Cord Community Edition: Holiday Issue 2012

NEWS FEATURE

Local church aids Syrian refugees

NEWS Waterloo Park gets set for a redesign

See Page 8

See Page 7

COMMUNITY EDITION COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

y a d i l o K-W H Guide

Open up to find our K-W holiday shopping guide + parties, winter ale and more !

Page 11

INSIDe URBAN Exploring the Breithaupt Block Page 17

OPINION The GRT is too “wrapped” up in itself Page 10

ARTS Spend Christmas with some Barenaked Ladies Page 19

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75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 Volume 1, Issue #3 Next issue: January 17, 2012 Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Angela Endicott at 519-884-0710 x3560 angela.taylor@wlusp.com CONTRIBUTORS Associate Editor H.G. Watson hwatson@thecord.ca

Photography Manager Nick Lachance nlachance@thecord.ca

Publisher Bryn Ossington Bryn.ossington@wlusp.com

Photography Manager Kate Turner kturner@thecord.ca

Editor-in-Chief Justin Fauteux jfauteux@thecord.ca

Copy Editor Erin O’Neil

Creative Designer Taylor Gayowsky Taylor.gayowsky@wlusp.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 News 10 Civic Space 11 K-W Holiday Guide 16 Urban Exploring 18 Community Conversations 19 Arts and Culture 22 Reviews 23 Monthly Events

Rebecca Allison Ali Connerty Colleen Connolly Katelyn Cullum Alanna Fairey Amy Grief Helen Hall Sara Hanafi Adele Palmquist Cristina Rucchetta Jody Waardenburg Branden Wessling WLUSP administration President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director Director Corporate Secretary Distribution Manager Web Developer

Emily Frost Bryn Ossington Angela Endicott Tom Paddock Jon Pryce Kayla Darrach Joseph McNinch-Pazzano Allie Hincks Angela Endicott Adam Lazzarato

The Cord Community Edition is the monthly magazine version of the Cord, the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community.

Started in 2012, The Cord Community Edition is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

Opinions expressed within The Cord Community Edition are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord Community Edition bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent.

The Cord Community Edition is created using Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.5 using Adobe Creative Suite 4. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

The Cord Community Edition has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2012. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com.

The Cord Community Edition circulates monthly. Normal circulation is 33,000 and enjoys a readership of over 60,000.

Cord Community Edition subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada.

The Cord Community Edition has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2012.

Campus Plus is The Cord’s national advertising agency.

Preamble to The Cord Constitution The Cord Community Edition will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy.

The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff.

The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on the community of Kitchener-Waterloo. Ultimately, The Cord Community Edition will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the community.

The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of community press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our magazine.

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eDITOR’S NOTe Dear Santa, I hope this year finds you well. I know it must be hard living in the North Pole as it is melting at present, but I’m sure you’ve still managed to make the most of it. How is Mrs. Claus and the smaller assorted Clauses?

I don’t have much to ask you for this year. I’ve been lucky enough to find myself in the enviable position of having many of the things I need. But here in Waterloo Region, there are still people struggling with what to find for that hard to shop for loved one. If you could be a dear and point them in the direction of our Shop Local guide (pages 12 and 13), it would certainly make life much easier for both you and them. I’m certain even you will find something for the naughtiest of people!

Holidays aren’t just about the presents, however. In the pages of this month’s Cord Community Edition you’ll find tales of charity, whether that be of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region that feeds our hungry (page 18) or that of Canadian Lutheran Church as it supports refugee relief efforts in Syria and Palestine (page 8). You’ll also meet some people who have big ideas for our humble little town. Some of them want to throw festivals in Waterloo Park (page 7), others want to make office life a little prettier (page 17). We’re lucky to have so many inventive people here!

I’ll be seeing you soon I suppose. Pass my love on to Rudolph and the elves.

Cordially, HG Watson P.S. If you did happen to find room in your sleigh for a pony, I wouldn’t say no.

HG Watson is the Associate Editor of The Cord Community Edition. She can be reached at hwatson@thecord.ca.

feATUReD CONTRIBUTORS BRANDEN BEN

WILSON Ben Wilson is a graduate of Conestoga College’s advertising program. This issue he worked on our cover graphic as well as much of the K-W Holiday Guide spread.

For Christmas, he would like a suit so he can look as good as the guys who work at Sterling Cooper, the fictional ad agency in Mad Men.

WESSELING

Branden Wesseling is a long-time Waterloo Region native, though he’s spent the last few years traversing the globe. At present he’s a transit advocate with TriTAG (read his first op-ed piece for the CCE on page 10). For Christmas, he’d like a really great new bike helmet for riding on the bike lanes Waterloo will one day have.

SARA HANAFI Sara Hanafi is a student in Conestoga’s journalism program. This month she visited the K-W Art Gallery to write an article about their new online gallery (page 20).

All she’d like for Christmas is someone to transcribe all her interviews for her.

Journalism is tough work!

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NEWS

NEWS LINE This month we’re talking about...

Nativity tussle

Not without my Twinkies After an employee strike throughout the United States at deliciously fattening cake-making giant Hostess, the company stopped production and filed for bankruptcy. While Hostess will cease to exist, much to the delight of snackers and doomsday preppers everywhere, it’s most popular treat, Twinkies (which, legend has it, can survive a nuclear disaster) will live on; it’s expected another snack maker will buy the rights to the product.

When the Christmas decorations first went up at Stone Road Mall in Guelph, there was one display that was left out from years past. The shopping centre had decided to leave out the nativity scene that had been displayed in the mall for many Christmases. However, many were outraged and campaigned against this decision, sending complaint after complaint to the mall management. Just three days after this announcement, mall decided to reverse its decision.

ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER CREATIVE COMMONS

Student housing fails

CREATIVE COMMONS

In a recent round of inspections under the rental bylaw that was put in effect last April, the City of Waterloo found that 80 per cent of its 2,200 initial applicants for the new housing license failed the electrical inspection. Many of these rental units — which include semi-detached homes, duplexes, triplexes and so on — house a significant portion of the student population in Waterloo.

MARK HALL KITCHENER CITIZEN

Fruit alarm Usually, you’d think fruits are good for you, right? Well be careful! According to research done at Western University, grapefruit juice contains a chemical that interferes with an enzyme that determines how much of the chemical is absorbed.

This in turn can deal out severe intakes of the grapefruit-based drug, and possibly cause death. Death by fruit wouldn’t be a very good way to go.

Flying high The Kitchenere Citizen reports that the Waterloo Air Show will be back in 2013. Organizers David White and Richard Cooper considered shutting down the show after two money-losing years. They approached the Region of Waterloo in early November asking for $91,000 in funding assistance, but were turned down. Bad weather in the past two years has caused the organizers to accumulate $350,000 in debt.

IN FOCUS

Protestors at Waterloo Public Square address supporters about concerns with the dangers to the Line 9 pipeline that passes directly under Waterloo • NICK LACHANCE PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

STARTUP HAVeN Waterloo among the world’s top 20 entrepreneurial hotspots

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Searching...

The Tannery is home to a number of local startups • mIKe LAKUSIAK FILE PHOTO

alanna fairey CCe CONTRIBUTOR

R

ecognized for its access to great talents and pioneering endeavors and ideas, Waterloo was ranked 16th on a list of the world’s top-20 ecosystems for startups.

The report was released by businesses startup Genome and Telefonica Digital, which are based out of San Franciso and Spain, respectively.

Steve Farlow, executive director for the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wilfrid Laurier University agreed with this assessment, as the region’s values and resources have played a vital role.

“The biggest single reason is that entrepreneurship is valued in this region, its part of the heritage, part of the culture,” Farlow said. “The original founding of this area was based on entrepreneurs and families and prominent businesses made this area what it is.”

Schools have recognized the relevance of entrepreneurial work and have been creating resources for student entrepreneurs to have access to. This is part of the ecosystem, a term that is used to describe the startup business community in Waterloo.

“The ecosystem here includes the business community. The municipal and federal governments are very supportive of entrepreneurship in this startup culture in many ways and then of course the education community, which is Laurier, the University of Waterloo and Conestoga College,” Farlow added.

Farlow acknowledged that WLU created a program called Laurier Launchpad that is based at Communitech Hub, which allows entrepreneurs to connect with law firms, accounting firms and mentoring programs. Mayor Brenda Halloran credits the Accelerator Centre and Communitech Hub for their unique support mechanisms, education and leadership development tools for entrepreneurs for

their continuing successes with their startup businesses.

“These resources include hosting startup camps, providing intense discussions on business issues or developing marketing and development skills,” Halloran said.

“We facilitate connections for startups through learning and networking and we provide access to thought leadership with other local companies at various levels of management.”

Over 800 tech-sector companies got their start in the Waterloo Region over the last ten years and Halloran discussed a strong and healthy growth in this specific sector, as well as in other business sectors such as digital media, financial and health sciences.

“Our ‘holistic approach’ to startups includes knowledge-based support, opportunities for investment and access to monies and clustering, all in the physical office space startup companies need to develop and grow,” Halloran said. “This holistic approach will grow in the years to come, which will continue to support the needs of the startup community.”

WLU student Alexander Marshall, founder and chief creative officer for branding agency George Briggs Media, began his entrepreneurial work when he was 16. George Briggs Media, which builds advertising campaigns for businesses through film, received a plethora of support from the resources offered in the community.

“Communitech was one of the best offerings that I had because I was given mentorship, support and it gave us the opportunity to expand our network beyond just Laurier,” Marshall said. “A lot of it has been from the Waterloo community and the amazing entrepreneurship environment and ecosystem that is present here.”

This story originally ran in the Nov. 28 issue of The Cord. Read the original story at thecord.ca.

...for Photographers Writers

And Designers

The Cord Community Edition, connecting you to KW. You have a voice so make it heard. We are looking for anyone who loves KW that has something to share. Whether it be a story, photograph or anything you feel would fit . Share it with us!

Send us an E‐mail outlining why you’re interested and some samples of your work to communityeditor@thecord.ca

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

CITY OF WATERLOO | OUR COMMUNITY w4 WARD 4 COUNCILLOR

Diane Freeman t: 519.747.8784 c: 519.569.9955 karen.scian@waterloo.ca

Our environment and how we care for it is one of this council’s six pillars used to

w6 WARD 6 COUNCILLOR

Jeff Henry t: 519.747.8784 c: 519.998.5883 jeff.henry@waterloo.ca

The Northdale community project has garnered a lot of attention as of late.

w7 WARD 7 COUNCILLOR

Melissa Durrell t: 519.747.8784 c: 226.808.6043 mellisa.durrell@waterloo.ca

You’ve seen the cranes and the ongoing construction at the corner of Father David Bauer Drive and Erb Street, but have you

guide the strategic direction of the city.

As a municipality, we take care to assess the potential environmental impacts of all our services and programs and take steps to optimize environmental benefits whenever possible.

The city’s GreenLab pavilion at RIM Park, in my opinion, sets the bar in terms of innovative environmental technology.

Not only does the facility have a green Together with our community, our collective vision, which was approved by Council in June 2012, states: “By 2029, Northdale is revitalized and reurbanized into a diverse, vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood, integrated with educational, residential, commercial, cultural, heritage and recreational functions, and improved open space, pedestrian, cycling and transit networks.” heard the news? Delta Hotels and Resorts is coming to uptown Waterloo. As part of the company’s rebrand initiative, Delta is set to open a boutique, nine-story hotel as part of the Barrel Yards development project. This is exciting news not only for the uptown core but for the City of Waterloo in general.

Waterloo is widely recognized as a mustvisit destination that provides visitors with a varied and exceptional experience.

roof; there is an innovative rainwaterharvesting system under the two artificial fields that stores rainwater. We then use that rainwater to irrigate the four natural fields at the park.

Waterloo strives to be a leader in both technology and environmental best practices and this rainwater harvesting project is just another environmental achievement for our city. The fact that We recognize that a plan of this magnitude will take time to work. Our city is experiencing rapid growth; a student population of over 40,000 and groups with different needs and desires in this core neighbourhood; this plan will require a careful balancing act.

I believe we are well-positioned to move forward, together, especially with our most recent achievement – the IBM From Buskerfest and the Jazz Festival, to the LPGA Classic; from a top-notch selection of restaurants and retail shops to world renowned education, innovation, technology and physics hubs, Waterloo is attractive to all who live, work, play and visit here.

we can reduce and re-use our natural resources and educate the community about the benefits of sustainability makes me extremely proud of this particular project. I encourage you to check out the GreenLab the next time you visit RIM Park. You’ll be amazed!

Smarter Cities Challenge grant. This grant will pair our city and our community partners with a team of IBM experts who will assist us in the development of an action plan to see the Northdale vision through to reality.

To learn more about the Northdale project, visit www.waterloo.ca/northdale

meetings and other premier services hosted by this hotel will boost our economic vitality and will expose Waterloo as the welcoming, vibrant and engaging city it truly is. I, for one, am truly excited for the future of the uptown core and the city of Waterloo.

The opening of an upscale hotel such as the Delta in the uptown core says a lot about the growth and direction of our city. Weddings, conferences, business

A Message From City of Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran ...

The holiday season is here and there is so much to see and do in this great community. Starting on Dec. 8, Rink in the Square will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for free public skating, weather permitting. The Public Square is always filled with people enjoying the fresh air – it’s wonderful to be able to add some fun winter skating to the mix!

If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to visit www.waterloo.ca/publicsquare for a list of fun events happening this winter. The Wonders of Winter festival is always a family favourite and it kicks off Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in Waterloo Park.

Grab your hat and mittens so you can enjoy the festive Christmas light displays on our nightly trolley rides, the school house plays and of course the snack booth!

What I’m most excited to tell you about is the launch of our new City of Waterloo website. We know this website is your primary tool for everything happening in this city and I have no doubt you will be extremely happy with the changes we’ve made. The new

website will be easy to use, full of online functionality and for everyone addicted to their smartphones, it will be mobile friendly.

We want you to be among the first people to witness the unveiling of our new website so please join me at my New Year’s Levee on Jan. 6, 2013, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at RIM Park.

Thousands of people attend this event every year so it’s the perfect opportunity to launch our new website. There will be free food (while quantities last), free skating, clowns, face painting, entertainment and more. For more information about the launch of our new website, and the New Year’s Levee, visit www.waterloo.ca/communications.

This is such a special time of year; families gathering together, old friends meeting again and children basking in the Christmas spirit. We hope you will spend some of time with us with winter as well.

Best wishes to you and your family for a safe and memorable holiday season!

Visit us online and join in the conversation at P. 519.886.1550

E. communications@waterloo.ca

/citywaterloo

TTY. 1.866.786.3941

www.waterloo.ca

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PARTY IN THE PARK Waterloo Park makeover aims to create more festival space

A conceptual image depicting future winter festivals in Waterloo Park’s revamped Festival Area. The area will be located on the park’s west side. • COURTESY OF THE CITY OF WATERLOO

justin fauteux editor-in-chief

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he City of Waterloo is looking to give Waterloo Park’s west side a more defined identity. According to City landscape architect Eckhard Pastrik, while the east side of the park – closer to Uptown Waterloo – is well established, “the west side, which evolved over time, having parcels of converted industrial land added to it, people didn’t even recognize that was part of Waterloo Park.”

The west side of the park — the area along Father David Bauer Drive, immediately across the street from the Waterloo Recreation Complex — will soon see several changes, with some coming as early as this summer.

“One of the reasons we chose that [area] was that it has street frontage,” said Pastrik. “The space right now is pretty well wide open. Along that street front, we have essentially just the skate park right now.”

While the Waterloo Skatepark, which officially opened last spring, will be included

in the park’s future, the area around it will see significant improvements.

According to Pastrik, the updates to the west side of the park are aimed at making the area are more efficient community space. The changes will include the addition of a playground, communal picnic area and, most notably, an open area known as the “Festival Heart,” a gathering area that can hold more than 5,000 people, all within what he calls “an atlas of green rooms.” These green rooms are essentially parts of a planned arboretum, each with a specific function. The city hopes these elements will combine to turn this part of the park into a festival area.

nights, Waterloo’s existing “Wonders of Winter” event and graduation ceremonies, while also serving as a general, open community space. The planned festival area is part of the new master plan for Waterloo Park, which City Council approved in 2009.

“There was an existing master plan, but it was done in 1989, I believe, and it was extremely outdated,” said Pastrik. “A lot has changed in the community, particularly around the park with increasing intensification, higher densities and the emergence of some world class institutions… The original master plan was just outdated. It didn’t really reflect the diverse interests of the community today.”

“The festival area was a community-oriented use that was missing,” said Pastrik.

“The park, over its history has supported festivals of various scales and we wanted a festival space that could accommodate that kind of use.”

The master plan as a whole is a 20- to 30-year vision. However, according to Pastrik, the city had to identify which projects to commence first. The west side updates, namely the arboretum and festival area, are among these initial projects.

The planned festival area will be integrated into the park’s green space — with the Festival Heart replacing existing softball diamonds — and, according to the City’s plan, house events such as open-air movie

“Because we had a specific amount of funding on an annual basis, we couldn’t do it all at once, so we developed an implementation strategy and we set out some priorities,” he said. “One of the

highest priority initiatives was the development of the festival area.”

While the festival area is a priority for the short-term future, it will not spring up overnight. Pastrik said that in the immediate future, the city is focusing on constructing the new playground area, making it the number one priority for this summer.

When it comes to the importance of this project, Pastrik did not undersell the impact he sees Waterloo Park having on the future of the city.

“I don’t think this community recognizes the importance of Waterloo Park. I would compare to a Central Park in New York,” he said. “It’s absolutely fundamental to the community. Having a communitywide green space in the core of the intensifying area is just incredible.”

Pastrik added that the Waterloo Park task force, who came up with the master plan, also scored a “huge win” in convincing the Region to plan for a stop on Waterloo’s Light Rail Transit Line — which is expected to be up and running by 2017 — in the middle of the park at Seagram Drive.

Left: A conceptual overview of the completed festival area off Father David Bauer Drive. Right: The new festival area will include a WiFi hotspot. • COURTESY OF THE CITY OF WATERLOO

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LENDING A HELPING HAND Canadian NGOs aid refugees hg watson associate editor

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alfway around the world, a Canadian NGO is bringing to light the stories of people pushed to the margins by war — refugees from both the Syrian and Israeli–Hamas conflicts.

Robert Granke, executive director of Canadian Lutheran World Relief, has witnessed a number of tumultuous situations. In light of recent events in the Gaza strip and in Syria, he and CLWR are calling on Canadians to support the humanitarian efforts of those assisting refugees throughout the region.

“This is still an important matter and one that Canada still needs to monitor,” he said from Jerusalem on Nov. 27. He and Bishop Susan C. Johnson, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Laurier alumna, are currently in the Middle East to determine what aid is needed for people affected by the exodus from Syria and the bombing in the Gaza strip.

In Jordan, not far from the border of Syria, the Za’atari refugee camp is teeming with people who fled their homes under threat of bombardment. “Refugees had their houses bombed out and left with only the clothes on their back,” said

Johnson. With winter on the way and nighttime temperatures dropping quickly, she is worried for many who don’t have the provisions to adequately protect themselves from the cold. “Many young children are just in t-shirts and barefoot.”

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has more than 90,000 Syrian refugees registered in Jordan alone. Not counted are those waiting for appointments and those who have yet to even make their way into the system. With violence between Syrian rebels and the ruling Ba’ath party escalating, the numbers aren’t expected to go down any time soon.

“[Za’atari] could potentially double in size in the next number of weeks,” said Granke. “It’s growing by 300 persons a day.” Za’atari holds about 10 per cent of the estimated 250,000 Syrian refugees scattered throughout Jordan.

Though the numbers are daunting, Granke and Johnson are confident that with support from Canada they can at least improve the living conditions at the camp. “For $200 we can support a family for the winter by getting them a small heated space,” said Granke.

While many would be hesitant to travel to Jerusalem given the escalation of conflict in the region in recent weeks, Granke and

An aid worker speaks with child refugees. • PAUL JEFFREY ACT ALLIANCE

Johnson found a familiar calm in the holy city, their next stop after Za’atari. “I don’t see a heightened level of tension,” said Granke. “People are getting along with their lives.”

Granke’s and Johnson’s work allows them to witness stories that would otherwise go unreported, from the day-to-day struggles of Syrians in a refugee camp to the everyday life of average Israelis or Palestinians.

“The majority of Palestinians are peace loving people…who want a permanent peace between Israel and Palestine,” said Johnson. Though CLWR’s aid work supports the Palestinian population, the NGO enjoys a good working relationship with the Israeli government. “Both sides need to be heard,” said Granke.

Still, with an estimated 1.2 million Palestinian refugees affected by conflict, CLWR has plenty of work to do in the region. The Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem is one of their main projects

in the region, providing medical care to Palestinians in need.

In Waterloo, CLWR’s efforts have the support St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Wilma Bindernagel is the CLWR contact person for the congregation. “We usually respond to every emergency there is,” she said, noting that congregation members contributed financially to CLWR’s efforts in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010. “We have a list of people that we send out [calls for support to]. We also have two services on Sunday morning where we read the call for support and encourage people to respond and give to CLWR for assistance.”

While Johnson has called for financial assistance for CLWR’s efforts in the Middle East, she also makes two additional requests of Canadians. “Always ask for prayer for people who have been displaced,” she said, “and finally, I request [they] educate themselves and become aware of what the situation is.”

LOCALS START FOOD SECURITY PROJECT katelyn cullum cce contributor

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n late Novmeber, Peter Braid, MP for Kitchener-Waterloo, announced the initiation of a food security project by local organization the Mennonite Economic Development Associates, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, to support 20,000 families in northern Ghana.

that CIDA approached them a few years back with interest in the food security of women in northern Ghana. The project began in April of this year.

“Ghana as a country is doing okay [economically], in comparison to its African neighbours, except for the North, which has been left behind and is particularly poor,” Loftin said.

“It has a nutritional part to it, so that the families, if they are consuming soy as part of their diet, they are going to have access to all the good body requirements, like protein and nutrients,” said Loftin.

“This is very akin to what MEDA does.

There is a shortage of soy, Ghana is a net importer of soy, so there is a real market demand for this product,” she added.

MEDA is using market-based approaches to this project and plans on securing food for the surrounding families, by encouraging female farmers to engage in the market-based approach to farming.

This food security project is a six-year, $20-million project that will be administered by MEDA, which is an international, non-governmental organization based in Waterloo.

The goal of the project, simply put, is about making families’ food secure. More specifically, it aims to focus on the female demographic of northern Ghana because, as Loftin explained, “We focus on women because we’ve come to realize that when you target women producers, when you target women as clients or beneficiaries of a project, the return on investment is quite huge. Women will optimize the resources in terms of re-investing in the family.”

Helen Loftin, the director of women’s economic development at MEDA, explained

MEDA is focusing on soybeans, the main crop in northern Ghana.

Loftin went on to explain that the aim is to get the women to grow soy, boost the

“The project has three important objectives,” Braid said. “First is to increase crop production, the second is to improve market access and the third is to enhance nutritional practice.”

“Women [will] become connected to market systems, they will be able to sell surplus and get profit from it, and that money of course will then help them purchase things they can’t grow themselves.

It’s essentially Business 101,” said Loftin.

yields of it and have enough for their own family’s consumption, while improving their diet and marketing the surplus.

“I don’t expect that this project will raise them all out of poverty, but our programs are about alleviating poverty,” she said.

“We need to be realistic about what we can and cannot do.” Regardless of the outcome, this project plays into one of the core mandates of CIDA. “This project is part of the funding envelope that our government has set aside specifically to increase food security in the developing world,” Braid said.

He explained that MEDA is an expert in market-based initiatives and in his view, the project is in the right hands. “I’m very proud to have such an excellent, international NGO in my riding of Waterloo,” This story originally ran in the Nov. 28 issue of The Cord. Read the original story at thecord.ca.

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NEW LINES ON THE POLITICAL MAP Federal commission revamps proposed changes to local ridings helen hall kitchener citizen editor

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he Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission has had a change of heart as to where to draw the lines in Waterloo Region for the next federal election in 2015.

In the fall, the commission proposed adding a new electoral riding to Waterloo Region called Kitchener South-North Dumfries-Brant, and altering the boundaries of the remaining Waterloo Region ridings of Kitchener-Waterloo, KitchenerCentre, Cambridge-North Dumfries, and Kitchener-Conestoga.

The boundary commission has now introduced a revised plan that alters the size of the new riding to include only Kitchener South and North Dumfries. It now plans to abolish the Kitchener-Conestoga riding and have Woolwich Township residents cast their ballots with Wellington County voters and have Wilmot and Wellesley Township residents vote with Perth County.

The Commission is proposing these changes to accommodate population growth locally and across Ontario. The number of seats in the House of Commons allocated to Ontario has increased from 106 to 121 based on a census conducted last year.

These proposed changes mean Waterloo Region voters would be divided into six ridings rather than four, as it was in the last federal election. The new ridings would be Waterloo, Kitchener-Centre, Kitchener South-North Dumfries, Cambridge, Wellington-Woolwich and PerthWellesley-Wilmot.

However, only three of these ridings would be based within Waterloo Region rather than four as in the last election.

Waterloo Region Chair Ken Seiling spoke at a boundary meeting on Nov. 20 in Cambridge, making a plea to keep the three townships voting within Waterloo Region rather than farming them out to vote with neighbouring communities.

“The current proposal ignores totally the community of interest for three of our municipalities, which is supposed to be one of the key guidelines when establishing ridings,” he said in his presentation.

“Some portions of the region are stripped away to become minority or rump portions of ridings in Perth and Wellington counties. Despite a huge growth in population and sufficient population for five electoral districts, the current proposal will see the representation of the citizens of Waterloo Region less focused on regional issues, and a community of interest

Top: The proposed boundaries of the news Waterloo riding. Bottom: the new Kitchener South-North Dumfries riding. For maps of the all the region’s proposed electoral district changes, visit community.thecord.ca. • MAPS COURTESY OF KITCHENER CITIZEN

partially dismembered,” he said.

“Within the Region of Waterloo, there has been a very strong bond between the rural and urban areas. Each has worked together to support common policies and mutually support each other. Our townships are very much integrated into the cities. There is no rural-urban divide,” he added.

Almost all major services in the townships, such as police, water, sewage, garbage collection, emergency medical

services, planning and social services are performed through the Region of Waterloo. Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht is also against the new boundary proposal, which would eliminate his riding.

“It’s obviously disconcerting when the riding you represent won’t exist anymore,” he said in an interview.

He said this proposal splits his riding “into a number of pieces.”

“Wilmot and Wellesley don’t have as much in common with Perth and Stratford as they do with Kitchener-Waterloo,” he said. Albrecht said it will be more difficult for the MPs representing Waterloo Region’s townships, as they will be trying to represent constituents in two different regional municipalities.

Albrecht said if the current proposal is adopted, he will probably run in the Perth-Wellesley-Wilmot riding in 2015, since he lives in Wilmot Township. “However, I’m hopeful that it won’t,” he said.

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civic space

WRAP PARTY Ad wraps miss the point of public transit branden wesseling cce contributor

For something that will move people throughout this region more than 20 million times this year, the bus has few fans, and gets even less respect. And that’s from the people who are most crucial to its success.

Even as the Region of Waterloo spends big on increases to Grand River Transit service — an effort that has led to ridership doubling in less than ten years — Regional Council and staff are unable to conjure more than grudging acceptance of the vehicles that actually get us around.

The bus’s presence on our streets is tolerated, but rarely, if ever, is it thought to contribute positively to the aesthetic or cultural character of the places it runs.

The way a bus is viewed by the Region and its staff was made particularly clear recently when they attempted to justify the practice of wrapping buses in advertisements. Opponents of ad wraps complain that they cover windows, obstructing views, making transit less comfortable to ride and more difficult to use, snubbing riders in the process.

In response to these critiques, Regional

ADELE PALMQUIST CCE CONTRIBUTOR

Councillor Jane Mitchell explained on her blog recently that, “the Region receives approximately $400,000 a year for bus advertising revenue. This includes interior, exterior and all bus vinyl applications,” adding that all revenue “effects the bottom line.”

None of this is wrong. The cost of running transit is offset by ad revenue. However, the weight given to this particular revenue line is instructive for understanding how little the Region cares about the physical experience of taking transit, and in turn how important it considers the wants and needs of transit users to be. In this context, ironically, the Region’s shortsighted view of the bus becomes clear.

isolated way in which the money made is presented. It’s true that $400,000 is a considerable sum, but only when it’s considered by you or I. In terms of an agency like Grand River Transit, $400,000 barely registers. In 2012, passenger revenue for transit will exceed $27 million, which makes ad revenue seem pretty insignificant, especially if even a small fraction of the agency’s 20 million annual trips are negatively affected.

The second, and much larger, problem with the Region’s analysis of bus ad revenue is borne out of the first: council and staff don’t appear especially adept at understanding what things are worth.

The first problem with the Region’s justification for ad-wrapping buses is the

Buses are perhaps the most visible and widespread form of branding the Region has, yet they’re treated like wasted space.

It seems to bring people together depending on the venue and what kind of music it is.

Hugh McColl, Retired from TV & film work

It’s a great idea – obviously getting the community more involved Andrew Neufeld, Manager @ The Wine Rack

The side of a can of Coke isn’t covered in ads for used car dealers, because Coca Cola understands that the symbolic power of that red and white real estate is worth vastly more than any sum they could hope to extract by selling it off.

Rather than taking the opportunity to consistently remind everyone that the Region stands for civic virtue and collective purpose, they choose instead to tell the story that a service they would desperately like us to use is worth less than a rounding error in the annual budget of that very same service.

If the Region would really like more people to start choosing transit. They should start by asking nicely.

Branden Wesseling is a transportation advocate with TriTAG (tritag.ca)

Vocal Cord Would you like there to be more festivals in Waterloo Park?

I like the idea a lot!

Heather Soeder, Graphic Designer

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

W K

y a d i l Ho

‘12 ide

Gu

The holiday season means a lot of things to a lot of people. Regardless of what you’re celebrating this month, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll spend more than your fair share of time listening to cheery songs, hanging absurd things around your house and having a few too many at holiday parties.

And, oh yeah, there’s that small matter of buying gifts.

Like it or not, 90 per cent of our thought process this season revolves around what to get the special people in our lives be it family, friends or significant others. And as a result, the parking lots at malls become veritable death traps, Wal Marts everywhere get as crowded as a New York City subway and we’re suddenly able to recite our credit card number by heart after our 15th online purchase in a row.

That’s when we started thinking, “there’s got to be a better way.” Surely finding gifts for everyone on your list doesn’t have to be such a perilous mission.

So our HG Watson went out and scoured local businesses, looking for gift ideas for the many different types of people in your life. With our Holiday Guide in your corner, you’ll be able to find presents for just about anyone, all the while, supporting homegrown K-W shops.

Before you venture out into the cold, dreading the thought of fighting for a parking space, and then the last iPod on the shelf of a big box store, flip through the next few pages. Who knows, you might just find what you’re looking for.

Guide compiled by: HG Watson, Ben Wilson, Taylor Gayowsky, Justin Fauteux, Nick Lachance, Ali Connerty, Amy Grief and Stephanie Truong

Page 12: Shop local this season with gifts from K-W Page 14: Warm up with winter ale and some latkes Page 15: Get ready to party like it’s the end of days

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HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

K-W HOLIDAY GUIDE 2012 Shop local!

Various Prices

The best gifts this season are just outside your door.

For more ideas, visit us online at community.thecord.ca

Onesta Hair care products are all natural and great for problem hair. full range available at Hybrid Hair.

HYBRID HAIR & DeTOX SPA 133 Weber St N.

$7.50 A medium-spicy condiment billed as the manliest condiment ever!

SeVeN SHOReS URBAN mARKeT 10 Regina St N

WeBeR S

WILLIS WAY

TReeT

75 King St. S

ALLeN STReeT

ReGINA S

HeeL BOY

eRB STReeT

DUPONT STReeT

UNIVeRSITY AVeNUe WeST

TReeT

KING STR

eeT

NORTH P

OLe

$60 This wood serving board was made in Bamburg, On.

$16-$14 These cute kids books will definitely teach them a little about national pride.

$20 maple syrup from Waterloo...

Quebec.

HOUSeHOLD CHINA AND GIfTS

OLIVIeR SOAPS WATeRLOO 75 King St. S

$14.99

300 King St S

$32 A canoe is a twist on the traditional dip bowl.

Scotch water based nail polishes are nontoxic for the environmentally minded on your shopping list.

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HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

13

K-W HOLIDAY GUIDE 2012 $25+

Civilian Printing can make the shirt of your dreams or you can purchase one of their pre-made items. civilianprinting.com for more info.

179 King St. W.

CIVILIAN PRINTING 1 Queen St. N.

$75 Dinner with the Chef is a unique experience where a local gourmet chef will prepare your food right before your eyes. Come with an open mind and an empty belly.

QUeeN STReeT

$270 The Cougar Pillow Boot is making a style comeback after being the winter go-to boot in the seventies.

Various Prices

eNTeRTAINING eLemeNTS

YOUNG STReeT

Hybrid Hair offers an eco-friendly alternative to the regular spa and salon experience.

They have several gift baskets and gift certificates available.

eeT

KING STR

$10 Betty buttons earrings are handmade by a local designer.

OCCASIONAL CARDS AND GIfTS

GLOSS SALON AND BOUTIQUe

101-191 King St S

87 King St. W

$12.99 Wine connoisseurs will appreciate this handy set

$25 Get cozy in this adorable set ($25 each).

$199 This sweater is sure to be a hit around the Christmas tree.

$13.99 Rock on with cooking with this fun spatula.

$21.99 Throw these in the freezer and then in your drink. You won’t have to worry about it being diluted.

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K-W HOLIDAY GUIDE 2012 WINTeR WARmeR K-W CHANUKAH ali connerty reviews some local winter ales that are right for the season.

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start planning festivities with family and friends. And what could be more important at a gathering of your favourite people than the beer supply? The LCBO and local pubs in K-W are fully prepared for the holidays with an extensive collection of creative, seasonal brews from some of the most popular craft breweries in Ontario, including Creemore, Muksoka and Mill St. Wellington Brewery Iron Duke Strong Ale This Guelph-based brewery has released a seasonal strong ale for those cold, snowy nights. Only available at the Wellington Brewery, or specific LCBO locations and restaurants, it is definitely worth the 25 minute drive to pick up a six-pack. A mild body with a malty, finish makes this a nice beer to pair with chocolates, preferably sitting by an open fire. The aftertaste of chocolate will trigger your sweet tooth and have you craving truffles all night long. At 6.5 per-cent alcohol content and $12.95 for six bottles, these are the party favours your guests will want at the end of the night that are easy on the wallet.

A menorah depicting the macabees witnessing the miracle of the oil • CReATIVe COmmONS

Grand River Russian Gun Imperial Stout This is not a stout for the faint of palates. Cambridge-based Grand River Brewing`s seasonal beer is available at the LCBO for $4.95 a bottle, already chilled and ready to drink. Dark, creamy and smoky is what to expect with this season`s most popular type of beer, the stout. With a heavy body and hoppy finish, Russian Gun could be a meal in itself. Plus it comes in a 500ml bottle. At 8.0 per cent, you’ll want to share this with your stout-loving friends and family. muskoka Brewery’s Winter Beard This cranberry-chocolate stout comes in a bottle designed for sharing; with 750 ml it can easily act as an appetizer beer for three to four people. The first sip can be a bit shocking to the unprepared palate; this is a strong beer. After a few sips though, you can really begin to taste the chocolate. The beer eventually develops a cranberry-filled body with the complementary chocolate after-taste, while keeping the dark, smoky characteristics of a stout. At a slightly higher price point — $10.95 for a 750-ml bottle — it lacks some of the ‘bang for your buck’ quality a pricier beer should have. As stouts go, it lies on the sweeter end of the scale, the cranberry flavoring adding to the festive vibes. At eight per cent alcohol content, it will definitely break the ice at all your holiday soirees. If you like Guinness with a twist, check this out. mill St. Cobblestone Stout This stout is the perfect winter ale. It’s dark, creamy viscosity is nicely balanced with a slightly bitter after-taste. The dryness and balanced body of this beer really make it easy to drink. If you don’t know what a stout tastes like, this is a great beer to try first. It’s dark but not too strong, dry with a smoky after-taste, but not as heavy as a Guinness at only 4.2 per cent.

Plus, it’s produced close by in Toronto and available in pint-sizes cans at the LCBO for only $2.90 a pop. It will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside all winter long. mad & Noisy Hops and Bolts A small batch-brewing offspring of Clearview’s Creemore Springs, their seasonal brew offers an alternative to the saturated dark beer holiday market. A creative India Pale Lager — a twist on the more common India Pale Ale — this beer has the initial taste of an IPA, but the slightly hoppier finish of a lager. The caramel body is nicely balanced with lighter citrus notes (and a little bit of apricot) and would pair nicely with any light meat; turkey with cranberries and stuffing in particular. A great table beer, you won’t feel full after having a pint of this, though it may contribute the inevitable ‘after dinner nap’. Available at Charcoal Group’s Beertown on tap and priced at $7.85/pint, you definitely want to taste it.

amy grief CCe CONTRIBUTOR

C

hanukah is the festival of lights, instead of one day of presents we get eight crazy nights,” croons Adam Sandler at the beginning of the his famous “Chanukah Song.”

Normally thought of as a sort of “Jewish Christmas,” Chanukah offers much more than just eight nights of presents.

“It’s really not a holiday for presents,” said Rabbi Moshe Goldman of Chabad Waterloo. “I mean, you’re welcome to give presents... But, it’s not really the theme of the holiday at all.”

Chanukah is quite simply a celebration of overcoming odds. More than 2,000 years ago, a small Jewish army, known as the Maccabees, lead a successful revolt against the oppressive (and enormous) Syrian army who were trying to force conversion upon the Jewish people.

When the Maccabees arrived in Jerusalem, their Temple had been destroyed and they only had enough olive oil to light their menorah for a single day. However, a miracle occurred, and this small amount of oil stayed lit for eight days, which is why Chanukah is known as the Festival of Lights.

Today, typical Chanukah traditions include lighting the menorah, playing dreidel and eating fried foods such as latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).

A celebratory holiday, it’s easy to have fun during Chanukah. The dreidel game encourages good-spirited gambling and can be played with chocolate coins (gelt) or small change.

You can even have fun creating your menorah. “I mean when I was in a dorm, there were guys who used to put together menorahs from empty beer bottles and empty vodka bottles,” said Rabbi Goldman.

Chanukah is also a time to indulge your taste for delicious fried foods. You’re not just limited to potato latkes. Substitute regular potatoes for yams, zucchini or carrots, and don’t forget to eat jelly-filled donuts for dessert (regular donuts will also suffice). For the health conscious, latkes can be baked, but this takes away from the whole “commemorating the miracle” aspect of this tradition, so fry away!

Beyond the celebration, the story of Chanukah is, as Rabbi Goldman says, “very relevant to anyone who’s struggling with anything. And, who isn’t struggling with something? And Chanukah is all about a struggle and eventually, a victory.”

Rabbi Goldman says that Chanukah helps to illuminate “how the problem and the challenge is surmountable even though the odds are against you, just like the odds were against the Maccabees... The story of Chanukah teaches us that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness.”

Hosting two parties in the K-W community, the Goldmans have set the bar high this holiday season.

On Dec. 8, a party bus will be driving around Uptown Waterloo to bring Chanukah cheer directly to the masses.

On Dec. 9, the Goldmans are hosting their annual Chanukah in the Square, a popular event held in the Uptown Public Square.

Head to community.thecord.ca to find a delicious latke recipe for your Chrismukah

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HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

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K-W HOLIDAY GUIDE 2012 PARTY LIKe IT’S 2012

The best things to do on Dec. 21, even if it isn’t the end of days hg watson ASSOCIATe eDITOR

W

hile NASA may have firmly debunked any fears we had about the world actually ending on Dec. 21, there’s nothing like a great excuse to hang out with your pals and do the things that you love to do.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE WORLD IS GOING TO END? Want to celebrate the return of Bolon Yotke?

Whether that’s creating stores of dried goods in case the next Armageddon rolls around or watching the absolutely cheesy film Armageddon, there’s something for you and your pals to do for this year’s world ending scare in K-W. You may even want to read up on the legends that started the panic to begin with.

Our sister paper, The Cord, has a round up of all the end of the world tales including this gem; “the only certain cosmic occurrence anticipated by astronomers on Dec. 21, 2012 is the yearly winter solstice, marking the coldest and shortest day of the year due to the sun’s extreme angle in hitting the earth.” So bundle up (thecord. ca).

Unfortunately Waterloo airport doesn’t offer any flights to Mexico, but Pearson has plenty – and it’s only 45 minutes away (gtaa.com for flight information).

Stock up on canned goods and tinfoil hats at The Bargain Store (53 King St E, Kitchener)

YES Want to hide?

In the meantime, take a break from digging out your underground bunker to check out some fun apocalyptic activities all around the region.

Sign up for some fight classes at the Krav Maga Waterloo (joinkravmaga. ca) – no melee weapon included.

Want to fight zombies?

Rent some of our favourite disaster flicks (Take Shelter, Deep Impact) at Far Out Flicks (94 Queen St S, Kitchener).

NO NO

Want to party anyway?

A mysterious one?

YES An inebriated one?

The Day After Tomorrow?

STEPHANIE TRUONG CCE CONTRIBUTOR

TAYLOR GAYOWSKY CREATIVE DESIGNER

THE MUSEUM is tight lipped about thier end of the world party, but we know it will feature DJs, drinks and dancing.

Sign up for more info at endoftheworldbash.ca It may be the end of the world but it’s also a Friday, which means it’s ladies night at Beta Lounge (24 King St N).

Rob Szabo & Steve Strongman 8th Annual Holiday Show at the Starlight on the 22nd is an annual favourite (starlightsocialclub.ca)

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URBAN EXPLORING

Ale in the family Beertown brings beer variety to the masses The front signage and patio of newly opened Beertown overlooks Uptown Waterloo’s Public Square. • CRISTINA RUCCHETTA CCE CONTRIBUTOR

amy grief cce contributor

Whetting the tastebuds of passersby with its eye-catching neon sign, The Charcoal Group’s newest restaurant finally opened its doors to the public on Nov. 16.

Beertown Waterloo, located in The Shops at the Waterloo Town Square, is thankfully, not what you’d expect a mall restaurant to be. Open-concept in design, the room centre’s around a spacious, rectangular bar that’s framed by an impressive wall of TV screens. Lit by keg chandeliers, the restaurant imbues a distinctively retro vibe throughout, with its ample use of white subway tile, red bricks and ‘60s era furniture.

Jody Palubiski, managing partner and one of the four owners of The Charcoal Group, first conceived of Beertown three years ago.

“There was a great article in GQ Magazine,” he said. “It was called ‘The Birth of the Modern Beer Bar.’ And even just the tone of that... it just had a cool factor to it. It reminded me of that Miles Davis album, The Birth of Cool.”

After visiting popular beer bars in New York City, Palubsiski knew that this

uniquely cool and comfortable concept would be a perfect fit for Waterloo Region.

“It captured the essence of whether you’re like my wife and her three girlfriends who go out each month or you’re the guy who works at the bank across the street and you come over here and undo the top button and loosens up his tie; it felt right for everybody,” he said.

After successfully launching Beertown in Cambridge eight months ago, expanding into a second location seemed like a nobrainer for Palubsiski. And when The Waterloo Town Square space became available, it was a perfect fit.

“We thought it would be a great fit for many different reasons because of the vast demographic of everybody that uses this [Uptown] square and all the different things happening here.”

Beertown’s large, covered patio overlooks the Uptown Square and with a full-scale outdoor bar, mounted TV’s, it’s sure to be packed come the first signs of warm weather.

With current trends pointing to a renaissance in the world of beer, even the LCBO and Beer Store are beginning

to offer up a greater selection of lesserknown craft and import beers, making Beertown a relevant addition to the Uptown strip. The average beer drinker is changing as people — increasingly young women — seek to become more educated about what they’re drinking.

of traditional cocktails, as well as beer cocktails, which combine beer in classic cocktail recipes.

“Now, you see young women coming in saying ‘what kind of a summer vice do you have? What kind of porter, do you have?’” said Palubiski. “I think the awareness and the changing of the stereotypes around beer drinkers has changed dramatically.”

“To me that says we’ve gone past [offering a wide beer selection] and just created something cool and makes someone feel like they’re in on something.”

Currently, Beertown offers 30 beers on tap and 92 in bottles. It’s a mix of local craft breweries, such as The Brick and the Muskoka Breweries and bigger breweries.

Beertown seeks to maintain a varied selection. Popular brews include Mill St. Organic, Somersby Cider and Fruli — a delightfully pink, strawberry flavoured Belgian wheat beer.

Beertown is also one of the only restaurants in the area to serve Delirium Tremens, a potent Belgian golden ale that is considered to be one of the best beers in the world.

Beyond beer, the restaurant offer a “better than what you’d expect” wine list, a host

“I love when I come in and I see a couple enjoying a bottle of wine at Beertown,” said Palubiski.

Still maintaining a focus on quality food, Beertown provides an interesting take on typical menu items. Standout dishes include brisket poutine, wonton nachos, and their many burgers, which are all served on freshly baked bread from the Bauer Bakery & Cafe.

In close proximity to some of Waterloo’s high-tech-giants, Palubiski hopes to keep the community top-of-mind.

“There’s so many up-and-coming tech companies that are trying to attract the biggest, the brightest from the whole world to come here... And we always see it’s kind of becoming on us to provide something really cool. So, if people do decide to come live in KitchenerWaterloo, we want to give them choices too.”

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

re-DEVELOPMENT The Breithaupt Block

17

Why wait another month?

Keep up with The Cord Community Edition whenever you want by checking us out online

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BREITHAUPT BLOCK

associate editor

with courtyards outside for recreational or office use.

What did it used to be?

Who’s moving in?

Back when Kitchener was better known for industrial factories than tech startups, the Briethaupt Block was home to several different factories. During its long history it housed a rubber factory, a tannery and an automotive parts factory.

The first five tenants for the block were announced in early October. They include BDO Canada Financial Services, a financial consulting firm; Lesley Warren Design Group, a local graphic design agency; Dillon Consulting, a consultation firm to both the private and public sector; Associated Engineers; and Workplace One, a boutique workplace for the self-employed.

hg watson

In 2009 the buildings were purchased

by Dave Gibson, the CEO of Perimeter Development Inc., the corporation responsible for the revitalization of Waterloo Town Square. In a 2011 Globe and Mail article, Gibson told the paper he believed in the Breithaupt project because of its proximity to the GO station and “the tech sector’s appetite for ‘cool’ spaces.”

What’s happening?

Development of the buildings has started quickly. Building A, the largest of the six buildings that make up Breithaupt Block, is awaiting a tenant who can support further renovations to the structure. “It’s well enough built that that we can add three floors to it,” said John Lind, a Colliers International sales representative who is one of the real estate agents selling space in the Block.

“If it was someone who needed 60,000 or 80,000 sq. ft. we could add floors to it but we need direction from the tenant.”

The other buildings are almost move-in ready, with only small adjustments left to be made. Proposed renderings of the buildings show wide airy office interiors

“There’s almost 100,00 sq. ft. of space to go,” said Lind. While they’ve had a lot of interest, he couldn’t specify who has been sniffing around the Block. Also still up for grabs is Building A, which requires an anchor tenant. Facebook was rumoured to be interested, as was Google, which already has an office in the nearby Tannery building. “I’ll just tell you that a lot of people have looked at it and we haven’t tied anybody down yet,” said Lind. He did however point out that the other big player in Kitchener right now is the fast-growing Desire 2 Learn, an education-based tech start-up. “They’ve expanded more than Google.”

community.thecord.ca Or, follow us on social media

@cordcommunity

When will it be finished?

Very soon. Essentially, developers are just now putting on the finishing touches and awaiting demands from future tenants. “The landlord quoted me at $30 million to get it up to speed,” said Lind. “It’s been an enormous effort.

We’ve been working on if for two and a half years.” Looks like that effort will soon be paying off.

Cord Community Edition

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THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS W/FOOD BANK OF WATERLOO REGION

Charles Dickens once wrote that charity begins at home. That’s exactly where The Food Bank of Waterloo Region wants you to start looking to support their annual holiday food drive. The non-profit, that supports multiple local agencies, is looking for both financial donations and non-perishable goods. The CCE’s HG Watson spoke with Wendi Campbell, the executive director of The Food Bank, about their holiday goals and the community they serve HGW: What are your fundraising goals for this holiday season?

WC: Our main goal is a financial one this year. It’s kind of a combo. We’re trying to raise more than $500,000 and more than 200 lbs of food. We’re asking the community to stuff the stocking with food support by making a financial donation to the food bank, that helps us with all of the costs involved in acquiring and distributing food to 78 community programs.

HGW: When you distribute the food, does The Food Bank do it or does it go to different shelters and agencies?

WC: We’re the distribution centre for Waterloo Region; we’re actually a distribution centre for southwest Ontario as well. In Waterloo Region, we are the main source of food for 78 community programs. That includes food hampers; shelters and out reach programs; and community meal programs.

HGW: Do you have a program for getting fresh food to people?

WC: We do have a fresh foods program, but we really need the community to donate those non-perishable

items. It’s easier logistically; it’s just much more manageable for organizations running food drives to do the non-perishable piece. But we do have a number of fresh food programs that we operate. We have a larger freezer and cooler capacity in the building. Agencies are picking up fresh and frozen food every week with their orders.

We also have a perishable delivery program; it’s a refrigerated truck that is on the road every day doing fresh food pick up and delivery directly to agencies.

HGW: How great is the need in this area?

WC: 26,800 different people accessed some sort of emergency service last year. We’re seeing an increase in the number of working poor that are accessing services as the job market continues to fluctuate. Although people are finding employment, it’s part-time, unstable employment so they are still unable to make ends meet HGW: Do you make calls for other household goods?

WC: We aren’t asking the community for that. The big push is for the top five

food items, which are peanut butter; canned meat; cold cereal; canned fruit and vegetables. [We want] those types of non-perishables so we can balance our inventory.

We do distribute a number of consumer goods and supplies but we have a number of other sources for that. We really need the community for those most needed items that we don’t have corporate partners who donate. We need to balance off our inventory with that support. If anyone wants to make

a financial donation for $20 we’re able to provide food for a family of four for four days. Because of those community partnerships, we’re able to leverage those dollars to ensure we’re keeping the frozen food frozen and the perishable food chilled and able to keep those trucks on the road to support those programs and the families in need in our community.

Visit thefoodbank.ca for more information about their holiday campaign.

Keep up with us throughout the month.

Like The Cord Community Edition on Facebook

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

ARTS AND CULTURE

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BARENAKED CHRISTMAS hg watson associate editor

There is no one more excited for Barenaked Ladies’ upcoming gig with the K-W Symphony than the man who will be leading the Symphony itself.

“The first CD I ever got was Gordon,” says Evan Mitchell, the Symphony’s assistant conductor, referring to the band’s debut studio album. “My parents had just gotten a CD player, and it was a really big deal for my birthday. It was the first time I heard all those tunes like ‘Brian Wilson’ and ‘If I had a Million Dollars.’ I’ve been a fan ever since.”

On Dec. 16, The Barenaked Ladies will bring a collection of their greatest hits and holiday favourites to the Centre in the Square. Acting as their backing band will be the classically trained musicians who make up the K-W Symphony. Although this is a little bit out of the ordinary for The Barenaked Ladies, it’s not a stretch for the Symphony, which already takes on pop music in its Electric Thursday series. “It’s putting on a different hat but it’s a hat we have in our wardrobe,” says Mitchell.

The Barenaked Ladies – or BNL to the faithful – are no strangers to Centre in the Square. Mitchell recalls one of the band’s first concerts there. “[They said] ‘We tried something in our sound check that we want to do for you now. If you’re all really quiet we’ll do a number without amplification.’ Everyone was holding their breath. They did ‘Lovers in a Dangerous Time’ — two guys, one guitar, no amplification and 2,000 people as quiet as they could possibly be. It was a really remarkable experience.”

As one of the biggest Canadian bands to permeate the world’s consciousness, BNL certainly inspires a devoted following (check our their impact on pop culture below).

Their website, barenakedladies.com, plays host to a busy message board dedicated to the band. Formed in 1988, BNL was made up of five friends from Scarbourgh; Jim Creegan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart and Steven Page. Page left the band in 2011 by mutual agreement. Now playing as a foursome, BNL still attracts large crowds. The show at Centre in the Square is already garnering plenty of attention. “It’s selling like crazy,” says Mitchell. “It’s the allure of having them play with an orchestra; it’s really something.”

Mitchell is tight lipped about what exactly the band and orchestra will be playing at the concert, but he is certainly looking forward to the unpredictably of playing with an inventive live band like The Barenaked Ladies. “With an orchestra, you have to be a bit more scripted because you have to have the parts planned,” he says. “But let’s just say I’m looking forward to the impromptu jams, wraps and surprises that come part in parcel with this particular show.”

The Barenaked Ladies and the K-W Symphony play Dec. 16 at Centre in the Square. For more information and ticket prices visit kwsymphony.ca

Pop masters BNL has become well known for more than their catchy tunes over the years.

Kraft Dinner (1992) In one of the band’s most popular songs, “If I had a Million Dollars,” they sing, “If I had a million dollars, we wouldn’t have to eat Kraft Dinner.” Fans have since taken it upon themselves to bring Kraft Dinner to shows to pelt both the band and their audiences. Ouch.

The Barenaked Ladies • PHOTO COURTESY THE BARENAKED LADIES/DAVID BERGMAN

Big Bang Theory (2007) The band was specifically asked

by Chuck Lorre, the creator of TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory, to write and record the show’s catchy beginning. In it, Robertson sings about the actual Big Bang — very appropriate for a show about science nerds.

If I had a $1,000,000 flavours (2009)

There is an honour that is reserved for only the most revered in society: having a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour named after you.

BNL received the honour in May 2009. The ice cream certainly lived up to its name, containing vanilla and chocolate ice-cream, peanut butter cups, toffee, white chocolate, and chocolate-covered almonds.

Ship and Dip (2009) BNL developed such a hardcore following they were able to sell out not one, but four fan cruises. Fans got to hang with the band at sea and enjoy performances from other Canadian musicians like Sloan and Great Big Sea.

Community (2011) In TV sitcom Community’s 2011 Valentine’s Day episode, Jeff (Joel McHale) has a falling out with the study group after he besmirches the good name of Canada’s contribution to pop music.

As Troy (Donald Glover) puts it, “The Barenaked Ladies are triple platinum.

Are you?”

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THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

BEHIND THE CANVAS K-W Art Gallery brings their collections online

sara hanafi cce contributor

T

he Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery opened its virtual doors to the public with an online project launch on Nov. 7.

Sponsored by Google, the project — called the Interactive Space — allows viewers to take a guided online tour of the exhibitions that are on display in the physical gallery.

Nicole Neufeld, director of public programs at the KWAG, introduced the project one year ago with hopes of reaching out to new and returning audiences in a different way. “It was a bit of a chickenand-an-egg kind of situation,” she said.

“Putting information about our exhibitions and trying to do some outreach and education online has been on my radar for a long time.”

Not only does the Interactive Space allow audiences to view all the works of art at K-W Art Gallery, it also connects them with the gallery’s curators and artists. The online experience adds an extra layer of information that gallery-goers wouldn’t find in person at the gallery, since the privilege of having the curator host a guided tour is restricted to video only.

“It adds a whole other experience,” Neufeld said. “You get a deeper understanding of what the work is about that you wouldn’t get from just looking at it and reading the exhibition labels.”

However, Neufeld said people should still come to the gallery and not be satisfied with the virtual tour alone, because the

Nicole Neufeld, director of public programs at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, explores the works of art on display online through the Interactive Space. • SARA HANAFI CCE CONTRIBUTOR

information in the online tours is supplementary. “The thing about contemporary art is a lot of it is really experiential,” she said. “Our audiences could hear the artist talk about their work, but to really understand what the work is about, they have to come in and see it.”

Currently, the only exhibit online is the gallery’s main exhibition, Ecotopia, which focuses on environmental destruction and conservation in our technological age. In the future, Neufeld said the gallery will have all of the exhibitions available to view on the Interactive Space, including audio tour material for both the main

exhibition and gallery spaces. The project will continue throughout 2013.

“I think we’re going to use [Interactive Space] as an experimental point for how we can continue to work on our online presence,” Neufeld said. “It’s hard to say what’s going to come next, since technology is changing so fast.”

The KWAG also has more than 4,000 works in its permanent collection, held in public trust, that are available for viewing online through the Interactive Space.

More than 100 of KWAG’s permanent collection pieces are also available through Collection X, which is an online project initiated by the Art Gallery of Ontario as a communal hub for sharing art.

Additionally, the Interactive Space offers audiences a family activity guide and links to current online exhibitions, as well as information on current exhibitions at the gallery.

The Interactive Space can be accessed at kwag.ca. More information on the KWAG can be found on their website, Facebook page or Twitter page (@kwartgallery).

SPEAK OUT, SLAM DOWN rebecca allison cce contributor

F

or centuries, storytellers have conveyed loss, love, oppression and triumph through the spoken word.

K-W Poetry Slam returns to these roots and to a new, local stage.

A poetry slam is a competition at which poets recite original poetry to an audience and receive feedback. “We’re definitely seeing a need for the stage and a venue for people to read their poetry,” said Janice Lee, one of K-W Poetry Slam’s organizers.

Lee was first introduced to poetry slams while attending Wilfrid Laurier University, when Carlos Andres Gomez, a wellknown poet, performed at Laurier. “I was writing poetry at the time and I was like

‘I could do that,’” said Lee. “I come from a background of theatre and activism. It was kind of a melding of all those things”.

Lee’s first performance in the poetry slam scene was at Speak Out in Downtown Kitchener. “I was terrified and I forgot my words and I had to look at my paper,” remembered Lee. “I’d never been in a poetry slam before and I was pulled to go first…I thought it was going to be mostly local and then Canadian national slam champions came and competed at this thing and I was so over my head. I was pretty discouraged after that. But I kept going.”

During her undergraduate studies in English, Lee was introduced to a great amount of poetry.

Lee was inspired by Alice Walker, e.e.

cummings and many slam poets coming from Calgary or Toronto.

Her rhythm and spoken word skills are also fueled into another one of her passions; music. Poetry and music, said Lee, is a “tool for my activism and celebrating community and what we’re capable of creating.” She plays in and writes for a local band called The Tra La Las. K-W Poetry Slam began in 2011 and are sponsored by Spoken Word Canada. “[K-W Poetry Slam] wants to create a community around poetry that is inspiring and welcoming. We also want to keep poetry relevant, as an art form and as something that people are still creating today,” said Lee. “As we put on the slams we’re getting all sorts of people coming, from students, to locals, to like seniors who come with their

tattered, old poetry books.”

Lee believes spoken word is an immediate experience. “It’s urgent and it’s also a communal experience. If you’re in a room of people and people are speaking their poetry, everyone’s digesting it together and reacting at the same time. So in that way, you have freedom of speech but with accountability to the community, to the audience”.

K-W Poetry Slam meets the first Saturday of every month where? to showcase the poetry and creative skill of Waterloo in a safe and accessible environment. “Slams are not necessarily about winning the slams, but to share our stories because we identify as storytellers,” said Lee. To find out more about K-W Poetry Slam visit kwpoetryslam.com

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

21

IN A GALAXY NOT SO FAR AWAY Geek Art fest shows the beauty behind nerd culture colleen connolly cce contributor

I

f you happened to be around Kitchener City Hall on the weekend of Nov. 24 and 25, you likely noticed that artistic representations from comic books and sci-fi films filled the interior of the Rotunda.

This collection was the Jacques of Trades’ Geek Art Show, founded by Kitchener resident Miroki Tong. Tong has an evergrowing love of the arts and a fascination with all its forms, from video games to tributes to cult favourite films.

“I think arts, in general, is a huge, encompassing industry from visual art, craftsmanship, jewelry, literature, music and theatre. So there’s a chance to be able to bring all that together here,” said Tong.

In its second year running, the show featured artists whose works differ in many ways from those of the mainstream, in both their themes and presentation, giving them an opportunity to display their talents.

“A lot of people who work in geek art don’t actually get represented as artists in the field, so I wanted to create a show that would showcase them and give them room to grow and give them room to develop,” said Tong. “[It] gives them a chance to network with conventional artists or introduce the community to artists that they didn’t know existed.”

Indeed, the displays and artists present were various. “A lot of the artists come locally but we also have artists coming in from Toronto, some as far as Montreal,” Tong explained.

Another intriguing element of Tong’s art show was its intimate setting, which was meant to promote conversation between admirers of geek art and its creators, as well as bring its focus away from retail.

“I wanted a chance to represent [geek art] as an artistic form,” said Tong. “A lot of [comic book] conventions are based on the fans and on buying stuff versus actually appreciating the art.”

This was ensured through the incorporation of workshops and panels about the technique and relevance of geek art.

Andrew Deman, a local comic book expert who teaches classes on the subject at University of Waterloo discussed the growth of geek culture over time.

“Geek culture is arguably the most passionate subculture we have,” said Deman.

“It emphasizes really intelligent human beings, hence its association with the nerd, and it emphasizes interactivity, always talking back and not being just a passive receiver.”

Deman noted that it is a culture which is still largely marginalized. “It is headed to legitimacy, if it hasn’t achieved it already, which is amazing.” Popular shows like the Kitchener Geek Art exhibition indicate that this is the case.

At the Geek Fest on November 24 and 25 both local and national artists showed off their geek themed arts and crafts. • JODY WAARDENBURG CCE CONTRIBUTOR

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THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

2012 IN REVIEW

REVIEWS

A year’s worth of the best in music, movies and live music in K-W

MUSIC

MOVIES

LIVE MUSIC

The xx-Coexist

Cloud Atlas

Hey Ocean @ The Starlight Lounge, Oct. 24

Put simply, Coexist expresses a love affair between strained individuals reflecting on the trials of relationships both old and new.

Bold, innovative, and even mind-boggling. These are all words that could be use to describe the recently released Cloud Atlas.

These tense sentiments of broken bonds and fraying intimacies shine through across the entire album, especially when the lead vocalists, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, contemplate the uncertainty behind their decisions in songs like “Chained” and “Swept Away.”

This album is a requirement for any listener.

– Andrew Savory

The film may prove to be ambitious for some, with its philosophical undertones that attempt to explore the interconnected nature of life, but its vast scale and broad lens for depicting life in all its beauty is impossible to ignore. The directors have created a movie with great expectations — one that pushes the boundaries of what we have come to know as a cinematic experience.

– Andrew Savory

The band opened up with their song, “I am a Heart,” where multi-talented lead vocalist Ashleigh Ball flawlessly played the flute-riff at the opening of the song.

Despite Ball’s cutesy blonde look, she owned the stage as she lightheartedly danced with the audience and band members, never letting go of an opportunity to engage with her fans.

– Robin Daprato

Crystal Castles - III

The Avengers

With III, Crystal Castles have seemingly accepted the triumph of the world as a place where horrible things happen.

There has never been a movie like The Avengers ever before.

Musically, the 12 tracks are the group’s most accomplished to date. The album feels more like Crystal Castles’ live presentation; an effected static signal fading in and out with beautiful noise and echoing and resonating in the emptiness of the skull hollowed out by the band’s first two releases.

– Stephen Hargreaves (The Lance)

The man tasked with putting all of the pieces together for this film was cult icon and self-professed comic book geek, Joss Whedon. And while some had their reservations, the man could not have created a more entertaining and satisfying movie. It is as close to being perfect as anyone else could have come. It was crisp and succinct and still had the spectacle of a superhero movie.

– Wade Thompson

Metz - Metz

A Late Quartet

Metz have managed to combine raw vocals with deformed guitar and powerful drums in a way that can only be described as powerful. The result is their selftitled album, and it’s loud.

A Late Quartet centres on four musicians who decades ago formed a string quartet in hopes of creating beautiful music.

There are times that language lacks the ability to describe the feeling that you get from a particular album. In Metz, there are really no words to describe how packed with raw energy the album is.

– Sara Howie (The Lance) Santigold - Master of My Make Believe There is a fine line between a song that is catchy and club-friendly and one that is pandering and hacky. On the follow-up to her breakthrough debut Santogold, Santigold shows that she is aware of that line and how to stay on the right side of it.

Master of My Make Believe relies on and trusts the music, resulting in something that feels at home being played far too loudly in a club but also feels timeless. These aren’t songs that ask you to consider them as guilty pleasures. These are genuine artistic expressions you can dance to.

– Josh Kolm (The Lance)

Craig Cardiff @ Maxwell’s Music House, Oct. 3 Cardiff created an almost indescribable atmosphere.

Maxwell’s was filled to capacity. To accommodate the crowd, Cardiff opened up the stage as extra seating.

Cardiff played a lot of his old songs including, “Radio 9,” which speaks about the difficulty of long distance relationships. The live looping at the end makes the song unique.

A gifted songwriter and musician, Cardiff ’s two shows at Maxwell’s were simple, yet outstanding.

– Amy Grief Arkells @ Elements, Feb. 9 Hamilton rock band Arkells made a triumphant return to the K-W area, performing to a packed house at Kitchener’s Elements Nightclub. The rising stars showcased the style and refinement of seasoned pros while still exuding the friendliness and on-stage relatability of a blossoming indie band.

The musical ensemble is used as a vehicle to convey two main premises: the first, we must make sacrifices, not only for the people we love, but sometimes for the things we love; the second, that all things deteriorate. In its entirety, A Late Quartet leaves the audience acutely aware that, in the end, all instruments go out of tune.

– Alexander Moorhouse (The Lance)

Though Arkells are no stranger to K-W, they always manage to provide the crowd with an experience that is unique and different from their last performance. This show was no exception.

– Bree Rody-Mantha

The Raid: Redemption

Buck 65 took the Starlight stage, playing various songs from his elongated discography and allowing requests from the audience before launching into such crowd favorites as “Indestructible Sam” and “Superstars Don’t Love.”

The Raid: Redemption looks unlike a lot of action films that have been out in recent years. The fight scenes are fast, but because they’ve been shot in crisp, clear definition, it’s easy to follow exactly what’s going on.

This is a genuinely grin-inducing martial arts film. Just watching these guys perform the amazing stunts they do is enough to be completely enthralled. Or, to put it in a cliché — The Raid: Redemption knocks it out of the park.

– HG Watson (The Lance)

Buck 65 @ Starlight Lounge, Feb. 2

For some of his set, Buck 65 was joined on stage by Marnie Herald.

Together, the duo generated a sultry melodic sound — Buck’s rhythmic finesse pairing flawlessly with Marnie’s tortured harmonies.

– Danielle Dmytraszko

THE CORD : COMMUNITY EDITION

HOLIDAYS 2012/JANUARY 2013

MONTHLY EVENTS THIS MONTH WE’RE GOING TO....

Music The Daybreak Gentlemen The Daybreak Gentlemen is a local indie band composed of five young guys who have a great sound. With a little bit of pop, rock, synth and an undeniable artistic flare, the Daybreak Gentlemen are sure to make a breakthrough into the popular music scene soon.

The Boathouse (Victoria Park) Friday, Dec. 14 @ 9 p.m.

Community Skate with the Waterloo Siskins The Waterloo Siskins, Waterloo’s local Jr. B hockey team, will be gearing up for a skate in Uptown Waterloo. But not for a game — for you! Whether you grew up playing the sport, or if you’ve never held a hockey stick in your life, it doesn’t matter! On Dec. 15, you can join the Siskins for some good ol’ hockey fun. You can pass a puck with one of the team’s players or shoot on the Siskins’ goalies.

Waterloo Public Square FREE Saturday, Dec. 15 @ 1 p.m.

MUSIC Dec. 6

The Danny Michel Comeback Special wsg. Quique Escamilla Starlight, $25 ADV, 7 p.m.

Dec. 7

Canadian Music Fest Showcase Maxwell’s Music House, 8 p.m.

7 Shades of Bass Drum ‘n Bass Night Maxwell’s Music House, $10, 9 p.m.

Yuletide Spectacular Centre in the Square, kwsymphony.on.ca for ticket prices, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

A Big Band Christmas with Big Band Theory The Registry Theatre, $20, 8 p.m.

Dec. 8

Broadview Trio The Jazz Room, $16, 7 p.m.

Off Victoria wsg. Fourth of Kin Maxwell’s Music House, $5, 9 p.m.

Dec. 9

Beckon wsg. Mati Haskell Maxwell’s Music House, 7:30 p.m.

Factory Arts Baroque Quartet The Music Room, $25, senior $20, student $15, 8 p.m.

Dec. 13

The Good for Naughts wsg. Amanda Davids and Sarah Bernardo Maxwell’s Music House, $7, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 14

Yuletide Spectacular

–Compiled and written by Adele Palmquist

Dec. 15

Dave Restivo Trio The Jazz Room, $16, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16

Youth in Error wsg. Safe as Houses, Brendan J. Stephens and Aurelius Maxwell’s Music House, $10 ADV, 7 p.m.

Annual Beethoven’s Birthday Concert The Music Room, $35, senior $30, student $20, 8 p.m.

Dec. 19

Monster Fever wsg. Ozgoode, Dear Me and Titus Maxwell’s Music House, $5, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 20

The Mercer-Oh Trio The Music Room, $30, senior $25, student $20, 8 p.m.

Dec. 21

Tom Nagy’s Jazz Room Christmas Experience

The Jazz Room, $15, 7 p.m.

Curse the Witch wsg. Drew Leith and the Foundation Maxwell’s Music House, $5, 9 p.m.

Dec. 22

Rob Szabo &Steve Strongman 8th Annual Holiday Show Starlight, $19 ADV, 7 p.m.

2nd Annual Holiday Jam with the Joni NehRita Quintet The Jazz Room, $15, 7 p.m.

Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve 2013 Starlight, $25 ADV, 9 p.m.

Jan. 5

Erhu performance by Pelyl Niu The Museum, themuseum.ca for admission prices, 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 13

The Schweigen Trio The Music Room, k-wcms.com for tickets, 8 p.m.

Jan. 14

Ménage á six - String Sextet The Music Room, k-wcms.com for tickets, 8 p.m.

Jan. 16

Su Jeon, piano The Music Room, k-wcms.com for tickets, 8 p.m.

COMMUNITY

The Nutcracker Ballet

Centre in the Square Go to centre-square.com for ticket prices Friday, Dec. 28 @ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Robin Habermehl Quintet The Jazz Room, $15, 7 p.m.

Dave O’Neill Quintet tribute to Ed Bickert The Jazz Room, $12, 7 p.m.

Arts Here’s a Canadian Christmas classic for everyone: The Nutcracker Ballet. This play has been a holiday tradition for years. For as long as we can remember, the Centre in the Square has brought this play to town each year, and they’re doing it once again. Presented by Ballet Jörgen Canada, winner of the 2011 National Arts Centre Award, it is sure to be as brilliant as ever. This beautiful piece is a must-see, especially if you haven’t seen it in the past.

Centre in the Square, kwsymphony.on.ca for ticket prices, 8 p.m.

23

Dec. 7

PWA Wrestling (All Proceeds go to Tree of Angels) Alpine Klub, $15 ADV, 7 p.m.

Dec. 9 & 16

Waterloo Region Museum Presents: Country Christmas Waterloo Region Museum, adult $10, senior/student $8, children $5, children four and under free, 11 a.m.

Lions Arena, adults $6, children/senior $4, family $12, 10 a.m.

Jan. 6

Dec. 31

Website launch event - Mayor’s New Year’s Levee Forbes Room at RIM Park, FREE, 11:30 a.m.

Dec. 10

Starting Jan. 9

Jan. 12

Jan. 2/3

Jan. 10-11

Dec. 9

Guided Sitting Meditation The Museum, themuseum.ca for admission prices, 1 p.m.

ARTS Drink and Draw The Huether Hotel, 7 p.m.

Shrek: The Musical Centre in the Square, centre-square.com for ticket prices, 7:30 p.m./2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Skating

Lynne Heller – Slippage Robert Langen Art Gallery, FREE Shen Yun Centre in the Square, see centre-square. com for ticket prices, 7:30 p.m.

The Brush Off The Museum, themuseum.ca for admission prices