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IC O ORD UBLO JON ANTF RS OF PR R SY F B E T E A U H O E T C , Y O LM OOTH O + FI BRATE TW (PHOTO B T O H LE IE P LAYN ING US CE & O P N EL JO FOR H
NK A H T O T W E A K I L L AFE Y D L R Y&C R U E U K O BA J W N HIAS EVISION! I E P O T S L TEL SE & CA A O CHEE DVOCATE N V E C I D A O M A S T BLIND AUNCH OF E R N E R A L H E E ,T R P B LOCK ON AND TH B E Y S T I H L AR AT T
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We all remember waking up the morning of Friday, June 21, and seeing the pictures of the floods in southern Alberta. Videos of houses being swept down the Bow River in Canmore and of cars floating away in downtown Calgary could be found all over the Internet. But less told is the story of those who were in the middle of it all, whether they were fighting for their houses and livelihood, or struggling to reopen their places of work. While the floods have rescinded and Calgary is slowly getting back to normal, there are still years left of damage repair to be done. Darryl Barnes woke up Thursday morning before the flood, and went to work at the Talisman Centre, a gym in Calgary, just like every other day. He got off at 2 p.m. and it was raining, but thats nothing new. Its Alberta; raining during the summer is what happens. But shortly after he got home, he received notice that the Talisman Centre was closed due to mandatory evacuation. Still, the last thing anybody thought would happen was a massive flood. By the next morning, there was no doubt. As I was watching the news Friday morning before work, I saw that right in front of our work the streets were flooded so much it looked like a river, Barnes said. This was the reality for a huge portion of Calgarys workforce that morning. There is no worse place for a disaster like this to strike than in the downtown of a major city. Many people had to shoulder the panic of losing their homes and places of work, and yet keep calm enough to find a solution. I got the call Saturday morning to come down to work. My boss gave me directions. It normally takes 15 minutes but it took over two hours to get to work, Barnes explained. When he arrived at work, the whole park behind the building was under water, and the building had no power. From the surface, it looked like the building was untouched. The whole basement, where all the hot water, air handling, pool filtering equipment and two large hot water boilers were located was covered in about four feet of water, Barnes said. Buildings all around the city were damaged in this way. It wasnt just the houses in certain neighborhoods, or downtown streets. The water viciously poured into important buildings and made its way to the basements, destroying foundations. The Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames, was filled up to the tenth row with water. While the rest of Canada was rejoicing over the rains stopping and the water levels retreating, for the workers and citizens like Barnes, the real test was just beginning. The next few days consisted of getting diesel fuel to power the emergency generator. We had to do this five times a day to fill it up, Barnes said. In addition to getting fuel, Barnes was tasked with directing contractors to get the water out of the basement. The water was removed in two days. For the next two weeks the workers had to remove all the machines that were damaged, while electricians and engineers helped get the power back on and draw up plans to get the facility reopened. Motors were removed, and new ones were put in. Barnes and the workers were able to maintain the water in one swimming pool but two other major pools along with two hot tubs and a childrens pool were drained. The basement was cleaned over time and all things that had been destroyed by the water were removed. Its not pretty work or inspiring, but it is the kind of stuff that went on behind the scenes in the flood ravaged areas. The resiliency of Calgarians has stood out throughout all of this. Mayor Naheed Nenshi has been widely praised for how well he showed calmness as a leader, and how he very famously announced that the Calgary Stampede would still go on, even though there was less than two weeks until the Stampede was to open and the entire grounds were covered in water. But nevertheless, the stampede did go on, and it was just as successful as ever. The whole city came together to help. It was not just a matter of workers and government officials. On Monday, June 24, around 2,500 volunteers showed up at McMahon Stadium to help people settle back into their homes. This is Calgary folks. This is the spirit of the community, Nenshi said. Not every business downtown was heavily damaged, but that does not mean they did not have a tough time. Lots of restaurants, coffee shops and service shops suffered merely because they had no customers. This was a tragedy where nobody in the city was unaffected. We were able to open the gymnasiums, weight and cardio areas of the building around late July. A few weeks later we were able to open the pool that still had water in it along with one hot tub, Barnes said. Some of the air-handling units work, but most are still being worked on. One of the two boilers is now working and provides hot water for the facility. A lot of work remains on the pumps that control showers and pool circulation. The building has gotten back to some normality but there is a long way to go. I would estimate there are still months of work left to do before we can say we are back to 100 per cent, Barnes said. The city, its citizens, and all of southern Alberta have certainly been dealt a bad hand, but they refuse to quit. Like Barnes, they just get right back to the job, doing the dirty work, and doing all they can to restore their city to its rightful state and their lives back to normal.
My Mother was a very violent woman and the beatings my brothers and I took were just that: Beatings. She didnt spank. No, she preferred to use weapons. Belts, hockey sticks and my dads wooden cane are a few examples.
I was raised in a dysfunctional home where I was physically, psychologically and emotionally abused. Having been born and raised in Regent Park, Canada's oldest and largest social housing project, I grew up surrounded by poverty and violence. In the first 18 years of my life Ive seen and witnessed more trauma than most people face their entire life time. My Mother was a very violent woman and the beatings my brothers and I took were just that: Beatings. She didnt spank. No, she preferred to use weapons. Belts, hockey sticks and my dads wooden cane are a few examples. My earliest memory of abuse was when I was about six years old and in grade one. My friend and I decided not to go back to class after afternoon recess and just hang out in the schools playground instead. When I got home, my mom was waiting for me with a belt in her hands. Before I even got in the door she grabbed me by the hair, pulled me in and started whaling on me. When she finally stopped I ran upstairs, closed the door, and hid under my bed for what seemed like hours. Crying that cry little kids do when they cant catch their breath. I remember looking up at the doorknob in terror whenever I heard footsteps hoping it was my dad and not the monster. In the eyes of this little boy, this is what she became. You see, my dad was my hero, my nurturer and my protector. The beatings became a common occurrence not just for me, but for my brothers as well. She, the monster, was also very violent towards my dad. I would often witness her throwing knick-knacks, dishes or ashtrays at him. It seemed we had new ashtrays in our house every week. My dad and I dont know how he did it but he never once
My brother was rushed to the hospital while my cousin and I were left there alone, both only ten years of age, and terrified that we would be blamed. We decided to run away but a neighbour caught up to us and kept us at his place until someone came and got us. My brother was in the hospital for many months with 3rd degree burns over forty percent of his body, from his head down to his mid torso. My mother took me to visit him a couple of days later and the image of his hairless, swollen, burnt face still haunts me to this day. I was the older brother and should have known better. It was my job to protect him. Ive carried that guilt around all my life.
Just after my brother got home from the hospital tragedy struck again. My father was diagnosed with cancer. I witnessed my hero go from a 280 pound man to nothing but skin and bones. It was a long year of which he either spent in the hospital or in his bed. However, after a yearlong fight he was able to beat it. The day he was released from the hospital he and my mother decided he needed to get away. He wanted go and spend time with my oldest brother who lived out of town. It was to be the last time I ever saw my hero again. Just shortly after my dad went to bed he suffered a massive stroke. He was rushed to the hospital but didnt make it. I was devastated; 12 years old and my whole world had come to an end. I was told by my mother that I couldnt go to the funeral but I begged my aunt to drive me the 200 miles to where it was being held, only to be sent home by the monster upon arriving. I couldnt believe that she was even denying me the chance to say good-bye to my own dad, essentially telling me I wasnt allowed to grieve.
Just after my brother got home from the hospital tragedy struck again. My father was diagnosed with cancer. I witnessed my hero go from a 280 pound man to nothing but skin and bones.
I took his death really hard. I looked up to my brother. He, like my dad, looked out for me. A few weeks after the funeral while staying at my moms, I decided I had had enough. I swallowed a bottle of my moms anti-depressants, laid on the couch and waited to fall asleep. My younger brother noticed the emptied bottle and called an ambulance. I was in ICU for 3 days. Within weeks of being released from the hospital I went from smoking weed and drinking to injecting cocaine, speed and smoking crack. Using drugs went from being a choice to needing it to survive my emotional pain. The pain and trauma of my childhood became too much to bear straight. To be continued.
(For the record, nor does it mean you are attention-seeking or superficial. If it was about being skinny, Portia DeRossi would have rejoiced when the scale hit 82 lbs. Lindsay Lohan would be writing self-help books by now.) The doctors in Brantford get it. I'll leave it up to Wasted author Marya Hornbacker to explain what I always felt but didn't know how to articulate: "there were ... countless outlets that could have channelled my drive, perfectionism, ambition, and an excess of general intensity, millions of ways in which I could have responded to a culture that I found highly problematic. I did not choose those ways. I chose an eating disorder." Some people choose pot. Some choose Facebook. Some choose calories. In a culture that equates thinness with self worth and takes every opportunity to sell us on the idea by stoking the fires of our self loathing, the latter is dangerously easy to do, especially if you happen to have super-driven-intense-perfectionist genes. You don't choose that cocktail, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. You can choose to stop channelling your energy into an eating disorder, though. When you make that decision, you can channel it into something you do choose. Anything you want to choose. Your life can be full of possibility. Here are some of the services in Brantford that can help:
- Brantford General Hospital Outpatient Nutrition Counselling: Brantford General Site 519-751-5544, extension 4267 http://www.bchsys.org/bchserv/AmbCare/NutritionCoun - Willett site 519-442-2251, extension 6332 - EDS Brant. To arrange a private intake consultation with registered nurse and counselor Marilyn Clarke, call 519752- 5468. (To get to know Marilyn a little better, check out this great article written by Heather Ibbotson for the Brantford Expositor, http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2009/02/07/manyreasons-can-be-behind-eating-disorders) (The Trellis Institute http://www.trellis.on.ca/en/ used to be the go-to place in Brantford, but they recently changed their services to include only Waterloo Region and Wellington County.) The counselors and nutritionists in Brantford helped me find the words to give a voice to my thoughts. There is power in understanding, and there is power in words. I am indebted to them for helping me become who I am human. That's pretty sweet.
The beauty in nature has led conservation biologists, researchers and nature lovers alike, to contribute to the conservation of our Canadian landscape. Every year thousands of volunteers, ranging from families and students to birders and scientists, contribute to an annual mission. For over one hundred years, that mission has been to assist species at risk and enforce conservation action. Birds are great predictors of the state of our environment. It is crucial to be aware of and address both the needs and threats to our local birds and habitat. Organizations such as Audubon, Bird Studies Canada, and Ontario Nature have significantly contributed to the awareness and assessment of our bird populations health status. Wildlife census by field observations has collected significant data, offering valuable information into the scope of environmental challenges. Christmas Bird counts and Bird
Feeder counts are among the many programs that provide important information for bird conservation on a local level. Volunteers and scientists have extensively added to the State of Canadas Birds Report, while also contributing to the long-term study of the health and status of bird populations in North America. These long-term perspectives are vital to our environment and species, allowing conservationists to prevent, protect, and to be proactive in identifying environmental issues. Annual bird counts collect data that provide awareness of local trends in bird populations and habitat. The field data that is collected can signal many threats such as local contamination and climate change, as well as identify rare species. Reports are then used to help scientists and policy-makers push for change. Here are seven things that have become known due to bird counts, according to the Audubon website: the bald eagle is back, the Endangered Species Act works,
familiar birds are in serious decline, more hummingbirds are staying in Canada and the US over the winter, house finches have been moving west for 60 years, the spread of West Nile virus can now be determined in speed and distance, and birds indicate environmental problems that can affect people. All the efforts made by bird counters, compilers, and regional bird count editors, through the annual mission to protect and conserve our birds and natural habitat, are truly appreciated for their dedication and contribution. There is currently no Brantford Christmas Bird Count, however; it is in the works. In order to spearhead a count in Brantford, it is required that local Citizen Scientists volunteer in the conservation efforts to get Brantford on the map! For more information on Brantfords effort to spearhead a Christmas Bird Count, visit Amanda Kelly on Twitter @AJaquesKelly.
What qualities do I like best, admire in people, and wish I had? The answers may reveal to you parts of yourself that are lying dormant but want to emerge.
These positive parts may have been pushed aside as a result of not being encouraged and embraced by parents, caregivers, or educators. They can include artistic interests and behaviours
A good friend of mine was always punished in subtle ways for being outgoing and vivacious. He was put down and sometimes given not so subtle looks of disapproval when he spoke up. As a result he always gravitated to people who were energetic and full of life. Meanwhile, after doing some work on his shadow self, he realized he, too, was alive and started acting in ways he never had before. For example, he started singing out loud in front of people in a fun way. He also smiled more and talked more often when around groups of people.
Three years ago I started a journey with no end. I didn't know that at the time, and if I had, I'm not sure I would have had the courage. That first step took me headlong into a storm that hit the publishing industry by surprise. It was a revolution of sorts, a transformation from something old into something new. The storm I'm speaking of is self-publishing: the act of taking your writing and publishing it on your own without the help of a big publishing company. Authors have been self-publishing their work since the first books hit the market. If you had enough money, you could get anything into print. So what changed? Everything, really. In days gone by, the only way to get wide distribution of your work was by contacting a publisher and convincing them that your work was commercially viable. They would then take your story, edit it, put a cover on it, print a bunch of books, and distribute them to book stores. You would get a small slice of the profits (called royalties) which usually amounted to 10%. This form of publishing is referred to as traditional publishing. At some point in the last few years, several companies decided to take out the middle-man. Amazon, CreateSpace, Lightning Source, and a number of other companies introduced services that allowed a person to write and publish their own books without having to deal with traditional publishers. This simplified the process, and made it accessible to everyone. Suddenly, anyone could publish a book and get it out in
front of the masses of readers who were looking for the next great masterpiece. When I started writing, I knew nothing about the publishing industry. I've been writing stories for years, but only enough to fuel the plots of the games I played. I'm a twenty-year veteran role-player, and in order to keep players interested in your games, you have to have an interesting story.
The storm I'm speaking of is self-publishing: the act of taking your writing and publishing it on your own without the help of a big publishing company.
In November of 2010, I sat down at a keyboard and started writing my first full-length novel thanks to a personal challenge called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short). The goal is to write fifty thousand words in thirty days, which is a daunting task, even after writing three books. I didn't succeed that year, but I did go on to finish the book. The problem was that I was faced with a question: Now what?
Photo Essay
by Paul Smith paul@photohouse.ca
It was a brisk evening in winter. A few close friends and I lounged comfortably in the living room at a fondue party. I cant remember who thought of the idea, but I can remember counting on my fingers the number of people I knew that had beards. The title followed naturally, beards of Brantford. The inevitable question bubbled up in my mind. Why? Why would anyone care about beards? Then I asked a more important and provoking question. Why not? The list of potential projects for any artist is always a long one. For me, the ones that seem the most emotionally rewarding become a reality. One of my favourite artists is Jeanne-Claude and Christo. Their art often consisted of wrapping fabric around very large things, or placing thousands of colourful umbrellas along a highway. Why? Because it was cool. Their art had no political or social meaning weighing it down, it didnt pander to any particular demographic of people, and most importantly to me, it embodied the idea that art provokes thought and stimulates discussion about the world we live in. Tomorrow it may be single parents, or cancer survivors, or same-sex couples, but today its beards. Much of the project is based on the idea of individuality and expression. Beards are as diverse and unique as the people who wear them. And beyond the meaning of it all, theyre cool. When the project started it consisted of one shoot and a gallery at the end of this year. Once the project grew legs I thought 100 beards was a nice round number to strive for (Or 99 to be true to Brantford). So, this is a call to all Beards of Brantford. If you are interested in being a part of this project please contact me at beard@photohouse.ca
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A CAT scan revealed recently that my father is suffering from a degenerative cerebellum disorder, which could be passed genetically to his children. This gave clarity to my balance issues. So began my research into what all of this meant. Those physical activities, or pushing myself too hard, caused my speech to become slurred. Strangers make assumptions. I remember walking across the deck of a cruise ship as it was being
We can make a difference. We can learn to recognize degenerative brain disorders and offer solutions, not criticism.
What I now realize is that many disabilities are not obvious to the public. If you see someone in a wheelchair you know they cannot walk or may need assistance. If a person carries a white cane or walks with a guide dog, it is obvious that his or her vision is impaired. However, people often assume a person is drunk if he/she trips going up the stairs. At a corporate function in a dark movie theatre, I was trying to hold onto my popcorn and pop, but without a handhold I fell to my knees. Just like on the cruise ship, I heard a man say, Oh, look at that, too much to drink. I
VISION VISIONEXPERIENCE
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The other night I had a dream, and felt the hand of God A little child was in my sight, the aged on his right He ordered me to read the writings there of every book Then behold, the task was done, before my very eyes. Tell me now of what you read, and answer me with truth Spoke the word within the dream; I answered him with dread. While searching for a piece of gold within the pens of man There is no word that can be found, by eye of any one. Wisdom hidden in the words, and oh, how they do play Dancing in a rhyming myth, that flesh can never slay. Be they false; said I too God, thats written by the pen For all be knowledge handed down, from pen to pen to pen What we think we know we know, we never know for sure Duty bound the pen of man, the pen of men a sword}. All is false, except the letters, making up her name In the desert where she fled, there be an open door There upon a road so steep thats crooked and abhorred There she waits with open arms by love she is adored Wisdom is the bride of God; with love she bides her time Riding on the mists of all the Spirit ever called For all be one and one is all within the God you know Father /Spirit / then the Son, were sent to tell you how. There be for sure a plan was stamped, but tell me if you can; Where is love and where is man who walks that hallowed plan? All is dead and all is lost with flesh upon our bones, here and there and everywhere we built our self a home. Here on Earth we changed the world with silver and with gold, cutting off the hand of God from all that you have sown Words of love and promises, upon the face of man} Tell me man what have you said, and dont you realize? All the things Ive sent to you are not for burnished sand. There will be a nation built and there upon the gate Chosen; from the land of men, a change of heart instead. Justice here and justice there, completely different things. {In the morning I did wake and gazed upon the war, gazed upon the Poverty that men of Earth have borne. Gazed upon the hopelessness Of children everywhere, here am I a useless wreck within the sands of time. Communism/Socialism runs their banner high, Liberals/Conservative pie within the sky. Capitalism, all the rest, designed to blind the eye. Son of God when will you, then, descend to show us how? Shalom
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Brantford & Beyond - Through the eyes of an Aussie from Down Under
by Heather Brooks
summer too, but I am still of the old school and love to go in the bank and have a chat with a real person. There have also been many conversations lost in translation- sweater vs jumper; bathroom / toilets; shopping cart /shopping trolley; thongs / thongs (much hilarity when I told my students that all Australians wear thongs to the beach! I found out once the laughter stopped that thong means underwear here and I should have said flip flops.) Squirrels and chipmunks delight me as they run from tree to tree. A black bear sighting was a highlight of a road trip and I am determined to spy a moose before I leave! A tour bus driver has even taught me how to call one.. Here Moosie, Moosie I have also discovered that each part of Canada is unique with local sights and nuances. One thing that I have noticed is common throughout Canada however, is the friendliness and welcoming nature of all Canadians. On the East coast, the smell of the Atlantic and quaint fishing villages reminded me of home. In the West, the rugged and majestic Rocky Mountains held me in their awe and in all places people willingly have shared their home and community with me. I have had the privilege of working and living in Brantford for the last eight months through a teacher exchange program. When asked to share some of my experiences and observations, I readily agreed! It is my way to say thank you to the people of Brantford for their warm welcome and also to share Brantford with you through a fresh set of eyes. I will never forget my first snowfall - it literally took my breath away. To other people, snow may just be part of the natural cycle of seasons, but I live in Adelaide, South Australia which experiences very hot summers and mild winters. Snow is only seen on postcards. My neighbours here in Brantford thought I was crazy.. out in my pyjamas videoing the flurries and the snow plough. The staff and students at my school laughed when I made a snow angel in the snow, but through my eyes it was a brand new experience full of wonder and joy. It was not long, however, that the cold and snow began to lose some of its appeal, especially after shovelling it from the driveway a number of times and driving through it! This brings me to my next major adjustment, driving on the wrong side of the road. The steering wheel is even on the other side of the car and I cannot count the times I have put on the wipers instead of the turning light. Even now, I still go to the passenger door when I am about to drive. The all-stop intersections were also something new. We all stop, but who goes first??? So many times I have been waved on with a smile. Thank goodness for that I say, or I may have never made it to school in that first week of driving in Brantford. A big apology also to those drivers who have had the unpleasant experience of seeing me coming towards them on the wrong side of the yellow line. Rest assured, it was not a pleasant experience for me either and thankfully rarely occurs now. It would be remiss of me not to also mention my first experience of driving on icy roads. Suffice to say, I arrived in one piece, having performed some fancy pirouettes- ice skater style. The challenges that faced me on my arrival all seem so long ago, but in truth each day I experience something new. Here are some that have made each day new and exciting: Canada is banana lovers heaven. They are really inexpensive here and I love bananas! Milk is sold in bags! That is not the end of this unusual practice.. There are four litres divided into three bags. Theres a Maths conundrum for you. Fire hydrants are yellow not red. Really hot is 30 degrees Celsius not 40 + as in Adelaide. I have adapted the famous quote from Crocodile Dundee Thats not a knife to Thats not hot! Also, the humidity index adds to the heat. I must admit humidity and heat are not my favourite weather conditions. Canada is really big! I have travelled East, South and West and still have not even scratched the surface of this beautiful country. Forgive me, but I cannot really understand the fascination with Tim Hortons coffee. I even snapped a photo of the cars lined up on a Monday morning .. Only at McDonalds in Australia have I seen such a line and that was for hamburgers, not coffee. Sorry, but after a sample of the coffee, I have decided to keep drinking my instant coffee from home. I still hold up the lines in supermarkets trying to count out coins for the cashiers. Yes, I recognise Toonies and Loonies but still am baffled why the ten cent is smaller than the five. Thank goodness, the penny has been phased out or I am not sure I would ever be able to go the supermarket again. Drive Thru Banking- What an excellent service to provide in the cold winters! I have seen people use it in As I stated before, I have been made to feel welcome and part of the community of Brantford. In many ways Brantford has the feel of Adelaide back home. It is a small city with all necessary services but has a relaxed friendly atmosphere. It has been a rare weekend that I have not been able to find something to do both in Brantford and surrounding areas. I loved the spring gardens-Adelaide is known for its green spaces and gardens but Brantford, you do yourself proud! The colour and mass plantings have delighted me since spring and the growth of these flower beds has been phenomenal. I have learned that Brantford is the birthplace of Wayne Gretzky-a hockey player that I had not even heard of prior to coming here. Interestingly, I asked my students what Brantford was famous for and they said at once Wayne Gretzky but made no mention of Alexander Graham Bell or Pauline Johnson. Just as in Australia, sport seems to be an integral part of community identity. On the subject of hockey, I have experienced a local game but must admit I find it all a bit confusing. Yes, I understand that the aim is to shoot that black thing past the guy with more padding than a bomb disposal technician, but why do you have to slam the opposition into the wall? Hopefully, with a new season around the corner, I will be able to go, cheer with the rest of them and understand what I am cheering about. So, I return to a new school year after an amazing summer break full of amazing sights and experiences. I have only been able to touch on some of my experiences so far but I hope you have gotten a sense of your country and community through anothers eyes. It is often through new eyes we can become more thankful for what we sometimes take for granted in our own home and community. I, too, am learning to appreciate Australia all over again as I read all about the experiences of my exchange partners living and working back in Adelaide. I look forward to the experiences that are to come and am extremely thankful for all the sights I have seen and the people I have met. Brantford, Canada-eh? A beautiful and friendly place to be.
WWW.SOPHIASBAKERY.CA
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If youve been in Brantford over the last fifty years or so, names such as F. C. Bodley, Wes Switzer, Louise Dawson Ernest and Verginnia Barrie would have been synonymous with photography. These were some of the local photographers and members of the Brant Camera Club. The club which was founded in 1957 went by the name of the Brantford Guild of Colour Photography. At that time the clubs focus was colour slide photography because that was the interest of many of its members. The Guild or Club was very popular in their approach to educating their members and getting them out taking pictures. Outings and fieldtrips were held on a regular basis which took members to local sites and scenery to photograph and enjoy an afternoon in the outdoors. Guest speakers and inter-club competitions were part of the clubs regular programming during the year.
If youve been in Brantford over the last fifty years or so, names such as F. C. Bodley, Wes Switzer, Louise Dawson Ernest and Verginnia Barrie would have been synonymous with photography. The club which was founded in 1957 went by the name of the Brantford Guild of Colour Photography.
Meetings were held at the Glenhyrst Gardens for several years, and then more recently, the Eagle Place Community Centre. With swelling membership and more interest from the community the club was forced to pull up sticks and move to more accommodating digs. Starting September 3rd, meetings will now be held in the basement of the Sydenham United Church. This new location is more suitable and better equipped to handle the growing membership. Over the years, the interest of the club members grew to include colour and black and white prints, however; by the end of the 20th century membership was dwindling as was the interest in colour slides. With the advent of digital cameras and digital photography people were starting to look towards this new technology.
With this new modern and exciting technology, the club had to keep up or get steam rolled by the digital era. In 2003 the executive made some changes, one of which was a name change from the Brantford Guild of Colour Photography to the Brant Camera Club. Some of the older members have become more tech savvy, and are very helpful to new members. The focus of the club has always been the same: to educate, and for its members to have fun. The club has been enjoying a steady growth over the years and has been welcoming photographers of all skill levels, as well as various types of equipment. New programs are always being implemented by the executives, and this season is no different. Guest speakers are booked every month, covering topics from Photoshop techniques to table top photography, lighting to landscape photography and just about everything in between. Members old and new will have several field trips to choose from this year. Clinics and workshops are also part of the programming. The clinics are friendly competitions where members can have their images critiqued by a panel of judges, and ribbons are awarded according to a points system. There are no negative remarks, but judges will make suggestions on how the image or images can be improved. The field trips are usually to local or surrounding area sites which can include waterfalls, entertainment centers, sporting events and a chance to photograph star trails. The Brant Camera Club always welcomes new members of all skill levels. You do not have to be an established photographer or have the priciest and newest equipment, but you must be prepared to meet new people with shared interest, and to have fun.
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main distinct in strength to ensure balance. Water can overpower the strength of a fire and likewise, fire can overpower water. However, balance is essential. Both twins were able to create people but only one was able to breathe life into them. The better-natured twin did oblige his brother and would breathe life into the people whom he had created. They used a variety of natural things from the earth to make people, causing some difference in their appearances and natures. The people lived together for a while but because of their behaviour, the people could not get along, so the island was divided, ultimately separating the people across the whole earth. This was to last until they (the people) could get along. (Pangaea? - a Western science super-continent incorporating all major landmasses on earth.) The twins continued to fight. It was decided that they would compete to finally resolve who would rule their home. They played various games including the bowl game, lacrosse, dice, and even wrestling. All of their matches resulted in a tie. Because their challenges were taking so much of their energy, they would have to negotiate an end to their difficulty. The better-natured twin then took a deer antler and struck his brother, causing an imbalance in power. He could now tell his brother how the day would be split. It was decided that the day would be split in half. The better-natured twin would rule the day and be with the Eldest Brother the Sun, while his brother would rule at night, able to be with his Grandmother again.
An ongoing series to promote peace through story sharing by Elizabeth Doxtater To balance the female role of Grandmother Moon, the good-natured twin created the sun. He returned to the Sky World and asked the Skywomans eldest brother if he would agree to this role. For this reason, the sun is known as our Eldest Brother. The sun would be a leader and walk across the sky to provide guidance, warmth and structure. Men are responsible for providing that sacred fire to their family for warmth as they gather to learn their teachings and values. The fire is used by councils, aiding them as they discuss, deny or ratify decisions for the people. The fire also provides a place where meals are cooked and nurturance is provided. The people are to remember the roles of our Grandmother Moon, who represents the power of water, and also Eldest Brother the Sun, who represents the power of fire. We see that they have remained distinct in their roles and duties. One does not try to become the other, nor interfere with the others duties. The people are warned of the consequences of such actions. Women and men are to remember that this balance is to be reflected throughout life and re-
13 MOON CALENDAR
Skywoman fell through the hole near the tree Came to the earth when it was covered with sea On her turtle-shell home, a design would appear 13 x 28, makes a full year You can still see the marks on the turtles shell The calendar from when the Skywoman fell Visiting women 13 moon times a year With the promise new life will always be here. The waves and the water, the rains and the tides, Its her power that guides us; its she who decides When to plant or to harvest, when gardens will grow, The birth of new babies, how high waters will flow Skywoman gave birth to a daughter who grew And when she got older the Skywoman knew The Thunder beings visit and the message he sent Twin boys, thats what the crossed arrows meant Sky womans daughter died leaving to grow Corn, beans and squash, our sisters to sow They got help from the soil and Eldest Brother, the Sun Her life brought Holder of the Heavens and Mischievous One The twins were then given the job to find Names for the plants and breathe for mankind, Grandmother stepped in when her grandsons would fight, And now its her spirit that guides us at night. We still remember the first women here And give thanks for their duties and gifts every year Thats why we gather in the spring, near June To give thanks for our celestial Grandmother Moon
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Langford Conservancy: Preserving Our Foodland and Our Rural and Cultural Roots by Ella Haley
Brant County has a rich agriculture history because of its good farmland and great climate for growing food. The Problem: disappearing farmland and rural and cultural heritage in Brant County. There has been a lot of publicity about the farmland grab and related tensions in Brant County, and in the Six Nations community. With leapfrog development developers and landbankers jump over the boundaries of the Ontario Greenbelt and gobble up land just outside of its boundaries. Brant County, in particular, is known as the relief value for the Ontario Greenbelt. As much as one fifth of Brant Countys foodland has been purchased or is being eyed for future development by developers, land bankers and the City of Brantford. There is also a mad scramble to convert farmland to gravel pits. Rural communities throughout Brant County are losing farmland and their rural heritage buildings. In recent weeks, there has been a whirl-wind of in-camera meetings between Brantford and Brant County, guided by Provincial Economic Development facilitator Paula Dill. Brantford wants more than 12,000 acres of mostly farmland in Brant County, to the west, north and east of the city boundaries. This Land grab or boundary adjustment must be settled before the beginning of 2014 (municipal election year), or it is no deal. The Solution: Food security means that we have enough food to eat. Food sovereignty means that we have enough farmland to grow food for the Brantford/Brant County communities, that we have a say in how food is grown (e.g. non-GMO, organic) and that we are not dependent upon shipping in food from California and far-away places. Food sovereignty ensures local, healthy food. events and renting it out for the communitys use. We are planning a community garden and community kitchen. The Langford Conservancy has also proposed to protect the Onondaga Community Centre and welcome any supporters for this project. LC has teamed up with Treks in the Wild to propose Voyageur canoe runs, edible wild meals and workshops on local history. Local artists have found the spot to be very attractive for drawing and painting river scenes, and for hosting workshops. Since the SOS Festival, various members of the community have come forward to support the efforts of the Langford Conservancy. Some want to provide financial support by purchasing $10,000 community bonds, while others want to help by sewing curtains, building a ramp to make the building accessible and helping with the repairs to the building. A number of local musicians have offered their support including James Gordon, Fred Eaglesmith and Garnett Rogers. James Gordon played at the SOS Fest. He is returning on Oct. 5th to perform the acclaimed new one-man musical Stephen Harper: The Musical at the Langford Schoolhouse, 1694 Colborne St. East, as a special benefit for the Langford Conservancy. Gordons new play examines our current Canadian political climate and, in particular, our Prime Minister Stephen Harper. James uses h u mour, political commentary, pathos, 18 original songs, spoken word, hundreds of p r o ject ed im ages, audience participation, a puppet, and an activists passion to show where we are and where we can go as a nation.
The Solution: Food security means that we have enough food to eat. Food sovereignty means that we have enough farmland to grow food for the Brantford/Brant County communities
Gordons musical spent a week with rave response last month at the Canadian Theatre Festival in Hamilton, and debuted in the spring in James hometown of Guelph. James Gordon notes that so many Canadians are feeling that their voice is not being heard under the Harper Government. Through his musical he asks, What can we do about this? His inspiring play will help the audiences find out, and have a fun theatrical evening. James Gordon is a well-known singer-songwriter, with 40 albums to his credit over a thirty year international career. His current CD Coyotes Calling reached #2 in February on the Canadian national roots radio airplay charts, and the album includes some of the songs from Stephen Harper: The Musical. His plays Hardscrabble Road, (about homeless and globalization issues), Nastee Business, (about the bottled water scam), and Tryst And Snout, (a hillbilly adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream) established him as a skilled playwright with an eye for using musical theatre as a vehicle for pointed social commentary. A resident songwriter for 12 years with two CBC radio shows, Basic Black and Ontario Morning honed his comedy skills, and twenty years with the Canadian Folk Trio Tamarack gave him a nation-wide outlet for his music about Canadas Heritage and Identity. Gordon has been very involved with community activist issues in Guelph, and in fact ran in the last provincial election as a candidate for MPP. Showtime on Oct. 5th is 7:30 pm and tickets are 15 dollars available at the door or online at https://stephenharperthemusical.eventbrite.ca. There will also be a free song writing workshop about local themes of rural identity with James Gordon that afternoon at 2 p.m. James is known for creating plays and songs that involve local members of the community. He has the ability to weave in very diverse viewpoints, and to work well with members of rural and First Nations communities.
Organizations Working on Solutions: The Brant Food Systems Coalition (BFSC) is dedicated to ensuring food security and food sovereignty. The BFSC is made up of conventional and organic farmers, food researchers, health professionals, representatives from local advocacy groups and food banks, and councillors from both Brant County and Brantford. The BFSC is working to ensure that food planning is a key component of the Official Plan for our area. Sustainable Brant is an advocacy group working to protect foodland and to ensure that Brantford grows up, not out. SB recommends that Brantford redevelop its greyfields (e.g. former shopping centres) and brownfields (former factories) instead fostering sprawl or greenfield development on foodland. SB is dedicated to protecting the permanent agriculture ribbon that encircles Brantford. This green ribbon was created in 1980 by the Province, Brantford and Brant County under Provincial Bill 120. See Story and map http://sustainablebrant.blogspot.ca/2011/05/brantbrantfordgreenbelt-development.html The Langford Conservancy protects foodland and rural and cultural heritage. We aim to protect foodland as the commons, provide long-term leases to organic farmers on land that we protect, and foster the development of an organic farmers co-operative. Part of our fundraising involves Saving One Farm at a Time through the sale of community bonds, which will be available for purchase soon from our website http://langfordconservancy.wordpress.com/. In September 2012, we purchased the historic one-room Langford Schoolhouse. This summer we hosted the First Annual Langford SOS Fest to raise funds to fix up the Schoolhouse and to make it accessible. We run the Langford Schoolhouse as a community centre, hosting community