Beards of Brantford

A Photo Essay by Paul Smith

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE | WWW.BRANTADVOCATE.COM | FREE | OCTOBER 2013 PRINT | TELEVISION | PODCAST | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

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BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

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 While the floods have rescinded and Calgary is slowly getting back to normal, there are still years left of damage repair to be done.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.

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

Harm Reduction: How it Saved my Life - Part One

by Randy Roberts, Twitter: @RandySRoberts
Its odd to me that in 2013 there is still debate around harm reduction. After all, there have been numerous studies that clearly show the positive effects it has had. The two biggest are curbing the spread of Hep C/HIV and saving countless lives, mine in particular. When I decided to write this article, I was just going to write the typical harm reduction is good and this is why. However, to truly get my point across, I feel that if the readers were able to relate to an addict, to see his life through his eyes, then they might be, with an empathetic heart, more open to hearing the pro argument for harm reduction. After much self-debate, Ive decided to put my own story out there for all to see. In the hopes of putting face to addiction and trying to help you understand that addiction is not a choice and our lives are worth saving. Sure, it was a choice at first, but then it consumes you, eats at you, drives you to sell your own soul to get your next fix. After a while, it becomes as much of a choice as breathing does. Sharing my story isnt easy but theres a saying in 12 step groups, we only keep what we have by giving it away. Addicts are my people. They were there for me when society wasnt. There is nothing more important in my life than trying to save their lives, in turn saving my life. What keeps me clean today is my passion to help others. retaliated. Not once did he raise a hand to her. Sometimes, deep down, I wish he would have if only to stop the abuse she inflicted on me and my brothers. When I was around the age of ten, my aunt let my family use her cottage for couple of weeks. The second week in, my cousin was over for a visit. He, along with my younger brother (who is 18 months younger than myself), and I went looking for something to do. We noticed that my dad was burning some garbage in a big oil drum. There was a gas tank sitting beside it that I assumed my dad used to ignite the fire. We came up with the idea of putting some gasoline into a beer bottle and set it atop of the fire. In seconds it burst into a very cool explosion. Then someone came up with the idea of putting a lid on the bottle filled with gas. It was set back into the fire, the top of the bottle aimed right towards my brother. In seconds the lid blew off and a stream of ignited gas drenched my brother. The screams were horrific. I didnt know what to do. My father came running out of the house and ripped the flame soaked shirt off my brother, taking pieces of flesh with it. Shortly after that I tried my first drugs, pot and alcohol; we were a match made in heaven. They took much of that pain away. For a short while, that is. After my dads passing the beatings got worse. Im not sure if it was her way of coping or not, but to add salt to the wound, she started using my dads walking cane as her weapon of choice. The very thing that I had enjoyed looking at because it brought back warm memories of him was now being used to violate me. The last beating was so severe that my sister could hear my screams from outside and came running in and pulled her, the monster, away from me. I was almost 14. When she realised I was too big to beat on, she decided to throw me out of the house whenever she felt like it. Here I was, 14 years old, living in a pup tent in the middle of Regent Park. I would often let the heroin addicts shoot up in my tent in exchange for food money and cigarettes. They would also keep an eye out for me during the night. This went on for most of my teen years. My older brother Kevin, who was 2 years older than me, would be the one to come get me when mom had a change of heart. At 18 I was living at my girlfriends house. I remember going to bed early one night as I was getting up to go and look for work. I was awoken by a bad dream in the middle of the night. Someone, (and I never did see who it was), got shot in the side of the head. It seemed so real and it scared the heck out of me, making it very hard to get back to sleep. The next morning I headed down to a temp agency to try and find a day job. After sitting there a couple of hours with no jobs to be had, I decided to leave. I had this uncontrollable urge to visit my older brother Kevin. This was strange as I never went to visit him, but something told me I had to. I got to his place and knocked on the door. A female answered. I said, Hi Im Randy, Kevins brother. Is he home? Just then I see her eyes tear up. My heart sank as she goes on to tell me that Kevin was in a serious car accident and that he didnt make it. My brother and two friends were drinking and taking pills that night. I dont know who stole it, but they went for a joy ride in a stolen car. My brother was at the wheel. He miscalculated a bend and crashed into a guard rail on the DVP. He went head first through the windshield and head first into a lamp post, killing him instantly.

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.

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

Skeletons in the Closet: On Being Honest about Eating Disorders

by Anonymous
In April, 2007, the year I graduated from University, my parents drove to my university town and helped me move the contents of my residence room to a basement apartment not far from campus. At that point, Brantford became a decidedly distant memory in my young mind. I bought a blazer and set out to become who I am. Two years, four internships and one "real job" later, I moved back to Brantford where I took up a new venture in outpatient treatment at the BGH and Avenue Medical Centre. I traded my blazer for the single sundress that I brought home in a backpack. I'd buy all new clothes in Brantford. Being diagnosed with anorexia was not a shock for me. I knew I was anorexic and so did everyone else in my life, presumably (at least those who got close enough to see me without my signature scarves and layers of sweaters). I never looked in the mirror and saw a fat girl staring back at me like The Mirror PSA. I saw bones. I moved home because I wanted to fix it, and I didn't know where to start. I write this article not because I want to tell you how hard my recovery was, or to prove how serious eating disorders are. I write it because I hope to set an example for other people who are closeted by an eating disorder. There are so many women who are affected (between 150 000 - 600 000 in Canada, and that number is on the rise), but silenced by shame. That silence is keeping us ill. We're not helping ourselves or each other by staying invisible. We help each other by supporting each other. If you live in Brantford, there are some fantastic opportunities for support. (See below.) "Actions happen before thoughts change" is a common tenet in ED recovery, one I believe in, and it starts at your decision to find help. Until we are willing to have an open dialogue about eating disorders, until we can talk about them like we talk about our anxiety, our depression, our migraines, they will stay the shameful, misunderstood and silent killers they are at present in our culture. Your coming out of the closet, or not, could mean the difference between life or death - not just for you, but maybe even for the next girl with an eating disorder. According to the Journal of Psychiatry, eating disorders are the mental disorder with the highest mortality rate. 4% of those with anorexia, 3.9% of those with bulimia, and 5.2% of people with an eating disorder not otherwise specified die of heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition or suicide. For those with eating disorders who don't die, their bones might, their fertility might, their relationships, their creativity, and souls might. Eatingdisorderhope.com states, "Basically, she transforms into a completely different person. How can this not negatively impact relationships with friends and family?" Being honest to yourself, to your loved ones, and professional strangers is hard, but so is letting the bat-shit crazy voice in your head run your life. Here's some good news: when I started talking about the bat-shit-crazy voice in my head in treatment, something amazing happened - I stopped being afraid of it. I started to master it, just by giving a voice to it. I proved to myself that having an eating disorder doesn't make me a lunatic.

(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.

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

Bird and Habitat Conservation

by Amanda Kelly, Twitter: @AJaquesKelly

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.

The Shadow Self Does Not have to be Dark and Foreboding

by Holly McDonald, M Ed, MSW, RSW
The shadow self was brought to light by Carl Jung. What you resist persists describes how shadowy aspects of ourselves are always lingering on the edges of our being, trying to get our attention in an effort to be healed. They are most always thought of as being negative, dark parts of our self that we want to hide from. These fragmented parts can include anger, addictions, loneliness, jealousy, insecurity and deep hurts. Unfortunately, the positive parts of our self can also be hidden and need to be embraced and expressed. Maybe it is time to concentrate on the positive aspects of ourselves and give them equal exposure; all of our positive parts need to be embraced so full expression of our personality happens. I believe this is a big part of my spiritual journey in life to tap into my entire being and, as such, fire on all cylinders. such as showing assertiveness or nurturing, relaxing or ramping things up. A good guide to finding out what has been denied or pushed aside in terms of our positive shadow self would be to ask yourself the following question: 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. Why not make it a priority to unleash hidden talents and behaviour that has been ignored, which in turn will help to provide a balanced life? Soon he discovered he was just as vivacious and expressive as those he orbited around. He became the person people wanted to be around. While doing this work he called this disowned part of himself, Outgoing Oliver. Whenever he faced a situation in which he would normally shut down and go within, he called upon Olly. He was fun and gregarious and a part he had deeply submersed. Olly began to come out more often and before long he was acting from the full spectrum of his being. He could be outgoing or introspective, whichever suited the situation, whereas before he was only expressing or operating from his more introverted self. While doing this work, a cut-off portion was tapped into, and as a result I was encouraged to write this article. My inner writer had been downtrodden and hidden away for many, many years. I am so glad that this buried part of me, which I like to call Writing Wanda, has come to the surface. I feel more whole and alive as a result. I am beginning to fire on all cylinders. If you are interested in doing this work I have found Debbie Fords, 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse and The Dark Side Of The Light Chasers, Reclaiming your power, creativity, brilliance and dreams to be very enlightening. It can be tough work at times, but worth it.

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.

90 Morton Ave East Brantford 519.757.1800 www.handcraftedwood.ca

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

The traveller Who is Lost in the Shuffle

by Layla Bozich, Twitter: @laylabozich
I saw Justin Lukach in a loincloth in Papua New Guinea before I met him in person. I saw him surf across the floor of a busy mall in Japan on a foam board, sleep in a wooden tree fort a few feet above a pack of lions in Zambia and force himself to throw up to make his travelling partner, Scott Wilson, feel better about his drunken heaving outside a bar in Whitehorse. But when I finally meet Lukach, a day before his pickup truck is stolen from his place in British Columbia (it was found a day later the culprit took Lukachs stereo), he looks different. His hair, brown and spiked to perfect tiny points, is a strange sight when Im used to seeing his messy blonde surfer flow secured with a bandanna on Departures. Before Departures, a TV show in which former Brantford residents and high school friends Lukach and Wilson traveled the world, Lukach had never been farther east in Canada than Montreal or farther west than Ontario. His humour witty and slightly sarcastic stayed with him on his journey around the world, but sitting in the Blue Dog on Brant Avenue, I learned something else about him: Lukach is a little conceited. I laugh at my own jokes, he tells me. You have to understand my sense of humour, [its] like you have to visualize what Im saying because what Im saying doesnt make sense. I might say something really stupid, but if you listen to what Im saying, Im actually really clever. But under his jokes, his worldly experience and his fame, Lukach feels insecure about where hes headed in life. I regret not pushing harder after Departures to make something else happen, he says. Since the show ended in 2010, Wilson embarked on the diving show Descending, which began airing in 2012. Lukach, on the other hand, left his core network of friends and family around Toronto and moved to Vancouver, which he says caused his career to come to a halt. Before his adventure around the world began, Lukach worked at Blue Bird Corporation, the bus manufacturer. Despising the job, he went to Seneca College in Toronto for Fire Protection Engineering and then moved to Las Vegas before finally settling in Hawaii as an engineer. Meanwhile, Wilson was presenting Departures to a network with someone else as his travel partner. When Wilsons partner chased a girl to New Zealand and married her, Wilson began searching his MSN contacts for a suitable backup. Lukach dropped his job in Hawaii and eagerly filled the spot. The first few episodes of the shows first season took place in Canada. Lukachs mother, Donna, wasnt happy with them due to the amount of drinking and swearing. Lukach, on the other hand, boasts that the shows parental advisory warning was mostly his fault. They were thinking they were gearing to young people, Donna says. They just had to clean up their act a little bit because its not just geared for the young people; it was geared for all kinds of people. Lukach did a lot of stupid things on Departures, such as climbing the Atlas Mountains in Africa in jeans. Andre Dupuis, the cameraman, pushed Lukach to keep climbing while he complained about his altitude sickness. When Lukach got to the top, he says he didnt feel like he deserved to be there because he believed he gave up. Me and Scott were like, This is a travel show, not a fucking hiking show, why do we have to climb a mountain to feel like we accomplished something? he says. Were not fucking mountaineers. Despite the arguments and hard work, Lukach was let down when Departures came to an end after three seasons and Wilson and Dupuis parted ways with Lukach to work on Descending. After Departures was probably the hardest years of my life because you travel around the world like a rock star, living it up and you just dont know what the fuck to do afterwards, he says. He is currently working on a new show about search and rescue efforts in Las Vegass Red Rock Canyon, which he hopes to release this year. Naturally, I was curious if there was any competition between him and Wilson. If either of us had the chance we would be working with each other again, says Wilson. He says Lukach is the most loyal friend hes ever had, and some of his best memories come from being Lukachs roommate on the road. At the end of the day, if you were totally exhausted or pissed off or homesick or whatever it was, it was kind of like having a brother there, says Wilson. Wilson explains he and Lukach are completely different people. He wants to do, see and say everything I dont, says Wilson. When I told him Lukach felt Departures depicted himself as a goon and Wilson as the brains, Wilson laughs. There you go, our answers are completely different. But the word different doesnt begin to describe the array of things left over from Lukachs trips around the world I encounter in his bedroom. My eyes dart to a Tibetan monks mask resting on a desk. The mask stares at the ceiling with an intricately carved toothy grin and stands out among an old computer monitor, a bottle of baby powder and Gucci cologne. Among the many bottles of alcohol on the desk, including pisco from Easter Island, is a water bottle. Its wrapped in paper that sports a caricature of Lukach wearing his signature bandanna but a not-so-signature disproportionate grin and butt-chin. Under Lukachs face are the words Lukach Energy, and beside his face are the words non-alcoholic. Lukach shows me a blow dart gun from the Amazon. It belonged to the deceased father of a chief he had met, whose funeral Lukach attended in the middle of the jungle. I hoist the weapon about the size of rolled-up poster to my face to inspect it, in awe that it has actually been used to kill people. He dumps the contents of a bag from his closet on the bed: a fuzzy pink bunny suit whose feet are worn in. It was supposed to be a Halloween costume. When he first saw it, though, he knew it had another purpose. Im fuckin taking this to Easter Island. And like the waters surrounding Easter Island, Lukach still feels the effects of Departures rippling around the world. Many fans write to tell him he has inspired a road trip or a backpacking trip. Yet despite this success, Lukach says he doesnt feel relevant anymore, and he feels people have moved on. He says he is at a selfish point in his life where he needs to accomplish his goals and acknowledges he needs a swift kick in the nuts every once in a while. Having dreams, thats what lifes all about, he says. If you dont have that, then thats just a shitty way to go through life. Youve given up on yourself. But Lukach knows his purpose is to entertain people, and no matter where he is in the world, he is capable of that.

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

The Publishing Revolution

by Thomas A. Knight
I had a manuscript, and no inkling of what to do with it. All I knew is that I wanted it to be made into a book. So I did what anyone in the Internet generation would do: I Googled it. My initial results turned up the nearly impenetrable brick wall that is traditional publishing. Stories about people who worked away at their stories for five, ten or more years trying to get a publisher to accept it. I'm not a patient man, so this was out of the question for me. The moment I started reading about it, I knew traditional publishing would move too slow for me. There were a number of other options out there. I could try getting a smaller independent publisher to notice me, which was also a daunting task. There was also vanity publishing, which is basically a publisher set up to publish your books to a wide audience if you pay them gobs of cash. I found out later that these options are often scams and do little for your reputation as an author. The final option I explored was something new: Self-publishing. Learn to do it myself? Now we're talking. This sounds like the easy road, doesn't it? Hardly. Rather than an impenetrable wall blocking you from all the people who know what to do and how to do it, you have to learn how to do it all by yourself. Writing, editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, conversion, publishing, and of course marketing. Traditional publishers have teams of people who do most of these tasks for you. When you selfpublish a book, you're on your own. It can be very overwhelming. I wasn't the only writer out there who chose this path. Thousands of others joined me in this journey, saturating the market with brand new books that were produced by-most of the time--a single person. Some of these were good books that wouldn't have otherwise been published. More commonly, however, these books were sub-standard and poorly edited, with terrible cover art. The market was very quickly saturated. The flood of bad books created a stigma around self-publishing. Every new industry goes through growing pains, and this was excruciating. It can take hundreds of hours of work to put together a quality book (I average around 600 hours), and this stigma that appeared very nearly made me run the other way. Why would I want my quality work grouped in with what was being referred to as published slush? Somebody needs to work to change that stigma, and it's very slowly going away. Self-published authors are gaining respect in the new publishing world because we're learning that producing quality work is more important than quantity. I publish my books under my own publishing company, called DragonWing Publishing. I have logos, a brand, a website, consistent marketing, and I certainly don't do it all by myself. I rely on a small team of people, including my wife, a hired editor, and a team of beta readers to help me produce the best books I can. If you're considering selfpublishing your work, I urge you to do the same. Oh, and if you're wondering if this is a lucrative business? It's getting there. Three years later, and I'm now receiving monthly royalty payments from Amazon.

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?

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

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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BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

It May Not Be What it Appears

by Angee Turnbull, Facebook: Angee Turnbull
As a kid, I hated gym class. Summersaults were the enemy I feared; I became dizzy and sick to my stomach. Then, as an adult, I started to wonder what was wrong with me? My balance was becoming worse and my ability to perform certain functions started to become a challenge. I had trouble playing tennis, squash, running and doing aerobics. Most heartbreaking, though, was the realization I could no longer ride a bike. Growing up in Toronto I had ridden my bike everywhere, and living in Brantford I looked forward to riding our beautiful trails. Trying to ride my bike now is a challenge as my body begins to shake and I cannot, with any consistency, keep the bike upright. tossed in the waves. I must have looked a sight because a woman said to me, well, you have had a couple. Lovely. When I began working for the Alzheimer Society of Brant I tried to empathize with what it must be like to have Alzheimers or Dementia, also a degenerative brain disorder. I participated in a virtual dementia tour that mimicked what someone suffering with Dementia feels like. It was gut-wrenching. I leaned against the wall and went dead silent. I panicked and couldnt wait for the simulation to end. was so very upset and embarrassed. I had skipped dinner not the best idea - and I had so looked forward to my popcorn, which now was scattered, along with my pride, on the stairs. I am an assertive woman and dont have problems explaining my actions. Its not the same for Alzheimer and Dementia clients. While trying to pay for purchases, or conduct their banking, they may become confused. Even the simple task of counting change becomes daunting. What if they cant remember their debit or credit card pin? Errands can be very difficult. How many of us forget where we parked the car or what entrance we came in? It is unnerving to them, and most often inappropriately labeled by others. It is too easy to rush to judgment. We can make a difference. We can learn to recognize degenerative brain disorders and offer solutions, not criticism. My goal for Brantford is to continue to build awareness about Alzheimers /Dementia in hopes that we soon will become a Dementia Friendly Community to strengthen our tolerance and understanding of those who, through no fault of their own, no longer function at their previous levels.

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

Is O-Week Still Cool?

by Cody Groat, Twitter: @Sputnik_News
Orientation week last year sort of let me down, but in its defense, that may be partially my fault. I mean, it was cool seeing Shawn Hooke and Down With Webster. That day in O-Week was my first concert ever, and although I debated if I would still enjoy DWW after all these years, Ill never debate it again. It was pretty much a high school music overload. When I heard of a venture to Earl Haig Fun Park / Water Park on the itinerary for the week as well, my hopes shot back up. When I got there, I found out the few water slides there were closed and I ended up socializing with people while floating down a lazy river for a couple of hours. Again, that was fun, but not all I expected it to be (some Zumba on my part may or may not have been involved). Then came Club NV. Now, that was pretty much what I expected, about equivalent to the level of party that I experienced at some dances back in high school. Then what else can I remember from O-Week? Well, nothing unfortunately. So why do some friends I have from Laurier Brantford still post about how amazing O-Week was? I mean, Im actually kind of confused by that. What did I miss? I guess a fair bit, and I think I know where. I wasnt social enough. At the beginning of the week I feel like I made some good friends in my dorm, some of which Ill probably remain friends with at least until the end of university, if not longer. The problem was that I stuck with them for the rest of the week and got to know them really well, these three or four people. We later started hanging around our residence instead of doing some of the O-Week activities we had paid for, because we felt back then (and I still feel the same) that the alternatives wouldnt be as much fun. I know now that the activities, in fact, may not have been what made O-Week what it was; it was being around so many new people that struck a chord with my other Laurier Brantford students. As much as you may try and as much as you say you wont, chances are that as soon as you start university some of your high school friends fade to the back. Possibly short-term, probably for longer. During the first week of university all of the first-years are together, not solely just to have a fun time in activities, but to meet the people who theyre going to spend the next four (or five) years with. During this time you should meet as many people as you can, see who you have some similarities with, see whos in your program, see who you may want to avoid from now on (I assure you there will be a few), but in general meet as many people as possible. Maybe, just maybe, thats why I didnt think O-Week was that cool, or even all that fun, because I didnt take that time to meet as many people as possible. Startling realization: I like talking, a lot, to as many people as possible. The result was I ended up meeting a fair amount of people at Laurier this year, regardless of my O-Week non-participation. Of course, there are a lot of people who dont do O-Week or who do partake in it, not talk to a single soul and still have a great time. My personal belief as to why I didnt think O-Week was cool wont be the same from person to person. After all, its just my opinion. But I think I know one other reason why it didnt live up to my expectations: they were way too high. Maybe its partially due to the fact that Laurier Brantford is a smaller campus than the mother ship that is the Laurier campus in Waterloo, or maybe every school just has a different angle to what they want to do for their Orientation Week. But, what Im getting to is that every school my friends go to had different O-Week activities than I experienced, and some seemed a lot cooler. Wait a second, no they didnt. They seemed about the same. One friend at the University of Guelph told me exciting tales of decorating pillow cases, while a friend at University of Toronto told me stories of getting up at 5:00 a.m. to do some cheers. Thrilling. I guess Ive come to the realization that I knew I would. O-Week just isnt cool anymore. Some people honestly have a blast, but I think its more so those people trying as hard as possible to ensure its the best week of their university experience, which of course, isnt a problem. Kudos to them, and to the ones organizing it of course theyre doing the best they can to make it amazing, and first years should be grateful. But I wouldnt have said no to a day at Canadas Wonderland like University of Toronto Mississauga had

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BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

11

Thank Goodness for Travel Insurance

by Alex Felsky, Twitter: @alexfelsky
We were both so looking forward to our yearly weekend away, just the two of us. The children were set up for a fun weekend with their grandparents and Tim and I were off. We have done weekend trips to Niagara (several), St Jacobs and Elmira, and decided to go further afield to New York State where we'd be anonymous and our cell phones would not be so tempting since we weren't going to purchase roaming packages, and wouldn't want to incur the hefty out-of-country charges. I even left my phone at home and pledged not to read the news or use social media at all, to truly disconnect from work and technology. I had asked Tim to consider doing the same, but he felt more comfortable having it turned off and with him just in case. So we set off on a Friday morning, giddy at having three whole days ahead to do whatever we wanted, eat leisurely meals in restaurants at any time of day, sleep in until we were rested (our boys routinely get up at 5am) and enjoying time together away from the demands of work, family and chores. I'm sure other parents of young children can relate to the fact that time alone together, even a few hours, can do so much to recharge and renew your relationship, and also your energy level. So, the prospect of three days was a big deal to us! We crossed the border uneventfully after an hour long wait. It's funny how sitting at the border in the car, listening to the radio, and chatting uninterrupted was enjoyable because there was no worry that the children would be getting bored and whiny, that they'd need to use the toilet imminently or would be melting down due to hunger as it was approaching lunchtime. After a meal of Buffalo wings and beer I was beginning to feel unwell. I thought the spicy, greasy wings were disagreeing with me and that I'd feel better in the morning. I woke up early (no sleeping in) feeling worse. I thought that a piece of toast and some tea would settle my stomach, and though Tim said he'd hop in the shower and join me if I waited 10 minutes, I decided I couldn't wait as I was feeling rotten. I went down to the hotel breakfast bar and had toast and tea and continued to feel worse. When I began peeing blood and having terrible pain, I knew it wasn't just a rich meal that was the problem. I went back to the room and I knew I needed medical attention as soon as possible. Tim suggested we drive back across the border to a Niagara Falls, Ontario hospital, but I was in such pain I knew I wouldn't be able to cross, especially if there was a lineup at the bridge. The hotel directed us to the nearest hospital and we drove right over. I was ushered into Patient Registration and then seen by the triage nurse within a few minutes. When the nurse found out we were from Canada she told us she was also Canadian and had been crossing the border to work at the American hospital for 26 years. I remember her telling us how much better the American health care system was as I was ushered to a bed in a curtained off area by wheelchair. I kept her comment in mind throughout my stay at the hospital. Tim was sent to make payment arrangements with the billing department and returned feeling anxious about the cost as we didn't have our travel health coverage information with us. This is where he having his phone came in handy; he was able to email his colleagues to get the number for our benefits. I was seen quickly by a doctor and had blood taken and an IV inserted. The doctor thought the need for an MRI scan was indicated, but all I could think about was the potential cost and how an MRI in Canada could not be ordered up just like that, unless it was a real emergency. I opted to get some IV antibiotics and painkillers and see if that helped. Luckily it helped a great deal and so an MRI was avoided. It turned out that I had a hemorrhagic bladder infection that came on quickly. It was treated with a course of IV antibiotics. At the end of the day, I was ready to be discharged, having had my fill of fluids and medicine and HGTV. Before we could leave the nurse told us she needed to present us with our Super Bill. I laughed, assuming she was joking, but apparently that's what it's really called. And was it ever super! I felt extremely privileged, grateful and relieved at having extended health benefits, knowing that my mortgage would still be paid, and food still be bought, on account of our benefits. Though an MRI was ready at a moment's notice if I had needed it, I will have to disagree with the nurse that the American system is better than ours. Even though our health care system is far from perfect, it has many positive benefits. The stress and worry during out trip over an unexpected illness was difficult enough, but the concern over the potential cost of the hospital visit made it a much different experience. As it turned out, out benefits covered the entire cost of the Emergency visit and the subsequent prescription, and they would have also paid for a followup visit had one been required. We cut our getaway short and came home early the next day, happy to see our boys and relieved to be back in Canada where, for most people, a trip to the hospital doesn't mean deciding between putting food on the table and getting medical attention. It was a disappointing trip, but we both came away with an appreciation for OHIP and a feeling that our tax dollars are of very good value, indeed.

A POEM BY HERB HARKER

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 | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

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

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

13

The Growth of a Camera Club

by Errol Anderson

From Grassroots to Deathstar

- Were with you every step of the way Last week I met with a new business owner. He was somewhat reserved and reluctant to talk with me, even though he was referred from another business owner client. This is an unfortunate public view as our predecessors in the past, painted the lowly insurance advisor as the person who knocks on your door and sells you a product that he or she wants to sell you because it pays the highest commission. The fact of the matter is, times have changed, rules have changed how we run our practice can't be further from how things were done. Our discussion starts the same for all businesses no matter of their size, tenure or what they sell. There's a general timeline for all businesses. Discussing this timeline gives our prospective clients some insight into what hurdles to expect and how we can help remove the worry and issues that these hurdles inflict. Years 1 to 3 - this is the most crucial time period for any business owner. Cash flow is limited, debts are high and vulnerability to creditors is a major issue. Insuring yourself against potential loss is the first recommendation. You should have some form of life insurance to pay your debts and disability insurance to protect your income. Creditor protecting your investments is a key item here as well. Investing in Segregated Funds will ensure that if your business were to be attacked by creditors -- your investments will not. Years 3 to 7 - this is where the business has seen some positive growth. Cash flow is stable but you still have the same hurdles as in the first three years. You still need to protect your business from you dying, becoming critically ill or disabled. Protecting your assets is also a must because there's still a great chance that the creditors could come knocking. During this time, you may have employees and perhaps "Key Employees" who you do not want to lose. These key people are now an asset to the business and you must treat them as such. Building a wall around them by implementing Group Health, Dental and Savings plans is a great option in lieu of an annual salary increase. You also need to protect your key employee investment from the same Death, Critical Illness & Disability issues that you are subject to. Lose one of these people and you have to start the investment of training them all over again. Year 7 and Beyond - your business is well established. Cash flow is consistent and the hurdle of the health of you and your employees is always going to be an issue. Group Plans are in place and key people investments are protected. At this stage you are looking at how you can start using your business for your pending retirement and succession planning is the topic of the day. That "Key Person" you started investing in years ago now has the knowledge and financial ability to buy you out. Protecting your company and the assets you have worked hard to grow is the strategy here. The discussions will focus on investing in your company so that the day you do sell, all assets are retained by you but the operations of the business transfer to the new owner. One of the things I most enjoy about being a Financial advisor is being there when our clients take their businesses from the grassroots and watching them grow. By using the multitude of resources at our fingertips and in our rolodexes we work with you through every step of the way while you build your empire. We feel very strongly that business protection planning is an area where professional advice is a necessity. If you wish to explore how we can help you secure your business please give us a call, were here to help. Alford & Associates is a family owned and operated financial practice in Brantford. For over 25 years we have helped our clients secure their financial goals. First and foremost we help you secure your greatest asset Your Family

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.

ALFORD & ASSOCIATES INC

Insurance & Investment Advisors, 254 Brant Ave., Brantford, ON N3T-3J5 Ph: (519) 751-0901 Fx: (519)751-0522 Cell: (519) 758-4224 Email: mike@alfordandassociates.ca Website: www.alfordandassociates.ca LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/mikeeh

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BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

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

THE GOOD MIND

The teachings of the Good Mind have taught We should give thanks for what we have got When we tap the maple trees Or feel the warm spring breeze When we see the stars glisten When the thunders roll, we listen When we see the sun or moon Or pick strawberries in June When we plant our seeds all in a row And have the strength to water and hoe We give thanks for this but thats not all We give thanks for the harvest in the fall Then we come together as one and give thanks for all thats been done We give thanks for all of the seasons And many more, so many more reasons We give thanks when a new baby is born But know well have days when well have to mourn But still we give thanks for what our lives bring And keep giving thanks for everything The teachings of the Good Mind are gifts that we can only repay By conducting ourselves in a Good- Minded way. Dignity, kindness, honor, respect and love Are the ways of the Good Mind that we must think of And the young who remember to behave in this way Are doing just what the teachings would say The teachings of the Good Mind have taught We should give thanks for all that weve got.

BRANTFORD | SIX NATIONS | PARIS | ST. GEORGE

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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.

Cynicism & The Law

This month I would like to discuss cynicism and the law. Ask anyone and it is quite probable that you will find them suspicious of lawyers, that they consider them a necessary evil, maybe more ominous than the dentist but in the old days people died from cavities. The most innocuous would probably be real estate lawyers, generally having a pleasant association with buying and selling properties. The corporate lawyer mysterious but boring many of us not appreciated or interested in the intricacies of corporate law. The highest degree of skepticism I would propose is reserved in equal shares for personal injury lawyers, criminal lawyers, matrimonial lawyers and civil litigators. The public has no difficulty calling personal injury lawyers ambulance chasers and is largely brainwashed by the insurance industry to believe that they should be suspicious of claimants and that fraudulent claims are the reason that insurance costs so much. At the same time the public ironically holds steadfast to a belief that their insurer will look after them if they have a claim. Matrimonial lawyers and civil litigators are notorious for having their fees exceed what is in dispute between the parties. It is commonly said after these disputes that the lawyers were the only winners. In fairness this is not the fault of the lawyers as they must navigate their client's through a legal system that is essentially broken riddled with inherent delay and cumbersome procedures frequently taking years for even a preliminary adjudication. Criminal lawyers have the difficult task of trying to portray unsavory and often sociopathic client's in a favorable and forgiving light. Reading articles this week one counsel was suggesting that a compensation order against his client a "financial advisor"who had defrauded many of her "friends" of their retirement savings to reflect the fact the institutions she had defrauded were partially responsible for not detecting the fraud. Despite these negative perceptions on the positive side many many lawyers are cognizant of the systemic barriers to justice and are pro-active advocating for changes to the Rules of Civil Procedure and legislative changes. Further there are many initiatives in the direction of alternative dispute resolution which are being embraced and welcomed by lawyers who recognize that the interests of their clients are being irreparably harmed by delay. On the criminal side of things the creation of a Gladue court in Brantford is very admirable. Despite public perception lawyers are needed and many are working tirelessly as advocates, politicians and in a community advisory capacity to improve public and professional images, serve their clients and find creative ways to deal with institutional delay.
Lisa Morell Kelly Morell Kelly Personal Injury Law 515 Park Road North Brantford, Ontario N3R 7K8 (519) 720-0110

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