Cord Community Edition: February 2014

News

URBAN EXPlORING

NEWS

Capacity WR debuts Bitcoins

Sex and THEMUSEUM

K-W Snowboard star Sochi bound

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Page 8

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Waterloo Region’s ’s s independent monthly • Vol 2 Issue 5 • FEBRUARY 7, 2014 • community.thecord.ca

THE GI JANES ARE BREAKING DOWN VIDEO GAME BOUNDARIES. READY, PLAYER ONE?

ANNA BEARD ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

A

group of Waterloo gamers are hoping to change how women are portrayed and perceived in and out of video games.

Elise Vist, Emma Vossen and Judy Ehrentraut, three PhD candidates at the University of Waterloo (U of W), are the founders of the Games Institute (GI) Janes, an organization working to confront problems surrounding gender and gaming.

“I remember a distinct time when I was younger that I was the most shy about playing games. You get to an age and you care so much about what other people think of you and it’s crippling,” said Vist. “When I would hang out with guys and they would be so aggressive and mean, it would make me not want to play at all. I don’t think there’s a way to prepare girls to be able to deal with that, but I do think there’s a way to teach boys [different behaviour].”

With women representing slightly less than half of the gaming population, it’s a wonder that they are still perceived by a large portion of the community as less than equal.

According to the Entertainment Software Association’s 2013 Sales, Demographic and Usage data report, 45 per cent of game players are women. When you break down the demographics, you actually find that women over the age of 18 make up a big chunk of the

market — just over 30 per cent.

And it’s not just an issue related to video game consumers. Women made up just 16 per cent of video game workforce in Canada in 2012, part of what the Entertainment Software Association deems a worldwide trend. Of that 16 per cent, only five per cent were employed in the technical field — those that actually develop the software for the games.

Look behind the statistics and you find shocking stories of harassment faced by women who work in the industry.

Jennifer Helper, a writer and developer who previously worked for Canadian video game developer BioWare, faced negative backlash when she wrote a blog post that suggested creating a game that allows players to skip through fight scenes in adventure games, instead of skipping narrative cut scenes. Even five years after writing the post, she remained the recipient of death threats and calls for her resignation from BioWare.

In another recent incident, Josh Mattingly, founder of indiestatik.com came under fire for harassing a female industry veteran on Facebook. A screen cap of the conversation made rounds online, bringing to light the types of situations women in the gaming community sometimes face.

Trying to find out development information about a project from another studio, Mattingly aggressively extended offers of Continued on page 6 >>

• GRAPHIC BY STEVEN STINSON CCe COnTRiBUTOR

THE CORD

2 • FEBRUARY 2014

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COMMUNITY

75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 Volume 2, Issue #5 Next issue: March 7, 2014 Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Angela Endicott at 519-884-0710 x3560 angela.taylor@wlusp.com Editor-in-Chief H.G. Watson hwatson@thecord.ca

Arts & Culture Editor Anna Beard abeard@thecord.ca

Publisher Bryn Ossington bryn.ossington@wlusp.com

Photography Manager Ryan Hueglin rhueglin@thecord.ca

Cord Editor-in-Chief Justin Smirlies jsmirlies@thecord.ca

Photography Manager Heather Davidson hdavidson@thecord.ca

Urban Exploring Editor Tegan Th uss tthuss@thecord.ca

Copy Editor Erin O’Neil

CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Allison Stacey Jacobs Anya Lomako Gregory O’Brien

Janine Prew Lindsay Purchase Steven Stinson David Worsley

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Executive Director Advertising Manager Treasurer Vice-Chair Director

Director

Corporate Secretary Distribution Manager Web Manager

Allison Leonard Bryn Ossington Angela Endicott Tom Paddock Luke Schulz Shelby Blackley Kate Turner Alexandra Abbiento Angela Endicott George Liu

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Mario first appeared in the game Donkey Kong — but what if he had been a girl? • STEVEN STINSON CCE CONTRIBUTOR

IN this issue FEATURE mega Women COVER A group of academics are trying to break down the boundaries for women in the gaming world.

NEWs 3 4 5 6

We get to know a homegrown Olympian who loves cookies & cream ice cream Bitcoins are all the rage, and they have finally arrived in Waterloo it’s time to leave the LRT alone and look to the future in election Watch 2014 mega Women — continued from cover

URBAN EXPlORING

PREAMBLE TO THE CORD CONSTITUTION Th e Cord Community Edition will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. Th e Cord 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.

7 THemUSeUm’s new exhibit the Science of Sexuality educates 8 KpL’s started a book club — with a hoppy twist 8 it’s cold out, but that doesn’t mean you have to hide inside

Th e staff of Th e Cord 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 aff ected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently confl icts of interest and the appearance of confl icts of interest will be avoided by all staff .

ARTS & CUlTURE

Th e only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so Th e Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on the community of KitchenerWaterloo. Ultimately, Th e Cord Community Edition will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

9 Dwight Storring is telling community stories, through his camera lens 10 Reviews 11 event listings

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COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

NEWS K-W NATIvE SOCHI BOUND

Jenna Blasman qualifies two weeks before games FLASH ROUND with Jenna Blasman Favourite ice cream flavour?

Cookies and cream.

Favourite Simpsons character?

Homer.

What song do you get pumped up to before hitting the slopes?

Lately I’ve been listening to Beyonce.

Where in K-W do you hang out?

Mostly at friends’ houses or at the hill. if you weren’t snowboarding what would you be doing?

Probably fishing with my brother.

What sport are you going to be watching at the Olympics?

I really want to get tickets to the hockey game - I’m hoping I can swing that!

Kitchener native Jenna Blasman, pictured here, will be joining the Canadian snowboard team in Russia. • PHOTO COURTESY CANADA SNOWBOARD

H.G. WATSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

F

inding out she had made the Canadian Olympic team was hugely exciting for Jenna Blasman. Having to keep it a secret? Not as fun.

“That was hard,” she laughed. Team Canada officials gave her the good news two full days before it was released to the public.

But on January 22, Blasman was officially added to the roster of Canada’s snowboard team.

The Kitchener native spoke to the Cord Community Edition just hours before heading to Austria for the last leg of her Olympic training.

She will travel from there to Sochi, Russia for the opening of the Olympic Games on February 7.

At just 20-years old, Blasman had always hoped to go to the Olympics, but was not expecting it. She found out that she had made the team after her high scores in Olympic qualifying rounds in Stoneham, Que., opened up an additional two spots on the team.

However, an injury almost waylaid her shot at Olympic glory.

“I did not have enough speed going into one of the last jumps during practice at qualifiers,” she said. “I just landed on the flat [of the snowboard]…and it was really icy so I put my arm down to kind of protect myself.”

She fractured her left wrist, but wouldn’t let the injury keep her down. She went on to

compete and earn her Olympic spot. She now says her doctors expect her to be strong within the next two weeks.

Blasman cut her snowboarding teeth on Kitchener’s own Chicopee ski hill. She now lives and trains in Whistler, B.C. The switch has paid off for her professional career — in 2013, she joined the World Cup circuit and placed fifth in her second appearance, in Cardona, New Zealand.

Her family will be joining her in Sochi, and she excited to have them all there to cheer her on.

“I just really want to enjoy the experience,” she said. “Pretty rare that someone would go to the Olympics and I never thought it would happen for me.”

vocal cord We went to Waterloo Town Square and asked:

Do you know what Bitcoins are and would you use them?

“I have heard of them, but I have not used them and I probably wouldn’t.”

“No I do not - Would it be like PayPal?.”

Julie Shaw

elke Schummer

FEBRUARY 2014 •

3

News beat y TECH FUNDS GROWING IN WATERLOO REGION On January 21, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the establishment of the Northleaf venture Catalyst Fund, an initiative that aims to invest capital in the province’s technology sector at Communitech in Kitchener. The fund is based on Canada’s venture Capital Action Plan and Ontario’s venture Capital Fund. The Northleaf venture Catalyst Fund aims to act as an incentive for investment, with each level of government investing one dollar for every investment of two dollars made by the private sector.

y WATERLOO MAYORAL RACE TAKES OFF Three candidates are now in the running for mayor of Waterloo. Dave Jaworsky, Erika Traub and Dave MacDonald all announced their candidacy in January. MacDonald made headlines when he declared that he would be running on an anti-LRT platform. His two opponents do not support cancelling the project.

Meanwhile, candidates for Wards 3 and 6 also stepped forward, with Amit Sharma and Jeff Henry seeking election respectively.

y THE BOATHOUSE TO OPEN IN THE SUMMER UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP After an almost six month bidding process, the Boathouse venue in victoria Park, Kitchener, has a new operator. Bill MacTavish, owner of Imbibe Food and Drink in downtown Kitchener, will take over the space. Plans released on Feb. 3 show that MacTavish has an ambitious plan for refurbishing the venue, which the City of Kitchener says will be operational by the summer. Kitchener will contribute $400,000 in normal landlord costs to the building, while MacTavish will pay for about $168,000 for renovations.

4 • FEBRUARY 2014

NEws // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

DIGITAL CURRENCY NOW IN K-W Local charities, businesses start using virtual Bitcoins LINDSAY PURCHASE CCE CONTRIBUTOR

T

he idea of an unregulated, completely virtual currency that knows no physical borders took some time to work its way into public consciousness.

And now, it has made its way to Waterloo Region.

Capacity Waterloo Region, a local not-forprofit organization, has begun accepting Bitcoins for donations. It is one of the first notfor-profits in the country to do so.

“For us, it fits in perfectly, because we want to teach organizations to become more entrepreneurial, so finding new ways to find resources would fit exactly and we would encourage others to do the same,” said director of operations Andrew Wilding.

Capacity Waterloo Region helps local charities that work on social change issues to incorporate innovation and entrepreneurship. Bitcoins will provide more options for how donors can give to the organization, says Wilding, something that will also be useful for the organizations they work with.

The idea was proposed to Wilding by a Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) student who works at Capacity Waterloo Region.

“I figured it’d be a cool way if, hey, if we lead this and it goes fairly simply, perhaps we could start helping other people get set up with it,” said Shubhagata Sengupta, a thirdyear communications student at WLU. Sengupta was inspired by a friend who helped implement Bitcoins at a national nonprofit, Pathways to Education Canada.

Bitcoins, he said, make it easier for people to give anonymous donations.

It also avoids complications with exchange rates for people who want to donate internationally and has lower fees for the organization receiving the donation, compared to, for example, credit cards.

So far, Capacity Waterloo Region has received just over one Bitcoin — or about $1,000 — in donations from VirtEx. The only other known business using

Bitcoin in Waterloo Region is Death Valley’s Little Brother, an espresso and whisky bar in Uptown Waterloo.

Local interest in Bitcoins has also popped up with Bitcoin KW, a group founded this January that organizes meet-ups and online discussions for its membership, which is currently listed at 44 people.

The currency has gradually begun to take hold across other cities in Canada as well.

Bitcoiniacs, a Canadian bitcoin broker, set up Canada’s first Bitcoin ATM in Vancouver and is opening stores across the country — including in Toronto and Calgary — where people can physically exchange Bitcoins.

“We knew just from selling peer-to-peer there was a demand for it and as soon as we opened up the doors, we were overwhelmed by the response,” said Bitcoiniacs co-founder Mitchell Demeter.

Bitcoin brokers like Bitcoiniacs allow people to buy and sell Bitcoins from a more reliable source. Not-for-profits can sign up for profiles that allow them to issue tax receipts.

All people or businesses that use Bitcoins have to sign up for a wallet, either online or through a broker. You can have a desktop, mobile or web wallet that holds your virtual currency. Bitcoins can then be exchanged for other currencies based on the current exchange rate.

Like a stock, the value of a Bitcoin fluctuates based on speculation, buying and selling. Driven completely by the market, the currency is still fairly volatile. Currently, one Bitcoin is worth more than $900 Canadian.

“It’s a democratic process, it’s left to the market to determine the prices,” said Demeter.

“It’s volatile because the market has to determine what the price of it should be.”

According to Demeter, Bitcoin is meant to mimic gold, rather than paper currency.

Bitcoins are released into the system according to a pre-set schedule. Currently, there are about 12 million Bitcoins in existence.

Demeter expects to see regulation of the currency come into play as countries explore it further and track its patterns more closely.

“Governments have tried to regulate the Internet but it’s been very difficult and users

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Andrew Wilding’s organization Capacity Waterloo Region has begun accpeting Bitcoins • WILL HUANG CCE CONTRIBUTOR

do not want that to happen,” said Wilding. “I think it’s the same for Bitcoins.”

As a charity, Capacity Waterloo Region will convert any Bitcoin donations immediately to minimize the risks of working with an unregulated currency.

While it’s hard to say what kind of impact Bitcoins will have on donation totals, Sengupta thinks it’s only a matter of time before

the currency really takes off.

“It’s becoming more mainstream and it’s becoming easier to get Bitcoin yourself,” he said.

“People still see some risks in the actual holding of a wallet. I think once the initial fears about security are out of the way, then it’s a lot easier to implement.”

FEbruary 2014 •

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ news

5

2014 election

WATCH

The LRT has left the station — time for candidates to move on H.G. WATSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

O

ne issue looms large over the 2014 municipal elections — the Region’s light rail project.

Which should be surprising, because the project is as close to a done deal as it can get.

Ground has been broken on the first stages of the project and money has been committed — a ton of it, with another $550 million contract to be awarded in the spring to whoever will design and operate ION, the name chosen for our light rail system (by popular vote) last year.

In 2011, an Angus Reid poll found that more than 60 per cent of Waterloo Region dwellers were in support of a transportation system that includes LRT. Since then, all three cities have held innumerable open houses and public consultations.

There are no surprises here — we have known the LRT is coming for a long time.

Yet mayoral candidate Dave MacDonald, who is running on an anti-LRT platform, has told the Waterloo Region Record that he believes that the 2014 municipal election should essentially be a referendum on the transit issue. If elected, he would seek to cancel ION, at a cost upwards of $200 million.

But while MacDonald made headlines for his more extreme stance on LRT, fellow

candidates David Jaworsky and Erika Traub have also both been quizzed on their LRT stance, so much so that you would think it also made up a majority of their platform.

The issue should not be whether or not residents want rapid transit.

The issue instead should be how our future mayor will handle the construction of LRT, from minimizing impact on businesses along the transit corridor, to keeping the budget in check.

The LRT project no longer needs the same kind of advocates it did in 2010, 2006, 2002, and 1998; the project needs voters to elect a mayor who can plan for it.

There are new issues, however, that do need vocal advocates.

I want to know which mayoral candidate will start looking at how we get in and out of Waterloo — especially to Toronto, in light of the recent case made for all-day GO transit train service.

I want to know which candidate is going to start seriously looking at a sustainable urban development plan that will allow our region to grow without forcing out low and fixed income residents and students.

But I am no longer interested in whether a candidate supports the LRT project. Because common sense dictates that whoever wins this October will also leave their post in four years, having overseen the successful completion of the LRT project.

What I want is to hear what is next.

CITY OF WATERLOO | OUR COMMUNITY A Message From City of Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran ...

Waterloo is experiencing quite the winter this year – why not enjoy it?

Lace up your skates and bundle up for Winterloo – a celebration of the 11th anniversary of the Ice Dogs Festival.

It runs Feb. 15-17 throughout uptown Waterloo and offers ice skating, dogsled rides, face painting and ice sculptures. Dogs are welcome!

Winterloo coincides with Family Day on Feb. 17. Between the festival and activities planned at our city facilities, I am sure everyone will find something of interest. Be sure to visit www.waterloo.ca for information. However you spend family day weekend, I hope you enjoy some quality time with friends and family.

announce our third annual Mayor for the Day contest, which is open to all Grade 5 students attending Waterloo schools. Let us know why you would like to be mayor and you might win the contest! I’m looking forward to going through the brilliant submissions again this year.

As always, I’m open to any questions or comments you have. Please send me an email or call 519-747-8700 to get in touch. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Please mark your calendars for my annual State of the City address on March 21, with proceeds going to KidsAbility and Rotary’s Peace Scholarship. This year we are delighted to

Mayor Brenda Halloran

Visit us online and join in the conversation at

/citywaterloo

The City of Waterloo is committed to providing accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities. If another format would work better for you, please contact:

P. 519.886.1550

E. communications@waterloo.ca

TTY. 1.866.786.3941

W. waterloo.ca

6 • FEBRUARY 2014

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

GIRLS GOT GAME

MISSION: Defeating sexism, stigmas and empowering the female gamer Continued from cover >>

oral sex, so graphic that they were blurred out from the initial screen cap.

“It’s the culture that needs to be changed,” said Ehrentraut. “There are people in the community who are strong enough to deal with the harassment and blatant sexism but it’s unfair that they should have to. Part of that change needs to come from the recognition that there are different types of ways to enjoy games.”

Part of the difficulty is that many video games still primarily feature male heroes and misogynistic tropes.

Of the top 20 games sold in 2012, none feature a female protagonist and few were designed with women as the primary audience.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Halo 4, and Assassin’s Creed III take up three of the top five games sold in 2012, all of which are male centric and focus on fighting.

“Women tend to enjoy and consume media by asking bigger questions about the subject,” said Vist. “I think that’s why narrative games appeal to women more than those where the primary goal is killing — there’s the chance to ask those bigger questions.”

Games that allow players to increase the scope of the world they’re interacting with and make emotional connections with their characters are labeled as ‘girl games.’

“The perception of a game is that it is gendered once it’s seen as accessible to a woman,” said Vossen.

“My thought is how is it not a game? Is it not a game because you’re not shooting anything or because you don’t have a menu or stats or ammo?” asked Ehrentraut.

“That’s part of the push-back surrounding some of the indie games,” said Vist. “They’re more narrative-driven and more about exploration and relationships. They’re still conflicts, they’re just character-driven conflicts.”

The GI Janes are ready to give girls the opportunity to overcome the sexism, discrimination, and inequality they face in the gaming community by raising the profile on these issues.

“One of the biggest reasons why we want to do something like the GI Janes; and why we’re so aggressive and vocal about it, is if everyone realizes that this is a part of playing games for girls it feels like a natural way to make other people feel aware,” said Ehrentraut.

They are particularly well-suited to do this at U of W, where the number of young women applying to the computer science program

has been increasing annually, creating an environment that is potentially rife with new, young female game developers.

“We still live in a sexist culture. Developers still need to work hard to make characters that aren’t just there to be props. Unfortunately, that’s going to be a really slow change,” said Vist.

“A huge part of that is having women working at gaming companies beyond

development teams. More and more you hear about how being a woman and working for a gaming company is miserable because of the exposure to these issues,” said Vossen.

“We train women to the point where they are developers and programmers, and able to work on games. That only solves one problem though. They have the skills to make change but they don’t feel comfortable because the environment they work in is so hostile. As

One of the biggest reasons why we want to do something like the GI Janes and why we’re so aggressive and vocal about it is if everyone realizes that this is a part of playing games for girls it feels like a natural way to make other people feel aware.

Judy Ehrentraut, PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo and one of the founders of the Games Institute (GI) Janes

long as games are being made completely by men, and the culture doesn’t shift, nothing will change,” she added.

The GI Janes are also working to create an environment that allows anyone, at any skill level, to play and talk about games without feeling awkward or uneducated.

“With the GI Janes, we really want to push making it explicit. We want to encourage people to change the way they define the word ‘gamer,’” said Ehrentraut.

The Janes have hosted workshops at local events, such as TriCon KW, a local comic book and gaming convention, where they encourage visitors to make their own games as a way to change perceptions towards gaming and game making. Using a template created by the University of Alberta, participants play a game that leads them through the development process. By the end, players have created ideas for up to seven different games. ”I think showing people that there are different ways to become game designers and enjoy games is really the way to change it.

To get on the ground and interact with those people who are making that decision to engage in game culture is important,” said Ehrentraut.

“We want to make people feel like they can play games, like they can make games, and making people feel like they can talk about games is a huge thing for us,” said Vossen.

“We’re so used to hearing that if you don’t play every game that comes out on hard mode, that you’re opinion isn’t valid. We’re trying to change that.”

In addition to workshops, the GI Janes are working on developing a blog where people of any skill level can review any game regardless of their background.

In the future, the Janes are hoping to give women a chance to explore their interests in a safe environment, through more game building and programming workshops.

“It’s unfortunate that sometimes we need to have those female friendly environments, but the rest of the world is available to men.

We can’t separate the nice guys from those who are more judgmental,” said Vist. “Providing a safe space where women can learn and learn free of judgment is huge.”

Find out more at gamesinstitutejanes.com.

This story was suggested via #CCEINVESTIGATES. What should we investigate next? Tweet your ideas using the hastag #CCEinvestigates to @CORDCOMMUnity or visit community.thecord.ca to suggest a story.

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

URBan Exploring SEX AND THEMUSEUM

New exhibit attempts to educate, not titillate

FEbruary 2014 • 7

Urban beat y ‘THUMBS UP WATERLOO REGION’ The tri-cities are coordinating a campaign to teach cyclists and motorists the rules of the road, beginning in the summer. The campaign will span radio advertisements and social media, and will include a video and prizing.

y GOOD NEWS FOR TRAIL WALKERS & RIDERS

The Science of Sexuality exhibit at THEMUSEUM explores all the facets of sexuality • HG WATSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STACEY JACOBS is a Community Sexual Health Educator at Planned Parenthood Waterloo and has taught Sexuality classes at the University of Waterloo.

T

he new Science of Sexuality exhibit at THEMUSEUM tells it like it is.

The content explains sexuality and sexual health in an honest, respectful and positive manner, while giving teens the opportunity to learn about topics such as relationships, dating, birth control, pregnancy, safer sex, desire, orgasm, masturbation, sexual assault, sexual orientation and body image — all topics teens should learn about before venturing into adulthood.

It is rare that teenagers are given the opportunity to learn about, and clarify, their values regarding sex.

They are told they are too young, too

immature or too careless for this information.

However, not giving teens this information is careless.

How can a teenager grow into a mature informed adult without it? Research has shown that the more teens know about sexuality, the more likely they are to delay sexual activity and, when they do engage, they are safe about it. This exhibit may help give young people the tools they need to be safe when it comes to sex.

The exhibit was created with teens in mind, but is open to people of all ages. It could be a family outing, leaving you with lots to discuss over dinner.

More representation regarding race, culture, size and gender diversity would have enhanced the exhibit — and everything could have been taken a step further.

In addition to the exhibit, THEMUSEUM is having what they are calling “The Sex Dialogues,” which involves community members with expertise in the area of sexuality, speaking

on various topics.

I will be speaking on a panel on Feb. 16 called “Teaching Youth about Sex in the 21st Century,” which will give parents and guardians tips on talking to their teens, as well as explain the importance of having these discussions. Resources will be available for parents and teens at the exhibit and at the “Sex Dialogues.”

And if you weren’t excited enough already, Sue Johanson, popular radio and television personality, will be speaking on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

I have seen Sue speak before and she always puts a smile on my face and knowledge in my mind.

This exhibit is a major step in the right direction and every teenager in Waterloo Region should view it, as well as their parents.

The exhibit is open until the end of April, giving everyone ample time to experience the Science of Sexuality.

For more information go to www.themuseum.ca.

vocal cord We went to Waterloo Town Square and asked:

Is 13 an appropriate age to bring kids to the Science of Sexuality?

Both the Trans-Canada Trail and the Interior Trail Loop are getting a facelift. Plans include asphalt resurfacing, consistent signage and accessibility features. The project includes a contest to rename the Interior Trail Loop, with nominees put in the running to win a mountain bike.

y CONTROvERSIAL CONDO DEvELOPMENT OPEN HOUSE On Feb. 6, Auburn Developments will hold an open house for their controversial development on 31 Alexandra Avenue. The controversy comes from size of development, traffic it may cause and shadow impact. This condo development has been in the planning stages for the past ten years, and developers are hoping to get the go ahead from planners .

The open house will take place at Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex, starting at 6:30 p.m. in room 200.

y WATERLOO NAMED AN ENTREPRENEURIAL HOTSPOT

“If their parents haven’t really spoken to them about it, it would be one way to learn.”

“I think 13 is a completely appropriate age for children to start learning about sexuality in a healthy manner.”

Thelma Ogor, Student

Adam moss, Student at U of W

According to Startup Genome’s Startup Ecosystem Report 2013, Waterloo has been named one of the top 20 startup ecosystems around the globe. Waterloo is by far the smallest city on the list, which includes Seattle, Berlin and New York City. Waterloo is also the number one destination for entrepreneurs leaving Silicon valley.

8 • FEBRUARY 2014

urban exploring // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

BREWS, BARS AND BOOKS

Kitchener Public Library introduces an unusual book club TEGAN THUSS URBAN EXPLORING EDITOR

A

low-lit pub with blaring music is not the first place you would think to find

a book club.

However, PubLit, a new program from the Kitchener Public Library, breaks all boundaries when it comes to approaching the classic book group. It offers not only an environment full of vitality and camaraderie, but it opens the floor to discussion of not just one novel but any novel you have recently read that you want to share.

Kristin Johnson-Perlock and Sandra Taylor, both librarians with Kitchener Public Library, wanted to pull together an event that drew in the young professionals populating Waterloo Region.

“We are working on an initiative to develop programming for people in their twenties and thirties, but really it’s open to anybody,” said Johnson-Perlock. “We are trying out some less traditional library programming. An

important element we want to include is the social side.”

The pair decided to create a space free from form and rules, in the hopes that this would encourage more people to come and share their thoughts on reading and books. They are hoping to inspire those individuals who may otherwise shy aware from a structured, formatted flow — which would hold people back from reading for pleasure.

About 16 people attended the inaugural PubLit night, surpassing expectations for the introduction of this new event. There was a continuous conversation, and several unique or unconventional books on the table were then picked up or their titles written down for later reading.

From historical fiction, to young adult, to graphic novels, to a book of essays — there was enough selection to stimulate a spirited discussion, including a debate over whether, if you turn to page 42 of any book and read it, you’ll know if you like it or not. Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, did write that the number 42 was the “answer to the ultimate question of life, the Universe, and everything.”

Taylor hopes that PubLit will help the

Kristin Johnson-Perlock and Sandra Taylor, PubLit • TEGAN THUSS URBAN EXPLORING EDITOR

Kitchener Public Library develop more social programming, as well as partnerships outside the library.

The next PubLit is scheduled to take place February 25, 7 pm at the Firkin at the

Tannery. Bring anything you have recently read — whether a book, news article, or blog post — and be ready to engage in lively conversation over a glass of wine or your favourite local brew.

COLD weather? No problem How to make the most of winter in Waterloo Region JANINE PREW

highlight of the ride is a stop at a sugar shack for some hot apple cider. They only do private reservations, but if you can get together 10 of your closest friends it still works out to be less than $20 per person, for a truly traditional winter experience. If you can’t gather a group, hold out for their scheduled maple sugar bush sleigh ride tours in March.

CCE CONTRIBUTOR

B

aby, it’s cold outside.

The instinct is to curl up under a blanket with a hot chocolate and indulge in a Breaking Bad marathon. But try not to let the winter blah’s get you — get up, get outside, and get experiencing this winter season!

Here are the top winter activities this area has to offer: Skiing, Chicopee Ski Resort (396 Morrison Road, Kitchener, discoverchicopee.com) Don’t battle questionable driving conditions this winter trying to get to Blue Mountain or Glen Eden — just head to south end Kitchener’s big snow hill! Downhill skiing, snowboarding, adult skill perfecting programs, private lessons, and even winter disc golf are among the activities you can choose. And of course, after you hit the slopes you have every excuse to curl up with a hot chocolate.

Snowshoeing, Laurel Creek Conservation Area (625 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, grandriver.ca) Is there anything more iconic than trekking through the bush with what look like tennis rackets strapped to your feet? With over four kilometers of trail, Laurel Creek is your spot for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing this winter. Best of all, there’s no need to scratch your head wondering where one can

Skaters at the Uptown Waterloo public skating rink last year. • NICK LACHANCE FILE PHOTO

purchase snowshoes these days — they rent all the equipment you need. Just keep in mind that the park is only open when conditions allow, so maybe give them a call before you head over.

Hockey games, The Kitchener Rangers (The Aud, 400 East Avenue, Kitchener, kitchenerrangers.com) Support the local sports scene by engaging in our nation’s favourite pastime — the good old hockey game! For about 20 bucks you’ll

be treated to a quick paced game, an energizing atmosphere, as well as the obligatory “We Will Rock You” stomp-a-thon that never fails to get the crowd going.

Sleigh rides, St. Jacobs Horse Drawn Tours (1222 Apple Grove Rd, Woolwich, stjacobshorsedrawntours.com) This St. Jacobs company offers a variety of tours, but most notable are their horse drawn sleigh rides located on a farm just five minutes from the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market. The

Outdoor skating rinks, Kitchener City Hall and Uptown Waterloo Square (kitchener.ca & waterloo.ca) Skiing, snowshoeing, hockey games, and sleigh rides are all classic winter activities, but nothing beats classic ice skating. There are a variety of free dates in local arenas, and both Kitchener and Waterloo maintain outdoor neighbourhood rinks, but perhaps the most locally unique spot is right in front of Kitchener City Hall. It’s free, accessible late into the evening, and you have access to indoor change rooms. It’s no Rockefeller Square, but it certainly has the right atmosphere! Check the City website for a listing of all your skating (indoor and outdoor, free and paid) options.

Winterloo Festival (UpTown Waterloo, winterloo.ca) Formally known as the Ice Dogs Festival, this festival will light up Waterloo with a variety of winter activities including dog sled rides, ice sculpture carving, and a great chili cookoff contest.

The bad news is that you have to wait until Feb. 15 (Family Day weekend) to experience it. Until then, try out our list of activities and stay warm out there!

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

ARTS & Culture Documenting lives

Community-based artist showcases untold stories ANYA LOMAKO CCE Contributor

W

alking away from fifteen years of photojournalism with the Waterloo Region Record may have been a difficult choice for Dwight Storring, but there comes a time when a lifelong calling can no longer be ignored.

Now working as a mixed media artist, Storring uses technology to challenge traditional forms of storytelling while harnessing human experience and self-perception.

“My work revolves around personal narratives and how they influence, impact and inform the larger community narrative. To me, the story is everything,” said Storring.

His digital vignettes assert that technology is simply a lens through which we interact with the world. “Video, still images and audio are all natural storytelling media,” he explained.

One of Storring’s recent projects, Made in Kitchener: Personal Stories from our Industrial Past, is an interactive documentary that focuses on the perspectives of the working class in the second half of the 20th century.

The project website, madeinkitchener.ca, describes the exhibit as an ode to mass manufacturing which has since declined, giving way to knowledge-based industries and beginning a fresh economic cycle.

“As a community-based artist, my work lives in the world of everyday people. I’m most concerned about how my art plays out in their lives and not as much what impact I have on the artistic community,” said Storring.

Storring’s artistic approach involves showcasing those untold stories within the community.

He is grateful to the community, which has “supported and influenced” his work.

Dwight Storring brings past and present together • PHOTO COURTESY OF DWIGHT STORRING

He says that House of Friendship, Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Reception House of Waterloo Region and Community Justices Initiatives have all contributed to his development as an artist.

Collaboration isn’t just for personal growth.

Storring believes collaboration mutually benefits organizations he works with. ”[They discover] how art and being creative can influence how their supporters think about the work of these organizations”, said Storring.

KW’s reputation as a technology hub greatly trumps its artistic reputation. With Google, Blackberry and OpenText on the forefront of the local economic news, the value of art can be easy to overlook.

The stories Storring tells demonstrate how past and present work together to strengthen the social fabric of the region.

“Maybe some people need to leave the region to understand what they are missing,” said Storring. “For me, Waterloo Region already has ’it’ - a vibrant economy with a strong local component, housing that is still affordable, a strong tradition of arts and culture, a region that looks ahead, not behind.”

Storring will be leading a digital storytelling workshop at Flirting with the Arts on February 9.

The event, hosted at Queen Street Commons, is a one-day celebration of art, bringing together 12 artisans whose specialties range from collage to spoken word poetry and metalwork. A 10 per cent portion of ticket sales will be donated directly to The House of Friendship.

“I think people are looking for new ways to express themselves and connect with their creative selves,” said Storring. “Events like this are a great way to find the things that click with you.”

vocal cord We went to Uptown Waterloo and asked:

The Region has dedicated funding towards arts programs. Is this a good use of taxpayer money?

FEbruary 2014 • 9

Arts beat yKitchenerWaterloo Symphony gets new draperies The Government of Canada recently announced a new investment in a Kitchener-Waterloo cultural space. Federal funding will be awarded to the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the replacement and reinstallation of new fire retardant draperies.

The new draperies will improve the safety of staff and artists while increasing the facility’s ability to present music, theatre and dance. Kitchener Centre MP Stephen Woodworth said that the government is pleased to help renovate important space for the organization.

y Pop the Gator returns, kind of For one night only, residents of Waterloo Region will gather at THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener for a special gala to celebrate once-popular blues club, Pop the Gator. Open for just five short years in the early nineties, Pop the Gator hosted musical legends like Otis Clay and Johnny Carson. Don’t expect the anniversary party to be an evening of oldies though – the headlining act Wesley Bright and the Hi Lites is anything but old.

Tickets are $60 and available for purchase at Ethel’s Lounge, Encore Records, and themuseum.ca

y Comedy takes the town

“I think there is a lot of value in nurturing that side of people and that our current education system is set up to discourage people from going towards those careers.”

“Yeah, definitely. I think the arts are very important and there should be funding for it”

Holly Barsoum Student

Cailin Greenan, Server

With 18 comedy acts performing in 12 shows across five venues, the fifth annual Kitchener-Waterloo Comedy Festival is bound to help you shake the winter blues.

Academy Award-winning comic Steven Wright, Kids in the Hall alumnus Scott Thompson and host of The Comedy Network’ Popcultured!, Elvira Kurt, are just a few of the big ticket names performing at the festival. waterloocomedy.com for more information.

10 • FEBRUARY 2014

REviews HISTORY ON THE MOvE

ARts & CUlTURE // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

UW|Ag’s newest twin installation series looks at how history and transportation collide. • ReBeCCA ALLiSOn STAFF pHOTOgRApHeR

REBECCA ALLISON CCE CONTRIBUTOR

C

urrently featured at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UW|AG) are two exhibits that feature not only adventurous landscapes but use various methods of transportation to define them.

In Place and Space (REDUX), Hamilton multi-media artist C.Wells travels the road and history of the automobile.

Wells portrays the oft-overlooked scenic landscapes viewed through the car window in multiple installations.

“Mapology,” “This Side Green, This Green Side” and “Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue” are scenes of mountains painted over with line marker paint, with little of the original painting left to be seen through the streaks of paint. The paint covering the vast expanse depicts and highlights a feeling of the image blurred by the speed at which they are seen during a drive.

Wells uses line marker paint in most of his work, linking the images and creating the feeling of travelling by car and the road.

The most striking piece is reminiscent of billboards placed along the highway. Almost reaching the ceiling of the exhibit, “Western Scenic Views” appears to be an

advertisement for the open road, as a boy from the fifties holds up a picture of a bright landscape with a wide smile.

Walking through the exhibit, it is difficult to distinguish the road from the automobile.

In UW|AGs second exhibit, we find that few fires begin without a spark, as portrayed

by Soft Turns Behind the High Grass.

Soft Turns is the artistic partnership between Sarah Jane Gorlitz and Wojciech Olejnik. Inspired by a travel book written by Czech travellers and filmmakers, the team brought to life the same lands found in the book.

Gorlitz and Olejnik reflect on the unrest and healing of the time period in each

MUSIC

books

Janice Lee & the Free Radicals

Two Sisters of Borneo ian Hamilton (2014) Spiderline

Drown the earth

DAVID WORSLEY

GREGORY O’BRIEN

CO-OWNER, WORDS WORTH BOOKS

CCE CONTRIBUTOR

T

he sixth book in the increasingly popular Ava Lee series by Toronto crime writer Ian Hamilton came out this week, and the days of comparing Ava Lee to Steig Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander – from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books – are over.

For the uninitiated, the series’ first book, Water Rat of Wanchai featured a resourceful, dynamic and ass-kicking forensic accountant perhaps not dissimilar to Salander, but as the series progressed, Ava grew into her character and her surroundings with style and speed.

A testament to Hamilton’s nerve and talent, he has moved central characters a long way from their starting point, without diluting them. It’s likely been a tough balance to maintain, but the integrity of the work remains.

In The Two Sisters of Borneo, Ava is on the trail of an investment deal gone bad between a Borneo furniture company and a Dutch

piece. “Behind the High Grass” involves three wooden structures floating above the ground.

The structures hold photos and mementos , remnants of past travels.

The structure at the far end of the exhibit is attached to a sail, ready to leave port and head off on a new adventure.

Gorlitz and Olejnik also display their take on the stories through a stop-motion animation movie titled “P-19720,” which was the name of the car the filmmakers drove during their research.

The movie shows a view through the window of a car as if you were driving along the road with the artists.

Both exhibits run at UW|AG until March 8, 2014.

J customer. She travels from the Netherlands to Asia, trying to make sense of the money trail, but her attention is divided by the declining health of her mentor and partner, the mercurial fixer affectionately known as Uncle.

There is a lot to like here, and the series as a whole is as good as the modern thriller genre gets.

Hamilton is a favourite at Words Worth Books and we’re thrilled to welcome him to town on February 19.

anice Lee, when not too busy reimagining communities through art, speaking truth to power, or just plain indulging in the poetic joys of spoken word, is able to enchant with a soulful musical touch.

Together with fellow musicians AFL, Brockenshire, Daniel MacPherson, Rachel Avery, and Kathryn Wetlauffer – the ensemble known as Janice Lee and the Free Radicals – Lee has released their first album, Drown the Earth, which bellows and swings across blues, folk, and indie terrains with a social conscience that has something meaningful to say.

Drown the Earth begins on the bittersweet resound of Lee in “I Lost My Darlin (They Gone Take Him to Jail),” which arrests the ear with its stark vocal power before galloping forth into a fleshed out groove.

The album as a whole follows similar structures, where Lee’s voice is given the space to set the melodious vision at each

song’s beginning as the rest of the instrumentation catches up, develops the sound, and carries the tempo forward.

And yet, there is enough thematic depth on offer to appeal to variety of sensibilities.

“Take a Walk with Me” is a sweetly paced lullaby that showcases Lee’s strengths in a true to form singer/songwriter style. “White Collar Blues” thumps with groove and political fire as it mockingly disarms the hypocrisies of modern philistines.

“Struggle” presents a blues sensibility with a gospel finish as the track meanders high and low with melancholic pathos.

And on “Will you Go,” the group crafts a striking ballad that positions Lee’s sirenesque voice in the center of a whirling sea of sound and shows the Free Radicals at their most moving and emphatic heights.

FEbruary 2014 • 11

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ ARts & CULTURE

listings FEBRUARY 13

FEBRUARY 7

The Full Monty St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 8:00 p.m., $35 Show runs February 13 - 22

Roarshaq The Jazz Room, 8:30 p.m., $15

FEBRUARY 23

Whitehorse Centre in the Square, 8:00 p.m., centreinthequare.com

The Speakeasy, part 2 The Bent Elbow, 7:00 p.m., $10 adv

FEBRUARY 8

MARCH 4

Bob Shields Quartet The Jazz Room, 8:30 p.m., $18

Menopause the Musical Centre in the Square, 8:00 p.m., centreinthesquare.com

FEBRUARY 9 Charlena Russell & Janice Lee and the Free Radicals The Jazz Room, 6:30 p.m., $10

FEBRUARY 13 The Hidden Cameras Starlight Social Club, 8:00 p.m., 19+, $18 adv

MARCH 8 Green Day’s American Idiot Centre in the Square, 8:00 p.m., centreinthesquare.com

community

FEBRUARY 14

FEBRUARY 10

Mary-Catherine Quartet The Jazz Room, 8:30 p.m., $15

All About Alice - WPL Book Club Waterloo Public Library, 7:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 15

FEBRUARY 14

Darren Sigesmund Quintet The Jazz Room, 8:30 p.m., $18

Valentine’s Date Night THEMUSEUM, 5:00 p.m., $20

FEBRUARY 16

Downtown Love - Skating Party Kitchener City Hall, 8:00 p.m.

J. Hilts 4th Annual Long Weekend Birthday Event Starlight Social Club, 10:00 p.m., 19+, $10 at the door Spike Wilner Trio The Jazz Room, 8:00 p.m., $20

FEBRUARY 24 Measha Centre in the Square, 8:00 p.m., centreinthesquare.com

MARCH 6 Basia Bulat Starlight Social Club, 8:00 p.m., 19+, $14 adv

mARCH 7 5th Annual KW Comedy Festival Starlight Social Club, 6:30 p.m., 19+, $26 adv

arts FEBRUARY 7 The Book of Esther Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre, 8:00 p.m., $15

FEBRUARY 8 CEI Open Studios & Art Sale CEI Studio, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Puppet State Theatre presents: The Man Who Planted Trees Centre in the Square, 11:00 a.m., $10

february 9 Flirting with the Arts Queen Street Commons Cafe, 10:00 a.m., $78

FEBRUARY 15 Winterloo: Waterloo’s Winter Family Festival Waterloo Public Square, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Winterloo runs February 15-17

The Cord Community Edition and Words Worth Books present:

THE REALLY SHORT, SHORT FICTION CONTEST

FEBRUARY 16 Sex Dialogues: Café Scientifique Panel: Teaching Youth about Sex in the 21st Century THEMUSEUM, 1:30 p.m., free by donation

FEBRUARY 17 KW Board Game Bash Emmanuel Bible College, noon – 10:00 p.m., $10, $5 students/seniors

We want your stories - the shortest ones you have.

FEBRUARY 18 Geek Girl Dinner Centre in the Square, 6:00 p.m., $15

FEBRUARY 22 KW Polar Plunge Waterloo Town Square, 10:00 a.m.

MARCH 1

Till February 21st we’re accepting fiction stories on any topic.

The catch? They have to be under 500 words long, Just enough to fill a postcard.

The stories will be judged by a publishing industry insider, and the winning submission will be published in the March issue of the Cord Community Edition.

KW Anarchist Bookfair Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, 10:00 a.m.

Last day for entries is

FEBRUARY 22

MARCH 2 Inappropriate Content: Sex in Art and Visual Culture THEMUSEUM, 1:30 p.m., free by donation To feature your event listing in the Cord Community email details to culture@thecord.ca

Email entries to communityeditor@thecord.ca THE CORD

music

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

• FEBRUARY 2014

Ideas to change waterloo This April,The Cord Community Edition is looking for ten great ideas.

Be they big or small, we want to know what you’re doing to make Waterloo Region an amazing place.

We want to showcase the ten ideas from Waterloo Region that will have the most impact in the shaping and improving the future growth of this community.

Who will choose the ideas?

Ideas will be selected by a group of engaged Waterloo Region citizens, CCE staff, and online voting.

This is your time to shine.

What can the ideas be about?

Anything from transit, arts and culture, civic engagement, heritage, agriculture, small business and more! The limit is your imagination.

What do the chosen ideas get?

Ideas selected will be paired with one of the CCE’s writers to have a story produced about their project, which will appear in the April issue.

Nominations are due Febuary 26, 2014 For rules,regulations and submission information visit community.thecord.ca