The Brant Advocate, Issue 14, October 2012

7/28/2019 The Brant Advocate, Issue 14, October 2012

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October 2012 Free BrantAdvocate.com October 2012 Free BrantAdvocate.com

Local Content Locally Owned Locally Produced Local Content Locally Owned Locally Produced

After graduating from

Fanshawe College with a

diploma in photography,

Jonathan Grime spent his

subsequent years traveling,

photographing the world,

and volunteering with

PhotogenX, an international

non-profit that uses media

and art to raise awareness

about social injustices

happening globally.


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October 2012www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocatePage 2

I cant say for sure if Ill have children in the future,

but I am pretty sure that if I do, they wont be of my

own flesh and blood. There are far too many children

who are parentless already, so why not adopt one ofthem and raise them as my own?

If I become a dad, Id do my best to prepare them for

the fun times, the sad times, the great times, and the

hard times. Id like to impart my advice to them, and,

well, you too. So here goes:

As much as you wont like it, you will have chores to

do around the house. So many teenagers these days

do not know how to do their own laundry, or clean up

after themselves, or empty a garbage can when its

full, or do the dishes when theyre dirty. Believe me,

youll thank me when you go off to college or university

and you have to live with a bunch of other spoiled

kids.

Dont worry about dating until youre sixteenbetter

yet, eighteen. I didnt have my first boyfriend until I

was nineteen, and I turned out okay, right? Well, when

the time comes, your boyfriend or girlfriend should

better you. They should be someone you can count on

and look forward to seeing. Yes, relationships requirework but they shouldnt become a daily stress, or

worse, a constant loathing. Dont become a possession

to be controlled, and never tolerate abuse. When you

fight, argue cleanly. Name-calling doesnt fix the

problem and just shows your immaturity. Did I mention

your other half should better you, not bring you

down?

I will always have an ear for you, so approach me

about anything. Math problems, friend issues, drugs

and alcohol, food, dealing with taxes, sex, gossip, gift

ideas anything. Granted, you might not always want

to talk to me, so find a friend with whom you can.

Sharing is a necessary part of life. And dont be

discouraged if you dont have many friends. Remember,

its the quality of the friendships, not the quantity of

friends.

Life is a game of balance. Although we are creaturesof habit, we also need the right amount of variation

and moderation. Allow yourself some spontaneity; no

one likes an uptight timekeeper. But also maintain

some structure in order to take on your ever-growing

responsibilities.

As a potential dad who is gay, I feel I shouldnt need

to say this, but I will. Your sexual orientation will

never, ever affect my love for you. You will be adored

whether youre gay, straight, bi or trans. What matters

most is your happiness!

Keep in mind that everyone has a unique way of

thinking. However, opinions arent facts, so be kind

to those who think differently than you.

I encourage you to take a world religions class in

order to learn about the different beliefs that circulate

this planet. I dont expect you to choose a religion to

obey; just be aware of them. You have the freedom to

form your own ideas. You might want to create a

personal belief system by taking pieces of each religionyou like, pray to your own goddess, become a

Buddhist, or disregard religion altogether.

Life is too short, so have some fun with it! Dont

waste it away by working constantly; you need to

make time for play. Take a night off and go out with

your friends. Better yet, take a vacation to one of your

dream locations. Work to live, dont live to work.

Unless you love your job, youre only there to pay the

bills. And lets face it, you cant take your money with

you to heaven or your next life.

It takes time to heal a cut, right? As such, it takes time

to heal an emotional wound. I know this because Ive

seen it happen, and Ive experienced it. Only I dont

use a Band-Aid to help with the pain. A tub of ice

cream, a series of chick flicks, and a healthy dose of

supportive friends is my recipe. Things dont heal

overnight, unfortunately. Sometimes it can takemonths, if not years. But Ill be there to hold your

hand and help you through it.

And there will be times when your heart will be

broken, and there will be times when you will break

someone elses heart. Its never easy mending a

shattered heart, or feeling responsible for crushing

anothers. You are allowed to cry. Dont worry, no one

looks pretty when they cry. So let it all out. Let out

all the ugly, hurtful emotions youre feeling. You can

always get a hug from Dad.

Keep in mind thateveryone has a unique

way of thinking.However, opinions

arent facts, so be kindto those who thinkdifferently than you.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say you are

beautiful as you are. Never base your appearance on

the girls or guys in the magazines; they are photo-

shopped and therefore fake. Ill let you get a piercing

or two, just promise to think a moment before getting

a tattoo on your forehead, please.

Enjoy the moments you can, because I can guarantee

it wont last. Soak it in. Bask in life's delight. Dont

mull in the past. Dont constantly fret about the future.

Get off your phone during special occasions. The

present is right in front of you, so enjoy it sweetie.

The saying, This too shall pass, is applicable to any

situation, both good and bad.

Choose music as your drug of choice. You dont

necessarily have to play any music (I sure cant), but

listening to music and exploring different genres and

musicians can be rewarding. I used to be shy of my

music choices because I thought people would judge

me, but now I dont care. Its what makes your ears

happy that counts!

I cant emphasize this enough: communication is a

key element to happiness. As much as super powers

are awesome, no one can read your mind. So many

friendships, relationships, and various bonds have

suffered or ended due to lack of proper communication.

I encourage you to learn when to listen and when to

considerately speak your mind. Youll notice a difference!

You are your toughest critic. Its been said again and

again, but its true. You will critique yourself,

incessantly trying to make improvements either on

your school assignments, your art projects, your

musical pieces, your writing endeavors, your lifegoals I could go on. Sometimes you have to just stop

the critiquing and let it go. Otherwise, youll inhibit

yourself and nothing will get accomplished. Imperfection

is a part of life. Embrace it!

Im sure Ill find more advice to tell you as life goes

on, so Ill leave you with this final one for now. For

the rest of your life, there will be only one person

youll have to live with consistently and tolerate

endlessly. Yourself. Learn to love yourself and get

comfortable in your own skin; because youre gonna

have it for a good while! This may sound cheesy, but

others cant love you entirely until you love you.

Advice for my Unadopted Son By Markus McDanielBlog: schnippits.wordpress.com

This past year, I had the opportunity for an amazing

experience. I joined the Paris-Brant Kiwanis Club. I

knew it would be a short term commitment, as I had

a new work opportunity beginning in September that

would prevent me from continuing with this service

club, but I didn't want that to stop me. I admired the

initiative of Kiwanis clubs all over the country for a

long period of time. The work they've done on local

poverty issues, support for children's art and

recreation programs, community building and even

international children's health is nothing short of

astounding.

When long-time Kiwanian Paul Thompson

ap proached me about joining (later writing a piece on

his own Kiwanis experience in the January 2012 issue

of this very publication) I was hesitant because I knew

I could not commit for as long as I'd like. We talked

about it and something in the conversation struck me.

Not enough of us twenty and thirty somethings arejoining service clubs and volunteer boards.

The younger adults Iknow who do actually

commit to serviceclubs, do so proudly,

but most of them wereintroduced to the

values of their club bytheir parents who were

also members.

The younger adults I know who do actually commit

to service clubs, do so proudly, but most of them were

introduced to the values of their club by their parents

who were also members. The number is dwindling.

When it comes to board memberships, it seems to me

that those of us younger adults who serve, do so on

multiple boards. We're the usual suspects and that

needs to change. I love the dedicated Gen X and Gen

Y folks I meet on boards and executives, but I want

to see more of us. We have to turn this tide and if we

don't, the generations ahead will lose s omething very

valuable to our communities. The twenty and thirty

somethings are there, but not as there as we need to

be. Let's correct that and let's start with some education.

What is a service club?

A service club is a voluntary non-profit organization.

Members meet on a regular basis and perform

charitable works through volunteering in theircommunities and/or by raising money for worthy

causes. Examples would be groups like Kiwanis,

Rotary, Shriners etc.

What is a board?

According to Volunteer Canada, just about every non-

profit organization is governed by a board of directors

who "are responsible for providing leadership and

strategic direction to [an] organization based on the

organizations mission/mandate; and governing the

affairs of the organization on behalf of...its members."

Most boards ask for at least a one-year commitment.

Some ask for a longer term of 2-3 years. Most boards

also have a limit on how many terms you can serve.

How can I help?

What drives volunteer and non-profit organizations is

the knowledge, resolve and work of dedicated

individuals like you. There are many boards and

service clubs right here in our community that are

itching for someone like you to help provide input,

support and guidance to their work. You might think

you don't have anything to offer but you are wrong.

Board members are invaluable and there just aren't

enough people willing to step up to fill the vacancies

of many local and worthy organizations. You might

be able to help with the day-to-day operations,

partnerships, policy development, fundraising and

direction of a not-for-profit.

How do I start?

Most boards and service clubs can appoint new

members who are interested to fill a vacancy as soon

as their next meeting. Most usually have monthly

meetings but take a month off in the summer and

another near the winter holidays. If you know of a

board you want to join, just get in touch with the

organization and ask. Maybe you have a favouritenot-for-profit. Call them and ask if they have any

vacancies. Keep reading this article for the websites

of some organizations I've been fortunate enough to

volunteer for and can personally vouch for.

How will I find the right fit?

A very good question! It depends on what your interests

are but I can confirm that you won't ever find it by

staying home. If you aren't feeling "it" after a few

months you can resign. It happens, but in order to

prevent poor fit I'll make you an offer. If you're on the

fence, or have more questions, send me an e-mail at

[email protected] and I'll personally get in

touch to try and see if I can find you something you

might be interested in.

One of the points of creating this publication was to

encourage more participation in the community, and

I cant think of a better way than by increasing the

level of community support for some of the great

service clubs and organizations we have here. Next

month I'll write a follow up piece including tips for

getting the most personally, out of your service

club/volunteer board experience. Until then, here is a

list of just some of the organizations I have been

fortunate enough to volunteer on and can personally

vouch for:

The Paris-Brant Kiwanis Club

http://www.parisbrantkiwanis.org/

Canada Without Poverty

http://www.cwp-csp.ca/

Arts After School Kids

http://www.artsafterschoolkids.ca/

The Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre

http://www.canadianindustrialheritage.org/

Rosewood House

http://www.rosewoodhouse.on.ca/

The Brantford Arts Block/Brantford Centre

for the Arts

http://brantfordartsblock.com/

The Brant-Brantford Roundtable on Poverty

http://www.bbrop.ca/

The Brant Community Garden Project

http://www.facebook.com/CommunityGarden

The Usual Suspects

By Marc LaferriereTwitter: @marclaferriere


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October 2012 www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 3

Impacted by Your Burn OutI would like to start out by thanking all the fantastic

health care workers. As a recovering person withdiagnosed concurrent disorders, having both

addictions and mental health issues, I have seen the

challenges and abuse often faced by doctors, nurses,

counsellors and support staff working within the

healthcare system. This article is in no way meant to

hurt, blame or take away from the great and (hope-

fully) rewarding work you do. It is meant to educate

and open a dialog about the impact of the s tigma that

we addicts/mental health clients sometimes face.

Ive been an addict and person with diagnosed

mental illnesses for about 35 years. I want to share

a little of how stigma in the health care system has

affected me first hand.

Throughout my life, I have encountered stigma in

many ways; either directed at me or at others. Now,

sadly Ive come to accept that kind of behaviour from

society, and while there is no excuse, I try to

rat ionalize that maybe they just arent informed. I

have a much more difficult time, however, accepting

this kind of abuse from professionals in the health

care system. As shocking as it might be, Ive learnedthat we are not always safe from others judgement,

and there are times that it can even come from the

very people who have devoted their lives to helping

people.

Ive been an addict andperson with diagnosed

mental illnesses forabout 35 years.

Ive had several negative encounters at hospitals but

I would like to share two occasions Ive had with one

particular hospital.

In 2006, I was living on the streets of British Columbia.

It was November and getting cold out. I was hurting,

had had enough of the drug use and was tired of

living in the cold. I hadnt used in the last 24 hours

and was craving real bad, but I knew I didnt want to

use anymore. I was desperate, out of hope and suicidal.

I decided to go to the hospital to see if I could get

some help. I was put into an open area while I waited

to be seen by a doctor. I was clearly upset and broke

out in tears many times, yet I was given no privacy.

The shame of people seeing me like this was at times

unbearable. After what seemed like an eternity, I was

finally seen by a doctor. I explained, through tears,

that I was an addict living on the streets, was suicidal

and I wanted help. His initial response was not to

express empathy, to congratulate me on my decision

to seek help and make a change or to assure me of

the support I would surely be given. Instead his first

question to me was how have you been supporting

your crack habit? I was stunned! What in the world

did that have to do with me getting the help I needed?Did he see me as just a thief, beggar, or a drug

dealer? I could see the distain he had for me in his

eyes. This was very hurtful. He hurried away quickly,

apparently on route to find a social worker to work

with me, and I was left in this open space crying and

visibly distraught. I remember at one point, looking

up as I waited, wishing desperately for a reassuring

presence and seeing a nurse walk by. I can still see

the look on her face. It was not of sympathy or

empathy, but pure disgust.

Another hour went by before the social worker made

it down to see me. I thought great Im going to

finally get some help. I thought for sure since I said

I was suicidal I would be taken to the psychiatric

ward, a place where I believed I could finally be

provided with the safety and support that I needed to

get back on track, but that was not the case. The

worker said that she was very sorry but the doctor re-

fused to admit me. That was it. She had already

called a cab, it was on its way, and there was a bed

set up for me at the local shelter. Once again I was

shocked that I didnt get the treatment that wasafforded to me.

I did go to the shelter that night, but I was back to

using the very next day. That open window of wanting

to get clean had closed, and led to two more years of

using and two failed s uicide attempts.

I carried on the best I could and to help with the pain,

cold, and shame of homelessness, I started using

opiates as well. I found it helped with the cold. When

youre nodded out, you dont notice the cold or the

stares as much. It was because of the injecting that I

got a painful infection on my arm. I put off going to

the hospital, as the shame of my last visit was still

fresh in my mind. I was hoping the infection would

heal itself. It didnt. It got worse and worse, to the

point where my arm from my hand to the shoulder

was three times the size.

I was finally convinced by a couple of friends to get

to the hospital.. so I went. Once again my fears came

true. Turns out the nurse who had looked at me insuch disgust all those years ago, was the very one on

duty that day. She may or may not have remembered

me, but she had left a lasting impression. Even

though the emergency room was empty I was still

left waiting.

After two hours of waiting, the effects of my last

morphine tab was wearing off and the pain setting in.

I decided to approach her. She told me they were

very busy and that they would get to me as soon asthey can. I knew this was a lie and confronted her on

it. Her response was Im not the one who did this to

you. Its your own fault and youll have to wait.

WOW! I had had enough and went to the adminis-

tration office to speak to a boss. And within ten

minutes of speaking to her, I was being looked at.

I was hoping I wouldnt get the same doctor as last

time and was pleased to see it wasnt. I was unsure

what to expect from this new doctor but soon after

talking to him I was in blown away, and this time for

the good. He was great! He was kind, considerate and

made me an offer I was waiting years to hear.

He offered to admit me,keep me on opiates untilmy arm healed and thenhelp me withdraw. In the

meantime he would set meup with an addictioncouncillor and have a

psychiatrist come see me.

He asked if I had had enough of this life style. I

assured him I had. He offered to admit me, keep me

on opiates until my arm healed and then help me

withdraw. In the meantime he would set me up with

an addiction councillor and have a psychiatrist come

see me.

During the rest of my stay I was treated with

kindness and respect. I felt like a human again and it

made all the difference. I was finally getting the help

I so needed. I started on the path that led me to where

I am today. Im off the drugs, I have a stable home,

Im paying my bills, am meeting great people and

have a caring support system.

I wish I knew that doctors name. His kindness,

caring and respectful approach to healthcare has

helped me turn my life around. I owe him a huge

thank you! If not for him, who knows where I would

be today. For that matter, if I would be even alive. I

try to mirror his approach in my everyday life. One

last example of some of the stigma Ive personallyexperienced happened right here in Brantford.

I recently went in for an interview where I was

applying to do some volunteer work. During that

interview I was asked why I wanted to help. I shared

the story of my negative experiences at the hospital,

and explained that I not only wanted to give back, but

to give a voice to people like me. One of the interviewers

asked me if I was being rude and belligerent to the

hospital staff, as she has witnessed this sort of behaviour

before and assumed that that was the reason I was sent

away. Now focused on her negative opinion of behaviours

exhibited by addicts, she then went on t o vent ab out

the hassles she experiences because of the

CRACK HEADS [living] below me. I sat there

shocked and taken aback. She noticed the look of

shock on my face and quickly apologized, however,

the damage was done. Once again, stigma has reared

its ugly head and I felt that shame all over again.

I know the abuse and the stress the job can have on

healthcare providers. I really do! But please try to keep

in mind that we are stricken with an illness and justlike most illnesses, we have symptoms. Sometimes the

need to want to relieve those symptoms can be over-

whelming for us. Being dope-sick is a miserable and

painful experience and yes, we may beg or try to

manipulate for drugs. Sometimes we may act out or

we may be having an episode due to our mental

illness. We may even be abusive. In times like these,

we need to be dealt with firmly but fairly. Keep in

mind, would you be mad at a cancer patient for having

symptoms?

The Ontario Hospital Association is offering a Stop

the Stigma learning module for health care workers. I

would urge you all too please find the time to watch

the learning module. You can find it on OHAs

website. The messages given encourage health care

providers to be aware of the impacts of stigma. There

are small things you can do to combat it like being

aware of the language used to describe your clients,

and to not be afraid to give a kindly reminder to your

co-workers when you witness stigma.

Ill leave you with these final words. No matter how

difficult we can be, remember that we are sick and at

times have what you may find to be unpleasant

symptoms. Please try and remember we are someones

child, parent, grandchild or grandparent and should be

treated like we are one of your family members.

Remember why you first chose this profession and

that you too can be like the doctor that gave me a

chance and make a difference in someones life.

by Randy RobertsFacebook: Randy Roberts


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This is our StoryMy husband and I are blessed with 3 little girls. My oldest

is Mackenzie, who is 3 years old. When she was only 9

months old, we were surprised to find out that we werepregnant with twins. When we found out we were having

girls, what a blessing that was! We were busy with me

going back to work and looking after our oldest. It became

stressful with everything that was going on, and we were

faced with appointment after appointment.

On May 13, 2010, I went into pre-mature labor. I was 27

Weeks and 6 days; I had a long 3 months of my pregnancy

left. My husband and I rushed to the Brantford General

Hospital. They in turn rushed me by ambulance to London,

where I gave birth to our girls Payton and Taylor on May

14th 2010. The twins had a very traumatic birth experience

that morning of May 14th.

On Sunday May 16, 2010, the doctors rushed to my room

and told us Taylor was bleeding internally and she needed

a blood transfusion. After all the transfusions and ultra-

sounds, we learned that she had a brain hemorrhage causing

Cerebral Palsy. You could imagine our hearts were broken

and our minds were confused. Neither one of us knew a lot

about Cerebral Palsy. We were told not to research it on the

Internet, because every degree of CP is different.

Taylor spent a very long 6 months in the hospital. At one

point, all of our babies were in different cities. You could

only imagine how much driving we did and how to decide

where to be the next day. During Taylors stay in London,

on a regular basis the neurosurgeon would come and seeher to make sure the blood was drying up and to check her

head circumference. If it was higher than the day before,

the doctor would drain excess fluid from the top of her head.

She was also diagnosed with hydrocephalus and needed a

shunt. She finally got that shunt in November of 2010.

Two weeks after her surgery, she was able to come home-

-just in time for Christmas.

When she came home we were referred to Lansdowne

Childrens Centre in Brantford. I always knew it was there,

but never really understood until now what an amazing

group of loving people who are there. They come to your

house, help you with things your child needs to work on,you go to their centre to visit with many therapists, including

physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

They also have a special place called Kids Country Inn and

an infant development program. We cannot begin to explain

where we would be without them. They help us not only

understand Taylor, but they also help us to be the family we

need to be for our three angels. They are really the heart

and soul of our community, and we want to thank them for

that.

On October 27, 2012, my husband and I are having a

fundraiser in support for the Every Kid Counts Program.

This program was designed to help children with special

needs to be a part of regular programs. Currently only 60

children can attend the program with an allowance of only

40 hours per child. This program solely relies on the

community for funding. If it wasnt for the community,

there would not be a program where these amazing kids

can be themselves. The event is a Halloween Bash. We have

live music by Spencer Creek along with DJ Night Crawler.

Food Supplied is y East Side Marios, plus there is a silent

auction, 50/50, door prizes, and best costume prizes. Tickets

are $10 each. Look out for the K-lite 92.1 Cruiser. They

will be handing out prizes.

So come on out and support an amazing cause for amazing

kids. This is our way of saying thank you to them. If we

have your support this year, we hope to make this

something we can put together every year.

If you would like to donate, purchase tickets, or sponsor

this event, contact Kelley or Jeff Crowley at 519-442-5775

or by email: [email protected] [email protected].

by Kelly Crowleyemail: [email protected]

Beating the Binaries of BrantThe whole idea of binary oppositions confused me when it

first came up in my university English classes, but I think I

get it now. In literature, binaries are the opposites that essentially

create the conflict. The differences exaggerated by their

confrontation are behind all of the problems the plot and

characters work to understand and overcome. Binary

oppositions could include anything from power versus

passivity, rich versus poor, right versus wrong, male versus

female, old versus new on and on it goes.

Theres a binary opposition in Brant, an us-and-them idea,

which I would wager has never actually had a positive influence.

What does it look like here? Well, quite bluntly, here are some

of the top ones: North end versus downtowner, Brant County

versus Brantford, Native versus non-native, post-secondary

individual versus local. Us and them; separating groups and

setting them up against each other.

I think of that idealistic Canadian mosaic, celebrating difference

and living in prosperity as happy units, but this isnt it. Not

yet. Were getting there, but Brants mosaic is still under con-

struction.

Although applying literary terms to everyday life may be an

abstract concept, its an effective way to really break apart

some of the problems that we face in this community specifically.

Advocates for our communitys development recognize this

battle between the binaries as brutal, destructive, degrading,

and fragmenting. It happens in a subtle way, and it pains me

to know that Ive contributed to the problem myself. I even

joke about it sometimes, often tweeting about whether or not

Ive earned my local title. When it started, though, I got

swept along in the perpetuation of the stupid binaries. Mine

was post-secondary individual versus local.

The example Brant hasbeen setting in terms of

development and communitybuilding is something of

which we should be proud.

In my first week ever spent in Brantford, I was bombarded

with statements including, Look out for locals; Dont walk

anywhere by yourself; Downtown is sketchy; Just

another Brantford crazy; and more. The most damaging part

of these statements was that they came from people in

positions of authority and influence: staff and volunteers of

the university itself. Please do not misunderstand me. This is

in no way a shot against the university. Its simply the truth,

and how the binaries took root in my life as an individual. (I

should mention that there are many individuals at the

university who actively work to deconstruct these binaries

through community development initiatives, student

oppor tunities, and even through lectures.)

It was difficult to notice the binaries at first. Theyre subtle,

and even realizing that they exist is a feat in itself. Theyre

there, though, and theyre dangerous for our community.

Perhaps the most exasperating part of the binary problem isthat they can begin as well intentioned.

While my orientation leaders and residence supervisors

meant to create community for the other first year students

and I, boundaries were immediately set up on who could

qualify as someone to be trusted. While they meant to keep

us safe, they criminalized locals, causing us to make rude

assumptions about the people we would see on the street.

Without the context of downtown Brantfords history, and

without anything to challenge our newly-planted ideas, I was

left to embrace all sorts of beliefs about anyone and everyone

who wasnt university: homeless men, NCO workers, teen

moms, folks hanging out at the library and folks just walking

down the street. They were them and we were us and there

was absolutely no reason to bridge the gap in between. It was

years before I even questioned it.

When the questioning began, however, the other binaries started

to solidify into tangible shapes from the fog of my ignorance.

The mistrust and disgust at the thought of downtown was

embodied in statements and habits by more northenders

than I could tally. Similarly, I heard racist epithets about

Natives on one hand, while also seeing seemingly

unnecessary exclusivity among some Native groups. Us and

them. Of course there are times for the groups to come

together, but the distancing was never healthy.

Working to break down the binaries requires a lot of critical

thinking and, in some cases, a complete shift in rhetoric. In

some cases, our vocabulary simply needs to change.

The example Brant has been setting in terms of development

and community building is something of which we should

be proud. Our binaries are one of our weaknesses, and by

deconstructing them, we unlock yet another tool to enhance

the awesomeness we currently have going for us: togetherness

even with our differences. Brant is strengthened by its social

landscapes, just as it is made beautiful by its historic sites,

nature, and innovation.

Lets keep on taking down the binaries that grew with and

without our permission. Lets keep strengthening the

Brantford we love.

Community BuildingI left Brantford in grade six, only to come back for university,

years later. Arriving on day one, in 2009, I was

gen uinely excited, but the state of the city quickly knocked

that out of me. The downtown core looked like a bomb had

gone off, and no one had bothered cleaning up; the roads

were cracked and uneven, rows of dusty shops were left

abandoned, and there was this huge disconnect between

people on the street. I had been forewarned that things were

bad, but I simply wasn't prepared for it to be this bad. What

made it truly unbearable however, was watching enthusiastic,

unassuming Laurier students happily trouncing about on

the carcass of my home city, like nothing was really wrong.

It burned me to the point where I couldn't appreciate

Orientation Week. I found the cheers, the parties, and the

events, all rung hollow. Instead I'd make these almost

religious treks up to my childhood home on Marlborough

Street, and brood over the crudely fashioned graffiti on the

exterior, and plethora of scattered beer bottles. I don't know

what I thought I'd get out of it, but mostly, it just made me

dizzyingly sad. Everywhere I looked, I saw local hardship,

struggles to fold into a new way of life here in the core, and

on the other hand, students who didn't seem to notice.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before I too lost perspective.

My world shrunk from a city, to a campus, in the course of

a semester, and all those issues began to sound like white

noise. I could feel myself falling deeper and deeper into the

university's bubble. Questions like, why do so many kids

in the downtown go hungry, what can I do to address this

homelessness epidemic, how can I work with others to

make Brantford better, were drowned out by, When's my

next class, did I finish all my readings, can I make it to that

meeting? This was all coming from someone who'd grown

up here, who'd seen The Lion King for the first time in the

Odeon theatre, shopped frequently with my mother in the

Eaton Centre, and spent every weekend at the public library.

I still loved the city, I always had, but living a student's life

proved so oddly hectic and insular, that it became hard to

see past my own superfluously padded schedule.

In second year, whispers from the outside began permeating

my closed exterior. I could finally see that there weren't just

hardships in the city, but also people actively working to

counter them. For the first time since coming back, I saw

that Brantford wasn't just a struggling town, but rather, a

place fostering culture, programming, and most

imp or tantly, a story. Of course, I only learned this because

my work prodded me outside my comfort zone. Seeing the

gears turning inside the Brantford Mosque, St. Leonard's,

the Salvation Army, left me in awe, and made me view

community building in a radically new light. I fell in love

with my city again, this time on a deeper level - it gave me

conviction, and it gave me hope. Conviction that my city

deserves respect and care, but also hope that even more

students will see this and get involved.

Obviously, there are already amazing Laurier students who

volunteer in the community, and cross those boundaries,

but there are far more who simply don't; it's so important to

say, that this is not out of malice. On this campus, I see

students who leave me in awe of their stamina, as they

tirelessly plan events, organize fundraisers, and foster

friendships. I feel the warmth many have for the city, a

subtle pride that most don't know what to do with. So many

students are itching to carve out their place here, to truly

belong, and this makes all the difference. This is why I urge

groups, residents and students, to actively tare down that

wall. There is community being built on both sides, ones

that beautifully compliment each other.

by Leisha SenkoTwitter: @LeishaSenko

by Becca VandekempFacebook: Becca Vandekemp

EXCAVATION BOBCAT SERVICES HAULAGE


5/12


The Family Business Gene - Right Between Two Strains of Crazy

Growing up, I always had a huge sense of pride. Not

necessarily of my accomplishments, which mostly

amounted to eating 10 hot dogs at one sitting, but pride in

the different businesses run by my family members.

My grandfather owned Robbies Pizza. A locally owned

pizzeria in Brantford which to date, is still considered to be

the best Pizza in town. You can try to insert Other Guy is

better comment here, but your argument is invalid. The

Other Guy didnt have Sassy Fries. Robbies was, and still

is, an institution in Brantford. Even though its been gone

for over 20 years, I still proudly advertise my local celebrity

to friends and clients. Youd be surprised by the number of

them who remember the drive-in store across from P.J. Its

now a Shell gas station, but the parking medians and

wooden fence that my granddad built, are still there.

My Papa also had a business of his own. He was a multi

sales type bloke, driving his truck & trailer to automotive

shops, construction sites and pretty much any place he

could sell his wares. The company was Fasteners Unlimited

and it was famous for two things. First you could buy pretty

much any kind of bolt, nut, and screw out of the back. The

second, from what I could gather from reading my dads

high school yearbooks, was the acronym for the company.

I dont really think he thought the company name through,

but nonetheless F.U. was effective. I remember on schoolPA days, going out on his run with him, meeting all of his

clients. A memorable one was Hostess Potato chips, no

need for an explanation here. It was cool though, being on

the road with him, no walls, no office, just the open road

and a truck full of potential.

My father started in the insurance & investment industry

27 years ago after leaving a great job at Nadrosfsky Steel

(By the way, it was family owned by his uncle). His choice

to venture into the insurance & investment industry was an

interesting one, as it allowed him to stake a claim in his own

business. Fate? I dont think so. I honestly think that owning

a family business is not something you just do. Its some-

thing that is engrained in your DNA. Passed down fromgeneration to generation.

I started my career right out of high school. I was slated to

start college taking Mechanical Engineering, but something

held me back. Lucky enough, I was given the opportunity

to work at a local, family owned machine shop in Brantford.So, I decided to forego college and make some money

instead of spending it. A year later the college apprenticeship

opportunity knocked and I took it. We manufactured

moulds that made plastic Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade and Water

bottles. I worked my way through the manufacturing floor

and into the office into a junior sales/service position. It was

a great learning experience. It gave me a career, which

bought my house and helped start my family. However,

much like my decision to hold off on college, something

was holding me back. A calling? Voices perhaps. Or was it

my DNA? Im going to go on a limb here and say it was

my DNA. But what kind of crazy idiot with a child on the

way would ever want to leave the weekly paycheck they

knew would be deposited into their bank account? Even

still, what kind of crazy idiot would plant themselves into

a family business where theyre working with their father,

mother, siblings, and wife? Apparently, this crazy idiot.

My point? I think that there are those who like being an

employee and those who would rather be the employer. I

was watching a new show the other night on Comedy

Network called Sullivan & Son. Its a sitcom about a son

who comes back to small town USA to celebrate his fathersanniversary of owning a local bar; a bar that he bought from

his father 30 years prior. As you can probably guess, the

son decided to dump his high paying position as a Vice

President and compliance lawyer at an investment firm to

buy the bar. The show was funny, but its not what drew meto give up 22 minutes of my Monday night.

The family business dynamic is what kept me watching.

The bar is not much different from our insurance & investment

practice, which is not too different from F.U., which is not

too different from Robbies Pizza. We all get to work with

our parents, kids, siblings and wives on a daily basis. We

never talk business at the dinner table because Vito

Corleone said not to. We all have something that was cut

in the cloth that made us, and its something that my kids

will most likely have, and their kids and their kids. Its that

Family Business gene thats firmly planted between two

strains of crazy.

If I can leave you with one thing, its simply that there are

so many family businesses in this great town of ours. I urge

everyone to explore past the big box, pre-cooked, flash

frozen institutions and utilize the services of the locally

owned family shops in Brantford. You just may find that

place that feels like home, where you dont mind spending

a few more minutes talking with the owners.

by Mike AlfordFacebook: Mike Alford

Robbies was and still isan institution in Brantford.

Even though its beengone for over 20 years, Istill proudly advertise my

local celebrity to friendsand clients. Youd be

surprised by the number ofthem who remember thedrive-in store across fromP.J. Its now a Shell gasstation, but the parkingmedians and wooden

fence that my granddadbuilt are still there.


6/12


Sarah always thought that one day she would foster. But she had many questions. Who were these children; what sortsof issues would they have; would her parenting skills be good enough; how would her own children feel about havinganother child in the family; and when the day came, how would they say goodbye to this child? One day she stoppedwondering and called Homes for Kids. Six months later, she met her first foster child. The girls home had been adriftwith alcoholism. She had been neglected and emotionally abused. She was sad, scared. She needed someone to trust;someone to believe in.

That was nine years ago. Over the years, some children have been with Sarah for months, some for years. Some werereturned to their parents or grandparents, and a few moved on to adoptive families. Sarah may not see the childrengrow up, but she says, Fostering is about planting seeds and giving a child hope for a better tomorrow. Even thougha child may only be with them for a matter of months, she knows they can make a difference to last a lifetime.

It could be the most important call you ever make. [email protected] or visit www.homesforkids.com

Please call today.1-877-587-KIDS (5437)


7/12


Showcasing Local Talentby Nicki Straza, Facebook: Nicki Straza

Jonathan James Grime of Jonathan Grime Photography has always loved

art. From screen printing t-shirts to music, he cant get enough of it - but

he found his forte when he picked up a camera in high school. Photography

was my way of creating art since I couldnt draw, he explained.

After graduating from Fanshawe College with a diploma in photography,Grime spent his subsequent years traveling, photographing the world, and

volunteering with PhotogenX, an international non-profit that uses media

and art to raise awareness about social injustices happening globally.

In 2011, Jonathan decided to start his own photography and media

business - a longtime dream of his. Conveniently, his wife and love of his

life, Layne, has a degree in photojournalism and the two are planning to

work together full-time in 2013.

Jonathan is passionate about art and excellence, about creativity and beauty.

While his background is in commercial and portrait photography, Grime has

branched out into all areas of photography and recently video. He works

with families, artists, musicians, bands, and brides, but also enjoys the more

edgy documentary work.

One event that caught his attention was the "Grand Re-Opening and Arts

Celebration" that was hosted at Freedom House upon the completion of their

summer upgrades. Jonathan and Layne's photography was featured along

with works of many other musicians, poets, painters, and sketch artists who

are a part of Freedom House. Jonathan has dedicated many hours to

supporting this and many other community events that Freedom House par-ticipates in each year including Frosty Fest and the Living Nativity. Like

Jonathan, Freedom House believes in community, in the arts and in

creativity so this has been a natural partnership for Jonathan and Layne as

they sharpen their craft in so many varied settings.

Some adjectives clients have used to describe his work are unique,

professional, amazing, and creative.

Jonathan is easily spotted at local festivals with his bushy hair, dark glasses,

easy smile, and fatty camera. He loves his hometown of Brantford and is

excited to see and document the new life coming to the downtown area.

A typical Grimey week is full of meetings with clients, shoots, visits to

Starbucks, hanging with his iMac, volunteering for PhotogenX, dinner dates

with his wife, and investing in his meaningful lifelong friendships in the

area. Oh, and bringing a bit more beauty into this world.

See more of his work at:

www.jonathangrime.com

www.jonathangrimephotography.wordpress.com/

Follow him on Twitter: @jonathangrimeFacebook: www.facebook.com/jonathan.grime.photo

IN SUPPORT OF THE FREEDOM HOUSE KINDNESS PROJECTS

SANDERSON CENTRE NOVEMBER 1 2012, 8 PM $30 & $45

Lighthouse took Canada and the world by storm in the 70s with their unique blend of rock, jazz and classical influences that defied all conventions. They received four successiveGroup of the Year Junos and have nine gold and platinum albums with international hits such as One Fine Morning, Sunny Days, Hats Off to the Stranger, 1849 and Pretty Lady.Lighthouse played major festivals like the Isle of Wight, Newport and Monterey in the company of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Miles Davis.

BRANTFORD AREA AGENTS

Withthe generous supportofThe Sanderson Centre


8/12


Ye Olde Church BazaarAs summer begins to fade and as school gets

going for another year, autumn and all itsseasonal events start to approach. For me

autumn is a time when people come back

together after a nice, long summer break. We

become thankful for the food we harvest and the

family and friends around us. And really, in a lot

of ways, its a prelude for the Holiday Season.

For those of you who I scared by mentioning

Christmas and the Holiday Season, yes it is

coming... along with all of the Christmas

oriented events. I should know, I'm already

starting to prepare for one of those events. And

you've guessed right, its a church bazaar!

I graduated from Brock just over a year ago now

and since then I've been organizing the Holly

Jolly Faire for St. Mark's Anglican Church. This

will be my second year running the event, but

the Faire itself is officially in its 6th year.

Actually, its been running a lot longer than that.

Before it was called the Holly Jolly Faire (HJF)

it was known as the Christmas Marketplace. For

ages it has been the church's main fundraising

event, which has provided the community with

wonderful crafts and more importantly, goodies!

At this point, some of you might be wondering:

Why is a 20-something year old guy runningan old church event like that? Well first of all,

my career aspirations are in the fundraising and

event/volunteer management spectrum, but

more importantly I enjoy doing it.

Some people say; OK, so youre involved with

fundraising, but why be involved with a boring

old bazaar like that? To this I respond by

saying that it isnt boring. There are so many

things that have to be organized and prepared

for it to run smoothly. For a lot of people, its

difficult just organizing a meeting with conflicting

schedules. With an event of this nature, I have

to organize multiple committee meetings, work

with sponsors, create a marketing plan, make

sure I have enough volunteers and that they

know what theyre doing... you get the picture.

Then they say; well youre just one of those

crazy people who likes organizing things, but I

still think the event is boring. For some, this is

true. If youre not the browsing type, then this

isnt the event for you, and thats perfectly ok.

Even so, the HJF is not your typical bazaar; its

a bazaar on steroids! Weve included many

different activities in hopes of keeping our

guests entertained. On top of the normal (butvery good) crafts, knitted wear, and goodies we

also have a very large silent auction section, the

plinko game, a diner serving lunch and coffee,

and a childrens area with crafts and cookies.

Theres another reason why Im involved with

this event and fundraising in general. Its the

affect it has on the community. For example, the

HJF doesnt just affect me, but affects our

churchs parishioners and the community in

general. It brings our volunteers and members

together in fellowship while we create the crafts

that will be sold or the food well be serving for

lunch. It engages them to be active and provides

everyone with the opportunity to be supportive.

Besides this, it also helps us to raise the money

necessary to continue to provide services to the

parish and community members through various

forms of ministry as well as our outreach.

Speaking of outreach, the HJF will be helping

to provide aid and resources to our local

community as well. First of all, its a place

where the spirit of Christmas begins! Its a

place where community members can come

together in fellowship and festive excitement!

And its a place where everyone has theopp ortunity to give back while they shop. At

the HJF we ask that each person donate a

non-perishable food item or $2 which will go

directly to Brantfords Food Bank (CRS). We

also have a mitten tree where people can buy

and donate winter wear for the Christmas Basket

program. The HJF also helps to support our

local businesses. Through our various marketing

features included in our sponsorship package,

we are able to thank and promote local

businesses and services.

So the next time you notice theres another

church bazaar coming up, make sure to remember

the affect it has on making the community a

better place. The bazaar may not be the most

entertaining event, but they help to support local

organizations while bringing people together.

This year, the Holly Jolly Faire is on Saturday

November 17th from 9-2. For more details

about the event or sponsorship opportunities

please send an email to [email protected] or

check out our website at www.stmarks.on.ca.

Hope to see you there!

by Jason FreezeTwitter: @JasonFreeze

by Melissa BroughtonEmail: [email protected]

The Weigh I see itUnless youve been isolated in the desert, living in a

cave, or touring the remote areas of the jungle; there

is no doubt someone has mentioned the word

ZUMBA. Chances are, if youre from Brantford,

someone you know is taking a class, acting in very

peculiar ways, and sporting some pretty funky clothing

looking like a Skittle.

Brantford most assuredly has the Zumba bug with

100s of classes being taught daily, nightly, and weekly

by a myriad of Certified Zumba Fitness Instructors

at dance studios, gyms, fitness centres, church halls,

and community centres. Zumba can be found basi-

cally anywhere a group of people want to get together

with a certified instructor for an hour of shaking, shim-

mying, hooting, hollering, dancing, acting silly, and

getting healthy while having the time of their lives.

Its a party; its exercise in disguise.

So what is Zumba? For lack of a better description,

its dancercise done to Latin Music; Aerobics with

Latino spicy tunes and dance moves. For a more

accurate description, it is a fitness program primarily

using Latin Dance moves, using the principles of

resistance training and fitness interval training to

increase caloric output and all over body toning. Both

slow and fast rhythms are involved to add a variety

to the classes and to beat the boredom while increasing

agility and muscular involvement. The dance moves

are based on a variety of Latin styles including

meringue, pop, reggaeton, cumbia, mambo, salsa,

flamenco, rumba, calypso, and more. By combining

easy dance steps and great music into a fitness

program and labeling it a party, it has been able to

entice those who may have had a negative association

with exercise and rekindle the love of fitness in every-

one. The silly clothes, the funky rhythms, the loud

music, the camaraderie, and the overall party-like at-

mosphere have allowed non-believers to re-frame

their attitude about fitness and exercise. Zumba has

caught on like a raging wildfire and it is making a huge

difference in the lives of many who would not have

been turned onto fitness if it werent for the unique

formula of having fun while exercising. Heres what

some Brantfordians are saying about Zumba:

Lorraine Good: Zumba, for me, is one of the reasons

I am exercising. I have tried going to the gym a

number of times but never felt it was right for me.

When Zumba came into my life I began to enjoy

exercising. Zumba classes are fun and full of energy.

There is no right or wrong way to move. When new

people come they are welcomed and no one cares if

you are going the wrong way. Anyone can do it -young or old.

Melanie Crawford: Zumba is my escape from the

negative self-image being overweight has caused, my

therapy for times I need to vent, my reward for giving

myself freely to everyone around me, and finally, my

example to the people I love to pursue even your most

difficult goals. Zumba is my life-changer.

Randi-Lynn Jancik: Zumba is exercise in disguise!

How true this statement really is. When I first started

Zumba, I completely disliked it. Now it's like a

second life. It's my time away from everything else in

this world. It's time to enjoy and work hard at some-

thing. That something is me! I get to smile, laugh, and

have a great time with a gym full of people loving

and enjoying the same things. Man, woman, & child

alike. Smiles and sweat go a long way and it's become

a little bit of a family for us. Zumba's definitely a great

craze sweeping the nation and does great things for

everyone.

Diane Torok: Zumba, for me, is my HAPPY place, I

don't feel stressed out when I'm there. When I first

started Zumba I was so nervous to go alone that I

brought my son with me. Then once I started going

more often I didn't care that I was going by myself. I

never thought in a million years I would have done it

in front of a crowd. So Zumba has also made me more

confident with myself. All the folks that do Zumba

have a unique glow about them that makes them dif-

ferent from people who don't do it. It makes you want

to be around all of them with that intoxicating

motivation all the time.

Bev Hilliker: Zumba has changed a lot of things about

me and for me - less pain, less weight, more pride in

me and in my bearing. It's still hard on me, but I'm

working on that. My granddaughter said she is VERY

PROUD OF ME!!!

Tara Sauciukas: Zumba has become a new

beginning to a dream that died in 2001, when I was

diagnosed with MS. Walking through those doors to

my first Zumba class was the beginning of a life that

I did not think existed anymore for me. As time went

on, I fell in love with the energy, the stories, and the

people around me. A small spark ignited into a

massive flame. Zumba set a fire in me. The love I

found there is a fire that is unquenchable.

Sallyann Harris: I hear the word Zumba and I

instantly get excited!! I walked into my very first ever

Zumba class back in January of this year. I had no

clue at all what I was getting myself into.

Although I had no idea what I was doing, I felt

amazingly comfortable and was even able to laugh at

myself as I went the wrong way or couldn't quite get

the steps. Now, I am addicted! Having a dance back-

ground, I have always missed that piece in my life that

I always yearned for. Zumba has definitely filled this

void. It's so crazy, when I hear one of the songs come

on when I am out shopping for example, I can barely

contain myself and break out in a salsa, literally! I have

found a passion that fills my heart and very soul. I feel

ALIVE! It's a fantastic feeling to go to a class that you

don't have to talk yourself into going to. It's a great

feeling to have a love for something and to share the

same passion with like-minded people. I have made

some incredible friendships; the health benefits have

been endless!

Tracey Andruski: For me, Zumba has helped me with

personal disabilities and self-esteem issues! I have

made beautiful friendships and a family of friends.

Through my instructors guidance I have watched her

walk many people to the door of their own personal

journey with confidence, dedication, support, exercise,

and helpful information to help them reach their goals

and succeed.

If youve never tried Zumba before, do yourself, your

heart, your brain, your body and your smile a favour

and reward yourself with one of the best hours you

will ever spend in the company of strangers who will

instantly become your friends over a WOO HOO and

an OLE! Good Luck. Happy Fitness. And Remem-

ber, Put Down The Fork & Get Moving

by Joan MinneryFacebook: Joan Minnery

Tylers World!As Tyler skateboards up to the house, its quite

noticeable he has had a great day at the local skate

park here in Brantford. Covered in scrapes, nicks &

scratches this 22 year old skateboard innovator is living

the dream!

I have known Tyler Vinnai for a year, and clearly his

passion is skateboarding and teaching skateboard

lessons. You could say Tyler and skateboarding go

together like peanut butter and jam. I find it quite

refreshing to see a young person so clearly in his

element and sharing his passion with the youth of

Brantford. You can usually find Tyler at the skate

park, drawing young crowds due to his rad skate

tricks, hip style and charismatic personality. He is

definitely a role model for those younger than him,

and even those of us who are older when he flies by

on his skateboard to work.

If you have ever met Tyler, he is most recognizable

for his award-winning smile & has a way of inspiring

you to get out there and follow you dream just as he

is doing. Attending Brantford skateboarding contests,

its apparent of Tylers talent by the cheers of the

spectators and prizes he wins. What touches thehearts of those around him is when he distributes his

prizes to the kids attending the events so everyone

feels included.

I, myself have never been able to master the art of

even standing on a skateboard even though Tyler has

tried to teach me, but Im inspired by him. It goes a

long way when someone is patient in teaching you,

which I have seen reflected in how Tyler teaches

youth about this incredible sport. Modest in

compliments, Tyler is most content to just go for a

long skateboard ride, getting some more scratches,

cuts of course. The life lesson I have learned from

Tyler, is try and live life at a slower pace, enjoy your

talents, but most of all, pass your experience and

talent to those younger than us.

Tyler got involved with skateboarding as a child,going through numerous broken boards along with

countless hours perfecting his tricks. He has the scars

to prove it. Today, Tyler has amassed a collection of

unique skateboard, some even custom designed by

this talented artist. Its Tylers pride and joy to show

everyone the boards he designed, but has no qualms

about letting you test them out time and time again.

I have had numerous conversations with Tyler

regarding this passion of his, and each conversation

is filled with new ideas he has for the sport, how he

enjoys skating with the youth at the skate park, and

how he wishes more kids would get out there and

enjoy the skateboarding sport. Brantford has some

amazing skateboarding spots, but whats incredible

to me, is how Tyler helps preserve these skateboard-

ing hotspots by picking up trash, broken materials

and debris. For such a young person, he definitely is

very eco-friendly, which I believe Brantford is allabout. Community involvement is in Tyler through

and through. I am so thrilled to share the story of this

young man, as I believe this is a true example of

someone making a difference right here in our own

back yard. Kudos to Tyler!

Tyler is a veteran at skateboarding, keeping it

thriving here in Brantford. According to him, he

doesnt plan to give it us any time soon. And frankly,

why should he! If you take anything at all from this

article its when you fall off your skateboard, you get

right back on and ride!


9/12


In this column I want to talk about the relationshipbetween a consumer and their own insurer. Nofault insurance means that your own automobileinsurer is obligated to pay for any treatmentyou may reasonably require (as well as otherbenefits) even if you are the at fault party in thecollision. The obligation to pay medical rehabilitationbenefits lasts for 10 years up to a maximumamount of $50,000.00. A dispute arises whenthe insurer does not agree that a particulartreatment plan is reasonable and necessary.

There are 2 pressing issues in the area ofAutomobile Insurance today. The first issuerelates to a backlog at the Financial ServicesCommission of Ontario which has thrown theinsurance industry and claimants alike a curveball. The Financial Services Commission ofOntario is a largely insurance funded disputeresolution service which is intended to provideinsurance consumers and their insurers with anopportunity to speak directly to each other witha mediator to try and resolve disputes in atimely fashion.

The establishment of the Financial ServicesCommission to provide mediation services freeof charge to insurance consumers recognizedthat that in terms of treatment disputesbetween consumers insurers might be aboutless expensive items (i.e an orthopedic

mattress or a course of physiotherapy) andthat the courts do not resolve disputes in atimely fashion. The Financial ServicesCommission of Ontario was intended toresolve disputes quickly so that claimantscould access treatment within a short time afterthe collision which would would assist in theirrecovery.

It seems that insurers and claimants agreedthat the sooner a person could accesstreatment following a collision the better interms of overall recovery and long term prognosis.In general terms Maximum Medical Recoveryis considered to be reached around the 2 yearmark. The definition of chronic pain hasrecently been amended to consider pain to bechronic after as early as four months ratherthan six. There seems to be a consensus thatrecovery chances are reduced if there is adelay in accessing treatment. Clearly it wouldbe in the interests of both consumers andinsurers if recovery for persons injured incollisions could be maximized.

The governing legislation for the FinancialServices Commission of Ontario required thatthe disputes be mediated within 60 days of themediation application being received. Themediation would typically be by way of ascheduled telephone call with a mediatordesignated to facilitate the conversation.

Initially this provided an efficient way to resolvedisputes quickly and often resulted in theinsurer and claimant being able to agree upona lump sum settlement to settle out theinsurer's obligations with respect to futuretreatment on a full and final basis. This wouldallow clients to fund their own treatment basedupon their needs and schedules. Unfortunatelyover time the Financial Services Commissionof Ontario became backlogged due to thesheer volume of applications it was receivingand taking in excess of 15 months to schedulea date for mediation. As the backlog worsenedit directly impacted the ability of thousands ofconsumers to access treatment in a timelyfashion. In 2010 relying upon the timelines setout in the Act we issued nearly 200 claimsagainst insurers to seek declarations withrespect to our client's entitlement to treatmentin an effort to deal with the prejudicial impact ofthis delay on our client's interests.The insurersresisted these claims due to their concernabout the result being a flood of law suits. 4 ofthese cases were argued at the Ontario Courtof Appeal on July 19 and when the decisioncomes out it will be important in terms of thefuture role of FSCO, insurers and claimantsalike. We are hopeful the decision will be readysoon.

Please feel free to email any questions orfeedback you have [email protected]

Small Business Small PrintCould you see yourself talking to a store clerk for an hour

at Walmart or Zehrs? Most likely not is going to be my

assumption, or at least not until a store manager comes by

and shuts down the conversation. No employee really ever

seems to have the time to chat much before they move offto do something else that is needed to be done in the store.

As a musician, I have an affinity for where music is and am

drawn to the music stores, bars and the like. Reflecting back

to when I was growing up in Burford, I really can't think of

where to go to find music. Maybe my first early exposure

to live music was listening to Terry Sumsion practicing or

having a party, a concession over from my parents backyard.

I clearly remember the sound of the band playing and the

people cheering in the early 1980s. Jumping a decade or so

into the future, I also remember one of the first trips I made

into Toronto as a teen in the mid-90s, going into Sam The

Record Man on Yonge Street. I ventured up into the room

that had all the vinyl in it and saw a Terry Sumsion record

for sale on the wall. I yelled to whoever I was with at the

time that, this was the man I had heard so long ago a

concession away in my parents backyard. Here he was in

Toronto; his face glaring away on the cover of a LP looking

back at me saying, I'm from Burford and here I am in a

store in Toronto. It really made me feel like I could do that

too. I wanted to be part of something in a store or even in

print.

It wasn't until I started regularly going into downtown

Brantford and shopping at a record store called Second

Wave that I came to realize that some stores were not like

the others. Maybe being in a band at the time was a clincher

for me. Being in a band that had recorded a few tapes at the

time allowed me to play a couple shows in the basement of

Second Wave and be a little more familiar with the store on

a personal level. Yes I played here! My bands tape is also

there for sale! Just like old Terry staring at me from Sam's

store wall in Toronto. It felt good to have that knowledge

in the back of my mind. Regardless, I started going to

Second Wave, not to buy records but to just sit and talk with

whoever might have been there that I knew. Maybe even

play a game of chess. As much as it was a record store that

drew like-minded people into it to talk and exchange

ideas it was also the store owner Paul Evans, who was

equally as charismatic with his wealth of musical knowledge,

ability and willingness to share it with customers who came

into the store.

It wasn't until I started

regularly going intodowntown Brantfordand shopping at arecord store calledSecond Wave that Icame to realize that

some stores were notlike the others.

On one end, you have the storeowner talking to you while

other people in the store drop in, hoping to get into a

conversation. There was another interesting aspect of Second

Wave, one that I really found inspiring as a teen. It is what

I'm going to coin as the term sedentary sociability. The

term sedentary sociability refers to the 'zines (short for

magazine) that would sit on the counter in Second Wave.The Advocate is somewhat like a 'zine and it has that sedentary

sociability of a conversation or an idea just waiting to jump

off the pages to you when read. Even with a computer in

the early to mid 1990s you might have been BBSing

(Bulletin Board Systems) at the time, calling up boards in

Brantford like Colour 84 or Snake Mountain and leaving a

trail of text around for someone else to pick up on. But still

the majority of people were not doing that. Back in the early

1990s, the internet really didn't have things like blogs,

Twitter and Facebook to sway your social ways. Determined

people who decided that their opinion or creativity mattered

in the end-run decided to put out photocopied publications

called 'zines, most usually in small print runs of 50 copies

or so. Second Wave had a few of these at the time when I

was going in and out of the store buying records or being

social. Titles that stick out in my mind now are Deadman

Comics, Humpin' In The Back Room, Entertainment

Brantford and so on. When I saw these 'zines sitting on the

counter at Second Wave, I thought it was gold. Here are

people putting out their ideas for others to see later on, all

laid out and sitting on the counter to grab either for free, or

for whatever other price the creator of the zine decided was

right. After all these years those print 'zines for me still hang

on into the future more so then any typed out, methodically

thought-up, lit-up, on/off pixel of a computer screen.

Seeing the 'zines inspired me to make my own monthly zine

that was all based on poetry, short stories and art. I called it

the zine Monster and got a small group of friends to help

write for it. The same approach could be said about The

Advocate in relation to zines, though on a bit of a larger

scale. In reading smaller more locally based print media

you feel closer to your community more so then any larger

national print publications.

It is that early inspiration with reading and making zines

that draws me to come to this next coming thought. I find

the small business equally as inspiring as seeing a small

zine. To the right person they seem to inspire thought more

then a larger chain or big-box store. The advantage that the

small business has is the ability to still truly be local and

in-the-community. There is no committee set up on how

to relate to the community, it just happens. The small

business committee is sitting there behind the counter or in

front of it talking to you and looking you in the eye as soon

as you walk through their door. It is this hands-on social

approach to customers that larger chain stores can neverseem to deliver to you as a customer. Maybe McDonald's

tried to do this by adding the free smile to their menu,

although this has been removed from their menus now.

Maybe the thought of someone one ordering two cheese-

burgers, fries and eight smiles proved too daunting. The

personal approach to customer service is what I enjoy about

small businesses.

Recently I've had the ability to be up close with people in

the time that I spend helping out the Mixdown record store

in downtown Brantford. At the Mixdown I still maintain

that I want to chat with people about music and whatnot in

Brantford and Brant since I found this so inspirational back

when I would hangout at Second Wave in the 1990s. It is

nice to see in the Mixdown that bands can still bring in their

wears and have that look on their face that their album is in

a store. It seems like a rite of passage. To come full circle,

there are even zines at the Mixdown available from time-

to-time for people to linger into that area of sedentary

sociability.

by Rob MichalchukFacebook: Rob Michalchuk

The Family BusinessIf you ask anyone who knows me what is my most

recognizable characteristic, besides my shoes.... they would

most likely answer "Stacey knows everyone!" I have to

admit that I am very proud of how many people I know,

and that they are mostly from my hometown of Brantford.

I have never for even a fleeting moment thought that I

wanted to leave Brantford. Its as though the Grand River

flows through my veins. I had a very fun and interesting

childhood, although I never really ventured far from home.

Our family vacations only took us as far as Florida to

Disneyland or Kingston and Ottawa to visit relatives.

However I never seem to run out of stories to tell.

As a young girl my parents owned small family businesses.One of which was a Christian Bookstore called The Ark

that was in the Brantford Mall back in the day. My Dad had

a Furniture store called Cox's furniture that was on Erie Ave

at a time when you could drive right down Market Street

to get there, before driving into the Eaton Market Square.

Besides those two businesses, as I entered my teen years

my parents also owned the Hallmark Store when the Eaton

Market Square opened in the 80s, and my Mother has had

a few different Home Interiors stores over the years.

My sister Angie and I can both tell you of the fun we had

growing up in family businesses, although we were

probably oblivious to the blood sweat and tears that our

parents put into them. Other kids may have had horseback

riding lessons, but Angie and I had a pair of "runaway"

mechanical horses that were in their coral just outside the

bookstore. We would spend hours having fun pretending to

be cowgirls. When other kids whose moms worked had to

have a bag lunch, my sister and I could walk down the street

from our school to meet up with our mom at the store. It

was really cool getting to go to Lil' Julies for a Pogo and a

Pineapple Julie, and the nice lady who ran the Butt's n Bows

would usually treat Angie and I to a Kinder Egg. And what

other kids got to use the private washrooms!!

When we would visit our Dad at the furniture store, the man

who owned the building used to own a hardware store, so

he stored a lot of old inventory in the basement. Well, two

little girls could make a lot of really cool Barbie stuff outof some old chain and cardboard triangles. Again, while

Mom and Dad worked away making ends meet, my sister

and I were happy to be there, and had lots of fun. Never

realizing that it wasn't the "norm" to be playing where our

parents worked.

I can remember kids at school thinking that it was cool that

my parents owned businesses, and that we must be rich!! I

remember thinking that the kids that went to Mexico for

March break were the rich ones!! Its funny what we

perceive as "rich". Now when I look back on my childhood

and what it was like to have family businesses, I realize just

how "rich" we were! Its not the life for everyone, but for

ours it worked. It enabled my parents to provide a livelihood

for themselves and we were still able to spend lots of time

together as a family. Some of the most special memories I

have from growing up are helping my parents with the

preparations of Christmas Open Houses. Our parents took

us to the trade shows to help pick out some of the new

inventory for the stores. How many kids had a room of 100

Lazyboy chairs to recline up and down on, and had a library

of books to read at their fingertips?

I know so many wonderful people in this town, and I know

that most of them I have met through the years at these

businesses. The ladies that adorned my children with

beautiful outfits and handmade blankets when they were

born, were those I met when I as an adult and worked with

my mother. I run into wonderful people everyday that re-member me helping at my parents shops.

I am also honored to know so many wonderful small

business owners in Brantford. I understand the hard work

that goes into turning that key everyday, not only to provide

a service to our community but also to provide for their

families. A family business means just that; its the whole

family that participates and contributes to its success.

Although most of the small business owners never make it

"rich", there are a lot of benefits to spending time with their

families, and meeting amazing people that money just

cannot buy.

by Stacey FarrantTwitter: @BrantfordDiva

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10/12


My most recent experience in proving this statementhas been an effort to reduce the number of books I

have accumulated over several decades. I have walls

with shelves of books and boxes of books that have

been unopened since we arrived in Brantford. A

rational person would approach the dealing with this

situation very simply. They would determine what is

imperative to keep, what they really enjoyed, and the

balance would be up for grabs in the, do I keep it,

or do I get rid of it, category.

With todays technology, the decision should even be

much simpler. What can I get on Kindle, and what

cant I get. But it seems that the getting is not really

the issue. Its the feel and smell of the paper, the turning

of the page to find out whats going to happen next,

and the careful placing of the bookmark that drives

my reading experience. Perhaps its not cool, but its

who I am. If you understand that, then you can

understand the complexity of my problem. The

books that I own have had some value at some point

in my life. So how do I separate memory from utility?

My plan of action was to divide them by category.

Travel in one pile, geography, history, politics,

economics, business, management, accounting,

legal, cooking, technological, fiction English, and

fiction French in others. That part was easy. Then

came the prioritizing of categories. Clearly, cooking

and travel were untouchable. Who knows when I

would want to visit Antarctica, or to test a new

barbeque recipe. All of those books went back up on

the shelf and I was comforted knowing that I had the

knowledge available to eat and travel at my pleasure.

Of course, if I was going to travel, I needed to

understand the geography of the regions I travelled.

So up went the geography books. So far, this was

easy! The technological category was the easiest to

deal with. I subdivided it into user type manuals, and

dissertations on the value of technology or techno-

logical change. For the user manuals, I asked myselfif I actually utilized the technology they explained or

if they would be available online. Surprisingly, I

discovered that I had abandoned many of the

technologies years earlier and that the manuals were

now redundant. Current technologies were now

available online. Wow, I just reduced my pile by

twenty-seven books. A small amount, but a beginning.

Of course, all of the books related to technological

value and change were keepers. Who knows when I

would need to refer to them to address some

arg ument or to write about technological impact.

Economics, management, accounting, and legal were

the next categories that I approached. This should

have been easy. Management principles change.

Economic theories constantly evolve. Accounting

practices are updated regularly. The law is an evolving

concept. Rational people would keep the latest

concepts and abandon the outdated. Not me. I found

excuses to keep almost every book. So a quarter of

the way through my piles, my shelves were halfway

full. This did not bode well in accomplishing my goalof reducing the number of books in my possession.

In fact, the categories that I really cared about,

history, politics, and fiction were yet to come. It was

at this point that I realized that I am a hoarder of

books and that I needed an intervention.

No one, however, was going to come and intervene.

What I really needed was guts, the hard edge to make

rational decisions rather than satisfy my whims. So

it was back to basics and I began all over. If I wasnt

going to go to Antarctica, was there a practical reason

for keeping the book when I could get it elsewhere

if I changed my mind? If I didnt barbeque, why keep

a barbequing recipe book? And so it went. The

twenty-seven books became almost two hundred. It

was a painful process because it began with the

principle that I didnt need any of these books,

despite the fact that my heart said I did.

By the time I got to the fiction, history, and political

categories, I found that I had sufficient space available

that allowed me to keep some volume that might

have been a luxury had I not taken a hard-nosed

attitude in dealing with my inventory. At the end of

the day, I reduced my library by over 400 books.

Those that were of value, I sent to second-hand book

dealers. The balance, I recycled.

For someone who loves books as much as I do and

who takes pride of ownership, this was a tough

experience. At the same time, it had to be done or the

number of books in storage would only have

increased because I will be buying other books.

In many respects, my pers

The Brant Advocate, Issue 14, October 2012

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Transcript of The Brant Advocate, Issue 14, October 2012