The Community Edition: November 2020

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 9 • NOVEMBER 2020

CELEBRATING LOCAL MAKERS IN NEW DUNDEE PAGE 8-9

WRPS AND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE

BLACK DRONES IN THE HIVE EXHIBITION

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PODCAST IN WR

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NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

IN THIS

ISSUE

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 9

NOVEMBER 2020

THIS ISSUE OF TCE WAS FUELLED BY THE SWEET SOUNDS OF RADIOLAURIER.COM THANK YOU AMELIA, ALYSSA, JESSIE, KURTIS AND THE ENTIRE WLUSP TEAM FOR YOUR CONTINOUS SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION.

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FEATURE 5

WRPS’ EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST BLACK COMMUNITY

EDITOR’S PICK

10 GLODEANE BROWN REVIEWS WR ART SCENE

INSIDE 3 3

IN BRIEF EDITOR’S NOTE

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KWAG PIVOTS DURING COVID-19

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TOASTYTOES HELPS FOLKS IN NEED

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BLACK DRONES IN THE HIVE EXHIBIT

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IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

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THE SIDE HUSTLE: BLOGGER JAMILA KYARI

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HYPERLOCAL TRAVEL: DTK ART WALK

8-9 CELEBRATING WR MAKERS IN NEW DUNDEE 10 OLD GOAT BOOKS CELEBRATE 20 YEARS 11

NEW PODCAST ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

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WPL CREATES THE BUTTON PROJECT

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NEW TUNE REVIEW : NO FUNERAL

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519 SCHMECKS : COOKING OVER OPEN FLAME

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SEXPLANATIONS : CHILDREN AND SOCIAL MEDIA

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TCE HOROSCOPES

14 EVENT LISTINGS 15 RETHINKING YOUR PLATE WITH APPLES 15

NEW FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

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GROWING HOPE FARM

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PATIO EXTENSION UPDATE

COVER BY OLIVIA REID Volume 8, Issue 9 Next issue: Dec. 2, 2020 75 University Ave. W. Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x 3564 THE COMMUNITY EDITION TEAM Editor in Chief Melissa Embury melissa@communityedition.ca Publisher Care Lucas care.lucas@wlusp.com Social Media Coordinator Beth Bowles Staff Writers Rachael MacIntosh Kaitlyn Severin Staff Photographers Jesse Derry Nick Stanley General Inquiries info@communityedition.ca

All advertising inquiries should be directed to Kurtis Rideout at 519-884-0710 x 3560 kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com WLUSP ADMINISTRATION President Aaron Waitson Executive Director Care Lucas Advertising Manager Kurtis Rideout Directors Arshy Mann Emily Crump Jade Hosick Keegan Gingrich Rosalind Horne Victoria Marshall

CONTRIBUTORS Alex Kinsella Alyssa Di Sabatino Amelia Mola-Schmidt Ashley McGuire Dave Klassen Erin Applebee Jessie Skinner Lakyn Barton Mariana Bilbao Olivia Reid Sam Toman Cara Vandermey

COLUMNISTS Jenna Aquino Juanita Metzger Kurtis Rideout Laura McBride Nick Benninger Stacey Jacobs Taylor Devalk

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.

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Pellvetica ‘s Great-Horned Owl mural in DTK. NICK STANLEY PHOTO

EDITOR’S NOTE: BY: MELISSA EMBURY

This month the Community Edition investigated one of the most relevant issues in our community, WRPS’ statistics on the use of excessive force.

We spoke to Black community leaders Selam Debs and NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo about the findings on page 5.

If you haven’t gone yet, Deanna Bowen’s Black Drones in the Hive exhibition at KWAG is a mustsee. Bowen’s interdisciplinary exhibition and photographic manipulation reveal our regional history of systemic racism and the erasure of Black settlements

FIRES AT WALMART TO COST MILLIONS

REVIEW FOR SCHOOL NAMES

DEPORTATION FOR FORMER NAZI

The Ontario fire marshall has estimated that there were three incidents of arson in local Walmarts on the evening of Oct. 20, will cost up to $12 million in repairs. Police said that they were deliberately set in the stores’ toiletry aisles. A Paris man and a male youth are facing numerous charges including arson/disregard for human life and false alarm fire.

The WRDSB has approved a motion to review the names of all regional schools, to examine any potential racist history behind their namesakes. Trustee Kathleen Woodcock told CBC that the move was inspired by calls to action from groups like Black Lives Matter and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Waterloo resident Helmut Oberlander has lost his appeal to the Immigration and Refugee Board. The former language interpreter for Nazi death squads will now find his case moved to a deportation hearing. Oberlander has been a Canadian citizen since 1960. The government deemed his status was provided under “false representation or fraud.”

ABE ERB ACCUSED OF FRAUD

ISAIAH MACNAB INVESTIGATION

BLUE BOX CHANGES COMING

After the owners of Abe Erb Brewing Company announced the closure of their Waterloo eatery in mid-October, it was revealed their Guelph-based landlord Granite Holdings Ontario Ltd. had filed a statement of claim this past May alleging various acts of fraud.

Accusations directed at Abe Erb’s ownership include failing to pay rent and falsifying invoices.

WRPS has offered a $50,000 reward for tips leading to arrests in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Isaiah Macnab.

Macnab was ambushed while sitting at a picnic bench outside a halfway house in downtown Kitchener, on Sept. 18, 2018.

Police are currently looking for at least two suspects. One aged 18 to 25/thin to medium build.

The Ontario Government recently announced plans to modify the province’s long-standing Blue Box recycling program. Changes will allow plastic cups, wraps, foils, trays, bags and single-use items like stir sticks, straws, cutlery and plates. These changes are part of a larger plan to move more responsibility for waste diversion targets onto producers.

FUNDS FOR HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP

LOW VOICES STOP COVID-19 SPREAD

OPP SEARCH FOR MISSING WOMAN

House of Friendship will receive $100,000 in funding for its mental health and addiction counselling services as part of a larger federal push encouraging ongoing mental health initiatives during COVID-19. The money will help support “an additional 100 people who have addiction concerns,” and those in need of food security according to HOF.

Regional doctors have advised local bars and other indoor establishments to lower their levels of ambient noise. Such noise forces patrons and staff to speak louder, thus heightening their risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. The statement comes from Waterloo Public Health Commissioner Dr. HsiuLi Wang, among others.

Missing Waterloo resident Mila Berner, 47, was last seen on Oct. 29, in Kitchener. She is 5’3” tall, about 150 lbs. with dark brown hair. Wearing dark blue jeans and a black long sleeve shirt, black coat, grey Blundstone boots and carrying a burgundy purse — Driving a 2014 Mitsubishi RVR with Ontario plates CBWM848.

Contact police at 519-570-9777.

on page 6.

For the art lovers in our community, the Dundee Arts Collective is helping local makers thrive on page 8-9. If you haven’t already, go on a magical journey exploring DTK on a selfguided walk to see every mural and public art piece with our Hyperlocal traveller on page 7.

We also spoke to Glodeane Brown aka Culture Fancier for her take on the state of our arts and culture scene on page 10. She’s the general manager of Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area (CAFKA), a

blogger, lifestyle ambassador and diplomat for everything cool and creative around town.

For domestic violence awareness month, we spoke to Women’s Crisis Service of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) about their new podcast: She is Your Neighbour which highlights issues of domestic violence in our community on page 11.

We also have a mix of social enterprises this month — ToastyToes handed out thousands of socks to homeless folks and people at risk. Read more on page 5. We looked into what the new

funding from the government for mental health means specifically for racialized folks with the ACWI on page 15. We talked to the Waterloo Public Library about their button project on page 12, and explored Growing Hope Farm’s local, fresh, organic food security initiatives on page 16.

Our columnists have a lot to offer our readers this month with their niche topics.

If you have an idea, a story to be told, or a voice that needs to be heard, reach out to me at melissa@communityedition.ca.

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NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

THERE IS NO GOING BACK TO NORMAL

HOW THE KITCHENER-WATERLOO ART GALLERY IS MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO ADAPT IN A CHANGING WORLD

ALEX KINSELLA CONTRIBUTOR When was the last time you heard someone say “...when we get back to normal?”

In the first months of shutdowns and physical distancing, we all assumed that we would go back to business as usual at some point.

We’re approaching the nine-month mark of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many businesses and organizations have started to look beyond returning to normal — and instead, look at this as an opportunity to rethink and refocus on how they operate.

While music and theatre venues are continuing to struggle due to COVID-19 restrictions, local artists and art galleries are finding new ways to engage with their audiences — both inside and outside of physical spaces.

“This place will not be the same even with [COVID-19] disappearing, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) executive director Shirley Madill said.

“What we discovered was a lot of options. So not only were we changing our strategic thinking in terms of how we’re meeting the audience [and] engaging the audience, but also our methodology

Shirley Madill, executive director of Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery talks about how they’re adapting to change.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO and programming.”

The gallery decided to continue with their scheduled exhibitions during the shutdown. In June, they were able to reopen to the general public with a reduced capacity inside the gallery.

“It really caused us to shift our thinking on how we were going to meet this challenge,” Madill said.

Madill and the gallery team have taken the pandemic as an opportunity to look at how to evolve and continue serving their mission. Going forward, KWAG will use a hybrid model of in-person

and virtual events to engage with audiences in Waterloo Region, across Canada, and around the world.

“Hybrid is the best option,” Madill said. “You’re jumping into that digital realm, and you’re experimenting with that digital realm. So you can actually break ground in that regard, and also reach a broader audience.”

Going digital can be challenging, but KWAG is tackling it by first acknowledging the gaps between inperson and online. Madill referenced an early attempt by tech giant

Microsoft to create a virtual gallery.

“They said, you just need the image. You’ve got a Van Gogh, you got the image. Well, that doesn’t really work. It’s not gonna cut it.” To be successful, Madill said the digital experience has to be engaging and interactive.

KWAG’s purpose goes beyond exhibitions in their gallery space inside Centre In The Square.

Community outreach has been a core part of the gallery’s mission to help share art and art-making with everyone from students to seniors.

The gallery’s approach to a hybrid

model also includes community engagements and working to make sure they’re accessible and interactive.

“You just need the arts more than ever at a time like this.”

The gallery was asked to curate the Downtown Kitchener BIA’s Art Walk that opened last month.

There are over 50 pieces of art spread out around the downtown core, including some impressive installations on the sides of new condo developments.

“It was a really great win-win situation,” Madill said. “Because we were still in lockdown when this request started, and then to go outdoors and do something outdoors. It was really a breath of fresh air to do that.”

Turning lemons into lemonade might be a cliche, but it’s one that resonates well with KWAG’s approach to their mission going forward. Like most of us, pre-COVID times were spent doing our jobs and trying to keep up with deadlines and demands. COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests have given the gallery a chance to look at their methods of curating, collecting, and engaging through art.

“We’re not going to be the same,” Madill said. “Will we go back to normal? No, because we’ve learned too much. There’s so many opportunities that came out of this experience that allowed us to experiment.”

“A wonderfully bizarre black comedy about friendship and betrayal.”- SlashFilm

INDEPENDENT MEDIA HAS NEVER MATTERED MORE.

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EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST BIPOC COMMUNITY AMELIA MOLA-SCHMIDT CONTRIBUTOR In June, over 20,000 Waterloo Region residents took to the streets of downtown Kitchener to demand justice for Black lives.

Simultaneously, more than 5,000 were live-streaming the march from home.

The KW march was in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, crying out for justice and safety for Black and BIPOC community members globally who are heavily patrolled, and in the most extreme cases, murdered at the hands of police.

Protests began after the death of George Floyd, a Black man, was recorded and shared online.

The video, which was captured by 17-year-old Daniella Frazier, shows white police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for a total of eight minutes and fortyfive seconds, all while two officers restrain him and another prevents onlookers from intervening.

While thousands of people marched for justice in the U.S., they were also marching for justice in the region we call home.

Selam Debs, creator of The AntiRacism Course, and owner of Juici Yoga Studios noted that some of the local accomplishments have come out of work done by grassroots organizations, such as the ACB Network, here in the region.

“The pausing of [Student Resource Officer (SRO)] programs in schools, looking at having an inclusivity and diversity anti-racism committee come together for the region,

and now the race-based data that is finally being looked at and communicated.”

This is the first time that the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) has included perceived race in their semi-annual use of force report.

The report indicated that 16 per cent of the use of force incidents happened with members of the Black community. This number is startling considering that the Black community only makes up three per cent of the population.

WRPS’ statistics on the excessive use of force were not surprising at all to many members of the Black community.

“What was startling to me was that other people were startled”, NDP Kitchener Centre MPP, Laura Mae Lindo said.

When asked about the reports and the new race-based data collection, WRPS did not respond to the Community Edition’s request for a statement.

Since July, WRPS officers have been accused of excessive use of force by members of the public on at least two separate occasions.

The first was back in July when a Black man with mental health issues known to the police was aggressively pulled out of his car.

Police approached the incident at Westmount Rd. and Victoria St. with their weapons drawn, as seen in a video that was recorded by community members witnessing it happen.

According to a CBC interview in July with WRPS chief Bryan Larkin, “an external police service and a use of force expert [would] be called in to investigate after a video of an arrest in Waterloo Region surfaced online …”

Another notable instance took

place in early October, after a video of a 15-year-old boy being pinned down by three officers at Fairview Park Mall began circulating online.

According to a statement released by WRPS, the boy spit near an officer, resulting in a three-man takedown.

While footage of both of these incidents makes its way around social media, MPP Lindo said that members of the Black community continue to feel unsafe in the region.

“They don’t feel safe, because they’re over-represented in the criminal justice system. They don’t feel safe because they’re overrepresented in use of force,” MPP Lindo said. “They don’t feel safe, because even when they have said that this is the problem, everybody has said, well, no, you’re lying, you’re a criminal — they’ve criminalized our bodies.”

Selam Debs also noted her concerns about the actions of WRPS police officers in the videos being captured and shared online.

“I have dedicated my life basically to ensuring that my son can move in the world where he can know his value, he can know his worth and understand and have that sense of Black love and pride,” Debs said. “But I am also always fearful. I do worry, he’s tall, he’s Black, he has an afro.

He dresses in the way that most teenagers dress, but I know he’ll be stereotyped.”

These acts have led individuals across Canada and the U.S. to call for new methods of policing and the reallocation of exorbitant police budgets.

In October, WRPS proposed an $8 million increase to their 2021 budget, citing an increase in contractual salaries and facility maintenance.

This call for an increase comes at a time when there is also a call

A protestor calls for changes to policing at the BLM March in Kitchener in June.

MELISSA EMBURY PHOTO to defund $29.3 million and invest those funds into organizations that would increase access to affordable housing, harm reduction services, accessible rehabilitation, conflict resolution services and reintegration services.

Black community organization leaders like Ruth Cameron, the head of The African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) Network, continuously stress the need for WRPS to reallocate some of their resources to community-based initiatives and mental health training — improving safety for Black residents.

While the discussion continues on how to address issues with policing in the U.S. and at home in KitchenerWaterloo, MPP Lindo noted the

toll these kinds of incidents are taking on members of the Black community.

“Do you know what just happened to the community when on the front page of The Record was a 15-yearold child with three officers on him, like physically on him? One was very close to being right on his neck, which we had just seen a Black man die from in the U.S.” MPP Lindo also noted that when cases of excessive force are being investigated, the officer should be suspended.

“They shouldn’t be on the streets if we’re worried that this is what they’re doing.”

TOASTYTOES PIVOTES AMIDST PANDEMIC

Sharon Gilroy-Dreher, ToastyToes founder has adapted to COVID-19 restrictions.

DAVE KLASSEN PHOTO

MELISSA EMBURY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sharon Gilroy-Dreher, the founder of ToastyToes has been providing new socks to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to help keep their feet warm and dry.

The first time Gilroy-Dreher collected socks was in 2013 while still grieving her mother’s passing.

“She used to say ‘when you’re feeling sorry for yourself you should go and do something for somebody else, take your mind off your troubles,’ Gilroy-Dreher said.

She tried to think of a way to

honour her mother, who grew up in the damp cold of Northern Ireland, always had cold feet and loved giving socks to people.

Then, Gilroy-Dreher got an email from Leadership Waterloo Region asking to collect socks for Out of The Cold Foundation.

“I thought, oh my gosh this is perfect,” she said.

ToastyToes was launched, and Gilroy-Dreher started reaching out to friends and family for donations.

Though she had initially hoped for 80 pairs to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday but expected less, she received 452 pairs of socks that year.

The next year in 2014, a friend working in the shelter system asked Gilroy-Dreher if she would be collecting socks again. He explained that people donate clothes when they no longer fit, but people wear

socks until they’re worn out.

“People didn’t donate socks, but it was the number one thing they needed. It’s also not a need that’s easily fixed, because socks are a consumable like food. Folks who are experiencing homelessness are wearing through and consuming socks,” Gilroy-Dreher said.

The same group of family and friends who donated to ToastyToes the first year sent in 1000 socks.

By 2015, Gilroy-Dreher thought she would start asking the public for donations and received 12,389 pairs of socks. In 2016, she received 32,400 pairs, filling almost all of the main floor of her house.

Organizations around the region were coming to her home to pick up what they needed and distribute them to people experiencing homelessness.

“They would walk in the door and I’d say ‘what would you like?’ They’d say ‘I’ll take as many as I can.’ ‘How about we fill your vehicle?’ They’d ask ‘can we do that?’ ‘We can!’”

Gilroy-Dreher said.

In 2019, the City of Kitchener offered ToastyToes space at Stanley Park Community Centre and with over 100 groups collecting donations, they received 40,500 pairs of socks.

Then the pandemic hit, and by June 2020 Gilroy-Dreher thought there was no way she could hold a sock campaign. So she reached out to the

organizations and shelters that they donate the socks to, assessing what was needed.

“Usually, they tell me the socks they get run out by the summer.

When we started to provide 40,000 pairs, that was getting [people experiencing homlessness] through to the early part of the fall, but they needed to replenish.”

Gilroy-Dreher started thinking of solutions to overcome the COVID-19 restrictions, from a public health perspective and decided to propose pivoting to a monetary donation model.

“There was almost a sigh of relief because while they are really grateful for massive donations [of socks], it’s hard to manage logistically. They don’t often have [enough] space.”

“Surprisingly, there’s been an increase in the number of women and kids socks that are asked for, and so we support a bunch of agencies.

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region for women going through their Anti-Human Trafficking Program, House of Friendship, One Roof, and many others.”

After officially setting up the ToastyToes monetary fund, they did something different this year, reaching out to customer-facing businesses, retail and food services.

ToastyToes also connected with Civilian Screen Printing which ran a shop online until midnight on

Halloween, where the proceeds were donated to those in need.

ToastyToes’ campaign for 2020 started mid-October and raised $22,500 in two weeks. This year it runs until December 10 — an extra month longer than previous years.

Gilroy-Dreher also started a coffee campaign, where she urges people to skip their morning coffee and donate the funds.

“Every $2.00 is a pair of socks, and there’s no donation too small. So if you want to skip your coffee one day and donate, you can donate on our fund page, there’s no amount that’s too tiny. If everybody donated one pair of socks, can you imagine how wonderful that would be?”

Gilroy-Dreher describes herself as a sock lady, and often has bags of socks in her car, ready to give out to those in need.

“The joy on their face is unbelievable. Up at Northfield and King, there was somebody up on the corner, I said ‘I don’t have any money but can I give you some socks’ and it was a really rainy miserable day. He just looked at me and said ‘my feet are soaking, thank you so much!’ ... and then he hugged them and put them inside his coat.”

Gilroy-Dreher says she’s amazed at how our community comes together to help people in need: “I make the ask and then I sit back and watch the magic happen.”

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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BLACK DRONES IN THE HIVE MONTREAL ARTIST EXPLORES KW’S RACIST HISTORY IN EXHIBITION AT THE KWAG

MELISSA EMBURY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Award-winning Montreal artist Deanna Bowen weaves ‘a compelling history of race and dispossession’ in the Waterloo Region and beyond in her new exhibition Black Drones in the Hive for the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG).

Crystal Mowry, the senior curator for the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, worked with Bowen on this ambitious new sprawling project — their largest solo exhibition mounted in over 20 years, spanning the entirety of their temporary exhibition spaces.

A distillation of the themes that Bowen has been exploring for 20 years or so, it brings together archival documents, commemorative objects, new sound and video, and selected works from KWAG’s permanent collection with The Group of Seven.

“Through Bowen’s intense scrutiny, Black Drones in the Hive reveals the centuries-long colonial project that entangles Indigenous, Black and European settler histories in this region. Bowen’s work reveals a myriad of ways in which white supremacy has shaped policy and public record,” Mowry said.

At a time when Canada has been confronting a deeply racist history, proof of our past is mounted on each wall of the gallery.

Bowen’s 1911 Anti Creek Negro Petition, is a reproduction of the 233 pages of handwritten signatures of racist Canadians. 15 per cent of Edmonton signed, demanding a ban

on Black settlers immigrating from the United States to Western Canada.

“Deanna’s areas of interest are the petitions, the contracts, the ephemera that’s found in archives, that tell us a story of Canadian history that [is] quite different than the celebratory Group of Seven canon,” Mowry said.

This year is the centennial anniversary of the Group of Seven’s permanent exhibition at KWAG. The gallery officially opened in September 1956 with an exhibition of works by Canadian artist Tom Thomson. Bowen weaves references to the Group of Seven throughout Black Drones in the Hive that are quite different than the celebrated version of the art we were taught growing up.

Combing local archives, KWAG’s Permanent Collection, historical publications, and wartime propaganda, Bowen weaves together narrative threads of labour, migration and militarization — making it clear that the problems of our present-day are deeply rooted in our past.

“She’s not prescriptive about those narratives, or how you get to a sense of meaning but she places various elements together, juxtaposes them and you can intuit some of the connections between them,” Mowry said.

Mowry explained that with the way photography was at the time, many of the historical photographs of Black settlers would have been barely perceptible, look grey and have very little tonal range.

“By inverting the tonalities of the images she’s showing us something that is otherwise hard to see in that original image, and that’s what she’s intending to do.”

Mowry worked with Bowen to try to find noteworthy or curious things historically in local archives and came

across the story of Levi Carroll, who was a local labourer — a Black man who was formerly enslaved, escaped around age 15 to live a free life here in Waterloo. A photograph from the 1800s depicts Carroll and his family in front of the old schoolhouse that now sits in Waterloo Park.

There are also photos and artifacts that uncover various deeper and darker secrets of systematic racism and cruelty in our region. Levi Carroll spent the last of his almost 100 years in a poorhouse called the Waterloo County House of Industry and Refuge.

“As a community, we tend to erase the less affluent narratives,” Mowry said.

Bowen’s work also traces her own familial history within a broader narrative of Black survival in Canada and the United States. This is a powerful exhibition with rare personal accounts from Black settlers’ lived experience.

The Refugee, Narrative of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, is one of the few collections of oral histories taken by people who were living at the time.

Bowen showcases Sophia Pooley’s firsthand account of her life as an enslaved child in New York, and her free life in local Queen’s Bush near Waterloo County — one of the most important areas of settlement for fugitive Black Americans in the early 1900s.

“Deanna is living with the weight of this kind of work, but I think as a curator it’s really important for me to find ways to share that weight, it can’t be borne by the artist alone, especially when the subject matter is so corrosive.”

KWAG exhibition examines Kitchener-Waterloo’s history OLIVIA REID PHOTOS

Kitchener resident Laura McBride talks about the simple joy of safely borrowing items from your neighbours. It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood.

LAURA MCBRIDE PHOTO

A LOVE STORY FOR GARBAGE PICKER’S

IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

LAURA MCBRIDE COLUMNIST There’s no denying it, I like a good deal and love hand-me-downs. I’ve never had a new car and even bought my husband’s wedding ring at a cool little thrift shop in Kensington Market. His ring was plain, silver

and perfect but admittedly a little bit too big.

My husband is thrifty in his own way. He’s a creative, handy type of guy that fixes our cars, built me a shed out of a neighbour’s old deck and welded our garden gate from my old bike.

We live in a neighbourhood that suits that level of thriftiness. It’s the kind of place where people share extra baking, plants and tools, and where more than a few of us have confessed to swiping unloved treasure from the end of a nearby driveway.

Now that so many of us are feeling isolated in our tiny kingdoms,

we’re realizing the benefits of small gestures like waving to a neighbour as they drive by. But have you tried asking your closest neighbours for a favour? Have you ever asked them to keep an extra key, bring in your garbage can, or borrow a tool?

Borrowing is good for your soul, especially as a means to get to know the people who live close by. It’s an easy way to introduce yourself and start a conversation, saves a few unnecessary items from our landfills, and it offers neighbours a chance to know and show kindness.

Community builder types reference the “cup of sugar rule” as an indicator of neighbours who

know each other well enough to ask for small interactions.

One day, as I was dragging a yard waste bag to the end of our driveway, my neighbour called from across the street.

“Hey, Laura do you have plans for those leaves?” ...what did that mean I wondered.

“Our compost needs the nitrogen” she explained, “can we have your leaves?”

I made a sweeping gesture with my hand and told her to take as many bags as she needed, then walked away satisfied with my tremendous generosity.

And that’s it. This story couldn’t

possibly circle back around.

Until a while later, when I got a text from my neighbour: Does this look familiar? she texted me, with a picture of her outstretched hand holding my husband’s Kensington Market wedding band.

It was plain, silver, perfect and almost lost forever in a yard waste bag, but then my neighbour swiped an unloved treasure from the end of a nearby driveway.

Laura McBride is a downtown Kitchener resident, artist and photographer.

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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INSPIRING OTHERS TO LIVE A VIBRANT LIFE

THE SIDE HUSTLE

JENNA AQUINO COLUMNIST Local communications strategist Jamila Kyari authors a compelling fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog which brings a unique African perspective to the local style scene.

Through her articles, social media content, personal style and brand advocacy, Kyari inspires women to live a colourful, vibrant and bold life through African fashion and culture.

“African print fabrics usually have very colourful, vibrant hues. Wearing them really uplifts my mood – I love colour because I feel like our lives should be colourful” said Kyari.

Three years ago, it was Kyari’s fascination with African fashion and the infiltration of African prints globally that motivated her to launch this passion project. Since then, she has turned her blog into a platform that enthusiastically showcases the philosophies behind African fashion.

She also goes out of her way to share the stories behind both local and global fashion designers who are using African textiles and other forms of inspiration from the continent.

“I do a lot of research into the different brands I feature because I want to know who the founders really are, how and why they got started, how they make their clothes, and if they have any connection to Africa themselves,” Kyari said.

“Some brands work with artisans

in African countries to make the products and I like to capture the stories behind those communities as well.”

In addition to her careful research, Kyari was born and raised in Nigeria before coming to Canada over 15 years ago. She brings some of her own cultural background and influences into her work, making her a genuine and trustworthy voice within the African fashion community.

Through commenting on the attention that the Black Lives Matter movement has brought to Blackowned businesses and Black culture, Kyari explained how her work helps to amplify the incredible things that are happening in the Black community.

“People are looking for where to find these authentic African prints, soaps, candles and other cultural artifacts that can help them connect with Black culture in a deep and genuine way, and I think that my blog helps to highlight some of those brands,” Kyari said.

Articulating a warm and inclusive perspective, Kyari shared that she thinks of fashion as a means of expression which can spark conversation, foster connection and create community regardless of where people come from.

“As long as people respect the values and history of where African prints and styles come from, rather than just dressing up as though they’re wearing a costume, I don’t think it’s cultural appropriation. In fact, I want people to feel empowered to use these fabrics in their own personal style because if they’re being embraced, it’s a beautiful thing,” Kyari said.

To that end, Kyari’s blog emphasizes the cultural history and evolution of these materials, educating readers to

give them that deeper understanding.

For example, she shared that the origin of African prints actually dates back to Indonesia and has a very rich history.

It’s because these prints and fabrics have been embraced by Africans over the years that they have been adopted as their own. That said, Kyari explained that there are several textiles indigenous to Africa as well, such as the Adire cloth, which is made by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, and Mudcloth which can be found in Mali.

When it comes to accumulating her own wardrobe, Kyari enjoys thrifting and has even collaborated with local thrift boutiques in Kitchener such as Artisanal Design Co., and Le Prix – two of her personal favourites.

Her striking style involves placing an African twist on the pieces she collects to reflect a sense of what she calls ‘socio-cultural sophistication’.

“I coined that phrase when I was first getting started because it communicates that I want women to know about, and feel empowered by the amazing things that come out of Africa.”

At the root of it all, Kyari’s message is about building capacity and community through empowering others to be their brightest and boldest selves. She places self-love and self-care at the top of her priority list and encourages others to do the same.

“Grooming, taking care of you, and being kind and compassionate to yourself – that’s what looking good should be all about. If you want to dress up and look nice then you must really be intentional and deliberate about how you want to feel.”

Jamila Kyari brings an African twist to her fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog .

ASHLEY MCGUIRE PHOTO

LARGEST OUTDOOR ART GALLERY IN KW Nicole Beno’s colourful road-way mural Market Walk on Eby Street outside the Kitchener Market

HYPERLOCAL TRAVEL

JUANITA METZGER COLUMNIST

Luke Swinson’s Zhashagi mural ( “Blue Heron” in Anishinaabemowin).

NICK STANLEY PHOTOS

There’s an art gallery in downtown Kitchener that’s been around for more than 80 years. This collection of sculpture, murals and statues contains works that were commissioned as early as 1909 and as recently as Oct. 2020. The gallery is open 24/7, every day of the year and there is no admission fee.

If you’re scratching your head, wondering how you could have missed a gallery this significant for so many years, I suggest you think a little more broadly. Look around when you walk down Ontario St. or Queen St. or stroll around the Kitchener Market; I think you’ll find that art, truly, is all around you, hidden in plain sight on building walls, alleys and parking spaces.

In October, downtown Kitchener BIA published its first-ever Field Guide to DTK’s Art Walk, which maps and highlights over 50 diverse works of public art in the downtown

core. Hundreds of people attended the Saturday afternoon launch event on Oct.14, and the first run of 500 printed booklets disappeared that day.

Additionally, a digital version of the guide was downloaded 2200 times.

“It’s the perfect activity during a pandemic,” Stefanie Golling, the Art Walk project manager from the Downtown Kitchener BIA said.

“It was such a beautiful day, people needed to get outside, and they felt safe and comfortable outdoors with lots of space to move around.”

The choose-your-own-adventure style of the Art Walk allows people to see sections bit by bit, over time or gobble it up all at once in a marathon day of creativity. With no prescribed route, visitors can wander at their own pace.

A recent study published in the journal Emotions, older adults who took weekly ‘awe-walks’ where they purposely looked at their surroundings with a fresh perspective, experienced greater joy, positive emotions and stronger feelings of social connection.

I want you to take an ‘awe-walk’ with the Art Walk field guide in hand.

Here’s your assignment. Find a work of art that:

•Suits a Friday afternoon mood.

•Stretches your understanding of art.

•Makes you smile and brings joy.

•Gets you curious about the artist’s personality.

•You could spend an hour looking at.

•Inspires a visit in every season of the year.

•Moves you to dig out a pencil and sketchbook.

•Motivates you to learn more about the artist.

•You could visit 100 times and never tire of.

In essence, the DTK Art Walk is an exercise in looking, noticing and appreciating visual vibrance downtown. Look for the smallest detail. Look for something new. Can you find the oldest work of art? Can you introduce a friend to your new favourite artist?

I spend a lot of time in downtown Kitchener and I find my sense of awe about it has not dulled one bit. I hope it never does.

The Downtown Kitchener BIA expects to print a revised version of the Field Guide sometime in November. Copies will be available at local downtown businesses. The digital version is always available from the downtown Kitchener website and has the most up-to-date information.

CELEBRATING WR MAKERS IN NEW DUNDEE ERIN APPLEBEE CONTRIBUTOR The Dundee Arts Collective gallery and makers market officially opened to the public in early October 2020.

When a dream opportunity presented itself to Jenny Miller and Kate Cox, co-founders of The Dundee Arts Collective, a global pandemic was not going to stand in their way.

The origins of this opportunity began while Miller and Cox were taking pottery classes two years ago with Rosemary Jenkins at Dundee Pottery in the historic Fiederlein building in New Dundee. They built a relationship with Jenkins, who suggested they open a gallery and shop in the space.

“Jenny and I both independently have always dreamed about opening a business like this, with the added piece that it’s a multi-purpose arts space where we run classes and lessons. When Rosemary presented us with this opportunity, we were really excited to see our dream coming to life in this amazing historic building,” Cox said.

Nestled in a growing artistic community in New Dundee, this historic building can trace its history back to 1906 when the building was bought by William Spaetzel.

Spaetzel operated a harness shop and was known for his “pneumatic horse collar” invention. An employee of Spaetzel’s, Albert Fiederlein, married into the family and took

over the harness business until 1946. Fiederlein and his son Robert transitioned the building into cold storage and operated the Red and White Grocery Store there until 1991.

For Miller and Cox, both practicing artists with strong business management backgrounds, opening a business during a pandemic has not been easy. In a time when a lot of other businesses were scaling back and feeling unsure about the future, Miller and Cox saw a need for a business like The Dundee Arts Collective.

“Both Jenny and I were listening to people, and hearing that a lot of people were really digging into their creativity ... people were becoming really passionate about finding ways to expand their skills, outside of being at home,” Cox said.

“People have picked up something that they thought was just a hobby, and then they have realized that it is actually a real passion. I think this space is giving them a place to show and share their work and also encouraging them to take it seriously.”

As a gallery, The Dundee Arts Collective supports the sale of work by local artists with an appreciation of the natural landscape.

“We live in such a beautiful, beautiful part of Canada, and that is really reflected in a lot of artists’ work around here, and that is something that is really important to Jenny and I. You can look around and see that all of the conversation is around nature, the natural world and how we fit in,” Cox said.

As a truly multi-purpose space, The Dundee Arts Collective operates as more than just a gallery, it is a place for exchanging knowledge. Offering

an emerging artist corner in the gallery was something Cox was excited to share.

“With the experiences that Jenny and I have, we are able to coach them, in terms of presentation or how they should be thinking about pricing,” Cox said.

“We work a fair bit with artists helping them to understand their worth. We often think [as artists] this just comes so naturally, and we tend to underprice what we’re doing.”

At The Dundee Arts Collective, there will always be a section for emerging artists. Part of the larger vision of founders will be to engage the artists in the community.

“We have some exciting projects coming up that we would like to invite our artists to participate in.

One of them is [a collection of] takeout projects ...each one is designed by a local artist, so you can come by, grab a take-out project to go,” Cox said.

The Dundee Arts Collective currently has full safety precautions in place, including one-way doors, sanitization procedures and small class sizes.

They are currently opened Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visitors. They are also offering evening workshops, children’s birthdays and bridal party options. Private evening experiences in the gallery happen on Thursdays and Fridays in November and December.

“We are finding ways to help people feel confident and comfortable coming in here ... We’re just very excited to share this space with people.”

OLIVIA REID PHOTOS MIRROR FORM PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP LEFT PHOTO)

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

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THE OLD GOAT’S STILL GOT IT

TWENTY YEARS AFTER OPENING, OLD GOAT BOOKS IN UPTOWN WATERLOO IS STILL GOING STRONG

JESSIE SKINNER CONTRIBUTOR

Old Goat Books has operated in uptown Waterloo since 2001.

DAVE KLASSEN PHOTOS

Michael Loubert has owned and operated Old Goat Books in uptown Waterloo since March of 2001.

“It’s the best job in the world,” he said. “I love books, and I like dealing with people, so it’s a good combination.”

As the store’s 20-year anniversary approaches, Loubert has mixed feelings about its significance: “Sometimes it feels like — has it been 20 years? But then I think about all the things that have happened since then … so it’s a significant chunk [of my life]. Almost a third of my life.”

Loubert began his trade ten years earlier, as an employee of A Second Look bookstore in DTK, under the guidance of founders John Poag and Rosemary Tate.

“One of the things they taught was to be selective about the condition of the books you sell. Many, many years ago you could open a store and stuff it full of [worn out] paperbacks, eke out a living. You can’t really do that anymore.”

While the market for books that look like they were drop-kicked out of a moving vehicle may continue to shrink, Loubert said he is still regularly flooded with potential inventory.

“The vast majority [of inventory] comes right through the front door.

I turn away the bulk of what comes in, I don’t have a market for it. I get

customers who have been in the store more often, sold books to me before, maybe half-dozen regulars who know what they’re doing. It’s always nice to see them come in.”

Loubert’s approach to curating his shelves combines his own preferences with a keen eye for changing tastes. He knows what he likes, and he knows what his customers like as well. This approach has made Old Goat Books both a very welcoming and very personal space.

“It’s not a science. Sometimes I tell people — a book has to speak to me!

I’ve been doing this so long, that I don’t know what it is anymore. I’m too close to it, for one thing. You develop a sense of what’s marketable or what’s not, which will vary from year to year. You develop a sense of what’s cool, what’s interesting, and what’s not.”

When asked to name the most interesting thing he could find while digging through stacks of books, Loubert lit up: “Sure, a first-edition copy of The Hobbit! Worth about $150,000, published back in the 1930s with a print run that was initially really small,” he said.

He further speculated on what he would do in such a circumstance, a hypothetical response that speaks to his thoughtful and pragmatic approach to doing business.

“If somebody came into the store with something worth $2,000 $3,000, I would bring that to their attention. Something [of that value] isn’t even in my market. There’s people in Toronto I could direct them to, failing that I could try to put it up for sale and split [the profits]. I’m not gonna rip somebody off.”

Of course, Old Goat Books is not an island unto itself. Loubert was quick to speak positively of other booksellers in the region, emphasizing how they support one another and contribute to a wider community of literacy.

“Wordsworth Books … Dave and Mandy run a really good shop.

They’re a supplier! When people ask if I’m worried about competition, goodness, no. A lot of my books actually come from [other shops].

It’s good stuff, and they work very hard. There’s Scott Hunter at KW Bookstore, he’s a veteran book … guy.

He runs a really great shop.”

Still sitting comfortably, even unassumingly, at the corner of King St. N and Young St. E, Old Goat Books is within walking distance of Waterloo’s University district, allowing Loubert to keep an eye on what young people are reading and how their attitude toward buying books is particularly unique.

Loubert says that there’s been a surge of interest among younger people in older books, especially older fiction and poetry.

“Enough time has passed that volumes from the 1920s - 30s … people are developing an interest in them. I have a section at the front of the store featuring that stuff. I’m getting a pretty healthy number of younger people, in their 20s, buying those books. They like the material, they like the look [of the books].”

Having weathered the 2008 economic recession and now a pandemic, Old Goat Books and the larger community of booksellers in the region may very well continue to encourage readers young and old for another 20 years.

CULTURE FANCIER REVIEWS THE ART SCENE IN WR SAM TOMAN CONTRIBUTOR Does Waterloo Region have an authentic arts and culture scene?

Glodeane Brown, who you may know as Culture Fancier, doesn’t think we do — yet.

Brown spends a lot of time thinking about this question. The rest of her time she’s more than holding up her end of the cultural bargain.

She’s the general manager of Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area (CAFKA), a blogger, lifestyle ambassador and diplomat for everything cool and creative around town.

She, more than anyone, wants the region to be a well-known cultural destination. But even if she had a magic wand she could wave to transform Waterloo Region into the next San Francisco, Portland, or Austin, she wouldn’t want to.

“Kitchener is always trying to be something else. We’re trying to be the Silicon Valley of the north, or we could be this or that, but it’s never really trying to be just itself,” she said. “I don’t know if that’s a good recipe for trying to grow.”

Brown lives in the heart of the construction boom at King St. and

Victoria Ave., and sees the region growing in at least that regard.

But growing a scene isn’t nearly as simple as building a condo.

“That happens all organically, right,” she said. “You can’t just create a scene. It happens over time, you can’t just be like we’re going to Graffiti Alley or whatever. Honestly, I don’t know who we are. I feel like that’s something that we all have to work on as a region.”

Coming from Brown, that’s an accusation and a call to action.

She isn’t eager to badmouth anyone in the tech industry or dig anyone’s grave by naming names or picking fights. But as someone who is all talk and all action, she’s an unimpeachable authority on who is really carrying water working towards an authentic identity.

“You look at who is celebrated, usually white men in tech. They’re hailed as business leaders, disrupters, innovators. A friend of mine said, ‘this region loves to honour white male mediocrity.’ And it’s funny because I think a lot of the people working in tech are also artists on the side.”

It’s that hidden potential that Brown surfaces, either through the profiles on her website, her social media, and her work at CAFKA. She has stories for days on the personalities that make art in the community, but that’s just gossip.

What about the big picture?

“Having worked here a long time,

this area is very conservative, very white,” she says. “The German settler brand is very strong here,” said Brown.

Brown works with artists from all different backgrounds and identities, so she’s heard the stories, and doesn’t bother justifying why that might be an issue broadly. But for the arts?

“If you feel safe in a place, you’re more comfortable making something that’s a little more subversive or daring. The kind of art that builds a reputation,” she said. “Artists need a base of people interested in their work, if there’s any hate or bigotry it would be hard to stay in a place and create.”

She’s optimistic though. “We’re slowly starting to see people being more open to history beyond or prior to settlement,” she said.

Brown could get into all of the tactics of building a truly vibrant creative culture that looks to the future, but that’s her day job. Big picture things like financial support, more spaces to create and fair rent — things mostly out of her control are what we need to discuss as a community.

“Our city leaders, developers, business people use the arts as a way to attract talent to a place,” Brown said.

“You always hear them talking about things like, ‘a thriving, vibrant arts community.’ The recent downtown beautification — I was

Glodeane Brown discusses the state of the arts in Kitchener-Waterloo.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO part of that through work, so I’m not going to mouth-off about that too much, but where do people think this comes from? Are the artists actually getting the support they need?”

For Brown, the cruellest irony is that when an artist wants their work to be seen by the public for free, it’s then used in thirsty real estate marketing as proof of culture.

“Most of the units are owned by investors from Toronto. They’re purchasing because they know that Kitchener is rapidly gentrifying.

This region is already too expensive to live in,” she said. “I’m almost certain that most of the people doing

this artwork downtown don’t live downtown because it costs too much to live here.”

In the end maybe none of this matters. COVID-19’s true impact on the region and its culture is only just beginning. Empty offices, closed restaurants, and empty investment properties. Maybe something is about to change.

“People from the GTA are probably going to be moving here soon,” Brown said. “So maybe we will be getting that Toronto vibe? Just like everyone wanted, to be like another place.”

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PODCAST EXAMINES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALYSSA DI SABATINO CONTRIBUTOR The issue of domestic violence is complex and is often seen as a personal or private issue. It can be all too easy to turn a blind eye, especially if you’re not the one being affected.

Women’s Crisis Service of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) reports that, on average, they serve 1080 women through their outreach program, shelter 272 women annually, and receive nine calls each day from a woman in crisis.

Launched in the fall of 2019 by WCSWR as a blog series, She is Your Neighbour explores the prevalence of abuse and domestic violence.

“Our aim is to raise awareness around the prevalence of domestic violence and really have our community own this problem, and [we] feel like everyone has a role to play in ending domestic violence,” Jennifer Hutton, CEO of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) said.

With podcasts becoming fairly popular, gaining more interest with the public, this September, the project evolved into a podcast called She Is Your Neighbour, with

new episodes being released every Wednesday for a grand total of nine episodes.

“You can have a different kind of level of impact or power in terms of actually hearing people tell their story and then having somebody interview them. So I just think it’s kind of taking it up a notch, going from the blog series to the podcast series,” Hutton said.

The podcast series features interviews with community members and leaders who have experienced domestic violence, emphasizing the point that those experiencing it could truly be your neighbour.

A variety of topics are covered, from domestic violence and the drug trade, violence against Indigenous women and girls, barriers for transgender youth in need of support, intergenerational trauma, violence against Black women, and more.

“This year we’ve gone a bit deeper and had more conversations around, really the complexities of domestic violence, because it’s very layered and very complex,” Hutton said.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue has become even more intricate and layered. Statistics Canada reported that domestic violence rose by about 30 per cent across the country during the pandemic.

The virality of the pandemic

Lori Campbell, the director of the Indigenous Student Centre at UW, is featured on a recent podcast episode.

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requires friends, families and neighbours to socially distance from one another. This has consequences for the already hidden issue of domestic violence.

“During the start of the pandemic, we actually saw less women reach out to us,” Hutton said Hutton believes this happened because women were being isolated with their abusive partners, leaving them with no safe options to reach

out.

While WCSWR has been tackling the issue of domestic violence against women for many years, Hutton says that they are seeing rates go up rather than down.

“There could be a bunch of reasons for that. Maybe more people are coming forward, and that’s another kind of aim of the project — really to remove the secrecy and the shame that could be associated with

domestic violence.”

Hutton said that many people may have myths and misconceptions about who domestic violence can happen to. The podcast series shows that domestic violence doesn’t only impact a certain population, it can impact anybody.

“I think if people learn more, they will feel a greater ownership of the problem because it’s really a social problem,” Hutton said.

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HELPING TEACHERS SMILE AGAIN RACHAEL MACINTOSH STAFF WRITER With the public health responsibility to cover up at least half of our faces during COVID-19, how can we still express ourselves and communicate with others?

In September, The Waterloo Public Library (WLP) started an initiative to share the smiles of teachers and other essential workers through out the pandemic.

“As a part of what we’re doing in children’s services, we realized that many of the teachers were going back to school and daycares [wearing masks] and normally so much is expressed to kids through smiles and through facial expressions,” Kelly Kipfer, manager of community engagement and children’s services with the Waterloo Public Library, said. “[We realized] that maybe it would be kind of scary for kids with everybody wearing masks.”

The WPL’s solution to this issue is an initiative called The Button Project that allows teachers, and care workers to request a button that they can wear to work while still adhering to COVID-19 guidelines — showing

their smiling face.

COVID-19 has presented lots of challenges for WPL since they are a community space and invite people to come in and use their resources.

“We’ve been adapting and changing and sort of figuring out how we can still share the resources that we have that are for the community with the community. So, I mean, having a button maker and no events to do — it’s an easy transition to being able to mobilize that resource for the community in that way” Kipfer said.

Along with The Button Project, the WPL has several other initiatives to assist the community.

“We have tons of virtual programming that we’ve been doing, and we really want to invite the community to take part in all of that.

All of our programming is free and we’ve done a whole special section that’s on our website for teachers,” Kipfer said.

WPL also launched a new initiative with children’s services where people can complete a web form where they provide details about their kids’ interests, and reading levels so they can curate a package for them to pick up. They are also offering virtual appointment services with their librarians to help match suggestions based on each childs’ needs.

For more details or to request a button, visit their website.

Anjana Kipfer, the manager of marketing and communications at WPL wears her smile on her shirt.

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NEW TUNE REVIEW

NETWORK OF ARTISTS SONG: “Compilation 2” by No Funeral Records LINK: https://nofuneralsound.bandcamp.com/album/compilation-2 Full disclosure, I’m a big No Funeral fan. If you aren’t familiar with the Cambridge label, they have been consistently delivering releases from a wide range of artists as far as Japan (Merzbow) and Maryland (Yume) over the past few years.

One aspect as varied as the geographic locations of affiliated artists is the output of artistic content.

The label’s mandate is to promote “honest+passionate art” designed to “provoke thought+feeling” and you won’t walk away disappointed if you take a quick peel through their catalogue on Bandcamp.

Expect intricate guitar work, some mathy stuff thrown in there, panged and angst-ridden vocal performances and a whole lot of harsh noise sprinkled throughout. Plus, some pretty true-to-form classic screamo tracks for the purists out there.

If you feel like dipping your toes in, “no funeral compilation 2” dropped at the end of Oct. and it shows the label operating at peak performance, with standout tracks by the aforementioned

Yume as well as local-ish duo Paper Hats and the now fully-formed Dead Friend Collective.

Towards the end of the compilation, a System of a Down cover by selfdescribed “Montreal funkviolence party” Dianacrawls arrives seemingly out of nowhere and while it feels very tongue-in-cheek it also seems more relevant now than ever.

This set of 10 tracks is easily one of the strongest and most cohesive releases I have heard all year.

As is usually the case with a No Funeral release, the main thing on display here is a well curated network of passionate, articulate and emotionally varied artists; separated by geography alone and brought together comfortably under the banner of No Funeral Records.

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

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NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

SPARKING UP A MEAT-CUTE

CHEF NICK BENNINGER TALKS ABOUT THE ENJOYMENT OF PREPARING BEEF OVER AND OPEN FLAME

519 SCHMECKS

These burning coals look super cool on our website.

TAYLOR JACKSON PHOTO

NICK BENNINGER COLUMNIST I am often asked my favourite thing to cook, and in a cringe-worthy cliche moment I always say “the last thing out of my kitchen.”

I’ll dance around mushrooms and the satisfaction that comes with cleaning, chopping and sauteing — the sounds of squeaking fungi in a hot pan. I’ll mention the joy of cooking the first asparagus of the year or the tense but satisfying moment of flipping wild-caught whitefish in a pan and realizing I nailed the crispy skin.

Lots of steps in lots of dishes will bring great joy to any chef’s day, but if I’m being honest nothing excites me more than one specific dish.

One dish will always bring me to a moment of peace and tranquillity.

While that may sound fairly mundane and boring, I can tell you my excitement level climbs to levels only comparable to a grizzly bear fishing

for salmon on Canada’s remarkable western coast.

That dish is beef over fire. I’ve been in love with cooking over a wood fire ever since my time as a bagel and pizza cook at a local wood-fired bakery. Anytime I can cook over an open fire, I’m a happy boy.

“

I’VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH COOKING OVER A WOOD FIRE SINCE MY TIME AS A BAGEL AND PIZZA COOK...

”

-NICK BENNINGER, LOCAL CHEF

From the first spark, I am dialled in and my attention is focused like a laser. Working the coals, establishing a plan, creating a cooking surface — everything about cooking over fire is unique and changes on the fly. It is a true return to our roots as human

beings, and it brings out the best of me as a chef.

Add, amazing pastured Canadian beef, dry-aged in our own coolers by our master butcher, and well — it doesn’t get much better than that!

Wood, salt, beef, herbs and garlic for good measure. This recipe will always change a little based on what’s coming out of our garden or foraged from around the campsite, but either way, it’s simple and beautiful in its honesty.

I love anything with integrity. Want to lose me? Try and engage me in something that’s not genuine and true. Nothing is more genuine than the process I put this steak and myself through as a chef. Nothing brings me more pride than sharing a dish like this. Please enjoy it as much as I do, and take inspiration in the simple yet honest things this amazing and young culinary country has to offer!

Go online for the full recipe, tips on how to select the perfect cut, and instructions on how to cook this big salt-crusted steak with garlic, chillies and a few fist fulls of fresh herbs.

Nick Benninger is a local chef and restaurant owner.

SEXPL ANATIONS: “A passionate love story nourished by the salty 3 LITTLE ASSHOLES sea air and the blissful absence of men.” - LA Times CONSENSUAL AND MINDFUL POSTING ONLINE

SEXPLANATIONS

STACEY JACOBS COLUMNIST My dad had a picture of his children on his desk at work. It was a picture of three naked butts. It was myself and my two younger brothers. We were ages five, three and one. My brother even had a ring around his butt from the potty. My dad’s three little assholes as he said!

I did not know this picture was on his desk until I was much older. I went to work with him on a Saturday and saw it. I was horrified! I now think it is hilarious, but as a preteen, my sense of humour had not developed enough to find my naked butt funny, and my dad had not asked if he could put it on his desk.

As I scroll through Instagram and Facebook, even Twitter, I see many pictures of people’s children and I think back to my dad’s picture of his three little assholes. That picture was only seen by a handful of people, they could not screenshot it, and thankfully my face was not in it.

However, if social media had been around at the time, would my naked butt be permanently out there for all to see?

In most of the pictures I see on social media children are fully clothed, however, sometimes they are not. Most of the pictures are only being seen by “friends” or “followers” but how many friends and followers do people have? Do

they even know who they all are?

As a Sexual Health Educator consent has always been at the forefront of my mind, as I know it is for many others, but are people thinking about consent as they post pictures of their children online?

Are they asking their children, or other people’s children, if they can take their picture? Are they asking if they can post their picture? Are they asking what they can say about their picture?

Consent is not only needed for sexual activity, it is a daily practice which must be negotiated in our day to day lives. We must re-evaluate how we think about consent and apply it in more ways.

Many of the pictures I see are of very young children — children too young to give informed consent. And I know that many of the pictures I see of older children were not taken or posted with the child’s consent.

So the question is: should the pictures be on social media at all?

How will these children feel when they are older and look back at themselves posted dozens, hundreds, even thousands of times?

How will you teach your child about consent when consent was not modelled by you?

We can all start by being more mindful of what, and who, we are posting. We can ask children for permission. We can model the behaviour of asking everyone for consent before we take their picture and before we post it.

Building a community of consent will take active engagement by all of its members, and it will be worth it.

Stacey Jacobs is a local sex educator and advocate.

NOV 13 • PRINCESS TWIN • PRINCESSCINEMAS.COM

@COMMUNITYEDITION

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

TCE HOROSCOPES SCORPIO OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 21

Oh Scorpio — it’s been an interesting trip around the sun.

2020 is almost over, and your ability to strategize has helped you navigate through its worst challenges. You’re always so serious, but take some time to celebrate this month by ordering from your favourite local brewery.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 21

You’re tired of spending so much time indoors. The isolation is making you restless. Set aside a day to get outside and hit the Spurline Trail. The taste of freedom will help you feel more like yourself.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19

You’ve been having trouble talking about your feelings lately. Crying through the first two minutes of the This Is Us season premiere is fine, but you’re going to have to open up at some point. Grab some herbal tea uptown and give your friend a shout. Talking things out will help.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18

Your creative juices are flowing this month. Use that to your advantage. With the holidays around the corner, a little DIY can go a long way. Sign up for some of the craft workshops around the region, and tap into a new skill.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20

Blame it on the changing season or all the cheesy movies on TV, but you’re feeling extra romantic this month. Show your affection for the person on your mind by surprising them with an arrangement of flowers and sweets from the Kitchener Market. Love is in the air!

ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 19

It’s great that you’re trying to be less impulsive with your spending, but your expectations for your savings account might be too optimistic. It’s all about balance. Browse local Etsy vendors and treat yourself to something nice.

TAURUS APRIL 20-MAY 20

A challenge at work will leave you feeling swamped this month. Don’t be so stubborn, Taurus. Accept help when others offer it. Thank them with some local coffee.

GEMINI MAY 21-JUNE 20

You’re feeling extra energized these days. Maybe it’s the time change. Whatever the case, you’re looking for some fun this month. Hit St Jacobs, Elora and Cambridge to browse through local shops and get into the winter spirit.

Don’t forget extra marshmallows in your hot chocolate.

CANCER JUNE 21-JULY 22

Your sweet tooth has you craving something special in early November. Indulge with some chocolates from the farmers’ market. It might help fuel that artistic side you’ve been wanting to tap into.

LEO JULY 23-AUGUST 22

Leo, you’re craving a bit of passion in your life this month. We might be in isolation, but you can still plan a special date night with take-out and cocktails. It might be time to take up a new hobby. Try one of this months’ recipes in the Community Edition and spice up your life!

VIRGO AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22

All your hard work is about to pay off. A new opportunity is on the horizon this month. It’s a good time to go thrifting for things to bulk up your wardrobe. You never know when you’ll need to make a great first impression.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22

Lately you’ve been in a funk, Libra. As they say in Monty Python, “always look on the bright side of life.”

Volunteering your time, or money towards a local charity will feel rewarding, and help put things into perspective this month.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CARA VANDERMEY

14

EVENT LISTINGS

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

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20

ANTI-RACIST MOVEMENT EVENT VIRTUAL

ETSY MARKET VIRTUAL

MYSTIC NIGHT MARKET VICTORIA PARK EAST GOLF CLUB

This three hour workshop invites you to openly discuss, listen and learn about your personal responsibility in the anti-racist movement. The event is virtual and will be facilitated by Janice Jo Lee. It’s being hosted by the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion Unit.

Register online in advance.

There’s never been a better time to support local business and artisans.

Etsy Waterloo Region is bringing the Etsy market back (virtually) this year. Spend your weekend browsing through a curated list of local makers and vendors online. Buy something for someone on your list. Then buy a few things for yourself!

Do you believe in magic? You will after your trip to this market, hosted

by Luna Events. Come for a night of magic, tarot readings, oracle readings and holistic shopping. Leave with a better understanding of your future.

Just kidding, it’s 2020. Who knows what will come next? But with 40 vendors, this should be fun!

Workshop • TBD • 1:00pm-4:00pm

Shopping • Free • 6:00pm

Fun • Free • 6:00pm - 11:00pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

ROYAL WOOD WITH THE KWS VIRTUAL

CHRISTMAS SEASON BENJAMIN TREE FARM

DRAG SHOW BINGO SWINE AND VINE

Canadian singer/songwriter Royal Wood will join the KW Symphony to perform some of his greatest hits.

The event will be conducted by Evan Mitchell and will be recorded live at Centre In The Square, and broadcast virtually for you to enjoy in your pajamas at home. You’re welcome.

You’ll feel just like Clark Griswold looking for the perfect tree to chop down. Slap it to the car and hope for the best. Consider it a family bonding experience. It’s not big, it’s just…full. Benjamin’s is open for the Christmas season from now until December 23rd. Just don’t forget your saw.

2020 has been a year. We all need a little Drag Show Bingo in our lives right now. Swine and Vine is hosting the hilarious TroyBoy Entertainment’s Drag night. Bring your bubble and come for a night of drinks, live performances and bingo of course! BYOD (dabber, because COVID-19).

Music • $15-$100 • 8pm - 12:00am

Community• $TBD • 9:00am-8:00pm daily

Fun • $55-$80 • 8:00pm-11:00pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26

MOVEMBER MUSICAL MARATHON LOT42 GLOBAL FLEX CAMPUS

INTRO TO NEEDLE FELTING 9 CEDAR ST, ST JACOBS

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS VIRTUAL

This event has live music. Seriously.

Bob Blue’s presents the 7th Movember Musical Marathon at the Lot 42 Global Flex Campus, with a lengthy performance schedule and cleaning breaks in between sessions.

There will be safety measures in place. But, there will be music! Get your tickets in advance.

Poke around with the art of needle felting at this workshop. See what we did there? Blue Sky Art Studio will teach you how to work with wool to make gingerbread people ornaments, or a pair of gnomes.

Space is limited to 9 people due to COVID-19 restrictions so make sure you sign up soon.

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region is hosting a workshop geared towards survivors of sexual violence. Learn about the impacts of trauma on relationships and healthy communication.

Register online in advance. This workshop will be hosted virtually by UW Counselling.

Music • $15-$90 • 2pm-11pm

Art • $45/person • 1:00pm

information • $TBD • 3:00pm - 4:30pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27

WEDDING PLANNING SUMMIT VIRTUAL

WATERLOO HANDMADE MARKET RIM PARK

RALF BUSCHMEYER QUARTET THE JAZZ ROOM

Do you need $1000 towards your wedding plans? Um…literally every engaged couple does. Join this virtual wedding show and meet industry pros who can help you navigate planning your big day during this super fun time to have a wedding.

Register online as space is limited.

Hey, you—the one reading this right now. There’s a local market going on at RIM Park. You should go and support local. Us WR folks need to stick together. So, grab your wallet and your favourite holiday sweater and make your way to the 4th annual Waterloo Handmade Market, hosted

by ALL Canadian Events.

If you need an excuse to get out of your house(coat), here it is. The Jazz Room presents an evening featuring the compositions of Thelonius Monk with the Ralf Buschmeyer Quartet. So slap on your evening face, then cover it up with a mask and hit the town! You can be fancy for a night!

Information • $5/couple • 10:00am - 2:00pm

Shopping • $4 • 11:00am-4:00pm

Music • TBD • 7:00pm - 10:00pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28

FOGO ISLAND FISH NIGHT SWINE AND VINE

FOODIVORE OPEN HOUSE 153 PARK ST, WATERLOO

BUSINESS CHRISTMAS MARKET 3-100 SHELDON DR, CAMBRIDGE

Hope you’re feeling hungry! Swine and Vine and TWH are planning a five course meal featuring Fogo Island Fish. What better way to get through isolation than to stuff yourself full of delicious food? Space is limited for this event, so book your spot today.

Say goodbye to 2020 with cookies and snacks. The Foodivore Annual Holiday Open House is back, and they’ve added a porch pick up option and longer hours due to COVID-19 restrictions. So, pre-order a bundle of yummy goodness. They even have bruschetta-in-a-jar!

It’s beginning to look nothing like Christmas, but you probably still have a list of gifts to buy. Revive Fitness is hosting their first ever Christmas market with some of Cambridge’s most creative local vendors, live music and giveaways.

Keep a safe distance and it will be merry and bright.

Fun • $80 • 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Community • $30-$45 • 12:00pm - 7:00pm

Shopping • Donated Toy • 10:00am - 6:00pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5

ST JACOBS SPARKLES ST JACOBS VILLAGE

FALL POTTERY SALE BINGEMANS

E-WASTE COLLECTION WATERLOO PARK LN

St. Jacobs Village Shops will stretch their annual St. Jacobs Sparkles event through to Christmas Eve this year.

Grab a hot chocolate and your letters to Santa and stop by to say hi to the big man in his workshop (from a safe distance of course). You can also see the new light displays. You’ll feel just like you’re in a Hallmark movie.

Are you in need of something pretty to cheer you up? The Waterloo Potters Workshop is hosting their fall sale. You can browse through 35 vendors spaced apart at a safe distance of course. Support local artisans and buy something nice for Mom at this two-day event.

The Canadian non-profit Electronic Recycling Association is hosting an event to collect your e-waste as donations. This super smart organization will work to repair and refurbish your waste to donate to charities and other non-profits So, reduce, reuse and recycle!

Shopping • Free • 9:00am - 8:00pm

Art• Free • 11:00am - 8:00pm

Community • Free • 12:00pm - 4:00pm

COMMUNITYEDITION.CA @THECOMMUNITYED

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

15

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES

RETHINKING YOUR PLATE

TAYLOR DEVALK COLUMNIST Fall is my favourite season. I love the vast harvest that comes along with living in Ontario. I crave the warmth and depth of heartier recipes that I have been waiting to cook all summer.

And I LOVE apples.

On any given afternoon, I can be found with a bowl of creamy Full Circle peanut butter, sprinkled with coarse sea salt and a sliced Honeycrisp apple for dipping. It is the most satisfying snack.

My memories of apples include visiting the Orchard Home Farm with my family each year to pick apples — one year even discovering that despite Red Delicious apples looking a little different than the others...they still grew on trees. To this day my parents still, mockingly, tell that story at the dinner table.

After an afternoon of picking, and several months worth of apples, we would head home for my mother to make the tallest, most impressive apple pie I have ever had. She would cram her homemade Crisco crust with more apples than seemed possible, cinnamon, salt, a few pinches of butter and bake it until the smell became so overwhelming we could hardly think.

Aside from pie, apples can become quite a versatile fruit in both savoury and sweet preparations. Apples have a texture somewhat like a potato, with added tartness and sweetness. They can be an excellent addition to soups like celery root, parsnip, potato or squash and the topping to complete a

brassica or bitter greens salad.

Muffins and pancakes can also be perfect vessels for shredded apples if you decrease the amount of other liquids, and allow the natural apple juice to “sweat” out into your batter.

If you enjoy having the occasional (or frequent) alcoholic beverage, many varieties of apples are used in the making of hard cider. I encourage you to try the offerings of Revel Cider, located in Guelph. Owner and operator, Tariq Ahmed, uses apples, pears and a variety of other fruits to create unique, spontaneously fermented ciders and wine hybrids.

Serious Eats contributor, Denise D’silva Sankhé shares a recipe for Apple Sabzi. This recipe is a savoury and delicious use for sweet apples, warm spices and coconut.

Alternatively, a quick Google search for “Oma’s Red Cabbage and Apples’’ will provide you with countless recipes for braised red cabbage -- a household favourite to eat alongside perogies, plant-based sausages, or on its own topped with a handful of fresh dill.

The apples add punchy acidity and tartness This season I have been making a variety of hand pies, which are easier to share with friends during physical distancing season. The sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe adds a necessary tang and salty kick. I have added less substitutions in this recipe, but that does not mean you shouldn’t use your creativity!

APPLE CHEDDAR HAND PIE RECIPE (MAKES 8 POP-TART SIZED PIES) PASTRY 2.5 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and levelled, plus additional for rolling out the dough (experiment with substituting small amounts of whole wheat or rye flour here for added texture and flavour)

½ cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch cubes ½ cup cold, vegetable shortening, cut into ½ inch cubes ¾ cup sharp, old cheddar cheese (I used Millbank Cheese’s 2 year old white cheddar) 2 tsp kosher salt 1.5 tbsp granulated sugar ¼ cup - ½ cup ice water 1 egg, beaten for egg wash 2 tbsp coarse sugar for sprinkling

FILLING 1 cup homemade apple butter (any apple butter will be suitable here) 2 apples, peeled chopped into ½ inch cubes (I used tart Spartan apples) Zest of ½ lemon 1 heaping tbsp white miso (optional but highly recommended) ¼ cup brown sugar (more or less, add to your preference and adjust to suit the apples) ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp clove ¼ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp ground coriander 2 cracks black pepper Pinch of salt Measure flour, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. With a pastry cutter, fork or cold hands, cut butter and shortening into the flour. Work quickly until the mixture takes on a mealy texture. Mix in the cheddar cheese. Then, one tablespoon at a time, add the ice water, working it into the dough only until it comes together and is hydrated. The dough shouldn’t crack, but also should not stick to your hands. Separate pasty into two equal pieces, form into a rectangle, cover in saran wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

Meanwhile, in one bowl mix together apple butter, miso and lemon zest.

In a pot over medium-low heat, add apples and sweat until they begin to release some of their moisture. Then add sugar and spices, mixing well

Taylor’s cute little pop-tart sized apple cheddar hand pies.

TAYLOR DEVALK PHOTO to combine. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the apples are slightly softened and the spices have lost their chalky texture. Mix apples with apple butter/ miso mixture and set aside to cool.

Remove pastry from the fridge. Roll into long rectangles (approx 4 x 20 inches). Trim each rectangle into 8 smaller rectangles, all the same size.

I find using a pizza cutter is helpful here. Place on two sheet pans and put back in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Alternatively, you can use a ring cutter to make a circle or semicircle pies.

Once the filling has cooled to room temperature, remove the pastry from the fridge. Cut two diagonal slits in the centre of 8 of the pastry rectangles.

These will be the tops that allow the steam to vent. Brush along the edges

of one bottom rectangle with egg wash, fill the centre for 1.5 - 2tbsp of apple filling, top with a top pastry and seal with a fork. You can trim the edges of the hand pie here for a more uniform look if you wish.

Repeat these steps for the remainder of the pies. Place back into the fridge for 20 minutes while your oven preheats to 375 degrees F. Alternatively, you can cover the pies overnight and bake them the next day.

To bake, brush the tops of the pies with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are nice and golden!

NEW FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH

KAITLYN SEVERIN STAFF WRITER

KDE Hub at UW will support mental health initiatives with funding.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO

On September 10, the federal government of Canada announced an investment of $11.5 million in funding for mental health and wellness organizations across the country.

In a press conference, Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu mentioned the funding will help promote mental health awareness across the country, as well as tackling systemic challenges and barriers, especially those that are faced by Black Canadians.

The funding will aim to support community-based programs and increase health equity while addressing any underlying determinants of health.

The funds have been distributed through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund, which will receive $6.6 million, and the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, which will receive $4.9 million.

During the press conference, Hajdu also vocalized her concerns about the increasing rate of opioid overdoses and substance and alcohol abuse since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, the Government of Canada funded the “Wellness Together Canada” online portal, which provides digital mental wellness programs and substance use support to Canadians, in response to growing mental health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the beginning of October, the number of suspected overdose deaths in the Waterloo Region reached 68 within the year, according to data released by the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). The total number of opioid deaths has surpassed the number of suspected opioid deaths for the previous two years. 2019 saw 63 suspected deaths, and 2018 saw 61.

However, according to CBC News, the co-ordinator of the Region’s integrated drug strategy said a toxic drug supply could be to blame for the higher number of drug fatalities.

Barb Riley, scientific director of the Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub (KDE Hub), located at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo, is thrilled to hear about the funding. Through the Government of Canada’s Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund (the MHP-IF), the KDE Hub will help support the work of diverse projects focused on supporting mental health promotion among Canadian children and youth.

The KDE Hub engages a diverse range of 20 projects of the MHP-

IF. The MHP-IF — funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada — is a national program that aims to improve mental health for individuals and communities where interventions are delivered, as well as to reduce systemic barriers for population mental health and improve public mental health policy and practices in Canada.

These projects anticipate operations in over 120 locations spanning 11 provinces and territories across Canada and include work with diverse groups such as First Nations, Métis, Inuit, newcomers, refugees, immigrants, and LGBTQ2+.

According to Riley, the investment from the federal government is important for creating mental health incentives for both local and national innovations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think [the federal government] have done a really good job in understanding that you have to learn from these projects, to be able to help make the country a safer, more mentally resilient place into the future,” said Riley.

“Mental health promotion is that protective equipment for people in communities ... We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got conditions for strong mental health in the first place, and that’s what we’re doing.”

NOVEMBER 2020 // COMMUNITYEDITION.CA

16

HOW A PRESTON FARM IS GROWING HOPE IN WR MARIANA BILBAO CONTRIBUTOR

Mmm...jam.

MARIANA BILBAO PHOTOS

The dream of owning a farm brought Sarah Martin-Mills to start her project, Growing Hope Farm, a place of inclusion led by faith that focuses on helping others by bringing the community together.

Every day we hear about new women-led businesses and MartinMills takes it to the roots, literally.

In 2016, she started this farming adventure.

“I wanted to serve the local community as well as the international community,” she said, “so for the local community, we opened opportunities for people who wouldn’t necessarily be [welcome] elsewhere, like women in prison and marginalized youth.”

The farm aims to offer volunteer opportunities to others with barriers to employment as well, offering an environment to learn new skills in the process.

“We had approximately eight groups of people a week ... volunteer and since [COVID-19], we have had

dramatically fewer people come,” she said.

As the owner of a volunteer-run not-for-profit farm that relies on volunteers to help, Martin-Mills had to make sure she would find new ways of giving back to the community during these changing times.

“There is a whole shop section on the website now where you can go and we sell our pork, our chicken and turkey,” said Martin-Mills.

She was able to improve the shopping experience and have people pick up their food after ordering online, making the process faster and easier.

This year has impacted many businesses and Growing Hope Farm was no exception, “...organizations like the school boards don’t want to take risks unless it is absolutely necessary, so it gets harder to get volunteers.”

Volunteering has been a crucial part of Growing Hope Farm since Martin-Mills originally envisioned it.

“We decided that with the farm, all proceeds would go to charity so when people come and volunteer at the farm they know they are also giving back to the community,” she explained.

The urban farm led by Martin-Mills

is conveniently located in Preston, and it became popular for its goats — hosting goat yoga and providing the experience of bottle-feeding baby goats.

In past years visitors were able to come by and pick their own berries — an activity that is not available this year. “[The farm] decided to focus on food production. We’ve actually gotten smaller, not having people over ... but in some sense, we got bigger by adding more diverse livestock,” Martin-Mills said.

“We’re hoping to grow our livestock through the diversity of the meat we can sell.”

The little farm shop also has jam made from the fruits of the farm, as well as honey, maple syrup and garlic.

“If people want to help, they can come and purchase our products and spread the word about the farm,” Martin-Mills said. Guests can also make donations.

“100% of the proceeds [go] to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) a charity that does many different things around the world and helps farmers in their communities,” proving that buying local can have a positive global impact.

LOCAL PATIOS TO STAY OPEN UNTIL JANUARY KAITLYN SEVERIN STAFF WRITER The City of Kitchener has now extended their patio program until at least Jan. 1, 2021 in an effort to support bar and restaurant operators during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The extended patio program allows restaurants and bars in downtown Kitchener to offer food and beverages through temporary outdoor programs and expanded

sidewalk patios.

“This global pandemic has brought on so many new challenges for bar and restaurant owners. Extending the patio season, I hope will give owners options while staying within provincial and regional public health guidelines,” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said in a press release.

“Heated outdoor patios this upcoming winter season, could be a great way to support local businesses while still following public health guidelines.”

Waterloo council has also agreed to extend their outdoor patios and expanded patios in uptown Waterloo to January 2021, meaning businesses can operate until the beginning of sidewalk snow clearing in the area.

The patio extension, made possible by the City of Waterloo’s SOLER (Support Our Local Economic Recovery), will allow local restaurants and bars to serve their customers throughout all seasons.

The city’s SOLER program allows more opportunities for local businesses to utilize areas for commercial and promotional purposes. Currently, 24 SOLER licenses have been issued for 2020, including six patio approvals in uptown Waterloo.

Sidewalk patios licenses in uptown Waterloo were originally set to expire this October, while the SOLER program was set to expire at the end of 2020.

Local patios will stay open into 2021. A lot of things suck right now. This does not.

NICK STANLEY PHOTO

Truly grateful to everyone who voted me Most Active/ Present Politician for 2020.

Humbled by this honour, proud to do this work.

And I promise to put that love right back into the community.

With gratitude, Laura Mae Laura Mae Lindo MPP Kitchener

Constituency Office: Suite 212, 25 Frederick St. Kitchener, ON N2H 6M8  519-579-5460  LLindo-CO@ndp.on.ca