October 22, 2004

Friday, Oct. 22, 2004
Volume 35, Issue 3
Check out Halloween stories
on page 13
Rae review looks
to students, staff
for new solutions
By JANINE WESTERA
and JARRETT POWELL
Staff Writers
A process is underway that will
determine the future of higher
education in Ontario, a system
that is in “serious jeopardy,” says
the discussion paper released by
the Post-secondary Review
Advisory Panel.
The Post-secondary Review was
announced by the Ontario
government in the 2004 budget to
review Ontario’s post-secondary
education system and report how
it can be improved to Premier
Dalton McGuinty and the minister
of
training,
colleges
and
universities, Mary-Anne Chambers.
The report is due in January
2005.
To do this, the review is
focusing on five key areas
needing the most improvement:
funding, transferability, quality,
accountability and accessibility.
On Oct. 7, “250 people from the
community came out and spoke
passionately
about
higher
education,” says Dan Patterson,
president of Niagara College.
Niagara College hosted a townhall-style meeting at the Glendale
campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The meeting gave citizens the
opportunity to express their concerns about post-secondary education. On hand were three members
of the advisory panel: Bob Rae,
Don Drummond and Inez Elliston.
The majority of the concerns
focused
on
funding
and
transferability.
* Funding — “In some sense
post-secondary education got
sideswiped, as everything else did
with the increasing pressure for
health care. If you look at the
provincial budgets, they have
been increasingly allocated to
health care.
It has gone up about two per
cent of their budgets every single
year, and education and other
things are getting crowded out,”
says Drummond.
“Last year, 2004 was the year
for health. This year, 2005, is the
year for education,” says
Patterson.
Over the past four years, the
Ontario government has increased
its spending on health care from
$22 billion in 2000 to $30.6
billion in this year’s budget.
However, education’s funding
hasn’t been as dramatic. This
year’s budget allowed for $4.2
billion, an increase of $1.8 billion
since 2000.
Laura Briggs, 19, a first-year
student in the Dental Hygiene
program, says she is paying
$8,000 this year and another
$8,000 next year, which is “a lot.
I’m only 19 years old. There isn’t
money for me to do this.”
In response, Rae asked if the
government is willing to increase
funding
for
post-secondary
education, are students willing to
pay more to match that?
Continued on page 2
NIiagara College President Dan Patterson responds to questions
after the Rae review town-hall meeting on Oct. 7 at the Glendale
campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Photo by Jarrett Powell
Local Sports coverage on page 22
Fire in the hole!
An early morning fire engulfs the engine compartment of a GMC truck as Welland
firefighters try to contain it at 8:40 a.m. on Oct. 20, at Niagara College’s Welland campus in
parking lot D. College security personnel say an electrical problem caused the fire. The
student owner of the vehicle was notified.
Photo by Ivan Zatelli
Alcohol, college do not mix
By MELISSA HUNT
Staff Writer
Alcohol and college can be a
deadly combination, literally.
A three-year study by the
National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
issued a report in 2002 linking
college drinking to at least 1,400
annual student deaths, 600,000
assaults of students and 500,000
unintentional injuries.
Most students don’t think much
about the amount of alcohol they
consume.
A study published in the
November issue of Alcoholism:
Clinical
and
Experimental
Research showed the reason for
binge drinking in college is that
students tend to pour much more
than standard servings of alcohol
into cups.
Amber North, 19, a first-year
student in the Pre-Community
program at Niagara College, says
although she doesn’t drink, the
reason alcohol is such a factor in
college is that it’s a “stress relief,
being able to hang out with friends
after school.”
However, this isn’t just a
problem at one school, but
possibly every school.
Sarah Allen, 20, is a second-year
student in the Flight Program
Applied Degree at Seneca College
in Toronto. She says she thinks
alcohol is such a big factor in
college because for many students,
going away to college is the first
time they are able to be away from
home and rules, so “for many it is
the time that they are finally
legally allowed to drink.”
“It’s the freedom they are now
given because they are now their
own boss and have nobody to
listen to.”
It’s a way people meet new
people, says Celeste Koeslag, a
second-year student in the
Landscape Design program at
Fanshawe College in London.
“Sometimes it is hard when you
come to a different place and don’t
know anyone, so going out to bars
and parties might help. I think that
it is a common social activity
among students because it gives
people a chance to relax and get
their mind off school and their
workload.”
In an article by HealthDay
reporter Gary Gately, Henry
Wechsler, co-author of Dying to
Drink:
Confronting
Binge
Drinking on College Campuses,
said heavy marketing by the
alcohol industry, as well as
specials and promotions at bars
near colleges, contributes to the
drinking culture.
Koeslag says she thinks having
a bar on campus can be
encouraging people to drink more
often but “you are at school for
one reason and that is to learn.”
“Partying and drinking has its
place and time but not every night
of the week. You need to know
when the time is appropriate.”
Continued on page 2
Index
Editorials
Columns
6
7, 8
Entertainment 18
Profiles
21, 27
Sports
22
Crossword
25
Page 2, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Colleges underfunded $2,200 per student
Continued from Page 1
“Where I’m heading is to say
everybody’s going to have to pay
a little bit more.”
Briggs says she wasn’t happy
with Rae’s response.
Although her father is helping
her pay, she says she speaks for
other students who don’t have
that kind of luck.
“I think it was a load of bulls***.”
“Currently, Ontario colleges
are approximately $2,200 underfunded per student, according to
the national average,” says Mark
Hardwick, president of Niagara
College’s Student Administrative
Council for the Welland campus.
Patterson says in terms of per
student funding, the province is
at the bottom.
* Transferability – “Ontario is
unique in being so distinct
between the two institutions (colleges and universities),” says
Alan Davis, Niagara College’s
vice-president academic.
Transferability is the process of
universities and colleges co-operating with each other and recognizing the credits students have
achieved in one institution before
transferring to another.
David Atkinson, president of
Brock University, says there are a
number of successful programs
between Brock and Niagara
College.
“I don’t think there has been
really any resistance from the
university in trying to articulate
new and creative opportunities
for students,” says Atkinson.
The issue for Atkinson was not
of transferability, but of quality.
* Quality – The review is
responsible for measuring the
quality of post-secondary education students are receiving and
recommending how it could be
improved.
“We have to make sure what
we’re offering the students in
university and college is firstclass because we have to prepare
this generation for a very different world,” says Rae.
Quality is based on student
experience,
teaching
and
research. Although colleges and
universities have alternative
methods of monitoring quality,
the methods need to be improved.
One method both colleges and
universities use to measure quality is the Key Performance
Indicator (KPI). Some of the
aspects covered by the KPI are
graduation
rates,
graduate
employment, student satisfaction
and graduate satisfaction.
Universities also measure quality through a range of practices,
including peer reviews, curricular
committees, faculty assessment
and senate or board reviews of
academic programs.
Colleges determine quality
through program advisory committees.
* Accountability – Universities
and colleges have a responsibility
in being accountable to students
by recognizing credits they
earned at an institution.
Patterson proposes a higher
education council to ensure better
pathways between colleges and
universities, allowing students
with completed college degrees
to more easily pursue university
diplomas.
Bonnie Rose, executive vice-
president for academic affairs at
Niagara University in Lewiston,
NY, says universities should not
be let off the hook when it comes
to universities recognizing college credits. Rose was previously
vice-president
academic
at
Niagara College.
desire to work with the colleges. I
don’t think we should assume
that just because the University
of Sydney accepts certain kinds
of college credentials that that’s a
prima facie case for Ontario universities to do the same thing.”
However, Atkinson does recog-
Bob Rae was on hand Oct. 7 to listen to suggestions on how to
improve the quality of post-secondary education. A round-table
discussion was held at Brock University in St.Catharines and a
town-hall style meeting at Niagara College’s Glendale campus in
Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Photo by Jarrett Powell
Atkinson, in response, says, nize there is an “enormous abyss
“Ontario universities are subject between the colleges and univerto the highest standards of pro- sities in this province. They simgram evaluation. Those standards ply do not even talk the same lanare not provincial; they are not guage. It’s a problem, but I prefer
national; they are international. to think of it as a challenge.”
Universities wish to protect that
* Accessibility – Two aspects
excellence. (This) should not nec- of accessibility that affect postessarily be interpreted as a lack of secondary education are the
inequality of access to higher
education and flexible part-time
learning.
According to the Post-secondary Review Panel discussion
paper, students from low-income
families are half as likely to continue higher learning than those
from high-income families.
Rae says Ontario Student
Assistance Program (OSAP)
funds should be directed more
towards middle-income families,
those who are capable of paying
them back, while those from
lower-income families should be
granted more bursaries and scholarships.
“What is happening is people
coming from low-income families are being granted OSAP and
are sinking more and more into
debt, whereas people from middle-class society are being denied
OSAP.”
Rae also says 40 to 50 per cent
of students who can go to college
or university go.
“The point is we have to get
that number up. As we go deeper
into the century, we’re going to
need far more trained, skilled and
educated people and a more educated workforce than we had in
the past.”
Flexible part-time programs
are difficult for the average person who is trying to upgrade
skills because of other priorities
such as family and profession.
The review panel will be visiting 17 locations across the
province. Niagara College was its
second stop.
There is a comprehensive website
you
can
visit
at
http://www.raereview.on.ca.
Drinking at college linked to 1,400 annual student deaths
Continued from Page 1
She says having a bar on campus can actually be a good thing
because it is closer to where
people live and not as many
people will be walking around
downtown.
Allen agrees with Koeslag’s
comments, saying having a bar
on campus isn’t forcing people
to drink. Rather, it’s there for
the convenience for the students.
“They’ll probably go somewhere to drink, be it a bar on
campus or not. This could quite
possibly be safer because none
of the students will drink and
drive if they’re just a walk away
from their homes.”
Koeslag says it’s important
that no under-age drinking
occurs at the bar.
“The bar at our school
(Fanshawe College) is very
strict about underage drinking,
and if you are caught you can be
kicked out of the bar and maybe
even school. I do know people,
or have heard of people, who
drink way too much and definitely have changed since they
have come to school.”
Allen says the way movies
portray college life may influence a student’s college life.
“Some students may possibly
feel that what they portray in
movies is what college life is
supposed to be like, and if they
don’t have that party life maybe
they’ll try and get it.”
Koeslag says television and
movies have a “huge” impact on
people, and students will be
influenced by what they see.
“I also believe that most
movies and television ads are
[directed] towards students. It
isn’t often that you see old people in a beer commercial.”
North disagrees saying she
doesn’t think television or
movies affect students “unless
they want to follow the stereotypes.”
Koeslag says there is a lot of
drinking and partying at
Fanshawe, but that it’s basically
the same at every school.
“You always hear about different parties people went to or
the bars they have experienced.
I just think people need to know
their limits and the appropriate
time and it should not come
before your school work.”
She says she has heard of people who have spent all their
money within the first weeks of
school on alcohol and partying.
“I think it also has a lot to do
with the individual. Some people just don’t know when to
stop.”
What most students don’t
realize is that moderate drinking
by persons of legal age is
defined as no more than two
standard drinks per day for men
and one drink per day for
women,
according
to
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov, an online site for
NIAAA reports.
The site also offers an inside
look at the many consequences
that college drinking can lead
to, such as death, sexual abuse,
academic problems, health
problems and suicide attempts,
drunk driving, vandalism and
police involvement.
Surprisingly, the site also says
that 31 per cent of college students met criteria for alcohol
abuse, according to a questionnaire that students filled out on
their drinking habits.
Keeping track, pacing oneself, spending time on other
things, staying alert, not using
alcohol to escape and never
drinking and driving are the six
steps to moderate drinking,
according to the 1995 Dealing
with Drinking pamphlet created
by the Addiction Research
Foundation.
Students need to know how to
control their drinking.
Another issue with alcohol
abuse in college is stress. The
NIAAA
website,
at
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/index
.htm, says that in many studies
conducted, individuals report
that they drink in response to
stress. It went on to say that
some researchers have found
that high levels of stress may
influence drinking when alternative resources are lacking,
when alcohol is accessible and
when the individual believes
that alcohol will help to reduce
the stress.
While having a couple of
drinks for fun is no crime if you
are of legal drinking age (19),
there are a lot of ways drinking
could lead to a bad night and an
even worse long-term problem.
If you think you have a drinking problem or you know someone who does, you can contact
the National Drug and Alcohol
Treatment Referral Routing
Service
at1-800-662-HELP
(4357). The service allows you
to talk to someone about substance abuse or to request printed information on the problem.
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news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 3
Continuing Ed rolls
out marketing plan
Explaining behind the scenes
Greg Grimes (right), director of television operations for Rogers Television and a graduate of Niagara College’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program, talks about
the video truck’s equipment with Dean of Media Studies Leo Tiberi at the Welland campus on Oct. 18. For a full report on Grimes’ visit, see the Nov. 5 edition of
news@niagara.
Photo by Ivan Zatelli
Continuing Ed starts new programs
By TAMARA SARGENT
Staff Writer
Armed with new programs,
students and teachers, Continuing
Education (CE) has launched the
fall term.
There are “lots of developments
going on,” says Acting Dean of
Continuing Education Trish
Labonte.
Computer training has added 10
of the 46 new courses to CE’s list,
while Hospitality and Tourism
added 11. Other new courses are
Mom/Dad and Me in the
Kitchen–Tricks and Treats,
Advanced Wine Making I, and
Dance: The Cha Cha.
CE is “a way for individuals in
the community who don’t have
the opportunity to go to school
full-time to continue their
education ... especially in the area
of career-related learning.”
There are full-time students and
part-time learners taking classes
for personal growth, general
interest or career development.
Some
employers
“have
programs which provide funds for
an individual to upgrade,” says
Labonte.
She adds that in January, she
expects to be leaving her post in
the CE Department for one as
director of teaching and learning
resources.
“A majority of our students are
women in their late 20s or 30s,”
she says.
At an orientation for new CE
teachers, Pat Weaver spoke of his
first night teaching ISO 9001
Standards: “I was curious to see
what type of people would take
the class.
“In my experience, it was
male-dominated work,” Weaver,
49, says. “This was female
dominated.”
The women “are usually in
courses which have a career
emphasis,” Labonte says.
Not only does CE improve
one’s mind, Labonte says, but it
provides “the opportunity for the
individual to demonstrate their
learning with a certificate.”
Students are offered more than
450 courses, 45 of which produce
a certificate.
There are special programs,
namely Casino Careers, Niagara
Learning Vacations and Sailing,
in which all of the courses offered
lead to a certificate.
Four years ago, a 90 year-old
man received a certificate from a
sailing course.
“He was an inspiration to us,”
says Labonte. “It was fantastic.”
More than 16,000 people,
ranging in age from nine to 90,
will attend CE classes this term.
To register for any CE course or
to ask a question, call 905-9884306 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., weekdays.
Anniversary of milestone for women rights
By ANGELA HARDIE
Staff Writer
Oct. 18 marked the 75th
anniversary of one of the biggest
milestones for women in
Canadian history.
In 1929, five Alberta women
won the fight to have women
constitutionally declared “persons” and be eligible to sit as
members in the Canadian senate.
The issue arose when Emily
Murphy, a judge in the Women’s
Court in Edmonton, Alta., had
her ruling challenged by a man
who said she wasn’t a “person.”
A decision in 1876 by an
English court stated, “Women
are persons in matters of pains
and penalties, but are not persons
in matters of rights and privileges.” Since being a judge was a
privilege, Murphy’s rule meant
nothing.
Murphy and her companions,
nicknamed the “Famous Five,”
took the Persons case to the
Privy Council in England and
won. The Lord Chancellor’s
decision was “to those who
would ask why the word
‘person’ should include females,
the obvious answer is, why
should it not?”
Niagara College students say
they feel fortunate to have not
been women living in 1929.
Law
and
Security
Administration program student
Mike Ingoldssy, 22, says he
believes women were “treated
unfairly” in the 1920s and 1930s.
Rachel Limebeer, 18, a firstyear Early Childhood Education
program student, says she likes
being allowed to be who she is
and do what she wants.
“I like being allowed to face
challenges more than finding out
how to remove a stain from the
living room carpet.”
In October 2000, 71 years after
the Persons case was won, a
monument was erected on
Parliament Hill to mark the judicial decision. Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson, in a speech
at the monument’s unveiling,
said that, “It (the Persons case)
was only one milestone on the
long road to making women and
men true equals in our society.”
Clarkson added that she hopes
the monument will “encourage
everyone who sees it to follow in
the footsteps of the Famous
Five.”
At Niagara College, Mark
Costarro, 19, of the General Arts
and Science program, says if
there was something he believed
in and wanted to change, he
would do it himself.
Ingoldssy agrees.
“If I felt strongly about
something, I wouldn’t sit around
to wait for it to be done. I would
do it.”
By THERESA STACH
Staff Writer
Although enrolment numbers
in Continuing Education(CE)
courses have fallen slightly since
last year, the department is
rolling out a marketing plan to
kick it up a notch.
Sandra
Huppe,
Niagara
College’s associate registrar,
manages the records, works on
convocation
and
handles
requests for refunds. She also
takes care of tracking the CE
enrolment rates.
Huppe, associate registrar
for four years, said, “This year,
CE
rates
decreased.”
In the fall of 2003, CE enrolment
numbers were at 5,752 plus the
624 enrolled online. This year,
CE enrolment rates are 4,175
plus 590 online.
Enrolment is expected to
increase next year because the
CE department’s staff will
“concentrate more on their
marketing
and
marketing
strategies,” said Huppe.
There are all types of students
enrolled in CE.
Some are interested in receiving their certificate in a
specialized area and some are
required to re-take courses to
receive their college diploma.
CE offers only certificates, but
if a student fails a daytime course
or is unable to fit it on his or her
daily schedule, that student can
attend night courses to get credits
towards a diploma.
Sam Di Martino, the manager
of operations and delivery, said
students take the courses because
of “personal growth, career
development
and
general
interest.”
Sixty per cent are female and
most are around the age of 30.
The most requested program in
CE is Motorcycle Training.
“[It’s] a very, very popular
course,” said Huppe.
Offered in the spring and summer programs, it is by far the
course most people applied for
this year. Photography and floral
design are also popular.
Val Ferron, who also works in
the CE department, said the top
three courses are College
English,
Introduction
to
Psychology and General Interest
for Photography.
In January, math classes are
popular “because if a student
failed in September” the student
could take the course again to
replace it.
If a student wants to apply for
a program in CE, the student can
visit either campus, call or fax an
application to the registrar’s
office.
“It’s best for the student if they
phone or come in because we’ll
enrol them on the spot,” said
Huppe. “Our priority is to serve
the students who are here or on
the phone.”
If a student decides to call, the
phone lines are open until the
first two weeks of term.
The fee for the course must to
be paid at the time the college
receives the application.
If a student is taking a course
that has a high cost, postdated
cheques and other exceptions
may be made.
Six new teachers join
Continuing Ed faculty
By TAMARA SARGENT
Staff Writer
Six new teachers have joined
Niagara College’s Continuing
Education (CE) faculty.
Trish Labonte, acting dean of
Continuing Education, held an
orientation for the four women and
two men on Sept. 15.
She said the evening was
intended “to give good, practical
information and to meet the
people behind the scenes.”
Student accommodation was the
focus of the evening.
“You have the opportunity to fill
the
room
with
learning
experiences,” Labonte told the
teachers. “That’s why you’re here.”
Pat Weaver, 49, said he wanted
to help people better themselves.
“I’ve seen it happen that a person
will sit in a corner, day in and day
out. My philosophy is selfimprovement.”
Weaver is teaching the ISO 9001
Quality System Standard program.
He
has
worked
in
quality assurance for more than 20
years. He says, “I’d rather be the
teacher than the teachee.”
Labonte told the teachers they
had an important role in setting the
tone for the class. She explained
what students expected of their
teachers and vice versa. Common
expectations were respect, honesty
and flexibility.
“It’s important to be flexible
because the teacher and students
have lives outside the three hours
spent together,” said Labonte. “A
respectful relationship is built on
constructive and helpful feedback.”
A new College English teacher,
Lauren Maloney, 24, said she
chose to teach at Niagara because
“it’s just what I’ve been certified to
teach.” She added that in the
Niagara region she would be close
to her friends and family.
Maloney graduated last year
from D’Youville College in
Buffalo, N.Y
Weaver, Maloney and the other
four new teachers will join the 106
previously employed CE staff. The
teachers and their subjects are
Sharon
Harper,
benefits
administration; Susan Nanodovich
and Nancy Policella, PSW Fast
Track; and Kevin Ivanko, math for
technology.
Page 4, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Ride-Along offers a first-hand experience
By CHELSEY SPINOSA
Staff Writer
Dreams will come true for some
second-year Police Foundations
students.
The Ride-Along program allows
students in their second year of
Police Foundations to travel with a
coach officer and observe what goes
on during a shift.
Detective Constable Michael
Tripp, of the Niagara Regional
Police (NRP), says, “It’s a great
opportunity for them to get a handson experience and get them to see
what policing involves first-hand. It
gives them the opportunity to
make the decision if this is what
they really want to do and see in
real life what goes on.”
On Oct. 7, the first half of 63
students hoping to participate in
the Ride-Along program had
their interviews.
Asked how students gets to
participate in this program, Tripp
says they have to submit a resumé,
attend classes and participate in an
interview process where they are
asked three to five questions on
which they are evaluated and
given feedback. The number of
students depends on numbers the
police can accommodate at one
time, he says.
Common sense, maturity,
capability and the ability to
answer questions are all things
they look for in a student,
says Tripp.
“They’re evaluated on the questions in terms of their analytical
thinking skills.”
Constable Jason Boccinfuso
says the Ride-Along program is
beneficial.
“It’s good for them to see what
we do. Some people have misconceptions about what policing
is all about, and it’s good for them to
see different situations. No two situations are ever the same.”
Boccinfuso says his advice to
selected students is to “observe,
learn as much as you can and ask
questions.”
Doug Eaton, 19, of Thorold,
applied to the Ride-Along program
and says he did this to “pad his
resumé” as well as get “a good
feel for exactly what the police
profession is.”
He says he is “going crazy for the
interview.”
“We were given the questions and
they have to be perfect because of
the amount of people that want to get
in, and you’re interviewed by actual
officers, so it’s just a little crazy for
the interview. As for the program
itself, the hours may not be the
greatest, like 12-hour shifts at different times all over the place, but it’s
definitely an experience that I would
Allen keeps us all safe
Photo by Stephanie DiPietro
By STEPHANIE DIPIETRO
Staff Writer
Customs officers have more
responsibilities as a result of the
heightened border security and
because of terrorism risks.
Gillian Allen, 22, of Fenwick, is
a second-year student in Niagara
College’s Social Services Worker
program. Every summer she
moves to Waterloo to work for the
Canada Border Services Agency
as a customs officer.
She applied for the job on the
Internet and has worked as
a customs officer for three years.
Allen works full time every
summer and receives $15.07 an
hour. She says students starting as
customs officers will receive
$10.66 an hour.
Allen works at a highway
warehouse in Kitchener and at the
Region of Waterloo International
Airport.
She says customs officers are
“responsible
for
protecting
Canada’s borders and keeping
Canada safe.”
“It’s a lot of paperwork. I deal
with commercial goods that are
imported by transport truck, which
GILLIAN ALLEN
is
released
through
the
government ACROSS system.”
At the airport she is responsible
for
passenger
processing,
performing secondary exams and
performing searches on luggage,
“if we feel there is a reason.”
Allen picked up special skills in
firearms safety training and use of
force training, which is learning
how to use a baton, pepper spray
and handcuffs.
“Once, I had to use my firearms
training. There was an importation of rifles from Italy, and I had
to do an inspection on the shipment.”
Allen says her responsibility as
a customs officer is to “make sure
people are properly checked and
inspected.”
Allen says she has taken many
things away from the job such as
learning how to work with
difficult clients.
“You need to have a lot of
patience. A lot of it is very
repetitive work.”
Dave Panko, a customs
inspector, works with Allen in
Waterloo, and says, “As a
student, Gill was dedicated to
her job and did what she had to
do when she had to do it.”
Allen has advice for students
planning to pursue careers as customs officers.
“I would tell other students to be
on their toes at all times. You
never know what’s going to
happen.”
“I love the job. I love the people
I work with. It’s fun, exciting and
interesting and, honestly, what
other job lets you carry a
weapon?”
If you are interested in applying
for a position with the Canada
Border Services Agency, visit
h t t p : / / w w w. c b s a - a s f c . g c . c a /
careers/menu-e.html for a list of job
postings.
look forward to if I get chosen.”
Melissa Grivich, 20, of St.
Catharines, is another student
applying to the Ride-Along
program. She says she thinks it
would be interesting to see what
cops do on a daily basis and that
it’s “very” educational.
Asked what she thinks the benefits
of a program like this are, Grivich
says, “you can see if this is what
you really want to do with your
life. You get to sit with a cop and
get to experience what they
experience every day.”
Another applicant for this program
is Sheena Thomson, 19, of Niagara
Falls, who says she’s never heard of
anything like this before.
“I think it’s a great opportunity
because what other job can you
actually sit with the person and actually do their job while you’re still a
student?”
Thomson says this is beneficial
because “you get to know police
Sheena Thomson, Melissa Grivich and Doug Eaton are three
hopefuls for the Ride-Along program.
Photo by Chelsey Spinosa
officers in the Niagara region, so
when you apply they will
remember you.”
“Other people that don’t have that
don’t have the familiarity with the
police officers who are there,
so you get that edge over
everybody else.
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Niagara College, Journalism-Print Program, Room V10, 300 Woodlawn Rd., Welland, Ontario, L3C 7L3
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 5
news@niagara seeks readers’ suggestions
By RILEY MACDONALD
Staff Writer
news@niagara wants your
feedback.
The second-year students in the
Journalism-Print program started
the year with a new attitude and a
new newspaper product look.
They need your opinions.
The promotional crew made its
way to Glendale campus in
Niagara-on-the-Lake
to
let
students at that campus know that
news@niagara is interested in
feedback.
“It’s our way of showing the
students we’re here to help and we
write for them,” says Janine
Westera, a member of the
promotional
crew
and
a
second-year
Journalism-Print
student.
The four-member promotional
crew conducted a survey to get
students’ opinions on the first
edition
of
news@niagara
published Sept. 24.
The results showed that 69 per
cent of students knew of
news@niagara, but only 22 per
cent are regular readers.
“Our goal is to have everyone be
aware of news@niagara and want
to read it,” says Jesse Crawford, a
second-year
Journalism-Print
student.
The good news is 94 per cent of
surveyed students liked the front
page of the newspaper. Other
results show that students want to
see more entertainment news as
well as crosswords and puzzles.
Students are not interested in
political stories, judging from the
percentage of students who read
those sections.
By posting pre-awareness
posters
and
handing
out
newspapers, Crawford says, “we
hope students get interested in
news@niagara.” Crawford says
that he feels the promotional crew
was “successful,” but they always
want to improve results.
The promotions crew will be at
both campuses handing out copies
of
news@niagara
on
publication Fridays this term and
getting the word out. Feel free to
stop by, pick up a copy and let
them know you are interested.
Also let them know what you
think. All opinions and suggestions are welcome and can be
e-mailed to [email protected].
The news@niagara’s publication
schedule for the rest of this term is
Nov. 5, Nov. 19 and Dec. 3.
Students get their news
from many sources
By ASHLEY CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Each day people have the
opportunity to peer through a
window on the world. Hundreds of
thousands of newspapers and
news broadcasts are produced
daily to keep people informed.
On a regular basis Niagara
College students are informing
themselves about community and
world issues.
Tariq Agloria, 21, of Bombay,
India, is a first-year student in the
General Arts and Science
program. Agloria says he would
regularly watch the BBC news
back home because he found that
it had an unbiased opinion
concerning world issues. He says
he didn’t watch CNN because it
was “more American.”
“It’s important to read the news.
You’re keeping up to date with
everything that’s going on. That’s
important.”
Agloria says the newspapers
here
don’t
have
enough
international coverage.
Ashley Thomson, 21, of
Cayuga, Ont., says, “I think it’s
important that people are aware of
what’s going on. Common knowledge is important for anyone to
carry on a decent conversation,
whether it’s worldly issues or
something that’s going on right in
your backyard.” Thomson is a
third-year
student
in
the
Broadcasting — Radio, Television
and Film program.
For Justin Biro, 20, of Niagara
Falls, a second-year student in the
Electrical Engineering Technician
program, it’s a different situation.
Biro says that watching the news
and reading the newspaper should
concern him, but he feels that it
doesn’t.
“I don’t find it interesting. I
have other things to do.”
“It’s important to know what’s
going on in the community and the
world,” says Joanne Mercier, 19,
of Welland, a first-year student in
the Fitness and Health Promotion
program.
Mercier is a regular reader of
The Tribune in Welland. “I read it
because it’s convenient. It comes
right to my door.”
The National Post and
news@niagara
are
two
newspapers that are available
on-campus free of charge.
“I think it’s a great idea.
Students will access it (newspapers) if it’s free,” says Zach
Carson, 20, of Sauble Beach, Ont.,
and a second-year student in the
Recreation and Leisure Services
program.
Carson says that because he
doesn’t watch the television, he
sticks to newspapers to get his
information and tries to be a
regular reader of The Toronto Star.
“It gives people a better
understanding of issues and how
they can help.
“It’s important to be able to
have an opinion of what’s going
on.
It’s
good
to
have
knowledge. Don’t just pick up the
sports page. Go for the news too.
It’s a good way to broaden your
knowledge,” says Carson. “You
can form a better opinion.”
Students of the second-year Journalism-Print program are seeking feedback from readers of the
news@niagara.
Photo by Ashley Campbell
Letters to the editor
Rae Review ‘very successful’
An e-mail message from
Niagara College President Dan
Patterson
Dear Editor:
I wish to extend my thanks to
everyone who attended and participated
in
the
very
successful Bob Rae Review
Town Hall meeting at the
Glendale
campus
in
Niagara-on-the-Lake on Oct. 7.
The Yerich Auditorium was
filled to capacity and we took
advantage of the opportunity to
promote our positions on the
issues of concern to colleges and
to our students.
I am pleased to provide a brief
summary of the meeting’s highlights.
Bob Rae (former Ontario premier) repeated his view that the
post-secondary system needs
more investment from both government and students.
He also advocated his
position that an overhauled student aid system should be based
on the student’s ability to repay
loans
with
terms
dependent on income levels after
graduation.
The
meeting
featured
extensive discussion on the issue
of
student
transferability,
including a pointed exchange of
views.
The panel posed a challenge to
colleges, namely to state what
indicators we use to demonstrate
program quality to support our
call for improved recognition by
universities of college programs
and courses.
Rae continued to advance his
ideas for a “virtual University of
Ontario” or higher education
council that would address the
issue of transferability.
Colleges
were
also
challenged and given an
opportunity to outline the
specific barriers students face in
accessing our applied degree
programs, as well as the
barriers facing faculty and other
staff in pursuing further
education, including master’s
level credentials.
In response to a student’s question about the level of
college
spending
on
a
particular program, Rae advised
students of their right to know
precisely how their tuition fees
are
used
and
counseled institutions to make
their finances as transparent as
possible.
Niagara College will be
sending follow-up letters to the
panel to elaborate on and
clarify our position on some of
the issues identified during the
meeting.
My thanks to all those staff
members and students who made
presentations and asked questions at the event.
For more information on the
Rae Review of Post-secondary
Education,
please
visit:
http://www.raereview.on.ca.
Regards,
Dan Patterson,
President Niagara College
Every edition of college newspaper looking better
To the Editor:
I have just finished reading the second edition of news@niagara. The student newspaper looks extremely professional and well laid
out and contains many interesting subjects.
I like the new name — well done.
Not only does the paper focus on the college, but on local interests as well. The article
on The Run for the Cure was very well done.
It was great to see the support of Niagara
College staff and students for this very
worthwhile endeavour.
Needless to say, all of the articles written
were of very good calibre and quite
informative. The diverse opinions in the
commentaries are always very interesting, and
I enjoy reading the different perspectives
presented by the students. The centre pages
with the coloured photos certainly capture the
grape and wine event — hopefully, next year
we will see college students back in the
parade.
Keep up the good work — the paper is
getting better and better.
Saundra Patterson
Page 6, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Editorials
news@niagara
Publisher: Leo Tiberi
Managing Editor: Phyllis Barnatt
Associate Managing Editor: Gary Erb
Photography Consultant: Andrew Klapatiuk
Editorial Consultant: Nancy Geddie
Technology Support: Kevin Romyn
V10, 300 Woodlawn Rd., Welland, Ont. L3C 7L3
Telephone: (905) 735-2211 FAX: (905) 736-6003
Editorial E-mail: [email protected]
Advertising E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher’s E-mail: [email protected]
Printed by Canweb Printing Inc. in Grimsby, Ont.
Stephanie Dipietro
Editor
Jesse Crawford
Associate Editor
Matt Russo
Assistant Editor
Caitlin McLachlan
Photo Crew Chief Your opinion is welcome
Advertising rules: The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the
portion of the advertisement in which the error occured. This applies whether such error is due to the negligence of its servants or otherwise. There shall be no liability for non-insertions of any
advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. All advertisers are asked to check their advertisements after first insertion. We accept responsibility for only one incorrect
insertion unless notified immediately after publication. Errors, which do not lessen the value of the advertisement, are not eligible for corrections by a make-good advertisement. There shall be
no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, revise, classify or reject any advertisement.
E-mail: [email protected]
Mail: V10, 300 Woodlawn Rd., Welland, Ont. L3C 7L3
In Person: Room V10, Welland campus.
Policy: All letters must be signed and include a day
and evening phone contact number for verification
purposes.
news@niagara is a practical lab for students in the Journalism-Print program, covering the college community and other areas of interest.
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the management of the newspaper or the administration of Niagara College.
Feeling pressure from midterm madness
With midterm madness rapidly
approaching, students at Niagara
College are feeling the pressure.
It’s hard to believe that six weeks have
passed. Where does the time go? It probably went into all those assignments and
deadlines we’ve all been consumed with.
Just when you feel as though you’ve
overcome last week’s workload, a new
week creeps up and hits hard. There is no
need to panic because you are not alone.
Although there is no way to stop
stress dead in its tracks, there is more
than one way to ease your tension.
There are many outlets right here at
the college that you may not even
know exist.
Turn around and look at all of the
other students in your class. Each one of
them can relate to what you are feeling.
Meet up with some of your classmates
and form a study session. You might be
surprised to learn that some of your weaknesses may be another person’s strength,
and
vice
versa.
There
is
nothing more comforting than knowing
that there are other people in the same
position as you. Use that to your
advantage.
If your stress is becoming
overwhelming and you are feeling
that urge to throw out your books and
hibernate for the winter, counseling
services at the college are just a few
steps away.
You can talk to trained professionals
who are experienced in dealing with the
things you are facing. These counselors are
here for one purpose: to help you.
With that in mind, can you think of
any reason not to use these services to
your advantage?
If you’re sitting at home, flipping
through your mile-high stack of notes and
you find yourself confused, don’t drive
yourself crazy trying to find the answers
you are looking for. They are much closer
than you think.
The teachers at the college are here to
help students learn the skills they will
need to succeed in the working world.
They are not the enemy.
Since they are basically experts in the
curriculum they teach, they are the ones
who have the answers to your questions.
Instead of going into midterm meltdown
mode, ask your teachers for assistance. It’s
that simple. If there are things you don’t
understand, don’t be embarrassed. Your
teachers have been in the same position
you are.
With all of these outlets available to
you, there is no reason to succumb to the
pressure. Rather than having an anxiety
attack, take advantage the resources
available to you and when that midterm
day arrives, do the best you can. That is
all anyone can ask of you.
For more information about counseling services visit SE 102 or call 7352211, ext. 7778.
STEPHANIE DIPIETRO
Pint-sized problems, Canada needs answers
Ah, beer, that golden, refreshing,
brainwashing mixture we Canadians
love so much.
As Homer Simpson once said, “To
alcohol! The cause of, and solution to,
all of life’s problems.”
I recently heard of a little Canadian
problem afflicting everyone who enjoys
visiting the local public house. It seems,
unbeknownst to most of us, our local
pubs might be ripping us off.
Here is the deal: a standard
imperial pint is 20 fluid oz.; however,
the United States sell pints at
only 16 oz.
Big deal you might say, but if you
take into account the fact that a lot of
bars import their glassware from the
U.S., we might not be getting enough
bang for the buck.
I for one would like to know whether
I’m buying a pint or the American
counterpart.
Indeed, some bars even go as far as to
advertise cheap pints, meanwhile they
serve 16 oz rather than 20 oz.
I’m sure I can’t be the only one who
feels slightly taken advantage of.
In Europe there are regulations
standardizing the size of glassware. This
means no matter what pub or club you
happen to frequent, you can be sure you
will get 20 oz. of beer every time you
order a pint.
Sounds simple enough, but the only
problem is if Canadian companies
demand 20 oz. pints from the U.S. we
could face charges of loss of
investment through our good old
friend NAFTA.
Never fear, for this reporter is on
the case, looking out for the little guy
who wants his big pint. Maybe one
day we can all sit back and enjoy 20
oz. of our favourite lager, or pilsner,
or stout or ale in every bar across this
vast country.
JESSE CRAWFORD
Corrections
In a report in news@niagara
Oct. 8, 2004, on page 12,
“Getting tattoo expression of
personality,” a direct quote
should have read: “It’s like a
safety pin. You feel sharpness,
but it feels like nothing is
going into your skin,” owner
Brian Macphee says. “Getting
blood work is more difficult.”
The cutline identified Lloyd
Grice as an employee. Macphee
states that Grice is no longer
working at Artistic Impressions.
On page 16 of the same
edition, the headline for the
Niagara Culinary Institute should
have used the initials NCI.
It is the policy of this newspaper to correct errors of fact.
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 7
Columns
Surface beauty doesn’t make strong society
By STEPHANIE DIPIETRO
Staff Writer
With society’s growing obsession with plastic surgery and the
pressure to be perfect, I’m afraid I
don’t quite measure up.
It seems as though no matter
what I’m watching on TV these
days, I find myself in some sort of
alternate reality in which the size
of your bust is actually a requirement of social acceptance.
Not only are the women on TV
beautiful, but they also appear to
be without flaws. They’re almost
superhuman, with superhuman
developments.
The best example of how our
society is plummeting downhill is
the new reality show, Extreme
Makeover.
You will find yourself watching
interviews with average, everyday
women, deeply depressed with
their appearances and claiming
they can’t live another day with
themselves.
What better way to fix a problem like this than to have some
doctor cut and paste you into
someone new?
Of course, the first thing the
doctor reaches for is a gigantic
black marker with which he draws
all over your body, with special
attention to problem areas. The
next procedure involves the doctor
poking and prodding every inch of
fat on your body, just in case you
weren’t aware of it.
How comforting that must be
for these desperately insecure
women.
What in the world are we teaching the next generation? We are
showing our children that a simple
session under the knife is the easiest solution to whatever insecurities they may have with their
appearances. No need to teach our
children proper morals and values
any more right? Why bother?
No need to teach them to love
and accept themselves for who
they are. What is the point in helping them to understand that inner
beauty overrides physical beauty
when our society believes the
opposite to be true? This trend,
which used to be mainly seen
among celebrities, is now hitting
closer to home.
With the trend becoming so
widespread, I am wondering how
this will and should affect me.
Should I feel the pressure to
conform? Will I blend into the
background being myself?
There are hundreds of needy
causes in this world begging for
support.
The reality is that money is desperately needed to help research
cures for disease, feed the homeless and support the victims of
war. With these important issues
needing financial support, why are
millions of dollars being spent on
face-lifts, liposuction and breast
augmentation? Where is the justification in that? Has our society
become so self-centred that we are
more concerned with personal
gain than with making a difference
in the world we live in?
With no concrete answers to my
questions, I have to settle on
knowing that my personal priorities are in check. As long as there
are problems with hungry children, disease and war, I will give
everything I can to help. I guess
that means my breast implants will
have to wait.
With the negative direction in
which our society is headed, I
intend to do my best to think positively and to see the glass half full,
or in this case, my cup size.
Destined to look ugly for another five years
By ANGELA HARDIE
Staff Writer
My plight as a geek continues.
This new addition comes in the
form of my new driver’s licence
photo. Every five years, the
Ministry
of
Transportation
requires all drivers to get a new
photo taken, so with my 21st birthday approaching, I stood in line
for the less-than-exciting event.
I walked up to the counter, paid
the appropriate fees and stood in
front of the white canvas, wondering if I remembered to check for
spinach in my teeth.
I thought of my current licence
picture, and how I as a 16-year-old
don’t look that different than I do
now. I’m still silently hoping this
picture won’t be laughed at by
every bouncer in every bar, pub,
restaurant or hockey game in the
entirety of southern Ontario.
The lady tells me to stare at the
X taped on the wall opposite me. I
stare and try to smile in a way that,
to me, looks mature.
The flashbulb pops, and my day
of worrying comes to a grinding
halt. The lady at the counter tells
me my new licence will come in
the mail in three weeks. Great.
More time for me to wonder how
it’ll turn out.
Weeks went by and my new
licence photo was pushed to the
back of my mind until the fateful
morning of Sept. 3.
After I heard the mailbox lid
slam, my brother came through the
door with letters clutched in his
fists.
He threw the envelope at me the
way any brother would and carried
on with his stress-free non-licence
photo day.
I opened the envelope and
turned the card over.
I would just like to say that at
this moment everything that
makes sense in this world went out
the window.
You know how in movies when
you look at something gross, you
look away, but have to keep looking because it’s that ugly? I
believe my new picture causes the
same reaction.
Things like this make me wonder if being a geek should be my
career.
The picture will cause laughter
in everyone for years to come.
Well, at least until 2009, when I
can get a new one.
Physical appearance does not define women at all
By TIZA SHANZI
Staff Writer
Vigilance and excellence are
what describes her.
The beauty of a woman has
been overlooked in different parts
of the world today. The beauty of a
woman is no longer seen in her
eyes, the pathway to her heart
where love resides.
Every culture has a different
way of accepting women. Some
cultures accept women if they are
housewives and do not have an
outside career. Some cultures
accept women if they bear children, but only male children.
Some cultures accept women if
they are thin or fat.
It is a shame to see how women
were treated in countries like
Afghanistan. During the Taliban, a
regime made by university students, women were not given the
freedom to exercise their rights:
their rights to be career women,
their rights to influence crowds in
social gatherings and, most important, their rights to extend their
love to what is outside their
homes.
Afghan women were expected
to wear the burga, a full-body veil
that has a slit for the eyes. When
the law of wearing a burga was
passed, part of the purpose was
that no one would look at a woman
except her husband. In short, the
burga was meant to cover a
woman’s beauty.
What they did forget when passing the law is that a woman’s
beauty cannot be covered. A
woman’s beauty comes from within and can only be seen by the
things she does and not the way
she combs her hair or the way she
dresses.
Some of our heroes are women
whom we consider central figures
in an event or a period. Mother
Theresa, a founder of a religious
group of nuns in India, devoted her
life to aiding sick and poor people
throughout the world. Susan B.
Anthony, the 19th century
women’s movement’s most powerful organizer, fought for
women’s right to vote. Miriam
Makeba, nicknamed Mama Africa,
is one of the legendary voices of
black music of this century.
Chantal Petitclerc made history in
the 800-metre wheelchair race at
the Commonwealth Games.
These women are heroic
because of their abilities, achievements and qualities that helped
define the age in which they lived.
Our rulers are women who
achieved the right to rule in their
own name.
The beauty of a woman, with
passing years, only grows.
Sea-Doo is a Sea-Don’t for this cottage-dwelling student
By PAM HALLMAN
Staff Writer
Getting the money is one thing,
but having to pay it back is another.
One night, when I was bored, I
decided to search the web.
I decided to look through the boattrader.ca.
I saw this really nice Sea-doo and
trailer combo. It was a Yamaha Wave
Runner with a white body, light blue
cushions and handle bar, and yellow
accent stickers. It was the nicest thing
that I have seen in a long time.
I called the owner and told him that
I would be going to the bank to get a
loan and that I would buy it after I
was accepted for the loan.
Well, I was approved.
On Oct. 3, I drove to Brighton,
Ont., east of Port Hope, to pick up my
new Sea-doo.
I can proudly say that I am a new
owner of a machine — well other
than a car.
Every time I looked in my
rearview mirror, a huge smile took
over my face. I cannot believe that I
bought a Sea-doo with a loan when
I’m still in school.
I can remember thinking to myself,
“Have I gone crazy?”
After returning home, I discovered
that trying to back the trailer into my
garage was a learning experience in
itself.
The trailer goes the opposite way
you turn the wheel of the vehicle. It
got confusing at first, but I think I’ve
mastered the technique.
Now I have this watercraft
machine sitting in my garage, waiting
for me to use it. I just have to wait
eight more months to put it in the
water.
In those eight months there is still
lots to do. I have to prepare myself
for this powerful machine. I still have
to get my Sea-doo licence, buy two
life jackets so I don’t drown in the
water and get some information
about it so when it breaks down I
know what I did wrong.
I can’t wait until that day when I’m
riding around on Lake Muskoka, at
my cottage.
Now the question is, will I be able
to keep the payments going until the
summer comes? I may not be able to
ride it at all.
Maybe I have gone crazy.
Page 8, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Columns
Witches misunderstood for centuries
By JENN SOMERS
Staff Writer
Column
Green-faced, warty-nosed, evil,
cackling women flying broomsticks – this is the image a lot of
people think of when they hear the
word witch.
I don’t have green skin or a
warty nose and, although flying a
broomstick would certainly save
me from buying bus passes every
month, I don’t fly a broomstick. I
am a witch.
It took me a long time to tell my
family that I was wiccan. I was
afraid
of
their
reaction.
Unfortunately, because of so many
misconceptions of what the
religion is, many wiccans like me
are “in the broom closet” about
their beliefs.
“I’m definitely in the broom
closet,” says Tracey, 39, of
Arkansas, in an e-mail interview.
“I don’t tell anyone that I practice
witchcraft. However, conversations come up about magic, divination and reincarnation. Since I
don’t tell anyone that I practice
these things, it’s generally an intelligent conversation. I have witnessed conversation wherein nonbelievers go into a tizzy trying to
sway believers when they know
they’re speaking to a practitioner.
Odd how that little bit of information can change the tone
of things.”
There are too many misconceptions about wiccans and witches.
Mainly, these misconceptions
come from lack of knowledge and
the media portraying witches
as villains.
Where do all these misconceptions come from?
“I think that most of the misconceptions out there originally started through religious channels.
Many people were misinformed
and left in ignorance about the
beliefs of wicca and witchcraft,”
says Andrea, 28, Manitoba, in an
e-mail interview.
Witches and wiccans worship
Satan, eat children and practice
black magic, and their pentagram
symbol is evil. These are just a few
misconceptions.
Society has come a long way
since the Burning Times and
thankfully we don’t hang or burn
witches at the stake anymore, but
there are still many who fear, misunderstand or hate us.
“I think they [misconceptions]
come from years and years of misunderstanding and ignorance
being passed from person to person,” says Lily, 35, of Arizona, in
an e-mail interview.
Your beliefs are part of who you
are, so it’s unfortunate that so
many other wiccans like me have
to be cautious about whom they
are around before expressing how
they feel in certain areas. Too
many times I’ve been told I’ll be
going to hell for what I believe or
people just give me a dirty look for
wearing a pentacle.
“Around here, knowledge has
pretty much cured a lot of it
[misconceptions]. This is a
phenomenon that I have noticed in
just the past five years or so. Quite
possibly TV shows like Charmed,
portraying witches in a positive
light, have had a lot to do with it,”
says Sharyn, 54, of New Jersey, in
an e-mail interview.
It is simple enough to pick up a
book or pull up a website and read
about wicca and witches and learn
what it’s really about. Knowledge
can go a long way.
“I think that the best thing we
can do to clear up the misconceptions is to be ourselves. People
are going to believe what they
want to believe, but if we can
help just a few people understand
that we are real people with real
beliefs and those beliefs aren’t as
foreign or evil as they have
thought, then maybe they will
come around ... one person at a
time,” says Andrea.
Cafeteria gets new menu, but higher prices
By CLAYTON DONER
Staff Writer
Column
Cafeteria prices have become
completely ridiculous this year.
Normally I’m not the type of
person to complain, but the prices
have escalated a lot compared with
last year’s. I actually considered
last year’s prices too high, but now
I’m just blown away. I even wrote
a story on the overpriced food in
the main cafeteria last year, hoping
that it would be heard.
Unfortunately, this year I’m forced
to write a column about it.
Students pay thousands of
dollars each year to get an education at Niagara College and many
students can’t afford to do that on
their own. Sure, there is a fair
number of students who don’t
have to pay for tuition because
their parents do it for them, but
there are plenty of students who
work hard to put themselves
through school.
Many have to take out student
loans or apply to the Ontario
Student Assistance Program in
order to get the education that they
want and need. The last thing that
we need is to spend more money to
fill our stomachs every day.
It would be all right if it were $3
to $4 a day, but it would end up
costing much more than that to fill
yourself up.
Chris Belanger, 19, of Welland,
says he thinks the prices in the
cafeteria are a little high. “Coming
into college, I thought after paying
my tuition I was set, but then the
cost of books and the parking pass
and the food ... you think they’d
give us a break or some sort of
discount.”
The menus in the cafeteria have
changed a lot since last year, now
offering a good selection.
Unfortunately, with those changes
came a big change in prices. There
is a lot to offer students including
more healthful items.
The main problem that I have
with it is that the more healthful
food is even more expensive that
the greasy, fatty, high-cholesterol
foods. It costs $5.99 for a decent
size of salad. A salad, for
God’s sake!
The new pasta place is really
tasty, but I can’t afford to eat there
on a daily basis. It costs well over
$5 for a bowl of pasta that won’t
even fill you up, nevermind the
drink that you’ll need to buy to
wash it all down.
Justin Biro, 20, of Niagara Falls,
is in his second year of the
Electrical Engineering Technician
program and says he agrees the
food is expensive.
“Prices have gotten out of
control this year. Last year was
bad, and this year it’s worse.”
After checking out the prices of
the more healthful foods, I
decided to drag myself over to the
Grille Works only to find that the
cheapest burger was $3.99. No
fries included. If you want fries on
the side, you have to buy the fries
separately. If you want a fries and
drink, it’ll cost an extra $1.99.
I know many students eat in the
cafeteria every day and they obviously can afford to do it. The
cafeteria does offer some good
prices, but the cheap things normally don’t fill you up. I know I
couldn’t survive on a slice of
pizza, five days a week.
All I know is that we’re attending college to get an education, not
to dig ourselves deeper into the
devastating world of debt. I feel as
if I’m a tourist buying lunch in
Niagara Falls sometimes. Students
are being taken for a ride that I’m
going to try not to jump on.
World leaders should show some compassion
By TAMARA SARGENT
Staff Writer
Column
As we enter a new school term,
the American casualties in Iraq
surpass 1,000. Russian reporters
are drugged enroute to report on
Chechen terrorists holding school
children hostages. Israel continues
to build its wall around
Palestinians. This is not to mention
the rest of the global insanity.
Is this the world the generation
before us intended to build?
Violence in Iraq has been turned
against Iraqi police officers,
although it still harms American
troops at times. Rebel forces control the city of Falluja and have
strong support in the north, south,
east and the west. Casualties on
the rebel side are celebrated as
martyrs. These guys are in it for
the long haul; they embrace the
opportunity to die for what they
see as their people’s freedom.
In Russia, 338 people, children
among them, died when Chechen
terrorists held almost 1,200 people
hostage at a school in Beslan. Two
passenger jet bombings and a suicide bomb near a Moscow subway
preceded this.
Now,
Russian
President
Vladimir Putin says he intends to
seriously prepare for pre-emptive
strikes against the Chechens, as if
he hasn’t been preemptively
striking them already.
Is all of this to preserve a
Russian Empire occupied with
people who don’t want to be there?
We thought colonization ended
with the Second World War.
What I don’t understand about
Israel’s dedication to building a
wall around the Palestinians is the
Jewish people’s inability to sympathize with a community being
forced to live in a ghetto. I mean,
aren’t they still complaining that
they were subjected to the
same injustice?
Beyond
the
construction,
Palestinian neighbourhoods continue to be raided and destroyed in
searches for terrorist cell leaders,
and human bombs are blowing up
each day. Each side consider its
actions retaliation. This could
easily define the concept of
eternal conflict.
With all this turmoil, one really
wonders if anyone’s trying to
make it better. After all, the people
who have the ability to help aren’t
noticeably suffering. Maybe if
U.S. President George W. Bush
went to fight with his American
troops or Putin took up residency
in Chechnya or perhaps if Israeli
President Ariel Sharon built a
fence around his home, we would
see some compassion from these
otherwise heartless leaders. Then
again, maybe not.
Journalists, including those in the Journalism-Print program at Niagara College, are taught that their reporting must
be balanced, fair and as objective as possible. That rule must also exist for columns. In columns, the feelings and
opinions of reporters are welcome, but balance, fairness and objectivity must never be disregarded or treated lightly.
Our columns, which are clearly identified as such, do not reflect the opinions or feelings of the Niagara College
administration or the management of news@niagara. Columns reflect the opinion of only one person: the writer.
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 9
Full-time students cope with full-time jobs
By NADINE HORTON
Staff Writer
It’s not quite the circus, yet
school and part-time jobs prove to
be a balancing act for many
students.
Unless a student is collecting
money from the government, is the
child of well-to-do parents or is
the lucky winner of a lottery
ticket, a part-time job is a
necessity for most.
A survey by Statistics Canada
shows that in 2003, 72.2 per cent
of men and women aged 15 to 24
were working part time in order to
go to school.
How are students coping with
going to school full time and
working between 15 and 30 hours
a week? According to some
Niagara College students, it
is something that just has to be
done, and they are dealing with
the obstacles as they come.
Jason Jung, 23, of Fonthill, is
in his first year as a full-time
student in the Early Childhood
Education program. He works for
Ripley’s
Entertainment
in
First-year Niagara College student Lesley Maldonado rings in a
purchase during her shift at her part-time job at Lewis and Krall
on Thorold Road in Welland.
Photo by Nadine Horton
Niagara Falls from eight to 20
hours a week.
About the challenges that are
faced in working part time as a
full-time student, Jung says that
the two go hand in hand.
“If I’m doing homework, I can’t
work. If I can’t work, I can’t buy
books to do the homework for
school. I guess what I’m saying is
I’m a full-time student worker.
I can’t really do one without the
other. As far as stress, we’ll see
come mid-terms.”
As for now, balancing school,
work and free time for friends and
family is not too much of a
challenge for Jung.
“It hasn’t been a problem
balancing all three (personal life,
school and work),” says Jung.
However, he adds, “That might
change come mid-terms.”
For the past two years, Lesley
Maldonado, 19, of Welland, has
been working part-time at
Lewis and Krall, also in Welland,
as well as going to school
full-time.
She is in her first year
of the Educational Assistant –
Special Needs Support program.
Maldonado says, “It’s hard to
get everything done sometimes
for school and put that extra
time into certain tasks to make it
better.”
She says working part-time
takes away from her abilities to do
the best she can in school, but it is
something that has to be done.
“It is only possible not to work if
you don’t have expenses to pay for
or if you live off your parents,”
says Maldonado.
If Maldonado did not have a
job, she says, “I probably would
get better grades, but I need
money to buy things and pay for
my car.”
Joanna Figiel, 21, of Welland, is
a first-year student in the
Business – Accounting program.
She is holding down not one but
two part-time jobs as well as
being a full-time student. When
asked how she deals with
balancing her two jobs with
school, she had no time to
comment.
Some deal well with being in the
circus act of going to school
and working, and others do fall.
One must wonder if there
is a safety net for those who
plummet.
Jung says, “Just work enough
to pay for school and the basic
necessities of life. Keep school as
your number 1 priority.”
Ontario’s 24 colleges offer students a chance to learn
Representatives from Ontario’s 24 colleges come to high school to answer questions for students
By THERESA STACH
Staff Writer
The annual College Information Program
(CIP) will take place at Centennial
Secondary School in Welland on Nov. 1 for
the Niagara area.
CIP is a meeting of college representatives from across the province offering their
time to answer questions students might
have and offering their knowledge to
prepare students for college.
“It’s a collaborative program merging
Ontario’s colleges, designed to give all
potential students access to college
representatives throughout the system,” said
Randy Conlon, the CIP co-ordinator
and student liaison manager at Niagara
College.
CIP is a tour that goes through every
college area each year. “We do the
whole province [in] over six weeks,” said
Conlon.
Nov. 1 the tour will be in the Niagara
area. It will feature southwest colleges,
central colleges, eastern colleges and
northern region colleges.
CIP offers students the chance to speak to
representatives from other colleges and
take a sneak peek at the college. Some
colleges have displays that allow the
students to see pictures of the college
and read up on what that college can
offer an interested student.
All information regarding the CIP is given
to the local high school guidance
counsellors and they offer their students the
opportunity to attend.
“It doesn’t cost the students anything
unless the school decides to charge a
transportation fee,” said Conlon.
“[It] promotes the college system,” said
Conlon. “We’re all gaining access to the
colleges.”
The CIP usually attracts about 1,000
students from the Niagara region.
The CIP has been a successful program
for years. “I’ve been here 14 years and
it pre-dates me,” said Conlon.
Higher education brings more adjustments, more independence
By NATALIE MICHLEWICZ
Staff Writer
College is a significant adjustment right
after high school, especially when a
student is living away from home for the
first time.
Students have many opportunities to
maintain a social life during a
post-secondary
education,
but
pre-conceived assumptions of a daily
partying routine are far from accurate.
The reality of college is growing up and
gaining maturity.
Georgina Tibbs, counsellor at Niagara
College’s Welland campus for 19 years,
says to students who think college is a
party, it is not. “We’re not saying don’t
enjoy the pub. Just don’t live there.”
College should be fun, but at the same
time, students should enter college life
with a mature attitude, understanding
responsibility, time management and
their newborn concept of independence.
Tibbs says a lot of students who came to
Niagara last year found they were not
prepared to be independent.
Independence is a new challenge for
many students living on their own and
who, for their first time, are forced to
demonstrate complete responsibility for
themselves.
Pete Vidovich, 25, of Burlington, Ont.,
graduated last spring from the Police
Foundations program. He says moving
out on his own for college was a “very”
big wake-up call. “The first month or
so was hard to adjust to.”
In their first year of college, Liz
Kempenar, in the Pharmacy Technician
program, and Rachael Veurink, in the
Office Administration Executive (Co-op)
program, are both 18-year-old best friends
from Jarvis, Ont. Living together and away
from home for the first time, they say, is
difficult.
“If I had the choice to be at home or
away, I would be at home,” Kempenar
says, because it would be easier.
Kempenar and Veurink agree that it is
hard to be away from home for the
first time. “It’s not so much that I’m
homesick, it’s just different here,” Veurink
said. “I miss my nephew.”
Living in the rural country her entire life,
Kempenar says it is a change moving to
a city. “Different, but nice. Everything is a
lot closer.”
Though Welland is more urbanized,
Veurink says it is unfortunate because in
her hometown she lived near all of her
friends, “You can’t just drive over to go
visit your friends, but I have Liz here.”
It is weird, said Kempenar. “You wake
up and your family isn’t there. You get
so used to the way it is at home.”
“I don’t have the same securities as I do
at home,” Veurink said. “You can’t just go
to your parents if you need something.”
Gaining
independence
through
a lifestyle away from their families, they
say, is stressful.
Vidovich said he missed the lifestyle of
his hometown. “Moving from a big
city (with lots to do) to Welland is hard.”
At the college Orientations, Tibbs says,
“Students laugh when I say they’ll
be homesick, but they will be. It’s
natural. College is a new environment.
The comfort zone was left behind in
high school.”
Total independence is an issue that
students were unfamiliar with in prior
learning institutes of childhood and
teenage years. Living on their own for
the first time and dealing with this, students may feel overwhelmed.
Kempenar says she worries about
budgeting. “I have to watch how I spend
my money.” Both Kempenar and Veurink
are unemployed, but are being
financially assisted by their parents.
“We have to make sure we save enough
to last the week,” said Kempenar. Veurink,
then added, “We buy groceries that
are on sale.” Buying groceries, gas
and necessities with a budget of $40
each a week is tough, they say.
Working while attending college to help
finance himself, Vidovich says was
hard. “Paying half the expenses of tuition,
and living accommodations, became
stressful at times.”
Tibbs worries about students whose
finances are the opposite of Kempenar’s,
Veurink’s and Vidovich’s. “I worry for
students with OSAP (Ontario Student
Assistance Program).” With a loan, she
says, students are “not realizing the money
they have to pay off.”
“Financialness” is what Tibbs calls this
issue. If you’re not going to attend a
class, Tibbs says, let your teacher know.
“Think of college as a job. Look at your
schedule as a job.”
If you compare college with a job, this
means you need to organize your priorities.
Time management is essential for top
performance.
After a while, Vidovich says, he learned
how to manage his workload. “It’s
important to manage your time and
workload. That is what I learned.”
Some advice that Tibbs offers is to “look
at your schedule and count the number
of hours a week you have in class.
Minimally, dedicate that many hours a
week to studying.”
Use the student handbook to prepare for
studying, Tibbs says. Study groups and
peer tutors are effective methods of
learning.
“Use a tape recorder,” she says, as it will
open up time for yourself, your
commitments, socializing and family. “The
more you listen, the more it sticks.”
If you record your notes or a chapter
of a book, later, Tibbs says, you can
listen at the grocery store, the laundramat
or while walking.
The counsellors’ office, Tibbs says, is
there to offer educational support and
assistance, but also offers personal and
career counselling.
Many students worry about academic
problems. Veurink, being a first-year
student, says she does not know what
to expect. “I’m worried I won’t pass
or get high enough marks.”
“There were many times at the beginning
when I didn’t put my full potential
into my work. Unfortunately, I learned
to be efficient the hard way,” says
Vidovich.
In her first year of college, Tibbs
admitted that she too learned the hard way.
She says that she was a procrastinator.
“In high school I could do assignments
the night before. In college I got caught
in my procrastination and I learned.”
At the end of college, Vidovich says the
experience
changed
him
for
the better. “I grew up to be more of a
responsible and organized individual after
living on my own.”
Page 10, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Annual charity book sale promotes education
By ANGELA HARDIE
Staff Writer
Read all about it.
The 34th annual book sale of the
Canadian Federation of University
Women (CFUW), Welland and
District Chapter marks its place
this Saturday at Centennial
Secondary School cafeteria, 240
Thorold Rd., Welland.
More than 10,000 books,
videos, games and puzzles have
been donated for the event, says
Suzette Taylor, publicity chair for
the event.
The book sale will run from 9
a.m., to 3 p.m., with about 50 volunteers helping out throughout the
day.
Beth Jeffery, Lori Root and
Taylor are in the midst of sorting
and pricing items. Root says books
have been “coming in all summer.”
The women have a phone list of
regular donors, whom they call
each year. Jeffery says anyone
wishing to donate for next year
can let a volunteer know during
this year’s sale.
The sale used to be held in
Niagara College’s Black Walnut
building, but, Root says, it was
moved to the high school for more
space.
“People who come line up outside before the sale starts,” says
Jeffery.
The sale has been advertised
through radio stations and Welland
area newspapers.
The mandate of the CFUW is to
promote education of women.
“At one time, we (women) didn’t have the rights we have now,”
says Jeffery. “If you could cook
and sew, that was all that was
expected of you.”
Proceeds from the sale go
toward scholarships for local high
school graduates at eight schools.
Last year, more scholarships were
given out because of the double
cohort. Winners must be female,
Lori Root, left, Suzette Taylor and Beth Jeffery, of the Canadian Federation of University Women,
Welland and District Chapter, sort through books for their annual sale.
Photo by Angela Hardie
have a scholarly attitude and good
“We’re not just selling books. and other merchandise from the
academic achievement and be We’re selling a way of thinking,” sale will be donated to other complanning to attend a Canadian uni- says Jeffery.
munity groups such as Women’s
versity.
Taylor says the leftover books Place in Niagara Falls.
Silent auction raised money for Caribbean cruise
By ASHLEY CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
There’s no stopping them.
The Tourism Marketing and
Operations students are trying to
reach a $2,000 goal while helping
many causes along the way.
On Oct. 31, the students will be
holding their second silent auction
to raise money for the January
2005 Caribbean cruise.
The auction will be held at the
Lions Club Family Breakfast at
1462 York Rd. in St. Davids, Ont.,
from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost for the Family Breakfast is
$7 for adults, $3.50 for children
under 10 and free for children
under five.
Niagara College and the community have again donated prizes.
These include golf passes, restaurant gift certificates, wine gift baskets, and Niagara Culinary
Institute gift certificates, among
many more prizes.
“As always, we hope for the best
and try to give value to those participating. Weather and attendance
play a role, and this time we are
outside under a tent as the Lions
require all their indoor space to
serve the breakfast,” says
Christine Blane, a professor in the
Tourism and Hospitality division.
The last silent auction by the
students was on Sept. 26 at the
Stamford Lions Club in Niagara
Falls. It raised over $500 with part
of the proceeds being donated to
Project S.H.A.R.E., the local food
bank of Niagara.
“Fundraising isn’t just about
making money. We’re incorporating this into our lessons. It
(fundraising) teaches them (the
students) valuable skills such as
networking, goal setting, marketing, sales, team work and leadership. We want them to learn how
to be professional in working with
Jailed ‘suspects’ successfully raise bail
By PAM HALLMAN
Staff Writer
The United Way received a
phone call recently from five organizations stating they would pay
$25 to have their co-workers
arrested in the Jail and Bail annual
fundraiser.
The Jail and Bail police apprehended their suspects: Denise
Burno, from Family and Children
Services, Chris Semelroth, from
John Deere, Allan Beach, from
Niagara this Week, Ralph Laird,
from Niagara College’s Glendale
campus Learning Resource Centre
in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Rick
Chandler, from the Welland cam-
pus’ Paramedic program, early
Oct. 8.
All suspects were dragged away
in handcuffs to the Seaway Mall
jail cell, in Welland.
Convicts were given a cup to
help them beg for donations and
try to negotiate an early release.
“Judge” Marcel Turpin said the
convicts could utilize their personal cellphones and plead with family members, friends and co-workers to donate money to help bail
them out.
“The charges that were given to
the convicts were legitimate for
the arrests that were made,” said
Turpin.
Burno was charged with excessive use of the colour orange.
Semelroth was charged with
being an American. Beach was
charged with wearing spiked golf
shoes to work. Laird was
charged with making it difficult
to steal books, and Chandler was
charged with excessive speed in
hockey.
The United Way has organized
this event for the past 15 years.
The 2004 Jail and Bail raised
$7,300 between the two locations in Welland and Port
Colborne. Welland raised just
under $4,000 towards the campaign goal of $980,000.
The United Way’s Jail and Bail was held at the Seaway Mall in Welland on Oct. 8. The participants
were, from left, Ralph Laird, Denise Burno, Allan Beach, Rick Chandler and Chris Semelroth.
Chandler is a faculty member in the college’s Paramedic program while Laird works at the Glendale
campus Learning Resource Centre.
Photo by Pam Hallman
industry and how to interact with
the college community,” says
Blane.
Part of the proceeds from the
upcoming fundraiser will be
donated to the Lions Quest program. Lions International with
Quest International has developed
curriculum kits as well as preplanned classroom activities that
aid in the positive growth of youth.
“I’m hoping they (the students)
are enjoying the process, although
fundraising is a lot of hard work.
The committee is very dedicated
and has volunteered their time outside of the classroom. This shows
me that they have the ability to go
above and beyond the call of duty,
a quality that would impress most
employers. They’re also learning
how to deal with the community
on a professional basis,” says
Blane.
To request tickets or a prize list
for the auction items, contact the
Tourism
Committee
at
[email protected].
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 11
Policing facilities ‘better’ here, student transfers
By CHELSEY SPINOSA
Staff Writer
A
second-year
Police
Foundations student is enjoying
the comforts of home.
Ryan Smutnicki, 20, of
Welland, came to Niagara
College this year to continue in
the Police Foundations program
that he started at Mohawk
College in Brantford. He says
he transferred here for many
reasons.
"I talked to some of the graduates from Police Foundations and
they described the classes that they
took while in second year, and the
classes they described seemed
very interesting and also a lot
more hands-on than Mohawk’s.
Being from Welland, I was able to
visit Niagara College whenever I
wanted, and last year I quickly
noticed that the facilities at
Niagara were much better than
what I had to work with at
Mohawk."
"One of my primary reasons
for switching schools was
probably the faculty. The faculty
at Niagara is very experienced
and dedicated to the Police
Foundations program. This is not
to take anything away from the
staff at Mohawk because they
were great as well. I just found
that Niagara College had the best
Police Foundations program
around, and a dedicated staff
makes a strong student."
Smutnicki says there are
many differences between the
two colleges. He says that since
he was at the Brantford campus
last year where it was Police
Foundations and Law and
Security there weren't many students. Meanwhile, at Niagara,
there are many more students
and staff, he says, adding that
since he knows more people
here that makes school more
interesting.
Asked which college he
prefers, Smutnicki says, he likes
Niagara "a lot" better.
"I'm back in a city which I am
familiar with. All my friends are
down here, and this makes me
enjoy school a little more than I
was last year. There are a lot
more students at Niagara, which
makes it seem like a college.
Last year it felt like I was still in
high school, because there were
only 800 students at my
campus. Also, I get a chance to
play football again this year at
Niagara,
adding
a
little
excitement to school."
He says he is enjoying Police
Foundations because second
year is "very hands-on" just as
he was told and he has learned
"a lot of new and interesting"
things.
Smutnicki says, "All the
teachers seems very determined when it comes to their
students succeeding," adding
that he is excited to continue
the year and graduate.
Asked which college he
would recommend to students,
he says, "Niagara College."
"It is a more exciting school,
and the Police Foundations
program itself is wonderful.
I don't remember being this
happy around this time
last year."
Ryan Smutnicki,20, Police Foundations student poses next to the
Niagara College Emblem.
Photo by Chelsey Spinosa
Conference committed to reducing carnage on roads
By ANGELA HARDIE
Staff Writer
Ontario's bi-annual conference
on impaired driving will shift
into gear on Nov. 7.
Countermeasures XV is a
provincial forum for experts and
individuals
committed
to
reducing the human carnage on
roads caused by impaired
driving. It will be held at the
Ontario
Bar
Association
Conference Centre in Toronto.
This year's theme is Changing
Landscapes. The conference will
focus on the different environments where impaired driving
takes place, including accidents
happening on snowmobiles, offroad vehicles and boats.
In light of this, participants are
invited to take Canada Coast
Guard's Safe Boater Trainer
Program on the Sunday afternoon for a $30 fee.
Denise Polgar, president of the
Ontario Community Council on
Impaired Driving (OCCID), says
in a letter to all participants she
believes "the content, scope and
speakers selected by the planning
committee will appeal to a wide
audience."
The highlights of the two-day
conference are a "bring your own
wine" demonstration dinner, at
which servers would carry out
the possible new idea of whether
customers should bring their own
wine to the restaurant and how
the staff would serve it to them.
A series of workshops will take
place during the second day of
the conference. A Social
Marketing workshop will look at
advertising campaigns to change
driver behaviour.
New legislation is in place for
all-terrain vehicles to be allowed
on roads. An Off Road On Road
workshop will outline how to
ensure public safety regarding
recreational vehicles.
A session on drugs and driving
will raise the issue of marijuana
and its possible legalization and
the effects it will have on
impaired driving statistics.
At Niagara College, 20 students were surveyed about drunk
driving.
All 20 agreed that drinking and
driving is wrong, but 11 said they
are guilty of doing it anyway.
Helen Reid, 18, of Etobicoke,
Ont., says, "If you're going to
drink, drink, but don't drive."
Reid says that drinking is "just
a social custom," adding, "Why
do you need to have a beer? Just
order a Pepsi."
Cost for the conference is
$100, with meals provided
throughout
the
sessions.
Overnight accommodation is
available for $139 at the
Cambridge Suites Hotel, 15
Richmond St., Toronto.
OCCID exists to eliminate
impaired driving in Ontario and
works together with communities
to help prevent injuries and save
lives.
Visit http://www.occid.org for
more information.
Boo-la-thon expands to
benefit Kids Help Phone
By NATALIE
MICHLEWICZ
Staff Writer
St. Catharines residents are
getting ready to "bool" in costume.
The Halloween-themed Kids
Help Phone (KHP) Corporate
Challenge Boo-la-thon is coming to St. Catharines for the
first time on Oct. 30 at Parkway
Lanes, Sport and Entertainment
Centre on Ontario Street.
For 13 years the Boo-la-thon
has taken place in Toronto. This
year, the Boo-la-thon is
expanding to the Niagara
region.
In the Halloween spirit, participants are encouraged to
dress for the occasion.
Prizes for the best costumes
will be awarded.
The
Boo-la-thon
is
a
fundraiser for KHP, and all proceeds go towards the organization's
services.
Clare Whittman, manager of
the marketing and fund division
for Eastern and Western Ont.,
says, "KHP is a 24-hour, 365
days a year, telephone and
Internet anonymous and confidential referral and information
service."
Drug addictions, suicide, sexual issues, or any issue going
on in life is what KHP's paid
professional counsellors are
there to offer support in,
Whittman says, and "things
children are not comfortable to
talk to their parents about."
Twenty teams have registered
to participate, a good start
since, Whittman says, Niagara's
KHP Chapter has not officially
opened.
Teams must register in
advance to participate in the
Boo-la-thon, Whittman says,
for lane assignment purposes.
There is also registration on
Oct. 30 at 2 p.m., for the 2:30
p.m. to 4 p.m. games, and at 5
p.m., for the 5:30 p.m. to 7:30
p.m. games.
Whittman says all ages are
welcome
to
attend
and
participate.
Teams will bowl a 10-pin
game and are ensured a 90minute time slot.
Each team consists of a maximum of five bowlers (boolers)
who will collect pledges to support the cause.
KHP encourages each booler
to raise a minimum of $100 in
pledges.
Last year's Boo-la-thon raised
$145,000.
To participate, or for more
information on the Boo-la-thon
call 1-800-268-3062, ext. 8690
or 8966.
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Page 12, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Animals caught in hurricanes need help too
Donations being accepted for relief of injured animals for ravaged areas
By MELISSA HUNT
Staff Writer
People aren’t the only victims of
the hurricanes. Animals need help
too.
In a news release on Sept. 29,
the World Society for the
Protection of Animals (WSPA)
said it is providing help for
thousands of animals that were left
injured, trapped or starving
throughout the hurricane-hit
Caribbean. The release stated that
WSPA estimates tens of thousands
of farm animals and pets have
already died and that the WSPA
Canadian office is prepared to
send up to $60,000 from its fund.
Silia Smith, WSPA’s regional
director for Canada, said in the
release that donations have been
coming in from concerned
Canadians since the crisis began.
“To date, we have received more
than $7,000 in donations from
supporters, with more expected.
This money has already been
transferred to our Latin American
office to aid the animals of
Jamaica,
Grenada,
Cuba,
Venezuela and Haiti, along with an
additional $15,000 from our disaster relief fund.”
The release also said WSPA
personnel have already started
working on the ground to initiate a
mission to provide emergency
supplies of food, veterinary
medicine, shelter and care.
Near the end of the release,
WSPA’s Director General Peter
Davies said he has been receiving
reports from throughout the
Caribbean of surviving animals
struggling to stay alive.
“These animals are running out
of time, growing weaker and more
vulnerable to infection and disease
with each passing day.”
Not even a week after the news
release, Patrick Tohill, campaigns
and communications manager for
WSPA Canada, says emergency
relief has been provided in Cuba,
the Dominican Republic, Grenada,
Jamaica, Panama and Venezuela.
He says future options may
include deployment of WSPA
personnel in addition to further aid
to member societies.
“Supplies of vital medicines,
such as broad-spectrum antibiotics, vaccines, multi-vitamins and
worming drugs, will be provided
to treat animals that are at risk
from diseases.”
He says WSPA plans to
approach the Pan American Health
Organization for a co-ordinated
rabies vaccination campaign for
dogs on the island.
Tohill says WSPA’s assessment
team is in Haiti at the moment,
which is “probably the worst hit
island for several reasons.”
“First, the number of human
casualties was extremely high in
the wake of the hurricane. Second,
the island bore the brunt of the
hurricane’s force, and damage was
severe. Finally, many parts of the
island are still underwater, a situation which makes disease outbreaks very likely.”
He says an estimated 40,000
animals are in need of treatment
ranging from vaccinations against
water-borne
diseases
to
de-worming medications and parasite treatments.
As for the other islands hit,
Tohill says WSPA will work with
government authorities and the
local Societies for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to
address the problems animals are
facing in each area.
Tohill says it’s hard to say
precisely how much money will be
spent to fix the situation.
“We’ve
received
various
requests for help which (so far)
came to about $45,000 in
American currency. However, the
final total may be higher.”
He says the money people
donate will go toward medicine,
food, financial aid and repairs on
the SPCA’s vehicles damaged in
the hurricanes.
Tohill says many humane societies in the Caribbean “operate on
shoestring budgets at the best of
times.”
“This tragedy has left large
numbers of animals injured and at
risk of disease. Many animals have
been abandoned and are in need of
help.”
Tohill says the WSPA is the
world’s largest network of humane
societies and other animal protection organizations around the
world.
“For just more than 20 years,
WSPA has worked to relieve animal suffering and protect animals
through hands-on rescue work,
campaigning
and
humane
education.”
Help is happening in all kinds of
forms. Talk-show host Ellen
Degeneres recently auctioned off a
signed one-of-a-kind Cabbage
Patch doll on eBay, with half the
proceeds going to Noah’s Wish, an
organization that is specifically
designed to provide disaster relief
for animals throughout the world.
The doll sold for $7,600, and the
toy manufacturer decided to
double that amount to $15,200.
Noah’s Wish is a not-for-profit
organization formed in 2002. Its
website states the services provided including evacuations, transportation, humane trapping, coordination of lost and found animals and distribution of food and
donations, networking with veterinarians, grooming facilities, grief
counselling
and
locating
temporary and permanent homes
for animals.
Sheri Thompson, training manager for Noah’s Wish, says Terri
Crisp founded the organization
because there was no other animal
organization solely focusing on
one purpose: disaster relief.
She says most recently Noah’s
Wish has responded to areas hit by
Hurricane Charley and Hurricane
Ivan.
Thompson says the organization
“likes to focus on places not
receiving any help elsewhere.”
Thompson says on average they
are at a site for 10 to 14 days but
will “stay as long as they are
needed.”
She says it’s hard sometimes
because an attachment forms with
the animals they save but “we
don’t leave animals behind.”
“We know that they will be
OK.”
Thompson says they are “100
per cent” when it comes to
finding homes for the animals
and, occasionally, stray animals
are adopted by volunteers.
Thompson says there are ways
a person can help the organization.
The most important thing is for
all people to have a disaster plan
for themselves and their families.
“You can’t take care of anyone
else if you’re not OK.”
She says there are also training
courses for hands-on help and
people can give donations, which
will go towards vet care, special
equipment, supplies and food.
On the Noah’s Wish website,
Crisp sums it up best: “If animals
are going to survive disasters,
they can’t do it alone.”
To get more information or to
send donations, visit WSPA’s
website at http://www.wspa.ca or
the Noah’s Wish website at
http://www.noahswish.org.
Helping students
with disabilities
By BEVERLEY J. KNIGHT
Staff Writer
The Centre for Disabled
Students has been at the Welland
campus of Niagara College since
1988, “give or take a year,” says
Gilles Prescott, Special Needs
counsellor. He has been with the
college since 1990.
He says the original design of
the buildings was “mostly”
wheelchair accessible. There
were ramps, but they may have
been “a little steep.”
There was a lot of work in the
first few years, a “constant evolution,” he says.
If you can’t access the building you can’t go to class, so electronic door openings, an elevator
and improved accessibility for
walkers/scooters were taken into
consideration.
Prescott says he likes the
“variety” of his position. The
challenges, problem solving and
meeting with the students make
the job rewarding because he
feels he is helping someone.
“Nice challenges.”
“The main purpose of our
office is to help students with
disabilities, with an equal and
fair opportunity to succeed.”
To be eligible for services you
may have a learning disability; a
mobility, physical, visual, or
hearing impairment; chronic
health problems, as in the case
of
an
injured
worker;
social/emotional conditions; or a
short-term debilitation, like a
broken leg.
If you have a documented
learning disability, you can
receive the services of a learning
strategist.
That person will help with
learning strategies, techniques,
time management, memorization skills and the transition
between high school and
college.
The centre accommodates the
student with note takers, test
writers and computer software,
among other assistance.
An assistive technologist will
help with devices such as spell
checkers, tape recorders and
voice recognition technology
software.
Dragon Naturally Speaking is
a voice-activated software program that prints what you say.
“You read a text, and the
computer will look at your
patterns of voice,” says Prescott.
Students come in and indicate
what is needed. What was a
problem for a student one year
wouldn’t necessarily be a concern the next, he says.
One year, yellow tape was put
on the steps for people with
visual impairments so they could
differentiate stairs. Bathrooms
are
built
to
meet
disability standards, with a
mirror at wheelchair height and
safety bars in the cubicles.
The March of Dimes provides
on-campus
attendant
care
services,
which
include
mobility/transfer
assistance,
range of motion exercises and
personal routines.
“As students’ needs arise, you
go with that,” Prescott says.
“We’ve had many successes.
I can think of most students
who come to college directly
from high school. They feel
lost. To see them two or three
years down the road, they’ve
learned self-advocacy, having
matured and grown from their
college experience. Many of
them thought it wouldn’t happen. It’s wonderful to see that
when they graduate and become
successful.”
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news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 13
Halloween
Atheism calendar year untraditional
By JARRETT POWELL
Staff Writer
Column
I am an atheist.
I do not believe in the existence of any god, past or present. I do not believe Jesus the
Christ ever existed. There is no
proof of his existence.
Therefore, I think it is absurd
to base the historic calendar on
an event that never occurred.
Atheists do not follow the traditional
historic
calendar.
Instead, they base their historic
turning point on a factual event.
That event is the creation of
the Roman republic in 510 BC
(corresponding to the traditional
calendar).
This means that an event that
occurred before 1 BC must have
509 added to it, but any event
occurring after 1 AD must be
subtracted by 509, which would
make this the year 1495 on my
calendar.
As well, the acronyms BC and
AD are replaced by BCE
(Before Common Era) and CE
(Common Era) because our civilization is based on the Roman
republic.
I only use the historic calendar for convenience because it is
what most understand, although
I do not agree with it.
Halloween is a relatively new
holiday.
The modern celebration of
Halloween is a distant descendant of the ancient Celtic fire
festival
called
Samhain.
Samhain is pronounced sow-en
because an mh in the middle of
an Irish word has a w sound.
The Celts, pronounced Kelts,
were an ancient people who
lived more than 2,000 years ago
in what is now Great Britain,
Ireland and France.
On the night of Oct. 31, all
hearth fires in Ireland were
extinguished and then relit from
the central fire of the Druids.
The Druids were the learned
class among the Celts.
Extinguishing the hearth fires
was symbolic of the approaching winter. Rekindling them
from the Druidic fire was symbolic of the renewed life they
wished for in the spring.
The Celtic new year began on
Nov. 1.
Celts believed that turning
points, such as the beginning of
a new year, were magical times
and the new year was the most
potent turning point. They
believed the veil between life
and death was at its thinnest and
the dead could communicate
with the living.
As the Roman Empire grew,
and Christianity with it, measures were taken to persuade
pagans
to
convert
to
Christianity.
These measures included outlawing pagan religions, which
Theodosius I did in 388 AD, and
destroying pagan centres of worship, which the Catholic church
has been responsible for
throughout recorded history.
Pagan religions were given the
reputation of being devoted to
Satan.
Christian propaganda labeled
Samhain as a festival in which
the Celts sacrificed human
beings to the devil or some evil
demonic god of death.
The church even personified
Samhain as the Celtic god of
death.
The Celts did not have
demons or devils in their belief
system. They did believe in
gods, giants, monsters, witches,
spirits and elves, but they were
not considered evil so much as
mischievous.
Continued on page 16
Halloween beginnings differ for other cultures
By CAITLIN MCLACHLAN
Staff Writer
Halloween, Dia de los
Muertos, Obon, Teng Cheih or
Yue Lan. It doesn’t matter how
you say it or when you celebrate
it, only that you pay homage to
the dearly departed. As it is
known to western culture,
Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve
has its many different beginnings, depending on who tells
the story.
What connects us all on that
night is the spirit of the celebration.
In Mexico, Japan, China and
Hong Kong, families offer gifts
and food to altars of their loved
ones and light candles and bonfires to guide the deceased
home.
Fay, 23 of Welland, is originally from Taiwan and a student
in the English as a Second
Language (ESL) program. Fay
says her mother would pray outside of their house and prepare
food such as chicken to put on
an altar.
In Japan, the celebration
called Obon lasts three days and
concludes with a ceremony of
lighting little paper lanterns
called omiyage. These lanterns
will float down a river or out to
sea shining the way to the
“other side.”
Hiromi Kumagai, 27, of
Welland, is a student in the ESL
program. She does not celebrate
Halloween, but says it is possible for spirits to exist.
“It depends on the person.
Some people believe that after
you die your spirit leaves your
body,” says Kumagai.
In Mexico, the people celebrate the Fiesta de las Santas
Animas on Oct. 27. Temporary
altars
are
erected
near
gravesites with candles, food
and even alcohol. All family
member talks to the departed
spirit, offer food and assure it of
their love. Ceremonies can last
several days because there is
usually more than one deceased
relative.
Yue Lan, meaning Feast of
the Hungry Ghosts, is celebrated in China and Hong Kong. It
is said that the souls of the
deceased would wander the
earth in search of affection,
yearning for care and recognition. The celebration is dedicated to earthbound sprits to make
them feel welcome.
Offerings of joss sticks (a
slim stick of dried fragrant
paste), food and gifts made of
paper are presented. Burning
paper money is also a tradition.
This would pay for expenses in
the afterlife.
“Some old people believe it.
They make gifts of paper and
put it in the fire,” says Candy
Liu, 21, of St. Catharines. Liu, a
student of the ESL program,
says people in her country will
do this every year on the
anniversary of the deceased’s
death and in the celebration of
the New Year.
To
learn
more
about
Halloween traditions from
around the world, go to
http://www.jackolanterns.net.
Pumpkin patch puts ‘Boo’
in Halloween for children
By KATIE VANSLACK
Staff Writer
Putting the “Boo” back into
Halloween, the Winnicki’s
Pumpkin Patch is presenting, for
the second year, The Barn of Bad
Dreams.
Every October for 10 years,
owner Jerry Winnicki has been
running the pumpkin patch from
his home at 840 Sumbler Rd. in
Fenwick, Ont., getting youngsters
ready for Halloween.
“We started all this for our
kids,” Winnicki says. His four
children are now ages 13 to 18
years. “To keep their interest we
started the hay rides and Barn of
Bad Dreams.”
Every Friday and Saturday from
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in October, a
hayride takes customers to the
Barn of Bad Dreams, an hour-long
expedition.
There’s more to do at the
Winnicki’s Pumpkin Patch, such
as pony rides, a hay jump, a
straw mountain, a corn maze, a
spook palace, a mini putt and a
nature walk.
He says that the kids enjoy
being in the country.
“They like seeing the pumpkins
grow. It’s a sensation.” The pumpkin patch is open daily from 10
a.m. to dark.
Pumpkin patch admission is
free. It costs $2 for the pony and
hayride and $7 for entry into the
Barn of Bad Dreams.
Winnicki says it’s “a great
place” for families. “You can
spend what you want to spend. If
you don’t want to spend anything,
you can just feed the goats.”
Winnicki says that his favourite
part of Halloween is the time of
year.
“I also like seeing the kids
happy. Next to Christmas, for kids
it’s the best day of the year.”
For more information on a
happy Halloween, call Winnicki’s
Pumpkin Patch at 905-892-8962.
Be sure to check out our
Halloween edition available
Friday, Nov. 5.
If you dare.
In a fall
pumpkin
playground
Halloweening
young ladies pose
for a photo at the
Howell
Family
Pumpkin Farm in
the countryside of
Thorold. The farm
will
be
selling
pumpkins at 2878
Holland Rd. in
Thorold until Oct.
31.
For
other
adventures, people
can ride ponies,
watch the “chicken
show” and enjoy the
autumn scenery.
Photo by Sandor
Ligetfalvy
Page 14, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 15
Pagination by Cailtin McLachlan
Photos by Valerie Little and Sandor Ligetfalvy
HARVEST TIME NIAGARA
It’s almost Halloween, and harvest time is here. Citizens of the Niagara
region enjoy entertainment at the food festival, while others shop for
pumpkins to make their jack-o’-lanterns.
Page 16, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Boosting self-esteem, setting goals
First steps for removing employment obstacles
By STACY CALDER
Staff Writer
Mental health problems affect
individuals in different ways and
put obstacles in front of their
employment goals.
Building
Up
Individuals
Through Learning and Teamwork,
known as the Built Network, is a
project of the National Network for
Mental Health. It assists individuals to get back on track with their
employment goals through personal and professional development.
The Built Network helps build
the individual’s self-esteem by
focusing on the positives in a situation rather than the negatives. A
seven-week program helps individuals obtain and maintain
employment.
“Show a person what they can
do as opposed to what they can’t
do,” is the first step, says Glenn
Redman, a participant support
worker at the Built Network.
“We encourage people to take
risks, to try and learn from the
past, live in the present and set
goals for the future.”
Sharon Barinsmead-Taylor, clerical support worker for the project,
greets the participants each day as
they walk through the door.
“It’s amazing the changes we
see in the participants, going from
how unsure they are, to knowing
they can succeed in whatever they
chose to do.”
Emphasis is placed on developing participants’ self-esteem, motivation, time-management and
goal-setting skills as well as developing an understanding of
Microsoft Office applications and
customer service approaches. By
the end of the program, the participants have gained the skills
required to obtain employment in
the growing market of the customer service industry.
Several network clients agreed
to speak about their experiences
on condition of anonymity.
Nancy was a shy woman who
would suffer panic attacks when
she was to attend appointments
with employment agencies. She
attributes Redman’s ability “to
keep everything going all the
time,” as the reason she defeated
her shyness.
“He would always ask us questions. I believe I learned a lot
from that.”
Mariam, 35, has recently completed skills training. Originally
from Nigeria, Mariam has been
living in Canada with her two
young daughters for approximately two years.
Reflecting on the days before
coming to the Built Network,
Mariam said she heard about how
the program helps people who
have been through a lot and
thought she could pick up the
pieces and move on with her life.
After completing the program,
Mariam enrolled with the Lifetime
Learning Centre to “brush up” on
her English so she can pursue her
goal of obtaining an office job.
Tammy, 24, vice-chair of the
Graduates Association, a participant on the Steering Committee
and a student representative for the
network, became a participant in
the skills training program in July.
She says the program has helped
her feel more comfortable around
people.
“I would never do anything that
involved anybody else.”
Tammy now has the confidence to achieve her goals of
employment since graduating
with a customer service diploma.
She has obtained full-time
employment with a downtown
retail food service.
The program doesn’t stop once
the participants have completed it.
The network encourages partici-
pants to stay in touch with each
other. A Graduates Association
allows participants to meet on a
monthly basis and have the opportunity to meet other program graduates and hear about new opportunities being provided.
Since the completion of the first
program in June, the network has
created a job search area to assist
graduates to continue with their
job search.
Barinsmead-Taylor says two
computers with Internet service
are available to graduates for
revising resumés and cover letters
and to utilize the various job
search engines on the Internet. A
typing tutor has been installed on
the computers to assist participants
to work with typing speed and
accuracy.
“It is one-stop shopping,” says
Redman, summarizing how the
network offers skills development
to gain and retain employment.
Potato famine resulted in trick or treating and Mischief Night
Continued from page 13
Contrary to information published by any Christian organization, there is no historical or archeological evidence of any Celtic
deity named Samhain. Scholars
are aware of 350 Celtic deities, but
Samhain isn’t among them. Celtic
gods of the dead were Gwynn ap
Nudd for the British and Arawn
for the Welsh.
The word samhain is derived
from the Gaelic word samhuinn,
meaning summer’s end.
The custom of going door to
door originated in the 1930s.
During the great potato famine
in Ireland, at the end of the 19th
century, many Irish immigrants
came to North America. They
brought many of their traditions
with them.
One of these traditions was
Mischief Night. Immigrants would
perform a range of pranks from
tipping over outhouses to unhinging fence gates.
By the 1920s, the pranks
became nasty, with real destruction of property.
Near the end of the 1920s, neighbourhood committees and clubs,
such as the Boy Scouts, organized
safer alternatives to vandalism.
Good children were encouraged
to go door to door for treats.
These beggar’s nights, as they
came to be called, gained popularity in the 1930s and were practiced nationwide.
The oldest citation in print of the
phrase “trick or treat” dates to 1939.
Originally, the tradition of trick
or treating was attributed to the
Celts and not in a flattering way.
Christian propaganda, especially the tracts and comic books
printed by the publisher Jack
Chick, describes evil Druids going
castle door to castle door begging
for food for their gods. If refused
they would take a child instead for
sacrifice. You can view Chick
material at http://www.chick.com.
There is general agreement that
the Celts did perform some human
sacrifices or executions, but this
was for criminals, prisoners of war
or volunteers. There is no evidence that Druids performed sacrifices for Samhain.
The jack-o’-lantern is an Irish
legend, but it does not date back to
Celtic times. The oldest recorded
reference to the jack-o’-lantern
dates to the 18th century.
According to Irish folklore, Jack
was a man who could not enter
heaven because he was a miser
and he could not enter hell because
Secretary will miss students
By JESSICA KONKLE
Staff Writer
After working for four years
at Niagara College, Terry
Morabito is leaving to take on a
full-time position outside the
college.
Morabito has been a dedicated member of the Winery and
Viticulture team and has worked
as
a
secretary
in
the
Environment, Horticulture and
Agribusiness division. Morabito
says she will miss the students
and staff the most.
“I loved the college and interacting with the students.”
Steve Gill, manager of the
Wine and Viticulture division,
says Morabito was a dedicated
employee who helped ensure
success and mentor students.
“Terry got a lot of students
involved and gave them a full
feel of future endeavours,” says
Gill. “She is a very hardworking, real good person.”
Morabito says she liked the
hands-on aspect of the Wine and
Viticulture program.
“I truly loved working at the
college.”
Gill says, “Terry helped better
the program. She kept it organized and was always making
suggestions,” adding she was
“hardworking,
friendly,
approachable, very smart and
had a good work ethic. I have a
lot of respect for Terry.”
he had played a trick on the devil.
He became a damned soul destined to wander in darkness until
Judgment Day.
In Ireland and England, before
modern-day metalworking, people used beets, potatoes and
turnips as lanterns. Originally
Jack was depicted as carrying a
lantern carved from a turnip to
ward off evil.
When the myth reached
America, people began using
pumpkins to represent Jack’s
lantern. The pumpkin is a New
World plant and is not found in
Europe.
Also, the Celts did not have a
concept of heaven or hell. They
believed that when people died
they went to a land of eternal youth
and happiness, called Tir nan Og.
Today, Samhain is recognized
by Wiccans as one of their eight
Sabbats, or holy days.
Many equate the Wiccan religion
with Satanism. This is not the case.
Wicca is an earth-based religion
that celebrates the Goddess as
their deity.
The Goddess is their representation of nature.
Halloween is meant to be a time
for fun and enjoyment by all.
At the same time, it also has a
history that outdates Christianity.
Remember, we all has our own
beliefs. As a whole, society needs
to respect the beliefs of others. If
history has taught us anything, it is
that we should be respectful of
other’s beliefs.
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news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 17
Speaker outlines importance of networking
By AZRA MOMIN
Staff Reporter
If you want to get working with
people, start networking with people.
Students of the Business
Administration
–
Human
Resources (Co-op) program
received this advice at this
term’s first Lunch ‘n’ Learn
event held on Sept. 28 at Niagara
College’s Glendale campus in
Niagara-on-the-Lake. Speaking
to them were Laurie S. Weller,
human resources manager at
Coutts Library Services Canada,
and Stuart Gregory, human
resources manager at the
Niagara Parks Commission.
Holly Seebach, the program
co-ordinator, welcomed the students and the speakers.
“These events are intended to
support students in their professional development by providing
them with an opportunity to
meet with individuals in the
field who can share their experiences and insights into the life of
an HR [human resources] professional,” she says.
Weller and Gregory spoke about
the Human Resources Professionals
Association of Niagara (HRPAN).
“HRPAN brings in speakers of
interest to do a 45-minute presentation. It’s a good way for students to meet some of the people
in the Niagara region who may
be hiring. You never know when
someone is going to call you, out
of the blue,” says Weller.
Attending the recent Lunch ‘n’ Learn session were, from left, Jean Quattrini, co-op consultant for Niagara College’s Business
Administration programs, Holly Seebach, co-ordinator of the Business Administration – Human Resources (Co-op) program,
Laurie S. Weller, human resources manager at Coutts Library Services Canada, Stuart Gregory, human resources manager at the
Niagara Parks Commission, and Rose Marie Whitten, post-graduate internship co-ordinator for Business Administration – Human
Resources (Co-op) program.
Photo by Azra Momin
HRPAN posts co-op positions
and jobs in Niagara College and
Brock
University
in
St.
Catharines.
Jean Quattrini, co-op consultant
for the college’s Business
Administration programs in
Human Resources, Operations
Management and Professional
Golf Management, says HRPAN
meets monthly at the St.
Catharines Golf and Country Club.
“It’s a great place for me to
network and meet with human
resources managers for students.
I start developing their [students’] jobs in January for their
co-ops between the end of April
and the end of December.”
“I know a lot of people right
now,” she says.
Gregory reminisced about his
work experience. Working with
the Ministry of Labour in
Toronto gave him hands-on
exposure in every layer of
human resources at the ministry
level, he says. One of his jobs
was with the United Steel
Workers Association.
“I got the whole union perspective. It was the best experience I ever had.”
Both speakers spoke of the
importance of the Certified
Human Resources Professional
(CHRP) designation, which,
they say, is seen as an essential
tool for maintaining high performance standards.
“Earlier, having a CHRP certificate was an asset; now it’s a
ECE worker celebrates 22nd year
staff feels with the children and the
students that come in.
“You can see the students who
started out and you can see how they
mature over the years, and then you
see them go out and work,” she says.
Boichuk says her advice to students in the ECE program would
Photo by Chelsey Spinosa
By CHELSEY SPINOSA
Staff Writer
An Early Childhood Education
(ECE) worker celebrated her 22nd
anniversary at the Niagara College
Day Care recently.
Maria Boichuk, of Welland, celebrated 22 years of service in the
ECE field on Sept. 13. Boichuk, a
graduate of the ECE program at
Niagara College, says she always
wanted to work with children
while she was in school.
“I eventually wanted to go onto
teaching, and I heard that you
could transfer credits from the
college over to Brock University
in St. Catharines, but when I
started working here I found that
I really liked it and stayed.”
Asked what her thoughts on the
ECE program are, Boichuk says,
“I’ve noticed the program has
expanded quite a bit from when I
first started. There seems to be more
students, more opportunities for the
students, more day cares that they
can go out and work in. Plus, they
can branch off into other areas.”
This year Boichuk teaches the
20- to 26-month-old children and
will take over the preschool
group next year because the
teachers rotate on a yearly basis.
Boichuk says she does not have a
favourite age group because each
group has something special about it.
“I like the group that I’m in now
because their language is expanding
and they’re learning so much. You
can see them learning their colours
and numbers and picking up on
things. Once you get to the preschool
group you see them as little social
beings. Every group has their pros
and cons. They’re all little challenges
MARIA BOICHUK
and joys at the same time,” she says.
Boichuk says that the bond you
make with the children and parents
is a highlight of this job. As well,
another aspect that she says she
enjoys is having ECE students
come into the daycare centre at the
Welland campus because she gets
to work with a variety of people.
“No day is ever the same here,”
she says.
Asked if she thinks having the
ECE students come into the daycare for placement is a good idea,
she says, “Yes, I do. I think it gives
them a realistic view of what we
do on a day-to-day basis.”
When they come into the daycare,
Boichuk says, the students first shadow the teachers as they get to know
the children and the program, and as
they progress in their studies they
eventually are doing everything that
the regular teacher would do.
A gratifying part of this job,
Boichuk says, is the bond that the
be this: “First, make sure this is
what you want to do. Have a sense
of humour. Have an open mind. Be
patient and sensitive to people’s
needs – the children’s needs, the
parents’ needs and the student’s
needs in the program. It’s a lot of
work, but you get a lot in return.”
requirement,” says Weller.
The students were given an
insight into the testing procedure
for receiving a CHRP designation
and were able to ask questions.
“The Lunch ‘n’ Learn provides
them [students] with an opportunity to network with HR professionals and develop linkages
within the community,” says
Seebach.
The next event is scheduled
for late October and will focus
on disability management.
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Page 18, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Entertainment
Good Charlotte rocks MuchMusic
By JULIE RUDD
Staff Writer
Sweat stinks in the sweltering air inside
MuchMusic on Oct. 7, as fans anxiously
wait for Good Charlotte to take the stage.
The Much environment is utterly
transformed.
Fake tree branches protrude from the
walls, and massive black pillars with random
lyrics
chalked
in
capital
letters are scattered around the small,
intimate stage.
Balls of metal string dangle from the
ceiling, reflecting the light entering through
painted stained-glass windows.
The lights are dim, and the atmosphere
reminds me a lot of the band’s Hold On
music video.
I had just snagged myself a front row
spot, directly in front of Joel’s microphone
stand.
Cords are everywhere. I am stepping on
one rolled up beneath my feet, trying to
kick it out of my way, but no such luck.
There was nowhere for it to go.
Camera operators and other people
involved in the production enter the scene
and provide rules.
They warn the crowd of the earsplitting
volume of the show that is about to begin,
offering ear-plugs, although nobody takes
them up on the offer.
I am surrounded by people of all sorts,
from 14-year-olds with Good Charlotte
T-shirts to hardened fans with black
makeup, spiky, dark hair and dog chains.
All of these people share one thing in
common, however.
It was only girls inside.
Deafening screams come at about 7:55
when the band members come to the stage
to set up their instruments and mingle with
fans in the front rows.
Rick Campanelli, the VJ for the night,
could be heard outside doing an
introduction. Stage producers signal for
the fans inside to start screaming as the
speakers vibrate with the first booms of
the drum.
Camera
operators
frantically
circle the stage area to get the perfect
angle of the band while others focus on the
animated fans.
Opening with their new single,
Predictable, Good Charlotte gets the fans
energized, jumping and singing along.
Joel Madden, lead singer of Good
Charlotte, makes his first trip to the outside
stage on John Street during the second
song, Walk Away. He wanted to show his
appreciation for fans who had waited in line
all day to get a close spot on the barricaded
downtown street.
He bends down to touch the hands of
teenage girls around the stage before
heading back inside.
The first set of songs is followed by a
commercial break, giving the first
opportunity for fans to get autographs and
take pictures of the band.
Good Charlotte makes its way outside to
an interview area at the end of the stage.
“I really can’t follow anything at all right
now, not at all. This is complete mayhem
right here,” Paul Thomas says, of the crowd
outside during the interview.
Fans ask questions over the phone,
by e-mail, and from the crowd. From inside,
almost nothing of the interview taking place
a mere 30 feet away could be heard.
“The only reason magazines or TV or
anyone else would ever pay attention to us
is because of all these kids and we know
that, and we appreciate that and we feel
lucky to be up here.
We could never say thank you enough to
these kids,” Joel Madden says, in response
to a question about why fans are the heart
and soul of the band.
More songs, from the band’s new album,
The Chronicles of Life and Death, and its
last album, The Young and the Hopeless,
followed the interview.
Songs included Mountain, S.O.S., Ghost
of You, and chart singles Hold On, Girls
and Boys, The Anthem, and Lifestyles of the
Rich and Famous.
“Good Charlotte are amazing! I don’t
care if that’s lame,” says Sarah Napper, 20,
of Hamilton, following the show.
For a fan that experienced the show from
inside, I thought the Much performance
was a different experience from other Good
Charlotte performances there was less
pushing, no mosh-pit and fewer people
attending.“I think it was better than Warped
Tour,” says Brittany Armstrong, 19, a
Niagara College student in the Correctional
Worker program. “This show I actually got
to get closer, and really hear their music
instead of spending the whole performance
trying to keep crowd surfers from landing
on my head.“I have a newfound love for
Good Charlotte.”
The show ended with a bang, with a
performance of Lifestyles of the Rich and
Famous and a goodbye to fans both inside
and outside.
Photos taken from Good Charlotte’s Official Website
http://www.goodcharlotte.com/MU15.php
Local comedians make Guinness Book
By ERIN MACGILLIVARY
Staff Writer
These two non-stop comedians from the Niagara region have had more than just 52 hours
of fame. Wayne Malton, of Niagara Falls, and Mike Hamilton, of St. Catharines, have been
performing comedy together for 36 years.
They met in high school in 1960, while they were president and vice-president respectively of the drama club.
They shared a love for the keyboard, which was “relatively new back then,” so they started to play together. “But it was basically just comedy,” says Hamilton.
Malton and Hamilton say they started their comedy acts by dressing up, performing a
variety of skits and characters, playing music, acting out situations and talking to the audience in clubs.
Hamilton says when they began to do longer shows, they stopped getting dressed up
because they didn’t have an opportunity to change.
“We started putting on all kinds of crazy hats instead. There was a box on stage full of
hats that we use to change into. It was really fun.” In 1975, Malton says, the comics decided to “see how long we could last” and are in the Guinness Book of World Records for performing comedy for 52 hours non-stop.
“That was in the days when they had to shut down the lounges at 1 a.m., so we started
Thursday at 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the lounge. Then we went into the lobby where we had
equipment set up and performed there until 9 p.m., and then back to the lobby again. We
finished on Saturday at 1 a.m.”
“We weren’t allowed to take any breaks. If we had to relieve ourselves or whatever, one
of us was allowed to do that, but we actually had to eat our meals and everything in front
of an audience. It was really something else.” A world record isn’t the only thing these two
comedians have under their hats. They also have six comedy records, two of which went
gold in Canada, on the Marathon record label. Malton says the duo has travelled extensively all over North America. They have performed at the Calgary Stampede for 16 years
in a row, The Comedy Store and Budd Freeman’s Improv, both in Los Angeles, Deerhurst
Resort in Muskoka and “many, many more” locations.
When Malton and Hamilton were asked to perform at the Deerhurst Resort they were
scheduled to perform for three months. They ended up performing and living there for six
years and were in shows with superstar singer Shania Twain.
Hamilton says she “was a very nice girl, and very talented.” Before all of their shows,
Hamilton says, they have a disclaimer.
“Please don’t take anything we say to heart because we mean it.”
This is because, Malton says, “a lot of the humour that we did back then would be dangerous to do today. It’s not that the material has changed that much but the attitude of the
public has. The one thing that was our salvation is that we were not brutal on just one ethnic group; we were brutal on all ethnic groups. Coming back to the point that that is what
a Canadian is. We are all offspring from other cultures and countries.”
One thing, Hamilton says, they do not use is “foul language.”
“We never use foul language. In most comedy clubs today that seems to be the cheat
sheet for everybody. People go in there with every kind of blue language and describe every
kind of body part in depth. We never, ever, ever, ever did that.” Malton says their main
objective is for people to laugh, relax, enjoy themselves and “have fun.”
“We just try to get people to relax and enjoy themselves and skim on the surface for a
while and smell the roses. Hopefully, the younger generation will re-evaluate the scenario
and look at things more on the surface rather than being affected by everything that somebody says.”
news@nigara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 19
Entertainment
‘Chicks and booze’
By ERIN MACGILLIVARY
Staff Writer
Students who are looking for independent musicians with a rockabilly sound
may find what they are looking for at the Mansion House in St. Catharines
every Friday night.
Jon Thorton, 30, on guitar/vocals, Cory Richardson, 28, on upright
bass/vocals, and Shane O’Connell, 29, on drums, make up this rock n’roll/rockabilly band, the Screamin’ Black Cadillacs.
The band met five years ago when Thorton, who was already playing in a
band named Cadillac Bill, put an ad on the bulletin board at Central Music in
St. Catharines. Richardson and O’Connell, who were already friends,
answered.
What made them form a rock ’n’ roll band?
“Chicks and booze,” says Richardson.
“When the women are there, you play hard. It’s great to look out and see people dancing and having fun.”
O’Connell says The Screamin’ Black Cadillacs are a “very independent”
band.
“Everyone thinks that they need Sony or Warner Brothers, but they don’t
need that. We’re independent. We do all the things that everybody thinks we
shouldn’t do, and we have the best time, make good money and (can) afford to
pay for the things that we need to pay for. All we really need is management.
We don’t want a record deal. We can do that ourselves.”
The Screamin’ Black Cadillacs have been playing all over Ontario for the
past five years.
“We tend to play where rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly fit. Iit doesn’t fit everywhere. We tried to play at sports bars and things like that, but it just doesn’t
work. It’s a rough crowd and they just don’t get it,” says Thorton.
The Screamin’ Black Cadillacs say they have a “monster fan base” in the
Niagara region. Richardson says that is because of word of mouth.
O’Connell says “thousands of people love us here.”
“After you play at a place a couple of times, people start to hear about you.
Word of mouth just spreads. You have three or four people that really dig it and
the next time you come around they’ll bring, like, four or five of their friends.
Then you have 20 or 25 people. Then the next time it could be 50 or 60. Word
of mouth really gravitates to where it’s going on.”
Richardson says to keep the fans coming back, the members put a lot of time
into their music and practice five nights a week, for three or four hours each
time.
The Screamin’Black Cadillacs say they are in the process of getting their CD
pressed. They are re-releasing their first self-titled album, along with a second
album, titled Big Headlights, Nice Trunk, Goes like Hell, which will be available soon.
You can catch the Screamin’ Black Cadillacs at the Mansion House, 5
William St., in St. Catharines, every Friday at 10 p.m.
Betty Ford’s new sound
By STEPHANIE DIPIETRO
Staff Writer
Betty Ford is not a former First
Lady, nor a place to fight addiction
anymore. There is no need to hide
an addiction to the music of the
Betty Ford band.
They are Dave Wanless, vocals,
Roger Habel Jr., drums/vocals,
Chris Hildebrand, bass/vocals and
Chris Pritty, guitar/vocals.
The band has been around for
four years. Habel Jr. and Pritty, who
met in high school, used to play in a
band called Sittin’ Pritty and played
shows with Sven Gali.
Habel Jr. thought of the name for
the band while rehearsing for the
band’s first show, he says.
“We all like to drink beer and
we’ve all been around the block a
few times, so it seemed to fit us perfectly.”
Habel Jr. describes their sound as
“loud, fun, energetic and unpredictable.”
The band performs covers of
artists such as Nickleback, Green
Day, Lenny Kravitz, James and Neil
Young.
He says he grew up listening to
1980’s rock and bands like Kiss,
Poison and Motley Crue.
“Same goes for the rest of the
guys in Betty Ford. We come from
the same school of music: hard
rock, loud rock, big hair.”
Habel Jr. says, “Due to the sheer
volume that we like to play at, there
aren’t a lot of places for a band like
ours to play. You won’t find us at a
chicken wing bar or lounge or
anything like that. We sorta don’t
like to be quiet. Louder is better.
You know the saying: if it’s too
loud, you’re too old.”
The members of Betty Ford do
not write their own lyrics unless
“we’re making it up on the spot.”
“We do that a lot too. Chris P. or
Chris H. will pick out someone in
the crowd and sing a song about
them.”
He says “the fact that we try not
to take it too seriously” sets them
apart from other bands.
“We understand that it’s just a
cover band. We don’t expect to get
anything out of it except for good
times, good-looking girls, dancing
and having fun – and free beer.”
He says they want people to leave
their shows “feeling like they’ve
had a fun time.”
“There’s nothing worse than a
band that just stands there looking
bored and staring at their shoes. We
like to get people involved in our
show. We’re known for inviting
people up onto our stage.”
Habel Jr. says they hope to “keep
having fun and getting paid to do
what we love to do, which is play
loud, fun music. It’s quite simple.”
To hear Betty Ford play, check
out
the
band’s
website,
http://www.thebettyfordband.com,
for a full listing of upcoming shows.
The members of Smithsgrove relax after a hearty breakfast. From left are Rob Martin, Jacob
Bergsma, Tim Popek, Abe Bergsma and Andrew Samitz.
Photo by Robbie-Lyn Fawcett
Smithsgrove into ‘face metal’
By ROBBIE-LYN FAWCETT
Staff Writer
Smithsgrove, a three-year-old
St.
Catharines-based
band
named after an insane asylum in
the movie Halloween, has
brought a new outlook on metal.
“Smithsgrove is not a band.
It’s a musical epic, much like the
Lord of the Rings with less horses and more gore,” says fan
Chris Somerfield.
“We like to call it face metal,”
says lead singer Jacob Bergsma.
“We
wanted
to
be
different than other bands, so we
created our own genre.”
Bergsma, accompanied by
bandmates Abe Bergsma, guitar,
Rob Martin, bass, Andrew
Samitz, keyboard, Mike Toovey,
Audio/visual and Tim Popek,
drums, decided to create the
band after watching a Legendary
Klopeks show.
“Not only was their music
good, but the show was
awesome. We wanted to create a
band which would be liked for
their music but remembered for
their theatrics,” says Martin.
The show, which consists of
costumes, fake blood, video, and
light effects is one that is not
easily forgotten.
“We want to create a B-movie
atmosphere,
incorporating
spooky horror movie soundtrack
sounds with angst-ridden grind,
leaving the audience just as they
would feel if they were
experiencing a horror movie
first-hand,” says Bergsma. “It’s
an experience that will have you
coming back for more.”
The band recently released an
EP
called
Welcome
to
Smithsgrove, consisting, of four
songs, and is planning to release
a full album soon.
Smithsgrove played at Red
Square in downtown St.
Catharines on Oct. 8.
For more information on
Smithsgrove,
visit
http://www.richmoneyunclebags.com.
Page 20, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Entertainment
Violent games equal inevitable controversy
By ALICIA ANN JANSEN
Staff Reporter
More violent video games are
on the way!
Of course, following shortly
behind them is the inevitable
controversy about violent games’
effects on youth.
Every time a new game comes
out, parents as well as censorship
organizations try to pull it off the
shelves, and, in some cases, they
may be right.
“I think it’s kinda wrong,” said
Recreation and Leisure Services
student Rebecca Debolster. “It
makes kids think that they can hit
or kill people.”
However, some parents “think
it’s OK, not a big deal,” continued
the 21-year-old from Vineland,
Ont., adding that children get older
siblings to buy higher-rated games
despite what parents say.
In the new Mortal Kombat:
Deception (MK), which came out
this month, there are many
controversial scenes. For example,
many of the fighting arenas have
deathtraps.
One arena, Hell’s Foundry,
allows the player to toss opponents
onto a pile of molten metal, but if
the toss is timed right, a steel press
slams on top of them, leaving only
scorch marks. Whirling blades,
pools of acid, piranhas, pitfalls and
other death traps line the arenas.
The fights have gotten bloodier,
and the fatalities are gruesome.
They have even designed “Hara
Kiri” moves, or suicide so that
your opponent cannot kill you.
The one available for viewing on
the website is a man cutting his
own head off, blood running down
his neck.
The game designers take simple
games like Tetris and Chess and
make them into gory messes,
having the MK characters fighting
back and forth, with the victor
depending on who wins the
Tetris game.
On the other side of the
spectrum,
Business
Administration – Operations
Management student Justin Cotter
doesn’t find violence in video
games a bad thing.
“It’s not a problem per se
because anyone who shouldn’t be
playing it should be monitored any
way,” the 19-year-old commented
while trying out the new MK
game, adding that “it’s just
watching a child in general.”
He also found the rating system
“null and void” because unless a
game has an R rating or is on a
warning list, nothing is done to
stop buyers.
In fact, only one game has
received an R rating, and that was
Manhunt, a game about a serial killer
forced to continue a murder spree by
a cinematographer. The game was
banned in Australia after two
parents whose son was killed by a
teen killer claimed the game was
what caused him to kill.
What about making non-violent
games? Debolster recommends
newer games be created that
children could enjoy without the
violent content because “it’s not
even the gore” but the activity
itself that is wrong.
For the other side of the story,
Cotter says, “A lot of non-violent
games are targeted for kids, like 10
years old. If you want to make a
non-violent game, at least make it
enjoyable for everyone.”
Walking down Abbey Road
By CHRIS MCNAMEE
Staff Writer
It was Oct. 1, 1969, The Beatles
released the epic Abbey Road.
Somewhere between the launch
of the Yellow Submarine and the
legendary Let It Be albums, the
Beatles released a recording that
featured some of the most
significant tracks in Beatles
history.
Tracks such as Come Together,
Here Comes the Sun, Oh! Darling
and Carry That Weight make Abbey
Road a fine example of what the
Beatles contributed to music. The
flow and structure of the record is
absolutely phenomenal and unlike
anything that came before it.
“This is one album where you can
see how underrated George
Harrison is as a guitarist,” says the
former music director for C101.5
FM, Trevor Jenson.” He, along with
the other members, come together to
Good variety, good beats
By CLAYTON DONER
Staff Writer
The Reason packs a lot of energy
into its new 40-minute, 10-song
album called Ravenna, released
on Smallman Records on Sept. 14.
The CD starts off with a quick
punch in the face from vocalist
Adam White on the first track,
Reclaiming the Throne. It
immediately gets listeners on their
feet and ready to rock out. This
band combines different styles of
singing throughout the CD, from
screaming to singing to vocal
harmonies from guitarists James
Nelan and Erik Mikalauskas.
The music on the album
revolves around the beat more than
a lot of bands are capable of, and
the riffs are catchy and
different. The guitarists are able to
play many different riffs in a
single song, making the songs less
boring and more complex. Some
songs had too much to them,
leaving me tired and impatient. I
find that there are a couple of songs
on the CD that should end before
they do because they drag on.
It’s easy to tell that members of
The Reason are influenced by
punk rock music, but I sensed that
there were also some heavy
influences as well as some
mellow,
more
emotional
influences. They also rely on the
beat for their songs, meaning they
have some dance or rhythmic
influences. With the music always
flowing with the beat, The Reason
makes the songs easy to bop your
head to. The members make the
majority of their songs really
catchy with the choruses.
The voice of White is either
easy to like or the opposite. On
some tracks, I thought he did some
amazing things with his voice
transitions, and on other tracks his
voice began to annoy me. You
have to enjoy his voice from the
start to like the band because his
vocals play a big part in the sound.
There isn’t too much screaming
throughout the tracks, but I did
find a lot of the screaming on the
disc wasn’t really needed.
I admire the drummer, Cam
Bordignnon, because he plays
well with the rest of the music and
doesn’t go too crazy. He helps the
band have a much fuller sound,
with very little missing. Many
drummers have a hard time,
putting too much or too little into
the songs. Bordignonn used his
instrument equally in every song
and didn’t go overboard at all.
The Reason is an extremely
talented band that still has tons of
time to perfect its sound. This
album is one to check out, and it’s
a great start for the band’s first
release on Smallman Records.
The singing is nice and clear, the
beats are unreal and the different
riffs are what make this band
good. The band should do well
for itself.
create a perfect up-and-down mix
with the ultimate peak for music
lovers.”
Their captivating lyrics and
catchy guitar riffs kept us all
stunned for decades on end. Love
songs come and go and are a dime a
dozen but there is something about
this particular record that breathes
life into love. It makes one realize
exactly how beautiful love can
really be.
For anyone who is a Beatles
fan, or even if you’re not, this
album is truly something magnificent and will make any
skeptic a believer in love, hope
and all the beauty that comes
with it.
Remember
Edition
... Nov. 19
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 21
By ERIN MACGILLIVARY
Staff Writer
One Niagara College graduate
couldn’t get enough of the college,
so she is back as a manager.
Sheryl Johns, 48, of Ridgeway,
has been working at the college as
the manager of student services
since January.
Johns manages and directs all of
the professional student services,
including counselling, the Centre
for Students with Disabilities, peer
services, the test centre and the
health centre at the Welland
campus and Glendale campus in
Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Johns says she “really loves”
working at the college.
“I have been a manager for over
11 years in the community so I
was ready for a change and the
educational environment is very
inspirational for me.”
Johns says her current goal is to
“tap into what students need.”
“I want to understand what
kinds of services students need the
most, and how we can improve our
services. I wouldn’t really say it’s
a challenge, more of an ongoing
concern so that our services
remain current with what students
demand and what students need to
be successful.”
To find out what students need
Johns says, “We need to be in the
college community talking to
students. Perhaps have some focus
groups, do our research. We need
to gather statistics. Developing
systems that give us that
information is critical. I think what
is challenging with our daily
operations is finding a balance
between doing the research,
moving forward with the
initiatives, tapping into the student
brain and managing day to day.”
Johns says if any students have
ideas on how she can do that she
will be “more than happy to
listen.”
Johns graduated from the
Secretarial Science program at
the Welland campus in the late
1970s and went on to work in
many offices as a legal secretary
until going to Brock University,
in St. Catharines, where she
earned an undergraduate degree
in psychology.
When she completed that, she
went on to the University of
Toronto, at the Ontario Institute
for Studies and Education, where
she earned a master’s of education
degree with a focus in applied
psychology and counselling.
When she is not working Johns
has a part-time counselling
practice
with
Baylis
and
Associates. She says she has also
been teaching yoga for close to 30
Photo by Erin MacGillivary
Grad returns to college as manager
SHERYL JOHNS
years and enjoys spending time
with family and friends.
“I am proud of the people
around me, whether it be family or
the people that I work with. I am
proud of the accomplishments that
I have made in my career, but I am
also proud of the people that I
spend time with, whether they are
clients that I work with one on
one, or staff that I work with in my
job, or people at home, my partner,
my family, my friends. I have
pride for other people. I am proud
of my ability to adapt and move
forward and keep enjoying life.”
Johns says she “loves all music”
but has “a special love for jazz.”
Some artists that she says she
enjoys are Oscar Peterson and
Vince Guaraldi.
As for movies Johns says she is
a “basic chick flick moviegoer.”
“I like movies and I like
everything Woody Allen.”
She says she doesn’t watch a lot
of TV but she does enjoy The
Apprentice.
The Apprentice brings people
together from across the nation to
compete in business endeavours to
become millionaire businessman
Donald Trump’s apprentice.
“That’s my favourite show on
television right now. I worked in
business for many years so I think
I have worked in environments
where those kinds of things
happen and I am kind of glad that
I
don’t
work
in
those
environments anymore.”
In five years, Johns says, she
sees herself “hopefully working
within
the
educational
environment ... perhaps doing
another degree of some sort and
continuing to learn. I don’t
really see myself in a place or
position, but I see myself
continuing to learn and I think
that’s the most important thing
for me.”
Drug abuse no way to cope with stress
males that come in with problems
with drugs like pain medication
and anti-depressants.
Tibbs explains that there are
different factors that lead to drug
abuse. With prescriptions, she
says, there is already an
underlying medical diagnosis.
Photo by Katie VanSlack
By KATIE VANSLACK
Staff Writer
Moving into a new environment
can be stressful. Stress for students
can often lead to drug abuse. It’s
the way students try to cope with
the pressure of getting good grades
and adapting to a new environment.
Georgina Tibbs, of Niagara
Falls, has been a counsellor at
Niagara College’s Counselling
Department in the Student
Services Division for nine years,
and a youth counsellor for 10
years prior.
She says that there aren’t many
students who come to counselling
for drug abuse.
“This wouldn’t be the first place
to come. First would be the Health
Centre (to Nurse Carolyn Gould at
the Welland campus), then a
community agency. But there are
two types of drug abuse,
prescription or recreational.”
She says that students do come
in to ask questions about prescription drugs. Most of them are
women from a wide range of ages.
“More females are open to talk
about strategies (on ways to get
help), more so than males. They
tend to hesitate to disclose.” She
says that there have been older
GEORGINA TIBBS
Medication helps with that.
“They
find
themselves
overwhelmed with a new
environment, new school or new
town, so they try to cope.”
With recreational drugs, she
explains, students get that “independent feeling” so they take
more than they would in the past.
She adds that alcohol consumption is number 1 for college students, and drugs and alcohol are
used more around midterms,
exams and tests.
According to http://www.campusblues.com, in a report called
National Institute on Drug
Abuse: Marijuana Update, the
most frequently used drug in the
United States is marijuana, as 33
per cent of the U.S. population
has tried the drug.
Some substance abuse signs to
look for Tibbs points out are when
students aren’t going to any classes. The students may be putting
their social life ahead of their
school life, but if they start by talking to someone, they have already
had that “self-identification.”
She says that when students do
have a drug problem they aren’t
just affecting themselves; they
affect those they live with, co-students, driving arrangements and
their family.
“It affects so many people in so
many ways, it’s like a rippling
effect.”
She explains how people can be
stubborn. “If they don’t want to
stop, they can rationalize it to the
end of the world.”
Tibbs says that drugs can
change people’s personality, their
goals and their appearance and can
do damage to their body.
“You don’t think what will
happen at 50 or 60 years old. What’s
going to happen down the road when
you decide to have children?”
According to http://www.factsontap.org, users of crystal
methamphetamine who have been
using for a long period of time
show similar brain damage as
patients
suffering
from
Alzheimer’s disease and stroke
victims.
She says that she has never
personally experienced drugs.
“My generation was more alcohol prevalent. I saw drugs as
something scary because you lose
control of your body. I saw alcohol
as more fun, but drugs were
scary.”
If you, or someone you, know
needs help with drug abuse or a
referral to an agency, contact the
Counselling Department in the
Secord Wing, room SE 102 at
the Welland campus and room
West 102 at the Glendale
campus.
Program’s
new name
doesn’t
change
emphasis
By THEA DUXBURY
Staff Writer
As the academic year begins,
the Educational Assistant —
Special Needs Support program
has a new group of students facing
what they term as “challenges”.
According to the curriculum, the
two-year
diploma
program,
formerly the Educational Resources
and Special Needs program, places
emphasis on workplace experience.
Students must complete three terms
of placement, up to 600 hours of
experience, in the local area to
receive their diploma. Students can
take their placements in the educational system or residential locations, while rotating in groups to
different places.
A graduate will be able to find
job opportunities in a variety of
different fields, including boards
of education, residential services,
day activity programs, life skills
programs, vocational services,
children’s treatment centres and
supported employment facilities.
Some of the first year courses
include positive behavioural
intervention,
counselling
techniques, therapy assisting,
ethnic and cultural diversity in
Canada, applied behavioural
intervention,
English,
and
technology for special needs.
Ina Muller, 43, of Cayuga, Ont.,
a mature student, has started her
first year. Muller says that she
hopes to gain knowledge that will
compliment the skills already
acquired in similar fields. She
says she was very nervous to start
school again. “The last time I was
in school was at York University
in the seventies.”
Another first-year student Lacey
Shafe, 20, of Caledonia, Ont., says
the most challenging part of her first
two weeks had been “trying to stay
organized! And, staying on top of
things.”
First-year students, both from
St. Catharines, are feeling a mix
of emotions, they say.
Amina Shekhali, 41, says she
chose the program because “it is a
pleasure to work with kids,
especially when they have special
needs.”
Tinie Visser, 42, says she was
both nervous and excited to start
the program.
“I haven’t been in school for
many years and that made me
nervous, but I am excited to take on
a new challenge.”
College vice-president working on doctorate in education
By RANDI CODISPODI
Staff Writer
Upgrading facilities is a priority
for Steve Hudson, vice-president
corporate services.
Hudson, 48, of St. Catharines,
works out of offices at the
Glendale campus in Niagara-onthe-Lake. He deals with
non-academic
issues
like
facilities, human resources,
financial services and ancillary
services. He joined the college
four years ago.
“Basically, I take care of the
business aspects of running the
college.”
Hudson says he likes how his
job offers him a variety of business aspects to oversee.
Niagara College is a “good”
institution with a “great” reputation and is “a lot of fun” to work
at, says Hudson.
“I’m just lucky to be here.”
After receiving an undergradu-
ate degree at the Royal Military
College in Kingston, Ont., Hudson
went on to pursue his studies,
earning a master’s degree in engineering at the University of
Toronto. He is working on a doctorate in education degree.
Hudson says he is satisfied with
his job, but there are a couple of
projects he would like to continue
working on.
“We’re going to continue to
work on the facilities and the long-
term upgrading of especially the
Welland campus, which is something we’ve been working on for a
couple of years, but there’s a few
more years to go.”
The work has come a long way,
Hudson says, but it is difficult for
students to see the difference
because usually a student is at the
college for only two or three years.
Besides being at work, Hudson
says he enjoys time with his family, playing and watching sports,
reading and studying.
“That takes up all my day.”
To contact Hudson, e-mail
[email protected]. You can
make an appointment with Laurie
Neal, 32, of St. Catharines, who is
his administrative assistant.
“I really enjoy working for
Steve. I’ve certainly learned a lot
and I’m sure anyone who has the
pleasure of working with him
respects his patience and intelligence,” Neal says.
Page 22, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Sports
Niagara wins touch football championship
By PAT PARKINSON
Staff Writer
The Niagara Knights touch
football team repeats.
“Back-to-back
championships were the focus from
the start,” said head coach
Randy Conlon.
The Knights travelled to
Kingston’s
St.
Lawrence
College on Oct. 15, Oct. 16 and
Oct. 17 for the Ontario College
Athletic Association (OCAA)
Touch Football Championship.
Their first two games were
played against St. Lawrence
College Schooners and St.
Lawrence College Sharks, with
the Knights winning 28-0 over
the Sharks and 38-6 over the
Schooners.
“St. Lawrence fields three
teams,” said Dan Watson, 20,
of Hagersville, a second-year
Law
and
Security
Administration Customs student. “It’s good they have that
many people try out, but the
talent level drops.
The next game the Knights
played was against Oshawa’s
Durham College Lords, with
Niagara winning 26-15.
“It was a battle against the
weather and against the Lords,”
said Anderson St.-Valle, 22, of
Toronto, a first-year Police
Foundations student. “We dug
deep to show our testicular
fortitude in that game.”
The Knights had a few hours
before meeting their next
opponent,
St.
Lawrence
College Vikings.
“I don’t want to put the other
St. Lawrence teams down, but
the Vikings are their A flight
team,” said Conlon.
It was a close game with the
It was another successful season for the Niagara College touch football team as they won gold at the Ontario Colleges Athletic
Association championship in Kingston last weekend. Head coach Randy Conlon (far right) stands with his team. They are (from left
top) Barry Hutton, assistant coach, Scott Larkin, Steve McCallum, Jonathan Marshall, Jeff Aldham, Anderson St. Valle, Graeme
Mitchell, Andrew John, Kwame Osei, Alex Hutton and Conlon. Front row (at left) Kwame Koka, Mike McClymont, Jaymee Kitchenham,
Parker Buckborough, Brandon Kelly, Patrick O’Brien, Eric Harris and Dan Watson. Missing is Larry Bone, another assistant coach.
Photo by Kevin McNaughton
team winning 16-15 over the side,” said Watson.
University of New Orleans, La. Conlon. “I’m happy for the
Vikings.
Niagara won 27-15, sending
“This time we know the returning guys. There were
“Defence
and
offence them to the gold medal game game they play down there and only four, but their actions
showed up big time in this once again.
we will prepare for it,” said showed the rest of the team
game,” said Brandon Kelly,
The championship game was Kelly.
how to act.
19, of Hagersville, a second- set with the Knights (5-0) up
Alex
Hutton,
19,
of
The coaching staff for the
year Police Foundation stu- against the Vikings (4-1).
Hamilton, a first-year Art and Knights consists of Conlon
dent. “It was close, but in the
The game was close, with the Design
Fundamentals
– with Larry Bone and Barry
end the right team won.”
Knights winning 25-22.
Graphic Design Production stu- Hutton as assistant coaches.
With their fifth game in two
“I’m very proud of these dent, was named offensive
“Our coaches have a ton of
days coming up, the Knights guys. They wanted it and they Most Valuable Player for the experience and we were lucky
played Hamilton’s Mohawk went out and fought for it,” tournament.
enough to be coached by these
College Mountaineers.
said Conlon.
“Alex is something special, guys. They knew when to have
“Mohawk seems to have it
With back-to-back champi- He knows the game inside and fun and when to pull in the
together every year, but we onships, the Knights look for- out. His leadership went a long reins. I can’t wait for New
had confidence going on our ward to travelling to the way for this team,” said Orleans,” said Watson.
Coach not disappointed in team’s performance
Tackle football team defeated by Saint John Fisher College of Rochester
By KEVIN MCNAUGHTON
Staff Writer
Niagara College’s tackle
football team was on the road
again trying to even its record
after being defeated by Saint
John Fisher College, of
Rochester, N.Y., last week.
Although Niagara was able to
gain 607 yards against the St.
Lawrence University Saints, of
Canton, N.Y., on Oct. 3, the
scoreboard read 54 to six for St.
Lawrence at the end of the
game.
On the five-hour bus ride to
the game, defensive end Chris
Herbert, of Welland, said the
team had something to prove
this game.
“If we can work together as a
team, we can win this thing,” he
said, adding, “We all love football and we all want to win
today to prove we can’t be
pushed around.”
Two minutes and 18 seconds
into the game, St. Lawrence was
able to push the ball into the end
zone and remained in the lead
for the rest of the game.
Gino Arcaro, Niagara’s coach,
said he is not disappointed with
the way his team played.
“There is nothing disappointing about starting an endeavour
like this,” he said. “Several
players have had stellar
improvements, and the team is
learning quickly.”
Arcaro said, in this league, his
team strategy “far exceeds”
what most of his players have
seen in the past.
After
the
game,
St.
Lawrence’s quarterback, Sean
McElduff, 18, of Canton, said
Niagara’s offence and defence
were strong.
“Their blitzes were good.
They came at me fast,” he said.
“The offence’s system and ability to make changes are strong.”
Niagara’s Howard shared a
touchdown after recovering a
fumbled ball in the Saints’ end
zone.
Bryce Denisko, Niagara’s
tight end, ran for 177 total yards
after receiving 11 passes.
Quarterback Tim Burke was
able to pass for 338 yards with
43 per cent of his throws completed.
Arcaro said Burke is “going to
become one of the top university recruits in Canada.”
“At this level, no one has done
what he has done without being
a university quarterback.”
Burke played with extra
pressure because the Saints
knew Burke would be throwing
the ball, said Arcaro.
“We don’t hide or conceal
what we do. We just line up and
play,” he said.
McElduff said he was glad
Niagara set up a game against
St. Lawrence.
“I think it’s good for the sport.
Hopefully, we can play them
again.”
The Saint’s coach, A.J
Bodden, 23, of Canton, said the
team is doing a good job and he
hopes Niagara shows support
for what the team is doing.
“It should be known that these
guys are working hard,” he said.
Niagara College’s men’s volleyball team and the women’s volleyball team begin their home schedules
on Saturday, Oct. 30. The women play Nipissing University of North Bay in the Mackenzie gym at 4 p.m.
The men play Nipissing University at 6 p.m.
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 23
Sports
Hockey stays alive in young Welland star
By ASHLEY CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Years after lacing up his first
pair of skates and setting foot on
the ice, he’s been living by the
same motto: “Stay simple. Have
fun.”
For 20-year-old Daniel Paille, of
Welland, this piece of advice has
served him well throughout his
extensive hockey career.
After years of playing hockey
for the city of Welland, Paille was
picked sixth in the Ontario Hockey
League draft and joined the
Guelph Storm.
“I can’t argue with anything I’ve
done. I’ve played in two Memorial
Cups and I’ve played in two World
Juniors and I was really happy
playing in Guelph.”
In 2002, Paille was chosen 20th
overall in the National Hockey
League (NHL) draft by the Buffalo
Sabres.
In 2003 he was representing
Canada in the World Juniors held
in Halifax, N.S. Canada was
defeated by the United States in
the gold medal game.
“My role was to play physical.
That’s all I wanted to do. I was
playing defensive and I was
playing physical. I was happy with
that.”
After playing his first year at the
World Juniors, Paille says he
gained a lot. “It just showed me
what I could do. There’s a lot of
good players and it just showed
me to be smarter with and without
the puck.”
By 2004 Paille had gained
international recognition as the
captain of Team Canada at the
World Juniors held in Helsinki,
Finland. Paille says he felt joy
being able to represent Canada.
“It’s a huge responsibility, but
there’s a lot of excitement to go
with that. I didn’t know what to
feel and I didn’t know what to
expect, but it made my job easier.
We were winning and it was fun.
For me to score was a bonus. I did
my job again and I was happy with
that.” It was another disappointing
loss for Canada as they were again
defeated in the gold medal game
against Russia.
On May 31, Paille signed a
three-year contract with the
Buffalo Sabres and was assigned
to the American Hockey League’s
Rochester Americans, Buffalo’s
farm team.
Paille says he’s happy to be so
close to home. “It’s a good luck
thing. It’s really close for my
family. It’s very important to have
Slow start for Niagara
women’s volleyball
By STEVE SIMON
Staff Writer
It was a great start, but not the
finish that the Niagara College
Knights women’s volleyball team
was looking for on Oct. 14.
The Knights hosted an
exhibition home opener against
North York’s Seneca Sting.
Seneca came back and won 3-1.
The Knights jumped to an early
lead 7-3 in the first game. Seneca
came back to tie the score at 9-9
and kept a close game. The
Knights pulled away, taking the
first game 25-18.
In the second game, the
Knights were non-existent as
Seneca defeated them 25-8.
The third game saw Niagara
and Seneca exchanging the lead
constantly, as neither seemed to
want a big lead. The game saw
some rallies, as neither team
wanted to give up the point.
Seneca won the third game
32-30.
In the fourth game, Seneca
started strong, taking the 14-5
lead. Niagara came back to make
the score 16-9, though Seneca
held off any Niagara’s comeback
and won the fourth game 25-19.
“We came out very strong at
first,” says Andrea Deschambeault,
Niagara’s women’s volleyball
coach.
Deschambeault says she wants
to improve on a few things such
as passing and “100 per cent is
our goal.”
Niagara opens its women’s
volleyball
season
against
Nipissing
University
from
Sudbury on Oct. 31, in the
Mackenzie gym at 4 p.m.
them close by.”
Paille says his parents played
“an important role” in his hockey
career and always made sure that
he was playing well and still
having fun. “I like to hear their
opinion on how I play. It’s good to
have a buddy on the team to tell
you, but it’s always great to have
my parents telling me something.
They were always honest with the
way I played and they always
showed support.”
With the recent announcement
of the NHL lockout, Paille says he
hopes there’s a settlement soon,
but “luckily it doesn’t impact me
too much because I’m playing
with the American Hockey League
and a lot of guys (from the NHL)
are getting sent down, so it’s going
to make the league faster than
usual. I’m looking forward to that.
I don’t care what solution they
come up with. I just want to play
hockey.”
Paille says he hopes to be able to
play in the NHL soon. “I want to
play this year if there’s a season. It
comes down to me and how I play,
but I also know that there’s some
luck to it.”
As for NHL expectations, Paille
says he hopes to have a long-lasting career.
Daniel Paille, 20, stands by his 2004 World Junior captain jersey
and silver medal. Paille holds a picture of himself taken after he
scored his first goal at the 2004 World Juniors in Helsinki, Finland.
Photo by Ashley Campbell
Skaters will get ‘sweet park’ in Falls
By CLAYTON DONER
Staff Writer
The 13,000-square-foot Niagara
Falls skatepark is expected by the
city to be completed sometime in
November.
Boarders from all around the
Niagara region have been
waiting for this skatepark to be
built for a while. It was
slated to be ready this past
summer.
The park will cost about
$400,000 when it’s completed.
The Mayor’s Youth Advisory
Committee organized two Battle
of the Bands, in 2003 and 2004, to
raise money for the project. They
succeeded in raising more than
$10,000 for the park. The Niagara
Falls Council will be providing the
rest of the money to complete the
park.
Chris Accursi, 18, of Welland, a
skater, says, “It’s about time we
got a sweet park in the area.
Niagara Falls is the best spot to
have one. The skateboarding scene
will get bigger and it’ll breed
better skaters.”
Mark Van Der Zalm &
Associates Inc., of British
Columbia, partnered with New
Line Skate Parks on the design.
The park is being built by
Centennial
Construction,
a
Niagara-on-the-Lake company.
Lori Albanese, of Niagara Falls,
is the community development coordinator for the city’s parks,
recreation and culture office and
has all the information on the
skatepark.
The park isn’t limited to
skateboarders. “It will also be for
in-line skaters and freestyle bike
riders,” says Albanese.
“Rule signs will be posted to
High hopes for memorable fall classic
By STEVE SIMON
Staff Writer
Column
The World Series brings out
some of the greatest moments
in sports history.
What will we see this year, to
top last year’s moments?
Last year, we were 10 outs
away from seeing the ultimate
Armageddon
in
baseball
history. The Chicago Cubs and
Boston Red Sox could have
been in the World Series final.
Neither of these teams has won
the title since before the First
World War.
This year’s World Series has
the top teams in the league and
no surprising teams making the
playoffs.
The American League (AL)
shows the top teams in the past
few
years
of
baseball,
including the 2002 World
Series Champions, the Anaheim
Angels,
the
young
and
energetic Minnesota Twins, the
powerful New York Yankees
and the cursed Boston Red Sox.
The National League (NL)
has teams that haven’t seen the
postseason in a while. The St.
Louis Cardinals have the best
record this year. The Atlanta
Braves are resurging to power.
The Los Angles Dodgers and
their Canadian All-Star, Eric
Gange, and the Houston Astros,
who have the “Rocket” Roger
Clemens, the greatest pitcher in
baseball, have the potential to
make history.
This is possibly the best
World Series playoff in a long
time.
As a diehard Red Sox fan, I
like to think this is the year that
Boston would win the World
Series, but it’ll have to wait. I
don’t even think Boston can
win the AL.
This year, the St. Louis
Cardinals will win the World
Series with ease.
This team has the best hitting
and the best quality pitching in
the league. There is no other
team with as much depth and
consistency. Not even the New
York Yankees can compete,
even with all the talent they
have, against the Cardinals.
One thing is for sure: this
season will be memorable.
Maybe a miracle will happen.
Maybe my beloved Red Sox
can win the World Series.
ensure safety of the skatepark
users.
Graffiti
will
be
prohibited, and helmets, knee
pads and elbow pads are expected
to be used,” says Albanese.
Dan Alcide, 18, of Niagara
Falls, says, “I’ve been waiting for
a good park to be built for a long
time now. I wish it would’ve been
built earlier because I don’t skate
as much anymore.”
The park is on Montrose Road
near McLeod Road beside the
construction of the new Niagara
Falls Community Centre.
For more information, visit the
Mayor’s
Youth
Advisory
Committee
website
at
http://www.nfmyac.com or the van
der Zalm & Associates Inc. site at
http://www.vdz.ca.
F un Sports
Fact:
It takes 3,000 cows
to supply the NFL
with enough leather
for a year’s supply
of footballs.
Page 24, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Sports
Golf team places third in national tourney
Despite the weather, it was a
successful national tournament
for the Niagara College golf
team.
The five-member Niagara team
ended third in the Canadian
College Athletic Association
(CCAA) tournament as the host
team of the CCAA championship
on Oct. 16.
Tournament organizers congratulated Niagara College for
hosting last week’s successful
CCAA Golf Championship at the
Links of Niagara at Willodell in
Niagara Falls.
The fourth annual Ping CCAA
golf championship attracted more
than 100 golfers from 13 colleges
from across the country when the
event started on Oct. 13. Play was
suspended and eventually cancelled on Oct. 16 because of
heavy rain and high winds.
The Niagara men’s golf team
won a bronze medal, ending third
behind gold medal winner
Humber College, of Etobicoke,
and Oshawa’s Durham College.
Humber had a low score 576,
while Durham had a low score of
587 and Niagara had a low score
of 598. Niagara ended tied with
Champlain College from Quebec.
During closing ceremonies on
Oct. 16, tournament convener
Mike Duggan congratulated the
Niagara College athletic department and athletic director Ray
Sarkis for a “successful championship tournament.”
Duggan said, “Mother Nature
wreaked havoc on the final day of
competition. The round started in
a steady rain, and the weather
gradually got worse.”
Anne-Josee
Beland,
of
Champlain College, won the
women’s individual gold medal,
while Eva Kovacs, of Humber
College, won the silver medal.
Christine Arsenault, of Champlain,
won the bronze.
Mike Zizek, of Humber College,
won the men’s individual gold
medal, while Lee French, of
Humber, and Nick Rose, of
Malaspina College, won the silver
medal. D.J. Robertson, of
Algonquin College, won the
bronze.
Wendell Toughey led the
Niagara College Knights with a
low score of 149, while Trevor
Hessel had 150, Michael Clare
shot a 151 and Drew Collins shot a
low score of 152. Kyle Makey shot
a low score of 156.
Niagara did not field a women’s
team in the event.
Wayne Triano is coach of the
Niagara team.
On Oct. 13, Niagara Falls
Mayor Ted Salci and Niagara
College President Dan Patterson
welcomed the teams and hit a ceremonial tee shot.
The Fair Play Award went to
Kate Hill, of Durham College, and
Jeff Cartwright, of London’s
Fanshawe College.
Charitygolf tournament for cancer
By STEVE SIMON
Staff Writer
The fourth annual Joe Conlon
Memorial golf tournament was
hosted on Oct. 9 at Beechwood
Golf and Country Club in Niagara
Falls. The tournament raised
$2,000 to assist cancer care in the
Niagara region.
Randy Conlon, co-ordinator of
the student recruitment enrolment
and registration services at
Niagara College, organized the
tournament after his father, Joe,
died from cancer. The tournament
is held every Thanksgiving
weekend.
“This is something that he
would like,” Conlon says.
Conlon says it’s to celebrate his
father’s life and keep his father’s
memory alive.
The tournament is to raise
money for the oncology department at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in
St. Catharines.
Conlon says this year’s tournament proceeds of $2,000 will be
added to the estimated $6,000 in
the four years the tournament has
existed. He adds that every hole
has sponsorships and everything is
donated to the Hotel Dieu.
Conlon says the tournament
hosted 68 golfers for the tournament, the most it has had to date.
The tournament features groups of
four players in 17 teams and is
played under scramble rules. Each
player takes a shot and then
decides which ball has the best lie
for the next shot.
This year, tournament winners
shot -11 (61) to win the Joe
Conlon Memorial.
Some More Fun Sports Facts:
The longest hole in one on a straight shot was hit by Robert
Miteria on Oct. 7, 1965, at the Miracle Hills Golf Club in Omaha,
Nebraska. Miteria used a driver on the 10th hole from 444 yards.
Miteria couldn’t see the flag from where he teed off. He realized
he aced the hole when he arrived at the green and the golfer
ahead of him told him the ball was in the hole.
GOLDEN HORSESHOE JUNIOR B HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Niagara College golf team placed third at the Canadian
College Athletic Assocation National Championship last weekend.
Coach Wayne Triano (at left) stands with Drew Collins, Kyle
Makey, Mike Clare, Wendell Touchey and Trevor Hessel.
Photo by Kevin McNaughton
Knights place fourth
at golf tournament
The Niagara College Knights
golf team ended fourth at the
Ontario
Colleges
Golf
Association provincial championships at the Dundee Country
Club in Kitchener on Oct. 5 and
Oct. 6.
Sixteen colleges from across
the province competed in the
tournament.
Oshawa’s Durham College
ended first, while Etobicoke’s
Humber College ended second
and Barrie’s Georgian College
ended third.
Niagara trailed after the first
day of competition in sixth place,
OCCA Men’s Volleyball
Teams:
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
Teams:
W
L
Pts
Thorold
Niagara Falls
Port Colborne
St. Catharines
Stoney Creek
Welland
Fort Erie
11
11
11
9
12
10
10
8
6
4
4
3
3
2
2
4
3
3
5
5
7
1
1
3
2
4
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
17
13
12
10
10
8
5
Mohawk
Niagara
George Brown
St. Clair
Canadore
Fanshawe
Redeemer
Nipissing
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Teams are awarded one point for an overtime loss. Overtime losses are not
counted in the loss column. (As of Oct. 18)
Friday, Oct. 22, Games
Fort Erie @ Welland, 7:30 p.m.
Port Colborne @ St. Catharines, 7:30 p.m.
Stoney Creek @ Niagara Falls, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 23, Games
Niagara Falls @ Port Colborne, 7:30 p.m.
Welland @ Fort Erie, 7:45 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 24, Games
Port Colborne @ St. Catharines, 7:30 p.m.
Thorold @ Welland, 7:15 p.m.
OCCA Woman’s Volleyball
Teams:
Niagara
Nipissing
Lambton
St. Clair
Candore
Fanshawe
Redeemer
Sault
W
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
L
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Pts
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
0
OCCA Men’s Basketball
Intramural Ball
Hockey League
Teams
Army of Darkness
The Pylons
Sandstorm
Show Time
On Agains
Canadians
Ked Crew
Mullins Miracle
Code 4
The Foundation
Fuming Eagles
Pub Punishers
Niagara Shooters
Peter North Stars
but rallied on the second day of
the tournament to end fourth, just
shy of a bronze metal.
Durham College’s Tyler
Martin won the individual title in
a playoff with a two-round total
of 150.
Niagara
College’s
Kyle
Markey and Wendell Touchey
were tied for 15th place in the
tournament. Others members of
the Niagara team included
Michael Clare, Trevor Hessel,
Drew Collins and Andrew
Walpole.
Wayne Triano is coach of the
Niagara team.
Points
6
6
6
6
5
4
4
4
3
2
1
1
0
0
As of Oct. 20, 2004
Stats compiled by Steve Simon.
Teams:
W
L
Pct.
Niagara
Sault
Algoma
Redeemer
St. Clair
Lambton
Fanshawe
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
OCCA Women’s Basketball
Teams:
W
L
Pct.
Niagara
Algoma
Mohawk
Redeemer
St. Clair
Fanshawe
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 25
news@niagara
2004-2005
PUBLICATION DATES
OCT. 22, 2004
PREPARING FOR HALLOWEEN
NOV. 5, 2004
SPOTLIGHTING
STUDENT APPRECIATION DAYS
& REMEMBERANCE DAY
NOV. 19, 2004
DEC. 3, 2004
CHRISTMAS GREETING EDITION
& WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR
JAN. 21, 2005
JAN. 28, 2005
FEB. 4, 2005
FEB. 11, 2005
VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL
FEB. 18, 2005
MAR. 18, 2005
THE MARCH BREAK SPECIAL
MAR. 24, 2005
APR. 8, 2005
APR. 22, 2005
GRADUATION (GRAD) SPECIAL
news@niagara
WEB ADVERTISING: [email protected]
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LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
On-Campus Job Postings
NIAGARA COLLEGE OF APPLIED
ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Classroom Cleanliness Study
(7103824)
PART-TIME POSITION AVAILABLE
DEPARTMENT: CONTINUING EDUCATION - GLENDALE CAMPUS
Classroom Cleanliness Study
The Continuing Education Department
at Niagara College is searching for a
suitable candidate (eligible for *Jobs
Niagara Funding Program) to conduct a
study about classroom cleanliness at the
Glendale Campus. This study will take
place over a two-week period. Expected
hours of work will be between 4:30
p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through
Thursday. Hours of work for this
project will not exceed 12 hrs per week.
NIAGARA COLLEGE OF APPLIED
ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Classroom Cleanliness Study
(7103834)
PART-TIME POSITION AVAILABLE
DEPARTMENT: CONTINUING EDUCATION - WELLAND CAMPUS
Classroom Cleanliness Study
The Continuing Education Department
at Niagara College is searching for a
suitable candidate (eligible for *Jobs
Niagara Funding Program) to conduct a
study about classroom cleanliness at the
Welland Campus. This study will take
place over a two-week period. Expected
hours of work would be between 4:30
p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through
Thursday. Hours of work for this project
will not exceed 12 hrs per week.
Get more sports coverage from our
PDF file on the web.
Visit
www.technology.niagarac.on.ca/
pdfs/index.htm
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and 2 tickets to a movie
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Complete the news@niagara crossword and return it
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Welland Campus or to the SAC office
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at the Glendale Campus.
*Submissions due Oct. 29/04
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staff qualify.
qualify.
GOOD LUCK!
EH, BUDDA BOOM BUDDA BING
Page 26, news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004
Volunteering, answer to employment woes
Stout is expected to make sure
there are enough adults to run the
programs for the girls, to provide
information to the community
and to hold meetings once a
month. She makes sure volunteers have had police and reference checks and acts as a public
relations person for her district.
“You can be trained in anything,” Stout says, of the organization. From arts and crafts, to
canoeing and camping, to leadership, Stout says, you can obtain
these skills at a minimal cost.
“My specialty is arts and
crafts, and I love to teach the
kids because there is not enough
of that in school,” says Stout,
although she says that the range
of activity goes beyond the artistic aspect. “It’s also hiking,
swimming, horseback riding,
etc.”
If working directly with the
girls isn’t an attractive option for
you, according to the Girl
Guides’ website, many other
options are available.
Photo by Nadine Horton
By NADINE HORTON
Staff Writer
With so many employers looking for experience, yet not willing to give any, volunteering
seems to be the answer for college students. The Girl Guides of
Canada can help.
The skills and experience
obtained from volunteering for
this organization are incomparable. The organization has positions ranging from working
directly with the young girls to
working in the offices, so there is
something for just about anyone
who would like to be involved.
Ann Stout, 40, of Welland, is
the new district commissioner
for the Welland Girl Guides.
Stout became involved with this
organization when she registered
her daughter for Girl Guides
seven years ago and has been
attached ever since.
As district commissioner,
ANN STOUT
You can work in the public
relations and fundraising depart-
ment. In this area, you would be
planning special events and helping to “make Guiding more visible in your community by working with a membership committee.”
Administration volunteers are
used to take minutes at meetings,
to act as council treasurers and to
develop and edit newsletters.
The website also states that
other opportunities can include
“using your skills in financial
and risk management on a committee or task force, co-ordinate
volunteer activities or help train
new volunteers and (run) cookie
campaigns.”
With all of these different
ways of gaining experience by
volunteering for the Girl Guides
of Canada, you can’t lose. Not
only will you develop the skills
and experience needed to build
your resumé, but also, the website states, many members say
“volunteering with Girl Guides is
one of their most personally
rewarding experiences. Guiding
represents an unbelievable
opportunity to make a difference
in the lives of girls and young
women.”
“The sisterhood I have with
these girls is amazing,” says
Stout, of her experiences
Guiding. “We have a lot of fun.”
Stout says that the organization is always looking for volunteers.
If you are interested in becoming involved with the Girl
Guides of Canada, you can visit
the
website
at
http://www.guidesontario.org.
“You can take as much or as
little as you want,” says Stout,
about Guiding. While her experiences have taught her a lot, she
says “it’s the girls coming back
every year that makes it worth
doing.”
$5,000 plus $5,000 equals $20,000 in bursaries
By STACY CALDER
Staff Writer
In September, the Niagara
College Foundation’s board of
directors approved a maximum of
$100,000 as a third match for the
Ontario Student Opportunity Trust
Fund II (OSOTF).
The foundation has numerous
annual initiatives that assist in
raising money for bursaries and
scholarships, such as the Seafood
Gala, the Women’s Golf Classic
Tournament, and bingo sponsorship. These are accumulated funds
throughout the years that have
resulted in the board’s approval of
$100,000 to be matched towards
the OSOTF.
The OSOTF initiative is to have
the government match contributions generated through the
Niagara College Foundation on a
dollar-for-dollar basis, but since
the government is only supporting
this initiative until the end of
March 2005, the foundation will
match contributions to encourage
donations from the community.
This is the second time the college has participated in the
OSOTF program. The first time, in
1990, allowed the foundation to
create its endowment fund.
“It would have been nice to be
able to grow it and maximize the
opportunity ... but we will make
the best of it,” says Sylvia
Kadlick, executive director of the
Niagara College Foundation.
“For some donors, $5,000 may
be a lot to do before 2005,” says
Kadlick, explaining why the board
of directors decided to initiate the
third match.
For example, if a donation of
$5,000 is received, she says the
foundation will match it and submit a total of $10,000 to the government. The result will be a
$20,000 bursary.
“Ultimately, all we want to do is
increase our endowment funds.”
The OSTOF II is not unique to
Niagara College. It is a
provincewide college and university
initiative that was created to encourage growth of endowment funds.
“It has the best of intentions to
help increase endowment funds,
especially at the college level,”
says Kadlick.
She says it has been a “challenge” for colleges. When the
OSTOF began, most colleges were
in the midst of capital campaigns
to raise money for new buildings.
“It was a difficult thing to switch
gears and say OK, now we are
going to fund specifically for bursaries because they (most colleges) were approaching the same
donors for both.”
She says, “It has been a little
harder for colleges to take advantage of this program, but Niagara
College is in an advantageous situation because our capital campaign was geared mostly to the
tourism and hospitality industry,
so we have other donors to
approach.”
Most colleges and universities
that have participated in the program set a minimum amount for
bursaries.
Kadlick says, “Being at the
February deadline approaching
fast for college applications
By THERESA STACH
Staff Writer
The deadline approaches fast
when you’re waiting to be
accepted.
The deadline for all college
applications is Feb. 1. Niagara
College administration staff
must begin the qualification
process, which means that they
look at every application individually to see if you are qualified for your program choices.
Al Vaughan, registrar at
Niagara College, says with more
than 90 per cent of students
applying online and the other 10
per cent through mail, it is
important that your application
be sent in time so the administration staff can deal with the
thousands of applications and
letters that must be reviewed or
sent out quickly and efficiently.
A letter of confirmation is
mailed to your home. This letter
is to be returned to the college
by May 15. If the college
receives no returned confirmation letter, it is assumed that you
are no longer interested in
attending Niagara College
because you chose another
school or decided you were not
quite ready to attend college.
Some programs require testing or portfolio evaluations. If
you achieve a certain mark on
the required work, you are
either automatically accepted
into the program or placed on a
waiting list.
Vaughan explains that each
program at Niagara College has
a different “cut-off” mark. The
number of applicants that year,
the number of available staff
and the number of available
seats in your program determine
every program’s “cut-off.”
If you are placed on a waiting
list, your score places you, not
your name or age. As seats
become available, the student
with the highest score is accepted and sent a letter.
From there, the application
process can begin and the
tuition payments can be worked
out.
Students should realize that
the application process isn’t a
hard one but, rather, a lengthy
and important one.
Vaughan emphasizes it is
“very important” to pay attention to deadlines because applications that come late are
always last to be considered.
$5,000 level will allow the foundation to create a sizable enough
bursary,” adding that when a bursary, scholarship or any kind of
fund is endowed, only a five percent annual interest rate is given
out.
“If the award (bursary) isn’t set
at a certain minimum amount,
then the actual payouts are not
really significant enough to make
a difference.”
She says that if a bursary donation of less than $5,000 were
received, it would be pooled into
another bursary so that the payout
would be large enough to assist a
student.
Kadlick says each year a maximum amount from the government is set for how much money
will be matched.
Last year, the maximum amount
was $89,000. This year it has been
set at $300,000.
“We are well on the way of getting there already,” says Kadlik,
adding she doesn’t think it will be
an issue to reach $300,000 by the
end of March, since they have
already reached $260,000. “In
fact, we might even go over.”
“In reality, this is all for students that are in financial need.
We want to make it the best
opportunity possible for them.”
Howell Family
PUMPKIN FARM
Thurs-Fri-Sat • Oct 21-22-23 & Oct 28-29-30
6pm to 10pm • FREE PARKING!
The nights are filled with heart-pounding excitement in our:
q Haunted Cornfield Maze – 3 acres of dark and spooky fun!
q Guided Haunted Forest Walk - With Halloween frights & sounds!
q Haunted Spook Barn - Think it’s scary in the day? Try it at night!
Admission is by individual tickets or our new multi-attraction Passport,
a great value at only $15! Tickets and Passports are available at our
Farm. Haunted Nights is not recommended for children under 8. See
our web site for our regular hours and attractions. Weather permitting.
3 km West of Hwy 406 • 2878 Holland Rd, Fonthill, Ont • 905-892-3918
For hours and more information go to
www.aHowlingGoodTime.com
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 27
Student in real world of journalism
By BREE ELLIS
Staff Writer
Valerie Johnson, 24, from
Smithville, is a Journalism-Print
program student who only makes
it to half of her classes.
No, Johnson doesn’t skip her
classes. Over the summer break,
Johnson got a part-time job as a
reporter at Niagara this Week.
She has been working there for
nine weeks.
Johnson says she got the job
when she saw an advertisement
for a reporter’s post in Niagara
this Week on a Friday. By the next
Wednesday she had her first
reporting assignment.
She says that her first week was
“very nerve wracking.” Johnson
says she has a phobia about
phoning strangers.
“Calling people out of the blue
was really hard for me.”
Johnson is a general reporter
with the paper. She says that
means she covers whatever she is
told to cover.
“I am expected to come up with
my own story ideas, but more
often than not my stories are
passed along from my editor.”
Katherine Nadeau, Johnson’s
associate editor, of Welland, says
she thinks Johnson has all the
qualities of a good reporter.
Nadeau is a graduate of Niagara
College’s Journalism-Print program.
“She hasn’t turned down an
assignment or expressed concerns
about walking into situations in
which she has no past experience.”
“Valerie’s a very dedicated and
hard-working student who wanted
to start her actual career as soon as
possible,” says Gary Erb, 52, of
St. Catharines, a Journalism-Print
faculty teacher.
Erb says this will be “a great
experience” for Johnson.
“Working
at
a
weekly
newspaper gives her a valuable
experience and a real flavour of
what it’s like to be in the real
world.”
Niagara this Week, the Niagara
West Edition, is a community
newspaper in Grimsby. Metroland
Newspapers owns it and The
Grimsby Lincoln News.
Johnson and the newspaper
team produce both each week. The
Grimsby Lincoln News comes out
on Wednesdays, while Niagara
this Week comes out on Fridays.
Johnson says the job is “insane,
but fun” and that she’s learning a
lot about the communities and
people around Grimsby.
“You always think of small
towns as being boring with
nothing going on. These towns
never stop. They are vibrant and
diverse. They are thriving little
communities.”
Johnson says the biggest change
for her from her old jobs is the
newfound freedom and sense of
independence.
“While I do have to report back
to my editor, I’m pretty well left
on my own to cover things as I see
fit.”
Johnson says it’s really hard to
say how well she’ll balance school
and work so far since she hasn’t
been doing it for long.
Nadeau says that while Johnson
juggles school and work she “has
still managed to meet her
deadlines without exception.”
Valerie Johnson, general reporter for Niagara this Week, proudly
displays one of the recent editions of the paper.
Photo by Bree Ellis
Johnson says school provides a “very busy” when she took on the
nice break from her hectic work job.
schedule, but she is worried about
“I felt like, and still do most
staying caught up in school.
days, I didn’t have any time to
“The biggest problem I have is I breathe, yet you don’t think about
kind of feel out of the loop with it while you’re doing it. It’s only
what is going on at school.”
after you stop and relax that things
Johnson says her life became really hit you.”
By ALLISON SMITH
Staff Writer
Brian Beeson, of Stevensville,
Ont., is a self-described “joker” who
says he loves his job as a
primary care paramedic.
The 31-year-old says his
greatest achievement in life is graduating from the Primary Care
Paramedic program at Niagara
College’s Welland campus. Hoping
to further his graduate studies, he is
taking the Advanced Care
Paramedic
program,
a
12-month certificate program.
“It (the primary care program)
gave me a direction in life and a
solid foundation to be in the field
I’m in today,” said Beeson, in an
e-mail interview.
He says the best compliment he
has received was from a patient he
had defibrillated and resuscitated
and who made a full recovery in
hospital. It was “You gave me a second chance at life! Thank you so
much!”
Beeson says the things he likes
about himself are “that I’m
assertive, good-humoured, I like to
(have) fun and play, but when my
job has to be done, I’m focused on
the task at hand.”
His biggest regret is that he
didn’t go to college and start his
career sooner, he says.
“I was into the single life and
party scene for too long. It gets
lonely and tiresome. In hindsight, I
guess it makes me appreciate what I
have that much more.”
Beeson has been married for 12
years to his wife, Cara, 26. They
have a son, Sheydon, who turned
seven months old Oct. 20.
“My wife and child (inspire me).
I want the best for them and in turn
I am always trying to better myself.”
“The best day (of my life) was
when my son was born ... he’s what
I live and breathe.”
Beeson’s parents divorced when
he was 12. He, his sister Tammi and
his two brothers, Corey and Tyler,
lived with his mother, “who was as
lenient as they come.” His father
“was
still
an
everyday
presence in our lives and was just a
little more firm.” Beeson “got along
very well” with his brothers and sister.
His parents were his childhood
role models because they “showed a
lot of love and kindness to us
without expecting anything in
return. They showed respect for
each other, even though they were
divorced.” He says his parents are
“even more” his role models now.
“Having my own child now and
knowing how hard it is to raise a
family makes me appreciate the
struggles my parents must have
went through. They raised a
family on a modest pay, gave us
knowledge, morals, ethics and stood
behind us in good and bad ... that’s a
hero to me.”
Beeson
says
family
is
“everything to the person who feels
they have nothing.”
His childhood was spent in Elliot
Lake, Ont. He lived there until he
was 22, when he moved to a “small
town” called Red Lake, Ont., to
work.
When he was growing up he
wanted to play in the National
Hockey League “because that was
the atmosphere I was raised in. I
played hockey, my friends all
played, my dad played.”
His hobbies now include
motorcycle riding, for relaxation,
Beeson says.
His greatest pet peeve is
“people who don’t drive the speed
limit or drive slow in the fast lanes
of traffic.”
The 1980s was the best decade
for music, he says, “because there
was more of a catchy rhythm, and
the lyrics didn’t have so much to do
with killing and suicide.”
Beeson says the most generous
thing anyone has done for him was
when a friend took him to the
Dominican Republic with her
before he got married. “I didn’t pay
a dime, and we had one hell of a
time!”
The best advice anyone has ever
given him was this: “If it seems too
good to be true, it probably is.”
Beeson says the worst day of his
life happened when he was 14 years
old.
“A couple of my friends and me
were camping. When we left we
thought we had extinguished the
campfire enough. One hour later
there was a massive forest fire that
burned hundreds of acres as a result
of our improperly extinguished
campfire. We had to go to the
police
station
and
turn
ourselves in and explain. (There
were) zero repercussions.”
Beeson says he tries to be a cheerful person and a joker who sometimes pushes the envelope. “I’m
known as a joker, but when the
chips are down and you just need a
shoulder to lean on, I’ll be there to
help you through it. I hate seeing
people sad ... I think people see me
Photo by Allison Smith
Self-described ‘joker’ loves being paramedic
BRIAN BESSON
as the comic relief guy, the getthings-started guy. I’m sure there
are many people who think I’ve
gone too far.”
Of the obstacles he has
overcome and the ones he still has
left, Beeson says, “I was heading
down a dead-end road in a life of
partying and little self-respect. I feel
I have left all of that behind me and
I feel that any obstacles ahead of me
are merely speed bumps that I’ll just
roll over.”
College teacher volunteers for fundraising with United Way
By PAM HALLMAN
Staff Writer
Betty Ann Chandler, professor
of
International
Education
English as a Second Language
program (ESL), says being able
to teach people something that
you love is “unbelievable.” She
couldn’t ask for anything better.
Chandler, 55, of Niagara-onthe-Lake, has taught at Niagara
College for 20 years.
Thirteen years were dedicated
to the Nursing program, before
Niagara College terminated the
program; the seven remaining
years were with the ESL program.
Chandler attended the Mack
School of Nursing in 1970 in St.
Catharines, Niagara University in
1990 in Niagara Falls, N.Y., then
Humber College in 1997 in
Etobicoke. Chandler is a
registered nurse, has her bachelor
of science in nursing and is a
registered English teacher.
“I have been fortunate all my
life with my careers. I absolutely
love what I do,” says Chandler.
Teaching English as a second
language requires the teacher to
have patience with their students.
Chandler says she loves helping
people, whether it’s nursing or
helping
people
understand
English.
Chandler says she likes to
volunteer her time to different
charities and canvass around the
Niagara region asking for
donations for that charity.
United Way (UW) is one of the
many
charities
Chandler
assists. Being the college co-chair
for three years now, Chandler is
raising money throughout the
college for the UW. Students are
not asked to donate money, just
the staff, says Chandler.
“I just want to convince people
that
donating
money
is
worthwhile,” says Chandler.
Chandler can be reached in her
office at the Welland campus,
Simcoe 102 or by e-mail
[email protected]
to
make donations to the UW.
HARD TIMES PASS
ABORTION IS FOREVER
www.ChooseLife.ca
Your complete resource Centre on abortion and euthanasia
St. Catharines Right to Life, 3 King St., suite 2, St. Catharines
905-684-7505
[email protected].
news@niagara, Oct. 22, 2004, Page 28
Sports
Canadians lose heartbreaker in overtime
Late penalty, botched play costs
Canadians as they lose 5-4,
drops Welland to second last place
By RAY SPITERI
Staff Writer
A goal at 2:04 of overtime by St.
Catharines Falcons forward Mike
Chmielewski ruined what was the
best performance by the Welland
Jr. Canadians all season.
The 18-year-old opportunist
took advantage of a botched play
by a Canadians defenseman and
put his club closer to the top of the
Golden
Horseshoe
League
standings with a 5-4 victory on
Oct. 17.
Early in the first period, the
Canadians looked determined.
They came out playing the body,
taking the man and pinning the
opposition deep into their own
end.
It was the Falcons who broke
the goose egg early in this Junior B
hockey game, with a perfectly
timed wrist shot.
Andrew Potter, the 5’10” winger
of St. Catharines, wired the puck
off the cross bar and in, after being
abandoned in front of the net.
Welland equalized nearly two
minutes later when Jacob Kisac
scored his first goal of the season
after the Canadians wouldn’t
allow the Falcons to clear their
zone.
After hard work along the
boards, Kisac deflected a shot
from the point, showing good hand
and eye co-ordination, beating
Ryan Penner, the surprised
Falcons net minder.
The pace throughout the period
was ferocious, to say the least,
with both clubs attacking one
another, creating several odd-man
rushes.
The second period mirrored the
first as the back-and-forth action
continued with both teams
deciding offence was the way to
win the game.
The home crowd was lifted off
its feet just one minute into the
period.
Canadians sniper Jason Hill
showcased his ability with the
puck as he went in on a breakaway
and shifted from the forehand to
the backhand, fooling Penner,
scoring his third goal of the season
and regaining the lead for the
home side.
Hill’s goal, however, was
shortlived, as a blistering slap shot
by 17-year-old Scott Levitt
quieted the home crowd and once
again got the Falcons on even
terms.
Following St. Catharines’
second marker, senior official Bob
Morley took centre stage of the
contest, issuing five 10-minute
misconducts.
Morley called four Falcons for
misconducts and Jason Sardella of
the Canadians, trying to maintain
control over a game that was on
the brink of getting out of hand.
Both teams had opportunities on
the power play with the Canadians
capitalizing
through
Chase
Langenraap.
The 200-pound centre was
gifted with a tape-to-tape pass by
defenseman Jordan Skinner on a
two-man advantage and easily put
his club back in the lead for the
third time in the game.
The two-man advantage that
benefited Welland four minutes
later came back to bite them as
Mike Dahms, of the Falcons,
skated uncontested from behind
the net.
With a ton of room on the ice, he
spotted the far side of the net and
buried it to tie up the contest.
The third period was as fast as,
if not faster than, the first two with
both clubs throwing caution to the
wind and going shot for shot, save
for save.
The Canadians, for the fourth
time, went ahead through
Langenraap, who netted his
second goal of the night and fourth
of the season, sending the Welland
Arena into a frenzy.
The home crowd, which has
seen their club play Jekyll and
Hyde hockey so far on home ice,
was on its feet, feeling confident
that the Canadians were about to
get back to winning ways.
Those feelings were brought
down late in the third as a Shane
Jackman minor for interference in
the dying minutes of the period
gave the visitors a last-ditch
chance to tie up the game.
Jesse Carr was sent in one on
Ryan Penner, St. Catharines’ goaltender, turns aside Chase Langenraap of the Canadians with his
stick as his club defeats Welland 5-4 in a thrilling contest.
Photo by Ray Spiteri
one with Welland goaltender
Michael Pribanich, and much the
same way Hill did earlier for the
Canadians, swiftly put the puck in
the net, giving the thrilling match
up yet another twist.
Overtime loomed heavy over
the contest, the visitors now
holding the momentum.
With the fans still in shock over
the equalizer by Carr, the Falcons
pulled the cat out of the bag and
won the game in the extra frame.
Chmielewski was handed a gift
as Canadians defenseman Nick
Eiligsen fought with the puck
behind his own net.
Before Pribanich could get into
position, the St. Catharines
forward ended the game.
After the contest, Canadians
defenseman Jordan Skinner says
the little mistakes had been
costing the team.
“It’s tough you know. We played
a great game, but it seems the little
mistakes have been burning us.”
Skinner says the club needs to
do a better job getting the puck out
of their zone.
“When we leave our own end,
we have been leaving the puck
behind. You can’t win games
doing that. You can’t think offence
until you have the puck.”
Kisac, one of the goal scorers
for the Canadians, says the game
was decided on special teams.
“There were so many calls. The
game was sure to be decided on
special teams and unfortunately
that beat us tonight.”
“We need to be more
disciplined — we all know that —
but we worked hard and we can
take many positives out of the
game.”
Chase Langenraap, who was
Welland’s most productive player
on the night, says he is confident
the team will bounce back.
“If we keep putting the puck on
net, the bounces will come our
way. We can’t do anything but
continue working hard. It isn’t for
a lack of effort, that’s for sure.”
“If we stick together and be
there for one another, we will get
back to winning ways. This was
our best performance of the season.”
A disappointed Cameron Sault
says the way the game ended is a
tough pill to swallow.
“We are an aggressive club and
we like to play physical. When
you work your butt off and lose the
lead on the power play that late in
the game, it sucks.”
Like teammate Langenraap,
Sault says the team will find a way
to get back to winning ways.
“We just need to work a little bit
harder. We have to bear down and
bury our chances. We are a
contender in this league.”
The heartbreaking loss for the
Canadians came on the heels of a
scoreless tie the night before in
Stoney Creek, against the
Warriors.
Pribanich starred in that contest,
making close to 35 saves and
recording his first career Junior B
shutout.
The next home game for
Welland is tonight when they host
the last-place Fort Erie Meteors at
the Welland Arena. Game time is
7:30 p.m.
Two nights later the Canadians
will host the first-place Thorold
Blackhawks at 7:15 p.m.
Johnstone quits as Junior Canadians coach
By RAY SPITERI
Staff Writer
Hockey is a tough game to play,
even when you’re focused.
For the Welland Jr. Canadians, it
just got tougher.
On Oct. 13, Chris Johnstone,
head coach of the club, quit for
personal reasons.
Johnstone had been the bench
boss of the Canadians since the
2002/2003 season, when he took
over the club that was struggling
under former coach Todd Clayton
and, last year, guided the then
Cougars to a record year in points.
Canadians defenseman Jordan
Skinner says Johnstone is
“irreplaceable.”
“We can’t replace coach
Jonhstone. He was a great guy in
and out of the dressing room. He
was there for the players and we
will miss him.”
Skinner says the team was
“down” when they heard the news.
“We were all down collectively.
We respect him as a person and as
a coach and we respect the
decision that he made. We just
have to battle through this, and I
think we have the guys in the room
that can get it done.”
Canadians General manager
Marc Tardif found his man to
replace Jonhstone on Oct. 19
when he announced the signing of
former Port Colborne Sailors head
coach Neil Blanchard. Along with
Blanchard, Tardif revealed that
former Cougars coach Mark
Forster will be the assistant to
Blanchard, handling the team’s
defence.
Blanchard and Forster have
already conducted practice with
the players, getting to know one
another and trying to come up with
a game plan to get them back to
winning ways.