The Community Edition: August 2021

TEAM WLUSP ADMINISTRATION

FEATURE

Corrections to Volume 9, Issue 2

MCBRIDE

In the article, KW Art Gallery Curator Leaves KW on page 13, a quote was attributed to Shirley Hill. The correct name is Shirley Madill, who is the executive director of KWAG.

In the same article, Deanna Brown was named the creator of the Black Drones in the Hive exhibit when their actual name is Deanna Bowen.

Finally, in the article on page 7, Grieving Freely on the Grand River, the name of the activist in Cambridge is Prakash Venkataraman, not Venkatramanan.

alternative

CONTRIBUTORS

Manila

Kinsella

Di Sabatino

Al Momani

Severin

Sageman

Becker

Matas

Elizabeth Best

Community Edition

in 2012, the Community Edition

an editorially independent newspaper

by Wilfrid Laurier University Stu-

Waterloo, a corporation

share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

expressed within the Community Edition are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial

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

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.

BY: HARLEEN KAUR DHILLON

August is a magical month. As the summer draws to a close, we hope to squeeze in one more day trip to the beach, a last shopping excursion, a final visit to the cottage.

The flowers are gone, the rain is (mostly) gone, the heat is also leaving. The excitement of travelling and vacationing is being replaced with contentment and regrets, as well as plans for next summer to do the things we didn’t get around to this year.

Indeed, this year was a strange one.

Where last year everyone was in quarantine, this year was a limbo. We were unsure of what we were allowed to do and to what levels of caution we should adhere. With the vaccines, there was a new feeling of safety and relief but the new variants of COVID-19 worked to reinstill fear.

Still, we have hope now for some semblance of normal.

Although I understand that there are things that should not return to normal—such as the lack of infrastructure in northern communities that made quarantining difficult, the ill-equipped mental healthcare system, the ridiculous prices of housing and so much more—there are some things I am excited about doing again.

I am not one for much travel. I spent most of my days reading. I worked through novel after novel, some poetry books and many nonfiction ones. I drew many pictures of mostly still rooms and plants and I even pressed my own flowers.

I spent my days alone, often in silence. I would speak only a few

NEWS IN BRIEF

HOUSING MARKET DIPS DURING JULY

Local real estate experts say there was a 17 per cent dip in housing sales in July 2021 compared to the record-breaking sales during the month of July 2020. The Kitchener-Waterloo Association of Realtors says 611 residential homes were sold last month, proving the market is still strong.

RECOVERY PLAN FOR MUSIC HOUSE

Waterloo-based venue Maxwell’s Music House has launched a COVID-19 recovery campaign. Community members can show their support through a tiered donation approach and have their name printed on a high quality 12-inch vinyl record decal that will be permanently placed on the venues’ walls.

BINGEMANS PREPS FOR OKTOBERFEST

Bingemans has announced plans to host in-person Oktoberfest events in late September and early October. The venue says they are confident their outdoor space will allow for all COVID-19 guidelines to be met. A large outdoor biergarten will be set up outside the Boston Pizza location, so you can Ziggy Zaggy your way on over for a beer.

DTK SAYS NO TO DIGITAL SIGNS

Staff at the City of Kitchener have objected to the placement of digital signs in downtown Kitchener, stating that “we’re not trying to create a Times Square or Dundas and Yonge type scene.” So you can go ahead and leave your sunglasses at home.

MANDY BUJOLD’S OLYMPIC FIGHT

After a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that the qualifying criteria should have considered women like herself who were pregnant or recently gave birth, Kitchener boxer Mandy Bujold was eliminated from the Tokyo Olympics in a preliminary bout. She is still a real champion to us.

WR IN NO RUSH TO EXIT STEP THREE

Local health officials and businesses say they would prefer to move with caution before exiting step three of Ontario’s COVID-19 reopening plan. Health officers say they hope to further increase vaccination rates within the region with the goal to reopen gradually and hopefully, remain open.

OFFICER CLEARED OF PROFILING

WRPS Const. Jesse Foster who was accused of racial profiling in 2017 has been found guilty of unlawful or unnecessary arrest and excessive use of force, but not racial profiling. Inadequate training was also blamed for the incident in which a Black woman was arrested during a possible weapons call that involved a male suspect.

FESTIVAL AND EVENT FUNDING

Ontario’s Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod has announced $49 million in funding to help relaunch festivals and events in Ontario following COVID-19. The funding will help assist organizers with recovery, adapting to public health measures, as well as production, marketing, mobile develoment and safety measures.

CAR THEFT ON THE RISE IN WR

WRPS say 24 vehicles were stolen from driveways in Waterloo Region in the last month. The majority of the stolen vehicles were Toyota or Lexus models. Police believe the thieves are interfering with key fob technology to steal the vehicles and recommend storing key fobs in a pouch or shiedling bag to prevent theft.

words of greeting with my family. I left my phone uncharged for days and ignored messages from friends.

My window faces west and in the evenings, the sun hides behind a large tree to then bask my room in warm orange, gold and pink. I’ve never much enjoyed the colour orange, but this is different.

The earlier months of summer are too bright and winter covers everything in darkness; but in August, everything glows. It was in this stillness, silence and solitude that I found myself most satisfied.

I have been silent and still for a long time. It was wonderful.

But in August, like summer, my vacation from being a functioning person will draw to an end. I will start volunteering again and I will join some

book clubs. In autumn, I will meet new friends and also reconnect with old ones.

I hope that, with school restarting and work picking up again, our readers will find new opportunities in the community. There are so many wonderful people and groups in our region, I hope you can find new places to make your own. At the same time, I hope you are able to return to familiar places with a renewed sense of awe and appreciation—places where the people and chairs, and the atmosphere and the floors, and the dishes and the rooms remember you as lovingly and as intimately as you remember them.

Also, as the holiday season begins, I will celebrate things for the first time. Other than Diwali, my family rarely celebrates anything. My friends are

mostly Muslim or non-religious and, other than the ambiance, I don’t care much for Christmas.

But this year, my friends and I will create a new holiday for just us friends that we can all celebrate together.

So I look forward to creating new traditions with the members of my chosen family as well.

August reminds me that my time of stillness is ending and that I will miss it. It is a month like the penultimate chapter of your favourite book, right before the climax and the happily ever after. Still, I look forward to the after because there is still a lot of magic left in the year.

Read more about Vanessa Spence, artistic director and producer of Virtu Arts on pg. 7 NICK STANLEY PHOTO

WATERLOO WORKS TOWARD EQUITY

come in with lived experience and expertise.”

ALYSSA DI SABATINO CONTRIBUTOR

On Jun. 29, 2021, the City of Waterloo announced their first Director of Indigenous Initiatives, Anti-Racism, Accessibility and Equity.

Sanjay Govindaraj, a registered social worker and psychotherapist with over 20 years experience with the Region of Waterloo, will start his new role on Aug. 16.

Govindaraj acknowledged the wide breadth of expertise that his title requires and the limits of his own experience.

To respond to aspects of the role that he is not an expert on, one of Govindaraj’s first tasks with the City of Waterloo will be to hire for several new roles, including an Indigenous initiatives advocate, an anti-racism and social justice advocate and an accessibility advocate, all of whom will work alongside him.

“I love to lead from behind. That’s my way of working,” Govindaraj said.

“I know I’m not an expert on the entire range of portfolios. I will be looking to the [advocacy] team and people who

Govindaraj drew on his professional experience in human resources and the equity, inclusion and human rights unit with the Region of Waterloo— and in incorporating Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act audits and Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations into his previous roles with the region—as experiences that will help propel him in his new position.

“Between those three positions and myself, I think a small team would help—not just focusing on some of the internal challenges and systemic barriers, but also more externally focused [on] programs and services, and how [they] are creating unnecessary barriers, or how can we make them more inclusive,” Govindaraj said.

“We’ve got to start somewhere,” he said.

He credits his lived experience in India during his formative years and his social work experience for having inspired him to contribute to systemic change.

Having started his career in Mumbai, India, Govindaraj recalled witnessing how injustice, violence and systemic issues can impact the most vulnerable and marginalized portions of the population His experience with the

caste system that is still entrenched in Indian society was especially influential.

“Some of my lived experience coming from India, [witnessing] the caste system…it’s a deeply ingrained process,” Govindaraj said. “The [lower castes] can never shift their roles. Every step of the way, it’s so codified. When I moved to Canada, the caste system was not present, but there’s a very different system present where it’s much more invisible.”

Along with hiring for the advocate positions, Govindaraj said his goal will be to evaluate the demands of the community and respond accordingly.

“My first step is to really get a little more into understanding where we currently stand, and a lot of good things that the city may have already worked on, but also looking at where [the] gaps are,” he said.

When it comes to systemic change, Govindaraj said he sees this position as having the potential to be “transformative.”

“The way the city has structured it, this is a permanent team...and it’s also going to be structured within the Chief Administrative Officer’s office, so it does have a lot more ability to respond quickly and work with the council.”

BUSINESS UNUSUAL TELLS LOCAL PANDEMIC STORIES

ALEX KINSELLA STAFF WRITER

Although running a business always has challenges, wave after wave of lockdowns forced local businesses to be ever more adaptive.

Small, locally-owned retail businesses have dealt with everything from reduced capacities to full closures—while seeing big-box retailers stay open. Closed to audiences, movie theatres have survived by offering curbside popcorn pickup and poster sales. Bars and restaurants quickly pivoted to delivery and cocktails to go, hoping to stay afloat long enough for summer weather and expanded patios to bring people and revenue back.

Some stories of how the pandemic affected businesses are told in Business Unusual, a new documentary series from local filmmakers Kyle Sawyer and Taylor Jones. The series explores the different ways local businesses pivoted during the lockdowns. The episodes feature businesses from across the downtown and uptown cores, including the Apollo Cinema, Ellison’s Bistro, Cyclone Spin Studio, Crafty Ramen, and LenJo Bakes.

Sawyer and Jones were inspired by a similar series from the UK that showcased how restaurants there were managing during lockdowns. Both filmmakers live in downtown Kitchener and have relationships with small business owners in the area. They wanted to create a similar series that would tell those stories.

“For me, the story is about these people that have small businesses. They put everything on the line to

give something to their community through that, and in some cases, the stakes are they cannot fail,” Sawyer said.

Each story began in a different place and situation. The businesses and the people running them were all unique, but they all faced the same obstacle: the pandemic.

“As you’re watching that first act, you know what’s coming. Then the resolution is that all of these characters are heroes of their own stories. They needed to tackle what was sometimes seemingly insurmountable, yet they all survived. That arc that makes a really great story,” Sawyer said.

The struggles for each business owner are as different as their businesses. Sawyer said many of the business owners faced significant financial issues if the business failed. Others had to leave child care and at-home learning to their partners to focus on the business. However, selecting which businesses to include in the series was simple because all of the owners were so passionate.

“Whenever you interview someone about their favourite subject, it’s so much easier to have a good conversation. We lucked out with ten amazing characters and ten diverse businesses,” Sawyer said.

“I feel like it’s almost therapeutic

for them. For many of the interviews, they’ve said, you know what, I’ve never really actually thought of it that way,” added Jones.

In one interview, Sawyer and Jones asked what it meant for a husband and wife team to work together so closely tackling a major problem一they said they did not think about it, there was no question about working together for their business.

While many businesses found ways to stay open and serve customers, others took the pandemic lockdowns as an opportunity to change their business plans. For example, one episode features Crafty Ramen, a Guelph-based restaurant which

expanded into downtown Kitchener just prior to our first lockdown. During the pandemic, they pivoted to ramen kits for home delivery for which their downtown space is a production facility. The kits became their primary source of revenue.

Apollo Cinema went through many changes before reopening in July when Ontario moved into stage three of its reopening plan. The independent theatre offered many services to stay open, from popcorn pickup to becoming a bar.

“They became everything but a theater. They started at a bar and were playing movies in the lobby. But you couldn’t go into the theater there,” Sawyer said.

Jones said each story shares a common theme beyond surviving the lockdowns.

“Every single one of them mentioned community support. They all really relied on their community to stay afloat,” Jones said.

Sawyer hopes the stories will inspire people to return to old favourites and discover new ones as lockdown restrictions ease.

“These small businesses are ingrained and woven into the DNA of these cities. I think we realized over the pandemic that they’re more important than how we’ve seen them. They bring us together. They bring us food. They bring us joy. They bring us into a safe spot where we feel comfortable to talk to people,” Sawyer said.

“A year without being able to do it is a really good reminder for everybody to support our local businesses because without them we won’t have those places to go to that we love and enjoy,” he said.

You can learn more about the Business Unusual series, including opportunities to sponsor episodes, at businessunusualseries.com.

Sanjay Govindaraj draws inspiration from his time in India to inform his equity work . SANJAY GOVINDARAJ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CITY

DIRECTOR

ANTI-RACISM,

Kyle Sawyer (left) and Taylor Jones (right) worked on telling stories of local businesses dealing with the ever-changing pandemic. MATTHEW VIVEEN PHOTO

UNION CO-OPERATIVE

LOCAL CO-OP HAS INTRODUCED A NEW MODEL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ALYSSA DI SABATINO CONTRIBUTOR

Rent has steadily increased in Waterloo Region and finding affordable housing is a barrier for new and long-time residents in the city. Many different organizations and experts have suggested possible solutions for affordable housing, but Union Co-operative introduced a new model.

Union Co-operative buys properties in the region for permanent affordability through community ownership.

“We want to find properties that are already leasing to tenants, and purchase them so we can take them out of the speculative real estate market and hold on to them for long- term affordability within our community,” Sean Campbell, a founding member and executive director of Union Co-operative, explained.

Campbell works as a non-profit and charity management consultant with people who are committed to the betterment of the community. Unstable housing is a major obstacle for these people and amplifies existing challenges such as mental health, employment or building a family.

“Lack of housing also has longterm impacts on the likelihood of children completing high school and completing college or university. There’s all these rollover effects that happen from housing,” Campbell said.

He explained that one of the inspirations to start this model stemmed from similar co-ops in other parts of Canada. The co-op model is used in Alberta and British Columbia to raise investment dollars and loan to small businesses and social enterprises for a low rate.

In the USA, a BIPOC-led organization called East Bay Permanent Real Estate Co-operative raises funds from the community and pools them together into the co-op to buy properties to provide affordable housing and prevent gentrification in San Francisco.

Union Co-operative is the first organization to use this model in Ontario.

One of the big pieces of their mission is purchasing naturally occurring affordable homes to keep them affordable. These are older buildings with long-term tenants that have enjoyed rent protection.

Campbell explained how real estate investors look at such properties in the Rregion for rental enhancement strategies or wait out current tenants so that they can increase the rent. However, Union Co-operative will purchase these properties on behalf of the community so that they can preserve the affordable rent.

“We’re really lucky in our community that people are deeply committed to this issue and are looking to make our community a more affordable and gentle spot to live,” Campbell said.

Anyone who lives, works or has a connection to Waterloo Region can get involved and join as a member in this co-op. A membership share can be purchased for $500, which will be returned if they decide to leave the co-op. They can also be involved in the

administration by investing in the coop, running for board, getting involved in decision making and more.

Investments are pooled together to form the down payment, and the mortgage is acquired from a credit union or bank that is insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. They contract with a property management company that has experience working with lowincome tenants and can take care of the property.

Members can invest between $1,000 and $10,000 in preference shares wherein an annual board-declared dividend is earned.

“What that means is at the end of each year, the board looks at the surplus available in the co-op and decides how much we can distribute to members after setting aside sufficient reserves,” Campbell said. “With preference shares, we’re able to lower the dividend payments in one year and increase it in another to make sure that it is accommodating the demands of affordable housing.”

There are many ways for members to be involved. Whether it is through a passive involvement of investing, voting at the AGM or receiving dividends, or a more active involvement, such as serving on committees or volunteering directly on a task.

“The reason why we chose to be a cooperative is because people can get engaged...they can learn more, they can help make decisions, and we can make our community a better place to call home,” Campbell said.

For more information about Union Co-operative, visit unionsd.coop.

TCE x GOOD CO. x CITY OF WATERLOO VIRTUAL STEEL RAILS

The lack of affordable housing in Waterloo has been increasing steadily over the years. Union Co-op hopes to combat this issue. UNION CO-OPERATIVE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

QUEER DEDICATED SPACES ARE IN DEMAND

QUEER SPACE M. MANILA CONTRIBUTOR

I have been openly a part of the queer and trans community for almost a decade now. In my experience since coming out in 2014, I have realized that there are scarcely publicly queer spaces.

Now that I live in Waterloo, I have found my own spaces where I feel comfortable being myself. I have both performed and attended over a dozen drag shows since starting my journey in this city. As an individual with multiple overlapping identities I have experienced my fair share of injustice and general discomfort while existing outside my own four walls.

Aside from the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Waterloo also offers the services of organizations like Spectrum, the Rainbow Centre and SHORE Centre

among others.

Still, not all community members feel the same void that not having an openly queer bar creates. I was curious about the effect of not having a queer bar and decided to ask other LGBTQ+ people in Waterloo how they felt.

“I have been to a lot of drag shows at Wilf’s, The Bombshelter and Chainsaw, but none of these spaces were explicitly queer,” Nina W., a past executive for the Glow Centre said.

“Bars are one of the main ways that drag performers get to be known on the scene. Sometimes I worry about the safety of the people performing, I worry about hostile folks being present at these shows.”

The Order, uptown Waterloo’s last gay bar closed its doors in June of 2017, right in the middle of Pride Month.

“For queer people in general, it can be really tough to find places where you feel comfortable to be yourself,”

Sarah Mathers, co-coordinator for the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity said

Although the universities have spaces like the Rainbow Centre and the Glow Centre, it can be detrimental

for the well being of queer folks in Waterloo that there are no queer spaces that are accessible to a wide variety of people.

“I feel like queer students do [have support], but there are still barriers to accessing services and spaces…[the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity] does not have the same purpose as gay bars. [It] is a chill space to hang out,” Mathers said.

As a queer student myself, most of my experience being around queer and trans people have been in the same spaces that W. and Mathers described. Having these experiences made me wonder what it would be like not to have access to the Glow Centre during my undergraduate years. I do not think my experience in university would have been half as fulfilling as it has been because of these queer spaces.

Since the pandemic started last year, the absence of these places seems to be felt more and more by members of the community.

“During the pandemic, I do not feel like there [has been] a space for queer people in Waterloo, because people cannot access the physical locations,” Midas Belgari, co-coordinator for the

Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, said. For Belgari, the Glow Centre was important to her because it was her place to “socialize and get to know people, and be able to share experiences and get support.”

In North America, LGBTQ+ bars have provided a refuge for members of the community to be safe from

FOR QUEER PEOPLE IN GENERAL, IT CAN BE REALLY TOUGH TO FIND PLACES WHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TO BE YOURSELF.

-SARAH MATHERS, CO-COORDINATOR FOR THE GLOW CENTRE FOR SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSITY

violent actions and police harassment. Nowadays, organizations like the Rainbow Centre and the Glow Centre

mostly act as places where queer and trans youth can find community.

There is a great demand for queeroriented public spaces in the region and not just for students, but for the LGBTQ+ community at large.

“Queer spaces in the community are nice because they’re not just tied to certain organizations like the universities, it would make it open to everyone,” W. said.

The Queer Space is an effort to build more queer spaces in Waterloo Region and a place for queer members of the community to share their thoughts on anything and everything. This space is for all queer writers, regardless of experience (I’m an editor! I can help with that). In addition, if you would like to write to us but are hesitant to have your name attached to your piece, having a pen name or simply being anonymous is perfectly acceptable! If you would like to contribute or if you have name suggestions, please email harleen@ communityedition.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!

While there is no shortage of queer-friendly spaces throughout KW, the area still lacks any definitive queer venues or bars.

CRAIG BECKER PHOTO

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED, YOU’RE WELCOME

want to do here at Virtu Arts,” Spence, now artistic director and producer at Virtu Arts, said.

CARE LUCAS PUBLISHER

In 2018, POC Culture hosted its first event in Peel Region. At the time, founder Vanessa Spence hoped the spoken-word and poetry group would help elevate the voices of artists in the African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) community.

Then, Spence and her partner made the decision to move to Cambridge. She quickly realized there was not as much diversity in the art community here as she had hoped.

“We don’t see our stories on the stages too often…We don’t have many artists, writers, artistic directors who are of the ACB population,” Spence said.

“I thought it was just a perfect place to say, ‘okay, this is where I want to live. This is where I want … to change the ecology of what’s going on here in this region, and hopefully, outwards.”

And with that, POC Culture became Virtu Arts, a production company that focuses on educating, developing and sharing the theatre work of ACB creators with a mission to advance their careers and stories.

“Careers come first, and with your career, you just need someone to give you the opportunity to fail. Right? To learn, fail, learn, fail. And that’s what I

“I want to give folks the opportunity to come here, understanding that they don’t know everything, but knowing that you can learn everything that you can, just by having the courage, taking that initiative.”

When COVID-19 hit, Spence thought Virtu Arts was at a standstill. Unable to work with other actors because of pandemic restrictions, Spence turned to a project she had been writing for a while—a onewoman play called Stretch Marks: Part One

Stretch Marks: Part One was born out of a book of poetry Spence wrote while she was pregnant. After the book was published, she felt she had more to say. So, she started writing a play.

“It was just kind of everything that I couldn’t say, as a first-time mother— as a first-time mother of colour, everything that you couldn’t say is kind of what I wanted to put in that place,” Spence said.

“Then out of that, there was a lot going on with… the foster care system, adoption and all that stuff. I kind of really got into that kind of research for some reason.”

It was that research that inspired Spence to create a story about a female lead who was adopted by a white man. With the help of a very supportive team, Virtu Arts was able to launch Stretch Marks: Part One as their first play in 2020.

Since then, the production company

has been offering workshops and creating opportunities for artists to grow in the community. They’ve also been connecting with other local theatre groups including Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, MT Space and Green Light Arts.

“[The community is] very, very supportive, and they want our art. They want people to stay here and to build this region and the art community. But there’s definitely a need. And I think they see that need. The community sees that need,” Spence said.

“A lot of people move away from this region to go and build a career somewhere else. I’ve noticed that and I know that, but that’s why … I took the time to say, ‘okay, we have to put energy into this region, so that it’s not 10 steps back.”

Virtu Arts will also begin rehearsals for Stretch Marks: Part Two in September. The production, funded by the Ontario Arts Council and the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund, will focus beyond Spence’s perspective as a mother and include the stories and experiences of others. Having had the opportunity to speak to over 15 Black folks who have been adopted by white families and now have children of their own, the play will explore intersectional aspects of the human experience.

“It’s a story that can be told by all races and all folks…It’s not even just telling Black stories…it’s about telling a story that transcends. There’s a Black character at the center. That is

representation,” Spence said.

“You don’t have to tell a story about a Black person in the 1800s…You can tell a story about them right here right now…with a topic that affects everyone, right? It’s just a Black character at the center or a Black family at the center.”

Spence hopes pandemic restrictions continue to ease so Virtu Arts can move away from relying on virtual workshops and programming. Virtu Arts is currently using physical space at 44 Gaukel St. for rehearsals. They will also be a part of IMPACT Theatre Festival in October.

The production company is filling a number of volunteer opportunities

and some paid ones as well. Spence hopes that Virtu Arts can carve out a space for local creators in the ACB community to grow their craft.

“When we say, ‘hey, we’re holding auditions for a Black artist, for this Black character’…automatically, they see themselves and they want to audition, they want to be a part of it. And even if they don’t get the role, then ‘hey, do you think you can be a stage manager? Do you want to grow in that area?’ … Just bring them in and other ways, even if they weren’t able to get the part,” Spence said.

“If you’re interested, you are welcome.”

BEISAN ZUBI’S JOURNEY FROM OTTAWA TO WR

racism.

RACHAEL MACINTOSH STAFF WRITER

“If I could talk to my childhood self,” Beisan Zubi, local NDP Candidate for Kitchener Centre paused to consider.

“I guess I’d say—sorry things don’t turn out the way you expect, at all.

They turn out better.”

Growing up in Ottawa’s downtown Sandy Hill neighbourhood, pre-teen Zubi aspired to be a vet, an actress or a doctor. She liked movies, animals and playing outside until the street lights came on. Sandy Hill back then was full of young families, not facing the housing crisis it sees today.

But a political teacher in grade 12 helped to set her down a different path and it led to Parliament Hill.

By the time she was 24, Zubi was working in statistics, actively pushing back against the social attitudes that young people had no place in politics.

“The culture in politics at that time wasn’t much different from undergrad,” Zubi said.

As much as she enjoyed being a part of something bigger than herself, she could not ignore that Parliament Hill had the same problems as the rest of society—sexual harassment, genderbased stigmas, ageist references and

As the daughter of proud Palestinian parents—an activist and an artist— Zubi grew up with mixed feelings about her heritage. She learned to find pride in her identity through politics by listening to leaders like NDP Leader Jack Layton incite change in the political landscape.

“I think back to my seventeen-yearold self as I run this campaign,” Zubi said. “Maybe she would have signed up to volunteer with me.”

Zubi’s family was displaced through renoviction—a process where landlords evict tenants by claiming they will complete major renovations on the property. She sympathizes with the generations of Waterloo Region residents currently looking for housing elsewhere.

“There’s two levels of change in politics.” Zubi said. “People and systems. People need to wait for systems to change, but systems don’t need to wait for people to change in order to have positive impacts. I want to make systems change.”

Beisan Zubi is the NDP candidate for Kitchener Centre. Zubi’s story is interesting and inspiring to us, however, we do not support or oppose her political aspirations and campaign in any way.

Vanessa Spence is the artistic director and producer at Virtu Arts. NICK STANLEY PHOTO

NDP

CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN KW

THE COMMUNITY EDITION TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE REGION.

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY MATTHEW VIVEEN.

TOP PHOTO: CLOSE-UP OF UNITS AT 18 GUELPH ST.

Jeffrey Schumacher, the supervisor of housing programs and development with the Region of Waterloo spoke to the affordable housing strategy.

“What we try to promote is mixed housing. We try to have different rent levels, some at low, some at moderate income, so we can try and fill a range of housing needs and it’s not all geared to a specific group,” he said.

RIGHT CIRCLE PHOTO: ONE BEDROOM UNIT AT 18 GUELPH ST.

“The greatest need [is for] one bedroom [units]. By ‘greatest need’, mean the longest wait time. The average household, or couple, or single waiting for a one bedroom is approximately eight years.”

– Jeffrey Schumacher

LEFT CIRCLE PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER MERTZ, AN EMERGENCY SOCIAL SUPPORT WORKER (ESSW), STANDS AT THE SITE OF A FORMER EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS ISOLATING FROM COVID-19.

Mertz spoke on some of the challenges of housing with vulnerable people who are facing mental health and addiction issues.

“Especially with addiction and mental health, [there are] a lot of fluctuations in their state of well-being. They might be ready to be housed. They’re ready to go and they have all this great stuff lined up and then there is no spot available for them. Mental health [matters come] up and then six months later an affordable housing unit becomes available but they’re not at the place anymore where they can live independently.”

BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO: THE FOUNDATION OF 1470 BLOCK LINE RD. IN KITCHENER WITH YW KITCHENER-WATERLOO.

This project will be completed by the end of the year. The building will be dedicated to supportive housing for single women experiencing chronic homelessness, and will have 41 units available for individuals.

MIDDLE RIGHT PHOTO: A COMMUNITY GARDEN BEHIND 544 BRIDGEPORT RD. E. INTEGRATES SOME NATURE AND A SENSE OF CONNECTION FOR NEIGHBOURS.

The region is creating partnerships for new affordable housing solutions. ‘Gentle Density’ is a term often used with this style of development. It is an attempt to seamlessly integrate the building into a local neighborhood without it being overwhelming to adjacent structures.

Even people in middle-income levels are being stretched thin with affordability, and regional efforts have been underway to mediate. Earlier this year, the regional council approved a framework to create 2,500 new affordable units in the next five years.

BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO: UNFINISHED STAIRWAY LEADING OUTSIDE AT 18 GUELPH ST.

“It is a serious issue and people don’t necessarily choose this life, but are caught up in it...I think the more that we can highlight what leads to these problems,一the sort of trauma that’s behind it, the mental health that’s behind it,一I think we can foster a lot more compassion in the community. And [we can] make it more normal that the city actually does spend money on affordable housing and supportive housing and addiction treatment,” Mertz said.

BRINGING COLOUR TO WR

WEARING WR

that specialize in West African fabrics and cultural wear. With help from her sisters, she chooses colours and patterns that draw her eye and make her happy.

CAITLIN MULRONEY COLUMNIST

It all started with a colourful mask.

When Susan Anyiri Paul was let go from her job in June 2020, she decided to lean into her creative side. She had always loved to sew and started creating pieces in her newfound spare time.

After Paul realized the mask she sewed for her sister was good enough to sell, Anyiri Styles was born. Paul has been selling her pieces featuring bold African prints, and her inventory has grown from masks to headbands, wrap skirts, makeup bags and custom clothing.

Though Paul is from Sudan, she gravitates toward West African fabrics for her pieces. She sources these fabrics from a few stores in Toronto

“The brighter they are, the more I’m attracted to them...Every fabric I ever bought was because I fell in love with it,” Paul said.

When she shops for fabric, Paul intentionally avoids any specific tribal prints or those with specific cultural significance so that her customers can feel comfortable in the knowledge that they are appreciating and supporting a Black-owned business, not appropriating African culture.

“My prints are for everyone…as soon as it’s in a store and out of my hands, you can wear it because [in that instance] I’m not making it for a specific group of people,” she said.

Paul also notes that those who are experimenting with bold African prints for the first time might not want to wear them head-to-toe and that’s alright. She makes headbands and coordinated separates so that everyone can play with their style at their own pace.

As formal events are beginning to drip back into the social calendar, Paul’s customers have also asked her for unique custom pieces that will help them stand out.

The process is simple. Paul takes measurements, collaborates with customers on the design and the fabric and creates a custom piece that fits well.

“I sew based on your body type...And that’s why I enjoy it so much, because I really have to get to know you and figure out what you like,” she said.

Once she has those measurements, the process is only easier from there. From prom to bridesmaid dresses and everything in between, Paul has enjoyed making formal occasions fun for her clients.

Paul says that her approach to style can be summed up by a popular African attitude toward clothing:

“Every African person you meet will tell you this: if you love it and you’re happy with it, wear it.”

You can find Anyiri Styles in store at Artisanal Design Co. and online on Instagram @anyiri_styles.

MOURNING AND HEALING WITH CEREMONIAL FIRE

THE HEALING OF THE SEVEN GENERATIONS LIGHTS ETERNAL FIRE FOR MURDERED CHILDREN IN UNMARKED GRAVES

they went. There were rumours that there [were] children buried at these sites,” Curley said.

“When we started our lawsuit back in 1996, the government response was, ‘there’s no proof; where’s your proof?’.”

HARLEEN KAUR DHILLON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children 215 unmarked graves of children were uncovered at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. earlier this year, The Healing of the Seven Generations lit a ceremonial fire to honour the unnamed children. Initially, the fire lasted 10 days but was reignited when another 751 unmarked graves were found in Saskatchewan.

Kelly Curley, fire keeper at The Healing of the Seven Generations and member of the Onondaga Beaver Clan, said the fire will remain until November and then they hope to have a gas fire through the winter.

Although the numbers are unclear, nearly 2,000 unmarked graves of children have been found. Curley estimates there may be as many as 15,000 more left to be uncovered.

The fire will burn until the last child is found.

“What we had decided was to continue [the fire] because there [were] more children being found in these mass graves. We’re going to keep an eternal fire...and we expect this fire to probably last for at least five years,” Curley said.

“In lighting the fire, it’s in recognition of those children who never had a proper burial.”

Stories about residential schools and the missing children permeate many communities but the government refused to listen. In 2010, reparations were paid to some residential school survivors, but little has happened since then.

“We heard stories many times about children going missing, children not returning, and nobody knew where

With the ongoing discovery of unmarked graves, the conversation around residential schools has changed. It is no longer possible for Canada and Canadians to deny or remain ignorant of the atrocities that took place in the schools.

“First of all, if it’s a mass grave for children, why were the children buried there? And secondly, why weren’t they buried in [an] ordinary cemetery?,” Burley asked.

“The reason they weren’t buried in [an] ordinary cemetery is because of how they died. And it’s a deliberate attempt to cover up those executions of those children,” he said.

The last residential school closed in 1996 but their legacy continues to impact communities today through the child welfare system. Curley said many children are taken from their families because Canadian officials view their cultural lifestyle as unsanitary and unhygienic. The system itself, he said, is racist even if the individuals are not.

The Europeans that sought to live alongside Indigenous nations initially agreed to live side by side. Eventually, as their numbers increased, they began oppressing and dominating the pre-existing nations in North America.

“Those early founding fathers, they were not honourable men at all. They left their country and [came] over here to [escape] a system that kept them subjugated and they brought that system here and perpetuated that subjugation onto the Native people,” Curley said.

“[Today] it’s Child and Family Services, who apprehend kids, because they think they’re living in squalor or they’re not being looked after...[Our kids] live where there’s no running water, they live where there’s no

hydro, and yet, they’re taken out of their places because of unsanitary or unsafe conditions,” he said.

“But I’ll tell you one thing, even though those children are taken out of those places, those parents love those children. And those children love their parents,” he said.

Curley is also a residential school survivor and had to undergo a process of healing. As he learned more about residential schools in general, he also discovered his mother had been a survivor and was able to make more sense of many of the things she did.

The impact that her time in the school had on her extended to her children as well.

Of course, Indigenous peoples are not alone in having faced discrimination by the Canadian government. Curley mentioned the internment of German people during WWI and of Japanese- and ChineseCanadians in WWII.

“Canada has...performed genocide against the Indigenous peoples of North America,” he said. “Who are they going to pick on next?”

Canada has a long history of

genocide, one whose various facets are revealed to an increasingly shocked Canadian audience every few years. Other communities, however, are not as surprised.

With the discovery of the unmarked graves, the conversation around residential schools in Canada has is starting to shift. The government and Canadians can no longer remain oblivious to the genocidal history of this country, there is a long journey of learning, unlearning and healing ahead.

ANIYIRI

STYLES WITH CUSTOM CLOTHING

Aniyiri Paul designed this dress for her mother (pictured). ANIYIRI PAUL CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The sacred fire that was lit for 10 days is now an eternal fire that will burn until the last child in an unmarked grave is found.

CRAIG BECKER PHOTO

SAFE EXPRESSION OF SEXUALITY ON CAMPUS

assault in a post-secondary setting and two-thirds of those sexual assaults will happen in the first six to eight weeks of the fall term. This is called the Red Zone.

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST

Picture the first weeks a student is at university or college—a teenager, fresh from high school and away from home, away from their family, their friends, their community and their support networks for the first time.

They try to be brave, show independence and they are eager to fit in. They are often easy to influence.

First-year students often have little understanding of sexual health and consent. They may be able to give you a definition but do not have the skills to put it into practice. They may also have incorrect or incomplete knowledge about sexual assault, because society is uncomfortable talking about it.

This means they arrive on campus thinking a stranger will jump out of the bushes and attack them, not realizing the person who may assault them will most likely be someone they know, such as a fellow student, friend, partner or someone they meet at a party.

They will go to parties hardly knowing any people and having few, if any, close friends. There will be

alcohol, drugs and peer pressure. They are not yet comfortable on campus or in their new community and may not know which campus or community supports exist.

People do not like to talk about sexual violence as it makes them feel

TUNE REVIEW

uncomfortable. However, having these conversations increases awareness and makes information more readily available. An open discourse will hopefully enhance comfort levels and, most importantly, improve intervention and prevention efforts.

The stats are staggering. Half of all trans* and gender fluid people will experience sexual assault, one in three women will experience sexual assault, and one in six men before the age of 12 will experience sexual assault. One in ten women experience sexual

It is not the young people’s fault that they come ill-prepared for university or college. It is society that upholds rape culture. Social practices, cultural ideologies and institutions trivialize and normalize sexual violence. When sexual violence is normalized, it is rendered invisible and seen as an inevitable outcome rather than something that should never happen and can be prevented.

Sexual violence being a taboo topic reinforces silence and shames those who have been impacted, rendering them isolated and without recourse.

Young people are not educated or provided with age-appropriate material throughout their schooling. Having this information could empower students to be more aware, prepared and emboldened to navigate their first experiences at postsecondary institutions.

Providing young people with comprehensive, pleasure positive sexual health and consent education, in addition to challenging the social practices and ideologies that reinforce rape culture in our society, should be common sense. A huge glaring red warning signal should be going off in all our heads because a Red Zone even exists.

DIFFERENT NOW

The new EP Different Now by Kitchener-based musician Anxiety Weekend contains a set of chill tracks that pair well with long car rides.

When I first met the artist behind the project, Joe Daniel, he was mostly performing rap music as Palmreader and releasing instrumental music as Anxiety Weekend.

Different Now marks a focused shift in a particularly tranquil and contemplative direction. It’s also the first Anxiety Weekend project containing vocal performances on each individual track.

In Different Now the artist’s ability to craft a hook pairs well with his sensibility for muffled, baroque-ish pop music.

The guitars on “Vexed” sincerely remind me of my favourite songs by The Cure, and the synths and percussion sprinkled throughout are tasteful, intricate and unique.

The shift in focus from Palmreader to Anxiety Weekend is also one that

pairs well with the artists’ demeanor.

The style of music represented by Anxiety Weekend is less guarded and bombastic than that of its braggadocious, hip-hop counterpart.

This dynamic relays personal growth through form, creating a more wellrounded view of who the artist is as a human.

I am looking forward to whatever I hear next from Anxiety Weekend, or anything else Joe has in the works.

He also runs Cemetery Sound and moderates a pretty dope Discord server for like-minded creatives in the area and accross the continent.

Check out the newest release from Anxiety Weekend, streaming now on all platforms.

— Kurtis Rideout, local musician, producer and ad manager for WLUSP

SONG: “Different Now” by Anxiety Weekend LINK: Streaming on all platforms

Destigmatizing the conversation around sexual violence is essential in ensuring a safe and healthy return to campus for all. CRAIG BECKER PHOTO

HAPPY IS RESISTANCE

BY CECILIA ELIZABETH BEST

Colonial processes have always defined my life in ways that are seen and unseen. I am a survivor of Canada’s genocidal program to assimilate Indigenous children through so-called “welfare” policies. Whether or not my mother wanted to give me up when I was born is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that Canada’s child welfare system alienated me from community and culture.

I was raised by non-Indigenous folks who accept systemic racism as fact. They did nothing to instill pride in where I came from. In fact, they did their best to convince me that alcoholism, sex work and an inherent inability to raise my own children are characteristics of the blood that flows in my veins. Colonialism is all encompassing: Liberal, Conservative, left, right, provincial, federal, they are all levels of a system that erases Indigenous history and perpetuates colonialism in Canada.

I am not the person who will solve colonial narratives. I will never see a world that is free of colonialism. I am trying to be a happy, functional human in a world where my happiness is not important to the people who judge me by my skin colour. The best I can do is break the cycle of poverty, depression and reliance on a genocidal state system that defines my family history.

I am an urban Indigenous Two-

Spirit person living on the territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral Nations. As a mixed race Vietnamese and Métis, I am constantly expected to justify my position because the government deems me Native enough for the child welfare system but not Native enough to give me a status card. Add a confusing trail of guardian placements between Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Manitoulin Island and Southern Ontario, it’s fair to be confused about who I am. I am a person in between. Except that my Indigenous identity is inscribed in my skin and my hair and my eyes and it’s obvious that I am not the mainstream. I am not fully accepted by Indigenous folks and I will never be welcomed by the white folks. My mixed identity makes people so uncomfortable that the most common form of racism I face is to be completely ignored. Maybe that’s why I am pursuing a PhD. The title “Doctor” is the only way your people will take what I have to say seriously. I often feel like I am living in an alternate universe where my experience is so outside the Canadian narrative that I don’t actually exist. Once a person very close to me told me that my experiences in child welfare would have been the same if I was white. I really believed that nonsense for a while. Then I realized that this person never really listens to what I say, and they will never see

me as an expert in the history of my people.

Colonialism is forcing survivors to convince you of the validity of their lived experiences through books and articles and lines on a CV. I have to prove to you that what I am saying has a colonial impact. The irony is that my child welfare experiences led me to a PhD so early. I have the rest of my life to use your tools to dismantle your systems.

Art is the best way for me to explain what I experience to people who have trouble with the reality that I live. Resistance is who I am. Every day I resist by being present, participating in a system that tries to break me down to easily digestible parts to make you comfortable. Looking to me to solve your problems because I survived your system is not okay. My existence and my art are resistance. Beaded art is time consuming, it’s special, it’s part of my journey. Beading is how my people express themselves since time immemorial. The fact that I know this skill despite my cultural alienation is resistance. All I can do is make space for the next survivor to come along and continue the fight. To resist is to live my truth no matter how complicated it is. Resistance is finding ways to serve my community. Resistance is finding love and happy to replace trauma and hurt. Happy is resistance.

Drawings from top-to-bottom, left-to-right depict the following movements worldwide:

1. Two women on their balcony with their phones. Internet activism is credited for helping to organize the protests in Russia last winter.

2.  February 2021: Students in Barcelona strike in support of a rapper Hasél who was imprisoned on charges of “glorifying terrorism” and “slander against the crown”.

3. Polish abortion-ban protests which started in Fall 2020 and went into 2021. Signs read “Women Strike”. Demonstrations were in response to a Constitutional Tribunal which restricted the law on abortion in Poland.

4. Police take swings at an elderly, unarmed farmer during the India Farm protests, which hare ongoing. Demonstrations were result of farm laws passed by the government of India in September 2020.

5.Tractors line up during Indian Farm protests. Demonstrations were result of farm laws passed by the government of India in September 2020.

Images by Jesse Matas Jesse is a musician and an artist who creates award-winning music and does some art as well. His album, Tamarock, won Album of the Year from Folk Roots Radio, Witchpolice and Richard Harris Folk and Blues Show. To learn more, visit jessematas.com

6. 1492 Land Back Lane protests in Caledonia, Ontario. Land defenders stand in recognition of the Haldimand Treaty of 1784.

Elizabeth is Métis and Vietnamese, but gains a lot of her cultural knoweldge from Anishnaabe elders. She was displaced in the Millennial Scoop and her experiences have affected her profoundly. She is working on a PhD in History at York University with a focus on Indigenous history. She is also an artist and creates beaded works. For more information, visit celizabethbest.com or follow her on Instagram @lizbot5000.

Words by Cecilia Elizabeth Best.

EVENT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11

PINTS & PLANKS

DESCENDANTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19

YUK YUK’S COMEDY

BINGEMANS AT KINGPIN

BEER CO

Calling all moms who are in need of Mom’s Night Out complete with a workout and an alcoholic beverage! What? That’s all of the moms? Come out to Moms Night Out—Pints & Planks for a night of relaxation, and fun with other moms in the community!

Beer• $25 • 7:00pm-9:30pm

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12

CASTLE KILBRIDE TOURS

CASTLE KILBRIDE

Do shows like Bridgerton and Pride & Prejudice make you wish you could travel back in time? Travel to the Victorian era and explore the elegant Castle Kilbride built in 1877, through a 35-minute guided tour. You won’t want to miss the beautiful garden, statues, and artwork!

Information• $6.32-$10.57 • 11:00am-11:30am

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

MOVIES IN THE PARK-ING LOT CREATE WATERLOO

We have all watched Grease, and wished we could spend a summer night at the drive-in— well, now you’re in luck! Make your way to Movies in the Park brought to you by Princess Cinemas, Create Waterloo and the Beat Goes On, to share snacks, and a movie with friends and family!

Fun • Free • 8:30pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

POP UP WEDDING DRESS SALE

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KW

Are you a bride to be who is still looking for a dress? Come to the Kitchener Pop Up Wedding Dress Sale for exclusive deals on accessories and wedding dresses! This place will have you saying yes to the dress which means less unsolicited opinions from Mom and your bridesmaids. That’s a win.

Shopping • $42 • 8:00am-4:00pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

“MAKE, UPCYCLE, AND ROLL” SCHNEIDER HAUS

How cool would it be to use recycled material to make handmade paper? Or to learn block printing? Bring an old t-shirt and your crafting skills, and check out the “Make, Upcycle, and Roll” event at the Schneider Haus National Historic Site!

Workshop

What goes well with pizza? Perhaps sharing a laugh with your friends and family at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy on the Boston Pizza Bingemans Patio. Hopefully the jokes aren’t too cheesy. (Get it? Because pizza). Hopefully their comics can do better than that!

Fun • $65-$80 • 8:00pm

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20

CRUISING ON KING BINGEMANS

Ever see a muscle car driving down the street, and think “wow, that’s a nice car?” If so, you need to check out Cruising on King to be to see a bunch of classic cars of all shapes, sizes and colours as they make their way down King St.

Community • Free • 6:00pm-9:00pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

STRUMMERFEST VIRTUAL

Are you missing live music? Join the virtual music festival, Strummerfest 2021 for the opportunity to enjoy international and local performers, while supporting local organizations such as House of Friendship and Waterloo Suicide Prevention Council.

Music • Free • 12:00pm-2:30pm

MONDAY, AUGUST 23 INDIGENOUS WRITING VIRTUAL

Enjoy the partnership between Guelph Spoken Word and local Indigenous community members, and become introduced to Indigenous writers, while being inspired through creative writing. It’s all virtual so you can even enjoy this from your comfiest chair.

6:30pm-8:30pm

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

VISIT DINOSAUR MUSEUM VIRTUAL

Do you wish Jurassic Park was real? Travel (virtually) to Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta to learn all about your favourite dinosaurs, that once lived in Alberta! You’ll feel just like Jeff Goldblum but from the safety and security of your own home. Unless of course, nature finds a way.

Information • Free • 12:00pm-1:00pm

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

VIRTUAL STEEL RAILS SESSIONS VIRTUAL

Join us for the last Virtual Steel Rails Session of the summer. We are going big for this one. Afterall, it will be 2022 before we can celebrate Steel Rails together again. It’s all been made possible by our friends at the City of Waterloo and Good Company Productions. Thanks pals!

Art • Free/Donations • 7:00pm-9:00pm

MONDAY, AUGUST 30

SCIENCE OF INSTRUMENTS THEMUSEUM

Does your child play a music instrument? They can now learn all about how music instruments work, and create a new instrument each day throughout the week! Find more details, including registration details online through THEMUSEUM. Ta ta tee tee ta! Get ready for a musical week at home.

Fun • TBD • 12:00pm-2:30pm

MONDAY, AUGUST 30

WAT’S TOTS

HOMER WATSON HOUSE

Join Wat’s and Tots for a morning of drawing, painting, singing and dancing for you and your child! What better way to develop your child’s fine motor skills and creativity? Plus it’s a great way to tucker your child out which is a parenting win! Find out more through Eventbrite.

Family • $88.98 • 10:00am - 12:00pm

Workshop

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25

WORKPLACE WELLNESS VIRTUAL

Health and well-being is critical for both yourself and your workplace? Do you want to learn more about reducing stress, improving productivity and learning how to maintain a healthy lifestyle both at home and at work? You’ll want to check out this virtual wellness event!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

SLOWRIDE RIVER PADDLE LOCAL RIVERS

Looking for a way to relax? Join an adventure guide for a relaxing paddle trip down local rivers. You won’t want to miss the beautiful scenery and animals! These trips can be combined with a dispensary or pub stop after the tour so you can truly unwind.

$50 • 10:30am-11:45am

MONDAY, AUGUST 16

INTO THE JUNGLE HOMER WATSON HOUSE

Ever wondered how Disney and Pixar bring their animated characters to life? Into the Jungle Summer Camp is perfect for children who want to spend a week bringing their very own jungle animals to life while learning about animation on their own devices! Just in case you were sick of hearing “I’m bored” over and over.

Fun • $292.50 • 9:00am-4:00pm

Workshop • $518 • 9:00am-5:00pm

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25

VISIT RAY’S REPTILES VIRTUAL

Does your child love reptiles? Then your child has great taste. Also, they can learn all about their favourite reptiles habitat and survival, from the comfort of their own home! Join the Kitchener Public Library and the City of Kitchener, in one of their many Kidspark events.

Community

$89.80

Various Times

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

THE COYWOLVES CONCERT ROYAL CITY STUDIOS

Are you looking for a pandemic-safe and friendly rock n roll concert? Say no more! Gather your friends and family and spend the night jamming out with a local band! You might even feel like things are sort of normal again. At least for a little bit!

Music

GET YOUR BIKE AND RIDE

HYPERLOCAL TRAVEL

trails in Kitchener and beyond. He uses his YouTube channel, Spokes on You, to provide trail descriptions and reviews, rating them on a ‘five-spoke’ scale.

JUANITA METZGER CONTRIBUTOR

The travel industry is full of bloggers, vloggers, influencers, photographers, journalists and content creators. Done well, their content can entice us to travel with their stunning photos, interesting histories, honest reviews and responsible travel tips.

Done poorly? It’s simply annoying.

The pandemic has made us more aware of travel within our own backyard. We seek out local resources and people for suggestions and information about places we’ve likely overlooked for years.

This is why you need to meet Ben McBride.

Ben is 12 years old and going into grade eight. He issomeone you can rely on for quick, helpful and fun information about multi-use biking

Ben’s mom, Laura McBride, records the video of their full ride with a GoPro camera. Ben points out interesting things along the route to capture on video, writes the script, makes the editorial choices for the footage clips and records the voice over. Laura helps with some of the video editing and coaching. He packs the essential information into a oneto-two minute video.

This summer, Ben and his family plan to ride and review seven community and inter-neighbourhood trails listed on the City of Kitchener website.

They’ve already completed the Iron Horse Trail and the Spurline Trail, which leaves another five to complete.

Ben, his older brother, younger sister and parents are an active family. They have been biking together since the children were very young as a way to stay active and go places without using the family car.

“It’s a really nice sport for all of us,” Laura said. “And we can cycle

through the year. It gets us exploring and choosing our locations, and Ben is good at it; he took to it really naturally.”

Ben realized this himself after a family trip on Le P’tit Train du Nord, a 234 kilometre cycling trail in Quebec.

“That’s when biking went from just another thing I occasionally did, to an actual skill I had,” Ben said.

Spokes on You began as a pandemic project in February 2021. The first videos took over three hours to complete, but, just like his biking, his video making skills are improving.

Now his skills as a content creator are adding something of interest, humour and quality to the online world of local travel.

These are Ben’s recommendations for a good ride:

1. Pick a trail where you can get into a good flow. Ben likes to feel like he “did something” but doesn’t end up “exhausted or hurt.”

2. Choose a motivation for the ride to keep you going to the end. Ben is motivated by milk shakes, ice cream and McDonalds!

3. Have fun!

Ben McBride’s YouTube channel SpokesOnYou provides information about trails. JUANITA METZGER PHOTO

GRACE, OPTIMISM, WARMTH: LEO VIBES

COSMIC RELIEF ELFIE KALFAKIS COLUMNIST

To understand the flavour of the month, we can observe the transits of the sun and inner planets of our solar system. A transit describes the zodiac sign in which a planet travels through at any given time. Planets are organized by the asteroid belt separating the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars), which have smaller orbits, from the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto), which have longer orbits and longer transits through each zodiac sign. For centuries, planets have been related to specific parts of our lives and personalities. As a planet transits through different signs of the zodiac, it behaves differently. This month the sun, the biggest energy body in the solar system, will be transiting in the vibrant, optimistic and warm energy of Leo. The general flare for August will be quite fun, loud and boisterous. This month Mercury, which speaks to our minds and communication, will be transiting through three signs, Leo, Virgo and Libra. These quick changes can cause some mental static, so anticipate loud communications that turn analytical and creative. Venus, the planet of desire, will be moving from the practical energy of Virgo into the artistic and charismatic energy of Libra. Mars, our aggression and motivation, will be transiting through the practical, thoughtful and intellectual energy of Virgo.

Piecing all of these parts together, we can understand the month’s essence. To help you navigate the playful, passionate and gracious energy this month, here is your monthly horoscope and another cosmic playlist to put a spell on August.

Leo

This month will bring you a lot of fun and attention, but you may be a little overwhelmed by who you think you should be. Focus on radiating that goodness and you’ll be golden.

Scorpio

It feels like you’re coming out of a shell, Scorpio. You’re not entirely feeling the big social energy, but planning an evening cocktail party with some close friends might be just what you need.

Aquarius

You have a lot of interests and big plans this month but everyone and their dog are busy. Try and focus on enjoying the moment for now and let the innovative planning percolate for a while.

Taurus

You have been waiting to showcase that new outfit or sunglasses you bought and now is the perfect time. Find a party to attend where you can bust out your flare while also keeping it low key.

Virgo

You’re feeling more at ease, Virgo, and more excited and social than usual. Stepping out of your comfort zone this month may be easier and likely will result in some new connections.

Sagittarius

You’ve got a new bounce to your step but you’re feeling a little claustrophobic. You’re ready to enjoy all that summer has to offer, but this year’s smaller focus might spark some impatience.

Pisces

You want to go out and spend time with people but you don’t understand why it feels so good to stay home and chill. Muster up the energy if you can to go out. It’ll do you some good.

Gemini

You’re feeling the active social energy, Gemini, and this is where you shine. You’re looking forward to the liveliness, but things may seem different, expect some surprises this month.

“Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara

“The Loco-Motion” by Kylie Minogue

“Bulletproof” by La Roux

“In the Music - Radio EditShort” by Deepswing

“Swing - Mahmut Orhan Remix” by Sofi Tukker, Mahmut Orhan

“Rhythm Is A Dancer” by SNAP!

“Sweat (A La La La La Long)” by Inner Circle

“IG“ by John Orpheus

“Onifere No. 2” by Fela Kuti

“Twist And Shout” by Chaka Demus & Pliers, Jack Radics, The Taxi Gang

“Ai Se Eu Te Pego! - Ao Vivo” by Michel Teló

“Dynata (Homecoming)” by Eleftheria Arvanitaki

“Ray of Light” by Madonna

“Great DJ” by The Ting Tings

“A Little Less Conversation JXL Radio Edit Remix” by Elvis Presley, Junkie XL

“Whispering Bells” by The Del-Vikings, Krips Johnson

“I Wonder” by Rodriguez

Libra

You’ve been living quietly and a few gatherings on the horizon makes you both excited and nervous. Find a new cocktail or fun outfit to make the transition smoother.

Capricorn

Things may be falling into place right now according to your plan, Capricorn, but your pessimism makes you skeptical. Don’t forget to enjoy what you can while it lasts.

Aries

You’re definitely marching to your own beat, Aries, and you’ll want to do the opposite of the crowd. Get in some precious moments alone through a walk, run or something active to help you balance.

Cancer

You’ve been ‘on’ for a while now, Cancer, and you’re feeling a bit worn out. This month is all about replenishing those relationships that nurture YOU. Put others’ needs aside and give yourself some love.

“La Bamba - Single Version” by Ritchie Valens

Find August’s Cosmic Mixtape playlist on Spotify by searching “Cosmic Mixtape: August 2021” or visit us at communityedition.ca to find Cosmic Mixtape playlists from previous issues.

Leo season is upon us! Bask in playful and passionate energy as Mars transitions through the intellectual energy of Virgo. ELFIE KALFAKIS ILLUSTRATION