Is this art or vandalism? - Niagara College Digital Archive

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T H E C O M M U N I T Y PA P E R O F N I A G A R A C O L L E G EFREE March 18, 2011 Vol 41 • Issue 13

By SABINE DUNACStaff Writer

Whether it’s seen as vandalism or a refl ection of students’ self-ex-pression, the graphics and messages covering the walls of the Black Wal-

nut building at the Welland campus were initiated by Greg Gibson.

Gibson is the creator of Guerilla Project, an activist group, and is a fi rst-year Graphic Design student.

It all began when Gibson went

on a quest to post Guerrilla Project posters around the Welland campus. As soon as he posted them on the walls, they came down.

“I had [posters] up for about four hours. I was walking back from the

cafeteria with prints in my hand and there was a guy on a walkie-talkie, calling all the security over and a bunch of custodians, saying, ‘I want all the guerrilla shit down now,’” says Gibson.

Gibson says he then spoke to three custodians who told him that their boss, Mal Woodhouse, head of Facilities Management Services, told them to take them down.

Is this art or vandalism?

Greg Gibson sits in front of one of Black Walnut’s walls covered with writing and art done by him and other students. Photo by Sabine Dunac

Activist graphic designer creates controversial wall art

Continued on page 2

Gibson then scheduled an ap-pointment with Woodhouse.

In response, Woodhouse says, “I don’t remember what was on them. [It] doesn’t matter to me. Policy and procedure is that all posters have to be stamped by the Student Administrative Council (SAC) and put on their bulletin boards. What’s been happening is that [SAC] hasn’t been doing it. They’ve been stamping them but they don’t have time to go to the bulletin boards.”

Woodhouse adds, “I understand SAC’s absence of being able to properly manage it. We’re growing and getting bigger.”

Katie Miller, vice-president of SAC, says, “Posters cannot go up on the wall. If there is any damage to the paint or the walls, that person will be charged.”

As for SAC’s bulletin boards Miller says, “SAC boards are primarily for SAC events. That being said, if we have extra room that would be when we could put [posters] up.”

Gibson says he went to the SAC offi ce to get his posters approved after fi nding out about the SAC poster approval process. He says he attempted to obtain approval by the offi ce but a lady in the SAC offi ce told him “they wouldn’t ap-prove it at this date.”

“They kind of just brushed me off,” says Gibson.

He then fi led an offi cial appeal through Student Services to work on getting the approval process and rules changed.

“I went in respectful. I’m not try-ing to break all their rules; I’m not trying to be a rebel. I wanted them to know that there is a cause.”

During the meeting Gibson had with Woodhouse, they both discussed what changes could be done about the process and options available to students wanting to post their material.

“I would like this to be a place of thought. I’m suggesting we get some good size eight by four bul-letin boards instead of the little ones we currently have. ... I don’t think [SAC] bulletin boards are big enough,” says Woodhouse.

Gibson says, “[Woodhouse’s] idea [was] to put up bulletin boards in common areas and have them re-freshed either weekly or monthly. My idea was using the pillars. They’re in common areas, they’re spaced out, and it’s perfect for ad-vertising.”

Together Woodhouse and Gib-son collaborated on some ideas. He says his meeting with Wood-house was productive, however, on March 11 Gibson was called into a second meeting, this time with Woodhouse, Brigitte Chiki, director of Student Services, David Jastrubecki, manager of Security and Parking Services, and Dr. Ben Cecil, dean of the Environment, Media and the Technology divi-sion. The meeting regarded Gib-son and other students taking the liberty of writing and painting on Black Walnut’s walls.

“We’ve heard that there was some offensive writing and graph-ics. Obviously that’s not in keeping with the college expectations about our property, community and stu-dent behaviour,” says Chiki.

Woodhouse says he has been at

the college for 20 years and he had never encountered something to this extent before.

Gibson says, “First they were threatening to call the cops on me, saying they could charge me. Bri-gitte Chiki was defending me the whole time and Mal Woodhouse stood up for me at the meeting. [Mal] did say that we could paint

murals, he just wasn’t predicting this. I said I was guilty of being given an inch and taking a mile but I didn’t do anything wrong. I really didn’t break any rules.”

Chiki says, “In terms of defend-ing Greg, as director of Student Services, I am responsible mostly for students’ rights and that they are protected [in] whatever is hap-

pening within the college environ-ment. At the time he was seen as the person who brought infl uence in what was happening here.”

Gord Hunchak, director of Mar-keting and Communications, says he thinks that there was some avail-able wall space and Woodhouse said placing art on the walls was a good use of that space. “Moving

forward in the future as we plan new space for Graphic Design stu-dents there needs to be a permanent type of facility where they can do that on an ongoing basis. It’s fi lling a need to an expression of creativ-ity.”

James Gielfeldt, co-ordinator of the Graphic Design program, says, “It’s something that got carried away. The person who started it with his posters had the vision. For some reason it got misinterpreted and it became a battle of wills be-tween management, security and this person. Once a few students got onto it and started piggy backing this guy, it got stupid.”

Brad Colotelo, a part-time teacher of the Portfolio Class, says he agrees with the art on the walls of the Black Walnut in principal. He says, “Having come from an art background, I wholeheartedly understand. The execution is not good and the meaning isn’t there but I get why they need a place to express themselves.”

After security was called they stopped students from writing anything further on the walls. It was clear tension and division was created among students and then by students on the Black Walnut building.

Derek Veenhof, 22, in his third year of Graphic Design, says, “There’s been worse things in here that have recently happened that security hasn’t bothered too much about and all of a sudden this is such a big deal.”

“What is disgusting is that the reaction from management has been so strong on this. We’ve had security through here every 20 minutes. Property is taking prece-dence over people,” says Gielfeldt.

Gibson says that in retrospect even the people who are criticiz-ing the state of the walls in Black Walnut now are going to look back and realize a lot of positives came out of this. “They think that [it’s] a negative wall right now but every single person there was talking so much that the school is changing two rules.”

Gibson says all the Graphic De-sign students from now on out will be able to put up their work and express what’s on their mind.

“[Greg]’s a hell of a self pro-moter. I’ve got to hand it to him in that sense. Probably more people know him than anybody else. He’s a bright young man. I know I’ll never forget his name, I like him and the way he thinks,” says Woodhouse.

In a memo released by Cecil on March 11 it says, “We will organize meetings involving fac-ulty, students and administration to discuss the Black Walnut building wall spaces as a possible venue for students posting an expression of art.”

On March 15, faculty of Graphic Design, Journalism and New Media Web Design programs received an email from Cecil stat-ing a meeting March 16 in room S135 of the Simcoe Building from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. regarding the incident would be held.

Hunchak says, “It’s an interest-ing use of creativity and I think if it was to stay away from anything offensive or threatening, it would be fi ne.”

Page 2 NIAGARA NEWS March 18, 2011

NEWS

Black Walnut graphic artist says he’s not trying to be a rebel

One of Greg Gibson’s posters on display in the Black Walnut building.Photo by Anton Mwewa

Continued from Page 1

NEWSMarch 18, 2011 NIAGARA NEWS Page 3

By SARAH FERGUSON Staff Writer

Many students worry about their future after graduation, but they will fi nd it easier to succeed if they have education and deter-mination.

That’s exactly what Stephanie Hansen learned, graduating from Niagara College in 2005. Com-pleting the two-year Graphic De-sign Productions – Art and Design Fundamentals program, she says it was her time here that inspired her to start her own company.

Originally based in Grimsby, Ont., and later moving to Hamil-ton, Ont., the company is called Chalkboard Art. She creates custom chalkboard menus and art-work for restaurants. Hansen says the chalkboards include food and drink menus, artwork and even a client’s or company’s logo.

“We do complete custom work, so everything is designed to fi t each client.”

Graphic design “is the fi rst step,” to creating something for a client, says Hansen.

“We provide a full-colour layout of what the chalkboard will look like before production begins.”

Other products offered include “sandwich signs, table-top chalk-boards and murals.”

“Currently we are working on a Hans Christen Andersen-inspired mural at a Danish park called Sun-set Villa.

“After a few years of doing all of this myself, I needed help getting signs out quicker, which is where my partner and fi ancé Owen Smith comes in.”

Hansen says Smith does all the woodworking and staining and creates custom frames for each chalkboard. Some of Hansen’s previous clients include Los An-geles Airport, Brock University Café and Godiva Chocolates in New York City.

“Niagara College, along with extremely long hours and hard work, brought me to where I am today.” She learned how to do everything from layout design to the “precise custom artwork” her clients request.

“It [Niagara College] gave me the ability to start and grow my business while at the same time providing me a stable foundation of fundamentals which allow me to complete even the most compli-cated of tasks.”

She says the teacher who “pushed me the most” was James Gielfeldt, head of the Life Draw-ing department.

“His free spirit, talent and moti-vation really pushed me to become a better artist and to try different mediums and design techniques.

“James taught me the ba-sic fundamentals of draw-ing and creating great art.”“I am very passionate about art and designing ideas from scratch to create something I can really be proud of.”

Hansen says she tries to “be eco-friendly” and “happy about life.”

She says she supports local art-ists, trying to outsource any chalk or graphic design work to former Niagara College students.

“Being a student and learning at

Niagara College was truly amaz-ing. It prepared me for the real world in an art and design indus-try, with deadlines and creative feedback from other peers and being able to put ideas onto paper or computer.

“I absolutely love what I do, and every day offers new and exciting challenges. The possibili-ties are endless. I am extremely grateful that I am able to do what I love.”

To learn more about Hansen’s work, visit www.chalkboardart.ca.

Two Niagara News reporters are nominated for national 2011 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Winners’ fi nal positions will be announced Friday, April 29, in Richmond, B.C.

Second-year Journalism-Print student Kayla Cabral, of Ridge-way, Ont., is nominated for Best Campus News Story for her report in the Dec. 3, 2010, edition on new Ontario legislation banning the use of public funds for corporate lob-byists.

Her report brought out the fact Niagara College had used lob-byists in its successful efforts to secure over $90 million in federal and provincial government funds to expand its Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses with state-of-the-art facilities.

The other two nominees in the category are from the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto.

Sylvie Berry, of Brantford, Ont., is nominated for Best Campus Fea-

ture Story for her report “Inspira-tion for young mothers,” which ran in the March 19, 2010, edition.

Berry, who graduated in April 2010, profi led a Niagara College offi ce administration student who overcame her troubled youth as a high school dropout and single mother of two children, returning to school as a “non-traditional learner.”

The student went on to create Postponing Parenting Until You’re Ready, a speakers’ bureau to pre-

vent teen pregnancies and promote the importance of youth.

The other two nominees are from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Alberta.

The Canadian Community Newspaper Awards, formerly known as the Better Newspapers Competition, celebrate “excellence in community media.”

The annual competition, in the campus category, recognizes the editorial achievements of CCNA member newspapers across Can-ada in journalism schools and the post-secondary press.

Niagara News previously won BNC campus awards in 2009, placing third in each of Outstand-ing Campus Newspaper, Best News Story, Best Feature Story categories and second for Best Photograph.

In 2008 it placed second in each of Outstanding Campus News-paper, Best News Story and Best Feature Story categories.

Stephanie Hansen, shown with some of her creations, is very passionate about art and her business. She says it was her experience at Niagara College that helped her to achieve success.

Submitted photo

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Graduate establishes unique business

Students nominated for outstanding journalism awards

Students Sylvie Berry, left, and Kayla Cabral, right, were nominated for best on-campus stories in the 2011 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards.

T H E C O M M U N I T Y PA P E R O F N I A G A R A C O L L E G E

niagara-news.com

National competition selects candidates annually


EDITORIAL

Dr. Seuss knew what he was talking about when he wrote Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Published in 1990, it is an ode to graduates of all ages, from kindergarten to university. A story of a journey down the roads of success, it depicts the decisions one will make, the highs and lows one will endure and the ways in which life can be a “great balancing act.”

As fun and child-like as most of his works are, this Seuss book seems to hit the nail square on the noggin. Life is a balancing act, and success can be tumultuous to achieve and scary to attain.

The fear of success is real. It can prevent us from grasping our goals and cause us to sabotage our future.

People fear success for

many reasons. As stated on the website Psychologytoday.com, many people are conditioned to believe being successful involves taking risks, so they try to “not get hopes up” and so that leads them to disappointment. Some may believe they are not deserving of success, while others are afraid of competition, envy and change.

The website Livestrong.com lists other feelings associated with this fear, such as the belief that success is an end, and even though we may accomplish all we set out to, we will not be happy once we reach our goal.

This response can lead to lack of effort, underachievement and loss of motivation.

Overcoming this fear requires a change in thinking and behaviour. Simple methods

include being honest about accomplishments achieved, accepting recognition/ compliments with an open mind and heart and giving credit to others for their achievements.

As students, it is our job to take the world’s wheel when we graduate – and sitting in that driver’s seat can be frightening – but the feeling of getting all you have ever wanted out of life shouldn’t be.

This spring, thousands of graduates will toss their Oxford caps in the air to celebrate their educational success and look to the rise of a new sun on the horizon of life.

Seuss couldn’t have said it better: “And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ per cent guaranteed.)”

SHAYLENE ABBEY

The era of social media is rather young, but there is no doubt it is continuing to grow rapidly in today’s online world.

It started with websites such as MySpace, YouTube and blogging outlets, and over the past 10 years, social media outlets have taken over the web.

With the major social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter gaining more popularity, entrepreneurs have even taken it to the next level by creating sites such as Workopolis and Linkedin.

These innovative new sites allow people to use social media as a place to put their resumé and seek employment.

However, just as you sign up for the latest trending network on the web, it seems that yet another website surfaces that social media gurus jump on.

Although each outlet has a slightly different use, the various websites simply give people an additional account to check while surfi ng the web.

In a recent study by Netpop Research (a full-service market research fi rm based in San Francisco focusing on web-

based products and services), time spent on social networking has grown 93 per cent since 2006. This means that roughly 32 per cent of United States Internet users’ time online is spent communicating.

The debate continues as to whether this increased online usage by the current generation is a negative or positive, but as an avid social media user, I fi nd this new technology to be more than useful.

It seems as if our elder generation gets frightened by this new path of communication, but as we grow as humans, technology grows with us.

It’s the cycle of life, and whether or not it is appropriate to increase your time staring at a computer screen is one thing, but when it comes to the benefi ts one can take from these new and useful social media tools, the possibilities are endless.

This leaves people of all ages with a choice: embrace this technology and accept that this is the way the world is going or boycott a useful tool to build your future.

JEFF BLAY

B2, 300 Woodlawn Rd.,Welland, Ont. L3C 7L3

Telephone: (905) 735-2211Fax: (905) 736-6003

Editorial email: [email protected] email: [email protected]

Editor: Shaylene AbbeyAssociate Editor: Jeff Blay

Assistant Editor: Jesse CarterPhoto Editor: Shawn Smith

Publisher: Annette HemerikProgram Co-ordinator: Paul Dayboll

Managing Editor: Peter Conradi Associate Managing Editor: Phyllis Barnatt

Editorial Consultant: Nancy Geddie, Gary ErbPhotography Consultant: Dave Hanuschuk

Technology Support: Kevin Romyn

2006 WINNER BNC2009

T H E C O M M U N I T Y P A P E R O F N I A G A R A C O L L E G E

In my opinion, the Republican Party in the U.S. is ripe comedic fodder.

These wacky right-winged goof-balls say some of the most ridicu-lous things, and they get away with it, too.

I want the ability to do that.Case in point: Mike Huckabee.The former Governor of Arkan-

sas recently slammed actress Nata-lie Portman on conservative talk show host Michael Medved’s show on Feb. 28.

He took a shot at Portman’s preg-nancy outside of wedlock, saying

she was “glamorizing” it.“It’s a problem because she’s

about seven months pregnant, it’s her fi rst pregnancy, and she and the baby’s father aren’t married, and before two billion people, Natalie Portman says, ‘Oh I want to thank my love and he’s given me the most wonderful gift.’

He didn’t give her the most wonderful gift, which would be a wedding ring.”

People with traditional family values will more than likely agree with this, and it is a valid point.

What Huckabee fails to recall is that key members of his own party are doing the same thing.

Look at “everybody’s favourite Republican,” Sarah Palin.

Huckabee failed to mention Palin’s daughter, Bristol, who had a child out of wedlock with her high school lover, Levi Johnston.

People like Huckabee and Palin paint themselves as paragons of

virtue. They seem to think they are the moral compasses and we should be following them.

Are they right? Only if you’re looking at what side of the political spectrum they’re on.

The fact is that there are no right or wrong answers these days.

Many, many years ago, people were having children without a binding marriage.

I am sure that cavemen procre-ated without a legal ceremony, unless bonking your potential mate over the head with a club consti-tutes a binding relationship.

Morally, we live in a time when things are a little greyer than in years past.

The idea of having good values is commendable, but people like Huckabee and Palin take these ideas to an uncomfortable extreme.

Perhaps they should focus on be-ing better people rather than trying to tell us what is right or wrong.

Don’t stress success

CHRIS FORTIER

Columnist

Be careful what you say

Illustration by Toni Karan

Embracing the powerof the world wide web

Social media: a fact of life

A few days ago I purchased my fi rst new CD in years.

It’s new for my collection, if you consider 1999 new.

As I wandered HMV’s aisles of new releases looking for something to grab my attention, I stumbled across the bargain rack.

There, on top of the pile, was the White Stripe’s self-titled debut album.

Bored with wandering, I decided to purchase the album.

It’s the best decision I’ve made musically in a long while.

I started listening on my drive home and was instantly over-whelmed by the intensity of the band. The music was edgy, simple and most of all, attention-demand-ing, exactly the way rock ‘n’ roll was meant to be.

As a musician, it’s embarrass-ing to admit I can’t recall the last album I bought prior to this. In my opinion, nothing any artist has put out in the last fi ve years or so was worthy of my money.

Music has become watered down and bland.

Long gone are the days when mainstream music consisted of artists who produced quality mate-rial with purpose. Modern music is so mass-produced and generic, it is often diffi cult to distinguish between artists. It seems the public is willing to sit back and be spoon-fed by corporate labels.

Music has lost the lasting power it once had. No matter how many

times I hear the redundant guitar parts of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode or Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog or the overplayed Jimi Hen-drix classic, Purple Haze, they still give me chills.

In 10 years, history will forget so-called artists such as Lady Gaga, Deadmau5 or Nickelback who provide us with nothing but catchy mind-numbing beats.

I am not pessimistic; I am beg-ging for new material that might

kick-start change.Has creativity, the driving force

in music, hit a brick wall? Modern music has adopted a less-is-more approach: less talent, and more artists to fi ll the voids left by short-lived acts of the day.

Artists are thrust so quickly into the spotlight the public barely has time to learn their name, let alone song titles.

Singles are pushed too strongly; albums are a thing of the past.

Technology and money-hungry corporate empires have stripped the emotion and truth past musi-cians brought to the industry. Now anyone can save money for DJ equipment and crank out an album’s worth of house music in one day.

When was the last time I sat and listened to an album from begin-ning to end?

Until a few days ago, I can’t remember.

The White Stripes have given me hope.

I overlooked the band because of hits I believed sounded too com-mercial. Digging a little deeper, I discovered something I missed. That album made me realize mu-sic, even in its present state, stands a chance of having some promise for the future.

Music needs a jump start in the worst way possible.

The industry is one giant mass of mundane, over-produced, over-promoted artists. It has strayed far from its humble beginnings. Music is an art form. It should not be the quiet background soundtrack to our lives. It defi nes who we are as people.

That drive home was short-lived. I turned around, drove back to the store and purchased the entire White Stripes discography.

I havn’t turned down the volume since.

OPINIONMarch 18, 2011 NIAGARA NEWS Page 5

Creative writing, in my opinion, is one of the best forms of enter-tainment. What could possibly be better than creating your own worlds, characters and realities? It is the best form of escapism.

Journalism, however, is differ-ent. There’s no escapism here, just solid, hard facts.

Believe it or not, we journalists are not even allowed to make our solid, hard facts sound interest-ing. Sure, we can use our words to create powerful, meaningful sentences and sound as if we know what we’re talking about (both of which we usually do), but we can’t take the liberties one does in cre-ative writing.

For example, we can’t say U.S. President Barack Obama looked sad and speculate why after his State of the Union address, any more than we can blatantly bash celebrities and political fi gures – unless, of course, we work at Fox News.

The closest thing to creative writing a real journalist will do is write a column, much like the one you’re reading. Even then, things sometimes get lost in the editing process and you could possibly be reading something so altered it doesn’t carry the column’s original mood and concept.

Columns, in my opinion, are

one of the best parts of being a journalist. Surely there is nothing better than throwing your story or opinion in the face of a reader without an immediate backlash. Once you have dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s, or performed the digital equivalent thereof, your words are on their way to an audi-ence of thousands of people, most of whom unfortunately prove to be either incapable of or too indif-ferent to reply. It’s like being the only guy at a political rally with a megaphone.

Personally, I enjoy being that guy and I’m sure we all do – or rather, “we all would.” Either way, everyone likes to be heard, accepted and understood by every-one else. It’s human nature to seek acceptance. While some of us are privileged to have our photograph next to our name in a fancy box that says “Columnist,” it doesn’t mean we should be the only ones delivering opinion.

I’m not saying enrol in jour-nalism school – we barely have enough job opportunities as it is – but if you have a voice, use it. Start a blog or get a Twitter account. Don’t sit back and let us do the talking for you all the time. Some-times, information is much better straight out of the horse’s mouth (no offence).

Who knows, maybe someday you’ll be the sane equivalent of TV pundit Glen Beck or “maybe I’m running for U.S. President” Sarah Palin. If you feel like being one of the people who enjoys challenging opinionated loudmouths or if you just want to yell at me for daring to assume you’re not, drop me a line at [email protected].

Eating at the college cafeteria vs. The Core was always a big debate ... but not if you’ve experienced eating at both.

Have you ever sat in the cafeteria and had lunch, been served by the Aramark ladies and pretty much gone on with your day?

But the times when you eat in The Core, the new cafeteria, don’t you fi nd yourself staying longer

and actually enjoying yourself compared to the old cafeteria?

Maybe it’s the beer or maybe the pool tables.

Maybe it’s the view or the TVs that are there to watch. Maybe it’s even the prices – or all these rea-sons – but it usually comes down to service, and The Core has that in spades.

Ignore all reasons that were pre-viously put forth and just consider the people whom you are actu-ally interacting with and how they combine with what is available.

This is not to say that ladies of the cafeteria are doing a bad job, because they’re not.

They work hard and everyone is thankful for that. Why does it just feel different then?

One might think it’s the tip as-pect or that your food is brought to you at the The Core.

Maybe that is one reason, and perhaps The Core’s staff has not had to deal with Niagara College students as long.

Are the students that bad though? Are they their own problems, igno-rance begetting ignorance?

No.Although the reason is unclear,

what is clear is maybe the cafeteria management might want to start taking notes not only on some of the prices and marketing of The Core but also on the service being provided.

Start with Wendy. Her service alone is reason to go back to The Core.

Opinions aren’t only for creative writers

Contemporary music gone downhill

Th e caf vs. Th e Core

ANTON MWEWA

Columnist

JESSE CARTER

Columnist

ANTHONY ALTOMARE

Columnist

Th e Core leading place to eat at NC

‘The music was edgy, simple and most of all, atten-tion-demanding.’

White Stripes give promise to future of music indusry

The old cafeteria (left) has fewer resources than The Core (right) off ers.Photo by Jesse Carter


NEWS

By ANTON MWEWAStaff Writer

Imagine a deer, its exhausted legs fl ailing, struggling to stay afl oat in the cold, murky waters of the Welland Canal. You know the deer will drown if not rescued, and you know the animal’s life is, at that moment, in your hands.

The employees of the Welland and District Humane Society don’t have to imagine that hypothetical situation because, like so many others, it has and continues to be their reality.

“No one realizes what goes on in the shelter until you get into it,” says Ted Bettle, who has been the shelter’s manager since 2005.

The Welland and District Hu-mane Society, just one of such or-ganisations in Ontario and around the world, has a history more than half a century old. Existing solely on charitable donations and the as-sistance of volunteers, the Humane Society fi rst opened its doors about 55 years ago, and today covers six municipalities: Haldimand, Pelham, Port Colborne, Wainfl eet, Welland, and West Lincoln. It has 19 employees.

The Society’s mission, accord-ing to its website, is to encourage responsible animal ownership and care and to provide leadership and guidance in the humane treatment and welfare of all animals. Not surprisingly, this isn’t an easy task.

Bettle, who has worked with animals before as the owner of a Pet Valu pet-food store, knows the diffi culties fi rst-hand.

“People don’t realize it’s a dif-fi cult job,” he says. “I tell that to everyone I hire, and they come back to me later and say, ‘I didn’t get it, but I know what you’re talking about now.’”

From rescuing pets from abusive homes, to attending court trials and preparing reports, offi cers of the Humane Society are always kept on their toes. With the facilities to house about 40 dogs and 50 cats, the Society always ensures the animals receive the attention they need and

that their needs are fully met.Dogs and cats are always avail-

able for adoption, with fees set at $270 for dogs, and $190 for cats. The fee isn’t for profi t, but cov-ers all the expenses the Society incurs, such as spaying and neu-tering, and other procedures such as vaccination.

Tammy Gaboury, an adoption co-ordinator at the shelter, says the job is demanding, both physically and emotionally, but they do it be-cause they “love the animals.”

Gaboury turned her love of animals into a full-time job. After volunteering at the shelter while in high school, she managed to become an offi cial member of the Society’s team. That was in 1994.

“How would I describe it [the job]? Frustrating, rewarding – I could throw so many words out there,” she says. “I think you get a different feel for mankind. Some-times, it’s astonishing what people can do to animals.

“The choices we have to make are diffi cult ones, but at least we are here for them.”

And “here for them” the shelter is. Last year, the Society received about 7,000 calls regarding the safety and wellbeing of animals, and it responded to more than 5,000 of them. That means offi cers were dispatched more than 5,000 times, quite a staggering number.

Besides the obvious fi ght for animal rights and law enforcement, another integral part of the Society is education. Bettle says the Society tries hard to increase educational support, and that includes activi-ties such as speaking at schools, daycares and summer camps about pet owner responsibilities, and even attending birthday parties on request.

While the everyday physical tasks are challenging, they pale in comparison to the potential emotional stress the Society’s employees can endure. Bettle says

learning not to get connected to the animals is a way of dealing with it.

“It’s an emotional job,” he says. “[We are] not unlike people in the medical industry or the EMS [Emergency Medical Services]. You see a lot of horrendous cir-cumstances and you just can’t un-

derstand why some people do what they do. The only way anyone can exist here is by dwelling on the rewards and not the negatives because, if you do, they consume you.

“Every employee has to get to that brick wall and get by it. Each one of us struggles with that every day. It takes a little chunk out of you constantly and sometimes you wonder how many chunks there are to take.”

As Gaboury says, for every bad thing there are 10 good ones. Successes such as the number of animals the Society manages to fi nd loving homes for – more than 1,000 – and the everyday triumphs, such as the love a dog receives when it is taken out for a walk by a volunteer, are the lifeblood of the Humane Society.

Whether they are out chasing llamas down Highway 3 in the summer or pulling animals that have fallen through thin ice in the winter, the work being done by the Society’s employees is important and, at the end of the day, life-changing.

For more information on adop-tions or donations, contact the Welland shelter at 60 Provincial St., 1-888-222-0568, the Port Colborne shelter at 1080 Elm St., on 905-834-6634, or visit the website at www.wellandhumanesociety.org.

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Prevent cruelty to animalsSPCA provides a safe house for mistreated pets

Adoption co-ordinator Tammy Gaboury, and manager Ted Bettle are deeply involved with the daily operations at the Welland and District Humane Society.

Photo by Anton Mwewa

The SPCA has the facilities to house 40 dogs and 50 cats at any given time. The animals receive constant care and attention from employees and volunteers.


By SARAH FERGUSON Staff Writer

A 24-year-old Port Colborne man will appear in Ontario Provin-cial Court in Welland on Wednes-day, March 23, at 9 a.m.

Corey Gamble is charged with one count of robbery and one count of sexual assault in an incident occurring at Niagara College’s Welland campus, in the Black Wal-nut building, on Jan. 17, 2011.

Court update on incident at college


By EDEN ARMSTRONG Staff Writer

A child’s imagination can run wild and free immersed in a play by St. Catharines theatre group Carousel Players.

For the past 39 years, the group has been bringing the best of the-atre to children everywhere.

Based in downtown St. Catharines, Carousel Players is a non-profi t theatre organization that brings the story to you. The offi ces are in the old courthouse, which adds to the ambiance and the magic.

With productions for different age groups, the company travels to Ontario schools performing for children from junior kindergarten to Grade 10.

The company also puts on performances at the downtown theatre, which seats 125, for those who want to see the performance, such as home-schooled children.

Each play has a theme and les-sons to be learned, and some even invite interactive play. Whether the show focuses on friendship and imagination or teamwork and kindness, Carousel Players encourages everyone young and old to learn something from their performances.

Every year, 25,000 children wit-ness the thought-provoking, enter-taining plays.

Schools around the Niagara region invite the company to per-form and, because each play caters to a specifi c age group, everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the

entertainment. Carousel Players also rents out

the courthouse to other theatre companies who need space to prac-tise and perform.

This season, companies such as the Essential Collective Theatre, Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects, Ni-agara Dance Company, Stray The-atre, Suitcase in Point and Theatre Beyond Words will use the space for performances.

As you walk into the old court-house, you see people are busy with preparations for the play The Remarkable Flight of Marnie McPhee. General Manager Jane Gardner and Artistic Director Pablo Felices-Luna talk quickly on confi rmation of set design and scheduling. With one glance, you see the set: a complete stage, a few props and a computer to provide sound effects. You wouldn’t think this could all fi t into one van.

With only a van to carry all the set and props, the performers are also in charge of set-up and behind-the-scene action.

A 45-minute assembly and disas-sembly of the set is crucial when there are two performances a day, sometimes in different parts of the region.

A play will tour for fi ve or six weeks and then the company members will start preparing and rehearsing for the next one.

The company transforms gym-nasiums to become the scene for a brief time of magic.

With little more than an empty stage and some props, the group

must rely on sound because the standard elementary school gym-nasium isn’t equipped for hanging spotlights and trick doors.

“With limited lighting, sound is important,” says Gardner.

Donna Vandecoevering orga-nizes the show schedules for each play and starts planning at the be-ginning of the school year for plays that happen throughout the year.

With calendars hung strategi-cally on the wall for each play, Vandecoevering seems to have scheduling nailed.

The company’s fee to come to a school is $550 per performance, which is sometimes subsidized by the school and parent councils.

For students who would like to see the performance downtown, $5 will get you in.

“The arts are so important, espe-cially for children. It lets them be creative and lets their imagination run wild,” says Gardner.

Carousel Players also runs a theatre camp during the summer for children ages fi ve to 14 who want to engage in theatre activities. Six different one-week camps offer children something unique.

Over 100 children turn out for the summer camp, full of drama and art led by theatre professionals.

“We have some children who are too old for the camps now volunteer so that they can still be part of something they love,” says Gardner.

For those interested in a fun family event or the summer camps, visit www.carouselplayers.com.

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Sarah English plays Marnie and Andrea Scott plays her mother in The Remarkable Flight of Marnie McPhee by Daniel Karasik.

Photo by Joe Lapinski

Carousel Players keep magic of theatre alive

Salty snack is still a favourite after more than 80 years

Local group encourages children to ‘let their imagination run wild’

By NOKNOY XAYASANEStaff Writer

You either have a sweet tooth or a salty tooth.

Unfortunately, for those with a sweet tooth, this article isn’t for you.

March 14 marked National Po-tato Chip Day, or if you’re from England, New Zealand or Ireland, it’s National “Crisps” Day.

Now, whom do we have to thank for bringing this glorious, salty and crispy delight into our lives?

The man’s name is George Crum, who was a chef at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Moon Lake Lodge resort on Aug. 24, 1853.

Although there are varying stories about how the potato chip came to be, stories like Crum get-ting upset with a picky restaurant eater who kept sending their plate back because the potato slices were too thick to a story about his sister, Kate (Specks) Wick, accidently dropping a thin-sliced potato into hot fat and Crum having to fi sh it out and enjoying the taste.

One thing is certain: it is the Western civilization’s No.1 snack food.

Crum never patented his inven-tion. In 1932, Herman Lay, of Nashville, Tenn., founded one of the most popular potato chip brands today, Lay’s.

Lay’s was the fi rst successful national brand of potato chips.

Steven Diplock, 18, of St. Catha-rines, says he prefers Ruffl es over Lay’s because “the waves [are] better for dipping and they don’t crumble.”

According to European Snacks Association, potato chips are the largest single category in the Euro-pean Union savory snacks market accounting for about 550,000 tons.

Every year United Kingdom farmers grow 6.5 million tons of potatoes.

Matthew Andrade, 21, of Cam-bridge, Ont., says if he could de-sign a potato chip fl avour it would be chocolate because “What is the world without chocolate chips?”

Amanda Edridge, 21, of Ham-ilton, says her fl avour would be cucumber tzatziki. “I mix the two together with popcorn and it tastes amazing.”

Alexandra Salmeron, 19, of Cambridge says, “I purposely look for the wish chips. I eat those fi rst and always make a wish. You should take every opportunity you can to wish.”

Greg Otterbein, 19, of Kitchener, Ont., says he used to make wishes on wish chips, adding “defi nitely did as a kid and I always wished I could fl y.”

After Crum’s invention and be-fore Lay’s entrepreneuring skills, people have been making their own potato chips.

To celebrate National Potato Chip Day, be sure to enjoy a nice bag, but why stop there when you can make your own potato chips?

Find the complete recipe online at

niagara-news.com


NEWS

By YUKI KAJIStaff Writer

People worldwide have joined together to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that devas-tated northeastern Japan on Friday, March 11.

The 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami killed 4,277 people. Only 40 per cent of the dead have identifi ed. There are 8,194 miss-ing people and 430,000 people are staying in evacuation centres.

The earthquake occurred when the Pacifi c tectonic plate thrust below the North American plate 80 miles offshore and 15.5 miles un-derwater in an area called the Japan Trench off the coast in the Pacifi c Ocean. The pressure of this sudden seabed lift generated the tsunami.

Yoshie Yokosawada, 22, of Kuji City, Iwate, says,

“We have to wait for water sup-ply. We don’t have food. I looked about food in my city a day. For-tunately, I could get a loaf of bread at a small bakery today. We want to use stove but no heating oil. We try to share everything in our com-munity.”

It is winter in Kuji City and the minimum temperature was minus four degrees Celsius on March 13.

In Los Angeles, Lina Ito, 22, a college student there, says, “I could not reach my friend who lives in Fukushima, which was very dan-gerous for two days, but I felt it was like a year. On March 12, my friend sent email to me that she is OK and fi nally she could eat two pieces of rice bowl and drink green tea. There are some ways that I can help Japan from here in the United States. I keep sending email to my friend, hoping my little words can help her to stand up.”

The earthquake affected Tokyo too. All trains and subways are stopped. Business people couldn’t go back to their homes the day of the earthquake. Electricity has been cut as well to reduce the strain on the grid.

In Japan, Ryo Masaki, 24, a university student, says, “After the earthquake, I had been on a train to wait to recover for two hours in Tokyo. It didn’t run the night.

Although many public places such as schools and city buildings were released to stay at night, many people couldn’t stay there because they were full. I know some offi ce workers bought bicycles to get

back home. I heard people who have a house in Tokyo used Twit-ter and invited people to stay the night. ”

Most trains are still stopped.Saori Yoshida, 24, of Chiba, says,

“During the major earthquake, I couldn’t stand up. The ground shook destructively. Even now, people can’t sleep well every night because of minor earthquakes.”

After the major earthquake hap-pened, over 5-magnitude earth-quakes happened more than 170 times in East Japan until March 13.

The initial earthquake happened near Sendai, and huge aftershock earthquakes happened around Ni-gata and Nagano. Around Tokyo, people started to buy food and drinks for the emergency because the government has announced another big earthquake, more than a 7-magnitude could happen.

Shinichiro Tojo, 24, a university student, of Chiba, says, “Water, in-stant foods and radios are sold out in many convenience stores and supermarkets around Tokyo.”

In disaster areas, gas, water, and light are still stopped in many places, and many people can’t use phones. Moreover, the government can’t confi rm the safety of many people.

As a result, on mixi, the biggest social network service in Japan, us-ers have made special community pages. These pages are divided by cities that suffered terrible dam-age. Many people have written messages to fi nd their family and friends, and other people have sent comforting words to victims, on these pages.

Reia Sai, 24, of Chiba, says, “I have watched TV news about vic-tims. Japanese identity really keeps order. No one cries and screams. They just keep quiet and patient at evacuation centres. There is no riot and robbery. They stand in line to get a food ration. Japanese people are strong.”

A beverage company, Suntory Foods Limited, provided drinks free from about 3,600 vending ma-chines on the fi rst earthquake day. At that time, by just pushing the bottoms of the machines, people could get the beverages out.

The food processing company, Nissin Food Products Co., decided to provide one million instant noodle cups to victims. Other com-panies also have sent clothes and food and asked for donations.

Across the country, however, parts of highways are shut down and most trains are still stopped. Oil companies don’t have a method to provide gasoline to gas stands, so most gas stands are closed.

The government has asked con-

sumers to help deal with a power shortage because nuclear electric power generations and thermal power stations are damaged. The Japanese are trying to save power

in all parts of the country.Big convenience store brands,

such as 7-11 with about 7,200 stores, Lawson’s 9,600 stores, FamilyMart’s 8,200 stores, Circle K Sunkus’ 6,200 stores, have turned off the lights of their name boards at night and control the air conditioners in the daytime.

According to Lawson, stores can cut 50 per cent of electricity in day-time. Other companies followed to save on electricity.

In addition, on March 13, the government decided to stop providing electrical power from March 14 onward. It divided the nation into fi ve groups. Electrical power is provided on a rotating basis for three hours two times a day in nine provinces in the Kanto region around Tokyo.

The government plans to do this for a month.

On Sunday, Sai says, “To save electricity, we turned lights off now although the planned blackout has not started yet.”

In Fukushima, the nuclear power plant has released radiation because it was damaged by the earthquake.

To minimize the from risk high

radiation on the human body, the government has asked people to stay in their houses in a 30-kilome-ters radius.

The Japanese military want to

drop water on the plant from heli-copters, but they abandon the plan because of high radiation on March 16.

Blackouts happen frequently, so workers can’t run the repair smoothly. Workers have tried to repair the plant.

Some workers were exposed to radiation and were sent to hospital, complaining of nausea.

University student Mina Yoko, 19, of Gunma, says, “Now things we can do are to pray, to donate money, to make blood donations and to save on electricity with a full effort. And we hope to help as many people as possible.”

Ayumi Sugiyama, 24, who works at Narita International Airport, says, “Many foreign rescue teams have arrived. I’m moved to tears by foreign people who are worried about Japan and by the support from other countries.”

Until March 16, 116 countries and regions and 28 organizations have announced to support Japan.

Yuki Kaji is a second-year Journalism program student from Japan. He reports his family and friends there are safe.

Niagara College is reaching across the world to help its Japanese stu-dents contact friends and family affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami.

There are 11 Japanese English for Academic Preparation students and 28 Japanese post-second-ary students registered here.

After the last magnitude nine earthquake hit Japan last Friday, the Internation-al Department contacted all its Japanese students individually.

Shawna Luey, an inter-national student adviser, says that support is in place for students to talk with their family and friends.

Yuki Kaji, a second-year Journalism student, is spearheading setting up donation jars or boxes at cafeterias, pubs and the In-ternational Departments at both campuses from next week until the end of this semester.

The department and Kaji are planning a social fund-raiser event on April 19.

The proceeds will be donated to the aid funds in Japan in Niagara College’s name.

Upcoming details will be posted on Niagara news, http://www.niagara-news.com, and Blackboard and Facebook of Niagara Col-lege.

There will also be tables set up at both campuses in the cafeteria next week 12:30 to 1:30 every day for more information. After the next week, volun-teers will promote and ask funds every Wednesday in the cafeteria at 12:30 to 1:30 until the end of this semester.

Niagara College’s homepage has added a link to the Red Cross website for online donations.

Japan struggles in crisisTh ousands missing, homeless and exposed to radiation after massive earthquake and tsunami

Niagara College supports

Japan relief

Designed by Yuki Kaji


By JESSE CARTERStaff Writer

Have you ever wondered about monks and Buddhism, Eastern culture and what’s it like on the other side of the world? If so, be ready to have some questions answered in this rare look into a Canadian author’s account fi rst-hand as he visits Niagara College for an author’s reading on March 21 at Welland campus’s Learning commons.

Growing up in Ontario, Tim Ward, 52, was curious about what life was like on the other side of the world and how most of the people on the planet really live.

Although raised a Christian, he says he was drawn to Buddhist areas and Buddhists’ commitment to peace, using peace of mind.

Spending six years in Asia, partly as a journalist for the CBC, Ward says he got to live in slums and remote villages and mountain temples.

“It taught me that the way we live in Canada is just one way, and ours is not necessarily superior.”

Wat Pah Nanachat was one of several monasteries he stayed in over the course of two years of travel.

“I heard about this special place from a monk in Bangkok. It’s in a jungle in the northeast, near Laos. What’s unique about it is that half the monks are West-erners, and it runs in Thai and English, so you don’t have to master Thai language to join. In-stead, outsiders can immediately be integrated into actual rigorous Buddhist practice just by show-ing up and asking to stay. That’s

what I did.”Ward says he wrote his story

from a fi rst-person’s beginner account and his six-week stay at the monastery had seemed like a lifetime.

Shaving his head at 26, Ward says, was a telling experience and it taught him to not be so at-tached to his personal appearance. Although his hairline has begun to thin now, he says he learned a long time ago Canadians can get stuck in the wrong mindset.

“It’s weird to be totally bald when you are 26. Now that I’m 52 and rapidly thinning on top, I’m glad I had that experience when young. The monks say that hair is an attachment. We want to look good. So cut it off, [and] don’t think about being attrac-tive. It’s very foreign to our way of thinking.”

What Ward took home from the experience he has put in his book, and he says he felt he came close to what Buddha actually taught, which was the impermanence of existence, the illusion of self and the fact of human suffering.

“I did not fi nd a lot of joy in the monastery, not a lot of compassion for the world outside. I didn’t want to live locked away in a place rela-tively insulated from suffering.

“The monks said you can never reach Nirvana in the outside world. It’s too distracting. But to me, what was the point of serenity if you just stayed in a monastery?”

To fi nd out more about his tale you can come to the live reading, on March 21 or visit Ward’s web-site at www.timwardsbooks.com. Making a tour around Niagara,

Welland and Waterloo, Wards says he is also visiting Buddhist stud-ies classes at the University of Toronto, McMaster University in Hamilton and maybe the Univer-sity of Waterloo.

Life lessons come by experienc-ing other cultures and none more important than the practice of peace and tranquility.

Ward was happy to take some of those ideals back with him.

“I’m glad I took some things with me from the monastery: the ability to breathe deep and be at peace in the present moment, the ability to suffer and then let go, and accept life just as it is.”


What do you do when you need specifi c research for your course? Are there options available and people who can help you get the information you need? The answer is yes, and the new sources for in-formation are available for Niagara College students.

The Niagara College Librar-ies has introduced new Subject Guides, available on-line at the library webpage, www.niagara-college.ca/library. These guides are now available for all Ni-agara Campus college students and faculty on both campuses.Geoff Brown, library technician for eResources, was able to take a minute and explain the research additions.

What are these new tools and how can they help you?

First is the Subject Guides. Now on the NC Libraries webpage, http://www.niagaracollege.ca/library/, you can look under the research tab and see the addition of the link Subject Guides.

After clicking on it, you will come to a search Subject Guide screen that allows students and

faculty to browse guides alpha-betically, by subject, or by program name.

Once you have selected the dis-cipline you want, you then come to a page with all academic resources you could need related to the spe-cifi c program.

Brown says the staff has “honed down” the information to best suit what is needed in each course or discipline.

With an introduction in the fi rst tab, there are several other tabs with other means of delivering the information, from books and DVDs to journals and databases. The new links give you any means of receiving and exploring the li-brary’s resources.

The process in each tab is a se-ries of links with titles regarding what is available on the website or to other related ideas.

Lynden Lockhart, a student of the Recreation and Leisure Servic-es program, says although he may not be able to make it to the tutori-als, the idea of a specifi c program guide online and the availability of a specialist option is useful.

“People need questions an-swered and it’s great that it’s now

available and they’re willing to put the time in.”

Drop-in research tutorials are also available weekly at either campus.With these tutorials, Brown says, the staff is hoping to give the students the means to use the new service themselves.

“We hope to pass on researching skills and strategies to students so they can best utilize their library resources and further their aca-demic study.”

Begun on Feb. 24, the service does not require signing up. Just show up at the allotted times and the help is there. Located in the existing Research Training Room at either campus, library research specialists can answer all ques-tions.

At the Welland campus, the ser-vice starts at 11:30 a.m. and runs to 12:20 p.m. every Tuesday, and from 2:30 p.m. till 3:20 p.m. every Thursday at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.

For more information, visit the blog at www.libraryblog.niagaracollege.ca and look for tutorial posters for scheduled research classes and other access information.

Author Tim Ward in the phakao robes of a “temporary” monk on the balconey of his hut in the jungle. Submitted photo

Canadian author shares experience

College off ers new library resourcesT H E C O M M U N I T Y PA P E R O F N I A G A R A C O L L E G E

niagara-news.com


NEWS

By KAYLA CABRALStaff Writer

I heard there was a concert this weekend. Did you?

Many people enjoy going to con-certs, but the ringing in your ears afterwards can affect you for more than just a night.

Donna Corcoran, audiologist, says hearing damage is greater when you are exposed to a loud volume for longer periods of time. The ringing in your ears after a concert is “a sign of damage.”

She says musicians can purchase earplugs specifi cally for them that partly plug ears with a chamber “that allows sound to come through so they can play effectively with other people.”

Natalie Scalzo, 19, a student at Brock University in St. Catharines, says she enjoys going to concerts, but when she is at a concert she doesn’t “notice the music being loud.”

“The moment the show starts and that fi rst chord is played, I take in all aspects of the show as an experience, including the volume of the music. To me, it adds atmo-

sphere to the entire event.”She says one of her biggest pet

peeves is earplugs at a concert.“As much as it would be ben-

efi cial to your hearing to wear ear-plugs to a concert, I do not see the point. Why spend all of that money and then miss out the raw sound of the show? I understand hearing is a vital part of our senses, but I could not imagine listening to Hey Jude with earplugs in.”

Scalzo says she would never stop going to concerts but she would limit the number of times she goes in order to avoid hearing damage.

Corcoran says there are safety guidelines for the music industry but everyone is different when it comes to an “average volume” that is OK.

Adam Attard, culinary student at the Niagara-on-the-Lake cam-pus, says he loves music “way too much to care” about the effects it can have on his hearing.

He says the loud music doesn’t affect him until afterwards and usually the problem lasts “about four hours.”

“I do feel it affects my hearing.

I notice that in social situations I fi nd myself asking people to repeat things or to speak up.”

He says when he is jamming with his friends, they turn up the amp in order to hear the music over the loud instruments. He and his friends don’t wear earplugs while they play because their mu-sic isn’t as loud as the amplifi ers at concerts.

“There’s something special about going to see your favourite band, no matter what the conse-quences,” he says.

Courtney Cooke, in the Tourism Management – Business Develop-ment program at NOTL, says she notices people with earplugs at concerts, but she has never worn them.

“My ears sometimes ring after concerts, but not all the time.”

Corcoran says there is a “certain amount of prevention” people can take.

She suggests having your ears checked if you think there is dam-age but to still “enjoy your music.”

For musicians and music lovers, visit www.hearnet.com.

By KRISTEN SPRUITStaff Writer

Celebrating economic, political and social achievements of wom-en since the 1900s, March 8 is a day for women worldwide to be applauded, respected and inspired.

Now an offi cial holiday in more than 20 countries including Afghanistan, China, Russia and Cuba, and celebrated by women globally, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the revered Interna-tional Women’s Day.

Making a difference by think-ing globally and acting locally, students at Niagara College are doing their part to make an im-pact by implementing the project Fair Trade Niagara. The project works directly with co-operatives in South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Brazil and Canada to teach women how to be successful entrepre-neurs and establish sustainable businesses.

It is just one of the many proj-ects implemented by members of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) at Niagara College, a program that empowers students to create economic opportunities in their communities by teaching others essential business skills, ethics and environmental sustainability. With 84 active members on the SIFE Niagara team and through its partnership with the college’s International Department, students are not only making a difference, but are also applying skills they’ve been taught in the classroom.

“I joined because it was a way for me to get involved and ap-ply the theoretical knowledge I’d learnt in school to real-world applications,” says Samantha Hunter, a fourth-year International

Commerce and Global Develop-ment student and project manager for Fair Trade Niagara.

She travelled to South Africa for three months in 2009 to work with emerging agricultural and soap-making co-operatives in some of the poorest areas of the Western Cape province, teaching them ba-sic business skills.

“There was an 88 per cent un-employment rate at the time, and people were living on less than $2 a day. A lot of them had never been in a classroom and had never had a formal style of teaching. It was beyond them to understand why I’d take the time out of my day to teach them,” says Hunter.

“They all took it in and really wanted to make sure they under-stood so they could implement the marketing initiatives that we’d taught them. They were very excited to have that assistance be-cause they’re not used to it.”

In its sixth year of operation, Fair Trade Niagara has directly had an impact on more than 300 individuals, generated over $475,000 in economic opportunity and increased the awareness of international co-operatives, result-ing in a 180 per cent increase in profi tability.

The program works to create independent and sustainable busi-nesses in the home country that are

able to function without outside assistance once the training is complete.

Fair Trade Niagara regularly imports products from the various co-operatives and sells them at lo-cal stores in the region. Products include arts and crafts, jewelry, scarves, bags and coffee.

“We target a lot of small busi-nesses that specialize in Fair Trade, crafts and handmade items. That’s added value to the business and to the entrepreneurs and creates sustainable income for both,” says Sarah Bernard, outgoing president of SIFE Niagara, and graduating student of the Event Management graduate certifi cate program at the

Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.Michael Evink, incoming presi-

dent for SIFE Niagara, and fi rst-year Sales and Marketing student at the Niagara-on-the-Lake cam-pus, says he has learnt “so much this year alone.”

“It’s not about showing up to class and going home every day. It’s about taking those extra hours a day to learn something that can really pay off in the end.”

Evink says he hopes to partici-pate in an international placement to work with one of the co-oper-atives.

“The powerful international connection these students have created with women in develop-ing countries is a great way to showcase a positive story of what students are doing in Canada to help others in need while also gaining valuable hands-on experi-ence to become future leaders here at home,” says Jaime Szegvary, communications consultant for the charitable organization Advanc-ing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE), under which SIFE Niagara operates.

ACE works with more than 50 university and college campuses across Canada to provide students the opportunity to apply the in-formation they’ve learnt in the classroom to real world economic, social and environmental issues in their community. Not only is the experience rewarding for the students involved, but also it has signifi cant benefi ts for them be-cause major corporations consider them favourably for recruitment once they graduate.

For more information about ACE’s programs, visit www.ace-canada.ca.

Samantha Hunter, Michael Evink and Sarah Bernard, students at Niagara College, are members in the Students in Free Enterprise program, which implements various projects on campus, in the community and internationally.

Photo by Kristen Spruit

Promoting women’s global business success

The sounds of silence

Illustration by Toni Karan

Love the music, prevent the loss


Cody Dwyer, a fi rst-year Police Foundations student at Niagara College, poses with his gold medal from the 2011 Canada Games.


By SHAWN SMITHStaff Writer

Chalk up another martial arts standout for the Niagara region.

Cody Dwyer, 18, of Welland, a fi rst-year Police Foundations stu-dent at Niagara College, is a local judoka who recently travelled to Halifax, N.S., representing Ontario in the Canada Games. While there, Dwyer went 5-1 en route to a gold medal in the 90-100 kilogram weight class.

A long-time fan of mixed martial arts, Dwyer cited UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre as one of his favourite fi ghters.

“I wanted to do some kind of combat sport or something, and my mom didn’t want me to do boxing because it would knock my brains out,” laughs Dwyer. “So then I said

I’d do judo.”Motivated by his love of fi ghting

and his desire to someday represent Canada in the Olympic Games, Dwyer works hard daily to become the best judoka he can be.

“I train six days a week,” says Dwyer. “Four nights are Judo and two nights are either running or weight lifting.”

Four years after beginning his training, Dwyer is a brown belt under Master Chuck Lee of the Welland Judo Club and is the top-ranked Ontario judoka in his weight class. This has not come without hard work, however. It’s the adrenaline rush that motivates Dwyer to be the best he can be.

“I like the feeling right when you’re about to throw someone and you know you’ve won,” says Dw-yer. “It’s a huge adrenaline rush.”

Local judoka is good as goldCody Dwyer

represents Ontario at the Canada Games

Page 12 Niagara News - March 18, 2011 Page 13

By SHAYLENE ABBEYStaff Writer

Shanyn’s Artistic Strength Studio (SASS) is a fi tness studio for those looking for something diff erent, something challenging and something that works.

And it’s all done on a pole.Opened in June 2010, SASS is a place where anybody, of any age

or gender, can get a total body workout in a unique way. SASS off ers stretch and conditioning classes alongside pole dance fi t-ness, aerial silk and Lyra (hoop) dance.

Shanyn Pollard is the owner and instructor and says she started pole dancing in 2005 aft er the birth of her second child, and she is her own walking testimonial of its eff ects.

“At age 30, aft er having two children, I’m in the best shape of my life.”

Pollard says pole dance fi tness is for everyone and the benefi ts are “endless.”

“I’ve had all sizes, shapes and ages come into my studio, and with persistence and motivation they were able to see results. [SASS] is able to give you challenges that are achievable in order to make you feel successful.”

Pollard invites those who want to try pole fi tness to a free class before committing. As well, SASS hosts “pole jams,” where one can come and see the action without obligation.

“Pole jams are great for beginners and will give an opportu-

nity to experience all the diff erent levels of pole dance by either watching or partaking in the events.”

Sheena Winger, 28, started pole dancing for fi tness in January 2009, aft er she got married.

“I was getting really bored of the gym and not seeing results. It’s now been over two years and the pole is still my addiction.”

Winger says she purchased a pole for her home and started learning advanced moves and tricks on her own.

Aft er a year, she says, she felt she couldn’t learn any more by herself, started searching the Internet and found SASS.

“I don’t know if was fate or destiny, but one day I googled ‘On-tario pole dancing’ and accidently found a forum on a pole jam event at a new studio down the street from [where I live.]"

"So I tried out SASS, met Shanyn and now SASS is my second home. I feel like I am blessed to have found someone who will teach me at my own level, at the pace I want.”

Winger encourages everyone to try pole fi tness.“My 50-year-old mother-in-law tried it out and she loves it. If

she can do it, anyone can.”SASS is at 687 Barton St. in Stoney Creek off Fruitland Road. Pole jam events are scheduled for March 19 from 5 p.m. until 9

p.m. and April 10 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. A full list of class options and dates is available on their

website at www.polefi t.ca or call 905-992-9395 for details or to register for classes.

Pole fi tness -fun for everyone

Shanyn Pollard, left, and Sheena Winger, right, perform diff erent aerial tricks at SASS studio in Stoney Creek.Photos by Shaylene Abbey


NEWS


For most, chocolate is something most delighted in when eaten, but for Cindy and Richard Kiermacz, their delight comes from giving it away.

Owners of the two locations of Chocolate Etc., the family-owned and -operated chocolatiers busi-ness at 100 Welland Ave. and 27 James St. in St. Catharines, the couple takes pride in creating the fi nest Belgian chocolates.

“We do have the best chocolate in North America,” says Richard, in his thick native Polish accent.

“The most beautiful thing about making chocolates is to give the love away with the different chocolate creations. It’s a passion and a desire, but there’s always a challenge.”

Richard and Cindy both grew up in the food industry, Richard in Poland and Cindy in the Toronto area. They met in Cindy’s uncle’s pizzeria and eventually moved to the Niagara region about nine years ago.

“You can say food brought us together,” says Cindy.

Food has been the focus of their family’s life for at least the past fi ve years, when they opened their fi rst location. Because of the demand, they opened their second location downtown on James Street about a year and a half ago.

Richard is the chocolate expert, says his wife. He tempers, moulds and creates the hundreds of differ-

ent-fl avoured, -shaped and -sized chocolates on display in their store, using milk, white and dark choco-late. Having thousands of different moulds in their collection, they cover many subjects such as music, sports, animals and transportation.

“We have many specialties. Aus-tralian ginger chunks in chocolate and chocolate-covered nuts are al-ways in high demand, as well as our chocolate with 70 per cent cocoa,”

says Cindy. Chocolate Etc. also caters to

individual and special orders and can deliver larger orders through the region. A particular extravagant order Cindy said customers request for weddings, anniversaries and retirement parties is a life-sized champagne bottle and glasses made from milk or dark chocolate, with foam created from white chocolate coming out of the bottle.

Richard also has created a life-sized scale of the upper torso of a female body from chocolate and what resembled a mountainous snow-covered region in Europe using chocolate forms, truffl es and other sweets.

Predictably, Valentine’s Day is their single busiest day of the year, with a predominantly male clien-tele. In demand are their chocolate heart boxes fi lled with assorted

truffl es and chocolates and their chocolate long-stem roses.

Typically, the stores are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, but on this particular day, they are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for last-minute shoppers.

In their quaint locations, they also serve European pastries, specialty coffees made from a blend of four Arabic beans, and gelato (Italian ice cream) in the summer.

As with any small business, Richard says it can be a challenge to survive next to the big compa-nies, but focusing on their relation-ship with their customers not only brings them satisfaction but also is what keeps their business strong.

“The most rewarding thing in this business is dealing with the people and having the return clientele. We love having people come in and to be able to see the pleasure and the reaction on their faces when he [Richard] brings out their order,” says Cindy.

Their children, Ola, 17, and Pat-rick, 15, help in the stores, either in making the chocolate, serving the customers or wrapping the orders. They agree that the customer’s reac-tions are the most rewarding part of the job. Patrick says he’s considered working in culinary or the arts be-cause “it’s a lot of fun.”

“A true chocolatier and a true pastry chef are artists, so, if it’s really in them, it’s going to come out,” says Cindy.

To contact Chocolate Etc., call 905-682-8828

Cindy and Richard Kiermacz are the proud owners of their very own tasty and unique chocolate store here in St. Catharines.


Can’t live without family and chocolate


A fi rst tattoo is usually a sig-nifi cant moment that person’s life. For some, they decide on impulse to break the routine of things, and for others it can be a long, drawn-out process that can involve a lot of detail and planning. Regard-less of the circumstances, the decision always involves a lot of feelings, and none more than when getting a memorial tattoo. Cameron Shaugnessy, 18, of Woodstock, Ont., has just received his fi rst tattoo, something his dad might have gone crazy over for even considering it. Cam’s two sisters and brother are now also considering getting one too.

The reason for all the ink? Cam-eron’s father, Dr. Kelly Shaug-nessy, 50, passed away on Oct. 31, 2010 in a fatal car accident. Leaving behind his wife, Shelly, 50, his two daughters, Jayme, 25, and Krystelle,29, and his two sons, Mitchell, 23, and Cam, Kelly also was and accomplished doctor in Ingersoll.

His practice had over 2,500 patients in a location just above Independent grocery store. Originally, Shaugnessy says, he was already going to get a tattoo and he was hoping for either a tur-tle or a quote that said, “Mind over Matter.” But he says half a month

after his father’s passing, he decid-ed on getting the tattoo he now has.The tattoo consists of lyrics/poem from a favourite music art-ist named Lupe Fiasco and a song

called Fighter, though he decided to change the words slightly to bet-ter suit his feelings.

The tattoo has the lines “I re-ally miss my pops, hope that God

watches over him and that he’s on top. That there’s no more pain and no more worries, that he’s alright and that he’s one of the generals in the army of the light.” It also has what Cam calls a “Buddha Angel” below it that has a red wristband and golden halo.

Shaugnessy and his family wear red rubber “we remember” bands that their uncle brought to them after the passing.“The reason [for calling it a bud-dha angel] is because I wanted to see like my dad as an angel, and the best description of that would be a fat angel, and the best description of this fat angel was pretty much a buddha angel, because my dad was chubby and fat and looked like a buddha.” Shaugnessy’s good friend and roommate Lynden Lockhart, 18, of Woodstock, also has a memorial tattoo for his best friend of four years, Andy Poel, 18, who also passed away in a car accident on Sept, 13, 2009. By getting a cross on his ribs because of his Catho-lic faith and then adding Andy’s initials, Lockhart says he now al-ways has his best friend with him. “We literally had ever single class together and played on the volley team together... he slept at my house like three times a week.”Both Shaugnessy and Lockhart got their tattoos at G C tattoos by a recommended tattoo art-

ist named Glen Cole, who had done work on other friends. Going with his mom and girl-friend, Justine Brett, 19, Shaug-nessy says although the tattoo had some really painful moments, he used his dad a lot to get through it. By placing the tattoo over his heart he feels he will always have his dad with him. Even though his other family members have only seen a picture of it, they all really appreciate the gesture. The siblings are now all consid-ering getting one together for re-membrance, but Mitchell has never been a fan of tattoos. After seeing this one, Shaugnessy says he now has his brother considering it.Shaugnessy says he father never liked tattoos and, when his sister Jayme got one, his father used to joke that he would one night use his skills and surgically remove it.

Shaugnessy laughs as he remem-bers his family questioning, “What would dad think?”

Cameron Shaugnessy bows his head remembering his late father, Dr. Kelly Shaugnessy.

Photo by Sam Vandenberg

Niagara student’s lifetime memorial to his dad

Available exclusivly online at

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are reports on

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Stranger Danger Awareness

and many more topics.


By YUKI KAJIStaff Writer

A big event for small business recently occurred in St. Catha-rines.

Small Business Club Niagara, a not-for-profi t incorporated organi-zation, held its 2011 Trade Show at the Four Points Sheraton in Thorold Feb. 17.

Last year more than 400 people attended this event.

The 14th annual event had more than 75 exhibitors promoting their products and services.

One exhibitor, Jenifer Cheng, 25, an assistant manager of Acne Therapy & Skin Revision Clinic, says, “We opened in November, so it’s good chance [to promote the clinic].”

As the event slogan is The Big Event For Small Business, many new shops, on-line shops and home-based business people par-ticipated.

Leon Perel, who attended the event for a second time, is a per-sonal property appraiser at 2017 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake. He says, “It’s not the largest event, but it’s cheap adver-

tisement and good advertisement. More than 100 people came a day. We built relationships. We can know who they are, what they do. I can give knowledge about an-tiques to people who don’t know.”

The event provided an area for the exchange of information for small business people.

Lisa Mocy, 45, of Kent, N.Y., is an independent distributor of Mon Vie, which sells nutritional juice. She says, “It’s kind of unique. I don’t have a booth but, by ex-changing business cards and intro-ducing myself, I can advertise my product and network.”

Gwen Smith, an account execu-tive of niagaralife magazine and a member of the Small Business Club Niagara, says health prod-ucts and services are important trends this year because there are many health business people who joined this time.

Josie Jansen, an executive di-rector of Small Business Club Ni-agara, says more than 260 people came to the event.

She says it provided great net-working and people who attended could get to know about Niagara.

Th orold Trade Show attracts small businesses

More than 75 exhibitors and more than 260 people participated in the Small Business Club Niagara 2011 Trade Show on Feb. 17.

Photo by Yuki Kaji

By LINDSAY COSTELLOStaff Writer

Through hard work and determi-nation, success can come at a young age.

For 20-year-old Patrick Walford, music is a passion that has led him to many opportunities within the industry.

Walford, a student of Niagara College’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program, hosts and produces his own radio show, called Rock the Walls.

The weekly show features punk, ska and hardcore music as well as band interviews and exclusive seg-ments.

Rock the Walls began in February 2009 but was picked up by www.idobi.com, an Internet radio station with more than two million listen-ers, in December 2010.

Walford became heavily inter-ested in music while in high school and his interest in radio was piqued after speaking to a former student of the broadcasting program.

He says this is what got his “ideas fl owing” before he stepped into the classroom.

While attending Niagara Col-lege, he was the music director for the college radio station, 90.1 FM, from December 2009 to December 2010 and also had his own specialty show.

Walford says when he started broadcasting on Idobi he had a “couple hundred” listeners per show but his March 5 broadcast reached over 15,000 people.

He said seeing this amount of support “blew my mind” and was “so surreal.”

As producer and host of his own show, he books bands and guests, develops segments and chooses

the music.Some of the segments featured

on Rock the Walls include an inside the music segment that highlights the meanings behind songs and an independent spotlight that exposes unsigned bands to a wider audience.

Walford says he feels these features add a “unique element” to the show.

With over 100 band interviews under his belt, he has been able to meet some of his favourite bands and artists.

He says his experience has been a “gigantic honour” because it is “such a passion.”

Walford recalls travelling to his hometown of Alliston, Ont., almost every weekend during his last term at Niagara and borrowing his par-ents’ car in order to review concerts and interview bands.

He says he doesn’t feel many other college students would sac-rifi ce their free time to make their dreams come true, but because he was so dedicated, music and radio “took over” his life.

He says the skills he learned in school have helped him but his journey has been fueled by “self-motivation and drive.”

Walford spends about fi ve hours a week working on his radio show and usually starts preparing early in the afternoon for his Saturday evening broadcasts.

Although running a radio show takes effort, he says he doesn’t con-sider it a chore.

“I really enjoy doing it, so I never really thought of it as being work.”

He says one of his favourite parts has been being able to meet “amaz-ing” people he would not have met if it weren’t for his involvement with music.

Although he has people who sup-port him, he says there have also been some negative people who did not believe in what he was doing.

There were people who would tell him his show wouldn’t amount to anything, but it was important for him to follow his dreams.

“I feel if you truly have a vision of something you want to do in your life, you have to go for it.”

He describes his experience with Rock the Walls as a “total dream come true” and says he is just as excited at the start of each show as he was the fi rst time he went to air.

Producing his own radio show has allowed Walford to experience other opportunities in the music industry.

Walford is the editor and opera-tor for www.niagaramusicscene.com and is responsible for con-tent management, posting news, reviews and interviews. He was also chosen in the past to act as MuchMusic’s correspondent at the Warped Tour’s Montreal stop.

He is currently completing internships at TSN and MTV in Toronto and will graduate from Niagara College this year.

Walford says he wants to fi nd a career in the broadcast industry and he is willing to move anywhere in the country to pursue a career in the industry.

He has a “very good” feeling about Toronto, though, adding liv-ing there inspires and motivates him.

Walford’s upcoming shows will feature interviews with bands such as Sum 41, A Day to Remember and Bring Me the Horizon.

Rock the Walls can be heard Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on www.idobi.com.

Niagara College student Patrick Walford, 20, hosts and produces Rock the Walls, his online radio station.

Submitted photo

Passion for music leads to success


NEWS

By ANTON MWEWAStaff Writer

The only monsters children are supposed to be scared of are the ones they think are under their beds, the fi ctional bogeymen that linger in the dark corners of a child’s mind.

Unfortunately, not all chil-dren have the privilege of hav-ing their imaginary monsters.Susan Mason was once such a child. Now an aspiring novelist with two manuscripts under her belt, Mason, 50, resides in Welland with her husband of 30 years and her two sons.

Despite appearances to the contrary, Mason’s life wasn’t always quite as happy and pic-turesque as it is seems to be.Only 18 years ago, she was still living in her personal nightmare, being able to function from day to day only by suppressing one horri-fying secret: she had been sexually abused as a child by her stepfather. “I grew up feeling hunted,” she says. “He made sure there was no safe place to hide, no one to tell and nowhere to run away to.” The man who was supposed to be one of the people she could always trust was instead the one she could never trust. After losing her biological father to cancer in 1968, Mason’s mother found her fi ve children – Susan and her four siblings – a new “father.” However, it didn’t take long for him to become the opposite of what he was supposed to be, not the protector the children would love and revere, but a destroyer. “He came into my room at night and made me cry,” explains Mason in the simplest way she can. “He told me that if I told our secret to anyone, my mother would die just like my daddy did.” Three or four times a week for 11 years, he would make his nightly visits.

Mason says she even developed a sort of ritual, one in which she’d place all of her dolls around at the edges of her bed in a protec-tive circle and settle herself in the centre, waiting and knowing that she would soon be hear-ing his footsteps on the stairs. After it was over she would cry in her bed, at times for hours on end. Sometimes, her mother would come into her room after-wards, hitting her with a wooden brush and telling her the “Bad Lady” would come through the window and get her if she didn’t stop crying.

It was only much later that Mason would fi nd out her mother had always known.During the 11 years this abuse lasted, Mason says her stepfather’s control over her grew stronger. “I knew that in the end, he always won,” she says. After attempting suicide at the age of 14, Mason’s belief her real-life monster would always emerge

victorious was only reinforced. She had taken an overdose of pills, left a note and gone to sleep, only to awaken in the hospital with her family by her side, crying and asking why she had done it. “I looked up at my stepfather and saw that he was crying too, but more than that, he looked scared. “Our eyes locked and he seemed to be pleading for forgiveness. I wondered if he was crying be-cause he knew this was his fault.” It turned out later that he had been crying for himself, for fear of the hideous truth coming out. Just two days after she had been released from the hospital, he came after her again, picking her up from a school dance at 10 p.m. and driv-ing her to an abandoned factory. “I fought him, but as al-ways my tears and pleading meant nothing,” recalls Mason.

Despite their turbulent his-tory, Mason managed to stand up to her stepfather after she met her husband. She moved out of her parents’ house when she was 18 and what followed were endless nights and days of depression and self-loathing. In 1993, 25 years after the abuse had begun, Mason fi nally shared her secret with her fam-ily. She went on to talk to the police and later in a court of law. “To this day, I can’t put into words the shame I felt in tell-ing, or how fi lthy the secrets were when spoken out loud.” Her stepfather was charged and arrested, with her mother standing by him the whole time. He pled guilty in court and was sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served only 18 months.

Justice had been served

in the eyes of the law, and in the eyes of the law only. “After the court, I went through a crippling depression,” Mason says. “I did a lot of writing. I remember writing, ‘Never have I felt so loved, and never have I felt so alone.’” After nearly two years of bar-ricading herself in her own house, locking all the doors and drawing all the blinds, Mason says she came to a crossroads when her son’s school called her about a family tree project he had refused to do. “I felt like a failure as a mother and I knew I had to make a choice. I would die or I would choose to rise above the hurt and live. “I was afraid because I had stopped talking about dying and had begun to think of ways to die.” Having regained her strength, Mason has made attempts to rec-oncile with her mother, but none of

them came to fruition. She says learning that her mother was aware of what was happening “very nearly destroyed me.” After all, she had endured the abuse in order to protect her mother after her stepfather’s threats. Although her mother passed away in 2000, Mason says she does not miss her but sometimes “wish[es] she had been a different wom-an and a different mother.” As for her stepfather, Ma-son says she has forgiven him, not for his sake but her own. “I was able to cut the ties that bound me to him,” she says. “In letting go of the anger, shame, sad-ness and hatred, I was able to love.” As would be expected, Mason’s experiences have not gone unno-ticed.

She and her family were featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show in a segment called Remembering Your Spirit in 2000.

The appearance has empow-ered her to speak at churches to adult audiences and in schools and classrooms to children. “For each class, I had a ‘Secret Box’ where children could write their questions and ask advice. I still have the notes … some made me cry.” Abuse is still a prevalent prob-lem in today’s society, evident by the questions the children asked: “How do I get someone to stop hurting my little sister?” and “My friend told me a really bad secret about her Dad. If I tell, she will be mad at me. What do I do?” Mason says that her message for someone who is being or has been sexually abused is to let it out. “Talk to someone: a fam-ily member, a friend, your teacher or your minister. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. and you don’t have to do it alone.“I never told about the abuse until I was 32. That’s how great the fear of him [her stepfather] was. Someone who wants to hurt a child will say anything and do anything to keep that child quiet.”

Mason says she shares her story because it needs to be told.

“People need to understand what it’s like to be a victim of sexual abuse, or this will continue to be a secret that is swept under the rug. I share it so that victims who have remained silent can know that it wasn’t their fault. We were children.”

For those facing abuse, or-ganisations such as the Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre and Women’s Place of South Niagara offer services such as 24-hour crisis lines and counselling. To reach the Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre Crisis Line, call 905-682-4584. To reach Wom-en’s Place, call 905-788-0113 from Welland, Port Colborne, Wainfl eet and surrounding areas, or 905-356-5800 from Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and surrounding areas.

Susan Mason, 50, has overcome the trauma of child abuse and uses her experiences to help others whenever she can.


Letting go of the pastSexual abuse survivor fi nds strength to cut ties and love again

March 18, 2011 NIAGARA NEWS Page 17

Buying contraband cigarettes costs more than you think. It fuels other criminal activities, such as the traffi cking of drugs and guns. Individuals caught in possession of contraband cigarettes face serious consequences ranging from a fi ne to jail time.

contrabandconsequences.gc.ca

L’achat de cigarettes de contrebande coûte plus cher qu’on le pense : il alimente d’autres activités criminelles comme le trafi c d’armes et de drogues. Les individus pris en possession de cigarettes de contrebande s’exposent à de graves conséquences, allant de l’amende jusqu’à l’emprisonnement.

consequencesdelacontrebande.gc.ca


ON CAMPUS

By KIMBERLY SMITHStaff Writer

The Niagara Health System (NHS) is installing unique kiosks at the Greater Niagara General Site to encourage more vigilance on hand hygiene.

Staff, doctors and visitors at the Niagara Falls location will “hear a motion-activated voice message asking them to clean their hands when they enter the main entrance and other areas of the building.”

“What’s unique about these kiosk displays is that they have ledges for people to put their purses, bags and other items to free up their hands so they can clean them,” says Frank Demizio, vice-president of Patient Services.

“It can be diffi cult for people to clean their hands, particularly dur-ing the winter, when they are car-rying gloves and other items with no convenient place to put them.”

In 2009 the NHS conducted its fi rst hand hygiene audit, resulting in educational sessions, an increase of informational signage and the addition of alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers at all sites.

Caroline Bourque Wiley, public affairs consultant for NHS, says, “Good hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection. As a result of improved hand hygiene, we have seen a signifi cant drop of outbreaks by 60 per cent over the last two years.”

The NHS spokesperson says there will be a continuing focus on hand hygiene and an expansion of kiosk initiative to all NHS sites.

Hospital-acquired infections affect fi ve to seven per cent of patients.

The preventable infections are transmitted through touch, so visi-tors to the hospital are reminded to wash hands before and after visit-ing, eating, blowing their nose or coughing.

How to use hand sanitizer effectively.

• Apply one to two pumps of product to palms of dry hands

• Rub hands together, palm to palm.

• Rub between and around fingers.

• Rub back of each hand with palm of other hand.

• Rub fingertips of each hand in opposite palm.

• Rub each thumb clasped in opposite hand.

• Rub each wrist clasped in opposite hand.

• Rub hands until product is dry.

By GENESIS FALCONStaff Writer

In a world that becomes more global every day, international ex-perience is important.

David Oancia, born to Span-ish parents in Montreal, is an international recruitment offi cer at Niagara College.

Oancia says when people ask where is he from, he says both Madrid and Montreal.

He lives in St. Catharines and has been part of the international department team at the college for about two years.

Oancia went to the University of New Brunswick, in Fredericton, and Ryerson University in Toronto.

He is taking a business program here.

As an international recruit-ment offi cer, Oancia says he is in charge of developing enrolment by showing why Latin American and European students need to come to Niagara College.

Oancia travels to countries at-tending information fairs and mak-ing presentations.

He mainly recruits full-time students and some English as a Second Language (ESL) students.

“Sometimes it is really exciting, but it’s always work,” says Oancia.

A personal experience that marked Oancia on one of his trips was walking in the Amazon rain-forest in Brazil.

He says the recruitment market in Russia is growing and is “really interesting.”

Some of the countries Oancia has been able to visit throughout his life are Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Russia and Spain.

“As soon as I got off the plane,

I fell in love,” says Oancia about Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.

He says the Russian people are

his favourites.Oancia hasn’t only lived in

Canada, he also has worked and lived in Spain for about 15 years.

He notes, “Spain for living, Canada for work.”

Another place that affected him was the coffee-growing region in Colombia.

“It’s beautiful. I really like it.”Oancia says the changing world

is “like a global village.” He adds, the more international

experience a student has, the more opportunities there are for develop-ing an amazing career.

Students from 70 countries come to Niagara College.

The most popular home coun-tries for those students are India, China and Korea, as he says there is a lot of market growth there.

His specifi c markets of Russia, Saudi Arabia and Colombia are also growing in the number of stu-dents recruited.

Oancia says international stu-dents see an good opportunity in Canada, a safe country where they can get a world-class education.

“[It will] open doors for them-selves, not only in Canada but also in their hometown,” he says.

Oancia says how his parents had a great impact on him.

“They taught me the beauty of travelling, I was lucky.”

He says he had a couple mentors who taught him the importance of marketing.

“Don Ybarra, who was the presi-

dent of Bilbao Vizcaya Bank in Spain, taught me the importance of marketing and how to fi t it into a big business.”

Oancia adds, “I used to work in a bank.”

“Sean Coote, Niagara’s direc-tor of international services and recruitment, also taught me a lot.”

Oancia says his mother worked in Canada for about 25 years and is retired.

He says his mother visits Spain over the period of four or fi ve months each year, but is living here.

“I want that,” he says.Oancia says each member of the

25-person international department team has a specifi c job.

He says his specifi c job is to at-tract students to Niagara Colleg.

He adds that he also likes to par-ticipate in some of the social activi-ties the department organizes.

David Oancia, a recruitment offi cer at the Welland campus, is in his offi ce at the International Department.Photo by Genesis Falcon

Niagara Health System begins to clean more hands

NC looks to recruit globally

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It will open doors for themselves.

— David Oancia

ENTERTAINMENTMarch 18, 2011 NIAGARA NEWS Page 19

By TONI KARANStaff Writer

It was a win-win event as bands put on a show to support the youth of Welland.

On March 12 the Youth Action Centre, at 20 Hagar St., Welland, held an all-ages event, which included Lambs Become Lions, Marine Dreams (with Ian Kehoe), Howler and Jonah Matranga.

The doors opened at 6 p.m. and admission was $10.

“It [these events] helps out the local music scene and gives kids something to do on the weekend,” says Ben Andress, 24, program co-ordinator for the YMCA Youth Action Centre.

Andress says he has built a lot of contacts through his eight years of scheduled shows, so people who want to perform at the centre usu-ally contact him.

“These are all good bands who will draw in a crowd,” says An-dress.

Justin Jennings and Eric Conlon, from newly formed band Lambs Become Lions, kicked off the show around 7 p.m.

The other two members of the band were unable to attend.

“It’s a rush to play live because you get a bunch of people in a room to hear what you have to say,” says Conlon.

Lambs Become Lions can be categorized as pop/folk music with a little bit of country.

The band’s music can be found on its website www.facebook.com/bahroar.

Jennings says the members of the band have different musical styles and infl uences.

He says Coldplay is one of his major infl uences.

Conlon grew up listening to Garth Brooks and is infl uenced by bands such as Fall Out Boy, Taylor Swift and Barenaked Ladies.

Kehoe, 28, former bass player for Attack in Black, says he “got luck” and was asked to play at the show with Marine Dreams.

“I enjoy playing music, whatever it is,” says Kehoe.

During his time visiting his hometown of Welland, he has scheduled shows with Shotgun Jimmie and Baby Eagle.

“I am absolutely excited about being here [at the Youth Action Centre] tonight. It was my inten-tion to play as much music as I can while I’m at home,” says Kehoe.

The mission of the center is to give youth of Welland an environ-ment to encourage and shape their involvement in the arts.

Andress says, “These events cre-

ate a positive atmosphere and gets the youth off of the streets and out of trouble.”

Visit www.themilecase.com for more information on Andress.

By TONI KARANStaff Writer

Two former Niagara College students are taking their musical talents throughout North America.

Welland-based acoustic per-formers Matt Dell, 25, and Ben Andress, 24, who took the Broad-casting Radio, Television and Film program, got together and created The Super Emo Tour.

The idea was put together “last minute” and happened because the artists both had some time off.

The tour kicked off at the Rex Hotel, in Welland, on Feb. 26 and continued throughout Ontario, New York and Ohio. It ended on March 3 in St. Catharines.

Andress says he has been book-ing tours since he was in Grade 9, and he now knows promoters and a couple of places to do shows.

“I’m so stoked for the end of the tour, where we’re doing three shows a day,” says Dell.

The tour consists of paid gigs and open mic nights (unpaid per-formances).

During the tour, the two artists will promote themselves and sell the split EP they created. Friend Jordan Deschamps created the cover of the EP.

The EP includes a cartoon of Dell and Andress holding hands.

“I am really excited and have a lot of new songs to play,” says Andress.

The duo had met about six years ago and fi rst performed together at the Youth Action Centre at the Seaway Mall.

Since then the two artists have played a “good handful of shows” in different places such as Toronto and Welland.

Andress is a program co-ordinator for the YMCA Youth Action Centre.

He says the job frees some of his time so he can play more music.

Dell has a new untitled album coming out and will be doing a video shoot for the single Secrets and Lullabies at the end of April.

Andress says he fi rst considered playing music from listening to Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever album with his father.

“Every since then, I just want to play music and sing songs that make no sense,” says Andress.

“Music is my thing,” says Dell.He has been playing piano since

he was two and by the age of 17 he had “mastered” the piano, guitar, vocals, bass, clarinet, trombone, trumpet, saxophone, obo and fl ute.

Dell says he was inspired to play music as a career choice after the passing of his older brother.

He says it is “crazy” how at two he was playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and now his original songs are being played on small local radio stations.

“Song writing is all based on your own experiences,” says Dell.

Andress says he would bang on

guitar strings when he was a child, not knowing what he was doing and remembers writing simple songs with a verse and a chorus.

“I wrote a song last year and I thought it was the best thing ever, and I’ve written songs now and thought, wow, this is way better,” says Andress.

Dell says the weirdest thing is starting out playing battle of the bands with people from high school and then opening up for bigger bands like Marianas Trench.

“Playing music is a good way of

getting things off of your chest. I don’t care where I am when I’m

80 years old, I just want to write and play songs,” says Andress.

“Music is my passion; it’s my life, it’s my love. It [music] is ev-erything I’ve done up to this point in my life and it is all I ever want to do,” says Dell about his future in the music industry.

For more information on Dell, visit http://www.youtube.com/mattdellmusic and www.blackto-precords.org/ for more information on Andress.

Two members of the newly formed band Lambs Become Lions, Eric Conlon (left) and Justin Jennings, performed at the Youth Action Centre in Welland on March 12.

Photo by Toni Karan

Former Niagara College students Ben Andress (left) and Matt Dell performed their fi rst acoustic tour, The Super Emo Tour, across Ontario, New York and Ohio.

Submitted photo

‘It’s my life, it’s my love’

Local bands put on show for local youth

ENTERTAINMENT

By SAM VANDENBERGStaff Writer

Music is something you’re born with. It captures your every emo-tion. Long before you’ve decided to make it a profession, it has al-ready consumed your life.

This ideology certainly holds true when talking about Crystal Beach resident Michael Pickett.

Born in Toronto, Pickett has been unknowingly paving his way into the music industry since the early age of 12.

“Going back to when I got my fi rst harmonica, those were really interesting times,” Pickett says, with a smile.

“I don’t know what your per-spectives are on those times. I don’t know how real my perspec-tive is. When I was a kid, my buddies and I thought Bob Dylan was normal. I don’t know what you think about Bob Dylan, but he certainly is fucking normal. He’s outrageous. He’s like Picasso. It was really interesting times. There was a real British infl uence on American music.”

Remembering back, Pickett says, “I asked my mother to buy me a harmonica when I was about 12. Shortly after that, I saw Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on

television and I was hooked for life. I went out and purchased their LP. Luckily enough, I found out they were playing in Toronto for a week, so it was great. Shortly after receiving a harmonica I had the chance to see some true masters of the blues and harmonica.”

Pickett’s fi rst focus in his long and ever-changing music career was no doubt the harmonica. His passion and dedication to this timely blues instrument has left an impression in the industry.

Pickett won the Maple Awards harmonica player of the year in 1999, 2000 and 2002. He also was the recipient of the Real Blues harmonica player of the year in 1998,1999, 2001 and 2002.

Pickett added to his musical re-sume´ by seriously picking up the guitar in 2000.

“I’ve had a guitar since I was 18, but I was one of those guys who didn’t play very often. Between 1968 and 2000 I had probably played publicly six times.”

In 2000, Pickett’s solo career bloomed. He seriously began play-ing the guitar for hours upon hours a day and took breaks only to eat.

“I would literally get up in the morning – you know like 6 o’clock – and I’d go (we lived in

Toronto at the time) get a couple of expressos and sit in my car (I had the back seats out of the car) and basically play till what started at 10 a.m. but quickly became noon. I’d come home and Louise, who’s my wife, would be there and I’d eat, and she’d tell me to go out and write a song. I did that for a long time. As I was doing that, Louise was booking me in 2001 as a solo performer.”

In the earlier years, Pickett, “jammed with all different types of bands and groups, but now I’m a solo artist and it’s different.”

“When it works when your playing solo, it’s really great, you know. When you really tap into that space and play and it’s all working, it’s really kind of won-derful playing solo. You walk out on stage and that’s it, man. There’s

a chair and a spotlight, you know, boom, you’re it. It’s a different experience for the performer and the audience,” emphasizes Pickett.

His solo career has been just as well received as his harmonica skills. He was nominated for two Junos, in 1998 and in 2000.

“I was excited and very shocked,” says Pickett.

“It’s humbling, really. You know, it really is.”

Aside from performing, Pickett also puts on a Labour Day weekend concert. “It’s been magic, man,” says Pickett.

Musicians like Pickett are rare these days. His Delta-inspired blues music is not only played through his guitar, but is truly lived t h r o u g h his life.

‘I asked my mother to buy me a harmonica when I was about 12.’

– Michael Pickett


Music is something you’re born with

SPORTSMarch 18, 2011 NIAGARA NEWS Page 21

By CAROLYN GOARDStaff Writer

The Niagara Knights men’s basketball team reached the end of its season March 3 after be-ing eliminated from the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championships in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Knights returned to the OCAA championships after their one-year absence and a 102-76 win over the Fleming College Knights from Peterborough on Feb. 26. However, they were elim-inated from the championships at Algoma University on March 3 af-ter a tough loss against Algonquin College’s Thunder, from Ottawa.

After the Knights’ win against Fleming, they ranked fourth place in the OCAA West region with an impressive 11-7 record.

With a halftime score of 47-37 for the Knights on Feb. 3, Niagara continued with a strong offence to ultimately win the game.

Guard Matt Thomas “pumped in 19 of his 23 points in the later frame, while guard Jimmy Bilenga also had 23 points for Niagara,” says sports information offi cer Shawn McCart.

Forward C.J. Smith fi nished

with 19 points.The Knights were eager to

avenge an 80-58 playoff loss to Algonquin last year in an OCAA championship qualifying game.

The Thunder fi nished in fi rst place in the OCAA East region with a 19-1 record and only one loss to the Durham Lords in Oshawa.

The Knights, however, were “one and out” when the OCAA championships tipped off in the quarterfi nal games, says McCart.

Head coach Steve Atkin says the team had every opportunity to win in the opening round against Algonquin, but the team met its match and dropped a 82-78 deci-sion to the Algonquin Thunder.

McCart says Smith had a game-high 27 points, while captain and guard Lamar Grant and captain and forward Jeremy Settimi each scored 11 points reaching double digits in scoring for the team.

The team was hoping to win its fi rst provincial championship since returning home with bronze in 2009 when the championships were played at Algonquin.

Free throws were a contributing force to the outcome of the game.

“We missed 10 free throws and shot 40 per cent from the line and lost basically by three, discounting a free throw they hit as a result of our need to foul at the end, ultimately losing by four,” McCart says.

The Knights started the second half of the game “very slow,” which did not help the cause, At-kin adds.

Niagara, with a one-point lead

at the half, “was only eight-for-18 from the charity stripe, for a shoot-ing accuracy of 44 per cent, while the Thunder were successful 66.7 per cent of the time, sinking 22 their 33 attempts,” McCart says.

“We battled all the way, the boys played their hearts out, but it’s tough to win when you miss that many free throws,” Atkin adds.

Niagara’s fi rst-year coach was proud of how the Knights came together over the course of the seasons and gelled heading into the second half of the season.

“Right now, we can play against anyone in the country. Unfortunate-ly, we won’t be getting a chance to demonstrate that,” says Atkin.

Atkin says, “They accomplished this through incredible dedication and hard work. They represented the school and this community at the highest level and are great am-bassadors of the game.”

McCart mentioned that Smith was Niagara’s top rebounder in the loss with seven, and Bilenga also received individual honours after the game.

Bilenga was named to the OCAA all-rookie team, and Smith was selected to the second all-star team at the award’s banquets on March 2.

As the season for the men’s basketball team wraps up, Atkin says, “I am extremely proud of this team.”

Although the Knights are out until next season, there are high hopes for next year’s OCAA cham-pionships.

By EMMA RUSSELLStaff Writer

The 2011 Women’s National Basketball Championships are fi nally here, and with a champion-ship come awards.

The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls was the site for the belairdirect Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian banquet on March 16. National awards, including player of the year and coach of the year and the top 10 players in Canada, were recognized. The banquet started at 6:30 p.m.

To support all the women at the banquet this year is former Women’s National Basketball As-sociation (WNBA), CCAA and National Collegiate Athletic As-sociation (NCAA) achiever Kelly Schumacher.

“I’m honoured to be able to come back and show my support to the young, talented athletes of the future,” says Schumacher.

Schumacher was born in Cincin-nati, Ohio, but moved to Quyon, Canada, at age 11. Growing up, Schumacher played every sport she could. In high school she ex-celled in basketball, volleyball and soccer. Schumacher graduated and went to John Abbott College in Quebec, where her team won back-to back national championships. She received the award for being John Abbott’s rookie of the year, women’s athlete of the year and was named “All-Canadian” and the CCAA player of the year.

“Participating in the CCAA Women’s Basketball Champion-ships were very exciting moments in my life,” says Schumacher.

After being offered many schol-arships to the best U.S. universi-

ties, Schumacher accepted the powerhouse basketball program at the University of Connecticut, where she made one Elite Eight appearance, one Sweet 16 and two Final Four appearances in the NCAA Tournaments.

Schumacher was drafted the 14th pick in the fi rst round for WNBA’s Indiana Fever. She ap-peared in more games than any player in the franchise history, says Schumacher’s website.

In her successful eight-year career in the WNBA, she won the championships with the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock.

“We’re very fortunate to have such an accomplished individual speak at our banquet,” says Ray Sarkis, Niagara College co-ordi-nator of athletics and recreation and host chair of the 2011 CCAA Women’s National Basketball Championships.

“I know her message to our stu-dent athletes will be very powerful and inspirational.”

Schumacher’s keynote speech is sponsored by Campus Living Centres.

Niagara College Knights will be hosting the CCAA Women’s Na-tional Basketball Championships, where the eight collegiate teams in Canada play for gold. This will be the fi rst time since 1998 that the championships have been played in Ontario.

The March 18 games are sched-uled at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The semi-fi nal games will be played at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The medals will be de-cided on March 19, with the bronze qualifi er game at 10 a.m. and noon. The bronze medal game will be at 6 p.m. and the gold medal game at 8 p.m.

Th e end of the roadMen’s season ends with disappointing loss in OCAA tourney

Former WNBA great to visit Niagara

Former WNBA superstar Kelly Schumacher attended the CCAA awards banquet March 16.

Submitted photo

Niagara Knights guard and OCAA all-rookie team member Jimmy Bilenga is challenged by two defenders during their last game against the Sheridan Bruins on Feb. 18.

Photo by Sam Cino


NEWSBy EDEN ARMSTRONG

Staff WriterIt’s time to pass the torch.The United Way of St. Catha-

rines and District has created a group for people ages 20 to 40 who want to make a difference in the community.

Eric Lamothe, 25, is the cam-paign manager for the United Way and is staff liaison for the GenNext group. He worked as a campaign associate for a year and has been in his newest role for the past year. His job is to oversee 200 work-place campaigns, including dress-down days and other workplace fundraisers.

“I saw a big gap in the age de-mographic that were long-time supporters and donors, board and cabinet members. They were all the baby-boomer generation,” says

Lamothe.Marty Mako, 34, works as a

health promoter for Niagara Re-gion Public Health. Mako is fi rst chair of the GenNext group and, together with Lamothe, has spear-headed the project.

“I had similar observations to Eric when I’ve attended United Way events through the years through my role as co-chair of the Region’s United Way Action group.”

The two met at the Region through the United Way Action group. With 3,000 employees, Ni-agara Region has as its corporate charity of choice the United Way.

Mako says he would like to see younger people take action and get involved in the Niagara region.

“We want to engage the next generation to play more of an active leadership role in the cam-paign and in giving back to the community in general. There is a defi nite need for this in the com-munity and getting this generation connected,” says Mako.

Lamothe and the United Way approached Mako, who said yes to the idea, and then the planning began. A 25-member cabinet was needed and the interview process was soon underway.

“We wanted to make sure that both sides connected. We wanted to make sure they were getting out of it what they wanted to,” says Lamothe.

He says a 25-member limit was key. Other GenNext groups work with the same number, so Lamothe and Mako thought this would be a good size.

“Any more would be unman-ageable. Everyone in the group has a role.”

“Eric and I knew we wanted to have a balance between private sec-tor, public sector and non-profi t,” says Mako. “We wanted diverse opinions. We wanted a cabinet that was really well-rounded.”

Lamothe says, “We were build-ing this from scratch. We wanted to develop it together. We thought that was the exciting part of it. We got to be creative and innovative. We were building something out of nothing.”

By mid to late summer, the inter-view process ended and the cabinet was formed.

Lamothe kept getting emails from people asking if they could be on the committee.

Lamothe and Mako say preven-tion is key. The United Way of St. Catharines and District gives funds to 68 programs and wants to see people take on efforts so that these programs could be ended.

“We want to encourage preven-tion so that years from now we are funding more and more programs but that we are living in a sustain-able and healthy community.”

GenNext is in the fi nal stages of knowing what it wants to ac-complish. The next step is to hold a public launch.

“We wanted to hold off on the launch because we wanted to have all the behind-the-scenes work done before we went public. We want this group to be sustainable for many years to come,” says Mako.

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GenNext group out to make a diff erence

The GenNext group attended the United Way’s volunteer appreciation evening. From left , Sean Greenhalgh, Lauryn Richardson, Kristen Smith, Marty Mako, Mackenzie Kish, Jordan Charron, Rebecca Shupe, Kevin McGrath, Tim Luey, Eric Lamothe and Jocelyn Titone.

Photo by Eden Armstrong


By STEPHANIE AZEVEDOStaff Writer

College students with similar in-terests and hobbies have the option of starting clubs, yet there seems to be a lack of religious clubs at Niagara.

At the Welland campus, there is only one religious club called Xo-dus, and the Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) campus does not have any.

Jaleesa Russell, director of clubs and volunteers for the Student Administrative Council (SAC), acknowledges religious clubs are not very popular at the college.

“There haven’t been any other [faith-based] clubs here in the last fi ve years.”

Although religious clubs are warmly welcomed, Russell gives plenty of reasons as to why there haven’t been many instated, espe-cially in recent years.

“There could be too many differ-ent programs running at the school or outside the campus,” Russell explains. “There could also be a lack of advertising, or fi nding enough people to get together to start a club.

“A lot of that has to do with the types of classes we have here; for example, NOTL has culinary clubs because they have the brewery and

culinary classes there.”Even though religious clubs are

scarce at the college, it shouldn’t deter students from inquiring about starting one. SAC is open to sug-gestion, and will give students as-sistance in starting a club.

“There’s nothing stopping [stu-dents who want to start a club] from coming to us,” she says. “We would never turn a person down without reason.”

Clubs funded by SAC are offered up to $300 per semester, but a club that runs on one campus cannot run on the other.

“It prevents clubs from double dipping,” Russell says.

If a club wanted to run on both campuses, the founder would have to go through some leg work fi rst.

“There would have to be some kind of an agreement to prevent them from [obtaining extra funds],” Russell explains.

What of the provision that clubs must allow anyone to join?

“I think it comes down to letting someone in for a good reason,” Russell comments. “The problem is fi nding out why they want to join that group.”

The Xodus club was contacted for comment, but failed to reply by press time.

By STEPHANIE AZEVEDOStaff Writer

Ideas of faith and religion are ingrained in everyone, even if that belief is that there shouldn’t be any.

Mitchel Gartner, a fi rst-year Electrical Engineering student, says the word “religion” to him means “faith, belief, God, spirit and everything like that.”

Gartner was raised Christian and continues to follow the path.

He says the most important part of his faith is “that there is an afterlife. That there is a God in Heaven.”

“Everyone has their own faith, their own belief. I don’t think it’s good to try to push stuff on other religions,” he says.

To fi rst-year English as a Sec-ond Language student Ahlam Al Zuwaid, her religion has a slightly different meaning, serving as something to look to when life is stressing her out.

“If I do that [follow my religion], I feel very relaxed, and it is good for the pain.”

Al Zuwaid was raised as a Mus-lim and continues to follow the faith.

“In the Qur’an you [can show] anyone what is right and what is wrong,” she says.

“Anything about the life, you can show them.”

For Yassin Al-taha, a fi rst-year Computer Programming stu-dent, the word “religion” means “something my parents believed in, something my old ancestors believed in.”

He, too, was raised Muslim, but says, “I’m not actually religious.”

“I’ve just lost my way,” he says, shrugging, adding he believes he will go back again one day.

Al-taha says the part of Islam he wishes could be spread to all religions is forgiveness.

“When you feel forgiven, you feel liberated, free.”


Five minutes of fame is all some people need for a cheap thrill, and there is no cheaper thrill than belt-ing out a familiar tune, successful or otherwise, in a Welland bar.

CJ’s Restaurant, at 128 East Main St., is owned and operated by Chris Walker and his mother, Doreen Walker, of St. Catharines.

In just its second year of opera-tion, Chris says one of his busiest nights is Thursday night karaoke, run weekly from 9:30 p.m. until closing.

Chris says he started karaoke night because he likes to sing and was certain others in the commu-nity liked to as well.

“It has caught on and now it grows every Thursday. I enjoy hearing the different people sing-ing and watching them have fun.”

Although the crowd is primarily regulars, Chris says he does see newcomers.

To be expected, the level of tal-ent varies.

“A lot of the people that do come out are very good singers,

while some can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” he comments. “But what makes it fun is that they are up there trying, and that’s what karaoke is all about. It’s not about whether you can or can’t sing; it’s just about going up and having fun doing it.”

Regular patron Mike Munro, an engineering technologist who recently moved to Welland, sings at karaoke as a hobby and prefers songs that are dynamic and require a good vocal range.

He says although he’s never con-sidered quitting his day job to sing, he has been approached by various choir groups and recently a record-ing studio.

“It’s cool to have people enjoy what you’re doing up there. If you get up on stage and project yourself well, then the crowd will get into it,” Munro says.

“It’s therapeutic too if you’re afraid to get up in front of people or have a shy factor. If you can get up there and do karaoke, then that’ll go away. It doesn’t matter if you’re good or not.”

The audience, however, appreci-

ates talent. To keep the entertain-ment rolling and for his own enjoy-ment, Tetrad Wright, who has been running karaoke at CJ’s Restaurant for about eight months, likes to sing “anything from 1970’s classic rock to today’s alternative progres-sive rock” between performances.

“I like this job because it doesn’t feel like a job. I would be there anyway singing. I don’t see myself doing this for a long time, but any-thing with music is the industry for me,” says Wright.

His signature closing song every Thursday is Gravedigger by the Dave Matthews Band.

Others, such as Chimere Trem-blay, a third-year Electronic En-gineering Technology student at Niagara College, don’t go to sing, but to have a good time and sup-port friends.

“It’s nice to go somewhere where you recognize the faces ev-ery week. It’s like having our own Cheers here in Welland.”

CJ’s restaurant is open Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Singing a familiar tune

Karaoke enthusiast Mike Munro sings Walking in Memphis at CJ’s Restaurant on Feb. 17.


‘Everyone has their own faith, their own belief. I don’t think it’s good to try to push stuff on other religions.’

— Mitchel Gartner

‘There’s nothing stopping [students who want to start a club] from coming to us... We would never turn a person down without reason.’

— Jaleesa Russell

Religious clubs have the support of Student Administrative Council

Karaoke enthusiast gains popularity at local bar

Students refl ect on religious beliefs and backgroundsAlthough there are few faith-based clubs at the college,

SAC welcomes the idea of more


NEWS

By SAM CINOStaff Writer

Sometimes war can be fun.The 6th annual Toronto Air-

soft Convention (TAC) was held March 5 at the Fighting Arts Col-lective at 927 Dupont St.

The show drew people from across Ontario.

Airsoft is a game played much like paintball, with “guns” used to shoot and eliminate other players.

The main difference is that Airsoft uses solid six-millimetre plastic BBs, whereas paintball uses larger paint-fi lled balls.

Airsoft uses the honour system for players to remove themselves when eliminated, but there are harsh penalties ranging from temporary removal from play, to lifetime bans of a cheater from the entire community.

Paintball has visible paint splotches on the person shot.

The age groups are different as well. The majority of people can participate in paintball, but most Airsoft games are open to only those aged 18 or older.

Airsoft guns are also almost ex-act recreations of real weapons, but they are unable to fi re real bullets.

Paintball guns have a large tank attached to them and resemble something out of science fi ction.

The main attractions included Airsoft gun and parts vendors, army surplus, a kit-swap table, Second World War and Vietnam re-enactors, and, for the fi rst time in the show’s history, on-site food, provided by Green Mango.

“The food booth was an excel-lent addition. You don’t always have time to step out for food and barely any time to eat it,” says Derek Yundt, of Guelph, Ont., who was working at the BB Bas-tard booth all day.

“BB Bastard was busy all day, both selling and answering plenty of questions about our product lines,” he says.

TAC regular Jeroon Vrakking was also in attendance, running his Army Issue surplus booth, complete with booth babes who distributed stickers of his catch-phrase, “Dude, I sell Pants.”

The Ontario Airsoft World War II Re-enactors, and the Bravo Company Vietnam Re-enactors travelled from London, Ont., and spent the day answering questions on such topics as where to pur-chase historical items and how to join a unit and letting the attend-ees handle their weaponry. This included a 1940’s Tommy gun and a 1960’s M60 machine gun, made famous in the Rambo movies.

According to Brian McIlmoyle, who started the show in 2006, more people came to the show by mid-day than during all of last year’s show.

“I had a good time at the show,” says Ritchie Lieu. “It was hot at times, so they need to work on that. I think it is time for a bigger location.”

For more information on how to get involved in Airsoft, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of their website at www.airsoftcanada.com.

From left to right are Mike Kirshin, Sean Arbuthnot and Jay Forbes, who portray 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Brigade - Airborne during Vietnam 1968.

Photos by Sam Cino

Imaginary war is simulated hellToronto Airsoft Convention showcases the very best in faux-combat

From left to right are Alec Wilson, Will Truong and Ian McNish, who portray the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during the Second World War.

Is this art or vandalism? - Niagara College Digital Archive

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