The Community Edition: February 2018

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 5 • FEBRUARY 2018

ABANDONED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN PAGES 8-9

KW’S WINTER WALKABILITY UNDER FIRE

WHAT MAKES UP THE REGION’S IDENTITY?

FINDING LGBTQ+ SAFE SPACES IN RELIGION

PAGE 6

PAGE 10

PAGE 12

FEBRUARY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

IN THIS

ISSUE

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 5

FEBRUARY 2018

2

FEATURE

8-9 REVIVING KW’S ABANDONED BUILDINGS

EDITOR’S PICK 11

TCE FICTION: THE LONG ROAD NORTH

3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 10 12 13 11 14 14 15 16

IN BRIEF THE FACE BEHIND THE LOCAL ADVOCATE NEW ARCADE BAR MIXES FUN & GAMES THE SIDE HUSTLE: GLODEANE BROWN SEXPLANATIONS: PUT IT ON VIBRATE KW’S WALKABILITY IN QUESTION CAN YOU PATENT SOCIAL? TEMPORARY SHELTERS ADDRESS NEED WHAT IS WR’S IDENTITY? THE CHURCH SHALL REMAIN HOLY EASY BEING GREEN: IN WINTER NATURAL REMEDIES FOR PMS SEX-ABILITY SPARKS CONVERSATION MENTAL MATTERS: TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS OONA MOON // EVENT LISTINGS CHALKING UP COMMUNITY

INSIDE

COVER BY MATT SMITH

Volume 6, Issue 5 Next issue: March 7, 2018

Photo Editor Nick Stanley

75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564

General Inquiries info@communityedition.ca

All advertising inquiries should be directed to Care Lucas at 519-884-0710 x3560 care.lucas@wlusp.com THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM Editor in Chief Beth Bowles beth@communityedition.ca Publisher Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@wlusp.com

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Andreas Patsiaouros Executive Director Lakyn Barton Advertising Manager Care Lucas Treasurer John Pehar Vice-Chair Lisa Irimescu

CONTRIBUTORS Paige Bush Gabby Borgerink Nathalie Bouchard Lea Clarin Stacey Danckert Megan Dawe Karli Ferriolo James Gowland James Howe Stacey Jacobs Cameron Klapwyk Monica Lee Sam Nabi Michael Oliveri John Roche Dylan Siebert Kaitlyn Severin Matt Smith Cara Vandermey

Social Media Coordinator Brittany Kovacs

Directors Benjamin Cooke Rosalind Horne Alan Li Noa Salamon H.G. Watson

TWITTER @THECOMMUNITYED

Web Manager Care Lucas

Corporate Secretary Noa Salamon

INSTAGRAM @COMMUNITYEDITION

Assistant Editor Ramona Leitao

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.

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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.

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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IN BRIEF

KW is known for its loft-style repurposed old buildings, but what about the ones that have yet to be repurposed and sit as vacant eyesores? Read more on page 8.

NEWS

ARTS

URBAN

SHORE INITIATES ONLINE CAMPAIGN

KW LOT OFFICIALLY OPENS

GRT PILOTS EASYGO FARE CARD

After it was announced that Grand River Hospital was not intending to apply for a 50-metre safe access zone, the SHORE Centre initiated an online campaign where residents can express why the community needs one. The new safe access zone law is intended to help in protecting women’s safety and privacy when accessing abortion services.

The KW Library of Things is having its official launch Feb. 24 at 91 Moore Avenue from 9am - 1pm.

KW LOT members will be present to discuss sustainability and community sharing. Attendees will also be able to sign up for a new membership. Currently only cash or cheque is being accepted for memberships. More information can be found online.

The Grand River Transit will be selecting 100 transit riders to test the EasyGO fare card system before its official launch date for the month of March. The test will be conducted to ensure and identify any potential issues with the electronic payment process. The selected applicants will be getting a 20 per cent discount off their fare product and will also have to complete online surveys.

FAULTY CHIMNEY CAUSES FIRE

TURN DOWN FOR WHAT?

CAR SHARE COOP PLANS TO SELL

A bungalow at 711 Westmount Rd. W suffered $300,000 $400,000 damages after a faulty chimney caused a three-alarm fire Feb. 3. All three occupants were able to leave the house unharmed after they were notified by a passer-by who saw smoke. The fire was contained within a couple of hours. The damage was mainly contained between the roof and the false roof installed below it.

Ever After music festival organizer Gabriel Mattacchione says that Ever After 2018 will not wrap up by 9pm on Sunday, as requested by the City of Kitchener. According to Mattacchione, ending the event early would compromise the experience of the attendees, especially the attendees who are travelling into the city. The festival has recently agreed to lower its sound level to 55 db.

After operating in the Waterloo Region for two decades, Community CarShare is looking to sell to a Montreal-based company.

The nonprofit co-operative was suffering from lack of growth and financial viability. Without selling, the program risks the potential of being forced to close, leaving members without service, six staff without employment and creditors withtout debts being repaid.

SASC LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE

CAMBRIDGE TAKES ANOTHER PARKING OVER ART FESTIVAL GARAGE FOR DTK?

A new anti-human trafficking program created by the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) aims to serve those who are experiencing or are at risk of sexual exploitation.

The program, which is free and confidential, aims to help those of all genders, ages 14 and older. The program will offer services such as counselling, legal help and assistance with finding housing.

Cambridge’s International Street Art Festival is back for another year, despite Brian and Linda Price, the original founders, stepping down from their leadership roles. While the organization’s website has been shut down, their Facebook and Twitter page remains active. Brian Price will take on an advisory-role during the planning process.

Despite Kitchener’s five city-owned parking garages being underused and charging the highest monthly rates, officials are still wanting to budget for a sixth garage in 2026.

City officials argue that while there is currently an oversupply of parking space, it’s projected that there will be an undersupply by 2025.

The plan to build another lot will depend on the success of the LRT.

bedroom to find that I was visibly upset. I was reluctant to tell her why, because I thought it was silly, but eventually I explained that he had brought me a coffee: a medium, two sugar. I have always taken my coffee the same way: medium, two milk. No sugar.

“He can’t even remember how I take my coffee,” I told her, trying to stop my tears from falling.

She told me that she often thinks about that memory and how it speaks volumes when we think about love. Asking for your partner to listen, and I mean really listen, even when they aren’t being directly spoken to, isn’t asking for a lot.

If you’re investing your time into a relationship with someone, you should pick up on the little things.

Actively taking note of the things

they prefer should just come, effortlessly. You should know their favourite colour, their favourite song, the name of their childhood dog. You should suggest their favourite restaurant when you go out to eat. You should be kind to the people they call their best friends.

You should know how they take their coffee.

This should come easy and I think if it does, then that means it’s love. Most of us, at one point or another, have settled for someone who has put their needs above ours, or for someone who didn’t take an interest in the small things that make you, you. When I was in that situation, I always had this gut feeling that something was wrong, but we constantly make excuses for our partners’ “forgetfulness,” which

is really just a veil to hide behind selfishness.

And this doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships, too. I strongly believe that Valentine’s Day is a dumb corporate holiday, but maybe this year we should take the time to think about the people close to us: partners, friends, coworkers and family. Are you really listening to them? Are they really listening to you?

Asking for someone you really care about to really care about you isn’t asking a lot. Asking for someone to just remember how you take your coffee is the bare minimum of what you deserve.

MATT SMITH PHOTOS

EDITOR’S NOTE:

HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COFFEE? BY: BETH BOWLES

A couple weeks ago, I was catching up with my old university roommate on the phone. She just got engaged, so we were discussing wedding plans. The conversation turned to love in general, and she asked me about my love life. I told her there was nothing new to report, followed by a comment of whiny self-deprecation.

“I don’t think I’m asking for that much,” I told her. “I just want to find someone who really cares about me.”

She then recalled a memory from when we lived together that I didn’t really remember, but for whatever reason, it stuck with her.

It was a weekend afternoon and the guy I was dating came over to hang out. After he left, my roommate popped her head in my

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STARTED AS A PASSION PROJECT - NOW WE’RE HERE

KAYLA ZAWISKI LAUNCHED THE LOCAL ADVOCATE WEBSITE IN 2017 TO HIGHLIGHT WATERLOO REGION BUSINESSES

RAMONA LEITAO ASSISTANT EDITOR Kayla Zawiski first moved to Kitchener Waterloo two years ago, she felt right at home.

“I had the opportunity to live and work in different places … it never fully felt like I belonged somewhere until I came to KW,” Zawiski, 27, said.

As a result, Zawiski felt it was right to show her love for KW through her website, The Local Advocate. This online initiative aims to engage with the people of the Region while highlighting local businesses through blog posts and photos.

“It really started as a passion project for myself,” Zawiski, who started the initiative back in September 2017, said.

Zawiski recently quit her job as a business consultant in real estate and is currently a graduate student at the University of Waterloo, in the masters of digital experience innovation program.

“From my previous company, I worked on their social media,” Zawiski said.

“Through that position I really learned how to curate local content.”

Despite learning a lot from that position, Zawiski admitted there were some setbacks that ultimately led her to create this online platform.

“The whole point [of this job] was to increase sales there so I didn’t like that part of it. I decided to leave there and move on and now I had the opportunity to do exactly what I was doing without any strings attached. I had the opportunity to give back.”

And that Zawiski did, by sharing her

thoughts on what the Region had to offer for a young professional, like herself, online. Whether its highlighting a Galentine’s Clay Workshop on her community calendar, or writing a blog post on the recently opened Swine & Vine, Zawiski wants to make sure that residents and visitors of KW are not only being informed about these opportunities, but are also actively engaging in them.

“That’s what the most important thing is. Getting out. Not talking over DMs, instead of just liking an Instagram post, going out to get a coffee, or talking to the owner,” Zawiski said.

According to Zawiski, what differentiates KW from the other cities that she’s lived in, including her hometown Toronto, is the ability to be more independent as a millennial professional.

“What I noticed about young professionals that move here ... It’s all about them not feeling at home in the cities they we were born in. And we’re all a little bit quirky,” Zawiski said. “We’ve all kind of grown up and been not part of a certain crew and kind of been friends with everyone but never felt like we were completely included into one specific group.

“Coming here, you really have an opportunity to kind of create your own game room and instead of just having to follow along and play the pieces that someone has dealt to you, you are the creator of your own life,” Zawiski said.

“In other cities, especially Toronto, in order to succeed and grow a lot of the times you are confined by what people tell you to do and what’s available. So the opportunities for entrepreneurship can be incredible.”

Zawiski admits that there has been some “flack” for the fact that she covers a limited amount of opportunities that

KW has to offer, but also believes that the solution to this issue is collaborating.

“Obviously Kitchener Waterloo is an inclusive community for everybody.

There are things and resources available for different demographics,” Zawiski said. “For me, what I wanted to do, I know that I’m not able to please everyone. [For instance] I’m not a live-music person. So that’s why there’s not a live-music part on the site. But if you’re into live-music then I encourage everyone in this town to share it … this is my personal amalgamation of what I like.”

Some notable organizations and KW figures that Zawiski has recently collaborated with are RFB Developments and Jenna van Klaveren, founder of Cult KW. Having seen the sudden increase in online followers and feedback, Zawiski knows that this platform she created has the potential to be something more for the Region.

“It kind of started with me, but it’s so much bigger than me,” Zawiski said. “It started out as a way to express my love but now it has so many capabilities and I want everyone to know that it is now no longer about me.”

So what’s next for the Local Advocate?

“The point is for the Local Advocate to grow enough so that anyone who has a positive or critical feedback or experience, that they have an outlet to share it,” Zawiski said. “My goal is to build the brand and spread the word, and just continue to spread the love of KW, but hopefully to get people encouraged and motivated to even just write a food article or come out to an event.”

The next meetup that the Local Advocate is organizing will take place Feb. 9 at Swine & Vine. More information can be found at thelocaladvocate.ca.

HILARY GAULD-CAMILLERI PHOTO

CHE CURNEW SURE PLAYS A MEAN PINBALL

THE NEWLY OPENED PIN UP! ARCADE BAR BRINGS VINTAGE PINBALL AND ELECTRONIC GAMES TO WR

NIC STANLEY PHOTOS

MONICA LEE CONTRIBUTOR Located downstairs at the King and University Plaza, the recently opened Pin Up! Arcade Bar features arcade games that cover every inch of the wall.

The room is filled with neon lights and mechanical sounds as tunes ring out of the scoreboards. Near the bar, a digital juke box is set up for the next group of customers to choose their tune, but owner Che Curnew keeps the seating area open for potential of dancing and

live bands.

“A lot of people come in here and say it looks like a museum. In a way it is a museum; except it’s like a museum where you can touch things,” Curnew said.

Also the owner of Doogie and Pablo’s bar in Guelph, Curnew decided to open up a location gaming bar in his home town, Waterloo, with more of a focus on classics like pinball and electronic games from the ‘70s to early 2000s. The name “Pin Up” is also the name of the oldest pinball machine in his bar, as well as a reference to the pin-up art culture in the ‘50s and ‘60s. His goal is to pass on his love for these classic arcade games to the next generation and KW community.

“When I was a kid, every Saturday

we would run down to the arcades and spend our allowances there. It was just the thing to do but after the ‘90s, location gaming was disappearing,” Curnew said.

Arcade games and pinball machines eventually became a collector’s item, Curnew said, and thanks to these collectors, the pinball industry was kept alive and thriving.

A few years ago, Curnew began his own collection by purchasing his first pinball machine after a lot of support from the online pinball community. Fast forward to today, his arcade is filled with pinball machines, Donkey Kong, Dayton USA racing machines, filling the room with lights and sounds reminiscent of the days where you would beg your

parents for quarters just to play a round of air hockey.

When asked why customers would come here rather than play with their at-home consoles, Curnew simply said: “it’s an experience here and a different type of socializing.”

For Curnew, it is all about promoting the pinball and arcade community to the next generation. As a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University, he wants to ensure that his arcade is welcoming and accessible to younger audiences, which resulted in a five dollar flat fee for an unlimited play for games. In addition to hosting a pinball tournament, Pin Up! Arcade Bar will also be hosting more live music gigs and starting up a pinball league.

“A lot of young people have never seen or played a pinball machine, so you have people who are timid about a play per rate and don’t want to try it. Here, we charge a small entry fee and we have more people willing to try the older games like pinball. Then they start to see how it’s a really cool game,” Curnew said.

Although maintaining these games could cost thousands of dollars, Curnew learned to refurbish these games by himself or with the help of his pinball community. Drawing his inspiration from his pinball community, his low play rates also attribute to his desire to keep the pinball scene alive.

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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FANCY MEETING YOU HERE GLODEANE BROWN IS MAKING ART MORE ACCESSIBLE IN KW

THE SIDE HUSTLE

CAMERON KLAPWYK COLUMNIST In the kindest terms possible, Glodeane Brown wants to remind you that there is so much more to Waterloo Region’s culture than craft beer and tech.

Brown is well aware of the influence that the tech sector has in developing Waterloo Region’s external brand.

“A lot of the talk about creativity and innovation focuses on this sector,” she said. “I think it’s important to highlight stories of people who are doing things that aren’t tech-related.”

The Kitchener resident launched the popular blog Culture Fancier in 2016, to draw attention to artists and art shows of all stripes in Waterloo Region and beyond.

“People were always coming to me to know what was happening,” she said.

Born in Jamaica, Brown moved to Canada when she was young. She has been going to live arts shows

for almost 25 years and studied art history in school. While she does her own collage and colouring work, she admits that she does not really aspire to have her own art shows.

Her passion instead is to use Culture Fancier as a vehicle for both the initiated and uninitiated to interact with the diversity of thought and expressions that exist in the world of art. She explained that this world is much more vast than most people realize, extending far beyond the museums and galleries that are already popular.

Through narrative storytelling, photojournalism and Q & A format interviews, Brown engages deeply with artists and the statements their work makes about our society. From her many interviews, Brown has gleaned significant wisdom about what it takes to turn being an artist into a viable business enterprise.

“A lot of artists I’ve interviewed say that people have this romantic vision of artists,” she said.

“You get up in the morning and you go straight to your easel drinking your French press coffee and you feel creative all day. But that’s not what it’s like. You’re working through e-mails, you’re checking social media, you’re networking, you’re invoicing, and you’re paying your bills. It’s everything and it’s hard work. You’re not just making

art.”

Brown reminds us that when consuming and enjoying art, it is important to consider the grit and determination that it takes to be an artist.

“There’s always the joke that artists starve because they don’t know how to sell,” she said. “I think it’s important with any creative business, to remember that you have to learn the business side of it as well.”

One day, Brown hopes to put together a book about what she’s learned from the many individuals featured in Culture Fancier.

While Culture Fancier’s audience continues to grow, it remains a side hustle for Brown, who also runs her own Interior Design business in addition to being a freelance writer.

The blog has led to a variety of other writing contracts for Brown, acting as an excellent portfolio of both her writing and interviewing approach. Currently, she is an arts and culture columnist for Explore Waterloo Region, the public face of the Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Brown’s dream is to grow Culture Fancier to a point where it can finance trips abroad to do interviews with international artists. Last year, she was invited to cover a show for New York Fashion week, evidence

Glodeane Brown launched Culture Fancier in 2016. NICK STANLEY PHOTO that the blog’s reach is clearly growing.

“It makes me really happy to know that people are going to go to an art show or learning about a new kind of art or something that they never

would have come across before if they had not found my blog,” Brown said.

“Go to shows. Spend time with artists. Figure out what you’re passionate about.”

PUT IT ON VIBRATE SEXPLANATIONS

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST I have been asked many times, “if I use a vibrator to orgasm, will I be able to orgasm without a vibrator?” or “my partner says a vibrator will ruin me for sex without one.”

Vibrators have been around for many years — since the late nineteenth century. The first vibrators were used to treat ‘hysteria.’ Once a common medical condition inflicted predominantly upon women-identified folks, hysteria is now thought by some to be the greatest false diagnosis ever made in the history of Western medicine, but silver lining, it did bring us the vibrator.

Before vibrators, physicians, and sometimes midwives, treated hysteria by manually bringing a person to orgasm by bending down and reaching under layers of skirts and fabric. Not only did they have little information about the clitoris, vagina, vulva and pleasure, they could not see what they were doing. This was a tiresome and time consuming practice that became very popular, making the vibrator a big hit from the start, as physicians could not wait to pass this chore onto someone, or something, else.

Vibrators are often useful in bringing a person to orgasm, bringing a person to orgasm faster than would manual stimulation and stimulating people who, for various reasons, need stronger stimulation or consistent stimulation for a long period of time. They can be used

alone, or with others, no matter your gender.

They can be large or small, used externally or internally, expensive or inexpensive. They can have batteries or plug in and some even have a remote. If you are able to orgasm while using a vibrator, this does not mean you will not be able to orgasm without one. For some people, it may take patience and experimentation, but usually if you are able to orgasm with a vibrator you are able to orgasm in other ways, as well.

We tend to forget the power of the mind. Fantasies, thoughts, desires, can go a long way in preparing our bodies for touch. Mentally preparing for sexual pleasure and ample foreplay that does not involve the genitals is not given enough credit.

When the mind and body is ready and anticipating, orgasms come more easily and frequently.

If we are having orgasms with others, I cannot say enough about the importance of communication, consent and respect. If we want our partner(s) to orgasm, we have to make them feel respected, comfortable and safe. Not feeling this way could be preventing them from climbing that mountain and getting over the top. We can’t blame their lack of orgasm on a vibrator.

And if you like your vibrator, introduce it to your partner(s).

They may like it too. If you have a resistant partner, try showing them what a vibrator can do for them.

Many people with vaginas cannot orgasm from vaginal penetration alone, such things as clitoral, breast or anal stimulation are often needed. This is where a vibrator (or more partners) can come in handy as one person cannot do it all. So if you are feeling up to it this cold February, take the time to fantasize, communicate, foreplay and put it on vibrate.

AT C H I N G F U N D WA T E R L O O N E I G H B O U R H O O D M

Do you have an idea to help bring people together?

Have you thought about creating a space or an event that brings neighbours together to build genuine and lasting connections?

Submit your idea and you may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 in matched funds – a great opportunity to fund projects large and small – community gardens, playgrounds, murals, neighbourhood events and more!

Two application deadlines give you lots of time to plan: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 before 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 before 4 p.m.

Have a question or need help completing the application?

Come to an information session: Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.

Room 200, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex

waterloo.ca/NMF

FEBRUARY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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PAIGE BUSH PHOTO

WALKIN’ IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

NAVIGATING THE REGION ON FOOT ISN’T EASY IN THE WINTER; SO WHAT’S BEING DONE?

KAITLYN SEVERIN CONTRIBUTOR Shoveling your driveways and sidewalks during a white winter is part of the Canadian lifestyle. Every morning in a span of over four months, you and your neighbours grab your shovels and hit the driveways, with your region taking charge of the streets and public areas. It’s a community production, and an effort to assist one another in keeping the roads safe and transportable.

However, if you’re a resident of the Kitchener Waterloo Region who often walks to work, school, or just want to stretch your legs in the cool, winter winds, you may notice how one resident may shovel their sidewalks is different from their neighbour.

This isn’t a pattern on one street, it’s in another neighbourhood, and even around public spaces where they later become inaccessible and blocked off from residents.

Bob Sharpe, an associate professor for the department of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, is one resident who has noticed the inaccessibility of sidewalks and streets due to inconsistent snow removal. Sharpe teaches a course called “Experiencing the City,” a second-year geography course which takes students to the local streets to experience the Region.

“I can’t really take the students out until the weather gets a little better,” Sharpe said. “The wind chill is so low and there’s snow unevenly distributed — it makes it really difficult to do that kind of walking pedagogy because people are so uncomfortable and not everyone is equally able and so it really

disadvantages people.”

The Tri-Cities Transport Action Group, also known as TriTAG, has also noticed. Last January, the group put out a call for volunteers to check the conditions of sidewalks in Kitchener.

Over five different days, 29 volunteers studied sidewalks and street corners on 12 Kitchener streets and one in Waterloo. The streets included regional roads, neighbourhood streets and various types of suburban streets.

According to the report, regional roads, or arterial streets, had fewer problems for mobility than suburban streets and central neighbourhoods, due to visibility and higher foot traffic on those streets.

What the group found was the majority of studied streets included at least one sidewalk clearing issue, and most had compliance issues that would inhibit mobility. In early January, TriTAG published their findings in a winter sidewalk study and recommended the City of Kitchener look into conducting a pilot project to evaluate plowing options on sidewalks.

Mike Boos, a TriTAG executive committee member, was one of those involved in creating the study and the first draft of the winter report. Last year, the City of Kitchener released a report for Council in 2016, which compared complaint volumes under the current clearing system — asking residents to shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes — with the estimated number of complaints the city may receive if they take it upon themselves to plow all sidewalks. In response, TriTAG became concerned with how effectively the latter option would work to ensure walking mobility, the vital outcome of sidewalk maintenance.

“When we tried to draft the report, we weren’t trying to say the City do one solution or another, what we were trying to [explain] is the way we’re doing it now doesn’t work and we need to find better solutions,” Boos

said. “If there’s a way to get sidewalk shoveling to be effective in a way that’s more effective than the City plowing the sidewalks then absolutely, that should be persuaded … But if the only way we’re going to get consistently cleared sidewalks or sort of a level of service expectations for sidewalk mobility with plowing, then that’s the way to go.”

The biggest issue with the current system, Boos explained, is the inconsistency of the clearing of streets.

Complaints about sidewalks and properties that have not been properly shoveled also pose an issue, according to Boos, as it may take the City a longer time to process them.

“People don’t know that you can call and complain to the City about uncleared properties and because people simply give up when you have three days of snow in a row and they will take your complaints about an unclear sidewalk until after there’s been 24 hours of light snow,” he said.

Boos explained the City could measure the streets in a similar manner as the TriTAG survey, where they could decide on a metric system to determine whether a sidewalk is considered to be accessible or not.

“It covers both the practical pragmatic: how hard will it actually be to plow this, what’s the implications of people’s ability to get around, and also the political of how happy are people going to be with this kind of policy,” Boos said.

Denise McGoldrick, director of operations in environmental services for the City of Kitchener, noted how the TriTAG report came at a good time for the Region. She explained that while there are currently no provincial maintenance standards for sidewalk clearing, the City initiated a comprehensive winter review last summer which looked at sidewalk snow clearing and overall city maintenance standards in the Region.

The City is currently anticipating the

release of the provincial maintenance standards this February.

Currently, the City is now working with TriTAG in exploring several types of pilot projects for the 2018-19 winter season.

“We were already talking about different options, but what the TriTAG study does is look at evaluation methodology and we’re really interested in the work that they did in terms of evaluating sidewalk maintenance performance and accessibility and I think that that work can be really complementary to the work we’re doing,” McGoldrick said.

In their report, TriTAG’s recommendation to the City for installing a pilot project is estimated to cost, per year, an average of $26.29 per household.

In a 2016 report from the City, there were findings that other municipalities who implemented a sidewalk clearing system had some negative results.

However, McGoldrick explained once the City has options for council to consider, they will explore the costs and effects of several pilot projects for the city.

“Once we get some directions in terms of what options council wants us to explore, we’ll be doing a much more gradual assessment in terms of the details of how to implement that and what those costs will be, and that will be presented through the 2019 budget process,” she said.

Until then, both TriTAG and the City of Kitchener will be working towards a solution for sidewalk and road accessibility and mobility for the next season, and the one after that, and after that.

“I think we’ve [helped] the pump for — as the public and as council and as staff — being able to look at this through a lense of what kind of city do we want, how do we want to enable people to get around during the winter,” Boos said.

DID YOU KNOW THAT WE DO MONTHLY TRIVIA NIGHTS AT CHAINSAW? PRETTY NEAT, EH? LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE INFO

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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CAN YOU PATENT SOCIAL? THE SOON TO OPEN UPTOWN BAR AND EATERY AIMS TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR LIVE SHOWS, VIDEO GAMES AND SHAREABLE PLATES

KARLI FERRIOLO CONTRIBUTOR Rami Said was born and raised in Waterloo. He’s passionate about community and building an accessible uptown that everyone can enjoy.

In 2014 Said opened The Order, Waterloo’s first and only LGBTQ+ nightclub. It was a small bar open on Friday and Saturday nights that was frequented by local members of the LGBTQ+ community, and allies alike, looking for an inclusive space to dance the night away.

Unfortunately, The Order closed its doors in the summer of 2017, leaving many LGBTQ+ folks without a space to gather and socialize. It was a heartbreaking adjustment, but Said has been busy working on launching his next venture in the uptown core: Patent Social.

Located on the corners of Erb and Regina Street, Patent Social is an inclusive and accessible space where young professionals can gather and socialize after work hours.

The social bar and eatery scene in uptown Waterloo is growing and Patent Social knows that people need a lot of options. What makes Patent Social different is their unique social atmosphere.

For Said, Patent Social is more than just

a standard bar.

“We’re looking to be a hub for entertainment in the uptown core based on more social interaction,” Said described.

Patent Social is equipped with seven retro gaming systems, including N64 and Super Nintendo, where customers can play a free game of Mario Kart or Mario Party. The old video games can be paired with shareable plates of locally sourced food and drinks crafted by an expert mixologist.

In addition, Patent Social will host a variety of different live shows. “We’re putting a lot of focus on it and our primary objective is to start booking more and more shows for the space,” Said said.

From burlesque shows to a local improv group, Patent Social is focused on being an accessible space for groups looking for a place to perform uptown.

Said and his team are very open to new groups who may be interested in performing at Patent Social.

“We’ve had people approach us asking if their work can fit in. And 90 per cent of the time the answer is going to be yes.

We want to find a way to make it work if it’s something that can suit what we are going for,” Said said.

Renovations have made the space physically accessible, including the installation of a universally accessible bathroom that is gender neutral and built to AODA specifications.

“At The Order we learned that there was a lot of people we had to help up

and down the stairs. That was one of the very first things we identified was that we want to make sure this space is accessible,” Said said.

The idea of Patent Social is something that Said and long time friend and his business partner have been thinking about for nearly two years.

“We didn’t have this full vision, we were just talking. We were entering this age demographic where we don’t necessarily have the space that we can go and hang out in,” Said said. So in true entrepreneurial spirit, Said and his business partner took it upon themselves to build the space they had in mind.

“We infused a lot of [different] ideas together and this is what formed,” Said added.

As a bar owner, Said was able to take a lot of learnings from his time operating The Order to build Patent Social into a space that is refreshing and unique to uptown Waterloo. “[Patent Social] would have opened regardless of The Order closing, but by all means The Order closing is what pushed us in the direction of making sure this space was accessible to everybody,” Said said.

Folks can get a first look at Patent Social as they kick off for the KW Comedy Festival on Feb. 22.

Rami Said, former owner of The Order, is opening a new business uptown - Patent Social.

NIC STANLEY PHOTO

MY NEW NEIGHBOUR

STARLIGHT • 47 KING ST. N. STARLIGHTSOCIALCLUB.CA

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SHELTERS ARE NOT A LONG TERM ANSWER

JAMES GOWLAND CONTRIBUTOR A thin wall separates my apartment from the lobby of my building. It might as well be a bedsheet hanging from the ceiling. I can hear foot traffic all day, on weekends, and all night. It took me about a month before I was jaded enough to tune it out. There is an electrical outlet in the lobby. No one seems to take advantage of it except for a man, probably in his mid-20’s, who sometimes uses my lobby as a place to crash. I can hear him through the wall some evenings if I listen. Sometimes he talks, other times he plays the same ‘80s hair metal song on his iPod that charges in the wall. When I pass him in the morning, we exchange quick and shallow pleasantries, and I head to work.

In my eyes, wherever he chooses to lay his head is his business.

This anecdote isn’t an uncommon one. People experiencing homelessness in the Region often use lobbies as a warm place to sleep. While my new neighbour’s presence doesn’t affect or bother me, there are several residents, landlords or business owners who, for reasons of their own, make it known that a lobby isn’t a welcomed spot for people to crash.

On Feb. 1, the Waterloo Region opened a temporary overflow shelter for those experiencing homelessness at St. Matthews Church in downtown Kitchener.

Through the House of Friendship, the large space provides up to 70 beds when all other shelters in the Region become full. For adult shelters, November saw an average overflow of 44 people per night.

December with 57. While the purpose of the overflow space has become obvious, the systemic issue of homelessness is still vast and conflicted.

“People do not come into homelessness because it’s cold outside,” director of Housing Services for House of Friendship, Christine Stevanus said.

“They access our services more frequently when it’s cold outside.”

When people need a bed, HOF staff always inquire where the individual or family are coming from, their most recent housing situation and what brought them to that point. According to Stevanus, an eviction, a relationship breakup or loss of job are common answers.

But Stevanus is quick to remind us of the purpose of these spaces. “Being in a shelter is an emergency,” she said. “This is not a long term answer.”

Director of Housing at the Waterloo Region, Deb Schlichter, regards all beds within the “shelter system” as emergency beds, with a mixture of 245 in six shelters for either youth, families, or adults. After all of these beds are filled, St. Matthews then becomes the destination. With an increase in adult males recently requiring these beds, the Region and HOF will be surveying these men to get answers as it seems to be more of a local issue.

“When we start to look across Ontario, not every community is experiencing the same thing,” Schlichter said.

So are Waterloo Region’s specific issues when it comes to homelessness?

That’s a loaded question that will take time and resources to answer. It’s safe to say that this isn’t an issue of just space or available beds, but offering up more space in the time being is a good start to tackling a larger issue.

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FOUR MORE BUILDINGS THAT DESERVE A NEW LIFE WORDS BY JAMES HOWE • PHOTOS BY MATT SMITH Recently Deloitte Canada opened its new office in Kitchener with great fanfare. But not long ago, the Hide House was a forgotten part of the Lang Tannery complex. A demolition permit was issued in 2010 to tear it down along with three other buildings on the same block, to make way for parking so that the main complex of buildings could be redeveloped into what we now know as the Tannery.

Originally, it was named the Tannery District, evoking the vibrant community in Toronto called the Distillery District. A grassroots movement rose up to save the four buildings, as people recognized we risked losing important elements of our cultural heritage landscape — only the chimney received heritage recognition. We also risked losing the unique opportunity promised by the name, as much of the buildings that

made up the main Tannery block had largely been empty and unused for decades, just as the Gooderham and Worts site had been in Toronto.

As part of that grassroots movement, I celebrate the new life that has been infused into the Hide House.

Replacing the gravel parking lot that remained, four years longer than promised, with what could be a vibrant people place is also cause for celebration.

As a community, we’re lucky that the Lang Tannery remained to be adaptively reused. Some of the credit for that goes to owners that leased out sections of the building. Having people occupying it daily surely helped to ensure that it was not at risk of being damaged beyond repair.

Other local buildings have not been so fortunate.

One of those is 48 Ontario St. N.,

the former Bell Canada and Legion building that gave birth to the blues in Kitchener. It sat empty for more than 15 years, despite being a building identified as having heritage value and being owned by the City of Kitchener.

After the demolition of the Mayfair, a grassroots group evolved to raise awareness about why the city sold 48 Ontario St. N to be redeveloped.

That sale in itself is significant.

Unfortunately, the work has yet to begin and likely won’t for some time.

Still, as a member of the advocacy group “Friends of 48 Ontario,” I remain optimistic that it will again be occupied and lively.

But what about the other buildings that sit vacant in the Region? Will they face the same neglect as the Mayfair, or will they be purposefully revived like the Lang Tannery complex?

WHAT BUILDINGS DO YOU THINK DESERVE A NEW LIFE? I’m sure there are many other empty buildings across Waterloo Region that could be adaptively reused and given new life.

I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Tweet me @JamesHoweWR to contribute to the conversation.

RUMPEL FELT FACTORY The future of the Rumpel Felt factory, on Duke and Victoria, appears to be the brightest on this list of buildings. It is part of the property that is to be redeveloped to include the Region of Waterloo’s Central Transit hub. Even better, the original factory, built in 1913, is a designated heritage building and therefore to be incorporated into the planned mixed use development.

The rest of the building, though, is slated to be demolished. I tend to be a glass half full kind of guy, but after having a chance to see inside the factory when it participated in

the 2013 Doors Open, optimism just isn’t good enough. Every square foot of that factory oozes potential for redevelopment as it reminds me of when I got a chance to see inside the Forsyth Factory that has been replaced by the City Centre condos after it needed to be torn down.

Since the most-sustainable building is one that is already built, I’d love to see the whole factory incorporated into the redevelopment.

ELECTROHOME ON SHANLEY A glimmer of hope exists for the long-time eyesore at 152 Shanley.

After decades of neglect, problems with poor tenants and a failed tax sale to recoup unpaid property taxes, the City of Kitchener is trying again with a reported listing price of $423,000.

Any new owner will need to deal with a hazardous waste spill from paint being poured down the drain that has made anyone who considered developing the property nervous.

There had been talk in the past that it could be turned into condos while some nearby residents dream of it being a community arts centre. City staff suggested in the fall that it’s best used for commercial or retail uses.

A charrette is planned for the first half of 2018 to brainstorm possible uses for the site. The walkability of this neighbourhood means that this site could feature some mixed uses desired by the residential neighbourhood that surrounds it.

Time is of the essence, though. The building was declared structurally sound in 2012, but having seen some interior photos, it can only be a matter of time until weather or an infrastructure failure requires demolition as happened with the Forsyth Factory and the Maryfair.

FORMER CORNER STORE ON SAMUEL AT BRUBACHER Cober Printing got its start in this corner store when its owner started printing his own promotional material. Before long, printing turned into its own business and moved down the street. The corner store continued to operate at least into the 1970s. For decades though, it has been empty, boarded up and neglected as an out of town owner holds onto it for nostalgic reasons.

Its neighbourhood is concerned about the building being a hazard to nearby homes. It may already be beyond adaptive reuse. Hope still exists though as demonstrated in

SACRED HEART SCHOOL Sacred Heart School is just a few blocks away from the hottest real estate in Kitchener — the neighbourhood surrounding King and Victoria. Near the Moore and Louisa intersection, the school is close to the Breithaupt Block development that houses Google, which is now building a new building across Breithaupt Street. The Sixo development is also just on the other side of nearby King St. W. The first four classrooms of this registered heritage building were built in 1912. Closed due to low enrollment and sitting empty since 2005, when the Waterloo Region Catholic School

Board moved all its offices to its new board office in the original St. Mary’s High School, the school holds great potential. While it remains owned by the Catholic school board, a sale is pending. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton had expressed an interest in it in 2016.

While the building oozes character and could easily be desirable as a brick and beam for high tech work spaces, I think the best use to be residential loft condos, similar to the Kaufman Lofts.

It’d be great if it could be a mixed use development that included a cafe or restaurant and live/work spaces for artists.

a campaign by community builder Laura McBride, who last year, took photos of people outside the building sharing their dreams for what new life could mean for the building. McBride also spearheaded transforming the outside of the building by installing art over the boarded up windows, so that, at least temporarily, it provided some value to the neighbourhood.

I could see it being used again as a variety store but likely with a twist.

Perhaps featuring a chef operating a takeout restaurant?

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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MATT SMITH PHOTO

IS WATERLOO REGION FACING AN IDENTITY CRISIS?

IN A REGION SO RICH WITH CHANGE AND DIVERSITY, THE #WHYWATERLOO CAMPAIGN IS LIMITING GROWTH organization, Waterloo EDC, is also who live in Cambridge still resent behappening now. found that the land hadn’t strictly OPINION guilty of “Waterloo-washing.” The ing lumped in together. They identify Communitech, the startup hub been his to sell. Oops!

SAM NABI CONTRIBUTOR Waterloo Region has a history of being reshaped by outsiders, often against the wishes of those who live here. It’s a strange sort of identity crisis that bubbles to the surface again and again.

As Kitchener and Waterloo build a reputation for software development, research and startup culture, we’re seeing subtle efforts to rebrand the entire region as “Waterloo,” to make for a more unified identity.

That’s the wrong approach. Erasing Kitchener, Cambridge and our many rural communities from the picture does a disservice to our Region’s diversity.

This isn’t the first time this phenomenon has occurred. When Mennonite settlers arrived on the banks of the Grand River in 1800, they bought their first plots of land from a man named Richard Beasley. After starting to name villages and hamlets, they

Separately, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy was quarrelling with the Canadian government over the shared use of land and fair compensation for land sales. This fight for Indigenous rights continues today.

Fast forward to 1916, in the thick of the First World War. Here on the home front, anti-German sentiment was fierce and the residents of Berlin, Ontario were coerced into changing the city’s name. Violence against people of German descent was a real threat and most of the 5,000 eligible voters stayed home on referendum day. A new name, Kitchener, won with 346 votes.

Later, 2,000 of those residents would petition the Ontario government to reverse the decision, but their plea fell on deaf ears. Against the wishes of the majority, Berlin became Kitchener.

In 1973, the Ontario government had grand visions for streamlining city bureaucracy. It imposed a two-tier structure for the newly-formed Region of Waterloo. In the name of efficiency, Preston, Hespeler and Galt were merged into what we now call Cambridge.

Forty-five years later, many people

strongly with their pre-amalgamation place names. Preston, Hespeler and Galt have distinct reputations and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

There’s a palpable sense of angst too, from Cambridge residents who feel like they’re on the outside looking in when it comes to regional government decisions.

“ AS MUCH AS

IT MIGHT BE CONVENIENT TO PRETEND THAT WATERLOO REGION IS A UNIFIED BRAND, WE’VE NEVER BEEN ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY.

”

I bring up these history lessons to draw a common thread between what has happened in the past and the tech-fuelled rebranding effort that’s

known for transforming downtown Kitchener’s Lang Tannery building, launched a marketing campaign last year. Called #WhyWaterloo, it’s aimed at attracting new tech workers to the region.

The #WhyWaterloo website features photos of Oktoberfest and St. Jacobs.

A slick video shows beautiful shots of people having fun in Victoria Park.

And it’s all wrapped up in this “Waterloo” branding.

Why should Communitech downplay its very specific relationship to Kitchener? The tech industry loves spacious industrial loft offices and downtown Kitchener offers a kind of urban living that isn’t possible in Waterloo’s north-campus office blocks.

It’s disingenuous to reject those firstwave tech offices around Columbia Street, but still try to say you’re from Waterloo.

I’m giving Communitech a hard time, but there are a lot of people who would like our communities to have a unified identity. I get it. It’s difficult to explain Waterloo Region’s idiosyncrasies to an outsider, much less compare ourselves to other tech hubs around the world.

Our regional economic development

words “Kitchener,” “Cambridge,” or “Region” don’t appear at all on the homepage of its brand-new website. It includes such misleading statements as, “Waterloo is located directly along Canada’s 401 superhighway.”

As much as it might be convenient to pretend that Waterloo Region is a unified brand, we’ve never been one big happy family. Blanketing everyone with the same “Waterloo” identity serves none of us well. The Region’s municipalities cooperate well across borders, but those distinctions are still significant.

I see clear parallels between the Mennonite settlers’ ignorance, the xenophobic Berlin name-change referendum, the forced amalgamation of Cambridge and this new attempted rebranding by tech industry heavyweights.

It’s not an approach that does justice to the diversity of our Region. I, for one, celebrate our fractured identities.

I love the way that Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge can orbit around one another without becoming one and the same.

For any rebranding exercise to succeed, it needs to start with those who were here first.

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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THE LONG ROAD NORTH TCE FICTION

DYLAN SIEBERT CONTRIBUTOR The immigrants were lean and their clothing unsuited to the February chill. In Faizal’s tiny office, the clock ticked loudly as he straightened the papers on his desk, checking the date on the forms: February 6, 2078. He cleared his throat.

‘First thing’s first, if you please.

Where was your point of entry into Canada?’

‘We crossed at Windsor, then made straight for Kitchener,’ said the grandmother — or great-grandmother — speaking for the five of them. She was a straight-backed, steely woman with an accent that reminded Faizal of an old film he’d seen once about the First American Civil War. One of her eyes was clear and the other clouded where a thick scar ran down the side of her face.

‘What were your reasons for leaving the Republic of Texas, Ms. — ?

‘Vance. Kate Vance. The drought was bad enough, but last summer we lost everything to wildfire. Heading south or west we’d have found more of the same. Eastward, the Gulf tide keeps rising and the camps keep growing. So we struck out on the long road north.’

Her voice was fearless, but the young parents seated beside her were fidgeting. On their laps the little girl and wide-eyed boy sat stock-still, taking in every word.

‘Thank you, Ms. Vance,’ said Faizal, keeping his tone light. ‘I understand most American migrants are internal to the old federal borders. Why didn’t you choose to re-settle in one of the other Republics?’

‘There weren’t much to choose from, Mr. Al-Yousif. The Midwest isn’t used to independence yet and they’re leery of outsiders. Appalachia’s still in fullout insurgency, no matter what you hear in the news. And New England — well, I don’t have to tell you they hate folks like us.’

Throughout her story, Kate Vance’s face remained stolid, but when she spoke that one word — hate — Faizal caught a flicker of weariness in her expression that made his heart ache.

‘I see. Well, if you’ll fill out this portion of the forms, we can move on to — ’ ‘Mr. Al-Yousif,’ the matriarch broke in, ‘we are honest people. We didn’t come to take away jobs from Canadi-

ans, we came because we had to. We’re refugees, the real thing. And we’re ready to work. All of us.’

The young mother and father nodded vigourously, and even the two little ones sat up straight and serious.

Faizal smiled. ‘I see we haven’t been very clear with you about our process.

Canada no longer has a refugee claimant system — it’s all been folded into general immigration.’

For the first time Kate Vance was speechless. After a moment or two she blinked and said slowly, ‘You mean we don’t have to prove our case?’

‘That’s right. You don’t need to prove anything to me. Things used to be very different, even twenty years ago.

During the war, there were huge refugee camps in Windsor and Niagara Falls, a lot of military presence, and a bureaucratic nightmare to top it all off.’

‘I remember hearing,’ said Ms. Vance, nodding.

‘But out west, the borders proved impossible to seal up. So many people were just walking across the prairies into Canada that Immigration eventually gave up trying to stop them. And with the war driving up diesel prices, farms that were flexible enough to switch over some tractor work to hand labour found a whole new pool of willing workers. Ottawa took note, and it wasn’t long before what had looked at first like a disaster became official policy.’

‘Are you saying …’ said the young father, speaking for the first time, ‘Are you saying we can get work on farms here?’

‘Farms or factories, Mr. Vance. Waterloo Region is strong in both sectors.

We’ve made a point of protecting our community’s ability to provide for itself.’ Faizal tried to keep his manner businesslike despite the excitement and relief breaking out on the faces of the Vance family.

‘You see,’ he went on, ‘immigration isn’t a disaster for countries with functioning economies. When mechanization is kept in check, jobs are less scarce and wages aren’t driven down to starvation levels. More money in workers’ pockets means more money flowing back into the economy of goods and services, rather than draining into the bank accounts of the wealthy.’

There was a glint in Kate Vance’s one good eye. ‘I was a teenager back in ’16,’ she said, ‘when it seemed like things were starting to turn that way for us.

We were living in a leaky basement, both my parents working night shift for eight dollars an hour. In a free trade economy like we had back then, the bosses could pay us what they

liked, or pick up and move to Indonesia, or China, or wherever. It was called ‘staying competitive.’ Of course, it was always cheaper to hire people with no legal rights, so for us, ‘competition’ meant American-born vs. Mexican-born. A bitter, useless rivalry, born of our shared weakness.’

‘The new administration vowed to change the rules that had broken us, and enforce the rules that could give us some breathing room. Those were exciting times —heady, hopeful times.’

She sighed. ‘But then the president had that heart attack partway into his second term, and the vultures in DC got straight to work gutting what he’d begun. A country can only handle a tug of war like that for so long before … well, I took a piece of shrapnel to the head in ’52, and Junior’s parents stepped on a mine not long after that …’ She swallowed, and the young man placed a gentle hand on his grandmother’s arm.

Straightening up, she looked fiercely at Faizal. ‘That’s behind us now. Everyone’s got a story, and now you know some of ours, Mr. Al-Yousif.’

Faizal nodded slowly. ‘If I could see the village in Syria where my grandparents were born, I expect I’d learn a lot more about my own story. But like you said, that’s behind us. Sometimes you need to look to the future and let the past be what it was.’

Her face was grim, but she nodded slowly as well. ‘You understand us, Mr. Al-Yousif. Well, what’s next?’

‘It’ll take about six weeks for your papers to be processed, but in the meantime you can start applying for work, pending background checks and confirmation of your landed status.

Yes, we run a pretty tight ship here at Immigration,’ he said in response to their expressions of astonishment.

‘Can’t have people sitting around on their hands, can we? There’s work to be done.’

He opened a desk drawer and took out a leaflet, which he handed to the younger Mrs. Vance. ‘This is a list of local firms involved in our newcomer worker program. I’ve heard they’re hiring at the Tannery, down at Charles and Victoria. My in-laws made boots there for forty-odd years and they found the pay quite reasonable.’

‘Thank you, Mr. Al-Yousif,’ said the man called Junior. He looked as though he was holding back tears.

‘This is one special place you’ve got here.’

‘Not at all, Mr. Vance,’ said Faizal, rising to shake their hands. ‘Like any place in any time, what counts is what you make of it. But I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that.’

12

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

THE CHURCH SHALL

REMAIN HOLY

WORDS & PHOTO BY BETH BOWLES • EDITOR IN CHIEF Two weeks into his job as one of the ministers at Parkminster United Church in Waterloo, Rev. Joe Gaspar discovered the verse: “The church shall remain holy” spray-painted on the concrete outside the front doors of the church. This happened on Oct. 18, 2017 and was assumed to be in direct reference to the fact that the church is LGBTQ+ friendly. The weekend subsequent to the graffiti, Parkminster was hosting an LGBTQ+ and allies potluck dinner.

Five weeks later, the church was vandalized with graffiti again, as was Emmanuel United Church in uptown Waterloo. Both acts of graffiti cited Romans 1:32, which reads: “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” This verse essentially threatens those who act, and those who support those who act, outside of God’s judgement. The graffiti at Emmanuel United was directly under the pride flag that they fly outside the church.

But you’ve heard both of these stories already. This isn’t, by any means, new news.

These stories were closely reported on by multiple media outlets in the Region and while the vandalism was undoubtedly wrong, the missing link is the opportunity to learn more about churches in the Region that are actively working to present themselves as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.

“Inclusion is a hallmark of holiness.

For me, in the church, we talk about how do you discern the presence of the spirit? One of the ways that I discern that is by inclusion,” Gaspar said, when asked about how Parkminster United approaches inclusion.

“We’re not a club of believers. We’re much more than that. We’re a community of people who are following the leading of God and faith. If we’re doing that, we should expect to be surprised. Because God often leads us in ways that we would not expect and is opening up new frontiers to us, and one of those frontiers, I think in the last century, has been the plight of LGBTQ+ people.”

Parkminster United has a group called the Inclusive Ministries Committee, a committee devoted to taking

a long, hard look at how the congregation approaches inclusivity, and how they affirm those in the congregation or in the community who may be marginalized or oppressed. It was this group that lead to the raising of the pride flag. Parkminster also holds LGBTQ+ friendly potluck dinners a couple times a year in addition to acting as the space for the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, KW and Area (ACCKWA) to hold their annual AIDS vigil.

Allen Switzer has been a member of Parkminster United for 15 years, in addition to being the church’s custodian.

Switzer sits on the Inclusive Ministries Committee, speaks at other churches about same sex marriage and is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

He explained that Parkminster went through an affirming process, which is when the congregation takes a look at how they include LGBTQ+ people within their congregation. This is set out by Affirm United, which is parallel to the United Church.

“So this was a process that took place over approximately 18 months. And then the whole congregation votes on that. What they’re basically saying is that we accept LGBTQ+ people within our congregation. You are all welcome,” Switzer said. “But, it’s a wider perspective, really because what it is, is all minorities, we include all of you … anyone who feels that they’ve been marginalized in some kind of way.”

Switzer explained that this process wasn’t as easy as some may have assumed it to be.

“Initially, when the process started, everyone thought this church is going to be extremely welcoming, the vote will pass with 90 per cent and it’s going to be wonderful. Well, as the process was going forward, this is where the cracks started being exposed. In other words, there were groups of people [who were not accepting],” he said.

The vote passed however, despite the cracks being exposed. They did lose some members of the congregation, but they also gained the reputation for being an inclusive space. But saying that you’re a church that accepts marginalized groups isn’t just as easy as flying a pride flag. They had to put their verbal commitment into action.

“It’s [about] remaining inclusive.

We walk our talk, so to speak. We are a committee that monitors that; in other words, how inclusive are we? If there are problems within inclusion or people may think there are problems, we’re the committee to go to,” Switzer said.

Affirming and welcoming are two different things. Reverend Jenn Hind of Emmanuel United explained that to be welcoming is to have open doors, whereas to be affirming is to accept someone for exactly who they are.

“What ends up happening, is that it comes off, I think, as: we love you and we accept you because Jesus tells us to. But we don’t agree with your “lifestyle”— and I say that in quotes because I don’t like the word “lifestyle,” but that seems like society, once again, has the misconception that it’s a lifestyle, and it’s not,” Hind said.

“

THAT MESSAGE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE CHURCH OF THE 21ST CENTURY; IT HASN’T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH FOR A LONG TIME. - REV. JENN HIND

”

“That message is not good enough for the church of the 21st century; it hasn’t been good enough for a long time, it’s not good enough. So what Affirm United, which is an organization within the United Church of Canada, has done is put together a process of learning that engages people in challenging themselves to look at the text deeper and to challenge how they’re living out their faith. And through that process, one comes to understand what it means to be affirming: which is to say that: “we all make mistakes, nobody’s perfect, I’m not perfect …” but I do not consider, ever, at any time, that one’s sexual expression, gender expression, sexual orientation or gender diversity, that is never the sin.”

Hind explained that there needs to be a little extra care put forward to

those who are experiencing oppression. “To say we welcome you and we love you is one thing, but it’s not enough for somebody who’s been oppressed by the church,” she said.

Hind is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, which has played an active role in how she addresses her congregation. She didn’t grow up in the church; the church actually didn’t play a huge part in her life until she came out.

“After having a really long dark period of drug and alcohol abuse, which I’m also very open about, it wasn’t until after I started getting clean and I started going back to church as a way to rebuild a relationship with my mom, that the gospel started coming alive and I felt this vibration of love and acceptance that I had never experienced before,” she said.

The pattern here is clear: the United churches in our community are approaching inclusivity in a way that maybe complicates the traditional Christian approach to those of sexual diversities. Assumedly, that is why they were targets for vandalism.

Both Hind and Gaspar explained similar views to how we should interpret the Bible. Hind explained that “cherry picking” verses can have problematic outcomes.

“When one embraces the story within its historical context, and really peels the layers back and understands what was being said, when it was being said and why it was being said, in the context it was being said, then you see the text in a different light,” she said.

This comes into play when addressing the vandalism. Using a specific verse out of context, such as applying Romans 1:32 to the affirmation of the LGBTQ+ community is “cherry picking” verses. It’s using one line as some sort of blind truth.

Gaspar explained that when studying the Bible, it’s important to place it within its historical context, meaning that maybe that verse could have been applicable thousands of years ago — in a time where procreation was essential. Sex outside of heteronormativity didn’t have a purpose.

“It’s a time bound document, that was written in a very specific context — social, political, economic context — and also time bound in the sense of the actual knowledge that people

had of the world. When you look at scripture that way, you have a lot more freedom to interpret it differently and you can look at it with all its limitations and still look for the presence of God in it with all its limitations,” he said.

For some people, this causes tension.

It’s essentially asking Christian people to ask questions, to challenge their own belief and to look critically at how they interpret God’s word.

“If somebody’s asked to go outside of what it is that they believe, then there’s going to be a tension there.

There’s that cognitive dissonance as we live in the tension of what we thought we knew and what we’re being presented with,” Hind said.

“It takes courage and community … to sit in the tension and to sit in that in between place while one is reconciling and maybe growing and maybe stretching.”

In 2009, Waterloo Region was ranked the hate capital of Canada, as we had the highest number of police reported hate crimes in the country.

In 2010, we were in third place. That was only eight years ago. Maybe in the past we haven’t considered that a church could act as a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, but in a community that surely still has a lot of work to do, it’s refreshing to know that there are groups that are challenging the traditional relationship between religion and the LGBTQ+ community.

“I’m not going to deny that Christianity as a whole has done a lot of damage and has a lot to apologize for.

And I’ll be the first one to admit that.

Christianity as a religion and as an institution has hurt a lot of people,” Hind said.

“The more we recognize our mistakes and the more we recognize the areas where we’ve simply got it wrong, the more we set ourselves up to do better in the future ... and that is the church that I belong to.”

As for the graffiti, Hind isn’t afraid of being targeted again.

“We’re just going to keep on raising the flag,” she said.

13

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

LIVING SUSTAINABLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS

EASY BEING GREEN

STACEY DANCKERT COLUMNIST If you’re like me, winter can often make you think even more about climate change, particularly with the abnormal and unpredictable weather over the past number of years. But sometimes it can feel even tougher to be an eco-warrior over the winter.

A healthy variety of local food can be hard to find, the cold weather makes you want to hunker down or flee and we can get in the habit of relying on driving, even short distances. So how can you be part of the climate solution, even through the cold winter months?

Food is one thing that I know many of us link to environmental cost.

Regardless of the season, a good first step for cutting productionrelated emissions from our food is to eat plant-based proteins, since animal-based proteins require far higher emissions to get to your plate.

By choosing organic, much of the energy needed to create and spread fertilizers and pesticides during production can also be avoided.

Avoiding water-intensive crops can lower the energy needed to process

and deliver water. Finally, choosing local is a good way to cut our foodrelated footprint simply by cutting the distance food travels and even the method of transportation to our door. Try walking or cycling to a local food vendor, instead.

While it may be surprising to some, finding food-buying opportunities that take energy-saving into account isn’t hard. We are lucky to have a number of great farms and suppliers locally that aim to bring nutrientrich and environmentally friendly food to our tables. Some places that I rely on over the winter include: Bailey’s Local Foods, The Sustainable Market, Legacy Greens or Pfennings Organic and More. Be prepared to eat root veggies, squash, apples and greens, and get adventurous by using the web to find recipes. You may even find some new enjoyable tastes such as kholrabi which is great fresh in salads or roasted like fries. But of course you can also find a plethora of grains, beans, legumes and other items to fill your pantry and freezer.

Aside from food, with colder weather can often come the desire to go on a warm getaway. However, choosing a stay-cation can not only be lots of fun, but can also help keep your personal emissions (and spending) to a minimum. Flying is so energy intensive, so any time you can choose any other mode of transportation, you have made a difference.

So, rather than run from winter,

TACKLING PMS NATURALLY

GABBY BORGERINK CONTRIBUTOR In our society, we have made premenstrual syndrome (PMS) “normal,” when in all reality it isn’t normal and is actually a sign that there is a deeper-rooted problem.

PMS is so common and almost every woman I know has experienced it, to some degree.

Most of the time, doctors will prescribe hormonal birth control or prescription meds for PMS symptoms such as cramps, acne, or mood swings. Unfortunately, pills and synthetic hormones just temporarily cover up the symptoms like a Band-Aid in the long run.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for pharmaceuticals and doctors, but when it comes to our cycles there is the option to tackle it using a more natural approach.

It takes a little work, but by the end of this you won’t be dreading your period every month.

First thing’s first, we have to look at why these symptoms are here.

Every symptom is our body telling us something is wrong. If you are dealing with constant fatigue, bloating, digestive trouble, acne, mood swings, and cravings (among many other symptoms) then you are most likely experiencing hormonal imbalances.

So what habits should we change?

You can start with attempting to reduce stress. Stress is a huge culprit and adds to inflammation in the body. When we are constantly in “fight or flight” mode we are unable to do regular things such as digest our foods or get proper sleep.

Meditation, yoga, walking, reading or

taking time alone, are good ways to help relax.

You can also try cutting out dairy. Conventional dairy is full of antibiotics and hormones. All of those additives are inflammatory and could be the single culprit for your acne and worsened PMS symptoms. I recommend removing it from your diet for a month and then reintroducing it and see how you react.

Incorporating lots of healthy fats can also help with PMS. Fats are needed for the production and regulation of hormones and they also stabilize blood sugar. Some good sources are coconut oil, avocados, nuts, pumpkin seeds and egg yolks.

What to do the week before your period? Avoid sugary, salty and processed foods, coffee and alcohol.

These dehydrate you, cause you to hold onto more water weight and deplete your body of vitamins and minerals. You want your plate to be full of colourful veggies, good quality protein and healthy fats.

For cramps and back pain, supplement with 200-400 mg of magnesium every night starting the week before your period. It is one of the most common deficiencies and the pill depletes magnesium along with other nutrients such as B vitamins and zinc. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant and as a bonus, it will put you into deeper sleep, which is also amazing for hormone health.

If you are interested in balancing your hormones I recommend talking with a nutritionist or naturopath so they can give you proper meal plans, lifestyle and supplement recommendations to aid your body in the healing process.

Gabby is currently studying applied holistic nutrition at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.

BETH BOWLES PHOTO why not embrace it? Head a bit further north and spend some time enjoying the outdoors. There are so many places to stay that offer a plethora of winter-based activities that will help to keep you warm.

Nearby, we have many amazing destinations that can even become more affordable over winter. Why not enjoy the culinary delights in Stratford, the lovely shops and art in Elora, or the wine tastings in Niagara-on-the-lake? If you want to travel farther, Ottawa has an amazing array of museums,

and Toronto, well, it has almost everything.

Winter can feel long, and with that, we often like to hunker down. But since heating our homes and using our cars are the biggest emitters locally, think about turning down that thermostat by a degree or two and snuggling up with a blanket and a sweater. Overnight, you can turn it down a lot; you won’t even notice. Before you get in your car, think — can I take the bus or walk?

Most things are a lot closer than you think. There are great online maps

that will tell you exactly how long it will take.

So don’t let the winter detract from your efforts to cut your energy footprint. Grab your toque and toboggan and before you know it, you may even celebrate when Wiarton Willie predicts six more weeks of winter.

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

FEBRUARY 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

14

SEX-ABILITY OPENS DOORS

PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX AND CONSENT

NATHALIE BOUCHARD CONTRIBUTOR The Sexual Health Options Resources and Education Center (SHORE) located downtown Kitchener, is home to the Sex-Ability program, where adults and youth with developmental disabilities can receive sexual health education through weekly workshops.

One of the educators of the SexAbility program is Brockenshire Lemiski, a sexual health educator at SHORE. Lemiski explained that sexual health education is essential for everyone and not just those who fit the characteristics of able-bodied heteronormativity.

According to the SHORE website, those with developmental disabilities experience a significantly higher rate of sexual assault, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

“We know that upwards of 75 per cent of women with developmental disabilities have experienced sexual assault and rates of both unplanned pregnancy and STI transmission are higher in those populations.

The best way of combating that is comprehensive and inclusive sexual health education,” Lemiski said.

More often than not, individuals with developmental disabilities are left out of education surrounding

sexual health, consent and relationships. Many individuals, according to Lemiski, may not have even had the chance to receive this type of education in school due to the stigma surrounding developmental disabilities.

“Sexual health education is important for everybody and we know that many people with developmental disabilities have been left out of the conversation about sexual health. They may not have even had [the chance to receive] the education in school,” Lemiski said.

Lemiski explained this is because oftentimes, those with developmental disabilities are viewed as not sexual or childlike.

“We know that people with developmental disabilities have the same diversity of behaviours [or] fantasy desires that exist across the spectrum of human experience and it makes a lot of sense to make sure that they are [receiving] comprehensive and inclusive education,” Lemiski said.

To receive comprehensive sexual health education, participants receive education surrounding various topics. These topics can vary depending on the needs and the wants of each group, according to their website. Lemiski explained that most topics talked about in SexAbility do not differ from any other sexual health education.

“We start with relationships because that is about knowing how to recognize healthy and unhealthy characteristics and

establishing boundaries and how to recommunicate when we’re feeling unsafe, when we’re liking something and not liking something,” Lemiski said.

“Sometimes in conversations we have around sexual health and developmental disabilities, there’s a greater need to talk about boundaries in terms of which places are public and private places, which body parts can be public or private parts and really helping to establish those boundaries.”

Lemiski said they also address masturbation, birth control, pregnancy and safer sex supplies.

A typical Sex-Ability class may be anxiety-inducing for some folks.

These courses often open with ice breaker games and questions rather than starting right away with the concept of birth control and STI’s. “[We] start off with a lot of comfort building because we know that conversations around relationships and sexuality are … anxiety-inducing or just not something that people are into talking about,” Lemiski said.

In addition, Sex-Ability classes are an opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to also share their experiences surrounding sexual assault.

“We want to help normalize conversations around sexual assault.

It doesn’t tend to be a lecture where I’m at the front and everyone is listening. [Everyone] sitting in a circle and we are holding space for conversation.”

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO

BEING IN A TOXIC

RELATIONSHIP

MENTAL MATTERS

JOHN ROCHE COLUMNIST Like the proverbial frog on the stove, most people don’t realize they’re in a toxic relationship until things have gotten very, very bad. Unlike in a healthy relationship, where conflict gets resolved through open communication, conflict in a toxic relationship triggers destructive, child-like patterns of aggression and passivity, which tend to get worse over time.

If you’re wondering if you or someone you care about is in a toxic relationship, here are three signs to watch for.

WE SERVE BEER (and wine)

APOLLOCINEMA.CA

1. THE RELATIONSHIP IS CONSISTENTLY ONE-SIDED Every relationship has moments where one partner is contributing more than the other, but if you’re regularly expending more emotional, financial, or physical resources than your partner, that’s a bad sign.

The partner who benefits from this arrangement will often justify it by appealing to stress or difficult circumstances. Which is totally fair — until it becomes a pattern.

Life is hard for everyone, and being stressed or busy isn’t a legitimate excuse to indefinitely avoid adulting.

If your partner consistently gets to play that card to avoid equality in the relationship, you’re going to end up very drained.

2. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE WALKING ON EGGSHELLS Do you keep your feelings and needs to yourself to avoid rocking the boat?

Do you worry about saying or doing the “wrong” thing and having your partner lose it on you or shut down?

In a healthy relationship, one partner can say to the other, “When you did x, I felt y. In the future, do you think you could you do z?” Even though it may

be uncomfortable, a mature partner can receive that information as a sign of intimacy and an opportunity to grow in the relationship and respond accordingly.

In a toxic relationship, your partner has little or no tolerance for direct communication, differences, or mistakes. Outside of a narrow window of what’s acceptable to them, they’ll be triggered into child-like patterns of attack, defence, or sullen withdrawal.

3. YOU START TO QUESTION YOUR SANITY Constant exposure to a partner yelling, turning things around on you, criticizing, rationalizing, denying, giving you the silent treatment, hitting, threatening to end the relationship, or threatening to hurt you or themselves is enough to seriously damage a person’s perception of reality.

After being exposed to enough such bullshit, you stop trusting yourself, slowly coming to believe that maybe you’re as crazy as your partner says you are. Even though you sense deep down that something is terribly wrong, you just write it off as your problem. After all, that’s what the other person is telling you all the time.

In spite of all of this, you know your partner isn’t a bad person. Like all of us, they have incredible potential for love and connection. But they are also deeply wounded, and unless they’re committed to getting well in long-term therapy, it’s a tragic but safe bet that they’re never going to just spontaneously change into the person you know they’re capable of being.

Of course, if you feel stuck in a toxic relationship, simply being told to leave isn’t helpful. If it feels like leaving is too much, you can begin to repair your own self-esteem in therapy. Once you’ve sorted your stuff out, you’ll do what’s necessary to repair the relationship, and if it can’t be repaired, you’ll at least have the strength to walk away.

John Roche is a therapist in Kitchener Waterloo.

FEBRUARY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

15

ARTS & CULTURE EVENT LISTINGS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AS IF! TOTALLY ‘90S TRIVIA CHAINSAW

Join the Community Edition for the third instalment of our monthly trivia nights. All proceeds go to helping support independent community media. This month?

We’re going back to the 1990s. So bring your strap bracelets, your walkman, and of course your tamogotchi. Maximum of six people per team. No reservations. Show up early to secure your spot.

Trivia • $3/person at the door • 7pm - 9pm

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 KW FISHACKATHON COMMUNITECH

Fishackathon KitchenerWaterloo is parterning with the U.S. Department of State and HackerNewst to find more sustainable and equitable solutions for the Earth’s waters, aquactulrue and fisheries. The event runs until Feb. 11 at 8pm. Visit hackernest. com for more information.

Hackathon • $14.58 • 8:00am

HILLSIDE INSIDE: GIRLS AND GUITARS HILLSIDE INSIDE 2018

This weekend-long program focuses on songwriting, school workshops and Hillside Inside showcases, with a variety of performers such as Hillside’s Songwriting Students, Queers of Quebec Street and Dani Saldo. There will be a change of venue every half hour for each performance or lesson.

Workshop • Dontation • 10am - 2pm

DIY WORKSHOP: THE ART OF SUGAR FLOWERS KWAG

Cambridge artist Angela Henriquez teaches the art of working with sugar paste and flowers. Attendees will learn how to creage hydrangea and cherry blossom flowers. No skill level is required and all materials are provided.

DIY • $95 + $12.35 HST • 3:30 pm

THE LEGEND OF SING HEY PRINCESS CINEMAS

Rainbow Reels Presents the premiere of The Legend of Sing Hey, a documusical directed by Becca Redden and music by Janice Jo Lee and Lydia Mainville. This film follows Kitchener-based-artist and activist Janice Jo Lee, her sister and her friends as they rediscover what home means by leaving it. Sing Hey also features interviews with other artists-activists who also interact with Janice’s life.

Film • $10 • 2pm-5pm

SEARCHING FOR MARCEAU THE REGISTRY THEATRE

This play highlights the story of a mime trying to make sense of his two fathers: the one raising him and Marcel Marceau, who is far away.

The play will run from Feb. 10-11.

Theatre • $20 + tax • 7:30 pm

SUSTAINABLE LIVING SERIES: THE GOOD GREEN DEATH PROJECT REEP GREEN SOLUTIONS

Attend this environment workshop and learn about available and sustainable dying practices in the Waterloo Region. The workshop features Susan Koswan and Ellen Newman and co-instigators of the Good Green Death Project.

Workshop • $10 • 1:30pm - 3:30pm

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 TWB’S TWO YEAR BASH TWB CO-OPERATIVE BREWING

Celebrate two years of TWB with craft beer and live music. The party will feature musical acts like the Ever-Lovin’ Jug Bamd, Vienna D’Amato Hall and Rich Burnett.

We’re also assuming that there will beer, too.

Party • Free • 2pm-9pm

BLACK EXPERIENCE PROJECT: A CONVERSATION FOR WATERLOO REGION KITCHENER CITY HALL

The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council will be presenting its research study focusing on the Black Community in the GTA in July 2017. Attendees are encouraged to listen, learn and ask questions about the study.

Talk • Free • 2pm - 4pm

FREE FEBRUARY FILM SERIES KWAG

In this free weekly film screening KWAG will be playing the documentary, 19 Days, reveals the human side of refugees resettling in Canada and the migration crisis.

Film • Free • 2pm - 4pm

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 BRING YOUR OWN VINYL NIGHT THE BERLIN

The Berlin hosts a weekly Bring Your Own Vinly Night where you can try new dishes from their monthly menu, local craft beer, and listen to your favourite album. If you haven’t checked this out before, why not start next week? Fish out your favourite record, be prepared to eat some good food and call to reserve your 30 minute spin.

Food • $5 craft beer• 5pm

GALENTINE’S DAY BEGINNER CLAY WORKSHOP THE WALPER

You don’t need a romantic partner to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Instead, join local jewelry maker Kierra Young in learning how to make clay jewelry, like a polymer clay necklace and stud earrings.

Cost of ticket will include supplies and a workbook on how to make clay jewelry and a Galentine’s Day cocktail.

Workshop • $75 • 7pm - 10pm

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 GRANT WRITING FOR ARTIST LED PROJECTS COMMONS STUDIO

Inter Arts Matrix is organizing a workshop where you can fund new art projects and expand on previous projects. This workshop will teach you how to plan an application, find funders and assemble funding for a specifict art project.

Workshop • Free • 7pm-9pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 B-MOVIE BINGO: TURKISH STAR WARS APOLLO CINEMA

B-Movie Bingo is back with Turkey’s version of the 1977 classic, Star Wars. Dunyayi Kurtaran Adam is a 1982 science fantasy adventure film that is known for using unauthorized footage from Star Wars and other movies.

Film • $8 - $12 • 7pm-9pm

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 CHINESE NEW YEAR AT KITCHENER MARKET KITCHENER FARMERS’ MARKET

Celebrate the Year of the Dog at Kitchener Market, with live dance performances, arts and crafts and cooking activities. Visit the City of Kitchener’s Facebook event for more information.

Market • Free • 10 am - 12pm

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 GRANT WRITING CO-WORKING DAY FRESH GROUND

Do you have a grant to write but you keep putting it off? This workshop, organized by the Inter Arts Matrix and the Working Centre, is perfect for a procrastinator like you. The workshop will provide assistance from Isabella Stefanescu, Artistic Director at the Inter Arts Matrix.

You’ll also have the chance to have your application proofread and critiqued. Just be sure to bring your own laptop.

Workshop •Free• 10 am - 4pm

3RD ANNUAL MAC & CHEESE FESTIVAL THEMUSEUM

The KW Mac & Cheese Festival is back for its third year. Ticket price includes a 4 oz sample dish from each participating restaurant and a 4 oz beer sample from each brewery.

There will also be interactive exhibits, music by Boogie House KW and crafts and games.

Food •$30 • 7pm-10pm

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 KITCHENER I HEART BEER & BACON SHOW LOT24 GLOBAL FLEX CAMPUS

I Heart Beer will be hosting its first festival which will feature more than 20 Ontario breweries, cideries and distilliers, as well as more than ten local restaurants with bacon dishes. General admission tickets will provide four sample tokens and an official sampling glass. Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information on different ticket prices.

Food• $25 before Feb. 16, $30 after Feb. 16• 4pm-10pm• 19+

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 CREATING POSITIVE SPACES: NEWCOMER INCLUSION AND ORGANIZATION KITCHENER PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Solidarity Alliance partnered with the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and the Outlook Study to create an organizational workshop that addresses the issue based on local data of LGBTQ+ lived experience and best practices. After a presentation, there will be a Q&A session, as well as networking opportunities.

Talk • Free • 9am-12pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 3 ETSY BOOTCAMP WATERLOO REGION SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE

Looking to open up shop? Attend this one-day session to learn from experienced Etsy-sellers what it takes to start a creative business.

Workshop • $125 • 9am - 4pm

COMMUNITYEDITION.CA @THECOMMUNITYED

FEBRUARY 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

16

CHALKING IT UP TO SOMETHING GREAT

A LITTLE LOVE LETTER TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

KARLI FERRIOLO CONTRIBUTOR Walk into a classroom in 2018 and the chances of you finding chalkboards are slim. You’re likely going to see a bright new SmartBoard instead. Chalkboards, once so prevalent in most people’s lives, seem to be becoming another obsolete thing of the past. While that may be true in some classrooms, the midtown neighbourhood would say otherwise.

Take a walk or a quick drive through the midtown neighbourhood in Kitchener and you will find four large chalkboards situated on street corners and trails.

With tons of daily foot, bike and car traffic, the midtown chalkboards are hard to miss.

Juanita Metzger, midtown neighbourhood resident, said that the four chalkboards aim to connect directly with the people in the neighbourhood who might not be connected digitally.

“It’s kind of like a little love letter to the neighbourhood,” Metzger said.

“It’s a very personal approach that is very old school and casual, with a bit of a nostalgic feel to it. People have an attachment to that kind of personal interaction.”

The first chalkboard was constructed in June of 2016 after the neighbourhood applied for a placemaking grant under the City of Kitchener’s Love My Hood strategy. As a concerted communal effort, a huge chalkboard was built as a message board to share and communicate upcoming events and activities to residents in the midtown neighbourhood.

Fast forward one year later and the first chalkboard was so successful that Metzger and her neighbours applied for additional funding through the City of Kitchener’s Neighbourhood Matching Grant to obtain additional funding to build three more chalkboards. As of July 2017, the four chalkboards rotate around the midtown neighbourhood to share announcements of upcoming events, community public service announcements, or just friendly messages.

“They’re multi-purpose. It’s just

a very casual, non-threatening, engagement tool and people love them!” Metzger said. “For example, we use the chalkboards to announce public meetings about development because that is quite dramatically impacting the midtown neighbourhood.”

Emily Slofstra, co-chair of the Mount Hope-Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association, noted that with many tech giants, such as Google and Communitech just down the street, the chalkboards make it clear that low-tech and high-tech can live and work together harmoniously.

“We have seen and we know that there are people that come out to events because of the chalkboards.”

Slofstra said.

“I would say that at every event there has been at least one or two people who showed up because they saw it on the chalkboard.”

Metzger added. The chalkboards offer a unique type of information sharing that is refreshing and nostalgic. If you live in the midtown neighbourhood the chalkboards and their messages are unavoidable.

Unlike getting email newsletters and event requests on social media, which are very easy to delete or ignore.

The midtown chalkboards do not have their own social media. Since the purpose of the chalkboards is to immediately connect with people living directly in the midtown neighbourhood, the wide and very broad audience on social media platforms takes away from that intent.

“We’re really focused on neighbour to neighbour connection within the community and the chalkboards are working to do that,” Slofstra explained.

Both Metzger and Slofstra attest the success of the chalkboards to the active involvement of neighbourhood residents. Keeping up with messages on four different chalkboards all year long is a constant task that requires a high level of coordination; from grant writing to chalk drawing, to carpentry. Luckily, the midtown neighbourhood residents are willing to volunteer their skills for their neighbourhood.

“It’s become a lived character of the way the neighbourhood operates,” Metzger described.

MATT SMITH PHOTOS

In addition to the midtown chalkboard (above) there’s also the uptown chalkboard (below) that is working towards a similar goal.