Volume 51 | Issue 14 | February 27 | 2017
INside:
CMPLX photography profiles diversity at Trent: flip to our feature for more!
Arthur talks trump Iceman Video games Mary-Kate Edwards Controversial CITY with michael lista hosting launch PartY to release new EP donation to DBIA
Editors-in-chief Yumna Leghari & Zara Syed editors@trentarthur.ca @TrentArthur /ArthurNews
Photographer Isioma Mafiana @cmplx_ @mafiana_isioma
Copy Editor
CONTENTS Volume 51 Issue 14
Opinion
Proofreader Amanda Reed
Board of Directors
Double Feature
• Pg 3: Seeds of the future in government • Pg 3: Editorial
Community
• Pg 8: Controversial developments at City Council funding DBIA • Pg 8: Queer Coll(u/i)ssions Conference Preview • Pg 9: Nintendo Switch launch party at Iceman Videogames!
Campus
• Pg 6: Michael Lisa Writer in Residence
Zafer Izer
February 27 2017
• Pg 7: (CMPLX) photo spread
Arts
• Pg 10: Soul Café hosted by the Peterborough Poetry collective • Pg 11: Mary K. Edwards EP Release Pg 11: B. A Johnson EP Release
Special thanks to the talented Isioma Mafiana for honouring us with his incredible photography this issue. We urge the Peterborough community to hire local up and coming photographers such as Isi for projects! Looking for engagement or graduation photos? Support your local artists and students at Trent. Their rates are often lower than most, so hire them before they become the most in demand local photographers. Check out Isioma’s work by visiting his website cplx.weebly.com or Instagram @cmplx_ To contact him you can email isiomamafiana@gmail.com
Chair: Anthony Moniz Treasurer: Josh Skinner Secretary: Amino Yusuf Members at Large: Jordan Porter • Jeffery Moore • Matt Douglas • Shanese Steele
Contributors • Zara Syed • Shanese Steele • Holly Butler • Clay Duncalfe • Steven Brak • Isioma Mafiana • Josh Skinner • Tyler Majer • Lubna Sadek • Berfin Aksoy• Jennifer Templeton • Zafer Izer •Samantha Moss Submissions due Thursdays at 12:00 pm Articles should be subitted via email as *.rtf, *.odt, *.odt or *.txt attachment | word limit: 800 words. Letters to the editor | word limit: 100 words Listings, annoucements | word limit: 100 words Images should be submitted via email, Google Drive, Dropbox or other firesharing site. Images should be sent as attachments in *.jpeg and *.tiff formats with a dpi of no less than 300 pixels Arthur reserves the right to edit for length and clarity. Opinions expressed in this publication do not reflect those of Arthur staff, volunteers or its Board of Directors.
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Contact us for more info at: advertising@trentarthur.ca
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Flashback to our very first cover of Volume 50, Issue 0. Pictured on the bridge is poet Beth Lexah, a powerful image that spoke to us by Samantha Moss, reminiscent of our current cover. Whatever will become of Samantha Moss? Well, due to recent budget cuts, Sam is no longer Arthur Newspaper’s current photographer. The beautiful soul still volunteers her time for the newspaper, and can often be seen on the streets of Peterborough, running around with her camera hoping someone will give her a job. If you would like to hire Samantha, check out her page at www.MossWorksPhotography.com or check out her instagram @MossWorks. But seriously, hire these students, please.
OPINION
Editorial: the changing identity and diversity of Trent University Zara Syed
When I moved to Peterborough from Toronto in 2009, Peterborough was more racially homogenous, and walking down the street was a bit scarier. Campus was visibly less diverse as well, but there was never a lack of inclusion or of an international community on campus. The racial demographics of the small white town that harbours our campus led me to get involved in activism, and in this rich and vibrant community, I found many a complex discourse taking place. The identity of Trent, and of the growing diversity on and off campus, can be reflected in the celebrations that take place. Powerful student groups putting on events, such as Cultural Outreach and Isi Mafiana’s photography project featured this week, showcase this growing diversity and the richness of the cultures that are being fostered here. It seems like a long time ago when I made my debut in Arthur Newspaper with my
first article, Where Is Black History Month at Trent Symons Campus? The piece commented on the lack of Black History celebrations that year, and compared our campus with Trent in Oshawa, where events in that month pertaining to Black History were well celebrated. I further explored this topic in an editorial titled A History of Hate Crimes in Peterborough in light of the tragic fire at Masjid- Al- Salaam last year (Volume 50 Issue 10). There are so many community organizations that offer themselves as resources for individuals looking to become more involved in grassroots activism surrounding race and racism. Community and Race Relations Committee (CRRC) was my first interaction with our powerful activist community, and it was here I discovered that Peterborough has a complex narrative when it comes to racism. I still reference their archives when delving into the discourse surrounding racism in Peterborough. The inception of CRRC was inspired by
an incident that occurred in the summer of 1981, when two Nigerian international students were attacked outside the local Cineplex theatre with bear mace. When bystanders stood by and did nothing, it sparked a debate in the Peterborough area. In an article from the Peterborough Examiner published in 1982, journalist David Orfald writes, “Media coverage of [the] beatings brought into the public eye a problem which had been brewing over a number of years. It was in response to this heightened awareness that Mayor Bob Barker set to [sic] the race relations committee in October 1981.” Why bring up this ancient history in 2017? Because when moving away from the protective bubble of campus and into the heart of downtown Peterborough, one is faced with a different set of challenges. Racism and microaggressions towards visible minorities take place in everyday interactions. Some larger acts, such as the fire at Masjid-Al-Salaam, equally depict the racism that exists.
When I was working as a research assistant at CRRC in the summer of 2012, one of the most common documented examples of racism was that of young Nigerian males facing challenges in securing housing and employment in Peterborough. What do you even do when you’re a student that just wants to continue living in Peterborough and pursue successful employment? At the end of the day, it’s difficult to claim racism because it wasn’t explicitly said that you didn’t get the job because you’re not an Old Stock Canadian. That is why the rise of visible minorities living in Peterborough from 1981 to now is so important. It shows that even as we become more diverse as a community, there is still a long way to go in terms of genuine inclusivity. As women of colour, we bring a certain lens to this position, one that is reflected in every issue we take pride in producing. With only a couple of issues left, we continue to strive in creating a newspaper that represents you and the multicultural identity that exists here at Trent University.
Adhering to a path dependent philosophy in government affairs: seeds for the future
Steven Brak In light of current domestic and foreign affairs, we are being inundated with an overwhelming amount of information centered about our collective security and the preservation of personal rights and freedoms in Canada. The sheer volume of reporting can be taxing, contradictory, and lead many people to turn off the news and become free from the burden, indifferent yet uncommitted and willing to have others make critical decisions for them blindly. What every Canadian should consider instead is to spend some time informing themselves about 20th century Canadian history; listening to the advice of elders; and immersing themselves into the arena of proactive civics. A central point to think about is recognizing the fact that becoming educated about our past may enlighten us to pause, reflect and not cyclically repeat the mistakes of the past. Our Canadian history is compiled from archival documents and firsthand testimonials from people who lived during a period of time, saw society evolve
over the course of their lives, experienced occasions where governments attempted to curtail civil liberties, and felt the effects of deleterious restrictions. Reading about our history and actively listening to those surviving elders are valuable, fundamental blueprints toward shaping a rich and meaningful society, in a sense creating our own chapter in history and future for other generations. A dual spike in the volume of information, stemming from live cable news reporting and the surge of the Internet, coupled with the vast and complex challenges facing the 7.4 billion people inhabiting such a finite planet can give us the feeling of being stuck primarily in the present. “Here and now” seems to be the prevailing focus and rapid, sometimes ill-planned, responses to issues take form and spread roots. Alternatively, there should be an intelligent, ingrained sense of reflecting upon our historical past and facts throughout the decision making process. Rightfully so, we are concerned about terrorism, hate-inspired crimes and other threats and, while we live in such a turbulent era, we depend upon our governments to ensure public safety. Should we simply
assume, in the past and future, they always have our best interests in mind and accept policies devised to keep us safe, regardless of the formulation? We see the United States devolving from true democracy and we may ask ourselves: “Has anything like this happened in Canada?” The answer is, yes, it has. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, there was unregulated and repeated repression of free speech and assembly throughout the provinces for over 18 years. Various individuals in offices of high power were concerned about the emergence and mobilization of the Communist Party and trade unionism, resulting in the police adopting sweeping powers to curb what they perceived as threats to democracy. Although officially recognized as a legitimate organization in 1929, on August 13th of that year, a communist party rally of 60 people was violently broken up by police at Queen’s Park, Toronto. Using the pretext of the group having neither permission to rent a hall nor to engage in an outdoor demonstration, Toronto Police Chief Dennis Draper put down the peaceful rally with excessive force. In 1931, 600 miners from the Souris coalfield near Bienfait,
Saskatchewan organized a union through the Workers Unity League and lead a strike protesting living and working conditions on 29 September, 1931 at the nearby town of Estevan. The RCMP intervened, resulting in the deaths of three miners and injury of another eleven; four injured local citizens, and five wounded police. The subsequent Royal Commission of Estevan on 2 November 1931, put eight people on trial with seven receiving sentences of five years’ hard labour plus an additional two years for sedition. The commission utilized Section 98 of the Criminal Code, citing restricted right to assembly, discussion and dissemination of literature leading to sedition and division of the population. Therefore, Canada became one of the first nations to outlaw the communist party. A suppression of civil liberties which many historians now agree was ultra vires, or beyond the scope of what the law allows. After the 7 December 1941 attack on Hong Kong, Malaya and Hawaii, Canada announced on 8 December that a state of war had existed between Canada and the Empire of Japan as of December 7th. On 14 January 1942, the federal government passed an order requiring the removal of Canadian males of Japanese origin aged 18-45 from areas 100 miles inland from the British Columbia coast. On 24 February 1942, the government passed order in council PC 1468 under the War Measures Act removing all persons of Japanese descent to internment camps in the BC interior, Alberta and the Prairies. A Japanese-Canadian had two choices in 1942: agree to internment, or be repatriated back to Japan. A reflex response to a fear that was morally corrupt, this policy lasted until 1949 and was finally apologized for by Brian Mulroney in 1988. A conscientious, path-dependent process needs to be taken into account when devising strategies to deal with specific problems we are faced with at present and they should be assessed on the basis of whether they are fair and respectful of basic human rights. Following a flawed past does not lead to prosperity, just retrograde stagnation. As citizens, we have a responsibility to follow the direction we are being taken and hold our governments accountable by actively voicing our opposition whenever we feel violations are self-evident. There is no greater strength than the power of the pen and using our voices to affect real change.
Volume 51| Issue 14 | Februar y 27| 2017
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Arthur’s spring elections are happening soon! Elect the editor(s) and board for Volume 52 Arthur Spring Elections are coming up! That means that it is time to elect the editor(s) and three Staff Collective Board directors for the upcoming academic year. For more information about these positions, please consult the Arthur Policies and Procedures. You can also contact the Arthur board at board@trentarthur.ca.
Time and Place The election location will be announced in
the next issue. The date of the elections is Wednesday April 6, 2016. Refreshments, likely Persian, will be provided.
Agenda The Adgenda is usually as follows: 1. Editor(s) Remarks 2. Presentations of candidates for editor(s) platforms (10 minute limit per set of candidates) 3. Question Period 4. Election of Editor(s) 5. Election of three Board directors by the Staff Collective 6. Adjournment
our purposes that means you must have contributed to at least three. (Again, see right.)
Proxy Votes In accordance with section 6e of the
Arthur bylaws, staff collective members may participate in the election through means of proxy vote. They may appoint, in writing, a proxy holder to vote for them in the election. The proxy holder does not need to be a member of the staff collective. Proxies must bring: - The name and signature of the Staff Collective member - The date the proxy is signed - Who the proxy is giving voting powers to - Who the Staff Collective member is voting for (or the Staff Collective member can allow the proxy holder to choose who to vote for).
Who can run for editor? Candidates for the position of editor(s)
must be members of the Staff Collective at the time of the election. Two Staff Collective members may choose to run as co-editors. They must have been running together to fill the positions of co-editors together.
Who can vote Only those who are on the staff collective at Who can run for the Board? the time of the election can vote (the list so far is to the right). Voting is done by secret ballot. Everyone on the staff collective is entitled to a single ballot.
Anyone who is a member of the Staff Collective at the time of the election.
You are considered part of the staff collective if you have contributed to the production of at least 15% of the issues of Arthur released before the election. For
Noon. All sets of editorial candidates must submit a position platform (800 word limit) and photograph by this time. These will be published online and in Issue 15.
Who’s on the Staff Collective? Deadlines The deadline for nominations for editorial candidates is Thursday March 13 2017 at
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Those wanting to run as Staff Collective directors on the board can be nominated at the Spring Election meeting.
Volume 51 Staff Collective as of Issue 14
Samantha Moss Zafer Izer Mauricio Interiano Marina Wilke Holly Stark Clay Duncalfe Lubna Sadek
Berfin Aksoy Jordan Porter Joshua Skinner Shanese Steele Scott Maufront Dan Morrison Tyler Majer
One contribution needed: Matt Douglas Brendan Campbell Hayley Raymond Shan Culkeen Daniel Morris Jenny Fisher
Derek NewmanStille Kristina Dergacheva Daniela Leal Sarah Crookall
Should you be on this list? Email editors@trentarthur.ca Want to be on this list? Just contribute to Arthur!
@CMPLX_
Volume 51| Issue 14 | Februar y 27| 2017
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FEATURE
Recent Writer-in-Residence, Michael Lista, outlines what it means to be a writer in the Trump era
FEATURE
Isioma Mafiana; flawlessly photographing diversity on campus Photography by Isioma Mafiana
“The atmosphere of totalitarianism is deadly to any kind of prose writer, though a poet... might possibly find it breathable.”
Source: poetryfoundation.org
-George Orwell, The Prevention of Literature
Clay Duncalfe When George Orwell published “The Prevention of Literature” in 1946, he did so in the face of British liberal academics and writers who had grown a deep affinity for the freshly emboldened USSR following the aftermath of the Second World War. This deeply troubling ideological shift, in Orwell’s view, represented a new political climate in which those who were once on the front lines in the battle for liberal values such as freedom of speech and the press were now becoming increasingly hesitant to defend these previously cherished ideals. “Any writer or journalist who wants to retain his integrity finds himself thwarted by a general drift of society,” the author lamented. To Michael Lista, Orwell’s words are as relevant now as they were then. A Toronto-based journalist and poet, as well as a regular contributor to The National Post and poetry editor for The Walrus, Lista has been named Trent University’s most recent Writer-in-Residence, a fellowship established in 1988 as a tribute and in memory of Canadian novelist Margret Laurence, who also served as the university’s fourth chancellor. He visited Trent earlier this month to meet with students and to deliver a lecture entitled “Outside the Whale: Literature and the Left in the Age of Trump”.
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Drawing parallels between the rise of illiberal sentiments among Britain’s leftleaning intelligentsia during the post-war period of the 1940s and Trumpism, Lista’s lecture focused primarily on the role the literary left have to play in a new political climate of right-winged demagoguery and nationalism. “American authoritarianism seemed impossible until the moment it was inevitable.” He asserted to the room of aspiring writers and faculty members in Traill College’s Bagnani Hall. Like many within Canada and the United States, in the weeks leading up to November’s election, Lista perceived it as impossible for Trump to take the presidency. Media gatekeepers such as The New York Times and Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight projected Hillary had a 90% chance of winning, and those within his mostly-progressive circle of friends and acquaintances had accepted that the election would be handed to what many perceived to be the neoliberal, establishment candidate and lesser of two evils. Much to Lista’s dismay, this was not the case. Lista saw the election of Trump as a point in which advocates of the left have had to— and must—facilitate a fundamental shifting of their political priorities. “The left has sort of taken for granted the fact that all of our battles are within [and no longer for] Liberal democracy. I think what the rise of Trump proves is that the fight for liberal democracy is not quite over,” he told Arthur. “The fears of a new form of liberal internationalism seem almost quaint in the face of Trump’s isolationist, economic nationalism.” From Lista’s perspective, this isn’t to say that criticisms of neoliberal globalism aren’t still valid, just that they bear far more relevance in “the alternate universe in which Hilary Clinton actually won.” He believes that now more than ever, in a political climate where the Trump administration’s Chief Strategist Steve Bannon believes “The media should keep its mouth shut” and “alternative facts” have become synonymous with blatant lies, it is the responsibility of prominent leftist figures to be willing to stand up and speak out against political injustices, even if in doing so, they
are acting against their own self interests. Lista’s faith in his peers to take on this challenge was met with discontent in the aftermath of his publication of an investigative piece entitled “The Shock Absorber” for the independent news website CANADALAND. The feature brought to light a connection between Scott Griffin, the founder of the highly coveted Griffin Poetry Prize and the Harper government’s $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Lista was shocked at the lengths in which those within Canada’s literary circles would go to defend the businessman’s ties to this highly oppressive, autocratic regime, which has been known to persecute free thinkers and journalists daring to question the status quo. Even after Griffin decided to step down from the Board of Directors of the corporation linked to the deal, presumably in light of the revelations made by Lista’s article, those within the whole of Canada’s literati were still hesitant to, as scholar Clint Burnham put it, “bite the hand that feeds them”.
In spite of this hope, Lista’s work with the field of journalism has introduced him to a wide range of folks who do not only not share his vision of a new tomorrow, but who are also working just as hard against these principles as he is struggling to uphold them. He cites literary gadflies such as Renate Adler, Christopher Hitchens, Sylvia Plath, and of course, George Orwell as some of his most important influences. Along with his work at The National Post and The Walrus, Lista’s writing has also been featured in Slate and The Atlantic. He is also the author of the poetry books Bloom and The Scarborough, as well as Strike Anywhere: Essays, Reviews & Other Arsons, in which a more detailed account of the “Shock Absorber” affair can be found. Despite Lista’s long list of achievements, the author and poet remains strikingly humble, describing his latest title of Trent’s writer-in-residence as “an absolutely undeserved honor”. While the author may be quick to underplay his accomplishments, it is hard
“The left has taken for granted the fact that all of our battles are within Liberal democracy. The rise of Trump proves that the fight for liberal democracy is not quite over...The fears of a new form of liberal internationalism seem almost quaint in the face of Trump’s isolationist, economic nationalism.” Though disheartened by reactions from his literary peers, Lista still remains optimistic in the role journalists and other writers have to play in a world that he hopes will continue progressing in a “more leftward direction”. Source: Vehicule Press Blog
to imagine Mr. Lista’s story not serving as an inspiration to young writers hoping to break through in the world of Canadian journalism and literature, while remaining steadfast in their commitments to the ideals of social justice and a quest for the truth.
Shanese Steele There’s a saying that “a picture says a thousand words,” and photographers often use their photos as a doorway into other worlds or an escape from reality. Photographs can tell unknown truths and convey emotions without speech. It’s why people seek out some of the best and most talented photographers to capture the stories of their lives. One of those talented photographers is a Trent’s very own Isioma Mafiana, or as many call him, Isi. Much like other talented photographers such as Emeka Okereke, Lakin Ogunbanwo and George Osodi, Mafiana was born raised in Nigeria until the age of 12. Relocating to Oman for seven years and eventually moving to Canada, Mafiana found his way to Trent by chance. While applying to school and focusing on more art-centric and big name schools, he eventually chose Trent.“Turns out it was one of the best decisions I made,” he said on his choice to come here. While here at Trent he has covered several events at the campus and in the Peterborough community. Mafiana shot at the Glow Party that takes place during Introductory Seminar Week, the annual East vs West Bank hockey game, as well as events for both South Asians Association at Trent (SAAT) and the TCSA. Photography has been a part of his life from a young age, starting with his father’s love for capturing family moments. Mafiana reminisced about those days saying, “We owned several point and shoot cameras that we used frequently, in church, restaurants, in the house or on trips. And it was a photoshoot to my dad always!” His own photography debut didn’t happen until his family’s move to Oman. Yet it was a photo of Michael Jordan that really drew him towards the art of taking pictures. When asked about what intrigued him about the photo, Mafiana replied: “To people around me it was just a poster of Michael Jordan, but to me it was a call to capture sincere moments that could not be fabricated and to strike an emotional chord on the viewer of the photo.” Some of his favourite photographers who have inspired and continue to inspire him over the years are Chris Burkard, Blair Getz Mezibov, Platon, and Peggy Sirota. Another photographer is also a local Trent student named Elijah Gwayumba, “although,” Mafiana jokingly added, “I don’t think he knows that.” He also stated that “These people just take photos that make me go back and back again to review the work, critique it, and make me improve myself.” He also applies that critical lens when he himself is being photographed, and like many other photographers Mafiana talked about the mix of reactions he has to being in front of the camera rather than behind it. Many students at Trent have worked with and been photographed by Mafiana around
campus and one of those students is Scott Maufront, who has nothing but great things to say about the experience, “He is an easy character to be around, and always goes out of his way to make you comfortable. It’s usually a pretty seamless process as he is always organized, professional, on top of logistics, and has a keen attention to detail.” Scott also added that “he possess exceptional technical ability having mastered his equipment, which helps enable his creativity. He can be decisive, knowing what poses, angles, and locations are work well and are flattering.” Maryam Rashid also commented on her experience, “I went in thinking that it was going to be me helping a friend and that I was going to get new pictures for Instagram, but I didn’t expect to get emotional during the shoot. Isi asked some questions that I thought were very intimate and I didn’t think I was going to respond to the shoot the way I did. The shoot really taught me a lot about myself.” Mafiana is now currently working on a project which showcases the diversity of the black community at Trent. Through photos Mafiana will showcase the complexities of being black and moving through the Trent campus. “The project is a photo collection of the black community at Trent and the start to not just a movement for black people but other ethnicities around Trent. The project came about because of the whole racial issue that is happening in the states, the fear moving forward with a new president that has a slightly different view on important issues,” Mafiana explained. For him, this project is important and needed, because he believes “there needs to be some topics cleared up with people in general when viewing black people, be it African or Caribbean. There needs to be a dialogue between not just people on campus but also people in the community and to me that is very important.” Trent is often seen as a “white campus,” and for many years that has been true, but with an increase in international students and having programs that appeal to a wide range of people, Trent’s diversity has grown. Projects like the one Mafiana is doing showcase how diverse each community within the Trent fabric is. Being Nigerian, Mafiana often feels like his struggles on campus have more to do with the difference in culture and traditions. “The hope is that when you read the extracts that the subject shared, people will understand that our struggles of being black are there but we are also struggling with identity, aspiring to better, or even just have a different take on how we view life.” Through this project, Mafiana also hopes that it will lead to more dialogue between black and non-black students, for people to not be afraid to engage and build relationships. “A big thing to learn is just because we identify as black doesn’t mean that we are not African, Caribbean, Aboriginal or just Canadians, same as everyone else.”
Volume 51| Issue 14 | Februar y 27| 2017
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COMMUNITY
Cooperation through confrontation: Downtown Business Improvement Association secures $150,000 from City Josh Skinner The Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA) has secured an additional $150 thousand out of the City of Peterborough for the next 20 years. This money will go to additional funding to hallowed events in the city such as Ribfest and Pulse, which create a sense of continuity and community in Peterborough. These events suggest a cooperative relationship between the city and the DBIA that benefits the citizens that love this city. The events that led up to this additional funding suggest that this relationship has become more confrontational. The additional funding is part of a settlement between the City of Peterborough and the DBIA in exchange for dropping an appeal at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The appeal was regarding the city’s decision to locate the casino at 1400 Crawford Drive instead of in the downtown core. The OMB has the power to overturn municipal decisions because cities are known as “creatures of the province”. In practice, this means that cities technically do not have any jurisdiction that is solely under their authority. So all duties that are afforded to the city are given to them by the provincial government. Due to this, the OMB has immense power over cities as large as
Toronto, and an appeal to the OMB results in halting the development of the Casino at Crawford Drive. Councillor Diane Therrien described the additional funding akin to “settling out of court” with the DBIA, although she did note that settling out of court is “usually done to save money, which is not the case here”. Councillor Gary Baldwin describes it as a “payout in order to get Aeon and the DBIA to drop the appeal,” and wonders “who will we payoff next”. Citizens also voiced their own concern at the meeting and offered critiques to the settlement. Mary Bumgartner, a concerned Peterborough resident, stated, “I don’t agree that the DBIA needs $150 thousand in extra protection.” She believed that the majority of the loss of business would happen in the south end of Peterborough. “I feel that any extra protection should go to the businesses. That $150 thousand is taxpayer money that should go to protect taxpayers [in the south end].” The settlement did get the majority of votes and was ratified in public despite being passed behind closed doors on February 13th. Councillor Andrew Beamer praised the settlement, stating that by ratifying this settlement, he was “pro-jobs, pro-community, and for reinvesting into the downtown.” He outlined the economic
impact of the casino, which he stated will bring in “120 full-time jobs with benefits and... $3.2 million annually to the city in property taxes”. With this statement, Councillor Beamer expressed his support for the settlement, but focused more on how necessary it was to begin the construction of the casino, rather than spending time in the appeal process at the OMB. Currently the DBIA receives $127 thousand annually from the city, most of which goes to cleaning up the streets. The additional $150 thousand will go to garbage removal in a different way which Councillor Lesley Parnell was happy to outline. She stated that the money would go to “additional security downtown, which would allow police officers to monitor other wards” and “investing in cameras to capture crime on tape”. She stated further that, “we have a problem with panhandlers... this is cited as the number one reason to not go downtown; if we can get rid of the panhandlers, then we can solve this problem.” Councillor Diane Therrien, who was formerly employed by the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, described this Parnell’s wording as “problematic” and that removing people from the downtown did little to “address the root cause of the problem.” This settlement allows the construction
of the casino to continue, and the DBIA to increase their budget. Councillors like Gary Baldwin noted all of the “great work” that the DBIA has done in the past. Whether or not this settlement sours the relationship between the DBIA and the City of Peterborough remains to be seen. It is clear that through this settlement, the city is establishing an adversarial stance against panhandlers and visible poverty downtown, and has contracted the DBIA to engage in a different type of clean-up than it is normally accustomed to.
Check out Josh Skinner’s blog Arthur Goes to Council on trentarthur.ca for weekly council updates, and follow him on Souncdcloud at soundcloud.com/trentvariety
Second Queer Coll(i/u)ssions Conference to take place March 3-5 Berfin Aksoy
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On March 3rd to 5th the second Annual Queer Collusions Conference will be held at Sadleir House. Last year, the first Queer Coll(i/u)sions Conference was able to gather together over 200 attendees. The dynamic initiative was co-founded by Cait Jones and Derek Newman-Stille. Newman-Stille tells Arthur what Queer Coll(i/u)sions aims to explore: “In order to give voice to the multiplicity of queer identities, we have arranged to have a conference on the collision and collusion of queer identities—the ways that our diverse identities and perspectives collide together and generate new possibilities. This will be the second year for the Queer Coll(i/u)sions Conference and it feels like it is even more important to have these conversations this year and come together collectively to talk about and think through new possibilities. The Queer Coll(i/u)sions Conference not only brings together a multitude of different people with different gender and sexual
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identities, it also brings together people involved in different forms of expression: activists, artists, authors, and academics, since there are multiple ways of expressing perspectives on Queerness.” The conference explores the multiplicity of queer identities. Artists, activists, authors, academics, and others interested in collectively exploring the multiplicity of queer identities will be getting together for another lively conference this weekend. “Despite the fact that our film, television, and literature often tries to present us with a monolithic form of queerness— one, singular image of what it means to be Queer—Queerness exists in multiplicity,” Newman-Stille says. “Queerness, like any identity, is locked into power positions and perhaps that is why our media tends to portray queerness associated with its most hegemonically unrisky form of portrayal—as the gay, white, able-bodied, cisgendered, non-asexual male. Speaking out can be a way of empowering us, and we can make changes to resist the singular image of Queerness and respond collectively to
the images that are projected about Queerness.” By allowing for different modalities of expression and examination, this year the conference hopes to provide a space for the collision of different queer discourses and push the boundaries of the traditional conference. To achieve the conference’s aim to “collude with one another, to form a rich polyphony of voices to collide with those normative ideas and constructions,” submissions of papers urging people to say something on the ideas constructed as the status quo, challenging the boundaries of tradition itself and providing a new dialogic space for interrogating ideas were requested. Queer discourse stipulates a rich space of collisions between different ideas, perspectives, thoughts, and bodies and this is why it is important to get together in these kind of events to just talk and listen. It also provides opportunities for collusion, collaboration, and cooperation. This weekend there will be art shows going on at Hobbs Memorial Library and the
Senior Common Room such as Shan Culkeen’s art show “Lino-cuts About Clinical Intimacy and Closeting”, Ronnie Ritchie’s “GQutie” sketches and Derek NewmanStille’s “Enchantments: Fairy Tale Art” exhibit. The conference also has an Only Quiet Space located in Room 301 throughout the events. The conference will include several workshops on topics ranging from learning some American Sign Language signs for queer identities and sexualities, a workshop on sexuality in the classroom, and a workshop on performance and drama. Registration is not required for this event however it is appreciated as it gives an idea of attendance numbers ahead of time plus you’ll get a pre-printed name badge if you register. There is no cost to attend this event and you can contact them at queercollisions@ gmail.com or http://fellows.sadleirhouse. ca/queercollisions/. Queer Coll(u/i)sions seeks to create a safe space for all participants. Look to our listings for the full schedule.
COMMUNITY
Iceman Videogames is hosting a launch party for Nintendo Switch release!
Holly Butler There is an exciting event happening at Iceman Video Games in downtown Peterborough March 2nd-3rd. To celebrate the Nintendo Switch release on March 3rd, we will be hosting a two day launch party. Starting March 2nd at 7pm, you will have the opportunity to play through the history of Nintendo home consoles. There will be free food, drinks and even prizes. The event will wind down at midnight when you will have the opportunity to purchase a Switch console and even the highly anticipated Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The celebration continues on March 3rd at noon, where you will be able to demo the Nintendo Switch in store. We are located at 390 George Street; participation is free, and all are welcome. Starting at 7pm on March 2nd, we will have all of Nintendo’s home consoles set up to play for free, going as far back as Zelda on the NES up to as recent as Smash Bros on the Wii-U. This will highlight Nintendo’s journey over the years and will showcase where they have drawn inspiration from when designing the Switch. Anyone looking to battle Pokemon should bring their 3DS to challenge the other players who will be there. The Nintendo Switch festivities continue on March 3rd. We will have a Switch console set up in store starting at 12pm for anyone who is curious about testing it out. We will be showcasing the new Zelda game, Breath of the Wild, and also 1-2 Switch. 1-2 Switch is going to be a unique game; it has players staring at each other instead of a screen while playing, which is definitely an interesting new direction for video games. Now you might find yourself wondering, who exactly is Iceman? Iceman Video Games is a family-run video game store that has been around since the early days of Nintendo. Originally under a different name, we started selling video games in 1992. The Super Nintendo was still fairly new at the time, but we also made sure to keep stock of the classic NES titles. In 1996 we thought a name change was in order, and have been known as Iceman Video Games ever since. What sets us apart from a lot of other independent video games stores is the fact that we have always carried new games, always having them for day of release, instead of just relying on used games. In addition to our downtown location, we have one in Lindsay. The Lindsay location is managed by original owners Chris and Gary, my parents, and the Peterbor-
ough location is managed by myself, Holly. The Peterborough location opened up in May 2015. The reason why we chose Peterborough was actually because I went to school here. I graduated from the Bachelor of Business Administration program at Trent University in the spring of 2015. The program taught me a lot, and I draw on my experiences at Trent to help me with managing the store. While at Trent I fell in love with Peterborough, and I knew I wanted to stay after I graduated. As we were already thinking of expanding to another location at the time, I made sure to suggest we join the Peterborough community. We are proud to bring events like these to our community, to help make gaming something more than just sitting in front of a screen by yourself. We recently hosted another launch party at our downtown store in November: the Pokemon Sun and Moon midnight launch party. The Pokeparty was a lot of fun, it gave everyone the opportunity to just hang out together with the common interest of the new Pokemon game coming out. The gaming community here in Peterborough is vibrant, filled with great people who all share a passion for video games, whether they grew up with them or have recently discovered gaming. I have found that a lot of gamers have unique stories as to why video games are important to them, and hearing people tell me their stories is always one of my favorite parts about work. That is a big reason why we are excited to bring you community events such as the Poke-party and now the two-day Switch event, in hopes that it can become part of a gamer’s unique story. If ever you find yourself downtown, stop in to chat, we love it when people come in and share their passion about a new game they just got, or maybe even an old game they just discovered. For me, gaming is more than just something I use to pass the time, so I like to share my passion for it with fellow gamers as well.
Volume 51| Issue 14 | Februar y 27| 2017
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ARTS
Soul Food: a Black History Month inspired event at Catalinas
Photos by Jennifer Templeton
Jordan Porter On Saturday February 25th, Catalinas in downtown Peterborough came alive with a special Black History Month-inspired event hosted by the Peterborough Slam Poetry Collective (PPSC). The event was aptly entitled “Soul Food”, with our host simply known as E.J. welcoming performers of all different styles up on the stage by way of an open-mic sign up sheet. For a low admission of only $10, audience members filled the space to see performers do their thing. There was stand up comedy, original poetry readings, and spoken word with E.J. taking the stage to share some of her own collection of heartfelt work. John Hedderwick started off the events of the evening by introducing E.J. as well as some of the other performers, while also taking the time to pay tribute to the Indigenous territory which we occupied for the night. The event was also catered by E.J. with the help of her mother and father, who were gracious enough to provide a spread of delicious fried chicken, rice, assorted salads, and cupcakes for dessert—and of course the bar was open for business as usual. After ensuring all the guests were well-fed and the audience warmed up with the first couple acts, the air was charged with anticipation to hear the main act. Two-time national slam champion and 2010 world champion Ian Keteku took the stage and wowed us with the lyrical prowess only a world champion could have. Keteku was born in Calgary, Alberta and has been working as a poet full-time for five years. After his world victory in Paris, France in 2010, Keteku decided to submerge himself completely in the craft after opportunities began to flood in for the young aspiring poet. “When you put your mind towards something, the universe sees that and really opens up to you,” Keteku said in when asked what made him sure that it was the right time to fully commit to his work as a poet. “I’ve always been moved by words and language; words are the biggest form of resistance, and by extension, the most powerful tool that humans have.” In his performance on Saturday evening, Keteku showcased his versatility in poetry. While all pieces were extremely lyrical, with sharp visual aspects, some content was so serious and thought-provoking as to leave the audience basking in reverence of the wordsmith before them. With other pieces, Keteku had the audience roaring with laughter as he interacted with a few audience members and put some on the spot. After the performance, Arthur had to fight to get some face-time in with the poet amidst a wave of thankful audience members shaking hands and congratulating Keteku for the wonderful performance. In addition to travelling the world with
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www.trentarthur.ca
his poetry, Keteku also has an animatedshort YouTube series entitled “Bolo the Dictator’s Son”, about a 10 year-old boy who is the son of an African dictator killed in action leaving the boy to be adopted by a white middle-class family in Canada. When asked if mentoring or teaching in some capacity was in his future, Keteku smiled and shook his head no, but says that he always takes the opportunity to encourage everyone to find their voice despite any and all barriers, systemic, societal or otherwise and not be afraid of any ridicule, judgment, or oppression while on stage. Although Ian doesn’t see teaching in his future, the poet says that he does have a few young poets that come to him for advice, which he welcomes and is happy to help with. If you’d like to try out your spoken word poetry and get yourself out there, the Peterborough Poetry Slam Collective hosts an open-mic poetry slam the fourth Thursday of every month at The Spill in downtown Peterborough that is open to all. Also, in October of this year, the PPSC will be hosting the National Poetry Slam Tournament featuring over 150 poets from across the nation. Special thanks for putting on this event goes out to Catalina’s for providing the space, our host E.J., Niambi Leigh, John Hedderwick, and of course E.J.’s family for supplying dinner for the crowd.
Photo by Jordan Porter
ARTS
Photo by Justin Patterson @PattersonsPhotography
Mary-KateEdwardstoreleaseEP“BlueberryPie”atTheSpillthisFriday
Tyler Majer “Oh hey, there’s Mary-Kate,” is what I would say if Mary-Kate Edwards were here right now. But she’s not. Mary-Kate Edwards does not frequent my grandparents’ basement. She’s usually somewhere on Hunter Street playing music or at Traill College, rushing around. I only ever really see her in glimpses. A quick wave or a fleeting Larry David-esque stop-and-chat. “Hi, How are you?” “Good” “Well, bye.” Edwards is a busy lady—an enigma, if
you will, and rightfully so. She’s talented as hell, and she’s been occupied with working on her latest EP, Blueberry Pie. It’s out! Well, almost. I got a chance to have an early listen. The first track on the EP is the eponymous Blueberry Pie. Edwards sings sweetly over a pulsing piano. “Should I let the fire touch the wicker?” echoes gently, “My heart shaped like a half-empty picture” floats into your ears. A violin invades the track, but it does not take over. It blends with Edwards’s voice, adding a decadence
to tune. Listening to Edwards sing about Blueberry Pie reminded me of eating a crème brûlée at the Olde Stone. Her voice is subtle, it doesn’t overwhelm, but seeks to inform. The piano rises up from underneath like burnt sugar to pair with it. The violin skirts back and forth, like caramel drizzle. The first track is a sweet struggle. Edwards sings about love, maybe lost, definitely resistant. Doubts reside within, reminders can cause heart-break, and sometimes you can be lost by something as simple as Blueberry Pie. The next song is titled Sophia. Edwards disclosed that the song was written for a close friend, and is also a veiled reference to the poem Silver by Sarah Kay. I love veiled references. I also love when things come full circle. When I asked Edwards who she is as an artist, she responded by telling me that her music is “… feeling, it’s lyrical, slow and moody, and it is a reflection of my deepest inner thoughts. My mom is a pianist and my dad is a storyteller; I’m the love-child of the two.” There is a line in the song that goes, “Sophia, you smell just like magnolias”. It is repeated several times, uttered with a piercing smoothness. All her music is written in more or less this way, but Sophia has a resonation to it. The accompaniment is not complicated. It is mainly a piano and a violin, but that’s all Edwards needs. Her voice carries the weight. Knowing the story behind the lyrics helps, but the song hits like a brick no matter your knowledge. It’s an ache to listen to, but one of those good aches, you know? When you cry around someone you love. Or get a little pain when you go for a run. The song hurts, but the song also heals. I
hope to god she plays it Friday night. The final song is titled Never Mine. The arrangement contains guitar, bass, a freaking accordion, and backup vocals. “I’ve played many different genres and I’m a bit of a music fanatic: I really love Joni Mitchell, Leslie Feist, Billy Holiday and Norah Jones, but I also love Claude Debussy and Chopin.” You can hear the hushed sentimentality of Joni Mitchell, coupled with the influence of Debussy and Chopin in the first two tracks. With Never Mine, Edwards calls upon that Feistian (not Faustian) influence. The song is catchy. I am not gonna go for the 1-2-3-4 reference, because it is not like that. This song is catchy in its moodiness, in its reflection about impossible love, in its irrevocable element of pain. To make people want to sing along to that is truly a feat, and Edwards achieves it here with ease. You’ve been back at school for a week. Friday rolls around, and you’re wondering what you possibly could do on a Friday night… Somehow, you’ve managed to pick up Arthur Newspaper, and are reading through these words. Really, what freakin’ excuse do you have now? Come on! Support your local music scene! It’s ten bucks, you get a copy of the EP, and you get to see Edwards play these songs and more live! Plus, the opener is a three-piece act consisting of Adam ‘The Kid’ Tario, Andrew ‘Ace’ Vatcher, and Missy Knott—three performers each deserving a write-up of their own. So get out there y’all—I’ll be there, and I’ll be shedding tears of joy. Join with me in the catharsis.
B.A Johnston, White Crowleys & The Lonely Parade set to hit the stage Tyler Majer So, you wake up hung-over. Mary-Kate Edwards’ show really showed you the ringer. You’re emotionally, physically, and mentally drained. It’s now Saturday. You want to die… That’s too bad. Get a Gatorade; eat some chicken fingers, and toughen the fuck up. It’s B.A. JOHNSTON day! …What does that mean exactly? It means you have to live exactly like him, and if you don’t know what that means, I pity you. If you haven’t heard of or seen B.A. Johnston yet, you need to leave Peterborough. Get the first GO bus to that swamp they call Oshawa (its my hometown, I can say this), and shack up outside the Genosha for a few days to learn your lesson. Alternatively, you can go to B.A. Johnston’s new album release event. It’s really a simple choice. B.A. Johnston is the working-man’s musician, in that he works and is a man. He is the student’s musician, in that he used to go to Trent. He tours all the time, from here to Hamilton and back. In his words, “B.A. Johnston is the same guy he has always been, just fatter, more tired and more disillusioned. I will probably just continue to be the same. I am too old to change or follow/care about anything new.” He is truly a stable reference point in this world gone mad. His new album is titled Gremlins 3. The official press release (fancy!) states that, “The album title came from B.A.’s desire to be sued by someone famous.” This is B.A.’s 11th studio album. The release states that, “It treads familiar territory with songs about cheap beer, drinking beer in a car, and drinking so much beer that you are worried you will
Image Source: http://www.bajohnston.ca/
fall out of a canoe and drown. In an effort to branch out and tackle the serious issues of today, there is also a song about being high at work in a Foodland.” His sound isn’t really a sound at all, it’s a feeling. Although that sounds poetic, what I really mean is that B.A. Johnston’s music is sweaty. You know that feeling you get when it’s summer, and you’re really sweaty, but you have no deodorant, and you have to go work a shitty service job. It’s that feeling. B.A. once told me that he has no influences because, “…I lack the skill to actually play an instrument well enough to rip anyone off.” His sound is poppy and gritty. He plays loose rock songs about terrible life experiences. But it’s B.A.’s live show that brings it all into form. He layers up so that the sweat collects in all the right spots, and then he starts tear-
ing off all of his clothes. He pours beer on himself, and tells terrible jokes about how very shitty Lindsay is. He chugs Labatt 50 and Red Sourpuss. Beer ends up in every orifice. It’s the most beautiful thing that a
band interviewed previously by Arthur Newspaper. Their sound is psychedelic. It contains surf-punk vibes and shoegazey landscapes. With a newly added synth, and their move to focus “predominantly on writing new songs, thinking on music video ideas, and artwork,” it will be interesting to see how their sound has changed. They have an EP in the works, and will be debuting some new tunes at the B.A. show. With the first opener, you, listener, are gonna be in for a treat. The second and final act of the night before B.A., is… wait for it… The Lonely Parade. This band has been making waves in Peterborough and beyond (especially beyond!). They recently announced that they will be playing the Iceland Airwaves Festival. Their latest album is titled, No Shade, and can be found online for cheap. Their sound is jazzy, but filled with angst. They attack domination and subvert bullshit. They are a three-piece act, but their sound resonates with the clanging of pots and pans. So get out there! See this show before all
“B.A. is the same guy he has always been, just fatter, more tired and more disillusioned.” grown man can do. You’ll leave covered in various liquids, but you won’t mind. B.A.’s liquids are the best. Opening for B.A. are two Peterborough bands making heavy noise in the local scene. The White Crowleys are the first item on the bill. They are former Peterborough Battle of the Band winners, and a
three acts get too big to frequent sketchy Peterborough bars. As the press release says, “This could very well be B.A.’s swan song. Honestly, it’s 50/50. As minimum wage has now crossed the $10.00 mark, B.A. could quit this crap and start making tens of dollars doing something with dignity. Maybe work at a Giant Tiger or something.”
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Volume 51| Issue 14 | Februar y 27| 2017
Queer Coll(i/u)ssions Schedule Friday: 1:00-2:30 Author Reading- “Python” by Ursula Pflug, Roundtable: A Trans (formative) and Gender Queering Roundtable 2:30-4:00 Workshop: Choose your own sex adventure: Restructuring discourses of sexuality through collaborative writing by Natalie Gillis, Roundtable – Bury Your Gays or the Lesbian Death Trope in Film and Television 4:00-5:30 Panel –Queering Islam, Workshop – Sexy Queer Sign Language: An Interactive Workshop With Evan Hibbard 8:00 Film Screening: Tangerine sponsored by the Trent Film Society Saturday 9:00-10:30 Keynote : Karleen PendletonJiminez 10:30-12:00 Panel – Queer Geographies and Spatializing Sexuality, Roundtable: Just For Us Fairies: Queering Fairy Tales 1:00-2:30 Panel – Challenging Gender Binaries, Roundtable: Queering The Imagination: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Queer Writing 2:30-4:00 Panel – LGBTQ2IA Textual Revisions – Revisiting Texts With A Queer Edge, Roundtable: Queering the Family – LGBTQ2 Parenting 4:00-6:00 Panel: Queering Bodies, Roundtable: Slash Fiction and the Subversion of Canonical Texts 8:00 Performance: The Great Gaysby Cabaret by the Kitten Academy Sunday 9:00-10.30 Panel – Ageing Queerly from Childhood to the 3rd Age, ROUNDTABLE – Nostalgia, Childhood Memories, and LGBTQ2 Identity 10:30-12:00 Panel – Queering Ability: Deafness, Disability and LGBTQ2IA I dentity, Roundtable: LGBTQ2IA Tabletop Gaming 1:00-2:30 Panel – The Rainbow Screen:
LISTINGS Queering TV, Roundtable: Deaf, Crip, and Queer Bodies 2:30-4:00 Panel – Telling Our Stories: Teaching, Pedagogy, and Self-Discovery, Workshop: SO MUCH DRAMA: Performing Queerly 4:00-6:00 Panel– Queer Media: Film, Comics, and Games, Oh My!!, Storytelling – Marie Bilodeau’s The Taste Of Sand
Sadleir House Sadleir House Library: Support the Sadleir House Library! The library consists of literature, popular fiction, nonfiction, textbooks and antiques. All books are by donation ($0.50- $2.00). The book sale will be held at the Lecture Hall Room 106. Wheelchair accessible. Sadleir House Science-Fiction & Fantasy Bookclub: Tuesdays 7pm-8:30pm Room 107, Library, wheelchair accessible. This club meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month. OPIRG Free Market: Wednesdays 3-5pm, Thursday & Friday 1-5pm. Basement , unfortunately this is not an accessible space. The primary goal of the Free Market is to provide a space for the redistribution of donated clothing and other items to everyone. At the Free Market “store” people can come in and take items they can use for free, without donating anything. This is not a bartering or trading system, but rather a space where items that are no longer needed by one person can be redistributed to those who need (or want) them. Everyone is welcome to stop by during the hours of operation and take items free of charge. The Free Market is always looking for volunteers who could donate 2 hours per week to keep the project going. If you would like to be a part of this project or would like more information, please contact OPIRG at 705-741-1206 or email opirglistings@gmail.com. Sadleir House Contemporary Book Club: Room 107 fortnightly Tuesday, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Sadleir House Contemporary Book Club.
Local
Dance Like No One is Watching: Dance like no one’s watching to eclectic sounds [mainly world] in a beautiful hall in downtown Peterborough. No alcohol, no fashion, no steps to follow, just authentic moves to music. Freedom to be yourself, no experience needed. Thursdays, 6.30-8.30 at All Saints Church Hall [SW corner Rubidge and Sherbrooke]. $12, first time free. www.danceyourbones.com. Women’s Stories of Resilience: Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and the Kawartha World Issues Centre are once again co-hosting a dynamic and interactive evening for International Women’s Day. Taking place at Seeds of Change (in George Street United Church, 534 George St. N.) on Wednesday, March 8th, the event doors open at 5:30 pm for an evening of pot luck, music, speakers, solidarity and celebration. This is a free public event that is gender and child friendly, with potluck contributions welcome. Women’s Stories of Resilience: Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and the Kawartha World Issues Centre are once again co-hosting a dynamic and interactive evening for International Women’s Day. Taking place at Seeds of Change (in George Street United Church, 534 George St. N.) on Wednesday, March 8th, the event doors open at 5:30 pm for an evening of pot luck, music, speakers, solidarity and celebration. This is a free public event that is gender and child friendly, with potluck contributions welcome.
Campus Salves and Ointments: Learn how to care for your skin with healing salves and ointments. In this workshop, you will learn all about herbal salves and ointments including the difference between them, how to prepare them and the properties of various herbs and oils. We will make a batch together as a group & you will leave with samples and recipes you can use at home! On Wednesday March 1st at Seasoned Spoon Café from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Cost: $5$10 sliding scale. Email spoonvolunteers@ gmail.com for more info. Sprouting 101: Are you missing the taste of fresh local greens after a long cold winter? Don’t want to wait another couple months for first Spring’s harvest?
listings@trentarthur.ca Well not to worry, you can produce your own microgreens at home in a matter of days! This beginners sprouting workshop will teach you everything you need to know about how to get started growing your own sprouts at home. Learn about the equipment you need, sourcing & soaking seeds, rinsing plus harvesting your delicious baby greens! Never go through another winter without fresh greens again! On Wednesday March 8 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Seasoned Spoon Café. $5.00 or PWYC.
Arts
Damned Be This Transmigration: This dancing, singing, roller coaster ride of a play – with performances by Brad Brackenridge, Ryan Kerr and Kate Story, music by Rob Fortin with Susan Newman, Bennett Bedoukian and Dan Fortin, and directed by Randy Read – is based on the life and work of New York writer Don Marquis and his literary creations: Archy, the cockroach and Mehitabel, the alley cat. A hot shot of entertainment amidst Marquis’s timeless, pointed social commentary. Event will be held from March 3-4 at 8pm / March 3 at 12:30pm and take place at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.For tickets, visit markethall.org or call 705.749.1146. Price: $24 / $17 students, underwaged / $8 high school students. Make sure you don’t miss out on this dynamic event! And Then She Ate Me: An immersive, sitespecific piece of theatre in an old northend home, exploring grandmothers and fairy tales. Devised and performed by the Ring O Rosie Collective. Will take place on 120 Aberdeen Avenue between March 2 - 8 at 8:00pm. Cost: $10 - $20 (Opening night PWYC). Hearing Trees heads to Peterborough: No Pussyfooting is releasing their new cassette EP, “Nasty Brutish and Short” and we are throwing a party with old friend - Garbageface and new friends: the hearing trees: Hearing Trees rides tension tension like walking on a tightrope... from edgeriding rock to uplifting choruses with a backdrop of colourful, image-inducing lyrics. The hard-working band follows in the footsteps of Canadian mainstays such as Sam Roberts, Matthew Good, Tragically Hip and The Watchmen to carve out their own slot of the northern music landscape. Catch Hearing Trees as they build towards their debut full-length album.