The Community Edition: March 2015

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 • MARCH 2015

GREASY SPOONS

TCE REVIEWS THE BEST DINERS IN WR PAGE 8-9

COMMUNITY THROUGH COMICS PAGE 11

JAWORSKY SHARES PAGE 3

THE ART OUTSIDE PAGE 6

MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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Volume 3, Issue #6 Next issue: April 1, 2015 75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Tammy Rowe at 519-884-0710 x3560 trowe@wlusp.com THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM Editor in Chief Allison M. Leonard allison.leonard@wlusp.com

Briefs Editor Tegan Thuss

Publisher Bryn Ossington bryn.ossington@wlusp.com

Urban Editor Andrew Morgan amorgan@thecord.ca

Photo Editor Matt Smith

Distribution Manager James Blake Alistair MacLellan

Production Manager Lakyn Barton CONTRIBUTORS Anna Beard Sheena Bousanga Cameron Dearlove Mark Groulx Dave Emrich Debbie Frey Dan Herman Stacey Jacobs

Jon Johnson Craig Leach Elizabeth McFaul Christine Proctor Matt Quick Kurtis Thomas

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director Director Director Corporate Secretary Distribution Manager Web Manager

“Live long and prosper” - Mr. Spock • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

Dani Saad Bryn Ossington Tammy Rowe John Pehar Abdiasis Issa Shelby Blackley Neha Soni Taylor Berzins Laura Buck James Blake George Liu

The Community Edition is the monthly magazine version of the Cord, the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University 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 McLaren Press. 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 10.5 using Adobe Creative Suite 4. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

The Community Edition’s title font is Brandon Grotesque, an open source font created

by HVD Fonts.

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 Kitchener-Waterloo. 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.

8-9 WR’S BEST GREASY SPOONS THE CE TEAM CLOGGED THEIR ARTERIES FOR YOU THIS MONTH. JOIN US AS WE TASTE AND REVIEW OUR FAVOURITE GREASY SPOONS IN WR.

NEWS

3 JAWORSKY’S FIRST FOUR MONTHS 4 KITCHENER’S UNEARTHED POVERTY 4 HOSPITAL WAIT TIMES UNDER REVIEW

URBAN

5 LOCAL BOOKS BOUND IN TRADITION 6 WANDERING IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY 7 HEAVY COST OF HOMES IN WR

ARTS & CULTURE 11 12 12 13 15 15

FINDING COMMUNITY WITH COMICS BRIDGING HISTORY THROUGH ARTS NOSTALGIA OF GLOBETROTTERS REVIEWS OPINION: WARMING UP TO WINTER LISTINGS

LETTER Every month TCE editorial board argues over who has to write this letter; I, the editor of this fine publication am apparently not authoritative enough, because this month, my staff argued themselves out of it and you’re stuck reading (more) of my writing. Lucky for all of us, I’ve got some serious news to dish.

I’ll lead by welcoming our new pavement-pounding distribution manager, Alistair MacLellan to the team, his words may grace some pages but you’ll likely find him yelling “Extra! Extra!” somewhere on a street corner first.

TCE is also bringing back all of your favourites; Steel Rails is on its way for 2015, and we’re calling all artists to put in a bid and all arts lovers to get to our late June party.

If you think you’re more clever than this letter, prove it.

TCE is running its third annual 10 ideas to change Waterloo Region contest. Go to communityedition.ca to pitch your idea for bettering the city and get featured in our pages.

Our writers had some serious ideas this month too, Matt Quick shares insight on millennials in the housing market, Bryn Ossington curated reviews of our favourite greasy spoons and our photo editor Matt Smith tried his hand at writing, profiling the region’s public art.

We’re sorry in advance for drastically increasing your greasy breakfast consumption with our cover photo. Actually, we’re sorry we’re not sorry.

Much love, Al Editor in Chief

MARCH 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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NEWS

NEWS BEAT AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE WR WOMEN

Citizens braved frigid February temperatures that stayed below freezing for the entire month in Waterloo Region • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

JAWORSKY’S FIRST FOUR MONTHS

The Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo recognized four women at the Women of Achievement event, at the University of Waterloo in February. Tracey Johnston-Aldworth, of Waterloo, is an arts graduate who owns a company she started, Traces Screen Printing. Ruth Jones, of Kitchener, was recognized for her volunteerism, which began when she was a teenager (her longest association with an organization has been with the Women’s Institute). Shirley Lichti, of Waterloo, is known for marketing, communications training and consulting.

Anne Wilcox, of Kitchener, is a retired teacher and also an active volunteer in church, hospitals, symphony committees, Skate Canada, curling, garden clubs and community events.

ACADEMY AWARD FOR KITCHENER NATIVE Kitchener-raised director, Chris Williams has won the Oscar for best animated feature for Big Hero 6 at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony in February. It was the second Oscar nomination for Williams, who also earned a nod for his directorial debut on the 2008 film Bolt.

Dave Jaworksy, elected October 2015, reflects on his first four months in office with EIC Allison Leonard • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

ALLISON M. LEONARD EDITOR IN CHIEF As the city’s calendar dictates, initial responsibilities for Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky include everything from engaging the public to passing a budget. TCE sat down with Jaworsky to get some reflections on his mayoral experience.

TCE: Tell me about a regular day in office? What fits into your job description?

DJ: Well, when I was canvasing people said what does a mayor do? So I looked for the job description [...] the best way I could describe it is that everything you see out your window or everything you see out you windshield that’s what your mayor cares about and that’s how the citizens do view it. When they think about ‘who do I contact for this to cover this issue,’ they’ll think the mayor or sometimes a ward councillor and they’ll think of us first regardless of whether it’s a city issue or regional issue, even provincial issues.

TCE: Since settling into the role and getting a real sense of the position, are there any big challenges? Anything unexpected?

DJ: A couple things, number one there is so much going on in our community, I was well involved in our community before but you learn things that you didn’t even know

existed. Learning curve, too; what’s the biggest thing the city has to deal with? The budget. The budget, and so that was tough but we’ll probably have the lowest tax increase in the area, in the municipality, so 1.5 percent. Finally number three, just knowing the breadth and depth of what a city does.

TCE: You’ve recently opened doors for budget meetings; can you speak to your plans for transparency and citizen input?

DJ: There are some things that citizens really care a lot about, a good example is the budget is something they really care, they want to know exactly what’s going on with their money and they want that to be fully transparent and open they can come in and ask any questions any time. That’s what we said we were going to do and we’re going to do that forever more; just come in and ask any questions, you’ll get answers.

TCE: On the note of transparency, 99 freedom of information requests were filed last year, that’s more then any previous year. Why? And how can you, as Mayor, respond to this?

DJ: I can’t actually see the requests, but I asked the staff that were processing them, “what sort of categories do they fit in” and they were almost exclusively property ones […] Let’s be clear FOI, freedom of information, gives you information, it doesn’t give you answers, so if you ask you know, how many have you got, we’ll tell you 99, we don’t do efforts in categorizing, we can only tell you raw data.

TCE: Would you say there isn’t a difficulty for council members to gain the information that’s important to

them?

DJ: I don’t see it. As a matter of fact, I think one of the things that is good governance practice is – I’ll have to make sure I answer this one carefully, not carefully, but fully – good governance practice at a board or anywhere is that you can’t have a board member running around instructing staff what to do. You may have read in the paper about the fact that we have this thing in the code of conduct and how it prevents people from asking questions.

The journalists never asked me, “So did you actually use that section of the code of conduct to prevent somebody from asking questions?” The answer is no, we did not.

TCE: During your campaign, you were asked a number of questions about your plans for open data, can you expand?

DJ: We need to liberate the information, the data that’s in city hall and at the Region, one of the best case uses for it is obviously the Grand River Transit schedule, which then can increase ridership and that’s a great thing.

TCE: What are some other areas where you would like to see data liberated?

DJ: One of the things I want to do for more transparency is trip reports, so that if any councillor goes on an overnight trip spending citizen money there’s trip reports created. That information is shared some way.

TCE: Can you comment on, tech sector and entrepreneurship?

DJ: We’re competing against the world. So what we want to do is make sure that number one, through

entrepreneurship that we’re creating those businesses and that somewhere in this community we’re able to host them. Number two, we need to be able to make sure that we’re attractive to other places to bring their businesses and to operate here, we have a lot to offer, whether it be land in Cambridge, the urban lifestyle of Kitchener, or the higher education of Waterloo and I think all those three are viable offerings to companies at different stages in their growth. Entrepreneurs don’t need 40,000 square feet, they need their first 1,000 square feet.

TCE: A lack of affordable housing has been a popular topic in media and in council meetings, what are some plans at both the city and regional level to mitigate this?

DJ: You mentioned gentrification, you know we can’t control what individual land owners decide to do with their homes, it’s their own home, they can choose to rent it, renovate it or whatever, but we need to make sure that we are also giving proper incentives for people to build housing that is more affordable or supportive housing. Just recently the Region supported an affordable housing project proposal going forward through that Working Centre, but if you take a look at it, that’s like 20, 30, 40 units and there’s 3000 on the waiting list, that’s a long way to go.

Want to read more? Jaworsky also shared his thought on light rail, snow removal, social media engagement and more. Check out communityedition.ca for the extended interview.

ONTARIO SEX EDUCATION TO CHANGE The Government of Ontario says its new sex education curriculum will be taught starting in September, and will involve talks about the dangers of sexting. Education Minister Liz Sandals unveiled the new curriculum, saying the government won’t back down in the face of criticism. In 2010 under the leadership of Dalton McGuinty, the Government backed down, when religious groups complained about proposed revisions. Having not been updated since 1998, this new curriculum will include information on the role technology plays in youth sexuality and gender expression.

CAMBRIDGE WATER BILLING NEEDS CHANGE Problems at the City of Cambridge’s water billing department stem from an overreliance on estimates, old policies and no assistance for customers with large, unexplained leaks, an outside audit has found. BMA Management Consulting and city staff found 19 significant issues, one of which includes 17 per cent of households in Cambridge — 6,800 in all — that do not have remote water meters. Cambridge Council is accepting the suggestions on how to improve the water billing from the audit.

MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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KITCHENER’S UNEARTHED POVERTY 140 UNMARKED EARLY POOR HOUSE GRAVES SPARK SOCIAL WELFARE DISCUSSION

Waterloo Region

under review

DAN HERMAN CONTRIBUTOR

The house of Industry and Refuge sheltered the poor, destitute, disabled and orphaned in exchange for work • WATERLOO REGION ARCHIVES

The view from

upstream

CAMERON DEARLOVE CONTRIBUTOR On the eastern edge of downtown, near an expressway onramp, under streets and residential properties, lie the remains of some of Kitchener’s poorest citizens.

Years ago this was the property edge of the House of Industry and Refuge, Kitchener’s (then Berlin) “poor house.” The house’s “inmates,” as they were called, were the poor and destitute, aged, disabled, and orphaned. In exchange for work on the property, they received food and basic accommodations.

After death, an inmate’s unclaimed remains were buried in the “potters’ fields” where they remain today – a reminder of how punishing society can be to those on the margins, says Sandy Hoy, Associate Director of Research at the Manulife Centre for Community Health Research.

“By not marking their graves, even in a modest way, these people have been all but forgotten, and literally paved over for 140 years.”

The Kitchener poor house was one of many across Ontario, making up our early social safety net.

“The poorhouse model, in Ontario, was adopted to help those in need, but also worked to control people at an individual and community level. Communities used it to move the poor and suffering off the streets, away from view,” said Hoy. We’ve made progress from the days of poor houses. Today if a homeless person dies, the municipality covers the cost of a burial plot and marker.

There are more layers to our safety

net, more programs aimed at supporting the poorest and most vulnerable.

Yet, sixty-eight years after the House of Industry and Refuge shut its doors in Kitchener, we’ve made little progress against the persistence of poverty and homelessness in our community.

Waterloo Region’s housing stability system matches the complexity of homelessness, with a system of emergency shelters, street outreach, affordable and supportive housing, and a range of housing stability and retention services.

Despite this range of services, homelessness and housing instability remains a stubborn problem. Waterloo Region, a community that’s built the most affordable housing units per capita for a mid-sized Ontario community, maintains a 3,000 person wait list for affordable and supportive housing.

“We’ve seen strong investments in affordable housing in Waterloo Region in the last decade, but we haven’t seen a decline in the waiting list,” said Lynn Macaulay, of the Homelessness and Housing Umbrella Group. “Our success is that we’ve kept our waiting list from growing, while other communities in Ontario have seen growth.”

Each year, billions are spent across the country on homelessness and housing supports, yet problems continue to grow.

“There are differing conclusions about the size of the return on investing in affordable housing and housing supports, but all of those conclusions show that it is a good investment,” said Macaulay. “The problem is, that to turn the tide on this issue, we need a large-scale, sustained investment to see savings in hospital bills, policing and other emergency services.”

What is the scale of the problem? On a cold night last December, workers and volunteers set out on the streets of Waterloo Region to do a census of the homeless population.

They counted 339 people experiencing homelessness.

The social determinants of health – the study of how our social environment makes us healthy, or not – tells us that those without adequate housing will suffer long-term health consequences. Of those counted in the census, 45 per cent had health

conditions associated with a high mortality risk. A shocking 85 per cent reported mental health issues, 83 per cent report substance use issues.

For housing advocates and researchers, our nation’s inability to make headway on homelessness and housing instability is not only a moral failure, but also a financial one. Studies have consistently shown a positive return on investing in ending homelessness – one program in Waterloo Region, which combats persistent homelessness, has estimated returns of $9.45 in value for every dollar spent.

Housing for each of us is about so much more than shelter, as the quality and adequacy of housing is a key determinant of health. Crowded housing puts us at greater risk of spreading illness, while environmental issues such as mold can lead to chronic health issues. High housing costs take away from the money that could be spent on other quality of life determinants, such as healthy food, while the stress of unaffordable housing can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues.

The persistence of homelessness can easily turn to hopelessness, but a local example shows that with a coordinated effort, the tide can be changed.

In 2012, Waterloo Region identified family homelessness as a priority.

With the fallout of the recession being felt acutely by families, the local shelter system was stretched trying to meet increased need. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of families served by local shelters tripled, with the number of children served quadrupling. Shelters were routinely so full that an average of 10 families a night needed to be put up in motels.

The experience of homelessness is particularly damaging to children.

Studies show the experience to be traumatic, with major emotional, psychological, and physiological impacts, often manifesting in behavioural challenges and poorer outcomes in school. Preventing children from this experience seemed an obvious priority, said Angela Pye, Social Planning Associate with the Region of Waterloo.

“We looked at our limited resources and asked: “what could we do that

would make a difference upstream?”

The Region of Waterloo responded by working with community partners to redesign the local Families in Transition program to include a shelter diversion pilot, where workers intervene early to help families retain their housing or find new housing, all part of a plan to avoid ever reaching a shelter. Sometimes this work requires additional resources to support shelter diversion, such as covering rent or utility arrears.

“It makes sense to support that individual or family, because it’s the right thing to do and aligns with our values as a system – but it’s also cost-effective, as it’s much less expensive to end someone’s experience of homelessness, with costs often borne in other systems,” said Pye. The average cost to support families in this program is $1,200 – a steal compared to the $4,150 cost through a shelter.

Immediately after the pilot began, the Cambridge Shelter stopped overflowing into motels. 70 per cent of the families referred were completely diverted from shelters, with another 18 per cent “rapidly re-housed”, and transitioned into new housing within two weeks. The pilot has now expanded to the rest of the region, with positive results.

“What does it look like to say that we have functionally ended family homelessness in our community? That is the work we are doing right now,” said Pye. This success story provides a reminder that, while homelessness and housing instability are complex and troubling, a focused, coordinated and resourced effort can reduce and end homelessness.

“We can make changes at the local level to get better, but the biggest barrier remains funding. We can’t house the 3,000 people on the waiting list without more money,” said Macaulay.

Today the poor house seems like such an outdated and archaic institution – with the will, and adequate, long-term investments from provincial and federal governments, homeless shelters could be viewed the same way tomorrow.

As I arrived in Malcolm Maxwell’s office, I assumed we’d spend the next hour chatting about health care infrastructure. More beds, more doctors, more service. Yet after spending some time with the President of Grand River Hospital (GRH), it’s clear that better healthcare for Waterloo Region is far more complicated, yet perhaps far closer to reality than we think.

My visit to Maxwell’s office was spurred by questions around a series of recently released rankings on the state of the region’s healthcare. Waterloo was noted as one of the country’s jewels, rating highly on most metrics, and coming out as one of the most attractive cities in the country – unfortunately, healthcare was not one of the city’s most charming qualities.

Waterloo, like it’s neighbours in Kitchener and Cambridge, received a failing grade in healthcare provision. According to a 2014 study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), two of the region’s hospitals, Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s, are amongst the worst in the country for wait times. GRH ranked second last among large urban providers, following suit St. Mary’s ranked second last among medium sized providers.

It’s clear that the answer isn’t just more beds. Rather, as Grand River Hospital’s President notes, we have to ask whether “more beds solve a real shortfall or whether it’s simply an expensive fix on a symptom of a deeper issue.”

While happy to report that GRH has seen a 60 per cent reduction in emergency room wait times over the past three years, Maxwell notes that the real barrier to improved outcomes is the heavy burden of chronic disease.

Hypertension, depression, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lead the list. While more hospital beds might address short-term, acute care issues, they won’t solve the drivers of chronic disease. Addressing this, Maxwell notes, requires a long-term public policy commitment focused on promoting healthier livelihoods, walkable cities and supportive living, especially for those on low-incomes and the elderly.

Here’s where things get interesting – Waterloo Region has put itself on the map because of the novel marriage of academia and private sector technology. Could healthcare and technology produce the same type of problem-solving marriage oriented towards driving those public policy outcomes? Maxwell certainly thinks so and is already pursuing pilot projects with the University of Waterloo.

Applying Waterloo’s technology ecosystem towards health-related challenges related to at-home care, supportive housing, remote monitoring and health-tracking, are likely just the tip of the iceberg on how the two could work together to produce a more proactive, disaggregated and lower-cost health-care delivery system. Doing so will help a growing region like ours from bursting the seams of an over-burdened healthcare system – all the while ensuring that all of us benefit from better service when we do need access.

MARCH 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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URBAN

URBAN BEAT

PAN AM TORCH COMING TO WR

The Pan Am Games torch relay will swing through Waterloo Region in June. It will be at Kitchener City Hall and the Waterloo Public Square on June 18 and at Cambridge City Hall on June 19. The torch will also be at THEMUSEUM, in downtown Kitchener, on June 19. The torch relay will start on May 30 and go through 130 communities before finishing on July 10 at the opening ceremony of the Toronto Pan Am Games.

More than 3,000 people will carry the torch during the relay.

KITCHENER INCREASES TAXES Check back next month as TCE profiles WR’s historic brick and beam buildings that are candidates for restoration • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

LOCAL BOOKS BOUND IN TRADITION FUNDED VIA KICKSTARTER, WATERLOO ENTREPRENEUR HAND BINDS NOTE BOOKS

Kitchener councillors approved a 2015 budget that will raise property taxes by 1.91 per cent and boost water and sewer rates by 9.9 per cent. The water and sewer increases add about $92 to the bill of the average homeowner, while the property tax increase will add $19.59 to the Kitchener portion of property taxes on the typical Kitchener home.

KING STREET FESTIVALS TO MOVE DUE TO LRT CONSTRUCTION Light rail construction on King Street will move annual festivals this coming year. This all begins with the Busker’s Festival, which usually takes place along King St. in Waterloo, moving to a new space behind Waterloo City Hall.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade will be shifting streets, with the route still in the planning process – same goes for the Santa Claus Parade, which usually takes place midway through November.

Other King Street festivals may be affected by construction as well.

M&B Publishing House, a one-man operation, creates their signature notebook out of garage workshop • COURTESY M&B PUB HOUSE

CRAIG LEACH CONTRIBUTOR “I use a notebook for everything,” says Alistair MacLellan.

As the executive director of Waterloo-based MacLellan & Baetz Publishing House, MacLellan will jot down lists, sketches and design concepts in his notebook as a place for safekeeping ideas. Consulting his notebook so often, MacLellan began to look beyond the pages.

“I was looking at this notebook.

Where was it made? Who made it?” he questioned, while thinking, “a hundred years ago, if you wanted a notebook, you would get it made by someone.”

Inspired to learn more, MacLellan

began to research traditional bookmaking techniques.

Three or four poorly made notebooks later, MacLellan was beginning to get more proficient at all the measuring, cutting, folding, sewing, and gluing required to bind together a handmade notebook. Thinking other people may be into what he was creating, the idea of beginning a Kickstarter campaign to fund the purchase of raw materials and raise some brand awareness popped into his head.

“If there is a market for handmade notebooks, Kickstarter is the perfect platform. So I started a campaign and it turned out really great.”

Really great indeed.

Offering up handmade notebooks in a variety of colours at 25 bucks a pop, MacLellan managed to reach his financial goal of $1,500 in the first three days of his Kickstarter going live.

“I was blown away,” he admits, “my thinking was, I am some dude who

wants to make notebooks. I thought I would be calling distant relatives to give me money to finish it.”

By the end of the campaign, McLellan had more than doubled his goal by raising just over $3,600, backed by 147 people from as far away places as Sweden, Malaysia and Australia. “In that respect, I sort of bit off more than I could chew,” noting it was a challenge to get all the notebooks made and shipped in a timely manner.

Despite the manufacturing challenges, McLellan really values the experience.

“The process you have to go through from concept to delivering product is a great learning opportunity. If you’re a creative person or are interested in making things and you have a good idea, this is the best way to learn about the business process.”

Being responsible for every part of the operation, from marketing to distributing, accounting, supply chain

management and customer service, are all part of the deal, says McLellan.

“You’re literally doing everything.

You’re wearing every hat. I got to learn firsthand what it takes to make something, deliver it and support it.”

The success of this endeavour has inspired more ideas that MacLellan hopes to pursue. “What I am going to do is finish the Kickstarter campaign and ship out all the notebooks and then I want to relaunch the website and try selling the notebooks online.”

As that gains traction, MacLellan would like to see MacLellan & Baetz Publishing House expand into other areas of business. Offering various design and digital media services, MacLellan & Baetz focuses on providing the tools to help inspire people to create.

“The publishing house is more about creating a company that enables people’s creativity. We want to be a patron of enthusiasm.”

HEAVY SNOWFALL CAUSING SIDEWALK STIR Mayor Berry Vrbanovic introduced a motion this week at council, which was unanimously supported, asking for a review of how the sidewalk clearing policy is enforced. He also stated there should be consultation with the community about whether the policy should be changed – as well as, an update on which other cities plow sidewalks and what it might cost Kitchener to do so. The city requires homeowners to clear the sidewalk on their property of all snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall. Anyone who fails to do so can face a fine of $300 to $500.

Fancy yourself an urbanite? Want to share that passion with KW? Then write for the Community Edition’s urban section! Email us at communityeditor@thecord.ca.

MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

Sexplanations

with Stacey

6

WANDERING IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY UNASSUMING ART PIECES LINE THE REGION’S STREETS, HIGHLIGHTING THE LOCAL CULTURE AND HERITAGE. TCE PHOTO EDITOR, MATT SMITH OFFERS A WALKING TOUR. LAUREL CREEK NATALIE MCHAFFIE

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST I will come clean. I went to see 50 Shades of Grey on Valentine’s Day with my girlfriends. I bought advanced tickets, I waited in line for almost an hour to ensure I got a good seat, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I am not going to tell you what I thought of the books, the film, the writing or the acting. I am going to tell you that it is great to be curious.

Upon release of the film I was getting bombarded with questions about kinky sex. Was it normal to want to be spanked? How could I tell my partner I wanted to be tied up? How do I let my inner dominatrix out?

This discussion is best started with understanding the lingo: S/M stands for sadomasochism. A sadist is a person who gets off sexually on inflicting pain, degradation or humiliation on another consenting adult (I am discussing consensual adult relationships in this article). A masochist is a person who gets off sexually when inflicted with pain, degradation or humiliation.

S/M is part of BDSM, where B&D stands for bondage and discipline and D&S stands for dominance and submission.

I appreciate the fact that 50 Shades of Grey brought out the inner kinkster in so many people. People were given permission to talk about and have kinky sex. People talking about sex makes me happy as it is still such a taboo topic. However, many people were already incorporating a little S/M into their sex lives and didn’t know it.

For instance, have you ever given your partner a quick swat on the butt? Have you ever been tied to the bedpost?

Have you ever bit your partner’s ear? I cannot begin to describe kink culture here, but I will try to give you a little something.

There may or may not be sex involved in BDSM activities. What I would like to emphasize about BDSM relationships is the amount of communication that takes place both before and during an encounter (sometimes called a scene or session) and that informed consent is essential.

We could all learn about communication and consent from the kink community. Safety is also essential.

For instance, the use of safe words to allow the submissive (or bottom) to communicate with the dominant (or top) that they would like to stop, slow down or keep going.

Kink involves an array of behaviours such as spanking, whipping, blindfolding, restraining and role play, to name a few. Leather is often worn. Christian Grey buys rope, cable ties and duct tape in the film. Be aware that all of these can tear the skin and leave marks. Do you want to go to work on Monday morning with rope burns on your wrists and ankles? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Do you want to be one of the many 50 Shades of Grey enthusiasts who have ended up in the emergency room with a kinky sex injury? These are things to think about before diving in.

If you would like to learn more – and I hope you do, we’ve barely scratched the surface of kink – please visit www. ehbc.ca, a local kink website, to find out more about how to be safe, sane and consensual. Happy playing!

This wood and steel sculpture serves as a continuation of Laurel Creek as it flows underneath uptown. The piece is a constant reminder of nature mixing with urbanity and of our ever important water sources. It is best enjoyed with a stroll along the exposed section of the creek as it trails away from uptown towards Moses Springer Park, and beyond.

THE TREE OF LIFE ERNEST DAETWYLER This sculpture is made up of a tree which has its branches grow out and back into its roots, forming an organic sphere. Located in the Sunnyside Campus at 247 Franklin St. N. it represents the surrounding ageing populations’ wisdom and maturity, as well as continuous human life cycle.

JOHN LABATT BARLEY FIELD JANE BUYERS This cluster of 61 steel stalks in the small greenspace at Norman and Park Streets, serves as a reminder of the region’s rich agricultural past and the former breweries that once dominated the south east quarter of uptown Waterloo. This constant reminder is even more important than ever as The Brick Brewery departs its King St. location leaving this once booming brew hub without an alcohol producer.

PEDESTRIAN TED FULLERTON Comprised of seven life-sized, bronze, human statues placed on and around the exterior of the Charles and Benton parking garage, this piece gives a nod to the human scaled focus of Downtown Kitchener. The main feature are the three figures defying gravity by “walking” down the walls of the garage.

Pedestrian is best viewed at night from the opposite corner of the intersection or from right below the wall walkers.

MARCH 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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THE HEAVY COST OF A HOME IN WR TCE INVESTIGATES HOW MILLENIALS ARE CHANGING THE HOUSING MARKET IN WR

MATT QUICK CONTRIBUTOR In Waterloo Region, the number of millenials, individuals aged 15 to 35, reached 141,855 in 2011, up 4 per cent from 2006 according to Statistics Canada. With no shortage of tech sector jobs in the region, this trend is not slowing as young workers are attracted to the area. Housing is another story.

On Jan. 29, Professor Markus Moos of the University of Waterloo School of Planning hosted a panel discussion titled Housing the Future. The discussion featured researchers from across Ontario and focused on housing affordability for the millennial generation.

Housing the Future highlighted some of the hurdles that millennials face trying to find affordable housing they desire: increasing costs of living, precarious entry-level employment and large debts that have become commonplace following post-secondary education.

Millennials have been entering the housing market over the last 10 years and their housing needs and preferences are having a clear effect in metropolitan cities. In Toronto, for example, glass-walled condominiums tower over the waterfront. Though the influence of Millennials on the housing market is less obvious in Waterloo Region than in larger urban centres, their presence has become hard to ignore.

The number of condominium and townhome projects in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge are increasing, multi-unit dwellings have dominated housing projects since 2010, and

apartment buildings, though somewhat driven by purpose-built student developments, have represented the largest number of new developments.

Purchasing a suitable house is becoming increasingly challenging for the millennial demographic. The average purchase price for housing in Waterloo Region was $337,000, and though lower than many other large and mid-sized cities in Ontario, the figure has been gradually rising since 2005. A 20 per cent down payment towards a mortgage of that size - the minimum required to avoid costly Canadian Mortgage and Housing Commission mortgage insurance - is $67,400, not an insignificant cost for young adults without reliable employment and weighed down by student debt.

Like other groups for whom purchasing a home is inconceivable, millennials are choosing to rent.

The construction of new multi-unit buildings in the region has increased the supply of rental units in urban neighbourhoods that are attractive to many. But the increase in supply has not resulted in affordable prices; costs continue to rise due to demand. The CMHC reports that in Waterloo Region average rents for bachelor units have increased by 25 per cent since 2003, and by 20 per cent for one and two bedroom units.

Looking to the future, a variety of local dynamics are important to housing affordability in general, and for millennials in particular. Urban redevelopment spurred by future transit investment create further housing issues, or improve them? Could Millennials benefit from the collapse of a housing bubble? How will changes to interest rates affect the ability for young adults to obtain credit for housing? The housing picture in Waterloo Region isn’t clear, but all signs point to a challenging hunt for a house that fits the bill: in size, location, and price.

ten ideas

THE COMMUNITY EDITION IS SEARCHING FOR 10 IDEAS FROM ALL OVER WATERLOO REGION THAT WILL IMPACT AND IMPROVE THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THIS COMMUNITY.

what can the ideas be about?

ANYTHING FROM TRANSIT, ARTS AND CULTURE, CIVIC ENGAGEMTN, HERITAGE, AGRICULTURE, SMALL BUSINESS AND MORE! THE LIMIT IS YOUR IMAGINATION.

what do the 10 Ideas win?

IDEAS SELECTED WILL BE PAIRED WITH ONE OF THE CE’S WRITERS TO HAVE A STORY PRODUCED ABOUT THEIR PROJECT, WHICH WILL APPEAR IN THE MAY ISSUE.

SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE MARCH 30, 2015 SUBMIT IDEAS ONLINE AT: COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

From homegrown to international works, the 15th year of Rainbow Reels packs Waterloo Region with four days of film and, art!

Thurs Mar 12 Opening films at UW Fri Mar 13 Queer Poetry Slam and Films at Laurier.

Co-presented with LSPIRG, KW Poetry Slam Sat Mar 14 Films at Princess Twin, Zine Fair and Art Market, Muse Cabaret at The Legion Sun Mar 15 Queer Family Day! Films at Apollo Cinema, Free brunch and childcare Tickets $5, Free for students/unwaged Festival Passes $20 Full Schedule and Tickets at RAINBOWREELS.ORG

I’ll have the usual:

Waterloo Region

SLICE

JIMMY’S LUNCH: GO FOR COFFEE, REALLY, GET IT YOURSELF How long would you think it takes for a regular customer to feel comfortable getting their own coffee at a restaurant? I’ve never felt comfortable getting my own coffee at a friend’s house let alone a restaurant but at Jimmy’s you’ll feel the odd person out while you wait for the server to bring you yours.

Jimmy’s is one of the oldest spots in town and most of the regulars have been going as long as it’s been opened. Jimmy’s is a local institution, whether you know it or not it hides in plain site on Victoria St. between Lancaster and Margaret Ave. Its location is announced only by a large Pepsi sign with small black type indicating its name. Jimmy’s is either the place you know well or the place you’ve always wondered what went on there. If you belong to the latter group here is a hint, go in.

It epitomizes the no-nonsense aspect of the greasy spoon. Don’t bother asking for a menu, you’ll just have the waitress list off things they can get you. On the wall you’ll read about the banquet burger, chilli and the all day breakfast. If you get the breakfast the bacon will be crispy enough to crumble in your mouth, the eggs will seem overcooked, but you’ll be wrong and the home fries with onions will surprise you with taste. Oh, and you’ll get coleslaw, which you may think is weird but you’ll be wrong again.

CHECKERBOARD: GO FOR HOMEFRIES “Anywhere you like guys” someone called from the back as we walked in. We nabbed a booth table in the nearly full space. Awesome.

We tackled both the breakfast special and a stack of pancakes, you know, for diversity. The bacon was crispy, perfectly done if you’re into that style. Ask for syrup for your bacon (we stole some from the pancake plate). Beast mode. Not into bacon? These guys have polish sausage too, its crispy and fatty and everything you want to start your morning with.

The eggs were standard, but when it comes to home fries, Checkerboard knows best. Melt-in-your mouth with a perfect seasoning kick. And there were these small crispy flecks of potato skin. It’s been decided, every greasy spoon should keep the skins on.

For pancakes, we’re talkin’ fluffy, fluffy stacks, with that little bit of crisp on the edges. That crisp you try to get at home but you never can because you don’t put enough butter and don’t have a flat top or the skill of a server who’s flipped a thousand flapjacks.

We asked for debit when it was time to pay. “No, cash only. Dad’s old school like that,” she answered, like we were already family. A certain photo editor owes a certain urban editor some cash now.

“Next!” t one slides assembly l spoon fulfi and menu Slice’s isn about fillin portion of none of th flat-top, co greasy bed obviously. always - do Don’t sto favourites everyone f bucks in th lunch brea the chip tr You can fi King and W sign that is Slice’s doe

BRYN OSSINGTON, ANDREW MORGAN, MATT SMITH, ALLISON LEONARD

n’s best greasy spoons

E’S: GO FOR THE PRICE

the abrupt but friendly shout is commonplace as their tray across the high school cafeteria-style line at Slice’s. The downtown Kitchener greasy fills the term “no frills” in all facets: space, service u - but we wouldn’t ask for anything else, ever. n’t about refilling your coffee after each sip, it’s ng your stomach with a healthy (term used lightly) f $3.99 breakfast. The bacon: crispy. Home fries: hat frozen, cubed shit. We’re talking rough-cut, overed in paprika home fries that create a cozy, d for the rest of the food on your plate. Toast: rye, . Heavy on the butter. Eggs: always - and we mean one exactly as you like it. op there. Lunch options cover your standard diner s, with Greek fare to boot. The space seems to host from teenagers with a free second period and five heir pocket to professionals meeting over their ak. We recommend the corned beef sandwich with ruck style fries. find this hole-in-the-wall nestled at the corner of Water St., marked by a giant, green, building-side s as direct as the staff; it reads “RESTAURANT.” esn’t mess around, they don’t need to.

CORNER PUB: GO FOR THE SERVER If you ever ride the GO bus or Greyhound in and out of town you’ll know the Corner Pub (or CP as it’s affectionately known by those of us who are too lazy to say the full name) as the small bar on the corner of Ottawa and Charles St. that boasts Karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights. On a typical weekday, Chris is your server but when we were in to “research” this article, periodically, customers asked “ugh… is Chris away?” She was, and for anyone who has made CP a regular breakfast spot, it’s weird if Chris isn’t around. But as always the breakfast was great and our coffees remained full. If you keep things simple you can do your standard breakfast special for $6.

They don’t tell you, but you’ve got options for home fries – insider info. You can get the chopped and spiced potatoes, or you can get what one of our other reviewers would call “that frozen, cubed shit.” I would call them delicious, cubie home fries – Chris will know what you’re asking for. If you are in after breakfast you can help yourself to the typical greasy spoon options, burgers, BLT, and Friday’s fish and chips specials. These aren’t going to blow your mind in taste but they’ll more than meet your needs for filling your gut and not emptying your wallet.

HARMONY LUNCH: GO FOR THE BACON Harmony undoubtedly has a familiar, hasn’t-changed-much-since-it-opened feel to it. There is an ATM sitting in a custom-made telephone booth and a Hamilton Beach milkshake blender behind the bar.

The waitress will come for your order without menus; a space with so many regulars who have memorized the selection doesn’t need menus.

We ordered two eggs over easy, bacon, home fries and brown toast. We’ll start with what everyone is dying to know: the bacon was soft, but crispy just on the edges, ideal, and the best of all of our greasy spoon bacon tasting.

The home fries were delicious, delicious heart attack initiators: creamy, a little oily, with some nice crunchy skins. The runny eggs and well-done toast (yes, diners can totally screw up toast) brought this space up to an 8 out of ten, at least.

Sure, the smell of a decade of fried onions fills the space and drifts onto the streets, but the memories of a decade of regulars enjoying their favourite uptown greasy spoon fill the space, too.

MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

Pure & local SHEENA BOUSANGA COLUMNIST I first fell in love with superfoods during a very challenging time in my life. Five years ago I found myself in a difficult situation. My mother was diagnosed with cancer while my father was already battling the same illness.

I was also raising two young children, one with special needs.

Superfoods provide a high concentration of specific nutrients, minerals and other healthy properties – such as omega 3’s, antioxidants and fibre.

They give a big bang for even a small amount. You have likely already heard the term superfoods thrown around in commercials and even mentioned regarding your beauty and self-care products. However, since superfoods are often used as a buzzword, it can often be hard to figure out which ones to use and how to incorporate them into your daily menu plan.

HOW MANY SHOULD I USE? Ideally it is great to have several superfoods in your kitchen arsenal or fridge. I usually suggest starting slowly with 1-3 different superfoods, so that you can get used to their taste and learn how to use them at your own pace. No sense buying a whole load of them if you are not going to use them. Take the time to add them into your diet slowly, so you know how each tastes and what the benefits are. My key storage tip is to buy some clear glass canisters and fill each of them with each of your superfoods.

This will ensure freshness and you will be able to see what you have in your cupboard.

HOW DO I USE SUPERFOODS? Since they are nutrient dense and have lots of benefits, you want to treat them as the high quality ingredient that they are. You can use superfoods in smoothies, homemade trail mix, granola, salads and raw desserts. It’s important to preserve their nutritional benefits, so try not to heat them unless it is stated on the package that they can specifically handle the heat.

WHICH ONES SHOULD I BUY? Once you are ready to jump in and try adding superfoods to your diet, it can often become confusing when shopping for them. Your choices will depend on what your specific nutritional needs are, however there are some top ones that I often recommend my clients try: Raw Cacao: increased mental clarity, amazing antioxidant, love food Maca: adaptogen used for stress, hormone balance, energy, libido Algae: source of protein, trace minerals, beta-carotene, iron, used for detoxing Hemp seeds: source of iron, manganese, protein, omega 3 & 6 Medicinal Mushrooms: immune support Chia seeds: source of omega 3, calcium, magnesium Aloe Vera: soothing to digestive tract, anti-inflammatory Coconut Oil: healthy fat, immune support Try to buy superfoods in their whole food form and avoid processed foods that use superfoods as a marketing method. Remember, it is always great to work with your healthcare practitioner especially if you have specific health needs and concerns.

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WATERLOO REGION ARTISTS: WE WANT YOU TO ANIMATE OUR MOVING ART PARTY.

STEEL RAILS IS COMING. DON’T MISS OUT. ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FROM ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS, ANYTHING GOES. SUBMISSIONS DUE MARCH 30.

WWW.COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

MARCH 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

11

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS BEAT YOUTH FILM COMPETITION

The City of Kitchener and Kitchener Public Library are offering a special opportunity for youth between the ages of 12 and 25 – showcase your original short film and animations in the community and win cash awards and prizes.

Winning short original videos will be showcased at the Central Library Theatre on Saturday, May 9. The deadline for submissions is March 31.

EXHIBITION TO CELEBRATE ARTISTS Winterloo in uptown Waterloo featured all things winter themed including ice sculptures, skating and maple taffy • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

FINDING COMMUNITY WITH COMICS

The second annual Generation Now! Exhibition takes place Saturday, March 7. A one-night celebration of Waterloo Region’s most ambitious, young and emerging artists, writers and musicians. The night will feature live entertainment and fresh organic tastings courtesy of Indulge Kitchen. Remaining proceeds will be donated to White Owl Native Ancestry Association.

SYRIAN CHILDREN CREATE EXHIBIT A Syrian Childrens’ art exhibit takes place March 14-22 at Waterloo Region Museum. The art was created in Turkey, by Syrian children victimized by war to help them overcome their fears and gain self-confidence.

Carry-On Comics has occupied it’s uptown Waterloo location at King and Dupont since opening in 1980 • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

KURTIS THOMAS CONTRIBUTOR Andy Brast, owner of Carry-On Comics in uptown Waterloo, breaks away from our interview to greet two customers who have just walked through the door. They exchange greetings of familiarity while he catches up with them and instinctually reaches for their weekly haul of comics behind the counter. It’s a routine he’s done a hundred times in this cozy little comic shop.

Upon the walls of Carry-On is a diverse lot of goods to satisfy every level of comic book fan. Everything from the latest issues of The Walking Dead to graphic novels (paperback collections of individual issues) recounting the unforgettable adventures of pop culture mainstays, like Spiderman and Batman.

A fixture of the uptown landscape since 1980, Carry-On Comics was purchased by Brast in 1991 and he has owned and operated it ever since. But a lot has changed in the way consumers shop since Andy first took over the shop 11 years ago.

“When I first started you could sell anything. If you had it in the store somebody would come and buy it eventually. You could have posters, t-shirts, anything. You just had to

have a little bit of selection,” he said.

“Now it’s a little different because the business itself has shifted away from selling comics, memorabilia and other things like hockey cards. Now we sell graphics novels. Fifty percent of our business now is graphic novels.”

With more consumers adopting e-reading as an alternative each year, comic publishers have started offering digital versions of their material online. Comic powerhouse Marvel has even adopted the Netflix model, offering unlimited access to sections of their back catalog through subscription-based pricing.

When asked if this move toward a digital model affects his sales, Brast revealed that the exact opposite has been happening.

“We’ve actually gotten a few more sales because customers see it digitally and then came and bought the comic afterwards,” he explained. “I would say ninety-nine percent of the people who buy comics want to have the paper copy. We even have the odd person who comes in, who reads it on the Internet and says ‘Put me down for the series!’”

Brast believes that there is still value in having something tangible when evaluating whether or not to purchase.

“Customers don’t want to buy via the Internet and have it shipped to them not knowing what it looks [like] before it comes,” adds Brast. “I think the biggest thing is just being able to walk in and see the product. “ Local award-winning artist and comic writer, Scott Chantler, agrees

that the shift to digital has yet to affect him.

“As others have said, rumours of the death of traditional media have been greatly exaggerated. It makes sense to be able to make books available in as many formats as readers want to read them in, but e-books make up only a tiny portion of my royalties. Maybe that will change in the future, but for right now, print is definitely still dominant.”

While Chantler prefers fans read however they’re most comfortable, he values the experience of paper.

“I don’t like the panel-by-panel “guided view” for e-comics, because the composition of the pages are meant to be meaningful, at least, if the artist is doing it correctly. They’re not storyboards for a film, after all.”

Carry-On customer, Jason Brodrecht, shares Chantler’s sentiments on the benefits of print storytelling.

“While I definitely see the pros to digital format in comics, for me, there’s nothing like turning pages in a storybook; to see and admire the detail that went into the art on paper,” he said. “Digital feels more like viewing pictures through glass in a museum.

Look but don’t touch!”

“There’s also the display, the collection, the need to complete it and continue on. To share the beautiful covers with visitors to my home and completely ‘geek out’ on them about why I love this one or that one,” Brodrecht added.

Most of all, Brast attributes print comics’ continuing success to the tra-

ditional culture of reading books and the atmosphere his store curates.

“If you like comics, you like the physical aspect of the store, you like the people, it’s the one time you feel safe. Family, community; there’s so many different aspects that bring people in,” he explained.

It’s that sense of community that brings Brodrecht and many others back to the store each week.

“It’s an excellent place to meet and talk with new folks picking up their weekly stashes. If you see them reading something you’re interested in, you can ask them about it,” he said.

During the span of my interview with Brast, he breaks away many more times to engage with customers passing through his door. He’s always engaged, aware and ready to give advice on the next best read. When I recognize a few of the customers from my own weekly pilgrimages to the store, I smile and nod with acknowledgement.

It’s part of the experience and charm of this store – when you’re here, you know that you share a common bond with everyone in the room. Whether it’s a love of reading, art or collectible items, it’s this very bond, according to Brodrecht, that makes the comic book shop so important to the culture.

“If we lose that human aspect, the interaction with one another, the feeling of belonging because everyone in the shop is there because they love this stuff, then we may lose a piece of our identity as well.”

Carry-On Comics is located at 32 King St. North in Waterloo.

THEMUSEUM TO HOST HEADPHONE DISCO THEMUSEUM is hosting a dance party that is completely silent, until you put on headphones. There will be two DJ’s playing different music. You can choose your channel or flip between them both, it’s your preference.

STEEL RAILS RELEASES CALL OUT FOR ARTISTS The Community Edition, the newspaper you’re currently reading, hosts an art party to parts unknown every year, traditionally on the Waterloo Central Rail historic train. TCE is looking for Waterloo Region artists and animators for this year’s event, to be held in late June. In the past, the event has featured naked people, snakes, spies, a cats of the internet photo booth, cryptic messages, comedians, and musicians. We’re looking for all of this and more.

If you think you fit the bill, or know of an artist you want to see at Steel Rails, email TCE Editor in Chief, Allison Leonard at allison. leonard@wlusp.com. For more information about the event, check out our website, communityedition.ca, follow us on Twitter @SteelRails or see albums of past Steel Rails on our Facebook page.

MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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Wear Out There CHRISTINA PROCTOR COLUMNIST With spring just around the corner, now may be the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe. Is your closet overflowing, yet you have nothing to wear?

Do you dress in the same outfits regularly? Are you shopping frequently for new items? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, it’s time for a closet cleanout.

Take out and evaluate every piece of clothing in your closet. Consider each and every piece before putting it back in your wardrobe. As you’re cleaning, make 3 piles: “yes,” “no,” and “maybe.”

You may keep the “maybe” pile around – however, if you don’t pull from it in 3 months, let it go.

Know your colour and fit. Keep the articles which flatter both your colouring and your physique as they are now. Clothing should help enhance your individual attributes.

Consider your lifestyle. Have you changed jobs? Are you practicing new activities? Similar to my move from student to working woman, you may no longer need items you used to rely on.

Rotate with the seasons. The articles you wear in the summer differ from those worn in the winter. Put away the clothing you won’t wear this season in plastic containers. Not only will this free up space in your closet, twice a year, you will feel like you’ve gotten a whole new wardrobe.

Maximize your space. Make use of the door and floor space you have available. Ikea has some wonderful ideas for storage solutions in small spaces. Organize your closet by clothing type, then colour for ease of use.

With a closet now organized to suit your needs, you must deal with your “no” pile. There are two options: sell items or donate items.

Locally, we have numerous consignment stores that accept quality pieces for resale including Luster & Oak, StylFrugal and Carousel Clothing.

“The general rules in consignment are that the pieces can’t be older than 2 years, and they must be stylish,” explained Helena Kwiecinski, owner of Stylfrugal. While each shop is unique, the standard consignment term is 90 days, with the seller receiving 40 per cent of the sale price.

If you choose to donate your articles, make it count by giving to a Mennonite Central Committee thrift store, or a charitable/non-profit organization, like the Working Centre or the KW Princess Project. The Working Centre accepts all types of clothing through Worth a Second Look, and formal dresses for the KW Princess Project can be dropped off at Sage Naturopathic Clinic, Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre, or Gloss Boutique.

The process of cleaning your closet can be both overwhelming and cathartic. Depending on how frequently you tackle this challenge, it can also take some time. A less crowded closet makes it easier than ever to pull together new outfits and remix the items you already own. Your wardrobe should support your activities, goals, and beliefs, which change over time.

Make it a point to review your wardrobe yearly, to ensure it reflects your needs.

Each gas light pays homage to four sectors of Kitchener’s historic economy – food, clothing, luggage, and manufacturing • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

BRIDGING HISTORY THROUGH ARTS ANNA BEARD CONTRIBUTOR Summertime construction along Weber St. W. created more than a few headaches for drivers, as development teams built a new railway bridge in preparation of the King-Victoria Transit Hub. Now that the bridge is finished and the underpass is fully operational, four pylon-style gas lights have appeared atop the bridge, donned in art work representing the industrial heritage of the area. These pylons are part of a $600,000 public art project, implemented by the Region of Waterloo as part of its public art policy.

“The Region of Waterloo has a public art policy that applies to major projects like the Weber St. railway bridge,” explained Regional Councillor Tom Galloway. “A similar project is the Fairway Rd. bridge, if you’re familiar with it, which has $800,000 in architectural features.”

The Region of Waterloo Public Art Program was approved in 2002, during the construction of several major regional buildings. According to the Region of Waterloo website, “Regional Council agreed that public art enhances the positive perception of a community and raises its cultural

profile.”

A public art reserve fund was created shortly after using money allocated annually at the discretion of Council.

There is also a budgeted allocation from designated capital projects.

A variety of criteria have been set for public art projects, like the Weber St. railway bridge. Art must contain “aesthetic, historic or commemorative objects,” be of “high quality and unique,” and can be made up of “paintings, sketches, drawings, photographs, sculptures, carvings, metalwork, murals, crests, quilts, tapestries, special architectural and landscaping features.”

When projects are approved, the Public Art Advisory Committee appoints a jury to solicit proposals.

For the Weber St. railway bridge, bids for the project were accepted from two studios in Toronto. The advisory committee is made up of one or two regional councillors, four community members representing the arts, education and the general public, a community services division representative, and a facilities management division representative. The jury must keep in mind “the unique characteristics of that site, judge submissions, choose the most appropriate and recommend it to the advisory committee.” Recommendations are presented and Regional Council makes the final decision.

“Whenever things are built, the region tries to ensure there is some public art on the property. For exam-

ple, the region is currently taking bids through a studio competition to add art to the new county court house,” said Galloway.

In this case, the four gas light pylons, which can be seen atop the bridge, are only a small piece of the project. The fixtures will also be visible from entrances along Victoria and Breithaupt.

“The project is not done, actually.

The gas lights that are there currently are reminiscent of the gas lights that used to greet trains as they entered in the city.”

Each gas light pays homage to four of the sectors that set the foundation of Kitchener’s economy – food, clothing, luggage, and manufacturing.

“In addition, there will be larger elements at the pedestrian level along the underpass,” said Galloway. “There will be 3D fiber glass reinforced concrete panels, which will depict other industries from the past, such as the button industry.”

These architectural features add light and design to what would otherwise be a rather dreary looking piece of infrastructure.

If you drive by now, you’ll see that the western facing front of the railway bridge has been tagged with graffiti – a task that Galloway says won’t be possible again now that construction has been completed.

“Yes, that happened while the bridge was still undergoing construction. People won’t be able to access

those areas now that construction is complete.”

Galloway explained further that removal of graffiti is the responsibility of the contractor during construction and that the larger panels of art that are placed in the underpass will be coated with a sealer that will help with graffiti removal should any appear.

Kitchener is not known for having many underpasses, and when one is created there is always a conversation surrounding public safety. Galloway assures that the region is always looking for ways to make the city more pedestrian friendly.

“The underpass will be quite well lit. Already the railways and railings in the underpass contain elements that are decorative in nature to be more attractive to residents.”

The region’s public art policy and budget will extend somewhat to light rail station planning, as rail construction projects begin this summer.

Galloway says that at this time it’s unknown whether that competition will be extended to local residents and neighbourhoods, or if they will go with a studio like they have in the past for projects like the Weber and Fairway bridges.

The large panels depicting parts of Kitchener’s industrial heritage will be installed in the next few weeks and will be available for viewing by mid March.

THE NOSTALGIA OF GLOBETROTTERS DAVE EMRICH CONTRIBUTOR The Harlem Globetrotters have been a mainstay of family entertainment since 1926.

Practicing exhibition games, the Globetrotters are referred to as a barnstorming team – a sports team that travels to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches, and operates outside of a formal league.

Two days before Valentine’s day, the Globetrotters stormed the barn of the Aud, bringing along their long time rivals. The Globetrotters faced off against the Washington Generals to extend their winning streak that was last broken on Jan. 5, 1971 when the Generals defeated the Globetrotters 100-99. The game in ‘71 was one of the biggest upsets in fixed sports history,

THE GAME IN ‘71 WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN FIXED SPORTS HISTORY, OUTSHINING EVEN THE INFAMOUS WWF MONTREAL SCREWJOB OF 1997.

outshining even the infamous WWF Montreal Screwjob of 1997, or last year’s defeat of the Undertaker’s 21-0 streak at Wrestlemania.

The Globetrotters participated in their usual family friendly antics – such as the “bucket of water” gag, the “slow motion replay” gag and alley-oop, after alley-oop, after alley-oop, to be up by 9 points with just over a minute left. However, the Generals, employing traditional heel tactics, almost brought the Globetrotters to their knees. This occurred when one of the officials revealed himself to be one of the former players for the Generals, and awarded Washing-

ton 9 points to tie up the game with only seconds to spare. However, Big Easy, captain of America’s favourite basketball team and host of the show, sunk a half court, hook shot, buzzer beater to put the Globetrotters up 8279, extending their win streak to yet another game.

The historic franchise has played over 20,000 exhibition games in over 120 countries. With their famous soundtrack of Brother Bones’ whistled rendition of “Sweet Georgia Brown” and decked out in their traditional red and white striped trunks and blue jerseys, the Globetrotters are arguably the most famous sports franchise to

not exist in any sort of formalized league.

Impressively maintaining themselves as a team for over three quarters of a century, the Globetrotters, although claiming to hail from the New York City neighbourhood of Harlem, actually originated from the south side of Chicago. Disguising themselves as a professional sports team, the Globetrotters’ main competition is not with the NBA or any other major sports leagues, but with other travelling forms of entertainment that date back, arguably, even further than the Globetrotters storied history – such as circuses, carnivals and wrestling.

The Globetrotters have maintained an impressive record of wins over the years, with their last calculated win percentage being at the .985 mark, when they recorded 22,000 wins on Feb. 27, 2006, and having only 345 recorded losses. On Feb. 12, 2015, at the Kitchener Auditorium, the Globetrotters extended that impressive historic record even further.

MARCH 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

13

REVIEWS

Bearface on beer

PLAY REVIEW

JON JOHNSON COLUMNIST

Lost and Found’s production of Kimberly Akimbo runs March 18-25 at Registry Theatre • COURTESY LOST AND FOUND

LOST AND FOUND FUSES EMOTIONS LOST AND FOUND’S KIMBERLY AKIMBO OFFERS ALL-IN-ONE COMEDY AND TRAGEDY

ELIZABETH MCFAUL CONTRIBUTOR Imagine an aging disease where at sixteen you look almost sixty. That’s the story of Kimberly Akimbo, Lost and Found’s latest main stage production, which premieres at the Registry Theatre on March 18.

Kimberly is about a teenager with a rare condition, causing her body to age faster than it should. Throughout the play, Kimberly is forced to reevaluate her choices while dealing

with her dysfunctional family, her own mortality, and the idea of first love.

Director Nicole Lee Quesn​el originally discovered the play in a review in the New York Times.

“It became apparent to me that it was something I needed to get a hold of and something I needed to read,” said Quesnel.

For Quesnel, t​ he show blends comedy and tragedy in a unique way. “…Often plays are either one or another, or have a bit of humour to temper the tragic aspect of it. David Lindsay Hebert’s writing is hilarious and tragic at the same time.”

“What also interested me in this play was that it wasn’t poetic, it wasn’t metaphorical. The comedy punches you in the gut and slaps you across the

face,” said Quesnel.

Kimberly Akimbo is a great contrast to Boiler Room Suite earlier in Lost and Found’s season, which was much more poetic and philosophical. In Kimberly Akimbo, we find characters wishing for simple things as their life flies by.

“In the midst of common despair, the playwright gives moments of grace and light and humour. Even though these are very flawed people, they reach for relationships and reach for something to grasp on to that gives them a bit of hope,” said Quesnel.

Kimberly Akimbo is also Lost and Found Theatre’s second experiment with a program they call “Radical Hospitality.” Inspired by the program at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis,

Lost and Found offers free tickets to select performances.

This offering is a way for everyone in the community to participate as an audience member, no matter their financial circumstances.

“The idea is to encourage people to come, and hopefully pay it forward by seeing other shows, buying tickets when they can, and spreading the word,” said Quesnel.

Auditions for Lost and Found’s youth ensemble piece, Bottom and the Mechanicals – a new adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by local playwright Gary Kirkham – take place March 9 and 10. Kimberly Akimbo runs March 18 to March 25 at the Registry Theatre.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Belmont’s newest estbalishment, Raja is serving up fine Indian food to a full house daily • MATT SMITH PHOTO EDITOR

BELMONT VILLAGE RAVES FOR RAJA DEBBIE FREY CONTRIBUTOR Opening a restaurant in trendy Belmont Village can be tricky. Belmont gets pretty quiet after sundown, when most retailers have closed their shutters and headed home. Bicycle and foot traffic is helpful, but it’s nearly nonexistent during the winter season.

Still, in the quiet month of February, a new restaurant has opened in Belmont Village.

With little fanfare (save for an unassuming sandwich board proclaiming “Now Open!”), Raja has entered the fray of Kitchener-Waterloo eateries.

And get this: with no advertising except word of mouth, there’s hardly a

single table available on a Friday night.

With the opening of their K-W location, Raja (which means “King”) is officially a chain, with their flagship restaurant having been open in Stratford for several years.

Stratford has been a great fit for Raja, with many theater goers looking for an upscale meal to round off their evening at the festival (Oscar winner Christopher Plummer even has his own table).

Why then did they set their sights on K-W next? Simple, explains partner/ manager Saifur Rahman.

“Many of our customers are from Kitchener-Waterloo,” explains Rahman. “They dine with us in Stratford, even off season when there are no shows running. They’ve been asking us to open in K-W for some time now.”

Patience has paid off for these loyal fans of Raja. The restaurant owners had their eyes set on Belmont Village, with its perfect proximity to Kitchener

and Waterloo. After a failed attempt at renting part of the former Vincenzo’s location, Raja finally found its new home in a former convenience store.

You’re personally greeted and seated

by Rahman, who clearly takes great pride in his restaurant. I confess to Rahman that my knowledge of Indian food is fairly basic (I tend to stick with staples like butter chicken and samosas). He urges me to try a sampler dinner for two, which features many different tastes: spicy and mild, seafood and lamb, coffee and dessert. And of course, my butter chicken.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but as each dish arrived, I felt more like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. My past experiences of Indian food were black and white and now I was tasting it in living Technicolor. It was as if I was experiencing the true flavours of India, as they were meant to be experienced.

First, we were served complimentary

chutneys (each unique), followed by an appetizer dish with a lamb chop that could have been my main course.

After the entrees, we finished with pistachio kulfi (KOOL-fee) for dessert.

Kulfi is similar to ice cream, made by boiling milk, adding the nuts and spices, then flash freezing it.

The service was exceptional, including both owners taking the time to speak with each table of guests. Raja also offers a private dining room for corporate or large family functions.

Visitors to Kitchener-Waterloo and residents alike will enjoy their evening at Raja – but be sure and call ahead.

With food like this, reservations at Raja will soon be in high demand.

Written by Debbie Frey, Owner and Publisher of New to Waterloo, an online guide for people moving to Waterloo Region.

Here’s a little sampling of things I’ve been drinking and enjoying this winter. Think of this as a “Bearface on Beer” flight.

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUTS I got into Russian Imperial stouts last winter, thanks to Wellington Brewery and I’ve returned to them full force this winter. Russian Imperial stouts have high alcohol content, are malt heavy, and have lots of roasted, chocolate, and burnt malt flavours.

They are heavy, boozy and delicious.

I was very happy to see Beau’s The Bottle Imp show up in the LCBO this year, after a very limited - and very delicious - release last year. Locally, both Wellington and Grand River offer solid brews. I’ve yet to try the most recent version of Innocente’s Until Proven Guilty, though it’s very small initial release last year was impressive.

BLACK IPAS Black IPAs seem to be growing in popularity, which I am quite happy about. They are hop forward, like your typical IPA, but with a darker, maltier backbone. Hoppier than a porter, but without the roastiness of a stout, Black IPAs often have elevated alcohol content, a lot of hops, and a lot of flavour.

Innocente has Evil Conscience available now, which is a pretty great example of the style. My current favourite Black IPA in the LCBO is Black Betty from Beavertown Brewery. While Innocente really embraces the dark side, there’s a sort of sweetness to the Black Betty that I really enjoy.

FROST QUAKE On a personal note, I was really excited to see Wellington’s Frost Quake hit the LCBO this winter, because it’s my first label design on their shelves.

As a beer loving designer, it was a big moment.

And Frost Quake is really good this year! Last year’s recipe was decent, but I recently sampled this year’s brew side by side with an aged bottle of last year’s, and the improvement was clear. I’m not usually much for barley wine, but this year’s recipe brings a lot more flavour, and an all-around more pleasurable experience.

WHAT’S TO COME? I’m currently planning a homebrew with a neighbour, my first in a few years. I’m pretty excited. It’s an all Simcoe IPA, though we plan to dry hop half the batch with Citra hops. I’ll keep you updated on how things go.

HAVE A QUESTION FOR JON? EMAIL US AT COMMUNITYEDITOR@ THECORD.CA FANCY YOURSELF AN EXPERT ON WR ARTS AND CULTURE? WE’RE LOOKING FOR AN EDITOR. EMAIL ALLISON.LEONARD@ WLUSP.COM FOR MORE INFO.

MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

14

presents

Saturday March 14, 2015

Enter a dance party that is completely silent until you put on headphones!

Two DJ’s play different music and you get to choose your channel or flip between them both.

Use of headphones is included with your ticket.

Doors: 9PM | Ages 19+ | $15+HST | Cash Bar Tickets available online at THEMUSEUM.ca

Never been before?

Here’s how it works...

1. Arrive at THEMUSEUM Downtown Kitchener

2. Collect your two channel headphones

3. Select your DJ via the headphone toggle switch

4. GET BUSY ON THE

DANCE FLOOR!

THEMUSEUM.ca

D OW N TOW N K I TC H E N E R

MARCH 2015 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

OPINION

WARMING UP TO WINTER IN WR MARK GROULX CONTRIBUTOR

I have lived in Waterloo Region for over seven years now and have developed a strong connection to this community. In many ways, it has become a central part of who I am.

Harold Proshansky, a pioneer in the field of environmental psychology, would say the region has become part of my place identity. Years of accumulated experience have shaped the way I understand the world around me, and now guides my preferences and expectations for the future. At the same time, I am very much a northern transplant. I proudly call Waterloo Region home, but I have deep roots in North Western Ontario. And as many a northern citizen will confirm, regardless of where you end up, the north never truly leaves you.

I make this declaration because I believe the push and pull of my place identity shapes how I think about my connection with nature, and how I maintain that connection even during the height of a Canadian winter. Why should we face the cold, windy grasp of winter? The last few weeks have been some of the coldest on record in our region. Surely our modern technological society has provided a more suitable, comfortable alternative to braving these harsh conditions.

Can’t we simply outwit and outwait winter – sitting indoors basked in the warm glow of the screens that provide a safe and protected window onto our world? Of course we can. But I, for one, am skeptical of this long hibernation. Comfortable as it is, it comes at a cost.

Not long ago, the David Suzuki Foundation engaged Canadians in the 30x30 Nature Challenge. More than 10,000 participants took part by spending at least 30 minutes in nature each day for 30 days. Their rather modest effort proved to have less than a modest payoff. At the end

of the challenge participants reported feeling less stressed, better rested, more energetic, and more productive at work. Indeed, the health and well-being benefits of contact with nature are a popular research and policy topic these days. These too familiar benefits are something we often seek in the bustle of our increasingly urban lives. But is our mindset – particularly at this time of the year – helping or hindering our ability to embark on our own, personal 30x30 challenge?

Perhaps I stand alone here, but I have found that my own perspective has slowly evolved into a barrier to my own well being. Winter never used to be a season to be tolerated. It always seemed to present something more, both a test of my resilience and a host of unique opportunities that were to be embraced. I relished the sharp sting of dry winter air and the crunch of snow beneath my heavy boots. Spring was welcomed, but also lamented.

Over the past few years, winter has lost much of that wonder. Rather than relishing the crunch of dry snow, I came to resent the slosh of the wet, salty brown slurry beyond my door.

What I once embraced, I increasingly sought to escape. And for a time I did.

I escaped the cold, the wind, the wet, and the discomfort that – at times – comes with winter. But, I have realized that in achieving this escape, I was also separating myself from the benefits that come with being in nature.

My reaction has been to return to my roots. Back to the sense of exploration and the knowledge and skills that I (unknowingly) accumulated over 25 years living in Northern Ontario. I have turned my losing battle back into a healthy working relationship with winter and have rediscovered the freedom and sense of well being that comes with taking on new challenges. Whether its fat-biking along the Niagara escarpment, ice-climbing in the Muskoka’s or winter yurting with family and friends in Pinery Provincial Park, I am back on the hunt for new and exciting ways to take in and embrace this most Canadian of seasons.

And to be honest, I’m better for it.

15

LISTINGS MUSIC

ARTS

COMMUNITY

MARCH 5-7

MARCH 4

MARCH 10

KW Comedy Festival Various venues www.kw-comedy.com

Kent Monkman, “Urban Res Studies” Senate and Board Chambers, Laurier 4:00 p.m.

“A Global Governance Puzzle: The Private Sector in Global Public Health”

by Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio CIGI Campus Auditorium, 7 p.m.

MARCH 7

MARCH 11

KW Poetry Slam and Open Mic The Boathouse, 7:30 p.m, $5

Holocaust Remembered Exhibit Opens THEMUSEUM, 10 a.m.

Lady Folk Concert The Button Factory, 7:30 p.m, $10

MARCH 12

MARCH 8 International Womyn’s Day Showcase The Boathouse, 7 p.m, $10-$20.

Rainbow Reels Queer and Trans Film Festival, Opening films, Great Hall, University of Waterloo. 7 p.m. $5/pay what you can.

MARCH 11 Everyday Freedom from Gendered Violence Symposium WLU Faculty of Social Work 4:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m. Register online. facebook.com/everydayfreedomwlu

MARCH 12

MARCH 13

MARCH 13

Roots Weekend: Kruger Brothers Registry Theatre, 8 p.m. $37 adv

Hot Damn It’s a Queer Slam Veritas Cafe, 8 p.m. $5

Everyday Freedom from Gendered Violence Symposium WLU Faculty of Social Work 9:00 a.m - 3:30 p.m. Register online. facebook.com/everydayfreedomwlu

MARCH 14

MARCH 16

MARCH 17

Music in the Lounge: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day KPL-Central Library, 1 p.m.

Carlos Andrés Gómez The Turret, Laurier, 7 p.m.

“Ruling Capital: Emerging Markets and the Reregulation of Global Finance” by Dr. Kevin P. Gallagher CIGI Campus Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Muse Cabaret Waterloo Legion, 8 p.m. $5 Trent Severn Registry Theatre, 8 p.m. $17 adv

MARCH 18 Folk, Roots, Brew: Dave Neigh & Friends The Boathouse, 8 p.m., $5

MARCH 19 Betty and The Beast Registry Theatre, 10 a.m. $15 for adults.

MARCH 21 Awake: The Life of Yogananda Princess Cinema, 3 p.m. $10

PJ Family Movie Night Queens Square, 6:30 p.m.

MARCH 24 Nerd Nite The Boathouse, 7 p.m., $5

MARCH 28

MARCH 25

Wizard of Oz Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, 7:30 p.m. $25 - $42

LSPIRG Breakfast AGM Paul Martin Centre, Laurier, 11 a.m.

Free for LSPIRG members. Apply online at lspirg.org/community

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MARCH 2015 // @THECOMMUNITYED

16

UAL 10TH ANN

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