January 2012 Please Take One

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An Open Letter from The Brant Advocate Team. This is your Year! At The Brant Advocate, we're excited for what 2012 will bring to our community. We're excited because we've made a pledge to serve as a publication that reflects the community. With the help of those voices who have contributed over the last several months, we've filled this publication with the stories and photos of just some of the many interesting, heartwarming, informative and even controversial facets of Brantford, Brant and Six Nations. In 2012 we hope to do more for this community, but we need your help. Send in your story ideas, submissions and feedback to contact@brantadvocate.com. This is your year. This is your publication. Sincere thanks and warm wishes for 2012.

Photo courtesy of Ida Adamowicz

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January 2012

Finding Transition in Tradition

Editorial by Andrew Macklin
A communitys image is often defined by the traditions that it keeps. For some its the industries that power their community, things like manufacturing, mining, and technology. For others, its the great successes of their native sons and daughters, achieving greatness through innovation, invention, and athleticism. You can often find these declarative definitions at the gateways to each community, nestled in the welcome signs that greet you as you pass through. Brantford, Brant County, and Six Nations are no different. Brantford is the city that prides itself on community figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Wayne Gretzky, and the rich history as a manufacturing hub and a Best Bloomin City. The County, as well as Six Nations, are filled with longstanding traditions. The Paris, Burford and Six Nations Fairs have each lasted more than 140 years. They are complimented by evolving events that draw new audiences to their communities like the Grand River Pow Wow, Applefest and the Cobblestone Festival. The events represent the traditions of old and the transitions to new. They showcase a communitys historical values while sensing the need to evolve into something different, something that helps to compliment the way the town is now rather than the way it was then. Brantford is a city in a difficult position when it comes to tradition. Its a city that was frowned upon for so many years now fighting to show itself as a community on the rise. From the ashes of the devastating loss of a strong manufacturing sector, Brantford, lead by an ever-increasing group of community leaders, looks to transition to new traditions that will help to build the community its citizens want it to become. In the first 12 hours of 2012, Brantford will host three distinctly different events. Each one of these events is at a different level of establishment as a community tradition. But more importantly, each helps to show a signal of a community undergoing an evolution, one that compliments what is already happening in the surrounding communities. Brantford starts 2012 with a New Years celebration in Harmony Square. The downtown landmark has become the site of many events that hope to become community traditions, as well as becoming to the new home to established traditions. It brings the community together for a traditional event that crosses all ages, classes, and cultures. It does so in a family friendly environment that reaches out to all corners of the community. This event is a tradition nearing establishment, one that hopes to reach out to those both new and old to this community. Later that morning, a new event will emerge from an old community tradition. The 2012 Brantford Tournament of Races kicks off with the New Years Resolution run, the first of a series of six races to be held throughout the year. The running series is the evolution of an athletic institution in Brant. Running has deep roots here, with names like Mannen, Sullivan, and Duchene known throughout the sport both nationally and internationally. The Tournament is a representation of the traditions to come, the transition of our traditions into the fabric of an evolving community. Immediately following the race is the 16th annual Mayors Levee held at the Brantford Armouries. Established during Mayor Chris Friels first term in office, this event brings politicians from Brantford, Brant, and Six Nations in a unifying spirit to help start the coming year with a sense of promise. Its an open invitation to hear community leaders speak about the

Brantford is a city in a difficult position when it comes to tradition.

promise of things to come in the tradition of cooperation. These are three events with three emerging traditions all within the same day in Brantford. All three build on existing traditions: the celebration of a universal occasion, our relationship with running, and the spirit of cooperation. All three represent the fundamental values of a community in transition by presenting the traditions of the past in a way that reaches out to everyone in the community, not just those who have been there for a long time. As Brantford continues to look towards future prosperity, the community must look for ways to emerge from the past. Yes, there are some elements of Brantfords past that made the community great. But many of those traditions have either fallen by the wayside, or have failed to stand the test of time. It is up to the leaders of this community to help Brantford rise up and form new traditions that remind people of the past but also embrace the future. This year begins with a look towards our future. With so many exciting new events on the horizon for the rest of 2012, it is my hope that Brantford will be motivated to continue to work towards a full transition into the prosperous community that it once was. email: contact@brantadvocate.com www.brantadvocate.com Twitter: @brantadvocate Facebook: The Brant Advocate

Southside Colborne Street, early years.

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As the Education Extension Officer at Woodland Cultural Centre, I receive many requests to do workshops and presentations. The request I receive most often is can you come and do drumming? I do own an Anishinaabe hand drum. I sing and play it because I love the sound of it. But if I were to play my own Haudenosaunee drum it would be a water drum, less impressive in size but still rich and beautiful in tone. Im not a drummer so I do not offer this as a workshop. The second request I get most often is, can you come and teach pow wow dancing? I know the round dance. It has a noteworthy meaning with simple steps, not very exciting as pow wow dances go, so I know this is not what the teacher is looking for.

Once I was asked, Can you wear your Indian clothes for the students to look at? I immediately look down at what I am wearing and I think how disappointed the children are going to be! I have discovered since working at Woodland Cultural Centre that some phone calls will afford me opportunities to be offended. But If I am in the position to educate, then my response to any of these requests is to welcome the opportunity to correct misconceptions. I cant blame people who ask what I consider stereotypical requests. I realize that most people, that even though they may have lived their whole lives here in Canada, they have not been taught about First Nations people in a way that is accurate and respectful. Even my own elementary school memories contain the image of I is for Indian. Today, there are many diverse cultures represented in our classrooms. So more than ever before, we need to open our minds of understanding, celebrate that diversity, and give children the opportunity to be proud of their heritage. I have met some extraordinary educators who have made an effort to learn about Haudenosaunee traditions and culture, and have been willing to look at contemporary issues First

Nations people are faced with. They have invited me to their educational institutes, or they have brought their students to the Woodland Cultural Centre Museum to go beyond the surface level of what has been required of them to teach in their classrooms. I applaud these teachers. The Woodland Cultural Centre is, and has always been, here to give support to anyone who is interested in knowing more. Each diverse culture has value and integrity that we can choose to accept and appreciate. I can only speak for mine because I have had the privilege of growing up on Six Nations, and I have spent all my life living within this culture. We are all human beings and we all have language, family values, oral traditions, history, worldviews, government, education and a health practices. All of these things are based on our culture. They are the stories we have been told, and are the teachings of our elders that pass this knowledge down to each generation. So when I see the teaching of Aboriginal Studies, by making dreamcatchers and cardboard longhouses, I cant help but feel students have not been giving enough information of whose culture these items represent and what their significance is. Some have rushed passed and some have stopped and taken the time to be accurate and respectful in teaching the culture of the Haudenosaunee; People of the Longhouse.

Information of First Nations people can be studied not only in Social Studies, but in Science, Geography, Physical Education, Family Studies, Math and Art. I am continually finding ways to have workshops in every subject in every grade. When I was asked to teach moccasin making and beading, I took on the challenge of practicing what I preach. I do not know how to do either of these, but I said yes. I taught the geographical history of the moccasin, who wore them, why and the differences from Nation to Nation. I taught the beadwork styles, how different they are from each Nation and what the symbols mean, what kind of beads were used and how do moccasins look today. We designed a beading pattern, created a moccasin toe out of clay, and carefully created their sketches out of beads that were painstakingly placed into the clay using a toothpick. Now these students were ready to actually have someone come and teach them to make moccasins and to bead them. They now could appreciate the cultural importance of the moccasin and the individual meanings of the beadwork. Exposing students to the culture of First Nations peoples history and contemporary issues promotes understanding and this will build healthy relationships within a community. I believe the classroom is the perfect place to derail the image that I is for Indian. As a visual artist, when I teach, I like to use contemporary art in the classroom, so that students will know that the Haudenosaunee are contemporary people who live in the modern world but have continued their ancient worldviews. I read a quote one time; Im not sure where or by who but it has always stuck with me. We have misunderstood each other for hundreds of years and healing of relationships will not come easily, quickly or without effort. So every day I consciously make that effort to take down walls of misunderstanding and to build relationships based on respect.

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January 2012

Building a Relationship
By Pat Duguid & Trish Kings
The Rotary Club of Brantford has a long history of raising funds for community causes that desperately need the financial support. Focusing on the needs of children, Rotary's assistance has had a significant impact on the development on some of this community's strongest youth support programs. One of those support programs has been the Boys' and Girls' Club of Brantford. The support of this program, from day one, has created a positive environment that has helped thousands of youth in our community. The Rotary Club of Brantford founded the Boys Club in December of 1969, when a group of individuals believed that our community needed a place for boys to grow, and to find some structure. Although the Boys Club of Brantford opened in December of 1969, Lt. Governor W. Ross MacDonald officially opened the Club located in a church basement at 112 Darling Street, on Friday March 13th, 1970. Both the clubhouse, and initial operating funds for the project, were provided by the Rotary Club of Brantford. In its first year of operation the Club had a membership of 406 boys. Due to a growing membership and the need for additional space, a building at 121 Darling Street was purchased in 1972. This would be a clubhouse for the next 17 years. Also in 1972, one headline in the Brantford Expositor read Another Masculine Bastion is Broken, following the announcement that programs for girls were now being incorporated, one night per week. This was also the year when one of the longest running programs of the Club was introduced, boxing. This program produced many talented athletes, including a member who held the Ontario Junior Featherweight title and went on to win the Canadian Junior Amateur title. In 1975, the club officially changed its name to the Boys' & Girls' Club of Brantford and programs for both boys and girls were fully integrated. At a Club function in 1979, W.D.H. Gardiner, Vice-Chairman of the Royal Bank of Canada, said the Rotary Club of Brantford "has played a key role in setting the stage for the Brantford Boys' & Girls' Club success." This statement rang true as a new gymnasium was added to the facility in the same year. In 1985 Kiddy Korner Preschool, providing half day programs for preschoolers, was also added. Around 1986, the Club was quickly running out of space to accommodate the growing membership and programs, and the Board of Directors began the task of developing a capital campaign for the construction of a new facility. Once again, the Rotary Club of Brantford was instrumental in the success of this project, assisting the Club in many ways including raising funds through three home draws. In September of 1989, the Boys' & Girls' Club and the Rotary Club of Brantford celebrated the official opening of The Rotary Centre - Community, Youth & Fitness. The new 35,000 square foot facility provided expanded services to the community, the preschool program grew into a full daycare programs, adult and senior fitness and wellness programs were developed and our youth members reaped the benefits of a new facility for their recreation and leisure needs. The current building was named The Rotary Centre as a tribute to the Rotary Club of Brantford for founding and continuing to support the Boys' & Girls' Club. The Boys and Girls Club of Brantford has come a long way since its humble beginnings. And it was people like George Campbell and Len Ellins who made it all happen. When we started we were in a church basement, and boy was it ever small, Ellins said in an interview. When we opened we only had five or six, maybe 10 kids, but it sure mushroomed once word got out that we were open. Ellins and Campbell were both instrumental in opening the club, and they were honoured for their efforts as the club celebrated its 25th birthday. Both were presented with plaques recognizing their 25 years of work in building the club. Both men have been members of the clubs board of directors for the past 25 years and have served terms as president.

In Their Own Words...

"For many years the Boys' and Girls' Club of Brantford has played a key role in supporting children and youth in our community. Many children and youth in our schools have benefitted from the programs that have been offered. These programs and activities provide a safe and supportive place where children and youth feel empowered to speak up about their needs and the needs of other youth. It is critically important that these types of programs in our community are supported and sustained. All of us have a responsibility to support the dreams, hopes and aspirations of all children and youth." Trish Kings, President of the Rotary Club of Brantford. "I think the Boys & Girls Club has always been a safe place for kids to be. I grew up in Moncton and spent a lot of time at the Boys & Girls Club. I learned how to box and I think spending time there helped build my self-esteem and kept me focussed on positive things." Robert Caissie, owner of 13 Culligan dealerships & honourary member of the Rotary Club of Brantford.

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January 2012

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How Generosity Changes Lives

By Patti Berardi

Becoming a parent changes your life. Many new parents embark upon a research mission to seek out everything they need to know about raising a baby. Some might seek out early learning and development programs in their community, while others might head to Amazon and order an arm full of books to equip them with the answers to all of their new parent questions. Many parents however, are not aware of how they can seek out this information, or may be new Canadians that speak very little English. Some parents in our community are teenagers with unplanned pregnancies. For them, becoming a new parent may be scarier and they may feel lost and unsupported. The Launch Pad in Brantford is a place that supports all parents, caregivers and children from newborns to six year olds. Its a free drop-in program that operates out of Graham Bell-Victoria School. At the Launch Pad children can play, socialize with other children, explore, and just be kids in a safe environment. The program is facilitated by Jane Flinders, a Registered Early Childhood Educator. Jane also provides support to parents and caregivers by answering questions about development, challenging behaviours and nutrition. She also leads the children and parents in a circle time each day where they explore literacy through music, rhymes and reading. The Launch Pad concept is the brain child of the late Dr. Fraser Mustard. Mustards research taught us that a babys brain is wired during the first year. A babys brain contains 100 billion neurons and will grow trillions of brain-cell connections during the first year. These connections are called synapses, and they need to be wired together through stimulation. If these synapses are not wired during the first year, theyre lost during the childs school years. Basically, the brain works on a use it or lose it basis. These early experiences set the stage. The Launch Pad helps parents learn what they can do with their children to give them the best start. They operate on the belief that parents are the first and most important teachers in a childs life.

Its whats right for society, says Bill. Bill posed a question to Sharon. If I write you a cheque today, could you open another parenting centre by September? Sharon was surprised at his question. In her experience, she had to work really hard to convince people of the importance of investing in early learning. Bills question felt like a dream come true. The reality of opening a centre in 3 weeks was a challenge, but Sharon didnt want to lose the opportunity and said: I can do it by October! Bill and his wife Dorothy committed to funding the Launch Pad each year. They provided the start-up capital to set up the centre, and continue to fund the yearly operating costs. The Grand Erie School Board provides the space for free. The concept of locating a Launch Pad within a school helps children to be ready for kindergarten, and gives parents a chance to become a part of the school community before their children attend kindergarten. Dr. Fraser Mustard attended the opening of the Launch Pad on October 1, 2007. One of the challenges the Launch Pad faced was that some families had trouble arranging transportation to come to the site. Sharon told Bill about this, and he agreed to pay for families to take a taxi. They created a program where families could call ahead and book a taxi to get to the Launch Pad. In the first month, the taxi bill was higher than Sharon had expected. Nervously she called Bill to tell him and his response was: Isnt it great that people are coming to the Launch Pad? Bill and Dorothy loved the concept of the Launch Pad, and they wanted it to be available to all families. The couple has two children but do not have any grand-children. By supporting the Launch Pad, its like we have lots of little grandchildren, Bill says with a chuckle. He regularly stops in to visit the program and always comes at Circle Time. I just love how Jane tricks all of the kids into learning their numbers and ABCs by singing and dancing. Its great to see that the kids just know what will be coming next in the circle time and they get really excited. Theyre learning while theyre having fun! It really is quite something to see.

Sharon Brooks, the Executive Director of Kids Can Fly, brought Dr. Fraser Mustard to Brantford to present to the Rotary Club about his research. That presentation stuck in Rotarian Bill Campbells mind. Fellow Rotarian Jackie Delong was a board member for Kids Can Fly, and had worked with Sharon to open early learning and parenting centres in Brant. A meeting was booked for Sharon to meet with Bill in August of 2007.

Hundreds of families have benefitted from visiting the Launch Pad, and Bill and Dorothy have continued to champion investing in early learning and development.

Since 2007, Bill and Dorothy have funded 100% of the Launch Pads cost through a private donation to Kids Can Fly. Hundreds of families have benefitted from visiting the Launch Pad, and Bill and Dorothy have continued to champion investing in early learning and development. The Launch Pad is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00am 12:00pm at Graham Bell Victoria School, located at 56 Grand Street in Brantford. It is FREE, and everyone is welcome. The program is for children from birth to age 6, as well as parents and caregivers. Families can seek free transportation through Brant Taxi at 519-752-1010. For more information on the Launch Pad, visit www.kidscanfly.ca.

Sharon came to the meeting equipped with her usual portfolio of research preparing to educate Bill on the reason why investing in early learning is crucial. Sharon says, He opened our discussion by saying that he didnt need to see this as he was already a convert. I knew that investing in early learning was a good thing to do. The long-term benefits are great. It reduces crime and poverty and encourages a higher level of learning.

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January 2012

Photograph courtesy of The Photohouse, c/o Paul Smith.

Winning the Battle with SAD

By Bekah Pitts
The winter months can be a hard time of year. First we struggle with colder weather, shorter days, holiday anxiety, family tension and all the rest of it. Then after we have successfully survived the holiday season, we are faced with a number of grey weeks that turn into months. We are then also tasked with colds, poor driving conditions and frustration which makes spring feel like it is eons away. With 90 days to go until the bloom of spring, we need to find ways to keep our spirits up and for some, to battle Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. As a form of depression, many people experience the common symptoms of: Increased appetite with weight gain Increased sleep and daytime sleepiness Less energy and ability to concentrate in the afternoon Loss of interest in work or other activities Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement Social withdrawal Unhappiness and irritability professional. That being said, there are a number of basic tactics we can all use when faced with a sluggish day with a little desire to do anything. Proper sleep - We often think of sleep as providing us with extra energy, but in some cases it may be adding to our sluggishness. That being said, it is also important to be sure we are sleeping on a regular routine and catching all of the hours we may need in a night. Diet and Exercise - This will not only help your mood control, but will have the obvious physical effects. Exercise will also increase your light exposure. Keeping a healthy diet will help avoid any unnecessary weight gain that may affect your overall mood and self image. Herbs, Vitamins and Supplements - As part of a healthy diet, it is important to be sure you are meeting all of your daily intake requirements. Stress Management - We all take advantage of the summer months to take vacation and time for ourselves. This could also be considered for the winter months. More Light - Living and working in a well lit environment will help you to feel more cheerful and comfortable. Keeping social - Keeping busy and engaged will help you to avoid the bad habits we all fall into when the bad weather hits. As someone who has struggled with seasonality, I also have recognized the importance of acknowledging and accepting this. It can take more work and energy to make sure I am eating, sleeping and exercising properly and regularly, but I also know what it feels like when this becomes unbalanced. For anyone who may be experiencing the winter blues, I recommend you go and speak to a professional. This is a very common disorder that many of the population face.
To learn more: Rosenthal, N.E. (2006). Winter blues: everything you need to know to beat seasonal affective disorder. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Vorvick, L.J. (2011). Seasonal affective disorder. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002499/

So how do we combat the harder days? For some people, it can be as basic as finding the energy to get outside and partake in basic exercise. For others, it can take a little more motivation, and in some cases, assistance from a

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Rockin The Suburbs: The Protest Movement in Brantford

By Marc Laferriere
Time Magazine bestowed its annual Person of The Year title for 2011 on The Protester. To some the protester is seen as a motley crew of whiners and cry-babies. With the Occupy Movement we almost literally had Archie Bunker types from Toronto City Hall yelling "get off my lawn." It would be comical if it wasn't so serious. To others still, like the editorial team at Time, in the past year the protester has been "more consequential" partly because "do-it-yourself democratic politics became globalized." Sure, there has been a lot of press about national and international protests recently. A lot has been written about the use of the internet (more specifically social media) as an organizing tool. I've seen that one in play myself and it is fairly effective. Yet as connected as we all are we have to remember the internet doesn't create the protest. It's just the newest tool to help those who organize do what they do. Canada has an incredible history of effective public protests that in the fullness of time most people would say were useful. Some of these sparked consequential change like when our Veterans returned from World War 2 and took to the streets demanding investments in public housing. I've looked through many photographs from that time and I'm always impressed at the boldness of those protesters. I couldn't help but think about how witty their signs were and how much more powerful the images were than any tweet could ever be. "From foxholes to shacks!! We had more room in the foxholes," is just one of the signs from the archives that illustrate my point. Putting the global and historical context for protests aside, what about Brantford and the surrounding area's history? How do we stack up to the national and international protest scene? While we haven't overthrown any dictators or had sleeping bags dotting the horizon line on the South Side of Colborne I'd say the protest movement is alive and well here. Actually, protests and public gatherings are becoming a regular feature of our local landscape. I see three types of protests that have created conversation in our community. Clockwork Protests From the once-a-year, out-of-town crew that come in to protest in their underwear about fur on Wayne Gretzky Parkway, to the crew on the other side of the spectrum that sets up shop each year on King George Rd. to protest abortion. These are regular features of the local protest movement that happen every year like clockwork and likely will for some time. These happen in cities all over the country and are as similar in those other cities as our Wal-Mart is to the one in Peterborough. Get-on-the-bus Protests This is when we lend our people power to national or provincial movements. From religious leaders to young activists, Brantford and area has been fairly well-represented at: the G8 protests, the No Prorogue movement, Parliament Hill protests about First Nations taxation, the Anti-Usage Based Rally (#UBB), Vote Mobs, the CPP sit-in in Oshawa, Occupy Toronto and many others. Our geography makes us one of the best places in the country to live. We're so close to so much it makes sense that we can and do travel to major cities for protests and large public gatherings too. Im always impressed when I see LGBTQ rights movement. Despite all those I've just listed I know I'm still missing some and I believe there are many more to come in 2012. We are an organized, passionate and compassionate community, and the move toward protest and public gathering on issues is very strong. Further, I've been noticing a few things at these gatherings. They're more frequent, they're more family friendly and they're getting larger. Its not just the usual suspects attending either. What I mean is that, as someone who has participated in many of these, I'm actually seeing less people I recognize yet more people in general. Young, old and everyone in between, from all different demographics and political persuasions, are beginning to appear at these community gatherings.

After an Anti-Bullying/LGBT rally in late December I received an e-mail from someone in attendance that said this: "I'm new at all this standing up for what is right. I want to become more involved." I hear a version of this all the time and it is very exciting when people learn to act and organize around their passions. Whether you agree or disagree with the points of view of those protesting or gathering the fact that so many are doing this shows we are a concerned and engaged community. So, while I dont expect the local Canadian Tire will have a run on protest tents this winter and I dont think well be occupying the rye grass on the South Side hill any time soon, I do believe that the option of protests, vigils and public gatherings is occupying the headspace of more and more of us and will continue to as we look ahead at the rest of 2012. Dedication people I recognize from the area at these events. I remember being the only person from outside of Toronto to speak at the anti-UBB rally in Dundas Square. I had gone up with one friend who was with me on stage. I was absolutely taken aback by the cheers when I mentioned Brantford in my opening. A lot of our local students were in attendance as were former residents who now live in Toronto. Walter Gretzky is right; that Brantford really is the centre of the universe. Local Focal Protests What I find most interesting though is the local protest scene. Over the last 3 years, the depth and breadth of protest we are experiencing here is huge. We've seen protests and public gatherings big and small over a wide range of local issues. The long list includes: development along the Grand River, the demolition of the South Side of Colborne, the Postal Strike, the dispute at ECP, the use of temporary work agencies, taking the HST off home heating, land claims, poverty & homelessness, domestic violence, peace festivals, rendering plants in St. George, mental health and addiction, Earth Hour, and most recently, a burgeoning This column was written immediately following the funeral of a friend taken by cancer at the very early age of 56. A proud family man, business man and community helper who struggled for years coming to grips with his sexuality. With the support of his family and his strong faith he was able to live the last several years of his life as his truest self. He found a great deal of self-acceptance and acceptance from those who loved and worked with him. I'd like to dedicate this month's column to his memory. I spoke about him at the December Anti Bullying / LGBTQ rally after having just found out about his passing. I told a portion of his story. I cried. Many in attendance who had never met him shared their tears too. I was worried I may have stepped over some line sharing that part of his story. Even though it meant a lot to those gathered at the rally it may not have been my story to tell. In the emotion of that day it just came out. I was mentioning this to both his daughter and his partner as I left the funeral service. "Dad would have loved that," his daughter replied. "That was so him." "That's what Steve wanted to do next," his partner told me. "Help others who had been in his shoes, especially youth. That's perfect."

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January 2012

Shifting Priorities
By Becca Vandekemp
When youre a student, December means crunch time. For most of the month, I spent almost every day doing schoolwork alongside my friends. We had this one study space where we always ended up. It had a great view of the street. Every so often, we would take study breaks and watch people scurrying along, frantically trying to reach their next destination. Cars passed in steady droves, and we wondered who was inside, where they were going, and how they were feeling. They all looked so small from where we sat, and their agendas seemed to shrink in importance with them. Noticing that made us feel small too. We began to question how important the work we thought was so vital actually was. It jarred us a bit. One day, right in the middle of the height of our workloads, one member of our little clique was faced with an unexpected change. She was called home because her grandmother was on her deathbed. Suddenly her priorities shifted, and she was able to rearrange her plans quite easily. Its what you have to do when life happens. For the record, her grandmother is doing okay now, but between watching the city from that vantage and seeing how quickly we can be forced to adapt to new situations, I got thinking about change. Change generally happens through one of two ways: internal forces or external forces. We decide what we do each day until the world changes on us and we adapt or until we instigate our own changes. New Years has always intrigued me for that reason. Even though I have never really done the whole New Years Resolution thing, Ive always thought it was pretty cool. What other force is so unstoppable as time? We are powerless to stop the ushering in of a new year. So what do we do? Get all in-yo-face by countering it with our own decision to change something. The thing is that when we make changes, we have to be all in, and we dont need any kind of excuse to make those changes happen. If its time to lose weight, we just have to decide to start losing weight. If its time to go back to school, just go back to school. If its time to start spending our money more wisely, start spending money more wisely. If its time to start getting more involved in your community, get more involved. If there are any other big changes sitting on our to-do lists, we dont have to wait until a New Years celebration to say well follow through on that change. Of course we can respond to all of those statements with but, but if we want to go forward, we have to trust that things will work out. Its annoyingly simple. When life happens, we are able to adjust. Grandmothers almost die, cars smack into each other, bills get missed, new friendships are formed, jobs get lost, and countless other events occur all the time. We rarely have control over them, but we find ways to work around them. Sometimes we treat internal forces with less respect than external forces. We act as if the changes we impose on ourselves are not nearly as important as others, but if we want those changes to happen, we have to treat our resolutions with respect. Most of us already know what needs to change in our own lives. How do we go about making that change into something real? We just do it. Make a commitment and stick to it. Chances are, we can figure out how to make everything else work around it. Its never too late to make a resolution. The things in our way are rarely as big as we think they are.

Blame it on My Parents
By Paul Thomson
Let me start with some background so you will know where I come from, what has led me to this, what has programmed my hard drive if you will. I grew up on a farm in southern New Brunswick in the fifties & sixties. I can remember my first day of Grade One. I remember seeing a truckload of brand new 1956 Chevrolet cars going by on the road as I was getting into my Dads car for that first ride to school. Ahh yes September of 1955. My parents were good, honest, hard working people who were always working at something. My Dad was up before the crack of dawn to milk his herd of prized Holstein cattle. Mom would have breakfast ready for my brother David, Dad and I by 8:00 a.m. so we could have a ride to school. Some days I would take my bike, some days I would walk. It was not that far, but it was uphill both ways and well, you know the rest. Mom would be occupied for most of the summer/fall seasons preserving jam, jelly, freezing vegetables from our garden and playing the church organ for weekly services, weddings, funerals and any other income producing opportunity that came along. Fall and winter had Mom going to town with Dad on Tuesday evening for choir practice and Sunday for church. She was the organist at one and then the other local mainstream churches for thirty plus years. In the late fifties, my Dad was tiring of the dairy industry, particularly the farming part of it, or the 5:00 a.m. part or, the losing money part, Im not sure what actually triggered his decision to sell the cattle and become the editor of a farm newspaper. But he did and Im glad he did. With Dad now employed in the Dairy Center of the Maritimes, it was not long before he was invited to join the local Kiwanis Club. It was, at that time, a group of men who I knew and respected as the pillars of society in the community and our church. The Club met on Thursday evenings in our church hall, was catered by the ladies of the church and the music (piano) was provided by, guess who??? My Mom. After leaving high school and taking a course in Motor Vehicle Repair, I was in a quandary as to my future life. I couldnt seem to find an opportunity where I was satisfied with the hours, pay check or other people, particularly those in authority. I found myself between positions at Christmas, 1968, when a friend, Robert, invited me to come to Upper Canada for a visit. The opportunity for employment was also available, he said. So Boxing Day, bright and early, Robert and I set off on a trip that determined a lot of my life from that point. My plan was to check it out for a few months and then return home. I returned to my NB home, usually twice a year, for Christmas and summer vacation time. Since I was my Dads guest at Kiwanis on several occasions, I appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to see all the men who I had grown up with and respected. My Dad progressed in the organization, becoming Club President and then Secretary of the Club. As fate would have it, he was the Chairman of the Committee that built the Kiwanis Nursing Home where he passed away in 1992. My Mom continued to provide the music and became the first female member in 1987, when females were finally allowed by Kiwanis International. She continued her membership until she passed away in 2002. Dads passing came at a time when my wife Laura and I were planning a move from Toronto. We had a daughter about to enter high school in an area of the city that wasnt safe anymore. It was no longer Toronto the Good. On a friends recommendation, we moved to Brantford. Laura commuted to Toronto for several years, while I did for a few months until I found employment locally. Our daughter Isabel attended Assumption College and I believe that was the best decision we ever made with her. Protests about uniform were replaced with enthusiasm for education, drama and art shortly after. Our late arriving son, Owen, went to day care. On the advice of my dear wife, I called the Kiwanis Club of Brantford, to see how I could apply for membership. I did not do any other investigation. I did not check out any of the other service clubs. I didnt have to, since I knew what a Kiwanian stood for from attending with my father. It didnt take long before I was asked to join the Board of Directors. When a board member resigned from the Club, I was asked to fill in since I was there anyway. I was put on a few committees as a member and remember enjoying my work with the Key Club group the most. My older brother had been in Key Club and a friend of mine in high school, Frank McKenna was as well. You may recognize Franks name. He went on to have a successful law career before spending a few terms as Premier of NB, before becoming Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. I eventually became President, and realized it would coincide with the Millennium. What did I want the Brant Kiwanis Family to look like in 2000 when I was done? What could we do, as a Club, to make a mark on this community? I started talking to people to find out what we needed to do. I asked a few people to help me. They, thankfully, said Yes. Most of the rest is public record. From that habit came the Childrens Safety Village of Brant, the Kiwanis Club of Paris and the knowledge that hundreds of lives have been changed for the better because of some dreaming and help from people who said yes. My current project is to help the Kiwanis Club of Paris-Brant become the large, thriving community service group that it is capable of being. Were what is referred to as a 3-2-1 Club. We have one meeting a month. That is a business meeting that lasts about an hour. We are service oriented and do more servicing than meeting. Satellites are an option with our format, with 6-10 members working at a location away from the main club, but with the full support and cooperation of it. One item on my Kiwanis Bucket List is a Young Professionals Club, starting as a satellite, but emphasis on younger members. I once heard the statement It takes one to make a difference. I am proud to have been one and will continue to do what I can to make a difference in peoples lives. I believe in H.O.P.E (Help Other People Excel) I believe that if you have read this far, we need to find out if you are ONE, too.

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January 2012

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Page 9

Ridiculous Love
By Dave Carrol

People who dont fight in marriage concern me. My wife Krissy and I are scrappers. While dating, one of our first TALK talks, we decided to just tell each other every bad thing we've ever done to see if we still liked each other after. It was awkward and difficult and stirred up quite a wide array of emotions. The unexpected result was that after hearing it, like turned into love because it made us both want to fight for each others freedom. But we haven't always been able to be that mature about it. We celebrated our second anniversary in Accra, Ghana by eating a machete-cut pineapple from a roadside wheelbarrow and fighting with each other. It was a doozy too. We were just beginning the process of learning how to do marriage together and we were thrust into a situation where we were right beside each other 24/7. Sleeping in a broken bed ...sweating together. In taxis and Trotro buses... sweating together. In a classroom... sweating together. Sitting in various states of undress playing rummy and watching decades old reruns of The Bold and the Beautiful on Ghanaian TV... sweating together. We completely got on each others nerves. And when I say that, what I really mean is that we got to the point where every time the other did something, we were banking our anger so that at the next available outlet, we'd go down the same you did, you said, you are road again. That muggy night, we retreated to our bedroom to fight, and I was a particularly harsh jerk to my wife. I don't remember the specifics of what I said, but I do remember exactly what she

said. I watched her hit her breaking point and look up at me with tears in her eyes and say, Dave, I don't need you to criticize me anymore. What I need from you is to love me anyway. I need Ridiculous Love. When she said the words ridiculous love they hit me hard, and not in a fight back kinda way either. They were the first words that either of us had ever said during a fight that had settled something then and there. Our marriage changed that night. We instituted a policy of ridiculous love. The plan was that whenever she'd do something that made me mad, my job was not to give a death glare, criticize, or store up my anger to let it loose in an argument later. My job was to squeeze her hand and whisper the words ridiculous love into her ear. Her job was to reciprocate by saying out loud, "I receive it". And we made it our responsibilities to mean it, and do it... even if we didn't feel it. Ridiculous love is our policy until this very day. What it really is, is grace. Its unmerited favour. And its necessary to make marriage, and life, work. Marriage really is a fairy tale, but not in THAT way. Its a fairy tale that includes dragons, and fighting, and politics, and lost friends, and hurt feelings, and poverty, and, and, and, and... Your job is to squeeze your spouses hand and honour the vows with ridiculous love. And sometimes you have to believe it, and act it out, whether you feel it or not, because you both need it. Marriage bears little resemblance

to the gooey-eyed idyllic imaginary paintings that little girls suckle themselves to sleep with. The majority of the time, marriage consists of brokering deals, uncomfortable compromises, vigorous debate, weighing notions of morality and severing one's own sense of entitlement. Marriage is a voluntarily entered into institution that contractually obligates your life to be about SOMEONE ELSE. I care about Brantford prospering. But Brantford is the sum of its parts. The number one thing that can distract me from being the Dave I wish I could be each day, is when things are not right in my relationship. And I suspect you might be the same. And it happens! Thats Marriage! Dont despair! Marriage promises mean something and our ability to fulfil the love, honor and cherish part cannot be trusted to feelings. Love is not a feeling. Its a choice. Kind of like how we cant entrust the success of our New Years resolutions to the euphoric buzz we get by merely WISHING for the best. Marriage IS like a fairy tale because even though there are many trials to overcome, you get the chance to overcome them together! It would be a pretty crappy fairy tale if there were no obstacles. When its right, its filled with ridiculous love. Something you have the ability to fill your best friend full of as you send them out the door this morning into our city to make a difference.

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January 2012

Power Talk
Its that time of year again; the tree is probably still up, slightly wilted. The presents that you are keeping have been put away, the rest have been returned, or are on re-gift standby should you have an unexpected guest drop in. New Years Eve has come and gone again too. And those pesky resolutions you made last year are still out there somewhere gathering dust. Let me guess, you made a valiant pledge again this year to, loose weight, make more money, get a new job, start a relationship or end one, change hair color blah blah blah, stop when I mention yours! The hard truth about New Years resolutions is that, statically, only 50 % of the population who make resolutions follow through with them for more than 3 months! So if you are one of the few congratulations. This behaviour probably shows up elsewhere in your life too. A resolution is merely a fancy word for a goal. However, resolution sounds better when accompanied with a glass or two of cheap champagne. Goals are something that should be ongoing. Setting a goal and achieving it means that you are growing. If something is not growing, its dying. Worse than that, if you become complacent you are dying on this vine we call life. It doesn't sound very appealing now does it? Like everything in life success leaves a multitude of clues. There are strategies for achievement; the same way there are strategies to win at a board game. "Stop the tape here, and get a pen!" Its important to remember that everything you have created or achieved that is part of your outside world started in your head as an idea. That idea then gained reliance, and quickly became a goal. One of your earliest goals was to speak your first word, followed by a first step, tying your shoes and so on. Just imagine what your life would be like if you had given up on the fundamental goals that shape your world today. Setting goals creates the future in advance. Goals are simply dreams with a time line attached to them. The key to achievement is similar to the rules for building a house. The first step is to conceive it. Make the goal real in your head. Then you must put total belief behind whatever it is you want to accomplish. Creating a detailed blueprint will allow you to see what your goals look like on paper. The problem that most people run into is, they speak their goals, but that's usually where it ends. As simple as it sounds: "Write them down". More importantly, make them compelling enough so you must achieve them. Dig deep into your core and build a list of goals that if obtained will have a dramatic effect on your life. Start with 2 or 3 at most. The next step is to put them in priorities sequence.

By Mark Gaylard
Following that, attach a date to each goal, a date that indicates when you will achieve that particular goal. You must decide what actions you will take consistently in order to reach your goals. Keep this in mind. When you talk about it, its a dream. When you visualize it, it gets exciting. When you plan it, its possible. But when you schedule it, ITS REAL. (Tony Robbins) For example, one of the most common resolutions people make is to get fit or lose weight. The question is: what does that really mean? If you want to lose weight, how much, by when, and using what method? These are the questions you need answered to be successful. Once you have determined the why's and how's the reasons and answers. You can move forward with your action plan. Figure out what actions you have to take every day to successfully achieve your goals. All this takes planning, but I assure you, if you do it this way, you have a very good chance of becoming one of the 5%! Don't dream it, be it. Always Live with Passion.

Youth With Potential: The Seed of an Idea

As someone who was born on the Six Nations reserve, and has spent most of their life in Brantford, I have many stories about this community to share that I have learned in the school of life. One of those is the story of how Arts After School Kids was born in this community. As a youth I attended Joseph Brant Secondary School and, at that time, I was challenged with many of the issues youth experience. I didnt know who I was, I was confused, and I wanted to grow up but didnt know how. I began experimenting with drugs and alcohol, which took over my life for 30 years, and I missed out on the many rites of passages that youth experience while growing up. One thing that did stay with me through the school years was a teacher I had, Miss Angie Todd. She did singing at the end of every day at school, and it was great! I also fondly remember choreographing a dance for the talent show, science classes, and any classes that were hands on and outside of the classroom stayed with me as positive memories. It was all arts-based activities that kept the spirit alive. I have nine grandchildren and have been honoured to watch them mature and learn through the different stages of growth. In the neighbourhood, all of the children got my attention, not just my own grandchildren. They all were walking around with a spark of something missing in their energy. They were looking very bored, hooked on video games, not playing outside; part of the light they carried within them was very dim. What was missing? I was focused, and visioning what we could do for the children in our community to fill this void they appeared to have inside. One day in April I was watching the Dr. Phil show, and he was showing great segments on foster children and many other success stories. But that was not what I was looking for. Then, in the last 10 minutes of his show, they showed Fred Martin and the Urban Institute, which featured youth singing and really enjoying and feeling the music. It struck me! Thats it! They need to be creative, and they need to tap into their creativity within to wake the spirit. Following this epiphany, I approached the Principal at Bellview School in Eagle Place, Mr. Vern Payne, and I asked him if we could possibly do some learning through the arts with the students in the schools. He suggested it was very expensive and probably would not be approved. I went home to ponder some more on how we can offer the students some type of programming that would help to fill the void. In the meantime, while walking downtown Brantford, I ran into a lady who I had met during my schooling at Wilfrid Laurier in Brantford, Peggy Weston. Peggy had completed her Masters at Laurier Brantford in Community Psychology and Community Development. We began chatting, and I said I had an idea. I told her that I would like to create a space for youth to play music. Knowing from my past that I needed something or someone to help me connect and tap into artistic abilities, this may have changed my life path. Peggy agreed that this was a wonderful idea and told me to go for it. I returned to Bellview School, and approached Mr. Payne with a new idea. He made the choice to support me, and to allow me to create this space for the students ages 11-14 to explore the arts. The pilot program began at Joseph Brant School. I was ecstatic and excited! Out came the flip chart paper taped to my living room walls and the brainstorming began. I was in contact with Mr. Fred Martin and shared my idea, and how I was inspired to go this route with the students. Because the students in this age group (11-14) gravitate to wanting to be in a rock and roll band, that is what was set up for them. A Steering Committee was formed from community and school members: Vern Payne, Kika Mowray, Brent Goodnough, Peggy Weston, Kelly Anderson, and Robert Simons. Wesley United Church, located in Eagle Place at the time, partnered with us to assist in Trillium Funding and to be a lead agency. We held fundraisers and performances at the church for three years. Then when Joseph Brant decided to close the doors for education of secondary students, AASK moved to Immanuel Baptist Church and began to pay rent, and insurance. We also this made the space available for students from Jean Vanier Catholic School in the Eagle Place area. The pilot program consisted of acoustic guitars, keyboards, drums, and vocals from February to June of 2007. The program was incredibly successful, and laid the foundation that we have been building on for nearly 5 years. Stage two of the program consists of students participating after school twice a week for hands on learning and lessons. The program was free to students when we introduced it in 2007, and continues to be free to this day. Thanks to the dedication of so many incredible people, what started as an idea has become a reality! The Arts are powerful. They have the ability to foster creativity in children, creativity that they never lose as they get older. With teaching of the Arts fading from our classrooms, so its our job as a community to teach our children about them. I am one of many in this community who is doing my part to teach our children about the Arts. I hope more people will soon join us.

By Gayle Myke

January 2012

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Page 11

From DJ to MMA
By Steph Paige
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has been around for quite some time, The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has, love it or hate it, made MMA known in almost every household. What many may not know is that MMA has a stronghold here in Brantford as well. The Caged Dragon will be celebrating its 5th anniversary on February 1, 2012. In a keen interest to learn more about where it is heading in the next five years, I thought it was important to first learn about its origins, in a time when Mixed Martial Arts was beginning its ascent in mainstream sport. Todd Whetter, owner of the Caged Dragon, was previously living the DJ lifestyle. He was performing at venues around the world, travelling through Europe and all kinds of places most only dream of. Yet as many may agree, the late-night clubbing lifestyle was not sustainable forever. Knowing this, but unsure of his next venture, Todd attended UFC 58 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a fan, on March 4th, 2006. The energy of a live event is one which cannot be explained through words, it simply has to be experienced. In what was dubbed the Canada vs. USA match, one particular fighter on the card stood out. Mark Hominick, a London, Ontario native, drew the attention of many with his submission win. Todd, also a native of London, realized this was truly something anyone could do. The entire experience of UFC 58, as time would quickly prove, was a life changing experience for him. Todd knew this was a sport he needed to get into, whether that be through competing or opening a gym. He wasnt yet sure where the sport would take him. Leaving the excitement that is Las Vegas behind him, Todd contacted renowned MMA trainer Shawn Tompkins upon his return home. Tompkins, an Ingersoll native, trained Hominick and many other notable MMA fighters. Now living in Brantford, Todd began commuting back and forth between London to train under Tompkins. Going into this training for the first time, Todds starting weight was 240lbs. While speaking with him, the first thing immediately evident to me was the health impact this kind of training has. Having later competed in divisions as low as 160lbs, the passion and dedication to training was clearly paid off in numerous ways. A few months into training, Todd injured his knee. While some may allow an injury to impede their progress, he did the exact opposite. As the commute between Brantford and London began to take its toll, he decided it was time for Brantford to have its own MMA gym. While sourcing out a gym location on Copernicus Boulevard, Todd began, through his own finances, to acquire all that would be needed for a gym. Used mats and equipment were purchased from other gyms and the first ring was built, wooden frame and all, by Todd with the help of others. All this led to the gyms official opening on February 1, 2007. As the gym grew, the pillars of its success went well beyond the initial MMA inspiration. Childrens programs have become the backbone of the Caged Dragon, which are not MMA by any means. That has allowed Todd to bring everyone in the community to Caged Dragon, regardless of whether or not they share his passion for MMA. As I entered the gym, the current renovations seem to be a sign of continued growth. Reflecting back on five years, from discovering his passion to then acting to turn that passion into a career, Todds goal for the next five years is to continue to breed world champions, and get some MMA belts on those who train there. With an already impressive roster of champions, the aim is to continue to grow the list. While many people make resolutions each January, my challenge is for everyone to act on what theyre passionate about, as Todd did when pursuing his MMA dream.

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