The Community Edition: December 2018

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 • DECEMBER 2018

WRAP YOUR GIFTS IN TCE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

DECEMBER 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

IN THIS

ISSUE

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3

DECEMBER 2018

THIS ISSUE OF TCE WAS FUELED BY LEMONADE, A FEW TEARS, ARIANA GRANDE’S “THANK U, NEXT” AND A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THANKS FOR READING.

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FEATURE

8-9 THE LOCAL BURLESQUE SCENE IN KW

EDITOR’S PICK

14 GETTING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT FROM AN OPTIMIST

INSIDE

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

IN BRIEF // EDITOR’S NOTE MONIGRAM ROASTS AND GROWS KW ART’S NEW FACE: TRISHA ABE SEXPLANATIONS: HOW BLUE ARE YOUR CHRISTMAS BALLS? HATE CRIME PREVENTION IN WR USING ART TO CHALLENGE PERCEPTIONS OF SYRIA FRUITCAKE: WHO EATS THIS SHIT TCE POETRY EASY BEING GREEN: SUSTAINABLE WRAPPING TATTOOS: DEMOCRATIC ART LOCAL BUTCHER CHOP ABOVE THE REST THE FUTURE IS ALL OF US HARU NOON // EVENT LISTINGS

HEY, WHAT’S UP WITH THE COVER? WE WANT YOU TO USE THIS ISSUE OF TCE AS SUSTAINABLE WRAPPING PAPER. MAKE SURE TO TAKE A PHOTO AND TAG US!

COVER BY LAKYN BARTON

Volume 7, Issue 3 Next issue: January, 2019 75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564

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

THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION

Editor in Chief Beth Bowles beth@communityedition.ca

President TJ Mroz

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

Executive Director Lakyn Barton Advertising Manager Care Lucas Treasurer Garrison Oosterof Vice-Chair Shyenne MacDonald Directors Rosalind Horne Shyenne MacDonald Maiya Mistry H.G. Watson Corporate Secretary Maiya Mistry

CONTRIBUTORS

Nick Benninger Emily Crump Stacey Danckert Megan Dawe Jesse Derry Aaron Hagey Bashar Lulu Jabbour Jennifer Lyon Stacey Jacobs Megan Nourse Andreas Patsiaouros Seth Ratzlaff Nicole Shiener Jordan Snobelen James Toenders Cara Vandermey Racheal Walser

TWITTER @THECOMMUNITYED INSTAGRAM @COMMUNITYEDITION

The Community Edition is an alternative monthly intended to engage and inform the community.

Started in 2012, the Community Edition is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

Opinions expressed within the Community Edition are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the Community Edition, WLUSP, WLU or Centra Web. All content appearing in the Community Edition bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent.

The Community Edition is a member of the Ontario Press Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns.

For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981.

Preamble to the Community Edition Constitution The Community Edition will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Community Edition believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a

matter of controversy.

The staff of the Community Edition shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly.

When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so the Community Edition will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on the community of Waterloo Region.

Ultimately, the Community Edition will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

The Community Edition has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through the Community Edition’s contact with the community. The Community Edition will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of community press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our magazine.

DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

Kitchener artist Trisha Abe has made a big splash in a short period of time in the KW art scene. More on page 5.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO

EDITOR’S NOTE: HOLIDAYS WITH MY BIG BLENDED FAMILY

BY: BETH BOWLES

At the beginning of every December, I have the same conversation with my older sister, Rachael.

I ask her where we’re going on Christmas Eve, who we’re having dinner with Christmas Day, if we’re still driving to Grandma’s on Boxing Day — the goal is that we travel as a pair, although we’re both full-functioning adults and have been for some time.

When we were kids, my parents, who separated before my first birthday, took turns taking us on Christmas. One year we’d wake up Christmas morning with Dad, the following year we’d wake up with Mom. I remember joking to my friends that having divorced parents wasn’t that bad — I got two Christmases, after all.

And to be quite honest, it wasn’t that bad. Christmas when we were kids was easy — it was planned for us. My parents would pass us back and forth. We made sure to see both sets of grandparents.

My sister and I didn’t have jobs to interrupt any plans. It was a solid week of Christmas fun.

But then we grew up and things became more complicated.

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IN BRIEF NEWS

ARTS

URBAN

ACCELERATOR CENTRE FUNDING

THE LAST MINUTE MARKET

COYOTE SIGHTINGS IN THE REGION

The federal government has announced $5.5 million in funding for the Accelerator Centre to extend the AC Jumpstart program for more than two years.

The funding is in addition to $8 million provided to the program in 2015, which has assisted with more than 190 startups.

Looking for last minute gift ideas?

TWB Co-operative Brewing has you covered. Stop in Dec. 22 between 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and enjoy a cold beer and food from The Wooden Boat Food Company while you browse through gift ideas from talented local vendors. No one will even know you shopped last minute!

The City of Kitchener is issuing reminders for pet owners to keep a watchful eye on small animals, and keep dogs leashed. The reminders come after multiple coyote sightings have been reported throughout the Region.

Keep your furry friends safe from furry enemies!

WATERLOO LET IT BE BREWING EXPANDS CHRISTMAS

LAST TWO ION CARS ARRIVE

Waterloo Brewing has announced a $9.6 million dollar expansion aimed to increase the size of their warehouses and retail store. The project will allow for more local production and is expected to create more jobs in the Region.

The expansion is expected to be completed by late 2019.

Have you ever wanted to hear the Christmas story according to the Fab Four? Now you can.

Dec. 23 and 24 you can catch “Let It Be Christmas,” the story of the nativity told through the music of The Beatles at Highview Community Church, doors are at 6:30 p.m. It’s free!

Bombardier has delivered the final two LRT cars to the Region. Five of the 14 cars are still awaiting additional service, while the latest two cars will still be tested ahead of the service deadline in Spring of 2019. We’re hoping that we will soon be able to ride these magical unicorns.

GRINCHES STEAL FROM PARADE

2018 TO FINALLY COME TO AN END

NEW SKATE-PARKS FOR WATERLOO

The Lions Club of Kitchener was left scrambling the morning of the annual Santa Claus Parade, after four of the generators used to power their float were stolen from a locked cube van. Last year, the club had three generators stolen shortly after the parade.

The generators are valued at $1,600 each.

Admit it, for awhile you didn’t think it would ever be over, but on Dec. 31, we can finally say goodbye to this never-ending year. Does anyone remember that there was an Olympics this year? No. That’s how long it’s been (sorry Scott and Tessa). At least we’re one year closer to flying cars/The ION.

The City of Waterloo has announced the addition of new skate-parks. Three locations have already been selected at RIM Park, Stork Family YMCA and the Albert McCormick Community Centre. Construction is set to begin in late 2019. Practice your kick flips because soon you’ll be able to do them in public!

In high school, I worked at a grocery store that was open both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, ultimately taking me away from family events. My sister often wanted to spend time with her friends or significant other.

Both of our parents remarried, meaning there had to be time allotted to my step parents’ families, too. My step brother, with whom I became very close, had to go visit his dad who lived in another city.

Every year became a headache as we tried to manage several schedules at once, and being the younger of two sisters, I usually left it to Rachael to figure out. I told her apathetically, “I’ll just go where you go.”

Sometimes I’d look at my friends, who still had these storybook nuclear families and I’d feel jealous. Not because their parents were still together — I can confidently say that I have never and will never wish for that — but more so because things were easier for them. Their families were small and connected. They didn’t have to explain the chain of relation to anyone when talking

about their families. I often refer to my step brother as just simply “my brother,” which then becomes confusing when it is revealed that we don’t share any of the same parents.

It just means that we all need to work a little harder at making plans or keeping in contact, but it also means that we may need to take a step back when things become too overwhelming.

In psychiatrist Doris Iorvici’s New York Times essay “On a Serpentine Road, With the Top Down,” she said: “Some children carry into adulthood the fervent wish that their divorced parents will somehow reunite, poisoning their ability to find joy in the actual relationships that surround them.”

I read this essay recently and couldn’t help but immediately disagree with Dr. Iorvici. While maybe her experiences have been different, mine have been quite the opposite.

Juggling my large, confusing, non-nuclear family around the holidays has taught me that love is not determined by blood.

While making plans at Christmas

can be confusing and stressful, I still have four parents who will understand if I can’t make it to a fifth turkey dinner. I still have faith in love because my parents found love again, even after heartbreak. I was still given the chance to have a little brother even after both of my biological parents decided not to have more children after my birth.

No family is perfect, mine is far from it. But amongst the chaos and confusion lies a dynamic that only we will understand, and ultimately, I think my upbringing has made me more open to “unconventional” types of love.

It’s made me skeptical of the romcom meet-cute tropes that we’re fed and more willing to accept that love doesn’t always fit into a fixed mould.

So while I’m sure I will soon be playing phone tag with my parents and still leaning on my sister to figure it all out, I’m grateful I’ve always had several places to go home to.

DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

MONIGRAM

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COFFEE ROASTERS GROWS BEYOND GALT ADREAS PATSIAOUROS CONTRIBUTOR Monica and Graham Braun are two coffee enthusiasts who established their own small business, Monigram Coffee Roasters, in downtown Cambridge back in 2012.

After several years of operation and tasty coffee roasting adventures, they are now underway to open their fourth location in the Waterloo Region.

“We’ve got a big coffee roaster right in there. People can see us roasting, people can see the process, see the green beans happening … that was our kind of interesting adding feature that we were adding to the community and the space,” Monica said.

The road getting there certainly wasn’t easy, but it started with a passion to leave their old careers behind and start a business of their own with a shared interest.

“We had always had it on the backburner to have our own business,” Monica said.

When they felt it was time to start their business, they considered different possibilities, but a coffee roasting adventure just felt right for them.

Graham had already been roasting coffee in their basement.

“We kind of joke, it’s like Breaking Bad, but he was roasting coffee,” Monica chuckled. “Graham really enjoyed it. It appealed to his sort of engineering side of things.”.

Previously, Monica was in pharmaceuticals and Graham worked in engineering and IT. “It was a risky start, we both went in it together, so we both gave up our jobs to do this full on. No part-time here and there.”

But they embarked on a new path and the pieces seemed to come together along the way.

“We found a location, we put a big blue Dietrich coffee toaster in there, did the fit and finish and a couple months later we started roasting beans. We put the roaster in there [in] 2012 and started roasting [in] 2013.”

They had lived in Cambridge for about 17 years with their daughters and felt it was the right place to set

up shop.

“Cambridge is really a special place for us and it really seems to be growing and springing to life. There’s neat buildings in the downtown Galt core that [we thought] might suit us [sic]. So, we did find a little red brick old building in the back of a parking lot, kind of in a weird location but I think that served our purpose, too,” Monica said.

Monica explained that they didn’t start selling wholesale beans until about a year after they opened and when they did, the beans flew off the shelf.

As for the name itself, “Monigram,” is rich with sentiment. You can think of it as a simple equation, really – Monica + Graham = Monigram.

The inspiration behind their name is that it combines both owners and is representative of that family dynamic within the business – and maybe of their VIP celebrity coffee roasting couple goals, too.

Their first location started in historic downtown Cambridge and the second is also located in the Galt core, inside of the Old Post Office – a project that has brought forth the Waterloo Region’s first fully digital library. The third, Red Circle Café, was in partnership with Red Circle Brewing at Graffiti Market in Kitchener. The fourth, and newest location, at 618 King St. W in Kitchener. They had their soft opening this week.

Every location shares a version of their brand, but each one also brings something a little different to the community, whether it’s the items on the menu, or its overall aesthetic.

Monigram’s brand and taste has become an increasingly known symbol in Cambridge and has now spread to other parts of the Region.

There are three key points that stood out for Monica when talking about the growth of her family’s business: team-building within the organization, strengthening community ties around it and customer service.

“I feel like the Cambridge community embraced us, we were excited to be part of it,” she said.

“If you do have a vision for growth, which Graham and I always have, we added people to the team that would help us do that, so that’s my advice to small business [owners]. Don’t be afraid of getting people around you who can help you grow.”

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS PHOTOS

DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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NICK STANLEY PHOTO

BECOMING AN “ACCIDENTAL” BUSINESSWOMAN RACHEAL WALSER CONTRIBUTOR It all started in “this space” — a 250 square foot apartment just on the edge of downtown Kitchener, with bright white walls, a small kitchen and one big window.

“This is my bedroom, and my kitchen,” local artist Trisha Abe explained as she gave me the notso grand tour. “It’s just kind of everything, you know?”

And it is. Art on the walls. Art supplies stacked, and organized, and piled. A simple wooden easel

featuring a beautiful, geometric, colourful background contrasted against the stark, dry, resting face emotion of the two figures in the foreground.

“I can’t afford to be messy here,” she said with a laugh.

Which tends to be the local artist’s style. A self-identified “accidental businesswoman,” Abe isn’t your traditional portrait artist. Where media might portray an up and coming artist as messy, always in progress but never quite complete, Abe’s house was spotless. The art was hung at all the right angles and the shoes were lined up by the door.

Her apartment, like her paintings, reflected an excellent use of space.

“I moved to Kitchener to get away from the students,” she said. “I want to be closer to downtown. I feel my

work says a lot about the identity of KW and I want to be a part of that. But at the time, this little tiny apartment was all I really needed.”

She goes on to explain that in November of last year, she found herself going through a breakup.

“I spent a lot of time alone in here over the holidays,” Abe said.

“I was living alone for the first time and I’d always had roommates. I’d always been able to distract myself from the feelings that come with a breakup. I’d work out a lot, spend time with my friends. But this time, I decided to sit with those feelings.”

And though she was working parttime as a server, Abe turned back to her art to process those emotions.

“I was in the midst of applying for my masters. I’d just graduated [from Univeristy of Waterloo] with a health

sciences degree, but had always been artsy and creative,” she said.

“So when I dove into painting again, it was very, very intense. I wasn’t planning anything … I think I sold my first piece for 20 bucks.

I’d paint over my canvases a lot and much of what I created wasn’t something I liked.”

When asked about her distinctive style, Abe explained that the separation in the human forehead is always present in her portraits.

“But they look nothing like the reference photos I start with. And I like that. I feel like everyone sees them differently,” she said.

While she wasn’t making a lot of money off her art in the beginning stages, Abe made an effort to do something creative every day, recognizing the odds.

“Eventually you’ll make something you like,” she said.

And from this almost scientific process of try, try again, Abe has grown a burgeoning career.

“I tell people I’ve become an accidental muralist now,” she admits.

Abe recently completed her first huge mural — a 23 x 12 foot wall featuring 14 portraits inside the Him & Her Inc. office, and is already receiving requests to do more.

“I want to do more murals,” Abe said when asked about her future plans.

“Right now, I feel my work really ties into the identity of the city and appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds. I want to do more of that.”

I’LL HAVE A BLUE (BALLS) CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU

SEXPLANATIONS

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST It is possible you just may have a blue balls holiday without your special someone(s); but that’s not the end of the world. Let me explain.

I have heard the term “blue balls” thrown around since I was in high school. At the time, I did not understand what it meant. What I did know was that it was always in reference to a person with testicles (aka balls) who was being sexually active with another person, was aroused, had an erection, and their partner had told them they wanted to stop or slow down.

They then preceded to try to persuade their partner to continue by saying they had blue balls and it hurt and it was uncomfortable and could even cause damage!

What they were referring to was an uncomfortable, achy, heavy feeling in their genitals caused by arousal and

blood flow to the area without a sexual release or orgasm. Balls do not turn blue, though they may turn a deeper colour because of the extra blood flow to the area (this may happen to a vulva as well), but if your balls are bright blue and painful, please see a health care provider.

To be crystal clear, everyone has the ability to get “blue balls,” even those of us without testicles (aka “blue walls”), and the misguided idea that blue balls are painful, dangerous and need to be “taken care of,” regardless of the wishes of a partner, is still alive and well today.

Everyone has approximately the same amount of erectile tissue in their genital region, it may be in a penis, it may be in a clitoris — including the clitoral roots that run under the labia. Blood vessels expand to allow a greater volume of blood flow into the erectile tissue when you are sexually aroused. Sometimes this blood flows back out with decreased arousal, sometimes it flows out because of an orgasm, sometimes it sticks around for a time and makes us uncomfortable, often when we have been aroused for a long period of time without an orgasm.

This uncomfortable feeling is never

a reason to pressure a person to do something sexually that they do not want to do. This feeling will go away, and if it is not going away fast enough, you can take care of it yourself. Go and masturbate.

There should be no shame in respecting another person’s wishes and ensuring you are having enthusiastic, consensual sex. If masturbation is not an option, try thinking of something that will decrease your arousal, or turn you off. You know what that is for you.

So if you are away from your partner or special someone over the holidays, try masturbating or thinking of something that does not arouse you, and if you still end up with that uncomfortable, achy feeling in your genitals, well, that’s okay too. It will eventually go away.

Stacey Jacobs is the sexual health educational manager at SHORE.

“To be crystal clear, everyone has the ability to get “blue balls,” even those of us without testicles ...”

JENNIFER LYON PHOTO

DECEMBER 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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WR HATE CRIME PREVENTION

THE REGION’S HATE CRIME RATES ARE INCREASING AND WRPS IS TRYING TO HELP

RAMONA LEITAO SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR According to Statistics Canada police-reported hate crimes in the country have sharply increased since 2009, when comparable data became available.

In fact, last year’s number for reported hate crimes reached a record-high of 2,073.

But does the Region of Waterloo — who was once dubbed as the hate crime capital of Canada back in 2009 — reflect these national statistics?

According to the Waterloo Region Record, it does, citing 53 hate crimes being reported in 2017, 34 more than what was reported in 2016.

Sergeant Ryan Leslie, who was recently assigned to oversee the hate crimes division with Waterloo Regional Police, says that while the number reported by the Record seems accurate, for the time being, he cannot speak to the specifics of the stats, such as certain races or religions being targeted in the Region.

“We got to digest these stats and have a look at them,” Leslie said.

Leslie believes that these increases are a result of more reporting rather than more incidents, thanks to an increase in educating the public and police on hate crimes.

“I took over the hate crime team leader role at the start of 2016,” Leslie said. “Looking at the correlation of stats, for some reason we went down in 2016. Looking at our 2015 stats, I saw a spike for some reason in our LGBTQ+ report in hate crimes.

We had to react to it [sic] … So I built the #FiveDaysOfPink campaign.” #FiveDaysOfPink was an online campaign that lead up to April 13, 2016, which was the International Day of Pink.

“Ultimately, it was an education in

terms of trans-positive language and how to prevent bullying or intercede in it. But a big push of it was ‘why do you report hate crimes?’ and encouraging people to help develop that message for us to encourage people reporting hate crimes,” Leslie said.

Leslie also acknowledged that it was previously more difficult for people to report hate crimes to the police, which resulted in possibly lower stats in the past.

“Traditionally, we know that there are barriers to reporting. And we’re trying to break down those barriers and build the bridges that we need to get people to come to us when these things are going on,” he said.

Frequent communication with the public, and more specifically with places of worship and community agencies is also another priority for the hate crimes division of the Waterloo Regional Police, according to Leslie.

“It wasn’t long after I came into this role that there was the attack at the mosque in Quebec,” he said.

“After the attack on the mosque the direction immediately came from our chief to reach out to everyone.

We went to every mosque and other places of worship we could to offer our condolences and just to be there … to provide a message of safety and security.”

The same effort was also initiated in October after the recent Pittsburg Synagogue Shooting, where WRPS was able to spread their message of support and help through prominent members of the Jewish community.

Educational seminars on hate crimes have also been conducted by the Police, which have allowed them to collaborate with local places of worship and community groups, and further strengthen their ties with them, according to Leslie.

In summer 2018 WRPS collaborated with the Coalition of Muslim Women KW, Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers and the Investigative Hate Crime and Extremism Team — a provincial organization — for

places of worship and community agencies.

Reverend Jenn Hind of the Emmanuel United Church attended the seminar when it was launched earlier this summer.

“It was very positive,” Hind said.

“When you walk into that room and you see tables upon tables from the Region from all walks of life — faith communities, police partners, social workers, social service agencies — we live in a Region that cares and we live in a Region that supports one another.”

Just last year, Emmanuel United Church was targeted in a hate crime, where a vandal spray painted Romans 1:32 and “the church shall remain holy” right underneath the church’s pride flag.

“It was definitely something that rallied the community and brought the community together in a way that was restorative and renewal,” Hind said when asked about how the church is doing one year after the hate crime.

“It was a good reminder that there’s still lots of work to do, and from there we just committed to continue that work and continue to commit to be the voice of resistance in all matters pertaining to hate.”

In addition to the congregation and community support, Hind also acknowledges the support provided

by WRPS. “I feel like there are eyes on us and I feel like there’s a swift and consistent response whenever we need help” she said.

“That helps us grow in our confidence to go out and resist that voice of hate, wherever we find it. We feel very grateful to be in a Region that cares as much as they do and react as much as they do when hate surfaces.

To learn more about hate crime and to report a hate crime, visit wrsp. on.ca.

One year ago, Emmanuel United Church in Waterloo was the site of a hate crime.

BETH BOWLES PHOTO

USING ART TO CHALLENGE PERCEPTIONS OF SYRIA SETH RATZLAFF CONTRIBUTOR Moteaa Al Hariri had been an art teacher in Syria before war displaced her family six years ago. After four years of precarious living conditions in Jordan, in 2016, her family found refuge in Canada, supported by a private sponsor.

Once they arrived, it didn’t take long for the Al-Hariris to get involved in the local art scene.

Living first in Orillia with her sponsor, Moteaa displayed some of her art at an exhibition in the Orillia Museum of Art and History. Among other creative works, Moteaa paints scenes depicting traditional Syrian life and culture, as well as modern images of refugee displacement.

Moteaa is still learning English so her daughter, Abeer Al Hariri, translated what she said about her creative works: “She likes to do traditional style. It does not exist now, but she remembers [it] from her childhood.”

Moteaa also said that she is very thankful for her sponsor, who sold her barn in order to support them.

Now the family lives in Kitchener.

They came here when Abeer enrolled in animation studies at Conestoga College.

“I like art because it is in my blood,” Abeer said, explaining that she grew up watching her mother paint, craft, sew, and make. But unlike her mother and her siblings — who were all educated in fine arts — Abeer is selftaught.

In spite of her lack of formal training, she found work as an animator in Syria.

“I don’t like to say this about myself,” she confessed humbly, “but everybody said that Abeer was the best.”

Not yet finished her diploma at Conestoga College, Abeer has already found work as an animator at a design agency in Cambridge called Pixels and Coffee.

Both mother and daughter are active in the Waterloo Region arts scene.

Last summer, they volunteered for Kultrun Festival and Neruda Arts and last month they were featured in the Frederick Street Art Walk.

Their jewelry and paintings sold well.

Despite her language barriers, Moteaa volunteers weekly with a sewing group in Cambridge.

Earlier this year, Abeer created a piece that was featured in the Waterloo Region Museum for World Refugee Day. In ancient Sumerian text,

Abeer Al Hariri (left) and her mother Moteaa (right) both explore their Syrian culture through art.

LAURA PEART-MCBRIDE PHOTO she engraved the message: After a Syrian-inspired motifs. For instance, people’s opinion of Syrian and Muslim long time being separated, I am happy she has concept designs for an culture. to be one family again. animation of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Both Abeer and Moteaa Al Hariri She explained that she believes all one of the oldest surviving recorded are proud to explore their Syrian humans are part of the same family, stories originating from the Syrian culture through art. Abeer expressed with ancient roots in the Syrian Region. that she hopes she can slowly change region; she professed, “I believe very “People think that Syria is just the public’s perception of Syria, and strongly that we are one.” refugees and war — and other things maybe inspire more Canadians to Like her mother’s drawings of like food, maybe,” Abeer said, but for support refugee families. traditional culture, in what little spare her it’s much more than that. time she has, Abeer experiments with With her art, she wants to change

DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH ABOUT FRUITCAKE NICK BENNINGER CONTRIBUTOR The thing about fruitcake is this: we all know about it. Well, sort of.

We have all held a heavy loaf in our hands, marveling at its dense heft.

If you’re at all like me, you start off every holiday season making eye contact with one in a line up at a grocery store, thinking to yourself: “hey you know what, when was the last time I really gave fruitcake an honest try. I mean, my palate has matured. Maybe this is the year.”

Even if you don’t buy it at the grocery store, we all know at least one person that likes it enough to make it from scratch every year. But like a Nickelback fan, you really can’t believe they admitted it and frankly you just don’t “get” them anymore or trust their taste in music.

So why is it that the tradition of gifting fruitcake still exists today?

How is the industry a billion-dollar behemoth loaded with more profits than Grandma’s loaf has candied

fruit?

Well the answer lies in the question: history. While some of the more commonly known fruitcake facts have been discussed in great length by scholars before me, I intend to dig a little deeper. We have all heard that it’s origins date back to Roman times, that royal families hold the exchange of booze soaked candied fruit bricks in high esteem and even that some households boast to possess a sugar laden loaf as old as a great grandpa’s toenail collection. (For the record, it is 130 years young and still “edible” — the fruitcake, not the toenails.)

But, let’s discuss some of the things you may not know.

Fruitcake is like fine wine, not in any of the good ways though. For instance, it won’t make your in-laws any more tolerable or your bad jokes funny, but it does require some time on the shelf to age properly. Most fruitcakes are aged or “ripened” at least one month after being baked in order for the cake to absorb moisture and sweetness from the candied fruit. Unlike most baked goods, fruitcake gets better with age, so don’t stress out yet, put off trying it for a couple more years.

Fruitcake is better than Tinder

— for ladies, anyway. It’s said that single women of yesteryear would place a slice under their pillow after attending a wedding. Doing so would result in dreams filled with visions of their unknowing groom and is rumored to have been at least twice as effective as sliding into someone’s DMs. Fruitcake has been to space — seriously. If the moon landing is to be believed, than we also have to accept that a pineapple fruitcake was along for the voyage. Yes, that’s one small step for mankind and one big step backwards for pineapple — like pizza hasn’t been hard enough on the fruit. The easiest part of this fact to believe is that neither Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin touched the stuff and the unopened package in still on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum!

In conclusion, do I expect you to embrace the weird and tuck into a plate of fruitcake? No. But maybe after reading this you can shed a little light around your holiday table as you once again ask, “who eats this shit?”

Nick Benninger is a local restaurant owner and chef

Fruitcake doesn’t photograph super well. So here’s an empty plate instead of one.

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT THE COMMUNITY EDITION

SHOW ME HOW YOU BURLESQUE A LOOK INTO THE LOCAL KITCHENER BURLSQUE SCENE WORDS BY BETH BOWLES • PHOTOS BY JESSE DERRY Just over a year ago, Annie Moore stopped in to one of her favourite restaurants, The Grand Trunk Saloon in downtown Kitchener, for a bite to eat. While she was eating, she struck up a conversation with owner Darryl Haus. Moore is a local burlesque dancer, on top of being a frontline worker for the local shelter system, and Haus had seen her perform burlesque previously in Cambridge.

Moore was taking some time off from performing and producing burlesque shows since her previous venue in Cambridge fell through, so Haus offered her a monthly spot at his restaurant. Moore agreed, excited by the opportunity, and alongside fellow burlesque performer and producer Ruby Krueger, the two have been producing Wild Wednesday, a monthly burlesque show at The Grand Trunk Saloon, ever since.

But, for both Moore and Krueger (which, by the way, are their stage names), performing burlesque has been more than just a year-long endeavor. Moore actually started almost 10 years ago. She said she had always been into the ‘40s aesthetic; her grandparents love for vaudevillian theatre also influenced her.

She started a rag-tag troupe with some friends, where, with the help of friendly collaboration and YouTube, she taught herself how to perform.

“We had no idea what we were doing, and to be quite honest with you, it was terrible. But it allowed us a lot of practice and growth,” Moore said.

Krueger, who currently works at a hair salon, got her burlesque start five years ago. She began as a belly dancer,

but when her dance studio began teaching burlesque classes, she wanted to give it a go.

“I didn’t realize it was something people still did. I thought you had to be Dita [Von Teese] in order to be doing burlesque,” Krueger said.

“Annie and her crew actually took me in and it’s been a wild ride since.”

Under the names Vixen and Tease, the two began producing shows together — meaning they curate the set list, seek out and book performers, promote the shows and ensure everything goes smoothly the night of.

Most of us don’t have a ton of experience with burlesque outside visions of Cher and Christina Aguilera strutting their stuff in the popular movie. So, for the inexperienced audience member, what exactly can one expect from a burlesque show?

“Burlesque is kind of like a throwback to old vaudevillian style performance art. It’s a lot of striptease — a little heavier on the “tease” than “strip,”” Moore explained. “It’s predominantly the art of tease.”

And that’s exactly what it is. On Nov. 21, I sat front row at my first ever burlesque show at The Grand Trunk Saloon. I didn’t really know what to expect, but Moore and Krueger promised diversity — and that’s what I got.

The show was hosted by Guelphbased drag queen Athena McQueen, and the show rotated through three different performers — Miss Boom Boom Knox, Olive Von Topp and Annie Moore, herself. Krueger took a backstage role in this show, as it seemed she was responsible

for ensuring that everything ran smoothly.

The night was a blast; Athena McQueen offered comic relief as she introduced each new performance, and even performed herself. Olive Von Topp offered a mixture of danger and sex as she balanced a sword on her head. Miss Boom Boom Knox’s performances were like blasts from the past with over the top, thoughtfully selected costumes.

Moore’s performance was dreamy, as she appeared on stage almost naked, but holding two large white feathers that she used to accentuate the tease.

Each performance was so different, and the audience’s responses proved the night to be a success.

“ YOU HAVE

A BODY? CORRECT? THEN YOU’RE OKAY TO DO BURLESQUE. - ANNIE MOORE

”

Moore and Krueger explained that they don’t walk away with a full wallet after putting on these shows; their main priority is to make sure the performers are paid and that there is money left over to invest into the next show. The costumes and props can get

expensive.

“We do it because we enjoy bringing the joy to our audience,” Moore said.

The main audience demographic at Wild Wednesday is usually groups of middle aged women, Moore and Krueger said. Some of these women have even expressed that they would like to try performing, too.

“We’re always encouraging people: just do it,” Krueger said.

Moore explained that one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding burlesque is who can do it. She said that a lot of the women who express that they would want to try it often counter that statement by bodyshaming themselves.

“You have a body? Correct? Then you’re okay to do burlesque. Burlesque is not about perfection, it’s about loving what you do and it’s about embracing who you are and it’s about having fun with it. So we really work to encourage all types of human to do burlesque — however you identify,” Moore said.

She said that the idea that you have to be a thin cisgender woman to perform burlesque just isn’t true, and she and Krueger are working really hard to break down any barriers.

“If you look at the current burlesque scene, a fair amount of my favourite performers from all over the world are of varying body types and varying skill sets and varying levels of dance.

I think the biggest misconception is that you have to be a Dita,” Moore said.

Moore and Krueger are always accepting of new performers and will help anyone who wants to give it a try.

“Here, because of the type of venue we have, it’s a little easier for new people to get on stage and we like to encourage it because we want our community to grow. We have no interest in being exclusive. We don’t want it to be about Ruby and Annie all the time,” Moore said.

The two agreed that if a first-timer’s performance doesn’t go well, then it just doesn’t go well.

“My first time on stage was a nightmare,” Moore joked.

While burlesque classes offered in KW are limited, Moore and Krueger said that there are really great classes offered in Guelph by a group called Femme Rebelle. This group offers classes for those who want to incorporate some form of nudity, but also for those who do not. Moore and Krueger said that taking a class is a great way to get more comfortable with performing on stage.

In that same breath, the two producers have a zero tolerance for bullying or shaming at their shows — that goes for audience members and how performers treat each other.

Because burlesque is such a vulnerable art form, they choose to only work with others who deal with it gracefully.

They will stop working with those performers who do not uphold an inclusive attitude.

“One of the biggest things we’ve been pushing is a positive community and a positive space, here, so we always make sure that it’s a super supportive crew that’s on hand. There’s always encouragement. There’s no negativity.

We ensure that there’s great body positivity,” Krueger said.

“We want it to be a safe space here for everybody, regardless of who they are and where they come from.”

But it doesn’t just end with misconceptions about body type, Moore and Krueger also explained that there’s sometimes confusion between the differences between performing burlesque and stripping.

“Another thing that happens quite a bit … that I think needs to simmer down a bit is when people refer to it as classier than a strip club and comparing it to a strip club stripper.

[When you do that], you’re shaming.

One’s not better versus the other, they’re just different,” Krueger said.

Moore explained that there’s much more athleticism in stripping.

Stripping also usually involves full nudity, while in burlesque, the performers usually wear pasties and panties throughout.

“We’re a little heavier on the tease,” Moore said. “It’s really common where you’ll see — we call it “the final reveal.” … It’s less about being nude on stage and more about getting nude on stage,” Moore said.

As Vixen and Tease enter the new year, they don’t show any signs of slowing down. On top of continuing on with the monthly shows at The Grand Trunk Saloon, they will also be producing less frequent shows at Patent Social in Waterloo.

Ultimately, Moore and Krueger just really want to see growth in KW’s burlesque scene.

“With new people come new ideas and growth and change,” Moore said.

Krueger echoed this, but also encouraged some of those shyer women to try it out.

“I hope to get new performers. I want more of those older women who say they wish they could do it [sic],” she said.

While Moore says she’s happy with the community they’ve built, and forever grateful to The Grand Trunk Saloon for their constant support, she hopes to see the community of burlesque performers, supporters and audience members continue to grow.

“Community makes it so much more fun. You have more people to work with and bounce ideas off of.

Our main goal is just seeing growth in the community and maybe more cohesiveness from performer to performer as far as that community goes,” Moore said.

“There’s something to be said about these small intimate venues where we can really connect with our audience.”

The next event that Vixen and Tease are gearing up for is their New Year’s Eve speakeasy to be held at The Grand Trunk Saloon on Dec. 31.

Left to right, top row: Annie Moore and Ruby Krueger, Olive Von Topp Second row: Boom Boom Knox, Athena McQueen, Annie Moore

U

DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

...AND WE LOVE LIFE / IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO IT WORDS BY BASHAR LULU JABBOUR ILLUSTRATION BY PAIGE BUSH “Syria is a small, poor, and crowded country.” in the morning, my mother smokes a cigarette on the balcony, a coffee and a large glass of water sit idly. as the clock approaches 9, she takes a sip from the water, pouring the rest in the yasmineh nearby.

“Syria’s oil is of poor quality, sour, and expensive to refine.” in the afternoon, my father pours, a bucket of water into the balcony corner. he collects it towards the drain in the opposite corner. the rest evaporates, we sit in the sun, drink mate and eat peanuts.

“If the population were much smaller, Syria could have managed adequately but not, of course, richly.” in the warm evening air, i sit on the balcony pretending to read from my textbook, the chapter on Fatimids while love stories slip from the radio. broken hearts, lost loves, callers interrupted by Fairuz singing Ams Entahena “The Syrian Civil War is the bloodiest conflict in the world today, shattering the lives of Syrians, destroying cities and straining global politics” on scolding summer days my mother empties, a bucket of water on the balcony. my sister and I change into tiny swimsuits, and we slide from one side to another. my mother reminds us to put our hands in front, so as not to hurt our precious little heads

the quotations above were taken from actual news articles, published in both CNN and The Atlantic. the title of this poem is in reference to a poem by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.

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MIXING GIFT GIVING WITH SUSTAINABILITY EASY BEING GREEN STACEY DANCKERT COLUMNIST As we quickly approach the holiday season, it’s apparent that we’ll begin to accumulate a lot more “stuff.” Along with that extra stuff, also comes extra waste. An additional 540,000 tons of wrapping paper adds to the 25 per cent more waste thrown out over the holidays.

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to discover that I would like to convince you to ditch the extra stuff and wrapping paper. I’d like to encourage you to cut the extra manufacturing, shipping, packaging and eventual disposal of it. After all, it’s possible that your favourite uncle doesn’t actually need that Einstein bobble head.

Like any form of change, it may be easier to make this change slowly.

This approach may take a bit more creativity, but I wager that once you start, you may find yourself more excited about what you do give. Many people really don’t need any gift at all.

Having a mother who was a teacher, let me reassure you that teachers really don’t need any more soap, or mugs or fish-shaped dishes. They would, however, really appreciate a thoughtfully made card or letter telling them how much they are appreciated.

There are many options and approaches to avoid giving more stuff.

I personally love experience gifts. Of

course, they should be thoughtful and personalized (sky-diving may be a risk).

With my own family, when we finally made the shift, we decided that each couple would take turns planning a fun night out for everyone with a spending cap that is less than what we would have spent on gifts. It is a great way to have new experiences together and ensures we aren’t just together for the holidays. There are so many amazing options, such as sporting events, theatre, concerts, travel, etc.

Another great option is to buy consumables, such as food or drink.

A nice bottle of Niagara wine or locally brewed craft beer are great ideas. Something like a “picnic in a box” could be really fun (especially if it comes with an attached babysitting coupon). Pampering gifts or memberships may also be really appreciated (think Library of Things membership for a new home-owner).

Since reuse is one of the important “R’s,” upcycled items are not only keeping something out of landfill, but often support local artisans and are generally unique. Last year, when my husband’s wallet broke, I bought him one made from damaged bike tires.

I also love the idea of a White Elephant exchange, where you wrap up something from your own home and each person takes a wrapped gift or steals from someone else. Similarly, you could issue a challenge of only exchanging goods from local second hand shops. Ideally, you would skip the battery-operated items since batteries are a huge contributor to waste.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of arriving empty-handed, you

could consider buying a “green” product. If you can find something that you are convinced they will enjoy using and will replace a more harmful product, you may even be able to create a convert. Something like nice cloth napkins, or silicone lids to replace kitchen wrap may connect with someone who has already started to make changes.

Finally, you could consider giving a donation to a local charity in the receiver’s name. In this case, it is particularly important that this be personalized and matched with their own interests.

If you are going to skip gifts, chat with people early to avoid uncomfortable situations. Many people will even be relieved to know that you are happy with a holiday get-together, instead. Admittedly, kids can be harder to convince, but include them in the fun of thinking up things for others and be creative. The earlier you start, the easier it will be.

I believe that the spirit of the holidays feels even stronger after you ditch the stuff-heavy approach. In the end, a nice card or a lovely note can go a long way. After all, the holidays really are about enjoying time spent with family and friends. Using creative ways to show your appreciation for what they bring to your life will probably have a bigger impact than one more thing they have to find space for.

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

PAIGE BUSH PHOTO

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DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

TATTOOS:

THE DEMOCRATIC COLLECTION OF ART WORDS BY JORDAN SNOBELEN PHOTO BY MEGAN NOURSE

T

he proliferation of tattoos has ushered in a new era of art collection. Tattoos differ vastly from traditional forms of artwork like painting, photography and sculpture, but transcend what is often a pretentious and unapproachable inner circle, skirting the elitism and serving to introduce the average person to the world of art.

I’ll admit, I look forward to getting tattooed about as much as I look forward to seeing a proctologist. Yet the pros outweigh the cons every time.

There’s an almost mystical allure in the personal sacrifice and connection with a tattoo not found in other forms of art collection.

From the gooey slice of pizza to a fine-line rendering of a late relative, tattoos are personal to the collector to some extent from their conception.

And unlike artwork hanging on a wall, it’s an experiential process working one-on-one with an artist to curate the pieces one wants to see in their personal collection.

Lying down on an uncomfortable aesthetician’s bench with an arm hanging over the side, my limb evaporates into a feeling of pins and needles.

Dustin Barnhart’s characteristic and mischievous smile crosses his face, “Ready?”

Barnhart is a tattooist at Berlin Tattoo in downtown Kitchener, and has posed this rhetorical question many times over the past years. I never am, of course, and a moment after the buzzing machine starts up, there are up to 32 needles moving as fast as three-thousand times a minute in and out of my skin.

Droplets of ink are deposited, triggering the body’s immune response as they are pulled into the dermal layer of skin. Macrophages are sent to devour the foreign pigment particles, but because of their size, ultimately fail.

Instead, the macrophages remain at the injury site, securing the ink in its new home. It’s this inadequacy of the body’s immune system which allows tattoos to exist.

I scrunch up my face and let the sound of Norma Jean pound through my headphones to drown out my screaming nerves. A few hours after the burn has subsided, the newest piece of Barnhart’s handiwork — an anatomical heart with drops of blood

spilling from the exposed vessels — permanently covers my elbow and joins the other tattoos running the length of my arm.

Joan Coutu is a professor of visual culture at the University of Waterloo and talks about tattoos as a form of art collection in her introductory class: Art History and Visual Culture.

Coutu trained in traditional forms of art when the definition of what could and could not be called art was narrowly defined and dictated by an elite few.

Now, she says people are becoming comfortable making their own choices about what constitutes art, with tattoos bringing more artwork outside and into the public consciousness.

Coutu pointed towards the increasing number of students with tattoos she’s seen in the classroom over the years, which she believes can be attributed to an increasingly savvy and visually-literate culture.

The proliferation of tattoos is becoming harder to ignore, and has noticeably influenced the traditional art landscape in sometimes startling ways.

Exhibitions dedicated to tattoos have recently made the rounds at the prestigious Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, The Field Museum in Chicago and at the Royal Ontario Museum, in Toronto.

The world’s largest and publicly-accessible, posthumous collection of preserved tattoos exists at the London Science Museum, thanks to the Wellcome Collection. Collections of preserved tattooed skin also exist in Krakow, Poland and Tokyo, Japan.

In 2009, Geoff Ostling, a now 74-year-old Australian man, agreed to donate his skin — entirely tattooed except for his head — to the National Gallery of Australia when he dies.

Before the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum closed its doors in 2012, Henk Schiffmacher’s collection of over 40,000 tattoo-related items — including skin preservations — drew thousands of visitors from across the globe.

Closer to home, Cheryl Wenzel, a Saskatchewan woman who is paying $80,000 to a U.S.-based business, Save My Ink Forever, made headlines in November for honouring her late husband’s request of removing his

tattooed skin to preserve and display.

The preserved pieces will make their way to a tattoo expo in the near future, and eventually hang on the wall of her late husband’s tattoo studio.

Chris Martin has been studying tattooing for over eight years and spent a year as an ethnographer studying tattooists and the work they do. He’s a Professor of Social Sciences at Algonquin College in Ottawa and earned his doctorate in sociology from Memorial University in Newfoundland. His insights have culminated in his newest book to be released this month, The Social Semiotics of Tattoos: Skin and Self.

“Tattooing is an invitation to art,” Martin said.

And while the meaning behind the art may change with time, tattoos provide a permanent expression of personal identity for a wanting society in precarious times. Facets of life which once provided stability and identity are no longer reliable, and Martin refers to this idea of a void and “fractured identity” as the instigator behind tattoos’ popularity.

Martin says the art behind the ink is a major factor for deciding on an artist. “It is the vehicle to explain what you want to express,” he said.

The industry is changing due to “artification,” as more traditionally trained artists with formal schooling are getting into the field, much to the chagrin of those trained through unorthodox apprenticeships, Martin explained.

Tattooing for the past 11-years, Lindsay Joseph went to a tattooing school when she first started out and agrees it’s looked at with contempt. But she applauds the direction tattooing is going.

“We’re artists in the industry now, not just someone with a tattoo gun anymore,” she said.

Jospeh recently opened up her own studio, Lucid Tattoos, this past September in Cambridge. Less than a month after opening, her appointments were filled for the following year. She’s still taking consultations but predicts her books won’t reopen until 2020.

“I think [tattooing] is the future of art, in a way, because we are so mobile.

People aren’t siting at home anymore staring at a wall,” Joseph said.

Antje Hoffmann, a 44-year-old law clerk and mother of two, started getting tattooed by Joseph three years ago. She’s the epitome of a changing demographic of the tattooed and presently has a quarter sleeve. Her lower arm is covered with roses, diamonds and bees while the focus of her upper arm is a “day-of-the-dead girl,” still in progress.

Hoffmann always appreciated tattoos, despite growing up in a time when they weren’t as accepted, but wasn’t sure she would ever muster the bravery to get one herself. That was until she “fell in love” with Joseph’s artwork.

The appeal for her own tattoos didn’t lie so much in a deeper meaning, but rather in the artwork itself and how Lindsay was able to translate her ideas.

“I could stare at my tattoo and find something to appreciate every time,” she said.

Humans have been tattooing for the last 5,000 years, but we are undoubtedly riding a high in western society.

Waterloo Region is home to over 21 tattoo shops alone. An often referenced Ipsos Reid poll conducted in 2011 found two out of 10 Canadians have been tattooed at least once. A more recent Harris poll in the United States, and published in 2015, found three out of every 10 Americans have at least one tattoo — with 47 per cent being in the millennial age group, and 36 per cent being “gen Xers.”

It remains to be seen how long the ride will last, but as our cultural attitude continues to shift in favour of tattoos as an affordable work of aesthetically pleasing and wearable art, we will continue to see tattooing not only broaden its reach across the skin of human history, but also onto other mediums and forms of non-living presentation.

Tattoos have crossed the gamut of socio-economic boundaries, democratizing art collection for the masses.

They have brought art into the open like never before, no longer confined to the walls of galleries or closed auctions for the affluent. Embodying a living form, they have inadvertently turned our canvases of skin into walking galleries of our stories, at once explicitly public and desperately intimate.

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DECEMBER 2018 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

THE NEW KID ON THE

CHOPPING BLOCK

FOREQUARTER BUTCHER SHOP CHARMS WITH OLD SCHOOL APPROACH

AARON HAGEY CONTRIBUTOR If you’re interested in browsing through rows of delicately-coiled, handmade sausages, locally-sourced, antibiotic and hormone-free meat, and customized cuts of beef, all with the charm of an old-school, neighbourhood butcher store, then the ForeQuarter Butcher Shop might be the place for you.

Located in the heart of Kitchener, ForeQuarter has quirky offerings like their “Blackberry for Sausage” promotion — which gives you the opportunity to trade in an old Blackberry cell phone for two free sausages. There’s also “Meatloaf Wednesdays” — a Willy Wonka style challenge to find a sausage hidden in one of 10-12 weekly meatloaves for $20 of store credit. This butcher shop prides itself on standing out from the crowd.

When co-owners Colby LeMoine and Waseam Masri opened the store on July 15 of this year, they had more than 25 years of butchery and food hospitality experience to bring to the chopping block.

Before ForeQuarter, LeMoine worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and Bauer Butcher for eight, when he made the decision to take a chance on tackling the meat business his way — one that “brings back the nostalgia of butcher shops of the past.”

He took his passions for butchery, high-quality products and people pleasing, and combined them with the allure of a local, residential aesthetic to create something altogether different.

The community-based meat market centered on customer interaction is a place that throws it back to a time where you knew the name of the person selling you your food with a smile.

“So that was the idea: we were a small neighbourhood shop, where people could walk in or drive and stop by everyday on their way home and pick up something fresh,” LeMoine said.

“It was tucked away, just off Weber Street … sort of that romantic idea of going back to the old-style butcher, where you can go in and get your fresh cuts daily. That’s what we’re trying to recreate here.”

Quickly, word of mouth spread beyond their quiet location, as reports of the caliber of their food reached media outlets like CTV News and The Record.

The praise for ForeQuarter comes as

no surprise when you look at where their meat comes from.

With pork from Perth Pork Products, beef from West Grey Premium Beef in Durham and Blackview Farms in Listowel, chicken delivered from Sargent Farms in Milton and features like venison from Bruce County, all of the meat that ForeQuarter brings into their store is never far from home.

LeMoine believes this, among other things, makes a tremendous impact in the quality when compared to chain grocery stores. “[Our meat] doesn’t go through too many hands. We buy it straight from the abattoirs, straight from our farmer or our suppliers and we buy in big pieces that allows us to take the care and love with it,” he said.

“When it goes on the counter, it’s how it should be treated. It’s not passed through a lot of people — and you lose quality when you do that.”

One aspect that has become the pride, joy and cornerstone of ForeQuarter, is their outlook on customer service.

“We always like to greet people with a smile when they come in and we love to work with customers one-on-one to get them exactly what they want,” LeMoine said.

“If they come in and they don’t see what they want, we want them to feel welcome asking for something and

Colby LeMoine is one of the co-owners of ForeQuarter Butcher Shop.

NICK STANLEY PHOTOS we’re more than glad to help them … stop party.”

LeMoine is proud of what he does, [get] exactly what they want.” who he gets the opportunity to work It’s difficult to pinpoint what about the business he loves so much, and talk with and the superior quality but between the fun and casual that’s reflected in his store’s stock. atmosphere, variety and diversity in The dedication that’s behind this the food he creates, working with local charming little business is apparent farmers, creating lasting relationships when you walk through the door and and connections with his customers, ForeQuarter Butcher Shop will leave you feeling satisfied with their service as well as getting the chance to and products when you walk away see family and friends more often, LeMoine describes it as “a little nonfrom the counter.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE? THE FUTURE IS ALL OF US OPINION

NICOLE SHIENER CONTRIBUTOR “Are women trying to take over from men?” my tween son innocently asked in response to my enthusiastic announcement that both the Cambridge mayor and regional chair were now women.

Are we? I know I’m not. I attend Take Back the Night marches and talk to my daughter about “girl power.” All over my newsfeed, I see memes and t-shirts declaring “The Future is Feminine.” While I can’t

speak for all women, I believe the future is all of us.

At the heart of all abuse is power.

To go back to my son’s initial question, we need men and women working together, sharing power and challenging those who are abusing their power. According to Rashed Bael, Schools over Violence program manager at Peace Over Violence, a non-profit organization in the States: “Most men do not want to harm women, but if we truly want to be seen as good men, then we must accept that we created patriarchy and step to the forefront to destroy it. Only then can we truly say “not all men.””

As a therapist to many trauma survivors, as well as a friend and family member to countless women who have shared their personal stories

of objectification and violations by men, it’s hard not to get caught up in angry rhetoric; to not wonder where all the “good men” are in #MeToo conversations or global movements aimed at addressing domestic and sexual violence.

Through awkward and crucial conversations at home and being the only woman in a room full of men in our agency’s Partner Assault Response (PAR) program for nearly 10 years, I’ve discovered how easily we can become triggered and launch into defenses against shame creating further divide.

Social media can be a great way for people to share their stories and break their sense of shame and isolation for survivors, but it can also be a pressure cooker for hate rhetoric on both sides. Are “good” men staying

silent or feeling like they need to defend themselves because of language like “toxic masculinity?” Or is it the shaming hashtags and videos that make men feel like the core of who they are is under attack?

Language has the power to divide or unite. I fear instead of inviting men into the conversation to work towards solutions, they are feeling like the enemy and staying silent for fear of saying the wrong thing or lashing back. If we want to move past an “us or them mentality” we have to create brave spaces for crucial conversations and collaboration beginning in our homes. We need a fundamental shift in how we relate to one another and the words we use especially when we are angry. We have to be willing to show up with humility and acknowledge that we

can learn from one another and that all of us can do better.

Effective communication and emotion coaching are skills a lot of us have not been taught. But they can be learned through individual therapy or in groups like our agency’s “Healthy Living: Positive Steps for Dealing with Anger” and “Women Helping Women.”

We can continue to attack one another or we can seek to understand and find common ground. Everyone’s voice is needed. The future is all of us.

Nicole Schiener is a registered psychotherapist in Cambridge

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ADVICE FROM AN ETERNAL

OPTIMIST ON HOW TO GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT ONE

JAMES TOENDERS CONTRIBUTOR Hey guys, it’s your buddy James here.

You might know me from creating sandwich art at your local uptown Waterloo grilled bread restaurant, or from applying extremely dangerous headlocks as professional wrestler, Jimbo Jones.

If you don’t know me personally, let me fill you in on a little secret: I’m a pretty happy guy. A shake-your-hand, give-ya-a-hug, look you-in-the-eyes “it’s GREAT to see ya!” kind of guy.

Because of my golden retrieveresque demeanor, the holiday season is my bread and butter. But if you aren’t shaking with excitement at the prospect of tinsel headaches and face kissing your great grandmother, allow me to lend you some tips to get into the holiday spirit.

Dutch extreme athlete Iceman Wim Hof preaches the benefits of “controlled hyperventilation,” brought on by extreme cold as a way of combatting arthritis, diabetes, depression and even a lack of seasonal cheer.

Unlike Wim, you don’t need to sit in a manufactured box of ice or swim in the arctic sea. As citizens of Waterloo Region, we are blessed with dozens of busy hockey arenas. All you need to do to feel at ease is roll behind a hockey house, find their beautiful pile of rink shavings, strip down, dive in and feel yourself overcome with seasonal cheer.

TWO

Do not, under any circumstances, avoid over indulgence. You have to attend 13 work, family and intramural sport league parties, so the least you can do is keep your body happily fuelled. Eat the flaming pudding, drink the festive punch, help yourself to thirds!!! Additional cushioning will not only keep you toasty, but soften any unfortunate icy slips.

THREE

Nothing makes me happier than the smells of Christmas: delicious cookies being baked, freshly cut coniferous trees (I’m a Fraser Fir kind of boy if you were wondering) and Aunt Barb’s famous Diana Sauce meatballs.

When matters of nasal emotion are concerned, I like to refer to Martin Prince’s wise words from Simpsons season six, episode 24, “Lemons of Troy”: “here’s a tip lads — put a pinch of sage in your boots, and all day long a spicy scent is your reward!”

Where Martin is conservative, I consider myself an extremist. Yes, my holiday pessimists, poultry seasoning is the perfect dry winter deodorant, freshly snipped pine branches can be directly affixed to your limbs with duct tape. And don’t forget the Diana Sauce — a simple application to the inner wrists and nape are enough to remind everyone at the dinner table how much you love this time of year.

Armed with these tips and a fresh holiday attitude, no doubt you will do me proud. Good luck, and remember you can never apply too much Diana Sauce.

Our publisher’s cat, Maeby, is learning to get into the holiday spirit.

PAIGE BUSH PHOTO

SO IT HASN’T BEEN YOUR DAY OR WEEK, BUT TCE WILL MAKE 2019 YOUR YEAR.

WE SERVE BEER (and wine)

APOLLOCINEMA.CA

FRIENDS TRIVIA THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 @ CHAINSAW $5/PERSON BUY TICKETS ONLINE. NOW THAT WE KNOW NETFLIX IS KEEPING FRIENDS - YOU CAN STUDY UP.

DECEMBER 2018 // @THECOMMUNITYED

15

EVENT LISTINGS

WE’VE HAND SELECTED SOME COOL UPCOMING EVENTS AND WRITTEN SOME WITTY COMMENTARY. YOU’RE WELCOME.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23

ETSY-CAMBRIDGE QUEEN’S SQUARE

PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET CHAINSAW

UAFO FUNDRAISER SHALL WE KNIT?

Hold on to your wallets. Etsy is coming to Cambridge for the first time for a Christmas Pop Up. No big deal, just 40+ amazing local Etsy vendors to help you with your holiday shopping. There will be warm bevvy’s, sweets, live music and (get ready for it) SWAG BAGS! Shut up and take my money.

What’s more punk rock than the Punk Rock Flea Market? Nothing.

This time around the theme is winter solstice. Come by for art, crafts, clothes, photography and of course, music. This seasons bands and buskers list is top notch. You’re sure to find something for all the badasses on your shopping list.

UAFO. That stands for UnderAppreciated Finished Object, and every knitter has some. Like mittens or a scarf they’ve never worn. Pick your favourite of these beautiful hand-knit pieces and show them some much needed appreciation.

Proceeds will go to Women’s Crisis Services.

Shopping• Free • 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Shopping • Free • 4 - 11 p.m.

Shopping • Free • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24

LANTERN WALK HURON NATURAL AREA

FEMINIST HOLIDAY MARKET CUTTEN FIELDS, GUELPH

A WUDDUP DOG CHRISTMAS WUDDUP DOG, CAMBRIDGE

If you’re looking to brighten up your evening, this is the event for you.

Meet at the main entrance of the picnic shelter with your best lantern (not a cellphone or flashlight...there are rules) to enjoy a short walk with songs and cheer. If you don’t have a lantern, show up anyway. Tea-light candles will be supplied.

The second annual Feminist Holiday Market aims to dismantle the patriarchy by showcasing the work of women and nonbinary folk. Visit vendors, artisans, makers, small businesses and activists coming together to celebrate intersectional feminism and community in one collaborative space.

Wuddup Dog is opening their doors to anyone who is looking for some company this Christmas Eve. Feelin’ hangry after all that last minute holiday mall shopping? This event is sure to cheer you up! Come hang out, watch cheesy holiday movies and enjoy a delicious free meal.

They know wuddup.

Community • Free • 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Shopping • $3 • 12 - 5 p.m.

Fun • Free • 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

MONDAY DECEMBER 17

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24

OLD-TIME BREAKFAST SEVEN SHORES

SUDS & SHOP ARABELLA PARK

CHRISTMAS EVE EVERYWHERE

Start your Sunday off right with a good ole cup of coffee from Seven Shores Community Cafe and the sweet old-time sounds of Onion Honey. Can’t make this one? That’s okay. Onion Honey plays breakfast shows there on the second Sunday of each month. Attending this is easy like Sunday morning.

First things first...for every beer purchased you will earn a $1 coupon to spend on your favourite market finds. Does anything else matter?

You get to shop and drink, and drink and shop. Visit local vendors and browse brewery merch. Did we mention this is at Arabella Park? It’s a modern day Christmas miracle.

It’s here. You’re exhausted, and Santa is on his way. He’s probably over Argentina or something by now. Tell the kids in your family.

Maybe they’ll get to bed sooner.

Probably not. Oh well. Pour yourself more Bailey’s and watch Die Hard again before settling in for a long winter’s nap. Yippee ki yay!

Music • Free • 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Shopping • Free • 6 - 9 p.m.

Fun • Free • All Day

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25

KWPS WRITING CIRCLE MATTER OF TASTE

A VERY LEILA CHRISTMAS THE REGISTRY THEATRE

CHRISTMAS DAY EVERYWHERE

If you’re looking for a community to run your writing ideas by, this is the event for you. Matter of Taste will offer a quiet space to work on your latest story or poem, and a collaborative environment to bounce ideas off others in. Plus, you know there’s going to be great coffee.

Why do Canadians love Christmas so much? Green Light Arts presents the amazing, talented artist Leila in her hit show about her first Christmas in Canada. This show is sure to make you feel warm and fuzzy and full of holiday cheer.

There’s also a warning about “salty language,” so count us in.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or at least that’s what your Aunt Margaret keeps telling you.

Hang in there. It’s almost over.

You’re doing great. Just three more turkey dinners to stop in for, and you’ll be home. Oooh! Maybe they’ll load you up with leftovers again.

Hold the fruitcake, though.

Cmmunity • Free • 6 - 9 p.m.

Art • $20 • 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Fun • Free • All Day

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31

YULETIDE SPECTACULAR CENTRE IN THE SQUARE

CHRISTMAS MARKET KITCHENER MARKET

SPEAKEASY GRAND TRUNK SALOON

The KW Symphony will highlight scenes from the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, with dancers, choirs, special guests and a sing-along. Once again that’s the symphony, Dickens, dance and singing ... these are a few of my favourite things. It’s literally everything you need to feel festive.

Looking for some last minute cheer?

The Kitchener Market is hosting tons of vendors with unique gift ideas and delicious treats to try this holiday season. There will be carolers and even a special appearance from the man, the legend — Santa — between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Liked our feature this month?

Go see the burlesque live on NYE. Mingle and party witht he performers (they’re pretty cool).

Tickets include food and midnight champagne. Doors are at 7pm and we’ve been encouraged to dress in your fancy best. It’s NYE afterall — get classy (or at least sparkly).

Art •$13 - $94• 8 - 10 p.m.

Shopping • Free • 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Fun • $75 • 7 p.m. - 2 a.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31

APOLLO’S FEAST: HOME ALONE APOLLO CINEMA

LAST MINUTE MARKET TWB CO-OPERATIVE BREWING

NEW YEARS EVE AROUND THE REGION

You’ll basically be a member of the McCallister family by the time this event is over. Watch Kevin slide down that stairwell and out his parents’ front door on the big screen, while you stuff your face with a pan slice of cheese pizza from The Crazy Canuck ... all to yourself!

You know that sounds inviting.

Are you still shopping? That’s okay.

Enjoy a cold cup of cheer (and by cheer we really do mean beer) and delicious food while you explore the amazing items of local vendors and artisans offering unique last minute gift ideas. They’ll even wrap them nicely for you because let’s be real, TWB definitely has your back.

Kiss 2018 goodbye and bring in 2019 in style. There are tons of amazing events taking place around the region. There’s live music, a murder mystery, even a masquerade, so pick your fav event and get ready to party. Enjoy the bubbly and we’ll see you on the otherside. Happy New Year!

Fun • $5 - $25 • 7 - 9 p.m.

Beer • Free • 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Community • Everywhere • Evening

COMMUNITYEDITION.CA @THECOMMUNITYED