The Community Edition: September 2015

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12 • SEPTEMBER 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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A LETTER FROM THE OUTGOING EDITOR

Volume 3, Issue #12 Next issue: October 7, 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 Incoming Editor in Chief Jesse Bauman Publisher Bryn Ossington bryn.ossington@wlusp.com

CONTRIBUTORS Anna Beard Natalee Blagden Stacey Jacobs Jon Johnson Elise Marion WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director Director Director Director Director Corporate Secretary

Photo Editor Matt Smith Distribution Manager Alistair MacLellan Production Manager Lakyn Barton Social Media Manager Megan Nourse

Christina Proctor Dave Thomas Kurtis Thomas Joel Wittnebel

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

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.

The Community Edition is created using Macintosh computers running Mac OS X Yosemite using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

The Community Edition’s flag font is Lobster, an open source font created by HVD Fonts. We also use Brandon Grotesque and Petrona.

The Community Edition is a member of the Ontario Press Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981.

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.

Dear Ethel’s, thanks for fueling me with tacos and beer for the past three years. Your seats were the starting point of so many articles.

Much love, Allie. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

FEATURE

8-9 BEST OF WATERLOO REGION

TCE COMPILED A LIST OF FAVOURITE SPACES, PLACES AND FOLKS, AS DECIDED BY YOU! 3 4 6 6 6 7 7 11 12 12 15 15 16

IN BRIEF GENERATIONS OF FOREST HEIGHTS PLAN B CO-OP SEEKING SUPPORT ABORTION PILL IN CANADA A CHALLENGE TO LIVE LOCAL 10K EXPECTED AT MAKER EXPO START-UP WATCH ION DIALOGUES THE SKINNY ON PORK VOLUNTEERS ARE NUMBERED WEAR OUT THERE LISTINGS GRAND RIVER BREWING

I’ve spent 15 months trying to pull readers through a well-written story. I’d focus on strategically leaving breadcrumbs of detail and emotion amongst weighty information, using prose to soften the blow of stiff statistics and offering quotes mined from the depths of a three hour transcription. And where possible, packaging it all neatly with a full-circle ending, reminding the reader why they might have spent 30 minutes treading through tales of community to begin with – it’s kind of my shtick.

But now is not the time for that.

Let’s cut the alliteration and the rhythm, the strategic semi-colons and the em dash for dramatic pause. As I sign off this final time as Editor-in-Chief I have three things to share, and none of them benefit from flowery language or clever structure.

First, I’d like to offer you a window into the Community Edition.

Every month, a team of dedicated volunteers work beyond their regular jobs to find, study, write, edit, layout and share the wildly important stories of Waterloo Region. They watch the clock flip from 2:00 a.m. to 2:01 on their iMacs far more regularly than most because they’re giving up their evenings to meet a print deadline. Thank you to every patient, inquisitive and selfless individual who fills our pages.

To recognize a few who deserve much more than that: Lakyn, Matt, Alistair, Megan, Anna, Jon, Stacey, Kurtis, Tegan, and Bryn.

Second, I’d like to share a window into the next volume of the Community Edition. This window is Jesse Bauman and he’s tapped into so many facets of the region that I was not. I’m confident that Jesse will bring TCE from its strengths in arts, culture, and community dialogue to new heights of critical discussion and much-needed investigative reporting. Welcome to the team, Jesse, I’m so excited to follow your stories.

Finally, a window to your own power as a community with an independent publication at your disposal. TCE is and always has been here to share your stories.

We were there to offer a voice for each ward during elections.

We were there to live tweet every damn arts event this city has hosted. We were there to provide experiential words (and debate) on the body. We were there to share dialogue on everything from development to health, food security to the ION, startups to school board trustees.

You are a wealth of stories, Waterloo Region. If there is one story that doesn’t require a trail of adjectives, measured cadence and a full-circle ending to keep you reading, it’s this one – yours.

Damn it. I did it again.

Keep reading, Allison M. Leonard Editor-in-Chief

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IN BRIEF

Three window cleaners, squeegies in hand, scale and repel from the many-storied side of Waterloo’s Sun Life building for a summer spruce-up. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

Fishers soak up the last drop of summer along the Grand River’s shallow banks near Pioneer Tower. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR.

NEWS

ARTS

URBAN

CANNABIS CLINIC ROLLS INTO KW

IDEA EXCHANGE: ART + DESIGN

ION BRT FIRST STEP IN LRT

The province’s seventh cannabis clinic will be opening in Kitchener in mid September. Medical marijuana was legalized in 2001. The clinic will be located on Glasgow Street near Fischer-Hallman. The clinic will not stock or sell any of the drug and patients will need a doctor’s prescription to access the medication.

The Cambridge Idea Exchange is presenting three exhibitions this month at its Queen’s Square, Preston and Design at Riverside locations. The exhibitions feature artists Doug Kirton, Adam David Brown, and five architecture and design firms. For details about each exhibit visit ideaexchange.org.

The first leg of the Region’s new LRT system begins service September 7 when ION bus rapid transit (BRT) begins offering trips between the Ainslie Street Terminal in Cambridge and the Fairview Park Mall transit terminal in Kitchener. The service provides six stops with four along Hespeler Road.

GARBAGE DEAL UP FOR GRABS

CITY HALL ART CALL

UNLEASHING THE PARK RULES

Waterloo Region is accepting garbage collection contract bids.

Contracts begin in 2017 when the Region standardizes collection. Councillors voted for single contract bids to cover cities and townships or the entire region.

Originally staff proposed single contracts for the entire region but Regional Council opted to examine all offers. The final contract will be selected in November.

Thursday, September 10 is the deadline for artists to submit an application for exhibition in Kitchener’s Rotunda Gallery.

This month features 18 SQUARE

by Connections Fibre Artists.

Located on the ground floor of Kitchener city hall the gallery features a unique space for local artists to showcase their work.

Artist proposals can be made at kitchener.ca.

The Grand River Conservation Authority will be hosting public consultations this month to determine whether Synder’s Flats should become designated as an off-leash area where dogs could roam free. Currently there are only three leash-free parks in the region. The consultations stem from a petition signed by more than 200 dog owners in the region urging for the changes.

FREE GRT TRIP ON FRIDAYS

INAUGRAL DIY EXPO IN DTK

OPENING DOORS IN THE REGION

Transit passengers looking to travel between Kitchener and Cambridge will get to ride for free on Fridays from September 11 to December 18. The Region of Waterloo is offering the free rides between the Ainslie Street Terminal and Fairview Park Mall to promote the new 17-kilometre express bus route between the cities that is part of the region’s new rapid transit system.

Maker Expo launches its first event Saturday, September 19 at Kitchener City Hall. The event is designed to be a showcase of makers, artists and organizations who celebrate DIY culture. Attendance is free for the core event which takes place between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some exhibitors may be hosting additional individual workshops for a fee. For details visit makerexpo.ca.

On Saturday September 19 some of the Regions noteworthy buildings will open their doors to the public for Doors Open Waterloo Region. Since 2003, more then 250 sites in the region have been visited by over 100,000 participants. For a full tour of this year’s locations check out the printed guides available at libraries, museums and visitor centres across Waterloo.

TECH SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS WR

THEATRE FESTIVAL IMPACTS REGION

A ROYAL AFFAIR IN WATERLOO PARK

The University of Waterloo and Communitech are partnering to host The Waterloo Innovation Summit from September 16-18.

The summit aims to highlight how the Waterloo Region startup ecosystem competes at a global level.

Waterloo Region’s MT Space is presenting the IMPACT 2015 Theatre Festival featuring local artists and productions from across Canada and the world. The festival begins September 22 and runs until the 27.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The 18th Royal Medieval Fair is transpiring on September 19 in Waterloo Park.

Festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. and will include vendors, hands-on displays, swordplay and more medieval-themed activities.

SEPTEMBER 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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Nestled between Ira Needles and Fischer-Hallman, Forest Heights hosts generations of families in its labyrinth of courts and crescents. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

IF STREETS COULD TALK: FOREST HEIGHTS JOEL WITTNEBEL CONTRIBUTOR The streets curve, twist and bend, seeming almost to wrap around one another.

Like the ventricles of the human brain, the neighbourhood of Forest Heights is a labyrinth of intertwined strips of pavement, lined on both sides with houses built before the plague of modern residential architecture turned homes into clones made of brick, drywall and shingles.

Also like the human brain, these streets have memories.

The streets are amok with kids riding roller skates and skateboards or

perhaps putting down their first piece of art on hot pavement with dry chalk.

Cars have learned to slow and allow the removal of hockey nets during a particularly heated road hockey game.

The forests and trails are best for bikes, but fallen trees and ponds are also magnets for young kids seeking adventure away from the streets.

The streets of Forest Heights are happy to play host to the youthful antics of today’s kids and they’re particularly good at it, because like the kids there today, their parents probably grew up playing on these same streets.

Forest Heights is a densely populated neighbourhood on the west end

of Kitchener, an area that was once the edge of the city. It is now bordered

by Highway 7/8 to the south, Trussler Road to the west, Snyder’s Road to the north and Fischer-Hallman on the east side.

An early patch of residential homes in Kitchener has quickly grown over the past decade with retail and commercial opportunities filling in some of the juicier pieces of land.

City of Kitchener Councillor Bil Ioannidis represents Ward 7, the swath of land that covers Forest Heights. The space is not only his responsibility, but also the place he’s called home for the past 43 years.

Ioannidis remembers when large

parts of Forest Heights were nothing but swamp and field.

“I’ve seen a lot of it from cornfields to suburbs,” he says.

Growing up, Ioannidis watched as Westheights Drive filled with homes, Driftwood Plaza filled with business and parts of Driftwood Drive and McGarry fill out with new houses.

He also remembers when the Super Centre, now home to the Real Canadian Super Store at the corner of Fisher-Hallman and Queen, was built.

The addition of these services has allowed Forest Heights to thrive, he says.

“It’s become more of a complete community and it’s getting more that

way.”

In particular, the addition of The Boardwalk along Ira Needles Boulevard has provided a space for the residents of Forest Heights to get anything they need just around the corner.

This business growth has also led to the expansion of public transit into the area, and Forest Heights may also soon see the addition of iXpress service.

But the area is experiencing an influx of new families, many with young kids, and Ioannidis says this is putting strain on some community services.

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Close to the heart of the neighbourhood sits the Forest Heights Community Centre, home to much of the area’s recreational and social programming since 1998.

“We’re bursting out of our seams there and I think we could grow that,” Ioannidis says.

He suggests a private-public partnership could benefit the centre and grow the service. However, it’s not in the City’s long-term forecast.

Another draw for many young families, besides the quiet streets, are the numerous schools.

With countless elementary schools and two high schools, the neighborhood allows many kids to take two feet and a heartbeat to school, and have

their friends just around the corner.

Move away from those streets for just a moment, and one can find a snaking network of trails that could tell quite a few stories if they could talk.

Westheights Pond, flanked by Westheights Forest and “Deadman’s Forest” as the neighborhood kids have labeled it, is a thin stretch of nature nestled in the suburbs.

It’s a place Ioannidis remembers haunting as a child.

“There’s literally three forests all within walking distance and that’s what I remember a lot, is playing in those forests,” he says.

These natural gems are suburbia’s backyard, and Forest Heights is full

of them.

Ioannidis still calls the area home, and now his young son and daughter will grow up playing on the same streets he did.

“It was just natural to come back here,” he says.

And it’s only natural for the streets of Forest Heights to welcome them.

The twisting and turning ventricles of pavement are quite good at remembering how to treat kids, and they’re only going to get better with time.

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SEXPLANATIONS

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST An abortion pill has been approved

by Health Canada to terminate pregnancies up to the gestational age of 49 days (7 weeks). This medication has been available in France since 1988 and the U.S. since 2000 and is available in 57 other countries. The drug, marketed as Mifegymiso in Canada, is expected to be available by January 2016 and a prescription will be necessary to purchase it.

Mifegymiso is two drugs sold in combination. One works by blocking the production of the hormone progesterone which helps to sustain a pregnancy while the other causes uterine contractions. The effects of the drug are similar to an early stage miscarriage. These pills are not meant to replace surgical abortions. Rather, they are another option that people can choose.

These pills also have the potential to increase abortion access, especially for people who live in rural, remote and northern areas of Canada. Many people think that abortion services are accessible in Canada, however, many hospitals in Canada do not provide abortion services and many people in Canada live hours or days away from an abortion clinic.

According to the CEO of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Ottawa, both OBGYNs and Family Physicians will be able to prescribe this drug once they complete the training on safe use of the medication. So although the approval of this medication is good news for Canadians, there are many unknowns at the moment. For example, how many physicians are going to complete the training? What will the pills cost? Will it be available free of charge to make it accessible to people with low income?

Will health centres and emergency rooms provide it?

Even though the World Health Organization has this drug on its list of essential medicines (the minimum medicines needed for basic healthcare systems) many people do not agree with abortions. Research has shown that making abortions illegal does not prevent abortions, but it does make abortions less safe. Currently Canada has no laws surrounding abortion. It is regulated by the Canadian Medical Association and has been since 1988.

Although abortions have been decriminalized for nearly 30 years they remain stigmatized. This stigma prevents people from getting the knowledge and the support they need when making important health decisions. We need to destigmatize abortion to make it what it should be, a safe and accessible medical procedure. As Jason Biggs says in Orange is the New Black, “it’s not Voldemort, you can say it, abortion.”

For more information contact Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region.

WANT MORE COMMUNITY NEWS? CHECK US OUT ONLINE.

COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

Downtown Kitchener alive even at night, offering a multitude options to residents looking to live local throughout the challenge. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

THE CHALLENGE TO LIVE LOCAL NATALEE BLAGDEN CONTRIBUTOR The LiveLocalKW week-long challenge to “eat, shop and play local” happening September 13-19 is actually a call to do more than swap your Starbucks for a beverage from a local purveyor of happy wake-up brews.

While keeping more dollars in the wallets of local businesses is on her mind, founder Juliana Gomez actually sets her goal posts a little further.

How it works: participants complete an online pledge, and are rewarded with access to discounts from local businesses.

With sign-ups already exceeding last year’s numbers, and loads of events added to this year’s offerings, LiveLocalKW is well positioned to fulfill its mandate of supporting our neighbours, achieving “a more vibrant economy, a friendlier walk in neighbourhoods and a more thorough

knowledge of our communities that will help us make the best decisions for our tomorrows.”

In practical terms, LiveLocalKW began as a social media-based campaign, with sign-ups showing participants’ Twitter handles, a well-circulated hashtag (#livelocalkw), and a website as the hub of things. On an interactive map at livelocalkw.com, discounts form a trail of breadcrumbs to entice people to discover local businesses and try products outside their habitual go-tos.

Gomez emphasizes the “try” bit. Not just discover. Try new venues, events, eats, and treats to name a few sectors offering deals to LLKW participants.

“I think a lot of people are interested but they don’t have the incentive,” says Gomez. “Once they try [with the discounts], next time they’ll think of walking the few extra steps to Seven Shores for coffee, or next time there’s a birthday they’ll think of another gift shop.”

As for the larger goals for the campaign: the aims are fuzzy and so is the evidence. If you brushed up on your “stages of change” model from

first-year psych (Prochaska and Di Clemente), the move from “pre-contemplation” (no intention to change behaviour) toward “contemplation” (seeing a need or reason for change) is the hardest step. If LiveLocalKW functions as the catalyst here, there’s value and it will be exciting to see how year two unfolds.

Gomez sees easy ways to interpret this challenge in ways that extend beyond the exchange of dollars, and strengthen our ties to each other.

She suggests that “eat local” doesn’t always have to mean “restaurant,” but perhaps farmers market finds to be cooked with friends.

The toughest, and potentially most rewarding challenge, is “play local.”

“If you take it really hardcore, you can’t watch Netflix for a week. And you have to listen to local artists. How amazing would be if you wrapped up the week with a whole new playlist of musicians and podcasts that actually spring from, and engage with, the city you call home?”

“A lot of what we do, day to day, is habit. And we don’t think about ‘what am I supporting?,’” says Gomez.

“I genuinely think that if you have that sense of community belonging, you’re more likely to get involved in your community and take care of each other. Imagine if we all did that,” Gomez says.

Speaking from the business side of things, Aura Hertzog, co-owner of Ambrosia Pastry Co. notes a trickle down effect from initiatives like LiveLocalKW. “Local businesses are more likely to support other small businesses. Personally our sales go directly back into the community,” she says. “Whether it be a dinner out, classes for our kids, or food from the local market.”

“The aim isn’t so that everyone lives local every day, year round. I still go to Starbucks some-times,” she laughs, addressing the flamewars between the most vocal locavores and the loudest pro-globalization cheerleaders.

LiveLocalKW takes place September 13-19, and all info can be found at livelocalkw.com.

SEEKING SUPPORT FOR PLAN B

DOWNTOWN KITCHENER-FOCUSED NON-PROFIT WORKING ON CREATING QUEER COMMUNITY SPACE CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR FUNDING AND SUPPORT

ANNA BEARD CONTRIBUTOR “I do identify as a trans person, which is part of the reason that got me thinking about this years ago,” shared Ethan Jackson, one of three co-founders of Plan B Co-operative. “Whenever we need binders or packers, or ethical harnesses, or anything related to being trans and our reproductive bodies or sexuality, we basically tell our own community to go find community in

other cities or towns. So how can we build our own community here?”

That need for community and space is what sparked Jackson, Samantha Estoesta, and Mary Ferguson, alongside a growing team of supporters to work together to create a community project in Kitchener-Waterloo that will see the development of a queer community space by queer folks for queer folks.

“We’re not all just at-risk people, even though it’s a very predominant aspect of queerness – but there aren’t a significant number of spaces where you can just be, or hang out – unless it’s centred around alcohol – like a gay bar,” explained Jackson. “Where is

there a place where we can just go and hang out and drink coffee and make zines and do our artwork or whatever you want?”

What started out as a longing for a feminist sex toy store has morphed into the desire to create an intersectional trifecta of support for the queer community. Plan B, which has established itself as a non-profit worker co-operative without share capital, will focus on creating a space for all members of the queer community to establish roots in the downtown core.

The space will support a coffee shop, a people’s photocopier and zine library, and sex toy store. Any profits generated will be used to pay staff a living

wage with additional funds being set aside to be granted to members who may need financial assistance.

In order to make this space a reality in downtown, the co-op has launched a campaign on Patreon to give individuals the option to donate money or other resources.

“At this stage we need funding,” said Jackson. “We need allies and community supporters to financially support our Patreon campaign. We’re obviously applying for grants and funding, but that’s still up in the air since it depends on what kind of program you’re running and what space you have.”

SEPTEMBER 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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START UP WATCH

TAPPING INTO THE TECH CULTURE, TCE PROFILES WATERLOO REGION START-UPS

KURTIS THOMAS CONTRIBUTOR This city has an undeniable talent for attracting tech start-ups, and tech lovers world-wide are paying more and more attention to our region. Because of this, TCE is launching “Start-up Watch,” a series featuring what the best and brightest technical minds are creating in the region’s backyard.

Expo organizer Agnes Niewiadomski and artist Jen van Overbeeke’s car at Steel Rails. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

10K EXPECTED AT MAKER EXPO

ELISE MARION CONTRIBUTOR

“We are all makers.” This is the mantra of Kitchener-Waterloo’s Maker Expo, which will be taking place for the first time on September 19 at City Hall in Kitchener. Whatever your craft, whatever your interest, there will be something for everyone at this exhibition.

From robotics to knitting, from baking to making paper, over 100 exhibitors will be sharing their ideas with the public and with other makers at the Maker Expo. Maker culture spiked about ten years ago, with the principle of ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) central to its movement.

“Ultimately, it’s a celebration of the DIY ethic,” says Ben Brown, one of the Maker Expo organizers. The organizers are all makers themselves, with individual specialties, and who have formed a core group for preparing the exhibition. Brown himself was one of the co-founders of Kwartzlab Makerspace, which is one of the supporting organizations of the Maker Expo.

Moving away from mass production and toward individual design, maker culture materializes the dream that people can support themselves with the ability to create and with the support of community. The Maker Expo is not a competition; rather, it is an opportunity for residents of Kitch-

ener-Waterloo to glimpse local talent and engage with their creations. We all have the ability to be craftspeople, and this event is designed to inspire its attendees to realize their own passions.

According to a paper written by John Baldwin and Ryan Macdonald in July of 2009, “manufacturers have an uncanny ability to adjust to changing economic circumstances.”

Canadian manufacturing has proven its adaptability by maneuvering through booms, currency fluctuations, and previous recessions with its head held relatively high. Perhaps the renewed focus on independent craftsmanship reflects the basis of manufacturing itself: to start from scratch.

Events like the Maker Expo celebrate the resilience of manufacturing, and the importance of supporting makers and their crafts.

Snowballing on the Waterloo Mini Maker Faire that took place in 2013, as well as maker fairs all over the world, such as those that recently took place in Hamilton and Toronto, the Maker Expo is a chance for individuals to share their gifts with the tri-cities, and its very welcome guests.

These exhibitions set out to keep the creative dream alive, and to support the people who put their makings on display for the public eye.

“We had a great response last time, with a lot of enthusiastic groups, and

smaller makers trying to look for people to connect with,” says Brown.

Exhibitors were chosen carefully and thoughtfully based on their ability to engage the attendees. In an age of networking, this maker mixer is a source for building bonds, but it is also the audience from whom the makers seek connection.

All makings and creations desire an observer. Art does not speak for itself, but rather asks the world for its interpretation. Food does not enjoy its own taste, but instead requires a consumer. The Maker Expo will display a wide range of diversity in groups and topics, and it is encouraging as many people as possible to witness the spectrum of local, and not so local, makers. The Mini Maker Faire in 2013 had 45 makers and 4,000 attendees; with more than 100 makers, this year’s expo is expecting upwards of 10,000 visitors. There will be art installations and demos during the day, including screen-printing and papermaking, as well as ‘The Great Canadian Bot Brawl’ where sumo robots (otherwise known as “battlebots”) will fight it out for robo-glory.

The layout of Maker Expo - inside, outside, and sprawling onto King Street - invites its attendees to involve themselves with the demonstrations, echoing their own mantra: “we are all makers.”

SPARKGIG: Mission statement: discover talent for your next event and do social good.

For up and coming performers, getting your name and talents known can be a struggle. For event planners looking to book said performers, sifting through the internet and finding the right talent is a daunting task. SparkGig aims to remedy this situation for both performers and event planners alike. They’ve created a network where performers can list their talents (everything from emcees, to dancers, to harpists) and become found more easily by those people looking to hire them. But SparkGigs’ benefits don’t end there. For every booked gig, a percentage of the funds collected will go directly to charity.

PLASTICITY LABS Mission statement: giving one billion people the tools to live a happier healthier life.

What if you could track your emotions on a day-by-day basis, and then use that information to become a happier person at work? The vision of a happier workplace, and consequently life, is what drives the team at Plasticity Labs. By tracking your engagement, goals, and influences, their product aims to make you more mindful, present, and aware of the things you want to achieve in life. By measuring employee engagement and feedback, workplaces will be better equipped to ensure employees are happy, satisfied, and finding fulfillment in the work they do.

PIINPOINT: Mission statement: to be the world’s most accurate location intelligence company where businesses can discover, validate, and grow new sites with ease.

When a business wants to expand or relocate to a new location there are dozens of factors to consider. What real estate is available and is it in a desirable location? Does my target demographic live close and what competitors already exist in the area?

PiinPoints’ software will answer these questions and more by compiling relevant analytics in their easy-to-use software. This accumulated information allows brokerages, retailers, and developers to make quick, informed, buying decisions, and feel comfortable knowing their new investment is a strategic (and profitable) one.

HAVE A FAVOURITE STARTUP? TWEET @THECOMMUNITYED TO TELL US WHO TO PROFILE NEXT.

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SEPTEMBER 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

11

TCE chats with downtown business owners as the ION construction dust settles on the stoop of their shops. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

ION DIALOGUES: DOWNTOWN DUST IN EFFORT TO UPHOLD CONVERSATION ON ION PROGRESS, TCE IS CHATTING WITH THOSE AFFECTED BY LRT CONSTRUCTION. WEIGH IN ONLINE WITH #IONDIALOGUES. a business with all the chaos of what’s going on out there.

ANNA BEARD CONTRIBUTOR In this series, we’ve talked with the people who have implemented ION Light Rail Transit in the Region of Waterloo and we’ve talked to people who marvel at its vision to connect communities. That’s all well and good but it’s not exactly representative what about individuals who are living through it?

This month, we chatted with downtown’s Tina Riddell, owner of Living Fresh Flower Studio & School, and Helena Kwiecinski, owner of StylFrugal Consignment Boutique, to hear how small, independent businesses are fairing during a heavy construction season and whether or not they fear closure like some of their neighbours.

THE COMMUNITY EDITION: What’s it like owning a business in downtown Kitchener?

TINA RIDDELL: It’s great. It has its challenges, but we love being part of the community and the other business owners are very supportive.

HELENA KWIECINSKI: It’s a lovehate relationship. I absolutely love being here but currently the downtown is struggling a bit. So that’s extremely frustrating. [It’s hard] to try and build

TCE: Would you say what’s happening on the street is a direct result of ION construction or that it’s a mentality issue that people have with downtown Kitchener?

HK: It’s tough to determine what the problem is. I think a few months ago there was a trend with a lot of stores closing and a lot of business owners putting the blame on LRT construction. Whether or not that was the real reason or it’s just declining sales over the past years, I don’t know.

TCE: How familiar are you as a business owner of the impacts that ION will have on the area?

TR: Pretty familiar with the impact it’ll have. I think it’ll be a positive addition to the community once it’s up and running and there are passengers on it. I think it’s a long process for what it is. I was shocked to hear from one of the consultants from GrandLinq that they will be testing the train for a year before it has any riders. That shocked me – I don’t understand how it takes an entire year to test the system but apparently that’s what they plan on doing.

TCE: What kind of challenges are you facing currently during construction?

TR: Well, definitely a loss of business because there is less foot traffic and there are less people getting around downtown. People are avoiding

the downtown core because of the construction. One trip down here and they see the mess and they get it in their heads that it’s not worth it to come back down. That’s what we’ve heard in conversations with clients.

TCE: On a regular weekday, what is your foot traffic like now given ION construction?

HK: Honestly, my sales are increasing so there are no negative effects of ION construction. However, it is happening two blocks south of me. Once they finish there, they’ll be doing the construction on Duke St. So I think that might have a bigger effect but it’s hard to say.

TCE: What kind of things could the City of Kitchener or the Region of Waterloo do to help businesses like yours?

TR: I know they’ve tried to do a lot.

Construction is construction – it doesn’t matter if it’s ION construction. It has a large impact on small business. What I had asked for before construction had started – because it is an invasive construction and it does impact such a huge part of the downtown community – was for free parking. That is one of the biggest issues for people coming to downtown Kitchener to shop.

HK: It’s a tough question. The Region has been good in trying to get in touch with business owners to tell them what’s happening so that we’re informed. Whether you would call

that supporting us, I’m not sure because I don’t know if there’s any tangible support from the region. The BIA’s position is a bit more reactionary versus helping us from the get-go.

Right now they’re trying to get their act together but a lot of businesses are already suffering so it’s a little too late. Other than a financial bail out, I don’t know how the Region or the City or the BIA could really help any business. What I find helps businesses in downtown Kitchener, and you find it in uptown with Words Worth Books and their summer alley event, is when businesses brainstorm together to come up with creative ways to get people out to shop and not necessarily rely on the BIA, Region, or the City, and the reactionary response.

-You can share your ION stories with us on Twitter @TheCommunityEd and #IONDialogues.

Note: We contacted the Region of Waterloo for comment regarding the trains running for a year prior to transporting passengers. They sent along this statement for clarification.

“It takes 6-9 months to test the vehicles and make sure they work with all the signals and crossings, etc. I’ve heard other places have it take up to a year, but ours is scheduled for about 9 months. During this time we’ll also be putting the finishing touches on the ION stops, landscaping, etc.”

SEPTEMBER 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

12

VOLUNTEERS ARE NUMBERED

DAVE THOMAS COLUMNIST

Andrew Tilt raises pigs in a pasture at Barrie’s Asparagus, where the grass under their hooves makes up a good portion of their diet. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

PIGGING OUT IN NORTH DUMFRIES ALISTAIR MACLELLAN CONTRIBUTOR

The pigs don’t know anyone like they know Andrew Tilt. He’s the man who feeds them and chases them back into their enclosure when they get too curious and wander past the wood door to the shed in the middle of the field they call home.

When a car pulls into the driveway by the old farmhouse store on Tim Barrie’s asparagus farm, one can see them rooting around the field just past the sweet corn that’s getting tall in late summer. As soon as they hear the door to the car close, the pigs run over like an old friend returning after a long absence.

They have a candid look of happiness and a piggy smile they direct toward passersby; their small eyes scan as their snouts sniff the air.

Tilt is used to this greeting.

“We would always have cows and a few pigs and exhibition ducks and chickens so we showed them at fairs,” says Andrew, walking toward the farmhouse.

“I was at the University of Guelph and I just became interested in pastured pork,” he laughs.

Tilt was a geography major who went on to become a high school teacher in Preston but his passion for pigs stayed with him.

“I approached Tim [Barrie] about keeping pigs out here, I knew he had a bit of land and I asked him,” he says.

“Tim’s up for anything, and a forword thinker, so we started behind the barn.

We did ten our first year.”

Pigs don’t sweat. Standing in the far, sun-drenched side of the field they don’t seem to notice its getting warmer. The pigs are spread around the corner of the field where they feed on grain and sweet corn. Some

are starting to wallow in the mud to cool off.

“I just love raising pigs this way, there’s no smell and the hogs love it, they are so happy,” says Tilt.

Pig farming in Ontario is not supply managed, so you can have as many as you want. For someone wanting to break into agriculture, pigs are a really viable option. An operation can start small with just a couple animals and a bit of space. Tilt rents two acres from Barrie (about two football fields); in exchange he offers one pig, averaging $3.50 per pound.

“We didn’t borrow any money to start this, this is all just cash,” Tilt says, hashing out the economics of agriculture. “Five hundred bucks in pens, $200 in fences, $700 in feeders and that’s it.”

“If you want to get into it you just have to be ambitious and cold call a few farmers in your area closest to you

and outline what you want to do and why you want to do it and see if they are interested.”

Farming pigs, however, is more than a call to one’s neighbour. Tilt spent a significant amount of time researching and travelling to get the skinny on pork.

“There’s a lot of guys looking to downsize and slow down and if you can get a hold of a farmer like that who is looking for people to take over, or try different things there is lots of opportunity, it’s just a matter of finding them.”

Today Tilt’s herd numbers 34 hogs.

He takes orders for whole and half pigs and sells cuts of pork from his self serve freezer or through Barrie’s Asparagus Farm & Country Market.

Until October, these pigs will mosey toward a parking car with the same, friendly greeting they offer Tilt.

“Volunteer.” It’s a noun. It’s a verb.

And as of late, it’s the root of a debate on whether or not people in Waterloo Region are being generous enough with their time. TCE crunched the numbers to see how many volunteer hours make their way into the region’s economy.

A lot of people do a lot of things for others, with no expectation of pay or other reward. In fact, numbers crunched by Statistics Canada in 2013 suggest that 12.7 million Canadians age 15 and over contributed 1.96 billion volunteer hours that year. That equates to one million full-time jobs.

According to Volunteer Canada, six out of 10 Canadians have volunteered: 44 per cent formally, but as high as 82 per cent of the population helping out informally.

For older volunteers, ages 65-74, the participation rate is 38 per cent, and they tend to contribute the most hours (averaging 231 hours per year).

At the other end of the age scale, youth ages 15-19 contribute on average 110 hours per year, but the participation rate is much higher at 66 per cent.

Why do people volunteer? The Statistics Canada survey gathered a range of responses to that question, but three stand out: to contribute skills to the community; to use one’s otherwise unused skills and experience; or because the volunteer is personally affected by the cause.

The Working Centre (where I work), could not accomplish what we do without the extensive contributions by community members.

More than 500 people help out each year, from gardening to serving meals to recycling bicycles.

The Volunteer Action Centre helps more than 150 local organizations - in arts and culture, health care and social services - to attract volunteers. Their recruitment services reached almost 54,000 potential volunteers in 20142015. They will be holding a Volunteer Recruitment Fair on September 19 at Conestoga Mall from 9:30 to 6:00 a.m. Members of the public will be able to meet representatives from local community organizations to learn about the services they provide and what volunteer positions are available.

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SEPTEMBER 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

13

Cycling.

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SEPTEMBER 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

WEAR OUT THERE

CHRISTINA PROCTOR COLUMNIST It may come as no surprise that fall fashion makes my heart skip a beat. With the return of layering, rich textures, and classic styling, there is no season more enjoyable to dress for.

If you’re back to school, or simply coveting a fresh look, this year’s trends do not disappoint. Remember, style is much more important than fashion.

Use trends as inspiration, and before you incorporate any into your wardrobe, consider the following: Do I like it? Does it suit me? Does it express my personality? While I may buy a new coat, bag or blouse, the essence of my style this season will remain the same.

What can you expect to see in our local boutiques? Here’s a look at fall trends.

Return of the 70s: This decade returns year after year, in a slightly different way. Full flare hems, colourful suede, and crafty details like patchwork jackets are driving the looks for fall. If 70s styling is your thing, pick up some genuine articles locally at vintage boutiques like Auburn Vintage.

Eclectic looks: mix floral prints with edgier pieces, for a high-class meets bad girl look. This trend is all about making you stand out in crowd.

Suede and fringe: tweed is out and suede is in. These pieces take on every form from fitted equestrian-style pants to classic blazers. Adding fringe to a look will take it to the next level.

Romanticism: embroidery, high col-

lars, velvet and lace took the runways by storm. Dark, haunting romantic pieces, with gorgeous detailing are right on trend.

As is typical for fall footwear, it’s all about boots. This year’s crop consists of mid-calf, Sorel-style boots, snake-patterned knee-highs, and leather or suede over the knees. A structured tote bag is the most stylish accessory this season as well.

For colours, we’re seeing grey (pearl, charcoal, and dove shades), pink in all its forms, purple (iris and amethyst), and pops of yellow taking centre stage. For a limited budget, but large style boost Fashionista.com suggests adding these 5 pieces to your wardrobe in a trendy form: wrap dress, turtleneck, pleated skirt, high-waisted pant, and midi dress.

Fashion is fun, but above all else, clothes should be used to enhance your personal look. When I look at trends, I view them as a source of ideas rather than a strict set of rules to follow. Not all trends work for every body type, which is perfectly okay. There is no benefit in wearing something trendy, if it makes you uncomfortable in your own skin.

Highlighting your best assets is the goal of proper dressing.

You can be fashion-forward, and only incorporate an element of a trend into your wardrobe. For example, if you love florals, but don’t want to wear them head-to-toe as suggested, buy a bag, shoe, or blazer. Style is about knowing who you are first, and then dressing accordingly. For more details on fall trends, bookmark style.com, a fantastic source for the latest runway looks, fashion stories, and street style photos.

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15

Grand River Brewing, housed in Cambridge’s historic knife factory, hosts tours for all sorts and a welcoming bar to sample the local suds. MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

BRFC ON BEER

JON JOHNSON COLUMNIST Doors Open is one of my favourite annual events. Properties all across the region participate, allowing the public to tour places they might not normally get to see inside. This year

Cambridge’s Grand River Brewing (GRB) is getting in on the fun, and will be one of the properties open for visitors and tours all day on September 19. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, some of TCE crew and I stopped

by GRB for a preview of what you’ll experience if you stop by that day. I recommend that you do.

Located in the historic Galt Knife Factory building, the worn wood beams, remnants of old manufacturing equipment, and the gleam of the brew kettles make for a pretty scene.

But it’s the love of brewing that came

across during our visit that makes it most worth your time. As sales manager Robert Donaldson mentioned, “this place has grown over the years from quality of the beer and passion of the staff,” with virtually no advertising budget. They recently expanded their brew house, and are planning to do so again, so the passion is paying off.

Our tour guide, Zach, was a real fount of information, from walking us through the full brewing process, to entertaining us with beer trivia, and even expounding life philosophies. His informative, digressive talk was the

kind that only comes from someone who is talking about something that they are passionate about.

After our tour, our group sat down to sample the five beers the brewery had on offer at the time. Samples are available at the bar for $1. I think it’s safe to say that there was something there that satisfied each of our varying tastes, from this beer enthusiast, to a person who isn’t really into beer much at all, and everyone in between. Part of their mandate is full flavoured beers with less than five per cent alcohol. As a guy whose favourites tend toward

the eight per cent and higher alcohol range, I have to say that the 3.5 per cent Mill Race Mild was surprisingly tasty. My favourite GRB beer, their Russian Gun Imperial Stout, the rouge of the bunch at 8 per cent, sadly wasn’t on tap that day as it’s a seasonal fall/ winter beer, but it should be soon.

There’s a lot of passion and a lot of beer in the old Galt Knife building in Cambridge, and it’s worth stopping by during Doors Open on September 19. Grand River Brewing is offering behind-the-scenes tours all day at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.