Local Content Locally Owned Locally Produced

August 2012 Free BrantAdvocate.com

Local Content Locally Owned Locally Produced

August 2012 Free BrantAdvocate.com

In This Edition

Happy Birthday Mr. Brantford pg. 11 by Robert Adlam

Ringing over Brantford for more than a century. The Advocate takes you inside one of the city's most recognizable landmarks: The Grace Anglican Church Bell Tower.

An Open Door pg. 6-7 Ryan Van Dijk

Moving to Brantford pg. 8 by Layne Beckner Grime

Salt Baby Comes Home pg. 5 by Falen Johnson

The Importance of Myrtleville pg. 11 by Michael St. Amant

Photography by Paul Smith, www.photohousestudio.ca

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August 2012

End of an Era

By Andrew Macklin Twitter: @AMacklin

I have to admit, this is more of a story than an editorial. Sometimes there are just those things that I decide I have to write about, and this is one of those things. There are dates that go on our calendar every year, dates that are so important that we cant afford to miss them. There are birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and special occasions, days that we know we are committed to celebrating with friends, family and loved ones. For many of us who have grown up in this community, those dates including the events that have become an integral part of the community. They are the events we grew up with, and have always been a priority for us. Theres Canada Day and the Villages, the Santa Claus Parade and Flashing Blades. There are so many more that mean so much to every one of us. For me, that date on the calendar has been the second Monday and Tuesday of July for the Walter Gretzky CNIB Celebrity Auction and golf tournament. As a kid, I have fond memories of the tennis and softball games that were the predecessor to the tournament. Wayne brought an impressive roster of sports and Hollywood celebrities to little old Brantford to help raise money for a good cause. Of course, for me, the fondness of those memories started and finished with an appearance from a certain Ms. Alyssa Milano who I, like some many other teenagers, had a serious crush on. But it wasnt until 2003 that I earned a real appreciation for just how incredible an event the annual fundraiser was. That year, I was given the opportunity to cover the event for Rogers TV. I attended the auction

on the Monday, and drooled over all of the incredible sports and entertainment memorabilia on display. Then I watched as one celebrity after another walked into the room, shaking hands and speaking with everyone who asked for a moment of their time. Ill be honest; I wasnt one of them that night. Despite being a sports fan, I had no real appreciation for who many of them were. That all changed the next day. Reporter Andrew became ravenous sports fan Andrew in a matter of seconds. I watched as one sports celebrity after another walked by, several of which I had the luxury of shoving a microphone in front of. It was incredible to talk to famous sports celebrities like Gino Reda of TSN, legendary jockey Sandy Hawley and, of course, the Lord Mayor himself Mr. Walter Gretzky. This wasnt the first time I had spoken to Walter, but it was the first time that I was able to gain a real understanding for his passion for the CNIB. You could see it on his face, you could hear it in his voice, and you could truly appreciate how much he cared about the efforts that were being made to support the CNIB. After that year, the event became an annual tradition, an event that I would mark on my calendar as soon as the date was available to the public. I always made sure I was the guy who got to coverage it for Rogers, and I always made sure to save up a few hundred dollars to spend at the auction. Saving that money, making that effort, understanding the importance of the cause, has paid off beyond my imagination in the past nine years. From the auction, I have purchased many collectors items that will always remain part of my collection. Some have been from the greats

of the game, like my Nolan Ryan autographed baseball players I admired as a child, but some have been of the greats of our own sporting community like a David Hearn signed BGCC flag and a Brantford Red Sox team signed jersey from their IBL champion team in 2006. I hold these items as fond memories of an event I have always enjoyed, much like others keep ticket stubs, programs and other souvenirs of the events they have attended.

as soon as I heard about it. I started thinking about budget, and what I would be looking for. I also told my girlfriend how much I wanted her there this year to share the experience with me. So I saved up, and counted down the days until the auction like a kid counts down to Christmas. But this year, I knew it would be different. As we entered the event that night, I knew it would be for the last time. The organizing team had already announced that this would be the final year for the event, marking an end to one of the communitys most recognizable charitable franchises. But like every year, I grabbed my number and started to bid. As always, I spent as much money as I could afford and then some, and walked out with some pretty cool gear. The biggest highlight of the night was once again a personal moment, getting the opportunity to introduce my girlfriend that I had admired for some time: Walter Gretzky. At the end of the night, I was sad to see it go. Like any other important date we mark on our personal calendar, a great night came to an all too soon end. The same can be said for the event as a whole, meeting its end long before I am prepared for. But I take with me a number of great memories, moments in time that I will never forget. When you find that event, that one you cant miss, be sure to enjoy it. You never know when it might be your last.

I watched as one sports celebrity after another walked by, several of which I had the luxury of shoving a microphone in front of.
But I was also fortunate that I was able to use a role to give me access to this event beyond my wildest imagination, access that has provided me with one of my fondest memories of my career as a journalist. After all, what sports journalist ever forgets the time that they interviewed The Great One. Standing off to the side of the first tee, I got the chance to speak to Wayne about the one thing that really mattered on that day, the love and support people were showing for his dad, Walter, in order to help him support a cause that was near and dear to him. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Walter Gretzky CNIB Celebrity Golf Tournament and Auction. Much like the years before, I marked it on my calendar

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August 2012

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Page 3

Laytons Core: A Love of People

The following piece was the first content to appear on our BrantAdvocate.com website. While viewed by thousands in that form, it has never appeared in our print edition. With this month being the anniversary of Jack Laytons passing weve decided to present this original piece for the first time ever in print. Further, wed like to see this become a regular feature and we invite you to write a loving tribute to a local person or someone who has had a positive effect on you and our community. This could be a well-known community booster, a family member, a coach or mentor that inspired you and helped make this a better place. Send us an e-mail at contact@brantadvocate.com for more information and a copy of our submission noticeable that he spent more time with the student journalists, not because he needed to, but because they needed more time to formulate the right questions. That patience and care would serve him (and the country) well. Id met many politicians, but he was the only one Id seen at that point who insisted on carrying his own bags and staying late at events. Years later as a candidate, I saw how Jacks own low key and low maintenance demeanour behind the scenes, translated to other MPs who shared his values of putting in long hours with the same eagerness and accessibility.

by Marc Laferriere Twitter: @marclaferriere

He was a man of his word. The next month, despite a diagnosis of prostate cancer that he had not yet gone public with, he held to his commitment and attended our 90-cent dinner event. He stayed for two shifts; he spoke to everyone and took extra time with youth, seniors and those who came to the event from other political parties. When he got to the event, he stood in line with everyone else. When a volunteer asked him to cut the line, he politely declined and instead asked that I joined him in line. Ill never forget that. It struck me as the core of the man. Jack was someone who enjoyed being with people. Again he came to Brant for our Pay What You Can Picnic. When we had to reschedule that

at his core. That day was also special because it was the first time Jack and former Brant MP Derek Blackburn had met. It was a privilege to sit in on that conversation as they both shared stories about Jacks father, a Conservative cabinet minister, whom Derek had served with in Parliament. There are many other times that I hold close to my heart that I consider to be special moments: surprising him on stage at the Anti-UBB rally in Toronto where he and Peggy Nash insisted I speak. The time in Hamilton someone from his Toronto-Danforth riding was desperate to talk to him and Jack insisted on doing so despite it not being part of his very tight schedule. Then Jack deciding to invite me into that same conversation because he valued the

Jack Layton
1950 - 2011
guidelines. Canadians lost their most trusted ally and representative with the passing of Federal Opposition Leader, Jack Layton. Jack was a leader, a mentor and someone I greatly admired. He was an advocate for Brant, dating back as far as his time as the head of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and as recently as this past Federal Election, where he chose a family home in Brantford as the site of the first policy announcement in what would turn out to be a historic campaign. Id first met Jack in 2004 when I worked in the media. My interview with him at that time was what began my journey as a politically conscious adult. No small feat but Jack won me over with his much talked about smile and personality, but also with his ideas and morals. It was a student screening of Dr. Strangelove w her e af ter w ar ds he s po ke about th e d e-weaponization of space. On that day in 2004, Jack stayed to have one-on-one time with the young people who had questions. It was also As a candidate, Jack wasnt a stranger. He went above and beyond, offering personal training, advice, phone calls and e-mails. He was not a distant leader up in a tower and that was part of his appeal. I often bump into people in Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations who knew him well and considered him a friend and an ally. He loved people and that love has been reciprocated. He was a fighter too. In 2009, I was at a training session with Jack, and he had commented about a video he had seen weeks before from the Brant News of my nomination meeting. He made a comment about how packed the nomination meeting seemed. When I told him that it was full despite an event with popular Liberal MP Justin Trudeau that was occurring in Brantford at the exact same time he winked at me, put his arm around me and said hed work with me to bring Brant back. event due to the G20 debacle that had Toronto practically locked down, Jack was as accommodating as ever, offering exclusive interviews via phone to the local press. No scripted questions and responses. No vetting of reporters. Hed talk about whatever they asked. When we were able to have the event it was really wonderful. Traffic was really bad coming in from Toronto and Jack was late. I was doing interviews with reporters when my personal phone rang. One of the reporters joked, it must be Jack. To my own astonishment thats exactly who it was. Jack called from the car to let me know how horrendous traffic had been. He then asked if there were any seniors due to the heat or reporters due to schedules that had to get going. If there was, he wanted to make sure they didnt leave disappointed and let me know hed be happy to chat with them on the phone en route. I passed the phone around and watched as people smiled and eagerly asked him questions. Again, Jacks love for people was apparent and input of a social worker in that mans situation. The opportunity to spend time with Jack behind closed doors at Provincial Council meetings. His encouragement and the amazing things he had to say to the national press about our local campaign when they asked him to defend a stop in Brantford over other higher priority ridings. A very personal e-mail he sent me that Ill cherish forever and will inspire me to keep working. The funny thing about Jack though, is that there are thousands of people across this country who can probably write similar stories of Jack being accessible, personal and helpful. It was at his core. He loved people. He worked for them. Jack advocated right to the end for love, hope and optimism. Then he made a final request that I believe well rise to meet. Just like he asked us to, well change the world.

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August 2012

Finding the Balance Between Highs & Lows

Extreme fatigue. Weight loss. Thirst. I was falling asleep in class, drinking huge amounts of water, and looking pretty skinny. At first, I thought I was just run down and needed some rest from my busy schedule, but when it didnt get any better, I though something was wrong. After running one of the most difficult 5km runs in my life, and having to sub-out of a high school volleyball game, I knew something was wrong. On October 29, 2010 after having some tests done at the hospital, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was shocked and I was scared. There was no family history and I was an active 15-year-old with a pretty healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, Type 1 Diabetes is often unexplained. The doctors best guess was that my pancreas was attacked by a virus, but its still a bit of a mystery as to how I became diabetic. There were so many thoughts running through my mind, so many questions to be answered and a lot to be learned. I will be the first to admit that the beginning wasnt easy. Getting used to needles for insulin injections, finger pricking to test my blood sugar levels, and playing around with insulin dosages was difficult to become accustomed to. After spending a weekend in the Brantford General Hospital, I was beginning to learn a lot about the disease. Diabetes was, and still is, a huge learning curve. Diabetes hasnt drastically changed my life, but I would be lying if I said it has not been a challenge. I get asked so many questions about diabetes, so I would like to clear some things up and answer some of the questions I frequently get asked. Overall, diabetes is a disease that many people lack a strong understanding of. I didnt know much about it until after I was diagnosed, and I think that is where a lot of the fear originated from. So here are some answers to a few frequently asked questions. How many times a day do you have to give yourself needles? I normally take insulin 4 times a day. I take fast acting insulin before each meal and long acting insulin before bed. Does pricking your finger hurt? No. You learn where to prick so that it doesnt hurt. It looks a lot worse than it is. I am so used to it now that most often I dont even feel it. Do you have the type of diabetes where you cant have sugar or do you have the type where you need sugar? The answer to this question is neither. Diabetes is also about a balancing act. In a healthy human body, the pancreas releases insulin to break down sugar in the blood stream. However, in a diabetic, the pancreas does not work properly or does not produce insulin at all. This is why I am required to take insulin injections when I eat. I must ensure that I take the proper amount of insulin for the amount of carbohydrates that I eat, or else my blood sugar can drop too low or go too high. However, it is not as simple as a mathematical equation as many factors including stress, illness, and exercise affect blood sugar levels. This is why it is important to find a balance of insulin, carbohydrate intake, and exercise to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Why do you get shaky sometimes? When I experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) I can experience symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, confusion, and dizziness. The effects of hypoglycemia are often compared to being drunk. This is why it is important for me to keep sugar on me at all times, especially during exercise when I am at a high risk of experiencing low blood sugar. If my sugar levels go too low, I can pass out. What happens if your sugar goes high (hyperglycemia)? The symptoms of high blood sugar are less obvious than those of low blood sugar. However, hyperglycemia is also dangerous. I experienced many of these systems right before I was diagnosed with diabetes: excessive thirst, unusual weight loss, feeling lethargic and blurred vision. However, prolonged hyperglycemia can result in kidney failure, loss of vision, cardiovascular damage and damage to other internal organs. This is why it is so important to stick to a healthy diet and exercise regularly as a diabetic.

by Ryan Jamula Twitter: @ryanjamula

getting highs and lows is not only frustrating, but distracting and inconvenient. Sometimes it is necessary to stop what Im doing to check my sugar levels and have a snack. My pockets are usually full of supplies and sugar tablets to make sure I am prepared for the worst case scenario. My sugar has been as high as the 20s and as low as 1.4 (6-10 is considered normal). I have had to come off the basketball court and leave the classroom to deal with sugar levels. Its a constant challenge that I have had to be able to meet. There have been some bad days along the way, and feeling like you do not have control over your life is the worst part. Thankfully, I have a supportive family and a great staff at the Diabetes Education Centre to assist me with my diabetes management. Today is certainly a better time to have diabetes, than in the past, as technology has come a long way. The next step in my diabetes management will be an insulin pump. This will replace the insulin injections and will assist me in having better control of my sugar levels. Diabetes has presented itself as a daily challenge in my life. However, it is a challenge that can be dealt with the medical technology that exists today; it is a very liveable disease. At 17 years old, I never thought I would be writing about my experiences as a diabetic. The most important thing to remember is that diabetes does not define your life; it is just something that you live with. With the medical advancements being made my next article may just be about the cure for diabetes. But for now, Ill learn how to use my new pump.

I will be the first to admit that the beginning wasnt easy. Getting used to needles for insulin injections, finger pricking to test my blood sugar.
The highs and lows of diabetes occur both physically, mentally, and socially. It has been difficult to adjust. Pulling out needles or pricking my finger in front of other people can make me, and the people around me, uncomfortable. Trying to balance my blood sugar and

Coping With Sexual Violence

As a woman, I have always known that I am vulnerable to experiences of sexual violence. Fairy tales, warnings from my parents, story lines in movies and news stories have fed me that reality. Living with this reality is a perverse form of validation for female survivors of sexual violence. They know they are not alone. They still often feel alone in their feelings, their coping methods, or the situation of their experience(s) but they do not need to be told that other women are raped. Society has reinforced that time and time again through socializing and in media messages. Men do not grow up with those same messages. In fairy tales they are portrayed as brave knights or powerful villains. There is no room for vulnerability or recovery from victimization in either of these roles. Many people would think that is a non-issue because men are not at the same level of risk of sexual violence as women. Speaking broadly this is true. The level of risk is not the same in the adult context though that is not to say there is no risk. But when it comes to level of risk for children, boys are at risk of sexual violence, in numbers far greater than most have ever imagined. And by not acknowledging this we create a culture of silence. I have noticed over the years that when men have disclosed their past experiences of sexual violence they frame it as an isolated incident. Their feelings tend to be that what happened to them was unique and no other man has ever experienced anything like it or if they have the incidence must be very low. You can see feeling of relief come over male survivors when I share with them the statistic that one in six men is a survivor of sexual violence. In addition, I have talked with many men who were reluctant to disclose their experience because of what the media has implied about male survivors. Many people have internalized the myth that all male children who are sexually abused become pedophiles as adults. The vast majority of male survivors know at a deep level that they would do anything rather than risk passing on abuse that they suffered so the tacit implication is more than they can stand. They are so desperate not to be seen as perpetrators that many men bury their experiences, emotions, and stories deep inside themselves. The truth of the matter is that for every hundred boys who is sexually abused as a child, only ten become pedophiles. Where the misconception has come from is that for every hundred pedophiles only ten were NOT abused as children. Society has misrepresented the correlation between pedophilia and childhood trauma forcing many men to deal with their trauma privately and not seek help.

by Carrie Sinkowski

experience. We like to remind the community that it is important to remember that when someone discloses to you that they have experienced sexual violence at any point in their life that you listen, you acknowledge their feelings and the courage it took to share, and that you do not make promises or make them do something that they are not comfortable with no matter how kind you mean it to be for them. Pushing someone to report to police or to go to counselling if they are not ready, though it is rooted in kindness, takes away control from the survivor.

Men do not grow up with those same messages. In fairy tales they are portrayed as brave knights or powerful villains.
The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant provides a Male Survivors Program in partnership with Brantford Native Housing and Grand River Community Health Centre. We are so happy to offer men a place to process their experiences and feelings, and even more importantly to give them validation that they are not alone and there are people in the community who want to help them.

I do not know how possible this program would have been ten to fifteen years ago. I have noted recently when I do presentations, trainings, and workshops that people seldom question me when I say men can be survivors. Whereas 12 years ago, when I first started working in Brantford, people did question the validity of my statements and statistics in regards to men. There has been a huge shift in the last decade of becoming a more welcoming, supportive community for ALL survivors. It is not perfect, obviously, because sexual violence still exists, but at least it is not stagnant and there is movement forward. Like the parallel programs for women, the Centre provides supportive, accessible services. All counselling is free and is confidential, and paced as the survivor needs it to be. Some men accessing the program were abused a long time ago, for others it was a more recent

There has been a huge shift in the last decade of becoming a more welcoming, supportive community for ALL survivors.
It is best to offer support and let them know that there are places in the community that can help them when they are ready. It could be the hardest thing you ever do, to resist the urge to jump in and rescue them. If you want to be able to support someone in that situation try saying: I am glad you told me. What happened wasnt your fault. When you are ready to get help, I know a number you can call. The Sexual Assault Centre can be reached 24 hours a day at 519.751.3471

August 2012

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Page 5

Salt Baby Comes Home

In many ways, being a part of Planet IndigenUS at The Woodland Cultural Centre is somewhat of a homecoming for me. I grew up on Six Nations and in Brantford. When I was approached to work on the festival I said yes without hesitation. Not just because of the stellar line-up I would get to be a part of, but because I was going home. I was bringing my art home. Like a young child running in the front door with a drawing demanding it be placed on the fridge yelling, Look what I made you! The projects that I am bringing to the festival are two that are especially close to my heart. They are my first play, Salt Baby, and the third installment of my walking tour series focusing on invisible Indigenous history. Five words that could essentially sum up my first play Salt Baby would be: Really? You dont look it. Growing up on Six Nations I grew up being called a Salt Baby, a white looking Indian. Fair skin and curly hair made me more of a Shirley Temple type than a Pocahontas type. As Im sure you can imagine this was not an easy experience. Salt Baby was born out of my experiences navigating the Rez and the city. I have had to explain myself and my blood quantum with each step I take, My mother was this and my father was that. And yes they both are Aboriginal, First Nations, Native. What Id like Salt Baby to do is empower my audience to feel like they or we understand each other a little better. Canada has such

by Falen Johnson

a hidden history that is rarely taught in schools so we often walk through life not knowing, and by the time we think to ask the hard questions it can feel too late; it can feel too uncomfortable. Being a Salt Baby I have heard the most intensely racist things because I am, in a sense, unseen. I am invisible as an Indigenous person. Ive seen the disservice that the Canadian education system has done to its population. Salt With Baby I want to ask questions and open a dialogue. I also would like the audience, Indigenous and non, to walk away with an understanding that you cant judge an book by its cover, a big old clich I know but a true statement nonetheless. The lines of racial and cultural identity are complex and difficult to pin down. This hidden history became the concept for my walking

tour series; the Brantford edition will be my third. I research an area of a city and I try to find what the Indigenous history of the location is. What was here before this building? This monument? This intersection? Indigenous history is often disregarded or goes unheard. It is no secret that history is recorded in a Euro-centric way, a way that does not reflect or respect an Indigenous perspective. my With walking tours I attempt to find out what was in a place before someone wrote in a book about it. In my walks I also try to see people the who go u n seen: the poverty-stricken, the ill, the homeless. What happens when we look at what we look away from? Who are these people and what have they done to deserve our making them invisible? I have met some extraordinary people and learned some amazing

things from these invisible people. It can be scary, but shouldnt all good art be scary? Falen Johnson is Mohawk and Tuscarora from Six Nations. She is an actor, playwright and emerging dramaturg. She is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School. Falen is the current in house dramaturge for Native Earths Animikiig program. She is currently working on her second full-length play titled Long Lance. The Walking Tours meeting place is The Brant Museum & Archives (57 Charlotte Street, Brantford), August 14 and August 16 both walks start at 7PM. Salt Baby is being show at the Woodland Cultural Centre (184 Mohawk St.) for a special one night only performance on August 15th at 7pm followed by artist Q&A. Admission is free. Falen Johnson is one of many artists being featured at the Woodland Cultural Centre during the Planet IndigenUS festival. Over the course of 10 days running from August 10 19, Woodland will host an array of events including concerts, art exhibitions, workshops, stand-up comedy, and culinary demonstrations. For a complete listing of Planet IndigenUS activities at Woodland please visit: www.woodland-centre.on.ca, and for information on Planet IndigenUS at Harbourfront Centre please visit: www.harbourfrontcentre.com/planetindigenus

The Hidden Quilt

Ten years ago, two staff members of the Woodland Cultural Centre discovered four quilts behind the walls of the Mohawk Institute. Their location: the third floor wing on the 'boy's side. Who made them? Whose are they? How long did this hiding spot exist? We don't know. What we do know is these handmade quilts

by Paula Whitlow

were considered contraband to the survivors at this Residential School. The Mohawk Chapel (1785) and consequently the Mohawk Institute (1831) was erected through the efforts of Anglican Mohawks, displaced veterans from the American Revolution. The first children who attended the school would have been the direct descendants of Six Nations veterans of the war of 1812, who served as faithful allies to the crown. The

current structure of what was once the Mohawk Institute was erected in 1904, prior to that the site and building have gone through major structural changes, due to intentional fires set by students. With such a traumatic subject as Residential Schools even in our contemporary society, it is often a struggle in how we present any issues associated with this topic. Many victims still live in our community with vivid memories of the horrors they endured here. What we have been able to research and through oral history of quilters, and Residential School survivors is that the pattern is one of the oldest quilt patterns

known. The pattern of the square is a variation of the Dresden design. The fabric appears to be remnant pieces datable to about the 1950's. There is some suspicion that this quilt may have been made by a former student(s), the girls sewing work was often sold to local businesses, unpaid child labour, without which the school could not have functioned. The hiding spot: a place of reprieve from the oppressive and abusive treatment at one of the oldest and longest running Indian Residential Schools in Canada. The decision to reproduce this quilt as part of the Barn Trail was not made in haste. Our hope in presenting this quilt is to offer a prominent place to honour and pay tribute to the legacy of survivors, and their families. Your experience(s) at the 'Mush Hole' were not in vain. We dedicate the Hidden Quilt to all those who walked these halls before us.

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August 2012

Principle photography by Paul Smith, www.photohouse.ca, inset photos by Lucas Duguid.

August 2012

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Page 7

An Open Door
by Ryan Van Dijk email: worship.arts@counterpointchurch.ca
For seven years I have had the honour and privilege of playing the bells for Grace Anglican Church in downtown Brantford. I often stop to think about how many people look up with wonder at the gothic tower nestled in the heart of the city. When you walk in, you feel as though you are transported back three hundred years. At the top of a winding spiral staircase is a gallery overlooking the city where the bells are played. Twenty-five feet up above the gallery is another chamber, which houses ten bells tuned chromatically from C to E, each inscribed with scripture. Above that chamber lies the roof of the tower, and the most spectacular view of the city one could ever hope to find. Seven years ago, living across the street from the tower, I noticed the door had been left open. I had always been curious. Seizing the moment I instantly ran across the street, ascended the tower and, upon finding it empty, began to play around with this ancient and beautiful instrument. Since then I have played them for the church, for weddings, on holidays and even for the birthdays of neighborhood children. I would also like to give a soft apology to those in the area sleeping New Years Eve. Yet I also play them weekly simply because some part of me feels a bounden duty to shower the city with music because I believe there are still people out there who love to hear them. People who need to hear them because somehow it just makes life better if the bells are still ringing. Since walking through the door of the tower that day I have discovered a unique love for the tradition of bell ringing. Although I'm not Anglican, nor would even call myself a Christian, I was welcomed into the community. Shortly after I joined the choir at Grace, at first as a way of receiving free music lessons. However, I found much more there. The choir granted me a way of adding the study of music to the regular rhythm of my life. I have played guitar, piano and sang since I was fourteen in some capacity, but choir opened up a whole new understanding of the depth, beauty and the magic of music. Now, two years later, I find myself on staff as musical director for Counterpoint Church, also operating out of Grace. The bells are a terrible instrument when you are first learning because a third of the city can hear each and every one of your mistakes. Having only ten bells, with no sharps or flats also forces one to be inventive when writing and arranging music for the tower; imposed restrictions that are both a blessing and a curse. They sound beautiful, yet if you were in the same room when theyre playing, you would be deafened. Behind their sweet melodies lies a dissonant drone as each tone is laid down upon another and rubs against the last. Its a reminder for me of the delicate balance between dissonance and harmony that makes our lives interesting and beautiful both in our joy and our darkness. This tower has become a character in my life. I try to take care of it, archive its music and history, give it new music and share its history with others. Its always there, looming over my house, the largest and loudest instrument in the city. Somehow finding the door to the tower open that day, and taking on the duties of the bell ringer, has revealed a path and purpose in my life that was absent before. It was not a hard role to fall into, and its romantic allure has never been difficult to embrace. To have a platform with purpose to make music, alone and with others every week of my life is amazing to reflect upon and a sure sign, among so much more, of a blessed life.

Somehow finding the door to the tower open that day, and taking on the duties of the bell ringer, has revealed a path and purpose in my life that was absent before.

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August 2012

A Passionate Advocate for Change

Passion is a strange thing. Its most commonly known as people holding passion for one another. Some are passionate about the newest fads, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or their careers, and then there are my friends. After finishing 5 years of school at Laurier/Nipissing, I have learned that I am surrounded by such a lovely group of determined and passionate people. So many people I know are passionate about teaching children, but I have also come to the realization that I have several close friends who are passionate about completely different things. My high school friend, currently pursuing a degree at Laurier Brantford is an ambassador for the environment. Im not talking about someone who wears hemp clothing and carries a reusable water bottle, but someone who actually goes out into the community and tries to make a difference. Her latest and most important concern is the push to end car idling in Brantford specifically. She speaks up to people In order to raise awareness about our thinning ozone layer and the effect idling cars have on our air quality. Most times she is completely disregarded, and often times, called a slew of inappropriate terms. The most common statement is that she is absolutely crazy. Thats just it- she is crazy - about the environment. Taking it upon herself to look past the attitudes of others in order to make a change, even if it is at the local level makes her one of the most passionate people I know. My other friend is incredibly passionate about Brantford. Moving here from Toronto to attend Laurier/Nipissing 5 years ago, she has always been one of the most open-minded students Ive known about Brantford. In first year, students were constantly bombarded with negative words and thoughts about the downtown core of Brantford, but she took it upon herself to look beyond them. In first and second year I always found it strange that she would form long lasting friendships in odd places such as the bus, or simply by walking down the street. Looking back now, I realize that this is exactly what needed to happen to tie the students to the Brantford community. Volunteering with street youth and playing an active role in her Church has given her the opportunity to participate in so many great events here in Brantford, but it has also changed both mine, and other students perspectives of Brantford. Then there is the friend of mine who has a passion for life. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but I dont think I have ever met somebody as happy and full of life as her. Travelling to third world countries seems like a completely ridiculous thing to most people- myself included- but to her, it is something incredibly important for her happiness. When shes not in Vietnam teaching English and volunteering at an orphanage, she can usually be found sipping tea and chatting with someone here in Brantford. Some would say that the travel bug has bitten her, but its become a way of life for her now. Volunteering in the community here for a couple of months and jetting back to Vietnam is completely normal for her. The greatest thing is that the community always welcomes her back with waiting arms, eagerly awaiting her stories and her helping hands. Growing up, I always thought that I was passionate about teaching children. While this is still absolutely true, Im definitely developing new passions.

by Nicole Hingston

Moving to Brantford for school was quite possibly one of the best decisions I could have made. The local community is such a welcoming group of people, the local politicians seem to truly care about the citizens of Brantford, and my chats with the amazing downtown shop owners have definitely given me such different perspectives of Brantford. The past couple of weeks I have learned a lot about what it means to be a passionate person. If someone were to ask me the definition of passionate, I would have definitely given them the Websters definition: capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling. Recently though, I have discovered that there is definitely more to the word passionate than I had originally thought. Being passionate doesnt just stop at expressing an intense feeling, but continues to the point of acting on those feelings. So many people I know in this community are passionate advocates for change, not only contributing to this wonderful city but are also such great role models for the local youth.

Pink Portager
Conquering day 47 of his journey and spending his last night in Brantford, 21-year-old Andrew Metcalfe, also known as the Pink Portager, is thankful for the hospitality he received as he rests his aching bones. For a small town, Brantford offered Metcalfe quite a turnout as well as a place to sleep and some great company. I had some people, who were in contact with me since Barrie, meet me and walk with me through Brantford. It was nice, he said. He is thrilled with the many strangers who have helped him along the way, with bottled water, food and motivating enthusiasm, but makes it perfectly clear that there are no rides allowed. Sheilagh Scanlon had the privilege of speaking with him as he was just walking into Cainsville on Colborne St. East. There was thunder booming and lightning streaking across the sky. I saw him on the road and knew exactly who he was. I immediately pulled over to say hi and offer him a ride. He wouldnt accept one

by Autumn Ladoucer

saying that that would be cheating so I gave him a donation and signed his canoe, she said. Metcalfe welcomes the rain because its a short break from the heat wave he has been braving, and his canoe acts as shelter. Its one big umbrella! he said. Although he said it will be hotter and hotter as he continues, he is glad that its all down hill. With roughly 16 to 20 days left in his journey, which started on June 3 in Kingston, Metcalfe is heading from the Brantford area toward his final destination of Windsor. Altogether the trip is 1200 km. At the time I wrote this article, he had raised $20 000 and, if he raises $25 000 by the end of his journey, Shoppers Drug Mart has said they will double it. Before he set out to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research, Metcalfe was a nursing student at Ryerson University, born and raised in Toronto. Breast cancer had been prevalent in his family. His mother suffered from it when he was young and has

thankfully been in remission until today. His grandmother and aunt were later diagnosed with the disease. His grandmother survived but, sadly, he lost his Aunt Kristine. These experiences inspired him to fight for a cure and invent what we all know now as the Pink Portage. Portaging is when one carries their canoe between two entry points of water. My friends and I were sitting around a campfire when I came up with the idea. They called me crazy but here I am now, Metcalfe explained. Taking the personal canoe hed had for two years, Metcalfe painted it pink himself using a mix of white and red. Real men portage pink, he said jokingly. Only in Algonquin Park did his canoe touch water. Since then its been strictly portaging. He alone carries his own camping gear including a tent to sleep in if he isnt offered a bed and freeze dried food to eat to keep cost down, not to mention the canoe. All his supplies come out of his own pocket and 100 per cent of the proceeds he receives go directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. Despite this lack of

resources Metcalfe hasnt had many issues. I didnt go with the sponsorship route because I didnt want to sell myself out, and I didnt really get into the press until now, but its hard to ignore a guy with a pink canoe on the side of the highway, he said. The biggest challenge that Metcalfe faced happened while traveling from Kingston to Ottawa. I ran into issues finding water and I had to drink from a swamp, he said. When the trip is over he plans to return to being a normal 21-year-old and enroll in the Paramedicine program at University of TorontoMississauga. Metcalfe shared his words of wisdom. Youre never too young to give back. You dont have to do a crazy portage, or give a million dollars; Just give back to your local community. Were all in this together at the end of the day, he said. Visit www.pinkportage.com, give a donation and sign the guestbook. Together, We Can!

Showcasing Local Talent

My name is Christina Hajiioannou. For as long as I can remember, I have been drawing. At a young age I would sit with my younger brother and teach him how to draw and use certain techniques. I kept up with my artwork all through high school and then pursued a Bachelors Degree in Visual Arts at Brock University. I truly believe that art is a form of happiness. You hang it on your wall and you look at it and it can overwhelm you, bring you joy, tranquility. I try to pour as much of myself into my work as I can. One of the greatest changes in my life was when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and then again 10 years later in 2009. I went through harsh treatment and came out a survivor.I went through a fairy phase at that point. I painted beautiful female fairies with strong bodies and big colourful wings. They were very vibrant and almost spiritual. I had conquered something devastating and chose to have a positive outlook, not give up and strive on. I would not be defeated. Therefore my work reflected that, mirrored what I wanted my life to be; healthy, fit and vibrant. Brantford was also a big change in my life. Not knowing anyone, and basically having to start over, I turned to my artwork as my outlet and source of entertainment. I found the art scene almost non-existent here, but I was determined to be as involved as possible. So my search began. I talked to everyone I could and was told about an artists guild. I surfed the net and found names and numbers. Almost a year later, I got accepted to The Brant Visual Artist Guild and, as a result, have a network of what is happening in our city and surrounding area. Again my current artwork reflects this stage of my life. My new millennium goddess theme and my almost animated paintings with multimedia, all vibrant and full of life; an all-new beginning and all new ideas. I started posting my new artwork on Facebook and have gotten a fantastic and enthusiastic response. I have been selling work in Brantford and getting a lot of commissions. I am anticipating my next venture of art as I have just recently been appointed to serve on The Brantford Cultural Advisory Committee by Brantford City Council. I hope to make a difference and bring fresh ideas to revitalize the city of Brantford and enhance the art scene. The Arts after all are a very strong and important factor in the thriving and health of a community. You can view my work on Facebook at: Christina's Art Gallery I am available for sales & or commissioned work: chrishaj@look.ca

August 2012

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Page 9

Jesus is Italian and so am I

You probably read the title of this article and said : What! Jesus is Italian? Before you dismiss this claim allow me to state my case. First, his mother was named Mary and his father was named Joe. Second, he was a carpenter. Third, he made wine. Fourth he lived at home until he was 30. Fifth, he hung out with the same 12 guys. And sixth, his mother thought he was God. There you have it, case dismissed, Jesus is Italian and so am I. Hi, Im Jon, and I moved to Brantford two years ago to take on a position at Grace Anglican Church. The position was as Priest for the new congregation called Counterpoint. Wait a second, you said you were Italian, shouldnt you be Roman Catholic? This is a common question. People expect me to be a Roman Catholic priest and for this reason I sometimes mess with their heads by kissing my wife while wearing my collar. So yes, I am an Anglican Priest who is Italian, but Id like to focus on the later. I grew up in Vaughan a city that is teaming with Italians which means there are many Roman Catholic Schools and Roman Catholic Churches. Places I didnt attend until my OAC year, why? Because my family wasnt Roman Catholic, we were Italian Pentecostals, but thats a story for another time. I attended a public school where my friends werent Marco, Luigi or Giancarlo, they were Waleed, Rudy, Harmeet, Nick, Raj, well you get the point. Within a dense Italian population I was placed in a multicultural school. It was like United Nations and I was the Italian representative. When I would go over to my friends house I was referred to as the nice chubby Italian boy. The chubbiness was due to the huge lunches my parents would pack with the fresh bread, cheese and three types of salami. This for me is further proof of Jesus Italian heritage because he fed 5000 with one lunch. I have faith that my lunch couldve done the same. My friends would come over and get a sampling of authentic Italian meatballs. Then I would go over to my buddy Nicks house where his Ukrainian grandmother would serve us perogies. I would talk to my friend Waleed who was Muslim about Ramadan and to my friend Rudy who was very much Canadian, about why he liked Kraft dinner as I tried to convert him over to penne alla vodka. Growing up I was exposed to different cultures, religions and foods. For this I am grateful. But unfortunately this came with a price.

by Rev. Jonathan Massimi Twitter: @revmass

This for me is further proof of Jesus Italian heritage because he fed 5000 with one lunch. I have faith that my lunch couldve done the same.
One time my friend who was Jamaican stayed over for dinner. His mom dropped him off and as she walked out of our house a bunch of guys from the neighbourhood assumed she was my mom and from then on started bullying me, calling me derogatory names, the nicest one being Oreo. I even had a knife pulled on me because of the friend I was walking with. When I was a kid I always wondered why these guys picked on me, and now as an adult I know why. They didnt have the privilege of being in a multicultural school. They grew up in a bubble where people looked the same, believed the same things and ate the same food. They assumed their group was the best and feared what was different. In short, the bullying I encountered was rooted in ignorance and fear. Unfortunately, as a Christian I have encountered this ignorance and fear in our churches. We say, my God is better than your god, our way is better than your way, I am right and you are wrong. By doing this we enclose ourselves and once the bubble is created we begin to fear the other. In fear we picket, we sign petitions and write our local politicians about certain

parades and celebrations. While in this fearful stance we dont see the other as a fellow human being that is loved by God and who has much to offer. At this point I would like to apologize, when I sat down to write this piece I didnt intend for it to be a soap box, actually I was going to focus on my Nonna, spaghetti and family, but triggered by a memory of being bullied it took on a life of its own. At this point allow me to put on the collar for a bit. First I would like to confess, I started this article with a lie, Jesus isnt Italian, Ill allow the shock to set in........... he was Jewish, but in his Jewishness he wasnt bound to a particular people or place, he opened himself to the sick, the broken, the outcast and yes even the non-Jew. His vocation was rooted in Gods love for the world. If you have ever joined me for a beer or coffee, you may have heard me say this: Jesus didnt come to make everyone Christian, he came so that we can be fully human. The reality is, he did not set out to start a new religion but sought a new way, a way where all were seen as Gods children and where all people mattered. We can only be fully human when we recognize others humanity and gifts, as together we seek, as Jesus did, what is good for the World. As a religious leader in this wonderful city I strive to work for the good of Brantford and, in doing so, I welcome and will work with all, regardless of colour, culture, philosophy, religion, or sexual orientation. Lets sit down and chat over a plate of Thai, Indian or lets split a cabbage roll. Here is where it starts, when we eat together, we get to know each other, and the bubble bursts and we begin to see each other as friends or even as brothers and sisters. When this happens Brantford becomes a better place. In the words of Desmond Tutu: Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

In Honour of Public Leaders

I was insulted a few weeks ago. Not very well, but I was insulted. Someone who only identified his/herself as "ExBrantforder" decided to take a shot at me via a local website by calling me a cult leader. It all arose out of the public baptismal service we (Freedom House) held in Harmony Square on July 15th. To be honest, after 30 years in a vocation that is open for public scrutiny, the "cult leader" insult is both ill-informed and over-used. Upon further investigation, "Ex-Brantforder" would have found out that I have too little money, too few concubines and not enough Kool-aid to be a cult leader. To be totally honest, I grow weary of over-used, uncreative scorn from afar. I invited "Ex-Brantforder" for coffee, so I could fill in some missing information he/she had about us (me and Freedom House) and correct him/her about most of his/her mis-information, but he/she didn't respond. The truth is, I never expected a response: most of the 10% never give their name or respond to actual, intelligent discourse. I stopped listening to the 10% long ago! What is the 10%? Glad you asked? The 10% are the people that are never happy with anything that leaders do. They are experts on everything except, of course, objective observation and dialogue. The 10% is the group of individuals in every social group or society that see it as their purpose in life to be intentionally negative and disagree with everything and everyone around them. For the record, I am not writing for pity. It didn't take me long to realize that if you choose a public profession, that there will always be the 10%. I am writing on behalf of the people that don't know about the 10%. I am writing on behalf of those who have stepped out to lead and been criticized by those who dont attempt anything to make our city or the world a better place. I'm here to Advocate for public leaders people like: Dave Carrol, aka Captain Kindness, who prances around in a red leotard to spread the powerful message of KINDNESS. I don't know what reward there is for people who are super-heroes who never wanted to be a super-hero, but whatever it is, Dave Carrol should get it. Joan Minnery, who got off her assets, her own words, to find a new healthy life and inspired many others to do the same. Jamie Stephens, who works hard at bringing entertainment to a city he loves.

by Brian Beattie Twitter: @FHBrantford

2. Develop friends - Intentionally give the right people the ability to speak ANYTHING into your life. Isolation will kill you and your vision (or warp it). 3. Determine that you will spend your time, money and energy on things that is worthy of criticism. If you expect ease, you will be crushed. If it's easy to do - it's probably done - if it's really easy to do, it's probably not worth doing. 4. Decide what is realistic - Prioritize. Evaluate and keep evaluating. "You can please some of the people some of the time" - be content with that. Pleasing "all of the people all of the time is not realistic." 5. Determine that you will be a person of Integrity. Be someone worth following. Understand the seriousness of your choice to lead. John Maxwell says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership. I agree. If you have chosen or are choosing to be a leader, recognize the severity of that choice. Winston Churchill said: The price of greatness is responsibility. 6. Develop a thankful attitude - You are where you are because people helped you get there. You are still a leader because people are helping you. The people are more important than your next big event, or next BIG win. 7. Develop an inquisitive mind - Read, research, see what others are doing. 8. Decide that you will honour other leaders - Tell them when they are doing a good job, learn how to disagree honourably. 9 - Develop a "soft heart and tough skin". The 10% is always out there and one of the unfortunate effects of the 10% is that they cause leaders to develop tough hearts and soft skin if we're not careful. 10 - Determine that you will acknowledge God in the midst of it all (let's be honest, you should have expected that one from a Pastor).

I am writing on behalf of those who have stepped out to lead and been criticized by those who dont attempt anything to make our city or the world a better place.
Josh Bean, who had a vision for a place for the arts and followed through against the odds. Gabriel Kirchberger, who saw something in a run down inner city when seemingly every one else was running away. MP Phil McColeman, MPP Dave Levac and Mayor Chris Friel - I consider these men my friends and honour them for the very difficult job they do every day. Lucas, Andrew and Marc, who started the Advocate, so people could tell stories that will be another catalyst that changes the narrative over our city. I raise a toast to you (and the 100's of others like you), who consciously and intentionally choose to lead in your various fields regardless of the opposition from the 10%. As I wrap up, let me give you a quick list for leaders or potential leaders, regarding how to lead in spite of the 10%. 1. Determine to know yourself - Be aware of your own gifts and calling. Be aware of what you are NOT good at. Be secure in who you are.

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August 2012

I am an Optimist
Brantford? Brantford?! Whats in Brantford? A job, I replied. Yeah, but its only five months! Do you think it will be worth it? Im an optimist. My official title is Project Developer / Researcher. I was hired without an in-person interview. Ive always been told I have a voice for radio. I never thought it was true. My references checked out. They actually sounded sad that they were losing you, my boss later told me. Boss is probably a bad title for her. Shes not a boss. Shes a guide maybe? But even then, I seem to have more freedom than that, and no one in front of me. The bright light of discovery hits me first I guess. Sometimes its rough. I rarely wear sunglasses. At least when I do, theyre rose coloured. Safety net may be a better description of my supervisor. But even that makes her seem inanimate. Shes warm. Shes welcoming. Shes friendly and supportive. More structured than a blanket though... Would an umbrella be a better analogy? I think Ill just cut the analogies. Shes a good supervisor. The kind of person you want to work for. Not work under, work for. I want to do my job well, so that it helps her. Having a supervisor that inspires you and can subtly motivate you is important, especially when youre new in town. I remember I was calling potential landlords. I had very particular

by Nick Csuzdis

needs. This was going to be my first apartment as a young professional. My first job, I wanted to get what I wanted. You wont find anything like that in Brantford, especially for that price. You wont find anything like that in Brantford, especially for such a short time. You wont find anything like that in Brantford, especially if you want to live alone. I had the same reply for all of them, Im an optimist. I found a place. It came with a decent price tag. They were okay with me leaving after my five month contract ended. I had it all to myself. The power of positive thinking scored another victory. What does a Project Developer / Researcher do? To be honest, I wasnt quite sure myself. In my near six months of unemployment, I applied to nearly a thousand jobs. I wasnt qualified for all of them. I was overqualified for some. You really think youre going to get a job?! my friends would ask, half teasing, half legitimately concerned. Im an optimist. Youre going to need to be. Anyway, a thousand job applications later, you forget what some of them even are. When St. Leonards called me, I only remembered the position, because of the term. I hope I get a longer contract than this.

Optimism was batting .500 all of a sudden. Ive learnt that a Project Developer/Researcher can do a lot of different things. I had a specific task assigned to me however. I had to conduct a community substance use needs assessment. Ive never done one of those before. They knew that right? I let them know anyway. My employers seemed to think I have enough experience. Four years in a neuroscience laboratory playing with rats. Simultaneously, I completed a number of freelance research positions studying the responses of young offenders, university students, nurses, and small business owners. I completed my masters working with people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I just recently helped out on a genetics project. Ive done it all. Research is research right? I sure hope so. Youve got a lot of work ahead of you, my new co-workers would say. Thats what everyone keeps telling me. Sometimes, Im not much for conversation. Youve never done a needs assessment before. Are you sure youre going to be able to handle it? Im an optimist. I started reading about what makes up a needs assessment. It can be a lot of things. It can also be 10 months long. I had half that time. Ive also decided to do twice the work. Youre planning on doing all that?! How are you going to get it all done? Can you guess what I said?

A needs assessment, is not about proving something. Thats not my job. Thats not why Ive come to Brantford. I want to find truth. I want to understand. There may be a substance use problem in the area, there may not be. I will not make that assumption. Im going to analyze census data. Im going to take figures from hospitals and service providers. I am going to understand what puts this community at risk for having substance use problems. I am going to survey people who offer support for those with addictions problems. I am going to survey people living with addictions. I am going to gather as much information as possible. I may even survey you. I may survey your neighbour. I may survey a friend or family member of yours. I may ask you to fill out a survey for me, even if you dont have a substance use problem. I am inviting all kinds of people to help with this project. If you receive an invitation, I hope youll contact me. I hope youll share the truth. But not everyone thinks you will. No one is going to want to do a survey that takes 30-45 minutes! Thats too long! No one is going to contact you in order to fill out a survey! People are going to lie! You wont get an honest response! No one cares. What can I say? Im an optimist.

Moving to Brantford
I opened my Facebook page on Tuesday morning to a splendid mess, one of those group messages where everyone Replies All. The grammar and spelling were...well, small children and English teachers-stop reading the article now. Despite run-ons and a shocking lack of periods (or perhaps because of), I read one message after another with a smile. May 28 Kristina: Hey girls, I'm sure we've all noticed that someone has been missing from most of the get together's... Melissa! So I was thinking maybe we could all do something this weekend. Main goal is Melissa has to be able to make it! Any ideas or available times? May 28 Laura: I cant come working this weekend May 28 Rachel: I think I am free Friday May 28 Laura: Im free Friday. Not sat or Sunday. May 28 Gwendolyn: Im free Friday! May 28 Rachel: Maybe we all go and then go to brown dog May 28 Alisa: I am free Friday too. But not Saturday May 28 Laura: I'll go to the brown dog; it will be a nice change from the blue dog. Plus its more of a summer color May 28 Alisa: Will you Laura. May 28 Laura: Ya I promise!! lol

by Layne Beckner Grime

May 28 Kristina: Okay Friday it is depending on Melissa's schedule. I can't stay out too late cause I have the super early shift on Saturday. May 29 Layne: Kristina--You.Are.So.Sweet. ...and I love you girls. And I Love the Brown Dog...let me know what time y'all decide on; if I can't come, Ill send my mum. May 29 Laura: lol and I love american lingo "y'all" lol and I love Layne. May 29 Alisa: ...and I love Layne too May 29 Laura: and I love Lisa May 29 Renee: And I love y'all;) Lets just say the conversation went on...but Ill splice it there because you get the idea. It seems strange that something so nonsensical, so silly was a defining moment in my life, but I will forever declare it was. As I scrolled through the messages, I felt the significance of being included in a group of girls who fight to keep their friendships alive. I have known a lot of people in this life and intentionality of this caliber is nothing short of precious, a rarity indeed. For the first time since moving here, I felt a part of something a bit bigger than myself, a sense of family. I liked it. This eclectic, beautiful, kind, kind-of-crazy (in a good way) group of girls have taken me in since I moved to Brantford last fall. Most of them have known each other for over a decade-

have stood up in each others weddings, have traveled, laughed, cried, fought and lived together through the years. Instead of allowing their closeness and history to keep others out, however, they use their love to draw others in to celebrate life with them. The opposite of exclusive, they have gone out of their way to invite me to dinners, girls nights, coffee dates and parties. When I am deeply honest, moving to Brantford hasnt been the easiest of transitions. Leaving my closest friends, family and coworkers to come marry the man of my dreams (Jonathan, dearie, that was a shout out to you) has had its rocky moments. (Jonathan says I had a breakdown last Thursday, but whos counting.) Moving to a town where I have no history, no sense of belonging and didnt know anyone outside of my husband-tobe has never been high on my dream list. But every once in a great while you meet the kind of people who make you want to be a better person, who love those around them well-just for the sake of loving, who give without asking to receive anything in return, who have the depth of character to live outside their own comfortable

bubble and who are sincere, genuinely kind. So lets hear it for loving your neighbors, to loving extravagantly, to loving just because. To living courageously, for loving outrageously. It matters. I am here to propose that this smart, hilarious, friendly, generous group of girls is one such set of souls. Im not sure how I was lucky enough to find them along this journey (or perhaps they found me), but Im here to say Im grateful. So this is my own personal love letter to these incredible people who have gone out of their way to make me feel at home in Brantford. Friends- thank you for the grace when I needed to be anti-social, thank you for baking cookies with me and indulging me in a tea party, thanks for coffee dates and dinner parties, thanks for including me in your Christmas festivities, for taking me out dancing and for throwing me a birthday party when I was new in town. I couldnt have asked for truer friends to start this new season. Im so entirely happy to know you in this lifetime. Now, lets grow old together?

EXCAVATION BOBCAT SERVICES HAULAGE

August 2012

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Happy Birthday Mr. Brantford!

by Robert Adlam

With so much emphasis this year being placed on the bicentennial of the War of 1812, it would be easy to overlook a 200th anniversary of a very different nature; one that hits a lot closer to home. Ignatius Cockshutt was born on August 24, 1812 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. As a teenager he immigrated to Upper Canada and settled in York (now Toronto) in 1827. It was here that his father, James, opened a dry goods store. With the success of this venture, it was decided to expand the family business in 1829 by opening a branch store in a small settlement to the west, in the recently named Brants Ford. The experiment failed and Ignatius returned to York to rejoin his father. In 1832 Ignatius persuaded his father to let him try to reopen the Brantford operation. The second attempt proved successful and launched Ignatius on path to wealth and influence that few others of the day were able to achieve. In 1834 James Cockshutt left York to join his son in the rapidly expanding branch store that was now the sole focus of the family business. Ignatius had indeed proven himself to be a gifted and visionary businessman, and James eventually sold the store to his daughter Jane and Ignatius in 1840. From humble beginnings of a general store, Ignatius expanded the operation to become a full line department store which he named The Merchants Exchange.

Not being content to rely entirely upon the revenues of the Merchants Exchange, Ignatius invested heavily in real estate to the point that by the time Brantford was incorporated as a town in 1847, he was its largest property owner. Municipal tax rolls, from the year 1880, show that he owned 41 rental properties, as well as 21 farms in Brantford Township. He also held the mortgages on no less than 10 factories during Brantfords emerging manufacturing sector in the 1870s. Not forgotten is the fact that he supplied the start up capital to his son James in the founding of the Brantford Plow Works, the forerunner of the Cockshutt Plow Company. One notable investment that he chose to avoid was the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell had asked for his support, but Ignatius felt the idea was nothing more than fantasy and declined the offer. While usually wise in almost all of his business decisions, only history will be able to judge this particular choice. Ignatius Cockshutt was a man who was driven by his convictions. Among these were a strong work ethic, honest and fair business practices, and religious beliefs that compelled him to give back to others. In purely civic affairs he engaged in pursuits that would be a boost to Brantford in order to make it a leader in commerce over other communities. It was

his firm belief that a prosperous Brantford would benefit all citizens, not just his own business concerns. As early as 1848 he showed great leadership in arranging to have a fire well and pump constructed in the business centre of the town in order to better protect businesses from the constant threat of fire. Later in 1860 he lobbied the Town Council to establish a formal fire company. Ignatius was instrumental in setting up the first Board of Trade, and was elected its first president in 1866. He was a shareholder and board member of the Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich Railway, and held the presidency of both the Brantford Gas Works and Brantford Waterworks. His personal acts of charity and philanthropy, which are too numerous to mention here, were a natural extension of his Christian beliefs. He was a founding member of Farringdon Church near Brantford, which is a sect of Methodism known as Inghamites. Ignatius was a lay preacher in the church and supported two missions in Jamaica. The people of Brantford owe a great debt of gratitude to the social institutions that he established and continue on to this day, such as the House of Refuge; Brantford Widows Home; Brantford Orphans Home, and both the YMCA and YWCA. Even after his death, he provided for the ongoing care and maintenance of these facilities in his will. He also gave extensively to the poor at every opportunity that presented itself. These character traits

were instilled in his children and successive members of the Cockshutt family. Upon his death on March 1, 1901, there was such an outpouring of public mourning that the whole city suspended business and several factories closed their doors out of respect for him. After leading a very full life that included both failure and success, Ignatius Cockshutt had earned the titles of Mr. Brantford and the Grand Old Man of Brantford. He had helped transform Brantford from a crude frontier settlement into a thriving city of national importance. Along the way he never lost sight of the plight of others and his own ability and duty to help. Happy 200th Mr. Brantford! It couldnt have happened without you. For further information on Ignatius Cockshutt, check out these resources available from the Brantford Public Library: About Cockshutt, by William H. Cockshutt. Bits and pieces of Brantfords history: the history of the Cockshutt family, by Gary Muir http://brantford.library.on.ca/archive/index.php/archiv e/article/157 Memoirs of Ignatius Cockshutt http://brantford.library.on.ca/archive/index.php/archiv e/article/155

The Importance of Myrtleville

In 1980, the descendants of Allen and Eliza Good deeded the family farm which was then on the outer edge of the development taking place in Brantford to Heritage Canada. When it officially opened in August, an editorial in the Brantford Expositor stated that, not many centres in Canada can boast a museum house they raise in an increasingly competitive market. Donors today are placed under enormous pressure to contribute to many worthy causes and as the economy continues to stagger, this will increase. So where does this leave Myrtleville? There is no doubt that Myrtleville House and its contents are an important historic asset to this community. Most of the furnishings and artifacts were donated by the Good family and in many respects it is their history as well. A series of articles written by Gary Muir for the Brantford Expositor describes the familys trek from Ireland, the involvement in the Rebellion of 1837, the Gore District Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the Canadian Council of Agriculture, and the formation United Farmers of Ontario. They were involved in politics at all levels and played an important role in the social infrastructure of the community. It is therefore understandable that the Good family remains interested in the future of Myrtleville. Myrtleville has also played an important role in offering community programs and educational activities under the stewardship of the Friends of Myrtleville and, more recently, the Brant Historical Society. Last year more than 2,000 primary students participated in curriculum based programs carried out by Myrtleville including school visits by a nineteenth century teacher. Numerous PA Day programs and summer camps provide further interaction with students. Quilting events, Easter egg hunts, family days, art shows, and special presentations focusing on needlework, Victorian hair wreaths, and more recently a celebration of Myrtleville and Brantford in history have been aimed at a wider audience. Myrtleville has also served as a backdrop for CBC's popular television series Murdoch Mysteries, weddings and even anniversary pho-

by Michael St. Amant Twitter: @MichaelStAmant

tos. Volunteer help with special events and gardening and up to six students are employed in summer programs under the direction of Lisa Anderson, Myrtlevilles Education Officer. So what are the challenges? The first is financial. Any organization, including the Brant Historical Society, that is considering coming to an arrangement with Heritage Canada on the Myrtleville property, would want to understand the financial implications both from an operational and capital perspective. The question is: is there a revenue model that would allow operation of the facility at a minimum of a cash neutral position? As well, we need to ask what capital resources will be required to maintain the property in the future. It would be a mistake in my view to take on the responsibility for Myrtleville at the expense of other services offered by the organization or recognizing that it is only a stopgap measure leading to a crisis down the road. The second is programming. While Myrtleville offers a good range of programs, the issue is how to continue to make these relevant to our changing society. The study of history, for example, plays a much less role in educational curriculum than it did twenty years ago. Modern museums have moved away from simply presenting artifacts and relying on patron visits. They have developed interactive and virtual programs designed to maximize the use of technology and outreach. So the question then becomes can we find a way to accomplish this, maintain community relevance, and build a new audience? And, at what cost? The third is community commitment. Those who actively support the preservation of heritage buildings no doubt recognize the importance of Myrtleville. Generally, however, public attitude is one of indifference. I would suspect that although Brantford Council

would be prepared to morally support any effort to preserve the site, the allocation of resources to support the site would be a matter of hard debate as they struggle not to increase the citys operational costs. So the onus is on whoever enters into an arrangement with Heritage Canada to move the hearts and minds of the community to not only support their efforts to maintain operation of Myrtleville, but also to commit to using the resource and assist in ensuring that there is financial stability. Finally, can Myrtleville become a national destination site? This to me is a fundamental question. What we do locally is important and brings meaning to the interaction between Myrtleville and the community. I suspect, however, that the financial viability and return on investment that is made locally will barely meet the financial needs to operate such a facility. So the question becomes is whether there is a way in which Myrtleville can attract a broader audience from outside the community. This not only generates money to support Myrtleville it benefits local businesses. This will require a rethinking of programming, advertising, signage, and facility utilization. I personally hope that we can find a way to ensure that Myrtleville continues and that some accommodation can be reached with Heritage Canada. At the same time, we need to be practical. There is no point in solving one problem while creating another. We need to ask the questions. We need to know that there is a chance of success in ensuring long term stability. Most important, we need the commitment of the city, the Good family, Heritage Canada and the community to make it work!

as unique as Myrtleville Built in 1837, it is described as being in mint condition as well as containing a collection of furniture and artifact hard to match anywhere. Thanks to Heritage Canada, 175 years later that statement is as true today as it was then. But times have changed! Today urbanization has surrounded the Myrtleville site. Heritage Canada, a national charity and not a government agency, has shifted its strategy in how it assists and promotes heritage in Canada. Over the past two years, it has moved away from the property management approach modeled after the British National Trust and has been focusing on developing partnerships to preserve historic sites. At the same time, governments of all levels have been under pressure to reduce expenditures. Not-for-profit organizations such as the Brant Historical Society fight for every dollar

Photo courtesy of Empirical Photogrphic Arts / www.empiricalphotographicarts.com

Clowns Need Smiles.

Without a smile from this clown, a child may not get the chance to laugh. Without Clowns for Kids, children may not get the chance to shine. Without friends like the Calbecks, our community may not get the chance to grow. The Calbeck name has been synonymous with providing quality goods and services for the people of Brantford for generations. For generations, they have helped support community initiatives like Clowns For Kids. Help us support Clowns For Kids, in support of the Boys and Girls Club of Brantford and the Lansdowne Children's Centre. For more information, visit www.clownsforkids.ca