vue weekly 846 jan 5-11 2012

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(Left-wing politics and dick jokes? We got 'em.)

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# 846 / Jan 5 – JAN 11, 2012 vueweekly.com

MUSIC: REVIEW!

Is YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION "GO BACK TO SCHOOL"? WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED >> 14

Get Ready, Get Set, SnowdayS!

Banff National Park is the cool place to be this winter – in more ways than one! Celebrate the wonders of this exciting season with SnowDays, a fun-filled month of heart pumping, mid-week activities and weekend festivals jam-packed with adventures of all kinds. So, get ready and get set because it’s always a ‘snow day’ in Banff National Park!

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LISTINGS: EVENTS /10 FILM /13 ARTS /34 MUSIC /38 CLASSIFIEDS: GENERAL /43 ADULT /44 ISSUE: 846 JAN 5 - JAN 11, 2012

Year in review

Vue hunts down some of the year's best in, well, everything.

(Like the painting featured on the cover, which was found lost and alone in a thrift store. We've given it a good home in our office now. If you know who painted it, please email us so that we can provide proper credit.)

9 11 brutally honest 38 you're born into."

46 jealous feelings

"It will probably be impossible to prevent the rise in average global temperature from exceeding 2 degrees C, which is generally agreed to be the point of no return."

"This portrait of a poor boy paid to carry around a wealthy, legless boy is a exploration of poverty in wartorn Afghanistan."

"To a maddening extent, you're stuck with the generation

"When I actually saw him 'in the moment,' I didn't have the I had always feared."

VUEWEEKLY #200, 11230 - 119 STREET, EDMONTON, AB T5G 2X3 | T: 780.426.1996 F: 780.426.2889

PRESENTS

FOUNDING EDITOR / PUBLISHER RON GARTH ................................................................................................................................................................. ron@vueweekly.com PUBLISHER ROBERT W DOULL ............................................................................................................................................. rwdoull@vueweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / MANAGING EDITOR EDEN MUNRO .......................................................................................................................................................... eden@vueweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / SALES & MARKETING MANAGER ROB LIGHTFOOT......................................................................................................................................................... rob@vueweekly.com ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR / DISH EDITOR BRYAN BIRTLES ...................................bryan@vueweekly.com NEWS EDITOR SAMANTHA POWER .................. samantha@vueweekly.com ARTS & FILM EDITOR PAUL BLINOV ....................................... paul@vueweekly.com MUSIC EDITOR EDEN MUNRO ......................................eden@vueweekly.com SNOW ZONE EDITOR KATE IRWIN ...........................................kate@vueweekly.com LISTINGS GLENYS SWITZER .......................... listings@vueweekly.com

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NAIT CoNTINuINg EduCATIoN

Great options for GettinG ahead in the new year it’s a new year – a great time to gain new skills, explore new career directions or improve your earning potential.

Emergency Management Diploma (Distance) Next intake Jan 2012

Whatever your goal, NAIT Continuing Education’s flexible part-time learning options allow you to fit classes around your personal and professional commitments.

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BusIness AccountIng, fInAnce, mArketIng, humAn resources And mAnAgement dIplomAs For a complete listing of Diplomas, year one and year two course dates and times visit www.nait.ca/ConEd yeAr one courses Communications 1 [JRSB101] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Microeconomics [JRSB110] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Macroeconomics [JRSB112] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Intro. Financial Accounting [JRSB115] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Intro. Managerial Accounting [JRSB117] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Principles of Management [JRSB120] Fee: $497 Jan 10 to Apr 17 Intro. to Finance [JRSB125] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Intro. to Marketing [JRSB130] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21 Organizational Behaviour [JRSB135] Fee: $497 Jan 7 to Apr 21

Intro. to IT [JRSB150] Fee: $497 Jan 9 to Apr 16 professIonAl desIgnAtIons certIfIcAte progrAms Canadian Payroll Management Program Fee: $450 per course Courses starting Jan 11 Financial Planning Fundamentals [PFP110] Fee: $450, Material Fee: $245 + GST Jan 17 to Mar 6 Introduction to Event Management [SEM101] Fee: $300, Material Fee: $15 + GST Jan 21 & 22 Event Plan Development and Management Strategy [SEM102] Fee: $300, Material Fee: $15 + GST Feb 4 & 5 BusIness mAnAgement certIfIcAtes Introduction to Project Management [BMCP925] Fee: $265, Material Fee: $25 + GST Jan 20 to 22 Professional Selling [BMCP920] Fee: $265, Material Fee: $25 + GST Jan 13 to 15

heAlth dIplomA progrAms Personal Fitness Trainer Diploma (Distance) Next intake Jan 2012

Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers - C [CPR100] Fee: $99 Next class intake Jan 4 Emergency Medical Responder [EMR100] Fee: $1075 Next intake Jan 24

Italian Cheese & Deli [HOS530] Fee: $125, Material Fee: $15 + GST Jan 14 Cooking New Orleans Style [HOS135] Fee: $125, Material Fee: $15 + GST Jan 28 hospItAlIty

dIgItAl medIA And It

Hospitality Law [HOS121] Fee: $510 Jan 10 to Apr 17

Communication in IT and New Media [DMIT101] Fee: $560 Jan 9 to Apr 25

Food & Beverage Service [HOS114] Fee: $550 Jan 11 to Apr 18

Digital Graphic Design Tools [DMIT102] Fee: $560 Jan 10 to Apr 26

Food & Beverage Product Knowledge [HOS128] Fee: $550 Jan 9 to Apr 23

Introduction to Flash [DMIT105] Fee: $560 Jan 9 to Apr 25

trAdes & technology

Web Design 1 [DMIT108] Fee: $560 Jan 10 to Apr 26 Essential Technical Skills [DMIT109] Fee: $195 Mar 2 to 23

hospItAlIty & culInAry Arts culInAry Kitchen Skills I through V Fee: $250 plus Material Fee $50 per course + GST Courses start Jan 17

Electrical Masters Certification [ELE30] Fee: $995 Jan 19 to Apr 19 | Mar 29 to Jun 21 Electrical Trade Basic Skills [ELE702] Fee: $940 Jan 7 to Feb 23 | Mar 6 to Apr 21 Fire Detection & Alarm Systems [ELE81] Fee: $535 Apr 14 to May 12 Geomatics (Surveying) Engineering Technology Courses Starts in January.

Advanced Cakes, Pastries and Chocolates [BAK50] Fee: $230, Material Fee: $25 + GST Jan 10 to 17 Tour of India: Basics, Essentials & Regional Cuisine [HOS316] Fee: $245, Material Fee: $50 + GST Jan 30 to Feb 3

Roadbuilders Certificate Starts in January.

Visual Welding [WLD950] Fee: $1600 Jan 9 to Mar 12 Machine Shop I [MAC101] Fee: $475 Jan 11 to Feb 15 Forklift Certification [CRP52] Fee: $185 Jan 14 First Class Journeyman to “B” Pressure [WLD227] Fee: $2015 Jan 16 to Mar 14 Finishing Your Basement – Framing [HOM10] Fee: $410 Jan 20 to 22 Finishing Your Basement 2 Electrical [HOM20] Fee: $290 Feb 4 to 5 | Apr 14 to 15 Finishing Your Basement – Painting [HOM40] Fee: $290 Apr 21 to 22 Custom Airbrushing [MM501] Fee: $365 Jan 21 to 22 Plumber Job Readiness [PIP702] Fee: $925 Jan 24 to Apr 5 Concrete Countertops [CRP330] Fee: $575 Jan 27 to 29

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VUEPOINT

BRYAN BIRTLES

GRASDAL'S VUE

// BRYAN@vueweekly.com

Top priority: equality Though 2011 was a year of upheaval around the globe, 2012 has dawned on a Canada still fundamentally and perennially unfair. Amongst news that Canada's top CEOs make as much by noon on the first day of the year as the average worker makes over the course of the next 364—nearly $45 000 in three hours work—the wealth disparity in this country continues to grow.

This disparity is spurred on by the deliberate actions of the various levels of government in this country.

Federal corporate taxes have been lowered every year for the last five— dropping from 22 percent in 2007 to 15 percent this year—but, as unemployment sits at 7.4 percent, Canadian corporations have yet to receive the memo about how to trickle down the windfall to the pockets of average workers. In fact, large reserves of cash—$583 billion Canadian and $276 billion in foreign currency—currently sit in the coffers of Canada’s corporations. Will these reserves be used to fund executive bonuses or new jobs?

History holds they will do the former.

Meanwhile, even as time runs out on oil production in Alberta—that "black gold" can't last forever, though you'd never know it the way the Progressive Conservative government continues to view "economic diversi-

fication" with the same paranoia as it does sexual diversity—the provincial government continues to lose out on potential billions in oil and gas royalties because of its sweetheart deals in the tar sands. Oil executives and oil companies get rich while the owners of the resource—Albertans—are saddled with not only the environmental impact of such a destructive oil-production method, but also the consequences of a resource-based economy that will run out of resources: no savings, no opportunity.

The low-tax, business-first mantra of governments in this country must end. Twenty years of business-first government got Canada to this point: high unemployment, a disastrous track record on the environment, a wealth gap that is at its highest level ever and growing, and ever-increasing consumer debt.

Putting people first in our democracy, treating Canadians as citizens instead of consumers, would go a long way toward restoring the sense of balance Canada sorely lacks. Increasing corporate taxes and oil royalties, using the money raised to fund education, health care and economic diversification and taking measures to raise wages of the average worker in this country ought to be Canada's New Year's resolutions. V

NewsRoundup

SAMANTHA POWER // samantha@vueweekly.com

INEQUALITY GAP GROWS After a hard morning of work this January 3, Canadian CEOs can pack up and take the rest of the year off. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Canada's top 100 CEOs earned an average income of $8.38 million in 2010, 189 times what the average Canadian made that same year. This is a 27 percent increase in the same measurement from 1998 when CEOs made 105 times the average wage.

According to data collected by the CCPA in the report "Canada's CEO Elite 100: The 0.01%" the average Canadian earned $44 366 and Ca-

CHEVRON FOUND GUILTY nadian CEOs are among the country's richest 0.01 percent whose minimum income was 1.85 million in 2007, which is above the $404 500 tax bracket they fall into. "The conclusion from these data is inescapable," says the report's author, economist Hugh Mackenzie.

"Soaring executive pay plays a significant role in driving the growth in income inequality in Canada," says Mackenzie. "The gap between Canada's CEO Elite 100 and the rest of us is growing at a fast and steady pace, with no signs of letting up."

NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION Occupy Wall Street continued it's battle to reclaim Zucotti Park this past week. Calling it a New Year's Revolution protesters returned to the park and began to take down the barricades that had been erected by police during the park eviction this past November. Associated Press reports 68 people were arrested in the attempt to retake the park.

Approximately 500 protesters had surrounded the park earlier in the evening chant-

ing "We are the 99 percent” and celebrating the New Year.

Occupy arrests continued on January 3 when six people were detained in their Brooklyn studio. The six were primarily responsible for broadcasting the livestream of the Occupy Wall Street actions. Democracy Now reports the six were arrested after resisting and refusing to leave after being given an eviction notice.

Thirty years of operating in the Ecudorian rainforest has resulted in an $18 billion fine for Chevron. The company was awarded the fine last February for the company's intentional contamination of the rainforest. This week a provincial court in Lago Agrio upheld the ruling.

The Lago Agrio plaintiffs issued a statement after the ruling saying, "The decision by an independent appellate court is yet further confirmation of Chevron's extraordinary greed and criminal misconduct in Ecuador."

It's estimated Chevron grossed $240 billion in 2011 and reported profits of $8 billion in the last quarter. "The appellate court relied on a record that proved that Chevron has violated the

rights of the communities where it operates, disrespected local laws, intimidated community leaders and judges, lied about basic evidence, tried to defraud the court with junk science, and launched an international lobbying campaign to taint the reputation of Ecuador's government for allowing its citizens to use their legally-protected right to seek accountability in their own courts."

Chevron has issued a statement calling the ruling illegitimate and has filed challenges attempting to block the fine from being enforced.

The trial ruling is the result of nearly 20 years of work by indigenous groups in the Amazon to bring Chevron to justice through the court system.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Whether it's on the environment or the economy, Peggy has shown consistently and effectively her ability to fight Harper on critical issues."

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

—Canadian actor Sarah Polley puts her support behind Peggy Nash for NDP leader.

Jan 4, 2012 cbc.ca

UP FRONT 7

NEW WORKS by S

Daffodil Postcard_NovShow_Layout 1 11-10-12 11:00 AM Page 2

COMMENT >> ALBERTA POLITICS

A different political picture A resurgence of Conservative support starts off 2012 At the beginning of 2011, Alberta's enforce the oil industry. governing Conservatives, under thenThe Liberals bled members to the new premier Ed Stelmach, were in serious Alberta Party, and pressure increased on trouble, and the opposition parties leader David Swann to resign and make were working hard to take advantage way for a leadership race which might inof the situation. ject some life into the party.

The Conservatives and the The Alberta Party was opWildrose Party were in a virtimistic after travelling the NCE province and had just held E R E tual dead heat in the polls.

F INTER vueweekly.com its first policy convention The Tories had lost two @ ricardo o MLAs to the Wildrose Party which resulted in the release Ricard ña u c A in the preceding 12 months, of the party's first policy docuand had just kicked Raj Sherman ment, and in the appointment of out of caucus for his role in exposing Sue Huff as interim leader until a leadAlberta's emergency room crisis. The ership race could be held. party was pummelled by a series of Twelve months later, the political damaging reports about the impact of picture in Alberta looks very different. the bituminous sands operations on Three of Alberta's five parties have a Alberta's water, and the complete faildifferent leader than they started the ure of the government to monitor and year with, and Dave Taylor's decision

CAL POLITI

party had hoped for, and new leader Raj Sherman is struggling simply to keep the party alive. New candidates for the Liberal party are hard to find for the next provincial election, a number of long-standing MLAs will not be running again, and the party lost one more of its members to the government benches. It is clearly a party on life-support, and the only question that seems to remain is whether the flat-line moment will come before or after the next election.

Likewise the Alberta Party, despite having elected a capable, articulate, and decently-profiled leader, is having trouble registering as anything more than a blip in provincial polls. The party leader, Hinton Mayor Glenn Taylor, al-

Interesting things are also happening on the other side of the political spectrum. The Liberal leadership race failed to generate any of the momentum the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 >>

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ly the opposite direction. Redford's success has hurt them in the polls, and the hardcore attack ads released just days after Redford lost her mother did more damage to their own popularity than to the government's. The Wildrose is working hard to paint the Conservatives as a radical-left party, but Albertans see through that, and it's doing even more damage to Smith and her party in the polls. The Wildrose is having a difficult time finding a communications strategy that will stick, and the party is running out of time before an imminent election this spring.

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to join the Alberta Party means that all five are currently represented in the Alberta Legislature.

The Conservatives have rebounded significantly since electing Alison Redford as their leader, and once again sit comfortably and alone at the top of public opinion polls in the province.

Despite a few stumbles early on in her tenure as Premier, Redford currently has a personal approval rate of around 59 percent—significantly ahead of Wildrose leader Danielle Smith's approval rate of 40 percent. The Conservative Party as a whole is still less popular than its leader, but even those numbers are climbing as members of the party's old guard announce that they will not be seeking re-election this spring.

The Wildrose Party is heading in entire-

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COMMENT >> 2011

Close to monumental

Not a turning point, but 2011 had some important moments Every year brings changes, but some We should have learned not to unyears really are turning points: 1492, derestimate people by now. The Arab 1789, 1914 and 1989, for example.

Spring is the culmination of a wave of Does 2011 belong in the august comnon-violent revolutions that started in pany of such Really Important Years?

Asia in the 1980s (Philippines, South Probably not, but it definitely qualifies Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, for membership in the list of Quite Implus failed attempts in China and Burportant Years. ma). They spread to Eastern Europe and Three big stories ran right the former Soviet Union in 1989-91, through the year, any one of ended apartheid in South Africa which would have qualified in 1994, and brought down 2011 for membership staSlobodan Milosevic in Serbia ly.com in 2000. k tus. The Arab Spring is an e e w e@vue gwynn epochal event, even if demThen there was a decadee Gwynn ocratic revolutions may fail in long gap, but now they're r e Dy some countries in the end. The back, and not just in the Arab euro crisis threatens the European world. The ruthless Burmese regime is Union with collapse and confirms the retreating from power under relentless shift of economic power from West pressure from the pro-democracy moveto East. And the struggle to prevent ment led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and even disastrous climate change was abanVladimir Putin in Moscow must suddoned for the rest of the decade. denly feel vulnerable as he watches the The name, it should be noted, is the crowds come out in Russia to demand Arab Spring, not the Muslim Spring, their country back. Non-violence works. because a majority of the world's It will even work in China eventually.

Muslims already live in countries that are democratic. But the Arab counFrom the sublime to the ridiculous. tries seemed remarkably impervious The decade-old euro, which aspired to to democracy—until it suddenly bebecome the common currency of the came clear that they weren’t.

European Union and even a rival to the The revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt US dollar, is in acute danger of collapse, and Libya were not just about elecand the efforts of European leaders to tions. They were revolts against the save it have been comical. Seventeen of arrogance and corruption of the rulthe 27 countries in the EU, including all ing elites, against poverty, against the big economies except Britain's, use the reign of fear that underpinned all the euro, but that number may drop of those regimes. But there was and sharply in the next few years. It might still is a genuine democratic idealism even drop to zero. at the heart of these revolutions, and A political project from the start, the despite all the disappointments and euro may also die of politics. The inidetours that will inevitably follow, tial idea was that a common currency something profound has changed in would bind the EU members closer tothe Arab world. gether, but it never made any sense for Similar revolutions could well suclow-productivity economies like Spain, ceed to other Arab countries in the Italy and Greece to use the same curcoming year, but in some cases they rency as high-performing economies may not even be necessary. Formerly like Germany. autocratic monarchies like Jordan and The only way it could have worked Morocco are in full retreat, hoping to was for the richer countries to subsidize safeguard their privileges by grantthe poorer countries forever (like the ing political freedoms to the people. richer regions of France or Japan subsiAnd the long and increasingly bloody dize the poorer regions). Then, provided struggle in Syria could still end in a that there was also a powerful central relatively peaceful transition to debank to stop the poorer countries from mocracy, not a civil war. borrowing too much, the whole project

might work.

Richer countries like Germany and France had no intention of subsidizing poorer ones, and they wouldn't allow a powerful central bank either, but the project went ahead anyway. The euro might have stumbled on, amid growing difficulties, for another decade—but the international financial crisis of 2008 put an end to that.

Every month of this year has seen another "crisis summit" meeting of EU leaders, but they have produced no credible solution to the euro's problems because the richer countries are still unwilling to subsidize the poorer ones.

There are three possible outcomes to this mess. One is that the poorer countries simply bail out of the euro and revive their old separate currencies, which would cause some serious bank crashes in Europe and collateral damage elsewhere. The second is that the euro as a whole collapses, causing severe damage to all the Western economies including the United States. The third is that the European Union itself fall apart.

Option one is almost certain to happen. Option two is getting more likely by the month. Option three is still relatively unlikely–which is just as well, given what a disunited Europe used to be like. But the sheer vulnerability of what are still technically the world’s most powerful economies is now plain for all to see.

The power shift from the old Atlantic world to the emerging economies of Asia was going to happen eventually in any case: the five centuries when the Europeans and their overseas kin were global top dogs are at an end. But the arrogant risk-taking, blind greed, and sheer ignorance that caused the crash of 2008 and its after-shocks are making the shift happen a lot faster.

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

R DYEIG HT

STRA

<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ready has a full-time job and has had difficulty spending the amount of time at the Alberta legislature and in front of the media that Danielle Smith and the other leaders do. The party leadership insists that organizing locally in key constituencies is going well, but a quick scan of the province makes it difficult to identify a constituency where the Alberta Party candidate could actually pull through with an upset victory. Alberta is difficult terrain for opposition parties at the best of times, and it is much more so for new parties. It will be very difficult for the Alberta Party to remain alive if it does not elect anyone to the legislature

in the next election.

Alberta's New Democrats seem to be in a very different position. It's the only party that will go into the next election with the same leader that took them into the last provincial election. The NDP is the only party that has neither lost nor gained caucus members over the course of the year. The polls show that the NDP has clearly been the beneficiary of the slow demise of the Liberal Party in the province, and is also still benefitting from the national surge of interest in New Democrats that resulted from Jack Layton's death. The NDs consistently poll ahead of the Liberals and, in a few key areas in Edmonton, is actually polling ahead of both the Conservatives and the Wildrose. The party has had an easier

And so to the really bad news. The Arctic sea ice is disappearing faster than even the pessimists feared, massive floods are devastating huge areas (Pakistan, Thailand, Australia), and sea level is rising at twice the predicted speed, but nothing will be done about it for the next 10 years. That, effectively,

was the decision—or rather, the nondecision—taken at the annual climate change summit in Durban in December.

It has been clear since the debacle at Copenhagen in 2009 that a global agreement to curb the warming was in grave trouble, but the deal in Durban may have been worse than no deal at all. The only existing agreement, the Kyoto Protocol of 15 years ago, has been extended for another five years, but it only limits the emissions of the developed countries, and even they will not be required to meet any stricter targets than those they accepted in 1997.

The emerging economies, whose emissions are growing very fast, still face no restrictions at all, although China is already the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. The target date agreed for a new, more ambitious global agreement is now 2015, but they won't even start talking about that until 2013.

And even if they do make a new deal by 2015, which is far from certain, they have already agreed that it will not go into effect until 2020.

It is not the first time that short-term self-interest has triumphed over the long-term common interest, but it may be the worst time. By 2020 it will probably be impossible to prevent the rise in average global temperature from exceeding 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F), which is generally agreed to be the point of no return. After that, we will probably find ourselves in a new world of runaway warming. We know it, and yet we do nothing.

Compared to these huge changes in world politics, the global economy, and climate policy, everything else that happened in 2011 was very small potatoes, but some of it was very interesting.

Three bad men died, two of them violently: North Korea's Kim Jong-il, Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, and al-Qaeda's founder Osama bin Laden.

An earthquake and tsunami devastated a large area of northern Japan, and the radioactive emissions from damaged nuclear reactors—about onetenth of what came out of Chernobyl in 1986—caused a global mini-panic.

But in the end, the only country that

announced a plan to shut down its reactors was Germany. (They'll burn coal instead. Oh, good.)

American troops finally left Iraq in December, still insisting that they had accomplished their mission, whatever it was. NATO deployed its air power to help the rebels win in Libya, but it isn't going to Syria. And the final shuttle flight from Cape Canaveral went into orbit in July. Dr Mike Griffin, the former head of NASA, said that "the human spaceflight program of the US will come to an end for the indefinite future"—but the Russians and the Chinese are still sending people into space, and the Indians and the Europeans are working on it.

The multinational African "peacekeeping" force that is fighting in Somalia grew dramatically in size, although that is no guarantee of success. Sudan split into two countries. And Nigeria faced a growing terrorist threat from the Islamist "Boko Haram" sect.

There were widespread riots in England in August, and the "Occupy" movement spread across the United States like measles (and went away almost as quickly). They were both really about the growing gap between the rich and the poor, but they had as little visible impact on how governments do business as anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare's televised hunger strike in India.

India probably grew faster than China this year, though the final figures are not in—and India's economy, unlike China's, is not threatened by the biggest housing bubble in the history of the world. That race, if it really is a race, may have an unexpected result, though we will have to wait a couple of decades to know for sure.

Oh, and the world’s population reached the seven billion mark in 2011.

It passed through one billion around 1800, and was still only 2 billion in 1940. Enough said. V

time finding electable high-profile candidates than either the Liberals or the Alberta Party, and appear poised to actually increase the size of the party's caucus in the upcoming election.

Had an election been called in Alberta 12 months ago we likely would have ended up with either a Wildrose government, or a Conservative minority with a Wildrose opposition, and no other party would have elected any more than one or two MLAs. As we start 2012, that outlook has changed. We will be heading into an election within the next five months, and that election is likely to result in a comfortable Conservative majority, with a small Wildrose caucus as the official opposition, and a handful of New Democrats as the third

party. Neither the Liberals nor the Alberta Party seem likely to elect anyone to the next legislature, but could pull one through depending on which current Liberal MLAs decide to run again and for which party.

In the end, 2012 will be a year which sees Alberta's political map change significantly. It will be difficult for the Wildrose Party to survive anything other than a win or a Conservative minority.

Their members and donors like being close to power, and a Conservative majority would see many of them head back to the Tories, leaving Wildrose as little more than a fringe party on the right. On the other side of the spectrum, if the Liberals and Alberta Party fail to make significant gains in this

election, they too will disappear from Alberta's political map, leaving the New Democrats as the only credible alternative left of the Tories. In other words, if Alberta politics continues on its current trajectory, by the end of 2012 we will be down to two political parties in the province: one on the centre-right and one on the centre-left.

Of course, largely anything can happen over the next twelve months. One thing, however, is for certain: 2012 promises to be another year of change and excitement in Alberta politics. V

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. His column appears each week in Vue Weekly.

Ricardo Acuña is the executive director of the Parkland Institute, a non-partisan, public policy research institute housed at the University of Alberta.

UP FRONT 9

COMMENT >> HOCKEY

Not again

This can't be happening again, can it?

Since the last In the Box Oiler update, another horrible finish. Here are some our little team has been on a continued of the other teams languishing near or freefall down the Western Conbelow the Oilers in the standference standings. With seven ings: losses and just two wins since Montréal: Fired the coach on December 15 of last year, the December 17, 2011. ly.com eweek ox@vu b team is on the way to the Carolina: Fired the coach on e th in oung & Dave Y s basement. Time to start scoutNovember 29, 2011. e tl Bir Bryan ing draft prospects? Likely.

Anaheim: Fired the coach on December 1, 2011.

Renney Watch?

Buffalo: Lindy Ruff has been behind that As of Tuesday, the Oilers are sitting bench since 1997. In NHL coaching terms, in the bottom tier of the NHL standthat's North Korean dictator-style job ings. There's still some real estate security. If he gets axed, Renney should between Edmonton and last-place start packing. DY Columbus (10 standings points) but Well, how did we get here? playoffs look like a possibility for only After an early start that had Oilers the most optimistic fans. Things will fans planning the Stanley Cup paneed to straighten out soon to avoid

IN THE

BOX

EVENTS WEEKLY FAX YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO 780.426.2889 OR EMAIL LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3pm

COMEDY Brixx Bar • 10030-102 St • 780.428.1099 • Troubadour Tuesdays with comedy and music

Ceili's • 10338-109 St • 780.426.5555 •

Comedy Night: every Tue, 9:30pm • No cover

Century Casino • 13103 Fort Rd • 780.481.9857 • Open amateur night every Thu, 7:30pm COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Enter-

tainment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Dave Stawnichy; Jan 6-7 • Brian Work; Jan 13-14

Comic Strip • Bourbon St, WEM •

780.483.5999 • Wed-Fri, Sun 8pm; Fri-Sat 10:30pm • Jr Brow; until Jan 8 • Arab Night In Canada; Jan 10 • Mike Brody; Jan 11-15

DRUID • 11606 Jasper Ave • 780.710.2119

• Comedy night open stage hosted by Lars Callieou • Every Sun, 9pm

Filthy McNasty's • 10511-82 •

780.996.1778 • Stand Up Sundays: Stand-up comedy night every Sun with a different headliner every week; 9pm; no cover

laugh shop–Sherwood Park • 4 Blackfoot Road, Sherwood Park • 780.417.9777 • laughinthepark.ca • Open Wed-Sat • Jamie Hutchinson; Jan 5-7 • Rob Balson; Jan 12-14

Leadership Candidate Kitchen Table Talks Get to know the leadership hopefuls before the March vote!

Thomas Mulcair Friday, January 6, 7:30 - 9:30 pm Strathcona Community Hall, 10139-87 Ave

Niki Ashton Tuesday, January 10, 7:15 - 9:15 pm City Arts Centre, 10943 84 Ave Presented by the Edm-Strathcona Federal NDP Riding Association.

Connect with us to stay tuned about future talks with candidates. @strathconaNDP Search for “Edmonton Strathcona Federal NDP” E: strathcona@edmontonstrathcona.ca

10 UP FRONT

rade route, we're at the point where it's not ludicrous to talk about firing the coach? That's a precipitous slide if there ever was one, and the blame falls squarely on the veterans. The kids have been lighting it up, but the veterans—excepting Ryan Smyth who has shown glimpses of his early-season self after a sojourn on the schneid— have got to pick it up: this team sorely lacks secondary scoring. BB Thin ice

The brightest headline of the Oiler season has been the play of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Now the frontrunner for a Calder Trophy is out indefinitely with a buggered shoulder.

How did this injury, which happened in Chicago, occur? RNH slipped on the ice—untouched by any Hawk— and hit the boards. You know, ice is slippery. Someone should look into that. DY

Home–Energizing Spiritual Community for Passionate Living

• Garneau/Ashbourne Assisted Living Place, 11148-84 Ave • Home: Blends music, drama, creativity and reflection on sacred texts to energize you for passionate living • Every Sun 3-5pm

Kitchen Table talk with Tom Mulcair • Strathcona Community Hall,

10139-87 Ave • Short introduction by Tom, followed by a moderated open discussion and more informal discussion over snacks • Fri, Jan 6, 7:30pm

Lotus Qigong • 780.477.0683 • Downtown • Practice group meets every Thu MEDITATION • Strathcona Library, 8331-104

St; meditationedmonton.org; Drop-in every Thu 7-8:30pm; Sherwood Park Library: Drop-in every Mon, 7-8:30pm

Northern Alberta Wood Carvers Association • Duggan

Community Hall, 3728-106 St • 780.458.6352, 780.467.6093 • nawca.ca • Meet every Wed, 6:30pm

Winspear Centre • Enmax Hall • Just for Laughs: Demetri Martin, Telling Jokes in Cold Places 2012 Tour • Jan 5, 8pm • $34.50, $41.50 at Winspear Centre

Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder (OBAD) • Grey

Groups/CLUBS/meetings

Oxfam Edmonton Potluck

Aikikai Aikido Club • 10139-87

Ave, Old Strathcona Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue 7:30-9:30pm; Thu 6-8pm

AWA 12-STEP SUPPORT GROUP

• Braeside Presbyterian Church bsmt, N. door, 6 Bernard Dr, Bishop St, Sir Winston Churchill Ave, St Albert • For adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional families • Every Mon 7:30pm

Cha Island Tea Co • 10332-81 Ave • Games Night: Board games and card games • Every Mon, 7pm Edmonton Bike Art Nights •

BikeWorks, 10047-80 Ave, back alley entrance • Art Nights • Every Wed, 6-9pm

Edmonton Inventors' Group

• The Business Link, 10160-103 St • meetup. com/inventors • Everyone wants to come up with the next million dollar idea or invention. So how do you make that happen? How much work does it take? Are there other people out there that can help? Group for inventors, innovators, entrepreneurs, ideapreneurs, intellectual property professionals, designers, engineers and other creative people • Thu, Jan 5, 6-8pm (monthly meetings)

Edmonton Needlecraft Guild • Avonmore United Church Base-

ment, 82 Ave, 79 St • edmNeedlecraftGuild. org • Classes/workshops, exhibitions, guest speakers, stitching groups for those interested in textile arts • Meet the 2nd Tue each month, 7:30pm

Fair Vote Alberta • Strathcona

Library, Community Rm (upstairs), 104 St, 84 Ave • fairvotealberta.org • Monthly meeting • 2nd Thu each month; 7pm

FOOD ADDICTS • St Luke's

Anglican Church, 8424-95 Ave • 780.465.2019/780.634.5526 • Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA), free 12-Step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating, and bulimia • Meetings every Thu, 7pm

Nuns Hospital, Rm 0651, 780.451.1755; Group meets every Thu 7-9pm • Free

• Strathcona Library, 8331-104 St • Oxfam Edmonton group potluck with guest speaker; learn how we can positively contribute to international and local food security issues • Jan 11, 6pm • Free

Sherwood Park Walking Group + 50 • Meet inside Millennium

Place, Sherwood Place • Weekly outdoor walking group; starts with a 10 min discussion, followed by a 30-40 minute walk through Centennial Park, a cool down and stretch • Every Tue, 8:30am • $2/session (goes to the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta)

Sugarswing Dance Club • Orange Hall, 10335-84 Ave or Pleasantview Hall, 10860-57 Ave • 780.604.7572 • Swing Dance at Sugar Foot Stomp: beginner lesson followed by dance every Sat, 8pm (door) at Orange Hall or Pleasantview Hall Vegetarians of Alberta •

Bonnie Doon Community Hall, 9240-93 St • vofa.ca/category/events • Monthly Potluck: Bring a vegan dish to serve 8 people, your own plate, cup, cutlery, serving spoon • $3 (member)/$5 (non-member) • Sun, Jan 8

WINTER LABYRINTH WALK • River-

dale Hall, 9231-100 Ave • Annual indoor Labyrinth Walk, drop-in event, is done in silence, and is open to all ages • Sat, Jan 7, 11am-2pm • Donation

LECTURES/Presentations Centennial Lectures • Allard

Family Lecture Theatre, Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, 87 Ave, 114 St, U of A • Why is it so difficult to keep weight off, with speakers Dr Arya Sharma and Dr Bill Colmers • Jan 16, 5-7pm

QUEER AFFIRM SUNNYBROOK–Red Deer • Sunnybrook United Church, Red Deer • 403.347.6073 • Affirm welcome LGBTQ people and their friends, family, and allies

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

Ottawa? You wanna talk about

Petty, immature and cheap shot at

Ottawa?

Calgary

Most annoying thing about Oilers broadcasts lately? The whole "Send Me to Ottawa" bits. Luckily it's over now, but never did the steam come out of my ears as fast as when a player like Ryan Whitney is front and centre on the television with sparkling graphics imploring me to vote for him to go to Ottawa for the All-Star Game. You think a team languishing in the bottom of the standings should be sending players to a game designed for "stars"?

I've taken the losses in stride, chalked them up to "rebuilding" or "learning experiences," I've seen the positives in a loss, told myself that there's a plan in place and the Oilers are executing it. But when the organization acts like there are members of its nearlylast-place team that are deserving of a spot on the All-Star team? That's when I lose it. BB

The one positive to Team Canada Juniors losing bad to Russia and getting iced out of the gold medal game? A building populated by many Calgary Flames (ick) fans got to witness the debacle. Tribal bullshit aside, the Canadian Juniors showed real spirit in the third period against the Russians.

As an Oilers fan over the past few seasons, it was a mixed blessing to watch Canada fight to come back against Russia. We really haven't seen any meaningful, must-win hockey games in far too long. Instead of "do-or-die" games, we've been witness to at least three half seasons of "already dead." DY

meet the 2nd Tue, 7pm, each month

Bisexual Women's Coffee Group • A social group for bi-curious

and bisexual women every 2nd Tue each month, 8pm • groups.yahoo.com/group/ bwedmonton

BUDDYS NITE CLUB • 11725B Jasper

Ave • 780.488.6636 • Tue with DJ Arrow Chaser, free pool all night; 9pm (door); no cover • Wed with DJ Dust’n Time; 9pm (door); no cover • Thu: Men’s Wet Underwear Contest, win prizes, hosted by Drag Queen DJ Phon3 Hom3; 9pm (door); no cover before 10pm • Fri Dance Party with DJ Arrow Chaser; 8pm (door); no cover before 10pm • Sat: Feel the rhythm with DJ Phon3 Hom3; 8pm (door); no cover before 10pm

EDMONTON PRIME TIMERS (EPT) • Unitarian Church of Edmonton,

10804-119 St • A group of older gay men who have common interests meet the 2nd Sun, 2:30pm, for a social period, short meeting and guest speaker, discussion panel or potluck supper. Special interest groups meet for other social activities throughout the month. E: edmontonpt@yahoo.ca

FLASH Night Club • 10018-105 St •

780.969.9965 • Thu Goth + Industrial Night: Indust:real Assembly with DJ Nanuck; 10pm (door); no cover • Triple Threat Fridays: DJ Thunder, Femcee DJ Eden Lixx • DJ Suco beats every Sat • E: vip@flashnightclub.com

G.L.B.T.Q Sage bowling club • 780.474.8240, E: Tuff@shaw.ca • Every Wed, 1:30-3:30pm GLBT sports and recreation

• teamedmonton.ca • Badminton, Women's Drop-In Recreational: St Vincent School, 10530-138 St; E: badminton.women@ teamedmonton.ca, every Wed 6-7:30pm, until Apr 25; $7 (drop-in fee) • Co-ed Bellydancing: bellydancing@teamedmonton.ca • Bootcamp: Garneau Elementary, 10925-87 Ave. at 7pm; bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca • Bowling: Ed's Rec Centre, West Edmonton Mall, Tue 6:45pm; bowling@ teamedmonton.ca • Curling: Granite Curling Club; 780.463.5942 • Running: Kinsmen; running@teamedmonton.ca • Spinning: MacEwan Centre, 109 Street and 104 Ave; spin@teamedmonton.ca • Swimming: NAIT pool, 11762-106 St; swimming@teamedmonton.ca • Volleyball: every Tue, 7-9pm; St. Catherine School, 10915-110 St; every Thu, 7:30-9:30pm at Amiskiwiciy Academy, 101 Airport Rd

G.L.B.T.Q Seniors Group • S.A.G.E Bldg, Craftroom, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.474.8240 • Meeting for gay seniors, and for any seniors who have gay family members and would like some guidance • Every Thu, 1-4:30pm • Info: T: Jeff Bovee 780.488.3234, E: tuff @shaw.ca Illusions Social Club • The

Junction, 10242-106 St • groups.yahoo.com/ group/edmonton_illusions • 780.387.3343 • Crossdressers meet 2nd Fri every month, 8:30pm

the junction bar • 10242-106 St • 780.756.5667 • Free pool daily 4-8pm; Taco Tue: 5-9pm; Wing Wed: 5-9pm; Wed karaoke: 9pm-12; Thu 2-4-1 burgers: 5-9pm; Fri steak night: 5-9pm; DJs Fri and Sat at 10pm LIVING POSITIVE • 404, 10408124 St • edmlivingpositive.ca •

Oiler Player of the YEAR (so far)

Taylor Hall: Goal in Buffalo; goal and assist in Chicago. DY Ladislav Smid: It seems like every time you look, Laddy's in the right place. BB 1.877.975.9448/780.488.5768 • Confidential peer support to people living with HIV • Tue, 7-9pm: Support group • Daily drop-in, peer counselling

MAKING WAVES SWIMMING CLUB • geocities.com/makingwaves_edm • Recreational/competitive swimming. Socializing after practices • Every Tue/Thu

Pride Centre of Edmonton

• Moving • 780.488.3234 • Daily: YouthSpace (Youth Drop-in): Tue-Fri: 3-7pm; Sat: 2-6:30pm; jess@pridecentreofedmonton. org • Men Talking with Pride: Support group for gay, bisexual and transgendered men to discuss current issues; Sun: 7-9pm; robwells780@hotmail.com • HIV Support Group: for people living with HIV/AIDS; 2nd Mon each month, 7-9pm; huges@shaw. ca • TTIQ: Education and support group for transgender, transsexual, intersexed and questioning people, their friends, families and allies; 2nd Tue each month, 7:309:30pm; admin@pridecentreofedmonton. org • Counselling: Free, short-term, solution-focused counselling, provided by professionally trained counsellors; every Wed, 6-9pm; admin@pridecentreofedmonton. org • Youth Movie: Every Thu, 6:30-8:30pm; jess@pridecentreofedmonton.org

PrimeTimers/sage Games

• Unitarian Church, 10804-119 St • 780.474.8240 • Every 2nd and last Fri each Month, 7-10:30pm

St Paul's United Church • 11526-76 Ave • 780.436.1555 • People of all sexual orientations are welcome • Every Sun (10am worship) WOMONSPACE • 780.482.1794 • womonspace.ca, womonspace@gmail.com • A Non-profit lesbian social organization for Edmonton and surrounding area. Monthly activities, newsletter, reduced rates included with membership. Confidentiality assured Woodys Video Bar • 11723 Jasper

Ave • 780.488.6557 • Mon: Amateur Strip Contest; prizes with Shawana • Tue: Kitchen 3-11pm • Wed: Karaoke with Tizzy 7pm1am; Kitchen 3-11pm • Thu: Free pool all night; kitchen 3-11pm • Fri: Mocho Nacho Fri: 3pm (door), kitchen open 3-11pm

SPECIAL EVENTS Arts Birthday • Ortona Armoury,

9733-102 St • Beams: welcome to the end of time with Agapersaygunexperiment, Gene Kosowan, Zombies • Sat, Jan 14, 8pm (door)

Deep Freeze • Deepfreezefest.ca • 118 Ave, betw 92 St-94 St • Byzantine Winter Festival • Jan 7-8 Ice on Whyte • End of Steel Park and Strathcona Centre Community League, Tommy Banks Way, 103 St, various locations • iceonwhyte.ca • Ice carvings; a park filled with ice slides, snow carvings; interactive children's play area. The YESS café will serve hot beverages in the heated tent; featuring live music and storytelling • Jan 12-22 Metropolis • Churchill Square

and the surrounding streets • Edmonton International Winter Festival: Featuring six free-standing, heated temporary structures made from Aluma Systems construction scaffolding covered with white shrink wrap, entertainment and fireworks at midnight • Until Feb 20 (Churchill Square)

FILM

YEAR IN REVIEW // FILM

A year in reels

A pair of Vue's film critics offer their picks for the year's best films

H

ow do we make sense of the past? What paths does memory take en route to truth, trauma or transcendence? What patterns emerge? Many of my favourite films of 2011, listed below in no particular order (though the first is first for a reason), respond to this question by contrasting the unfathomably vast with the infinitesimal, deep history with willful amnesia, the beginning and end of everything with the harrowing loss of a single life.

(Or a single mind.)

Nostalgia for the Light The central location of Patricio Guzmán's essay film is Chile's Atacama Desert, a place where mothers and widows of the disappeared scour the desert floor for traces of loved ones while astronomers search the outer reaches of the universe for ancient signs of life. Like many of Guzmán's earlier films (The Battle of Chile, Salvador Allende), the film interrogates his home country's selective erasure of unresolved past horrors while waxing nostalgic about its collective fascination with the wonders of the night sky. One of several selections on this list that never appeared on Edmonton's big screens (but is now available for viewing on various small screens), Nostalgia For the Light is eloquent, inventive, rigorous, tender, curious and immensely humane.

The Tree of Life Wildly ambitious, Terrence Malick's latest (a perfect complement to Guzmán's) pushes his large canvas/ whispered epiphany esthetic into ever more rippling, impression-flecked terrain, juxtaposing scattered moments of revelation, joy and pain from the childhoods of three Texan boys with nothing less than the origins of life on Earth. The final, mystical sequence is somewhat dubious, but I wouldn't excise a second of The Tree of Life if it meant dismantling any crucial element in this rare marriage of the spectacular with the personal.

Take Shelter On that note, Jeff Nichol's follow-up to Shotgun Stories, his impressive debut, follows the mental collapse of an Ohio labourer and family man (embodied with singular unease by Michael Shannon) whose knowledge of his possible schizophrenia has him no less convinced that he may be a prophet of the End Times. Set against an all-too recognizable contemporary landscape of economic worries and catastrophic weather, Take Shelter speaks to our moment while remaining a character study.

Carlos "Weapons," our titular terrorist seductively tells us, "are an extension of my body." Revolution turns this guy on—or is it simply the promise of spectacular violence undertaken with whatever sort of justification? Oliver Assayas' wildly ambitious, actionoriented, 333-minute biopic starring the tireless and valiant Venezuelan-born actor Édgar Ramírez, was a fascinating double-study of the abstraction of criminal celebrity and the palpability of a human body trying to merge with a mythical idea of itself.

White Material, Of Gods and Men Claire Denis' return to Cameroon finds the formidable Isabelle Huppert refusing to abandon her coffee plantation despite the escalation of a surrounding

civil war. Xavier Beauvois' latest chronicles the final days of a group of Trappist monks who resolve to remain in Algeria during the outbreak of its 1996 civil war. Both films convey a sophisticated sense of the foggy ethics of post-colonial relations and of one's sense of belonging somewhere; both use music to achieve sublime moments of lyricism. White Material is insightful, savage and sinisterly seductive, though one might argue that it too features an awkward ending, which transitions rather abruptly into the mythic, dragging its heroine along with it.

Le Havre The intermingling of Europeans and Africans is also very much at the heart of Aki Kaurismäki's latest, which, set in the titular French port city, finds an aging shoeshiner helping a boy with no documents find a safe place to rest and safe passage to London, where he hopes to be reunited with family members. Le Havre is beautifully crafted, with great narrative economy, dry wit, masterful compositions and numerous affectionate homages to French cinema to balance its dour diagnosis of French xenophobia.

Meek's Cutoff Fear of the Other is also key to Kelly Reichardt's most recent work. It's a western, albeit one giving iconoclastic attention to the everyday chores and struggles of homesteaders lost in 1860s Oregon. The film's handful of desperate families are led astray by a charismatic frontiersman and are ultimately confronted with the possibility that the dreaded Indian captive they're travelling with may be their sole hope for survival. Blending classicism with quietude, Meek's Cutoff ensures Reichardt's place within the finest American filmmakers of cinema's second century.

Certified Copy Another filmmaker in transition: Abbas Kiarostami strays from his native Iran to make a film with a French star (Juliette Binoche, brilliant) and an English opera singer in Italy; the result is very much a Kiarostami film, riddled with a compelling balance of ambiguity and complex emotional/philosophical truths. An author on tour in Tuscany takes a drive with an antique store owner. They discuss the notion of how we place value on the real thing versus the fake, or originals versus copies, of how we invest things with authenticity, and soon we're unsure about the reality of the relationship we're watching develop. Did they just meet, or are they in fact an estranged couple? All that matters is the immense resonance of their ongoing questions, grievances and longings.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams Werner Herzog's documentary takes us into France's Chauvet Cave and offers glimpses of the modern artistic soul already alive and well in Stone Age man. Herzog's focus remains firmly on people—souls, if you will—who provide us with illuminating, strange and diverse testaments to the irrepressible drive to survive and create. Not a bad way to finish off a tumultuous year.

Josef Braun // josef@vueweekly.com

I

n 2011, film's best turned inwards. Such slowboiling considerations could've come off as philosophical treatises titled "Of ... ", but grandly cinematic little things—spectral mood, rigorous framing, hypnotic tracking—made these 11 quietly profound.

OF MEN AND GOD Of Gods and Men Faith and endurance amid extremism. Xavier Beauvois' tender restraint—especially in the eerily merciful finale—elevates this film, about terrorists threatening eight French monks in an Algerian town, to one of profound introspection in the face of incomprehensible violence.

The Tree of Life A wonder for its sense of childhood—when rebelliousness, yearning and curiosity are animalistic. Such curiosity's reflected in the searching, moving camera, with cosmic wandering and wondering rooted in a boy's struggle with his strict father in '50s Texas.

OF ART AND FILM Certified Copy A wisp of a romantic comedy doubling as a study of imitation, replication, and the echoing of art in life. In Tuscany, a couple—for a day, or married 15 years?—engage in both a parody of and homage to marriage. This hall of meta-mirrors opens up the bright space of the real world.

Hugo Cinema's origins as adventure-story. A snowglobe sense of '30s Paris epitomizes how film, through beautiful artifice, preserves a time and space. Gears, sprockets, bodies and dreams hum; Martin Scorsese steams into the spirit of an art imagined by humans but brought to life by machines.

OF BOY-TO-MANHOOD Submarine A wry, sly pinballing through the self-centredness and arrogant naïvete of 15-year-old Oliver Tate, a hyperarticulate Welsh spin on the French New Wave. Yet an undertow of awkwardness and fearfulness nearly pulls him, and us, into the dark blues of adolescence.

NEDS [Non-Educated Delinquents] A glare at '70s Glasgow ganglife shadowing one lad, John McGill (Conor McCarron, terrifyingly good). Glints of humour and flashes of surrealism illuminate kitchen-sink darkness. A knifeedge of self-hatred slices through a row-house, little-hope life when schools, the only respite and release, were viciously hierarchical.

OF WOMEN Martha Marcy May Marlene A gradual, eerie immersion into one woman's post-cult daze and nights. Identity fractures; past and present blur; rituals of abusive sect and

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

repressive bourgeois materialism blear together.

The ending is perfectly ambiguous.

Poetry An aching, lovely late-life refrain. Aged-but-naïve Mija (Yun Jung-hie) takes a class to discover that strange, beautiful force called "poetry" in her life— beset by maid-work, failing health and an awful crime rippling back to her grandson. The moral rightness of the ending's matched by the emotional rightness of Mija's poem, finally written.

Meek's Cutoff An anti-Western reframing the frontier through two cultural clashes: with women and a Native. The plodding plight of a lost settler party's struggle to find water over the next hill is tightly framed: cracked earth beneath tired feet, wagons lowered by rope down a steep side, beautiful but unrelenting horizons.

OF NATURE Le Quattro Volte Drolly observes nature cycles, human rituals and seasons changing in Calabria. The human world's shouldered aside by bleating sheep, a shepherd's dog, an immense tree felled and raised for local celebrations, and a charcoal kiln. A sublime poetic-essay.

Project Nim This doc, ostensibly about a chimp trained in sign-language for a '70s study, exposes academics proving primacy, asserting dominance and rationalizing violence (one excuse: "science is very objective"). Our closest animal relative's still so far away as Nim's made, almost fatally, a mirror for human failings.

UNFORGETTABLE ODDS AND ENDS Werner Herzog's pondering of Paleolithic paintings in Cave of Forgotten Dreams, along with an albino alligator; Whit Stillman's literary-musicalcampus comedy Damsels in Distress; Alexander Payne's look at the dirt and mess beneath everyone's idyllic surface in The Descendants; Gore Verbinski's daffy, rollicking Rango; Michael Winterbottom's middle-aged melancomedy The Trip (edited down from the even more brilliant six-part TV series).

OVERLOOKED MUST-SEE Two-Legged Horse After screening at 2008 festivals, this never got distribution—easy to see why, since it's so hard to watch ... yet so hard to look away from.

Redefining "unflinching," this portrait of a poor boy paid to carry around a wealthy, legless boy is a brutally honest exploration of poverty in wartorn Afghanistan. Its utter disregard for any soft Western gaze at foreign hardship marks an astounding leap forward in social-realist filmmaking. Find it online.

Brian Gibson // Brian@vueweekly.com

FILM 11

REVUE // STAGES OF MAN

2001: A Space Odyssey Man." Light, in all its tripping-fantastic hues (making it popular with high '60s viewers), flies around Bowman (Keir Dullea) as he's shot towards rebirth.

Dun, dun, dun ... DUN DUN

Sat, Jan 7 (7 pm); Sun, Jan 8 (4 pm) Directed by Stanley Kubrick Metro Cinema at the Garneau Originally released: 1968

head to vueweekly.com/contests for your chance to

WIN PASSES to attend the ADVANCED SCREENING

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I

t's a film Stanley Kubrick summarized simply: three monoliths are left by alien explorers (on earth, on the moon and orbiting Jupiter) to influence and alert them to man's evolution; the third ushers an astronaut into rebirth as a star-child heralding humanity's next epoch. Yet the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, matched Kubrick's photographic eye to a story about watching, transformed him into a director with a sense of the epic,

and made one giant leap in sci-fi cinema that's never been matched. (Its overall achievement—in set design, groundbreaking effects, scientific accuracy, technological threat and terse dialogue—merely garnered Kubrick his sole Oscar, for visual effects.)

Kubrick's been stereotyped as a cold director and 2001, based on Arthur C Clarke's story "The Sentinel" with its clinical eye trained on the void of space, seems ready made for a chilly gaze, but it's also lit with a glowing optimism about human progress. A sun rises behind a cold black disc in the opening shot, then suffuses the Earth with a golden light in "The Dawn of

The glowing globe's echoed, bloodily, by the red cyclopean eye of HAL, the sinister, sentient computer. But then this is a film with one of the most famous match cuts ever. The bone-asweapon that an early hominid's discovered—the film sees our earthly time as one of tribal warfare, though the classical score argues that music was a soaring innovation—becomes an orbiting satellite millennia later.

The sexually charged fuelling of a plane in Kubrick's previous film, the comedy Dr Strangelove (1964), becomes a balletic dance here as a space plane glides into a revolving space station. Kubrick's hallmark corridor shots culminate in Bowman's light-strobed passage into a new state of being—an entry even more explosive when the 70mm-print was shown on wide, curved Cinerama screens in 1968.

As Kubrick recedes into the past, his films loom larger in cinematic history, but it's 2001, casting so much influence on sci-fi after it, that stands tallest—a mysterious, fascinating monolith of a movie.

Brian Gibson // brian@vueweekly.com

REVUE // GETTIN' GHOSTLY

Restless Fri, Jan 6 – Tue, Jan 10 Directed by Gus Van Sant Metro Cinema at the Garneau



T

7:00pm • Wednesday, Jan. 11th Empire City Centre Cinemas

IN THEATRES JANUARY 20

TH

*Subject to Classification

his is the ballad of Enoch (Henry Hopper) and Annabel (Mia Wasikowska), two adorably dressed but antisocial kids who meet while crashing the same funerals. Oh, to be young, obsessively morbid and hopelessly in love: if one assumes the notion that we go back to the place from which we came, then late adolescence isn't so very far from the void, and why shouldn't these two feel the chill of death, even if they barely comprehend it? And the thing is, they do, each in their own ways. Annabel, we eventually learn, is dying, and Enoch, alas, has lost both his parents in an accident. Her journey is largely

G-g-g-g-ghosts?

a serene one, with little in the way of existential panic or grotesque corporeal malfunction making its way on screen.

But this is Enoch's story; it's he who has to convey something of the agony and confusion of loss, and he does, albeit through a snuggly gauze of warm autumnal light, and a gentle final montage rather inspiredly set to Nico's rendition of "Fairest of the Seasons." Made me cry, anyway.

It's easy to dismiss Restless as, let's say, Harold and Maude without the complexity of gaping differences in age and life experience, or as a twee reheat of Love Story. One could make a list of what the film isn't, what it lacks, what it doesn't do, but, despite an overused Danny Elfman score, I find myself feeling quite friendly toward what it is, what it's doing well. It's directed by Gus Van Sant, who has an

12 FILM

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

empathy for young people unmatched by his peers, part-detached, part-tender, part-mischievous. Working from a script

by Jason Lew, whose conceits include a ghost friend who was once a Kamikaze pilot and now joins Enoch for rounds of Battleship and throwing stones at passing trains, Van Sant and steady-rolling cinematographer Harris Savides have crafted a humble, sweet tale of dewy love in preternatural twilight. And, besides having the very talented Wasikowska on board as the resident pale and lovely fading muse, the film also gets extra juice from the casting of Hopper, son of Dennis, in his first major role.

It's kinda eerie how much he looks like his dad, and the resemblance only serves to remind us of the actor's own personal brush with sudden, tearing, absence.

Josef Braun // josef@vueweekly.com

FILM WEEKLY Fri, JAN 6 - THU, Jan 12, 2012

THE DEVIL INSIDE (14A violence, coarse language, disturbing content) Digital Cinema, No passes Daily 1:50, 4:10, 6:15, 8:30, 10:45

YOUNG ADULT (14A) Digital Cinema Daily

9:15 CHABA THEATRE–JASPER

The Bridge On The River Kwai (STC)

Digital Cinema Wed 7:00

6094 Connaught Dr, Jasper, 780.852.4749

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

(18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Daily 8:00

Mission Impossible (14A) Fri-Sat 6:50,

9:10; Sun-Thu 8:00

film Club night: the Guard (14A

coarse language) Thu 7:30

s DUGGAN CINEMA–CAMROSE 6601-48 Ave, Camrose, 780.608.2144

The Devil Inside (14A violence, coarse

language, disturbing content) Fri 7:10 9:00; Sat-Sun 2:15, 7:10, 9:00; Mon-Thu 7:10 9:00

Mission Impossible–Ghost Protocol (14A) Fri 6:45 9:25; Sat-Sun 2:00 6:45

9:25; Mon-Thu 6:45 9:25

CINEPLEX ODEON SOUTH 1525-99 St, 780.436.8585

HAPPY FEET TWO (G) Digital Cinema FriSat 12:00, 2:30; Sun 1:30; Mon-Thu 1:05

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Digital Cinema Fri-Sun 12:25, 2:55, 5:25, 8:05, 10:35; Mon-Thu 12:40, 3:20, 6:05, 9:30

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Digital 3d Fri-Sun

12:35, 3:45, 7:05, 10:15; Mon-Thu 12:35, 3:45, 6:55, 10:15

HUGO 3D (PG) Digital 3d Fri-Sun 12:15, 3:10, 7:30, 10:20; Mon-Thu 12:55, 3:50, 6:40, 9:50

WAR HORSE (PG violence, not recom-

7:05 9:05; Mon-Thu 7:05 9:05

mended for young children) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 11:35, 3:30, 7:00, 10:20; Sun 11:35, 3:30, 7:00, 10:15; Mon-Tue, Thu 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 10:15; Wed 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 10:30

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended for

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PROTOCOL (14A) Digital Cinema Daily 12:30,

Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Fri 7:05 9:05; Sat-Sun 2:20

young children) Fri 6:50 9:20; Sat-Sun 2:05 6:50 9:20; Mon-Thu 6:50 9:20

We Bought A Zoo (PG) Fri 6:55 9:15; SatSun 2:10 6:55 9:15; Mon-Thu 6:55 9:15 CINEMA CITY MOVIES 12 5074-130 Ave, 780.472.9779

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (18A substance abuse, crude content) Daily 2:00, 4:45, 7:40, 10:05

Footloose (PG coarse language) Daily 1:30, 4:20, 7:05

Puss In Boots (G) Digital Cinema: Daily 1:35; Digital 3d: Daily 4:05, 6:45, 9:20

Real Steel (PG violence) Daily 1:10, 4:00,

6:50, 9:40

The Three Musketeers (PG violence) Daily 6:30, 9:35

JACK AND JILL (PG) Daily 1:45, 4:10, 7:30,

9:40

Dolphin Tale (G) Daily 1:05, 3:50 TOWER HEIST (PG coarse language) Daily 1:20, 3:55, 7:20, 9:50

Paranormal Activity 3 (14A frighten-

ing scenes) Daily 9:45

Moneyball (PG coarse language) Daily 3:45, 9:00

In Time (PG violence, coarse language) Daily

1:40, 4:15, 7:10, 9:55

Drive (18A brutal violence) Daily 1:25, 6:40 Courageous (PG) Daily 1:00, 3:45, 6:40, 9:30

Don 2 3d (14A) Digital 3d Fri-Sun 12:55, 4:00, 6:55, 10:00; Mon-Thu 4:00, 7:45

Players (STC) Hindi W/E.S.T. Daily 1:15,

4:40, 8:00

1:05, 3:40, 4:05, 6:45, 7:20, 9:45, 10:30

NEW YEAR'S EVE (PG coarse language)

Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 5:10, 8:00, 10:45; Sun 5:00, 7:45, 10:30; Mon-Thu 3:40, 6:45, 9:40

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Digital Cinema

Fri-Sun 1:15, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10; Mon-Thu 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recom-

mended for young children) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 1:00, 4:15, 7:30, 8:00, 10:25, 10:50; Sun, Tue, Thu 1:00, 4:15, 6:50, 7:30, 10:05, 10:25; Mon 1:00, 4:15, 7:30, 10:05, 10:25; Wed 1:00, 4:15, 7:30, 10:15, 10:25

THE MUPPETS (G) Digital Cinema Fri-

Sun 11:50, 2:45; Mon-Thu 12:35, 3:10

THE DARKEST HOUR 3D (PG violence,

not recommended for young children) Digital 3d Fri-Sun 12:10, 3:15, 7:45, 10:10; Mon-Thu 12:45, 3:15, 7:45, 10:10

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

(18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 11:30, 3:00, 6:30, 7:00, 10:15, 10:45; Sun 11:30, 3:00, 6:00, 6:30, 9:30, 10:15; Mon-Thu 2:00, 6:00, 6:30, 9:30, 10:00

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG disturbing content not

14231-137 Ave, 780.732.2236

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (G) Digital Cinema

11:55, 12:40, 2:10, 3:00, 4:30, 5:20, 6:55, 9:00; Wed 11:55, 2:10, 3:00, 4:30, 5:20, 6:55, 10:15; Star & Strollers Screening: Wed 1:00

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Digital 3d Daily 1:30, 4:15, 7:20, 9:55

WAR HORSE (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Digital Cinema Daily 12:20, 3:40, 7:00, 10:15

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PROTOCOL (14A) Digital Cinema: Daily 12:10,

LEDUC CINEMAS

The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn 3d (PG violence)

Date of Issue only: Thu, Jan 5

Closed Captioned, Digital 3d, Reald 3d, DTS Digital Daily 4:30, 7:15, 10:15 CLAREVIEW 10 4211-139 Ave, 780.472.7600

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG disturbing content not

The Artist (PG) Digital Cinema Fri-Sun

11:45, 2:35, 5:15, 7:55, 10:30; Mon-Wed 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00; Thu 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 Sat 12:00, 3:05, 7:25, 9:50; Sun 12:20, 3:05, 7:20, 9:50; Mon-Wed 1:20, 4:20, 6:50, 9:15; Thu 4:20, 6:50, 9:15; Star & Strollers Screening: Thu 1:00 CITY CENTRE 9 10200-102 Ave, 780.421.7020

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun

METRO CINEMA at the Garneau

1:50, 4:15, 6:30, 9:25; Mon-Thu 5:10, 7:30

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended

NEW YEAR'S EVE (PG coarse language)

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PROTOCOL (14A) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun

Melancholia (14A) SAT 4:00; SUN, TUE 7:00; MON 9:00; WED 9:30

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Digital Cinema

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Restless (PG mature subject matter) FRI, MON 7:00; SAT 2:00; SUN, TUE 9:30

12:40, 3:35, 6:30, 9:25; Mon-Thu 5:00, 8:00

(18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun 1:15, 4:35, 8:00; MonThu 4:20, 7:40

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Digital 3d Fri-Sun 4:10, 6:50, 9:20; Mon-Thu 4:45, 7:35

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Digital Presenta-

tion Fri-Sun 1:10, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30; MonThu 5:15, 8:10

WAR HORSE (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun 12:35, 3:40, 6:40, 9:10; Mon-Thu 4:30, 7:45

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Digital Presentation

Fri-Sun 1:30

THE MUPPETS (G) Digital Cinema Daily 1:20, 4:00, 6:45

THE DARKEST HOUR 3D (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Digital 3d Daily 2:00, 4:50, 7:50, 10:20

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Digital Cinema Daily 12:00, 3:15, 6:40, 7:45, 10:10

HUGO (PG) Digital Presentation, DTS Digital, Daily 11:45, 7:20 THE DARKEST HOUR 3D (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Digital Presentation, DTS Digital, Daily 10:30 WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Digital Pre-

130 Century Crossing, Spruce Grove, 780.972.2332 (Spruce Grove, Stony Plain; Parkland County); magiclanterntheatres.ca/

sprucegrove

Open for matinees: 1pm & 3pm daily until Jan 8

War Horse (PG violence, not recom-

mended for young children) Daily 6:45, 9:40; Fri-Sun, Tue 12:45, 3:40

We Bought a Zoo (PG) Daily 6:40,

9:10; Fri-Sun, Tue 12:40, 3:10; Movies for Mommies: Tue 12:40

THE DARKEST HOUR (PG violence, not

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN 3D (PG

recommended for young children) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun 9:45; Mon-Thu 8:15 GALAXY–SHERWOOD PARK 2020 Sherwood Dr, Sherwood Park 780.416.0150

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Fri-Sun 12:10, 2:30, 4:50, 7:20, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Digital 3d Fri-Sun 1:10, WAR HORSE (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Fri-Sun 12:05, 3:25, 6:55, 10:15; Mon-Thu 6:55, 10:15

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PROTOCOL (14A) Fri-Sun 12:20, 3:20, 6:50, 10:00;

Mon-Thu 6:50, 10:00; Digital Cinema: Fri-Sun 12:40, 4:00, 7:30, 10:40; Mon-Thu 7:30, 10:40

NEW YEAR'S EVE (PG coarse language)

Fri-Sun 1:20, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20; Mon-Thu 7:15, 10:20

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Fri-Sun 12:30, 3:40,

Tue 12:55, 3:30

violence) Daily 7:05, 9:20; Fri-Sun, Tue 1:05, 3:20

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

(18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Daily 7:30; Fri-Sun, Tue 1:30

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Daily 6:50, 9:25; Fri-Sun, Tue 12:50, 3:25

Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Daily 6:50, 9:00; Fri-Sun, Tue 12:50, 3:00 PRINCESS 10337-82 Ave, 780.433.0728

Digital Cinema Daily 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 9:50

Fri-Tue, Thu 12:50, 3:45, 6:50, 9:40; Wed 3:45, 6:50, 9:40; Star & Strollers Screening: Wed 1:00

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recom-

mended for young children) Digital Cinema Fri-Sun, Tue, Thu 12:15, 3:30, 6:45, 7:30, 10:00, 10:45; Mon 12:15, 3:30, 6:45, 10:00, 10:45; Wed 3:45, 7:30, 10:00, 10:45; Star & Strollers Screening: Wed 1:00

THE DARKEST HOUR 3D (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Digital 3d Daily 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:20

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

(18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 11:30, 3:00, 6:30, 9:30, 10:10; Sun-Thu 2:00, 6:30, 9:30, 10:10

THE DEVIL INSIDE (14A violence, coarse language, disturbing content) Ultraavx, No passes Daily 12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50, 10:40 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PRO-

TOCOL: The Imax Experience (14A) Fri-Sat 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 11:00; SunThu 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 The Metropolitan Opera: Don Giovanni–Encore (Classification not available) Mon 6:30

WETASKIWIN CINEMAS Wetaskiwin, 780.352.3922

Date of Issue only: Thu, Jan 5 Mission Impossible–Ghost Protocol (14A) Thu, Jan 5: 1:00, 3:40,

7:00, 9:40

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Thu, Jan 5: 12:55, 3:35, 6:55, 9:35

The Descendants (14A) Fri 6:50, 9:10;

Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Thu, Jan 5: 7:10, 9:20;

My Week With Marilyn (14A) Fri 7:00; Sat -Sun 1:00, 7:00; Mon-Thu 7:00 Café de Flore (14A sexual content) Fri 9:05; Sat-Sun 3:10, 9:05; Mon-Thu 9:05

We Bought A Zoo (PG) Thu, Jan 5:

Sat-Sun 2:00, 6:50, 9:10; Mon-Thu 6:50, 9:10

1:10, 3:20

1:10, 3:20, 7:10, 9:20

6:40, 9:40; Mon-Thu 6:40, 9:40

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended for young

children) Fri-Sun 12:50, 3:50, 7:10, 10:10; MonThu 7:10, 10:10 (18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Fri-Sun 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:30; Mon-Thu 7:00, 10:30

GRANDIN THEATRE–St Albert

HAPPY FEET TWO (G) Thu, Jan 5: 2:40

young children) Digital Cinema Fri-Tue, Thu 12:30, 1:40, 3:20, 4:40, 6:20, 7:40, 9:20, 10:40; Wed 12:30, 1:40, 3:20, 4:40, 7:40, 9:20, 10:40

PARKLAND CINEMA 7

Mission Impossible–Ghost Protocol (14A) Daily 6:55, 9:30; Fri-Sun,

Date of Issue only: Thu, Jan 5

Digital, Dolby Stereo Digital, Daily 1:40, 4:40, 7:25, 10:25

Science in the Cinema: My Sister's Keeper (STC) Thu 6:30

THE DEVIL INSIDE (14A violence, coarse language, disturbing content) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun 2:00, 4:25, 7:10, 9:40; Mon-Thu 5:30, 8:10

WAR HORSE (PG violence, not recom-

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended for

12:45, 4:00, 7:15, 10:30; Sun-Thu 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:45

2001: A Space Odyssey (PG violence)

NEW YEAR'S EVE (PG coarse language)

YOUNG ADULT (14A) Closed Captioned,

Inni (STC) FRI 9:00; SAT 9:45; SUN 2:00; THU 9:30

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PROTOCOL (14A) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat

Sat 7:00; Sun 4:00

3:10, 6:30, 9:30; Ultraavx: Daily 1:10, 4:20, 7:30, 10:30

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Digital Cinema Fri-Tue, Thu 1:00, 3:50, 6:50, 9:45; Wed 3:50, 6:50, 9:45; Star & Strollers Screening: Wed 1:00

Metro at the Garneau: 8712-109 St, 780.425.9212

mended for young children) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 11:50, 3:20, 7:00, 10:15; Sun-Thu 12:00, 3:20, 7:00, 10:15

for young children) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun 1:00, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30; Mon-Thu 4:50, 7:50

THE DEVIL INSIDE (14A violence, coarse language, disturbing content) Digital Cinema, No passes Fri-Sun 1:00, 4:05, 6:30, 9:30; Mon-Thu 6:30, 9:30

mended for young children) Digital Presentation, DTS Digital, Closed Captioned Daily 12:35, 3:50, 7:05, 10:20

3:40, 6:40

violence) Thu, Jan 5: 1:05 , 3:30, 7:05, 9:30

(18A brutal violence, sexual violence) Closed Captioned, Digital, Dolby Stereo Digital, Fri-Tue, Thu 12:40, 4:10, 8:00; Wed 12:40, 8:00

Digital Cinema Daily 12:50, 3:30, 7:10, 10:00

11:15, 1:50, 4:30, 7:20, 10:15; Sat-Thu 1:50, 4:30, 7:20, 10:15

WAR HORSE (PG violence, not recom-

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recom-

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Digital 3d Fri

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THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

mended for young children) Dolby Stereo Digital, Closed Captioned, Daily 1:25, 4:25, 7:10, 10:10

ed for young children) Thu, Jan 5: 12:55, 3:35, 6:55, 9:35

11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:50, 4:50, 6:30, 9:00; Sun, Tue-Thu 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:50, 4:50, 6:30, 9:00; Mon 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:50, 6:30, 9:00

HUGO 3D (PG) Digital 3d Daily 12:30,

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE–GHOST PROTOCOL (14A) Closed Captioned, Digital, Dolby Stereo Digital, Daily 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommend-

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat

NEW YEAR'S EVE (PG coarse language)

THE DEVIL INSIDE (14A violence, coarse language, disturbing content) Ultraavx, No passes Fri-Sun 11:45, 2:05, 4:30, 7:05, 10:00; Mon-Thu 1:10, 4:00, 7:25, 10:05 Digital Cinema Wed 7:00

Mission Impossible–Ghost Protocol (14A) Thu, Jan 5: 1:00, 3:40,

7:00, 9:40

WEM, 8882-170 St, 780.444.2400

Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Thu, Jan 5: 7:10, 9:20,

4:20, 7:40, 10:25; Mon-Thu 7:40, 10:25

The Bridge On The River Kwai (STC)

Leduc, 780.352.3922

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recommended for young children) Digital Presentation Fri-Sun 1:00, 3:50, 6:55, 9:35; Mon-Thu 5:00, 8:00

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Daily 11:50

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recommended for young children) Digital Cinema Fri-Sat 11:30, 2:15, 5:00; Sun 12:30, 3:20; Mon-Thu 12:50, 3:35

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THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET 3D (PG violence) Closed Captioned,

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Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Thu, Jan 5: 1:05 3:00 5:00

6:55 8:45

Mission Impossible–Ghost Protocol (14A) No passes Thu, Jan 5: : 1:30 4:20

sentation, Closed Captioned, DTS Digital Fri-Tue, Thu 12:30, 3:30, 6:15, 9:15; Wed 12:30, 3:30, 9:45

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children) No passes Thu, Jan 5: 1:45 4:30 7:00 9:20

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG violence, not recommended for young

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

FILM 13

COMMENT >> ALBERTA EDUCATION

To act or to budget

The new Education Act will be caught up in budget processes Over the next six months, decisions will be made be made by the Alberta government which have the potential to drastically alter the face of education in this province. Of course, this being Alberta, it is also entirely possible that the only thing that will change over the next six months is the government's rhetoric about education, and that everything on the ground will actually remain the same

14 EDUCATION

or get worse.

Between now and the end of March, the government will re-introduce the Education Act, Bill 18, into the provincial legislature. This is the act that, after three years of extensive research, broad consultations, and numerous drafts, was introduced into the legislature last spring by former minister Dave Hancock and then removed from consideration by the fall session of

the legislature by new Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk for the sake of further consultation.

Listening to Lukaszuk speak over the course of the public consultations, it seems that the only reason he wanted to pull the act for re-consideration was so that he could spend a few months touring the province speaking about bullying, and the need to make sure that strong anti-bullying mea-

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JAN 11, 2012

sures are included in the act when it is re-introduced. Regardless, the public meetings are now wrapped up, even though the online portion of the consultation is ongoing, and we can expect a revised Bill 18 to hit the legislative agenda as soon as the legislature resumes sitting.

Albertans shouldn't expect the act itself to drastically alter education in the province, as it is largely full of big-picture sentiments and concepts, without anything specific and implementable. The bill is likely, however, to include a handful of significant

changes like an increase to the compulsory education age (from 16 to 17), and extension to 21 of the maximum age for participation in the school system, better defined roles for school boards, parents, schools and trustees, an increase in the power and flexibility given to school boards, and now, some sort of anti-bullying measures.

The real meat and potatoes of the process will come from the regulations that the government passes in council to actually implement the provisions of the act.

Those will be especially telling given CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 >>

World-class budget problems The University of Alberta faculty of arts has nothing left to cut

rol. "The problem is we don't know who they're going to cut and how they're going to reconfigure things, so we really don’t know how things are going to change."

F

or a thriving institution like the University of Alberta, $1.5 million sounds like a paltry number in the grand scheme of things. Just this year, the U of A opened two state-of-theart buildings—the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, priced at nearly half a billion dollars, and the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, which cost more than $900 million.

And university president Indira Samarasekera earned more than $1 million in 2011, making her one of the highestpaid university officials in Canada. But for the university's faculty of arts, $1.5 million represents a dire deficit that is forcing the faculty to make ends meet and challenging the University’s longstanding pro-arts rhetoric.

When the U of A announced last April that all faculties would have to slash their budgets by two percent due to a zero percent increase in operating revenue from the provincial government, the arts faculty was hit particularly hard due to lower revenue generation. Just the year prior, a faculty-wide five percent budget cut infamously forced arts departments to rid faculty and staff of their office phones.

But this year, with nowhere else to go, the arts faculty has turned its focus to one of its last options: support staff—15 of them, to be exact.

Figuring out which positions to cut is part of a painstaking initiative the faculty calls the Administrative Process Review Project (AdPReP).

AdPReP's aim is to examine five administrative functions within de-

partments and the dean's office— human resources, budget, finance and procurement, undergraduate advising and grad administration.

The process, which has been in the works since this past summer, has taken this long because interviewers are faced with the impossible task of trying to make sense out of all the responses, according to the support staff member. Five teams led by an external consultant have conducted about 85 interviews with various support staff throughout all arts departments. Questionnaires have also been administered to support staff, which some staff have criticized for failing to recognize department-specific duties.

"This is not about efficiencies, it's about a $1.5 million deficit and cutting positions," the support staff member says. "When the faculty of arts abolishes the equivalent of one position in every department, some people will be left with doing the job of two or three people. To me, that sounds like a recipe for inefficiency."

It's not only faculty and staff who have expressed dismay over AdPReP—students have formed a prominent solidarity movement in order to encourage reform in the process. One of the coalition’s initial objections was the lack of student and staff consultation, which

When the faculty of arts abolishes the equivalent of one position in every department, some people will be left with doing the job of two or three people.

do particular internal processes. It's not clear to me that every student needs to be concerned about that.

The goal would be that it would be largely invisible to students. I don't feel that I want to fear-monger by having a huge consultation about things like that."

The coalition realizes that consultation may be too late for the process, as the final administrative support structure is set to be announced in February. As a result, the coalition is shifting its focus to the next budget cut in April, which will slash another two percent in all faculty budgets, leaving the arts faculty in a spiraling financial crisis that could result in the elimination of programs or departments. "What we hope to accomplish is a cultural shift—not only to change this process, but to change the administrative culture for upcoming budget cuts," says Brent Epperson, a member of the coalition. "We want to change the way these things are addressed and the way solutions are sought."

Part of those changes include prioritizing revenue generation, making the process more transparent

in order to encourage alternative solutions, and forming a more complete stakeholder analysis.

"You read the project charter and you see who are the major stakeholders and they're all upper-level administrators," Epperson says.

"That's really a distortion of the stakeholder concept because a major stakeholder is the one who has the most to lose or gain by a process."

Corrinne Harol says her ultimate goal as an arts professor and chair is not to point fingers, but to find feasible solutions and make a case for arts funding to the U of A administration and provincial government. "We need to make the case that the arts faculty can't withstand the same type of budget cuts that other faculties can withstand," she says. "It's such a small amount compared to the kinds of things that cost the university.”

"One of things about the top universities is that they all have strong departments in the arts," Harrol adds. "If you want to be a worldclass university, you have to have decen t arts."

ALEX MIGDAL

// MIGDAL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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Dean of Arts Lesley Cormack explains that the process is designed to "improve, eliminate, or completely re-design these administrative processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness."

Because of the nature of AdPReP, numerous support staff are apprehensive to share their criticism of the process over fear that their jobs will be targeted. One arts faculty support staff member who asked to not be identified says the paranoia and stress within the admin staff is rampant and that counselors have been brought in to help.

Corrinne Harol, associate chair of graduate studies in the English department, confirmed that claim in a letter to the dean, in which she revealed that staff have been living in an atmosphere of "fear, secrecy, gossip, and threat for months," adding that their health and wellness has been "unnecessarily impinged upon."

"It’s been very stressful for the staff, which is not good," says Har-

lead Dean Cormack to hastily arrange a forum last November in order to clear misconceptions. "(Provost Carl Amrhein) would remind you all the cuts we are experiencing are a result of the collective bargaining happening last year," Cormack said to the packed audience at the forum, referring to the 1.75 percent salary increase that academic staff voted on last summer. "For Dean Cormack to stand to a packed house and proclaim that the faculty of arts is in the financial hole due to negotiated salary increases is disturbing," the support staff member refutes. "The collective gasp that went through the room was clear."

When asked about criticism regarding the lack of student consultation, Cormack says she disagrees with the claim. "I worked very hard to make sure all of those (consulting) bodies were both informed and were given a chance to really debate the issues.

Those groups do have student participation on them," Cormack says.

"This process is really about how we

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

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EDUCATION 15

EDUCATION Roundup PROTEST INTO THE NEW YEAR

SAMANTHA POWER // samantha@vueweekly.com

A TIME TO ACT? After being taken off the order paper for the past fall session, consultations on the Education Act will come to a close on January 8. The act was originally meant to come to the spring session last year, was delayed to the fall and then moved yet again to this year's spring session.

SECULAR EDUCATION round of forums were held in seven communities around the province throughout November and December.

The Education Act is expected to appear on the agenda of the spring legislative session. The previous draft of the Education Act, Bill 18, would have given

// Diego Grez

Education is a priority of this government and I need input from people of all ages and backgrounds.

Student protests in Chile continue after more than six months of action. This past week, students voted in a more radical leadership which will be less likely to compromise with a newly appointed education minister. Protests started last May when students began to take action against the profit-driven education system, which was introduced by military dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The protests have been widely supported by many in Chile and have included school occupations, solidarity rallies with hundreds of thousands in the streets and a two-day

16 EDUCATION

general strike.

Chile's conservative government led by President Sebastian Piñera increased the 2012 education budget to 7.2 percent but refused to acknowledge the main demand of protesters: an end to the for-profit system which students believe is a contributor to the gross inequality in the country. At 85 percent, Chileans currently pay the highest outof-pocket rates for schooling out of any OECD country.

Newly-elected student leader Gabriel Boric has stated protests will continue into 2012.

This has allowed the new Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk to create a new consultation process over the past few months. "Education is a priority of this government and I need input from people of all ages and backgrounds to ensure this new legislation reflects the values and priorities that Albertans place on their education system," said Lukaszuk in a statement released this past week.

The original forums and consultations held over three years included over 20 000 educators and advocates. A new

greater power to school boards and increased the age of compulsory attendance from 16 to 17.

A mandate letter from Alison Redford released on November 4 stated Lukaszuk should be working with the president of the Treasury Board to establish three-year funding cycles for education.

Though that consideration wouldn't likely appear in legislation, as the budget is presented in the spring session as well, that planning could potentially impact the legislation's preparation.

THE RURAL STUDENT The Alberta Students Executive Council is calling on the provincial government to reinstate bursaries and assistance programs for students in northern and rural areas. According to research conducted by the council, rural and northern students are among the least-likely Canadians to pursue a post-secondary education. The research, outlined in a report

titled "Unleashing Aurora" recommends the provincial government reinstate bursaries and supports for post-secondary students returning from the workforce, rethink communications strategies to include a greater online presence and to develop a greater communication and outreach strategy for First Nations and Metis students.

TO ACT OR TO BUDGET << CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

that, at the same time that Bill 18 is being debated in the legislature and regulations are being drafted, the government will also be drafting the 2012 – 2013 provincial budget. As we saw after last year's cuts, the annual budget can have a much more significant impact on the quality and direction of our education system than almost any piece of legislation could.

Premier Redford has promised that there will be no major cuts or layoffs in the upcoming budget, but she has also vowed not to raise taxes and to eliminate the provincial deficit by 2013. It is worth noting that Ed Stelmach made the exact same promise before cutting over $100 million from the education budget last year. Redford has now also stepped back from her promise to reinstitute funding for full-day kindergarten within a year of taking office.

The reality of provincial education funding is that the $107 million returned to the system by Ms. Redford upon taking office was enough only to bring the system back to the overcrowded, understaffed status quo that existed under the previous premier.

Improving the system will actually require allocating real dollars and cents

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

to match the fancy language and lofty ideas expressed in the new Education Act—dollars and cents which are not likely to be available given the need to eliminate the deficit and the reluctance to increase revenues.

At the same time, Education Minister Lukaszuk has promised on a goforward basis to shelter education from the unpredictability of Alberta's revenue stream, but with volatile oil and gas revenues accounting for over 25 percent of this year's budget that sounds like one more good intention that cannot be delivered.

All of this is further complicated by the fact that the current salary agreement with teachers will expire this year, and a new one will need to be negotiated. The government is heading into negotiations looking to extract a modest salary deal by dangling the promise of "stable and predictable" funding over the life of the deal, but Alberta's teachers have learned the hard way over the last few years that those promises are not worth the paper they are written on. Much of the struggle over education funding in the last couple of years has come from the fact that the government signed a five-year deal with the teachers, imposed it on the school boards, then tried repeatedly to renege on their promise to provide adequate

Over one year after calling attention to the lack of secular education in Morinville, parents will be bringing their concerns before the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Due to an historical oversight, all of the Morinville schools are controlled by the Catholic School Board which offers no secular education. Donna Hunter, who had children in the Morinville school system, brought the issue to the attention of the provincial government last year and sought a solution for those parents seeking secular education for their children.

The debate has been ongoing over the past year with the Sturgeon school board offering to provide secular education in Morinville housed in temporary school structures until a permanent resolution could be found. The Morinville Public Elementary School is expected to start in January.

Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk, who took over the file from former minister Dave Hancock, refuses to step in and has been encouraging the Greater St Albert Catholic School District, the board responsible for Morinville, to find a local solution.

Hunter is looking for the commission to address the student registration form, which calls for compulsory religious education, and for limitations on religious instruction defined in the school act to be enforced.

funding so the school boards could meet the provisions of the deal.

The Alberta Teachers' Association is working hard to establish a positive working relationship with the current government, and they were heartened by the reinstatement of the $107 million in funding, but you can bet that they will carry the memory of the last two years, and of being blamed by the government for chronic underfunding, with them to the negotiating table.

In the end, the combination of the new School Act, the provincial budget, and negotiations with teachers will all contribute to more volatility and flux in our education system than we have seen in a long time. It is important that Albertans keep a close eye on all of these proceeding over the next six months, as the outcomes will collectively determine what our education system will look like for at least the next four years, and possibly for the next 20. Perhaps now more than ever when it comes to education, Albertans need to stay informed, have their say, and hold their government accountable—our children's education depends on it. V Ricardo Acuña is the executive director of the Parkland Institute, a non-partisan, public policy research institute housed at the University of Alberta.

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COMMENT FUNDING COMMENT>> >>ARTS HEALTH CARE

Issues

Issues is a forum for individuals and organizations to comment on current events and broader issues of importance to the community. Their commentary is not necessarily the opinion of the organizations they represent or of Vue Weekly.

Inappropriate process

Cuts to the faculty of arts enacted with without due consideration Wandering down the west side of the main campus you will see signs of a prosperous institution: construction cranes grace the skyline and new buildings, such as the colourful Edmonton Clinic, are popping up. You would be forgiven for thinking that this prosperous scene represents the entire university, but walk to the other side of campus and you will find an arts faculty operating on such a shoestring budget that some departments even lack phones. What is going on at the U of A? For the third year in a row, the University of Alberta's faculty of arts—home to diverse departments including economics, psychology, English and film studies, sociology and political science—has been handed a budget cut. This year, that cut amounts to $1.5 million, or two percent of the budget.

Because the faculty of arts' budget is so tight, a process called AdPReP, the Administrative Process Review Project, has been launched to evaluate administrative efficiencies. Undeniably, any workplace has inefficiencies and trying to resolve those issues is not necessarily a bad thing. However, when such a process is inherently flawed, one ends up creating more harm than good.

To manage the AdPReP process, the faculty of arts spent $70 000 for an

18 EDUCATION

external consultant through a noncompetitive process. Through a series of interviews and other data-gathering exercises, this consultant has been tasked with making recommendations to overhaul the administrative function of the faculty. While on paper such a process sounds relatively benign—useful even—its implementation has been disastrous.

Despite being assured that no decisions have been made as of yet, students, staff and faculty have repeatedly been informed that up to 15 administrative positions will be cut, 10 percent of the total administrative body in the faculty. Other positions will likely be centralized.

To help make this decision, staff have been subjected to a series of poorlyconstructed questionnaires that seek to quantify their daily tasks. While such a method might make cutting decisions easier, it does nothing to demonstrate a person's actual work. Try it yourself: what percentage of your day do you spend checking email? Writing reports?

Interacting with clients? Remember, your total must equal 100 percent; there is no room for multi-tasking.

If you find these questions difficult to answer, imagine trying to answer them knowing your job is on the line. Further, such a method does not allow staff to

describe the duties they perform above their actual job description. The faculty is thus using incomplete information to wholly restructure its administrative staff system. Most importantly, each department has been run differently based on the unique needs of students and faculty.

The administrative staff is responsible for the day-to-day management of the department's teaching and research mandates and is the foundation of each department’s community. Removing one member from any department is dangerous not just because the staff members are currently over-worked, but because they perform very specialized tasks that cannot be centralized within the faculty.

Although the AdPReP process is currently only utilized in the faculty of arts, there is suggestion that it may be implemented in other departments at the U of A and possibly other universities. As more faculties start to run out of places in their budgets to cut, more departments are going to be subjected to short-sighted remodeling efforts that inappropriately assume a publicly-funded institution can be run the same way as a private business.

The situation is worsening as Canadian universities are losing public funding and are increasingly depending on

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

private investors. Private organizations set the university's priorities and goals with targeted investments. Neglected by the provincial government and under pressure from private investors, public universities prioritize balanced budgets and private interests over the needs of its faculty, staff and students.

With more budget cuts looming, the faculty of arts is left with two options: use this moment to prioritize the opinions, needs, jobs, and livelihood of members of our community or further entrench the practice of depending on private investment and making shortsighted and ill-conceived budget cuts.

In response to this process a coalition of staff, students and faculty has risen up to challenge the terms under which AdPReP operates. The Faculty of Arts Staff Solidarity coalition, or FASS, demands that all other options be exhausted before faculties lay off hard-working staff.

FASS demands that robust consultation occur with all stakeholders, including students, staff and faculty and not outof-touch bureaucrats, some of whom have never worked at the department level before. FASS demands that the dean of arts, provost, and president lobby the provincial government to ensure that arts departments are vibrant, robust places of learning.

Progress has already been made. FASS petitioned the dean to hold a facultywide forum to discuss and question the

process. This was one step among many that are required to assure that as many voices as possible are heard during this process. A second meeting with the dean is planned for early January.

The dean of arts has stated that after the AdPReP process is complete there will be no more "fat to trim" from the arts budget. She has suggested that next steps may be to cut graduate funding or to eliminate departments. The dean's remarks pit different groups within the faculty against each other. Students, faculty and staff are positioned to save themselves at the detriment of the other groups. Cuts to staff or department funding are cuts to graduate and undergraduate funding. Cuts anywhere within the faculty will affect students' and faculties' experiences, and quality of education and research. The students, staff and faculty that have formed FASS stand resolved in the face of this attempt to divide and conquer the stakeholders of our faculty. We must all stand in solidarity against this planned austerity—an institution without a strong arts faculty cannot call itself a university. V For more information about AdPReP and FASS' continuing campaign visit uofastaffsolidarity.blogspot.com.

Ashley Dryburgh // ASHLEY@vueweekly.com Alexa DeGagne // ALEXA@vueweekly.com

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

EDUCATION 19

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F

elix DuBourdieu-Greig runs a basketball camp at Inglewood School. He has a binder full of rules that he uses to teach the young students and organizes games even when only two or three show up.

DuBourdieu-Greig is a patient at SKILLS, an organization in Edmonton that helps mentally disabled people contribute their skills to the community. And while his story is something special, the tale of how a video about his life came to be is just as interesting.

It was put together by a group of students at the University of Alberta who are becoming increasingly engaged in the community.

The students are taking community servicelearning modules in their classes at the university, a program that's been slowly expanding its scope on campus. While the department offers separate courses for community engagement, CSL units have been developed to fit into other classes such as sociology or philosophy.

Ben Weinlick, the senior leader of research and organizational learning at SKILLS, has been working with about 10 students this semester to tell the stories of clients from his organization. He said it's important that the organization is able to talk about what they do in the community, and how people with developmental disabilities benefit.

Working with the CSL program is allowing SKILLS to engage students' abilities and tell that story.

"The big benefit is helping our whole organization with meaningful work. Sometimes we get caught up in supporting medical needs," said Weinlick.

In the first year of a two-year program, students from classes ranging from English, anthropology and women's studies have come through the door to help tell the stories of people at SKILLS. Increasingly, students at the university are choosing to take the CSL components of their classes.

Last year there were 459 students taking CSL components of some sort, up from 136 participating students when the components were introduced in

20 EDUCATION

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

2005. The number of courses offering the components tripled over that period, increasing from 13 in 2005 to 46 this year.

Jill Flaman, program co-ordinator for the CSL office, said professors are increasingly asking for the chance for students to engage with the community in lieu of regular coursework.

"Initially, I think everyone is excited about the idea. Not only is it a different way for students to learn, but it's a different way for them to teach," said Flaman. "We do help them with syllabusbuilding workshops."

And while the CSL department is part of the faculty of arts, Flaman said there is increasing interest from other faculties. What these faculties are looking to leverage is CSL's connections in the community with non-profit and charitable organizations.

Making those connections is Auralia Brooke, the partnership co-ordinator for CSL. She works with professors who want to add a CSL component to their course to find the right fit in the community.

"We have about 60 core partners that we always work with," said Brooke. "There's a lot of fluctuation.

We rarely take people off the list. What we do is rest them out for a term."

Those partners range from organizations such as SKILLS Edmonton to the Northern Alberta Brain Injury Society and the Youth Emergency Shelter Society.

"We're here as a resource for instructors in some ways. Any instructor that wants to teach with a CSL or has a community component can just come by.

We offer brown bag sessions," says Brooke. "We work with them to find out what their needs are."

CSL continues to expand and in the next semester the office has a wide list of courses offering CSL components from agricultural, life and environmental studies to history, French and linguistics.

Justin Bell

//Justin@vueweekly.com

EDUCATION // COMPUTERS

Rise of the machines

The role of computers in the classroom should be reviewed uct and it is not in any way offending community values," says Lukaszuk, "by all means those are possibilities."

At the same time, it's well known that regular exposure to a brand or product over time is enough to establish a favourable customer impression.

As corporate watchdog CorpWatch puts it, "Ubiquity, especially when it melds into the background of daily life, is perhaps the most powerful tool of corporate power."

As Coke and Pepsi realized, schools presented a captive audience for their products. In some ways, Apple versus PC is just today's version of Coke versus Pepsi. But what might the effect of prolonged early exposure to these tools be?

W

hen The New York Times broke the news that a bunch of Silicon Valley CEOs were sending their kids to Waldorf Schools that prioritized natural-based education over technology, it caused a bit of a stir in North American media.

At the Waldorf school in Edmonton, enrolment queries increased and website traffic doubled after being featured in a subsequent article in the Edmonton Journal, reports Netta Johnson, vice president of the Waldorf Education Society of Edmonton.

Behind the clamour looms a bigger question: why are we so unquestioningly accepting of technology and its influence on children, that this revelation caused such a reaction? In fact, the wholesale adoption of technology without consideration for its use or value is an increasing concern for the Edmonton Public School Board, to the point that it has created a special unit to support technology integration.

Terry Korte works in EPSB's Technology Integration Planning Services (TIPS) unit, helping principals and teachers in individual schools make "thoughtful decisions around technology."

"There's often been this approach of, 'Let's buy the hammer, then start looking for the nails,'" says Korte. "We don't want people just going out and looking at the Future Shop flyer and saying, 'OK, let's do this.'

"Typically where technology makes no difference is when it's put in without much thought, and used for everything,” he continues. "You know, 150 different ways to use the iPad or SMARTboard without any kind of attachment or curricular goals."

As the Alberta government reviews Bill 18, the Education Act, over the next few months, the role of technology is arising as a contentious topic, and that's good, says Alberta's Minister for Education. "We should continuously examine the role of technology in the classroom ... there should be no taboo topics," argues Minister Lukaszuk. With the review of Bill 18, he says, "It takes a little bit of futurism

to predict what the technologies will be, what the economic needs will be, what the shifts will be."

While decisions about purchases are left to the individual boards and schools, provincial policy has a significant influence on board programming.

"A couple years ago the government put in a program for all schools to have projectors [such as SMARTboards]," Korte recalls. "But with everything, there's a positive and a negative. The negative might be pulling teachers more to the front of the room to do lecture-style things, when we want to be doing more small groups, collaboration, kids learning from each other."

schools will do what it takes to attract the parents, and likewise the parents are assuming that if the schools are adopting the technology it's because there's some researchbased evidence."

How these considerations influence the review of Bill 18 has yet to be seen, but on many fronts it would seem the advance of educational technology is a foregone conclusion.

"You'll see more and more of what you and I would call technology—and kids would just see as utensils—in the classrooms as time goes on," predicts Lukaszuk. "The legislation has to be such that it is permissive to allow teachers to introduce these learning aids into the classroom."

In turn, that will affect what and how children learn. With the review of Bill 18, now is the time to take a good, hard look at how technology will factor into that experience. Clearly there are some, including those who create the technology, who believe it may be worthwhile to consider alternatives.

"To develop our own intelligence, we weren't sitting in front of these devices ... we were having good creative play, real experiences in the world and those were what helped nurture our own intelligence and creativity," says Johnson.

"To learn how to be human you don't need an iPad, you need a human."

Jeremy Derksen // jeremy@vueweekly.com

In researching Last Child in the Woods (2006), author Richard Louv encountered a San Diego fourth-grader who told him, "I like to play indoors better, 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are."

It's a revealing quote. What we often don't consider as society becomes increasingly technology-based are the tradeoffs for childhood development.

Among the biggest risks are sacrificing all-important "down time," creative play and a child's connection to places where there aren't electrical outlets.

A lot of attention has been paid to the fact that Waldorf classrooms lack technological gadgetry. However, it's not so much that they are lacking

Computers and other devices are accepted as de facto teaching tools, necessary to engage today's high-tech generation and enrich their learning environment.

Again, the emphasis is on critical applications of technology. But sometimes, perhaps, those charged with undertaking that critical examination, like the province, may not be critical enough.

In the mid-1990s, Coke and Pepsi were in an all-out war for children's loyalty. At first the battleground was traditional media, but eventually it entered schools, as the dueling manufacturers began offering new electronic scoreboards to schools in exchange for brand exclusivity.

For tech companies, the door is open even wider. Computers and other devices are accepted as de facto teaching tools, necessary to engage today's high-tech generation and enrich their learning environment. And, with funding priorities stretched thin, policy makers and educators may be willing to consider creative ways of obtaining these tools.

"Where technology can be offered into a classroom by a particular manufacturer of a product, because they want to expose students to their prod-

computers but that they are rich in simple, natural objects, food and craft supplies and outdoor programming that fosters creative play. Even the staunchest technology proponents agree there's no substitute for that kind of learning. "There's a place for the pen and the paintbrush," Korte agrees. "I would hate if my kid went to school and all they did was create on some kind of software."

Presently, the range of technology available to students varies widely, says Korte. In some schools, nearly every kid has access to their own device, where others may have just one old bank of donated computers, he says.

"If anything, our schools are on the opposite end," Korte says. "Students are not learning enough about how to use modern technology."

That may be true, Johnson acknowledges, but she's concerned about the trends and social influences behind greater technological adoption. "Because you have competition between the local schools ... it does sort of lead to a saturation point."

"To stay financially healthy, the

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Building schools the P3 way Private partnerships provide process problems

T

o P3 or not P3 may no longer be the question when it comes to building schools in Alberta, but there are a lot of questions remaining about the way we implement them. Last month the province announced it had short-listed three proponents for the third phase of the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement initiative, known as ASAP. Unveiled in 2007, ASAP was described as a made-inAlberta P3 model. Traditionally, schools are built by school boards with funding provided by the province. With ASAP, a private consortium designs, constructs and finances a bundle of schools, providing structural maintenance and major repairs for 30 years following construction. Day-to-day operations and janitorial functions remain with the school boards as the owners, with full responsibility for the schools transferred at the end of the

30 years.

As the province moves ahead on this model, concerns continue to mount. As Marle Roberts, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Alberta region explains international experiences show P3 initiatives do not work. "It's clear the government is overestimating the cost-savings," Roberts contended, pointing to a 2007 report commissioned by CUPE which, she says, shows the government's numbers just don't add up.

Authored by Hugh Mackenzie, an economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, "Doing the Math," concedes that the Alberta government's proposal to use a standardized design will result in some cost savings, but argues these savings do nothing to prove the P3 model is more efficient as the savings would also be realized through a conventional

financing model. Moreover, Mackenzie found that financing costs would be 51 percent higher through a P3 structure than if financed through the public sector conventionally. Edmonton Public, for example, could have funded all of the 18 new schools in its capital plan instead of the 13 through ASAP. Edmonton Catholic would be able to build six new schools, while P3 financing would allow for just four.

Roberts also questioned the wisdom of partnering with large multinational corporations to build schools while the world remains in a constant state of economic flux. "What risk is the government taking with taxpayers' dollars?â&#x20AC;? she asks.

"What happens if one of these consortiums go under?"

Her question is more than rhetorical.

Six months after a September 2008 provincial news release announcing the 18-school package, one of the partners in the P3, Babcock and Brown, the project's banker, collapsed under the weight of $3.8 billion of debt, and in August 2009, Deloitte was appointed liquidator.

Alberta Education spokesman Tim Chamberlin called the Brown and Babcock situation an "anamoly" and stated the Alberta school deal was not affected by their financial woes. "The company was able to fulfill our expectations on the build," he stressed. While he declined to "speculate on what might happen in the future" if a P3 partner becomes insolvent, Chamberlin says that the contracts have language that protects Albertans.

In April 2010, the provincial auditor general Merwan Saher scolded the province for a lack of transparency around the project and said the government did a poor job of proving that P3 schools were a good value for taxpayers.

"A value-for-money report was not published in accordance with the procure-

ment framework guidance," Saher wrote.

"The departments did not demonstrate, in a transparent manner, how value for money was obtained."

While Saher stated the project likely saved taxpayers' dollars (although he noted the government overstated cost savings of the first phase to the tune of $20 million) and the process used was fair, he recommended Alberta Infrastructure and Treasury Board follow their own guidelines and publish a valuefor-money report when they sign a P3 contract, as well as clearly outline to the public where cost savings are found.

Chamberlin says his department is confident any deficiencies in the program have been addressed and that Albertans are being well-served. The second phase's 10 schools, three of which are located in Edmonton, are scheduled to open in September 2012. The successful proponent for the third phase of ASAP is also expected to be named at that time.

MIMI WILLIAMS

//MIMI@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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Supervisory Development Citation Provides up-to-date information and advice you need to be an effective leader in your work environment.

Business Analysis Professional Citation Business Analysis is the set of tasks, knowledge, and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions for business problems. This program will be of interest to Business and Project Managers who seek solutions for process improvement and organizational changes as well as Systems Analysts who need to bridge the gap between business processes and technical requirements.

Master of Arts in Communications and Technology What are the knowledge and skills needed to communicate in the new digital workplace? The University of Alberta’s innovative Master of Arts in Communications & Technology is the answer to that question: a part-time, online graduate program designed for working professionals. Don’t give up your busy career to get the leading-edge training you need for success in the new economy. Combine the benefits of classroom interaction with online convenience.

Adult and Continuing Education (CACE) The CACE program is designed to meet the growing need for formal education and training by developing and enriching the knowledge and level of competence of those practicing in the field of adult education.

English Language Program (ESL) Discover a whole new world by studying English at the University of Alberta, from English basics to pronunciation enhancement to university-level English. Small class size means you get lots of opportunity to practice with students from around the world. Both intensive day and part-time evening courses are offered year-round.

Government Studies Local Government Certificate Integrate theory and practice to better understand local government administration. Distance delivery with online components offers flexibility as well as personal contact with the instructor and other students.

Applied Land Use Planning Certificate (ALUP) gives you a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the Alberta planning environment, including legislation, policy and technical issues.

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EDUCATION 25

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Finding an authentic Mediterranean experience A Taste of Europe

// Craig Janzen

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lose your eyes and you might think you were in an Italian osteria. It is late, well after the traditional dining hour, but tables are packed and multiple layers of conversation are interwoven with lively music. Multiple generations of the same family cook and run the front of the house, their enthusiasm infusing the small room with contagious light. Open your eyes and you realize you are nowhere more—or less—exotic than the mature, residential neighbourhood of Delton. This is Café Amore Bistro.

The concept is simple. Hand-written menus hang on the wall and one of the owners, Nick or Cristo Crudo, greets you at your table and takes your order. The kitchen produces an astute assortment of pastas and panini. Pasta specials change daily and today’s offering is inspired by the sunsoaked coast of Calabria. Pasta Calabrese ($10) presents properly al dente penne that loll in a zesty tomato sauce with slices of spicy sausage. A small shaker of red chilies is available for those that wish to up the spice factor but, in my estimation, the kick of this dish is bang-on.

A chicken pizzaiola panino with a green salad ($10.50) is comprised of a crisp bun that cradles a whole, juicy chicken breast caressed with melted cheese and dusted with gentle herbs. A slightly piquant oil-and-vinegar dressing emphasizes the salad greens’ innate earthiness. A half-litre of the house red, a Montepulciano, is ruby red, vivacious and assertive. It matches and emphasizes our entrees and recapitulates the bistro’s animated atmosphere.

Dessert options are limited to sorbetto, which is similar to sorbet in that it is made from fruit juices, but

differs in production methods. We sample generous bowls of strawberry and orange ($5 each). Each spoonful is whisper-smooth and sings of summer fruits, the likes of which will only be delicious fantasies that live in the dark of a winter’s night. A frothy, milky cappuccino ($2.50) is a quintessentially Italian coda to the meal, wrapping up our culinary telekinesis from Edmonton to Italy in a warm cup of joie de vivre.

Café Amore Bistro is an admirable anomaly among Edmonton eateries in its uncanny ability to authentically represent the laid-back, distinctly unpretentious Mediterranean approach to both dining and life. The lines between family, friends and customers are blurred to the point of nonexistence. The owners cook, serve and interact with diners instead of remaining sequestered in an off-site office. To eat at Café Amore Bistro is to experience both the new and the old, the European and North American, artistically arranged over pasta and chased with a properlypulled cup of cappuccino.

LS Vors

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Producers explore ways to keep things fresh

Mike Brown shoots Austin Ross on some untouched powder in Solitaire

F

rom the opening Spanish subtitles paraphrased from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, it's clear that Sweetgrass Productions' 2011 release, Solitaire, is a departure from the ski-porn norm. But does it reflect a conscious desire for change within the industry?

"Naturally what we see is the beauty in the sport, the culture and the lifestyle, and those are the things we want to focus on," says Sweetgrass director Nick Waggoner. "There's been 60 years of films that focus on the other aspects."

A little history: Warren Miller largely invented the ski-porn formula, with its hallmark slick production, thin plots and great action sequences that first inspired the allusion. Of late, however, the industry is undergoing some transformation, punctuated by the recent Level 1 vs Warren Miller Entertainment lawsuit, the rise of "serious" ski films and the in-

stant web edit. For a genre that has largely relied on pure entertainment as its model, suddenly producers and audiences alike are confronting the question about how the industry can and should evolve.

"There's multiple ways to progress ski movies," suggests Zac Ramras, Sweetgrass' producer. "We're trying to explore other options, alternative ways to do that." Looking back at some of the notable releases of 2011, this undercurrent of change in the industry plays out in interesting ways.

All.I.Can Sherpas Cinema With its colourful montage and dramatic scoring, the opening sequence of All.I.Can begins almost like a Fellini movie. Action, the central element of so many ski movies , plays only a co-starring role with scenery and storyline here.

ESPN.com's Jamey Voss called it "the best movie in skiing," and there's a strong argument for that.

The Sherpas certainly brought us the single best segment of 2011 with JP Auclair's street-skiing scene, and the cinematography and locales are incomparable to boot. And as a call to action to skiers et al on "the forefront of climate change," the filmmakers have elevated their message beyond your average ski porn.

But, with such an ambitious endeavour, weighting is delicate—titillation versus education, action versus story—and at times it's hard not to wonder if the scales are somewhat imbalanced, as filmmakers weave storylines in and out, and force viewers to wait patiently for the final payoff while the film attempts to tackle its almost limitless topic. Whether the conclusion lives up to the buildup remains in the "I" of the beholder.

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

Art of Flight Red Bull Media House/Brain Farm Lacing surreal cinematography with over-the-top action, Art of Flight succeeds where many have tried and failed—topping Miller—but it's an empty victory. The pursuit-of-biggeruntracked-lines angle is stale, the gratuitous escalation of action scenes overdone and the personalities flat as cardboard.

Travis Rice seems to have grasped the value of the Western celebrity machine as a moneymaker, but little else. Art of Flight is a thinly veiled, self-promotional vehicle and, quite frankly, Rice comes off as a surly, castrated bull—crotch rocket-jockeying on planes, ocean liners and sleds to service his own ego and powder whims to the point of parody. Had he pushed it a little farther, the film might actually have crossed over into genius—the Dr Strangelove of snow sport.

But he didn't, and it isn't. In one scene he criticizes another athlete who wants to abandon the backcountry for a hospital after a bone-breaking fall.

The camera zooms in on Rice, hawking and spitting from a nosebleed as he voices over generic platitudes about the toughness and sacrifice necessary to achieve greatness.

Seriously? Rice is an amazingly talented athlete, and Red Bull/Brain Farm have the wealth and knack, but the sum is far less than its parts.

Attack of La Niña Matchstick Productions If annual ski-film releases were a political contest, Attack of La Niña would be the sleeper candidate. Coming up the middle between artistic, elevated themes and wanton excess, Matchstick brings some essential levity to the slate, staying true to its heritage.

Where Rice and Co fail, Matchstick excels by communicating the joy of skiing in its unpretentious, self-deprecating way. Colby West camps it up with trademark flair while Mark

Abma, Eric Hjorleifson, Sean Pettit and Rory Bushfield perpetrate juvenile gags (Bushfield's "flipping off everything" entrance is classic) in between spectacular riding so that by the time Pettit and Hoji engineer a descent on the thinnest of spines imaginable it doesn't feel like posturing, it's just an extension of their passion for the sport. Great art it ain't, but great fun for sure.

Solitaire Sweetgrass Productions Finally, Solitaire. While it shares roots with the rest of the films in this genre, this release just feels different. From the aforementioned Spanish subtitles to its understated score and Hemingway-esque storyline (think iceberg theory), there's more thoughtfulness than testosterone in this release.

Without preaching, the film tackles intricate topics, shying away from conclusions and challenging audiences to delve into the issues it unveils. At the film's showing at the Banff Mountain Festival, the first question to Sweetgrass's Nic Waggoner and Zac Ramras was for further explication. This is hardly an indictment, however, but a simple indication of the depth of the subject matter.

Yet, through treating skiing as the physical art form it can be, Sweetgrass is also able to get across some of the exuberance, natural beauty and community elements that enable the sport to transcend formula and genre.

Individual tastes will differ, as they always do. Not every skier will gravitate towards the artistry of Solitaire.

Some may prefer the fist-pumping, supercharged Art of Flight approach.

The answer to how things progress from here lies with every skier and snowboarder, but the growing diversity reflected in the films of 2011 hopefully indicates a rejuvenation of that old favoured standby, the shred flick.

If ski porn is dead, long live ski porn.

JEREMY DERKSEN

// JEREMY@VUEWEEKLY.COM

SNOW ZONE 27

SNOW ZONE // SUNRIDGE

Surviving the lean years

// Jeremy Derksen

In a boom and bust province, Sunridge finds formula for stability

A snowy oasis

N

ature and industry merge at Sunridge Ski Area in strange and complementary ways. The lights of the refineries twinkle in the distance as the ghostly moan of a train echoes across the valley. Everywhere else on the horizon, the hillsides are covered in a hobo patchwork of bare brown vegetation and stale snow.

But here, true to the Edmonton re-

gion's industrious heritage, a hardworking crew of rustlers and technicians has found a way to provide an in-demand, resource-based commodity. From the top of the chairlift, a carpet of mostly man-made snow unfurls in cascading plunges and rolls of white.

Compared to last year's abundance, it's taken considerably more effort to

get that snow in place, says Harold Weissenborn. "Last year we made 90 percent of our snow in 10 days," says the Sunridge general manager/coowner. "This year it took us 45 days to complete the same amount of snowmaking."

It doesn't stop there either. "With the freezing rain and howling windstorms you basically have to go back

and resurface the snow," he laments.

Whereas groomers leave fresh snowfall ungroomed on everything but the green runs when conditions are good, so far this year, "We've had to groom 100 percent every day," he explains.

But the hard work is paying off with consistently smooth cruising on forgiving corduroy. All the rails, kickers and boxes are in place in the terrain

park. And yet, business has tailed off somewhat since early season, Weissenborn reports.

"Because of the lack of natural snow, I don't think as many people are thinking winter activities," says Weissenborn. Just the presence of snow is a motivator, he suggests. "If they see snow in their backyard they want to go play in it."

Still, Weissenborn doesn't seem all that worried. Slender and bespectacled with sandy hair and a clean brush moustache, Weissenborn has an affable air that suggests he's not easily fazed.

Over 22 years, he's seen his fair share of ups and downs, like when the ski area first began planning installation of the chairlift in the early '90s. Situated in the Strathcona Science Provincial Park, Sunridge leases land from the Government of Alberta within the confines of a provincial park—a rare arrangement among Western Canadian resorts. But that presents its own challenges.

"It was difficult for us in those years ... the province seemed to be pulling out of recreation, there were some lean years and difficult negotiations," says Weissenborn. Eventually of course, the lift went ahead.

It opened in 2008, nearly 20 years later—a testament to patience and perseverance. So perhaps it's unsurprising that Weissenborn is taking the current dearth of snow in stride.

It also helps that the area has diversified, adding a snow tubing park in recent years. "That's been very popular ... this year especially because you can't go tobogganing anywhere else."

Down below in the terrain park, a snowboarder gets air off the lip against a backdrop of icy North Saskatchewan River and bare, dry hills.

Whether 2012 turns out lean or abundant, it seems you just have to know how to make the best of it.

Jeremy Derksen

// jeremy@vueweekly.com

28 SNOW ZONE

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SNOW ZONE 29

PREVUE // DEEP FREEZE FESTIVAL

Hot frozen

Deep Freeze fest heats up Alberta Avenue

Carvin' some ice

Deep Freeze Festival Sat, Jan 7 – Sun, Jan 8 118 Avenue deepfreezefest.ca

D

eep-freezer races, an ice castle with an 18-person hot tub, belly dancing, Ukranian food, a '50s and '60s swimwear fashion show, snow painting—the 2012 Deep Freeze Festival lineup reads as though someone opened up organizer Christy Morin's head, scooped out all the weird and wonderful ideas and plopped them down on Alberta Avenue.

"I think it's fair to say there's something for everyone," says the festival producer gleefully, after reeling off a program that stretches from snowy games to French-Canadian snacks to mummers, with more than you can imagine in between. "It's going to be very interesting, fun and familyfriendly ... a blend of arts, culture and sport."

Now in its fifth year, the two-day fest gets underway this Saturday at noon with street hockey tournaments, curling, live music, chainsaw ice-carving, wagon rides and more, scattered along three closed blocks of 118 Avenue between 92 and 94 Streets. While Saturday has a distinctly Francophone feel with cabane à sucre (maple syrup served on snow) and competition de boucheron (log cutting), by Sunday we're across the ocean to the Ukraine for traditional dance, music and food—

30 SNOW ZONE

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

perogies anyone?

"A brand new element this year is the Cool Runnin's Deep Freezer Race," Morin effuses. "We've gutted freezers, bolted skis to the bottom and taken off the lid. We tried it out the other day and they're actually very stable; it's really good fun."

Teams of five can sign up to join in the races, where three people leap into a specially-modified deep freezer (having strapped on their own helmets) while their accompanying teammates give them a good push.

As well as the new, organizers have stuck with all the long-standing festival favourites: the Saturday night dance (surf themed); ice skating, snowshoeing and other outdoors sports; the artisan market and gallery; and the annual mummers play contest.

"It's great to come along if the postChristmas blues are kicking in—the whole community should come and be part of it," Morin says. "Everything is pay-what-you-can, along with donations to the Food Bank."

With a whopping 14 000 person attendance in 2010, the snowstorms of last year dampened visitor numbers, but Morin is hoping for 2012 to be a record-breaking year. "If we could get 14 to 18 000 I'd be very happy," she says. With her quirky blend of outdoor activities, arts and music and melding of cultures, she might just get her wish.

Kate Irwin

// kate@vueweekly.com

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SNOW ZONE 31

FALLLINES

HART GOLBECK // HART@vueweekly.com

Getting ready for a polar bear dip

Jasper in January kicking off

This year the Jasper in January Festival takes place from January 13 – 29.

Just to ensure a loud and raucous start, on Friday the 13th, several parties will be taking place around town.

Papa George's Restaurant will get things started with a Casino Royalethemed party at 6 pm. Nearby, at the Whistle Stop Pub, the Kokanee Kick Off party will continue the celebrations from 9 pm right through to the wee hours of the morning. For a change, you can always stroll across the street to the Athabasca Hotel where Edmonton's Mourning Wood will perform for two nights.

But Jasper in January organizers are working hard to ensure the fest appeals to more than just skiers and boarders. There are dozens of events for all ages taking place throughout the town and up at Marmot Basin, including cooking battles, snowball T:10.25”

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and a screw that goes into the threaded hole on the helmet. This is, after all, one of the few replaceable parts on a helmet and must be a common problem with teenagers throwing their gear around. Fact is, if this had been a hockey helmet, it would have been fixed in less than two minutes. But no, these snow sports helmets are special, none of the competing manufacturers use matching parts and buyers can choose between going without repair or buying a new $70 – $100 lid.

I'm guessing that actually the helmet manufacturers aren't supplying parts or the shops simply can't be bothered. Either way, it's unfortunate.

Peeved, I went home, cut a small strip of nylon with rivet attached off an old golf bag rain cover and then attached it to the helmet with a matching screw (can't believe I found one).

Problem solved and $100 saved. All it needed was a little innovation. V

fights, a polar bear dip and even a winter pentathlon. Head to jasperinjanuary.com for a complete listing of all the events. As always, hotel rates and lift tickets are greatly reduced and snow conditions are looking promising.

SNOW ZONE // DOGS

A dog's life

Training an avalanche rescue dog n the blue darkness beneath several feet of snow, all sound is muted except for muffled, padding footsteps.

Suddenly, a dog's muzzle bursts through the wall of snow in a spray of wet crystals. Sniffing, searching, its bristly hairs brush against me.

I give Jonah an old woolly toque as his reward and he goes bounding off toward his handler, Jeff Andrews, to wrestle and play in the snow. I climb out of the shadowy pit into the white glare of a beautiful alpine day.

This is only a practice scenario for Jonah, a German Shepherd-Husky cross, but it's as close to the real thing as I ever hope to get. If I were ever caught in an avalanche, though, I'd definitely be glad to have him on my trail.

Jonah is a trained rescue dog with the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA). Andrews, his handler, is an avalanche technician with North West Avalanche Solutions and a former head of safety operations for Marmot Basin ski patrol.

"I've had dogs all my life and I've worked in avalanche control since 2000," he explains. Joining CARDA seemed a natural fit. "When we lost our family pet, I decided to try it out."

Andrews rescued Jonah from the Hinton SPCA in 2003 and the duo began training a year later, achieving CARDA certification in 2006. Together, the two make a formidable team.

Jonah can often sniff out buried "victims" in less than a minute but, more importantly, CARDA dogs like Jonah can locate victims who aren't wearing avalanche beacons much faster than a manual search team, making them an invaluable resource on a rescue, where every second counts.

Of course, like all dogs, Jonah was born with an impressive scenting ability, thought to be 1000 times more sensitive than the human nose.

Stretched end to end, his olfactory nerves would extend half the length of an average adult human body.

The human nose, by comparison, has nerves that would stretch the length of an unfolded paper clip.

A gifted nose is essential, but it takes a lot more than that to be a CARDA dog. All prospective rescue dogs are assessed as puppies to determine whether they have the right temperament and aptitude. A good rescue dog must be obedient, be an

// Jeremy Derksen

I

A welcome sight—the less hairy half of an avalanche rescue team

aggressive hunter and perform well in a series of tests.

The final validation exam for CARDA certification involves a search for two articles of clothing and a backpack spread out over a 100-metre square plot, buried at depths of 75 – 80 centimetres. In addition, the animal must demonstrate basic obedience in a fiveminute off-leash test.

Rigorous as the program is, the animals are also motivated by the prospect of rewards for a job well done.

Usually this involves treats and play time. "Playing rag" is a common game, often using a scarf, toque or other clothing item in a joyful game of tugof-war—the more over-the-top the better. "If you're not acting like an idiot, you're not doing it well," says Andrews.

This training and reward system is also why handlers tend to prefer the public not to play with or pet the dogs while on the ski hill, as it can send the wrong message. "He is a pet but he's also a tool," says Marshall Dempster of his young Border Collie, Bandit,

"The rules are different at the hill or at home."

Dempster is currently an avalanche technician at Marmot, entering the CARDA training program with Bandit this season. He credits Andrews and Jonah as an inspiration. "It was amazing to watch how fast they searched and the camaraderie they enjoyed. It seemed so rewarding to watch the dog succeed and have that happy celebration—and potentially save someone's life."

There are also the unforeseen benefits. Sometimes, Dempster confesses, the training goes both ways. "I think he knew all along and I just had to figure out how to get it out of him," he muses. "It's not far from him throwing the ball and me going to get it."

Dempster may be joking but his comments are more accurate than he may realize. Watching Andrews and Jonah play after my rescue scenario experience, it's pretty clear who's the star of the team.

JEREMY DERKSEN

// JEREMY@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

SNOW ZONE 33

ARTS

YEAR IN REVIEW // DANCE

A year on its feet

The year of dance, reviewed by some of Edmonton's finest dancers

twins—that woman is astounding! As amazing as she is there is something about her dancing that is very, very honest and, reflecting back on the show, her honesty is what moved me most of all."

Jean Grande-Maitre, artistic director of Alberta Ballet "My favourite dance moment of 2011 was seeing Galien Johnston performing in the world premiere of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (sometimes known as The Sarah McLachlan Ballet). [Johnston was] a seasoned artist at the height of her artistry, bidding farewell to the stage with extraordinary poise, inspiring integrity and unmatchable emotional depth."

A moment from the National Ballet's 60th anniversary tour // Cylla von Tiedemann

E

dmonton stages saw a great many dance moments in 2011, including the return of Pilobolus after an absence of nearly two decades and a memorable visit from One Yellow Rabbit's Denise Clarke at the Expanse Movement Arts Festival, not to mention the intense physicality seen in new local productions like Windrow Performance's Backwater

and Cowardly Kiss' Night Time—all indicators that dancers and audiences are keen to develop movement ideas in this city.

With that in mind, Vue polled some of Edmonton's dance minds for their favourite moments in 2011.

Amber Borotsik, co-founder of Windrow Performance

"The National Ballet took my breath away. Every piece was a joy and if I could have gone both nights I would have—even now I feel hungry to see those works again. The Man in Black

by James Kudelka in particular was profoundly and surprisingly touching.

I feel the same kind of longing when I think back to seeing Louise Lecavalier: a virtuoso dancer, a mother of

Raena Waddell, independent choreographer "As an audience member, there were a few shows that affected me on a profound level. Having the opportunity to dance with Christopher House and Rosemary James of the Toronto Dance Theatre in March during a two-day workshop was a delight. Then to see the company perform and to witness the deep support and love Christopher exudes for his dancers was heartwarming to say the least. I haven't forgotten what Christopher said during the artist talkback after the show: 'Silence is to sound what stillness is to

movement.' That's almost like a 'reset button' I think of every time I am in the studio creating new work."

Brian Webb, artistic director of Brian Webb Dance Company "In the fall the National Ballet of Canada celebrated its 60th anniversary with a tour of contemporary ballets (which BWDC presented at the Jubilee Auditorium). William Forsythe's ballet, the second detail, was an absolutely beautiful amalgamation of choreography and dancing. They were fused together so amazingly strongly that I could not separate one from the other."

Vue's pick?

Good Women Dance Collective's Ainsley Hillyard and her Nextfest Nightclub send-up of the now infamous SunTV interview with Margie Gillis. Hillyard's piece was performed in front of a projection screen that showed the interview to the soundtrack of "For the Love of Money"—with strategically interspersed sound bites from the original exchange for spice. How to make a reporter who belittles dance look really dumb? Have a skilled dancer imitate said reporter through actual dancing. Double points for Ms Hillyard's generous, ironic scattering of Monopoly money.

Fawnda Mithrush

// fawnda@vueweekly.com

YEAR IN REVIEW // THEATRE

Curtain call

Reflections on the ups and downs of the theatre season

F

or our look back at the theatre season that was, two of Vue's regular theatre critics picked some high and lows that stood out on stages over the past 12 months.

Good: Michael Peng Early in the year, Michael Peng found himself forced to drop out of the cast of Workshop West's An Almost Perfect Thing and focus on recovering his personal health after being striken with a life-threatening injury, a bleak situation for anyone to find themselves in. But since then, he's emerged back into the scene with a renewed vitality about him: a summer Fringe remount of a previous Fringe hit, Bashir Lazhar, took him across a couple of continents in the titular role, and earned him a best actor nomination at the Edinburgh Fringe, one of five performances nominated out of more than 2000. Locally, he's kept up the pace, launching his Wishbone Theatre (co-run with Chris Bullough) from Fringes to the main season; the company staged the excellent, Peng-directed Falling: A Wake, earlier this the fall, and is tackling Waiting for Godot in the coming months.

34 ARTS

We're lucky to have his talents working primarily within our city limits. PB Bad: Overlapping runs At several points throughout the year there were three or even four different shows opening at the exact same time, and while this is evidence of a vibrant theatre scene, a direct consequence is that the small, independent companies tend to get screwed in the process: forced to choose between them, many theatre patrons gravitate toward performances at the larger, established theatres, leaving the smaller shows with far too many empty seats. Furthermore, the resources of arts writers trying to cover everything are stretched thin, and inevitably someone won't get the coverage they deserve.

To avoid this pitfall, theatre houses and companies will need to work together to stagger show runs, keeping a consistent flow without putting so many in direct competition with one another. Perhaps there's an opportunity for an entrepreneurial web designer to come up with a networking site to facilitate this process? mP

Good: Incorporating multimedia elements Going beyond a mere soundtrack or projected background scenery, several companies focused on producing multimedia shows this year. I called it "Multimedia March" because that month saw the staging of three large-scale multimedia performances: Trent Wilkie's Gargamel, Surreal SoReal's Dog and Studio Theatre's The Gertrude Stein Project. The multimedia elements in these productions went beyond mere ambience and became central to the plot: crucial details were revealed in Gargamel's video montages, the audio narration and satirical overdubs in Dog were engaged with directly by the characters, and The Gertrude Stein Project wove a live video feed, shot onstage, into its explorative montage.

Throughout the year several other performances also made use of multimedia elements, with mostly successful results.

It's a trend I'd like to see continue, with the caveat that productions take the time to use it well—it's not as easy as simply plunking a video into the middle of a show. mP Bad: A particularly safe 11/12 season

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

Blame the recession, perhaps, the lack of an indie5 season (currently on hiatus) or a broader worry of a diminishing number of butts in seats in live theatre venues across the city, but the theatrical season we're currently working through seems to have left most of its risks off of the stages. Tried-and-true one handers are coming off the Fringe circuit to take on mainstages, but more generally, shows that value broad appeal or offer big, well-known names are being valued over anything resembling artistic risk. The sweet spot between commercial appeal and envelope-pushing is tricky to find, of course, and while there isn't anything wrong with trying to hedge your bets and program something that might pack a theatre, the number of shows actually trying to push any sort of boundaries seems in even shorter supply than usual.

The theatrical edge Edmonton companies have always brandished so well is seeming a little, well, less edgy. PB Bad: Infinite MacIvor I get it. Daniel MacIvor's a gifted writer who has a veritable treasure trove of compelling scripts, and, as we saw at his Citadel appearance in This is What Happens Next, happens to be a fantastic performer to boot, worth seeing whenever possible. The individual merits of his works are undeniable. But they could use a bit of a rest: there's been no less than

three MacIvor scripts given the full-run treatment this year (I feel I might be forgetting another one or two), with more on the horizon—and that's not even counting the usual handful of MacIvors that pop up around the Fringe. His excellence as a playwright is undeniable, but there's plenty of other great Canadian theatre voices out there that deserve some stage time, too. PB Good: North-end theatre revival The heart of Edmonton's theatre community may undoubtedly rest within the Old Strathcona area (with a strong contingent at the Citadel downtown), but this year also saw a marked increase in the number of shows in the 118th Avenue area. Rapid Fire Theatre has started doing a monthly TheatreSports show in the Avenue Theatre, which is the locus for this revitalization of theatre in the north end of the city; a few other companies and several festivals have also made use of the space over the past year. While it is still very much in a nascent stage, I'm confident that the coming years will see the development of a healthy north-end counterpart to the bustling south-end theatre scene. mP Paul Blinov // paul@vueweekly.com Mel Priestley // mel@vueweekly.com

YEAR IN REVIEW // BOOKS

Turn the page

Our intrepid book writer's picks for the year's best writing

E

very time year-end list season rolls around, I get gun-shy when it comes to ranking my picks. I mean, I love all of these books—why do they have to compete with one another?

So what usually happens is a kind of flip-floppy Everybody Gets a Trophy Day, where it's impossible to tell what's the best of the best, and what just barely made the cut.

Well, no more. This year, I'm putting numbers, and my foot, down. Let's do this thing.

5) Kate Beaton, Hark! A Vagrant (Drawn & Quarterly) My knowledge of Canadiana is spotty at best. So thank goodness for Kate Beaton, whose long-beloved webcomic starts with a deep understanding of our nation's history, then runs it through a filter of petty bickering, yeti cameos and dick jokes. If you're not careful, you might learn something between the guffaws. (And don't worry, history-phobes: she also takes on everything from King Lear to Wonder Woman's weird costume to an entrepreneur shouting, "Gentlemen, I propose my bottom!") Lovingly collected in one beautiful volume by Drawn & Quarterly, it reads like the world's greatest textbook doodle.

4) John Jeremiah Sullivan, Pulphead (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) GQ's best-kept secret does an elegant high-dive into the depths of American culture in this, his first collection of

essays. Sullivan is a modern virtuoso of the form, and his instincts are impeccable: from Michael Jackson to murderous stingrays, cave paintings to One Tree Hill, he digs up the weird and the wonderful every time. Best of all is Sullivan's authorial voice, whose curiosity and humanity are enviably evergreen. If I put it out there that I think we'd make great pals, that's not weird, right? Right?

Western mixes in exhilarating dashes of black humour and cover-your-eyes violence—but these have been written about a million times. Instead, let me praise the oft-overlooked climax, which brings Eli and Charlie face to face with the inventor they've been hunting, as well as a gold-rush claim whose spoils literally glow in the dark.

(Disclosure: deWitt is my friend. Do with that what you will.)

3) Hannah Pittard, The Fates Will Find Their Way (Ecco) Sure, using the first-person plural will automatically lend your book a kind of stately resonance, but Hannah Pittard's debut novel actually deserves to keep it. The chorus in Fates is a pack of hormonal, secretly grieving teenage boys, obsessed—for years—with a suddenly departed female classmate.

What makes the novel so powerful, though, is how Pittard conducts her headstrong choir: it shifts and coalesces into several distinct shapes, each boy given small moments of individual mourning before slowly retreating into the anonymous blob.

1) Chris Bachelder, Abbott Awaits (Louisiana State University Press) Reason #863 why mainstream publishing deserves to go down in flames: it let the third novel by the brilliant Chris Bachelder slip right through its fingers. Abbott Awaits is a novel-in-vignettes about a father struggling to get through the day-today of his summer vacation, and it deserves to be trumpeted on Eugenidesian billboards across the continent.

Hilarious, not to mention structurally daring and gorgeously rendered, it captures middle-class masculinity in all its rudderless, petulant, cripplingly self-conscious glory. Yet you won't find it in any bookstore, and that is a goddamn crime.

2) Patrick deWitt, The Sisters Brothers (House of Anansi) Let's not be coy. The multi-award-winning sophomore novel from Vancouver Island native Patrick deWitt is every bit as good as the hype, and anyone who says otherwise is probably just playing some kind of weird contrarian game. DeWitt's revisionist, picaresque

The Next Five: Daniel Orozco, Orientation; David Foster Wallace, The Pale King; Lynn Coady, The Antagonist; José Saramago, Cain; Helen DeWitt, Lightning Rods.

MIchael Hingston

IO D A OW R H T S I H MEDY S ' C CB CH CO T SKE

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E G A T S N O

cbc.ca/irrelevantshow

// Michael@vueweekly.com

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

ARTS 35

YEAR IN REVIEW // VISUAL ARTS

Look longer, think harder Reflections on a year of visual arts

H

ere is the art in Edmonton that made me want to look longer, look closer and think harder in 2011: Solo Exhibit: Gary James Joynes/Clinker, 12 Tones, Latitude 53 Latitude kicked off a strong year of programming with this powerful exhibit by Edmonton artist Joynes. This show provided more than a viewing experience—it was a powerful, overwhelming immersion in raw, tonal sound—sound seen, heard and felt through your whole body. This intensity was so well balanced by photos of sand mandalas, suggesting the meditative aspect of the art experience, each created through the vibration of one of those intense tones.

Sherri Chaba's The Silence of Chaos

Group Exhibit: Up North, AGA This exhibit featured Kevin Schmidt's exploration of the changing Canadian north, Jacob Dahl Jürgensen and Simon Dybroe Møller's "Flotsam and Jetsom"— which details an excursion by the artists

and friends to explore a deserted island through the material remains, and convert them to music­—and Ragnar Kjartansson's video work, "The End," which brings rock-star bravado into the quiet snowy Rocky Mountains. These works

call to artists

Call to Artists - Request for Portfolios Quarters Transitory Art Project Budget:

$2500 plus materials fee

Eligibility:

Edmonton-based artists

Deadline:

4:30 pm on Monday, January 30, 2011

Installation: June 2012 Duration:

July 15 - August 30, 2012

CalltotoArtists Artists- -Request Requestfor forQualifications Proposals Call

The Boyle Street Renaissance Phase 1: Boyle Community Centre Budget:

$31,500 CAD (maximum, all inclusive)

Eligibility:

All Canadian visual artists

Deadline:

4:30 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Installation: Summer 2012

Call to Artists - Call for Portfolios The Edmonton Arts Council public art program invites artists to submit their portfolios to be kept on file for direct calls.

Deadline: ongoing.

Visit our website to download the complete public art calls:

http://publicart.edmontonarts.ca/calls/ The public art competitions listed above are held in accordance with the City of Edmonton policy “Percent for Art to Provide and Encourage Art in Public Areas” (C458C).

For more information, contact the Edmonton Arts Council: p: (780) 424–2787 | e: publicart@edmontonarts.ca

edmontonarts.ca 36 ARTS

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

spoke strongly of personal connections with the land, and how sound can transform our understandings of isolated spaces. The exhibit conveyed the possibilities for innovation in the oft-explored subject of the landscape.

Public Art: Jasper Avenue Art Banners and 104th Street Colour Alley Mural Whenever I find myself on Jasper Avenue between 97 and 109 Street, my downtown experience is enriched as I read the poem by former Edmonton poet laureate Roland Pemberton (aka Cadence Weapon), which graces the banners with imagery from local artists Tim Rechner, Anya Tonkonogy, Pearl Rachinsky and Nickelas "Smokey" Johnson. This work, as well as the "transitory topographical mural project" featuring the work of Robert Harpin, Karen Campos and Teng Cheng, just off Jasper Avenue on the east side of 104 Street, encourage creative new ways we can be thinking about and interacting with our downtown.

Collaborations and innovations inside/outside the gallery It's important to celebrate the continued collaborations between our art organizations, such as how Latitude 53, SNAP and Harcourt House join forces each summer for DRAW. The Fast and Dirty Curatorial Collective drew people into an Edmonton backalley to see The Garage Show, garages transformed into art spaces, and Latitude 53 experimented with temporary public art in unusual outdoor spaces in the McCauley neighbourhood in In/stall/ed.

Other excellent exhibits of note Edmonton artist Sherri Chaba's two solo exhibits, Life-Line at Harcourt House and The Silence of Chaos at the AGA, Adrian Stimson's Buffalo Boy at The Works Art & Design Festival, Lisa Rezansoff's New Prints at Latitude 53 and her show with Tim Grieco at SNAP, Eyes in the Wild.

Carolyn Jervis

// carolyn@vueweekly.com

artifacts

PAUL BLINOV // PAUL@vueweekly.com

Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival / Sat, Jan 7 – Sun, Jan 8 As we enter January with it still looking like winter's only just arrived outside, the fifth annual Deep Freeze: Byzantine Winter Festival's theme of Surf's Up seems pretty apt: given the snow out there versus what we're used to, it's essentially balmy, don'tforget-your-SPF-30 weather, making it ideal for wandering the festival's three closed-off blocks of Alberta Ave over the course of a weekend, taking in a family friendly mix of cultural events that celebrate Franco-Albertan, Franco-African, First Nations and South American communities.

From the instrumental groove of the Tsunami Bros Surf Band scoring a Saturday night dance to an afternoon of French Canadian food and culture—à sucre for la tire, anyone?—as well as a gallery sale to wander, winter mini-golf to partake in, a log-cutting competition, mummers plays to bear witness to, and scads more. Given that the weekend forecast has us hovering around 0 degrees, now's the time to take it all in. (118 Avenue between 92 and 94 Streets)

ARTS WEEKLY FAX YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO 780.426.2889 OR EMAIL LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3pm

Dance Brian Webb Dance • Jubilee Audito-

rium, 11455-87 Ave • New Work by La La La Human Steps: Édouard Lock creates two works separated by composer, era, and theme weaving a story about the shadow… the ending of love rather than its romantic phase • Wed, Jan 18 • $36-$55 at TicketMaster, TIX on the Square

FILM Cinema At the Centre • Library

Theatre, Stanley A. Milner Library basement, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7000 • epl.ca • Centre for Reading and the Arts showcases little-known films every month • The Hedgehog; Wed, Jan 11, 6:30pm

Downtown Docs • Stanley A.

Milner Library Theatre (basement level) • 780.944.5383 • Documentaries with attitude • The Greatest Movie Ever Sold • Thu, Jan 19, 6:30pm • Free

FAVA • 9722-102 St • 780.429.1671 • Main

Course: Intermediate production • Jan 7-Apr 28; every Sat, 10am-2pm • $795 (early bird,

by Oct 28, 2011)/$845

From Books to Film series • Stanley A. Milner Library, Main Fl, Audio Visual Rm • 780.944.5383 • Screenings of films adapted from books, presented by the Centre for Reading and the Arts • Planet of the Apes, 112 minutes (1968) PG; adapted from Pierre Boulle’s novel Le Planete des Singes; Fri, Jan 6, 2pm • The Fly, 100 minutes (1986) 14A, film version of George Langelaan‘s short story; Fri, Jan 13, 2pm

GALLERIES + MUSEUMS ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL GALLERY

• 10186-106 St • 780.488.6611 • albertacraft. ab.ca • The Recipients: 2011 Alberta Craft Award Recipients • Jan 7-Feb 18 • Opening reception: Jan 7, 2-4pm • THINKING BIG: Unveiling public art projects; Jan 14-Apr • Reception: Sat, Jan 14, 2-4pm

Artery • 9535 Jasper Ave • 780.441.6966

• theartery.ca • Solstice Art Show: and Concert Featuring Zeal Art featuring Art

by John DenOuden, Kaelyn Saunders, and Kelsey Huget, Peter Mol ( Junkyard poets); Jan 13, 8pm; $5 (adv at Blackbyrd)/$10 (door)

Art from the Streets–Red Deer •

4935-51 St • Group Show; Art from the Street 2012 calendars available • Through Jan • Reception: Fri, Jan 6, 6-8pm

Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) • 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.422.6223 • youraga.ca • BMO World of Creativity: Drawn Outside: especially for kids; until Jan 29 • 19th Century French Photographs: until Jan 29 • Prairie

Life: Settlement and the Last Best West, 1930-1955: until Jan 29 • A Passion for Nature: Landscape Painting from 19th Century France: until Feb 20 • State of Nature: until Feb 20 • RBC New Works Gallery: Arlene Wasylynchuk: Saltus Illuminati: until Jan 15 • UP NORTH: Artworks by four contemporary artists from three circumpolar countries: Jacob Dahl Jürgensen, Simon Dybbroe Møller (Denmark), Ragnar Kjartansson (Iceland), and Kevin Schmidt (Canada); until Jan 8

Art Gallery Of St Albert (AGSA)

• 19 Perron St, St Albert • 780.460.4310 • Lost and Found: Photos by Paul Burwell; drawings and sculptures by Cynthia Fuhrer; until Jan 28 • Artist At Heart: Face To Face, for adults: Sat, Jan 14, 10am-12pm; $15 • Artventures: Spectacular Snowflakes: drop-in art for ages 6-12; Sat, Jan 21, 1-4pm; $5

CENTRE D’ARTS VISUELS DE L’ALBERTA • 9103-95 Ave • 780.461.3427 • Group show • Until Feb 28

Corridor Community Gallery– Red Deer • Recreation Centre, Lower

Level, 4501-47A Ave, Red Deer • Artworks by Marianne Harris • Through Jan • Opening: Fri, Jan 6, until 9:30pm

Crooked Pot Gallery–Stony Plain • 4912-51 Ave, Stony Plain • 780.963.9573 • Northern Lights: In celebration of the Alberta Winter Games-winter themed pottery and giftware • Until Feb 29

Daffodil Gallery • 10412-124 St,

780.482-2854 • Gallery artists • Through Jan

Expressionz Café • 9938-70 Ave•

780.437.3667 • expressionzcafe.com • Group show, admission by donation • Through Jan, Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm

FAB Gallery • Department of Art and Design, U of A, Rm 3-98 Fine Arts Bldg • 780.492.2081 • Innovation Technology Design: Huiwen Hi Wen, for Master of Design in Industrial Design • Wilderness Homeland: Anna Gaby-Trotz: MFA Printmaking • Until Jan 14 Gallery at Milner • Stanley A. Milner

Library Main Fl, Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.944.5383 • epl.ca/art-gallery • The Light of the Lakeland: Watercolour landscapes

by Patricia Coulter • Steel Bridges: Works

by James Gaa • Until Jan 31 • Reception: Jan 8, 2-4pm

Gallerie Pava • 9524-87 St,

780.461.3427 • second Regard II: Photos

by Denise Parent; until Jan 11 • Le Rapprochement: Artworks by a collective of four photographers from Québec; Jan 14-Feb 22

Harcourt House • 3rd Fl, 10215-112 St • 780.426.4180 • harcourthouse.ab.ca • Main Gallery: Mind Control Tricks: Paul Freeman • Front Room Gallery: forma: Wenda Salomons • Until Jan 21

Harris-Warke Gallery–Red Deer •

Sunworks Home and Garden Store, Ross St, Red Deer • 403.346.8937 • harriswarkegallery. com • Pictures from a Sick Mind: Works on paper by Ontario artist, Chris Shoust • Jan 9-Feb 12 • Opening reception: Mon, Jan 9, 6-8pm

Jeff Allen Art Gallery • Strath-

cona Seniors Centre, 10831 University Ave • 780.433.5807 • seniorcentre.org • The Adventure Continues: Landscape photos

Blackstone / Wed, Jan 11

Locally-made TV that lasts is a rarity, which makes the increasing success and acclaim surrounding Blackstone all the more unlikely: an Edmonton-made drama that's managed to drum up a pair of Geminis among other awards, it's set on the fictional Blackstone First Nation, and delves deeply into the tumultuous lives of its residents. Its second season premiers on Wednesday. (APTN)

by Patt and Ben Nearingburg • Until Jan 25 • Reception: Jan 11, 6:30-8:30pm

Kiwanis Gallery–Red Deer • Red Deer Library • The Gardens at Trevarno: Artworks by Sally Towers-Sybblis • Jan 5-Feb 26 • Reception: Fri, Jan 6, 6:30-8:30pm Hub on Ross–Red Deer • 4936 Ross

St, Red Deer • 403.340.4869 • hubpdd.com • Spirit of the People: Stand-Up Medicine Bear • Through Jan • Reception: Fri, Jan 6, 5-7pm

Kiwanis Gallery–Red Deer •

Red Deer Library • The Gardens at Trevarno: Artworks by Sally TowersSybblis; Jan 5-Feb 26 • First Friday reception: Jan 6, 6:30-8:30pm, artist in attendance

Latitude 53 • 10248-106 St •

780.423.5353 • latitude53.org • Main Gallery: Striking a Pose: Videos by Emmanel Licha, chronicles the exploits of the “War Tourist,” a character in search of compelling situations in conflict spots around the world; Jan 13-Feb 11 • ProjEx Room: Pollination Proposition: Artworks by Nicole Rayburn • Jan 13-Feb 11 • Opening: Jan 13, 7-10pm; curator's talk by Marie-Hélène Leblanc before the opening, at 6pm

Legislature • West Lawn, 109 St, 98 Ave • IceonWhyte.ca • Ice and snow carvings by artists from Heilongjiang, China • Thu, Jan 12-22, 11am-9pm

McMULLEN GALLERY • U of A Hospital,

8440-112 St • 780.407.7152 • Nature: Paintings inspired by poet Chon Sang-Pyon’s poem, Back to Heaven; artworks by Kyung Hee Hogg • Until Feb 5

Michif Cultural and Métis Resource Institute • 9 Mission Ave,

St Albert • 780.651.8176 • Aboriginal Veterans Display • Gift Shop • Finger weaving and sash display by Celina Loyer • Ongoing

Mildwood Gallery • 426, 6655-178 St • Mel Heath, Joan Healey, Fran Heath, Larraine Oberg, Terry Kehoe, Darlene Adams, Sandy Cross and Victoria, Pottery by Naboro Kubo and Victor Harrison • Ongoing Misericordia Community Hospital • 16940-87 Ave • Year End Show and

Sale: Artworks by members of the Edmonton Art Club • Until Jan 28

Multicultural Centre Public Art Gallery (MCPAG)–Stony Plain

• 5411-51 St, Stony Plain • 780.963.9935 • A Soldier's Story: Paintings by Judy Martin • Jan 6-Feb 8 • Opening reception: Jan 8, 1-3:30pm

Musée Héritage Museum–St Albert • 5 St Anne St, St Albert • 780.459.1528

• St Albert History Gallery: Artifacts dating back 5,000 years • Take Your Best Shot: Photos by youth (8-18 yrs old) • Until Feb 5

Muttart Conservatory • The

Snow Queen’s Garden • Until Jan 9, weekdays 10am-5pm; weekends, holidays 11am–5pm

Naess Gallery • Paint Spot, 10032-81

Ave • 780.432.0240 • paintspot.ca • So What Happens Now?: Artworks by Jan Melissa Soleski • Jan 5-29 • Reception: Sat, Jan 7, 2-4pm

Peter Robertson Gallery • 12304

Jasper Ave • 780.455.7479 • probertsongallery. com • Winter Group Show: New artworks by gallery artists • Until Feb 4

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

Royal Alberta Museum • 12845102 Ave • 780.453.9100 • A River Runs Through It: Until Feb 5 • Narrative Quest: Until Apr 29

Haven Weekly Reading Series: every Mon, 7pm presented by the Stroll of Poets Society

Strathcona County Gallery@501 • 501 Festival Ave, Sherwood

Writiers Guild • Percy Page Bldg, 3rd Fl, Rm 8, 11759 Groat Rd (back entrance) • Exchanging ideas and edits: Starting a successful writing group with author Natasha Deen • Sat, Jan 14, 1-3pm • Free (Member)/$5 (non-member) at the door

SNAP Gallery • Society Of North-

WunderBar • 8120-101 St • 780.436.2286 • The poets of Nothing, For Now: poetry workshop and jam every Sun • No minors

Park • 780.410.8585 • strathcona.ca/artgallery • Blair Brennnan, Richard Boulet and Patrick Reed; Jan 9-Feb 26

ern Alberta Print­-Artists, 10123-121 St • 780.423.1492 • snapartists.com • Artworks by Mark Franchino • Jan 12-Feb 11 • Opening reception: Jan 12

TELUS World of Science • 11211-

142 St • Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition: human stories told through artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the Titanic and extensive room re-creations; until Feb 20 • Discoveryland

VAAA Gallery • 3rd Fl, 10215-112 St

• 780.421.1731 • Gallery A: Pictographs

by Seka Owen; until Jan 21 • Gallery B: Perception-Life on Venus/Life on Mars: Photographs by Anne Marie Resta; until Jan 21

Visual Arts Studio Association of St Albert • Perron Street Studio, 11b

Perron Str, St Albert • 780.460.5993 • Palm Trees on Perron: Soak up the atmosphere of palms–a way to cope with the harsh reality of Alberta winter • Until Jan 28

LITERARY Artery • 9535 Jasper Ave • 780.441.6966

Literary Saloon: reading series the 2nd Thu every month; Oct-May, 7pm (door)

Audreys Books • 10702 Jasper Ave • 780.423.3487 • CAA Writer in Residence Jannie Edwards in the store every Wed; Jan 18-Apr 25, 12-1:30pm Blue Chair Café • 9624-76 Ave • 780.469.8755 • Story Slam: 2nd Wed each month From Books to Film series • Stanley A. Milner Library, Main Fl, Audio Visual Rm • 780.944.5383 • Screenings of films adapted from books, presented by the Centre for Reading and the Arts • Planet of the Apes, 112 minutes (1968) PG; adapted from Pierre Boulle’s novel Le Planete des Singes; Fri, Jan 6, 2pm • The Fly, 100 minutes (1986) 14A, film version of George Langelaan‘s short story; Fri, Jan 13, 2pm Leva Cappucino Bar • 11053-86 Ave •

olivereadingseries.wordpress.com • The Olive Poetry Reading Series: 2nd Tue each month; Sep-Apr, 7pm, open mic to follow

Rouge Lounge • 10111-117 St •

780.902.5900 • Poetry every Tue with Edmonton's local poets

T.A.L.E.S. TELLAROUND • Stanley Mil-

ner Library - Rm 7, 6th Fl, 100 St-102 Ave • 780.932.4409 • talesstorytelling.com • 2nd Fri each month until Jun, 7-9pm • Free event

T.A.L.E.S. STORY CAFÉ SERIES •

Rosie’s Bar, 10475-80 Ave • 780.932.4409 • talesstorytelling.com • 1st Thu each month, open mic opportunity • Until Jun, 7-9pm • $6 (min) • Year Of The Dragon; open mic opportunity • Jan 5, 7-9pm • $6 minimum cover

Upper Crust Café • 10909-86 Ave • 780.422.8174 • strollofpoets.com • The Poets’

THEATRE Big Shot • Roxy, 10708-124 St, vari-

ous other venues throughout Edmonton • 780.453.2440 • attheroxy.com • Theatre Network, presented by Surreal SoReal Theatre, by Jon Lachlan Stewart, starring Jon Lachlan Stewart, Directed by Georgina Beaty • Previews: Jan 10-11; Jan 12-22 • Tickets at Theatre Network’s box office, 780.453.2440

Chimprov • Varscona Theatre, 10329-83 Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Rapid Fire Theatre’s longform comedy show: improv formats, intricate narratives, and one-act plays • First three Sat every month, 11pm, until Jul • $10/$5 (high school student)/$8 (RFT member at the door only)

Corner Gassed 2 • Jubilations Dinner Theatre, 2690, 8882-170 St, Phase II WEM Upper Level • 780.484.2424 • jubilations.ca • Brent and the rest of the town find themselves stuck in the middle when Owen and his best friend Frank both decide to run for Mayor of Cat Creek • Until Jan 21 DIE-NASTY • Varscona Theatre, 10329-83

Ave • 780.433.3399 • rapidfiretheatre.com • The live improvised soap opera featuring improvisors Dana Andersen, Matt Alden, Leona Brausen, Peter Brown, Belinda Cornish, Tom Edwards, Jeff Haslam, Kory Mathewson, Mark Meer, Sheri Somerville, Davina Stewart, Stephanie Wolfe, and Donovan Workun • Every Mon, until May, 7:30pm (subject to change) • Tickets at the box office

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

• Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • 1.866.540.7469 • BroadwayAcrossCanada. ca • Broadway Across Canada • Until Jan 8; Tue-Fri 8pm; Sat-Sun: 1pm; Sat-Sun: 6:30pm • Tickets start at $25 at TicketMaster, BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca

Seussical™ • Citadel Shoctor Theatre,

9828-101A Ave • 780.428.2117 • citadeltheatre.com • Family Series: Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, co-conceived

by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Eric Idle, directed by Allen MacInnis; a Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People production. The world of Dr. Seuss comes alive in this colourful musical production • Jan 14-29

TheatreSports • Varscona Theatre,

10329-83 Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Improv runs every Fri, until Jul, 11pm (subsject to occasional change) • $10/$8 (member)

THE WEDDING SINGER • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615-109 Ave • 780.483.4051 • mayfieldtheatre.ca • With a brand-new score that pays homage to pop songs of the 1980's, The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer just might have been the coolest guy in the room • Until Feb 5

ARTS 37

MUSIC

YEAR IN REVIEW // MUSIC

Time travel, sounds, and silence I

t's always humbling at year's end to remember you've missed so much—you never can hear all the worthwhile music, know all the worthwhile bands, go to all the worthwhile shows.

This is less of a problem, thankfully, the older one gets. To a maddening extent, you're stuck with the generation you're born into. Even when you're a teenager discovering music older than your parents, you're saddled in the historical accident of your conception, and you listen to ancients with contemporary ears. Youth swirls in a maelstrom of creative churning, but the noise falls away through adulthood, and you're left with a set of artists—however varied—who limn the borders of a common experience; who help you make sense of who you are, where you are, when you are. How a generation—a fractious jumble of humans with little in common but a haphazard pile of birthdays—coheres into a demographic force moving through time together, shaping circumstance, is one of the great mysteries of culture.

So while I appreciate new artists, the music that resonates with me mostly comes from people I've listened to all my life. And the music I loved in 2011 won't be pegged to that calendar year, but accumulate meaning as it lives alongside me.

When an artist you know and love releases an album you love. I've listened to Bill Callahan since I was a sullen, alienated teenager and he was a sullen, alienated lo-fi pioneer called Smog. I first heard him lying in the dark listening to middle-ofthe-night college radio as the deejay played the whole first side of Sewn to the Sky. It was thrilling. He was awkward, expressed little regard for the conventions of musicality and seemingly didn't care if he was liked, but he had made this album that groped out for ... something. Fifteen or so albums later, now working under his own moniker, he released Apocalypse, a deeply humane and musical work that moved me so much I cried the first few times I heard it, even though parts of his wordplay were as prodding and funny as ever. Callahan covers so much in it—from his pride and disappointment in his country and its legacy and influence, to the boundaries between who an artist is and what he makes, to the rewards and reckonings on the precipice of middle age.

No one speaks more eloquently on male desire than Callahan has and does, and few artists have so generously shared the beauty and terror in their evolution as a person, the pains and comforts of a raw sort of umbilical psychological connection

to the rest of us humans, as he has.

When an artist you know and love releases an album you hate. I love the Mountain Goats. I have communed with the music of John Darnielle since someone lent me a hissing cassette of Zopilote Machine in the early '90s. He's one of my desert island artists, and I'd follow him anywhere. So it was devastating and strange to hear All Eternals Deck and feel ... nothing. In fact, there were parts of it that I downright hated. I listened three times in a row, just to make sure I hadn't made some terrible cognitive error, and then listened to everything else he's ever made, to compare. Nothing. I put it away until a few weeks ago, when I listened again, and while I still don't love it, it's my old friend John, and I can hear him and everything I've always loved in him in it, and maybe it'll grow on me. But I must say I was mightily relieved when I heard a track from his upcoming album and immediately swooned.

When an artist you know and love dies. Trish Keenan (of Broadcast) died of complications from pneumonia on January 14, 2011. My generation lost part of its voice.

Mary Christa O'Keefe // marychrista@vueweekly.com

YEAR IN REVIEW // MUSIC

Vue music writer/Edmonton songwriter Douglas Hoyer's

Top Ten records of 2011 10) The Burning Hell, Flux Capacitor The Burning Hell's Mathias Kom has always gone for lyrical laughs, but knows that fine comedy sits uncomfortably close to tragedy. With a new band lineup heavy on strings, horns and wind instruments, the Burning Hell has reconstructed itself while building on all its previous strengths, writing witty, funny songs that are only a few dance steps away from pulling a tear from your eye.

9) James Blake, James Blake Regardless if it is "post-dubstep" or whatnot, James Blake has offered us a beautifully crafted album. His voice slides and slinks with vocal effects over sparse synths and piano so that every note is deliberate and every dynamic truly felt. A meditation on minimalism, this is a glimpse into the future.

8) The Weeknd, House of Balloons I feel like the Weeknd's Abel Tesfaye

38 MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

grew up studying R Kelly without irony and with unhealthy sincerity.

The Weeknd is the voice of party people feeling guilty; not for what goes on after the after-party, but because it'll go down again without remorse.

7) St Vincent, Strange Mercy With Strange Mercy, Annie Clark clearly illustrates that her talents in the unconventional and imaginative stretch beyond her songwriting and into the realm of her virtuosic guitar work. In a similar path cleared by Adrian Belew, she makes her guitar sound more like animal calls than a stringed instrument, without sacrificing solid songwriting.

6) Sean Nicholas Savage, Trippple Midnight Karma Although Savage released a trilogy of cassettes this year, the most irresistible and undeniable of the three would be the lo-fi, blue-eyed soul of

Trippple Midnight Karma. Each song is sonically uplifting with joyful, dare I say groovy vibes, but behind every melody lies Savage's frank, yearning lyrics.

5) Braids, Native Speaker Braids is heavily influenced by Feelsera Animal Collective but brings the spacey, hypnotic atmospheres into a new direction. Although the songs are a tight web spun from each band member, lead singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston's cheeky lyrics and voice find their way between being delicate and deceptively ferocious.

Both the album and the band's live show are a "must hear."

4) tUnE - yArDs, W H O K I L L Every element of W H O K I L L is fascinating. Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner use dense and distorted percussion, bass and ukulele to create CONTINUED ON PAGE 39 >>

LOONIE BIN PAUL BLINOV // PAUL@vueweekly.com

A few of the year's finest songs written by those residing within YEG city limits.

Jessica Jalbert, "Stupid Hollow" A lush, late-cut off of Jalbert's blissfully

serene Brother Loyola let a leading drumline boost up jangling guitars while horns coasted overhead, leaving just enough room in the mix for Jalbert's already otherworldly voice to pull you further in.

Pure pop hypnosis.

10442 whyte ave 439.127310442 whyte ave 439.1273 TOP TEN RECORDS OF 2011 << CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

an unstoppable rhythmic force. But Garbus's unique vocals steal the spotlight with her cadence, slang and massive range belting out syncopated lyrics focusing on social, economic and romantic politics.

3) Jens Lekman, An Argument With Myself Who else but Sweden's Jens Lekman could craft a beautiful song about stalking Kirsten Dunst as she's turned away from a bar and turn it into a commentary about the economic and social welfare of his home town? Lekman finds the perfect balance in exploring his own personal existential crisis and social issues in the five songs on this EP, a delicious teaser to his new album in 2012.

2) Destroyer, Kaputt Yes, there are numerous delayed saxophone solos. Yes, there is chorus on the guitar. Yes, there are dreamy synthesisers padding the bulk of the album. Yes, Dan Bejar dials back his normal stream of consciousness rambling lyrics into something refined and yes, Kaputt is definitely one of the best albums of the year.

1) Bon Iver, Bon Iver I first listened to Bon Iver's self-titled album while driving across a vast sea of prairies, letting the sounds shape a subtle soundtrack. At first the only song that grabbed me was the cheesy album closer, "Beth/Rest," but over the coming months the consistent, reflective tone of the album flooded into my life and I found myself returning to it over and over, and I recommend you do the same.

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Douglas Hoyer

// douglas@vueweekly.com

The Fight, "Electric Avenue" The teetering, rock 'n' roll soundtrack to a burnout in progress. The feeling of going too fast and knowing it gets captured here in a gloriously jagged cascade of guitar, drum and bass, culminating in the best chorus hook anyone threw down all year.

Mark Davis, "Eliminate The Toxins" A kiss-off to leaving your old troubles behind, "Eliminate the Toxins" helped kick off a roots album that twisted the genre into a few new bends. Davis writes music like old soul suddenly afflicted with wanderlust: he has plenty of experience honing his craft, but doesn't seem to have lost the youthful need to explore and experiment with style and sound. The refusal to settle is a good fit for him.

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

MUSIC 39

MUSIC WEEKLY FAX YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO 780.426.2889 OR EMAIL LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM

DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

THU JAN 5

Accent folk/jazz/pop/

singer-songwriter live music Thu; 9:30pm11:30pm; no minors; no cover Blues on Whyte King Muskafa Brittanys Kenny Hillaby hosts a jazz session night every Thu with Shadow Dancers, Maura and Jeanelle; no cover CARROT Zoomers Thu afternoon open mic; 1-4pm

Cha Island Tea Co

Live on the Island: Rhea March hosts open mic and Songwriter's stage; starts with a jam session; 7pm Druid DJ every Thu at 9pm J R Bar Live Jam Thu; 9pm L.B.'s Open jam with Kenny Skoreyko, Fred LaRose and Gordy Mathews (Shaved Posse) every Thu; 9pm-1am

Marybeth's Coffee House–Beaumont

Open mic every Thu; 7pm New City Bingo is Back every Thu starting 9pm; followed by Behind The Red Door at 10:30pm; no minors; no cover NOLA Early Show: Kelly Alanna Trio, 6-9pm; Every Thursday Night: Nick Martin; 10pm

NORTH GLENORA HALL Jam by Wild Rose Old Time Fiddlers every Thu Ric’s Peter Belec (jazz);

most Thursdays; 7-10pm

Sherlock Holmes– Downtown Goodvin Sherlock Holmes– WEM Tony Dizon That's Aroma Open stage hosted by Carrie Day and Kyler Schogen; alternate weeks; 7-9pm

Wild Bill’s–Red Deer TJ the DJ every Thu and Fri; 10pm-close

DJs 180 Degrees DJ every Thu

Blackdog Freehouse Underdog:

Underdog Sound Revue: garage, soul, blues with Stu Chel; Main Floor: Soul/ reggae/punk/funk/junk with DJ Jaime Del Norte; Wooftop Lounge: Various musical flavas including funk, indie dance/nu disco, breaks, drum and bass and house with DJ Gundam Brixx Radio Brixx with Tommy Grimes spinning Rock n Roll; 8pm (door); no cover Century Room Lucky 7: Retro '80s with house DJ every Thu; 7pm-close Chrome 123 Ko every Thu Common So Necessary: Hip hop, classic hip hop, funk, soul, r&b, '80s, oldies and everything in between with Sonny Grimezz, Shortround, Twist every Thu Crown Breakdown @ the crown with This Side Up! hosted by Atomatik and Kalmplxx DJ Druid DJ every Thu; 9pm

electric rodeo– Spruce Grove DJ every Thu

FILTHY McNASTY’S

Something Diffrent every Thursday with DJ Ryan Kill

FLASH NightClub

Indust:real Assembly: Goth and Industrial Night with DJ Nanuck; no minors; 10pm (door); no cover FLUID Thirsty Thursdays: Electro breaks Cup; no cover all night

FUNKY BUDDHA– Whyte Ave Requests

every Thu with DJ Damian HALO Fo Sho: every Thu with Allout DJs DJ Degree, Junior Brown HILLTOP The Sinder Sparks Show; every Thu and Fri; 9:30pm-close KAS BAR Urban House: every Thu with DJ Mark Stevens; 9pm Level 2 Funk Bunker Thursdays Lucky 13 Sin Thu with DJ Mike Tomas

On The Rocks

Salsaholic: every Thu; dance lessons at 8pm; salsa DJ to follow

Overtime– Downtown Thursdays at

Eleven: Electronic Techno and Dub Step rendezvous Metal night every Thu

Taphouse–St Albert

Eclectic mix every Thu with DJ Dusty Grooves Union Hall 3 Four All Thursdays: rock, dance, retro, top 40 with DJ Johnny Infamous

Wild Bill’s–Red Deer

TJ the DJ every Thu and Fri; 10pm-close

FRI JAN 6

Apex Casino–Vee Lounge GB Roots (blues folk) with Kirby Green and David Barber; 9pm

Blue Chair Café

Samantha Schultz, Joe Nolan; 8:30-10:30pm; $15 Blues on Whyte King Muskafa CARROT Live music every Fri; all ages; 7pm; $5 (door)

Century Casino

Mimi Chu (Cantonese pop songs); 6pm (door), 7pm (show); $44.95 at Century Casino, Ticketmaster; no dance floor show

Coast to Coast

Open stage every Fri; 9:30pm Devaney's Andrew Scott DV8 N.N., Riot in Paradise, Touchitandyouwillsyow; 9pm FRESH START TV Dinners with Ryan Davidson; all ages; 7-10pm; $10 Haven Sean Sonego, AW Cardinal, JP Stewart (folk/ pop); 8pm (door); $10 Irish Club Jam session every Fri; 8pm; no cover

Jekyll and Hyde Pub Headwind (classic

pop/rock); every Fri; 9pm; no cover Lizard Rock 'n' roll open mic every Fri; 8:30pm; no cover NEW CITY Punk and Proud Tape Drive (to benefit the innocent detainees of Indonesia’s war on punk) Deadhead, Catastrophe, Second Yellow; no minors; $5 (w/ tape)/$8 (without) NOLA Early Show: Kelly Alanna Trio, 6-9pm; Late show: Marco Claveria Project, 9:30-midnight PAWN SHOP J.K. and the Relays, Feast or Famine, Utopian Skank, Old World Sparrows; 8pm; $5 (adv) at Blackbyrd Red Piano Hottest dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Fri; 9pm-2am

Rose and Crown Lyle Hobbs

Sherlock Holmes– Downtown Goodvin Sherlock Holmes– WEM Tony Dizon

Wild Bill’s–Red Deer

TJ the DJ every Thu and Fri; 10pm-close Wunderbar Greg Rekus, The Ghostwrite, Jon Creeden, James Renton; 8:30pm; $5

DJs 180 Degrees DJ every Fri

AZUCAR PICANTE DJ

Papi and DJ Latin Sensation every Fri BAR-B-BAR DJ James; every Fri; no cover

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Every Friday

DJs spin on the main floor, Underdog and the Wooftop Blacksheep Bash: DJ spinning retro to rock classics to current Boneyard The Rock Mash-up: DJ NAK spins videos every Fri; 9pm; no cover Brixx sOptions Fridays: 10pm (door) after early show BUDDY’S DJ Arrow Chaser every Fri; 8pm (door); no cover before 10pm

Buffalo Underground R U

Aware Friday: Featuring Neon Nights CHROME Platinum VIP every Fri Common Boom The Box: every Fri; nu disco, hip hop, indie, electro, dance with weekly local and visiting DJs on rotation plus residents Echo and Shortround Druid DJ every Fri; 9pm

electric rodeo– Spruce Grove DJ every Fri

FILTHY McNASTY'S

Shake yo ass every Fri with DJ SAWG FLUID Hip hop and dancehall; every Fri

Funky Buddha– Whyte Ave Top tracks,

rock, retro with DJ Damian; every Fri HILLTOP The Sinder Sparks Show; every Thu and Fri; 9:30pm-close

junction bar and eatery LGBT Community: Rotating DJs Fri and Sat; 10pm

Newcastle Pub

House, dance mix every Fri with DJ Donovan

Overtime– Downtown Fridays

at Eleven: Rock hip hop, country, top forty, techno Rednex–Morinville DJ Gravy from the Source 98.5 every Fri RED STAR Movin’ on Up: indie, rock, funk, soul, hip hop with DJ Gatto, DJ Mega Wattson; every Fri

Sou Kawaii Zen Lounge Fuzzion Friday:

with Crewshtopher, Tyler M, guests; no cover Starlite Room KLUB OMFG!; 9pm Suede Juicy DJ spins every Fri Suite 69 Every Fri Sat with DJ Randall-A Temple Options with Greg Gory and Eddie Lunchpail; every Fri Treasury In Style Fri: DJ Tyco and Ernest Ledi; no line no cover for ladies all night long Union Hall Ladies Night every Fri Vinyl Connected Las Vegas Fridays

Y AFTERHOURS

Foundation Fridays

SAT JAN 7

ALBERTA BEACH HOTEL

Open stage with Trace Jordan 1st and 3rd Sat; 7pm-12

Apex Casino–Vee Lounge GB Roots (blues folk) with Kirby Green and David Barber; 9pm

40 MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

Artery Trevor Tchir

(folk/rock), Jody Shenkarek, Fear and Worry; 8pm Avenue Cleanse Kill, Exits, Those are Them, Maintain Status Quo (ska/ punk), The R.O.B OG Experience (jazz); all ages; 6:30pm (door); $7 (adv)/$10 (door)

Black Dog Freehouse Hair of the

Dog: (live acoustic music every Sat); 4-6pm; no cover

Blue Chair Café

Danielle and the Deadbeats; 8:30-10:30pm; $10

Blues on Whyte

Every Sat afternoon: Jam with Back Door Dan; Evening: King Muskafa Brixx Canyon Rose Outfit, Twenty Centuries of Stony Sleep, Lucky and Stoned; 9pm

Bunker Sports Pub Open Jam every Sat

afternoon, hosted by the Recollection Blues Band, 3pm; Auditions at Sat jams for bookings in 2012 (blues, classic rock, country groups), 3-7pm Coast to Coast Live bands every Sat; 9:30pm Crown Acoustic blues open stage with Marshall Lawrence, every Sat, 2-6pm; every Sat, 12-2am Devaney's Andrew Scott DISH NEK Trio (jazz); every Sat, 6pm DV8 Bastard Son, Horror Business, Snakebite; 9pm Eddie Shorts Saucy Wenches every Sat Expressionz Open stage for original songs, hosted by Karyn Sterling and Randall Walsh; 2-5pm; admission by donation

Filthy McNasty's

The Frolics (send off party), Sermon on the Mountain Haven Mindweiser, The Catalyst Imprint, guests (folk, rock and roll); 8pm (door); $10 HillTop Sat afternoon roots jam with Pascal, Simon and Dan, 3:306:30pm; evening Hooliganz Live music every Sat Iron Boar Jazz in Wetaskiwin featuring jazz trios the 1st Sat each month; $10 l.b.'s Sat afternoon Jam with Gator and Friends; 5-9pm

New West Hotel

Country jam every Sat; 3-6pm O’byrne’s Live band

every Sat, 3-7pm; DJ every Sat, 9:30pm NEW CITY Thoroughbred Racing Pigeon, Industrial Arts, Rusty, guests; no minors; $8 (door) NOLA Early Show: Kelly Alanna Trio, 6-9pm; Late show: Marco Claveria Project, 9:30-midnight Pawn Shop Early Show: Oh Messy Life (EP Release), California Lane Change, Strong Hearts Red Piano Hottest dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Sat; 9pm-2am

Rose and Crown Lyle Hobbs

Sherlock Holmes– Downtown Goodvin Sherlock Holmes– WEM Tony Dizon Sideliners Sat open stage; 3-7pm

Starlite Room

Dahlmers Realm (CD release), Apollo Doctrine, Knife Fight in the O.R.; 9pm West Side West Side Pub Sat Afternoon: Dirty Jam: Tye Jones (host), all styles, 3-7pm

WESTBURY THEATRE

Lucette (country-folk, album release); 7pm, followed by a Southern style reception, meet and greet; $10 at TransAlta Arts Barns

Classical Winspear A Wild

Symphonic Ride: Symphony for Kids: Lucas Waldin (conductor), Strathcona High School Theatre, Sugar Swing Dance Club, Kim Precht (aerialist), Knock School of Irish Dance; 2pm, Pre-concert Activities: 1-1:45pm; $22-$29 (adult)/$13-$17 (child)

DJs 180 Degrees Street

VIBS: Reggae night every Sat AZUCAR PICANTE DJ Touch It, hosted by DJ Papi; every Sat

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Saturday

evenings feature DJs on three levels; Main Floor: The Menace Sessions: Alt rock/Electro/Trash with Miss Mannered; Wooftop: Sound It Up!: classic hiphop and reggae with DJ Sonny Grimezz Blacksheep DJ every Sat

Boneyard DJ Sinistra Saturdays: 9pm BUDDY'S Feel the rhythm every Sat with DJ Phon3 Hom3; 8pm (door); no cover before 10pm Buffalo Underground Head

Mashed In Saturday: Mashup Night Common GoodLife: House, disco, nudisco, with Dane, Kenzie Clarke, more; 9pm-2am; $5 (door) Druid DJ every Sat; 9pm

electric rodeo– Spruce Grove DJ every Sat

FILTHY McNASTY'S

Fire up your night every Saturday with DJ SAWG Fluid Scene Saturday's Relaunch: Party; hip-hop, R&B and Dancehall with DJ Aiden Jamali

FUNKY BUDDHA– Whyte Ave Top tracks,

rock, retro every Sat with DJ Damian HALO For Those Who Know: house every Sat with DJ Junior Brown, Luke Morrison, Nestor Delano, Ari Rhodes junction LGBT Community: Rotating DJs Fri and Sat; 10pm Newcastle Top 40 requests every Sat with DJ Sheri New City Polished Chrome: every Sat with DJs Blue Jay, The Gothfather, Dervish, Anonymouse; no minors; free (5-8pm)/$5 (ladies)/$8 (gents after 8pm)

Overtime– Downtown Saturdays

at Eleven: R'n'B, hip hop, reggae, Old School Palace Casino Show Lounge DJ every Sat

PAWN SHOP

Transmission Saturdays: Indie rock, new wave, classic punk with DJ Blue Jay and Eddie Lunchpail; 9pm (door); free (before 10pm)/$5 (after 10pm) RED STAR Indie rock, hip hop, and electro every Sat with DJ Hot Philly and guests ROUGE Rouge Saturdays: global sound and Cosmopolitan Style Lounging with DJ Rezzo, DJ Mkhai

Sou Kawaii Zen Lounge Your

TEMPLE Oh Snap! Oh

Snap with Degree, Cool Beans, Specialist, Spenny B and Mr. Nice Guy and Ten 0; every Sat 9pm Union Hall Celebrity Saturdays: every Sat hosted

by DJ Johnny Infamous Vinyl Signature Saturdays Y AFTERHOURS Release Saturdays

Winspear Sundays at 3: Canadians Near and

Devaney's: Far (organ concert series fourth annual Stuart and Jan. 6-7 Andrew WinonaScott Davis memorial tribute recital): Michael Jan. 9 Andrew Scott Unger (organ); 3pm; $25 (adult)/$22 (student/senior) Jan. 11 Duff Robinson Jan 13-14 Alesha DJs and Brendon

SUN JAN 8

Beer Hunter–St Albert Open stage/jam

every Sun; 2-6pm

Blackjack's–Nisku

Open mic every Sun hosted

by Tim Lovett

Blue Chair Café

Sunday brunch: Rosette Guitar Duo; 10am-2pm; donations DEVANEY’S Celtic open stage every Sun with KeriLynne Zwicker; 5:30pm; no cover Double D's Open jam every Sun; 3-8pm Eddie Shorts Acoustic jam every Sun; 9pm

FILTHY McNASTY'S

Rock and Soul Sundays with DJ Sadeeq Hogs Den Dirty Jam: hosted by Tye Jones; open jam every Sun, all styles welcome; 4-8pm Newcastle Sun Soul Service (acoustic jam): Willy James and Crawdad Cantera; 3-6:30pm NEW CITY DIY Sunday Afternoons: 4pm (door), 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm (bands) O’BYRNE’S Open mic every Sun; 9:30pm-1am On the Rocks Seven Strings Sun: ORLANDO'S 2 Open stage jam every Sun; 4pm

Pourhouse Bier

Singer-songwriter open stage with Jay Gilday; every Sun, 9pm-close

Yellowhead Brewery Open Stage:

Every Sun, 8pm

Classical Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Sunday afternoon concerts: Dongkyun An (cello), Sarah Ho (piano); in conjunction with the Edmonton Recital Society; 3pm; free

Muttart Hall

Famous Saturday with Crewshtopher, Tyler M Suede DJ Nic-E spins every Sat Suite 69 Every Fri Sat with DJ Randall-A

Edmonton Youth Orchestra 31th Annual Northern Alberta Concerto Competition (piano/organ, voice); tickets at TIX on the Square

haven 15120A (basement), Stony Plain Rd, 780.756.6010 HillTop 8220-106 Ave, 780.490.7359 Hogs Den 9, 14220 Yellowhead Tr Holy Trinity Anglican Church 10037-84 Ave HOOLIGANZ 10704-124 St, 780.995.7110 Hydeaway 10209-100 Ave, 780.426.5381 Iron Boar 4911-51st St, Wetaskiwin JAMMERS 11948-127 Ave, 780.451.8779 J AND R 4003-106 St, 780.436.4403 JEKYLL AND HYDE 10209-100 Ave, 780.426.5381 junction 10242-106 St, 780.756.5667 KAS BAR 10444-82 Ave, 780.433.6768 L.B.’s 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LEGENDS 6104-172 St, 780.481.2786 LEVEL 11607 Jasper Ave, 2nd Fl, 780.447.4495 Lit Italian Wine Bar 10132-104 St Lizard 13160-118 Ave Marybeth's Coffee House–Beaumont 5001-30 Ave, Beaumont, 780.929.2203 McDougall United Church 10025-101 St Muttart Hall Alberta College, 10050 Macdonald Dr Newcastle 6108-90 Ave, 780.490.1999

New City 8130 Gateway Boulevard (Red Door) Nisku Inn 1101-4 St NOLA 11802-124 St, 780.451.1390 NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535-109A Ave O’BYRNE’S 10616-82 Ave, 780.414.6766 ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 Orlando's 1 15163-121 St Overtime–Downtown 10304-111 St, 780.465.6800 Overtime Whitemud Crossing, 4211-106 St, 780.485.1717 PAWN SHOP 10551-82 Ave, Upstairs, 780.432.0814 Playback 594 Hermitage Rd, 130 Ave, 40 St Pleasantview Community Hall 10860-57 Ave Pourhouse Bier 10354 Whyte Ave REDNEX–Morinville 10413-100 Ave, Morinville, 780.939.6955 Red Piano 1638 Bourbon St, WEM, 8882-170 St, 780.486.7722 RED STAR 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.428.0825 Rendezvous 10108-149 St Ric’s 24 Perron Street, St Albert, 780.460.6602 ROSEBOWL/ROUGE 10111117 St, 780.482.5253 Rose and Crown 10235101 St R Pub 16753-100 St, 780.457.1266

LIVE MUSIC

JAN 6 & 7, ANDREW SCOTT JAN 9, ANDREW SCOTT JAN 11, DUFF ROBINSON JAN 13 & 14, ALESHA AND BRENDON edmontonpubs.com

BACKSTAGE TAP

Industry Night: every Sun with Atomic Improv, Jameoki and DJ Tim

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Soul Sundays: A fantastic voyage through '60s and '70s funk, soul and R&B with DJ Zyppy. Dance parties have been known to erupt FLOW Stylus Sun SAVOY Reggae on Whyte: RnR Sun with DJ IceMan; no minors; 9pm; no cover

MON JAN 9

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Sleeman

Mon: live music monthly; no cover

Blues on Whyte

George Taylor and the House of Payne Devaney's Singer/ songwriter open stage every Mon; 8pm NOLA Early show: Jeff Hendrick Duo, 6-9pm

DEVANEY’S IRISH PUB

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DAY OF THE WEEK? SATURDAY & SUNDAY, BREAKFAST UNTIL 4PM SUNDAY, CELTIC MUSIC MONDAY, SINGER SONG WRITER TUESDAY, WING NIGHT WEDNESDAY, OPEN STAGE, PIZZA w/ JUG NIGHT THURSDAY, CHEAP JUG NIGHT

PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Acoustic instrumental old time fiddle jam every Mon; hosted by the Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Society; 7pm

Rose Bowl/Rouge

Acoustic open stage every Mon; 9pm

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Blue Jay’s Messy Nest: mod, brit pop, new wave, British rock with DJ Blue Jay Crown Minefield Mondays/House/Breaks/ Trance and more with host DJ Phoenix, 9pm

FILTHY McNASTY'S

Metal Mondays with DJ Tyson Lucky 13 Industry Night every Mon with DJ Chad Cook NEW CITY Madhouse Mon: Punk/metal/etc with DJ Smart Alex

TUE JAN 10

Blues on Whyte

DOWNTOWN

Jan 5-7, AJ GOODVIN • Jan 10-14, TONY DIZON EDMONTONPUBS.COM • FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

WEM

Jan 5-7, TONY DIZON • Jan 10-11, ANDREW SCOTT Jan 12-14, DOUG STROUD • SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE

VENUE GUIDE 180 Degrees 10730-107 St, 780.414.0233 Accent 8223-104 St, 780.431.0179 Apex Casino–Vee Lounge 24 Boudreau Rd, St Albert, 780.590.1128 ARTery 9535 Jasper Ave Avenue Theatre 9030-118 Ave, 780.477.2149 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 10425-82 Ave, 780.439.1082 Blackjack's Roadhouse– Nisku 2110 Sparrow Drive, Nisku, 780.986.8522 Blacksheep 11026 Jasper Ave, 780.420.0448 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 Blue Pear 10643-123 St, 780.482.7178 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 Bohemia 10217-97 St Boneyard 9216-34 Ave, 780.437.2663 Brittanys 10225-97 St Brixx 10030-102 St (downstairs), 780.428.1099 BUDDY’S 11725B Jasper Ave, 780.488.6636 Bunker Sports Pub 615 Hermitage Rd Casino Edmonton 7055 Argylll Rd, 780.463.9467 Casino Yellowhead 12464-153 St, 780 424 9467 Century grill 3975 Calgary Tr NW, 780.431.0303 Cha Island Tea Co 10332-81 Ave, 780.757.2482 CHROME 132 Ave, Victoria

Trail Coast to Coast 5552 Calgary Tr, 780.439.8675 Common 10124-124 St Crown 10709-109 St, 780.428.5618 Crown and Anchor 15277 Castledowns Rd, 780.472.7696 Diesel 11845 Wayne Gretzky Drive, 780.704.CLUB Devaney’s 9013-88 Ave, 780.465.4834 DISH 12417 Stony Plain Rd, 780.488.6641 DRUID 11606 Jasper Ave, 780.454.9928 DUSTER’S 6402-118 Ave, 780.474.5554 DV8 8307-99 St Eddie Shorts 10713-124 St, 780.453.3663 Electric Rodeo–Spruce Grove 121-1 Ave, Spruce Grove, 780.962.1411 Elephant and Castle– Whyte Ave 10314 Whyte Ave Expressionz 9938-70 Ave, 780.437.3667 FIDDLER’S ROOST 8906-99 St FILTHY MCNASTY’S 10511-82 Ave, 780.916.1557 FLASH NightCLUB 10018-105 St, 780.996.1778 FLOW 11815 Wayne Gretzky Dr, 780.604.CLUB Fluid 10888 Jasper Ave, 780.429.0700 FUNKY BUDDHA 10341-82 Ave, 780.433.9676 Good Earth 9942-108 St HALO 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.423.HALO

Second Cup • 89 Ave 8906-149 St • Summerwood Summerwood Centre, Sherwood Park, 780.988.1929 • Sherwood Park 4005 Cloverbar Rd, Sherwood Park, 780.988.1929 Sideliners 11018-127 St, 780.453.6006 Sou Kawaii Zen Lounge 12923-97 St, 780.758.5924 Sportsman's 8170-50 St STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 STEEPS TEA–Whyte Ave 11116-82 Ave Suede 11806 Jasper Ave, 780.482.0707 Suite 69 2 Fl, 8232 Gateway Blvd, 780.439.6969 Taphouse 9020 McKenney Ave, St Albert, 780.458.0860 Treasury 10004 Jasper Ave, 7870.990.1255, thetreasurey.ca Vinyl 10740 Jasper Ave, 780.428.8655 Westside Pub 15135 Stony Plain Rd 780 758 2058 Wild Bill’s–Red Deer Quality Inn North Hill, 7150-50 Ave, Red Deer, 403.343.8800 Winspear 4 Sir Winston Churchill Sq, 780.28.1414 WUNDERBAR 8120-101 St, 780.436.2286 Y AFTERHOURS 10028-102 St, 780.994.3256, yafterhours.com Yellowhead Brewery 10229-105 St, 780.423.3333 Yesterdays 112, 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert, 780.459.0295

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

JAN 6 & 7

lyle hobbs

JAN 13 & 14

Andrew Scott

In Sutton Place Hotel #195, 10235 101 Street, EDMONTONPUBS.COM

MUSIC 41

George Taylor and the House of Payne Druid Open stage every Tue; with Chris Wynters; 9pm L.B.’s Tue Blues Jam with Ammar; 9pm-1am NOLA Jeff Hendrick Duo, 6-9pm O’BYRNE’S Celtic jam every Tue; with Shannon Johnson and friends; 9:30pm Padmanadi Open stage every Tue; with Mark Davis; all ages; 7:30-10:30pm R Pub Open stage jam every Tue; hosted by Gary and the Facemakers; 8pm

Second Cup– Summerwood Open

stage/open mic every Tue; 7:30pm; no cover

Sherlock Holmes– Downtown Tony Dizon Sherlock Holmes– WEM Andrew Scott DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main

Floor: alternative retro and not-so-retro, electronic and Euro with Eddie Lunchpail; Wooftop: One Too Many Tuesdays with Rootbeard Brixx Ruby Tuesdays

guest with host Mark Feduk; 8pm; This week: Comedy: Neil Rhodes, Sean Lecomber, J.P. Fournier, Music: CJ King, Sara Isabel Buddys DJ Arrow Chaser every CRown Live hip hop and open mic with DJs Xaolin, Dirty Needlz, Frank Brown, and guests; no cover DV8 Creepy Tombsday: Psychobilly, Hallowe'en horrorpunk, deathrock with Abigail Asphixia and Mr Cadaver; every Tue NEW CITY High Anxiety Variety Society Bingo vs. karaoke with Ben Disaster, Anonymouse every Tue; no minors; 4pm-3am; no cover RED STAR Experimental Indie Rock, Hip Hop, Electro with DJ Hot Philly; every Tue

WED JAN 11

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Glitter Gulch: live music once a month

Blues on Whyte George Taylor and the House of Payne

Cha Island Tea Co

Whyte Noise Drum Circle:

Join local drummers for a few hours of beats and fun; 6pm eddie shorts Acoustic jam every Wed, 9pm; no cover

Elephant and Castle–Whyte Ave Open mic every Wed (unless there's an Oilers game); no cover

Second Cup–89 Ave

Fiddler's Roost

Little Flower Open Stage every Wed with Brian Gregg; 8pm-12 Good Earth Breezy Brian Gregg; every Wed; 12-1pm

HAVEN SOCIAL Club

Open stage every Wed with Jonny Mac, 8:30pm, free HOOLIGANZ Open stage every Wed with host Cody Nouta; 9pm Nisku Inn Troubadours and Tales: 1st Wed every month; with Tim Harwill, guests; 8-10pm NOLA Jeff Hendrick Duo, 6-9pm Playback Open Stage every Wed hosted by JTB; 9pm-1am

PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Acoustic Bluegrass jam presented by the Northern

JONESIN'CROSSWORD

Bluegrass Circle Music Society; Slow pitch for beginners on the 1st and 3rd Wed prior to regular jam every Wed, 6.30pm; $2 (member)/$4 (nonmember) Red Piano Wed Night Live: hosted by dueling piano players; 8pm-1am; $5 Rick Mogg (country)

Sherlock Holmes– Downtown Tony Dizon Sherlock Holmes– WEM Andrew Scott Wunderbar Happy

Trendy, Sugarglider, Martyrs, James Rockliff; 8:30pm

Classical McDougall United Church Trio Buena Vista

(flute, violin and piano); 12:10-12:50pm; free Winspear ESO Overture; 12-1pm; free, one-hour information session and backstage tour

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main

Floor: RetroActive Radio: Alternative '80s and '90s, post punk, new wave,

garage, Brit, mod, rock and roll with LL Cool Joe; Wooftop: Soul/Breaks with Dr. Erick Brixx Really Good... Eats and Beats: every Wed with DJ Degree and Friends BUDDY'S DJ Dust 'n' Time every Wed; 9pm (door); no cover Common Treehouse Wednesdays Diesel Wind-up Wed: R&B, hiphop, reggae, old skool, reggaeton with InVinceable, Touch It, weekly guest DJs

FILTHY McNASTY'S Pint Night Wednesdays with DJ SAWG

FUNKY BUDDHA– Whyte Ave Latin and

Salsa music every Wed; dance lessons 8-10pm LEGENDS Hip hop/R&B with DJ Spincycle NEW CITY Wed Pints 4 Punks: with DJ Nick; no minors; 4pm-3am; no cover NIKKI DIAMONDS Punk and ‘80s metal every Wed RED STAR Guest DJs every Wed TEMPLE Wild Style Wed: Hip hop open mic hosted

by Kaz and Orv; $5

MATT JONES // JONESINCROSSWORDS@vueweekly.com

"Ring in the New Year"—this round's on me

Across 1 Psych ending 5 Former Anaheim Stadium football player 10 Response: abbr.

13 ___-Rooter 14 Sponge by 3M 15 "In the Valley of ___" (2007 Tommy Lee Jones film) 16 Car feature 19 Crammed down someone's throat 20 ___ Pass (one way to travel across the Alps) 21 Lukas of "Witness" 22 The abbreviated Dickens?

23 How goods are sold to break even 26 Host Donahue or McGraw 27 Binge 30 Former Yankees manager Joe 31 Singer that married Heidi Klum 32 Gangster's girl 33 With "The," 1994 movie with Anthony Hopkins and Dana Carvey 36 Shade trees 37 Gearshift position 38 Ingredient in salsa 39 Clairvoyant's claim

42 MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

40 Game that spawned The Urbz, with "The" 41 Papers under the windshield wiper 42 E! show, with "The" 43 Seedy housing area 44 What the Gray Panthers fight 47 Monty Python-inspired musical 51 Queen song covered by Nine Inch Nails 53 Philosopher Descartes 54 Humble home 55 Property debt 56 Rap sheet abbr.

57 Went ballistic 58 IDs often verified by the last 4 digits Down 1 "Carmina Burana" composer Carl 2 Matador's foe 3 "Like ___ not..."

4 "Flight of the ___" 5 Like some cottage cheese 6 Needs a rubdown 7 Oboist's piece 8 The A of IPA 9 You can make a mountain out of one 10 Actress Shawkat of "Arrested

Development" 11 "Avatar" language 12 "Where the Sidewalk Ends" author Silverstein 15 Makes a mistake 17 Cups, saucers, etc.

18 Like some citizens 22 Sidewalk outline stuff 23 "Fish in ___? How can that be?" ("Hop on Pop" line) 24 Shed spread 25 Charlie horse, e.g.

26 Jury members 27 Hollywood's highest-paid actress of 2011 28 ___ nothing 29 Secluded spots 31 Wetland area 32 Some shopping centers 34 One of two fought between the U.K. and China 35 Car stereo control 40 Just meh 41 Broke off like talc 42 Team 43 "SNL" alum David 44 Taj Mahal's locale 45 Techie, stereotypically 46 Active Sicilian volcano 47 EPA topic 48 Carter Pewterschmidt's daughter, on "Family Guy" 49 Pizza joint fixture 50 Till compartment 52 Org. with a late start in 2011 ©2011 Jonesin' Crosswords

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS

CLASSIFIEDS To place an ad Phone: 780.426.1996 / Fax: 780.426.2889 / Email: classifieds@vueweekly.com 1600.

Volunteers Wanted

"How you found out about your parent's divorce?"

Family therapist Vikki Stark is conducting a study of the impact in children of how they learned about their parent's divorce. If you are an adult who was a child/teen when your parents were divorced or are currently a child/teen of divorce - help kids in the future through your participation!

Visit: SurveyMonkey.com/s/ChildDivorce to access the Study questionnaire online

2010.

Musicians Available

Drummer looking to join an already formed metal or hard rock band. Double kick, 12 yrs exp, 8 yrs in Edm indie band, 7 albums, 250 live shows, good stage presence, dedicated, catch on quick, no kids, hard drug free.

780.916.2155 Vocalist rhythm player seeks other musicians for jamming Please call 497-1097 after 6pm

2020.

Musicians Wanted

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FREEWILLASTROLOGY

GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20): In his

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TAURUS (Apr 20 – May 20): "Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid." Rumor has it that this pithy observation was uttered by Albert Einstein. According to my astrological analysis, you will have an excellent opportunity to identify and hone and express your specific brilliance. So it is crucial that you eliminate any tendency you might have to see yourself as being like a fish whose job it is to climb a tree.

Daily appointments at Mandolin Books (6419 - 112 Ave.) $30/half-hour - $60/hour • $30/hour for Reiki therapy Call (780) 479-4050 Or call Jason (780) 292-4489

Bellydance Classes

Volunteer Drivers required to drive seniors. Gas money reimbursed, for further information please call: 780-732-1221

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19): "It is surely a great calamity for a human being to have no obsessions," said poet Robert Bly. That's why he decided to learn to love his obsessions. I urge you to keep his approach in mind throughout the coming months. You are likely to thrive to the degree that you precisely identify and vigorously harness your obsessions. I'm not advising you to fall down in front of your obsessions and worship them like idols. Be wildly grateful for them; love them with your fiery heart fully unfurled, but keep them under the control of your fine mind.

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2001.

PsychicJason Readings D. Kilsch

book Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, former FBI agent Robert K. Wittman tells the story of the world's second largest crystal ball.

Worth $350 000 and once belonging to the Chinese Dowager Empress, it was stolen from a museum. Wittman never located the actual robber, but years later he tracked down the crystal ball to a person who had acquired it quite innocently and by accident.

She was a young witch in New Jersey who, unaware of its origins or value, kept it on her bedroom dresser with a baseball cap on top of it. I suspect you may have a comparable adventure in the coming months. If you look hard and keep an open mind, you will eventually recover lost riches or a disappeared prize in the least likely of places.

CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22): It's impossible for the human body to run a mile in less than four minutes, at least that's what the conventional wisdom used to say. And indeed, no one in history ever broke that barrier until May 6, 1954, when Roger Bannister raced a mile in three minutes, 59.4 seconds.

Since then, lots of athletes have done it and the record has been lowered by

ROB BREZSNY // FREEWILL@vueweekly.com

another 17 seconds. In fact, the subfour-minute mile is now regarded as a standard accomplishment for middledistance runners. I suspect that in 2012 you will accomplish your own version of Bannister's feat—a breakthrough that once seemed crazy difficult or beyond your capacity.

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22): Back in 1958, 17-year-old Bob Heft created a 50star American flag for a high school project. Hawaii and Alaska were being considered for US statehood at that time, and a new design was needed to replace the old 48-star flag. Heft's teacher originally gave him a grade of B- for his work. But when his model was later selected to be the actual American flag, the teacher raised his grade to an A. I suspect that a similar progression for you in the coming year. Some work you did that never received proper credit will finally be accorded the value it deserves.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22): Greek philosopher Plato suggested that we may become more receptive to spiritual beauty by putting ourselves in the presence of physical beauty. The CONTINUED ON PAGE 44 >>

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY << CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

stimulation we get when inspired by what looks good may help train us to recognize sublime truths. I'm not so sure about that. In my experience, people often get so entranced by their emotional and bodily responses to attractive sights and sounds that they neglect to search for higher, subtler sources of splendor. But I do believe you may be an exception to this tendency in the coming months. That's why I'm giving you the go-ahead— indeed, the mandate—to surround yourself with physical beauty.

LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22): Before he died in 1902, Libran cartoonist Thomas Nast left a potent legacy. Among his enduring creations were the modern image of Santa Claus, the iconic donkey for America's Democratic Par-

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ty, and the elephant for the Republican Party. I'm guessing that 2012 is going to be a Thomas Nast kind of year for you Librans. The work you do and the ripples you set in motion are likely to last a long time. So I suggest you choose the influences you unleash with great care and integrity.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21): "If you're in a good relationship, chances are you're bored out of your mind," spouts comedian Chris Rock in his show Never Scared. "All good relationships are boring. The only exciting relationships are bad ones. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow when you're in a bad relationship.

You never know when they're gonna walk through the door and say, 'Hey, you gave me crabs.' That's exciting!"

Rock’s satirical overstatement contains grains of truth. Which is why I deliver the following request to you:

In 2012, cultivate stable relationships that are boring in all the best ways.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21): Once every decade or so, you're asked to make a special point of practicing forgiveness and atonement. According to my reading of the astrological omens, that time will be the next few months. I think it'll be quite important for you to cleanse the grungy buildup of regrets and remorse from your psyche. Ready to get started? Compose a list of the sins you could expiate, the karmic debts you can repay, and the redemptions you should initiate. I suggest you make it into a fun, creative project that you will thoroughly enjoy.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19): Happiness isn't a state you acquire by luck.

It takes hard work and relentless concentration. You have to overcome the

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

hard-core cultural conditioning that tempts you to assume that suffering is normal and the world is a hostile place. It's really quite unnatural to train yourself to be peaceful and mindful; it's essentially a great rebellion against an unacknowledged taboo.

Here's the good news: 2012 will be an excellent time for you to do this work.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18): More and more musicians and authors are choosing to self-publish. That way they retain the full rights to their creative work, keeping it from being controlled and potentially misused by a record label or publishing company.

One example is singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix, who owns all 14 of her master recordings. She lives by the motto, "Own Your Own Universe."

I urge you to adopt her approach in 2012. The coming months will be prime time for you to do all you can to

take full possession of everything you need to become what you want to be.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20): The coming months will be a time when you'll thrive by seeking out novel ideas, using new words, and regarding your imagination as an organ that's as important to feed as your stomach. In that spirit, I'm offering you a slew of freshly made-up terms that'll help tease your brain in ways that are in alignment with the upcoming astrological factors. They all come from a very NSFW dictionary: 1. Assymectricity: energy generated by lopsidedness. 2. Enigmagnetic: a person who attracts mysteries. 3. Indumbnitable: incapable of being dumbed down. 4.

Beneviolent: helpful chaos. 5. Fauxbia: a fake fear. 6. Craptometry: ability to see through all the BS. 7. Adoregasm: when you treasure someone to the point of ecstasy. V

COMMENT >> ALT SEX

Christmas closet

Think of the holidays as a training ground For queers the holidays can be tricky, an already tense family situation. uncomfortable and, at times, cringeComing out can open you up to an worthy occasions filled with family onslaught of personal questions from dinners and catch-ups with old friends. your family about your sexuality. Do Some queers in our communities your grandma and second-cousin choose to avoid these situreally need to be kept abreast ations all together, opting about your evolving sexualinstead to spend time with ity? Is it worth your sense m o their chosen queer families .c of vulnerability to discuss ly k e vuewe alexa@ or forgo the holidays altosuch intimate details of a Alex e n gether. Some queers have your life with people you see g a DeG no choice but to miss their famonce a year? The experience of ily's gatherings. For those of us with coming out can feel very liberating non-queer but accepting families, the but, for the sake of self-preservation, season can be filled with negotiating the best policy is to divulge only as if we should come out to our families, much information as you want. dealing with homophobic comments from family members, and daring to Whether or not we discuss our sexudiscuss queer politics. ality with all of our relatives, some Every year I head south to Calgary to family members are prone to making visit my four parents and five siblings. lazy homophobic jokes or comments.

Eight years ago, I came home from I have yet to discover a foolproof way the University of Ottawa and waited of dealing with these situations. Some a couple of hours before sitting my people say that you should address parents down to have the talk. and criticize the comment not the perFor university students, the winter sonâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the comment was homophobic, break may seem like the only opbut that does not mean the person is portunity to come out as such news homophobic. This tactic allows the ofis too touchy for the phone and too fender space to apologize and spares raw to wait until the end of the winter them the urge to be overly defensive. semester. But the winter holidays are If you are lucky and you do not have a pressure-cooker for family relationto deal with offensive remarks, you ships, so coming out may overwhelm may have to deal with relatives and

EERN Q UN TO MO

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JAN 11, 2012

friends who actually want to talk about gender and sexuality. While their willingness to learn about "different" sexualities is commendable, dealing with a cousin that watched an episode of Oprah about Chaz Bono and now assumes themselves to be an authority on transgender theory and politics can be very frustrating.

Still, North American society is due for some honest discussions about the complex politics that involve genders and sexualities, even though it is rather difficult to explain how a queer person can be against same-sex marriage but for far different reasons than Uncle Jim. Ultimately, I welcome these discussions over silence or, worse still, anger and resentment. If we cannot talk about such things around the holiday turkey, misinformation and prejudice will continue to engender society's understanding of sexualities.

The holiday season is over for another year but I think the occasion serves as an important, albeit intense, exercise in how to feel comfortable discussing your sexuality, dealing with homophobic comments and bringing up queer ideas. With the holiday training camp behind us, we can head back into our queer communities more selfassured and confident. V

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COMMENT >> SEX

Three's company

Readers tell their nonmonogamous stories Why do most people assume that all overwhelming—I may do a book— nonmonogamous relationships are and I'm turning over the rest of this destined to fail? Because we only week's column to their stories. hear about the ones that do.

E If a three-way or an affair My husband and I have isSAVAG was a factor in a divorce or sues like any couple, but I breakup, we hear all about still smile when I see him m o ekly.c vuewe it. But we rarely hear from savagelove@ walk into a room, and he Dan happy couples who aren't still takes my hand when Savage we're walking down the monogamous, because they don't want to be perceived as danstreet. For the past seven years, gerous sex maniacs who are destined we have been "monogamish." It startto divorce. ed off with a discussion of "If you ever This state of affairs—couples who cheat on me and it's a one-time thing, experimented with nonmonogamy I wouldn't want to know." Then, when and wound up divorced won't shut he turned 40, we had a threesome up; couples who experimented with with a female friend. When I actunonmonogamy and are still together ally saw him "in the moment," I didn't won't speak up—allows smug and have the jealous feelings I had always insecure monogamists to run around feared. There is no question that our insisting that there's no such thing as relationship is our first priority, but happy, stable monogamish couples. just the possibility of a little strange "You know lots of couples who now and then makes him feel like a have had three-ways and flings who stud. (And I reap the benefits!) I don't aren't divorced," I told the skeptics a much care for sex without emotion few weeks ago, "you just don't know and affection, so my flings have been you know them." In an effort to inrather limited. We haven't told our troduce the skeptics to some happily families or more than a couple of monogamish couples, I invited coufriends. I don't want to deal with the pled people who'd had successful judgment of others. flings, affairs, three-ways and swinging experiences to write in and share For the first five years of my martheir stories. The response was riage, everything was great: lots of

LOVE

sex, both GGG, lots of love. Then my wife's libido failed. Whatever the problem was, she couldn't articulate it. After a year where we'd had sex twice, I reached out to someone else.

I used Craigslist and I was honest: I explained that I had no intention of leaving my wife and that I was looking for someone in a situation similar to mine. It took months to find the right person. We struck up a years-long affair. At the same time, I had a wonderful-yet-sexless marriage. Then, after nearly four years, a strange thing happened: my wife's libido came back strong. To this day, she cannot explain why it left or why it came back. With the reason for my affair gone, I ended things with my fuck buddy. And you know what?

Years of honest talk made this easy.

She understood; we went our separate ways.

So I had a four-year affair without getting caught. Here's how I pulled it off: I never told anyone about it ever, I chose a partner who wanted exactly what I wanted, we didn't film ourselves (as hot as that sounded), we used condoms, I kept my computer clear of any evidence, and we never called or texted each other.

My husband and I are monogamish but also LMGs—legally married gays. We feel tremendous pressure to be perfect. The thing is, we are perfect. We love each other, we support each other and we have amazing sex with each other—and the occasional cameo performer, who is always treated with respect. (We have a rule about not inviting someone into our bedroom who we wouldn't be friends with outside the bedroom.) That said, the fact that Ron and Nancy down the street are swingers will raise

eyebrows, but it won't impact the perceived legitimacy of mixed-gender marriage. But if Ed and Ted happen to invite a third into their bedroom, that would prove the gays are destroying marriage/the country/the fabric of the universe. Even other gays get judgmental. So, at least for now, our monogamishness is on a strictly need-to-know basis. And who needs to know? Just our sex-positive doctor and the occasional hot third who gets a golden ticket into our bedroom.

I agree with you that we rarely hear about successful marriages that are open. How do I know? I just discovered that my parents are swingers— and they have been married for 26 years!

My husband, almost exactly 10 years older than me, confessed a cuckold fetish to me shortly before our fifth anniversary. I said no, but a seed was planted: whenever I would develop a crush on another man, it would occur to me that I could sleep with him if I wanted to. Five years later, my boyfriend of two years, who happens to be exactly 10 years younger than me, was one of the guests at our 10year anniversary party. My boyfriend is a good-looking grad student who adores me and values my husband's advice about his education and career plans. He treats my husband with the perfect blend of affection and contempt. ("Gratitude and attitude," my boyfriend calls it.) I enjoy my boyfriend, but I love my husband more than ever. My husband is not allowed to have sex with other women (he doesn't want to, anyway), and he's not allowed to have sex with me without my boyfriend's permission (which he usually—though not

always—gets). Our families would be appalled. We simply don't live in a part of the country, or move in social circles, where we could be honest about any of this with anyone.

From the outside, my husband and I look like a boring vanilla married couple. In fact, people have included me in judgmental conversations about open relationships. But the truth is, for nearly as long as we've been together (three-plus years), we've had a semi-open relationship.

My husband is bi. When he told me after a few months of dating, years of Savage Love reading helped me to keep an open mind. Long story short: we worked out rules that were mutually agreeable. Now he can hook up safely with guys and come home to a loving wife with whom he can be completely honest.

I'm a happily married woman ... and so is my girlfriend. Maybe it's cowardly of us, but no matter how simple our relationship seems to us, the people we care about would not understand.

Yes, we do this with our husbands' blessing. (We even double-date from time to time!) No, there's nothing lacking in our marriages. Our parents, relatives, children, friends and coworkers know we're close. But I don't see the need to tell anyone the entire truth. I was on the fence about sending this email—that's how little fuss we make about it. Then I thought, if I do send it, and if enough people send their stories, maybe one day we can go public and it won't be a big fucking deal. That'd be awesome. V Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at thestranger.com/savage.

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BOB THE ANGRY FLOWER

backwords

chelsea boos // chelsea@vueweekly.com

Life is a journey, not a destination

Last week I was approached by a CBC journalist on the street sussing out the Vox Populi. Putting a tape recorder up to my face he asked, "If the city of Edmonton could make one New Year's resolution, what would it be?"

To my surprise, something thoughtful came out of my mouth. I looked briefly around the downtown corner I was standing on and said, “Drive less.”

The longer I thought about it, the more it seemed to resonate. Of course, it's not a new idea. For decades, the Slow Movement has advocated a shift toward slowing down the pace of life. However, it bears repeating here that car culture is still a problem, especially in Edmonton. But, if this city was

VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012

less dependent on cars, we would walk more and thus would be healthier, more relaxed and less alienated from those around us. The more connected we feel, the more stimulated and creative we will be.

Therefore, I propose we make this resolution together: I, as a citizen of this great city, will try to drive less often, thereby cultivating a greater sense of belonging and contributing to the greater good. V Chelsea Boos is a multidisciplinary visual artist and flâneur. Back words is a discussion of her dérives and a photographic diary of the local visual culture.

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VUEWEEKLY JAN 5 – JAN 11, 2012