The Community Edition: August 2015

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 11 • AUGUST 2015

IF STREETS COULD TALK PAGES 8-9

DAN HOWLER PAGE 13

THE COMMUNITY’S TABLE PAGE 14

A DIGITAL SUPERMARKET PAGE 5

AUGUST 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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Volume 3, Issue #11 Next issue: September 2, 2015 75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Care Schummer at 519-884-0710 x3560 care.schummer@wlusp.com THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM Editor in Chief Allison M. Leonard allison.leonard@wlusp.com Publisher Bryn Ossington bryn.ossington@wlusp.com

Distribution Manager Alistair MacLellan Production Manager Lakyn Barton Social Media Manager Megan Nourse

Photo Editor Matt Smith CONTRIBUTORS Mara Bender Cameron Dearlove Rebecca Ferguson Jennifer Freitas Dan Herman Kerri Hutchinson Stacey Jacobs WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director Director Director Director Director Corporate Secretary

Jon Johnson Cathy MacLellan Elizabeth McFaul Andreas Patsiaouros Christina Proctor Dave Thomas

Bryan Stephens Bryn Ossington Care Schummer John Pehar Abdiasis Issa Thomas Lillo Rafey Sattar Fred Kuntz Angela Foster Gary Doyle Emily Crump

On August 1, hundreds attended a topless rally in Waterloo. COURTESY ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS The Community Edition is an alternative monthly intended to engage and inform the community.

Started in 2012, the 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 Community Edition are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or Canweb Printing. All content appearing in the Community Edition bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent.

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The Community Edition circulates monthly. Normal circulation is 6,000. The Community Edition subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada.

Preamble to the Community Edition Constitution The Community Edition will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Community Edition 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 Community Edition 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 Community Edition will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on the community of Waterloo Region. Ultimately, the Community Edition will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

The Community Edition 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 Community Edition’s contact with the community. The Community Edition 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.

FEATURE

8-9 IF STREETS COULD TALK: CHANDLER MOWAT THE STORIES OF UNDER-APPRECIATED AND UNDER-EXPLORED NEIGHBOURHOODS IN WATERLOO REGION.

3 4 5 6 7 7 7 10 10 10 11 11 12 14 15

IN BRIEF 125 YEARS FOR WATERLOO PARK A DIGITAL SUPERMARKET THE TOWN THAT ATE LARD AN EVOLVING POPULATION EMPTY BEDS IN WR THREE YEARS FOR NIGHT\SHIFT READY TO RIDE PURE AND LOCAL SEXPLANATIONS SOMETHING’S ROTTEN IN THE PARK BEARFACE ON BEER MAYFAIR HOTEL ALBUM RELEASE COOL TREATS TRUCK EATS LISTINGS

THIS ISSUE WAS POWERED BY JULIANA GOMEZ KERRI HUTCHINSON MEGAN NOURSE GREG BROW TOM PADDOCK FRANKIE VALLI CAMP KINTAIL ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS MATT SMITH AMY POEHLER JON JOHNSON RACHEL CRUMP STACEY JACOBS MARA BENDER

THANKS FOR MAKING COMMUNITY MEDIA POSSIBLE!

AUGUST 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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IN BRIEF

LRT construction continues as part of the cityscape throughout Waterloo Region. Join the ongoing conversation about ION impact by participating online #IONdialogues. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

Hundreds flooded Victoria Park to enjoy craft beer, live music, and a cachophany of different flavours of barbequed ribs for the 12th annual RibFest on July 17-19. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

NEWS

URBAN

ARTS

UBER DRIVERS FACE FINES

A MOUNT HOPE MAKEOVER

CIGI COMMUNITY ART CONTEST

Soon after Uber’s arrival in WR, the Region of Waterloo decided it will enforce the taxi bylaw that considers Uber drivers unlicensed and therefore illegally operating a taxi service. The bylaw will only be enforced on a complaint basis, and could leave Uber drivers with a fine of up to $25,000.

The Region will make this new vehicles-for-hire bylaw public in August and staff were instructed to consider Uber’s services as part of that. The new bylaw will not go into effect until January. The Region’s council said they are not on the lookout for Uber drivers, but if a complaint comes in they will investigate the driver and they may be charged.

The intersection of Wilhelm and Ahrens St. in Kitchener’s Mount Hope has some new art on its pavement. The art is part of a one-year pilot project to reduce traffic accidents by encouraging cars to slow down. Local designer Jon Johnson teamed up with the neighbourhood association to create a colourful circular design that features familiar Kitchener symbols. Neighbours gathered to paint the design together. The paint for the project was donated by a Toronto company so the makeover left no cost to the neighbourhood.

The neighbourhood association hopes the road art expands to other parts of the region.

The Centre for International Governance and Innovation with support from the KW Community Foundation invites artists to participate in their community art contest. Artists are asked to submit original oil or acrylic paintings reflecting CIGI’s global message and research themes. In addition to $17,400 in cash prizes, winning artists will have their art permanently displayed at the CIGI Waterloo campus as part of the CIGI Collection. The contest is open to all artists living, working, or attending school in Waterloo Region. The deadline to apply is September 8, 2015. A five person jury panel will select and announce winners in early October.

MAKEOVER FOR CONSTRUCTION HISTORIC BUILDING FRUSTRATION

UNDERWATER AT SNYDER’S FLATS

Toronto-based real estate development company Urban Fund Corp. purchased 48 Weber St. W. in Kitchener. The building, dubbed Berlin Palace, was condemned by the City of Kitchener in July forcing residents to find alternative housing. Urban Fund Corp. purchased the apartments for $2.4 million with plans to renovate and seek new tenants.

The company plans to retain the historic exterior of the building while also updating the units and meeting building codes.

Cafe Pyrus’ owner Tyson Reiser spoke out several times last month about how the LRT construction on Charles St. is affecting his business. The cafe resorted to plastic flamingos placed around downtown directing lost pedestrians to the cafe. Since then, the Kitchener BIA has added new signage to assist pedestrians.

The Community Edition is hosting ongoing discussions about ION impact. Share your thoughts about LRT construction online with #IONdialogues.

Local contemporary landscape artist Nik Harron produced a mini nature documentary about Snyder’s Flats named Underwater Kingdom. Snyder’s Flats located in Bloomingdale, just outside of Waterloo Region, is a floodplain area historically mined for gravel, that was restored in the 1980s as part of a massive rehabilitation project. The documentary, as its name suggests, takes views under the water of Snyder’s Flats looking at the vegetation and carp that “guard” the flats.

ABORTION OPTIONS EXPAND

UPTOWN STREETS OPEN AGAIN

70TH SEASON FOR KW SYMPHONY

Currently those in WR seeking an abortion have the option of surgery in Kitchener or medicated abortion in Toronto. With Health Canada’s approval of the RU-486 abortion pill, WR pharmacists could be providing the medication by next year. WR’s Planned Parenthood office has applauded Health Canada’s decision.

For the third time this summer, uptown Waterloo will be closed to traffic for Open Streets. The community is invited on August 16 to see uptown transform to a community culture hub with live music, performances, local vendors, artists, family-friendly activities, and food. The final Open Streets of 2015 will be September 20.

The KW Symphony, founded in 1945, celebrates its 70th season this September. Tickets go on sale this month. This season will include a Beethoven Marathon, a tribute to the music from James Bond, a Dancin’ Thru the Decades concert, a reimagining of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band and a performance by The von Trapps.

AUGUST 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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Waterloo Park, founded in 1890 and dubbed the “Jewel of the City,” celebrates its 125th birthday this year. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

OVER A CENTURY FOR WATERLOO PARK CATHY MACLELLAN COLUMNIST My husband and I enjoyed our first kiss in Waterloo Park some 32 years ago. I was a UW student at the time and we spent lots of time in the 111 acres of green space in the middle of the city ¬– an easy stroll from WLU and UW. Given the growth and changes to the surrounding area, Waterloo Park is proving to be a resilient green space, a significant factor in the quality of life for students and city residents and (still) a great place for courting.

I often take early morning walks in Waterloo Park and see runners, tai chi practitioners and any number of other athletes working out. It is easy

to take the mix of natural habitat, like the small wetland that resides beside the creek feeding Silver Lake and the mature trees shading various sections, for granted as they compete with the constructed venues, such as the tennis courts and children’s play areas. These diverse, essential elements create a healthy space for our community and neither is expendable.

The farmland for this park was purchased from Jacob B. Eby’s widow, Elizabeth, in 1890 – making this year Waterloo Park’s 125th birthday.

When’s the party? This “Jewel of the City” deserves to be recognized and appreciated so the City of Waterloo Museum is celebrating the event with a great new Waterloo Park exhibition.

The excellent “History of Waterloo Park” essay on the City’s website also reveals a dynamic, hugely popular spot that was the heart of the community. Why not have a birthday party in the park?

As the day unfolds, people can take advantage of the park’s diverse offerings, including the enduring venues for tennis (celebrating 100 years), cricket and baseball. Other activities have moved to established locations: so instead of swimming in Silver Lake (the geese won!) we have a splash park, and newer sports like skateboarding have found a home. If this were a summer in the 1950s the park would be full of swimmers in Silver Lake, people playing tennis on the grass courts and rounds of croquet, cyclists enjoying the oval track, fishermen, shoppers purchasing flowers from the greenhouse, or people enjoying fries from the refreshment stand. There may even have been a cricket match happening if it was Sunday. Concerts, company picnics and family reunions created a festive atmosphere all summer long. The Park was not abandoned in winter – snow was cleared off Silver Lake and people skated to live music

provided by the town band.

The fascinating and entertaining history of Waterloo Park (the tragedy of the little cannon is a must read!) describes the diverse features that have made Waterloo Park resilient and flexible over the last century. It also suggests the continued success of the park should the mix of natural and constructed venues endure. For instance, the many trees planted around the skateboard park fulfill this mandate well. The park is in transition again with the LRT soon to be running through its centre. While perhaps not as busy today as it was a hundred years ago, Waterloo Park is now an indispensable, green space in the centre of Waterloo. Take a mindful stroll alone or, like I once did, with the person you’ll spend the next 32 years of your life with, and appreciate this great, resilient public space.

AUGUST 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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Grocera fuses technology with farmers’ markets to revolutionize food systems and increase accessibility by bringing items from phone to front door. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

GROCERA’S PHONE TO FRONT DOOR MODEL MEGAN NOURSE CONTRIBUTOR

Canadians are buying a lot online, so why not groceries too? That’s what the founders of Grocera thought while developing their Waterloo-based online grocery store. The twist that sets them apart from American counterparts like AmazonFresh is that Grocera partners with nearby farmers and businesses to supply customers with locally-sourced food.

On the weekends, the Kitchener and St. Jacob’s farmer’s markets are packed with shoppers, but a growing number of people in the region are limited by time or transportation and therefore unable to access local food.

“There’s got to be a way for people

to access local food, what better way than online shopping?” said Niket Soni, Grocera’s founder and a former food safety specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection agency. Working for the government is where he got the idea, which he began building on nine months ago.

After quitting his job to enter the startup world, Soni found Patrick Valoppi to head Grocera’s marketing and the pair moved into the Velocity Garage where they built partnerships with local suppliers before officially launching in June.

“Part of our mission is to really educate the consumer to realize it’s actually better for you to eat closer to home,” said Valoppi who grew up in a rural area where eating local was the

norm.

Valoppi’s family history is rooted in farming and he is well aware of the struggles and uncontrollable variables farmers face.

“I think people take for granted how hard farmers work,” Valoppi said. He and Soni said part of their mission is to find a better way to connect local farmers’ products with consumers so there is more business and less waste.

Currently, the Grocera team, made up of Soni, Valoppi and five volunteers, are trying to tap into three customer bases: time-starved and tech savvy professionals, community members dedicated to supporting local businesses, and students.

“We don’t want to brand ourselves as a premium service, our whole mot-

to is the fact that local food should be accessible to everyone,” Soni said on the misconception that Grocera is for an elite customer base.

Soni graduated from the University of Waterloo’s biomedical sciences program in 2012. He also earned a minor in biology and nutrition, which is where his interest in local, healthy food was born.

Basing Grocera in KW was a no-brainer to Soni as he calls the area a perfect test market. He ang Valoppi, a graduate of Laurier’s businesses administration program, hope to expand their services to Toronto next summer, but for now are growing steady here and happy to be based in the Velocity Garage.

Not only do the pair want to im-

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prove access to local food, they want to reignite customer service standards of the “1960s milkman days.” Though they are an online service, Soni said customers are going to get to know their delivery person and he and Valoppi are not shy about getting out into the community themselves.

“We’re doing something that’s going against the grain,” Soni said of Grocera’s focus on customer service.

“I can grocery shop for an hour and not talk to a single person,” he said of traditional grocery stores. They want Grocera to be different.

“We’re a tech company, but we’re also a people company,” Soni said.

AUGUST 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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HEALTH IS SUBJECTIVE UPSTREAM

CAMERON DEARLOVE COLUMNIST On the surface, the town of Roseto, Pennsylvania, was not so different from its neighbouring towns, Bangor and Nazareth. Both Bangor and Roseto were populated largely by Italian immigrants, the townspeople shared similar trades and income levels, they had the same water source, and they even used the same hospital. So why did Rosetons have a heart attack fatality rate less than half that of neighbouring communities?

Traditional views on health would immediately point to lifestyle factors.

Yet researchers in the 1950s and 1960s were astonished when they studied the lifestyle factors of Rosetons: many of the men worked in slate quarries that exposed them to longterm health hazards; they smoked unfiltered stogie cigars; rather than milk, wine was drunk with abandon; and instead of a diet of lean meats and vegetables, they fried up meatballs and sausages in lard. The researchers came to a striking conclusion that challenged traditional thinking—the social structure of the townspeople was the key to their health.

While the people of Bangor and Nazareth had shifted to a more Americanized, individualistic culture, the people of Roseto maintained the close family and social bonds that they had brought with them from Italy.

Most people lived in intergenerational family homes. Homes were also close together, and people stopped to chat

with friends every day, cooked with neighbours, and gathered at church together. The study counted 22 civic organizations in a town of 2,000.

Though there were gaps in wealth, it wasn’t obvious. The wealthy lived a similar lifestyle to others, and there were few applications for social assistance. Even more remarkable, Roseto had a crime rate of zero.

Over a 50-year study, the researchers confirmed their hypothesis. At the end of their 1963 study they predicted that if Roseto became Americanized, the heart failure rate would rise to the country’s average. In 1992, they returned to Roseto and found a community much like any other in America. The family and social ties that were so remarkable in the first study had eroded, and just as predicted, the fatality rate from heart attacks was unremarkably average.

The town of Roseto poignantly demonstrates that the social structure we live within determines our health and well-being to a greater degree than genetics, healthcare, and lifestyle choices. Specifically, it demonstrates why social isolation is a major determinant of health and well-being.

When we look at groups of people who are most often marginalized and socially isolated—newcomers to a community, people with disabilities, people experiencing poverty—we see a strong correlation between their position in the community and poorer health outcomes.

The negative impacts of social isolation are being recognized and addressed in new and innovative ways in Waterloo Region. The City of Kitchener and United Way KW are both actively working to strengthen neighbourhoods, since interconnected neighbourhoods drastically improve the health, safety, and well-being of its

residents.

The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation has identified a low sense of belonging in our region, and has tasked any organization seeking community grants to focus on connecting our community and improving belonging. Roseto reminds us that our efforts must aim to be fully inclusive—to move the needle on health and well-being, we must try to interweave everyone: the marginalized with those who are not, the wealthy with those experiencing poverty, and people with disabilities with those who are currently able.

At Facile Waterloo Region (where I work), we primarily serve people with disabilities to reduce isolation and create a good life for these individuals in the community. The key to this work is creating authentic, two-way relationships. Roseto shows us that as we get more people engaged in community life, and reduce social isolation, we can have a real impact on individual health and wellbeing – not just those coming out of social isolation, but for the wider community.

Though the impact of social structures is throwing traditional thinking about health on its head, as a society we are still not at a place where we label building community networks and supports as “healthcare.” However, as the recognition of social inequities as the driver of health issues grows, so too must our definition of healthcare in Canada. We may never be able to recreate Roseto’s social structure in Waterloo Region (and we should probably skip the lard), but with a collective, community-wide recognition of the power of social networks, we definitely can move the needle on health and well-being—and be happier for it, too.

“

The town of Roseto poignantly demonstrates that the social structure we live within determines our health and well-being to a greater degree than genetics, healthcare, and lifestyle choices. Specifically, it demonstrates why social isolation is a major determinant of health and well-being.

”

The Roseto diet consisted of meatballs and sausages fried in lard, but the heart attack fatality rate was less than half that of neighbouring communities.

AUGUST 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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CONFLICTING RATINGS ON IMMIGRATION IN WATERLOO REGION

WR UNDER REVIEW

DAN HERMAN COLUMNIST

In 2009, the twin cities led the country in reported hate crime statistics, sitting at 17.9 hate-fuelled offences per 100,000 people. Today, Kitchener-Waterloo is still sitting above the Canadian average, but the ranking has dropped to fourth in the country. In 2010, the immigration law firm Immigroup ranked KW the fourth worst city to move to, naming the city’s high hate crime rate as the leading factor in the ranking. In contrast, this June MoneySense released a list titled “Canada’s Best Place for Immigrants,” Waterloo ranked fourth. MoneySense contributor Mark Brown explains the city as having low unemployment, a reasonable immigrant population and relatively low rent for a one bedroom apartment. FILES FROM MARA BENDER. PHOTO BY MATT SMITH.

Night\Shift, Kitchener’s nocturnal art party sees increased funding as a result of an expansion of programming and events. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

NIGHT\SHIFT TO SEE THIRD YEAR

ELIZABETH MCFAUL CONTRIBUTOR

Billed as Kitchener-Waterloo’s Nuit-Blanche style event, NIGHT\ SHIFT focuses on seeing Kitchener in a whole new light by exploring it in the dark. This one-night art party began in 2013 as a community-building project

by A\J (Alternatives Journal), and has grown into a nocturnal adventure exploring Kitchener-Waterloo’s rich arts and culture community and the spaces that live downtown. This year, the festival attempts to expand to the entire Halloween weekend.

“There was no Nuit Blanche-style event in Kitchener, even though there’s a large student audience, people working in creative industries, and a ton of great public and private space downtown,” says Eric Rumble, creator of the festival. “NIGHT\SHIFT pushes people to recognize different possibilities in the built environment, to think of [Kitchener] as a place with

a ton of vibrancy if you look a bit harder, or if you challenge yourself and your creative class in the city to reanimate space.”

While the programming has not been finalized for this year, the committee is making plans to have two dozen or more pieces of programming in a variety of spaces in Downtown Kitchener, inside and out.

“There will be more concentration this year on Queen Street and Hall’s Lane, from the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, to Hall’s Lane over to Gaukel Street. We are concentrating on animating that laneway space, and indoor and outdoor spaces along the route,” says Rumble.

The first two years of the festival have been a large, free event on Saturday evening. This year’s festival will expand to include Friday night ticketed events and a potential Sunday brunch event.

“We’ve been really lucky in the past

few years with grants and support from private, local companies, but the expansion will help build a revenue stream to support the festival in the future, so it can be here longer term,” says Rumble. “We will be adding ticketed events on the Friday evening that are a bit more exclusive and offer people an opportunity to support the festival.”

The festival will also see a few new venues this year.

“Kitchener Public Library Central Branch is planning to take part for the first time, bringing some programming to the table, and we are looking into how we can use the outside of the building as a canvas somehow. It’s really exciting to include the building in our landscape,” said Rumble.

“A lot of the motivation behind the festival was to highlight the cultural spaces just five minutes up Queen Street, so [KPL] adds another outpost to the landscape we are already work-

ing on.”

The Kitchener Studio Project space on 44 Gaukel will also join the festival scene.

This fall’s festival comes at a critical time for the region.

“With downtown under construction, people have a lot to complain about in the downtown experience and the landscape. The opportunity to treat it as more of an adventure and as an exploration space seems more important,” says Rumble. “[NIGHT\ SHIFT] allows us to explore the more interesting laneways and secret spaces that have a lot of potential. Just the act of having something there for a single night makes you rethink the way you view that space.”

NIGHT\SHIFT returns for its third year on Halloween weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.

A quick drive around Waterloo might leave you with the impression that we’re undergoing a major population boom. Whether it be the handful of new condos and apartments being built in the uptown core, or the ongoing forest of student-oriented condominiums sprouting out along University and King, mattress manufacturers should be doing well going forward.

That is if there’s anybody to live in these new homes.

As the City’s Town and Gown committee recently presented as part of their student housing working group, the city currently has a surplus of over 1,200 student beds. This could grow significantly as over 7000 additional beds are currently in process or have been given approval. Current demand for student housing comes in at just over 31,000 beds of which approximately 10,000 are covered by on-campus student residence.

Given that student enrolment is likely to grow only very minimally in the near-future, what’s to become of this burgeoning supply?

In a properly functioning market what should happen is that prices for rental accommodation drop, creating a significant incentive for students who live outside of the core to move into it. However as current plans for the Northdale neighborhood attest, foresight with regard to mixed-use and the integration of commercial, residential and recreational space can produce very liveable communities.

Moreover, this increased supply of beds around the two universities may mean an increased supply of single family homes for non-students tenants. While this might derail extra income for homeowners who have relied on students to rent their properties, it might also help revitalize neighborhoods which have seen families and non-student tenants flee in the face of student encroachment.

The development of an effective light-rail system will open up significant new areas of the city and region for commuter traffic to and from the university zone. Why pay $700 for a room if you can live in downtown Kitchener for $450 and quickly commute in?

While proximity matters, access to amenities and culture means many will choose to live outside of the core.

In which case, we’re back to our major surplus. Now to some degree this is a problem for developers and property owners. And eventually I’ll assume that a market dynamic will kick in and students will get to keep more of their cash. If that dynamic doesn’t kick in, however, perhaps we can take a page from communities around the world that build and convert traditional apartment style accommodations into multi-floor units for families and young professionals.

Ultimately, the perception that student accommodation is easy cash is coming to an end. What matters more, however, is how our community evolves with these changes.

IF STREETS COULD TALK

CHANDLER-MOWAT FROM THE UNDER APPRECIATED TO THE UNDER EXPLORED, TCE IS DOCUMENTING THE STORIES OF THE STREETS. PHOTOS BY MATT SMITH. DAVE THOMAS CONTRIBUTOR Just south of the Expressway in Kitchener, the Chandler-Mowat neighbourhood is a vital and distinct community - a thin, two-kilometre-long expanse that is home to 4,000 people, in one of the most densely populated and diverse areas in the city.

It’s bounded on the north by the Expressway and on the south by Ottawa Street. Strasburg Road forms the eastern boundary, and Fischer-Hallman Road is the western limit. The area is home to many newcomers, representing a multitude of languages and cultures. It’s a lower income neighbourhood, with most residents living in rental housing. Many of those units have rent geared to income. While this financial situation introduces challenges for the residents in Chandler-Mowat,it also presents a richness that binds people together and infuses the community with pride.

Heading north on Strasburg Road, a tour of the neighbourhood begins with large local and regional government facilities - the headquarters of the Kitchener Fire Department and Grand River Transit’s main operations centre, along with a fleet maintenance facility that fronts on Chandler Drive.

West of there on Chandler, it’s mostly low-rise apartment buildings on the main road and a couple of cul-de-sacs. On Elmsdale Drive and on Mowat, one can find a neat grid of semi-detached homes and row housing. The neighbourhood is dotted with Elmsdale Park and small green spaces. The namesake Chandler Drive hosts a number of high-rise apartment buildings that break through the area’s otherwise low skyline. Rare single-family homes can be found in the western section, between Fischer-Hallman and Westmount, on streets like Howe Drive, Windale Crescent and Valleyview Road.

Overall, Chandler-Mowat’s housing profile consists of 39.3 per cent row housing, 32.1 per cent lowrise, 19.0 per cent high-rise, 6.9 per cent semi-detached and only 2.3 per cent single detached.

Contrast that to Kitchener as a whole, where 50 per cent of homes are single detached, and more dense formats like high-rise (14.2 per cent), low-rise (15.2 per cent) and row housing (11.3 per cent) each make up a much smaller proportion of the housing stock.

As for amenities, the neighbourhood is close to large shopping areas to the west and east, and McLennan Park is immediately to the south. It rates a medium score on walkability according to the Region of Waterloo’s Walkability Map. As the first home in KW for many of the residents, there is an immediacy to Chandler-Mowat, a sense that life really happens here. Though there is a high degree of turnover, there are also many residents who have lived here a long time. It’s a young neighbourhood too: a third of the residents are 19 and under. For Kitchener, about a quarter are in that age range.

There is legitimate concern about the challenges the community faces, challenges that often morph into sterotypes on income and circumstance. Fortunately, there are assets like the Chandler-Mowat Community Centre. Located at 222 Chandler Drive, the centre is run by the City of Kitchener, with some strong community partnerships, particularly the House of Friendship. The agency has a program coordinator and outreach worker who operate on site and distribute food on Thursdays among other areas of support. It’s been active in helping residents

since its 1994 inception in a small “temporary” building (the new, permanent facility only opened in 2006.) Other community partners include YMCA Immigrant Services, Focus for Ethnic Women, Carizon Family and Community Services, and Waterloo Region Community Legal Services.

The centre is in many ways the focus for public life in the community, says Kelly Steiss, a district facilitator with the City of Kitchener. It’s a wellequipped facility with an outdoor playground, splash pad, basketball court (which doubles as a skating rink in the winter) and soccer pitch. There is also a community garden where residents can rent a plot for $20 for the whole season. Several of the plots are raised, making it easier for gardeners who use a wheelchair or have difficulty bending down. There’s a harvest party in the fall to share the bounty.

Indoors, the centre can accommodate group events of up to 240 people. This summer, it hosted evening Iftar gatherings, when Muslim residents broke their daily fast during Ramadan. Recent adult activities include drop-in programs for physical activities like Zumba, volleyball, gentle fitness and yoga; knitting classes; a healthy lifestyles program; and an immigrant women’s networking group.

Kids’ activities range from karate to dance and a homework club. There are also youth drop-ins and parent/child programs.

It serves as a cooling centre in summer and a warming centre in winter. More than that, the centre is a place to just be with others, says Steiss. Staff hold regular community meetings to listen to residents’ concerns, to get input about programming and to give residents a voice and an opportunity to participate.

“The community centre is an important asset for the neighbourhood,” she says. “We continually ask how we can we make it the best resource possible.”

She is particularly proud of a soccer program for boys age 13-15. It was set up in partnership with the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Kitchener Fire Department and Kitchener Minor Soccer. It’s not just about playing soccer. It’s about building bridges in the community, says Steiss. There are issues in the Chandler-Mowat area, she acknowledges, but there are many people of goodwill working together to make the neighbourhood a better place.

More than that, there is a vibrancy to the community. There may be an edginess at times about the complexities of urban life, but people in Chandler-Mowat are fiercely proud. Long-time resident Julie LaMarche, who’s lived in the neighbourhood for 26 years, loves the diversity of the community.

She’s not surprised about the community spirit.

“I’ve met a lot of really wonderful people. They show kindness and respect,” she says. Most people want the same thing - to live together in harmony.”

She’s been active at the centre for many years, making beads and necklaces for kids, and helping out at workshops at the Resource Café, a weekly women’s gathering.

“I’m happy to contribute. It’s my way of giving back to the community.”

Ismail Mohamed, the resource centre coordinator at Chandler-Mowat Community Centre, sums it up. “There is a real sense of community here,” he says. “People know each other. They feel connected.”

AUGUST 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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VOICES

While cars can’t access a number of city streets, cyclists are finding ways to reroute their regular ride during the season of ION construction. Check out Ready to Ride for more on cycling.

COURTESY CITY OF WATERLOO.

Waterloo Region’s ongoing heatwave poses threats for your skin. Check out Jennifer Freitas’s insights on dealing with sun exposure in Pure & Local. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

READY TO RIDE

PURE & LOCAL

SEXPLANATIONS

REBECCA FERGUSON COLUMNIST

JENNIFER FREITAS COLUMNIST

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST

On the morning of June 27 I got up, got ready, and left for work like I do every morning. However, when I pulled to the intersection on my street at King Street, I found my way blocked by a large ‘road closed, detour’ sign. I then found myself faced with the challenge of weaving toward downtown through a maze of construction and road closures.

Like most Waterloo Region residents, I have found it impossible to avoid the citywide ION construction.

As the city is in the process of building LRT, many streets are blocked off, and traffic often becomes congested on side streets that were not built to handle such great traffic volume.

While many struggle with city driving, one local has found an alternative.

Brockenshire Lemiski, an employee of The Working Centre in downtown Kitchener, bypasses blockages with his bicycle.

“Cyclists have a bonus,” says Leminski. “Because we can get places that cars can’t.”

He explained that cyclists can use trails as short cuts, as they run on direct paths through town and are always open. Trails such as the Iron Horse Trail and the Spur Line trail connect Kitchener-Waterloo and give cyclists a quick and easy route.

“Cycling during ION construction has helped me get to know the city in different ways, such as learning about new trails and seeing different parts of Kitchener-Waterloo,” said Leminski.

Google Maps makes planning cycling trips easy. After entering your destination into Google, simply click on the cycling option as well as ‘show bike paths’. Google will even tell riders the approximate length of their ride and the type of terrain they should expect. For example, Google tells me that my ride to work should take 11 minutes, be 3.0 km long and that the land will be ‘mostly flat’. Another option is to download the city’s new mobile app, Pingstreet, to access Kitchener’s trail maps using your phone.

Developing alternatives to driving will be an asset to residents, as construction will carry on for at least another two years. Set to begin service in 2017, there will be a 19 km, 16 stop, LRT route running from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Mark Park. Stage 2 of construction features a 23 stop LRT running between Cambridge and Waterloo.

I look forward to tomorrow, when I will leave my car at home and instead, cycle the easy, eleven minute journey to work.

Let’s start with a basic fact: sun damage is by far the most significant cause of wrinkling, skin aging and skin cancers. That being said, most of us will not avoid enjoying our time outdoors and we are probably all likely, at some point, to experience one of the issues being covered in this article: sunburn, peeling skin and sticky skin!

Sunburn: a burn is an inflammatory response by the body, so if you have a sunburn, you want to apply an anti-inflammatory. (Well, duh!) The best topical anti-inflammatory is fresh aloe – it has both anti-inflammatory properties as well as humectant properties. You should avoid alcohols, witch hazel, menthol and peppermint. I have also heard people say to apply a compress soaked in milk, but you actually should avoid milk – the lactic acid will exfoliate. You want to sooth with emollients, like shea butter or olive oil, and other anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as cucumber, aloe and allantoin (taken from the comfrey plant). Cool water may seem like a good idea but once the water evaporates, it will dehydrate the skin and make it feel even worse.

Another suggestion is a cooling spritz of chilled green tea; not only will it feel nice but it will provide your sun-damaged skin with some antioxidants to speed cellular repair. Just make sure your mist is relatively fresh so you can reap the maximum benefit!

Peeling skin: Skin is such a complex organ, but it has the truly amazing ability to renew itself within two weeks to a month. That being said there are simple things you can do to speed the process and also to prevent marking!

If the skin is peeling, don’t’ pick – you can trim away excess with a small pair of medical scissors – and it is probably best to get someone to help you with that.

Sticky skin: Sweating is the body’s natural way of detoxing; so as much as you want to avoid feeling sticky, remember that it is necessary to maintain your healthy glow! Anti-perspirants are a big beauty no-no – but a natural deodorant will help you feel fresh! Did you know your sweat isn’t what stinks? It’s actually the bacteria produced that causes you to smell funky. So look for ingredients that will neutralize that. Baking soda works wonders! There are so many great, effective brands out there now, that there is no need to use toxic substances to keep the funk at bay. If it’s shine on your face you are looking to avoid, carrying around a mineral pressed powder will help keep shine to a minimum – and the minerals will also provide you with some additional SPF protection. Win-win!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting my favourite author Judy Blume.

Judy Blume is a person and author I have great respect and adoration for.

Many of us grew up reading books such as, Are You there God? It’s me Margaret, Superfudge, Blubber and Forever. Blume has sold over 85 million copies of her books and touched many generations of people, as her audience at the Toronto Reference Library clearly demonstrated. People of all ages were there to see Blume. I was there with my mom and if I had a child they would have been there too.

I was lucky enough to see Blume speak and later meet with her as she signed my book. Blume, now 77, surpassed my expectations. She was kind, patient, optimistic and funny. Blume was in Toronto as part of her book tour promoting her new adult book, In the Unlikely Event.

I have enjoyed reading Judy Blume books over the years because of Judy’s honesty and understanding.

Judy writes about ordinary life, and everyday common problems. One of Blume’s most popular books, Are You there God? It’s Me Margaret, is about a young girl beginning puberty who would like to grow breasts and start menstruating. Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, is about a young boy who spies on his neighbour undressing. Blume has written about masturbation, birth control, first love, teen sex, death, bullying and racism. All topics adults don’t typically like to speak with young people about. This was especially the case in the 70s when many of her books were written.

Blume’s books have been banned many times over and this warm, caring women has received outrageous amounts of hate mail and had the need for a body guard. In 2009 Blume wrote a letter for Mother’s Day encouraging people to say thank you to their mothers by giving a donation to Planned Parenthood. She stated in the letter that there is no other organization she knows of that supports motherhood and all that it means more than Planned Parenthood.

Blume received death threats due to this letter.

Judy Blume is a big believer in comprehensive sex education and parents talking to their children about sexual health and sexuality at an early age.

Blume, and her husband George, have always been supporters of Planned Parenthood. Judy Blume has received many honours and awards and serves on the board for The National Coalition against Censorship. She believes in the freedom to read. Judy Blume is, and always will be, one of my heroes.

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AUGUST 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

BRFC ON BEER

JON JOHNSON COLUMNIST

Driftwood Theatre Group performs Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Kitchener’s Civic Centre Park on July 28. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

HAMLET DRIFTS INTO KITCHENER ELIZABETH MCFAUL CONTRIBUTOR Outdoor theatre is an experience like no other: bringing art into the open air and immersing the audience into the performance. Taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather, Driftwood Theatre Group performed Hamlet in Kitchener’s Civic Centre Park, between Kitchener Public Library and Centre in the Square, on July 28. For Driftwood, the outdoor venue is constantly changing, as the “Bard’s Bus Tour” travels to 26 Ontario communities this summer.

Driftwood’s Hamlet is a darkly comical and moving piece of theatre that even those new to Shakespeare can enjoy. It takes a simple and conversational Hamlet whose world is turned upside down after the death of his father and his mother’s new marriage.

Having seen Hamlet a few times, it is easy to appreciate the shorter script and faster pacing in Driftwood’s Hamlet, adapted by Toby Malone. Malone’s adaption of Hamlet draws from two versions of the script: the 1603 (first) quatro and the 1623 folio. The quatro brings quick pacing that lends itself well to the outdoor staging, and Malone manages to keep folio’s more familiar monologues and layer them into the quatro’s narrative. Experience the story in a new way with unfamiliar lines and reorganized scenes.

The set, inspired by a prison motif,

gives a harsh and grim tone to the piece. Concrete slabs, chain-link fencing, and barbed wire surround the stage, while a bare metal bed frame and a single folding chair make up the sparse furniture. Transitions between scenes are seamless in the prison-like world of Hamlet’s Denmark, with only a cappella vocals and sounds to underscore a shift in the scenery.

The small cast plays multiple roles with ease. Eight actors take to the stage in this interpretation, often double or triple cast. Jon de Leon plays both an imposing Claudius and a frightening ghost, with a chilling mask-like head (an incredible prop).

His wife Gertrude, played by Nehassaiu deGannes shows a clear love for her son. Motherhood eventually trumps both power and marital love.

Ophelia’s descent into madness is

heart-wrenching, as Natasha Mumba’s portrayal is equal parts powerful and fragile. Richard Alan Campbell is a joy to watch as Polonius. Christopher Darroch and Steven Burley play an amusing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as Hamlet’s frat-boy-style friends.

Paolo Santalucia stars as Hamlet in his Driftwood debut. Santalucia brings to the stage a witty Hamlet, but also shows the pain, anger, and betrayal that haunt the character. The choice of a female Horatio, played by Sarah Finn, leads to subtle changes in the text. The chemistry between Horatio and Hamlet skirts the line between loyal friend and lover, leading to some of the show’s best scenes.

Driftwood Theatre Group’s production of Hamlet continues to tour around Ontario until August 16.

Summer means it’s prime time to get out of town for a bit and probably to drink a few beers wherever you end up. With the ever expanding number of craft breweries around Ontario, that combination is better than ever. Once you’ve piled all your gear and friends/ family into your car, there’s likely a brewery you can visit no matter which direction you’re headed. With a little planning ahead, you can turn a boring drive into a fun brewery road trip and pick up some local beer.

This July I had a chance to revisit one of my favourite places from my childhood up near Haliburton. Planning what I might do while there, I visited the Ontario Brewer’s Directory on momnhops.ca and discovered that a tiny brewery called Boshkung Brewing Co. had popped up 10 minutes from my destination. A little more looking at the map showed that if I planned my route right, took some back roads and some extra time, I could probably visit 10 breweries along the way. In the end, I pared it down to four breweries, started my vacation with the journey, not the destination, and had a great time.

Aside from giving yourself a break from driving, visiting breweries can be a rewarding experience for many reasons. If you’ve got time, and the brewery offers them, you can take a tour and learn a little about the brewing process. I highly recommend the Flying Monkeys tour if you find yourself in Barrie.

For me though, the best part of visiting breweries is getting to try local beers, and specifically beers that I may not have been able to try otherwise.

Boshkung is currently small enough that their beer is only available to purchase at the brewery. They only had two beers available while I was there, but they were both great. And most small breweries are constantly trying new things. Even though some oneoffs and experiments make it to wider distribution, some of them are still only available by buying direct. The nice offshoots of that are supporting the local economy and thumbing your nose at the big multinational beer companies.

My little brewery tour ended with a car full of unique beers from along the route, and all it took was a little planning. If you’ve got a long drive (or even a short drive) coming up, I highly recommend planning ahead and seeing if there’s any brewery stops you can make on the way.

Condos, light rail, indie bands, knitting, bird watching, paper crafts, festivals, pizza.

THE COMMUNITY EDITION IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO WRITE ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS. EMAIL ALLISON.LEONARD@WLUSP.COM FOR MORE INFO.

AUGUST 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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AUGUST 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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THAT OLD TIME ROCK N’ ROLL GROWING FROM WEDDING BAND FAVOURITES TO A SOUND ALL THEIR OWN, DAN HOWLER ANTICIPATES THE SEPTEMBER RELEASE OF THEIR HYPER-LOCAL ALBUM, MAYFAIR HOTEL. PHOTOS COURTESY LINDSAY COULTER PHOTOGRAPHY. ALLISON M. LEONARD EDITOR IN CHIEF “That moment when you realized you’ve sung ‘Takin’ Care of Business’ a hundred times at weddings,” Ian Angus McLennan, bassist in Dan Howler says in between sips of his Pabst Blue Ribbon tall boy. “That’s when a part of you dies and you know you need to start working on an album.”

Ian, sitting across from me is one third of Dan Howler. Drummer Duncan Chapman McLennan (Ian’s elder brother) sits to my left, while the band’s namesake and singer, Dan (Bossenberry) Howler flanks Ian. All three join me around a patio table — arguably their natural environment — to share the story of the band’s inception, the memories of the toooft-played wedding songs and their hopes for what their upcoming album release will bring to the Waterloo Region music scene.

“No, no, it started when we got the grant,” Duncan says of the Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Grant the band received, providing a less anecdotal answer than his brother — a trend in the conversation. “We got it in June 2014, and had been writing it since that February.”

All three young men remark on how long the process has been, one that started in conversation at the now closed St. John’s Music, where Dan and Duncan worked together. The group’s musical talent, however, began long before messing around after hours at St. John’s.

“Well, he’s better at bass than socializing,” Duncan jokingly says of his younger brother.

“Yeah, I was put into music lessons when I was a one-year-old, Duncan was the smarter one,” Ian responds with just as much sarcasm.

Jokes aside, the McLennan pair, hailing from London, Ont., do in fact share a melodic past; with two musician parents both Ian and Duncan

took up bass and drums respectively as preteens. Their first band was one that graced high school stages under the name Fat Camp, as inspired by a favourite episode of The Simpsons.

Waterloo-Region raised, Dan’s venture to the stage isn’t far off; he also cites his family’s tie to instruments as his greatest influence.

“I always think the moment I realized I wanted to play music was at cowboy camp. We used to sit around the camp fire with my dad and play Blue Rodeo until the light came up,” he says, laughing at his own nostalgia, the other two join. “Dad always had a guitar around.”

Tonight, Dan Howler has traded the instruments in their hand since youth for tall boys, another round of which is ordered as we get past their history.

The patio table is beginning to fill with the same camaraderie and story-sharing one might find at a camp fire – maybe at cowboy camp. Dan leads the next story, an unfinished one of their soon-to-be-released album, titled Mayfair Hotel.

“Some songs are from high school, college, recently, whenever,” he begins.

“They’re basically just my songs but bigger and better and the sound is… I don’t know how to explain.”

A trend around Mayfair Hotel’s ten track sound – no one seems to be able to describe it in short. In conversation with William Muir, the man behind the album’s recording and mastering, he described the can’t-put-your-finger-on-it sound as a positive.

“Every song is completely different; it’s got your generic pop rock, sure, but it’s full of country elements and sounds that belong on an old soul record.”

While all three band members try to aptly describe the album in between swigs of beer, it becomes apparent that to each listener, the tracks mean something different.

“The soul is roots rock but we just sit down and play,” Duncan says,

describing how their process so heavily affects their sound. “How many records do you get three songs in and think ‘okay, I’ve heard it all?’”

Littered with locations – Montréal, Tennessee, South America – the album has a distinct travelling sound to it. Driving music at its finest, Mayfair Hotel, with its memories of a highschool left long ago, notes of road trips and scrapbooked city features is like a time capsule of an album.

Dan Howler’s personality and process is all to be unlocked by a listener, something Muir found quickly in the recording studio.

“They’re very opposite in terms of personalities, Duncan is organized, he likes to have his parts prepared before he gets to the studio,” says Muir, sharing the traits of the trio that seemed so integral to the recording process.

“Dan’s got a killer ability to write perfect songs, more than one for an album – that’s a biggie,” he says. “And then Ian seems to have the ability to work things out before even playing it.”

While Dan, Duncan and Ian fill the spotlight, the album is dusted with other notable Kitchener names (and personalities) that bring the crossgenre vibe to Mayfair Hotel. To name a few, Ryan Cassidy and Steve Wood bring saxophone and steel guitar respectively to the hyper-local record.

“I can walk to the studio, so many other people on the album can walk to the studio and we walk by what was the Mayfair Hotel every day,” says Duncan. “We’ve got a lot of places on the album, but it’s really about this area and we hope it highlights Kitchener’s underrated music scene.”

Despite the locally significant names, the recording process, which was funded by a grant and following nine-to-five day job shifts was less than glamourous in the studio nestled above Café Pyrus.

“We’d get in at 5:00 p.m. and go all night,” says Dan. His band mates

follow quickly with somewhat intelligible snippets of stories of late night recording sessions, attributing their success despite trial in part to Muir.

In a follow up conversation with Muir, I could see why.

“At some point in recording, it became less of making a record and more of a passion project,” he says. “I know they have ability and they have ‘that thing.’”

But Muir’s ear isn’t the only one with high hopes for Dan Howler.

“When I was working on re-mastering the record, I showed it to Larry Thompson who produced the first City and Colour album, and he said to me ‘they’ve got it.’”

Over patio beers, Dan, Duncan and Ian didn’t seem terribly concerned with what “it” might be, unless “it” was a preternatural ability to name songs played at weddings, songs Dan Howler uses to pay the bills.

“I would love, love, if ‘Patio Lanterns’ was requested more,” Ian laughs. “But it’s always ‘Takin’ Care of Business.’”

“No, no, it’s always ‘Old Time Rock n’ Roll,’” Dan starts before all three begin to belt the infamous, wedding favourite opening bars, “dah-dah-dahdah-dah-dah-dah just take those old records off the shelf.” Duncan plays dramtically on imaginary piano keys.

The patio the conversation began on has grown dark and emptied as the three, twenty-something Kitchener musicians close their story much how they started their career — with wedding songs.

“We joke about it, but there’s nothing better than playing to an audience that just wants to listen to you and have a great time to your music,” Dan says, quickly returning to half-singing, halfair strumming with Duncan and Ian. Dan Howler’s album, Mayfair Hotel releases September 18 at the Boathouse.

Ambrosia Pastry partners with food trucks to offer good eats, cold treats and a venue for building connections. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

MORE THAN A MEAL AT 150 ROGER

KERRI HUTCHINSON CONTRIBUTOR

Two parts amazing food, one part community building, and a dash of magic. This is the newest recipe that Ambrosia Pastry Co. has been cooking up this summer. On the border of Kitchener and Waterloo at their headquarters on Roger Street, the local bean to bar chocolate maker opens its doors to the community every Thursday night from 5 to 8 p.m. and plays host to the best dinner party in town.

Truck Eats Cool Treats is a partnership between Ambrosia and three local food trucks, West of Seoul, Fo’Cheezy, and Lancaster Smokehouse. The food trucks alternate each week while Ambrosia makes ice scream sandwiches.

Ambrosia moved into the space on 150 Roger Street last year, and the conversation about using the space for a pop-up dinner began between Ambrosia owners Aura Hertzog and Tim Simpson and West of Seoul’s Chris Kim.

“We had been looking for a way to use the space with Chris and we had wanted to do something with ice cream,” says Hertzog “so this was what we came up with.”

The ice cream sandwiches are made in-house, from scratch by Ambrosia.

Flavours rotate, and at least one new creation is introduced each week. Ambrosia also makes three (sometimes four) cookie options for the “bread” of the sandwich. Ambrosia’s famed Liege Waffles are available each week but classics like shortbread, ginger, and chocolate chip have all made an appearance as well as kouigaman and almond meringue.

To make the dessert decision-making process even harder for diners, Hertzog and Simpson’s entrepreneurial 9-year-old son Elliot has recently also added rootbeer floats to the menu.

“It’s also nice for me to share this with him and have him involved in our business and our passion,” Hertzog says of Elliot’s involvement.

It’s more than just good food that sets this event apart, community building is also at play.

“We’ve had a great response from the community. This was something the neighbourhood really needed and people are responding,” Hertzog explains. “This isn’t like going to a restaurant, where you each sit at your own tables. This is a community event where you meet your neighbours, you can have a picnic.”

Roger Street is transformed on Thursday nights, people from far and wide are coming to Truck Eats Cool Treats. Amidst the Spur Line Trail construction which began in earnest in late May, diners are undeterred.

By foot or bike or in little red wagons people of all ages are attending this pop-up.

“There’s a lot of construction going on in the city right now but we wanted to show that construction can’t stop us,” says Hertzog, “and because we’re typically open to the public only Saturdays, the impact has been minimal

for our business.”

Running alongside the Waterloo Spur Line train tracks, the rugged trail has been used by intrepid cyclists and pedestrians for years. Current construction aims to improve the safety and accessibility of the trail by providing a paved multi-use path and lighting.

“Once it’s completed, it will be a great way to connect the two cities,” says Hertzog.

Scheduled to be completed in September, there is a lot of excitement about the trail updates within the midtown community and Ambrosia shares that excitement. Located directly on the trail, Ambrosia hopes to have a special event to celebrate the Spur Line completion.

In the meanwhile you can grab dinner every Thursday night at Truck Eats Cool Treats until August 20, 2015.

ROLLING IN A CROWDED MARKET NEW RESTAURANT, 168 SUSHI DIFFERENTIATES THROUGH SERVICE AND DIVERSITY

KURTIS THOMAS CONTRIBUTOR In the past few years, the tri-cities dining scene has been keeping up with North America’s newfound love of sushi. The once niche Japanese cuisine can now be bought ready-made in almost every grocery store, and both sides of the city have their fair share of “all-you-can-eat” restaurants.

Because of the wealth of options already available to local diners, a new sushi restaurant has to really do something exceptional to stand out and survive. Fortunately for the recently opened 168 Sushi (50 Westmount Road) it’s already well on its way to carving out its own slice of sushi heaven.

Patrons in their 20s will recognize the location as the former Philthy McNasty’s, but to the untrained eye, the location is unrecognizable. Memories of spilt drinks and crowded booths are replaced with an elegant and modern

dining room. The room is open and welcoming and strategically placed walls work well to muffle the sound of a room full of diners (something a lot of other sushi places in the city are lacking).

The most noticeable feature is the large buffet table in the middle of the room where you can help yourself to all the salads, soups, and desserts you’d like, as well as fresh mussels. For someone like myself who always has to double order their seaweed salad and miso soup, allowing me to control my own portion size was a welcomed and satisfying addition.

While the sushi itself was delicious, there was not much that set it apart from competitors around town. The sashimi rolls hit the right note and a few original house rolls delighted (Las Vegas Roll is a winner) the lack of diversity in sushi was surprising.

Compared to most other AYCE places that have extensive lists of different

combinations, 168 only had a few, albeit done very well. However, what 168 lacks in sushi diversity, it makes up for with its wide array of other cuisines.

Also available on the menu are common Chinese dishes like sweet and sour chicken, Vietnamese bowls of pho, Cantonese dim sum, Korean bulgogi, Thai curries and a variety of fried rice and noodles. It’s these options that for me as a diner really set 168 apart from any other locations in town.

Sushi is no doubt a divisive style of dining, and very rarely does one waffle on their enjoyment of it. You love it, or you hate it. Because of this, many friends and work outings end up leaving people behind. It’s an unfortunate, but occasionally necessary evil when you’re struck with a salmon sashimi craving. Because of 168’s culinary diversity, even the most apprehensive diners are sure to find something to enjoy, as tested during my own work

outing here.

Finally, most AYCE restaurants suffer from the same ailment; poor service. The nature of the business means you sometimes get mismatched orders, inconsistent table attendance, and more often than not forgotten food. Both times I’ve dined at 168 I’ve been pleased with their prompt attentive staff who are happily willing to remind me exactly what I punched into the iPad when my stomach started making decisions, and I have yet to have something land on my table I didn’t order myself.

There are two ways to eat sushi in Waterloo. The finer dining pristine roll experience and the more social, communal, plate sharing, ‘I ate too much,’ all-you-can-eat and 168 is definitely the latter. But its variety of options and pride in service make it a standout experience in what is decidedly a crowded market, and it’s one I’m looking forward to having again.

AUGUST 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

15

WEAR OUT THERE

unique top or statement necklace. As for footwear, it is essential to bring a great pair of walking shoes. If you’re looking locally, Heel Boy in Uptown Waterloo has a wonderful selection of comfortable and stylish sandals and boots. Choosing a shoe that is on the dressier side will limit the number of CHRISTINA PROCTOR pairs you need to bring overall.

COLUMNIST Tip 3: Roll clothes instead of folding them: To maximize space and Summer is in full swing here in Waminimize wrinkling, roll your clothes terloo Region and for many it’s finally before packing. Start with the largest, time to take a vacation. Whether you least delicate items on the outside and plan to visit family, attend a music fesyour delicate fabrics on the inside. tival, or jet off to an exotic destination, Tip 4: Simplify your makeup rouwe can all use a little assistance when tine: Each of us has a beauty routine, it comes to packing. As I prepare for and whether it takes 10 minutes or my holiday, I’ve pulled together some 50 minutes to complete, it is entirely useful tips to make travel preparation individual. Depending on the length of a little more enjoyable. your travels, it may be the perfect time Tip 1: Consider comfort when to use the product samples you’ve travelling by plane or car: It is often been collecting, or consider purchallenging to choose a stylish chasing the “travel version” of your outfit that is both comfortable and regular skincare line. Both Cocoon temperature appropriate. This is why Apothecary and Pure and Simple have layering garments is the best advice. great sets. Mascara, eyeliner, bronzer, Wear basics like jeggings, t-shirts and blush and lip gloss is all you need to cardigans, and add some personality look glamorous. Sephora has fabulous with a scarf, a great pair of shades and value sets for these10 purposes. a.m. to 5 p.m. an oversized tote. Not only are these Tip 5: Pack a book: There is nothing accessories chic, they are practical as better than relaxing with a great well. A scarf doubles as a blanket or read. Stock up on magazines, charge pillow, sunglasses hide dark circles your e-reader and purchase a new and an oversized bag allows for plenty novel at the airport. Whether you’re of room for souvenirs. Carefully craving a light read, like Confessions selecting your footwear is also key, of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, particularly when travelling by plane. a mystery novel, like The Girl on the Flats, sandals or boots are all choices Train by Paula Hawkins, or something that can easily be removed for security that makes you think, such as Malcolm checks.

Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, make Tip 2: Choose clothes that will mix sure you have something to help you and match: While I personally struggle Saturday,unwind.

September 19, 2015 with packing light, my backpacking 10 a.m. to 5 moments p.m.

Summer are short and adventure taught me a thing or two A FREE heritage fleeting.

Be sureand to take advantage of about making my choices count. architecture tour! this wonderful season. Happy travels!

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• more than 30 sites • • free activities and performances • Saturday, September 19, 2015 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, September 19, 2015

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