Cord Community Edition: December 2013

The CCE guide to holiday parties with style page 6 THE CORD

St. Jacob's market bounces back and the middle class fights the blues page 3

COMMUNITY Waterloo Region’s independent monthly • Vol 2 Issue 3 • December 6, 2013 • community.thecord.ca

Unravelling Etsy The global craft market is cultivating homegrown consumerism Allison Leonard WLUSP President & Cord Publisher

A

my Walbridge hasn’t had a proper dining room for six years. Reams of fabric and spools of thread now take up the space.

It’s a one-woman factory that exists where the formal table and chairs once sat. Like a tiny assembly line, the subtle stitches, sales and sending of handmade clothing happen rhythmically in the Walbridge’s home.

Walbridge is one of hundreds of thousands of people who sell handmade goods on the popular online retail store Etsy. Built for the discerning consumer — those who won’t settle for a massmarketed sweater — Etsy and other craft-peddling e-commerce sites are quickly changing the landscape of consumerism and corporate labour.

Dubbed ‘craft capitalism’ by academics, the sea of knitted scarfs, engraved lockets and handcarved, wooden iPhone cases inundate the seemingly endless pages of Etsy listings. Church bazaars and small-town craft sales are but fleeting memories for the craft consumer; the intimacy of a handmade item is now available online.

Grant Packard, assistant professor of marketing at Wilfrid Laurier University, said craft culture is not revolutionary, but a reversion to once necessary trade skills, one with added value.

“Etsy creates global access. There are no barriers or entry fee to open up a shop and see if you can have a business,” said Packard. “eBay, Craigslist and Kijiji opened doors for more formal models like Etsy or crowdsourcing where people have become investors.”

Based on Etsy’s research on seller dem0graphics, Walbridge fits Etsy’s standard seller profile: a female under 40 who moved away from the corporate sector to pursue a passion for the

handmade. In Walbridge’s case, her passion is sewing and selling women’s and children’s clothing from her Waterloo home.

“I have always been crafty, I learned to sew from my grandmother when I was young,” she said. “It wasn’t until I had my daughter six-anda-half years ago that I had nap times available and I started sewing in my dining room.”

Walbridge, a former oversees educator, committed to her craft and decided to indefinitely Continued on page 4 >>

• KATE TURNER CORD VISUAL DESIGNER

THE CORD

2 • December 2013

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

COMMUNITY

A message from the editor-in-chief

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

HG Watson CCE editor-in-chief

Volume 2, Issue #3 Next issue: January 8, 2014

Dear readers,

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

Graphic Designer Lena Yang lyang@thecord.ca

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

Photography Manager Ryan Hueglin rhueglin@thecord.ca

News Editor Lauren Ward lward@thecord

Photography Manager Heather Davidson hdavidson@thecord.ca

Urban Exploring Editor Tegan Thuss tthuss@thecord.ca

Copy Editor Erin O’Neil

As many of you know, we recently announced a pledge drive campaign to support the Cord Community Edition.

We here at Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications passionately believe in supporting community news — and now we know you do too. At press time, we have made almost half of our pledge goal of $12,000, thanks to the generosity of community members. We’ve also had local businesses and community leaders reach out to start helping the CCE in any way they can, whether through advertising or sponsorship support.

I was already incredibly touched by the outpouring of support when we were approached by four locals - Hilary Abel, Mandy Brouse, Charlotte Armstrong and Marc Lecompte who had decided that they wanted to throw us a fundraiser!

Their kind gesture has simply reaffirmed that we are on the right track.

CONTRIBUTORS Stacey Jacobs Anya Lomako

Carla Beharry Jessica Dik Bob Egan Dan Herman 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

The Cord Community Edition is the monthly magazine version of the Cord, the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community.

Started in 2012, The Cord 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 Cord Community Edition are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or The Guelph Mercury. All content appearing in The Cord Community Edition bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent.

The Cord Community Edition is created using Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.5 using Adobe Creative Suite 4. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

The Cord Community’s title font is Bebas, an open source font created by Dharma fonts (formerly Flat-it).

The Cord 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.

The Cord Community Edition circulates monthly. Normal circulation is 33,000 and enjoys a readership of over 60,000. Cord Community Edition subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada.

Preamble to The Cord Constitution The Cord Community Edition will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The 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.

The staff of The 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 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 Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on the community of KitchenerWaterloo. Ultimately, The Cord Community Edition will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

The Cord 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 Cord’s contact with the community.

The Cord 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.

We learn how to make the snowflake in our holiday party guide.

• JESSICA DIK CCE CONTRIBUTOR

IN this issue FEATURE Holiday party guide PAGE 6 No need to go out this year — stay in with our guide to throwing a swanky soiree.

NEWs 1 2 3 4

Unravelling Etsy St. Jacob’s bounces back from fire Middle class blues From nerd nite to NASA

URBAN EXPLORING 6 Holiday party guide 8 New pap test guidelines provide relief 8 Pure and Local talks natural remedies ARTS & CULTURE 9 The art of being carded 9 Bob Egan on a year in music 10 What to buy your favourite lit nerd 11 Event listings

The fundraiser they have planned takes place December 7 at Chainsaw from 2 to 5 p.m. If you have empty beer, wine or liquor bottles at home, consider donating them to us.

We’ll also have a CCE table set up with activities, a raffle with some great prizes and banner making thanks to local crafter Agnes Niewiadomski (featured in our holiday party guide, page 7) and In Paper Dreams (who are currently showing their goods at the CARDED exhibit profiled on page 9).

If you can’t make it out, there are other ways to show your support. You can continue to pledge online at community. thecord.ca/pledge.

And if you can’t support us financially, you can help promote us. If you haven’t already, follow us on Twitter (@ cordcommunity) and like us on Facebook (The Cord Community Edition).

Thanks again for all your support.

Letters to the editor RE: “Print Lives,” November 8, 2013 Dear Editor, I’m glad to see that the idea of Little Libraries and neighbourhood book sharing was given another write-up in the latest Community Cord. Thanks for keeping this idea in the public eye!

Our non-profit, volunteer-run project, the Little Libraries of KW, has helped close to 50 people build their own libraries, right here in Waterloo Region. We have affordable kits (custom-made for us by the fine folks at Menno S. Martin Contractor, and with parts from W&W Liquidator) that folks can assemble on their own or at community builds which we organize. The 9th Waterloo Scout Troop will also build anyone a little library in exchange for a donation.

Anyone interested in finding out more about our project can visit our website at LLKW.ca, or join in the discussion on our Facebook group linked from the website.

Thanks again!

Tom Nagy LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

All letters to the editor can be sent to communityeditor@thecord.ca.

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

NEWS St. Jacob’s raises again Locals create fund to help after farmers market fire

The aftermath of the September 2 fire that destroyed Canada’s largest year round farmers market • HEATHER DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHY Manager

lauren ward CCE NEWS editor

I

n the wake of tragedy, a group of Waterloo residents are helping to rebuild one of the area’s landmarks, the St. Jacob’s

Farmers Market.

At around 1:45 a.m. on September 2, fire ripped through the main building at St. Jacob’s, impacting the businesses of approximately 60 vendors who had set up shop at the market.

Those same vendors bore the brunt of the financial damages, which are estimated to be $2.5 million.

“After the fire, and after we got together, we did a survey of the vendors. The logs showed there was about quarter of a million lost,” explained Rosemary Smith, CEO of the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation.

Smith was brought on board to help oversee a fund in order to assist in rebuilding not only the market, but also the community of business owners.

“For this project we are doing it pro-bono,” said Smith. “What we do at the [KWCF] is that we bring organizations together. We are a connector for them. We help build investments and handle funds for charities.”

“There are a lot of vendors who did not have insurance,” she added. “There are some so small that they just did not have insurance, but there are also many who thought they had insurance or thought that they were covered for this by their insurance but actually are not.”

Smith said that, for her and many other locals, St. Jacob’s is more than just a place of business.

“The market is a huge economic driver in

the community. It is a cultural icon and a tourist attraction. It is where people go to meet and socialize.”

The market also employed many people in the community. Immediately following the fire, Abdullah Lawendy, who has been selling middle eastern cuisine at the market for 30 years, told CTV Kitchener: “To have to tell my staff that have worked for me for 15 years that we can no longer keep them on… it’s overwhelming.”

“We have been approached by 35 vendors for help from the fund,” said Dan Herman, who also works with KWCF. “We have an application with strict criteria. We understand that people might feel we should have done this right off the bat and that we have lost some momentum. However, we wanted to do get this right and make sure we were probably organized and able to handle this project properly.”

The KWCF does not fundraise, but rather accepts donations and support from other community fundraising initiatives. “Some [fundraisers] ran independently and we are not sure who, [they are]” explained Herman. “Maxwell’s Music House had a music fundraiser, but we are not sure how much they raised.”

The market-rebuilding fund is now set up so that every dollar donated by the public, three dollars will go into the fund. Two organizations, Mersynergy Charitable and an anonymous corporation in the region, have already put up $75,000 for the match. KWCF is hoping more corporations will come on board to donate and that they will have $250,000 in the fund by December 31. Though the end of December is not a hard deadline, Smith wants to take what they have by this date to distribute out to the vendors.

Other organizations that have been a great help to the cause include KPMG, Home

St. Jacobs is a community of barn raisers'. This is why it was quick for them to go back to business as soon as possible.

Rosemary Smith, CEO K-W Community Foundation

Hardware, and Brady’s Meats and Deli. Though Brady’s was affected by the fire itself, it has still been helping out other vendors. Brady’s ran a fundraiser soon after the incident. “Efforts are small but mean a lot,” said Herman.

Rebuilding the market is just part of the tradition of this small, Mennonite populated town.

“St. Jacobs is a community of ‘barn raisers’,” explained Smith. “This is why it was quick for them to go back to business as soon as possible.

This is going to help to rebuild the market.”

-If you would like to help with the St. Jacob’s Market fund you can check out the website for more information www.kwcf.ca/sjfmvendorrelief

December 2013 •

3

News beat yARREST MADE IN ERIN HOWLETT MURDER One of the biggest stories to rock the Waterloo region was that of the death of 28-yearold Elmira woman Erin Howlett, whose body was found in the Grand River in Kitchener on July 5, 2013.

The murder suspect has been identified as Michael Ball, 22, of Kitchener. Ball was allegedly a friend of Howlett’s and is described by many as a ‘happy guy.’

He is being charged with committing indignity to a body and also faces 34 unrelated charges, including drug and weapon-related offences. yREGION OF WATERLOO BUDGET SLASHED It’s going to be a belttightening budget year for regional council. In order to minimize tax increases to regional citizens, staff and councillors are working to find at least $7.5 million in budget reductions.

Staff recommendations for items to reduce the budget by were presented to council. They were able to find $2.5 million in administrative efficiencies and proposed a variety of cuts to services and programs totalling $5.47 million. The budget constraints, in part, are reflective of short-term increases in debt financing and loss of revenues in waste management. yDEMAND FOR TRANSIT INCREASES Traffic patterns in Uptown Waterloo have recently been evaluated, indicating that the city is on track with its Regional Transportation Master Plan, which aims to increase the share of transportation demand by transit, cycling and walking in the Uptown core. The Region of Waterloo, in partnership with Waterloo Public Transportation Initiative (WPTI) at the University of Waterloo, conducted the study in September 2012, measuring the traffic volume on King Street in Uptown Waterloo.

4 • December 2013

NEws // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

Craft capitalism takes over Continued from cover >>

leave her teaching career.

She’s not alone. Etsy profiles other full-time crafters on their blog, Quit Your Day Job. The romantic ideal of leaving the corporate sector to build a woodworking shop in one’s garage is an important marketing tool for the company.

Sarah Parker, 33, seller of kitschy silver spoons, cutting boards and other home accessories from Richmond, Va. was recently featured on Quit Your Day Job. Parker left the possibility of a career in anesthesiology in hopes of finding more joy in her work.

“I studied nursing and I loved it, but I needed a creative outlet…it didn’t take long before I realized I was getting more pleasure out of crafts than science,” said Parker.

Parker began her pursuit of craft sales when she found a gap in the consumer market.

“I wanted a cake stand that said ‘let them eat cake,’ and despite everywhere on earth I looked, I couldn’t find one,” Parker added. “I thought ‘how hard could this be?’ It was one of the first things I started selling in the shop.”

Parker, however is an exception as are many of the success stories found on the Etsy blog. The remaining sellers, unable to fight through the inundation of online content, often find themselves struggling to make sales.

Skeptics argue that there is an irony to this reversion to pre-factory, individual labour. People leave the corporate sector to quickly start forming

partnerships where a percentage of sales and listing fees are paid out — arguably, what they sought to escape.

Packard disagreed. “It’s simply a democratized market. Any small business needs partners to sell a product; retail stores have a landlord, have utilities. You’re always going to need other individuals or companies to do what you want to do.”

The intangible quality of something homemade undoubtedly adds value to an item. Walbridge argues that the subtle qualities of handcrafted goods linger, even when purchased oversees.

“People want comfort and trust.

They can find this if they are familiar with one shop or a group of shops,” said Walbridge. “Handmade things have love in them regardless of if I made it or someone else.”

Despite the ‘buy local’ mentality oft associated with handmade goods like the ones you find on Etsy, Walbridge notes that many of her sales are international. “Though Canadians really like to buy Canadian, most of my sales are from the U.S.” Etsy cannot solely attribute its success to the inherent goodness of a handmade item. The company employs the clever business tactic of creating regional networks of sellers, to which Etsy sends training personal to help improve the sellers business strategies. For those who cannot attend, Etsy provides tailored information on everything from product photography to keeping up with customer requests.

Sellers, however, don’t seem to find

any irony in moving from the corporate sector to selling craft on a corporate entity.

“I see Etsy as a platform, not an employer,” argued Parker. “I could open a website and put everything up for free but wouldn’t have the listings or traffic I get because of their brand.”

Craft makers take part in capitalism but are not necessarily defined by its characteristics. Mimicking the growth of a large corporation, when sellers on Etsy do well, they view their success as self-made, despite the significant behind the scenes work that the site does for them.

And for consumers concerned about the environment, buying locally or simply supporting a small seller, Etsy gives them the feeling that they can choose the ethics they apply while online shopping.

Anna Beard, 26, of Waterloo does just that.

“On one hand, there aren’t many niche shops in Kitchener-Waterloo so I’m forced to go online to find things I like,” said Beard. “On the other hand, I’d much prefer supporting people who are making things themselves rather than supporting mass production.”

However, the ease of shopping online makes Beard nostalgic for the individual touch of interacting with a salesperson or shop owner.

“There’s something so cold about shopping online, you only interact with the product,” said Beard. “There is still something romantic about going to a store, horrible Christmas music, sales quotas and all.”

Consumer trust, then, lays not in the handmade or in the small seller, but in the ability to interact with another person, even if that person is the farremoved face of a massive corporation.

Etsy supplies this to an extent through open access reviews and the ability to contact a seller, mimicking reputation systems of the corporate world.

Rather than certification partners (like Better Business Bureau) the consumer decides the fate of a seller’s success, penalizing or rewarding through strong reviews as needed.

But the Walbridges of the world, the crafts people buried in the fabric of one-woman, in-home assembly lines find themselves on a proverbial conveyor belt to average sales, average exposure and the same purchasing hesitance provided by any computer screen as individuals choose the mass marketed, whether in store or online.

“I love the creative, the making, but when it comes to business side I fall short,” said Walbridge. “You have to have both sides to be successful on Etsy.”

The differences between countercultural e-commerce and the droning world of corporate production are increasingly as subtle as a hand-sewn stitch.

Community Conversations

Middle class blues: It’s time to talk about income inequality dAn HermAn is the co-founder of the Centre for digital entrepreneurship and economic Performance (deepcentre.com) and a Phd Candidate at the balsillie School of international affairs

While 2013 didn’t see mass protests like those catalyzed by the Occupy movement last year, perhaps this is a sign that our conversation on the economy, and issues related to income and wealth distribution within it, has matured.

The past year has seen significant attention paid, both politically and at the dinner table, to the topic of the middle-class and the growing gap between rich and poor. Such concerns stem largely from the disparity between an economy that has doubled in size over the past 30 years and comparatively small increases in incomes for middle-class Canadians. Stagnant unemployment rates and growing concerns about longer-duration youth unemployment only add to the fire.

In our local region, such concerns are amplified by ongoing restructuring at BlackBerry, the departure of Schneiders Meats, and announcements regarding further closures at local manufacturers such as Knape and Vogt in Kitchener and GSW’s water heater plant in Fergus.

To be sure, such clouds shouldn’t shield us from a good deal of great local news. This includes De- • JennY SUreePromSiLP sire2Learn’s continued success and growth, the emergence of local upstarts such as Miovision (recently named Canada’s second fastest growing tech company by Deloitte) or even the rebirth of the Forsyth Shirt factory in Cambridge, which went from bankruptcy to $1 million in revenue and 60 staff back in action.

However, it’s clear that we’re living through changing economic times. The strong job market that I graduated into a decade ago looked more robust than the one my students today are entering. And over the longer term, this change is even more dramatic. University of Waterloo associate professor Markus Moos’ recent work on the incomes of young Canadians found that they earn less today than their parents did 30 years ago, despite increases in educational attainment.

This shift in economic fortunes, however, is about more than just jobs. The most recent Vital Signs report from the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation sees declines in charitable donations, increasing wait lists for affordable housing and a growing gap between the rich and the poor.

All of which are tied to an economy that increasingly freezes out its lower and middle-income earners.

All this sounds rather depressing, doesn’t it?

But here’s the optimist in me: none of this is unchangeable.

Whether through increased after-tax transfers, increased funding for childcare and social programs, a guaranteed income to spur entrepreneurship or a myriad of funding options for small business, there is no shortage of options on the table to craft a more just society that gives equal priority to economic and social outcomes.

So as we head into 2014, with a strong likelihood of elections at all three (four in KW) levels of government over the next 18 months, let’s not keep quiet about the issues in our communities that keep us up at night. And more importantly, let’s not hold back on sharing our ideas about how to address them.

December 2013 •

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ news

5

From nerd nite to NASA HG Watson CCE editor-in-chief

C

harlotte Armstrong didn’t get tickets to see Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield speak at the University of Waterloo this December.

But don’t feel bad for the Nerd Nite Kitchener organizer — she missed buying tickets because she was at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, watching a shuttle launch into space.

“Most of the places are radio silenced,” she explained, laughing. “I couldn’t even tweet before the launch, it was totally dead.”

Disruptions to cell phone signals aside, going to NASA was an incredible experience for Armstrong, who describes herself on her own Twitter account as a “science fiction super nerd.”

“You can see a launch any time in videos,” she told the CCE from Florida earlier this month. “But you can’t feel the launch like you can when you are there in person. You hear the engines and then the sound comes and the whole earth rumbles like an earthquake.”

Armstrong, who works in science communications, got the opportunity to visit NASA as a special guest through her volunteer work with the Planetary Society, a non-profit organization that promotes space exploration, where she is a regional coordinator. It’s just one of the ways that she’s found an outlet for

her interest in astronomy, which developed at an early age.

“I was doing outreach in grade one,” she said. “I was always asking the teachers if they needed help with their scientific teaching.”

While she’s interested in almost all aspects of science, space holds a special fascination for her. “Everything about space is amazing,” she said.

“When you look up at the stars or you see the International Space Station fly by it gives you this sense of wonder that I just don’t find in any other science.”

Armstrong continues to do outreach today, through her Nerd Nite events where local community members get to do presentations on their favourite nerdy subject – past presentations have included real life ghostbusters as well as people involved in space science – and through a variety of other events like Ada Lovelace Day, which celebrates the contributions of women in science and technology.

She believes getting the opportunity to go to the Kennedy Space Centre is entirely due to being an active volunteer. “When I became a regional coordinator at the Planetary Society it was really a process of me asking and taking the initiative.”

Her dedication to volunteerism has led not only to the opportunity to visit NASA, but also to get to know some of the best and brightest in the scientific community. For instance, Dr. Shohini Ghose, a theoretical

Armstrong outside the launch pad at Kennedy Space Station.

• PHOTO COURTESY CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG

physicist and the director of the Centre for Women in Science at Wilfrid Laurier University, who was recently selected as a TED 2014 fellow, accompanied Armstrong on her trip at Armstrong’s invitation.

The pair, along with their partners, got to rub elbows with NASA scientists and a special guest — Bill Nye the Science Guy. Some might find it intimidating to mix with so many incredibly intelligent people.

But Armstrong found that it was a unique opportunity to learn and see some of her heroes in a different light. She toured the NASA

facility with Nye, who asked as many questions and was as wowed by the sights — including space shuttle Atlantis — as she was.

Having now seen a shuttle go to space, would Armstrong want to take the next step and go up herself?

“I would 100 per cent go to the moon,” she said, though she might pass on the trip to Mars – at least until there’s a way to get back.

To learn more about the Planetary Society, visit planetary.org. You can connect with Armstrong on Twitter - @scifichar - and check out Nerd Nite Kitchener-Waterloo on Facebook .

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

The holiday season is here and there is so much to see and do in this great community ...

Starting on Dec. 6, Rink in the Square will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for free public skating, weather permitting. The public square is always filled with people enjoying the fresh air – it’s wonderful to be able to add some fun winter skating to the mix!

free food (while quantities last), free skating, clowns, face painting, entertainment and more.

This is such a special time of year; families gathering together, old friends meeting again and children basking in the Christmas spirit. We hope you will spend some time with us with winter as well.

Best wishes to you and your family for a safe and memorable holiday season!

Please mark your calendar and join me at my New Year’s Levee on Jan. 12, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at RIM Park. There will be

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 • DEcember 2013

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

URBan Exploring is staying at home this month to Eat remixed turkey din Drink Cocktails When the weather gets chilly, many people turn to heavy ales and hot drinks to warm up. But we don’t think there’s any reason to give up on your cocktail bar. Renée Lees, one of the bartenders at Jane Bond (5 Princess St. W, Waterloo, janebond.ca), showed us how to make drinks that will spice up any holiday party.

White Christmas Cosmo Ice 1 oz vodka ½ oz elder flower liquer ¾ oz white cranberry juice 1 oz pommegranite juice agave syrup Crushed candy canes for the rim Shake over ice and strain

Apple Sidecar 1 oz bourbon ½ oz apricot liquer 2 oz fresh pressed apple syrup ½ oz thyme syrup ½ oz lemon juice Serve on ice

Mulled hot wine 4 oz red wine ½ oz brandy ½ oz apricot brandy Pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger ½ oz honey Simmer in a large pot and serve warm with a fresh orange slice and cinnamon stick

I know what you’re thinking - 13 bloody steps! But really, if you take your time and have fun with this you will end up with a really nice holiday treat that is rare to find. This recipe is great because you can make it well in advance and serve it when you want.

Ingredients • •

1 turkey leg (about 2-3 lbs) 2-3 duck legs (equal the weight of the turkey leg) 4 L pork stock 2 bay leaves 1 tsp whole peppercorns 4 sprigs fresh thyme 5 shallots peeled and diced 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 cup dry white wine 1 tbsp chopped fresh garlic 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp grainy mustard 1 large carrot, peeled and diced

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Shake over ice and strain — serve with coconut shavings Photos by Jessica Dik. Recipies by Renée Lees

Shred the meat off the bones of the duck and turkey legs. Take care to remove any skin, small bones, cartilage, and fatty bits. Shred half the meat fine but keep some nice chunks for texture and a beautiful rustic look.

7

Add to a separate pan the shallots, sage, thyme, parsley, wine, garlic, white wine vinegar, and diced carrots.

Reduce this mixture over medium/ high heat until its liquid is almost all gone. Add this mixture to the shredded meat.

8

Add the grainy mustard and season the mixture with salt and pepper.

9

Prepare your terrine mould by lining it with plastic wrap. Leaving enough wrap to hang from all sides of the terrine mould.

10

Pack the meat mix into a mould of just about any style. This is going to be kind of like making a Jello mould so whatever you have will work just fine.

At this stage you want to pack it firmly but don’t try to hurt it - think a gentle loving massage kind of pressure.

11

Pour the warm broth over the meat allowing it to seep in to the meat. Make sure the meat is totally covered by about 1 cm of broth.

1

Place the turkey and duck legs in a good heavy bottom stock pot with the thyme, bay, and peppercorns. Cover with the pork stock and bring to a simmer.

2

Cook slowly for about three to four hours until meat is falling off the bone.

12

Place the terrine in your fridge and allow to set overnight.

3

Remove the legs and let cool enough to safely handle them.

13

4

Strain the remaining broth into a new sauce pan and discard the solids.

5

Reduce the broth to about one third its original volume. The resulting broth should look really glossy and rich.

Keep this broth slightly warm on your stove top.

The next day remove the terrine from the fridge, invert on to a cutting board and gently remove the mould. Peel off the plastic wrap and serve with crackers or crusty bread, mustard, some good sea salt and a really sharp knife for guests to cut their own ( you’ve done enough work already). And remember, even if it doesn’t slice perfectly it’s still going to be delicious.

the snowflake Ice 1 ½ Malibu rum ¾ oz white cranberry juice ½ oz simple syrup ½ oz lemon juice

6

December 2013 • 7

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ urban exploring

bring you the most stylish holiday party guide in K-W

nner

There is no denying how great turkey is - we eat as much as we can get our paws on when december rolls around. But just because we love it doesn’t mean we can’t try it in a new way. Chef and co-owner of Public Kitchen (295 Lancaster St. W, Kitchener, mpcpublic.com), Ryan Murphy (below), showed us how to make turkey leg and duck terrine, a dish that can be plated beautifully (left), or munched on crackers. For an additional recipie for foie gras and chicken mousse, head to community.thecord.ca.

Decorate Yarn trees We collaborated with local artist and maker Agnes Niewiadomski (left) to create yarns trees, a festive decoration that can be made quickly and cheaply. They look great on the mantlepiece, or as part of a festive centerpiece at dinner.

You’ll need...

• • • • • •

• •

1

Make a cone out of strong paper, like cardstock or several news sheets. Wrap the cone in a plastic bag and tuck the ends into bottom.

2

Mix the glue, cornstarch and water in a bowl. You want the mixture to be just a little watery.

3

Cut off a few feet of yarn and add it to the mixture. You want to evenly coat the yarn with your glue mixture.

4

Start wrapping the yarn around the cone. When you reach the base, you want to make sure to wrap it evenly so that when you take it off the plastic bag, the tree will stand steady. Continue wrapping the yarn until you are happy with how your tree looks.

5

Leave to dry for 24 hours. Once dried, unwrap the end of the plastic bag from the end of the cone and remove the cone. Using a pen or toothpick, poke the yarn free from the plastic bag.

6

Learn more holiday crafts from Niewiadomski this December at workshops she’s hosting at Kwartzlab. For more information, visit facebook.com/ agnesmakes

Photos by Jessica dik.

• KHA VO CCE CONTRiBUTOR

Yarn – any colour 2 bottles of white glue 1 tbsp cornstarch 2 tbsp water A plastic bag Sheet of heavy paper like card stock or several sheets of newspaper Paper to cover work area A bowl

Address: 711 Belmont Ave W, Kitchener, Phone:(519) 571-9559

MAZE RACER $19.99

This handheld, steering-wheel shaped MAZE challenges you to move the small ball through over a metre of colourful 3D maze.

An LCD timer displays your fastest maze time allowing you to compete against yourself or others. Fun for anybody over 5!

LOTTIE DOLLS $19.99

PUPPET PLAYHOUSE THEATRE $69.99

These award winning WHOLESOME FASHION DOLLS for children aged 3 – 9 have a ‘childlike’ body and do not wear makeup, jewelry, or high heels. Their hair is lovely and soft so it doesn’t tangle or knot.

It can be used as both a PUPPET THEATRE and a PLAY TENT! Two children can fit comfortably in this 59 inch high X 48 inch wide theatre.

We also have lots of fun puppets to use for your shows!

8 • DEcember 2013

urban exploring // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

Community Conversations new guidelines for Pap testing allow women a sigh of relief

Pure & local Your monthly guide to living clean in K-W

stACey JACoBs Stacey Jacobs is the Community Sexual health educator at Planned Parenthood Waterloo region,.ppwr.on.ca, and has taught sexuality classes at the University of Waterloo. She has a master of Science from the University of Guelph and is thinking about completing a Phd.

CArlA BeHArry

G

ood news for those of you who dread your yearly pap test — the pap test guidelines in Ontario have recently changed. Cervical screening is now recommended every three years (as opposed to every year) beginning at age 21 for anyone with a cervix who is, or has been, sexually active.

Sexual activity includes anal, oral and vaginal intercourse — as well as digital intercourse (fingering) and sharing of sex toys with a partner of any gender. People with a cervix who have not been sexually active by the age of 21 can delay cervical screening.

A pap test checks for changes on the cells of the cervix. A swab is taken from the cervix and the results of this swab will determine if you have healthy cells (nor mal) or unhealthy cells (abnormal). Getting regular pap tests could save your life, as it can find cervical cancer in its earliest stages and can find abnormal cells that have the potential to turn into cervical cancer.

If detected early, most cases of cervical cancer can be treated.

Cervical cancer is caused by HPV. If you do not have HPV you will not have cervical cancer.

However, there are many types of HPV. The majority of these types or strains do not cause cancer and usually clear on their own without the person ever knowing they had HPV. The reason for the change in guidelines is that cervical cancer in people under the age of 21 is extremely rare. It takes many years for HPV to become cervical cancer in young people, making it unnecessary and costly to test young people at an early age and every year. However, if the results of your pap test are not normal it may be recommended that you have your next pap test sooner than three years.

Pap tests have led to a major decline in cervical cancer and they will continue to, as long as people follow the guidelines. It is also important to remember that a pap test is not testing for STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. These are separate tests that you have to ask your health care provider to order. It is often beneficial to test for these more often than every three years, depending on your sexual behaviour. Even if you are in a monogamous relationship, it cannot hurt to get tested for STIs, but it could hurt you not to. Often STIs show no symptoms, leading us to believe we are healthy. The only way to know for sure is to get tested.

Tips to stay healthy: 1) Get regular pap tests if you have a cervix and are sexually active 2) Get tested for STIs if you are sexually active (even if you are in a monogamous relationship) 3) Use condoms to prevent the spread of STIs

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Carla beharry is a classical homeopath practicing in KitchenerWaterloo. find her at carlabeharryhomeopathy.com

A

re you curious about creating and maintaining your most vibrant and radiating self this holiday season?

Each winter, it is my goal to strengthen my immune system — and to do so in the most natural and chemical-free way possible.

Here are some of my favorite tips to boost vitality through the winter months: A daily botanical immune strengthener I love astragalus. Known as a restorative tonic, astragalus root is a sweet, warming herb. A natural antiviral, astragalus is known to increase energy and stimulate the immune system. I take one teaspoon, three times daily, through the winter months for prevention of colds and flus. a botanical immune-boosting warrior Should a heavy-hitting cold make attempts to battle through my body, I turn to goldenseal — a natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-system enhancer. Goldenseal is a potent herb and can only be taken for one to three weeks. At first sign of infection, take one teaspoon, three times daily. This should not be given to infants or ingested during pregnancy. a soul-warming, immune-boosting tea A spicy ginger tea with fresh lemon, raw honey and goji berries.

Ginger warms the body, is essential for detoxifying bacteria and viruses, and is soothing for the throat & respiratory system. Fresh lemon is filled with the ever-famous vitamin C, helps to alkaline our body, and can decrease mucous production. Raw honey actually has medicinal qualities, and notably acts as a perfect, delicious, antibacterial. Goji berries are a powerful anti-oxidant super-food. Enliven your cells and strengthen your body’s defenses with this magical berry.

To make, add grated fresh ginger root to two cups of spring water, bring to a boil and remove from heat.

Squeeze juice of one full lemon into tea, then add one tablespoon of raw honey and a large organic orange rind. Allow to infuse for ten minutes then strain and add one tablespoon of goji berries.

Enjoy! For extra support, add fresh garlic and cayenne pepper to boiling water. They are an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial super team! nourishing vitamins and minerals While I am a big fan of using the nutrients of whole, organic foods in abundance. Unfortunately we live in a country that is slightly short on sunshine in the winter months. To ensure that I am filling my body with all of the building blocks that it needs for optimal function, I incorporate doses of probiotics and vitamin D into my daily routine. For extra immune support, I turn to vitamin C and zinc.

It is my belief that we all have the potential and ability to heal ourselves. The ideal system of medicine, for me, must be effective without the addition of extra chemicals or toxins. Homeopathic medicines work with your body, rather than against your body - they promote healing, rather than suppressing healing. Homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine and nutrition not only help to alleviate symptoms, but also to enhance the constitutional strength of the body.

December 2013 • 9

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

ARTS & Culture Greeting Art

The art behind card making comes to light

y And then there was one…

Anya lomako CCE Contributor

D

o you hunt for the perfect greeting card or do you grab the first one you see as you shop for groceries? For many, greeting cards are a staple component of birthdays, anniversaries and other congratulatory messages.

These days, e-cards and mass-market monopolists like Hallmark have replaced what used to be a meticulous and tiresome craft. In fact, purchasing greeting cards has become so easy that it’s difficult to imagine they were once made primarily by hand.

Celebrating this nostalgia is just one of the reasons why the Riverside Gallery in Cambridge is hosting CARDED, an exhibit dedicated purely dedicated to the art of card-making.

Launching November 26, the unusual art show has created quite a buzz.

Exhibit curator Esther Shipman believes each piece of CARDED is special. “[Each card is] a little history lesson that encourages you to go out and learn more,” said Shipman.

Collections of simple, oatmeal colouredcards with water colour native Canadian flowers, daintily poised on thick paper, have traveled from the hands of Joanna Close of Halifax to make an appearance at the exhibit.

Out of the 300 submissions considered, just 34 Canadian artists were selected, including Kitchener based paper cutting pros, In Paper Dreams.

Co-founders Danielle Hyde and Jen van Overbeeke put brains and creativity together to make an idea they had in 2011 into an entrepreneurial reality.

Cards from 34 Canadian Artists are on display • ANYA LOMANKO CCE CONTRIBUTOR

While both handle the production side of the business, Danielle takes on more of the technical & accounting aspects and Jen handles the creative design and environmental sustainability requirements.

“I started making cards because it was impossible to find a nice wedding card,” said Overbeeke. “They’re all either ridiculously oldfashioned or ridiculously religious, so I started by paper-cutting all my cards for my friends’ weddings.”

In Paper Dreams compositions include a variety of textiles, glitter, ornate cutout shapes and quirky animals. These features give a unique feel, which makes them stand apart from the more common drug store cards.

Both girls agree that starting out as a local artist is no easy feat, and that having the support of local establishments like Riverside Gallery is key to helping artists take the next step in marketing their craft.

“It’s hard to get out there - it’s hard to get over top of all the noise of all the other people that are doing something. That’s why having the gallery space to show off what you do is so important,” said Hyde.

Despite the challenges of starting a small business, In Paper Dreams is grateful to the city for backing its undertakings.

“Kitchener has been such cool place to start a business,” said Overbeeke, who has felt the support from the community first-hand. “Everyone we know in our art community is super excited for us.”

To meet Jen, Danielle and other designers of CARDED, join the curator for a guided tour of the exhibit on Saturday, December 7, 2014, 2 to 4 p.m.. The event will include tea served in antique teacups and a guided tour

by Shipman. Admission is free, but cash donations to the Self Help Food Bank are encouraged. CARDED exhibit runs from Nov. 26, 2013 until Jan. 12, 2014.

kw music:2013 in review Bob Egan CCE Contributor

2

013 was a dynamic year for the music scene in Kitchener-Waterloo. There was change, uncertainty and setbacks. There was also fortitude, opportunity and progress.

Through it all, we saw both a resilient population of local musicians and a community that continued to value and support them — it was an inspiring year.

Two of the year’s most high profile stories involved thwarted efforts by local music impresarios. First, the legendary Boathouse was closed as its equally legendary manager Kevin Doyle parted ways with his landlord, the City of Kitchener. Second, Paul Maxwell of Maxwell’s Music House in Waterloo was stymied in his attempt to turn Dooley’s Pool Hall into a live music venue.

Hopefully these are temporary setbacks as the City of Kitchener is searching for a new manager/lessee for the Boathouse and Dooley’s

Arts beat

future as a music venue is now before the Ontario Municipal Board.

In spite of these developments, the local music scene continued to flourish in 2013.

Most of the regular Boathouse performers have been welcomed into new venues, with some venues featuring live music for the first time. This speaks well for the resourcefulness of the performers and venue owners in their quest to meet the needs of the local music supporters.

A shift in programming at Centre In The Square came into sharper focus thanks to newly appointed CEO Sandra Bender, with more youth-oriented shows, more comedy and an amazing run of shows by guitar legends like B.B. King, Joe Satriani, Rik Emmitt, and Brian Setzer. World-class programming has found a new stage in downtown Starlight Social Club hit an important milestone, celebrating 10 years of bringing the best national and international touring acts to town.

There was a full calendar of big music festivals this year celebrating big anniversaries – KOI Fest, the Busker Carnival, Jazz Fest and Blues Fest to name a few. It was hard to find a

weekend in the spring or summer that did not have a festival scheduled. In addition, the thoroughly delightful, new-to-the- scene Grand Porch Party entertained a strolling audience with live music from front porches all throughout a downtown Waterloo neighborhood.

Civic support for the arts in general and music in particular was also quite strong in 2013.

The City of Kitchener’s Music Works project which works to support, facilitate and accelerate the local music business cluster, met regularly in pursuit of its goal to foster a vibrant musical culture and community. Creative Enterprise Initiative rolled out a wide array of services to support local artists, everything from mentor programs to grant writing/professional development workshops to group rate insurance plans and even a mobile ticketing service. They are on fire and ready to serve artists from all sectors in the community.

All in all, the two high profile setbacks of 2013 were outweighed by the commitment of the local musicians and their supporters in their quest to make the KW region a vibrant musical community. This bodes quite well for 2014!

Local musician Danny Michel and Ethel’s Lounge owner Glenn Smith have withdrawn their bid for the Victoria Park Boathouse.

This leaves Imbibe Food/ Drink owner Bill MacTavish and KOI Music Festival Founders Curt & Cory Crossman as the sole bidders. As exciting as that may be for MacTavish and the brothers, it does not mean that their bid is a done deal. The bid will need to be approved by an evaluation committee before reaching Kitchener council. A final decision is likely to be made in December.

y Christkindl Market turns 17 German holiday traditions will descend upon Kitchener City Hall from December 5 to 8, for the 17th year in a row. Adapting centuries of practice, the Christkindl market brings together wooden booths and stalls, handmade wares, nutcrackers, German foods, music and dancing. From the lighting of the Victoria Park clock tower and caroling with the Grand Philharmonic Choir to the presentation of donation to the Children’s Wish Foundation, these three days are packed with 70 vendors, 28 entertainers, and plenty of memories to be made.

y Arts awards nominations extended The 26th annual Arts Awards Waterloo Region is in the final stretch of nominations for its 11 categories of achievement. Originally due November 30, the nomination deadline has been extended until December 7. If you have a favourite artist, festival, event, or organizer, throw their hat in the ring by submitting a nomination form at artsawardswaterlooregion.ca/nominate/.

n g

10 • DEcember 2013

ARts & CULTURE // COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA

want more?

community.thecord.ca STARLIGHT • 47 KING ST. N. JANE BOND • 005 PRINCESS ST. STARLIGHTSOCIALCLUB.CA ADV. TICKETS TICKETS ON SALEAT AT:ORANGE ORANGEMONKEY, MONKEY, ENCORE RECORDS & TICKETWEB.CA ENCORE RECORDS AND AT TICKETWEB.CA

AT THE STARLIGHT

JD ERA RICH KIDD DEC 6

with

THE WEBER BROTHERS DEC 13 SZABO & STRONGMAN’S

9th Annual Holiday Show DEC 21 NEW YEAR’S EVE DJ SURREAL DJ 88 DEC 31 WITH AND

JAN 21

SHAD 24 STREET WAILERS

JAN 30

THE TH WITH DADDY LONG LEGS JAN 31

Keon and Me: My Search for the lost soul of the Leafs Dave Bidini $30.00

The New York Times: 36 Hours - 150 weekends in the USA & Canada Barbara Ireland $39.99

Mozipedia: The encyclopedia of Morrissey & The Smiths

Hatching Twitter: A true story of money, power, friendship and betrayal

Simon Goddard $29.95

Nick Bilton $31.00

BASIA BULATMAR 6 AT THE JANE BOND

LINDY DEC 1 CLUB NIGHTS FRESH FADE FRIDAYS GLOBAL WARMING SATURDAYS DJ’s 88, FROYO & VOIDOID • ELECTRO, HIP HOP, DANCE, RETRO, MORE.

Craft Beer World: A guide to over 350 of the finest beers known to man Mark Dredge $29.95

Streets of Afghanistan: Bridging cultures through art

Art & Sole: Contemporary sneaker art & design

Shannon Galpin $46.00

Innercity $19.95

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Ian Doescher $15.95

DJ FLASH & DJ SURREAL • OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP, DANCE, PARTY

Graphic by Anna Beard Arts & Culture editor

December 2013 • 11

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA \\ ARts & CULTURE

listings music

arts

December 6

December 6

Francois Jalbert The Jazz Room, doors at 6:30 p.m., $15

Rotunda Gallery December Exhibition: the Litter-Arti Project by Susan Coolen Kitchener Rotunda Gallery, all month

December 7 Eliana Cuevas The Jazz Room, doors at 6:30 p.m., $20

December 8 World-Class Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon The Jazz Room, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., $20 Billy The Kid with Zook and Boots The L-Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $8

December 7 Reading & Book Signing with “The Memory of Water” Author THE MUSEUM, 12:00 p.m.

KW Poetry Slam Little Bean Coffee Bar, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

December 13

December 13

It’s a Wonderful Life The Registry Theatre, 7:00 p.m., $18 adult

Strummerfest Downtown Kitchener (various locations), tickets via strummerfest.ca

December 14

Rebecca Binnedyk Quintet The Jazz Room, doors at 6:30 p.m., $18 The Weber Brothers Starlight Social Club, 7:00 p.m., $10 adv., 19+

Stitch n’ Kitsch First United Church, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

community

December 14

December 6

Ted Quinlan Trio The Jazz Room, doors at 6:30 p.m., $16

Christkindl Market Kitchener City Hall, Free, December 6-8

December 15 Wellington Winds: Joyeux Noel Knox Presbyterian Church, 3:00 p.m.

KW Community String School Christmas Performance THE MUSEUM, 1:00 p.m.

December 19 Vinyl Café Christmas Show Centre in the Square, 7:00 p.m., tickets via centreinthesquare.com

December 20 Tom Nagy’s Seasonal Quintet The Jazz Room, doors at 6:30 p.m., $15

December 21 Little Match Girl Passion Conrad Grebel University College Chapel, 2:30 p.m., $25 ($15 students) Rob Szabo & Steve Strongman 9th Annual Holiday Show Starlight Social Club, 7:30 p.m., $19 adv, 19+

December 27 Alysha Brilla Sextet The Jazz Room, Doors at 6:30 p.m., $15

December 28 Connor Gains Band The Jazz Room, Doors at 6:30 p.m., $15

December 31 Starlight’s New Years Eve Bash Starlight Social Club, 9:00 p.m., $25 adv, 19+ Big Rude Jake New Years Event The Jazz Room, Doors at 6:30 p.m., $50

Irving Berlin’s: White Christmas St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, November 20 – December 29, tickets via Drayton Entertainment Doon by Lantern Light Waterloo Region Museum, tours at 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., $12 adv.

December 6, 7, 13, 14, & 20

December 7 Bring us your empties, save the Cord Community Edition!

Chainsaw, 2:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m.

La fête de Noël 2013 de l’AFKW Albert McCormick Arena, 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m., $1 + item for the Waterloo Region Food Bank

December 8 Country Christmas Waterloo Region Museum, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

December 8, 15, & 22

december 13 Christmas at the Cambridge Market Cambridge City Hall, 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., December 14 – 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

December 23 Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night Cambridge City Hall, 7:00 p.m.

December 31 Waterloo’s New Year’s Eve Celebration Waterloo Public Square, 6:00 p.m.

To feature your event listing in the Cord Community, email details to culture@thecord.ca

Wishing all WCDSB students, parents and staff a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Anthony Piscitelli

kickstart_QBO_magAD_CCE_5x13_printready.pdf 1 11/26/2013 4:52:56 PM

• December 2013

BOTTLE DRIVE Chainsaw 28 King St North, Saturday, December 7, 2013 2:00pm until 5:00pm BRING US YOUR BEER, WINE & LIQUOR EMPTIES! In return, grab a free coffee, tea or hot chocolate on us!

We return the bottles!

Plus, spend $2 at the event to get a new profile photo in our dazzling photo booth, and maybe buy a few raffle tickets to win great local prizes All Proceeds go CCE Pledge drive

COMMUNITY.THECORD.CA