August 2012 • Free • BrantAdvocate.com August 2012 • Free • BrantAdvocate.comLocal Content • Locally Owned • Locally Produced Local Content • Locally Owned • Locally Produced

Ringing over BrantfordRinging over Brantfordfor more than a century.for more than a century.The Advocate takes youThe Advocate takes you

inside one of the city's mostinside one of the city's mostrecognizable landmarks:recognizable landmarks:

The Grace AnglicanThe Grace AnglicanChurch Bell Tower.Church Bell Tower.

Ringing over BrantfordRinging over Brantfordfor more than a century.for more than a century.The Advocate takes youThe Advocate takes you

inside one of the city's mostinside one of the city's mostrecognizable landmarks:recognizable landmarks:

The Grace AnglicanThe Grace AnglicanChurch Bell Tower.Church Bell Tower.

In This Edition

Happy Birthday “Mr. Brantford”

pg. 11 by Robert Adlam

An Open Door

pg. 6-7 Ryan Van Dijk

Moving to Brantford

pg. 8 by Layne Beckner Grime

Salt Baby Comes Home

pg. 5 by Falen Johnson

The Importance of Myrtleville

pg. 11 by Michael St. Amant

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August 2012www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 2

I have to admit, this is more of a story than aneditorial. Sometimes there are just those thingsthat I decide I have to write about, and this is oneof those things.

There are dates that go on our calendar everyyear, dates that are so important that we can’tafford to miss them. There are birthdays,anniversaries, holidays and special occasions,days that we know we are committed to celebratingwith friends, family and loved ones.

For many of us who have grown up in thiscommunity, those dates including the events thathave become an integral part of the community.They are the events we grew up with, and havealways been a priority for us. There’s CanadaDay and the Villages, the Santa Claus Parade andFlashing Blades. There are so many more thatmean so much to every one of us.

For me, that date on the calendar has been thesecond Monday and Tuesday of July for theWalter Gretzky CNIB Celebrity Auction and golftournament. As a kid, I have fond memories ofthe tennis and softball games that were thepredecessor to the tournament. Wayne broughtan impressive roster of sports and Hollywoodcelebrities to little old Brantford to help raisemoney for a good cause. Of course, for me, thefondness of those memories started and finishedwith an appearance from a certain Ms. AlyssaMilano who I, like some many other teenagers,had a serious crush on. But it wasn’t until 2003that I earned a real appreciation for just howincredible an event the annual fundraiser was.That year, I was given the opportunity to coverthe event for Rogers TV. I attended the auction

on the Monday, and drooled over all of theincredible sports and entertainment memorabiliaon display. Then I watched as one celebrity afteranother walked into the room, shaking hands andspeaking with everyone who asked for a momentof their time. I’ll be honest; I wasn’t one of themthat night. Despite being a sports fan, I had noreal appreciation for who many of them were.

That all changed the next day. Reporter Andrewbecame ravenous sports fan Andrew in a matterof seconds. I watched as one sports celebrityafter another walked by, several of which I hadthe luxury of shoving a microphone in front of.It was incredible to talk to famous sports celebritieslike Gino Reda of TSN, legendary jockey SandyHawley and, of course, the Lord Mayor himselfMr. Walter Gretzky. This wasn’t the first time Ihad spoken to Walter, but it was the first time thatI was able to gain a real understanding for hispassion for the CNIB. You could see it on hisface, you could hear it in his voice, and youcould truly appreciate how much he cared aboutthe efforts that were being made to support theCNIB.

After that year, the event became an annualtradition, an event that I would mark on mycalendar as soon as the date was available to thepublic. I always made sure I was the guy who gotto coverage it for Rogers, and I always made sureto save up a few hundred dollars to spend at theauction. Saving that money, making that effort,understanding the importance of the cause, haspaid off beyond my imagination in the past nineyears. From the auction, I have purchased manycollectors items that will always remain part ofmy collection. Some have been from the greats

of the game, like my Nolan Ryan autographedbaseball players I admired as a child, but somehave been of the greats of our own sportingcommunity like a David Hearn signed BGCCflag and a Brantford Red Sox team signed jerseyfrom their IBL champion team in 2006. I holdthese items as fond memories of an event I havealways enjoyed, much like others keep ticketstubs, programs and other souvenirs of the eventsthey have attended.

“I watched as one sportscelebrity after anotherwalked by, several of

which I had the luxury ofshoving a microphone

in front of.”

But I was also fortunate that I was able to use arole to give me access to this event beyond mywildest imagination, access that has provided mewith one of my fondest memories of my careeras a journalist. After all, what sports journalistever forgets the time that they interviewed TheGreat One. Standing off to the side of the firsttee, I got the chance to speak to Wayne about theone thing that really mattered on that day, thelove and support people were showing for hisdad, Walter, in order to help him support a causethat was near and dear to him. This year markedthe 20th anniversary of the Walter Gretzky CNIBCelebrity Golf Tournament and Auction. Muchlike the years before, I marked it on my calendar

as soon as I heard about it. I started thinkingabout budget, and what I would be looking for. Ialso told my girlfriend how much I wanted herthere this year to share the experience with me.So I saved up, and counted down the days untilthe auction like a kid counts down to Christmas.But this year, I knew it would be different.

As we entered the event that night, I knew itwould be for the last time. The organizing teamhad already announced that this would be thefinal year for the event, marking an end to oneof the community’s most recognizable charitablefranchises. But like every year, I grabbed mynumber and started to bid. As always, I spent asmuch money as I could afford and then some,and walked out with some pretty cool gear. Thebiggest highlight of the night was once again apersonal moment, getting the opportunity tointroduce my girlfriend that I had admired forsome time: Walter Gretzky.

At the end of the night, I was sad to see it go.Like any other important date we mark on ourpersonal calendar, a great night came to an all toosoon end. The same can be said for the event asa whole, meeting its end long before I amprepared for. But I take with me a number ofgreat memories, moments in time that I willnever forget.

When you find that event, that one you can’tmiss, be sure to enjoy it. You never know whenit might be your last.

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End of an Era By Andrew MacklinTwitter: @AMacklin

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

The following piece was the first content toappear on our BrantAdvocate.com website.While viewed by thousands in that form, it hasnever appeared in our print edition. With thismonth being the anniversary of Jack Layton’spassing we’ve decided to present this originalpiece for the first time ever in print. Further,we’d like to see this become a regular featureand we invite you to write a loving tribute to alocal person or someone who has had a positiveeffect on you and our community. This could bea well-known community booster, a familymember, a coach or mentor that inspired youand helped make this a better place. Send usan e-mail at contact@brantadvocate.com formore information and a copy of our submission

guidelines. Canadians lost their most trusted allyand representative with the passing of FederalOpposition Leader, Jack Layton. Jack was aleader, a mentor and someone I greatly admired.He was an advocate for Brant, dating back as faras his time as the head of the Federation ofCanadian Municipalities and as recently as thispast Federal Election, where he chose a familyhome in Brantford as the site of the first policyannouncement in what would turn out to be ahistoric campaign.

I’d first met Jack in 2004 when I worked in themedia. My interview with him at that time waswhat began my journey as a politicallyconscious adult. No small feat but Jack won meover with his much talked about smile andpersonality, but also with his ideas and morals.It was a student screening of Dr. Strangelovewhere af terwards he spoke about thede-weaponization of space. On that day in2004, Jack stayed to have one-on-one time withthe young people who had questions. It was also

noticeable that he spent more time with the studentjournalists, not because he needed to, butbecause they needed more time to formulate theright questions. That patience and care wouldserve him (and the country) well.

I’d met many politicians, but he was the onlyone I’d seen at that point who insisted on carryinghis own bags and staying late at events. Yearslater as a candidate, I saw how Jack’s own lowkey and low maintenance demeanour behind thescenes, translated to other MP’s who shared hisvalues of putting in long hours with the sameeagerness and accessibility.

As a candidate, Jack wasn’t a stranger. He wentabove and beyond, offering personal training,advice, phone calls and e-mails. He was not adistant leader up in a tower and that was part ofhis appeal. I often bump into people in Brantford,Brant County and Six Nations who knew himwell and considered him a friend and an ally.

He loved people and that love has been reciprocated.He was a fighter too.

In 2009, I was at a training session with Jack,and he had commented about a video he hadseen weeks before from the Brant News of mynomination meeting. He made a comment abouthow packed the nomination meeting seemed.When I told him that it was full despite an eventwith popular Liberal MP Justin Trudeau thatwas occurring in Brantford at the exact sametime he winked at me, put his arm around meand said he’d work with me to “bring Brant back.”

He was a man of his word. The next month,despite a diagnosis of prostate cancer that he hadnot yet gone public with, he held to his commitmentand attended our 90-cent dinner event. Hestayed for two shifts; he spoke to everyone andtook extra time with youth, seniors and thosewho came to the event from other political parties.

When he got to the event, he stood in line witheveryone else. When a volunteer asked him tocut the line, he politely declined and insteadasked that I joined him in line. I’ll never forgetthat. It struck me as the core of the man. Jackwas someone who enjoyed being with people.Again he came to Brant for our Pay What YouCan Picnic. When we had to reschedule that

event due to the G20 debacle that had Torontopractically locked down, Jack was as accommodatingas ever, offering exclusive interviews via phoneto the local press. No scripted questions andresponses. No vetting of reporters. He’d talkabout whatever they asked.

When we were able to have the event it wasreally wonderful. Traffic was really bad comingin from Toronto and Jack was late. I was doinginterviews with reporters when my personalphone rang. One of the reporters joked, “it mustbe Jack.” To my own astonishment that’s exactlywho it was. Jack called from the car to let meknow how horrendous traffic had been. He thenasked if there were any seniors due to the heator reporters due to schedules that had to getgoing. If there was, he wanted to make sure theydidn’t leave disappointed and let me know he’dbe happy to chat with them on the phone enroute. I passed the phone around and watched aspeople smiled and eagerly asked him questions.Again, Jack’s love for people was apparent and

at his core. That day was also special because itwas the first time Jack and former Brant MPDerek Blackburn had met. It was a privilege tosit in on that conversation as they both sharedstories about Jack’s father, a Conservative cabinetminister, whom Derek had served with inParliament. There are many other times that Ihold close to my heart that I consider to bespecial moments: surprising him on stage at theAnti-UBB rally in Toronto where he and PeggyNash insisted I speak. The time in Hamiltonsomeone from his Toronto-Danforth riding wasdesperate to talk to him and Jack insisted ondoing so despite it not being part of his verytight schedule. Then Jack deciding to invite me intothat same conversation because he valued the

input of a social worker in that man’s situation.The opportunity to spend time with Jack behindclosed doors at Provincial Council meetings.His encouragement and the amazing things hehad to say to the national press about our localcampaign when they asked him to defend a stopin Brantford over other “higher priority ridings.”A very personal e-mail he sent me that I’llcherish forever and will inspire me to keepworking.

The funny thing about Jack though, is that thereare thousands of people across this country whocan probably write similar stories of Jack beingaccessible, personal and helpful. It was at hiscore. He loved people. He worked for them.Jack advocated right to the end for love, hopeand optimism. Then he made a final request thatI believe we’ll rise to meet.

Just like he asked us to, we’ll change the world.

Layton’s Core: A Love of People by Marc LaferriereTwitter: @marclaferriere

Jack Layton1950 - 2011

August 2012www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 4

Finding the Balance Between Highs & LowsExtreme fatigue. Weight loss. Thirst. I was fallingasleep in class, drinking huge amounts of water, andlooking pretty skinny. At first, I thought I was just rundown and needed some rest from my busy schedule,but when it didn’t get any better, I though somethingwas wrong. After running one of the most difficult5km runs in my life, and having to sub-out of a highschool volleyball game, I knew something was wrong.

On October 29, 2010 after having some tests done atthe hospital, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Iwas shocked and I was scared. There was no familyhistory and I was an active 15-year-old with a prettyhealthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, Type 1 Diabetes isoften unexplained. The doctor’s best guess was thatmy pancreas was attacked by a virus, but it’s still a bitof a mystery as to how I became diabetic. There wereso many thoughts running through my mind, so manyquestions to be answered and a lot to be learned.

I will be the first to admit that the beginning wasn’teasy. Getting used to needles for insulin injections,finger pricking to test my blood sugar levels, andplaying around with insulin dosages was difficult tobecome accustomed to. After spending a weekend inthe Brantford General Hospital, I was beginning tolearn a lot about the disease. Diabetes was, and still is,a huge learning curve. Diabetes hasn’t drasticallychanged my life, but I would be lying if I said it hasnot been a challenge. I get asked so many questionsabout diabetes, so I would like to clear some thingsup and answer some of the questions I frequently getasked. Overall, diabetes is a disease that many peoplelack a strong understanding of. I didn’t know muchabout it until after I was diagnosed, and I think that iswhere a lot of the fear originated from. So here aresome answers to a few frequently asked questions.

How many times a day do you have to give yourself

needles?

• I normally take insulin 4 times a day. I takefast acting insulin before each meal and long actinginsulin before bed.

Does pricking your finger hurt?

• No. You learn where to prick so that it doesn’thurt. It looks a lot worse than it is. I am so used to itnow that most often I don’t even feel it.

Do you have the type of diabetes where you can’t

have sugar or do you have the type where you need

sugar?

• The answer to this question is neither.Diabetes is also about a balancing act. In a healthyhuman body, the pancreas releases insulin to breakdown sugar in the blood stream. However, in adiabetic, the pancreas does not work properly or doesnot produce insulin at all. This is why I am requiredto take insulin injections when I eat. I must ensure thatI take the proper amount of insulin for the amount ofcarbohydrates that I eat, or else my blood sugar candrop too low or go too high. However, it is not assimple as a mathematical equation as many factorsincluding stress, illness, and exercise affect bloodsugar levels. This is why it is important to find abalance of insulin, carbohydrate intake, and exerciseto maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Why do you get shaky sometimes?

• When I experience hypoglycemia (low bloodsugar) I can experience symptoms such as shakiness,

sweating, confusion, and dizziness. The effects ofhypoglycemia are often compared to being drunk.This is why it is important for me to keep sugar on meat all times, especially during exercise when I am at ahigh risk of experiencing low blood sugar. If my sugarlevels go too low, I can pass out.

What happens if your sugar goes high (hyper-

glycemia)?

• The symptoms of high blood sugar are lessobvious than those of low blood sugar. However,hyperglycemia is also dangerous. I experienced manyof these systems right before I was diagnosed withdiabetes: excessive thirst, unusual weight loss, feelinglethargic and blurred vision. However, prolongedhyperglycemia can result in kidney failure, loss ofvision, cardiovascular damage and damage to otherinternal organs. This is why it is so important to stickto a healthy diet and exercise regularly as a diabetic.

“I will be the first toadmit that the beginningwasn’t easy. Getting used

to needles for insulininjections, finger prickingto test my blood sugar.”

The highs and lows of diabetes occur both physically,mentally, and socially. It has been difficult to adjust.Pulling out needles or pricking my finger in front ofother people can make me, and the people around me,uncomfortable. Trying to balance my blood sugar and

getting highs and lows is not only frustrating, butdistracting and inconvenient. Sometimes it is necessaryto stop what I’m doing to check my sugar levels andhave a snack. My pockets are usually full of suppliesand sugar tablets to make sure I am prepared for theworst case scenario. My sugar has been as high as the20s and as low as 1.4 (6-10 is considered normal). Ihave had to come off the basketball court and leavethe classroom to deal with sugar levels. It’s a constantchallenge that I have had to be able to meet. Therehave been some bad days along the way, and feelinglike you do not have control over your life is the worstpart. Thankfully, I have a supportive family and a greatstaff at the Diabetes Education Centre to assist mewith my diabetes management. Today is certainly abetter time to have diabetes, than in the past, astechnology has come a long way.

The next step in my diabetes management will be aninsulin pump. This will replace the insulin injectionsand will assist me in having better control of my sugarlevels. Diabetes has presented itself as a dailychallenge in my life. However, it is a challenge thatcan be dealt with the medical technology that existstoday; it is a very liveable disease. At 17 years old, Inever thought I would be writing about myexperiences as a diabetic. The most important thingto remember is that diabetes does not define your life;it is just something that you live with. With themedical advancements being made my next articlemay just be about the cure for diabetes. But for now,I’ll learn how to use my new pump.

by Ryan JamulaTwitter: @ryanjamula

Coping With Sexual ViolenceAs a woman, I have always known that I am vulnerableto experiences of sexual violence. Fairy tales, warningsfrom my parents, story lines in movies and newsstories have fed me that reality. Living with this realityis a perverse form of validation for female survivorsof sexual violence. They know they are not alone.They still often feel alone in their feelings, their copingmethods, or the situation of their experience(s) butthey do not need to be told that other women areraped. Society has reinforced that time and time againthrough socializing and in media messages.

Men do not grow up with those same messages. Infairy tales they are portrayed as brave knights orpowerful villains. There is no room for vulnerabilityor recovery from victimization in either of these roles.

Many people would think that is a non-issue becausemen are not at the same level of risk of sexual violenceas women. Speaking broadly this is true. The level ofrisk is not the same in the adult context though that isnot to say there is no risk. But when it comes to levelof risk for children, boys are at risk of sexual violence,in numbers far greater than most have ever imagined.And by not acknowledging this we create a culture ofsilence. I have noticed over the years that when menhave disclosed their past experiences of sexualviolence they frame it as an isolated incident. Theirfeelings tend to be that what happened to them wasunique and no other man has ever experiencedanything like it or if they have the incidence must bevery low. You can see feeling of relief come over malesurvivors when I share with them the statistic that onein six men is a survivor of sexual violence. In addition,I have talked with many men who were reluctant todisclose their experience because of what the mediahas implied about male survivors. Many people haveinternalized the myth that all male children who are

sexually abused become pedophiles as adults. Thevast majority of male survivors know at a deep levelthat they would do anything rather than risk passingon abuse that they suffered so the tacit implication ismore than they can stand. They are so desperate notto be seen as perpetrators that many men bury theirexperiences, emotions, and stories deep inside themselves.The truth of the matter is that for every hundred boyswho is sexually abused as a child, only ten becomepedophiles. Where the misconception has come fromis that for every hundred pedophiles only ten wereNOT abused as children. Society has misrepresentedthe correlation between pedophilia and childhoodtrauma forcing many men to deal with their traumaprivately and not seek help.

“Men do not grow upwith those same

messages. In fairy talesthey are portrayed as

brave knights or powerfulvillains.”

The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant provides a MaleSurvivors’ Program in partnership with BrantfordNative Housing and Grand River Community HealthCentre. We are so happy to offer men a place toprocess their experiences and feelings, and even moreimportantly to give them validation that they are notalone and there are people in the community whowant to help them.

I do not know how possible this program would havebeen ten to fifteen years ago.

I have noted recently when I do presentations, trainings,and workshops that people seldom question me whenI say men can be survivors. Whereas 12 years ago,when I first started working in Brantford, people didquestion the validity of my statements and statistics inregards to men. There has been a huge shift in the lastdecade of becoming a more welcoming, supportivecommunity for ALL survivors. It is not perfect, obvi-ously, because sexual violence still exists, but at leastit is not stagnant and there is movement forward. Likethe parallel programs for women, the Centre providessupportive, accessible services. All counselling is freeand is confidential, and paced as the survivor needs itto be. Some men accessing the program were abuseda long time ago, for others it was a more recent

experience. We like to remind the community that itis important to remember that when someonediscloses to you that they have experienced sexualviolence at any point in their life that you listen, youacknowledge their feelings and the courage it took toshare, and that you do not make promises or makethem do something that they are not comfortable withno matter how kind you mean it to be for them. Pushingsomeone to report to police or to go to counselling ifthey are not ready, though it is rooted in kindness,takes away control from the survivor.

“There has been a hugeshift in the last decade of

becoming a morewelcoming, supportivecommunity for ALL

survivors.”

It is best to offer support and let them know that thereare places in the community that can help them whenthey are ready. It could be the hardest thing you everdo, to resist the urge to jump in and rescue them. Ifyou want to be able to support someone in that situationtry saying: “I am glad you told me. What happenedwasn’t your fault. When you are ready to get help, Iknow a number you can call.”

The Sexual Assault Centre can be reached 24 hours aday at 519.751.3471

by Carrie Sinkowski

August 2012 www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 5

The Hidden QuiltTen years ago, two staff members of the WoodlandCultural Centre discovered four quilts behind the wallsof the Mohawk Institute. Their location: the third floorwing on the 'boy's side. Who made them? Whose arethey? How long did this hiding spot exist? We don'tknow. What we do know is these handmade quilts

were considered contraband to the survivors at thisResidential School.

The Mohawk Chapel (1785) and consequently theMohawk Institute (1831) was erected through theefforts of Anglican Mohawks, displaced veterans fromthe American Revolution. The first children whoattended the school would have been the directdescendants of Six Nations veterans of the war of1812, who served as faithful allies to the crown. The

current structure of what was once the Mohawk Institutewas erected in 1904, prior to that the site and buildinghave gone through major structural changes, due tointentional fires set by students.

With such a traumatic subject as Residential Schoolseven in our contemporary society, it is often a strugglein how we present any issues associated with thistopic. Many victims still live in our community withvivid memories of the horrors they endured here.

What we have been able to research and through oralhistory of quilters, and Residential School survivorsis that the pattern is one of the oldest quilt patterns

known. The pattern of the square is a variation of theDresden design. The fabric appears to be remnantpieces datable to about the 1950's. There is somesuspicion that this quilt may have been made by aformer student(s), the girls sewing work was oftensold to local businesses, unpaid child labour, withoutwhich the school could not have functioned. Thehiding spot: a place of reprieve from the oppressiveand abusive treatment at one of the oldest and longestrunning Indian Residential Schools in Canada.

The decision to reproduce this quilt as part of the BarnTrail was not made in haste. Our hope in presentingthis quilt is to offer a prominent place to honour andpay tribute to the legacy of survivors, and their families.Your experience(s) at the 'Mush Hole' were not invain. We dedicate the Hidden Quilt to all those whowalked these halls before us.

by Paula Whitlow

Salt Baby Comes HomeIn many ways, being a part of Planet IndigenUS atThe Woodland Cultural Centre is somewhat of ahomecoming for me. I grew up on Six Nations and inBrantford. When I was approached to work on the festivalI said yes without hesitation. Not just because of thestellar line-up I would get to be a part of, but becauseI was going home. I was bringing my art home. Likea young child running in the front door with a drawingdemanding it be placed on the fridge yelling, “Lookwhat I made you!”

The projects that I am bringing to the festival are twothat are especially close to my heart. They are my firstplay, Salt Baby, and the third installment of my walkingtour series focusing on invisible Indigenous history.

Five words that could essentially sum up my first playSalt Baby would be: “Really? You don’t look it.”Growing up on Six Nations I grew up being called aSalt Baby, a “white” looking “Indian.” Fair skin andcurly hair made me more of a Shirley Temple typethan a Pocahontas type. As I’m sure you can imaginethis was not an easy experience. Salt Baby was bornout of my experiences navigating the Rez and the city.I have had to explain myself and my blood quantumwith each step I take, “My mother was this and myfather was that. And yes they both are Aboriginal, FirstNations, Native. ” What I’d like Salt Baby to do isempower my audience to feel like they or weunderstand each other a little better. Canada has such

a hidden history that is rarely taught in schools so weoften walk through life not knowing, and by the timewe think to ask the hard questions it can feel too late;it can feel too uncomfortable. Being a Salt Baby I haveheard the most intensely racist things because I am, ina sense, unseen. I am invisible as an Indigenousperson. I’veseen the dis-service thatthe Canadiane d u c a t i o nsystem hasdone to itspopulation.With SaltBaby I wantto ask ques-tions andopen a dia-logue. I alsowould likethe audience,Indigenousand non, towalk awaywith an understanding that you can’t judge an bookby it’s cover, a big old cliché I know but a truestatement nonetheless. The lines of racial and culturalidentity are complex and difficult to pin down. Thishidden history became the concept for my walking

tour series; the Brantford edition will be my third. Iresearch an area of a city and I try to find what theIndigenous history of the location is. What was herebefore this building? This monument? This intersec-tion? Indigenous history is often disregarded or goesunheard. It is no secret that history is recorded in a

Euro-centricway, a waythat does notreflect or re-spect an In-d i g e n o u sperspective.With mywalking toursI attempt tofind out whatwas in a placebefore some-one wrote in abook about it.In my walks Ialso try to seethe peoplewho go

unseen: the poverty-stricken, the ill, the homeless.What happens when we look at what we look awayfrom? Who are these people and what have they doneto deserve our making them invisible? I have metsome extraordinary people and learned some amazing

things from these invisible people. It can be scary, butshouldn’t all good art be scary? Falen Johnson isMohawk and Tuscarora from Six Nations. She is anactor, playwright and emerging dramaturg. She is agraduate of George Brown Theatre School. Falen isthe current in house dramaturge for Native Earth’sAnimikiig program. She is currently working on hersecond full-length play titled Long Lance.

The Walking Tours meeting place is The BrantMuseum & Archives (57 Charlotte Street, Brantford),August 14 and August 16 both walks start at 7PM.

Salt Baby is being show at the Woodland CulturalCentre (184 Mohawk St.) for a special one night onlyperformance on August 15th at 7pm followed by artistQ&A. Admission is free.

Falen Johnson is one of many artists being featured atthe Woodland Cultural Centre during the PlanetIndigenUS festival. Over the course of 10 daysrunning from August 10 – 19, Woodland will host anarray of events including concerts, art exhibitions,workshops, stand-up comedy, and culinarydemonstrations. For a complete listing of PlanetIndigenUS activities at Woodland please visit:www.woodland-centre.on.ca, and for information onPlanet IndigenUS at Harbourfront Centre please visit:www.harbourfrontcentre.com/planetindigenus

by Falen Johnson

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August 2012www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 6

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

August 2012 www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 7

An Open Doorby Ryan Van Dijkemail: worship.arts@counterpointchurch.ca

For seven years I have had the honour and privilege of playing the bellsfor Grace Anglican Church in downtown Brantford. I often stop to thinkabout how many people look up with wonder at the gothic tower nestledin the heart of the city.

When you walk in, you feel as though you are transported back three hun-dred years. At the top of a winding spiral staircase is a gallery overlookingthe city where the bells are played. Twenty-five feet up above the galleryis another chamber, which houses ten bells tuned chromatically from Cto E, each inscribed with scripture. Above that chamber lies the roof ofthe tower, and the most spectacular view of the city one could ever hopeto find.

Seven years ago, living across the street from the tower, I noticed the doorhad been left open. I had always been curious. Seizing the moment I in-stantly ran across the street, ascended the tower and, upon finding itempty, began to play around with this ancient and beautiful instrument.Since then I have played them for the church, for weddings, on holidaysand even for the birthdays of neighborhood children. I would also like togive a soft apology to those in the area sleeping New Year’s Eve.

Yet I also play them weekly simply because some part of me feels abounden duty to shower the city with music because I believe there arestill people out there who love to hear them. People who need to hearthem because somehow it just makes life better if the bells are still ringing.

Since walking through the door of the tower that day I have discovered aunique love for the tradition of bell ringing. Although I'm not Anglican,nor would even call myself a Christian, I was welcomed into the commu-nity. Shortly after I joined the choir at Grace, at first as a way of receivingfree music lessons. However, I found much more there. The choir grantedme a way of adding the study of music to the regular rhythm of my life.I have played guitar, piano and sang since I was fourteen in some capacity,but choir opened up a whole new understanding of the depth, beauty andthe magic of music. Now, two years later, I find myself on staff as musicaldirector for Counterpoint Church, also operating out of Grace.

The bells are a terrible instrument when you are first learning because athird of the city can hear each and every one of your mistakes. Havingonly ten bells, with no sharps or flats also forces one to be inventive whenwriting and arranging music for the tower; imposed restrictions that areboth a blessing and a curse. They sound beautiful, yet if you were in thesame room when they’re playing, you would be deafened. Behind theirsweet melodies lies a dissonant drone as each tone is laid down upon an-other and rubs against the last. It’s a reminder for me of the delicate bal-ance between dissonance and harmony that makes our lives interestingand beautiful both in our joy and our darkness. This tower has become acharacter in my life. I try to take care of it, archive its music and history,give it new music and share its history with others. It’s always there,looming over my house, the largest and loudest instrument in the city.

Somehow finding the door to the tower open that day, and taking on the

duties of the bell ringer, has revealed a path and purpose in my life that

was absent before. It was not a hard role to fall into, and its romantic allure

has never been difficult to embrace. To have a platform with purpose to

make music, alone and with others every week of my life is amazing to

reflect upon and a sure sign, among so much more, of a blessed life.

“Somehow finding the doorto the tower open that day,

and taking on the duties of thebell ringer, has revealed a path

and purpose in my life thatwas absent before.”

August 2012www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 8

Pink PortagerConquering day 47 of his journey and spending hislast night in Brantford, 21-year-old Andrew Metcalfe,also known as the Pink Portager, is thankful for thehospitality he received as he rests his aching bones.

For a small town, Brantford offered Metcalfe quitea turnout as well as a place to sleep and some greatcompany. “I had some people, who were in contactwith me since Barrie, meet me and walk with methrough Brantford. It was nice,” he said.

He is thrilled with the many strangers who havehelped him along the way, with bottled water, foodand motivating enthusiasm, but makes it perfectlyclear that there are no rides allowed. SheilaghScanlon had the privilege of speaking with him ashe was just walking into Cainsville on Colborne St.East.

“There was thunder booming and lightning streakingacross the sky. I saw him on the road and knewexactly who he was. I immediately pulled over tosay hi and offer him a ride. He wouldn’t accept one

saying that “that would be cheating” so I gave him adonation and signed his canoe,” she said. Metcalfewelcomes the rain because it’s a short break from theheat wave he has been braving, and his canoe actsas shelter.

“It’s one big umbrella!” he said.

Although he said it will be hotter and hotter as hecontinues, he is glad that it’s all down hill. Withroughly 16 to 20 days left in his journey, whichstarted on June 3 in Kingston, Metcalfe is headingfrom the Brantford area toward his final destinationof Windsor. Altogether the trip is 1200 km. At thetime I wrote this article, he had raised $20 000 and,if he raises $25 000 by the end of his journey, ShoppersDrug Mart has said they will double it.

Before he set out to raise thousands of dollars forcancer research, Metcalfe was a nursing student atRyerson University, born and raised in Toronto.Breast cancer had been prevalent in his family. Hismother suffered from it when he was young and has

thankfully been in remission until today. His grand-mother and aunt were later diagnosed with thedisease. His grandmother survived but, sadly, he losthis Aunt Kristine. These experiences inspired him tofight for a cure and invent what we all know now asthe Pink Portage. Portaging is when one carries theircanoe between two entry points of water.

“My friends and I were sitting around a campfirewhen I came up with the idea. They called me crazybut here I am now,” Metcalfe explained. Taking thepersonal canoe he’d had for two years, Metcalfepainted it pink himself using a mix of white and red.“Real men portage pink,” he said jokingly.

Only in Algonquin Park did his canoe touch water.Since then it’s been strictly portaging. He alonecarries his own camping gear including a tent tosleep in if he isn’t offered a bed and freeze dried foodto eat to keep cost down, not to mention the canoe.All his supplies come out of his own pocket and 100per cent of the proceeds he receives go directly to theCanadian Cancer Society. Despite this lack of

resources Metcalfe hasn’t had many issues. “I didn’tgo with the sponsorship route because I didn’t wantto sell myself out, and I didn’t really get into the pressuntil now, but it’s hard to ignore a guy with a pinkcanoe on the side of the highway,” he said.

The biggest challenge that Metcalfe faced happenedwhile traveling from Kingston to Ottawa. “I ran intoissues finding water and I had to drink from aswamp,” he said. When the trip is over he plans toreturn to being a normal 21-year-old and enroll inthe Paramedicine program at University of Toronto-Mississauga.

Metcalfe shared his words of wisdom.

“You’re never too young to give back. You don’thave to do a crazy portage, or give a million dollars;Just give back to your local community. We’re all inthis together at the end of the day,” he said.

Visit www.pinkportage.com, give a donation andsign the guestbook. Together, We Can!

by Autumn Ladoucer

A Passionate Advocate for ChangePassion is a strange thing. It’s most commonlyknown as people holding passion for one another.Some are passionate about the newest fads,maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or their careers, andthen there are my friends. After finishing 5 years ofschool at Laurier/Nipissing, I have learned that I amsurrounded by such a lovely group of determinedand passionate people. So many people I know arepassionate about teaching children, but I have alsocome to the realization that I have several closefriends who are passionate about completelydifferent things.

My high school friend, currently pursuing a degreeat Laurier Brantford is an ambassador for theenvironment. I’m not talking about someone whowears hemp clothing and carries a reusable waterbottle, but someone who actually goes out into thecommunity and tries to make a difference. Her latestand most important concern is the push to end caridling in Brantford specifically. She speaks up topeople In order to raise awareness about our thinningozone layer and the effect idling cars have on our airquality. Most times she is completely disregarded,

and often times, called a slew of inappropriate terms.The most common statement is that she is absolutelycrazy. That’s just it- she is crazy - about the environment.Taking it upon herself to look past the attitudes ofothers in order to make a change, even if it is at thelocal level makes her one of the most passionatepeople I know.

My other friend is incredibly passionate aboutBrantford. Moving here from Toronto to attendLaurier/Nipissing 5 years ago, she has always beenone of the most open-minded students I’ve knownabout Brantford. In first year, students wereconstantly bombarded with negative words andthoughts about the downtown core of Brantford, butshe took it upon herself to look beyond them. In firstand second year I always found it strange that shewould form long lasting friendships in odd placessuch as the bus, or simply by walking down thestreet. Looking back now, I realize that this is exactlywhat needed to happen to tie the students to theBrantford community. Volunteering with street youthand playing an active role in her Church has givenher the opportunity to participate in so many great

events here in Brantford, but it has also changed bothmine, and other students’ perspectives of Brantford.

Then there is the friend of mine who has a passionfor life. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but I don’t think Ihave ever met somebody as happy and full of life asher. Travelling to third world countries seems like acompletely ridiculous thing to most people- myselfincluded- but to her, it is something incrediblyimportant for her happiness. When she’s not inVietnam teaching English and volunteering at anorphanage, she can usually be found sipping tea andchatting with someone here in Brantford. Somewould say that the travel bug has bitten her, but it’sbecome a way of life for her now. Volunteering inthe community here for a couple of months andjetting back to Vietnam is completely normal for her.The greatest thing is that the community alwayswelcomes her back with waiting arms, eagerlyawaiting her stories and her helping hands.

Growing up, I always thought that I was passionateabout teaching children. While this is still absolutelytrue, I’m definitely developing new passions.

Moving to Brantford for school was quite possiblyone of the best decisions I could have made. Thelocal community is such a welcoming group ofpeople, the local politicians seem to truly care aboutthe citizens of Brantford, and my chats with theamazing downtown shop owners have definitelygiven me such different perspectives of Brantford.

The past couple of weeks I have learned a lot aboutwhat it means to be a passionate person. If someonewere to ask me the definition of ‘passionate’, I wouldhave definitely given them the Webster’s definition:“capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling”.Recently though, I have discovered that there isdefinitely more to the word ‘passionate’ than I hadoriginally thought. Being passionate doesn’t juststop at expressing an intense feeling, but continuesto the point of acting on those feelings. So manypeople I know in this community are passionateadvocates for change, not only contributing to thiswonderful city but are also such great role modelsfor the local youth.

by Nicole Hingston

Showcasing Local TalentMy name is Christina Hajiioannou. For as long as I can remember, I have beendrawing. At a young age I would sit with my younger brother and teach himhow to draw and use certain techniques. I kept up with my artwork all throughhigh school and then pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts at Brock University.I truly believe that art is a form of happiness. You hang it on your wall and youlook at it and it can overwhelm you, bring you joy, tranquility. I try to pour asmuch of myself into my work as I can.

One of the greatest changes in my life was when I was diagnosed with breastcancer in 1999 and then again 10 years later in 2009. I went through harsh treatmentand came out a survivor.I went through a fairy phase at that point. I paintedbeautiful female fairies with strong bodies and big colourful wings. They werevery vibrant and almost spiritual. I had conquered something devastating andchose to have a positive outlook, not give up and strive on. I would not bedefeated. Therefore my work reflected that, mirrored what I wanted my life tobe; healthy, fit and vibrant.

Brantford was also a big change in my life. Not knowing anyone, and basicallyhaving to start over, I turned to my artwork as my outlet and source ofentertainment. I found the art scene almost non-existent here, but I wasdetermined to be as involved as possible. So my search began. I talked toeveryone I could and was told about an artist’s guild. I surfed the net and foundnames and numbers. Almost a year later, I got accepted to The Brant VisualArtist Guild and, as a result, have a network of what is happening in our cityand surrounding area. Again my current artwork reflects this stage of my life.My new millennium goddess theme and my almost animated paintings withmultimedia, all vibrant and full of life; an all-new beginning and all new ideas.I started posting my new artwork on Facebook and have gotten a fantastic andenthusiastic response. I have been selling work in Brantford and getting a lot ofcommissions. I am anticipating my next venture of art as I have just recentlybeen appointed to serve on The Brantford Cultural Advisory Committee byBrantford City Council. I hope to make a difference and bring fresh ideas torevitalize the city of Brantford and enhance the art scene. The Arts after all area very strong and important factor in the thriving and health of a community.

You can view my work on Facebook at: Christina's Art Gallery I am availablefor sales & or commissioned work: chrishaj@look.ca

August 2012 www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 9

Jesus is Italian and so am IYou probably read the title of this article and said :“What! Jesus is Italian?” Before you dismiss thisclaim allow me to state my case. First, his motherwas named Mary and his father was named Joe. Second,he was a carpenter. Third, he made wine. Fourth helived at home until he was 30. Fifth, he hung out withthe same 12 guys. And sixth, his mother thought hewas God. There you have it, case dismissed, Jesus isItalian and so am I.

Hi, I’m Jon, and I moved to Brantford two years agoto take on a position at Grace Anglican Church. Theposition was as Priest for the new congregationcalled Counterpoint. Wait a second, you said youwere Italian, shouldn’t you be Roman Catholic?This is a common question. People expect me to bea Roman Catholic priest and for this reason I sometimesmess with their heads by kissing my wife whilewearing my collar. So yes, I am an Anglican Priestwho is Italian, but I’d like to focus on the later.

I grew up in Vaughan a city that is teaming withItalians which means there are many RomanCatholic Schools and Roman Catholic Churches.Places I didn’t attend until my OAC year, why?Because my family wasn’t Roman Catholic, wewere Italian Pentecostals, but that’s a story foranother time. I attended a public school where myfriends weren’t Marco, Luigi or Giancarlo, they wereWaleed, Rudy, Harmeet, Nick, Raj, well you get thepoint. Within a dense Italian population I was placedin a multicultural school. It was like United Nationsand I was the Italian representative. When I wouldgo over to my friend’s house I was referred to as thenice chubby Italian boy. The chubbiness was due tothe huge lunches my parent’s would pack with thefresh bread, cheese and three types of salami. Thisfor me is further proof of Jesus’ Italian heritagebecause he fed 5000 with one lunch. I have faith thatmy lunch could’ve done the same. My friend’swould come over and get a sampling of authenticItalian meatballs. Then I would go over to my buddyNick’s house where his Ukrainian grandmotherwould serve us perogies. I would talk to my friend

Waleed who was Muslim about Ramadan and to myfriend Rudy who was very much Canadian, aboutwhy he liked Kraft dinner as I tried to convert himover to penne alla vodka. Growing up I was exposedto different cultures, religions and foods. For this Iam grateful. But unfortunately this came with a price.

“This for me is furtherproof of Jesus’ Italian

heritage because he fed5000 with one lunch. I

have faith that my lunchcould’ve done the

same.”

One time my friend who was Jamaican stayed overfor dinner. His mom dropped him off and as shewalked out of our house a bunch of guys from theneighbourhood assumed she was my mom and fromthen on started bullying me, calling me derogatorynames, the nicest one being Oreo. I even had a knifepulled on me because of the friend I was walkingwith. When I was a kid I always wondered why theseguys picked on me, and now as an adult I know why.They didn’t have the privilege of being in a multi-cultural school. They grew up in a bubble where peoplelooked the same, believed the same things and atethe same food. They assumed their group was thebest and feared what was different. In short, thebullying I encountered was rooted in ignorance and fear.

Unfortunately, as a Christian I have encountered thisignorance and fear in our churches. We say, my Godis better than your god, our way is better than yourway, I am right and you are wrong. By doing thiswe enclose ourselves and once the bubble is createdwe begin to fear the other. In fear we picket, we signpetitions and write our local politicians about certain

parades and celebrations. While in this fearful stancewe don’t see the other as a fellow human being thatis loved by God and who has much to offer. At thispoint I would like to apologize, when I sat down towrite this piece I didn’t intend for it to be a soap box,actually I was going to focus on my Nonna, spaghettiand family, but triggered by a memory of beingbullied it took on a life of its own.

At this point allow me to put on the collar for a bit.First I would like to confess, I started this article witha lie, Jesus isn’t Italian, I’ll allow the shock to setin........... he was Jewish, but in his Jewishness hewasn’t bound to a particular people or place, heopened himself to the sick, the broken, the outcastand yes even the non-Jew. His vocation was rootedin God’s love for the world. If you have ever joinedme for a beer or coffee, you may have heard me saythis: “Jesus didn’t come to make everyone Christian,he came so that we can be fully human.” The realityis, he did not set out to start a new religion but soughta new way, a way where all were seen as God’schildren and where all people mattered. We can onlybe fully human when we recognize other’s humanityand gifts, as together we seek, as Jesus did, what isgood for the World. As a religious leader in thiswonderful city I strive to work for the good of Brantfordand, in doing so, I welcome and will work with all,regardless of colour, culture, philosophy, religion, orsexual orientation. Let’s sit down and chat over aplate of Thai, Indian or let’s split a cabbage roll. Hereis where it starts, when we eat together, we get toknow each other, and the bubble bursts and we beginto see each other as friends or even as brothers andsisters. When this happens Brantford becomes abetter place.

In the words of Desmond Tutu: “Do your little bit ofgood where you are; it’s those little bits of good puttogether that overwhelm the world.”

by Rev. Jonathan MassimiTwitter: @revmass

In Honour of Public LeadersI was insulted a few weeks ago. Not very well, but Iwas insulted.

Someone who only identified his/herself as "Ex-Brantforder" decided to take a shot at me via a localwebsite by calling me a cult leader. It all arose out ofthe public baptismal service we (Freedom House)held in Harmony Square on July 15th.

To be honest, after 30 years in a vocation that is openfor public scrutiny, the "cult leader" insult is bothill-informed and over-used. Upon further investigation,"Ex-Brantforder" would have found out that I havetoo little money, too few concubines and not enoughKool-aid to be a cult leader.

To be totally honest, I grow weary of over-used,uncreative scorn from afar. I invited "Ex-Brantforder"for coffee, so I could fill in some missing informationhe/she had about us (me and Freedom House) andcorrect him/her about most of his/her mis-information,but he/she didn't respond. The truth is, I neverexpected a response: most of the 10% never givetheir name or respond to actual, intelligent discourse.

I stopped listening to the 10% long ago!

What is the 10%? Glad you asked? The 10% are thepeople that are never happy with anything that leadersdo. They are ‘experts’ on everything except, ofcourse, objective observation and dialogue. The 10%is the group of individuals in every social group orsociety that see it as their purpose in life to beintentionally negative and disagree with everythingand everyone around them. For the record, I am notwriting for pity. It didn't take me long to realize thatif you choose a public profession, that there willalways be the 10%.

I am writing on behalf of the people that don't knowabout the 10%. I am writing on behalf of those whohave stepped out to lead and been criticized by thosewho don’t attempt anything to make our city or theworld a better place. I'm here to Advocate for publicleaders… people like:

Dave Carrol, aka Captain Kindness, who prancesaround in a red leotard to spread the powerful

message of KINDNESS. I don't know what rewardthere is for people who are super-heroes who neverwanted to be a super-hero, but whatever it is, DaveCarrol should get it. Joan Minnery, who got off herassets, her own words, to find a new healthy life andinspired many others to do the same. Jamie Stephens,who works hard at bringing entertainment to a cityhe loves.

I am writing on behalfof those who have

stepped out to lead andbeen criticized by those

who don’t attemptanything to make our

city or the worlda better place.

Josh Bean, who had a vision for a place for the artsand followed through against the odds. GabrielKirchberger, who saw something in a run down innercity when seemingly every one else was runningaway. MP Phil McColeman, MPP Dave Levac andMayor Chris Friel - I consider these men my friendsand honour them for the very difficult job they doevery day. Lucas, Andrew and Marc, who startedthe Advocate, so people could tell stories that will beanother catalyst that changes the narrative over our city.

I raise a toast to you (and the 100's of others like you),who consciously and intentionally choose to lead inyour various fields regardless of the opposition fromthe 10%.

As I wrap up, let me give you a quick list for leadersor potential leaders, regarding how to lead in spite ofthe 10%.

1. Determine to know yourself - Be aware of yourown gifts and calling. Be aware of what you areNOT good at. Be secure in who you are.

2. Develop friends - Intentionally give the rightpeople the ability to speak ANYTHING into yourlife. Isolation will kill you and your vision (or warp it).

3. Determine that you will spend your time, moneyand energy on things that is worthy of criticism. Ifyou expect ease, you will be crushed. If it's easy todo - it's probably done - if it's really easy to do, it'sprobably not worth doing.

4. Decide what is realistic - Prioritize. Evaluate andkeep evaluating. "You can please some of the peoplesome of the time" - be content with that. Pleasing "allof the people all of the time is not realistic."

5. Determine that you will be a person of Integrity.Be someone worth following. Understand theseriousness of your choice to lead. John Maxwellsays, "Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Iagree. If you have chosen or are choosing to be aleader, recognize the severity of that choice. WinstonChurchill said: “The price of greatness is responsibility.”

6. Develop a thankful attitude - You are where youare because people helped you get there. You are stilla leader because people are helping you. The peopleare more important than your next big event, or nextBIG win.

7. Develop an inquisitive mind - Read, research, seewhat others are doing.

8. Decide that you will honour other leaders - Tellthem when they are doing a good job, learn how todisagree honourably.

9 - Develop a "soft heart and tough skin". The 10%is always out there and one of the unfortunate effectsof the 10% is that they cause leaders to developtough hearts and soft skin if we're not careful.

10 - Determine that you will acknowledge God inthe midst of it all (let's be honest, you should haveexpected that one from a Pastor).

by Brian BeattieTwitter: @FHBrantford

August 2012www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 10

EXCAVATION • BOBCAT SERVICES • HAULAGE

“Brantford? Brantford?! What’s in Brantford?”“A job,” I replied.“Yeah, but it’s only five months! Do you thinkit will be worth it?”“I’m an optimist.”

My official title is Project Developer /Researcher. I was hired without an in-personinterview. I’ve always been told I have a voicefor radio. I never thought it was true.

My references checked out. “They actuallysounded sad that they were losing you,” my bosslater told me. Boss is probably a bad title for her.She’s not a boss. She’s a guide maybe? But eventhen, I seem to have more freedom than that, andno one in front of me. The bright light ofdiscovery hits me first I guess. Sometimes it’srough. I rarely wear sunglasses. At least when Ido, they’re rose coloured.

Safety net may be a better description of mysupervisor. But even that makes her seeminanimate. She’s warm. She’s welcoming. She’sfriendly and supportive. More structured than ablanket though... Would an umbrella be a betteranalogy? I think I’ll just cut the analogies.

She’s a good supervisor. The kind of person youwant to work for. Not work under, work for. Iwant to do my job well, so that it helps her.Having a supervisor that inspires you and cansubtly motivate you is important, especiallywhen you’re new in town. I remember I wascalling potential landlords. I had very particular

needs. This was going to be my first apartmentas a young professional. My first job, I wantedto get what I wanted.

“You won’t find anything like that in Brantford,especially for that price.”“You won’t find anything like that in Brantford,especially for such a short time.”“You won’t find anything like that in Brantford,especially if you want to live alone.”I had the same reply for all of them, “I’m an optimist.”

I found a place. It came with a decent price tag.They were okay with me leaving after my fivemonth contract ended. I had it all to myself. Thepower of positive thinking scored anothervictory. What does a Project Developer /Researcher do? To be honest, I wasn’t quite suremyself. In my near six months of unemployment,I applied to nearly a thousand jobs. I wasn’tqualified for all of them. I was overqualified forsome.

“You really think you’re going to get a job?!”my friends would ask, half teasing, halflegitimately concerned.“I’m an optimist.”“You’re going to need to be.”

Anyway, a thousand job applications later, youforget what some of them even are. When St.Leonard’s called me, I only remembered theposition, because of the term. “I hope I get alonger contract than this.”

Optimism was batting .500 all of a sudden. I’velearnt that a Project Developer/Researcher cando a lot of different things. I had a specific taskassigned to me however. I had to conduct acommunity substance use needs assessment.I’ve never done one of those before. They knewthat right? I let them know anyway. My employersseemed to think I have enough experience. Fouryears in a neuroscience laboratory playing withrats. Simultaneously, I completed a number offreelance research positions studying theresponses of young offenders, universitystudents, nurses, and small business owners. Icompleted my masters working with peoplediagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I just recentlyhelped out on a genetics project. I’ve done it all.Research is research right? I sure hope so.

“You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you,” mynew co-workers would say.“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.” Sometimes,I’m not much for conversation.“You’ve never done a needs assessment before.Are you sure you’re going to be able to handle it?”“I’m an optimist.”

I started reading about what makes up a needsassessment. It can be a lot of things. It can alsobe 10 months long. I had half that time. I’ve alsodecided to do twice the work.

“You’re planning on doing all that?! How areyou going to get it all done?”Can you guess what I said?

A needs assessment, is not about proving something.That’s not my job. That’s not why I’ve come toBrantford. I want to find truth. I want tounderstand. There may be a substance useproblem in the area, there may not be. I will notmake that assumption.

I’m going to analyze census data. I’m going totake figures from hospitals and serviceproviders. I am going to understand what putsthis community at risk for having substance useproblems. I am going to survey people who offersupport for those with addictions problems. I amgoing to survey people living with addictions. Iam going to gather as much information as possible.

I may even survey you. I may survey yourneighbour. I may survey a friend or familymember of yours. I may ask you to fill out asurvey for me, even if you don’t have asubstance use problem. I am inviting all kindsof people to help with this project. If you receivean invitation, I hope you’ll contact me. I hopeyou’ll share the truth. But not everyone thinksyou will.

“No one is going to want to do a survey thattakes 30-45 minutes! That’s too long!”“No one is going to contact you in order to fillout a survey!”“People are going to lie! You won’t get an honestresponse!”“No one cares.”What can I say? I’m an optimist.

I am an Optimist by Nick Csuzdis

I opened my Facebook page on Tuesday morningto a splendid mess, one of those “group messages”where everyone Replies All.

The grammar and spelling were...well, smallchildren and English teachers-stop reading thearticle now. Despite run-ons and a shocking lackof periods (or perhaps because of), I read onemessage after another with a smile.

May 28 Kristina: Hey girls, I'm sure we've allnoticed that someone has been missing frommost of the get together's... Melissa! So I wasthinking maybe we could all do something thisweekend. Main goal is Melissa has to be able tomake it! Any ideas or available times?

May 28 Laura: I can’t come working this weekend

May 28 Rachel: I think I am free Friday

May 28 Laura: I’m free Friday. Not sat or Sunday.

May 28 Gwendolyn: I’m free Friday!

May 28 Rachel: Maybe we all go and then go tobrown dog

May 28 Alisa: I am free Friday too. But not Saturday

May 28 Laura: I'll go to the brown dog; it willbe a nice change from the blue dog. Plus it’smore of a summer color

May 28 Alisa: Will you Laura.

May 28 Laura: Ya I promise!! lol

May 28 Kristina: Okay Friday it is dependingon Melissa's schedule. I can't stay out too latecause I have the super early shift on Saturday.

May 29 Layne: Kristina--You.Are.So.Sweet....and I love you girls. And I Love the BrownDog...let me know what time y'all decide on; ifI can't come, I’ll send my mum.

May 29 Laura: lol and I love american lingo"y'all" lol and I love Layne.

May 29 Alisa: ...and I love Layne too

May 29 Laura: and I love Lisa

May 29 Renee: And I love y'all;)

Let’s just say the conversation went on...but I’llsplice it there because you get the idea.

It seems strange that something so nonsensical,so silly was a defining moment in my life, but Iwill forever declare it was. As I scrolled throughthe messages, I felt the significance of beingincluded in a group of girls who fight to keeptheir friendships alive. I have known a lot ofpeople in this life and intentionality of thiscaliber is nothing short of precious, a rarity indeed.

For the first time since moving here, I felt a partof something a bit bigger than myself, a senseof family. I liked it.

This eclectic, beautiful, kind, kind-of-crazy (ina good way) group of girls have taken me insince I moved to Brantford last fall. Most ofthem have known each other for over a decade-

have stood up in each other’s weddings, havetraveled, laughed, cried, fought and livedtogether through the years. Instead of allowingtheir closeness and history to keep others out,however, they use their love to draw others in tocelebrate life with them. The opposite of exclusive,they have gone out of their way to invite me todinners, girls‘ nights, coffee dates and parties.

When I amdeeply honest,moving toBrantford hasn’tbeen the easiestof transitions.Leaving myclosest friends,family and co-workers to comemarry the manof my dreams( J o n a t h a n ,dearie, that wasa shout out toyou) has had itsrocky moments.(Jonathan says I had a breakdown last Thursday,but who’s counting.) Moving to a town where Ihave no history, no sense of belonging anddidn’t know anyone outside of my husband-to-be has never been high on my dream list.

But every once in a great while you meet thekind of people who make you want to be a betterperson, who love those around them well-justfor the sake of loving, who give without askingto receive anything in return, who have the depthof character to live outside their own comfortable

bubble and who are sincere, genuinely kind. Solet’s hear it for loving your neighbors, to lovingextravagantly, to loving just because. To livingcourageously, for loving outrageously. It matters.

I am here to propose that this smart, hilarious,friendly, generous group of girls is one such setof souls. I’m not sure how I was lucky enough

to find themalong thisjourney (orperhaps theyfound me), butI’m here to sayI’m grateful. Sothis is my ownpersonal loveletter to thesei n c r e d i b l epeople whohave gone outof their way tomake me feel athome inB r a n t f o r d .Friends- thank

you for the grace when I needed to be anti-so-cial, thank you for baking cookies with me andindulging me in a tea party, thanks for coffeedates and dinner parties, thanks for includingme in your Christmas festivities, for taking meout dancing and for throwing me a birthdayparty when I was new in town. I couldn’t haveasked for truer friends to start this new season.I’m so entirely happy to know you in this lifetime.Now, let’s grow old together?

Moving to Brantford by Layne Beckner Grime

August 2012 www.brantadvocate.com • Facebook: The Brant Advocate • Twitter: @BrantAdvocate Page 11

Happy Birthday “Mr. Brantford!”

With so much emphasis this year being placed on thebicentennial of the War of 1812, it would be easy tooverlook a 200th anniversary of a very different na-ture; one that hits a lot closer to home.

Ignatius Cockshutt was born on August 24, 1812 inBradford, Yorkshire, England. As a teenager he im-migrated to Upper Canada and settled in York (nowToronto) in 1827. It was here that his father, James,opened a dry goods store. With the success of this ven-ture, it was decided to expand the family business in1829 by opening a branch store in a small settlementto the west, in the recently named Brant’s Ford. Theexperiment failed and Ignatius returned to York to re-join his father.

In 1832 Ignatius persuaded his father to let him try toreopen the Brantford operation. The second attemptproved successful and launched Ignatius on path towealth and influence that few others of the day wereable to achieve. In 1834 James Cockshutt left York tojoin his son in the rapidly expanding branch store thatwas now the sole focus of the family business. Ig-natius had indeed proven himself to be a gifted andvisionary businessman, and James eventually sold thestore to his daughter Jane and Ignatius in 1840. Fromhumble beginnings of a general store, Ignatius ex-panded the operation to become a full line departmentstore which he named “The Merchant’s Exchange”.

Not being content to rely entirely upon the revenuesof the Merchant’s Exchange, Ignatius invested heavilyin real estate to the point that by the time Brantfordwas incorporated as a town in 1847, he was its largestproperty owner. Municipal tax rolls, from the year1880, show that he owned 41 rental properties, as wellas 21 farms in Brantford Township. He also held themortgages on no less than 10 factories during Brant-ford’s emerging manufacturing sector in the 1870’s.Not forgotten is the fact that he supplied the start upcapital to his son James in the founding of the Brant-ford Plow Works, the forerunner of the CockshuttPlow Company.

One notable investment that he chose to avoid was thetelephone. Alexander Graham Bell had asked for hissupport, but Ignatius felt the idea was nothing morethan fantasy and declined the offer. While usually wisein almost all of his business decisions, only historywill be able to judge this particular choice.

Ignatius Cockshutt was a man who was driven by hisconvictions. Among these were a strong work ethic,honest and fair business practices, and religious beliefsthat compelled him to give back to others.

In purely civic affairs he engaged in pursuits thatwould be a boost to Brantford in order to make it aleader in commerce over other communities. It was

his firm belief that a prosperous Brantford would ben-efit all citizens, not just his own business concerns. Asearly as 1848 he showed great leadership in arrangingto have a fire well and pump constructed in the busi-ness centre of the town in order to better protect busi-nesses from the constant threat of fire. Later in 1860he lobbied the Town Council to establish a formal firecompany. Ignatius was instrumental in setting up thefirst Board of Trade, and was elected its first presidentin 1866. He was a shareholder and board member ofthe Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich Railway, andheld the presidency of both the Brantford Gas Worksand Brantford Waterworks.

His personal acts of charity and philanthropy, whichare too numerous to mention here, were a natural ex-tension of his Christian beliefs. He was a foundingmember of Farringdon Church near Brantford, whichis a sect of Methodism known as Inghamites. Ignatiuswas a lay preacher in the church and supported twomissions in Jamaica. The people of Brantford owe agreat debt of gratitude to the social institutions that heestablished and continue on to this day, such as theHouse of Refuge; Brantford Widow’s Home; Brant-ford Orphan’s Home, and both the YMCA andYWCA. Even after his death, he provided for the on-going care and maintenance of these facilities in hiswill. He also gave extensively to the poor at every op-portunity that presented itself. These character traits

were instilled in his children and successive membersof the Cockshutt family. Upon his death on March 1,1901, there was such an outpouring of public mourn-ing that the whole city suspended business and severalfactories closed their doors out of respect for him.After leading a very full life that included both failureand success, Ignatius Cockshutt had earned the titlesof “Mr. Brantford” and the “Grand Old Man of Brant-ford”. He had helped transform Brantford from acrude frontier settlement into a thriving city of nationalimportance. Along the way he never lost sight of theplight of others and his own ability and duty to help.Happy 200th Mr. Brantford! It couldn’t have hap-pened without you.

For further information on Ignatius Cockshutt, checkout these resources available from the Brantford Pub-lic Library:

“About Cockshutt”, by William H. Cockshutt.

Bits and pieces of Brantford’s history: the history ofthe Cockshutt family, by Gary Muirhttp://brantford.library.on.ca/archive/index.php/archive/article/157

Memoirs of Ignatius Cockshutthttp://brantford.library.on.ca/archive/index.php/archive/article/155

by Robert Adlam

The Importance of MyrtlevilleIn 1980, the descendants of Allen and Eliza Gooddeeded the family farm which was then on the outeredge of the development taking place in Brantford toHeritage Canada. When it officially opened in August,an editorial in the Brantford Expositor stated that, “notmany centres in Canada can boast a museum house

as unique as Myrtleville… Built in 1837, it is de-scribed as being in mint condition as well as contain-ing a collection of furniture and artifact hard to matchanywhere.” Thanks to Heritage Canada, 175 yearslater that statement is as true today as it was then. Buttimes have changed!

Today urbanization has surrounded the Myrtlevillesite. Heritage Canada, a national charity and not a gov-ernment agency, has shifted its strategy in how it as-sists and promotes heritage in Canada. Over the pasttwo years, it has moved away from the property man-agement approach modeled after the British NationalTrust and has been focusing on developing partner-ships to preserve historic sites. At the same time, gov-ernments of all levels have been under pressure toreduce expenditures. Not-for-profit organizations suchas the Brant Historical Society fight for every dollar

they raise in an increasingly competitive market.Donors today are placed under enormous pressure tocontribute to many worthy causes and as the economycontinues to stagger, this will increase. So where doesthis leave Myrtleville?

There is no doubt that Myrtleville House and its con-tents are an important historic asset to this community.Most of the furnishings and artifacts were donated bythe Good family and in many respects it is their historyas well. A series of articles written by Gary Muir forthe Brantford Expositor describes the family’s trekfrom Ireland, the involvement in the Rebellion of1837, the Gore District Mutual Fire Insurance Com-pany, the Canadian Council of Agriculture, and theformation United Farmers of Ontario. They were in-volved in politics at all levels and played an importantrole in the social infrastructure of the community. It istherefore understandable that the Good family re-mains interested in the future of Myrtleville.

Myrtleville has also played an important role in offer-ing community programs and educational activitiesunder the stewardship of the Friends of Myrtlevilleand, more recently, the Brant Historical Society. Lastyear more than 2,000 primary students participated incurriculum based programs carried out by Myrtlevilleincluding school visits by a nineteenth century teacher.Numerous PA Day programs and summer camps pro-vide further interaction with students. Quilting events,Easter egg hunts, family days, art shows, and specialpresentations focusing on needlework, Victorian hairwreaths, and more recently a celebration ofMyrtleville and Brantford in history have been aimedat a wider audience. Myrtleville has also served as abackdrop for CBC's popular television series Mur-doch Mysteries, weddings and even anniversary pho-

tos. Volunteer help with special events and gardeningand up to six students are employed in summer pro-grams under the direction of Lisa Anderson,Myrtleville’s Education Officer. So what are the chal-lenges? The first is financial. Any organization, in-cluding the Brant Historical Society, that isconsidering coming to an arrangement with HeritageCanada on the Myrtleville property, would want to un-derstand the financial implications both from an op-erational and capital perspective. The question is: isthere a revenue model that would allow operation ofthe facility at a minimum of a cash neutral position?As well, we need to ask what capital resources will berequired to maintain the property in the future. Itwould be a mistake in my view to take on the respon-sibility for Myrtleville at the expense of other servicesoffered by the organization or recognizing that it isonly a stopgap measure leading to a crisis down theroad.

The second is programming. While Myrtleville offersa good range of programs, the issue is how to continueto make these relevant to our changing society. Thestudy of history, for example, plays a much less rolein educational curriculum than it did twenty years ago.Modern museums have moved away from simplypresenting artifacts and relying on patron visits. Theyhave developed interactive and virtual programs de-signed to maximize the use of technology and out-reach. So the question then becomes can we find away to accomplish this, maintain community rele-vance, and build a new audience? And, at what cost?The third is community commitment. Those who ac-tively support the preservation of heritage buildingsno doubt recognize the importance of Myrtleville.Generally, however, public attitude is one of indiffer-ence. I would suspect that although Brantford Council

would be prepared to morally support any effort topreserve the site, the allocation of resources to supportthe site would be a matter of hard debate as they strug-gle not to increase the city’s operational costs. So theonus is on whoever enters into an arrangement withHeritage Canada to move the hearts and minds of thecommunity to not only support their efforts to main-tain operation of Myrtleville, but also to commit tousing the resource and assist in ensuring that there isfinancial stability.

Finally, can Myrtleville become a national destinationsite? This to me is a fundamental question. What wedo locally is important and brings meaning to the in-teraction between Myrtleville and the community. Isuspect, however, that the financial viability and returnon investment that is made locally will barely meetthe financial needs to operate such a facility. So thequestion becomes is whether there is a way in whichMyrtleville can attract a broader audience from out-side the community. This not only generates moneyto support Myrtleville – it benefits local businesses.This will require a rethinking of programming, adver-tising, signage, and facility utilization.

I personally hope that we can find a way to ensure thatMyrtleville continues and that some accommodationcan be reached with Heritage Canada. At the sametime, we need to be practical. There is no point in solv-ing one problem while creating another. We need toask the questions. We need to know that there is achance of success in ensuring long term stability. Mostimportant, we need the commitment of the city, theGood family, Heritage Canada and the community tomake it work!

by Michael St. AmantTwitter: @MichaelStAmant

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Without a smile from this clown, a child may not get the chance to laugh. Without Clowns for Kids, children may

not get the chance to shine. Without friends like the Calbecks, our community may not get the chance to grow.

The Calbeck name has been synonymous with providing quality goods and services for the people of Brantford for

generations. For generations, they have helped support community initiatives like Clowns For Kids.

Help us support Clowns For Kids, in support of the Boys and Girls Club of Brantford and the

Lansdowne Children's Centre. For more information, visit www.clownsforkids.ca