SPOKEMONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015 CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT. WWW.SPOKEONLINE.COM 46TH YEAR NO. 22

Trampoline park offers a unique experience.Page 9

Flying high

A L E A R N I N G N E W S R O O M F O R J O U R N A L I S M S T U D E N T S

Nine Conestoga alumni honoured at ceremony.Page 3

Outstanding graduates

BY SARA SASILA

The civil war in Syria start-ed in March 2011, and since then, more than four mil-lion refugees have fled the country while nearly twice as many have been internally displaced.

Hundreds of thousands of these refugees are on the move, taking dangerous jour-neys by land and sea after setting their sights on a bet-ter future in Europe and neighbouring countries.

Which leads to one simple question: Is it possible, with all the resources Canada

has, that the government and Canadians arent doing enough for Syrians?

According to United Nations, the number of people forcibly displaced in 2014 swelled to a staggering 59.5 million people from the 51.2 million in 2013.

That being said, Canada has only accepted 2,500 refugees so far. In comparison, Germany is expected to take in 800,000 by the end of the year.

Lebanon has taken in 1.1 million registered refugees and others who are not reg-istered. Turkey has taken in the most refugees of any country and is home to 1.9

million Syrians. Although the United States spent more than $4.1 billion since 2012 on their Syria Humanitarian Response, supporting food programs and refugee opera-tions in Jordan and Lebanon, they have only taken in 1,500 Syrian refugees.

Robin Black, a 23-year-old Kitchener resident, said Canada could have been help-ing long ago.

People need to get educated on the crisis, she said. Its sad that as soon as the photo of the little boy washed up in Turkey came out, sudden-ly everyone started to care.

Canada should have started helping way before that photo came out.

Alexandra Kotyk, project manager of Lifeline Syria, an organization to welcome and support Syrian refugees in Toronto, said in an interview with CBC that Canada could do so much more.

Is Canadas role in the refu-gee crisis enough? Absolutely not, she said.

Canada has done more before with the Indo-Chinese Movement and can do more now.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who just took office,

promised to bring in 25,000 more refugees within three years.

I absolutely think that the government can reach that amount, said Kotyk. The government is the one that gives refugees visas, they are the ones that interview and choose who to let in, so I think that they have the ability to reach that amount.

While Kotyk is enthusias-tic that Trudeaus promise is realistic, 36-year-old Waterloo resident Ali Mohammed, said its unlikely.

BY CHRIS HUSSEY

Kayla Merkus, a second-year advertising and market-ing communications student, was sitting with her friend in the Sanctuary around 4:30 p.m. on what seemed like a normal Thursday afternoon. Aside from the two of them, the only other people in the space were two other young women. It was dead silent.

That stillness was soon interrupted as a voice came over the speaker system.

Attention, attention, attention. This is security. Lockdown, lockdown, lock-down.

Initially, Merkus thought it was a drill, but this lockdown was quite real.

According to a memo sent out to all college staff and employ-ees, the lockdown was put into place at the Doon campus around 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 5 after Counselling Services received a report of a student in crisis and at risk of self-harm.

At the recommendation of Waterloo Region Police Services (WRPS), the campus was placed on lockdown to ensure the safe-ty of the individual, students and staff, it read.

The lockdown did not last long, and was lifted just

before 5 p.m.During the lockdown, many

students and staff appeared disorientated and confused as to what was going on. In the Sanctuary, two more people who ran into the area soon joined Merkus and the three others, but none of them knew what the proper procedure was during a lock-down.

None of us knew what to do, so we just sat there and moved to the back corner of the Sanctuary, she said. We started getting a little more nervous and worried, but we didnt want to share those feelings too much with the other students who were with us.

Tiffany Kleinsteuber, a first-year broadcast radio student, was working in the library when the lockdown started.

I think it was a bit scary because you never know whats

going to happen, she said.But we have to move on

with the positives and remem-ber were safe and not hurt.

Alana Holtom, corporate com-munications co-ordinator with the WRPS, said the situation was reported to police and the lockdown was a precautionary measure to hold everyone in place until the situation was addressed and resolved.

We would rather use more caution than not enough, she said in an email.

Local 237, a branch of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union which rep-resents academic employees at Conestoga College, sent out an email on Nov. 9 to all its members requesting feedback on the lockdown and how it was conducted.

Lana-Lee Hardacre, presi-dent of Local 237, said after the lockdown several faculty members contacted the union regarding some areas that could be improved.

As a result of their com-ments I sent an email to our members yesterday to get a better perspective of went well and any recommenda-tions for improvement, she said in an email.

CARRYING THE LOAD FOR KINDNESS

PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLERFrancesca Pedler, a fourth-year Conestoga community and crimi-nal justice student, celebrates Random Act of Kindness Day with Cliff the Condor at Conestogas Doon campus on Nov. 6. For addi-tional photos, see Page 13.

Lockdown causes confusion

Refugee crisis poses challenge for Canada

I think it was a bit scary because you never know whats going to happen. Tiffany Kleinsteuber

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

None of us knew what to do

Page 2 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015NEWS

Now deep thoughts... with Conestoga College

Random questions answered by random studentsWhat gets you through

your school day?

Having a to-do list.

Elizabeth Dirksen,first-year

public relations

Naps.

Kelsey Clary,fourth-year

BSCN

The opportunity to meet new and interesting people.

Colton Lauzon,second-year

international business management

Knowing when I get home Ill get to cuddle on the couch with my kids.

Amanda Trites,second-year

community and criminal justice

Coffee.

Mike Goodwin,second-year

business administration and accounting

Singing and laughter.

Julianne Pinard,second-year

recreation and leisure

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

FILBERT CARTOONS

The pen strikes againBY JESSICA HAMMER

Bring out the pens and paper because its time to finish that novel tucked away under the bed or hidden behind the dresser.

November is National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. Participants are supposed to write a 50,000-word novel by Nov. 30.

NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organization that encourag-es creative people to write empowering stories and develop connections with fel-low writers. Writers of all ages are welcome to join.

You have that support and that community; you have other people who are work-ing toward a similar goal so its much easier to stick with it, especially when you have friends working towards the same thing, said Jessica Chivers, one of the munici-pal liaisons in the Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge area.

Throughout the month there are events going on for writers to participate in, including an all-nighter event which was held on Nov. 6 at the Kwartzlab Makerspace in downtown Kitchener. Two of the writers even brought their typewriters. About 20 NaNoWriMo participants

came together to socialize and support each others writing.

Ive been writing on and off since I was seven. It just feels like its in my blood by this point, said Ben Stoddard, a writer at the all-nighter event. It can be therapeutic and it can be exciting.

Anyone who likes to write knows self-imposed deadlines are often hard to reach and finding the time to sit and put pen to paper can be difficult. NaNoWriMo might be the best time to get some writing done because it forces writ-ers to write more and achieve more in the end with the dif-

ferent events and the support from other writers and the municipal liaisons.

Even if you dont hit the goal of 50,000 words the worst possible thing that happens is you have part of a novel writ-ten. There really is no losing, said Chivers.

There is a whole commu-nity of writers behind you to cheer you on, Ness Ricci-Thode, another municipal liaison, said.

There will be another all-nighter event on Nov. 28. For more information on the orga-nization or on other events go to www.nanowrimo.org/

PHOTO BY JESSICA HAMMERNatascha Kleinke (right) and Jessica Chivers type away on their laptops at a National Novel Writing Month all-nighter event at Kwartzlab Makerspace in downtown Kitchener on Nov. 6.

In the Nov. 9 issue of Spoke, a story on Conestoga Students Inc.s board of directors meeting contained incorrect infor-mation on an upcoming workshop. Two aboriginal workshops will be held in the winter semester one on making moccasins and the other on making tradi-tional drums. All students are invited to participate.

Spoke apologizes for the error.

CORRECTIONGET TRAINED IN MUAY THAI

PHOTO BY ASHLEY NEQUESTDave Berry (left) and Rob Marriot train at the MAS Thai boxing academy. MAS is a club focused on primarily training athletes in the art of Muay Thai. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE s Page 3NEWS

BY JESSICA PETT

Conestoga College has pro-duced some exceptionally gifted people over the years. Since 1997, the Alumni of Distinction Awards have recognized these significant achievements.

Nine alumni were hon-oured for their successes at the Waterloo Region Museum on Nov. 4, as well as many current students. Three types of awards were presented throughout the evening: the Welcome Home Award for first-year students whose par-ents are alumni; the Alumni Association School Award which grants $1,000 to stu-dents who are entering into their final semester and are committed to community ser-vice and academic excellence; and finally the Alumni of Distinction Awards.

The nine Alumni of Distinction Award winners are: Jamie Adam, Steve Cabral, Dominic Bombino, Douglas Grosfield, Sherry Lickers, Craig Maw, Greg Pilecki, Dean Wick and Wallace Wong.

Tim Tribe, chief develop-ment officer at Conestoga College, said there are many successful Conestoga College alumnus who deserve to be recognized.

The alumni have gone for-ward from the college and launched out into their careers and are doing great things and so this is a great oppor-tunity for the college to recog-nize that success and honour them through the Alumni of

Distinction Awards, he said. Anne Mackay, a consultant

for non-profit organizations and a member of the Alumni Council, attended the event last year and met an amazing woman who she felt should have been up on the stage receiving her own award.

Sherry Lickers is in early childhood education and shes a supervisor at Six Nations and she also works on the ECE conference for all teach-ers in the aboriginal commu-nity and shes a figure skating coach and shes an author shes just kind of an amazing

person, she said. Lickers son was nominated

for an award in 2014 at this event; this is where she met Mackay.

I sat down beside her and her son was getting an award and I started asking her about her background and I was so impressed with her as an alumnus and all the things that shed done and I thought, Wow, she should be up there getting an award, Mackay said.

Lickers is a proud graduate of the early childhood educa-tion program.

It was the best two years of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat, she said.

Conestoga College President John Tibbits gave a speech before distributing the awards, displaying a true sense of pride not only in the alumni present that night, but of all the successful men and women who have gradu-ated from Conestoga.

Weve really become a force in the community, theres no question. I mean almost 50 per cent of the workforce has taken a course at the college. Were everywhere, were like that

movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I want to thank all of the alumni for your sup-port over the years and also for making us proud, and a personal congratulations to all of tonights award recipients thank you very much, he said.

The Alumni of Distinction Awards are presented every year and Tribe said nominat-ing someone is quite easy. He encourages faculty to nomi-nate alumni as well.

We have an online form peo-ple can fill out and complete or they can simply call the alumni office and we will begin the work for them and start to research some people. Its a pretty easy process, he said.

To nominate someone for next years awards, visit www.conestogac.on.ca/alum-ni/awards/alumnus_dist.

PHOTO SUBMITTEDAlumni of Distinction Award winners display their plaques. Shown with Conestoga President John Tibbits (clockwise from top left) are Sherry Lickers, Steve Cabral, Douglas Grosfield, Wallace Wong, Craig Maw, Jamie Adam and Dean Wick.

Conestoga College recognizes alumni

PHOTO BY JESSICA PETTAlumni of Distinction Award winner Sherry Lickers shows off her plaque with Anne Mackay, the woman who nominated her, at the 2015 awards ceremony on Nov. 4.

Seasonal affective disorder can be debilitatingBY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE

Winter is coming and the days are becoming shorter. The nights are long, its cold and many people dont spend a lot of time outside. For a lot of people this brings the win-ter blahs but for some people the effects go deeper.

Lynn Robbins White, a Conestoga College counsellor, said oftentimes people get the winter blahs due to blue days and lack of sunlight.

That kind of thing does have some effect for most peo-ple, she said.

However, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more seri-ous. Its a type of depres-sion that follows a seasonal pattern. People affected by SAD may have depression throughout the year but have a heightened depression from late autumn to early spring.

SAD is a noticeable shift in mood, generally caused by the lack of light and for some people (it has) a real impact on

their daily activities, she said.It can really be debilitating.The Canadian Mental Health

Association (CMHA) reports that two to three per cent of the population in Ontario is affected by SAD and 15 per cent report having a less severe experience, often described as the winter blues.

They also found that some children and teenagers may be affected but it tends to begin in people over the age of 20 and risk decreases with age. Women have been found to be affected more than men, in fact, 80 per cent are women.

According to the CMHA, there is no confirmed cause but it is believed to be related to seasonal variations in light.

People with SAD report a decrease in energy, a change in appetite, a tendency to oversleep, a decrease in social outings and feelings of anxi-ety, despair or hopelessness.

Elizaveta Astakhova, a third-year business adminis-tration supply chain and oper-

ations management student, didnt think the Canadian winter would affect her when she moved from Los Angeles, after all, shes originally from Russia, but it does.

I feel more down in the winter, I just hate it. It makes me anxious knowing that win-ters coming, she said.

Astakhova said as soon as winter starts she cant wait for it to be over. She also said when she finishes college she plans on moving somewhere warmer.

Its not that I dont like Canada, its just that I dont like the weather, she said.

Robbins White said treat-ment for SAD can be little things like getting more exer-cise, monitoring diet and sleep patterns and getting more light.

Treatment for people more severely affected include light therapy or medication if nec-essary.

Robbins White said anyone dealing with SAD or people who may be feeling a little

blue can visit Counselling Services on campus.

I know my students have a

more productive winter when they get the help they need, she said.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLESeasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that fol-lows a seasonal pattern. People who have SAD may have depres-sion throughout the year but have a heightened depression from late autumn to early spring.

Page 4 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015COMMENTARY

Because its 2015, quipped Justin Trudeau with a shrug of his shoulders when he was asked why half his cabinet are women at his first public address as Prime Minister.

While some people believe that Trudeaus answer should have been because theyre qualified, the new Prime Ministers response made it clear that he thought it was a stupid question.

There is no disparity in the cabinet because quali-fied people were appointed to their positions with no regard to their gender, eth-nicity or backgrounds.

There are several major dif-ferences between Trudeaus new cabinet and the one Stephen Harper announced in 2006. There are 15 women in this initial Liberal cabinet whereas there were only six in Harpers. There are two aboriginal cabinet members, one of them Jody Wilson-Raybould holding the pres-tigious position of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. There were no aboriginal cabinet members in the Conservatives 2006 cabinet. There are five vis-ible minorities on the cabinet compared to the two in 2006,

holding positions like Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister of National Defence. Exactly half of the 30 ministers were sworn in on a solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath on the Bible.

Appointing a fairly equal number of neophytes com-pared to older, more experi-enced hands, Trudeau has made one thing clear he doesnt care what colour or gender you are, as long as he thinks you can do the job. Those arguing that more qualified people should be in the positions of power are doing so to mask the fact that they dont like the idea of equality. There is not only a proper representation of minorities and women in the cabinet, but they are argu-ably more qualified than the career politicians who held the posts before them.

Our Minister of Science is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist

while the Minister of Justice is a well-respected lawyer. The Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities is a Paralympic swimmer who is blind. Our Minister of Health is a doctor and our Minister of National Defence was the first Sikh-Canadian to com-mand a Canadian army regi-ment.

The balance in the cabinet sets an incredibly important precedent for the future of Canada. The melting pot that is Canada will no longer toler-ate representation by a white, male and wealthy majority.

This new cabinet reflects the population of Canada more than any cabinet before it. Trudeau called it an incredible pleasure to present a cabinet that looks like Canada.

Relatively young, diverse and representative of Canadians on a broad scale this cabinet will hopefully inspire future generations to get involved and engaged in politics.

As inspirational as this new cabinet is, now is not the time to rest on our lau-rels. Now is the time to impress upon Trudeau the importance of keeping his promises.

Trudeaus cabinet sets precedent

Distracted driving still a big problem

BY JASON MOTA

Distracted driving is a problem that we have been trying hard to solve for decades now in fact, as of September, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has started trying a little harder. If you are caught by a police officer talking or texting on any hand-held device while driving, the penalty is an automatic three demer-it points and a fine of up to $1,000.

If you are in an accident because you were distracted, its even worse. The immediate penalty is six demerit points, fines up to $2,000 and/or a six-month jail sen-tence and a two-year licence suspension. Just like that, by picking up your cellphone to read one little message, and getting into an accident with the car in front of you, you could be waving goodbye to half a year of your life.

And yet, despite this reality, many of the people reading this will allow themselves to be distracted on their way home today. Its just too easy to convince yourself that its OK to take a quick look, or to press a few buttons.

Because of this, many drivers have taken measures to ensure that they are unable to use their phone while theyre driving whether they put it in the glovebox, turn it off or leave it in the back seat. Removing the ease of access will diminish the urge.

Driving while intoxicated also needs to stop. Just like dis-tracted driving, its easy to justify a short drive home after only a few. You feel fine, so there shouldnt be a problem. These are what some might call famous last words.

You arent invincible. You have to remember that. Just because something has never happened before doesnt mean squat, because theres a first time for everything. Most major life-altering or fatal events like car crashes happen in an instant. There is seldom any kind of warning or lead up to it. So, it doesnt matter how quick of a glance you want to take at your phone, or how short the drive is while youre tipsy, it wont be quick enough to not put others in danger.

This is especially important to remember with winter and Christmas on our doorstep. The road conditions will only get worse, and avoiding accidents will become harder even if you are paying attention to the road.

Dont make your friends and loved ones, or those of someone else, spend Christmas grieving. Its such a simple decision to make, but it can be the difference between life and death, joy and sorrow.

The views herein represent the position of the newspa-per, not necessarily the author.

Joe Weppler Opinion

Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contact-ed for verification.No unsigned letters will be published.Letters should be no longer

than 500 words.Spoke reserves the right to edit

any letter for publication.Address correspondence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299

Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4

Letters are welcome

Digging delays Light Rail Transit project after water main hit

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The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.

Editor: Paul BorehamAssignment Editors: Leah Morrow, Garrett BurchettAdvertising Managers: Sarah Veenstra, Sara SasilaSpoke Online Editors: Kandace Gallant, Joe Weppler, Christel Allison, Matt Linseman

Production Managers: Jessica Hammer, Ashley Nequest, Ethan KompfPhoto Editors (print): Jenna Braun, Marissa Cuddy, Adam Schwartz, Brea BergenPhoto Editors (online): Emmie Siroky, Sean Malinowski, Jason Mota, Jessica Pett

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Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE s Page 5NEWS

Tennis club serves area BY SEAN MALINOWSKI

Just in time for winter, a unique indoor recreational option is being offered, and it is located practically in Doon campuss backyard.

The GSM (Game/Set/Match) Tennis Club opened its new indoor facility in the CORE Lifestyle and Recreation Complex, located at 407 New Dundee Rd., a block away from the student residence. The state-of-the-art facility has three reg-ulation-sized tennis courts, with an ergonomic playing surface designed by orthot-ic experts, and specialized player-friendly tennis light-ing, all under a large winter-ized dome.

Andrew Sznajder, presi-dent and founder of the GSM Tennis Club, is a decorat-ed Canadian tennis player, and also one of the instruc-tors at the club. Sznajder achieved a career high world singles ranking of No. 46 in September 1989, becoming the first-ever Canadian to break the Top 50. He also has a 14-10 singles record at the Davis Cup, competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, and was a six-time winner of the Canadian National Singles Championship and three-

time Tennis Canada singles player of the year.

Now Sznajder, 48, focuses his time on developing the game of tennis in Waterloo Region.

Its my way of giving back to the sport, and doing some-thing different, Sznajder said. We wanted to bring back varsity tennis to the area, because it disappeared.

GSM Tennis Club offers a student membership at $200 a season, while regular adult memberships are $330. Benefits of a membership include cheaper hourly court fee rentals, cheaper lesson and program fees, as well as full access to the CORE fit-ness facility. Sznajder said the club already has a few Condors as members.

Coming from college and university as well, I know how tight money is for every-one, Sznajder said. You become a member youre pay-ing 20 bucks an hour. So if you have four people, its five bucks.

The club also has a pay-as-you-play option open to the general public, for those who want to come out and try the sport.

If youre not a member, youre paying $35 an hour. We have racquets, so you

dont have to have them. We have the balls, so you dont have to have them, he said. We want to be inclusive, not exclusive.

The club also offers a wide variety of programs and les-sons, from adult group les-sons and kids programs, to elite training packages for serious players. Sznajder is a Global Professional Tennis Coach Association certified Level-A instructor, one of only two in the country, and he and his team of tennis professionals are passionate about the game.

Its one of those sports you can play at any age. I have taught people who are 80 years old, Ive taught kids who are four and five. Whether it be an adult or a kid, its nice to see that kind of joy and improvement in what they are doing, Sznajder said. I have so much fun doing it. I really do. You watch us, my team and I out there, were having a blast, and every-ones feeding off that energy.

With household names like Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard representing Canada on the world stage, the game of tennis has never been more captivating to Canadians. With curiosity comes coverage, something

Sznajder said there was not a lot of when he was younger.

We were lucky to have one tournament to watch every quarter-season. Now every week you can watch it. And its fantastic because people are now relating to it, watch-ing it and supporting it, he said.

Sznajder is driven to con-tinue the development of tennis in Canada.

For me, its not a job, he said. I really enjoy being on

the court, I enjoy being with people. Most importantly, I love seeing improvement, because when you can go out there, and you take some-one who hasnt played tennis before, then after a certain period of time they can rally with you, they can teach their other friends how to play, and it just grows and grows.

For more information on how to become a member or to book a court time visit www.gsmtc.ca.

PHOTO BY SEAN MALINOWSKIGSM (Game Set Match) Tennis Club founder Andrew Sznajder stands in the new tennis facility at the CORE Lifestyle and Recreation Complex located at 407 New Dundee Rd., Kitchener.

Connect Leadership workshops help you stand outBY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER

Laughter, fun and a whole lot of learning is what Connect Leadership at Conestoga College is all about. To help students learn about skills that make for a great leader, Student Life holds seven interactive Connect Leadership workshops.

The workshops are beneficial to all students, regardless of the program, age or life experience, said Sarah Daly, Student Life programmer of leadership initiatives.

Participants have an opportunity to engage with other students from different programs and work together to learn different leadership skills that can then be applied back in the classroom or in their everyday life.

Students can join the workshops whenever it best suits their schedule, but it is recommended to keep up-to-date with the topic of discussion before each

leadership session. These workshops have

taught me to become more of a leader because I have really learned to step out of my comfort zone, said Kinjal Dave, a second-year mechanical systems engineering program student.

Activities at the workshops vary. Sometimes you work together during blindfold games to make a puzzle and sometimes you sit in a circle and reflect on how the interaction of the games relate to the real world.

When we laugh and play games, even though were not having a full conversation with someone, it can still make you gain a friendship with different people, said Katherine Hacrigan, a first-year fitness and health promotion student.

Through this leadership experience, students gain a co-curricular activity that can help better a resume.

Participants will achieve different learning outcomes for each workshop they attend, and the skills they learned by participating will be listed on their official co-curricular record, said Daly.

By participating in the various workshops, you learn new skills.

For more information, all of the workshops can be found on the co-curricular record under the Connect Leadership Workshop Series at www.conestogac.on.ca/leadership/.

You can register for each workshop by clicking RSVP.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZERA group of Conestoga College students participate in a trust-building game at a Connect Leadership workshop at Conestoga Colleges Doon campus.

These workshops have taught me to become more of a leader because I have really learned to step

out of my comfort zone. Kinjal Dave

Indoor facility offers pay-as-you-play option

Page 6 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015NEWS

BY PAUL BOREHAM

Comfy service centres have been established by one of the largest producers of medi-cal marijuana in the country. Tweed Inc. calls these centres Better by Tweed, with three locations: Guelph, Hamilton and Etobicoke. Its a face-to-face connection between grower and user.

Patients can go in and get services, get registered, get information, have a commu-nity event there, learn more about the product and about the business, said Jordan Sinclair, communications manager for Tweed Inc. He stressed they cannot receive their marijuana at the cen-tres.

We ship all of the product we grow across Canada in the mail to Canadians who are managing a host of differ-ent symptoms, provided they have authorization from their doctor, said Sinclair.

Tweed Inc. moved into the Hershey chocolate plant in Smith Falls, Ont., after its closure in 2010. The company began operations in 2013 and sent their first shipment out in May 2014.

Canadian marijuana legis-lation in 2001 allowed doc-tors to prescribe it. Patients could obtain a licence from Health Canada and grow what they needed, or they could use designates who grew it in small amounts, under Health Canadas supervision. That changed in 2014 when new legislation kicked in stating only growers licensed and reg-ulated by Health Canada could provide the leafy substance. This made way for large pro-ducers such as Tweed.

The former chocolate fac-tory is now producing pot in 168,000 sq. ft. of space, spread across 12 growing rooms, with 18 more rooms avail-able. There are 100 employ-ees, including a master gar-dener and clippers, along

with office staff. Its like any other business, said Sinclair. But there is one aspect that is unique.

Security is one of the pri-mary concerns that created this entire industry. We pro-duce millions and millions of dollars of product, and so we need security to back that up. Weve got cameras, access points where you need a fin-gerprint to get through, and weve got a vault that is more secure than any bank. They also happen to be neighbours to the police, which is a coinci-dence, he said, but one of the greatest assets they have.

Marijuana can treat a range of symptoms, from pain to psychological disorders. A lot of people could benefit from marijuana and now its just about educating doctors and patients to see if they want to make that choice, said Sinclair, as an alternative to opiates, for example.

The process for obtaining a prescription for marijuana is fairly simple. Forms on the companys website are filled out and then taken to a doctor for his or her approval. The Better by Tweed service cen-tres are there to make that easier.

Prescribing marijuana is not the easiest task for a doctor, but it has been a positive experience for Sue Stephenson, a family physi-cian in Guelph, who has her office a few blocks away from the Better service centre.

I have five or six patients who are taking marijuana, she said. I let them choose their agency, then we work with them to set up the right amount. Its much easier once its established and we have a good dose.

The positive value, at least for one of my patients, is that hes off most of the other med-ication he was taking, and he doesnt come in very often, because hes feeling better. Thats for someone with a

significant problem with bipo-lar disorder and anxiety. Hes gone straight ahead with his life instead of backpedalling for quite a while.

There are negative aspects.Ive had a couple of requests

from people who just dont want to get into trouble with the law and really dont have a medical need for it, said Stephenson, adding, People will tell you they have pain, but theres no X-ray to tell you whats going on.

My goal is to keep people functional. Its not my total understanding of marijuana, but people dont always func-tion that well when theyre on it ... so theres a very thin line between doing the right thing and not doing the right thing.

The negative societal view on marijuana includes those who work in the medical pro-fession, she said, so that is a barrier. The cost to patients is also prohibitive at $6 to $12 per gram; with no drug plan, users, often not working, said Stephenson, are paying from

their own pocket.As an aside, Stephenson told

the story of how she began the process of growing it for patients on her farm, as a licensed designate. Secluded and off the main road it seemed like an ideal place.

When the plants were ready to be harvested it was robbed, she said. They came in, masked. We caught them at it, but they had these big scythes with them and they waved them all around and we just said, Go ahead. All the people who had the pre-scriptions didnt get it.

Thats one of the reasons it is now being produced by large companies such as Tweed Inc.

Sinclair is heartened by the stories he hears from custom-ers, including this one:

A veteran suffering from chronic pain to do with a ser-vice injury that hed gotten in Afghanistan said that by using marijuana rather than other medications hed been on previously, he was able to sleep through the night and wake up and be a better dad.

That struck me a lot, and as a father myself, that reinforc-es the reason you come into work every day.

The company is advocating for the use of vaporizers to administer the drug, instead of smoking it. They offer these basically at cost at their service centres to registered customers and he said they work just as well and are a lot healthier. They will also be introducing an oil that can be ingested.

With the election of the Liberal government and their promise to legalize marijua-na, Tweed Inc. is eager to get into the recreational market as well.

There are a lot of reasons to think that Canada is set-ting the model for the entire world, said Sinclair. Right now, the laws we have seem archaic and it just seems like its time for a change.

Sinclair insists marijuana is not a panacea for patients. Its just an option that exists, and for a lot of people its the right one.

Pot service centre opens in Guelph

PHOTO BY PAUL BOREHAMWhitnee OConnor, customer care representative for Tweed Inc.s Better by Tweed service centre in Guelph, holds a vaporizer used to administer marijuana the company produces. One of three centres in the GTA, the comfortable office holds couches, computers for registering and ordering, along with accessories available for purchase.

People can get fixed up with everythingbut their drugs

Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE s Page 7NEWS

BY CHRISTEL ALLISON

When I think of a treasure, I never imagine it can be so obviously placed, but, in the heart of uptown Waterloo, there is one.

Beertown Public House, located at Waterloo Town Square, 75 King St. S., is one of the Charcoal Group of restaurants. With over 100 beers to choose from, Beertown provides a unique experience.

The lights are dim when you walk in, and music is playing noticeably in the background, but not loud enough to make you want to go back home. The floors are wood which complement the glazed wooden tables and chairs. Theres something relaxing yet engaging about the environment.

Contrary to the name, the menu is not saturated with beer-infused meals which I thought was a plus because Im not a beer drinker.

I skipped appetizers and went straight for the Ultimate Mac + Cheese ($17.49) because it was under the house favourites and they tagged it ultimate. I was intrigued to find out if it would live up to that. I find that restaurants shy

away from adding mac and cheese to their menu. Maybe this is because the recipe cant be perfected for a large group of people. However, in addition to using the word ultimate, Beertown dared to add ingredients like roast-ed chicken, house-smoked bacon, wild mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, mozzarel-la, gruyre and parmesan cheese sauce, fresh parsley and panko.

Some of the other items on the menu are an 18-hour smoked brisket platter, pork schnitzel, fish and chips, taco trio and Beertown pad thai. Regardless of how fancy the names sound, they are all under $20.

When the meal arrived, I could smell the smoked bacon and see the layers of cheese. After I had a taste of it, I could understand why they were confident enough to use the word ultimate. It was just that.

I opted for a glass of straw-berry daiquiri because, of course it was ideal to do that in Beertown. It came in a Collins glass garnished with a whole strawberry and a quar-ter of a lime. The test of good strawberry daiquiris is always in how tangy or overwhelm-ing the taste of strawberry is.

This glass, however, passed the test. It had a delectably sweet and tangy taste.

Beertown is worth the visit if youre looking for the feel of an upscale sports

bar with an intimate setting and well-thought-out menu options.

Beertown an uptown Waterloo treasure

PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISONRestaurant customers enjoy a Sunday lunch at Beertown Public House located at Waterloo Town Square. Beertown is one of the Charcoal Group of restaurants.

FOOD BANK RECEIVES DONATIONS

PHOTO BY KANDACE GALLANTStudents could drop food and money into boxes at a display for the Kitchener-Waterloo Food Bank on Nov. 6. The booth was set up in front of Tim Hortons at Conestogas Doon campus.

I dont think that Trudeau knows what hes talking about, said Mohammed.

The amount of time and money it took them to bring in only 2,500, there is no way that he will be able to bring in 25,000 unless he is some type of miracle worker.

Although Mohammed thinks that Trudeaus promise is unrealistic, he does think that Canada is doing everything they can to help.

Its not Canadas fight, he said. But, it is nice to see a country that has no ties to Syria, be so involved.

In Kitchener and Waterloo, there are organizations that help Syrian refugees. Reception House, Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support, Welcome Home and Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre are all places that provide refugees with the support that they need, including giving a tem-porary home for government-assisted refugees and provid-

ing them with health care, emotional support and pos-sible employment.

Razan Quad, a 20-year-old Waterloo resident, said she is grateful that there are places like Welcome Home to sup-port Syrian refugees.

Its amazing to see a city like Waterloo be so involved, she said.

I love being a part of a com-munity that supports such a huge ongoing issue.

According to the United Nations, the number of Syrians fleeing their country since the start of the civil war has swelled to more than 3 million with 1.8 million leav-ing in the past year. 6.5 mil-lion are internally displaced within Syria. Another 6.5 mil-lion are internally displaced within Syria.

It is such a huge issue, said Black. Im a proud Canadian, but I think that Canada should be doing more than they are. Promises are just promises, its time to see some action.

Canada should be doing more

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Syrian crisis overwhelming

NEWSPage 8 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015

PHOTOS BY SARAH VEENSTRADaphne, a three-year-old Jack Russell mix, was a participant in a 2.5-km stroll at Snyders Family Farm during the first HOWLer Dog Walk Fundraiser and Family Fun Day on Nov. 8. The event, which included a barbecue, dog demonstrations, a giant bouncy pillow and prizes, raised money for the Pound Dog Rescue, a non-profit organization in Drumbo, Ont., which rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes stray, abandoned and surrendered dogs.

PHOTO BY EMMIE SIROKYEmma Smallbone is a median and photographer in Puslinch, Ont. She knew she was a median at a very young age when she saw a ghost standing beside her. She does shows in the local area, as well as personal readings. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

PHOTO BY CHRIS HUSSEYSteve Karnis, club president of Conestoga College Toastmasters, is seen beside a sign for the corpo-rate club after wrapping up a meeting on Nov. 10. The club meets every Tuesday in Room 3E35 at the Doon campus during the fall semester. The club is part of Toastmasters International, an organi-zation that promotes effective communication and leadership skills.

Conestogas Learning Commons partnered with CSI and the library to combat procrastination. Their Late Night Against Procrastination event took place in the Library Resource Centre on Nov. 5. To the left, participants are seen colouring in the relaxation station. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

PHOTO BY LEAH MORROW

THE FIRST DOG WALK FUNDRAISER AT SNYDERS FAMILY FARM WAS A HOWLING SUCCESS

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE A TOAST TO THOSE MASTERING COMMUNICATION

RELAX AND TAKE THE TIME

TO COLOUR YOUR WORLD

Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE s Page 9NEWS

Reach for the sky at Sky ZoneBY MARISSA CUDDY

Sky Zone puts a new twist on the classic backyard tram-poline.

The indoor park, which opened at 150 Gateway Park Dr. in Kitchener on Oct. 30, has many trampolines on the ground and walls. They also have a foam pit and basket-ball nets for added fun.

Open Jump is a general event where people have access to all the park has to offer. This includes the main court, the foam zone, ultimate dodgeball, sky slam and more. The main court is just regular free jump. The foam zone is a pit filled with 10,000 foam cubes with a trampoline runway. Sky Slam lets you dunk like a pro with a trampoline launch pad that launches you 10 feet into the air.

It is so much fun, you feel like a little kid again, said Carly Cousineau, the event lead at Sky Zone. You feel so free and have nothing on your mind while you are jumping.

The park also has events and classes people can sign up for. Some of these include dodge-ball, Sky Fitness, Skyrobics, Jumpalooza and Sky Camp, which will start in the sum-mer of 2016.

Im excited to see the diver-sity of people the park brings in, Cousineau said. I think we will see a lot of kids, but also see teens and maybe companies looking to do team-building activities.

Sky Zone is also looking into starting a program for kids who have sensitivities such as to light, sound or even other people. It will focus on a quieter time

for these kids to have fun. Cousineau said the park is great for everyone, not just kids.

It was so much fun, said Joshua Juhnke, a Conestoga College second-year wood-working student. My favou-rite part was getting to hang out with friends while jump-ing on a bunch of trampo-lines.

Sky Zone is different than many other trampoline parks in the area because it is an amusement and entertainment facility, not just an athletic and train-ing facility. Cousineau said Sky Zone is a great place for church youth groups, birthday parties and get-ting together with friends to hang out. They are also hoping to see sports and corporate teams come out for team-building activities.

Birthday parties are huge at Sky Zone. We have a lot of them, Cousineau said.

Jumpers are separated by age for safety. There are five groups: ages 0-4, ages 5-10, ages 11-15 and ages 16 or older. Each person who wants to jump must fill out a waiver before entering the trampoline area. The waivers can be filled out at Sky Zone on their computers or can be filled out at home before going there.

Sky Zone staff recommends people arrive 30 minutes before their jump time to fill out waivers, and purchase a pair of SkySocks, which are required to jump. Payments and bookings can be done online or on-site.

SkySocks, which are $2, are bright orange with grips on the bottom that can only

be purchased at the park. Cousineau said they make jumping safer and the best part is you can reuse the socks as long as they have no holes or rips.

The price depends on how long you choose to jump,

with times going from a half-hour to two hours and the prices starting at $10 up to $24.

Sky Zone may have just opened in Kitchener, but they have parks all around the world with many in the

United States and Australia. Dubai and Mexico are also being considered as future locations.

For more informa-tion on Sky Zone visit www.skyzone.com/ca/kitchener or call 519-804-4455.

PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDYJoshua Juhnke, a Conestoga College second-year woodworking student, tries a trick into the foam pit at Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Kitchener on Nov. 5.

PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDYCaleb Perry and Joshua Juhnke, both Conestoga College second-year woodworking students, catch some air at the trampoline park.

PHOTO BY GARRETT BURCHETTKitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic (left to right), Sky Zone general manager Joh Gangasingh, local MP Harold Albrecht and local MPP Michael Harris attended the grand opening of Sky Zone in Kitchener on Nov. 7. Sky Zone is the worlds first indoor recreational trampoline park, and is located at 150 Gateway Park Dr. in Kitchener.

Page 10 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015ENTERTAINMENT

BY GARRETT BURCHETT

Jason Blaines focus right now is pretty simple.

We have a lot of miles to cover, a lot of fans to see, and a lot of towns to rock country-style, he said.

Blaine is rolling through Canada with fellow country artists Tebey and James Otto on their Threes A Party tour, including stopping at Dallas nightclub in Kitchener on Nov. 4.

For Blaine, a native of Ontario, there is nothing better than touring through Canada, in front of his Canadian fans.

Country fans up here dont just listen to the music, they live the country music, he said. To hear them singing your songs back, sometimes Ill just stop singing and theyll sing a song back to me, thats the greatest feeling in the world.

Blaine got a taste of that on the very first show of the tour, in Halifax. He was unsure about singing his song They Dont Make Em Like That Anymore, on this tour. The song, which won the Canadian Country Music Association single of the year in 2012, is a true story, written about his grandfather, who passed away this summer. But when

he began to sing the song in Halifax, the crowd started singing along, really loud, from the first line of the song. After that, he decided to keep the song in the show.

It showed how much it means to them, and that its not just about me, said Blaine. They really connected with the song. And that transcends any awards or chart position, its just a real human connection with the fans.

Songs like They Dont Make Em Like That Anymore, is a prime example of Blaines commitment to putting a piece of his heart in every song.

I tell a lot of stories in my songs, of true memories, the way I grew up, and where Im at in life today. Especially on this new record, Blaine said. I love a good time song, a songs that rocks, but its not just about that, its about songs with depth and meaning as well.

That is why he fell in love with country music, specifically 90s country, and artists like Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, and Brooks and Dunn.

It was a song for every occasion, it was a song for a wedding, a song for saying goodbye. It was a song for Friday night, or Sunday

morning, he said.Blaines new album contains

two bonus tracks, which he wrote for his children. Dance With My Daughter has been a popular song at weddings, with many fans emailing Blaine to say that they have danced with their daughters to his song. And after writing that song, Blaines son approached him and said, You gotta write a song about me, and you have to call it Play With My Son.

On this album, there are 11 songs for fans, and two songs for me, said Blaine.

His new album Countryside came out on Oct. 23, and the title track remains one of the most played songs on country radio. But while things are looking up for him right now, it certainly hasnt been an easy journey. He is thankful for the support of his wife, who gave up a good job in Canada to allow him to pursue his dream.

My wife and I, we took a big leap of faith in the fall of 2006, with a three-month-old baby girl, and we packed up everything we could fit into a Pontiac Grand Am and made the trip to Nashville, recalls Blaine.

And just before the release of They Dont Make Em Like That Anymore, he had one

of the worst charting singles of his career, and thought his career was over. Now he realizes that better things were just around the corner.

Weve had some big hits and had big misses. Songs

that I thought for sure were gonna do well ... and it just wasnt to be, said Blaine. Thats just the roller-coaster that this business is. I think Im just getting better at enjoying the ride.

Jason Blaine rocks Kitchener country-style

PHOTO SUBMITTEDJason Blaine performed at Dallas nightclub on Nov. 4, as part of his Canada-wide Threes a Party tour along with Tebey and James Otto.

BY MATT LINSEMAN

You may know her as the quirky female TV star from the Disney Channel, but that was then.

Demi Lovato is now more confident than ever on her new fifth studio album. She has reinvented herself and she shares that with us in her new masterpiece.

Confident is an album about self-empowerment, believing in yourself and showing that to the world. With motivational lyrics, dreamy background strings, enjoyable melodies, and the marvellous atmosphere that radiates throughout the album, youll be humming along by the end of this one.

After its release, Confident debuted at No. 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 and the No. 6 in the UK.

Lovato collaborated with producers and writers such as Ryan Tedder of One Republic, Max Martin and StarGate and co-wrote a majority of the songs on Confident. She also shares the stage with fellow female artists Iggy Azalea on the track Kingdom Come and Sirah on Waitin for You.

Ive never been more confident in my sound, said Lovato on Twitter. The only word that comes to mind is authentic. Ive never been so sure of who I am as an artist. Ive never felt

this hungry and driven. She said this is her best work yet and that shes barely scratched the surface.

The album features an excellent collection of varying genres that many listeners can appreciate. Included are songs with a pop flair, dancey synths, free flowing ballads and even R&B beat stompers with a rhythm you wont be able to shake.

Confident allows listeners to wander Lovatos heart and discover who she really is. At the same time they can enjoy the pleasure of soul-inspired tracks and listen in on current pop music simultaneously. Its certainly a lot to take in, but the album posts a positive message focused on self-improvement while still having fun.

Influences like Christina Aguilera and Amy Winehouse show their impact throughout the album and with pop music this extreme, you are sure to hit a high youve never experienced before.

Sharing herself with the world

INTERNET PHOTODemi Lovatos new album Confident was released on Oct. 16. It sold 98,000 in its first week and debuted at No. 2 on U.S. Billboard 200.

Ive never been more confident in my sound. The only word that comes to mind is

authentic. Demi Lovato

Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE s Page 11

Page 12 SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015NEWS

BY SARA SASILA

Selena Gomez became famous as an actress in the Disney channel series Wizards of Waverly Place, acting in the show until it ended in 2012. She then went on to form her own band, Selena Gomez & the Scene, in hopes of accom-plishing a successful career in music.

After releasing three rea-sonably successful records, Gomez said the band would be taking a break to focus their attention on other projects. In reality taking a break meant embarking on a solo career which was a smart decision.

In 2013, the pop singer released a debut album called Stars Dance which sold 97,000 copies in its first week, accord-ing to Billboard. Fast forward two years later Revival was born and sold 117,000 in its first week.

Revival, which came out on Oct. 9, is without a doubt Gomezs best album. A mix-ture of both mature sounds and fun dance anthems has replaced the teenage pop songs from her prior albums.

The first track called Revival begins with Gomez deliver-ing a poetic passage about her own real-life revival, Im reborn in every moment, so who knows what Ill become? she sings. Its my time to butterfly. It then starts its

house party beat and carries on beautifully.

Although I prefer music that is more soulful and slow, Gomezs album did surprise me. Kill Em With Kindness is the second track on the album and it is probably my favou-rite. I have to admit, the song is a bit cheesy she slams haters who have been target-ing her life in the spotlight for years, but the music itself is really catchy. I find myself bopping my head during the chorus every time.

Another favourite is Good For You featuring A$AP Rocky. By the sound of the lyrics, it seems as if Gomez is singing to a man, telling him about her stripping and leaving her clothes on the floor, but once you watch the music video, it sends out a whole new mes-sage. In the video she is sing-ing to herself, telling herself that she wants to look good. This song promotes self-love and self-confidence, which is refreshing to see that she is using her platform to inspire her wide fan base.

Overall, I am impressed with Gomezs new mature sound. The album features sexy, con-fident, raw and heartbreaking tracks, which, she says, is her way of telling people who she is.

Ive deserved this. I earned this. Its all me, she says in an interview with Billboard.

BY BREA BERGEN

The pond ripples, touched by the light wind that has picked up. The afternoon sun glistens through the leaves of the trees above, their branches swaying, dropping crisp, golden leaves in the process. These trees stand tall and strong, in mem-ory of former students.

For some, they provide a quiet place to sit and study. For others, they pay trib-ute. Standing alongside the pond on Doon campus, these trees were each planted in memory of someone who passed through the halls of Conestoga and who has since passed away. Under each tree sits a small plaque with the name of the person it was planted for. The trees may have been planted by the family of the person who has passed, or by faculty or stu-dents who wished to recognize that person.

If an individual had passed

away and the family had want-ed to make a contribution and said, W ed like to remember this person through planting a tree and they wanted to put a tree out there, that would be a very appropriate way to rec-ognize that individual, said Tim Tribe, the chief develop-ment officer at Conestoga.

The trees are planted as mature trees, rather than the small stick trees that you see tied to poles so they dont fall over. They look better, and have a better chance of survival.

Its so nice for the family, you know, to see a tree, said Anne Mackay, a member of Conestogas alumni council.

The trees are not only placed near the pond, but all over Doon campus. Over time it may be suitable to do it over at the Cambridge campus, said Tribe. But for the time being, Doon is the only cam-pus where the trees are being planted.

Former Disney star releases hot new pop album

Bringing new lifeto old memories

Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE s Page 13NEWSPAYING IT FORWARD ON RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS DAY

PHOTO BY SARA SASILAIt was Random Act of Kindness Day on Nov. 6. Above, Kaitlin Dedman (from left), a first-year social services student, Jenny Cardoba a second-year protection/security and investigations student, and Brandon Masterman, a first-year social services student, took part in the event giving out free tea, coffee, and hot chocolate to students and faculty.

PHOTO BY MIKE STROMMEStudent Life volunteers Agmesa Ezemi, (left to right) Kayla Paakkhen, and Kaitlin Dedman make thank you cards for Conestoga students during Random Act of Kindness Day at Conestoga Colleges Doon campus on Nov. 6. For full video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.

MEDITATION IN THE AREA

PHOTO BY JOSH VAN OSTRANDKaren Ehlebracht, a certfied labyrinth instructor and parish nurse at St. Peters Evangelical Church in Kitchener, explains walking meditation in front of the labyrinth in the church on Nov. 4, as part of Lymphoma Canadas labyrinth-walking event. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.

Not only are ani-mals taken from the wild and used for our entertainment, they are also used to test products on that we use every day. Makeup, dish soap, shampoo, body wash, cigarettes, and yes, even the toothpaste you put in your mouth, are all tested on lab animals first to see if they are safe enough for our use.

Rats, mice, rabbits, monkeys, guinea pigs and dogs are all forcefully taken into labs to be used for testing and more than 200,000 animals suffer every year because of the harsh chemicals that are put onto and into their bodies.

According to the Humane Society Internationals website (www.hsi.org/issues/becrueltyfree/facts-about_cosmetics_animal_testing.html), the tests the animals go through include skin and eye irri-tation, where the product is rubbed on their skin or dipped in their eye, and chemicals are forced down their throats. It puts the animal in pain, distress, can blind them or swell their eyes, and can cause internal bleeding, organ damage and even death.

So, if this is what is happening in labs just so we can put eyeshadow on our eyes and shampoo in our hair, what are ways that we can avoid these prod-ucts?

The easiest way is to start buying all-natural products. If you look on the back of the packaging or the bottle, it should specifically say not tested on animals or cruelty free. A lot of companies have even started putting a vegan friendly label on their bottles so people know there are also no animal by-products used either.

Companies that make all-natural products test their products by using human cells and tissues from volunteers. Its less expensive, takes less time, is more reliable and is more sanitary.

Cruelty-free products have also proven to be more environmentally friendly. Some countries have put a ban on any animal testing including Brazil, New Zealand, India and Israel, and a few have had the ban in place for several years now. But Canada does not.

This practice is harsh and unnecessary, yet affects thousands of animals each year.

According to a poll done by The Strategic Counsel on Behalf of Animal Alliance and Humane Society International, 81 per cent of Canadians agree that the suffering of animals is not worth using them for testing, and 88 per cent support a national ban on animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredi-ents.

If youre one of those people who insists you are an animal lover, I strongly encourage you to not support cosmetic testing and look for cruelty-free labels on products that youre buying.

Testing on animals

must end

Eighty-one per cent of Canadians agree that the suffering of animals is not worth using them for testing, and 88 per cent support a national ban on animal testing of cosmetics

and their ingredients.

Kandace Gallant Opinion

Page 14 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015FUN & GAMES

AriesMarch 21 -

April 19

AquariusJanuary 20 - February 18

TaurusApril 20 - May 20

LibraSeptember 23 -

October 22

GeminiMay 21 - June 21

ScorpioOctober 23 - November 21

CapricornDecember 22 -

January 19

SagittariusNovember 22 - December 21

CancerJune 22 - July 22

LeoJuly 23 -

August 22

VirgoAugust 23 -

September 22

PiscesFebruary 19 -

March 20

Stay positive this week. The best way to ensure you are successful is if you embrace these changes with an upbeat tempera-ment.

You are a natural leader, but sometimes you have a ten-dency to dominant instead. Listen to those around you and make teamwork a prior-ity.

Dont be so serious. This week holds great things for you, so live in the moment and soak in the sunshine for once.

You are a deep thinker, and this will become all the more valuable this week. Take time to make deci-sions, and it will pay off in the end.

You dont need to act differ-ently for different audiences. Be true to who you are, and good things will come.

Your tendency to give your time to those close to you has drained you. Be sure to give yourself some me time this week to recharge.

Devote some time to reflec-tion this week, because you are at a pivotal point in your personal development.

Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on

a regular basia. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.

Horoscope Week of November 16, 2015

An upcoming opportunity may give you pause, but open up to the experience. It could bring positivity for you.

Someone close to you will face challenging times in the days ahead. Be sure to show them lots of appreciation and patience.

Dont shy away from asking for help. You stand strong enough on your own, but you will stand even taller on the shoulders of others.

Dont overwork yourself and sacrifice personal goals in the process. Work hard, but find a balance between time working and time for yourself.

Watch how you spend your money, because your impul-sive nature tends to lead you in the wrong direction when it comes to finances.

Useless FactsOh Cliff!

Sudoku Puzzle

Word Search

Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommo-dates the digits 1-9, with-out repeating any.

Leonardo da Vinci invented the scissors.

Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.

You can tell the sex of a horse by its teeth. Most males have 40, females have 36.

The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they can be easily con-fused at a crime scene.

An ostrichs eye is bigger than its brain.

Monday, November 16, 2015 SPOKE Page 15

Page 16 s SPOKE Monday, November 16, 2015NEWSIN FLANDERS FIELD WHERE POPPIES GROW

PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISONRoyal Canadian Air Cadets Adrianna Cronin (left) and Alina Martinez sell poppies at Waterloo Town Square on Nov. 8 to raise money in support of serving and retired veterans and their families.

Merkus agreed with the fac-ulty members and said a cus-todial staff member came into the Sanctuary and told them the speakers in some parts of the school were not working properly. This staff member told Merkus that, because of this, some classes were being let out while the lockdown was going on.

I think they should have tested some of this stuff pre-viously, instead of having one drill which not all the students were there for, she said.

The drill she referred to was held on Sept. 24 at 8 a.m. It was the first college-wide lockdown drill at Conestoga College.

Kleinsteuber said the col-

lege should tell what hap-pened specifically to cause the lockdown.

I think they (students) should know that info so that they can reach out to that per-son to provide positive sup-port, she said.

CTV News reported on the day of the lockdown that the student who was in crisis was located and given medical attention.

Security Services declined to comment.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Not everyone in attendance for

lockdown drillI think they should have tested some of this stuff previously ... Kayla Merkus

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