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190.5 | SUMMER 2021

THEONTARION.COM

PAG E 1 6 – 1 7

P5

Students, faculty raise concerns with U of G’s plans for inperson fall semester

P 10 & 11

Reclaiming History: P 14 John Ware Reclaimed tells the story of the famous Black cowboy from a new perspective

Tips for your first time renting in Guelph

SUMMER 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 3.

Last toast to a difficult and uncertain year

4.

ON the Radar

5.

Students, faculty raise concerns with U of G’s plans for in-person fall semester

6 & 7.

Downtown restaurants get creative amid pandemic turmoil

8.

Local blood supply is ‘healthy and strong’ in spite of pandemic

9.

Guelph Musicfest enters its 15th season

10 & 11. Reclaiming History: John Ware

Reclaimed tells the story of the famous

Black cowboy from a new perspective 12.

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16 & 17 When essential is subjective: CSA bike

centre closed for the past year

ARTS & CULTURE 13.

Godzilla vs. Kong adds an asterisk next to the meaning of dumb

14.

Tips for your first time renting in Guelph

15.

Level up your skills this summer

19.

George Tanaka: Activist and landscape architect

20.

Beginner’s guide to buying a camera

21.

Poem: My Midnight Lover’s Home

22.

How COVID-19 disproportionately affects women

The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph ON, Canada N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca

OFFICE STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Executive Director Aaron Jacklin

Phone 519-824-4120 Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 58267 Accounts: x 53534

Marketing Manager Patrick Sutherland

Shannon Mustard Renee Alkass Chen Chen Kathryn Harvey Dana Share Prabhjot Bains Alyssa Marks Carleigh Cathcart Justin LaGuff Barbara Salsberg Mathews Maeve Hind

Business Coordinator Lorrie Taylor

Circulation Director Salvador Moran

SPORTS & HEALTH 23.

Talk Nerdy to Me: Is it possible to get pregnant using birth control?

24 & 25. Mindful behaviours to improve

mental health 26.

Four cool treats for hot summer days

OPINION 27.

Diary of a Vet Student: Goodbye to Guelph: A final farewell

FUN STUFF 28.

Summer To-Do List

29 & 30. Fun Pages

Cover photo courtesy of the CSA EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Ellyse McGarr Print Editor Taylor Pace Digital Editor Eleni Kopsaftis Staff Reporter Allan Sloan

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Alex Lefebvre Chair of the Board Miguel Mabalay Vice President Finance Anne O’Keefe Vice President Communications Kanza Shams Staff Representative Allan Sloan

PRODUCTION STAFF Multimedia Content Creator Nicolas Buck

DIRECTORS

Graphic Designer Brubey Hu

Tasha Falconer Josh Szweras Taelor Reid

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since The Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Ontarion staff and Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief.

Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2020 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify The Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by Hamilton Web Printing.

THEONTARION.COM

NEWS

6 & 7 | DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS GET CREATIVE

8 | LOCAL BLOOD SUPPLY

3

12 | GUELPH HUMANE SOCIETY

ing them into the U of G Alumni family. In addition, students heard a speech from fellow graduating student Kathryn Vaughan, who reflected on her time in Guelph.

During the event students also voted on a charity fund to donate a portion of the ticket sales to. This year the students voted to donate to the Mental Health and Well-Being Fund, which, according to its website, was established in January 2018 and supports existing and emerging on-campus programs to promote mental health, resiliency and well-being for U of G students.

We kept the tickets at the same price to cover shipping and labor.”

The challenges with Last Toast weren’t the only challenges the CSA faced when planning events this year. CSA President Tyler Poirier told The Ontarion that event planning was a learning curve all year.

“In September, we had no idea how successful events might be. We have learned a lot, and when it comes to events, we felt it necessary to emphasize what students need right now: a break.

Everyone has been on their screens for too long, and we’ve often thought about how we can al-

VP of Student Experience Sara Kuwatly (left) and undergrad speaker Katie Vaughan (right) toast to a challenging year during the 2021 Last Toast event.

CREDIT: CENTRAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Every attendee at the Last Toast event had a champagne flute and congratulatory card shipped to them by the CSA. CREDIT: CENTRAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Last toast to a difficult and uncertain year

Sara Kuwatly, VP of student experience at the CSA, told The Ontarion that while the Last Toast event is usually held in person at the Brass Taps on campus, the current stay-at-home order forced them to change their normal way of doing things.

“Although we had plans to livestream from Brass Taps to maintain some sort of normalcy, the stay-at-home order started on the same day of the event, so we live streamed from our respective homes instead,” Kuwatly said.

Despite staying at home for the event, students still received a “Forever A Gryphon” champagne flute from the CSA to commemorate their time.

CSA and Alumni Affairs hold virtual celebration for the 2021 graduating class

leviate some of the stress students are feeling,” Poirier said.

Poirier also said that they turned to platforms like Twitch to bring more students together in ways that were socially-safe for everyone, and offered give-aways to promote interaction with the student body.

For those about to graduate, Poirier has some words of advice to share:

“What I do want to emphasize is that even though graduates won’t be walking across a stage, take the time to celebrate your journey and create some closure for your undergraduate experience. Get in touch with those friends who were with you throughout your degree (virtually, of course), tell those professors how much you appreciate them, and recognize how much of your own hard work and dedication it took to get you where you are. You did it, and all of us at the CSA are proud of each and every graduating student for powering through this complex last year.”

ALLAN SLOAN

F

or university students, graduation is a time to reflect on all of the years of study, hard work, determination, lack of sleep, and educational breakthroughs one’s experienced. It’s also usually the time to proudly walk across the stage in front of

friends and family and collect your diploma.

This year, however, that won’t be happening. While the students of the University of Guelph will be graduating, they won’t be walking across the stage.

To celebrate students’ time as

undergrads, the Central Student Association (CSA) and Alumni Affairs & Development had to host their annual Last Toast event online this year. During the event, 140 graduating students heard a short speech from Gryphon alumnus Courtney De Caire welcom-

“This year was different because we had to come up with a plan to ship the champagne flutes to students who purchased one,” Kuwatly said. “With the help of different campus partners, mainly Hospitality Services, we were able to ship over 200 champagne flutes to students who purchased them.

Icons by Flaticon

4

SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

THE ONTARION

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DJ Shub* War Club (Shub)

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Give it a try today!

Email volunteer@cfru.ca to learn more.

ISSUE 190. 5 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

5

Students, faculty raise concerns with U of G’s plans for in-person fall semester Due to community concerns over the lack of accommodations for the fall 2021 semester, the Guelph Campus Coalition has created a list of demands for a safe return to campus ELENI KOPSAFTIS

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n March 22, the office of the provost and vice-president (academic) sent a mass email to U of G students detailing the school’s plans to have students back on campus for the fall 2021 semester.

The email referred to “positive developments” with vaccine rollout and the advice of local health officials as main factors that inspired the school’s plans for an in-person semester, and Associate Vice-President (Academic) Cate Dewey told The Ontarion that the university is planning to “respond accordingly if there are capacity limitations to our classrooms and facilities.”

There will also be a “similar number” of distance education courses offered as in the previous fall semester, and some classes will have synchronous or asynchronous remote delivery with the exception of laboratories and seminars which will require students to be on campus. Technological upgrades are being made to some classrooms to facilitate remote access of in-person courses.

But given the amount of students uncomfortable with attending university in-person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Students Association (CSA) and other U of G community members are expressing concern.

According to CSA VP External Horeen Hassan, a CSA meeting with the vice provost of student affairs was held in which students who were uncomfortable attending in-person classes were encouraged to enroll in distance education classes instead.

Dewey confirmed this and encouraged students to return to campus if, when the time comes, the local health unit has deemed

it safe to do so, “to ensure that they have access to all courses in their program.”

According to Hassan, there has been “little to no consultation with any of the unions (students nor workers) on campus.”

In contrast, Dewey told The Ontarion “the Return-to-Campus Planning Committee consists of members across our constituencies, some of whom work with union, student, and employee groups and bring those perspectives to the table.”

Further, Dewey says consultations with the employee groups are currently underway, and undergraduate and graduate student dialogue, such as with the CSA and other student groups, is ongoing.

Despite this, student concerns over in-person class delivery remain, and it’s expected that those who will be most affected will be those with health or accessibility challenges, those who are immunocompromised, and international students who have left the country.

Horeen Hassan is VP external of the Central Students Association (CSA). Amid fall 2021 semester concerns, she and other CSA members are advocating for student and faculty accommodations on campus.

CREDIT: HOREEN HASSAN

Additionally, the email sent out by the university indicated that it would be up to the professor to incorporate online accommodations. For professors, the Office of Teaching and Open Learning and Educational Sup-

The U of G community must be given a clear understanding of what the fall 2021 semester will look like since its members deserve to make informed decisions about their learning environment.

“Some [students] might not be in a financial position to return to Guelph for in-person learning, while others might be in countries that have handled the pandemic much better than Canada has,” said Hassan.

port will be available for support and resources. Dewey states that professors using “new technology” in their classroom will be supported as well, though no specifics to these particular supports were given.

Due to potential accommodation issues, the Guelph Campus Coalition has since created a lobby document outlining U of G students and workers’ concerns regarding the university’s current plans to return to campus.

The document states that the U of G community must be given a clear understanding of what the fall 2021 semester will look like since its members deserve to make informed decisions about their learning environment.

To make the school’s plans more transparent, the document urges U of G to provide a timeline for when decisions will be made, how those decisions will be made, and the “benchmarks” that will have to be met for specific activities to take place.

To further accommodate students and professors, it is also advised that U of G provide smaller classes, hire more instructors and

teacher’s assistants (TAs), and offer technical support on a needs basis to instructors and TAs.

“Safety is a top priority and not everyone is fully confident that things will or can ‘go back to normal’ in the fall,” said Hassan.

“Some students are not comfortable returning to campus in the fall, whether it be due to safety, or accessibility concerns.”

To learn more about the Guelph Campus Coalition’s demands for a safe return to campus this coming fall, consult the lobby document on the CSA’s website.

SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

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THE ONTARION

Crafty Ramen began offering a subscription service for their take-home ramen kits as a way to stay connected to their community. With over 800 subscribers, they’ve been able to create a new avenue of growth during the pandemic and hire on new people.

CREDIT: DILETTANTE HOSPITALITY

Downtown restaurants get creative amid pandemic turmoil With reduced staff and increased food waste, local restaurants offer subscription services and limited menus to keep revenue coming in TAYLOR PACE

I

t has been a crippling year for nearly every industry; especially the restaurant industry.

According to Statistics Canada, full-service restaurants in Canada took an approximate 80 per cent hit at the start of the pandemic and have never truly recovered, now hovering around 50 to 60 per cent of their pre-pandemic revenue.

This has led to many industry shifts, including a focus on outdoor dining and delivery services.

In light of this, the City of Guelph has renewed the extended patio program downtown for the next three years, meaning for the next three summers, patio-goers can expect a repeat of the vibrant patio scene we saw last year.

However, city council reached a compromise for the road closure, deciding to only close the intersection at Wyndham and Macdonell on weekends.

Marty Williams, executive director of the Downtown Guelph

Business Association, explained that while the road closure will only be happening on weekends throughout the summer, the extended patios all over downtown will be in parking spots and drive lanes throughout the week.

So the extended patios will go out onto the road, but will leave enough room, about 23 feet, for one-lane traffic in both directions.

“It’s a very small reduction,” Williams said.

While this was reported to be a controversial decision, in a survey conducted by The Ontarion on Twitter, 80 per cent of respondents were happy with the compromise, as well as all of the restaurant owners and partners we spoke with.

“I like the new hybrid program,” said Court Desautels, group leader and CEO of the Neighbourhood Group of Companies, which owns several restaurants, including Mijiida and The Wooly.

“I think the downtown businesses, especially the restaurants, are able to thrive with the closures, and I enjoyed seeing less cars going downtown, but it does have an impact on some of the other businesses.”

While Statistics Canada reports the average restaurant is hovering around 50 to 60 per cent of their normal sales volumes, Desautels says in the summer it could range from 50 to 80, so he is optimistic about the patio season.

However, during lockdowns, Desautels said revenue can drop to a 90 per cent loss. But even with those losses, expenses remain the same due to utilities and rent, so owners have to come up with that money somehow.

To adapt to these struggles, some restaurants have turned to creative ways of increasing revenue.

For example, Crafty Ramen, like many other local restaurants, had to shift from a primarily dine-in restaurant with around 10

per cent of revenue from takeout, to a 100 per cent takeout model.

“Initially the uncertainty was scary; our restaurant locations, especially our original space in Guelph, have a really warm, welcoming and homey vibe,” said Khalil Khamis, Crafty Ramen partner and CEO.

Icon by Flaticon

“That feeling is a big part of who we are, and it’s really been important to us that we find ways to keep people connected to that.”

They have managed to adapt well by offering takeout, at-home ramen kits, as well as ramen subscription boxes. This has allowed them not only to mitigate invento-

ry loss and keep all their staff on, but hire new people as well.

“Our subscription service was not something we’d ever planned on pre-pandemic,” Khamis said.

“We were intending to eventually sell a couple key market items at some point, maybe five years down the line, but never the DIY ramen kits as they’ve taken shape.”

They now have over 800 people signed up for a ramen subscription and are shipping to over 40 cities in Ontario. Khamis says this has been an entirely new avenue of growth for them, but one that has allowed them to stay focused on their main purpose: connecting to people in meaningful and impactful ways.

“We’ve been incredibly lucky in our ability to transition most of our business to takeout and our new meal kit and subscription service, but we feel for so many restaurants who rely on their dining rooms as their main source of revenue,” Khamis said. 

ISSUE 190. 5 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

To help minimize close contact between staff and guests for the summer, Khamis says their team is working on a contactless ordering option so people can place and pay for orders directly on their patio tables.

As for supporting them during the lockdown, Khamis said “our only hope is that people continue to do whatever they can to support local businesses; we need our communities more than ever.

The best way would be to visit one of our local retail partners to try out our ramen kits and give them some love at the same time.”

through is going to be something that will require just as great of a recovery.”

Desautels added that it’s been especially difficult to plan ahead because of the confusing messaging from the government.

Earlier in March, Guelph had moved from red zone to orange zone, and was in orange for about two weeks before the province-wide shutdown was announced. Desautels said the move to orange “seemed like it was too fast and too soon and 12 days later we’re fully shut down and are sitting on a lot of inventory.”

Crafty Ramen opened in 2017, and specializes in Japanese-inspired and locally influenced ramen bowls, with both meat and vegan options.

CREDIT: DILETTANTE HOSPITALITY

It’s important to note though that Crafty Ramen’s innovative ability to adapt to the pandemic is the exception, not the rule. Along with the financial struggles most restaurants are experiencing, there is also a distinct loss of staff.

In fact, by May, Restaurants Canada reported that the unemployment level reached 13.7 per cent, the highest rate recorded since 1967. While that number has somewhat recovered, they reported the industry was still around 319,000 jobs below their pre-COVID levels in February 2020.

Only 48 per cent of the lost jobs in the industry have been recovered as of February 2021, compared to 88 per cent in all other industries.

Vienna owner James Sawyer has gone from a staff of 15 to three people, and has had to continuously hire them back and lay them off again with the repeated lockdowns and reopenings.

Desautels said they’ve laid off a total of 150 people at their restaurants.

“I wish I could hire them all back, and the sad reality is I can’t hire them all back, and that’s not because of pandemic, that’s because they’ve left the industry,” he said, adding that people are leaving the industry because they can’t rely on it anymore.

“The impact on the business is great financially, but the longterm effects on people’s mental health and whether or not this is an industry they want to be in, knowing what they were put

Each time the restaurants have to close — even for takeout — they are selling significantly less, and end up with an excess of food products that they either give to staff or donate, if a charity is willing to take it.

Desautels estimates that it costs around $10,000 to reopen, “from food, to training; and that’s not to mention the infrastructure people put into patios as well.”

“I had, let’s say, like $200 in oranges and then like another $300 in eggs and $400 in potatoes, and on such short notice, I have to get rid of it, donate it or give it away,” Sawyer said, adding that “it’s hard with all the restrictions because people aren’t taking a lot of the donations right now, so it’s been a little challenging with the food waste.”

For Sawyer, it’s not worth it to keep the restaurant open during the lockdowns because of the nature of the restaurant. “At places like mine, an old school diner, people come for the service and sit down,” he said.

To adapt to the chaos of the pandemic, he has cut the menu in half, keeping only the most popular items on.

The government also provided wage subsidies and eventually some rent relief, which he says helped him. “Without that, I would probably either be closed or in high debt,” Sawyer said.

As of right now though, he thinks he’ll survive. “But if this goes on for another two years and the help drops off, that’s another story,” he said.

ON THE RADAR ONTARIO HITS THE BRAKES, DECLARING THIRD STATE OF EMERGENCY IN LIGHT OF SURGING COVID-19 CASES

On April 16, the Ontario government announced an extension to its four week stay-athome in order to curb the rising number of COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations throughout the province. The order will now be in place until at least May 20.

On April 9 Ontario reported more than 4,200 new cases of the virus, the highest daily count in the province since Jan. 8, according to The Star.

On April 1, the provincial government noted that the third wave is being driven by COVID-19 variants. The newest variant of concern is B.1.617, which was first detected in India, and has since accounted for 36 cases in Ontario as of April 23. On April 22 the federal government halted all incoming flights from India and Pakistan for a month.

Restrictions in Guelph include, but are not limited to, in-store shopping at 25 per cent capacity for: pharmacies and supermarkets; garden centres; big box stores; and stores selling beer, wine, and spirits. All other retail stores and restaurants may offer curbside pickup, takeout or delivery. Parks and playgrounds are open. For the full list of restrictions, visit covid-19.ontario. ca/zones-and-restrictions.

PUBLIC HEALTH PREPARES FOR PHASE 3 AS VACCINATIONS PRESS ON

W e l l i n g t o n - D u ff e r in-Guelph (WDG) Public Health has begun preparations for Phase 3 of the vaccination process by announcing pre-registration for all remaining residents aged 16 and up.

The announcement came during Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout, which began on April 6 and prioritizes age and atrisk populations.

Public health units are now offering appointments to individuals aged 40 and up. In addition, those who live and work in congregate settings, certain workers who can’t work from home, and pregnant people in the highest-risk category are now eligible.

According to a news release from WDG Public Health, the region hopes to have at least 75 per cent of its population vaccinated by June of this year.

By pre-registering for your vaccine, you will not be booked for an appointment right away.

Instead, WDG Public Health will contact you and provide a web link and “unique code” that you can use to schedule an appointment for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

If a resident provides their email as a point of contact, WDG Public Health urges them to regularly check their inbox as well as the junk or spam folders.

Details on eligibility and instructions for pre-registration and appointment booking can be found on WDG Public Health’s website.

GUELPH TRANSIT INTRODUCES ONDEMAND BUS SERVICE

As part of the city’s goal to improve the connectivity of its transportation system, Guelph Transit will be introducing on-demand bus service beginning May 2.

With no fixed route or schedule, the on-demand service will dispatch buses on a “request-basis,” allowing for more flexibility for transit users who wish to commute at times more convenient to them.

On-demand buses will operate during the same hours as conventional Guelph Transit service hours and will accept regular transit fare. Those looking to book a ride will be able to do so via phone, website, or the free ‘On-demand your way’ app. Once picked up, transit users will be dropped off at a “pre-set location” in Guelph of their choosing.

According to the City of Guelph website, the north and south loop Community Buses and the 16 Southgate route will be replaced with this new service, and it will also be travelling on routes along the Hanlon Creek Business Park.

The on-demand service is being funded by Guelph Transit’s current operating budget which was approved by council on Dec. 2, 2020. As part of its Strategic Plan priority of Navigating our Future, Guelph Transit wants to ensure that those affected by route closures from cost mitigation measures can still have access to bus services.

To book a ride within city limits once the service becomes available, either call the on-demand booking agent at 519822-1811 with prompt 5, visit book.ondemandyourway.com, or download the ‘On-demand your way’ app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

DEREK CHAUVIN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER OF GEORGE FLOYD

After two days of deliberation, a 12-person jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on the counts of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter of George Floyd, a Black man whose death sparked protests all over the globe.

On May 25 of 2020, distressed onlookers witnessed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes after a shop assistant called police over an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.

Officers handcuffed Floyd and attempted to place him in the police car. Floyd resisted, he was placed on the pavement by police, and Chauvin knelt on his neck. The Defence argued that a heart condition and illegal drugs found in Floyd’s bloodstream are what led to his death while prosecutors argued that it was Chauvin’s excessive use of force that killed Floyd.

Chauvin had pleaded notguilty to all charges, but the jury, consisting of six white members and six Black or multi-racial members, found him guilty.

He has since been revoked of bail, had his bond discharged, and has been remanded into custody. Chauvin faces up to 40 years of prison time, and sentencing is expected to take place by mid June.

“Today we are able to breathe,” said Philonise Floyd, Floyd’s brother, in a video on Global News. “We have to march, we will have to do this for life. We have to protest because it seems that this is a never ending cycle.”

Philonise thanked activists and advocates for making the verdict possible, and he said he would be “fighting for everyone around the world.”

#ONTHE R ADAR @ T H E O N TA R I O N

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SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

8

THE ONTARION

Local blood supply is ‘healthy and strong’ in spite of pandemic While the Guelph region remains steady in its supply, Canadian Blood Services emphasizes that the need for blood is constant ELENI KOPSAFTIS

S

ix weeks from her due date, the complexities and stress of pregnancy were heightened even more for Guelph resident Laine Greenidge when Ontario went into lockdown.

CTV News reported Greenidge and her husband had decided on an at-home birth due to worries about delivering at a hospital during the pandemic. While the birth welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world, Greenidge suffered a uterine inversion which landed her in the hospital anyway.

ume of one person.

Greenidge told CTV News reporters “if I did not receive blood I would not have survived,” marking the everlasting importance of a steady blood supply in hospitals everywhere.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is the non-profit organization responsible for national blood donation clinics and blood-related research. Founded in 1998, they operate independently from the Canadian government yet serve as the country’s authority on blood in all provinces except Quebec.

The need for blood is constant.

Patients may require blood for a variety of reasons, including cancer treatment, blood disorders, accidents and trauma, and childbirth. These needs have not changed because of COVID and will continue to be present in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

— Kersten Dupuis

She ultimately survived the ordeal and is doing well, but the amount of blood she lost during the process was “a very scary situation.” To recover, she needed five blood transfusions. That amount adds up to the average blood vol-

The organization’s Guelph location is the Guelph Donor Centre. Through its operations, blood supply in Guelph has maintained a sustainable level over the years. CBS territory manager Kersten Dupuis told The Ontarion that

As territory manager of the Canadian Blood Services, Kersten Dupuis manages donor relations at the Guelph Donor Centre which continues to schedule regular appointments throughout the week.

CREDIT: KERSTEN DUPUIS

the centre’s weekly donation target in 2019 was initially 176 units, but COVID-19 has since altered those goals.

While the local supply has remained “healthy and strong” thanks to regular donors in the region, the Guelph Donor Centre has since upped their weekly target to 220 units. Further, their original four-day schedule has been changed to five days, now operating from Monday to Friday.

Dupuis said that this alteration was to account for the loss of mobile clinics, such as ones hosted in corporate settings, local high schools, and at the University of Guelph.

U of G used to hold monthly donation clinics in the University Centre, with the aim of collecting 120 units, but the pandemic has limited the accessibility of clinics to just CBS centres.

Before the pandemic, the blood donation process was more flexible, allowing for walk-in appointments in CBS centres and mobile clinics alike. Now, donors must schedule their appointments in advance and adhere to increased health and safety measures.

Donors must now answer screening questions and have

their temperature taken before entering the building. Once inside, donors will be given a new mask. Post-donation snacks, given to promote the donor’s health and energy levels after giving blood, are now to-go.

The Guelph Donor Centre has installed plexiglass screens between donation stations, and high-touch surfaces are being sanitized frequently.

The local supply’s sustainability is not without consistent effort. While a single donation goes a long way, some blood recipients (like Greenidge) often need more than one unit.

“The need for blood is constant,” Dupuis told The Ontarion.

“Patients may require blood for a variety of reasons, including cancer treatment, blood disorders, accidents and trauma, and childbirth. These needs have not changed because of COVID and will continue to be present in the

weeks, months, and years ahead.”

The shelf life of blood is 42 days for red cells while that of platelets is only 7 days. No matter how many units are collected in a single week or whether those units get used up or not, the blood supply will always need restocking.

“The need for blood also doesn’t take a holiday,” said Dupuis. “So as we approach the upcoming summer months and long weekends, we ask donors to continue to come out and donate through these holidays.”

Icon by Flaticon

To book a blood donation appointment, you can either use the GiveBlood app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, visit blood. ca, or call 1-888-2-DONATE.

The Guelph Donor Centre is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

ISSUE 190. 5 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

With their debut recording “Souvenirs” recently named BBC Music Magazine ‘Recording of the Year,’ Rolston String Quartet will play for the Guelph Musicfest’s second show of the year on July 24, 2021.

CREDIT: KEN GEE

Guelph Musicfest enters its 15th season Classical festival wants to share live music with audience whether online or in-person ALLAN SLOAN

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ive concerts have been few and far between lately with the restrictions placed on events and indoor gatherings. However, Guelph Musicfest is entering its 15th season with in-person shows scheduled for July and November.

The shows will run live if Ontario’s stay-at-home order is lifted, however, people may still enjoy them online if not.

Ken Gee, artistic director of Guelph Musicfest told The Ontarion that after the 2020 lockdown, there was such a need for live music that listeners of their online performances were “moved to tears.”

Gee has been running Guelph Musicfest for 15 years and says the festival was born out of the Guelph Spring Festival, “a big music festival that featured a lot of choral things, sometimes operettas and recitals.”

The Guelph Spring Festival

declared bankruptcy after 38 years of annual events, and the Guelph Musicfest was created in order to continue offering people the music they had grown to love.

“There were no classical concerts and I just thought, here’s an opportunity. Why don’t I just start something?” Gee said.

People were crying, they started hearing the music and they were literally moved to tears.

— Ken Gee

The festival has seen success over the years, but like many concerts and events planned for 2020, those running it were worried about not being able to

hold shows.

However, Gee said the public was so eager for music that the cancelling of their 2020 live performances and move to online was met with positivity.

“I had pre-sold a lot of subscriptions for the whole series then,” Gee said. “All the people who had paid full price, [and signed up for] free subscriptions too, said ‘oh it’s fine, I don’t want my money back, I’ll just watch it online.’”

Gee says he takes pride in Guelph Musicfest’s online shows.

“In 2020, it was about the only classical music festival in the country that managed to present all the concerts in front of a live audience,” Gee said.

This year, with five performances scheduled between July and November, Gee has geared up to offer them online or — if the stay-at-home order is lifted — in person.

“I turned it into a hybrid series right away,” Gee said, “we’re adhering to the normal red zone rules or orange zone rules, a maximum of 50 people. So, everybody’s spread out and they’re grouped according to families or couples with six feet between them.”

Gee went on to say that masks are a requirement throughout the entire building, and if anyone is experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19, they are encouraged to stay home and watch online.

Gee is optimistic that by November indoor gatherings will go back to upwards of 100 occupants.

He believes that if the reactions to last year’s shows are any indication, there is a great need for music in the public eye, whether it’s live, prerecorded, or through streaming.

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CREDIT: PIXABAY

“[They were] so thirsty for music that at the first concert in July 2020, which had been the first live-streamed concert since March 2020, people were crying, they started hearing the music and they were literally moved to tears,” Gee said.

Guelph Musicfest’s first show of the season is July 9 at 7:30 p.m.

As of April 28, in-person tickets are still available for purchase, however, Gee said that online live stream tickets will remain open, and pre-recording of the show will be online shortly after.

Further information about Guelph Musicfest can be found at guelphmusicfest.ca.

Canadian Cellist Arlen Hlusko plays for Guelph Musicfest alongside Artistic Director Ken Gee on piano for the first show of the season on July 9, 2021.

CREDIT: KEN GEE

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Rodeo champion Fred Whitfield is John Ware in the documentary John Ware Reclaimed, which follows filmmaker Cheryl Foggo on her quest to uncover more about this famous but often misunderstood cowboy.

CREDIT: SHAUN ROBINSON

Reclaiming History: John Ware Reclaimed tells the story of the famous Black cowboy from a new perspective The documentary is being screened as part of the #ChangeStartsNow summit TAYLOR PACE

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19th century cowboy known for helping establish the lucrative ranching industry in Alberta, John Ware had a softer side that not many people knew of. In fact, not many people have heard of Ware to begin with.

Ware’s legacy has been surrounded by a myriad of stories that in some cases have made him seem more beast than man.

Award-winning writer Cheryl Foggo has dedicated much of her professional life to researching Ware. Thus, in her documentary

John Ware Reclaimed (2020), Foggo set out to introduce the mythical man to the world in a new, reclaimed light.

While showcasing his incredible talents as a rancher,

she simultaneously highlights Ware’s humanity and the struggles he faced as a Black man in Canada through a combination of re-enactments, animation, and original music.

The film launched in 2020 as part of the Calgary International Film Festival, and has since been screened at many other festivals.

It became available on the National Film Board of Canada website in February 2021 for Black History Month.

The documentary first began as a presentation about Ware’s

life to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. That presentation eventually turned into a play, which later morphed into the documentary.

solidarity for Black lives lost in violence.

“The protest was a starting place for the work that needs to occur to change policy and create

I thought it was an amazing film.

It has inspired me to learn more about the Black communities and other racialized communities who helped build and settle Western Canada.

— Denise Francis, GBHS president

It will be screened on April 30 as part of the Guelph Black Heritage Society’s (GBHS) #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit, a multi-day virtual summit presenting speakers and events with the goal of preventing and responding to racism in Guelph and Wellington County.

This goal is part of the society’s broader #ChangeStartsNow Education Initiative.

The initiative was launched after a peaceful march and protest was held in downtown Guelph this past summer, led by GBHS Executive Director Kween Gerber to raise awareness of and show

opportunities for Black voices to be heard,” GBHS President Denise Francis said.

The educational summit will be an annual event, and the GBHS will be hosting a monthly speaker series throughout the year.

Francis first learned of John Ware Reclaimed about a year ago. “I thought it was an amazing film.

It has inspired me to learn more about the Black communities and other racialized communities who helped build and settle Western Canada,” she said.

Ware was born in the Southern U.S. and was likely enslaved before coming to Canada in 1882,

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Canadians have been given such a narrow education about our history, that we actually can’t know who we are today, and we can’t move forward into a positive future without this knowledge.

— Cheryl Foggo when he was part of the first major cattle drive from Texas into Alberta.

In Foggo’s film, she begins with the brutal snowstorm that hit just after this cattle drive. The cowboys abandoned their cattle and raced to the nearest ranch house — all except for Ware.

When he didn’t make it back, they went looking for his body.

Instead, they found him sitting by a fire with his cattle, safe, while most of the other cattle had died in the cold.

According to Foggo, this was the first time that Ware showed them he was more than his enslaved past, and bigger than the derogatory names they called him.

Icons by Flaticon

Another time, when his wife was sick he travelled for what Foggo estimates to have been 18 hours by train, on horseback, and on foot to get her medicine, saving her life.

By the end of the film, it’s clear his narrative has been reshaped. This man, a tough and talented cowboy, was also a loving and dedicated family man and community member.

The documentary also shines a light on many historical inaccuracies.

For instance, it was said that he was referred to by a phrase that supposedly meant “Bad Black White man” among the Blackfoot.

Foggo conducted an interview with a Blackfoot speaker that revealed the ways in which mistranslation and misrepresentation by White settlers impacted both Black and Indigenous communities.

This begs the question, what else did we get wrong?

Many stories about Ware were perpetuated by a text that was published in the 1960s, John Ware’s Cow Country, which contains racist stereotypes about Black masculinity.

Foggo said she wanted people to question “what other stories have not been told or have not been told in a way that is honour-

ing the people in those stories?”

She also wanted “people’s appetites to be wetted, to [want to] learn more about Black history on the prairies specifically, and to expand their knowledge of Black history in Canada.”

While each region’s history is different than the others, Foggo noted that “they are all linked.”

Foggo grew up on the outskirts of Calgary in the 50s and 60s. Like most other kids in the Prairies, Foggo and her brother Richard loved all-things cowboy culture; but, she said, they didn’t see a cowboy who looked like them until they discovered John Ware.

One day, a young Richard went to the Glenbow museum in Calgary, and was “shocked” to see a picture of John Ware, a famous Black cowboy from their area. He raced home to tell his sister what he had found.

“At first it was like I couldn’t really process what he was saying,” Foggo said. “Then once I processed it, it was a very explosive moment. It was a life-changing experience.”

Francis said they decided to screen the documentary for several reasons.

“Growing up in Ontario, when we studied history in school we learned very little about Western Canada,” Francis said.

In fact, she only learned about John Ware and other Black cowboys after visiting Calgary several years ago and seeing an exhibit about him.

“I wanted to learn more and learn why these stories are not widely known all across Canada.

The Black community has been in the West for over 100 years, [and] people need to be aware of this,” she said. “We also need to make the community aware of the challenges and racism they faced when they came to Canada from

the United States.”

Similarly, Foggo said Black history was absent from historical records and media when she was growing up. Yet she noted that “to know that this history and heritage has been here for so long” is critical to Black Canadians’ sense of identity.

The history is there if teachers choose to share it, but they aren’t part of the mandatory curriculum.

Foggo, like many others, believes it should be.

“Although it could begin around the time of John Ware, and include other Black history that was present in his time here, I think it must also include the decades after John Ware ... It has to be holistic and encompassing,” she

said. “Canadians have been given such a narrow education about our history, that we actually can’t know who we are today, and we can’t move forward into a positive future without this knowledge.”

Foggo said she loves the work the GBHS does in preserving Black history in our region, and is “very excited to be able to share a bit of Black history from [her] region of the country.”

Francis noted that the summit is open to all members of the community, and because they don’t want financial barriers to stop people from attending, they have a number of “Pay it Forward” passes available. Contact guelphblackheritage@gmail.com for more information.

To learn more about the Anti-Racism summit and the #ChangeStartsNow initiative, visit www.changestartsnow.ca John Ware Reclaimed can be viewed for free at the NFB website, or on their YouTube channel.

Cheryl Foggo is a Calgary-based, award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and author. Foggo has been researching John Ware’s life for the past 40 years, and much of her work deals with spotlighting Black history in Western Canada.

CREDIT: MIKE TAN

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THE ONTARION

Guelph Humane Society continues to connect people with furry friends despite COVID-19

2021 brings a new location, exciting initiatives, and new pets up for adoption at the Guelph Humane Society SHANNON MUSTARD

CREDIT: NATALIE THOMAS / GUELPH HUMANE SOCIETY

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inding joy in the little moments has become even more important as the pandemic continues into 2021. A virtual visit to the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) this summer is sure to bring a smile to your face and lighten your spirits.

The GHS, newly located at 190 Hanlon Creek Blvd, provides shelter and services such as adoption and veterinary care for

a variety of animals. Each year the GHS shelters animals who may have been homeless, injured or abandoned, and the employees are proud to be advocates for these animals. While the GHS houses cute and cuddly friends who cheer us up, their mission is to ensure that these critters find a loving and responsible home.

Prior to their recent move, the GHS was located at 500 Wel-

lington St. for over 50 years.

Natalie Thomas, manager of marketing and communications at the GHS, told The Ontarion in an email that the new location allowed “our capacity to care for dogs to increase by 125 per cent and has even doubled for cats.”

At the new location, “the dogs have their own in and out doggy doors to soak up the sunshine, along with spacious cat

The Guelph Humane Society, recently relocated to 190 Hanlon Creek Blvd, continues to shelter and care for animals who may have been homeless, injured or abandoned, as well as host fundraiser events and offer adoption services in a COVID-safe manner.

CREDIT: NATALIE THOMAS / GUELPH HUMANE SOCIETY

runs and dedicated farm animal rooms for the cats and chickens,” Thomas said. “[Employees are] very proud of the new building, and we cannot wait for our community to be allowed in to see it for themselves.”

Seeing as the GHS is an organization funded by donations, Thomas says it graciously thanks all of the generous donors who continue to make their life-changing work possible. Funding from donors and GHS initiatives has been more imperative than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From April 20 to 30, the GHS is running an event called “Happy Sales for Happy Tails,” a virtual craft and artisan market that will donate a portion of the proceeds back to the Humane Society.

They also ran an online 50/50 lottery from March 15 to April 15, with a final winning prize of $43,325. If you missed the 50/50, Thomas says not to fret since the GHS plans to host a couple more 50/50 lotteries throughout the year.

“Farm to Home” is another new initiative that the GHS launched this year, which provides farmers and rural residents with the opportunity to surrender friendly barn cats residing on their property to the GHS at no additional cost. The GHS will then find a loving home for these cats, and the barn cat population on

your property might become a little more manageable.

Like most businesses during COVID-19, the GHS has closed its doors to the public and moved most of its services online. All in-person events, such as fundraisers and summer camps, have been cancelled or postponed to a later date.

With the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols, the GHS team has gotten creative with the adoption process. They have created a virtual adoption procedure that abides by COVID-19 safety guidelines, all while still providing you with the opportunity to adopt a pet.

If you are interested in viewing the animals that are currently up for adoption, you can find more information on the GHS’s website under ‘Available Animals.’ If you find an animal that you would love to adopt, you can submit an adoption application to the GHS team. Many of the animals are very popular and receive a number of adoption applications; the GHS will try to find the best match for each animal, which will then be followed by a Zoom virtual meet and greet.

If you are interested in adding a furry friend to your family or interested in supporting the GHS and their animals, you can visit their website at guelphhumane.ca.

ARTS & CULTURE 14 | TIPS FOR FIRST TIME RENTING

15 | LEVEL UP YOUR SKILLS

22 | COVID-19 AND WOMEN

ture of the film really is as it alternates between top tier filmmaking and bottom rung storytelling, creating an experience that is equally as jarring as it is awe-inspiring.

This duality inherent in the craftmanship of Godzilla Vs. Kong is what keeps it from achieving true greatness as it constantly shifts gears moment to moment, creating a dichotomy within the definition of “dumb,” serving the traditional definition when our human counterparts are on screen but elevating it when the creatures bloodied faces fill up the frame.

As the cinematic masses continue to engage in repeat viewings of this film, don’t be surprised if the newest edition of Webster’s Dictionary has an asterisk next to dumb, simply displaying the title of this muddled, glorious mess of a motion picture.

Adam Wingard’s Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) showcases a clash between two titans in a battle for the ages.

CREDIT: WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Godzilla vs. Kong adds an asterisk next to the meaning of dumb Warner Bros’ latest MonsterVerse movie is here, and if you were looking for cheesy characters and cathartic action, that’s exactly what you’ll get

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CINEMATOGRAPHY: 2/2 DIRECTION: 1/2 SCREENPLAY: 1/2 PERFORMANCES: 1/2 ENTERTAINMENT FACTOR: 2/2 TOTAL: 7/10

PRABHJOT BAINS

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he climactic event of Warner Bros’ “MonsterVerse” is finally here, in a cinematic landscape that is just as unforgiving as the central titans who battle it out. The enduring attraction of these kaiju (Japanese for giant monsters) is so powerful that, according to Entertainment Weekly, it amassed the largest box office total of the COVID-19 era.

It’s easy to see why the film is continuing to break pandemic box office records: it’s a cathartically dumb feast of destruction that you’ll want to partake in regularly. It’s the cinematic Big Mac, akin to junk food that perfectly satisfies our drunken latenight needs for sustenance.

In terms of plot, Godzilla Vs. Kong follows the titular ape and his human overseers as they journey to his homeworld to uncover a potentially strong power source while Godzilla attempts to stop them with equally destructive efforts. Yep — that’s about it!

The film’s lackadaisical approach to storytelling makes it clear that it knows exactly what the audience is there for: the cataclysmic bouts between the monsters, which deliver on their promised spectacle. However, once they’re over you’ll find yourself face-palming as you’re met with continuous lackluster dialogue and characterization.

While the latter was to be expected (most MonsterVerse films are guilty of this), the sheer stupidity of the film’s eyeroll inducing plot is sure to catch even the most seasoned cheesy action connoisseurs off guard.

Through their dialogue, characters quickly transform from lifeless husks to

frustrating robots, making viewers wish they never opened their mouths. The worst of these moments is when the plot threatens to take center stage in one of the final battles; it made me wish for simple characters who just react to the monsters’ fighting instead of taking a vested role in the action.

This issue would be magnified if the explosive and CGI fueled clashes were only passable, but Adam Wingard constructs these battles with such artistry and bravado that the incessantly terrible character writing only serves to be a minor hitch rather than a major roadblock.

The fights deliver on every technical scale: the sound is thunderous in its breadth while the twisting and flowing visuals surround you in their depth. It so wonderfully delivers on its promise of combat that it transforms the word “dumb” into an asset that provides meaningful returns on your investment. What seems like endless minutes of idiotic characters spouting exposition with a tiresome drawl is immediately forgiven when the two colossi lock eyes. You want to be forever shrouded in the shadows of these two goliaths, and Wingard’s confident framing is to credit.

The performances are passable as the actors only serve to provide slight hues of colour to their lifeless characters. The performances are nothing to write home about, and Wingard’s action-oriented direction does very little to help character-focused scenes, as he chooses to inject humor with an offbeat 70s soundtrack that only adds fleeting moments of brevity leading up to the anticipated battles. These moments highlight how fractional the struc-

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Tips for your first time renting in Guelph Renting for the first time can be overwhelming; here is a list of things to help guide you in your search RENEE ALKASS

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he first apartment I ever lived in was a two-bedroom, two-bathroom located on Gordon Street in Guelph. Before my roommate and I moved into that apartment, we spent months trying to find the perfect place to rent. Luckily, we were able to find one, but the time leading up to it was a bit overwhelming. Everything from choosing a location, knowing our budget, and understanding what the word tenant meant took us some time to figure out. But not to worry, I have created a fourpart list for you to go through and check off as you work your way through the apartment hunting process. At the end of the day, things always work out how they are supposed to, so don’t sweat it; you’ll find a nice place to call your first home in no time.

1. Figuring out your budget

As students, our wallets tend to thin out quickly. With student debt, textbooks, groceries, and dates with friends, our money seems to slip away pretty fast. When you start apartment hunting and figuring out what you can afford, the first thing you want to decide is if you are going to have roommates or live alone.

Once you determine how many rooms you will need in your new home, you’ll be able to start calculating your budget. Just so you can have some type of reference, here are the average price ranges in Guelph, current as of April 28, 2021, for the total cost of rent for a variety of spaces. These prices are based on what I’ve seen on rentboard.ca, Facebook Marketplace, and Kijiji. Don’t forget, all these prices are the full amount and can always be broken down to share between roommates (prices will vary depending on the size of house, how many rooms are included, and even the house’s location): • Four-Bedroom House: $2600 • One Room in a Shared House: $500-$600 • Two-Bedroom Apartment: $1300-$2265 • One-Bedroom Apartment: $850-$1855 • Basement Unit: $1350-$2000

Once you determine what price range you would be comfortable with and how much living space you desire, you can start building a budget plan. I didn’t start building one of these until I moved into my second apartment, but I wish I had started calculating things from the very beginning … I would have saved a lot of money! I have broken down a few key points for you to consider for your budget plan which include the cost of your rent, the average price of utilities, Wi-Fi, renter’s insurance, and more. Everything is a rough estimate and always subject to change depending on the specific person, so I would advise using this as a guide to get you thinking about the organization of things: • Rent for one person: Starts at $500+ • Utilities: Some apartments/ homes have utilities included in the rent which is always a bonus, but not always the case. »Utilities

in an apartment: $100-$140* »Utilities

in a house: $133-$550* * Based on average Guelph hydro bill per month • Total cost of Wi-Fi: $99/per month (with Rogers) • Furnishing your new place: $100+ »You

can choose to buy new furniture, which can be costly, or used furniture, which can be a cheaper option.

• Renter’s insurance: $325/per year (with belairdirect. Keep in mind not every place you rent will ask for renter’s insurance) • Groceries weekly: $50-$100 »Some

grocery stores sell food at cheaper prices than others; for example, shopping at Food Basics and Walmart will generally save you more money than shopping at Zehrs and Metro.

• Other (parking, laundry, selfcare, night out): $50+

2. Where to start your hunt?

Now that you have a basic understanding of costs and an idea of what you can afford, it’s time to begin your search. Great places to start your hunt (and the places that I have found both my apartments on) are Facebook MarketPlace and Kijiji. These are great renter-friendly sites that are easy to navigate and free to use. Check them out and simply type in what you are looking for in the search bar. For example, type “Two bedroom apartment, Guelph” or “Four bedroom house, Guelph.”

Another great place to look is The Cannon, a University of Guelphrun website that is most known for their housing benefits. It is a great place to look if you are just wanting to rent a single room or find a house available for you and your friends to live together!

3. Everything you need to know about signing a lease (and what rights you have as a tenant)

Before you sign a rental agreement, there are a few things you should review because once you finalize the contract it can be tricky to get out of it. The landlord is the owner of the unit you are renting and they will be the person that you pay your rent to and who will deal with any home-related issues you may have during the duration of your lease. You are the tenant, the one who is occupying the unit, and it is your job to pay your rent on time and take care of the space you are living in.

When you find a place you want to rent, there are a couple things you as a tenant will need to provide when signing a lease (these may be subject to change and depend on what your landlord asks for): • First and last month’s rent • Credit report or a T4 slip to show your income • Record of Employment • References

Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help and guidance through this process; it can be a bit tricky at times, especially if it is your first

When looking to rent a home, some things to take into consideration include your budget, your rights as a tenant, and where you want to live.

CREDIT: PEXELS

time navigating the rental world.

Here are some other things you should keep in mind when signing a lease, including your rights as a tenant and what your rental agreement should include: • The duration of your lease (normally 12 months) • The monthly rent amount due to your landlord and the date you must pay it by • Utilities that you need to cover (parking, electricity, etc.)

• The conditions for terminating your lease • The conditions for subletting your lease • The rules you are required to follow as a tenant • You can visit ontario.ca to learn more about your rights when renting in Ontario

4. What is your prime location?

Guelph is a beautiful city.

From its hiking trails, parks, and conservation areas to its small owned businesses, quaint coffee shops, and lively downtown, the city has something for everyone.

When I first moved to Guelph, I only knew my way around the neighbourhoods near the University of Guelph, but as I started to venture out on the bus for longer trips throughout the city, I began to fall more in love with where I was living. If you haven’t moved around the city much, there is

but one street you need to situate yourself with: Gordon Street. Being on Gordon will get you to all the main intersections of the city.

If you move north on Gordon from the university, you will be brought towards downtown Guelph. From its unique restaurants, pubs, and markets, to its entertainment options like the The Guelph Civic Museum and the The River Run Centre, living in the north end of Guelph puts you in one of the most happening places in the city. You can definitely find four or five-bedroom homes in this end of Guelph, or even two-bedroom apartments.

If you move south on Gordon, you will enter the more updated end of the city. The south end has Stone Road Mall, newer restaurants, and one of Guelph’s Galaxy Cinemas. Apartment buildings are frequently being built in the south end, but do keep in mind that they go like hot cakes. This might be due in part to the south end having easy access to the 401, making it desirable to out-oftown commuters.

Wherever you do decide to situate yourself, just know that a short bus or car ride can take you from one side of the city to the other in about twenty minutes.

Before you decide where you are going to live, take some time to get a feel for what part of Guelph you like best, and most importantly, have fun exploring your new city!

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are also courses to learn handson skills such as photography and web design. You could even form a study group and get your friends involved in the learning process, and gain team management experience along the way.

In addition, the Guelph Public Library has a lot of online resources available such as workshops, eBooks and eAudiobooks, and online courses. Consider signing up for their newsletters to get the most updated info about books, events, etc.

COLLEGE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

If you have some free time this summer, why not try to learn a new language, develop your skills through a LinkedIn Learning course, or earn a credential through a continuing education program?

CREDIT: FREEPIK

Level up your skills this summer Learning apps, courses, and programs to keep your brain active CHEN CHEN

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n addition to soaking up some sunshine and getting some much needed relaxation, the summer months can also be a good time to level up your skills and invest in developing additional expertise for yourself. Below are some ideas for learning programs you can consider when planning how to spend your time this summer.

LANGUAGE LEARNING APPS

There are many benefits to learning a new language. For starters, it increases your vocabulary and enhances your understanding of other cultures.

One popular way to learn a new language is to use the Duolingo App. Duolingo is a mobile app that provides fun and easy language learning to the public for free. Within the app, there are 19 language courses available, and within each course, the contents are divided into bite-size lessons which only take 5-10 minutes each to complete. You can click through the lesson with language clues and pronunciations provided. This design makes language learning super easy, and the in-

teractive app interface also makes the app game-like and engaging.

Duolingo also tracks your progress and allows you to follow your friends who are also using the app. You could even start a friendly competition with your friends to motivate you in your language learning. The app is available to download in Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

Once you begin to learn a new language, it is also helpful to look for alternative resources to enrich your language learning experience. This could be watching movies or TV shows in the target language, listening to podcasts

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

or songs in the language, or even reading bilingual news. Some useful websites for finding learning materials include:

Podcasts

You can access a variety of educational videos in different languages through the library’s video collections at guides.lib.uoguelph. ca/Videos. My personal favourite sites are Kanopy and Films on Demand, which offer many good documentaries and movies. You can access the full collection of resources by signing in with your UoGuelph login ID.

Music, news, and more!

University of Guelph’s McLaughlin Library video collections

You can find many language learning podcasts through podcast apps such as Apple Podcast. For example, you can follow Duolingo’s Spanish or French podcast to listen to bilingual stories.

You can find a language specific playlist on Music apps such as Spotify and listen to the news in another language on a Radio app such as iHeart Radio.

ONLINE COURSES

LinkedIn Learning is a learning website that offers courses in business, software, and creative skills. It has a variety of online courses, and, as a U of G student, you can access the courses for free just by logging into the platform using your UoGuelph central login.

The courses offered by LinkedIn Learning are usually more applicable to business settings and are bite-sized so that the program can be completed within weeks. If you are not ready to make the commitment to a college certificate program, consider taking courses from LinkedIn Learning. There

Colleges and universities often offer professional development courses through their open learning programs or continuing education programs. Through these programs, you may have a chance to increase your knowledge of the discipline, make connections with professionals in the field, work collaboratively with other like-minded students, and earn certificates and diplomas to strengthen your resume. Whether you want to gain credentials to teach English abroad or to become a certified Human Resources professional, there are many programs available to you.

The University of Guelph offers many courses and programs through it’s Open Learning and Educational Support Unit. You can check them out at opened. uoguelph.ca.

Conestoga College also offers lots of professional development courses, and some of the courses can be stacked up to count for a micro-credential. Head to conestogac.on.ca to learn more about their offerings.

Regardless of which learning program that you decide to take, it is never a bad idea to invest in improving yourself. The summer months are a good opportunity to focus on learning something new when you have more time on your hands. Whether it be professional skills or learning a new hobby, there are many options available to you, and it’s easy to go online and discover them!

“It’s not essential to everyone ... but it’s essential to us.”

Taylor Pace

T

hroughout the pandemic, the bicycle industry in Canada has simultaneously been faced with the highest demand and lowest supply it’s ever seen; with the limitations of public transit and a need for safe exercise, more and more people seem to be biking.

Yet, the CSA Bike Centre at the University of Guelph, which has been around for about 20 years, has remained closed since March 2020, forcing the community to go elsewhere for their bike service needs.

“It’s been a record breaking year for bike sales, bike stores are running out of stuff. The bike centre is here with it’s doors closed,” said Giancarlo Martini, a fifth-year environmental engineering student who has worked

as the repair coordinator for the past two years, and was a volunteer for two years prior to that.

On March 29 the centre was broken into, and bikes, parts, and tools were stolen. Martini said this likely happened because “people are desperate for services.”

He said it’s been especially crucial during the pandemic because many more people are riding bikes, or riding bikes more often, since they don’t want to take the bus.

When asked why the bike centre has remained closed while other centres are still open, CSA President Tyler Poirier told The Ontarion that there are several factors at play, the biggest one being their “lack of capacity throughout the pandemic,” adding that he understands the closure has

“negatively affected many who are passionate about cycling,” and is looking forward to seeing it reopen.

Martini, alongside other advocates for the centre, have been trying to convince the CSA to reopen the doors since they closed last year, meeting with the CSA over the summer and into the fall semester.

Fourth-year water resources engineering student Michelle Robinson was a volunteer for one year and then hired as the volunteer coordinator, but her contract was cut short when the centre closed. She told The Ontarion that in an attempt to address their concerns, in the fall semester the CSA began doing things like uploading bike repair videos online.

They also provided a $40 gift card to the first 50 students who signed up to receive bike service at Speed River Bicycles, a bicycle store in downtown Guelph that sells bikes and bike parts, and offers repair services.

“Forty dollars covers nothing for a bike,” said Spencer Ploeger, who is a fifth-year engineering systems and computing student, and has been a volunteer since 2016.

bike centre, which shares a building with the campus food bank, is basically a DIY bike repair centre with specialty tools and bins of used parts that both students and community members can use.

Without the bike centre, there isn’t really a similar service that can provide the same level of quality service and sense of belonging. Especially in times like these, community bonding is perhaps what we’re all in need of the most.

— Max Ornat

For example, he said a common fix is new brake pads, which “might cost $40 before tax if you’re lucky, and that’s before paying an additional $40 to get them put on.”

For those that don’t know, the

There are also around 25 knowledgeable volunteers who can help with anything else you might need, including helping you learn to repair your bike.

More than that though, it was a welcoming and diverse

space, supplying people with a sense of community. Robinson said people would often come to just “hang out and help others.”

In terms of paid staff, there are normally three volunteer coordinators, a central coordinator, a volunteer coordinator, and a repair coordinator; all of these positions have been laid off.

“It’s been frustrating knowing that this building is sitting empty, and that there are ways for it to be open in compliance with the university’s requirements for health and safety,” Robinson said, adding that it’s especially frustrating because other cities have managed to keep their bike centres open, like University of Toronto’s Bikechain and the London Bicycle Cafe.

Ben Cowie, owner and operator of the London Bicycle Cafe told The Ontarion the reason they’ve stayed open is simple: bikes are vehicles under Ontario law, and vehicles are considered essential services.

While the community that relies on the CSA’s centre may be small, they have been devastated by its closure.

For instance, people regularly ask former bike centre staff and volunteers if they can get into the bike centre to grab parts.

Bill Raymond, a fifth-year environmental engineering student, says he hasn’t been able to maintain his bike like he normally would since the bike

centre closed.

This has caused his bike, which is his main form of transportation, to deteriorate over the winter.

“When using a bike as transportation, you use it everyday, much more frequently than if you were using it just for sport.

Therefore, parts wear out faster, shifters and brakes require tuning more frequently, tires need to be pumped more frequently, the chain requires cleaning and oiling more frequently,” Raymond said.

“These effects are compounded in the winter, as snow, salt and other grime accelerate the deterioration of the bike components.”

Without the help of the bike centre, he’s unable to do this maintenance by himself.

Fifth-year environmental engineering student Max Ornat told The Ontarion that he especially misses the sense of community it provided.

“The bike centre provided a safe space for all. Everyone left with a smile on their faces regardless of the stuff going on in their lives,” he said. “Not only that, but the bike centre has access to so many essential tools and parts that are both extremely expensive and difficult to find elsewhere.”

These services are free for all students and community members to use, and in peak season, Ploeger said they could have up to 150 people coming in each week, relying on the service.

Students and community members pictured inside the CSA Bike Centre in 2017.

CREDIT: SPENCER PLOEGER

The Covered Bridge (2019), Acrylic, 20” x 16”, Barbara Salsberg Mathews

“Without the bike centre, there isn’t really a similar service that can provide the same level of quality service and sense of belonging. Especially in times like these, community bonding is perhaps what we’re all in need of the most,” Ornat said.

In regards to the service being closed for the past year, he said it felt like the “CSA just forgot about the bike centre, or that they don’t really care about it at all. It’s also been difficult to maintain my bike, especially after riding in harsh winter conditions.”

There are several bike shops in town that offer services, but they come at a cost, and many have low stock, so it might be difficult to find what you need.

“I couldn’t buy a bike tire at the place where [the CSA] gave the gift cards to; they had literally no stock that I needed, and I know there’s like 15 of them sitting at the bike centre,”

For the past twenty years, the CSA Bike Centre has provided a space on campus for students and community members to access free DIY bike repair services and assistance, free used parts, and has fostered a sense of community.

CREDIT: SPENCER PLOEGER

Ploeger said.

Robinson noted that the CSA has prioritized other services such as The Bullring to open when there are other food places on campus, “but there is no accessible bike service on campus.”

“We made this document that outlines how the bike centre could be run safely during COVID, and that comes from my experience with me working at a shop already during COVID, and just knowing the bike centre really in and out.” Martini said.

Martini noted that it didn’t seem like anyone at the CSA thought the centre was worthwhile.

“None of these people ride bikes to school, or around town; they don’t depend on a bike for anything, so they didn’t see it the same way that we did.” Martini said. “It’s not essential to everyone, but it is essential to a certain community. It’s essential to us.”

However, Poirier said that it “wasn’t about a lack of desire to open the service; all the CSA executives and staff want and have wanted to see the bike centre reopen. It took until the last meeting to start this working group because we are finally in a position to accommodate this undertaking.”

In March 2021, after a year of meetings that yielded no action, Martini, Robinson, and Ploeger sent a letter to the CSA, pleading to reopen the “once thriving and essential service.”

The letter led to them speaking at the CSA meeting on April 7, after which the CSA promptly formed a committee to put together a plan to reopen the centre, made up of Martini, Ploeger, Robinson, and CSA member Bella Harris.

They have until the next CSA meeting on May 26 to come up with a plan; at the time of

writing, no committee meetings have taken place.

While they are eager to get to work, they say they are skeptical about the committee accomplishing all that much, and are unclear on what exactly the purpose of the committee is.

“I don’t know if the CSA intends for this to [lead to] opening, or if they intend for this to just be more discussions informing them about the bike centre and trying to get them on the same page as us,” Robinson said.

“They keep saying we need to hire a coordinator, but if they’re not willing to hire someone, I don’t think any progress will actually be made,” Robinson said. “In my mind, if the committee doesn’t end in the hiring of anyone, the committee is a failure.”

Poirier said the purpose of the committee is simply to develop a plan to reopen the bike centre.

“It will submit a reopening plan to be received by the CSA Board of Directors on May 26, and this will ensure that when it opens, it opens in a way that is safe and makes sense to students.”

“We will do everything we can to see that happen,” he said. However, he noted that “it won’t be back to normal with volunteers in and out of the space for quite some time,” but he hopes that it will “see some activity this summer.”

Spencer, Ploeger, and Robinson are all graduating this year, and they’re worried about leaving the bike centre like this.

“We don’t want this thing to go to shit,” Martini said. “I want them to put some effort into us, because sitting and talking to us for an hour is easy stuff. Actions speak louder than words.”

The group encourages students who rely on the service to reach out to the CSA, to show them how much it matters.

ISSUE 190. 5 | ARTS & CULTURE

THEONTARION.COM

Perspective of Garden Court, Riverdale Hospital, Toronto (1960).

CREDIT: Archival & Special Collections, University of Guelph, George Tanaka fonds, XL3 MS A005129.

 SELECTIONS FROM ARCHIVAL AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

George Tanaka: Activist and landscape architect George Tanaka led a life of landscape design and advocacy work for the rights of Japanese Canadians KATHRYN HARVEY | ARCHIVIST

I held the pages down on the steering wheel and scanned the sheets as the edges flittered in the gusts. There it was in black and white—our short hard history. Beside each date were the ugly facts of the treatment given to Japanese Canadians, “Seizure and government sale of fishing boats. Suspension of fishing licenses. Relocation camps. Liquidation of property. Letter to General MacArthur.

Bill 15. Deportation. Revocation of nationality.” Wherever the words “Japanese race” appeared, Aunt Emily had crossed them out and written “Canadian citizen.”

— Joy Kogawa, Obasan (1981)

L

ike poet and novelist Joy Kogawa, landscape architect George Tanaka was one of the 23,000 Japanese Canadians who had been forced to relocate farther inland from the west coast in the early 1940s.

Tanaka was born in Vancouver to Japanese parents in 1912. After graduating from the Vancouver Technical School in 1920, he began working with Nisei gardener Mr. Moritsugu and studied landscape architecture. American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who took inspiration from Japanese art, was particularly influential to the development of Tanaka’s aesthetic.

Skip to several decades later and, according to Roger Obata in Japanese Canadian Redress: The Toronto Story (2000), Tanaka was

relocated to a sugar beet farm near Tilbury, Ont. The City of Toronto had an official policy against accepting any relocatees of Japanese ancestry, but after spending a summer on the farm Tanaka eventually obtained permission to move to Toronto.

According to Pierre Berton in a 1948 Maclean’s article, Tanaka explained that “that first day in Toronto, when I was able to walk around as I wished and go where I wanted without having to report to anybody or ask permission or get a permit for anything, I suddenly realized that liberty meant something. I felt like shouting out: ‘I’m free, I’m free!’ It’s a good word, freedom. You never really know what it means until you lose it.”

However, liberty is relative. As glorious as it may have felt to Tanaka to be rid of the intense restrictions of the farm, life as a Japanese Canadian in 1942 Toronto was a vastly different experience than life as a white Canadian due to the tremendous anti-Japanese racism.

So, in 1943, Obata, Muriel Kitagawa (Joy Kogawa’s aunt and inspiration for her character Aunt Emily), Tanaka, and others founded the Japanese Canadian Committee for Democracy (JCCD) to advocate for the rights of Japanese Canadians being persecuted by their own government and members of society who perceived them as enemies.

One of the JCCD’s most notable achievements was its 1947 survey which

calculated the financial losses of Japanese Canadians as a result of the mass relocation, laying the groundwork for the apology and reparations made by the Mulroney government in 1988.

Tanaka’s early days in Toronto were filled with activist work — notably as executive director of the National Japanese Canadian Citizens Association (now called the National Association of Japanese Canadians) from 1947 to 1953. His home at

84 Gerrard St. East served as the de facto national headquarters.

Tanaka not only advocated for human rights and the promotion of Japanese culture, he also did what many relocatees had done and became an entrepreneur, establishing his own landscape architecture practice in 1955.

He quickly made a name for himself, winning two of the three top Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) design awards in 1969, and became active in his new professional community. He served as vice-president of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects from 1967-1970, Secretary and member of CSLA’s Board of Governors from 1972-1974, and was elected a Fellow of the CSLA in 1975.

Unfortunately, he and his wife were killed in a motor vehicle accident in 1982, bringing his illustrious career to a premature end. In 1988, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, which Tanaka helped found some 25 years before, honoured him with a special tribute and retrospective exhibition of his design projects.

Amongst his many clients over the years was the owner of Parkwood estate in Oshawa, Ont., Colonel Sam McLaughlin, original benefactor of the McLaughlin Library. Tanaka’s plans for a Japanese garden at Parkwood, which is now a National Historic Site of Canada, is included alongside over 100 other projects of Tanaka’s whose drawings and files are housed in the University of Guelph’s Archival and Special Collections.

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SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

THE ONTARION

Prime Lens: The focal length can be anywhere between 12mm and 5200mm, and that number will always remain the same.

Prime lenses are much smaller in size but are usually more expensive. The price comes from having wider apertures (which allows more light into your photo) while also being known for shooting better quality images.

Beginner photographers are encouraged to consider the sensor size, lens type, and settings of a camera before purchasing it.

Beginner’s guide to buying a camera

Zoom Lens: They are bulkier and usually cheaper than prime lenses. The apertures on zoom lenses usually don’t go as wide as prime lenses making it harder to shoot in darker environments. Overall the main advantage of a zoom lens is the versatility in being able to stay stationary while changing the focal distance.

CAMERA SETTINGS

A few key factors to keep in mind before making your purchase NICOLAS BUCK

W

hen it comes to buying a camera, there are many factors that need to be considered before making your purchase. Here are the basics to help give you a better understanding of what to prioritize in your decision.

The two most popular types of cameras to choose from are: DSLR, a bulkier build of camera that has an optical viewfinder and a wide range of lenses to choose from; and mirrorless, which lack the viewfinder that DSLR cameras have but in turn have a reduced body size for easier handling.

Features to consider before purchasing a camera: SENSOR SIZE

Sensor size determines how much light is used to create an image. Sensors will vary from camera to camera and brand to brand. To break it down, cameras can either have a full frame sensor or a sensor with a crop factor.

sors. However, these cameras will be bulkier, require bigger lenses, and usually cost more. Bigger sensors are also able to capture more of an image while also having an easier time isolating the subject from the background.

Cropped Frame: Sensors with a cropped sensor will be smaller in size and are usually less expensive to buy. These cameras will require lenses with smaller focal lengths to achieve the same result one would with a full frame camera (i.e. An aps-c lens at 28mm, which is a type of cropped lens for DSLRs, will be equivalent to a 45mm lens on a full frame sensor). One advantage to sensors with a cropped sensor is that they can fit both cropped lenses and full frame lenses.

LENSES

Lenses serve different purposes. For example, smaller ones such as a 24mm lens will give you a wider image, while lenses that have a focal length of 70mm or more will give you a more narrow and zoomedin image. There are few different types of lenses which include macro, telephoto, and wide angle, but the two to focus on are prime lenses and zoom lenses.

There are features built into the camera that may influence your choice depending on what your main goal is. Here are some key terms (some of which can be interchangeable) that you may want to do some research on.

For video: 4k capability/ touch screen/ articulating screen/ image stabilization/ mic input.

For photos: megapixels/ raw file support/ built in flash/ auto focus/ shutter speed/ fps.

ISO: The ISO is used to add artificial light to your shot. The higher the number, the more light is added.

Frame Rate (fps): If you are looking to film in slow motion, you may want to look for a camera that allows 60 to even 120fps at 1080p or higher. For photography, the higher the number, the more images can be captured for a fast moving target (5-7fps in standard).

Every camera has its own unique features and every feature serves its own purpose. Find out what you’re trying to capture and look into the key factors listed in this article to help with your decision.

Recommendations: Highly Rated Mirrorless Camera: Sony A7iii Highly Rated DSLR Camera: Nikon D850 Good for beginners: Canon EOS 850D / Sony A6000

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ISSUE 190. 5 | ARTS & CULTURE

THEONTARION.COM

POEM BY DANA SHARE ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTIN LAGUFF

21

My Midnight Lover’s Home

Raindrops melting into puddles on hot pavement it is 2 am and this small city is dead street lights struggle to stay on like me, they are pulled towards the night the one that reflects the paradise in my head my national song my guilty delight I walk the middle of the road these concrete cracks with exasperated grass are my midnight lover’s home I walk freely through these humid streets because they make me feel less alone as if the rest of the world went quiet and the rain became all my own I would continue walking midnight lover’s road

Making clouds with my breath I finally accept that there are some things which I will never know can I live out here in this atmosphere can I finally be exempt from harsh temperatures and definitive man made scents raindrops falling and they say get out before you’re wet but I walk along these eerie avenues and become one with the puddles I step in instead

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SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

THE ONTARION of domestic violence during COVID-19, the vulnerability of women in the service sector, and higher risks of job loss. Canadians would support a government-mandated recovery plan that aims to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women.

In 2020, Ontario policing facilities, women’s groups, and domestic violence supports experienced an increase in demand for intake from the previous year.

Women, girls, trans, and non-binary folks face the risk of increased domestic violence incidents, especially with increased COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders. It is also worth mentioning that increased restrictions create obstacles for accessing support services like shelters and other community-based organizations.

FIRST NATIONS, METIS, AND INUIT WOMEN

Social and economic setbacks associated with the pandemic have left women, particularly BIPOC and those with disabilities, more vulnerable to economic disparities due to pre-existing gaps in gender equality.

CREDIT: PEXELS

How COVID-19 disproportionately affects women Women of varying identities are negatively impacted worldwide by restrictions arising from the pandemic ALYSSA MARKS

G

lobal gender equality has seen significant regressive consequences due to COVID-19. This is because the social and economic setbacks associated with the pandemic have left women more vulnerable to economic disparities due to pre-existing gaps in gender equality.

While many people have suffered from job loss and economic instability, a 2020 McKinsey Global Institute study has shown that women’s loss of employment due to the pandemic is 1.8 times higher than the job loss of men.

Furthermore, industries that are supposedly dominated by women (retail, education, childcare) are experiencing increased job loss compared to male dominated industries, accounting for 54 per cent of COVID-related job losses, despite only making up 39 per cent of the global workforce.

Another factor that influences the risk of job loss for women during the pandemic is the burden of increased unpaid labour.

As women conduct 75 per cent of

global unpaid labour, the increase in demand for household duties like cleaning and food preparation, as well as elderly and childcare due to the pandemic, has largely been left to them.

These factors have especially impacted women from marginalized communities throughout Canada, from increased unemployment, to increased hate crimes, and higher chances of contracting COVID-19.

How the pandemic affects women of varying identities CANADIAN CONTEXT

The Canadian Women’s Foundation released a national survey in August 2020 that outlined the concerns of Canadians about the pandemic’s negative impact on the welfare of women.

The poll found that a vast majority of Canadians are concerned about women facing higher rates

Canada’s history with colonialism indicates that many Indigenous communities face barriers in accessing health and safety resources.

CTV reported in January 2021 that COVID-19 rates among First Nations peoples living on reserves is 40 per cent higher than the national average. Some of the contributing factors include lack of infrastructure, boil water advisories, overcrowding in homes, limited access to adequate healthcare, food insecurity, and high rates of chronic diseases.

According to the Government of Canada, Indigenous women and girls also encounter higher rates of domestic and gendered violence than non-Indigenous women. COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns are expected to increase these rates.

Another factor to consider is anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system. The pandemic has exposed these existing divisions within the healthcare system and ongoing human rights violations. According to a 2015 Wellesley Institute report, Indigenous communities have uneven access to resources in healthcare, and experience racist treatment by healthcare providers, which are critical obstacles for accessing needed healthcare support. This reality is expected to be exacerbated during the pandemic.

The Government of Canada is closely working with Indigenous partners and leaders from various provinces and territories to co-develop effective legislation that addresses Indigenous accessibility to quality healthcare services in Canada. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, the Minister of Health Patty Hajdu, and the Minister of Northern Affairs Daniel Vandal proposed the initiation of the co-development legislation formulation in 2020.

These efforts include funding Indigenous communities to hire medical staff, buy personal protective equipment, and update existing healthcare facilities to better respond to the pandemic. There will also be funding for providing home-care services for elderly and vulnerable members.

RACIALIZED WOMEN

The Canadian Women’s Foundation reports that Canadian women workers who identify as people of colour have experienced an increase in unemployment, which has continued to grow since COVID-19. These rates are higher than that of non-racialized women. A 2020 report by the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto indicates that racialized women also overrepresent hazardous employment sectors, as well as the lowest paid, least stable, and most unrecognized areas of work. The impact of the pandemic only exacerbates these inequalities.

ASIAN COMMUNITIES

According to a Reuters report, South Asian Canadian women had among the highest rates of unemployment in Canada at a staggering 20.4 per cent during July 2020. On a broader scale, since the beginning of the pandemic Asian communities in Canada have been experiencing increased hate crimes, acts of racism, and for small business owners, fewer customers.

One reason lies in the spread of racist and misinformed campaigns related to the fact that the virus was first discovered in China.

Statistics Canada reported that Asian communities in 2020 were more likely to experience perceived racial or ethnic harassment than any other group in Canada. There has been pressure on the federal government to make improvements to strengthen its 2019-2022 anti-racism strategy to further protect and prevent Asian Canadians against attacks.

Women living with disabilities

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that those living with disabilities are more likely to contract COVID-19. This is partly due to difficulties in attaining hygienic products, the challenges associated with residing in dependent living facilities, and receiving other supports and care where there have been large outbreaks of the virus. There are also concerns with being more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to pre-existing health conditions, especially those with immune and respiratory health conditions.

The Government of Canada reports that Canadian women living with disabilities are almost twice as likely as women living without disabilities to have been

sexually assaulted. The increased risk of gender-based violence and lack of accessible support for women and girls with disabilities were prevalent before COVID-19. The pandemic worsens these existing inequalities. As many services and supports have limited their operations, including home care and personal support services, it is likely that this has negatively impacted women living with disabilities, reports the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada.

Calls to Action Below is a list of some steps you can take to mitigate negative impacts of COVID-19 on women: • Support women-owned and women-led local businesses.

• Contact your local representative and voice your concerns about COVID-19’s impact on women.

• Donate to local organizations that are designed to help women in need (i.e.

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, CFUW Guelph).

Supports and Resources •

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis gwwomenincrisis.org  519-836-1110  adminsac@gwwom-

enincrisis.org •

Guelph and Wellington 24-hour crisis line  519-836-5710 1-800-265-7233

•

Marianne’s Place Guelph-based shelter

 You can access the shelter by calling the 24-hour Crisis Line at 519-836-5710 or, for long-distance, 1-800-2657233 for immediate and confidential support.  g w w o m e n i nc r i s i s .

org/ g e t - h e l p / m a r i annes-place/

•

Anti-Trafficking Program and Support Guelph gwwomenincrisis.org/

anti-human-trafficking

-program/  519-836-1110 ext. 245  adminsac@gwwom-

enincrisis.org •

Rural Women’s Shelter Program - Wellington gwwomenincrisis.org/

get-help/rwsp/  519-843-6834 •

Sexual Assault Centre - Hamilton and surrounding areas sacha.ca/ 905-525-4573

SPORTS & HEALTH 26 | COOL TREATS

24 & 25 | MINDFUL BEHAVIOURS

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Untitled (2021), Maeve Hind

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   TALK NERDY TO ME   

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I’m attracted to shadows created by natural phenomena and how these scenes are experienced by the human viewer. This work aims to depict the anxieties of being outside at the time of a pandemic, while exploring the comfort one experiences from nature.

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There may be many birth control options available to you, but before choosing which to use, inform yourself on how effective they are in terms of perfect use vs. typical use.

CREDIT: FREEPIK

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The only 100 percent protection is abstinence. The chances of getting pregnant on birth control varies depending on the type of birth control you are taking.

Hormonal birth control (i.e. the pill, patch, ring, shot, IUD and implant) is more effective than some non-hormonal birth control (e.g. the sponge, withdrawal, spermicide). According to the SHORE Centre, with perfect use hormonal birth control is approximately 99.7 percent effective. Non-hormonal birth control varies depending on the type. For example, spermicides are 82 per cent effective with perfect use, and the sponge is 80 per cent effective with perfect use.

One aspect that is important to consider with pregnancy prevention is perfect use versus typical use. People are not perfect and



Brisson, Leis & Associates



TASHA FALCONER





Q: Is it possible to get pregnant using birth control?

Yes! It is still possible to get pregnant using birth control.

23

can make mistakes when taking birth control, and typical use accounts for these mistakes.

For example, typical use can look like not taking the pill at the same time every day or missing a pill. Typical use for hormonal birth control is 92 per cent for the pill, patch, and ring. Hormonal birth control that is inserted by a doctor (i.e. IUD and implant) has the same effectiveness rate for both typical and perfect use.

Non-hormonal birth control also has typical use rates. For example, spermicide is 71 per cent effective with typical use.

If you want to increase protection, you can use multiple types of birth control at the same time, which involves using a hormonal method in conjunction with a non-hormonal method.

For example, taking the pill and using a condom or using a patch and spermicide.

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SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

THE ONTARION

Caring for yourself involves making sure you eat, sleep, and drink water regularly.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Mindful behaviours to improve mental health If you’re struggling with your emotions, consider utilizing DBT skills to stay grounded and increase your happiness ELENI KOPSAFTIS Note: This list of DBT skills, from Marsha M. Linehan’s “DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition” and “DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition,” are courtesy of Student Health Services’ Mental Health Care Coordinator Lindsay Smart, and are not a replacement for professional therapy. Please consult the suggested mental health resources.

D

uring this whirlwind of a year, I’ve had lots of time to spend idly browsing social media while holed up at home during lockdowns. In this time, I’ve seen plenty of encouragement online urging others to stay strong during these uncertain times.

For me, these messages felt… lackluster. Sentiments about “searching for silver linings” and “counting my blessings” fed into the self-deprecating part of my brain. If others are finding the silver linings, why can’t I? If others have it worse than me, why do I feel bad?

While I’m sure all of these online messages were made in good faith, I have a hard time responding to thought-based encouragement. Some of us simply work better with a different ap-

proach to mental health than just thinking more positively.

DBT THERAPY

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a behaviour-based therapy developed by American psychologist Marsha M. Linehan that focuses on altering our negative behaviours when thoughtbased therapies fail.

Our thoughts and behaviour affect each other in a cycle which then affects emotion. If this cycle leads you into a spiral of negative emotions, therapy will teach you to disrupt it. For example, thoughtbased therapies will encourage you to replace negative thoughts with affirming ones so that your behaviour can subsequently be influenced. Meanwhile, DBT focuses on interrupting negative behaviours so that our thought process

can follow suit.

If you’re like me and thoughtbased therapies don’t always work for you, hopefully some of these DBT skills, courtesy of Student Health Services’ Mental Health Care Coordinator Lindsay Smart, can help you practice positive mental health.

ic and feeling and remain in our wise minds, it’s important not to indulge in behaviour that favours just one mind.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

According to DBT principles, most people are influenced by their reasonable mind and emotional mind. The reasonable mind is task-focused while the emotional mind is mood-dependent and acts based on feelings and urges.

Ideally, we want to remain in what’s called the ‘wise mind’, a state where we see the value of both reason and emotion and can make thoughtful choices as a result. In order to balance log-

are all factors that shift our minds into the realm of emotion. If your body detects that it isn’t being taken care of, it will shift your focus away from logic until you can fulfill your needs.

Before you act on impulse due to anger, sadness, or other negative emotions, consider grabbing a bite to eat or taking a nap.

While the problems you’re facing may deserve being addressed, being in the right state of mind will help you deal with those problems in a more constructive way.

Icons by Flaticon

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS WITH “WHAT” SKILLS

The emotional mind is greatly influenced by the state our bodies are in. Have you not been eating and sleeping regularly? Are you not drinking enough water?

Are you under the weather? These

It’s still entirely possible for emotions to take over even when your body is well taken care of.

During instances where our feelings are out of control, you can try to ease yourself out of the emotion

ISSUE 190. 5 | SPORTS & HEALTH

THEONTARION.COM

with “what” skills.

These skills are used during a moment when emotions are overwhelming. Their purpose is to increase control over your mind and ground yourself in the present all the while reducing suffering and increasing happiness. They take practice, and some might work better for you than others, so try them out in moments of emotional clarity too. This way, you’ll have a better idea of which skills are the most effective for you and you’ll be ready when a surge of overwhelming emotion hits.

The first “what” skill is observation. Take a moment to wordlessly notice bodily sensations such as those coming through your eyes, ears, and skin. Don’t push away or cling to thoughts and emotions. Instead, let them slip by. Focus your attention strictly on the present moment.

The next skill is description.

Give labels to thoughts and experiences non-judgmentally such as “I am feeling sadness” or “my hands are shaking.” This skill applies only to what you can experience through your five senses, not to opinions or interpretations. Focus on the facts. A way to do this is by

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describing the “who, what, where, and when” of your observation.

The last “what” skill is participation. Go ahead and throw yourself completely into an activity. Sing, dance, talk to a friend, or even do some chores. Simply engage yourself in something that you can focus on in the present moment. Try not to separate yourself from the activity, such as clinging to a negative thought while washing the dishes. Fully immerse yourself in your actions.

These skills are meant to be done one at a time, not merged.

Don’t try to observe while participating, otherwise you won’t be able to fully immerse yourself in a single skill.

UTILIZE YOUR BODY CHEMISTRY

If an emotion is severe, “what” skills might not be enough to bring you down. In these instances of extreme emotion, increasing happiness and control might not sound like realistic goals to the overwhelmed mind.

Should you find yourself in such a case of severe and uncontrollable emotion, you might need to get in control of your body before pro-

By using the participation skill and concentrating solely on an activity, such as talking on the phone with a friend, you are grounding yourself in the present instead of lingering on negative thoughts.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

ceeding forward.

The following skills are scientifically backed since they utilize body chemistry.

Your brain and body work together when cycling through thoughts and behaviours. If one provides a signal for an emotion, the other will follow in accordance. For example, if your brain makes you feel anger, your body will probably tighten up. Similarly, if we move our body in a certain way, our brain will provide the appropriate signal.

The first method is stopping, which, as the word suggests, simply means stopping everything you’re doing. Completely freeze your body and don’t move. Your brain will be sending signals according to the emotion you’re feeling, like clenching your jaw or pacing, but resist the urge.

Your brain will eventually conform to the signals your body is sending it.

Next is intense exercise.

Spending all of your energy on a single physical task will leave you with little left to spend on your emotion. Try going for a run, lifting some weights (be sure to use proper form), or playing a fastpaced sport. Make sure to ease off the exercise once the emotion has worn off as to not over-exert yourself needlessly.

You can also try pacing your breathing. With distressing emotions, your breathing will likely be quick or out of sorts. Try slowing it by breathing deeply and purposefully. The most important part is to breathe out more slowly than you breathe in so that your heart rate can slow and your brain can ease off its distress signals.

Breathe in for five seconds and out for seven and repeat for several minutes.

Finally, try slowly tipping your face into cold water, holding it there for approximately 30 seconds but being careful to surface and breathe if need be. For safety reasons, the water should be above 10 degrees C (50 degrees F). This method will trigger the mammalian response, a diving reflex that causes your heart rate to slow dramatically. Similar to paced breathing, a slowed heart rate will calm distress signals. However, consider a different method if your emotion is causing you to have trouble breathing.

ALL IN ALL...

If you’re like me and you’ve struggled to incorporate thoughtbased therapies to improve your mental health, some of these behaviour-altering ideas might help you. If not, that’s OK too! There are lots of resources and other modes of therapy out there that might resonate better with you.

•

If you find yourself feeling really stressed out, try doing some intense exercise such as jogging, weightlifting, or playing a fast-paced sport.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Good2Talk hotline 1-866925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 • Here 24/7 hotline 1-844437-3247 or 519-821-3582 • Therapistaid.com mental health worksheet archive • Inkblottherapy.com mental health video counselling app • For University of Guelph resources, first dial 519-8244120 and then enter the extension number. › Counselling services and health clinic ex. 52131 › Wellness Education Centre ex. 53327 › Sexual violence support and education coordinator ex.

53020 › Stress management and high performance clinic ex.

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26

SUMMER ISSUE | A PR . 2 9, 202 1

THE ONTARION

Four cool treats for hot summer days

WATERMELON PIZZA

Recipe by Tonia at The Gunny Sack.

Yields approximately 12 slices

Take your tastebuds on vacation with fun variations on summer time favourites

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •

ELLYSE MCGARR

I

t’s safe to say that this year people will be spending their summer on staycation. However, while you might miss trips to amusement parks or yearn for a tropical getaway, you can still enjoy treats at home that remind you of them!

Bring the taste of Disneyland into your kitchen by making a copycat Dole Whip at home. Daydream about the good ol’ neighborhood ice cream truck that drove down your road playing its light and cheery tune while you make orange creamsicle pops. Envision the beautiful and dreamy expanse of the ocean as you drink a wonderfully turquoise Blue Lagoon smoothie. Finally, have some fun with watermelon and add toppings to make a refreshing, fruity pizza.

All of these treats are very easy to make. Some only require a handful of ingredients, and are things you may already have in your fridge or will be easy to find at the grocery store as they are in season this time of year. For added staycation points, enjoy these outside on a sunny day in your backyard or on your balcony or patio.

HOMEMADE DISNEYLAND DOLE WHIP

Recipe by Gemma at BiggerBolder Baking.

Directions:

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients: • •

4 cups (16oz/450g) small chunks of frozen pineapple 1 cup (8oz/225g) of low-fat coconut milk (or milk of choice, almond, regular)

Directions:

1. Place the coconut milk and frozen chunks of pineapple into a food processor or high-powered blender.

2. Turn on the food processor and blend until the consistency becomes creamy.

3. You will have to stop several times and scoop down the pineapple.

4. Keep blending until all of the pineapple chunks are gone and the mix is smooth.

5. Enjoy immediately as it is ‘soft serve’ and should be eaten straight away.

6. If you want to freeze a little you can, just know it does freeze solid once frozen and is no longer soft.

4 oz cream cheese, softened 4 oz cool whip 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla A watermelon 1/2 cup sliced strawberries 1/2 cup sliced peaches 1/2 cup sliced kiwi 1/2 cup blueberries

The Blue Lagoon smoothie is chock-full of superfoods like spirulina and blueberries which lend to its vibrant colour.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

ORANGE CREAMSICLE YOGURT POPS

Recipe by Carla at Homemade in the Kitchen.

Yields 4 pops

Ingredients: • • • • •

One 5.3 oz cup regular vanilla yogurt or a dairy free alternative vanilla yogurt 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon orange zest 1/2 cup orange juice 4 popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. In a blender, blend together the yogurt, sugar, orange zest, and juice.

2. Pour into popsicle molds and insert sticks.

3. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours or overnight.

•

1. Beat the softened cream cheese.

2. Mix in the cool whip.

3. Stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla.

4. Slice the watermelon into rounds — lay the watermelon on its side and use a long, sharp, sturdy knife to cut evenly spaced widthwise slices from the watermelon.

5. Spread 1/2 cup of the cream cheese frosting on each slice of watermelon.

6. Cut the ‘pizza’ into slices, size of your choosing.

7. Top each slice with sliced fruit.

3 tablespoons coconut water (can also sub tap water)

For the assembly • • • • •

peeled coconut (or cup of your choosing) 1 kiwi, cut fresh blueberries chia seeds dried coconut flakes

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine all smoothie ingredients and blend until smooth.

2. Pour into the coconut or cup, then top with kiwi, blueberries, chia seeds, and coconut flakes.

BLUE LAGOON SMOOTHIE

Recipe by Sarah at Broma Bakery.

Yields 1 smoothie

Ingredients: For the smoothie • • • Dole Whip is a Disneyland favourite that you can recreate at home using only two ingredients.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

• • •

1 large banana 3/4 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes 1 teaspoon spirulina 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon fresh blueberries

Watermelon pizza is extremely versatile. Try spreading honey, Nutella, or yogurt on each slice and top with chocolate chips and a drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

OPINION

THEONTARION.COM

27

 DIARY OF A VET STUDENT

Carleigh Cathcart recently graduated from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the U of G’s Ontario Veterinary College.

Goodbye to Guelph: A final farewell Ending 10 years of writing for The Ontarion ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY CARLEIGH CATHCART

T

en years. It’s both a very long stretch, and a mere blip on the timeline of our lives.

For me, 10 years represents not only the amount of time that has passed since I first moved to Guelph, but the number of years since I rediscovered life itself and began a journey of recovery, discovery, and growth.

On a hot September Saturday in 2011, I sat in a Lennox-Addington dorm room on a northern corner of campus, surrounded by the familiarity of my belongings and the strangeness of everything else. Having already deferred my acceptance to the University of Guelph by one year for health reasons, I had decided that it was

time to try something — somewhere — new, in an attempt to regain the parts of me that I’d lost, and hopefully find some that I didn’t know existed yet. It was a frightening decision for both me and my family, but it ultimately proved to be exactly what I needed.

Since that day, an astronomical amount of change has occurred in my life and in the lives of those around me. My own milestones throughout that time range from academic (two degrees) to personal (I’m engaged!). Ten years provided plenty of opportunity for gains (two siblings, a best friend, a support network) as well as losses (a grandparent, several beloved pets, a few friendships). The houses (five), jobs (eight), and people

(countless) that came into and out of my life have each left memories and marks on me.

Guelph — the city and the university — looks dramatically different today than it did in 2011.

The empty fields I passed while driving to school to attend Frosh Move-In Day are now filled with plazas and subdivisions — the new ‘south end.’ Condo buildings line the river downtown, where some of my first party spots waxed and waned in and out of existence.

Today, shiny new chains du jour occupy the lot where the Sears department store once stood. Alas, a sign of the times.

The campus itself is perhaps even more divergent from my early days. Macdonald Hall no

longer stands as the female-only residence, but instead houses the Lang School of Business and Economics. The engineering, veterinary, and agricultural colleges all boast new facilities, and the library layout today is unrecognizable to me. Even before COVID-19 hit, Creelman Hall and the University Centre had been transformed, open and brighter, but somehow more sterile and less welcoming too.

Even The Ontarion, which I have been writing for regularly since I first became a Gryphon, has seen its fair share of evolution.

Originally a weekly publication, the university’s independent student newspaper has

experienced some financial and technological constraints over the past decade, transitioning to monthly issues in 2019. As such, the frequency of my submissions also dropped to monthly. With each academic period came new editorial staff, new paper design, and new angles for me to consider as a volunteer writer. My own submissions have ranged widely in topic, but were often opinion articles (as my need for catharsis would have it). More recently, my columns shifted to better connect the community at large with the veterinary world.

What time cannot change, thankfully, is the impact Guelph had on my growth as an individual throughout the most decisive years of my life. I am a firm believer that life is a summation of the insignificant, and what I’ve realized over the past decade is the collective impact each day, month, and year has had. The many exciting or challenging firsts (first bar, first homecoming, first exam) quickly tumbled into seconds, thirds, and fourteenths, playing a big role in shaping who I’ve become.

It’s important to me to note the unique aspects of Guelph that I’ll never forget. So for selfish purposes, I hereby honour my fond memories of: Pep Rally, College Royal, Old Jeremiah, Aggie Pub, Preservation Park, the Stampede Ranch bull, the Arboretum, the Basilica of Our Lady, Starkey Hill, the Guelph Storm, the Guelph Humane Society, and the numerous local businesses that populate this amazing city.

It’s harder for me to write this than I anticipated. Not because I lack the ability or the sentiment, but because the emotions in my brain and the motions of my fingers seem unusually disjointed.

“Summarize the most formative decade of your life in 1000 words or less,” is what I tasked myself with. However, for someone who always has something to say, I am at an uncharacteristic loss for words.

So instead of trying to nicely condense an entire era of my life, I’m going to leave you with the honest farewell of a girl who will always be a Guelphite at heart. A piece of me was planted on campus ten years ago, and crept like a weed into a new corner of town with each passing year. Those roots are firm, and although I was not born here, it is difficult to believe I will call anywhere else ‘home.’

Goodbye, Guelph, and thank you for everything.

FUN STUFF

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THE ONTARION

29 & 30 | FUN PAGES

SUMMER TO-DO LIST Disclaimer: The events listed are happening and abide by regional COVID-19 restrictions as of April 28, 2021.

MAY 8 - 10

JUNE 28

AUGUST 5

Mother’s Day Weekend Virtual Event: LUNAFEST®2021 FILMS BY AND ABOUT WOMEN By: Zonta Guelph LUNAFEST® is an event that connects women, their stories, and their causes through film.

This season’s program of seven selected short films (86 minutes total) will compel discussion, make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and motivate you to make a difference in your community.

May 8 at 9 a.m. to May 10 at 9 a.m. / Online via lunafest.org / $15.00

Indigenous Creative Writing Circle; “Writing Relations” with Hope Engel By: Guelph Spoken Word Indigenous creative ‘“Write Relations” circle examines the identity formation & creative writing process for Indigenous participants using Cree-Metis author Kim Anderson’s medicine wheel: Resist (Who Am I Not?), Reclaim (Where Have I Come From?), Construct (Where Am I Going?) & Act (What Are My Responsibilities?).

6:30 p.m. / Online via eventbrite. ca / Free

Womxn of Color Empower Hour By: Intune Collective Please join us for a monthly power hour of womxn supporting womxn in a safe, open learning environment where you will leave inspired and more confident to express your voice and gifts in the world. Created for change makers, business leaders, and emerging social impact visionaries.

5 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

MAY 8 Comedy Night Fundraiser By: Community of Hearts We will be showcasing some of Guelph’s local talent during the improv part of the show and the Toronto based comedy talent from Bad Dog Theatre Company will be the event headliner. A “Goodie Bag” will be dropped off to local attendees the day of the event. All proceeds go towards supporting Community of Hearts day programming.

7 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / $56.50 per household

JUNE 5 Slaight Music SING! Collegiate A Cappella Competition - Finals By: Sing! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival Our 3 national finalists vie for the Grand Prize — and national bragging rights — as our team of celebrity judges pick the winner of the first ever Slaight Music SING! Toronto Collegiate Competition!

7 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

JUNE 9 Tips for Growing Your Small Business Following on Social Media By: Time Campbell Algorithms and reels and lives, oh my! How are you expected to know how to grow on each platform?

We’ll tackle that during this event.

1 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

AUGUST 17

JULY 9 Arlen Hlusko By: Guelph Musicfest 2021 Live music returns to the Guelph Youth Music Centre Recital Hall with in-person attendance, plus a Digital Musicfest with new live streaming and HD video replays!

In person attendance may be limited by COVID-19 restrictions.

Canadian cellist Arlen Hluskio is a dynamic and versatile young artist who has performed extensively throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.

7:30 p.m. / Online via guelphmusicfest.ca / $100 - $200

Icons by Flaticon

AUGUST 11 Social Connection amidst Physical Distancing By: Joyful Life Solutions: Life Coaching, Speaking & Training Join this virtual gathering to receive some tips on managing emotions and adjustments, while also having the opportunity to socialize and meet new people. It’s important to feel connected to others in times of uncertainty, and know that you are not alone.

6 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

Love Filled Stitches Shawl Knitting Group By: Creating Connection Canada Join this online group with your needles, hooks, yarn and wool and share in patterns, concerns, discussion, and group blessings of our shawl creations as we work towards completing them with hopeful anticipation of gifting them to someone in need.

7 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

AUGUST 20 Sex and the Pandemic By: School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University A Speaker Series organized by Ricky Varghese (May – October 2021) Hosted by the School of Disability Studies, Ryerson University.

1:30 p.m. / Online via eventbrite. ca / Free

JUNE 14

JUNE 3 Communities Moving Beyond Crisis By: Our Community Builders Join us as we present 15+ experts who’ll share their thoughts on how to come out the other side of the pandemic with more influence, larger networks and proven ways to remain at the centre of their communities.

1 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

DH@Guelph Summer Workshops 2021 By: Digital Humanities at the University of Guelph Each workshop involves 3.5 hours of video contact time (with a break) over 4 days.

All are welcome!

8:30 p.m. / Online via eventbrite. ca / $0 - $50

JUNE 18 The Woman I Want: A Performance Video of the Poetry of Zandokht Shirazi By: Initiative for Iranian Studies 4 p.m. / Online via utoronto.zoom. us / $5 - $10

JULY 24 Rolston String Quartet By: Guelph Musicfest 2021 Live music returns to the Guelph Youth Music Centre Recital Hall with in-person attendance, plus a Digital Musicfest with new live streaming and HD video replays!

In person attendance may be limited by COVID-19 restrictions. With their debut recording “Souvenirs,” Canada’s Rolston String Quartet continues to receive acclaim and recognition for their musical excellence.

7:30 p.m. / Online via guelphmusicfest.ca / $100 - $200

AUGUST 12 Coffee and Connect with Shannon Houde By: Shannon Houde Shannon will be live once a month to answer your questions, whether it’s about the market, financial fears, personal branding, job hunting, interview techniques, negotiations, etc.

4 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

AUGUST 25 Our Voice Matters By: Cynthia Jeffrey Our Voice Matters in the North comprises members from Orillia to Sudbury and Algoma.

They are a group of self-advocates who are working together to increase and improve the services in Ontario for people who experience disabilities.

1 p.m. / Online via eventbrite.ca / Free

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© 2013 KrazyDad.com

SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM ISSUE 190.4

CONNECT WITH US   @TheOntarion

 TheOntarion.com

 @Ontarion

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Across 1–Cover story 6–From a distance 10–Latvia’s capital 14–Ancient Greek city-state 15–Attention 16–It parallels a radius 17–Squeeze 18–Gossip 19–Drab 20–One tenth, usually 21–Most lucid 23–Petroleum 25–Period of human life 26–Jump 29–Rent-___ 32–Run up 37–Bar order 38–Primer pet 39–Not forming an angle

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40–Make urban 43–Historical records 44–Traditional prayer ending 45–Capitol Hill abbr.

46–Lasso 47–Serpents 48–Of the highest quality 49–Taxi 51–Digit of the foot 53–Put up with 58–Slight puff of wind 62–Emilia’s husband 63–Folk singer Phil 64–Like Fran Drescher’s voice 65–WWII battle site 66–Takes to court 67–Skirt 68–Hammer head 69–Salinger girl 70–Actress Taylor

Down 1–PDA entry 2–Actress Singer 3–Belinda Carlisle’s “Should ___ You In?” 4–Spiritual supervisor 5–Japanese immigrant 6–Electrically versatile 7–Fall short 8–Debt that remains unpaid 9–Put a new price on 10–Hick 11–Evils 12–Midge 13–Exclamation of relief 22–President before Bush 24–Reindeer herders 26–Truman’s birthplace 27–1985 Kate Nelligan film 28–MetLife competitor 30–Dove’s sound 31–Geographical reference 33–Calendar abbr.

34–Licoricelike flavor 35–Dimensions 36–Hound’s trail 38–Comfort in misfortune 39–Bikini blast 41–Rodent, betrayer 42–Babysitter’s handful 47–Calculating device 48–Act properly 50–”______ by any other name…”

52–Dog tag datum 53–London gallery 54–Stare 55–Crazy as a ___ 56–Not us 57–Being, to Brutus 59–This ___ outrage!

60–Become dim 61–Run away 62–AOL, e.g.

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11–Member of the clerical order 12–Ancient Palestinian 15–Lith., once 18–Auctioned auto, often 22–Long-sleeved linen vestment 23–Hydrocarbon ending 25–Slithery beasts 28–Syr. neighbor 29–Sounds like a kitten 30–European sea 31–Chemical suffix 34–Suffix with exist 35–___ long way 37–Period 38–Home of the cubs 39–Reducing grain to meal 40–Mezzanine 43–Hemingway title word 44–Bristly 45–Seventh planet 46–___ Pieces 47–Coal container 49–Stuff 51–Michelangelo masterpiece 52–So far 55–”___ had it!”

56–Helps 57–Quick cut 59–Logical beginning?

62–Pitches 63–”The Waste Land” monogram

Bob’s Dogs Crossword Contest For your chance to win two Bob’s dogs and two pops, just complete an EASY crossword, snap a picture, and send it to puzzles@theontarion.com by Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. Winners and anyone else who fills in the crossword correctly are announced in the paper each issue. Winners can arrange a physically distanced pickup of their voucher by emailing the same address.

Last issue’s winning puzzle was submitted by

Ania Wajda

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33–Exalt 35–Captive 36–Tree specialist 38–Bone-dry 39–Article of faith 41–Relaxed 42–Hebrew prophet 43–Borden cow 44–University of Florida player 45–Magna ___ 47–Hockey’s Mikita 50–Diminutive suffix 51–La-la lead-in 52–One of the Four Forest Cantons 53–RR stop

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