our transit service did not exist, the same quality and amount of snow removal would be required in order for the university to function safely.

Because of this rationale, Trent has agreed to cease charging snow removal fees

to the TCSA, beginning in the 2016/2017 fiscal year.

This is fantastic news for the TCSA and Trent students! We now have $60,000 in additional funds to run our transit service.

These additional funds, combined with coming under budget this year, have left us with a projected $180,000 in surplus to spend on increased service.

We are very excited to announce that based on student feedback, the TCSA has now eliminated the exam bus schedule.

Our East and West Trent Express buses will be running on the regular MondayFriday schedule (every 10 minutes) until April 22 (our summer schedule will begin

Every Canadian is eventually affected by mental illness in their lifetime, whether it’s their own struggle or that of a loved one.

Mental health issues must be taken more seriously and addressed on a larger scale.

Depression is currently the biggest cause of death in youth, which is extremely distressing.

Mental health issues should be treated just as any other illness, because they are no different. Brain scans prove that there are differences between a “healthy” brain and those with depression, anxiety, ADHD, etc.

Telling someone “you’re not really sick, it’s all in your head,” is no different than telling someone with a visible illness that their condition is imaginary. The brain is the body’s most complex organ, and can get sick and malfunction the same as any other. This is something that must be realized when dealing with the treatment of mental health illnesses.

Those with mental health illnesses cannot control their tendencies. We cannot call those suffering from depression and anxiety selfish and attention seeking or tell them that they want to be feeling that way and could easily stop feeling the way they do.

Being told you’re being selfish for feeling things you can’t control and for wanting the pain to end isn’t ‘selfish,’ it’s simply unhealthy.

These comments make the victims feel even worse since they cannot help the way the feel. Learning to cope and change your behavior is one of the hardest things to do for someone dealing with a mental illness.

They are already doing their best to try to escape their own mind and feel like a burden to other people around them.

Negative labels only makes a person’s mental illness worse, and make them feel

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www.trentarthur.ca

like their feelings are invalidated.

Nearly five per cent of all hospital admissions are for mental health, while mental illness-related emergency department visits for youth up to age 24 increased by 45 per cent from 2006 to 2014, but only 33 per cent of those needing mental health services actually receive treatment.

Mental illness makes up about 10 per cent of the burden of disease in Canada, but it only receives seven per cent of healthcare dollars, while the United Kingdom and New Zealand dedicate between 10 to 11 per cent of public health spending on mental health care, which is a huge problem.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has called for the spending to be increased to up to nine per cent over the next 10 years, but it needs to be more than that, and it needs to be done now.

It is hard for many to reach out for help, so people should be able to get all the help they need if they ask for it, though many have to wait a month or more for appointments to see a counselor.

The number of college and university students with mental-health disabilities increased by nearly 70 per cent between 2006 and 2011, and at Trent between 2001 and 2014 there was a 135 per cent increase in students seeking counseling, as well as an increase in the severity and complexity of student mental health issues.

The increase in demand for treatment has spiked, and the healthcare system has not been able to keep up. W hile treatment can be helpful, it could be better if sessions were more frequent, meaning mental healthcare needs more attention.

At the counseling center, Trent has two full-time counselors year round, one fullyear counselor and two part-time during the school year, and with 722 students registered with the counseling center this does

not sound like a large number.

Counseling at Trent gets increasingly busy after fall reading week and counselors at Trent are dealing with crisis appointments every day. Trent is hoping to increase services at Traill College to have easier access for students living downtown, as well as attempting to add drop in counseling and hire another counselor for the school year, which is definitely a step in the right direction.

For students seeing counselors at university centers over the summer, centers may not be open for those staying behind to work or attend summer school, or have fewer counselors available.

“The counselor that I see also isn’t available during the summer, which is inconvenient since I stay in the area to work and have really relied on the service and now have to go without,” said one student.

Even if there are still counselors available, people working with ones who are unavailable may not want to work with a new one.

Another problem is that OHIP does not cover most issues dealing with mental health. They cover psychiatrists who can prescribe medication, but only to a certain degree, and medication and counseling are not covered at all, which are important to many people to deal with mental health issues.

The TCSA health benefits also only cover maximum of $40 per visit, and up to $300 per year, which is not a whole lot considering the cost of treatment.

This is a major issue, if treatment was covered to a larger extent by OHIP, it may be more accessible to more people.

Increased funding would make treatment for mental health illnesses easier to receive, when at the moment they are often put on the back burner, with many people not receiving the treatment they need.

Jack Matthews Award 2016: Mauricio Interiano and Adriana Sierra opment program, the international students and the sense of community that it has due to the size of the university.

Sierra: I stumbled upon Trent. It is small university, with undergraduate research opportunities and a strong international community.

I took the introductory course in international development studies as an elective and decided to pursue it as a double major because of its emphasis on world issues that I was familiar with from home, and because of the sense of community and academic excellence that the department offered.

By Ugyen Wangmo

April 25).

During weekends we will still be following the weekend schedule, and as usual, there will be no late night transit service during exams and throughout the summer.

All schedules are available on the TCSA website. Student feedback also asked for improvements to our summer schedule.

We are happy to announce that we have improved our summer transit service to ensure buses will consistently run every 40 minutes on the West Bank.

Thank you Trent students for providing us with your feedback, and we hope you enjoy your new and improved transit services.

Let’s talk about mental health and services on campus

By Caitlin Coe

Self Love Week

At the Peterborough hospital, I waited several hours to talk to a nurse who could not do much for me, was told it would be another few hours to see a doctor who also could not do much and I would have to see my family doctor if I wanted to start medication.

Because of my schedule and appointment schedules and wait times, I have been completely unable to receive therapy, or even get a referral for more treatment outside of Trent, in Peterborough or at home in Ottawa.

This is a common problem, with mental health issues often being put behind most other pressing health problems.

The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario mental health unit remains small even though it needs to continue to grow, and many people do not get the attention they need.

Many people get sent to the program at the Royal, which also can only accommodate so many people.

While good mental health initiatives exist, they need increasing attention and funding to be able to be more successful.

Last year 21 per cent of people going to health services at Trent went for mental health illnesses.

One in five Canadians will personally deal with a mental illness, meaning over 6.5 million Canadians deal with a mental health or substance abuse problem in their lifetime. Mental health is no joke, and it must be taken seriously to receive more attention in public health care.

Those struggling should get the treatment they deserve, and should not feel ashamed of how they feel and be scared to speak up for help if they want it.

Its high time this pressing issue was addressed properly, and that those struggling know they are not alone and that there is always hope.

Mauricio Interiano and Adriana Sierra are the two recipients of Jack Matthews Award 2016.

The Jack Matthews Award is a prestigious recognition presented to a graduating student each year at the TIP/TISA Formal Grad Gala.

“The Jack Matthews Award, which is named in honour of the legendary Canadian educator who established the Trent International Program in 1982, is awarded to a student who fulfills the values of global citizenship that Matthews represented,” said Dr. Michael Allcott, director of the Trent International Program (TIP).

A committee of students and TIP staff members choose students whose leadership and commitment to global citizenship has accomplished things on the Trent campus, community and beyond the bounds of Trent University as the recipient, based on nominations from students and Trent University staff, said Allcott.

“I have huge respect for Mauricio’s multiple leadership roles on campus, his years of work with Trent Radio and his work with [Student Association for International Development] SAID and the Community Movements conference,” commended Allcott.

“Adriana’s leadership in [Trent International Student Association] TISA, her work with multiple student organizations and in SAID have also had a huge impact on our campus,” he added.

“Her writing for Arthur and the critical and thoughtful perspective she brings to her research and discussion of every issue, especially Fairness to International Students, make her a great example of how global citizens need to be prepared to speak truth to power.”

“Both Mauricio and Adriana have developed remarkable self-confidence and humility. These are admirable qualities in leaders and global citizens.

Both of these students have my profound respect, and it was my honour to present them with the 2016 Jack Matthews Award,” stated Allcott.

In extension, Arthur took the opportunity to profile and highlight the contributions of each winning recipient that made them worthy of the honour.

Mauricio Interiano, originally from Honduras, first came to Canada six years ago through the United World Colleges scholarship for International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma at Pearson College in Victoria, BC. He continued his stay to study BA Honors in International Development and Sociology after he was offered the Jack Matthews International Full Scholarship (Pearson College of the Pacific) at Trent.

Interiano made sure he left a profound legacy here at Trent by being involved with a multitude of organizations. The following are the roles he filled at Trent: Trent Radio as Production Manager Assistant where he assisted with all aspects of running a Radio Station.

Interiano co-chaired the Student Association for International Development to organize and execute a series of educational and social events that encouraged discussions, ideas and communication for student studying international development at Trent University.

As the co-chair of the Trent Community Movements Conference he was responsible for organizing and executing a studentorganized conference that deepened communication, and promoted solidarity both locally and globally through workshops,

How do you feel winning this prestigious honour?

Interiano: I feel honoured, humbled and deeply thankful to be one of the recipients of this award. This award holds great meaning and sense of achievement to me because it comes directly from the community that I serve. Trent’s community is strong and vibrant where we all learn, grow, struggle and share together.

Sierra: Jack Matthews dedicated his life to creating a global community that celebrates diversity, and it is an honour to receive this award. I am thankful for the Trent International Program that he founded, and for the IDST department for enabling me to find my place and my voice at Trent and for the communities that they have created.

What is your biggest achievement here at Trent?

Photo by Hamza Khattak

dialogue and critical reflections on challenges in international development.

He took the leadership to engage with students in the university community, and assist new students with the transition to university life as the co-chair of the Trent University Orientation Week (2015-16).

Further, he also held the external relations position for the Trent Community Movements Conference (2014) and director of publicity with TISA (2014).

As the executive of the second largest student association at Trent, he took charge of publicity, campaigns, collaboration with other organizations and the representation of the international students at university administrative level.

Interiano expanded his involvement though roles such as, international ambassador for TIP(2013– Present), first-year representative of TISA (2013) and by participating with Living Learning Communities (2013) as a member of the Leadership and Civic Engagement community at Trent University for students who are eager to step up and make a contribution to their communities—both now and in the future.

Adriana Sierra was already deeply involved in a culturally diverse setting even before she made her journey towards Trent to take international development and environmental studies.

While in her hometown Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Sierra went to an international school called Discovery School that exposed her to a culturally diverse setting very early on.

While here at Trent, Sierra expanded her involvement at various levels.

In her first year, Sierra was the first-year representative of HOLA (Organization for Latin Awareness), and volunteered for TISA. She also performed during the annual Cultural Outreach; which was her first immersion into the international commu-

nity at Trent.

In second year, as HOLA’s president she was closely engaged with TISA and all other regional groups on campus. She became more involved with the international development studies department and student groups.

She played a huge role as a member of the organizing committee for the annual Trent Community Movements Conference. The conference is purposeful to shed light on world issues and create a space that brings together students, activists, community members and academia.

Her third year saw Sierra as the Director of Finance for TISA. She helped organize events, sat on university committees and attended Board of Governors meetings.

She volunteered for Arthur Newspaper and wrote about international student issues.

She continued her role in organizing the Community Movements Conference and also took up the responsibility of Cultural Assistant at TIP Camp (International student orientation).

Come her final year, she was the cochair of SAID, and with her team brought in a mobile exhibition of the Agha Khan Foundation, collaborated with groups like OPIRG, Council of Canadians and Sustainable Trent to host a series of events.

She then went on to continue her involvement with the Community Movements Conference as the co-chair, and as the community liaison to the World University Service of Canada (WUSC).

Her involvement was furthered as a reporter for Arthur; she covered events and issues related to the international community at Trent.

What vision of Trent beckoned you here?

Interiano: I decided to come to Trent mainly because of the international devel-

Interiano: I think everything that I have done has been significant in different ways.

Co-chairing the Trent Community Movements Conference and making it a new levy group this year is something that I feel very proud of. But also my work at Trent Radio and TISA mean a lot to me.

Sierra: My biggest achievement here at Trent has been one of personal growth. TIP and the IDST department allowed me to find my voice and have played a crucial role in enhancing my critical thinking skills, in giving me the confidence to make my voice heard (or rather read) and further instilling in me the importance of celebrating difference.

What lesson are you taking home with you, from being a part of this vibrant Trent Community?

Interiano: I have taken advantage of all the opportunities that we have here. Trent is a place where you can find yourself and build your identity. [It is] also the place where you will find friends and relationships that will be long lasting.

Sierra: From the TIP and IDST communities, I am taking with me countless memories, lasting friendships and invaluable lessons learned inside and outside the lecture hall. Most importantly, I am taking with me the sense that I have found my place.

Life after Trent?

Interiano: I am taking a gap year, before going to graduate school.

I plan to travel, volunteer and return to Honduras for a while.

Sierra: I will be traveling home for the summer to spend time with my family in Tegucigalpa.

After that I will be moving to Geneva, Switzerland in August to begin my masters in development studies, with an emphasis on sustainability at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

Volume 50 | Issue 24 | April18| 2016

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Community

The karma of Salti Yoga

Photo by Ashley Strode

By Reba Harrison

“Inhale the good shit and exhale the bad shit,” reads the upcoming shirt designed by the creators of Salti Yoga.

Peterborough’s latest yoga studio offers apparel and products essential to the lifestyle. For creators Kayla Stanistreet and Tara Meldrum, that is exactly what the yoga is: a lifestyle.

In addition to the benefits yoga holds for the body, Stanistreet and Meldrum explained the benefits of yoga for the mind and for one’s life outside of the studio.

Through cultivating awareness, the studio encourages its members to explore the healthiest version of themselves.

It is not uncommon for members of Salti Yoga to comment to Stanistreet and Meldrum about how the yoga lifestyle has been positively affecting their marriages, for example. Stanistreet describes yoga as a healthy habit that’s easy to get “hooked” on.

During classes, members practice mindfulness, which the team at Salti Yoga describes as consciously observing one’s thoughts, feelings and actions. The purpose of this is to act in reflection of oneself and lead by example in making the world a better place.

Most importantly for students, yoga can act as a healthy means of coping with and relieving stress. Furthermore, it improves the quality of sleep and cognitive functioning abilities.

Stanistreet and Meldrum are on a mission to serve the earth, and are committed to making the smallest impact possible on the environment.

They acknowledged that refraining from building a new space would be most helpful for the environment, but the business partners were passionate about creating an

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optimal venue to foster bonding in a community free of judgement.

Not absent of their passion for the environment, Stanistreet and Meldrum committed to using recycled building materials and remain mindful in keeping renovations as earth-friendly as possible.

From the various flooring to the cleaning products used, Salti Yoga takes on the most ethical options for the environment. Stanistreet herself made the adorable hooks in the women’s change room from small tree branches.

Their products are no exception. Reusable water bottles help reduce plastics and the mats are biodegradable, made from natural rubber.

Canadian-made apparel by Inner Fire and Tonic Apparel is sold in the foyer. The leggings are made in Vancouver consisting of 88 per cent polyester fibre made from recycled post-consumer drinking bottles.

Salti Yoga is going further by developing their own line of tank top designs featuring yoga puns and the studio’s logo. Niche Tees, a new Peterborough company that shares the building with Salti Yoga and other vendors, will print the tops.

It is difficult, but important, to find a balance between the business goals and the health of the earth, Stanistreet explained.

The key is to offer products and services that the team can feel good about, stand behind and believe in.

Meldrum began her journey in police foundations in London, but moved to Peterborough in 2006 for the love of her life.

Though the transition to small city Peterborough was difficult for Meldrum, the people she began to connect with made it enjoyable.

Stanistreet moved to Peterborough in

Photography by Samantha Moss

www.trentarthur.ca

Editor’s note: A special thanks to the creators of this warm and positive space that made our Self Love Week shoot possible.

2008, to study at Trent University. Originally a Kingston girl interested in International Development, Stanistreet graduated Trent with a degree in Psychology.

Opening a yoga studio in Peterborough was not a long-time plan for either Meldrum or Stanistreet. In fact, the two fell out of commitment to the lifestyle before re-discovering it through Peterborough’s Moksha Yoga studio.

It was not until Stanistreet moved downtown that her strong connections to the small city began.

After working for Moksha Yoga for nearly three years, Stanistreet and Meldrum traveled to Victoria, BC in 2012, to train as instructors.

The two worked hard for 1.5 years to prepare for this business venture before their opening party on October 23, 2015.

Stanistreet and Meldrum were happily shocked by the turnout. While some attendees were friends and family, a number of new faces were lined up outside the studio before Stanistreet and Meldrum unlocked the door.

“COME IN, WE’RE AWESOME,” reads the sign on the glass door. The downtown location is lit by day through an abundance of sunlight that pours in through the glass walls at the front of the store.

Holding up the high ceilings, the studio walls feature nature-inspired impressionist paintings by Anna Lawless.

The décor is minimalistic and utilitarian with soft colours and green plants. The foyer displays retail products.

A cozy lounge offers books to read and complimentary tea to sip on while the change rooms don white, green and wooden accents. Two studio spaces and a registered massage therapist space occupy the

rest of the building.

A variety of advanced classes are offered alongside a beginner’s class.

As the only studio in Peterborough that offers aerial yoga, it is the class that is often booked weeks in advance. On the weekend, an aerial yoga class for children is offered during a hot yoga session in the basement for the benefit of parents.

A slow and relaxing class of restorative yoga allows for meditation while Yoga Jam allows for laughter, music and strengthening of the body. Laughter is not uncommon in the studio as private parties are offered for a variety of occasions.

For new members, the studio offers a $40 intro month pass to try unlimited classes for 30 days. For those afraid of commitment, an $18 day-pass is available, as well as towel and mat rental service.

Moving forward, Salti Yoga will host a kids’ yoga camp this summer and will participate in the second annual Peterborough Yoga Festival in June. But the most exciting adventure takes place in the fall.

Currently, each Friday evening at 8p.m., Salti Yoga hosts a special class called “Karma Yoga.” For just five dollars, participants arrive to stretch and strengthen their bodies for a cause.

In the fall, Stanistreet will travel to Nicaragua to build a home for a family in need, but needs to raise $3,000 first.

She has been working closely with Change Heroes and the TECHO Campaign for this venture. Between donations from friends and family, and the five-dollar donation fee of the Karma Yoga classes, Salti Yoga has to raise less than $1,000 by the nearing deadline of May 1.

To participate or learn more, visit saltiyoga.ca or stop by the store!

Community

Electric City Gardens: a one-of-a-kind dining experience

By Zara Syed

Walking into Electric City Gardens for the first time, I felt a little like Alice entering Wonderland. The sight of the beautiful art hanging in the space and the eclectic nature of knickknacks on the tables, I was struck by what a novel idea this is; a restaurant in a house.

Twenty years ago, downtown looked pretty different, with Hot Belly Mama’s originally located on Water Street, the scene was what current day George Street looks like.

Gems that speak to everything you always wanted about that unique, holein-the-wall dining experiences still exist around there.

Electric City Gardens, located at 373 Queen St., right along Simcoe and Water Street, is the most magical place in Peterborough.

Now I haven’t been to every restaurant in Peterborough, but my first impression of Electric City Gardens was that this was going to be an experience like no other.

My photographer enjoyed my gobsmacked expression as I looked around. We were seated in the Garden Room by Julie, the Restaurant Goddess.

It’s a long, narrow sitting area that looks up to a small stage, with light streaming through colourful silks - a great area for live entertainment, which for now had a table on the stage for more seating at brunch.

Later, Samantha Moss, who introduced me to the place, said she was worried I had not said anything for several minutes. I was too absorbed in the beauty of the light illuminating the space, the decor reminding me of India.

She laughed when I finally said that I couldn’t believe that I’ve never been here.

“This is our happy place,” she told me, “and it should be yours too.”

Toby Tylor established Electric City Gardens in 1986, 30 years ago.

This passion project of having a restaurant in a house is as quirky and special as you would expect, except you’d never expect just how good the food is.

“Everything is prepared with love,” Julie explained.

“We have a lot of customers with dietary needs that Toby is only happy to accommodate. Whether it’s no oil, gluten, dairy, vegan or vegetarian, we do it and do it

Photography by Samantha Moss

gourmet,” she said.

Tylor brings not only his Cordon Bleu training to the table, but his culinary knowledge from diverse cultures where he has lived and travelled.

“I grew up in New York,” Tylor said, “I also resided in Portugal for a number of years, and I fell in love with the culture and the food there.”

The passion and flair Tylor has for food is apparent in every dish he prepares, fresh to order.

The dining experience at Electric City Gardens is unique in Peterborough, a cozy atmosphere with exposed brick, pastel pink walls and incredible art on every surface it’s the comfort of eating breakfast at home with five-star food.

Tylor takes time after the rush to emerge from the kitchen and shake everyone’s hand, asking how the meal was. To see the smiles on the faces of customers as they gush over the magnificence of their food, to me, is truly a source of feedback separate from most chain restaurants.

To describe the food will never do it justice, however, it truly is the best Eggs Benny I’ve had the pleasure of eating.

The hollandaise wasn’t heavy or overwhelming, but rich and fresh, warm and decadent, smothering perfectly-cooked large poached eggs. Slicing into the eggs achieved that sense of satisfaction one would get that can only be described by the instagram sensation: yolkporn, with golden yolk oozing all over your plate.

The English muffin it sat on squirted

butter as it was cut into, and tasted of heaven when all the flavours were combined.

Paired with a good, strong coffee and home fries, I expected to pay top dollar for a meal like this.

Shockingly, the bill came to nine dollars - with a 40 per cent discount available to all students.

Gourmet food for under $10? I couldn’t believe this was real, and that I had never heard about this place.

“Downtown Peterborough was a different place 20 years ago. This place was always busy, always full. This was a favourite spot for Trent presidents, and professors.

Often department meetings would happen here, and lots of student engagement.

When the downtown colleges were still here, it was truly a magical time,” said Tylor when I expressed my feelings about the restaurant.

“On the quality of the food, it is my belief that healthy, real food shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. We believe in fresh gourmet food, and the kind of food one would get at a high- end restaurant, that is affordable.

We’ve been here for 30 years, but not a lot of people know about us,” he continued.

I had the chance to speak with Mark Jokinen of Mark Jokinen Bookstore who was enjoying his own eggs benny. I asked him if he had an opinion on the correlation of the downtown colleges closing and it’s impact on downtown business.

“I have an opinion, if you asked me I might tell you,” he responded with a smile, a mischeivious glint in his eye.

“I find that in my personal experience, not a lot of first years know they can find all of their books used downtown. It’s a lot of upper year students who know of the secondhand bookstores downtown, but I don’t know if that’s a direct result of the colleges no longer being downtown. I lean towards thinking it has to do more with convenience of all your books being available at the Trent Bookstore on campus, and that a lot of things are online now.”

“There’s just so much people don’t know about Peterborough’s downtown that exist here.” I said to Jokinen.

“There are a lot of good things downtown, the more you’re here the more you find them,” he responded.

So this summer, take a gander at what you can find downtown. This little gem that is Electric City Gardens is so special, so tasty, that you owe it to yourself to see what Peterborough can offer in terms of a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Tell them Arthur Newspaper sent you, and try the eggs benny. I get mine with salmon.

Because of the specific hours, it is encouraged that you call for reservations.

Call 705- 749-1909 if you would like to dine there for brunch or dinner and have specific dietary requests that you can speak personally with the chef about.

ECG is also a great place to book a band and play a private function, an intimate gathering for an event of any kind.

Enjoy their fresh food at the incredible price, it could be your happy place too.

A booklover’s guide presents: Jokinen’s Books, a labour of love

By Brian Hough

Formerly located on Water Street, Mark Jokinen’s Books opened on Feb. 16, 1998, before moving to its current location on George Street.

According to Jokinen, more than 17,000 books stock its shelves, with more stashed in the basement and even more books

stashed at home.

“My background was in science, I did two degrees at Queen’s before I felt like I wanted to get away from it,” said Jokinen.

After leaving the sciences he moved to Ottawa and spent the next six to seven years working part-time in various used bookstores.

“My first used bookshop experience was in the Ottawa Scholar’s,” he explained.

Once he decided that this was what he wanted to do, he took the advice of many other booksellers he knew and decided to open up shop in Peterborough.

“There were only two bookstores at the time, Dixon’s and another, it was a growing city and a student town,” he said.

“Once you make a big decision, a lot of the little decisions become obvious…I always listened to the advice of other sellers and knew a lot coming into it,” Jokinen added.

“I was very fortunate as a small business owner [that] the shop was able to support me from almost day one.”

Describing the business, he said that sales are hard to get if only one person comes in looking for a particular book, but with many people coming in looking for

books enough sales can be made.

“Some of [the books] have been here for years. But you have to keep the book on hand because you don’t know when the right person for that book is coming in. I can’t sell it if it’s not here, [if it’s] stored in the basement or at home,” Jokinen continued.

“Each book in the shop is a decision to add it to the shop and to continue keeping it in the shop.”

For Jokinen, the biggest changes have come from the pressures of the digital world, in terms of both online retailers and e-books.

He considered selling online, but ultimately decided against it.

“There are a lot of minuses. It’s essentially a race to the bottom price-wise and the only way you can manage it is if you keep a warehouse full of inventory. To keep that kind of inventory I’d have to keep more books at home; if they’re at home they’re not here to sell in the store and if they sell online you have to go back and forth to find it and ship it. You end up with really big inventory problems unless you hire more work, but then your costs go up,” he explained.

Jokinen said having an online shop would be twice the work, since there is still the responsibility of keeping the walk-in shop open (and doing inventory for it), for half the pay and added costs.

He estimated “a book is four or five times more likely to sell in the shop than online.”

He also estimated that the average shelf life of a book in the shop is about a year and a half, while many books sold online have been sitting in warehouses for eight to ten years.

Jokinen also writes poetry and essays, and published an essay and a poem, but said he hasn’t really put much time into publishing with most of his energy being put into the shop; he continued that it will be something to pursue “when and if ” he retires, and doesn’t regret his decisions to keep the store running.

“It’s a great way of life and it fits me very well; there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. It would be very difficult for someone start out in this business now, though, a lot more difficult. I do think, though, that are still niches for bookstores like this.

“The most important thing is just getting good books. If you don’t have good books, you don’t have a shop.”

Volume 50 | Issue 24 | April 18| 2016

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community

4.3% unemployment in Peterborough: a misleading statistic

By Adriana Sierra

On April 9, the Peterborough Examiner’s local news featured a headline that read: “Peterborough’s March unemployment rate of 4.3% was lowest of Canada’s 34 census metropolitan areas.”

The Statistics Canada report that published this finding noted the drop in unemployment rate from 8.6 per cent in November to the noteworthy 4.3 per cent in March.

The drop moved Peterborough from the metropolitan area with the second highest unemployment rate to one of the areas with the lowest unemployment rates. Statistics are misleading.

This percentage says nothing of those who have left Peterborough because they could not find employment. The figure forgets to mention those that have stopped looking for a job.

The 4.3 per cent does not include those that live on minimum wage and still cannot afford rent, those that are underemployed who found no use for their hard-earned skills or those that live from the budding informal economy that thrives behind closed windows and doors.

The respectable, almost impressive statistic, 4.3 per cent, fails to explain the growing need for housing support, home-

less shelters and food banks that continue to provide services to those that the 4.3 per cent forgot to take into account.

Despite the success story that Statistics Canada reports, Peterborough’s median income from all sources continues to trail behind other similar communities in Ontario.

Of Peterborough’s population of 81,000, more than 50 per cent have annual incomes that fall below the median before-tax income and about 29,000 people have an annual income of less than $15,000.

Unemployment may be relatively low, but need is relatively high.

Forty-eight per cent of Peterborough’s renter population and 18 per cent of homeowners spend over 30 per cent of their income on housing.

This is no surprise considering that a homeowner would need a full-time job at a wage of $16 an hour in order to afford the average house.

In addition, in order to afford a twobedroom apartment, renters would need to earn at least $18 an hour and work 40 hours a week.

These figures demonstrate that merely looking at unemployment rates is not enough, as employment does not guarantee the means for subsistence.

As a result, social housing units, which

determine rent by taking into account the gross household income, have a high level of demand in Peterborough. The average waiting time to access one these units is seven years and there are approximately 1,500 people on the waiting list. The high demand for social housing units demonstrates the lack of affordable housing in Peterborough and the inadequacy of current forms of employment and existing wages.

In addition to social housing units, food banks also seek to provide a basic need.

Kawartha Food Share, for example, creates partnerships in the communities in order to provide accessible food resources to those who experience hunger and to raise public awareness on the issue. It assists 8,100 people – 10 per cenr of the total population of Peterborough.

A number of food banks exist in the Peterborough area including the Good Neighbours Care Centre, located on Sherbrooke Street, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul on Murray Street, and the Salvation Army Food Bank.

Food Not Bombs, a grass roots movement seeking to reclaim food justice, provides a community meal every Monday at Confederation Park using food that would otherwise be wasted in order to provide for those in need and cater to a diversity of Peterborough residents, including students.

Restaurant review: Soupçon

By Tyler Majer

I had eaten at Soupçon many times before officially reviewing the restaurant, so this is truly more of an awareness piece than a true review, but nevertheless.

Soup is maybe the most underrated dish.

I think soup should be up there with pizza, pasta and junk food on the comfort food scale.

However, soup seems to get overlooked for how delicious and comforting it can be.

Soupçon proves this wrong, and I highly recommend it to all students and all people looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat.

Located across from the Charlotte Mews on the corner leading into the alleyway that joins King Street, Soupçon has been open for about eight years now. “[I] wanted to do something small and simple, try to focus on something that a lot of people are doing, but something that nobody really makes a conscious effort to do well,” stated the owner, Ross.

His focus then led him into the creation, and emulation, of many types of soup. Each day between 6p.m. and 7p.m., soups are for sale.

All are made from scratch, using no pre-made bases, such as bouillon, flour, etc.

Also, there are always a few different types of bread to choose from to complement your soup choice. The beer bread is to die for, but more on that later…

The owner’s main focus seems to be of price combined with flavour.

“Soup”, he said, “is a really cool thing to do because you give people good ingredients. Give people something they haven’t tried before, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to do.”

It truly is a space that students should be more aware of. A regular soup with bread on the side is five dollars. That is less than a pint at almost every bar. Unfortunately, most students are obsessed with drinking, and these delicious restaurants take a toll.

The atmosphere is quite homey.

Looking around, you could see your grandmother or grandfather cooking up a family

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favourite in the exact space that Ross and his wife, Vanessa, operate in.

Another testament to this restaurant’s quality is the fact that you can see directly into the kitchen, and see the food being prepared and plated right before your eyes.

Furthermore, there is an alternate seating arrangement out back. A patio is located along the alleyway directly behind the restaurant.

It sits near the river, so one can enjoy their food while also listening to and watching the rushing of the Otonabee.

On the day that I attended, there were six soups on the menu. Deciding between them was hard, as each flavour truly sounded delicious.

I opted for the Pork Vindaloo with a side of their famous beer bread.

I call it famous because it seems that almost every Facebook comment left on the restaurant’s page mentioned the beer bread and its deliciousness.

After a short wait, the large bowl was placed in front of me. Big chunks of meat, vegetables and potatoes poked out of the tomato-like broth.

The first bite tasted like warmth. Warmth of the inside, and the outside. Warmth of the mind. The pork fell apart quickly and was cooked nicely, while the spices seemed to flicker on my tongue.

The beer bread was dense, cakelike and tasted amazing, containing overt hints of salt, butter and beer. Truly fantastic.

The taste of the bread and the soup lived up to the atmosphere, the expectations and the statements of the owner itself.

A variety of different cultural dishes frequent the menu, be it Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Asian, etc. There is truly something for everyone.

That is truly all there is to say. I have rambled on in almost 700 words saying what could been said so simply…It is delicious! Go there!

Finally, and funnily enough, Ross has a psychology degree from York University.

So keep that in mind, as you complete your final exams. Some of us may just end up cooking soup.

Photography by: Tyler Majer

Emergency shelters are also numerous in Peterborough. However, they can only serve a limited number of the population in need.

One of these emergency shelters is The Warming Room, which is open seven days a week throughout the winter in order to provide a warm place during the winter months.

The Warming Room has an open door policy and is run through the collaboration of staff and volunteers.

Brock Mission and Cameron House also fill a severe housing gap.

The Mission is equipped with 40 beds for the men’s shelter and has been operating for over 25 years. Cameron House provides short-term shelter for women and a life skills program.

The existence and high demand for these services demonstrates the lack of affordable housing and appropriate employment.

They tell a more accurate story than “4.3%” ever could. Where 4.3 per cent stands victorious, the sheer demand for organizations that provide food security and shelter speak for those that statistics erase.

They demand a reevaluation of the socioeconomic conditions that deny people access to the most basic services, and question the validity of unemployment statistics and all that they conceal.

community

Self Love Week

Editor’s pick: Dreams of Beans should be your go to this summer Photography by Samantha Moss

By your hungry editors

Everyone knows of Dreams of Beans, the beautiful cafe and coffee bean dispensary that sells homemade pastries such as the famous spinach and feta boureka.

This was one of our favourite study spots as students, and is still a space where we enjoy having writing dates.

The comfortable lighting, exposed brick and plentiful local artwork make for a productive and relaxing workspace. This little cafe is changing the game in coffee culture, introducing a new menu that features organic and homemade Spanish cuisine.

That’s right, authentic Spanish food, a refreshing game-changer amidst the concentrated coffee scene in Peterborough.

Jin Chanana, owner of Dreams of Beans for almost four years, discusses the new addition to this well-known cafe on Hunter Street.

“Everyone knows us for our pastries, samosas and coffees, but what we were finding was that people who came here to do work would often have to leave to eat lunch and then come back. So we now have Fresh Dreams, a local couple that prepares and serves the lunch menu,” Chanana said.

We can attest to that, having lamented over having to uproot ourselves to refuel with a meal in the midst of being in a writing groove, disrupting our workflow.

A dynamic husband and wife team, Fresh Dreams is featured at Dreams of Beans during their lunch hours 11a.m. to 3p.m.

Alvaro De La Guardia and his wife Monica Silva have been perfecting their Spanish cuisine for years, and are excited to showcase something new in Peterborough.

La Guardia is the brains behind the business and Silva is the talented chef who worked in the restaurant and catering business in Spain for many years. They have brought their knowledge of a disparate culture of food to the table.

One of the best things about the menu is the pricing. Silva and La Guardia grow their own produce from a personal vegetable garden. This allows them to surpass the high prices Canadians are currently paying for produce.

They acknowledge how it’s difficult in

the current Canadian economy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By growing their own food they are able to provide delicious, healthy and fresh meals at a much lower cost!

La Guardia expressed very poignant views on Canadian food culture.

“Food here is a necessity, not a pleasure.

People don’t take their time, and most food is processed. Fifty-two per cent of our daily food intake is supposed to be raw, but the prices are outrageous.

“In Spain...in most of Europe, we share food. Food is a community and everything is centered [on] food. We go out, we talk and we eat communally. Here, the attitude towards food is very individualistic, a very ‘this is my meal, that is your meal’ kind of sentiment exists. So, we are trying to bring some of that attitude here. We don’t mind sharing and teaching people better and healthier ways to eat.”

In fact, La Guardia happily provided us with the recipe and instructions on how to make their delicious gazpacho at home.

Silva explained the method behind her food, something different from the generic variety of food available in North American culture.

“Where we come from, when you order a meal you are given an amount of food where you can sample different things throughout. By trying something different in one meal it’s a real experience of eating and enjoyment, you get to share everything, it’s a whole other culture of food,” said Silva.

“Coming to Peterborough, there are so many foods that are deep-fried and unhealthy. I believe in making everything fresh to order, and it’s so healthy while being cheap. You actually get more food for the price, whereas other places nearby will charge far more than $8 for the exact same thing. This is the food of our family, of Spain, I made it for dinner every night just as our parents made for us,” she continued.

Each item on the menu is accompanied with the health benefits it provides, which is pretty cool if you know you need a boost in any specific vitamins. You can experience this communal and shared eating experience at Dreams Of Beans, as they offer tapas! Cafe culture in Spain is aligned with the common order of tapas,

which is a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine.

Now, on to the food! Please note, all of the following experiences were had sitting on a beautiful patio facing historical buildings on Hunter Street, enjoying the sun on our skin.

Gazpacho ($5/full order): Zesty Gazpacho, served with homemade croutons, fresh bread, and Spanish extra virgin olive oil arrived as our starter.

There is also an option to add chorizo to the mix, and if you’re a vegetarian, finely chopped bell peppers will do the trick! As we exclaimed excitedly at the taste of the cold, tomato based soup, a nearby table of girls came over and asked what we had ordered, having seen our reaction.

They ended up with the gazpacho as well and were as delighted as we were.

For the unseasonably warm weather we’re experiencing in April, the gazpacho was a beautiful way to cool down our bodies. A full order of gazpacho costs $5, but a half order is $3.50.

Pasta ($3/half order): We also had a half order of the pasta salad, which also had a surprising twist from the regular creamy salad one is accustomed to at a picnic.

Homemade sauce with a sweet twist incorporated apples and bacon to give it more depth than the traditional noodles and mayonnaise found in the general salad.

Next, we indulged in a couple of open faced sandwiches, though if you are brie lover there is a peameal and brie toast that is sure to satisfy that cheese and bread craving.

Dill Marinated Salmon ($8): The first bite hit my taste buds like the smell of the ocean at the beach. This is no ordinary sandwich. Salmon fresh from Toronto, delicate dill is infused on a secret recipe of sauce that asserts creaminess to the lemony and zesty Calabrese toast.

Escalibada ($8): For all those eggplant and zucchini junkies out there, this is a must!

Grilled fresh eggplant, zucchini, onions and sweet peppers over a tomato base gives you the satisfaction of a sandwich while remaining refreshing in this spring heat. A

sweet, secret and special sauce graciously topped the sandwich, adding to the tones of this plate. It tasted as gorgeous as it looked.

Pictured: Escalibada

So enjoy a little slice of Spain at Dreams of Beans Cafe. On a hot day, a light cool lunch is just what you might need if you’re craving something filling that won’t leave you feeling bloated and stuffed.

Silva’s catering has been featured in Elle Magazine, and she was also a finalist for the New Canadian Centre’s entrepreneurs of 2016.

Her catering can be accessed through Fresh Dreams, and she is popular for weddings with her high-end food with extraordinary quality and home-style cooking. Contact Fresh Dreams at 705558-7731, or visit them on their Facebook page if you are interested in hiring this wonderful husband and wife team.

Or if you’d like to see what we’re so excited about, visit Dreams of Beans during their lunch hours, grab a coffee and pretend you’re in Madrid, right in Peterborough.

Pictured: Alvaro De La Guardia and chef Monica Silva

Volume 50 | Issue 24| April 18| 2016

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Trent Film Society presents their final screening: The Room

By Trent Film Society

Oh hi! We here at TFS would love to send a huge thank you to all of you Peterborough citizens who have joined us for our first year as Film Society Directors.

The support from all of you has helped us make this year a fantastic one, and we are more than excited to continue screening great movies for you throughout the summer and next year (make sure to check out our Facebook group where we will be updating you about our exciting summer lineup).

Before we wrap up for the end of the school year however, we do have one more

event lined up for you all and we can promise you now that it is going the best possible way that to ring out the school year and destress over our exams.

Next Wednesday April 20, at Market Hall TFS will be screening Tommy Wiseau’s much beloved classic film The Room, complete with audience participation, snacks and trivia questions with prizes!

Now for those of you who have the misfortune of not knowing The Room, the film is arguably one of the most incompetently made and awful films of all time.

The Room, which was famously labelled “the Citizen Kane of bad movies” by Entertainment Weekly, follows the character of

Johnny (played by film director, writer and producer Tommy Wiseau), who is involved in a love triangle with his “future wife” Lisa and his best friend Mark.

From there, Wiseau takes this story down some pretty bizarre paths, such as throwing in subplots that are abandoned almost immediately after they are mentioned, characters that just show up half way through the film without any introduction and having the characters act in completely random ways, such as having them toss a football between one another in various scenes of the film for absolutely no reason at all.

Now, when we say that this film is a classic, we do not mean classic in the traditional sense.

The Room is very much an awful piece of cinema, by every meaning of the word.

The label of classic is warranted because of how bad it truly is. We are really not exaggerating when we say that it may be impossible to find a more incompetently made film than this one.

With its piss poor editing, convoluted and nonsensical story, hilariously bad acting and unbelievably bad script, it’s almost

as if the film was trying to take the reign as worst movie ever made.

It really is hard to imagine what the mindset of the entire cast and crew was during the making of this film.

But, due to all of these ineptitudes, the film ends up making for a hilarious and extremely entertaining experience, especially with a large and lively crowd. Maybe it’s the film’s self-seriousness, or the fact that it has pretty much zero redeeming qualities on a technical level, but it really does make for a hilarious movie-going experience and it would be a shame to miss watching the film with a lively and large crowd.

And, to make the screening even more exciting, we plan on utilizing the film’s infamous “audience participation” accessory.

So, bring your spoons and your footballs if you wish to participate (which, trust me, you will want to).

Again, like all of our other screenings, this one is absolutely free and it starts at 8p.m.

The film does have some mature content, so be cautious if you plan on bringing younger children. Hope to see you there!

Reconciling family life and music: a word with Jill Staveley

By Yumna Leghari

Arthur sat down with Jill Staveley, a well known musician and local figure in the Peterborough music scene. Staveley is Production Manager at Trent Radio, and has been involved in various bands such as The Burning Hell, The Staveley Project, and currently, Steelburner.

Staveley was also one of the five founding members of Rock Camp for Girls, a project that began eleven years ago and has since flourished to help young girls pick up instruments and explore the way of the jam session.

Staveley shared her insights surrounding the topic of family, motherhood, and its impact on being a touring musician.

How old were you when you got into music?

My parents met in a band. My dad is from Dublin, and my mom is from Kingston, Ontario. I grew up as a highland dancer, so there was always live band music around me, and I’ve always felt drawn to music. I really went for it in grade 7/8 when I was playing basketball and had a big injury. I really messed up my knee. At some point I basically had to give up sports and so I really got into music. As a girl, I never got the chance to be confidently in a band, because at the time it was much more of a boys world.

Would you say it was more so like that then compared to now?

Well, I feel it less now personally, because I feel like I can self advocate, but I also think it was because I was a teenager.

Do you think that young women are hesitant to pursue music?

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Sure, and this is what we do in Rock Camp for Girls. I didn’t really take music lessons as a kid, it was mostly piano lessons that were available. I hadn’t taken guitar lessons and learned my scales or had access to the equipment, so I was told I could finger pick and sing backups, or it was like vocal stuff. I feel like my voice is my first talent and primary instrument in music,

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but there is a lot of gender stereotyping of the girl as the backup vocalist type thing.

How did seeing your mothers musical career inspire you, or affect your own choice in becoming a musician?

So my mom died when I was ten, so I don’t have a huge knowledge of her as an adult, but I very much felt like becoming a parent took those opportunities from her away, because you have to decide, right? You have to stop being selfish, and as an artist, you have to be selfish to be successful.

I think you can do that in a positive way, and I’m not using selfish in a negative way... but as soon as you have dependants, selfish becomes a bad word.

My mom died in her 40s, and she was just getting to the point where she was doing her own thing again, which I see a lot of women doing at that age. I was ten, my brother was thirteen, and she was just coming out on the other side where she had more freedom. I’m sure if she hadn’t been sick, she probably would have gotten into music again.

What has that experience been like for you, as a mom?

I always knew I wanted to be a mom, so I was always ready for the time when I knew I had to put myself second. I didn’t get pregnant with Charlie until I was thirty, so anytime before that, I was like ‘I do not want to have a baby, it’s too early in my life,’ and I felt like I would be resentful, and I felt like that would just take away from what I was able to do. By the time I got pregnant, my world changed. You come to an age where you kind of have to decide if you want to be a mom. I couldn’t be a touring musician and be a mom. I wasn’t wealthy, I didn’t have the privilege of a travelling nanny, right?

What was the physical pregnancy and touring?

impact

of

I was playing shows right up to my due date with Charlie. It was amazing. I had these visions that I would be able to pump breastmilk and leave for a couple of weeks, or that I would be back on track pretty quickly. I

would watch other moms before I became a mom who hadn’t spent a weekend away from their kids, and always wondered how they could do that. How do you become so wrapped up in your motherhood? Well, that exact thing has happened to me. I have literally only slept one night away from Charlie, and she is six years old.

That was my wedding night. I was breastfeeding, and practicing attached parenting.

I wasn’t ready to leave my kids, and I also didn’t have anywhere safe to leave them, because we lived away from close family and friends. That wasn’t an option.

What was touring like after having Charlie?

It was awesome, I mean it was exhausting and a lot of accommodations had to be made. I did everything I could to try and create a non-problematic situation, keeping her quiet, and making sure I was not waking up my exhausted friends. When you have to consider a car seat, changing a diaper, and all of these other things... We couldn’t play at a bar. It was a very kind accommodation. I think it was made for me because of my friendship with Mathius, but I was never invited to tour after that. Your music also has to be a business, and it just is not functional with a baby.

I think it’s so cool that you did that.

Yeah! I don’t know how I did it. I was, like, breast-feeding while tuning my guitar.

Are your kids quite involved in your musical life now?

Charlie came to work with me, to Rock Camp, until she was about two and a half, and Meara came to work with me for a bit.

They’re both able to come to all of the Rock Camp shows, and we make sure that there are matinees that Matt (their dad) plays with Washboard Hank. We try to do stuff that they can actually be there for.

When we practice at home, we try to incorporate them so that they can participate. Charlie would make a sign or a show poster, so that they can actually see what it is that we’re doing. I’ve been going into Charlie’s class for the past couple of years

as Sister Jill, and I jam with little kids.

What’s Rock Camp For Girls all about?

When it first started I wasn’t sure why it was really needed. Why are we making it exclusive? I was stand-offish in the first year, and then I became very passionate.

This was eleven years ago. I have always had a problem understanding “girl things.”

Like girl specific activities such as “girls only open mics.” “We need a chick band to play.” “We need a chick band to play.” You know? I was like, I don’t want to be a girl, I want to be a musician. So that is what was problematic for me, in the beginning. Still, I went with it. The environment we seek to create is a hands on learning environment for girls, but that’s not an exclusive term, it’s an inclusive term; it’s like, for youth basically. We’re still trying to figure out the best language to use.

My friend was running the kitchen at Sadleir House at the time, and she had a local male musician come in to help her, while Rock Camp was on. He was the same age as some of these girls, and he stuck his head out, and all of a sudden, this environment of risk taking, turns into girls fixing their hair, and nobody willing to go onto stage.

I was like, “Oh! Now I understand why we need this space.” It’s not about creating a space that is only women, it’s about creating a space where they can gain enough skill or experience to have the confidence to take it outside. We’re encouraging musicians in our community to play, to understand the language, and the gear. I find that girls are conditioned not to be confident risk takers, in comparison to boys.

I grew up with the gender binary, but all of that stuff affected how my actual confidence developed. I think for women booking shows, your CD cover is supposed to have your picture on it, and if it doesn’t, it’s weird. Things like that are problematic.

Any final thoughts?

I feel like motherhood has totally stopped my music so I am trying to find my way back in. With my husband, trying to play less loud music, less raunchy music. So that it’s possible to play earlier shows if we go on tour, and access early shows at festivals.

Hollywood at Home: a review of Quantum Break

Hollywood at Home is a weekly column by filmmaker, writer, and critic Keith Hodder that highlights the variety of films and television programs that Netflix has to offer, along with recommendations of what to watch next and his opinions on the world of entertainment. Follow him @KeithHodder and feel free to suggest a film.

Time is broken, heralding the end of life as we know it. At least, those are the stakes that have been established in Remedy Entertainment’s Quantum Break.

Infused with the gameplay mechanics of their previous Max Payne titles and a rich story as seen in Alan Wake, Quantum Break not only offers exciting gameplay, but also an inventive and immersive story.

If you’ve read my first impressions, you’ll know that I was on the fence. The first few hours of the game are admittedly weak, but there were hints of great potential. It was roughly at the halfway mark that I felt fully immersed and engaged with the story, its characters and the amusingly haphazard sequence of events.

The story follows Jack Joyce (Shawn Ashmore), a young man invited to a laboratory by his friend Paul Serene (Aidan Gillen) who reveals to him that he has invented time travel.

An experiment is attempted, but ultimately fails, causing a fracture in time that sets the game’s events into motion and reveals the game’s villain – the future’s Paul Serene, a man who has seen the end of time and is haunted by it.

Friend suddenly turns to foe and Jack is forced to not only confront his relationship, but also the past, present and future.

The failed experiment provides a slew of characters with various abilities, including Jack, which allows players to manipulate time by slowing it, using its energy to harm enemies and to employ it as a protective shield.

And that’s just a few of the exciting possibilities.

This mechanic not only inspires some inventive gameplay tactics, granting

players with a variety of ways in which to handle a given situation, but it also affects the world around the characters in more ways than one.

In four key moments the game gives players the opportunity to make a choice.

These choices have dire consequences and not only influence for Jack, but the game’s entire cast and the sequence of events.

To make matters more interesting Quantum Break also includes four 22-minute episodes that involve supporting cast members who end up having an influence on the story. The choices made in the game also influence the television show.

In terms of graphics, and as stated in the first impressions, these are easily some of the best offered on the Xbox One and some of the best I’ve ever seen.

The 3D models resemble their real-life counterparts down to the imperfect details and all without wandering into the Uncanny Valley.

There are moments where I was unsure if I was watching the live-action television show or a cut scene from the game.

The textures of the world are also something to marvel at, and in many instances I stopped to explore and simply appreciate the world that was frozen in time around me.

If there is a weakness, it’s that the story really begins to pick up steam at the halfway mark and once the game is finished you’re dying for more.

Call it a clever cliffhanger or a marketing ploy for an eventual sequel, but when Canadian gamers are paying upwards of $80 for a new game title they should be getting their money’s worth.

Quantum Break clocks in at roughly 10 hours worth of gameplay, and five hours of that – give or take – is somewhat lackluster.

Is that enough to dissuade you? It shouldn’t be, but with that said, I’d recommend waiting until the game lowers $10 to $20 for you to feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth.

With the opportunity to explore different choices in a different play-through, players are tempted with the opportunity to play the game more than once.

There is a lot to take in with Quantum

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Break. Not only are players lured in by a surprisingly deep and well-thought out story, but each of the characters carry engaging emotional baggage that connects players to the material.

The creators have also planted a slew of narrative details throughout each of the levels to supplement the story, should players be itching for more of the nitty-gritty details. The world too is filled with details and it’s hard not to be immersed in it.

It’s evident that Remedy Entertainment has a love and passion for the video game medium and thrives on the opportunity to push themselves and the quality of their games.

It’s a pleasure to experience their creations and to dive into a full-fledged world that challenges the imagination and invites thorough interaction. Not many games and game makers like this are kicking around anymore.

A note from the author: As this is my last piece for Arthur, I’d like to thank many of you who have reached out to me about my writing and my column. It means a great deal to me.

I hope that many of you will join me on this next journey as I continue to explore a career and life as a writer and filmmaker.

Please follow me @KeithHodder. If anything else, I’ll see you at the movies.

Volume 50 | Issue 24 | April 18| 2016

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