The Community Edition: July 2018

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 10 • JULY 2018

ALL EYES ON #STEELRAILS18 PAGES 8-9

A GUIDE TO SUMMER EATING IN CAMBRIDGE

IS WRESTLING PERFORMANCE ART?

A LOOK INSIDE GLOBE STUDIOS

PAGE 5

PAGE 11

PAGE 12-13

JULY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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IN THIS

ISSUE

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 10

JULY 2018

FEATURE

8-9 STEEL RAILS HAPPENED

EDITOR’S PICK 11

IS PRO WRESTLING ART?

3 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 10 10 11 12 14 15 16

IN BRIEF // EDITOR’S NOTE MAKING BEER MORE DIVERSE BIG PLANS FOR THEMUSEUM A GUIDE TO SUMMER EATING IN CAMBRIDGE SEXPLANATIONS: OLD PEOPLE HAVE SEX, TOO! HOW TO HELP THE BEES NEW BIKESHARE COMES TO WR DO STRAWS SUCK? WR & HOWE: WILL FORD DIVIDE US? THE SIDE HUSTLE: JADE BILLO A WHOLE NEW WORLD WITH MIRAGE VR EASY BEING GREEN: WHAT’S OUR REGION DOING? INSIDE GLOBE STUDIOS TCE POETRY // NEW TUNE REVIEW OONA MOON // EVENT LISTINGS WHAT IS A “BOSS BABE?”

INSIDE

COVER BY PAUL LIPPERT

Volume 6, Issue 10 Next issue: August, 2018 75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564

All advertising inquiries should be directed to Care Lucas at 519-884-0710 x3560 care.lucas@wlusp.com

THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION

Editor in Chief Beth Bowles beth@communityedition.ca

President TJ Mroz

Publisher Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@wlusp.com Social Media Coordinator Brittany Kovacs Social Media Coordinator Ramona Leitao Web Manager Care Lucas Photo Editor Nick Stanley Photo Editor Paige Bush General Inquiries info@communityedition.ca

Executive Director Lakyn Barton Advertising Manager Care Lucas Treasurer Garrison Oosterof

CONTRIBUTORS Gabby Borgerink Melissa Bowman Stacey Danckert Emily Gleeson James Gowland Cameron Hoddle James Howe Bashas Lulu Jabbour Stacey Jacobs Cameron Klapwyk Paul Lippert Shyenne MacDonald Andreas Patsiaouros Kaitlyn Severin Cara Vandermey

Vice-Chair Lisa Irimescu Directors Shyenne MacDonald Maiya Mistry Daniel Vandenbor H.G. Watson Corporate Secretary Maiya Mistry

TWITTER @THECOMMUNITYED INSTAGRAM @COMMUNITYEDITION

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 Community Edition, WLUSP, WLU or Centra Web. 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 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.

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.

JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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Is wrestling a form of performance art? The guys at Cross Body Pro Wrestling Academy think so. Read more on page 11.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO

EDITOR’S NOTE: HAVING MY “AHA” MOMENT IN A TRAIN GARAGE

BY: BETH BOWLES

For the past six months, my life has been Steel Rails. It was what I talked to my friends and family about, and you best believe it was the main topic of conversation in our office, literally every day.

For those of you who may not know, Steel Rails is the Community Edition’s annual mysterious interactive art party.

You buy a ticket without knowing the location, but what you do know is that there will be art, music, food, beer, and (probably) a train. The purpose of this party is to raise funds to keep our little paper afloat, as well as raise funds to put on next year’s Steel Rails.

This year was my first year as an organizer. While it was my third year attending, this was the first year that I was actually involved in the planning process.

Alongside my publisher Lakyn Barton and advertising manager Care Lucas, two legacy Steel Railsers, we booked the food, the beer, the art, the music. We made the party happen.

I remember when we first started planning, Lakyn told me in a moment of infinite wisdom, that every year, after all the anxiety and stress of planning,

IN BRIEF NEWS

ARTS

URBAN

POLICE MUZZLE DOGNAPPER

GALT UNVEILS NEW PUBLIC ART

CHICKS SHOW UP FOR SUMMER

A local dog, Bailey, was kidnapped from his home in Kitchener on June 15 and held for ransom. The dognapper arranged a trade with Bailey’s owners: $150 in exchange for the return of their pug. Thanks to police, it was a ruff end for the dognapper, who was arrested in a sting operation. Bailey was returned to his owners, and the accused is now in the doghouse.

A new public mural, created by both Indigenous and nonIndigenous artists, was unveiled in downtown Galt June on 29. The mural commemorates Indigenous culture and incorporates themes of reconciliation based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. The project was organized by art studio D3 Artworks.

The CTV Kitchener studio is now home to a happy family of peregrine falcons, after four baby chicks hatched on June 8 . The falcons, an at-risk species due to human activities and habitat loss, are living in a nest they constructed on the studio’s communications tower. You can watch the chicks online at CTV Kitchener’s live stream peregrine falcon cam.

CRA FRAUDSTERS SCAM $100K

PC MUSEUM CURATOR PASSES

BARRIER-FREE HOUSING

Residents of Waterloo Region should be aware of a Canada Revenue Agency scam operating in the area. A number of victims in the Region were defrauded of more than $100,000 over a one-week period by individuals claiming to be CRA representatives, who instructed them to deposit money into nearby Bitcoin ATMs on the pretense of owing back taxes.

Personal Computer Museum curator and video game historian Syd Bolton passed away June 11 after a brief illness. Known for the largest video game collection in Canada, with more than 13,000 games, Bolton also founded the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford. THEMUSEUM recently displayed part of his collection from October 2017 to May 2018.

A new residential building designed for people with disabilities opened this month on Sydney Ave. The rental property has 22 units, each of which is barrier-free. To make the units affordable for residents, the rent costs will be subsidized by the region. All of the units have been assigned and there is a waiting list for future applicants.

SECOND HOMICIDE WHAT ARE YOU IN REGION IN 2018 WAITING FOR?

EMPTY UPTOWN LOT REZONED

Waterloo Region experienced its second homicide of 2018 . Ronald Chandler, 66, was attacked by an unknown assailant in his home on Courtland Ave. E on June 18 and succumbed to his injuries. Waterloo Regional Police Services have not yet identified a motive or suspect in the case; however, a man spotted in the area at the time of the attack is wanted for questioning.

Last summer, you and your friends made a pact. Now that secret is eating you alive. This summer you’ll have a better time if you attend our screening of I Know What You Did Last Summer at Apollo Cinema on July 18 at 7pm. Proceeds go to supporting your favourite local community newspaper (that’s us). Apollo also has beer. That’s pretty nifty.

The empty lot at 35-41 King St. N, formerly the site of Ish & Chips before a fire in 2012 destroyed the property, has been rezoned for commercial use and plans for a new building are underway. The new development will connect with the historic post office next door and include renovation and redevelopment of the interior of that space.

after the busses unload the first load of guests to the mystery location, after the trainride, after the headliner, all organizers have their “aha” moment — the moment when they realized they did it.

For me, it was standing in the crowd while our headlining band, Crown Lands, played. I was standing among the other guests, watching the band, when this guy I didn’t know tapped me on the shoulder.

He asked me if I booked the band and I said yes.

“This party was so rad,” he continued. “You should be proud of yourself. My friends and I had so much fun.”

That’s when I had my “aha” moment. Except for me, my eyes filled with tears, and this poor stranger in front of me looked really confused as my reaction — or overreaction, to be fair — to his compliment was probably unexpected.

“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping my eyes. “I’m just really overwhelmed.”

He put his hand on my shoulder in efforts to comfort me, and I walked away out of

embarrassment. Nice guy.

I realize every day how fortunate I am to have the job that I have.

Sometimes when I tell new people what I do, I shrug it off when I explain. But I think I should stop doing that. Sure, modesty is a characteristic that is usually respected, but I think we should all start seeking work that validates us, that gratifies us, and that makes us feel really damn good about ourselves.

I realize that statement makes it sound easier than it might be for some people. So, if it’s not as easy for you, other options would be to volunteer for organizations that align with your values or spend your time with people who praise you and recognize when you’ve done something great.

The night of Steel Rails was probably the most gratifying moment of my life, so far. I can’t speak for Lakyn or Care, but for me, it was this incredible mixture of being surrounded by my friends, watching an event I helped plan come together, but also the praise that we received from our guests. That’s why I teared up when I had my “aha” moment.

If you’ve managed to get to the end of this note without thinking that I’m totally annoying and full of myself, I hope you take this away: don’t do work just for the sake of making money. Do work that makes you proud, that allows you to meet new people, that offers you exciting new experiences and do that work with people who validate you and praise you. Do work that forces you to jump on the train.

See you next year, Steel Rails.

Special thanks to Lakyn and Care, obviously. Not everyone gets to work with their friends and I’m so lucky that I do. Also a huge thanks to our amazing team of volunteers and the staff at WLUSP, my roommates, Anna and Meghan (oh, and Emily), our food and beverage vendors, all our incredible artists, Kevin and Cody of Crown Lands, our token sound guy Evan, and of course, all our sponsors who made this event happen.

But above all, thank you to you, yeah you, who bought the ticket.

The train can’t leave unless it has passengers.

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HOW DIVERSE IS YOUR BEER? FORMER KW BASED BEER REP EMBARKS ON NEW PROJECT

BETH BOWLES EDITOR IN CHIEF “I’m absolutely part of craft beer, and craft beer is part of me,” Ren Navarro said, when I asked her to tell me about herself.

Navarro is one of those people you always just see around Kitchener-Waterloo; in the hour that we sat together in Princess Café, she had short interactions with several people who came and went, hugging every single one of them. Her smile is infectious and her demeanor is comforting, qualities that set her up to be successful in the Ontario craft beer industry, which she has been a part of for about seven years.

“Everyone drinks bad beer, so when I was in university, it was bad beer. And then as time went by, I started getting better with it, learning about craft beer,” she said.

Navarro’s time in the beer industry has mostly been spent working in sales for various breweries. Her first sales job was with Great Lakes, but she’s also worked with Kensington Brewery and Descendants. She is also a co-founder of the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies, as well as being involved with Queens of Craft Beer as a speaker. When her wife got a job in Guelph two years ago, the two decided to move from their hometown of Toronto to KW. But, at the end of April, she gave up her job as a sales rep for Redline Brewhouse to pursue a different avenue within the beer scene. At the beginning of May, Navarro launched beer-diversi-

ty.com, a website committed to sparking conversations about diversity in the beer industry.

This project, however, wasn’t just an overnight decision. As a queer woman of colour, Navarro has always been trying to make space for everyone in the Ontario craft beer industry, with a specific focus on gender identity, race, sexuality, etc.

“Beer is not a guy’s thing anymore … There’s a tone of female sales reps, there’s a tone of female brewers,” Navarro said.

Now, Ren is being booked to speak at various breweries, restaurants and colleges, in addition to appearing on both TV and podcasts, about beer and diversity.

“When you look at craft beer, it’s really white and it’s really male. Women are starting to get in there, but it’s white women, too. When I go into a bar, and I look around, everyone’s there … it’s like, why aren’t you represented in the people who make the beer?” she explained. “[My push with the website] is that it’s a conversation. It’s not just me showing up yelling at people that you need more people of colour, you need more women, you need more queer [people]. Let’s just talk about it.”

Navarro recalled a time when she spoke at a collage about how to make space for underrepresented groups in breweries. She said a male audience member explained that he allows space for those groups of people in his brewery, but they just don’t come.

Navarro said this is a common misunderstanding when talking about beer and diversity.

She counteracted that statement with this analogy: “You guys are all invited to my house,” she said. “I’m not going to tell you where I live, but if you know

where I live, I’ll pour you a beer when you get there.”

Navarro explained that promoting diversity at your brewery is simple: the onus is on you to tell people in approachable and subtle ways that they’re invited in.

“You can’t say I tried a thing, I got shot down, and now I can’t do it. We all fail in life. There’s a piece that everyone has that’s like, I could have done this better,” she said.

Navarro explained that when we approach issues as complex as diversity, a lot of people are more likely to not try because the fear of failing is stronger than the desire to be better. Instead of getting defensive when we make mistakes, we need to listen, own our downfalls, and try again.

“We need to get away from being so scared of stuff,” she said.

An approach to promoting diversity in the local beer scene that Navarro praised happens right here, at Kitchener-based Short Finger Brewing Co. They run a women’s only Beginners Guide to Homebrewing Class. Beer educator Kat Rogers leads this class which acts as a safe and comfortable space for women to learn how to brew together.

Navarro also promotes breaking down stereotypes we place on people of colour and how we assume the types of alcohol they must like.

“I think that what we need to remember is that it’s not just white people who like alcohol,” she said.

“You can’t just keep having white guys selling the beer.”

Moving forward, Navarro hopes to keep the conversation going by booking more talks. In “typical Ren fashion,” she’s still keeping busy while working at Rhythm and Brews in Cambridge, as well as doing beer consulting for

Ren Navarro advocates for a more diverse Ontario craft beer scene.

BRIT KOVACS PHOTO Mercer Hall in Stratford and Butchies in Whitby.

“Right now, my goal is to start a conversation. A lot of people have asked me, “how do with fix this,” or “how do we make it better,” and I’m like, I don’t have answers on fixing it, I think making it better is talking about it and saying we understand that the system is inherently broken in a lot of ways,” she said.

“What my end goal is, is to actually

have people be like, I don’t want to book you anymore for things because everything is fine and you’re boring. I want there to be a bunch of people of colour being like, move over old lady, we’ve got this.”

Navarro’s next talk is booked for July 6 at Black Creek Community Farm in Toronto, but if you can’t make that, you’re bound to bump into her somewhere that sells (good) beer in the Region.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO

CEO OF THEMUSEUM PLANS FOR MASSIVE EXPANSION EMILY GLEESON CONTRIBUTOR David Marskell, CEO of THEMUSEUM, is looking ahead to the future of “what dreams may come” for the expansion of THEMUSEUM and wants to know what members of the Kitchener-Waterloo community have to say about it.

Last month, The Bank of Montreal donated one million dollars along with a sole purchaser agreement that would allow THEMUSEUM fundraising time to raise another two million to buy the bank’s branch right next door. Marskell has plans to then turn it into something … well, something cool.

“We want to continue to do what we are known for,” Marskell said. “But we don’t know exactly what else we should be doing and want to get that from the public.”

Working with an independent fundraising company, THEMUSEUM is already one year into the consultation process with potential funders and has also started meeting with the universities and Conestoga College to see what could be on their mind for the new development.

“But we have no agenda,” Marskell said.

“We want to collect those conversations and talk to the universities to see what strategies they might want to put on stage here, and then come back in the fall knowing how much we can raise.

That will determine how big we can go, and then away we go.”

The two buildings are not physically connected, making the construction

challenging. Ideally, they would tear down the existing structure and build from the ground up.

“I believe that we can get to something that doubles us in size and at least as tall as [THEMUSEUM] is with a rooftop terrace and something that can connect certain levels from this building to that building,” he said.

But of course, any ideas of grandeur are dependent upon money.

“Worse thing that can happen is somebody looking back in 20 years says: why didn’t they build it bigger? [sic]” They’ve been working with architect Laird Robinson from Neo Architecture, who helped them do a space analysis several years ago. Robinson pointed out four important future goals to keep them sustainable: 12-14,000 continuous square feet of grade A exhibition space (quality room temperature controlled for big shows and exhibitions), a per-

manent family experience (something for everyone), a dedicated theatre that won’t have to compete with noise issues (and could also function as rehearsal space, concerts, film showings, assorted theatre, guest speakers, etc.), and lastly, an enhanced food and beverage and merchandising area.

“B@THEMUSEUM could be something totally different in the future – with a patio on the rooftop?”

Marskell seemed to be dreaming out loud as we discussed the potential.

“Who knows what that could become?” he said.

The dedicated theatre space is something the burgeoning DIY music community might be interested in, as well.

“I would love for us to allow for rehearsal space, maybe even live rehearsal in front of others?” he said.

Another dream, another idea.

“The potential benefits will allow

us to do the free stuff. It goes beyond THEMUSEUM, it’s a great opportunity for many arts and culture groups.”

Marskell said he’s contacted the Region to get a list of artists to consult with, but in terms of the universities and colleges, who gets to be heard?

“I am able to talk fairly high up with the universities – at the professor level and some of the deans as well – but the student one, I’m not sure how to do that forum,” he said.

Referring to the students as “culture craving urbanites” that the LRT will soon be able to shuttle back and forth, Marskell emphasized that what they do with the newly acquired space must be a collaborative effort.

“I’d like to talk to the students. I have to figure out the best forum for that,” he said.

JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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CAMBRIDGE GUIDE TO

SUMMER EATING WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS

THE AGING OAK 3 QUEEN ST. E

One of downtown Hespeler’s newest additions, The Aging Oak, is an intimate space with a menu that features modern dishes with a rather sophisticated taste, paired nicely with a selection of whiskey and wines. It has a variety of sharable items for an ideal night out with friends and a classy appeal that inspires a solid spot for a first date.

Andy’s pick: Apple and Brie Flatbread

FIFTY’S GRILL & DELI 426 HESPELER ROAD

Fifty’s is a popular family restaurant with large portions at affordable prices. Located quite literally in the middle of Cambridge, they have an extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with fast service, making it an ideal location for a family outing. They also have a variety of tasty seafood selections for those who want to dive into something a little more fishy.

ERNIES ROADHOUSE 7 QUEEN ST. W

Eating at Ernie’s is about immersing yourself in a little Hespeler history while making some new memories of your own. The restaurant provides spacious indoor seating and a balcony view in one of downtown Hespeler’s historic buildings. You’ll find a variety of satisfying apps, lunch and dinner options to be had over good conversation with friends and family.

Andy’s pick: Shamrock Club

WUDDUP DOG 763 KING ST. E

Wuddup Dog is a small shop with a whole lot of character. They carry 18 different kinds of hot dogs on their regular menu with an assortment of deep fried desserts for those with a sweet-tooth. It stays open late for after-bar crowds in pursuit of something greasy to eat.

Andy’s pick: Texan

Andy’s pick: Chicken Tender Appetizer

TOASTERS FAMILY DINER 104 WATER ST. N

Toasters is a bustling little breakfast and brunch restaurant where you’ll hear the servers greet the locals by name. The delightfully welcoming atmosphere is a true testament to the kind of experience this Preston diner has to offer. They serve savory breakfast classics with meat and veggie options on the menu to enjoy.

Andy’s pick: Icecap Buttermilk Pancakes

L.A. FRANKS 104 WATER ST. N

L.A. Franks is a fast-food summer staple in Galt. It offers a variety of hotdogs, burgers, fries and milkshakes along with outdoor-only seating by the Grand River. It’s the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat and walk along the water while taking in the sunny day and downtown Galt’s historic architecture. Just remember, this little roadside stop is cash only.

Andy’s pick: Baked Potato Fries

JULY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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DROPBIKE

DROPS

IT LIKE

IT’S HOT CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO

SEX FOR THE YOUNG, SEX FOR THE OLD SEXPLANATIONS

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST People of all ages have sex, and this would include people who are older. Intimate sex, kinky sex, sex with themselves, sex with others, quickies, sex that lasts all day … The problem is the media has made us believe that only young, thin, good looking people have sex. This is absolutely not the case.

Sex can help keep an aging body healthy. It gets the blood flowing, the heart rate up and can relieve stress.

It can help with sleep, help to relax the body, and of course, it feels good.

As bodies age they often change.

You may have more aches and pains, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, incontinence. You may have difficulties obtaining or maintaining an erection, your vagina may not naturally lubricate. You may have lost a partner, you may have begun a new relationship. This does not mean you cannot have sex.

What it means is you have to take these things into consideration. You may want to broaden your definition of sex. Kissing, cuddling, caressing, touching, rubbing, can all be pleasurable. Penetration does not need to be the goal. Try new positions, use props such as pillows to make yourself comfortable. If you are having sex with a partner, communication is more important than ever.

Tell them what feels good and what doesn’t. Talk about your fantasies, plan things out in advance. Sex does not need to be spontaneous to be pleasurable — another myth the

media has made us believe.

Take your time with foreplay and afterplay. It takes time for the genitals to become aroused. The blood does not flow as easily and it may not be flowing to the genitals as often. You may want to use lubrication, vaginal moisturizers, sex toys and medications such as Viagra. Maybe you have the most energy in the morning – plan to have sex in the morning then, or after an afternoon nap. Whatever works for you.

Ageism often prevents people from being sexual. They may have been told they should not have sex because they are old, maybe they have internalized the ageism and stop having sex. The media does not portray them as sexual, and when it does it is for comic relief. Healthcare providers often do not ask aging adults about their sex lives, assuming they do not have one. Retirement homes and long-term care facilities

may frown upon a healthy sex life.

How are people in later life supposed to feel good about getting some?

With all the positives to having a sex life — pleasure, challenging ageist stereotypes, increased body awareness, increased body comfort, increased sense of vitality, increased well-being and happiness — why do we not promote this activity for people in later life? Are we worried they will have a good time? Maybe an orgasm or two? We need to stop thinking of aging adults as asexual, and start thinking of them as people with desires, wants and needs. It will be good for everyone because face it, we are all aging.

Stacey Jacobs is the sexual health educational manager at SHORE Centre.

HOW TO “BEE” A VOICE FOR THE BEES GABBY BORGERINK CONTRIBUTOR A new initiative in Waterloo Region is focusing on a group that needs our help: the bees. The Pollinator Working Group will be focus primarily on ensuring the bees have a safe habitat, but also to increase awareness on the importance of caring for the bees.

These volunteers are going to be improving habitat on local parklands, as well as educating at local events.

They will get together once a month, to find ways to improve the Region so we are more bee friendly.

Kitchener-Waterloo have recently become bee cities, signifying we are striving towards protecting the bees, but we can definitely take more action as individuals.

Why should we care so much about bees? Bees pollinate 70 per cent of the 100 crop species that provide us with 90 per cent of our food supply.

Meaning that if bees die, humanity won’t be able to exist. The foods we see on our grocery shelves will be gone. The first species of bees have been recently added to the endangered species list, which means that we need to take action before it is too late.

How can we easily support the bees so they aren’t dying off? The most important thing you can do is buy organic food, or support farms that do not use pesticides. It is super im-

If you haven’t seen one before, this is a man-made beehive filled with some happy bees. NICK STANLEY PHOTO portant to go to local farmers markets or visit a farm, and talk to them about their practices. Many farms practice organically without pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers, but they just can’t afford to be organic certified because it is quite costly.

The increased use of pesticides affect the bees because it attacks their central nervous system and causes them to become paralyzed and die.

If we eliminate, or seriously reduce, the amount of chemical pesticides, it will not only benefit the health of the bees, but ours as well.

Another great way to support bees if you are purchasing honey, is to ensure that is is raw, local, and that

the beekeepers take good care of the bees. A lot of the mass-produced honey companies are feeding their bees high fructose corn syrup, when they are really supposed to be eating their own honey. When bees do not consume honey, their immune genes do not turn on and they are even more susceptible to damage from pesticides and cannot fight off infection.

Last thing you can do to support bees, is plant a variety of flowers in your yard and leave a basin of water out for them. With all of the forests being cut down for farming, and mono-cultures (massive fields of one single crop) there is no variety and

it is negatively affecting the bees. In addition, the water they come into contact with is often contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals, so it is important they are consuming clean water.

I hope you can take some of these steps and apply them to your day-today life, so we can protect the bees for the future. If you’d like to learn more you can go on beecitycanada. org.

Gabby Borgerink is a Holistic Nutritionist living in Kitchener.

RAMONA LEITAO SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR After the discontinuation of Community Access Bikeshare, a service provided by The Working Centre, the Region of Waterloo is welcoming a new service for its upcoming bike share project, that is prospected to be launched later this summer.

DropBike, a company based in Toronto that creates GPS-enabled bikes will partner up with the Region for a one-year pilot project, where residents will have the chance to test out the system.

“We’re planning on launching somewhere between 200-300 bikes in the Region, hopefully in the next couple of weeks,” said Julie Belanger, planner for transportation demand management for the Region of Waterloo.

According to DropBike’s website, riders would use the smartphone application to find the bike, and scan the QR code to unlock it.

Unlike the traditional bike share systems in other municipal cities, DropBike is a dockless system, where riders are not required to return the provided rented bikes to designated docks or stations.

Riders can open up the smartphone app and find the nearest specially marked “havens,” or can park the bike in a public bike rack or bike post. Riders must then lock up the bike as required by their local bylaws.

Riders also have the option of paying one dollar per hour or using the program’s monthly pricing option, depending on how often they use the bikes.

Transportation within the Region has been a hot topic in the past few years. With the delay of the LRT, as well as advocacy groups such as CycleWR who are raising awareness about biker safety, the KW community is, without a doubt, looking for sustainable alternative methods of transportation.

With the GPS-enabled locks will also help the Region in collecting data to see what is required for an adequate bike sharing system, according to Belanger.

“We hope that with this program, the data collected from the program, and the input of the people that we’ll be able to make proper policy choices for the future,” Belanger said.

As of now DropBike has collaborated with eight other Canadian cities in initiating a bikeshare program, including Toronto, Vancouver, and Kingston.

Visit dropbike.co for more information about the system.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @COMMUNITYEDITION

JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

7

TO STRAW OR NOT TO STRAW, THAT IS THE QUESTION

STRAWS CREATE A TON OF WASTE, SO HOW IS WATERLOO REGION RESPONDING TO THESE TINY GARBAGE TERRORS?

PAIGE BUSH PHOTO

KAITLYN SEVERIN CONTRIBUTOR There is a new trend hitting the global stage, or possibly a reassessment of a trendy plastic item that is accessible to all guests in almost every restaurant, café and business in the Region of Kitchener-Waterloo: straws.

Throughout the past year, businesses, cafés and restaurants, both locally and nationally, have been cutting down on their use of plastic straws from their services. Municipalities, such as Vancouver, are beginning to outlaw plastic straws to reduce the reliance on single-use cutlery and products. A&W Canada also recently announced it will reduce plastic straws by the end of the year and instead offer customers paper straws. According to the company, it is estimated that A&W will annually keep 82 million plastic straws out of landfills.

Currently, local businesses, such as Becky’s Apartment in uptown Waterloo, have started charging their customers 25 cents per straw, which will then go to an environmental charity, or offer paper straws instead of plastic.

Staff at Becky’s Apartment quit including plastic straws in their drinks

and only added them if a customer requested it. Later, their management moved their straw supply off to the side of their bar, where it would give customers a choice to either enjoy their beverage without a straw, or grab a straw for themselves.

“We actually haven’t ordered straws, like we’ve only been around for two years, and we haven’t ordered straws in probably over a year,” said Alex Hicknell, general manager and bartender at Becky’s Apartment.

Currently, Hicknell and the staff at Becky’s Apartment are working with their sister bars, Stark and Perri and Night School, to stop their use of plastic straws. The bar is also working to get rid of single-use cutlery, which Hicknell encourages other restaurants to begin looking into.

“I don’t think we can go back on this.

This is a great thing and we like that we’re one of the first to be doing it,” he said. “We want the whole city to get involved with it.”

However, the potential reduction of plastic straws throughout the Region of Waterloo may prove to be a consequence for those living with certain disabilities, as they may rely on these products.

“I do think it’s a bit of a concern; I personally use straws pretty much all the time,” said Carmen Sutherland, community relations for Bridges to Belonging

Waterloo Region, an organization that assists people with disabilities and their families in the Region.

While Sutherland applauds the positive impact that comes from the banning of plastic straws, she explained how many individuals living with disabilities need straws to assist them when drinking.

“This would definitely make life difficult for individuals with disabilities,” she said.

With the act of potentially banning plastic cutlery, however, Sutherland said she would not mind as much, as she prefers the use of regular utensils.

“I want to address all perspectives, but for me it would not make me sad if they were to ban plastic utensils,” she said.

“Plastic utensils don’t usually cut it, so I would actually prefer to have regular utensils anyways.”

For Kathleen Barsoum, waste coordinator at Waste Management for the Region of Waterloo, the charging or banning of plastic straws is nothing but a positive decision for many environmental reasons. Plastic straws, for instance, cannot be recycled, only thrown into the garbage.

Everyday plastic straws are mainly produced from polypropylene plastic, which is a resin made by stringing together molecules of a propylene gas.

When a high number of these molecules are chemically made together, they will

then form a solid plastic material — a straw.

Straws can also get caught in garbage trucks and conveyor belts at recycling stations, and they can eventually land up in our provincial ecosystems, such as our Great Lakes.

“We have no regulations against straws, we have not, probably ever, collected them in the blue box program because they’re terrible for recycling,” said Barsoum.

Approximately two years ago, the Waterloo Region switched their garbage pick-up to every second week, but kept picking up blue bins and green boxes, which collects recyclable products and organic materials, respectively. The impact of this program saw a 124 per cent jump in green bin use, and the use of recycling in the Region has increased by 11 per cent, according to the Waterloo Record.

“Weekly blue bin and green box … has had a tremendous effect on what we’re collecting now, it made people really stop and rethink their waste,” said Barsoun.

“I think there’s a whole grassroots movement happening that we can feel and see, [and] I think straws are just the beginning.”

While Barsoum has only seen this local “green movement” in the past few months, the world has been working to reduce and reuse their plastic materials.

Last July, Beijing, China compiled a list of 24 types of waste that would no longer be accepted in 2018. At the time, the country was taking in approximately half of the world’s paper and plastic for recycling. Beijing has also imposed new standards in the hopes of avoiding unclean and contaminated waste.

“Since they’ve done that, a lot of municipalities are struggling in getting well sorted materials,” said Barsoum.

“We ask the residents to sort containers and those are consumer products — foods, drinks, household containers, put all of those into one blue box. The job is to get all the containers sorted really clean.”

The recycling plan in Waterloo is a three-step process, according to Barsoum. Residents are asked to sort their containers and materials into the correct bins. When the bins are picked up during the week, collectors will sort out certain products that do not belong in the blue bins. Finally, the containers are brought to the recycling sorting centre at the Waterloo Waste Management site, where collectors will sort through the recyclable, or non-recyclable, materials.

“If they happen to see a straw in a container, they’ll have to pull the whole container off so it’s a waste,” said Barsoum.

“Residents can really help — not just stop using straws but also, just be if you’re using [straws], put it in the garbage and don’t hide them.”

WILL THE FORD GOVERNMENT DIVIDE US IN KW? WR AND HOWE

JAMES HOWE COLUMNIST What the Ford happened? Now we have Premier Doug Ford. What was unimaginable six months ago is now reality. Now what?

For myself, the antidote to the provincial election was to immerse myself in community and the arts.

Neighbours Day, the Summer Lights Festival, CAFKA and the Grand Porch Party all provided hope after Ontario supported a campaign that appealed to people’s self interest.

I fear that the worst possible outcome of the election is the further

polarization of politics and society where those on the right dismiss anything to the left and those on the left are only satisfied with positions that align with their worldview. Then our positions harden as we lob arguments and insults back and forth.

So let’s resist retreating into echo chambers.

At the same time, we absolutely need to stand up to ignorant bullies who threaten vulnerable people. But let’s not allow Doug Ford to set the agenda for what is important to us.

Rather than digging in and spending all our time and energy in resistance, let’s concentrate on building the community we want to live in.

Our differences, including our differences in experiences, tend to be what divides us. And we resist change that challenges our own experiences or we have trouble

understanding why something needs to be a priority.

So if we shovel our sidewalks and get around by car, we think everyone should shovel their own sidewalk and we want to city to stop dumping snow at the end of our driveway. We have trouble valuing the experience of others who see how many unshoveled sidewalks they encounter that make it difficult for them to push a stroller while walking their kids to school or who need a flat surface so their wheelchair can make it to the bus stop.

If you can easily hop in a car to make a grocery run or grab a coffee, it is hard to appreciate how challenging it is for Traynor-Vanier residents to lose the walkability of their neighbourhood where many people rely on walking, riding bikes and public transit. Perhaps that is

why two years after the problem was identified, there is a sign on the fence around the LRT track prohibiting crossing instead of a replacement for the foot worn pathways that provided easy access to Fairway road before. There is not even a firm plan in place which means a solution is at least a year away.

So we need to get to know each other better as people and understand that we have different experiences, needs and perspectives. We can start doing that by immersing ourselves in community.

Have not been to downtown Kitchener in years? Be sure to join the the tens of thousands enjoying the blues festival.

Haven’t been on a bike in years?

Take a ride on the Iron Horse or Spur Line trails. See how busy they are and how hard it is to cross

streets. Or ride a bike to run an errand and see if you feel safe enough have a child ride with you next time.

In short, put yourself into situations where you get to meet different people and get to know them as people and not caricatures. And build community by volunteering at events that bring people together or by organizing a street party. Get inspired by tactical urbanism and the interventions common to the 100 in 1 Day movement that try to initiate positive changes.

By doing so, we can build the bridges we need to be stronger and reduce the ability of Doug Ford and friends to divide us.

STE

RA

PHOTOS BY PAUL LIPPERT AND ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS

EEL

AILS 2018

IT HAPPENED. 500 PEOPLE. 12 TRAIN CARS. 25 ARTIST INSTALLATIONS. 1 RAINY NIGHT. Steel Rails 2018 was a whirlwind of a night. You showed up knowing nothing and we hope we impressed. We danced, we painted, we drank, we made the best of the rain and we raised a lot of money for this newspaper we hold so dear.

Thank you to every person involved in this: attendees, sponsors, artists, volunteers. Extra big shout-out to all who donated at the bar.

See you next year.

JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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SMALL PROJECT TURNS TO BIG BLISS THE SIDE HUSTLE

Jade Billo opened Big Bliss downtown in January. PAIGE BUSH PHOTO

CAMERON KLAPWYK COLUMNIST When Jade Billo opened her downtown Kitchener yoga studio Big Bliss in 2016, she was the embodiment of hustle.

“I had myself on for 39 classes a week,” she said. “I taught at 6:45 a.m., I taught at noon, and then I taught four classes at night and five classes on Saturday.”

Born and raised downtown Kitchener, Billo has lived in the area ever since, apart from a year and a half spent in Montreal.

In 2014, the company that Billo was working for as a data conversion programmer got bought out, her role changed, and she started working from home.

“I was convinced I was going to get laid off,” she said. “I felt useless.”

At the same time, she was beginning to get the sense that downtown Kitchener was about to take off.

“I had to be a part of it,” she said.

“Because me and my husband grew up here, I was so excited for it.”

In 2012, Billo earned her Zumba certification and began teaching classes at GoodLife. It was her first side hustle and she was hooked.

Not long after this, she began to develop knee problems from the high

impact nature of her Zumba classes.

So she turned to Yoga as another option to stay active, eventually becoming a certified Yoga instructor In 2016, the possibility of renting her own space downtown Kitchener presented itself. But after several options fell through she began to get discouraged. So she took a job interview with another tech company, not really knowing where her future was headed.

She bombed the interview. This gave her the motivation to give her dream one more shot.

Then she found a space at Zion United Church on Weber Street. In the church there was a gymnasium that offered a more affordable real estate option than most other options she had looked at to that point. This came with more than its fair share of quirks.

“The floor was old shuffleboard tiles that were yellow and scraping off in spots, there were bats in the space — it was bad,” she said. “Think of a school from the 1950s and imagine that someone closed the doors on it back then and didn’t open them until now.

That’s what it was like.”

After much hard work preparing the space, Big Bliss officially opened its doors on August 29, 2016. The first few months were quite slow. But by the end of its first year, the studio had nearly 40 members.

On June 24, 2017, Billo’s birthday, she heard a rumour that her landlord at Zion United Church wanted to sell the building. At the time she had been ready to invest significant money into the place in order to introduce hot

yoga.

After months of searching, Billo finally found a new space for Big Bliss on Duke Street in November 2017.

She and her husband got keys to the place on Dec. 4, but it was supposed to take 21 days to get permits with city staff going on holidays for last two weeks of December.

“I wrote [the city] this really sad letter and asked them to please, please have it done before they went on vacation.”

And on the Dec. 12, they got their approval and the last two weeks of December were a complete blur as two walls came down, a new wall went up, everything was painted.

“We were slated to open Jan. 2,” she said. “That first class that we did, the night before there was garbage everywhere. Some of our regulars came and I felt really bad for them because they got drywall dust on them.”

But a bit of drywall dust was not going to keep people away.

“We doubled our membership in the first two months of being in the new space,” Billo said.

Big Bliss continues to grow. Currently there are around 140 members, though Billo dreams of one day reaching 500 members and opening a second location. What was once her side hustle has now become her full hustle.

“I’m so excited to just focus on Big Bliss,” she said. “I hated being half-assed in two different things.”

JAMES GOWLAND PHOTO

MIRAGE VR PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES IN DTK JAMES GOWLAND CONTRIBUTOR Attention gamers! Growing tired of the same old videogames? Are you ready to have your lucky unwashed gamers socks blown right off your feet? For the past seven months, Mirage VR has housed and pioneered a virtual reality experience that is the first of its kind in North America. This “hyperreality” platform allows players to maintain complete autonomy when immersed in Mirage VR’s team

oriented virtual reality world. There are no wires tying you down, all missions are free-roaming, and there are a multitude of ways to slaughter your enemies! In the distance, Mario and Luigi are running for the 64-bit hills …

Aside from the potential demise of the Mario Brothers, the impact of Mirage VR on our community transcends local gamer culture.

Social and family gatherings as well as work-related employee team building have become attractive and successful business components of the Mirage VR experience. But this was after a change in Mirage VR’s business plan.

Initially, when the co-founders were still in university at Laurier and University of Waterloo, companies hired Mirage VR for events and

trade-shows.

“We were kind of like the wowfactor,” said Mirage VR regional manager Sanket Patil. “It was fun, traveling around and stuff, but it wasn’t a sustainable business model.”

After witnessing the potential of their product, and with early support from Velocity as well as further mentoring and sales guidance from Communitech, Mirage VR opened its initial location in October 2017 at the former factory building on 283 Duke St. West.

Soon enough, other tech companies in the area took notice.

To this day, there continues to be avid interest and support from these companies as they encourage teambuilding events for their employees in this unique virtual reality, or “hyper-reality” environment, as

Mirage VR calls it.

This “hyper-reality” stems from the increased level of immersion engaging the players, according to Patil, as there are certain roadblocks in normal VR: participants are isolated and play alone, they can’t walk around, and they can potentially trip on tethered wires that they are attached to. Players instead get to interact with their 3D environment, not by pressing buttons on a controller, but by “gesture-based” body movements, Patil said.

Full autonomy through a wireless headset, backpack and wrist and ankle sensors allow players to free-roam through an option of two customized virtual worlds.

With up to four players at a time, team members choose between a

magician, a warrior, an archer, and a priest, each with their own powers.

The mission is either to protect the obelisk from the good-turned-bad creatures of “Sherwood Forest,” or defend the team’s ship from angry sea creatures in the water-world of “Dragonfire.”

Within the next year or two, Mirage VR plans to expand to the GTA. After that, and when ready, they hope to establish the company in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal.

But of course, current issues must be addressed first.

“One of our biggest hurdles is explaining to someone who has never done virtual reality before how real it actually feels,” Patil said.

JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

11

MORE THAN JUST FISTICUFFS

WRESTLERS IN KW EXPLAIN THE ARTSY SIDE OF PRO WRESTLING

SHYENNE MACDONALD CONTRIBUTOR For as long as recorded history begins, and no I’m not a historian of any sort but I’ll take a guess and say even pre-dating records, we’ve had a fascination with fighting. Whether it’s gladiators in a pit, bears tied to a pole or a sweaty Hulk Hogan blown up on a television screen, it’s safe to say that even if you personally don’t care for wrestling, collective society does.

But wrestling isn’t just about some primal urge to watch an opponent get obliterated by a man named Superfly. There’s a more theatrical, dare we say even artful, side to wrestling that isn’t often discussed.

I sat down with local pro-wrestlers Ben Ortmans and Chris Tidwell (aka Big Ben and Notorious T.I.D.), owners of Cross Body Pro Wrestling Academy in Kitchener to explore this avant-garde view of the sport.

“I have to believe that [critics] would at least be honest with themselves to look at it like it’s performance art, because it is,” Tidwell explained. “I would think that even people that don’t like pro-wrestling have to look at it like performance art.”

When I picture an artist they’re usually drinking black coffee and give forlorn sighs at all the right moments. They aren’t bodybuilders called Undertaker.

But obviously it’s me, and my admittedly elitist views, that are getting in the way here. Going back to 1895, the first wrestling film, Ringkämpfer was created. It featured vaudeville star Eugen Sandow, who’s often known as the “father of modern bodybuilding.” In vaudeville, he was known as the world’s strongest man who would often do muscle display performances and would model statues like The Dying Gaul. Vaudeville has always been known for its theatrical entertainment, so it’s fitting that this is where pro-wrestling’s roots really began to grow.

“There’s a little bit of improv, a little bit of stand-up. There’s stories

about good versus evil, there’s stories about right versus wrong.

Cheating versus doing the right thing,” Tidwell said.

The matches tell stories that are comparable to ones you read in comic books, it’s just like one continuous boss-battle.

“For somebody who hasn’t seen [pro-wrestling] before, it’s essentially a comic book come to life. A lot of different characters coming in but at the end of the day you’ve got your main villain and your main hero.

Those two are going to do battle,” Ortmans elaborated.

Both Tidwell and Ortmans spoke about the creativity behind the characters seen in pro-wrestling.

“Each one of us has the ability to individualize our own characters, our own ideas of what we think those characters should be doing. It gives us the ability to act out, so to speak,” Tidwell said.

“

THERE ARE THINGS IN LIFE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO, EVEN IF YOU’RE SCARED. - CHRIS TIDWELL, WRESTLER

”

“Like any form of self-expression, it’s not just limited to one thing,” Ortmans concluded.

But wrestling isn’t all just one big performance. While the fighting is dramatized, real skill is required to throw that punch without actually hurting your opponent. Just in case this writing gig doesn’t pan out, I asked Ortmans and Tidwell what it takes to become a pro-wrestler.

“We take bumps and bruises and falls in unnatural ways and condition our bodies to take those falls and not get injured. It takes a certain mindset to be able to say this is acceptable for me to do to myself,” Tidwell said.

“It takes a thick skin, because this is a cutthroat dog-eat-dog business … along the way there’s going to be a lot of BS, a lot of hardship and a lot of sleepless nights … If you completely immerse yourself into the lifestyle of it it’s going to be a lot

easier for you. Most importantly it takes a great attitude and the ability to eat a lot of shit without a fork.”

Ortmans echoed Tidwell by explaining the necessary separation between mind and body.

“The best advice I was ever given in the wrestling business was ‘don’t think.’ Thinking causes fear, fear causes hesitation and hesitation causes injury,” Ortmans said.

In their own way they both discussed a fear that can come from the wrestling. Fear of embarrassment, fear of serious injury and even fear that all the energy into training was for nothing.

“There are things in life that you have to do, even if you’re scared,” Tidwell said, as it became more apparent that he was particularly good at ending thoughts with line of wisdom that you could apply to all aspects of life.

No matter Tidewll or Ortmans’ fears or hesitations, one thing that continues to triumph above it is their passion.

“I grew up in Las Vegas … I was there, and it was Jimmy Superfly Snuka, he was working a program with Colonel Debeers and ends up getting busted open. They had to bring the ambulance out and cart him off and everybody was freaking out, losing their marbles. For me, I found I wasn’t watching the wrestlers, I was watching the people in the audience. It was always, that’s what I need to command, I need to make these people do that for me.

From that moment on I was hooked in wrestling,” Tidwell reminisced.

“I saw Hulk Hogan when I was a kid and I never had another thought … they had me literally from day one,” Ortmans recalled his own moment of clarity.

At the end of the day, pro-wrestling still isn’t an act anyone would call a classical art, even if it is steeped in history. But undeniably there’s something more than just sweat, rage and a whole lot of testosterone.

That unconventional side of it, the side that keeps it separated from being in the same leagues of MMA or Julliard, is what makes gyms like Cross Body Pro Wrestling Academy so perfect for Kitchener-Waterloo.

Chris Tidwell (left) and Ben Ortmans (right) are the owners of Cross Body Pro Wrestling Academy in Kitchener.

NICK STANLEY PHOTOS

HOW IS WR SHAPING UP, ENVIRONMENTALLY? EASY BEING GREEN

STACEY DANCKERT COLUMNIST We should all be proud of the leadership that our regional and municipal governments have taken on climate mitigation this spring.

Starting on April 9 with Kitchener City Council, followed by the remaining municipalities and the Region, an ambitious endorsement was made for carbon reduction targets that aim to achieve 80 per cent reductions under 2010 levels.

While our newest targets appear to be an ambitious leap from our previous target of 6 per cent reductions by 2020, polling, global

recommendations and other municipal targets (such as Duham, London, Peel and Toronto) were all factored into the recommendation.

So although it may sound ambitious, the global target from the United Nations Environment program is net zero carbon emissions by about 2060 in order to stay within the recommended 1.5 degrees Celsius limits of global warming.

How will we get there? Luckily we aren’t on our own. There are a number of other municipalities who have already taken this bold step, and by us doing so, hopefully even more will soon follow. Both the province of Ontario and the Federal Government have also recently committed to a similar target.

With the alignment of all three levels of government, our regional efforts need only focus on supporting the other levels of government and what we have

control over locally. For example, the regional and municipal governments could continue to improve local planning and design elements that can amplify our carbon reduction contributions. How we build our communities can have a substantial impact on emissions. If we implement relatively small changes that increase the walkability of our neighbourhoods, and improve biking infrastructure, many more people would choose active transportation as their preferred method of getting around. Since transportation is the largest greenhouse gas contributor both provincially, and locally, moving people away from using single-occupant vehicles is essential for reaching our goals.

When I chat with people about climate mitigation, the most common push-back that I receive is about the challenge of making personal changes. I

agree wholeheartedly. During the presentation to Kitchener City Council, in addition to highlighting the importance of planning, Tova Davidson, executive director of Sustainable Waterloo Region, commented: “We need to make sure that people understand that this is critical, it is doable, and it doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. It’s just change.”

And if we start now, that is exactly what it can be. If our government takes on this bold challenge, they can help to create an environment and a culture that enables us all to be supportive participants in the changes we need, without having to endure huge individual sacrifices.

I feel optimistic that this plan was adopted in good faith. At the meeting for the City of Kitchener, the motion was moved by Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and across the Region, there were thoughtful

questions and comments such as that from Councillor Yvonne Fernandes who indicated that she hoped that the dates will move forward as the program evolves.

Will it be enough? It is hard to know for sure, but certainly we do know that it is a really positive first step. I know we’re all hoping for a technological saviour to our climate woes, however, if we can successfully keep warming to within the 1.5 degree Celsius limit, it is more likely to be a collaborative effort between bold action by government, encouragement and cooperation from citizens, and creative solutions of innovators.

Stacey Danckert is the co-director of Waterloo Region Environment Network (WREN).

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JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

A MAKER’S SPACE:

INSIDE GLOBE STUDIOS

WORDS BY MELISSA BOWMAN PHOTOS BY NICK STANLEY

Waterloo Region has long been known as a manufacturing hub as far back as the 1800s. That manufacturing tradition continues to today, though its definition has transformed to include tech and creative industries.

While our tech and innovation sectors are internationally renowned.

The creative sector’s contributions are plenty as evidenced by local theatre, music, maker expos, and art museums and exhibits offered throughout the Region. This ‘maker’ mentality is even highlighted in Kitchener’s four-year economic development plan, branded as “Make It Kitchener.”

Globe Studios is one example of a local space full of makers, a gem slightly hidden in the Schneider Creek neighbourhood in Kitchener.

The studio will celebrate its 25th anniversary as an incorporated organization this upcoming fall, 18

years of it at this location.

“The studio started as an informal collective in 1988. It was several artists who were sharing space in the Globe furniture building in Waterloo.

So that’s where we have our name, from the furniture factory,” Isabella Stefanescu, a founding member of Globe Studios said.

These studios feel like a comfortable and permanent home for the artists, including photographer Mark Essner.

“It’s nice to know that we’re not going anywhere,” he said.

But it hasn’t always been that way.

“In 1993 we found ourselves without any space whatsoever. At that time there were, I’d say, about 25 artists working out of there. We were driven to work out of garages, basements, and some people couldn’t work at all,” Stefanescu said.

They eventually found space at 72

Victoria Street South.

“We rented a whole floor and subdivided it into individual studios.

We were there for basically about five years. Then we were given two months notice to clear out because the building had been sold. It totally disrupted everybody’s working, for sure. I had to postpone an exhibition because I didn’t have a place to work,” Stefanescu recalled.

The artists needed a new location but rental prices were prohibitively expensive and the many moves were disrupting their work.

“We decided that we were not going to do this unless we had some kind of say in it. So, we wanted to own,” Stefanescu said.

Through partnerships with the City of Kitchener, building owners, and other stakeholders, that hope eventually became a reality.

“Our mandate at Globe is to provide affordable, suitable, safe space. We have kept the rents low, through some very lean times. We’re essentially self sufficient because what finances all of this is the rent from the studios,” Stefanescu said.

“Right now, we have almost no turnover and we have a very long waiting list. Some people have been on that waiting list for four years. There’s a severe shortage of affordable space for artists in the Region.”

Stefanescu also noted that the liveliness of the makers’ scene in KW is being stifled due to a lack of space.

Essner echoed the need for more space, specifically for artists.

“We have a really diverse, vibrant group of creative people [at Globe] and there are tonnes more in the community that don’t have a space who are either working from home

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JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

or renting in a non-art type of environment where typically there is a much higher overhead and the biggest thing about being there is just being part of a group,” Essner said.

He stressed that being around people that do different types of art can produce collaboration.

“It’s been a great experience,” Essner said. “I can’t really compare it to anything else locally. It is definitely unique in this area. We could have three times the space and still be full of artists. We aren’t struggling to find artists to fill our studios, that’s for sure.”

Clearly there’s a need for dedicated space for the creative sector in our community. Stefanescu wonders if part of the solution may lie with partners in the creative and innovation sectors. She brought forth the the idea of tech clusters creating

spaces for artists and matching the rent price that The Globe charges.

“There’s this thirst for this to happen but I think the tech sector is at a bit of a loss about how to go about it,” stated Stefanescu. “I think residencies would be a really interesting way. I mean, try it out. Give somebody space for a year and experiment, research.”

She challenges the tech industry to apply its innovative and creative thinking to the arts community.

“Can I say that to tech – think outside the box! Come out and see what we’re doing!” she said.

Essner sees opportunities for growth and partnership as well.

“The ideal situation would be a Globe [Studios] set up in each of the tri-cities, one in Waterloo and one in Cambridge. That’s a model we could easily do at a different address. It’s just a matter of the timing being right

and the right piece of property being available,” he offered.

The expansion of the Globe model to other areas in the Region could also be supported by developers.

“There’s a lot of opportunity,” Stefanescu noted. “As the city’s being developed, as density increases, in order to mitigate the density, developers have to contribute to the community. There’s no reason that their contribution couldn’t take the form of dedicated space for studios, theatres, rehearsal space.”

Essner suggested that some of the old buildings that are constantly being redeveloped could be used as maker space.

“It would be nice if someone would say in this part of this building, we’re going to put 10 studios there.

Obviously, the artists would have to pay for it but not at the market rent, at

an artist’s rent,” he said.

Though there may be a lack of space for artists, there is not a lack of ideas about how to change that. Stefanescu noted that it takes political will. It doesn’t just happen.

“In order to have an arts scene you need to take care of the whole ecosystem. I don’t think sometimes there’s enough understanding on both the part of civil servants and politicians how important it is to foster all levels of artistic presentation and creation,” she said.

Stefanescu recalled the important role that local government played with Globe Studios.

“As a not-for-profit we had a tremendously hard time getting a loan from a bank. Without the City of Kitchener, we could not have done this.”

Clearly, these partnerships don’t just

happen. They require thoughtful and innovative collaborations from the arts sector, the city, and those with financial resources.

“The beauty behind Globe is the community seeing that there is this cohesive group of creative people and it’s not just what we’re doing in the building,” Essner said.

“We’re out in the community as well. [We encourage the community to] recognize what we do and see the potential to do it elsewhere.”

Pictured: artists Isabella Stefanescu (left) and Cathy Ross (right)

JULY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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INSTRUCTIONS FROM ONE IMMIGRANT TO ANOTHER (HOW TO CRAM A CITY) TCE POETRY don’t forget, Food Basics on Highland has the cheapest vegetables, and a couple of blocks east, Kishki sells food from back home, the fresh bread comes in Monday mornings.

Ammar stocks better variety, but it’s a little more expensive, and you can’t get there by bus. once you get a car, everything will be easier anyway. let me tell you, you can’t live in this country without a car. do you smoke? oh, smoking here will make you wanna quit. you step out into the cold six months of the year. zamhrir. you start to feel your lungs freeze over, wallahi I can’t even get through a cigarah without cursing this place. anyway, you need a good jacket, you can’t use the ones you brought with you, there is an outlet mall in Mississauga, good jackets there for

you and the kids. ya zalmeh kids here love the school, they get little cubbies with their name on it, and they play more than they study, it’s good for them. anyway, the food here is not the same. sometimes we go barbecue in Waterloo Park, by the gazebos, we get the charcoal fire going. you know, once you have kabab on a charcoal, you cannot go back. there is couple of soccer nets too, we kick the ball around a little, but I am getting too old to compete with you young kids. we will go on Victoria Day inshallah, I will make sure to call you habibi.

not visit Victoria Park, especially after dark. I heard there’s a stabbing nearly every night, and some kids sell mokhdarat by the bridge. there is a lot of nice places around the city, so you don’t have to go there anyway, this country is so green, you can drive for hours and the trees never end. alhamadallah life is good here, especially for the kids.

tayeb listen, cigarah died out, let’s get back inside, I want to get in a game of tarneeb before we go home.

- Bashar Lulu Jabbour

ya’ani if you really want, there is a soccer league that plays in downtown Kitchener, but let me warn you do

NEW TUNE REVIEW

DON’T AVOID THE POTHOLES ALBUM: Selfie Absorbed by The Potholes LINK: thepotholesmusic.bandcamp.com

In the mid ‘70s, punk music was formed from bands who rejected the mainstream rock scene, and created a music genre to claim for themselves.

Punk fans in Kitchener-Waterloo have never really had to look far for their anti-establishment fix, as the punk/ hardcore scene has always been a recognizable scene in the Region.

Hometown punk band The Potholes were formed in 2009. The trio consists of Ryan Grzesiak (vocals/ guitar), Mark Rudnisky (drums), and Mark Sasiela (bass). They released their debut album in 2010, and just last year, they released their latest effort titled Selfie Absorbed. Not a “new tune” per se, but the guys have been going strong ever since.

The album is a 14 track package, that will not disappoint. The song “First World Problems” is a classic sounding Punk anthem. It’s reminiscent of bands like Pennywise, Millencolin and Propagandhi. It’s a high energy tune, that has a heavy funk, Chili Peppers vibe. The song builds from

fast paced chords to slow heavy breaks throughout.

Another stand out track is “Line Up.” Again, the members of the band show the heavy influence of the pioneers before them. Packed with clean harmonies and tight sounding fills, bands like Bad Religion and The Descendents come to mind.

Not to mention the prominent guitar solo, which can sometimes be unfortunately forgotten in today’s punk rock You can also check out The Potholes’ video for “Outside The Box.” The song paired with the visuals shows the bands ability to rock out, and have fun doing it. If you’re a true punk fan, and live in KW, then check out The Potholes on their socials, as well as bandcamp, iTunes of Google Play.

- Cameron Hoddle, Local DJ

JULY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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ARTS & CULTURE EVENT LISTINGS FRIDAY, JULY 6

THURSDAY, JULY 12

OLD POST OFFICE PARTY IDEA EXCHANGE

Excited to open their newest location at the Old Post Office, Idea Exchange is throwing an outdoor extravanganza. Live music, dance performances and Creative Studios activities are all included. If that doesn’t draw you, the craft beer garden and food from Food & Beverage will. Who needs to fit into their jeans this summer? 0 per cent of KW. Celebration • Free • 6pm - 10pm

DRAG CLUB SLAYS CHAINSAW

You thought this was a myth?

Well, you were myth-taken. So stop quaking in your stylish yet affordable boots and get your Scoobies assembled so you can drink some nice, foamy beer. You could save the world, and by that we mean win the Community Edition’s trivia. Come show off your watcher-level knowledge!

Proceeds go towards supporting local independent media.

Trivia • $5 • 6:45pm - 9pm

Celebrate drag culture and performance by attending one of University of Waterloo Drag Club’s most popular events. You can even take one step further by registering to perform and take chainsaw’s runway, otherwise known as their beer-stained carpets, by storm.

Sashay! Shante!

Art • Cover Pending • 6:30pm - 8:30pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 13 CRUISING ON KING STREET KITCHENER CITY HALL

Camaros, corvettes, mustangs and chargers - oh my! Our Instagram story is gearing up to host dodgy videos of one of KW’s largest street parties. If classic cars fail to entice thee, dive into hours of live entertainment and food.

Event • Free • 3pm - 10:30pm

SATURDAY, JULY 7 KW VEGFEST KITCHENER CITY HALL

This will be Waterloo Region’s very first vegan festival, which will follow fellow vegfests by promoting the benefits of plant-based living for the environment, animals and our health! Dive into the many featured food vendors, social clubs, mindful retailers, compelling speakers and even a movie screening. Mad Dog Donuts, Vegcheese & Pierogi Me? They have us drooling for days.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW PRINCESS CINEMAS

Be sure to wear your fishnet stockings and hot-pants because Dr. Frank-N-Furter is awaiting your presence as a warm-up for Halloween. Bring your halfeaten toast, your water guns and crumpled newspapers because props are fun.

Film • $13 • 9pm - 11pm

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Festival • Free • 11am - 6pm

PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET CHAINSAW

Building on our local entrepreneurial spirit and music scene, KWCDIY is bringing back KW’s very own PRFM. With the promise of pins, patches and musical performances this event has us plugging multiple reminders into our phones! Throughout the vendor portion of the event, from 2-9pm, the market will remain all ages – after 9PM it will be 19+.

Market • PWYC • 2pm - 11pm

TUESDAY, JULY 10 RAIL N ALE WATERLOO CENTRAL RAILWAY

We all know how much TCE loves train rides paired with pints of craft ale – WCR and Block 3 Brewing Co. teamed up to bless us with this combo all summer long.

Board the train at Market Station and head to B3BC where you’ll be enchanted by paddles of beer and the craftmanship of their brewers.

Brewery • $30 • 12pm - 2:30pm

BUST CASTING GLOW CENTRE FOR SEXUAL & GENDER DIVERSITY UW

For Body Appreciation week, UW Women’s Centre is hosting backto-back bust casting sessions.

There will also be discussions surrounding body image, sexualization of the female form and how the feminization of breasts perpetuates transphobia and body image. This event is for women identifying people, people with breasts, and non-binary individuals.

Art • TBA • 7pm - 9pm

ONCE MORE, WITH TRIVIA: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER CHAINSAW

TRAIN & TEA: HIGH TEA EXPERIENCE WATERLOO CENTRAL RAILWAY

An argument could be made for theme here at TCE ... Anyway, join the WCR for a morning of high tea, scones and finger sandwiches. Even though we aren’t sure what devon cream is, we’re confident you’ll be pleasantly surprised with your onboard experience.

High Tea • $38-50 • 10am - 12:45pm

BETH’S BIRTHDAY EVERYWHERE

Okay, yeah, maybe this is self indulgent, but it’s our editor in chief’s birthday, and she wants you to have a beer and a slice of pizza on this day to celebrate.

Birthday • All day

KULTRUN WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL VICTORIA PARK

Hosted by Neruda Arts, this two day (July 14-15) event promotes music from around the world. Be sure to check out the Region’s largest outdoor dance party!

Music • Free • All weekend

TUESDAY, JULY 17 SECOND ANNUAL POP-UP CINEMA VILLAGE 1 GREEN

Nothing says summer more than watching a movie under the stars amidst some of your closest pals.

This year, REC will be screening The Blind Side because a blonde Sandra Bullock speaks to our souls.

Date is subject to change due to the weather.

Film • Free • 8:30pm - 11:30pm

TUESDAY, JULY 17 BUST CAST PAINTING GLOW CENTRE

Did you attend the UW Women’s Centre body casting event on July 10th? Wonderful! Go to the Women’s Centre on this date to finish your casts and paint them.

Art • TBA • 7pm - 9pm

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER: TCE CINEMA APOLLO CINEMA

Join us in a screening of a summer classic, I Know What You Did Last Summer! Dating back to 1997, it remains one of the most notable ‘90s slasher films. Proceeds go towards supporting local independent media.

Film • $10-15 • 7pm-9pm

FRIDAY, JULY 20-21 TRUE NORTH BEER FESTIVAL LOT42

Do you want rare beer from the far away corners of our province? Same.

More than 25 brewers will descend on Waterloo for this celebration of Canadian craft beer. For the faint at heart, there is a Cider and Prosecco bar. At the very least, go for the lawn games and food trucks.

Festival • $25-50 • 8:30pm - 11:30pm

MONDAY, JULY 30 PAIGE’S BIRTHDAY EVERYWHERE

Okay, yeah, whatever, we’re doing it again. But it’s one of our photo editor’s birthdays so think good thoughts and eat some cheese, because that is what Paige would want.

Birthday • All Day

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 DTK QUEST DOWNTOWN KITCHENER

A mix between a scavenger hunt and the amazing race, Flock Social Club presents DTK with a ‘90s team challenge. The proceeds from this event will support Send ‘em Off Smiling!, a charity that works to provide children all over the Region with back-to-school supplies.

Challenge • $60 per team • 6:30pm 9:30pm

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 ACOUSTIC FOLK JAM TWB CO-OP BREWING

TWB is hosting weekly acoustic folk jams every Thursday this summer!

Bring your banjos, ukeleles, fiddles and both of your ears to join in on the festivities. Specialize in drinking beer and spectating? Us, too! Spectators are welcome.

Music • Free • 6pm - 9pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 FROM FARMER’S PLOT TO RESTAURANT POT WATERLOO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Join Janet Seally, WPL’s History Manager, on a walking tour through uptown Waterloo to celebrate #FoodDayCanada. Dive into farms, mills, general stores and taverns, butchers and markets to grocery stores and you’ll find out how Waterloo moved from plots to pots.

Food • Free• 11am - 12:30pm

COMMUNITYEDITION.CA @THECOMMUNITYED

JULY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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DEFINING “BOSS BABE” WITH

ESTEE LALONDE RAMONA LEITAO SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR A “boss babe,” in this day and age, is never done building their brand, no matter what obstacles they may face, according to beauty-and-lifestyle blogger and social influencer, Estée Lalonde, and The Truth Beauty Company’s (TBC) founder, Jennifer (Jen) Freitas.

Both Lalonde and Freitas took part in TBC’s first “Be a Boss Babe” session on June 20, a series that aims to connect women entrepreneurs in Waterloo Region and learn from each other in what it takes to build your company and brand.

The sessions was intimate, with approximately 40 people in attendance. “[The sessions] really speak to the strength of women, what kind of “boss babes” are out there, what they’re doing right now,” Neha Choudhary, TBC’s Director of Sales & Development said. “Estée [Lalonde] has been a long-time customer of ours and is close to Jen [Freitas]. It kind of just made sense to want these sessions with her, and to bring and connect other “boss babes” that we’ve either worked with or associated with into our space and really talking about

the journey that they’ve been on and really providing tools and inspirations for those in our community.”

Both Lalonde and Freitas shared their experiences in creating their own brand and their experiences in the entrepreneurial world during the Boss Babe Session.

Freitas, who has been conscious of the chemicals and additives in her personal care and food products for the past 10+ years, used her research and knowledge in founding TBC in 2013 in Waterloo, while juggling her life as a mother with two children.

TBC focuses on creating and promoting clean, eco-friendly beauty and artisanal lifestyle products.

Lalonde, who was born and raised in Waterloo, Ontario, moved to London, England, where her career in blogging and YouTube took off.

“I never really expected it to become a business,” Lalonde said, during her talk with Freitas. “It started taking up much of my time. I was working, at some point, two or three parttime jobs, and I was also a student.

Eventually I was like ‘something has to go’.”

That’s when Lalonde decided to slowly begin focusing on her YouTube career by quitting her other jobs and school.

“I started realizing ways you can make money at the job,” Lalonde said.

“I just became a little more savvy with it. You just have so many experiences, some negative and some positive, and

you just learn from them and build on it.”

Both Lalonde and Freitas emphasized how creating your own business in this day and age is different from the past.

“Now I feel my job is so multifaceted,” Lalonde said. “I have so many jobs within one job.”

Thanks to her blogging and YouTube career, Lalonde has been able to venture into other professional opportunities, such as creating her own podcast The Heart of It (which, according to Lalonde, is in the process of rebranding), writing her own lifestyle book Bloom, and partnering up with other companies for brand deals, with her most notable partnership being with beauty brand, Lancôme Paris.

“When you’re running your own company you can’t be like ‘okay cool let’s just settle there.’ I don’t feel like it’s in somebody’s nature who is an entrepreneur and wants to be successful. I feel like you’re never done. I feel like I can be doing more, that’s just in my spirit.”

Freitas also emphasized the constant hustle that is required to continue building your brand.

“I feel like I’m rushing all the time,” Freitas said. “I have two kids to factor in. I like things done a certain way. But at the end of the day, I like the rush and being able to work on the things I love.”

Social media influencer Estée Lalonde (above) and founder of The Truth Beauty Company Jen Freitas (below) at the “Be a Boss Babe” session.

RAMONA LEITAO PHOTOS

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