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

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4. 2013 CONESTOGA COLLEGE. KITCHENER, O N T , WWW.SPOKEONLINE.COM 44TH YEAR - NO. 21

GhostlyencountersPhoebe causes unease at Homer’s house. Page 8

Slippery when wetCross-country course treacherous. Page 5

BY SPENCER BEEBE

A group of zombies rose from their graves and sham­bled down to the Queen’s Square Library in Cambridge on Oct. 26 to show everyone that being dead is no excuse not to groove.

The not-so-lively group of cho­reographed corpses had come to participate in the Zombie Infestation event held at the library at 1 North Square, which featured face painting, comic book giveaways and a zombie flash mob where the decay­ing dancers stepped in time to

Michael Jackson’s Thriller.Visitors to the library were

greeted with spooky sound effects and eerie fog. Tables were set up where makeup artists put face paint on peo­ple of all ages, and booths were set up to give informa­tion about different organiza­

tions that had contributed, including the YWCA and Halloween Comicfest.

“We have seasonal events for kids every year,” said Karen Murray-Hopf, the cul­tural programs and special events planner for Cambridge Libraries, who was wear­ing her own zombie makeup. “This is the first year we’ve done a zombie infestation.”

The YWCA was heavily involved in the event along with Michelle Hopkins, owner and instructor of Morph, a local dance and fitness acade­my that brought together the talented students who danced along to the popular pop song.

“We worked with their acad­emy, we advertised this to them and they jumped at the opportu­nity to join in a flash mob,” said Kristen Feduck, a YWCA rep­resentative. Her partner, Kate MacLaggan, said the event was a great way to raise some vis­ibility for their organization.

Kurt Hvorup was at the event giving visitors infor­mation about Halloween Comicfest, an event held every October across Canada

at participating stores, which had comic giveaways, a cos­tume contest and a guest art­ist to show kids how to do character drawing.

“It’s an event to promote literacy,” he said, jokingly adding that they’re promot­ing comics and that nothing could go wrong.

Once the clock struck 12 - in the afternoon, not midnight- a group of zombie danc­ers stumbled into the library from every door, growling and clawing at the mass of people who had come to see the event.

When the last of the crowd of cadavers had shuffled into the main entryway, they froze- only to re-awaken and begin dancing in time as the famil­iar tune of Thriller began playing. The zombies followed the song’s dance movements, twirling and tapping their toes to the rhythm.

They may not be breathing, but every participant - both living and dead - agreed that the zombie infestation was a spectacularly spooky and entertaining time for all.

PHOTO BY SPENCER BEEBEA zom bie dancer claws at the crowd during a Thriller flash mob. For more photos see Page 7.

Student food drive bags 300 poundsBY JOSH BURY

Two pounds of food a min­ute.

That’s the pace that four international education stu­dents, along with internation­al education activities co-ordi- nator Samantha Lichtenheldt, were able to maintain while collecting donations for the CSI Food Bank at a local gro­cery store on Oct. 12.

The two and a half hours spent at the grocery store saw the group collect 300 pounds of food items. Lichtenheldt’s diminutive vehicle proved barely capable of hauling all of it back from the Food Basics on Fairway Road to the Doon campus. The stu­dents had soup cans piled on their laps in an attempt to use all the available space.

“It was like a clown car ... we were surprised by a long

shot,” Lichtenheldt said.The idea to help the food

bank, which serves as an emergency resource for stu­dents in need, came as a result of hearing about the lack of donations and seeing the empty shelves inside the room. The international edu­cation department collaborat­ed to create the plan.

I ’m an Italian, so I need to see food everywhere ... for me, it wasn’t up to my cultural stan­dards,” Lichtenheldt joked.

The four students who par­ticipated hailed from four dif­ferent countries: India, Saudi Arabia, China and Nigeria. For some, this event was much like similar traditions back home. For others, it was unlike anything they’d expe­rienced.

For example, the student from Saudi Arabia said he had never seen anything like

this event, while the student from India said that Sundays are often used to serve com­munal meals to the commu­nity.

Lichtenheldt said the trip was initially supposed to be even longer, but their depar­ture was delayed due to being locked out of the internation­al education office.

“Had we been there for four hours, we’re projecting it would have doubled.”

With such a large collec­tion of donations in so short a time, it would be easy to assume that this trip was planned well in advance. That couldn’t be further from the truth: the idea to collect donations came only two days beforehand. The four students made themselves available on short notice to assist with the collection of the 300-pound donation.

The end result, according to CSI president Jason Wright, was astonishment.

'We were floored,” Wright said.Lichtenheldt said she was

happy to be a part of the event, which helped students

struggling in our own com­munity while also providing valuable experience for inter­national education students.

“It was a really proud moment for me to watch them do that,” she said.

Four Conestoga College students helped collect food for the CSI Food Bank on Oct. 12. They were (from left), Jagjit Singh Bedi, Raed Obaidallah Aljudaybi, Guipeng Xu and Olalekan Jimson.

NEWSPatfp 9 ♦ SPftKF Monday, November 4,2013

Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College

Random questions answered by random students

If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?

“I would just go around and listen to other peo­ple’s conversation... and know people’s secrets, ha ha!”

Ashley Egerdeen,second-year

bachelor of science in nursing

“Probably drive a car, just to freak people out.”

John Gillet,first-year

general arts and science

“Mess with some sports games.”

Janosch Pentney,first-year

general arts and science

“Go to an accounting firm to see how accounting would work there. Or go to my boy­friend’s school to see if he is studying well.”

“I would travel, get on an air­plane and go to Europe.”

Susanne Kolb,second-year

bachelor of science in nursing

“Probably just mess with people, pretend to be a ghost or something.”

Frankie Rider,first-year

woodworking technician

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

FORE!Students try to ace mini-putt course

BY BRUCE CHESSEL

A few aspiring Conestoga College golfers got their chance to shoot for a hole-in- one on Oct. 22. The only thing is that this wasn’t a full golf course but a three-hole mini­putt course.

Conestoga Student Inc. set up the course in the B-wing of the school, which featured one short hole, one slightly longer hole and one sloped hole that everyone had trouble with.

First-year renovation tech­nician student Stewart Johnston said he enjoyed his time playing some miniature golf.

“I thought it was interest­ing, it’s a good way to raise some morale in the commu­nity.”

“It’s all in the hips,” said Derek Sloos a first-year con­struction techniques (car­

pentry) student. When asked which hole was the hardest he said, “The sloped one was tricky. But on the second one the green was a bit rough so you had to deal with more obstacles, but the sloped one was a tough go.”

CSI’s Waterloo campus co­ordinator Joseph Hefford explained why they held the mini-putt game.

“It’s just a fun activity for the students. The students are really interacting. It’s something nice to do while you’re walking down the hall and it’s fun.”

Hefford also said CSI would consider doing another one on a larger scale.

“I’m always looking for big­ger and better ideas. This is an improvement on my idea from last year. It’s always improving and getting better for the students.”

PHOTO BY AARON CRECESSloos lines up his next putt.

PHOTO BY AARON CRECESFirst-year construction techniques (carpentry) student Derek Sloos tries for a hole-ln-one at Conestoga’s Waterloo campus Oct. 22.

Yiran Hou,second-year

business administration -accounting

STUDENT LIFE SPOKE ♦ Page 3Monday, November 4,2013

Sing it like you mean it!BY STEPH SMITH

Students sang their heart out at the Conestoga Residence and Conference Centre’s karaoke event.

From 8 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 23, residents had the opportunity to sing their favourite songs, which ranged from Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball, to the viral sensation What Does the Fox Say? by Norwegian com­edy duo Ylvis.

Adam Micks-Foa, a first-

year architecture facilities management student, was first to sing. He chose an ’80s throwback, Maniac by Michael Sembello, from the 1983 film Flashdanee, but not without a large number of technical difficulties involv­ing the microphone and com­puter output to the TV.

“Ten or so starts in and the song still wasn’t playing right, I felt like it wasn’t meant to be,” Micks-Foa said.

Another minor setback was

the event location. The event was to be held in the base­ment lounge of the building, but a group was using it for presentations still at 8 p.m., so the event was moved to the kitchen, with little notice. However, about 25 residents made it with little difficulty.

“It hasn’t been too bad,” said Beni Briggs, a post-grad proj­ect management student and one of the resident advisers organizing the event. “People

have mid-terms, but they still came out.”

Briggs said all of the events that residence staff have organized over the last two months have been successful, such as their talent show and speed-friending event.

The residents let their inhi­bitions go and came together to have fun.

“I usually only do karaoke if I have liquid confidence. But if I have my friends around, it’s a lot easier,” Micks-Foa said.

Kyle Desbois, a first-year business administration

accounting student, sang and danced to Lou Bega’s Mambo No. 5 with such energy that the audience couldn’t help but be into the music as well.

“I love doing karaoke. I was in drama for the four years I was in high school. I was involved in all of the produc­tions, whether I was acting or not. I love singing,” Desbois said.

Residents could partici­pate in the event at no cost. Pizza and pop were originally offered for a dollar, but were then offered for free, “because we love you guys,” Briggs said.

PHOTO BY STEPH SMITHFirst-year marketing student Jacob Boeck and second-year health office administration student Jenni Jenkins dance to Lou Bega’s Mambo No. 5 at the residence's karaoke event on Oct. 23.

Nursing students try to scrub out new MTV showBY CASEY SCHELLENBERGER

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is urging people to sign a petition call­ing for the cancellation of a new MTV reality TV show featuring nurses.

Scrubbing In, which pre­miered on Oct. 24, follows the lives of several travel nurses working in an Orange County, Calif, hospital. A let­ter, written by the ONA pres­ident, was in direct response to the trailer, which showed the nurses drinking, danc­ing and streaking as well as them in their professional lives.

Linda Haslam-Stroud wrote in the letter that the trailer

showing this behaviour as “reality” was “highly offensive and degrades the profession­alism and dedication of all nurses.”

“The nurses portrayed in the show present as sexual objects, exploit negative ste­reotypes and diminish the fact that we are knowledge­able health-care profession­als who make the difference between life and death for patients every day,” Haslam- Stroud wrote.

Rebecca Nielsen, a second- year practical nursing stu­dent, said, “As a nursing stu­dent, I don’t agree with it (the show). It makes me and my colleagues look bad.

“I feel like that if you’re a

nurse, no matter where you are, you need to be showing some level of professionalism. It’s not Jersey Shore, it’s a nursing profession.”

The petition, which origi­nally asked that MTV cancel the premiere, is now asking that MTV “consider taking this grossly inaccurate dra­matization off of the air.” As of Oct. 28, it had 22,451 signa­tures with a goal of reaching 25,000.

Nielsen, who signed the petition, doesn’t think it will work “because there is going to be enough people watch­ing it.”

The petition can be found at change.org/petitions/mtv- cancel-scrubbing-in.

■' • ■ * ■> '* * '* ♦ COMMENTARY_______________ _Page 4 ♦SPOKE Monday, November 4,2013

Your safety is in your hands

BY AARON CRECES

Nick Lalonde, just 23 years old, fell to his death at a job site on King Street in Waterloo on Oct. 11.

The company he worked for, Maison Canada, had been cited nine times for safety violations, yet the unsafe work environment was allowed to continue until the tragic accident.

Since then, 17 work orders for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act have been issued to the company.

In New Brunswick in 2011, a 17-year-old part-time Wal- Mart employee named Patrick Desjardins was electrocuted while operating a floor polisher in the store’s garage.

It was later revealed that the polisher had been pur­chased from a yard sale, and had never been inspected before being put to use.

Why is this sort of disregard for the safety of workers allowed to continue?

In 2011, Ontario alone had 306 deaths in the workplace. Over the past decade, Canada as a whole has lost roughly 12,000 workers. That’s more than three fatal accidents per day.

And that’s not even including the number of time-loss injuries suffered by Ontario workers; in 2011 alone, a staggering 56,672 people couldn’t work.

The fact is that the majority of these injuries and deaths are caused by unsafe work environments, and too often these tragedies are preventable. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Canada, it is legally your right to refuse work that you deem unsafe; whether it’s using a ladder with no rubber soles on it in a walk-in freezer, or climbing several storeys on rickety pieces of wood and metal without a harness.

You cannot be punished for refusing to work, rather it is the employer who will be punished under the act for pressuring you to perform a task that is unsafe.

Whether you’re a full-time employee or a part-timer like Desjardins, you should never have to fear doing part of your job.

If you’re concerned about safety in your workplace, you can brush up on the Occupational Health and Safety Act at www.worksmartontario.gov.on.ca.

The views herein represent the position of the newspa­per, not necessarily the author.

Letters are welcomeSpoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer.Writers will be contact­ed 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.

Email letters to: www.spokeonline.com with the subject line

“Letter to the Editor," or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.

The first snowfall of the year always divides Canadians.

I want doublethe Timmies

Conestoga needs a second Tim Hortons

Randi Clarke Opinion

" i know I get frustrated waiting in that busy line and all I want to order is

an Ice Cap."

Have you ever stood in the Tim Hortons’ lineup during the lunch time rush hour? Or stood in the line during your breaks? Before school? Or even after school?

If so, you probably noticed the same thing I did. It gets extremely busy. The lineup is out the doors and wraps around the side of the build­ing. It gets so busy that I actually check the Timmy Cam on Conestoga College’s website before I even head over there.

In fact, the only time I don’t find the lineup to be too busy is at 5 p.m. and by that point most of us are home and don’t really care about

the Timmies’ lineup at the school.

I know I get frustrated, especially when I’m wait­ing in that busy line and all I want to order is an Ice Cap, unlike some people who order two coffees and a cou­ple of sandwiches. It’s in sit­uations like this that I think there should be another Tim Hortons inside the school.It could be on level one by the cafeteria. I understand that this would cost the school money, but just think about the profit that could be made by having another Tim Hortons.

I know some of you don’t actually like their prod­ucts, but their prices are

much more reasonable than Starbucks. It is more afford­able for students and faculty to buy a large double double than a venti pumpkin spice latte.

The new Timmies could be an “express Timmies.” It would only sell coffees, Ice Caps and doughnuts. If you want a bagel or a sandwich, all you’d have to do is go upstairs.

Having an express Timmies would cut down on everyone’s wait time at both locations.

The express Timmies would be small, kind of like those mobile trailers they use to serve customers while the actual store is being reno­vated. They could even hire students who need a part- time job. If they can’t find enough students, they could use some of the employees from the one upstairs.

I love Tim Hortons but just wish I could get my Ice Cap in a reasonable time.

SPOKEIS P U B L I S H E D A N D P R O D U C E D W E E K L Y B Y T H E J O U R N A L I S M S T U D E N T S O F C O N E S T O G A C O L L E G E

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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.

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NEWS SPOKE ♦ Page 5Monday, November 4,2013

The race from hellBY SCOTT DIETRICH

Mother Nature was the main adversary of Conestoga College’s cross-country team when they took to the course at the 2013 OCAA champion­ship meet.

To say that the weather was bad would be the under­statement of the century; the weather conditions were so terrible that people who are old enough may have had flashbacks to Hurricane Hazel.

Redeemer College hosted the event which was held in Ancaster in the beautiful Dundas Valley Conservation Area, a scenic rolling land­scape that on Oct. 26 looked like a runners’ worst night­mare.

Temperatures held firm at just above freezing all morn­ing and the rain never ceased from the time the first race started to the end of the last race. Also a factor was the wind which blew at a steady 25 km/h.

“This is definitely the worst race I’ve ever done,” said Conestoga’s Rob Brouillette. “Lots of rain, really muddy, people slipping all over the place and very, very cold. I’ve run marathons before but this was 100 times worse than any marathon. Running up the hill was like running up a water slide.”

Through the rain and the cold

14 runners from Conestoga ran hard, but neither the men’s or women’s team was able to finish in the top five, failing to qualify for a spot at the national meet.

The women’s side finished in 8th place overall in the team standings of their 5K run while the men’s squad finished in 7th place overall in their 8K event and missed a top 5 finish by just three min­utes. In OCAA track meets even one minute can make a difference between qualifying or not.

The team was well prepared for the meet because they had raced the course once before in the regular season. “When the team went down there earlier we got a real good idea of what provincials would look like,” Brouillette said.

The women’s team had high expectations of qualifying for the national meet. They had three top five finishes under their belt during the regu­lar season, including a fifth place finish when they raced the course earlier in the year. The men had a strong finish in their first run at Dundas Valley as well, earn­ing a bronze medal, the first of their two bronze medal fin­ishes in the regular season.

A notable absence from the men’s team was team captain Brendan Hancock, who suf­fered a foot injury just a week

before the race took place. “I felt pain in my foot starting in September but it wasn’t anything serious that needed time off, it wasn’t painful,” Hancock said. “I just kept going and started seeing the athletic therapist as I felt more pain. I was getting taped up, I bought arch sup­ports, and my times weren’t far off in practice or the races. It was last Thursday (Oct. 17), I was running in practice and I felt something snap in my foot and I wasn’t sure if it was something popping back into place or something going out of place, so I gave it a few minutes rest but then I realized later that my season was over.”

Head coach Dave Sharratt said that had Hancock been able to race the outcome would have been more favourable. “It’s definitely a big blow, because we were banking on finishing second or third.” He had the team’s second fastest time on the men’s side in most of the regular season races.

Brouillette echoed that state­ment before the race. “Before going to provincials I think we were definitely a top three team with Brandon.”

Even though their season is over runners from Conestoga said they will continue to race in independent events, and continue to train and work hard to prepare for next year.

PHOTO BY SCOTT DIETRICHAhm ed Ahm ed (right) of Conestoga runs alongside a competitor from Georgian at the OCAA Championship race at Dundas Valiev Conservation Area on Oct. 26. Ahm ed finished 19th overall.

Trash on the trail

TylerBattenOpinion

Maybe you could help me solve a problem. Why would someone bring garbage into the forest and then throw it to some inaccessible spot, off the trail?

Walking on top of Pinnacle Hill recently, through the forest, I came across a very well put sign. It read, “If you can bring it in, you can bring it out. Please take your gar­bage.”

I don’t think it’s unrealistic to refer to beer cans, chip bags and Tim Hortons’ cups as perennial objects in south­ern Ontario forests, perhaps any forests near consumers. These objects are so common­place that they may as well be classified under a new section of the Peterson field guide for amateur botanists.

It’s no joke, garbage is so common that I bet you’d be more likely to find a double­double cup before you found a daisy in the springtime.

These common spottings happen for two reasons. Firstly, because garbage lasts longer than vegeta­tion and secondly, not many people are out there picking this stuff up.

Look at the shameful lit- terer who throws his garbage off the trail to some inacces­sible place where even David Suzuki would shrug and say “too much work.”

Furthermore, why would someone even bring cans, cups or bags out there in the first place? Boredom, I imag­ine. If you’re really not into the whole walking through the forest thing you may as well stay at home with a bag of Bear Grill’s flavoured Doritos watching reruns of Man vs. Wild. You’re not going to die of starvation on an inner-city, community trail.

I think I can understand the hiker who does end up out there with an empty can though. The can had

a purpose for the hiker while they were gulping it down, but once emptied, the can became a nuisance. Not because they’re carry­ing it but because it’s now empty and does nothing but occupy an otherwise useful hand. Before it was emptied though, it didn’t bother that person at all. If it did, we would find half­full cans at the mouth of every trail. Instead we find them tossed down banks, halfway in.

I hate to talk recycling basics but with the amount of garbage in the forests I feel it warranted.

Eighteenth century moral philosopher Immanuel Kant once came up with an idea he called the categorical impera­tive. Applied to garbage and specifically to those who put it there, he would have asked, “If you can drop trash on the trail, can everyone drop trash on the trail?” Any reasonable creature would answer no to this ludicrous rhetoric. Even wild dogs know this — no doo-doo where you live, walk or eat.

Is this why garbage is thrown down banks, into gul­lies, thorn bushes and other extremely hard-to-get-to spots?

If you ever find yourself in this extremely agonizing situation (holding an empty can,) I would prefer you just drop the garbage in the middle of the trail, where the next guy can pick it up eas­ily. Liberate your hands and continue on with your sur­vival enactment, preferably right back home.

FEATUREPage 6 ♦SPOKE Monday, November 4,2013

Photos by Hailey MerktClub Abstract hosted its Part 1 of 2 Costume Party in Uptown W aterloo on Oct. 27. Over 100 funny and frightful characters took part in this elaborate party, drinking and dancing the dark night away. Clockwise from top left: A demonic jester displays a grue­som e grin; These self-made jellyfish costumes won their designers first place and $500 at the costume contest; A few friends m an­age to break away from the dance floor for a quick photo-op; A couple of primly dressed ‘Dumb and Dum ber’ enthusiasts pose for a photo. They are eagerly awaiting the big screen sequel, currently in production.

NEWS SPOKE* Page 7Monday, November, 4,2013

Outbreak of zombies

PHOTOS BY SPENCER BEEBEZom bies invaded the Queen’s Square Library in Cambridge on Oct. 26 during the Zom bie Infestation. Above, a masked zom bie swings an axe and a severed hand at the event. Top right, Chloe Dolson has her face painted by Jennifer Tigerlilly. Right, a crowd of zom bies swarm into the library, hungry for brains.

NEWSPage 8 ♦SPOKE Monday, November 4, 2013

Homer Watson House hauntedBY TYLER BATTEN

On a cold and rainy Saturday night I pulled up to a heritage home in the his­toric Kitchener district known as Lower Doon, just two kilo­metres north of Conestoga College, tucked into the Schneider Creek valley.

A psychic soiree of sorts was set to begin at the purport­edly haunted Homer Watson House. Many people were qui­etly ushered into the dimly lit vestibule of the fabled artist’s home.

I stayed in my truck a little longer, watching the autum­nal leaves blow across the street and through the beams of reddened tungsten, which cascade over the buildings period brick facade, animat­ing it.

Inside the doorway were a number of hostesses greeting paranormal enthusiasts as they entered. I was ushered into Watson’s studio room where a story was told to me about Phoebe Amelia Watson who regularly visits the gal­lery, despite her death over 60 years ago.

“Phoebe” visits so often that employees have settled on using her first name. They believe she just wants to be a part of the daily upkeep of the gallery.

“I was upstairs fiddling around late one night,” said Laura Mabee, co-ordinator of research and archives, “when

I heard strange noises coming from the house and so decided to head home. I turned off all the lights and headed for my car. When I got outside all of the upstairs lights turned on by themselves.”

A story was later told about a strange, old man sitting in the back garden of the old, two-acre property who, when approached, said he was there to meet someone — “to usher someone through.”

The property is known as a portal to paranormal investi­gators throughout the region, Mabee said.

Many of Homer Watson’s paintings contain a lone man walking through Cressman’s bush, now Homer Watson’s Park, and these types of sightings have been reported too — a lone man, wandering through the surrounding for­ests and nearby pioneer cem­

etery who disappears without notice.

In 1918, when Watson was feeling especially low, he reportedly said his late wife appeared to him in his studio as an amber light and slow­ly transformed into the life­like shape of his sweetheart, reminding him to not despair.

But, of course, Homer Watson was known to be a

little eccentric himself, and to keep the company of eccentric friends too.

William Lyon McKenzie King was the longest serving prime minister in Canadian history and was a profession­al academic who attained five degrees in his life—a man of high status and decree. His many academic achievements included a Doctor of Law, two graduate degrees and a PhD from Harvard. He is the one and only prime minister to have attained a doctorate of philosophy.

The pair regularly held seances together, Mabee said.

Spiritual passages from the recently released diaries of William Lyon McKenzie King have helped to turn rumour into fact when it comes to the personal practices of this great prime minister.

“There can be no doubt what­soever that the persons I have been talking with were the loved ones and others I have known and who have passed away. It was the spirits of the departed,” reads King’s diary from June 30, 1932. Afraid to let information about his spiritual beliefs get out to the public forum and potentially wreak havoc on his profes­sional life, King kept these beliefs very private.

One of King’s mediums named Mrs. Wriedt was a direct voice medium and used a small collapsible acoustic amplifier which looked like a horn to channel the ghosts King requested to speak with. After one session, King remarked in his June 30,1932 diary that “the conversations in many cases have been so

loud, so clear etc. that I have felt great embarrassment at the servants in other parts of the house, hearing what was said, as I am sure they have.”

When offered the chance to slip downstairs, “where the most activity is,” I instinc­tively jumped at the oppor­tunity and was already well into what I imagined would be a candlelit dungeon before Mabee turned the lights on, revealing what looked like a modernized child’s arts and craft daycare centre. No Ms. Watson, no demons, no dun­geon. My heart rate stabi­lized.

There was, however, a pho­tography dark room. These being so uncommon in today’s age, I wanted to look in. I reminded myself that there may be unexposed negatives present so I pried open the old door just a crack and peeked into that wall of darkness then hurriedly shut it and power walked back toward the stairs. Again, my heart rate stabilized.

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, any heritage home full of paranormal believers and interpreters under a cold and rainy mid-autumn moon can be a very scary place— creaking floors, windblown shutters and flickering lights and candles are able to create the perfect setting for a hor­ror story of the paranormal kind.

For some people, these hor­rors can be very real.

Check out the Homer Watson House and Gallery website for upcoming news and events at www.homer- watson.on.ca

Laura Mabee has experienced a ghostly encounter.

The Homer Watson heritage hom e in Lower Doon was full of spiritual enthusiasts and interpreters on Oct. 26, during their psychic soiree.

PHOTOS BY TYLER BATTEN

TECHNOLOGY SPOKE ♦ Page 9Monday, November 4,2013

LOVELACE LEGACYFirst-ever official Canadian event celebrates

the contributions of women to science and technologyBY JOSH BURY

You don’t have to go far to find some of the brightest minds in science and tech­nology - that is, if you’re in Kitchener-Waterloo. But sometimes, it can seem like these minds disproportion­ately represent a particular gender.

On Oct. 15, tech groups in Waterloo Region came together in the Victoria Park pavilion to share, discuss and discover what women have contributed to these fields.

It was the first-ever offi­cial Canadian observance of Ada Lovelace Day. Organized by Charlotte Armstrong and director Stephanie Rozek of technology literacy ven­ture Hackademy.ca, it is a celebration of the contribu­tions of all women to the so- called “STEM fields:” science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Too often, Armstrong says, women have been discouraged from joining STEM fields, or else just haven’t considered them as valid options for some­one who also wants a family.

“They didn’t want to have a career in it, because they felt that it was anti-social and it didn’t help anyone ... but you can live all the dreams you want to, and have a career as well,” A r m s t r o n g said.

Eva Bodahelyi of Guelph-based Diyode shows how to set up a harmonograph for use.

The event featured a num­ber of high-profile speak­ers who spoke about Ada Lovelace, about women and their role in technology, or about their own personal experiences as women in the STEM fields.

Carolyn Augusta was one of those speakers. She humour­ously related her own strugglesw i t h .. mathematics

eventually ended up

w i t h

her earning a degree in that field.

Augusta defended the use of Lovelace as the day’s symbol, saying her contri­bution was key in an incred­ibly important field.

“Ada Lovelace is wide­ly regarded to be the first woman in computer science ... Lovelace helped make com­puting happen the way we see it today,” Augusta said.

Lovelace was the only legitimate daughter of famed English poet Lord Byron. In

1843, she published n o t e s

about a computing device, created by polymath Charles Babbage, called the Analytical Engine. The notes included a formula for what is now widely considered the first computer program.

Also featured at the event were numerous local tech groups who set up booths and displays, filling the hall with the sounds of passionate con­versation as well as the delight of young discov- ery.

Kwartziab, a Kitchener- based com­munity work­shop, had a 3D printer on dis­play. Guelph group Diyode brought and assembled a harmonograph, which uses physics to cre­ate unique, patterned imag­es. Nerd Nite KW’s booth let attendees try the Oculus Rift, a next-generation dis­play device that is worn on the user’s face like a set of goggles. And Hackademy.ca representatives, who orga­nized the event, discussed technological literacy, which

they believe is “the new lit­eracy for the digital age.”

Despite being during Oktoberfest, one of the region’s largest events, the event experienced a strong turnout that included many young people. When asked about the success of the for­mat, Charlotte Armstrong, community outreach co­ordinator for Hackademy.ca, said she liked how their plan

for the event worked.

“I want to have presenta­tions for adults to listen to, and then have areas where kids can explore... and

____________young adultsand adults can

explore as well,” Armstrong said.

Rozek agreed, saying that the hands-on nature of the dis­plays was one of the reasons they were able to reach such a large and varied audience.

“I think it’s the curiosity. People say, What is that?’ ... and it’s something really cool, and they want to know what it is.”

The drawing arm of the harmonograph slows as friction takes over. The pendulum-based drawing machine was created by Eva Bodahelyi at Guelph-based com m unity workshop Diyode, who brought it to the Ada Lovelace Day event at the Victoria Park pavilion in Kitchener on Oct. 15.

PHOTOS BY JOSH BURYA 3D printer provided by Kitchener-based Kwartziab idles halfway through its production of a familiar m ovie character in an unfamil­iar colour - in this case, pink. 3D printers use digital models and a layering process to create physical objects.

" Lovelace helped make computing happen the way we see it today. "

- Carolyn Augusta, University of Guelph

Page 10 ♦SPOKE Monday, November 4,2013NEWS

College receives $300,000 donationConestoga and Scotiabank create opportunity for students

BY GREG STAMPER

Conestoga just got even more diverse.

With the help of a $300,000 donation from one of Canada’s largest banks, Scotiabank, Conestoga’s Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E) has created a new place for international students and alumni to come for information and advice on creating a small busi­ness.

On Oct. 24, the partnership was offi­cially announced by a group consisting of Conestoga’s president John Tibbits, Scotiabank’s district vice-president Chris Stager, Conestoga’s executive dean of entrepreneurship and applied research Barbara Fennessy, and Conestoga Students Inc. president Jason Wright.

“I think it’s going to be very exciting for our international students and our immigrants in the community who need a place to reach out to, to under­stand how to do business in Canada,” Fennessy said.

The money being donated by Scotiabank is going toward the funding of the new Scotiabank International Business Office, a Startup Student fworkshop series which consists of five activities that provide full-time and part-time students with practical tools and advice for starting a business, and lastly, a program titled Global Citizenship, which will help interna­tional students learn through studying, working, volunteering and networking.

“We understand that entrepreneurs

thing Tibbits wants people to recog­nize within the school and community.

“The bottom line is the entrepre­neurial side and the international side are embedded in our strategic plan and we measure ourselves against these initiatives.”

Along with the business office and the programs being funded by Scotiabank, there will also be scholar­ship opportunities that students in both their first and second years of

schooling can apply to receive; two first-year scholarships of $2,500 and three second-year scholarships of $3,000.

Any international students wishing to know more about the services or programs offered by the Scotiabank International Business Office can con­tact the C4E at c4e@conestogac.on.ca, visit the website at www.conestogac. on.ca/c4e or drop into the C4E, located in Room 2A218, at the Doon campus.

Conestoga students and staff joined forces with Scotiabank employees to make an announcement about a new partnership between the two during a press conference held in the Centre for Entrepreneurship inside Conestoga’s Doon campus on Oct. 24.

Walkathon raises funds, creates hope for young mothersBY CALLIE WRIGGLESWORTH

A torrential downpour may have cancelled a planned walkathon, but it didn’t stop participants from raising money for the Cambridge Resource Pregnancy Centre. The walkathon was supposed to be held Oct. 26. Instead, people who raised money have agreed to walk on their own time with the option of walking one kilometre or five kilometres. The walkathon was put together to help raise funds to further develop the facility’s programs.

The centre, which is locat­ed at 119 Water St. N. in Cambridge, supports moth- ers-to-be and their families during an unplanned preg­nancy or post-abortion trau­ma.

“We have a really small bud­get here. It is very volunteer driven,” said Pat Errey, the centre’s executive director.

The centre offers help to mothers with things such as counselling services, support programs, free pregnancy tests, and supplies for babies, specifically for those moms in need. Their main focus is giv­

ing hope to women who think that their only option is abor­tion. Mothers are given sup­port and help so that they can make an informed decision and not feel like they don’t have a choice.

“I think our average age is 17-24. Sometimes people see us as here for young teen pregnancies and certainly that’s a part of our work, for unsupported moms, but not necessarily,” Errey said. “Really what we are here for is the abortion vulnerable women. Someone who is in a situation and who is preg­nant unexpectedly or could be pregnant unexpectedly and is vulnerable to abortion, not necessarily by choice but by her circumstances.”

The organization holds fun­draisers throughout the year.

“Basically we do three major fundraising events. We do a gala in the spring, we do a baby bottle fundraising drive in the late spring, early sum­mer and this is our fall event. It sort of gets us through each season,” Errey said.

The board of the organiza­tion, which consists of all vol­unteers, plans and runs all of

the fundraisers. The centre has about 10 volunteers in total.

As of Oct. 26, the walkathon

had raised just over $2,000. However, that number should rise as funds are still being donated.

For more information about the Cambridge Pregnancy Resource Centre, visit www. pregcentre.com

Volunteers from the Cambridge Pregnancy Resource Centre are, from left to right, Elaine Wrigglesworth, Ed Wrigglesworth, Am anda Vokey, Laurie Hawkshaw, Paulette Smith, Pat Errey and, in front, Victoria Campbell, Colin Campbell and Meghan Campbell. The centre held a walkathon on Oct. 26 to raise funds to further develop the facility’s programs.

are the backbone of this country. This is why we are so interested to help launch this program to help students and entrepreneurs at Conestoga,” Stager said.

The international student popula­tion at Conestoga has grown drasti­cally from 15 years ago when there were all but three students from for­eign countries. Currently, the inter­national student population is over 1,000 students; this growth is some­

PHOTO BY CALLIE WRIGGLESWORTH

NEWS SPOKE ♦Page 11Monday, November 4,2013

This is a league of extraordinary womenBY KELSEY DUNBAR

On a lunch break some peo­ple might run out to grab a bite to eat or run home to make some lunch, but members of the Kitchener- Waterloo Business Women’s Association find a way to fit a meeting into their lunch break once a week. ^

The association meets every Thursday at the Walper Hotel and Terrace in Kitchener on Queen Street. They gather in a beautifully decorated room just off the lobby, featuring tables that are covered in white linens and chairs cov­ered in simple black. Nothing takes away from the antique architecture of this popular hotel.

As people arrive Carolyn Pegg, a member of KWBWA, greets them at the door as they grab their name tags. In the entrance their is a sign with all their business cards for new members and guests to see.

“The way the group is set up, we allow one member per business and she ‘protects’ that business in the group ...,” Pegg said.

For example, Pegg repre­sents the printing industry.

“Within the group their is a dentist and a veterinarian,

etc. Sometimes we divide a business. We have two spa owners but one protects hair care and the other protects esthetics. We have another member who protects skin care,” Pegg said.

After all members have arrived everyone stands to toast Canada, and then the Queen. A short moment of silence to honour both follows and then lunch begins.

During the meal, members are encouraged to tell every­one about any exciting news within their company and about any specials. A travel agent stood up to talk about her previous travels and deals for flights down south. Another member passed out coupons for a free 30-minute massage at her spa.

“We have a draw every meeting for $25 where the person who wins must tell which other businesses in the group she has used or pro­moted or recommended since she won last time,” Pegg said. “One of the things we have found is that we use each other for referrals of all kinds of businesses, not just our immediate ones. For exam­ple, someone will send out an email asking, “Does any­one know a good place to get furniture reupholstered?” or

same idea as a gentlemen’s club, but for women instead.

At the Oct. 24 meeting, guest speaker Donna Messar, queen of networking, shared some of her tips and also discussed social networking. She said if you write some­thing or read something you like, you should immediately post it onto all of your social media platforms then check your Google alerts to see who

else is talking about what you just posted. Those people can make great connections for any further information you need.

“What I would like you to recognize is that you all are* very good at what you do but what you don’t do is really maximize the who you are and where you are a t ... that is where social media can help,” Messar said.

Donna Messer speaks to a group of wom en at the Kitchener-Waterloo Business W o m e n’s Association on Oct. 24 about how to network. She advised the w om en to read her favourite local business m aga­zine, AMOI, to find further business connections.

PHOTO BY BRUCE CHESSELLLocal artist Christopher Austin displays som e of his glass paintings at Chainsaw’s DIY art show on Oct. 26. DIYDAY was a mixed-media event where local artists showcased their work.

“My son just got laid off; could anyone forward his resume to a possible hire?” The response is always immediate.”

The organization was start­ed in the late 1980s by several women in business who met around a kitchen table. They all agreed a forum of other women should be formed to help them meet, develop con­tacts, support each other and develop professionally. It’s the

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NOV. 12,13,142013Princess Twin Cinema

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FEATURE Monday, November 4,2013

Admiring the art in

Uptown WaterlooThese are just some of the 60 pieces of public art in the

K-W area and are part of the Uptown Trek art walk.

Photos by Kelsey Dunbar

Lit by lights in the King Street Parkade is a sculpture by a garden and water feature. The sculpture replicates bones and arm our from wartime.

In the Public Health building in Uptown Waterloo hangs a universal sym bol of health. The hanging vines and egg-filled nests represent the unity of the planes of existence: mind, body and spirit.

These steel and copper barley stocks on the corner of Park and Newm an streets in Uptown Waterloo were made by Jane Buyers, a professor of fine arts at UW. This sculpture stands at a site that used to be hom e to a brewery for almost 140 years. Now it is a m arker of the brewery’s history.

Created by Johannes Kelper to remind us of the balance needed between faith and science in the modern world, the W aterloo Bell stands in the middle of W aterloo Public Square on King Street.

This sculpture made of cypress wood and stainless steel is surrounded by what inspired it. The curves and rippled effect on the steel m im ic the river that bends and flows through the city. This sculpture can be found in W aterloo’s city centre.

Page 12 ♦ SPOKE