The Community Edition: October 2019

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1 • OCTOBER 2019

THE SIDE HUSTLE:

A PAINTED PIANO

PAGE 5

BEST OF WR WINNERS ANNOUNCED

STEPH BOUTARI’S GEOMETRIC MURALS

PUT THAT X-DISC-C RECORD ON

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

PAGES 8 - 9

OCTOBER 2019 // @THECOMMUNITYED

IN THIS

ISSUE

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1

OCTOBER 2019

THIS ISSUE OF TCE WAS FUELED BY THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CANDY EMILY BOUGHT. MY TUMMY HURTS.

2

FEATURE

8-9 PUT THAT X-DISC-C RECORD ON

EDITOR’S PICK 5

DRUNK ON COLOUR WITH STEPH BOUTARI

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

IN BRIEF #BESTOFWR: THE WINNERS THE SIDE HUSTLE: LUKE SWINSON SEXPLANATIONS: ON MINDFULNESS CRAFTY RAMEN COMES TO DTK CATCHING UP WITH CITY COUNCIL THE WATERLOO YOU NEVER KNEW HYPERLOCAL TRAVEL: TWILIGHT ZOO CRAFTOBERFEST COMES HOME 519 SCHMECKS: THE FRIENDLY SIDE OF HOSPITALITY FIQIR WORKU ADDRESSES CAMPUS INEQUALITY NEW CONCERT SERIES IN CHURCH KW’S BEST BIKE SHOPS REGIONAL RECIPE: FARMERS MARKET PASTS EASY BEING GREEN: DRIVE ELECTRIC HARU NOON // EVENT LISTINGS PUMPKIN PATCH SEASON IN THE REGION NEW TUNE REVIEW

INSIDE

COVER BY JESSE DERRY CONTRIBUTORS Volume 7, Issue 12 Next issue: October, 2019 75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564

All advertising inquiries should be directed to Kurtis Rideout at 519-884-0710 x3560 kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com

THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION

Editor in Chief Beth Bowles beth@communityedition.ca

President Aaron Hagey

Publisher Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@wlusp.com Social Media Coordinators Brit Kovacs Ramona Leitao Staff Writer Melissa Embury Racheal Walser Rachael MacIntosh Staff Photographers Nick Stanley Paige Bush Jesse Derry General Inquiries info@communityedition.ca

Executive Director Lakyn Barton

Mariana Bilbao Nathalie Bouchard Melissa Bowman Qiao Liu Matt Munro Nirupam Singh Matt Smith Jordan Snobelen Breen Splitt Sam Toman Cara Vandermey

Advertising Manager Kurtis Rideout Directors Rosalind Horne Emily Crump Arshy Mann Alyssa Di Sabatino Kashyap Patel

COLUMNISTS Jenna Aquino Nick Benninger Justin Clouthier Stacey Danckert Stacey Jacobs Bashar Lulu Jabbour Juanita Metzger Erik O’Neill Kurtis Rideout John Roche

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

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

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

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

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

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

matter of controversy.

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

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

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

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

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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NEWS IN BRIEF UNMARKED CANDY BY LAW COMPELS IDENTIFICATION MADE WITH THC

KIK CLOSES SHOP TO FOCUS ON KIN

On Sept. 23, Waterloo City Council voted 5-3 in favour of granting bylaw officers the right to compel an individual to provide identification. This is an uncommon power rarely given to bylaw officers. Councillors that voted against, Vasic, Bonoguore and Bodaly brought up concerns of officers overtargeting racialized people.

Kik Interactive, the tech company that started in Waterloo announced the end of its Kik messenger app and the cut of 90 employees on Sept.

24. The company says it will now exclusively focus on its cryptocurrency, Kin, which the company is currently battling with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission about.

SUPERVISED DRUG ELECTION SIGNS CONSUMPTION SITE FOUND NOT UNTRUE

BYLAW CHANGES NOISE VIOLATIONS

Downtown Kitchener’s interim supervised drug consumption site is scheduled to open on Oct. 15. Located at 150 Duke St. W, the interim site will be on the second floor with renovations continuing on the main floor for the permanent site. Operated

by Sanguen Health Centre, the site will supervise drug use and provide wraparound supports.

Kitchener Centre’s Conservative candidate, Stephen Woodworth’s current campaign signs have been called “misleading” by some residents. The signs say “Re-elect” although he is not the incumbent. Woodworth was the riding’s MP prior to Liberal MP Raj Saini’s win. Elections Canada says the signs are not technically untrue and thus are allowed.

Waterloo City Council has been busy. On Sept. 23, Council voted 8-0 to make it temporarily unlawful to blare music loud enough to be heard on the sidewalk, even in daytime and if no one complains. Only in place on specific dates, which so far includes Laurier Homecoming, and St. Patricks Day. However, Council can add additional dates.

means. But when a job becomes half of who you are, how do you leave?

I announced my planned departure from the Community Edition a few weeks ago. A “planned departure” means that care and time will be put into my leave. We will hire the best person for the job and I will stay until that person is hired, however long that may take.

The part that may be confusing about this announcement is that there wasn’t really a reason for my leave. I’m not being fired; my publisher is, and will remain, one of my closest friends. I’m not moving to Toronto to be some big shot writer. I’m not ill. The book I’ve been working on for the past year is nowhere near done.

I’m leaving because it’s time for someone else to love this paper as much as I do, and it’s time for me to try to love something else as much as I love this paper. So while my eyes are welling up as I write this, it’s really not a sad story. It’s a love story.

This newspaper presented me with opportunities and challenges that I would have never received elsewhere. This newspaper introduced me to some of my

very best friends. This newspaper taught me lessons in compassion, vulnerability, pride, leadership and community.

But above all, this newspaper taught me the importance of participation. Without this newspaper, I don’t think I would care about Waterloo Region as much as I do.

So, to everyone living in KW who dreams of moving to Toronto, or who complains that KW is boring — I don’t buy it. I don’t buy it because I used to be just like you.

Get out and participate.

Volunteer, go to community events, learn the name of your favourite barista, go to grand openings, ask people their names, buy local art, support local music — I don’t care what you do. Just participate in your community.

Once you do, you’ll feel right at home — and I don’t think a feeling like that ever really goes away.

So while the half of me that is “Beth Bowles, Editor in Chief of the Community Edition” will soon expire, the part of me that is so damn passionate about participation is deep rooted — that part is here to stay.

So to answer my own question: when a job becomes half of who you are, how do you leave?

My hope is that when the job is removed, the passion will remain.

As long as you’re passionate about something, you’ll find meaning and value.

You’ll find community.

Unmarked candy sold at the Cambridge Fall Fair on Sept. 8 tested positive for THC after reports that an adult and two children became ill. Police say the vendor was unaware that the candy contained THC, is cooperating and turned over all unsold candy. The candy were red and blue berries shapes and had 25-30 pieces per bag.

The Climate Strike at Waterloo Town Square on Sept. 27 brought a crowd of approximately 4,500 people according to by Waterloo Regional Police.

The strike, which happened at different locations around the globe, was meant to spur greater action on climate change.

JORDAN SNOBELEN PHOTO

EDITOR’S NOTE: ON SAYING GOODBYE

BY: BETH BOWLES

I’ve never really been good at goodbyes.

One of my best friends moved hours away last month, and when I dropped her off at her house after a farewell dinner, I didn’t really know what to say. As she got out of my car, knowing this would be the last time we’d see each other for a while, I said: “Get the heck out of here. See ya never.”

My therapist would call that deflecting my discomfort onto other people. Yeah, whatever, I’m working on it.

Saying goodbye to a job is hard when that job is a part of who you are. I am always Editor in Chief of the Community Edition.

When someone emails me about a typo in a story at 10 a.m. on a Saturday, I don’t leave it until Monday morning. When I run into one of my writers at a bar on the weekend, I leave my friends’ table for a few minutes to say hello. When I’m out for breakfast with my partner at one of our distribution locations and a stack is low, you best believe I’m grabbing a handful of papers from my car and filling that stack.

This job was never a typical 9-5 and I’m not complaining, by any

Sincerest of thank-you’s to everyone who ever contributed to the Community Edition in the past two years. Whether it be big or small, one time or consistently, your participation meant the world to me. Thank you eternally to Paige Bush, Nick Stanley, Jesse Derry, Brit Kovacs and Ramona Leitao for sticking it out with me month after month. I don’t think you folks will ever know how much your contribution was valued. To my monthly columnists, thank you for sharing your passions with the Region. To Lakyn, Care and Kurtis: working with some of your best friends is a privilege not everyone can have.

Thank you for giving me that.

To our readers: thank you for engaging with us every month.

Thank you for participating in your local community and please, don’t stop.

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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BEST OF

WATERLOO REGION BEST FOOD & DRINK THE WINNERS CAFE Princess Café

THE BEST OF WATERLOO REGION IS COLLECTED THROUGH AN ONLINE SURVEY. STEP ONE: WE PROVIDE THE CATEGORIES STEP TWO: YOU NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITES STEP THREE: SHORTLIST OF TOP NOMINATIONS STEP FOUR: VOTING OPENS FOR THE SHORTLIST STEP FIVE: WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED

DONUT Debrodniks Donuts

SANDWICH Vincenzo’s

FOOD TRUCK The Crazy Canuck

BEER SELECTION Arabella Park Beer Bar

SPECIAL OCCASION Bauer Kitchen

SHAWERMA Arabesque

BURGER The Works

CASUAL RESTAURANT Ethel’s Lounge

CAMBRIDGE RESTAURANT Cambridge Mill

BREAKFAST The Yeti

OPENED IN 2019 Village Biergarten

VEGETARIAN OPTIONS Jane Bond

FANCY COFFEE Smile Tiger

LOCAL BREWERY Descendants Beer & Beverage Co.

GROCERIES IN DTK Central Fresh Market

DTK RESTAURANT Kinkaku Izakaya

ICE CREAM Four All

UPTOWN RESTAURANT Red House

NOTABLE FOLKS & GROUPS ACTIVE & PRESENT POLITICIAN Berry Vrbanovic

BEST PLACES TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY COMMUNITY EVENT KW Multicultural Festival

LGBTQ+ POSITIVE SPACE Jane Bond

LOCAL MUSICIAN / BAND JoJo Worthington

FILMMAKER Torin Langen

PERFORMANCE ARTIST Janice Jo Lee

OPEN MIC Boathouse

LIVE MUSIC VENUE Centre in the Square

VIEW Victoria Park

PLACE TO VOLUNTEER The Working Centre

THEMUSEUM

@DTKitchener

BUS / ION DRIVER “The one that dropped me off in front of my house so that I could escape a creepy predatory man”

VISUAL ARTIST Trisha Abe

SOCIAL / NON PROFIT The Working Centre

TEACHER Sandra Bethell

PHOTOGRAPHER Jennifer Lyon

LOCAL WRITER Sam Nabi

KARAOKE Chainsaw

PUBLIC SPACE Victoria Park

PLACE TO TAKE A DATE Apollo Cinema

PATIO The Boathouse

BEST SHOPS & SERVICES BEST MUSIC STORE Long & McQuade

MUSEUM OR GALLERY

REGIONAL- FOCUSED SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT

TRIVIA NIGHT Descendants Beer & Beverage Co.

BEST PLACE TO BUY A GIFT Conestoga Mall

BEST HAIR SALON/BARBER Cowboys & Angels

BEST BOOKSTORE Words Worth Books

BEST TATTOO PARLOUR Berlin Tattoo

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

5

BOUTARI AND BOLD COLOURS: A LOVE STORY

LOCAL MURALIST STEPH BOUTARI SAYS COLOUR AFFECTS HER PHYSICALLY. IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS SHE NEEDS — SO, SHE CREATES IT HERSELF

MELISSA EMBURY STAFF WRITER

Local muralist Steph Boutari is no stranger to colour; this photo proves it.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO

Local artist Steph Boutari is being paid to make art in public places, but that wasn’t always the case. She is the woman behind some of the best and most badass murals at our favourite downtown Kitchener spots.

You may not know who she is, but if you live in Kitchener or Waterloo, chances are you’ve seen her bright, colourful, super geometric mural in Goudie’s Lane.

Boutari actually started out as an architect after immigrating to Canada from Bahrain, off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to complete her undergrad and master’s degrees at the University of Waterloo before taking on full-time work in her field in Toronto.

Five years into working on major architectural projects in her regular 9-5 Toronto architecture firm job, she stumbled upon her love of painting murals.

“I started painting a lot of paintings — so I started to do research on street art, and just the idea was kind of a new topic for me. I didn’t really know anything about it,” Boutari said.

Boutari discovered an empty wall near her campus and reached out to the owner who gave her carte

blanche to use the space with full creative freedom. He even agreed to cover all her material costs.

“I saw this wall and I really wanted to paint it. I had no experience, but I wanted to use spray paint — which I’d never used — and do something abstract. I had never done anything like this before and it was scary but I actually like dealing with the fear.

It helped make other projects less scary,” Boutari said.

Her first project gave her a taste for creating art in public spaces.

Gradually, she started creating more and more murals for private commercial spaces like Abe Erb and Settlement & Co. in Kitchener. It wasn’t until years later, in 2017, that she decided to launch her own art and design studio and completely dive into her own independent work.

“Being an artist is something I’ve always wanted to do, even as a child actually. But I had this idea in my head that being an artist wasn’t a viable career and I wouldn’t make any money,” Boutari said.

From large-scale murals, paintings, and illustrations, to designing commercial interiors, 3D art objects, and furniture, her creative business is thriving. Most recently she created a mural for Shutterstock’s office in Toronto.

Although Boutari has done projects for private commercial spaces, she’s most passionate about public art.

“I feel like people get to see it or stumble upon it without necessarily expecting it. And it’s truly the most

accessible type of art. You don’t have to spend any money to see it, and that’s my passion.”

Public work has given her the most exposure as an artist, she says, and helped her get more jobs. Her process is to first meet with the client and go over ideas and sketches for what they want it to look like, but she’s mostly been given a lot of creative freedom.

“I do appreciate that, you know, the clients I’ve had so far have taken that risk with me. And also when you’re paying an artist, you don’t necessarily know whether you’re going to like what they come up with.”

Boutari’s inspiration comes from interesting colour combinations and geometric patterns. She describes her art as abstract geometric, with the goal of creating an optical illusion for the viewer.

“Looking at patterns, or the kind of rhythm of buildings or illustrations and graffiti and that sort of fantasy whimsical style and abstract geometric shapes, it’s just a huge inspiration for me. Colour affects me physically. It’s one of those things I need,” Boutari said. “I think colour affects your mood and emotions so directly.”

When Boutari isn’t creating murals, she experiments with her art — exploring abstracts and the relationship of colours to each other — with the hope of selling in galleries one day.

USING PUBLIC ART TO CELEBRATE CULTURE

THE SIDE HUSTLE

JENNA AQUINO COLUMNIST You may have noticed KitchenerWaterloo beaming with a little more colour and culture as of late, thanks to several local artists, Luke Swinson (@ lukeswinsonart) being one of them. As a full-time freelance digital illustrator, Swinson is intrinsically driven by his artistic passions, which are largely inspired by traditional Anishinaabe art.

Increasingly, opportunities to share these expressions with the greater community have presented themselves outside of his graphic illustrating career, and Swinson has invested a very personal energy into creating public art.

“The last five years or so, I’ve been really focused on reclaiming my own Anishinaabe culture – learning, exploring – and the easiest way for me to do that is through my art,” Swinson explained.

“Growing up, I was always inspired

by Indigenous artists – specifically their Woodland art. Adapting my art to mimic that style has allowed me to feel much closer to my heritage.

I’m learning more and more about it every day and I want to share that with everyone. This is the way that I know how.”

Given the chance to take on projects outside of his day-to-day work such as the National Indigenous Day mural in Waterloo Public Square, painting the public piano located outside of the old Waterloo train station, and various

others, Swinson seizes each one with ambition and curiosity – learning about his culture and exploring different mediums along the way. He’s even had the experience of being a live muralist at a tech event.

Pushing himself to paint more frequently has been a rewarding challenge inspired by his familial connection to the craft. Not only is Swinson’s father an artist – whom he has learned a great deal from – he is also eager to experiment with the medium as it is one most commonly practiced with his Anishinaabe culture.

“

ADAPTING MY ART TO MIMIC THAT STYLE HAS ALLOWED ME TO FEEL MUCH CLOSER TO MY HERITAGE.

”

-LUKE SWINSON, ARTIST

“A lot of people look at my artwork and wonder what it means. Some of them do have more abstract meanings, but most of them are so literal. For example, the National Indigenous Day mural my Dad and I did in uptown last year was an otter, and it’s called ‘nigig’ which means otter in our language … that’s sort of reflective of the level of education I have of Anishinaabe culture right now,” Swinson added.

Swinson went to Sheridan College for digital art, where he took a fundamental art class which classically trained him in hands-on mediums, like painting.

We can’t confirm or deny if Luke Swinson is also good at playing the piano, but he did paint this piano, and that’s pretty damn impressive.

JESSE DERRY PHOTO “Painting isn’t really my thing naturally, but when I do paint, it just works out to be a totally different style than I produce digitally. I’ve come to like both [styles] equally, and they complement each other so well,” he said.

“There are so many other mediums I’m excited to explore. For example, what I’m most passionate about is film, but it’s something I have yet to explore. Really any sort of visual art is what I’m passionate about.”

Swinson also noted that as of right now, he is focused on seeking

opportunities to collaborate with other artists, as well as with local arts and culture organizations such as Create Waterloo, who have provided him with a lot of the opportunities he has come across so far.

As a freelancer, Swinson has the flexibility to create his own hours, which now determines his availability to take on public art projects on the side, as well.

“It requires a lot of self-motivation, which in all honesty, is something I struggle with at times. I think everybody does. My advice is to try

to accept jobs that you are honestly passionate about, as much as you can.

Continue to work towards getting to a place where you can be selective about what you do,” he said.

“It would be nice if eventually my public art became less of a side hustle and more equal with my digital illustration. I would love to see them become less separate than they are, and I hope they will begin to overlap in time.”

OCTOBER 2019 // @THECOMMUNITYED

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MINDFULNESS ALSO

IN THE BEDROOM

MINDFUL SEX CAN BE A WAY TO FOCUS IN A WORLD FULL OF DISTRACTIONS

SEXPLANATIONS

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST Most of us have heard of mindfulness: the idea of being in the moment, being aware, getting out of our heads and into our bodies, acknowledging our thoughts and feelings without judgement. Mindfulness has been used to reduce stress, change eating habits and ease pain to name a few. But what about mindful sex?

For many of us, our lives are busy, we are always on the go. We work, we go to school, we take care of others, we work and then we work some more. We feel stress, anxiety and worry. We judge others, we judge ourselves even more. We think about money, our bodies, our things. So many things – cars, clothes, houses, accessories.

And then there is technology. We have phones, computers, laptops, tablets … We are connected 24/7.

We can work from home, from the car, while on vacation. We compare ourselves to others we see on social

media, knowing they are only posting their best filtered self. We take this technology into the bedroom.

Our phone literally sleeps beside us on the bedside table.

So what does this mean for our sex lives? Is sex something to check off our to do lists? There is nothing wrong with a quickie, but are we getting the emotional connection we desire if this is the only type of intimacy we have time for?

And the answer for some is yes.

Some of us do not want intimacy, some of us get it from a quick romp, some of us are not in emotionally connected relationships and some of us do not want to be. However, for others, mindful sex can be something to help us focus in a world full of distractions.

Mindful sex is a way to focus on sensations, explore our senses and put all the distractions aside for a time. It is something that must be intentional. We often think sex should be spontaneous to be good, but it does not. Schedule a time in your Google calendar (careful it is not your work calendar) and give yourself permission to enjoy yourself, your body, others bodies.

Make this time your own. Turn off all technology and put it aside, make the space relaxing.

Mindful sex is not goal oriented — meaning orgasm should not be your goal, pleasure should be your goal. If you have an orgasm that’s great, but if you don’t, that is great to. Focus on your entire body, not just your genitals. Learn where you like to be touched, what feels good on your skin. Take your time. Maybe open your eyes and see your body, this helps to stay in the moment.

Mindfulness is used to help many sexual complaints. Complaints and concerns about desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. Our world expects a lot from us, even sexually, and sometimes these expectations are too much. Mindfulness gives us a few moments to slow down, enjoy ourselves and feel pleasure.

Mindfulness can be self-taught, and hopefully along the way, you can find some love and compassion for yourself.

Stacey Jacobs is the sexual health educational manager at SHORE.

PRESENTS

LATE NIGHT GRILLED CHEESE FRIDAYS + SATURDAYS • MIDNIGHT-3AM 46 KING STREET NORTH, WATERLOO

PAIGE BUSH PHOTO

CRAFTY RAMEN

OPENS IN DTK

BETH BOWLES EDITOR IN CHIEF Jared Ferrall doesn’t consider himself a restauranteur, even though his downtown Guelph restaurant has become quite popular since opening two-and-a-half years ago.

“I kind of think of myself as an instigator … I start things and I get things going and then I find people to hand them off to and then that’s how we continue to grow and do cool stuff,” Ferrall said.

Before opening Crafty Ramen in Guelph, Ferrell and his wife Miki were living on a boat, travelling the world, visiting restaurants and eating lots of ramen. When their trip was over, they settled in Guelph to be closer to family.

Putting down roots also involved starting a business.

“I’ve always loved ramen. I’ve always been a chef. I’ve lived and worked in Japan and used to go out and get ramen all the time there.

Knowing that we wanted to start our own business, the decision to open up a ramen shop just kind of came naturally,” Ferrall said.

But the success was much more than he and his wife could imagine.

“It was much bigger and much more popular than we ever thought it would be,” Ferrall said. “The problem with it was, it wasn’t designed to be as busy as it is.”

Now, two and a half years later, the Ferralls are bringing a brand that did so well in downtown Guelph, to downtown Kitchener, on King and Water.

Ferrall said that what makes the Guelph location so successful is a combination of good food and a good atmosphere. This, mixed with fair prices, lots of vegetarian options and an emphasis on local ingredients, creates value in their brand.

They hope to recreate a similar — but not the same — experience in DTK. The Kitchener location will have double the seating and an extended menu.

Asking if Crafty Ramen’s menu is “traditional” is a tough question to

answer. Ferrall explained that the tradition of ramen is to be regional and chef driven.

“Those are sort of the pillars of ramen. In Japanese food in general … they’re very regimented,” he said.

“Ramen has always been the “anti-that.” Ramen is about ingenuity.”

Traditional ramen is not supposed to be uniform. With approximately 35 different styles of noodles, the possibilities are endless.

“When people ask if it’s traditional ramen — well, what is traditional ramen? Which style are you talking about?” Ferrall said.

Ferrall said they’re not trying to emulate something from Japan, but instead, they’re taking inspiration from bowls they’ve had in Japan, while using local ingredients. Crafty Ramen’s wheat for their noodles, the majority of their meat, vegetables (depending on seasonality) and miso are all from Ontario producers.

But above all, they’re crafty.

“What does the word “crafty” mean? It means using ingenuity, a little bit fun, a little bit cheeky,” Ferrall said.

With the Guelph location, Ferrall has collaborated with Kitchener-based graphic designer Blake Stevenson and Guelph-based tattoo artist Allie Charbonneau for art work and branding. He hopes for collaborative opportunities in DTK, also.

“That’s one of the core values that we have at Crafty Ramen — that collaboration. That means working with the communities that we’re in, but also with other artists,” Ferrall said.

“Now that we’re moving [to Kitchener], it just feels like we’re expanding our community. It’s all about the 519.”

Crafty Ramen’s downtown Kitchener location is projected to open on Oct. 17, just in time for the best season to enjoy ramen. “[I hope to] make a lot of people happy,” Ferrall said. “[The idea is that] we offer something new to the community and that people in the community accept us like they have in [Guelph].”

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

7

ONE YEAR CHECK IN WITH KITCHENER CITY COUNCIL RACHAEL MACINTOSH STAFF WRITER As we currently sit in the middle of our Federal election, memories of last year’s municipal seem so far away.

Yet, only last October, Kitchener’s city council was up for election.

After the election, seven of the city’s 10 councillors were returning with at least two consecutive terms on the council under their belt, but each councilor has their own unique reasons for and experiences joining the council.

Every four years, we see signs on front lawns and names on ballots, a lot of Kitchener residents still don’t necessarily understand what those who sit on City Council actually do or why they put their names forward.

Ward One councilor Scott Davey said he was always interested in politics.

“It was a little easier to follow at higher levels of government, but there came an inflection point in my life when I actually had the opportunity to run and make some changes.

My core focus has always been more on the finance side, I’ve always had the belief that governments can be progressive and also tax at a reasonable rate. That was how it started, and I ran for council, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to win, and I won, and the rest is kind of history for me,” Davey said.

Ward Three councillor John Gazzola has been a councillor for 17 years.

Prior to that, he was involved with City of Kitchener administration.

“I’ve pretty much covered all aspects of municipal politics,” Gazzola said.

Ward Nine councillor Debbie Chapman has only been on Kitch-

ener City Council for one year, but was previously involved in several different community groups in the Region, including being president of the Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association.

“In particular, as the president of the Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association, I felt very frustrated. I felt that there were a lot of roadblocks put in front of us as we tried to do many very innovative projects in the neighbourhood that I lived in,” Chapman said.

“And I felt that public engagement was, in some ways, managed in a way that it took agency away from the community members themselves.

So, based on these frustrations, I thought: well, I can complain all I want, but if I run for city council and get elected, maybe it would be easier to try to effect change from the inside.”

Many councilors have said that what surprised them the most about their experience on City Council is the amount of learning it requires.

“People come into this role excited about one area of municipal politics.

Some might have a burning issue and they want to come into City Hall and make a change,” Ward 10 councillor Sarah Marsh said.

“But, when you come in this role, people who have elected you, the residents that you represent, will contact us about any number of things, and we need to learn about those things.”

Every councillor is elected as a representative of the ward in which they reside. Councilors are responsible for balancing the needs of their ward with the needs of the city as a whole.

“I would say the main purpose of city council is being basically the eyes of the street in each ward … So instead of citizens going through city staff, we advocate for the community that we represent. And I think that’s really important, to have someone in a ward where people can call me any time, can email me any

JESSE DERRY PHOTO time, and I get back to them with their concerns,” Ward Four councillor Christine Michaud said.

“If I can help solve it myself, I do, but nine times out of ten I have to go through city staff. And it’s a lot easier for a resident to reach out to a councillor who has the ability to go right to specific staff instead of [the resident] trying to figure out what they have to do [themselves].”

Some of the key issues Kitchener City Council deals with includes affordable housing, infrastructure, and, more recently, the opioid crisis.

There are also many challenges city councils faces that are easy to take for granted, such as the cost and work that goes into ensuring that residents have access to clean and safe water.

“Things are always cyclical in terms of the kinds of questions that you’re asked. In wintertime, you’re asked about snow clearing and when is the plough coming to my street. In the fall, it’s about leaf pick-up in people’s neighbourhood, when is that going to happen, etc. But the one that consistently is asked, regardless of the

season, or at least what I’ve found so far, is about traffic in people’s neighbourhoods,” said Ward Eight councilor Margaret Johnston.

An topic that’s been discusses as of late is the possible restructuring of Waterloo Region. This restructuring could result in the Region becoming one unified city with one library system, one fire department, and, among many other things, one local government.

“It’s always a good thing to always look at how you’re operating and whether or not you can create efficiencies, and that’s something we’ve been doing as a community for many many years already, before the province even got interested in doing these things and amalgamating,” Ward Seven councillor Bil Ioannidis said.

“We have over 150 initiatives together with Waterloo [including] shared services and programs. So we’re doing a lot of things that are already efficient, and so I don’t think that there’s much that they’re going to find as far as efficiency.”

Interested citizens can get involved

with City Council in various ways, including attending council meetings and joining existing neighborhood associations or starting their own if they see a gap that needs to be filled. Citizens with specific concerns can register to speak at a City Council meetings or they can contact their representative directly.

Those who really want to go for it can even run for city council themselves.

“It’s a great way to get to know your community and be a part of making a difference in your community.

Giving back is really important, and I think the negativity that goes towards politics is not the majority of us,” Ward Five councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock said.

“All of us are there for a good reason and want to make a difference in our community.”

All current Kitchener city council members were approached but councillors Paul Singh, Ward Six, and Dave Schnider, Ward Two were not available for interview.

RICKERT-HALL ON A WATERLOO YOU NEVER KNEW SAM TOMAN CONTRIBUTOR In 1869, the Waterloo County House of Industry and Refuge opened its doors and admitted its first “inmate.” The suspiciously named institution was one of the first in Ontario to be built, funded, and administered by a local government with an ominous mission — to reduce the number of impoverished, ill and isolated people on our streets.

The house, originally built near the present-day intersection of Victoria and Indiana, serves as a centrepiece for local historian Joanna Rickert Hall’s new book, Waterloo You Never Knew: Life on the Margins.

In a community fond of defining its past, present and future, as one of barn-raisers and innovators, Rickert-Hall’s book digs beyond the veneer we create for ourselves, to unearth stories that are often ignored either because they are troubling, difficult or upsetting.

“You can appreciate that the things I read on a daily basis can get pretty hairy,” said Rickert-Hall, from the Grace Schmidt Room of Local History in the Kitchener Public Library, where a great deal of her research is

done. “And yet, I think it’s necessary to dig through this and get an understanding that the people living here then are no different than we are today.”

Without giving too much away, she begins her work with the story of the displacement of the Region’s Indigenous peoples, then moves on to other stories including, an ex-slave who found refuge and community here in Waterloo, yet still died in poverty.

She also explores a deadly cholera epidemic in Galt, as well as The Waterloo County Gaol, which as she explains in the book as: “the holding tank for many in transition — whether or not they had committed crimes in the conventional sense.”

The strong sense of social justice running through Rickert-Hall’s book is rooted in a duty the long-time Waterloo Region resident feels to place the problems we’re encountering today in a continuum.

“Our community and infrastructure have never been linear,” Rickert-Hall said, who has degrees in religion, culture and anthropology.

Most recently she earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Waterloo.

While she found the work planners do “boring,” she follows the heated debates around transit and development closely.

“A lot of the times I don’t jump into the debates but I read them,”

she said.

In many ways, Rickert-Hall is an ambassador for our shared past, and our future.

“A community and its history are more than its geography or skyline.

It’s people who cultivate and build communities. What the Region is doing is not perfect, I want people to know that history isn’t perfect. Instead of fighting with each other, we need to find a way to coexist. That is what building community is about.”

It’s a perfectly honourable goal, one she genuinely seems surprised people are responding to.

“Chair Redman picked the book for her book club and challenged her system leaders, like [Chief of Police of the Waterloo Regional Police Service] Bryan Larkin, to read it. So they’re using it as a model,” Rickert-Hall said.

“There is a hierarchy on the street,” said Rickert-Hall.

She explained that she is keen for decision-makers to understand the “multifaceted identities” that make up our daily life.

As such, her work explicitly rejects the “great man” version of history.

“I tell the stories of everyday people. I am more interested in that than the big folks. A lot of the people in this book are the people that you would be seeing on the streets today,” she said.

“There are days where my heart

NICK STANLEY PHOTO goes out to people, I am very empathetic and I see the human condition. I also see that so many people in my everyday life have a mask on,

when in reality they are suffering.

Human condition can be very painful, but I want to be a helper.”

X-DISC-C

HOW THE NOT-SO-HIDDEN

DOWNTOWN TREASURE

CAME TO BE AND NOW CELEBRATING ITS 12TH

ANNIVERSARY

WORDS BY MATT MUNRO • PHOTOS BY MATT SMITH

There are many treasures to be discovered in Kitchener’s downtown core that you may often walk past, unassuming. Tucked away on the corner of Moyer Place and Market Lane, just steps away from the Kitchener Market, lies X-Disc-C Music, a record store in a residential house.

Celebrating its 12th anniversary this October, the store is a staple in the Market District and its roots lie in its owner’s love for the city, passion for high fidelity music and collecting records.

“I have lots of roots here, lots of friends, lots of relatives,” says X-Disc-C Music owner Kevin Diebolt.

A Kitchener local, Diebolt has lived in the city his whole life, minus a brief departure to its adjoining city as a student of the University of Waterloo.

He has been working in record stores in the Region since 1976.

The business of music retail has seen

many changes since Diebolt started working in it. He began carving out his own retail path in 1992 after Doctor Disc, the record store chain he had been working for at the time, let him go because “they didn’t need my expertise in vinyl,” he recalled.

“Basically, that’s when we kind of started our own business.”

It was 1997 when Diebolt opened his first store on King Street. Various commercial real estate issues led to his decision to change locations over the years. However, fate would eventually lead him to the house at 7 Moyer Place in 2007.

“When I saw this place I said: this is the place. I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen it in my dreams,” Diebolt remembers.

Along with his wife, Jo-Anne Dagenais, the pair chose the house as the unconventional base to put Diebolt’s expertise in vinyl and music retail to work.

“We decided to buy a house and turn it into our store,” Diebolt said.

This has been a landmark year for music retail as vinyl sales are on the cusp of eclipsing CD sales for the first time in decades. As for the so-called “resurgence of vinyl” in recent years, Diebolt is quick to point out that in the music retail market: “there has always been an interest in records.”

The market for vinyl records is not limited to consumers who have a history with the format either.

“It’s all ages,” Diebolt said about his customers. “They are constantly building new and bigger pressing plants to press more vinyl because they can’t keep up with the demand.”

With the growing popularity of music streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music, the vinyl industry is making greater efforts to outmatch the audio quality of it’s competitors.

“The vinyl they are pressing today is far superior than the vinyl they were pressing in the ‘80s and the ‘90s,” Diebolt said.

But what has kept him a devotee to the vinyl format throughout the decades? Diebolt explained rather scientifically, that vinyl reproduces frequencies and dynamic range that isn’t experienced with CDs, because they limit it to what your ear can hear.

Consequently, according to Diebolt, because of the additional frequencies and dynamic range afforded to the vinyl format, records offer a physical aspect to the listening experience.

“There is actually more music to enjoy on a record, except you enjoy it subconsciously through your skin and through the effect it has on your body,” Diebolt said. “There is more music to enjoy.”

Diebolt argued that a record is closer to a live music experience than a CD.

“[With a] live music experience …

You basically get to experience all the vibrations that are created by the instruments and the amps. The record is the closest thing to live because it reproduces frequencies and dynamic range that they don’t give you with CDs because they limit it to what your ear can hear.”

While streaming services offer convenience, X-Disc-C Music offers an experience in the same way that records themselves do. It’s the experience of venturing out into the community and going to the store to track down that piece of vinyl that offers you an overall fuller experience than just quickly searching for and streaming it on your phone.

X-Disc-C Music’s unique location makes the customer feel at home, thus adding another dimension to the music retail experience.

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

10

TWIGHLIGHT ZOO

SPOOKS SMALL TOWN STREETS HYPERLOCAL TRAVEL

JUANITA METZGER COLUMNIST Here is October, with its early and suddenly dark evenings. Throw in the rustle of dry leaves and glossy shadows after an autumn rain, and the elements create a perfect atmosphere for Elora’s Twilight Zoo and Monster Month.

Every night during the month of October, the Twilight Zoo decorates the streets of downtown Elora with a sculpture collection of illuminated phantoms, ghouls and creatures. An avian beast with giant talons perches outside a shop door. Fiendish monsters with animal heads and forked tails dance around a cauldron in an open green space.

Witches, and maybe a few warlocks, hide under mushrooms the size of large leaf bags and a creepy spider peeks over the edge of a rooftop, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim.

More than anything, the glowing

forms made of wire, papier mâché, gauze and glue cast a whimsical, magical stage to explore a town known for its artistic community.

Only 30 minutes north of KitchenerWaterloo and 50 minutes from Cambridge, Elora is your October destination for an evening or weekend of monster-y fun.

The Twilight Zoo is the work of artist Tim Murton, an Elora resident who grew up in England. What began as a few “lantern sculpture” creatures in 2002, grew to become a collection of 140 pieces, large and small, by 2017. As the sculpture collection expanded, so too did a series of events hosted by local organizations, prompting what is now known as “Monster Month.”

In 2015, Sensational Elora, a local festival non-profit, assumed responsibility for organizing the Monster March, which took place at the end of the month. When Murton no longer wanted to organize the Twilight Zoo, Sensational Elora raised enough funds to purchase the entire collection so that it would stay in Elora where it is loved. They now host the volunteer committee that organizes Monster Month.

Most popular of the Monster Month events is the non-motorized

Monster March Parade. It’s easy for anyone to participate; all it requires is a creative costume and a group of friends to venture out with on a Saturday night. “[In 2018], over 250 people dressed up in costume; parents, kids and pets,” recalled Sensational Elora Chair, Kirk McElwain. “It’s outdoor, it’s free and it’s great fun.”

Last year’s Monster March Parade kicked off with superheroes rappelling from a downtown Elora building spire. McElwain is planning for another parade surprise this year

but won’t reveal the secret.

“I guess you’ll just have to be there,” he said.

The month of monsters also includes several nighttime lantern walks in Elora and Fergus, a charity ‘Soup-Off,’ a magician’s show, psychic readings and Monster Mash, the post-parade Halloween party at the Legion.

Restaurants and area merchants are part of the action too, as many offer themed events or specials.

Every monster detail is listed on a dedicated website, www.

KIRK MCELWAIN PHOTO monstermonth.ca.

Art should never be confined only to galleries and museums, nor should it be so precious that monsters and ghouls can’t be considered as art. Elora’s Twilight Zoo proves that papier mâché skeletons, spiders and a trippy mushroom forest are much loved art because it is connected to the place where it was created and lives on every year in its own special outdoor exhibit.

CRAFTOBERFEST

BACK ON HOME TURF RAMONA LEITAO SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR For the first time since it’s birth, Craftoberfest, which will take place this year on Oct. 5, will no longer be located at the Kitchener Market.

Craftoberfest, which is “a small parallel festival to Oktoberfest,” according to organizer Aleksandra Szaflarska, will be located at the home brewery itself: Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewing (TWB).

“We brought it back to TWB and back to the tent which is its own kind of ambiance,” Szaflarska said, who is also a founding member of TWB. “We love the Market because of all its [ambiance] in terms of harvest and community and really bringing KW together — but we thought we’d try this again.”

“That’s one of the challenges of organizing events that are semi-

regular. You want to make sure that you keep challenging people and that you bring something new to the table and you grow with them.”

In addition to a change of ambiance at a new location, the festival itself will be condensed into one day, rather than it normally spanning two days.

“We’ve split them up into an afternoon and evening session,” she said. “So people can really choose whether they want an easy-going, relaxed, casual afternoon with some indie rock music played by local brewers from Wellington, [that’s also] kind of focused on the beer, focused on the sampling. Or they can opt for the evening, where we have a six-people-polka band and a little bit more party oriented.

The atmosphere in the tent will be slightly different because it will be dark out, we’ll have string lights on, we’ll have folk bands playing and hopefully people will be energized by that.”

Szaflarska also says that there will be events organized by local artists

that will take place prior to and after Craftoberfest proper. Events range from local square dancing, Rebel Feast II, which will feature hip hop and punk rock music and veganbased food, and a family-oriented brunch, where $30 admission tickets can give you access to a harvest table.

“Our goal has always been to let Craftoberfest grow and bring in more community partners, and by running these parallel events we’ve been able to do that, which is great,” she said. “[While] we appreciate the fact that [Oktoberfest] brings thousands of people to Kitchener-Waterloo at a time to celebrate the harvest and community, we really wanted to also have our presence. And hopefully it feels like homage and respect [while] we’re having some fun this weekend under a big tent at 300 Mill Street.”

The Community Edition is a proud media sponsor for this year’s Craftoberfest.

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QIAO LIU PHOTO

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

11

FRIENDSHIP IS AN OPEN DOOR: REST IN POWER, PRETTY RICKY

NICK BENNINGER TALKS ABOUT THE FRIENDSHIP HE DEVELOPED WITH ONE OF HIS SUPPLIERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING TIME TO CHAT

519 SCHMECKS

NICK BENNINGER COLUMNIST Restaurant suppliers can be the most simple of relationships for a restaurant owner. I order items, they drop them off, but that’s not necessarily where it ends.

In my kitchens, I have always strived for something a bit more personal. Coming to my back door has always come with the expectation to stay a few minutes and talk, share, inform and inspire.

That’s when I know I am squeezing the most out of the relationship.

Why just get boxes off the back of a truck, when you can get to know the folks who got it there?

This philosophy makes better cooks and a better supply chain, plus amazing table side yarn spinning.

I never tire of telling guests how Farmer Dale used to tell his hot peppers apart.

My best suppliers have become friends. I’ve catered their weddings, partied with them and worked alongside them.

Last month we lost one of the best that ever was: Rick Knowles, aka Pretty Ricky, of Hope Bay Trout Farm. He was a purveyor of fine fish and storyteller extraordinaire.

I started buying fish from Rick 20 years ago when I took over a kitchen in St. Jacobs. He was the current supplier and I didn’t need to rock the boat. We were immediately pretty comfortable with each other, something Rick valued in his customers. He didn’t have much time in the day to deal with “assholes,” as he’d say. Rick valued mutual respect.

Rick had a few years on me; he was a strong and sturdy man who gave the impression he could tear a beaver dam apart with his hands, which if the stories are true, he has.

A bear of a man clad in plaid and an old ball cap on most days, Rick had a wit as sharp as his filleting knife, and the kind of dependability you could feel.

Every Tuesday, when Rick brought me fish, for almost 20 years we shot the breeze, discussing everything from food, hunting, politics, restaurant trends, the fishing industry and in more recent years, his beloved wife and family.

I always looked forward to our chats and the wisdom he’d share, always generous with his opinion and stories. The knowledge he gained in a lifetime of fishmongering was not wasted on me.

I soaked up every salty drop he shared. Did you know wild caught Whitefish is better in the winter when the flesh is higher in fat due to the icy waters of the Great Lakes?

A great supplier can really make an impact at a restaurant. I have been spoiled over the years by some of the best, and I was gutted last month to loose Rick. However, I take some solace knowing how much better I am for having known him — as a chef and a human. I know countless cooks who spent time in my kitchens will say the same thing.

The last conversation I had with Rick was perfect. He suggested I be more careful with the heavy load I was lifting and cautioned that I could lose a finger, all while holding up his hand sporting a stubby of his own.

I remarked that his digital amputation must have been recent, as I’d not scene it before. The story was gruesome and I won’t share it, but I did ask if he took himself to the hospital or handled it himself as he often did. He laughed and said “hospital!” pausing for a moment and then laughing again, declaring his wife made him go!

Joan, you really tamed the Bear.

Thanks for that; it was awesome listening to Rick gush over you and the family!

I wrote this today to share some of the softer sides of the kitchen that folks on the outside don’t see, and

also my professional career has kept me from attending Rick’s service.

So I’ll say goodbye here. Just don’t let him know I called him Pretty Ricky, it might not go over so well.

Check out the online article for my recipe for seared wild caught whitefish — my favourite thing with

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE gills. That recipe is all thanks to Rick, who taught me the importance of freshness and respecting fish, it all shines through in this dish.

Nick Benninger is a local chef and restaurant owner.

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OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

12

CREATING SPACE ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS RACHEAL WALSETR STAFF WRITER Imagine you’re a couple years from graduating post-secondary and frustrated with the system. It’s late. You work a lot. You study a lot.

In need of a space to vent, you turn to Twitter. Then you shut off your phone, and go to bed.

The next day, a nationally renowned and celebrated author retweets you. And then a trailblazer, an award winner, a social changer.

Wait a minute — is that social changer you?

Fiqir Worku sat across from me on a sunlit morning, downtown Kitchener and recounted what it was like to experience that whirlwind of social change first-hand.

“It was a lot,” she said. “It happened basically overnight and I wasn’t expecting any of that.”

Worku, who graduated from the University of Waterloo two years ago, worked as a research assistant in addition to being the vice president of the Black Association for Student Expression at the University of Waterloo, otherwise known as UWBASE. The group was trying to do more.

“We only received $75 a semester [for funding], and didn’t even have

offices to work out of, while Black student groups at other universities had their own space,” Worku said.

UWBASE did what any student group would do: the approached the Equity Office for more funding. In order to get it, they were tasked with proving the need.

“If I didn’t hold the role of Vice President of BASE I wouldn’t have known that the University increased policing for events thrown by BASE than for others of a similar nature. I wouldn’t have seen those numbers … it really opened my eyes. But it wasn’t any one staff member … It was systemic,” Worku said.

“We were feeling discouraged.”

It seemed like an impossible challenge, so she sent out a stream of tweets, venting. When she woke up the next day, she found herself supported by a crowd of celebrated Black peers.

Worku graduated this past spring with a health studies degree, a health research specialization and a minor in philosophy from the University of Waterloo. But that wasn’t her only accomplishment.

With the support of her peers, Worku was instrumental in the creation of RAISE: the Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity centre providing UW students with a forum to address incidents of racism and discrimination on campus.

For her work, she was named as one of three winners of the Lincoln M. Alexander Award, a prestigious

Fiqir Worku created RAISE: the Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity centre providing UW students with a forum to address incidents of racism and discrimination on campus.

NICK STANEY PHOTO addition to an incredible finish.

So the question I wanted to ask was: what is she going to do next?

A common, pressure cooker of a question posed to post grads in Waterloo Region.

“I work in MPP Catherine Fife’s office,” she said, with a smile.

But that’s not all. Like every social changer, Worku is continuing to

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remind people of the challenges systemic racism pose in the every day lives of those living in our community, as well as Canada, as a whole.

She’s currently on the advisory committee for Black Brilliance, she works with the Black Youth Action Project and is a contributor for Sissy Magazine. She’s also working

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towards her masters degree.

“I want to go into Public Health,” she said. “I want to acknowledge how the lived experience of being a person of colour impacts someone’s social determinants of health and their health outcomes.”

Emmanuel United Church in uptown Waterloo has recently created a concert series in order to entertain and encourage the Waterloo community to invest in emerging musicians.

Emmanuel United Church has always been a space for inclusivity; the church made headlines in 2017 when it was vandalized in response to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The concert series is unrelated to the vandalism, but the church continues to thrive in inclusivity and outreach with their new musical programming.

Neal Moogk-Soulis is a full-time stay at home dad, and creator of the concert series.

“For 15 years, I volunteered at the hillside festival in Guelph, which has given me lots of exposure to different styles of music than perhaps music that I was growing up. Back in April, I saw a post online talking about Side Door,” MoogkSoulis said.

Side Door is an online platform created to match artists with venues to host them. The concert series is powered by Side Door — connecting artists with the church. The artist and venue split the profits from the show, with Side Door taking a small cut off the total gross amount.

The concert series will be running multiple months out of the year opposed to running for one day or one weekend, aligning with

Emmanuel United’s moto is “An Inclusive Church with an Outreach focus.”

A variety of musicians and artists can book a show at Emmanuel United Church, as long as it doesn’t interfere with regular worship or church-run events.

The concert series is looking to step away from typical classical or spiritual music, and instead will host a wide range of genres, like singer song writer, folk, pop, rock and country. Between Sept. 21 and Dec. 7, there are 12 different artists and bands booked to perform at the church. The full concert series line up, ticket information and music clips can be found on the Emmanuel United Church Website.

“I have tried to [steer away] from booking musicians and bands that typically Maxwell’s or Starlight would book. These experiences are much louder, which could over power the [space]. [I’m] booking musicians that would compliment the acoustics of the space,” MoogkSoulis said.

The goal of the series is to provide not only a service to community members, but to also help emerging artists play at venues and to expand their following.

“But this is different because it gives an opportunity for artists in this area to book a venue without having to. At the same time, we give opportunity for an affordable music experience,” Moogk-Soulis said.

“I want people to enjoy themselves at a live concert, hearing someone that they may have not been familiar with before they came to the show.

Our role within this project is to bring emerging artists that people may have never heard before to the community [sic].”

13

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

BRIT KOVACS PHOTO

PEDAL QUICKLY TO THESE LOCAL BIKE SHOPS MELISSA BOWMAN CONTRIBUTOR Alright, I have a confession to make.

There are more bikes in my garage than people who live in my home. In fact, it’s about a 2:1 ratio.

And I have a number of friends whose ratio is even higher than that; my neighbour’s garage looks like it could easily be converted into a bike shop in a moment’s notice if needed.

In fact, it has acted as exactly that at times, when my neighbour has encouraged me to bring my bike over for a quick repair.

Of course, not everyone has access

to a neighbour’s garage turned bike shop like I do. Fortunately, we have a number of great local bike shops right in our Region. I would like to highlight some that are close to my heart if you’re looking to get more involved in cycling, or discover somewhere new.

I first moved to this area over 20 years ago to attend the University of Waterloo. I knew I’d be relying a lot on my bike to get around. I soon realized that my old mountain bike from high school that was basically stuck in one gear was not going to be my friend on the hillier roads of Waterloo Region.

McPhail’s, at 98 King St. N in Waterloo, was the first bike shop I was introduced to way back then. I soon learned that McPhail’s actually has been around since 1916! Many of their staff are experienced cyclists, some even compete professionally. In fact, McPhail’s is a sponsor of the Waterloo

Cycling Club which offers members access to a variety of races, rides, and other events. In addition to bikes and accessories, McPhail’s is well-known for its line of hockey skates and gear.

Further down King Street, you’ll find Ziggy’s Cycle and Sport at 417 King St. W in Kitchener. Ziggy’s opened in 1985, having started out in a garage-sized store, likely not much different than my neighbour! Ziggy’s also supports local cyclists by offering a variety of events and sponsoring a number of charitable rides each year. They offer speedy repairs too, guaranteeing a 24-hour or less turn around time (if you book ahead and all parts are available of course). This can come in very handy for those cyclists who rely heavily on their bike for transportation.

A short bike ride away, you’ll find Black Arrow Cycles, at 50 Queen St. S

in downtown Kitchener. Of the three cycle shops I have mentioned, Black Arrow is the ‘baby’ of the bunch, having only opened in 2015.

However, it is owned and operated

by Jesse Robertson, who has a long history and knowledge of both riding and fixing bikes. He was a long-time familiar face at the Working Centre’s Recycle Cycles shop before opening Black Arrow. He also once rode his bike from St. John’s to Vancouver in 43 days!

I appreciate Robertson’s approach with customers, as he always offers you his time to explain what work needs to be done and why, and offers a variety of options to fix it. As someone with little knowledge of bikes, other than the fact that I love riding them, I really appreciate the mini lessons Robertson provides.

He’s also happy to discuss things in

far more detail and at an advanced level, if that’s more your style.

Local bike shops offer a lot of benefits that some larger stores don’t, such as experienced staff with a strong knowledge of local trails and routes.

Local shops are also often deeply connected to the neighbourhood and city they’re in and support local cycling clubs, events, and charitable causes.

Plus, most of the staff tend to be cyclists themselves, so they enjoy simply talking about bikes and take the time to share that information with you.

Though some of the prices in these local shops are higher than big-box stores, the quality of products and service definitely make ‘shopping local’ worthwhile.

REGIONAL RECIPE: FARMERS MARKET PASTA BREEN SPLITT CONTRIBUTOR Autumn is a time of abundance, especially when it comes to fall harvest vegetables. This pasta is an ode to the season, highlighting the lovely Ontario-grown produce we have access to here in Kitchener-Waterloo. With such a variety of nourishing vegetables to choose from, this recipe marries those sentimental cozy fall flavours into one simple, delicious meal.

This recipe was made using squash, leeks, garlic, corn, and baby tomatoes from Thames River Melons, a farm in Blandford-Blenheim, who can also be found at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: 12oz of Spaghetti or Linguine 1 large Delicata squash, (or 2 small), cleaned, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced crosswise into ½ inch-thick half moons

3 leeks, white and light-green parts only, thinly sliced 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 ears of corn 1 cup of Baby Tomatoes, halved Olive Oil Salt, Pepper, Chili Flakes Fresh Sage and Thyme Half a Lemon 2 TBSP plant-based butter 1 cup plant-based milk (I suggest oat milk) 2 cups of reserved pasta water PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Toss Delicata squash in 1 TBSP olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 425 for 15-18 minutes. Flip squash and broil on high for another 8-9 minutes, until crispy on the exterior, and tender on the inside.

3. While squash is cooking, in a large pot of heavily salted water, cook pasta al dente. Reserve about 2 cups of pasta water, prior to draining. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, lightly oil to avoid sticking, and set aside.

4. In the same pot, sauté leeks and crushed garlic in olive oil until opaque

and tender, approx. 5-8 minutes. Add chili flakes, thyme and chopped fresh sage. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut fresh corn off the cob in a downward motion into the pot. Add halved baby tomatoes to pan. Sautee ingredients until tender and incorporated, approx. 4-5 minutes. Lower heat to a simmer.

6. Add al dente pasta to pot with leeks, garlic, corn, tomatoes. Add plant-based butter, olive oil and oat milk. While stirring, add in 1 cup of pasta water, and let contents simmer for 3-4 minutes. Top your pot with a lid, turn off heat, and allow pasta to absorb excess liquid.

7. Once your pasta absorbs liquid, add squash pieces, and stir to incorporate. If a saucier consistency is desired, use leftover pasta water accordingly.

8. Serve hot. Top with salt and pepper to taste. Finish with fresh lemon and breadcrumbs.

BREEN SPLITT PHOTO

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

14

IS GOING ELECTRIC FEASIBLE FOR THE

AVERAGE CANADIAN?

EASY BEING GREEN

STACEY DANCKERT COLUMNIST National Drive Electric Week just passed in late September. As such, there were various meet-ups to help people gain a better understanding of electric cars. Clearly, these types of events are still needed, because if we hope to meet the target of remaining below 1.5 degrees Celsius, we need to make a shift to electric vehicles sooner, rather than later.

I have written about electric cars a couple of times already — largely because it is one of the most important and simplest changes that we can make to decrease our own carbon footprints. There still remains a significant hole in people’s understanding of electric cars and there is a lot of misinformation.

People worry that the change to an EV is big, when in fact, most of the changes actually involve us having to do less, not more!

Since I have been asked the same

questions over and over again about driving and owning an electric car (EV) compared to internal combustion cars (ICE), I’ve included a crib-note version of these commonly asked questions and my answers.

HOW FAR CAN EV’S GO? At this point the range is anywhere from 150km to over 500km before needing a charge.

WHERE DO YOU CHARGE? At home, while I sleep! In fact, I expect to never go to a gas station again. On the odd occasion when I need to travel further, I can go to one of the more than 22,000 public charging stations that are available across North America.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CHARGE? Significantly less than it does for gas. One comparison suggested it would cost about $430 in electricity as compared to $2,200 in gasoline for a year.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE? It can take anywhere from a few minutes to about 40 minutes at the fastest chargers to get you to your destination (6-8 hours if you use

slower chargers). Generally, when and where you would normally stop for a coffee or bathroom break aligns with your charging needs, too.

I HEARD THEY AREN’T ACTUALLY MUCH “GREENER” THAN ICE CARS? By the time an electric car is six months old, it is already seeing the carbon gains compared to an ICE car. And it doesn’t make a difference where the energy comes from for charging. Even if it uses the dirtiest coal that exists, they are still more efficient than gasoline cars. EV’s convert energy to electricity at a rate of about 14-20 per cent compared to the EV’s 80 per cent.

Is owning a Tesla really that unattainable for the average Canadian?

NIRUPAM SINGH PHOTO BUT THEY ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE, Tesla was found to be less expensive RIGHT? to own.

Even though prices have been dropping, many of the newest EVs are So there is a strong argument to still more expensive than the average consider electric over a gas. What I ICE car (although there are a couple of didn’t mention is that they are also options that are within about $5,000 more enjoyable to drive. You notice of the average cost of an ICE car). the lack of smelly exhaust, they are However, when you look at the cost really reactive and very quiet. I know of ownership, which is dramatically buying a new car is a big decision, but I less for EVs, it is a different story. They hope I have convinced you to consider require no regular maintenance (no an EV the next time you find yourself oil changes, new timing belts or spark car shopping. plugs) and braking is often done by the motor, so even brakes last longer.

Stacey Danckert is co-director Inexpensive ICE cars, such as the of Waterloo Region Environment Toyota Camry and the Ford Focus Network (WREN). have been compared to the Tesla Model Three, and over three years, the

THE COMMUNITY EDITION TURNED EIGHT THIS MONTH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! & THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED, READ, ADVERTISED, AND SUPPORTED US ALONG THE WAY

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

14

EVENT LISTINGS

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

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

CRAFTOBERFEST TWB CO-OPERATIVE BREWING

APOLLOWEEN: GHOSTBUSTERS

APOLLO CINEMA

MOONSHINE CO.

Don’t simply stein there, fill your online basket with tickets to this Craftoberfest hosted by our pals over at TWB. They’re going back to their roots and putting up their very own festhallen filled to the brim with craft beer, local food, music and a focus on our community.

There will be two different sessions.

Does Bill Murray fulfill your orange jumpsuit fantasty? Do you have an affinity for high-tech battles with the supernatural? Do you lie awake at night hoping you’ll stumble upon a gateway to another dimension and release evil into KW? Then go celebrate the 35th anniversary of Ghostbusters with Apollo Cinemas.

Are you the Spencer Pratt of your neighborhood? Are crystals and high vibes in your repertoire? Then a night full of witches and wellness will be right up your broomstick.

You’ll be able to get a first glimpse at their handpainted, up-cycled jackets, crystal malas, essential oil potions and even flash tattoos.

Festival • $30 • 11am - 10:30pm

Film • $5-12 • 2pm & 6:45pm

Fun • $0-50 • 5 - 10pm

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

KITCHENER MARKETS 150TH ANNIVERSARY

PUNKTOBERFEST FLEA MARKET

WITCH AND WELLNESS NIGHT

NIGHTMARE ON KING ST.

CHAINSAW

RATZ-BECHTEL FUNERAL HOME ALUMNI

With the first dedicated, permanent market structure being built in 1869 and operating in multiple locations, they’re celebrating 150 years of providing fresh produce, Ontario meat and pastries to the Region. You may have to elbow a few community members for a parking spot, but it sure will be worth it.

Have you reached the level of punkrock where your jackets all weigh an additional 5 lbs due to pins and patches? Or the level where you still have concussion symptoms from a moshpit from years ago? Then head to the spookiest edition of their market yet to check out the local vendors and the live music line up.

Bringing the community together for a scream-worthy night, where all proceeds go to Supportive Housing of Waterloo. Put down your pumpkin spiced treats, stock up on fake blood that stains your face and mark your calenders. This centuryold Funeral home will be alive for one remaining night of spooks.

Anniversary • Free • 7am - 2pm

Festival • Free • 3pm - 11am

Fun • $25 • 9pm-1am

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18-27

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

KITCHENER FARMERS MARKET

CAST IRON CHEF

RAINBOW REELS QUEER FILM FEST

SCHNEIDER HAUS HISTORIC SITE

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

HALLOWEEN PAWRADE PAWS EVOLUTION INC.

Scheiner Haus staff, Carolyn Blackstock and Chef Nick Benniger will flick bacon grease, boiled water, and woodfire embers at one another as they battle it out. They’ll prepare a dish with 19th century ingredients using varying historical cooking methods. If you like the Food Network this event is catered to you.

Returning for the 19th year, this queer and trans film festival brings local, national and international film and art that centers the LGBTQ+ community. They will present feature films, documentaries, short films, a comedy night, a zine fair and a QTBIPOC Social. Look to their Facebook event page for more info.

Have you ever wondered what your Alaskan Malamute would look dressed as a hot dog or Spongebob?

Well, dress your pup up and try their paw at winning best costume of the Pawrade. The local good boys (and girls) will prance through uptown and Waterloo Park for an hour walk and return to treats.

Food • $4-15 • 12 - 3pm

Film • PWYC • Multiple Times

Parade • Free • 10am-1pm

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

JOKES AT JANE #7 JANE BOND

LAKYN’S BIRTHDAY EVERYWHERE

HALLOWEEN VIDEO DANCE PARTY MAXWELLS

They’ve made attendees laugh the first six times, so KW’s silliest boy, the event host, Ben McKay must be doing everything right. Their headliner, Kyle Brownrigg, is a Canadian Comedy Award winner along with a long list of other achievements. So head to Jane, grab a beer and laugh til you’re ugly.

It’s our publisher, Lakyn Barton’s birthday! In honour of this glorious day, go get a bang trim and hug a senior cat. To really top off your day, listen to Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” until everyone around you yells at you to shut it off. Even if you don’t know her, it would be cool if you could donate to KWHS today.

Goblin, ghouls, spooks and frights will be present as you floss your way into this video dance party.

Dress as your best Dwight Schrute or the Philedelphia cream cheese angel and bop the night away. Let’s be honest, you can just use your eyeliner to paint whiskers on your cheeks and call it a spectatle.

Humour • $6-10 • 7 - 10:30pm

Birthday • Donations to KW Humane • All Day

Dance • $15 • 7:30pm - 12am

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31

TWB CO-OPERATIVE BREWING

CRAFTOBERFEST BIERBRUNCH

DIY FESTIVAL KITCHENER PUBLIC LIBRARY

HALLOWEEN EVERYWHERE

Make your tastebuds do backflips by heading to TWB for unlimited access to their harvest table, with sweets, breads, fruits aplenty. They even have cured meats, creamy cheeses and smooth spreads. We may be drooling already. Tokens will give you access to hot brunch offerings and a stein of TWB beer.

Now that your afternoons will no longer be filled with drinks on Ethel’s patio or playing Frisbee golf, head to KPL’s DIY Festival to find a new hobby or acquire a new skill.

They’ll be hosting local businesses, guilds, hobbyists and all around talented folks. You can register for a workshop or just drop by to chat.

Fall colours of the world, Pumpkin spice up your life. Every person of the world, pumpkin spice up your life! Shake your bones to the right (if you know that you feel spooky), ghouls to the front (uh, uh), go round. Slam your coffins to the left (if you’re havin’ a good time). Hai, si, ja! Hold tight! Boo boo boo boo boo.

Food • $10-30 • 11am - 2pm

Festival • Free • 1 - 4pm

Fun • Free • All Day

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3

LOKAL FESTIVAL 51 BREITHAUPT ST.

CANADA

GROWING HOPE FARM

This second edition of the LOKAL fest will be an Oktoberfest dinner market showcasing the Region’s small-batch makers and musicians.

All of the live music will be curated by our pals at Good Co. Productions.

So grab your brews and mix your way over to this event with an empty stomach and an open ear.

In case you live under a rock, there’s a damn federal election going on.

Get informed with who is running in your riding, ask questions, read articles, and go vote! It’s your job to show up and cast a well-informed vote — otherwise, all hell might break loose and we all may die.

Extreme? I don’t think so.

There was a moment when I started listings where I began to mourn the loss of goat yoga for the month of October and then while finishing out the last column, I saw it. The event page for Goat Yoga.

Downward ghost your way into November with our small, furry friends and their hooves. Namaste.

Festival • Free • 5-9pm

Mandatory Event • Free • All Day

Yoga • $30 • 1 - 2pm

DEMOCRATIC DUTY DAY: VOTE

COMMUNITYEDITION.CA @THECOMMUNITYED

GOAT YOGA

OCTOBER 2019 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

16

IT’S THE GREAT

PUMPKIN! (IN WATERLOO REGION) treats, it will be hard to choose just one. It’s open every day of October and until Nov. 3.

They also open at night for Fear Farm if you are a lover of all things scary!

MARIANA BILBAO CONTRIBUTOR My favourite season has always been fall. Visiting a pumpkin patch is the best way to make the most of it.

You can go for a walk, get lost in corn mazes and maybe come home with some beautiful pictures.

So put on that cozy scarf and enjoy the crisp fresh air at various pumpkin patches around in and around Waterloo Region.

Please be mindful that most of these places rely on our purchases so bring some cash and support them.

Additionally, pets are usually not welcome to most of the farms.

SNYDER’S FARM 936685 BLENHEIM RD, BRIGHT This is one of my family favourites because there is just so much to do for every age. To visit all the attractions you need to pay a fee but they have free access to the pumpkin patch. The bakery also sells so many delicious

SHANTZ FAMILY FARM 1544 BLEAMS RD, RR#2 PETERSBURG This farm has been in the family for six generations and offers a busy day well spent for the little ones. Every year, they create a one of a kind maze based on current events of the year and it will surprise you. They have some produce available for purchase as well as straw bales and corn stalks for the perfect fall decor of your home.

The farm is open every day until Nov. 1.

with fresh and healthy products.

Open daily until Oct. 31.

HERRLE’S COUNTRY FARM MARKET 1243 ERBS RD, ST AGATHA This is the Region’s hidden gem — one of the best markets you’ll find.

They started in 1964 selling sweet corn, and now they have a lot of variety if you like to purchase local and organic produce.

So stop by, enjoy the views, take some pictures and fill your kitchens

NAUMAN’S FARM 3250 HESSEN STRASSE R.R. #1, ST. CLEMENTS I am still amazed when I think about all the family pumpkin farms in the Region and Nauman’s Farm is no exception. Nauman’s is fully devoted to pumpkins and corn, with various activities that kids will love. Tickets range from $3-9 and you can try their famous corn maze.

MARIANA BILBAO PHOTO There’s also a slingshot where you can throw pumpkins as well as corn cannons!

STROM’S FARM 5089 WELLINGTON RD 32, GUELPH Like many others, this farm started with a family selling sweet corn and over the years has evolved into what it is today — an authentic theme park full of activities for the whole family. I wouldn’t have space here to list you all the great things they sell, so pay them a visit and restock your homes with

fall-themed goodness.

SMELSKI PUMPKIN FARM 1899 LINE 34, SHAKESPEARE, ON I really wanted to include in this list a farm that wasn’t so well known to those who want something different and less mainstream. Here it is! Known for their huge pumpikins, this is the perfect place to go on an adventure in the countryside.

NEW TUNE REVIEW

A REAL BAD EGG

ALBUM: “Serotonin Flush #10301985” by Bad Egg LINK: https://badegg.bandcamp.com/album/serotonin-flush-10301985

7 King Street North, Waterloo 5 Manitou Drive, Kitchener 1585 Victoria Street N., Kitchener

StagShop.com

You know those performances that just stick with you? The kind that leave an everlasting impression across the vast emotional spectrum, from vitriol to pure sonic bliss?

Well, one time I saw Bad Egg at a family-friendly event, Punk Rock Flea Market at Chainsaw to be specific, and all of the children in the room covered their ears and shied away in horror.

To describe the music of the KWbased hardcore punk band as abrasive is an understatement, but it’s also likely a welcomed adjective in the eyes of the band. Their music won’t part the red sea, but it will definitely part the pit once singer Stacie Jones inevitably walks off stage and into the crowd in front of her.

Having dropped an eponymous demo earlier this year, and more recently, an EP titled Serotonin Flush #10301985, Bad Egg are an act that commands attention.

Wherever they play, there is sure to be a sweltering mosh pit in tow, as

they tend bring out the best of the best in all fans of powerviolence and hardcore punk music.

With seven songs coming in at just under seven minutes, Serotonin Flush sees the band staying true to form as their intensity is matched only in transience.

For optimal listening experience, play on a loud volume and don’t skip any tracks.

Catch them on Nov. 9 at Jimmy Jazz in Guelph where they will open up for Cambridge death metal band Disgust.

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