the brant advocate, issue 2, october 2011

7/28/2019 The Brant Advocate, Issue 2, October 2011

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We had no idea what we were doing when we started

the Advocate. We had no content, no layout, no advertisers,

no distribution and we couldn't decide on a name. None of us

had ever owned or managed a newsprint publication (notice I

didn't say Newspaper?) so the prospect of putting 10,000

editions on the ground in twelve weeks seemed a littleaggressive. But I figured, hey, how hard could it be? :)

At the risk of rattling an old clich, I stand on the

shoulders of giants. Andrew Macklin, Marc Laferriere and

Roger Duck have committed an immeasurable level of

support to the creation of the Advocate. Gentlemen, you are

the best of us. Our team of writers and photographers, whom

we've dubbed "The Faculty", have done a remarkable job

providing us with the unique and original content that has

given life to this publication.

Why the Advocate, thats a big question. Brant is an

interesting place. For a time we majored in cynicism and

apathy but we continue to minor in hope. There is this

amazing sense of pride that percolates just below the surface

waiting to break though. The Advocate is a place where, as a

community, we can take those first steps to get to know oneanother. I'm convinced there are more things that bring us

together than pull us apart. Social media taught us how to talk

to people all over the world. It's time to take those lessons we

learned and get to know the people standing right next to us.

One of the things that makes the Advocate unique is

the platform we provide that allows a contributor to advocate

for something. I'd like to take that opportunity and share with

you something in this community that means a great deal

to me: Woodland Cultural Centre.

I've had the pleasure of working with, and getting to

know, the people who work at Woodland. They are a remarkably

diverse and fascinating group of very hard working and

dedicated people. I've had the privilege of participating in

numerous guided walk-throughs of the museum and the

residential school. No other region in Canada has a facilitywith such enormous sums of living history and culture, and

it's right here in our own backyard. I encourage each of you to

visit the museum, make a donation and take the tour. Most

importantly, I encourage you to listen. Really listen and

absorb what Woodland is about. You won't learn it all in one

visit. I've been through five times in the last year and I'm only

now just scratching the surface of what Woodland Cultural

Centre has to offer.

www.woodland-centre.on.ca 519.759.2650

184 Mohawk Street, Brantford ON, N3T 5V6

Why the Advocate?By Lucas Duguid

My name is Andrew Macklin, and I am extremely

proud to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Advocate.

In the first issue of our publication, we were able to

give our readers a sense of the content that will be seen within

our pages month to month. With the help of our incredible

faculty of writers, we will tell the stories that are becoming

the narrative of a community emerging from a darkened past.

Our stories will educate, inspire, and entertain those who read

them, and will hopefully allow your own stories to come to life.

No matter how you reacted to the story by Jan

Vanderstelt in our first edition, you have to respect that fact

that he was willing to share it. It isnt easy to uncover a

hurtful past and pour it on to a page for everyone to see. Itisnt easy to tell a story that, perhaps, you werent prepared to

have others know. It isnt easy to challenge yourself to recall

or recount the details or a painful incident.

That challenge is one that we have thrown out to our

faculty. We have said from the beginning that part of being

involved in the Advocate is to challenge ourselves to tell the

stories that we are not prepared to tell, in addition to those

incredible tales of our community that we share every day.

As I began working with our faculty, I realized that

the challenge I helped to create was simply unfair. How could

I expect people to look deep within them and pull out a story

that they had no interest in sharing with anyone? Who was I

to make such a demand?

Part of being a leader is understanding when the

situation arises that specifically calls for your leadership.

Knowing when the time is to stand up and be prepared tostand at the front and ask people to follow the example you

are about to set. I knew that what I was asking for was

unreasonable. So I have decided to do something about it.

There is just one subject in my life that makes me

uncomfortable to discuss. That subject is my father. I have

always struggled to come to terms with the life he chose to lead,

and the destructive forces of the illnesses that plagued him. The

subject is my kryptonite, my crutch, my unwanted refuse.

I have tried to set an example for our faculty, and for

our community, by confronting my struggle head on. On the

eighth anniversary of my fathers passing, September 28th,

2011, I travelled to St. James Anglican cemetery to try and

make sense of it all. The resulting article can be found on our

website: www.brantadvocate.com. My hope is that we can all

find the courage to confront the stories that are buried deep

within ourselves. Our fight to overcome our own struggles,

our own vices, our own demons, can be one of lifes greatestchallenges. It is my hope that the stories published in the

Advocate can help the people in this community meet these

challenges head on, and be able to tell their own stories to the

people who need to hear them.

Building a NarrativeBy Andrew Macklin

Brantford Station Gallerywww.brantfordstationgallery.ca519.309.0008 Brantford Train StationThursday November 3rd 8pm All Ages$10 in advance $15 at the door


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Ongwehon:wehBy Lorrie Gallant

The history of this country that most people know has been

recorded by explorers coming to this land. They wrote what they ob-

served and drew images depicting the exotic and unusual things they saw.

The history that we know as Ongweheon:weh comes from the stories that

are told by our elders. What we know as a people is what we have always

known and we try to live it every day. Some things have changed but

when youve grown up with your grandparents, and even your great

grandparents, those changes are subtle over the years. The relationship we

have with our elders is the precious and delicate connection between

where we have been and where we are going.

The connection we have as First Nations people to the earth is spir-

itual because we have always been here, thats what the word

Ongweheon:weh means. Our elders are our roots into this earth. Our

meaning for elder is different than the Euro-Canadian definition. There is

no word in the Haudenosaunee language for elder. For us, an elder hasnothing to do with age but everything to do with respect. When I was

growing up on the reserve I remember always being around my parents,

grandparents and aunties. As a child, my mother would bring me to quilt-

ing bees with a sack of toys and I spent many afternoons sitting under the

tent of a quilt being made by the women of the St. Johns church. I dont

remember ever being in daycare, kindergarten or even a baby-sister unless

it was my brothers or older cousins.

I remember when I was little my mom told me her mother never

locked the door. She would lean a broom outside the front door and that

would tell visitors she wasnt home. Its not like that anymore. My fa-

thers house was broken into last summer while he was sleeping in his

bed. This is not how we honour our elders. The outside world has had an

effect on our way of life. How did this happen? That subtle change has

become dramatic in the last few years and I fear where it will lead. Elders

in our community should feel safe in their homes, surrounded by the

people that honour them for the years they have survived.

Historically, the classroom is not where first nations youth would

learn in. We were taught by our community as we observed and partici-

pated. The education of First Nations youth is connected to the elders and

the community, a place where learning is holistic and organic. This is how

the gifts and abilities that have been given by the Creator are nurtured.

These gifts were given to benefit the whole community and this is why the

connection between youth and elder is so important. Language, traditions,

culture, spiritual values and knowledge of who we are as a people are

passed down from one generation to the next.

I read an article a long time ago about a woman who went to a

Northern First Nations community to work in the public library. She found

that no one ever came to take books out. She tried many different

programs but no one would come. She noticed that the library had some

video equipment so she decided to go out into the community and record

conversations with homebound

elders. When she put the videos

out for the public to borrow, shecouldnt keep them on the shelf.

I thought this would be a great

idea to re-connect the younger

generation to the older. So I

took advantage of my position

of Education Extension Officer

here at Woodland Cultural

Centre to put this inspirational

idea into action here on Six

Nations. Interviewing elders

would be a contemporary way of preserving our culture. The youth of this

community could benefit if they became the interviewers. I realized that

these stories would make a great book and with every great book, there are

always great images. So photography workshops came into play. Work-

shops with a graphic designer would help put it all together and give the

youth ownership over the project.

This project became known as The Elders Project. It would com-

bine culture, education and art with First Nations youth, artists and elders

within a community. The results, like the young librarian had discovered,

became more of an impact to the community than I could have ever imagined,

beginning with me. I got acquainted with elders in this community that I

have lived around for years but never really got to know. The first phone

call or visit that I made to invite them to be a part the project was the

beginning of them sharing their wisdom. Then these elders were given an

opportunity to sit with youth and share something that was important to

them and to who we are as First Nations people. Interviewing contemporary

elders provided a continuity of the Haudenosaunee way of life. Elders are

the keepers of our culture, language and spiritual beliefs. I am inspired by

their ability to adapt to the enormous changes around them and yet stay

true to their beliefs.

There are some people that are meant to cross our paths in life.

These people change the way we view the world. They make you stop

before you speak and think about how our action will affect those around

us. This person is Jan Kahehti:io Longboat. She is an elder from Six

Nations and my life is blessed knowing her. She once told me Teachersare all around us, in the earth, the animals, plants and the old people.

Watch them, listen to them and learn from them. She gathers and grows

many plants and herbs to make medicines, teas and ointments, she works

with women survivors of the residential schools. Jan said that she is helping

on our journey of over 500 years to pick up the pieces that we have

dropped. Get ready and always be prepared, is what she told me. I

believe that First Nations people are all survivors, resilient and have

learned to adapt. This is why were still here!

Our community is going through a strain but when we work

together we become strong. I hope that this project can be a positive return

to that safe place of what community means.

Ietshiia:wih (pronounced yit-tee-yah-wee) means They will give

something to you all.

The connection we have asFirst Nations people to the earth

is spiritual because we have

always been here, thats what

the word Ongwehon:weh means.

JanKahehti:ioLongboat.PhotocourtesyofSonnyThomas


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Bill Williams: Everyday Hero

Heroism is not an exclusive club only available to those who

have done brave things like giving the Heimlich to a stranger or saving a

little old dear from being hit by a car. Heroism can be a private adventure

to many who hesitate to let their good works be known. Saving a life can

present itself in the most interesting of ways.

Case in point: Bill Williams.

If you dont know who Bill Williams is, thats okay. Other than

being an active parent in the raising of his daughters, and a long time

employee at Sunoco, you probably wouldnt come across his name.

Unless you are taking about the sweet science of Boxing - which would

then mean you are very aware of how amazing this local man is.

In the Black Eye Boxing Club, the truth is that Bill wears

many hats: coach, manager, event organizer, chief cook, and bottle

washer. Outside the club, Bill is a quiet, unassuming man with a slim

build. The former pugilist betrays his age by a good decade. He is quick

to smile, and loves to laugh. He loves his daughters one of which chose

to fall in love with the sport of boxing a well. The night Amber Williams

boxed at the Brant 90 legion created an important memory for Bill, as it

was where he too boxed while competing many years before.

His first real fight was when he was 9, the opening bout for a

boxing event held at the Army base his father was stationed at in

Germany. He knew then how important it was to train and be properly

trained in this gentlemanly sport. It has stuck with him his entire life. H e

was called Tiger Williams Jr. that night; in honour of his father who also

boxed and became quite well-known in the circuit.

What makes Bill a hero? There are a few things many people

dont know. Going beyond training the kids who come to him to learn

how to box, Bill makes sure they get to competitions, even if he has to

take them himself. He is a support system for them. Sometimes an

ass-kicker, sometimes a pseudo-father, Bill will never truthfully answer

how many times he has used his own money to get a kid some gear or geta fighter to a bout. Any kid who really wanted to compete, and w as

willing to work hard for it, got the chance.

Nobodys fool, Bill is very clear on his requirements: live clean,

train hard, show up for sessions, and love the sport as much as he does.

Not a bad trade-off for the years of experience and knowledge he has to

offer. But for all of Bills efforts there are a few small regrets the club

being one of them. The physical manifestation of the club itself embod-

ies the true meaning and substance of the sport. The club is exactly what

one would think a boxing club should look like. A little derelict on the

outside, but very cool on the inside, it is something you would expect to

see in the meat packing district of Manhattan or the fishier part of east

Chicago. The clubs weekly fitness regimes are available to all, and at

any given time you can see up to 40 people training under the guidance

of some die-hard coaches.

However, word on the street is that the club needs a lot of work

and the landlords arent willing to do it. Bill will deny that. He doesnt

like to make waves. But Bill has tried many different avenues to find a

new home for the club, always ending up getting mired in politics. Its

becoming a source of aggravation he admittedly does not want to take on.

Additionally, although the regulations to keep the boys and girls

safe and the profession clean are completely understandable, the division

is monitored and heavily governed by one bureaucrat under the Ministry

of Health Promotion. Local MPP Dave Levac has written many letters,

imploring a Whos watching the Watchmen request to look into the

event overseer. Slowly, dates are being cleared - opening up times for

UFC bouts instead all at the expense of the boxing events some of us

still prefer.

For a guy who only wants to coach some kids, see a good fight

or two, and then go home and have a beer, the cogs in the system become

tiresome. Planning and executing competitions, getting licensing,

sponsors, venues, and volunteers must be a w eight that becomes pretty

heavy all the time. Bill doesnt often complain though. It is just not in his

nature.

But Bill is not a man who will let time simply march on. Heroes

dont sit still. The call of the beautiful land, people, and the general

congeniality of the boxing sport in Eastern Canada beckons. The idea of

moving back home to Prince Edward Island and doing simple things like

fishing, hanging out with his mother and sister, and being part of a

thriving boxing community is like a siren song. He is most definitely

going to go home and its happening sooner than later. To be honest, I

am surprised we were able to keep him here this long.

Every added year is a bonus to this community. If you dont

think that there are kids out there, right now, living and breathing and

also being a positive part of this community because Bill Williams was a

part of their lives, then you are wrong. There is no award for the way

Bill has saved lives; that kind of heroism is singular. The act of saving a

life can come in a thousand different forms. Bill figured it out. Our own

true, quiet hero.

I love water.

I love playing in it at Long Point, paddling down the Grand

River, water fights in Lake Huron, looking out over Lake Ontario from

Cherry Beach, and sledding down a hill during the winter.

I love looking out over the farm fields of Brant and NorfolkCounties knowing Im going to have the chance to eat fresh fruits and

vegetables soon because of the water helping them grow.

I love drinking fresh clean water from a spring or well and, yes,

even drinking Brantford water from the tap. The thought that 70% of the

Earths surface is covered in water is good news to me. The bad news is

that of the water covering Earth, only 2.5% is fresh water, and of that

2.5%, less than half is accessible for direct human use.

According to Natural Resources Canada, Canada has about 9%

of the worlds renewable water supply for only 0.5% of the w orlds popu-

lation. Here in Southwestern Ontario, we are fortunate that most of us

have easy access to water we can drink. According to water.org, 884 mil-

lion people do not have safe access to a safe water supply. Thats about 1

in 8 people in the world. In Brantford, we draw water from the Grand

River, treat it, and then it makes its way to us in our homes before going

to another water treatment plant and being returned to the Grand for oth-

ers to enjoy.

Here in Brant, our challenge is keeping the Grand clean and

safe. While the Grand River Conservation Authority has done a fantastic

job helping monitor and improve water quality, one concern we face

immediately is from our neighbors up river. According to a recent article

by Sean Allen in the Brant News, there have been 134 spills and dis-

charges over the past two years that have threatened our w ater supply.

This is an increase from 2003 to 2008 w hen the largest number ofincidents was 48 in one year. These spills come from industrial or

municipal operations as well as agriculture operations. Private sector

operations can be charged and/or fined while municipalities do not get

charged.

My first experience with these incidents was in the mid 90s.

I was kayaking along the Grand River with a friend at Big Bloop, south

of Paris. We were trying different stunts we had seen others do when,

after we both fell off our kayaks into the Grand, we came up out of the

River with burning eyes. We quickly got on shore and back to the car

where a call to the City water department confirmed contaminants were

just being detected in the water. A city up river had dumped overflow

into the Grand and not bothered to tell anyone.

Since then, a watershed notification agreement was established

to help communities prepare for incidents. While there had been a

decline in spills, there has been a serious spike in incidents in the past

two years. The City has asked the Ontario Ministry of Environment

(MOE) for more to be done in preventing spills and the MOE is report-

edly interested in meeting to discuss the issue. This is only one iss ue fac-

ing our watershed. There are many issues just as there are many other

watersheds but those are also stories for another day.

Today in Brant, there are many groups that need your help in

some way to protect our water. Here are a few that you can contact if

you want to get involved:

Brant Childrens Water Festival at http://www.bbcwf.ca/

Brant Waterways Foundation at http://brantwaterways.ca/

Grand River Conservation Authority at

http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?sec=34&sub1=0&sub2=0

Waterkeepers Canada at http://www.waterkeepers.ca

I love the easy access to water we enjoy here in Canada and es-

pecially here in my southwestern Ontario backyard. Thats why Im an

advocate for water.

By Tina Draycott

I Love WaterBy Stan Gorecki

PhotocourtesyofEmpiricalPhotogra

phicArts


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If you build itBy Dave CarrolWhen I was in my early 20s and could finally

afford some of the things I really wanted, I could only

think of one thing. A brown leather jacket. One like

Kevin Costner wore in Field of Dreams. He was one

sharp lookin man in that movie and when I wore my

bomber jacket that smelled like an old baseball mit, I

knew I looked GOOD. Costner good.

Before we were married, while on a date with

my wife in Toronto to see the Phantom of the Opera,

we were walking down Yonge Street and saw a

homeless man. He was not the first nor last we sawthat night but this situation was different. As we

walked past, I heard that little voice inside me (the

one we all hear but too often ignore) say the words,

Take off your jacket and give it to this man. I

instantly went into internal spin mode with a litany

of great reasons why NOT to give my coat away.

I was on a date. It was cold out. He HAD a

coat. What did he need a Kevin Costner jacket for?

How would I explain the voice that told me to do

something irrational to my girlfriend? There were

lots of reasons to continue walking and ignore the

unmistakable burden on my heart. So I did because

it was easier and it didnt disrupt my evening. I put

on the jacket the next day to go to work, and it didnt

feel the same. It didnt look the same. I didnt much

feel like the Field of Dreams man of faith who

brought Shoeless Joe Jackson back to life, to right an

old wrong, by acting on what he KNEW was

RIGHT. Soon my leather jacket went totally Tell-Tale

Heart on me and I had no choice but to throw it in the

closest Salvation Army donation bin I could find so I

didnt have to live with the reminder of my failure.

That jacket taught me something about how we

should treat stuff that has stuck with me for 15 years.There is nothing wrong with having stuff. Stuff can be

pretty great. But we can never make the mistake of

believing any thing isnt expendable for the benefit of

others. The task God gave to me on the street that night

wasnt to deck out a homeless man in brown leather. It was

a personal challenge about how generous of a life I was

going to live and how I was going to steward the amount

of wealth I was going to have over the course of my

lifetime. The next time I was faced with a similar situation,

Im happy to report I passed. Not every time, but more

often than not because my outlook was changed about

how an adult with choices should treat his stuff.

In our city there are MANY needs and

MORE than enough resources to make sure ALL the

needs are met. Brantfordians are incredibly innovative,

talented and industrious. History, and our present day

revival of civic hope, shows it plainly. So why arent

all the needs met?

Community leaders, I think we need to

believe in, rely on, and challenge our fellow man a

little more than we do. Farginen is a Yiddish word

that means To open space for others. Be it civic

leaders, church leaders, leaders in a classroom, orleaders in business, the good ones farginen for others

by opening space for those theyre leading toprosper:

GIVING seed to the sower instead of taking it from him.

Then its up to us and our stuff. We have

enough stuff to go around. When we have the faith to

listen to the little voice and give, it not only meets

needs but it multiplies, because it change our hearts

and might even free someone elses heart to give too.


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by Derek BlackburnIt's been quite some time since I've had the pleasure of writing

to the voters of Brant Riding. During my 22 years as the MP for Brant I

would have been delighted to support a publication like The Advocate.

I would like to thank the editorial board for the opportunity to not only

write, but to share this space with such distinguished community

builders as Phil Gillies, Lloyd St. Amand and Nora Fueten.

When asked to write down my thoughts on the importance of

this election I knew immediately about what I wanted to write.

Unlike many, I have very vivid memories of what private health

care was like.

I remember the pained look on my father's face when,

as a boy, I had taken ill. My father knew he had to call a

doctor but was embarrassed by not knowing exactly how

he was going to pay for it. He wasn't alone. Before public

health care was introduced, this was a common problemfor many.

I remember also the relief from the general

public when our health care system came to be.

The public health care system we often take for

granted now, was one that Canadians fought

for. It was a struggle to put in place and I

firmly believe we must be vigilant to keep

the private health care lobby at bay. I trust

New Democrats provincially and federally

will do this.

We all recall Tommy Douglas and

his brave fight for health care. I served

with the man in Parliament. He was a

great parliamentarian and human

rights activist. The results of the

public health care battle have

been celebrated in popular

media and the history books

alike.

However, in our sense

of accomplishment, we forget

the effort involved in creating

something that at one time did-

n't exist. We've seen, since then,

a continual push from the right to make the system more open to priva-

tization. We've seen two-tier health care begin to creep into our system

and with it, rising costs.

In Ontario you have a choice between the status quo and

change. New Democrats have been proudly working to create change

that will put people first for over 50 years now.

In Brant, you also have a choice. I've had the pleasure of meet-

ing Brian Van Tilborg, your NDP Candidate and I highly recommendhim. I know he has a deep passion for the community and is truly in

touch with the needs and concerns of those he meets at the doors on the

hustings. He's a listener and Queen's Park could use some more of

them.

He's also incredibly committed to progressive change. Like me,

he has been a multiple time candidate, a difficult task but one in which

he shows great desire and tenacity. Hes been able to hear the concerns

of the community and bring a spotlight to some issues that at one time

were not given their due. Most importantly, he works not just during

elections but in all those in-between times where the work is most im-

portant. I know this because I remember him not just as a recent candi-

date, or as the organizer of the last local federal campaign but also as a

youth volunteer on some of my own campaigns as far back as the 70s.

In my opinion, Brian Van Tilborg is a stalwart and Queens Park could

use more like him.

by Phil GilliesIt is my great pleasure to be involved with The Advocates take

of the provincial election. I believe that this publication has taken a

fresh approach to informing you, the voters, about why to support a

certain candidate in the 2011 Ontario Election. I had the pleasure

of contesting 4 provincial elections in the old riding of Brant-

ford from 1977-1987. It was my honour to serve 2 terms as

MPP, and had the opportunity to serve as the Minister of

Skills Development and Youth.

Before I was elected to Queens Park I had the

privilege of working as a Research Assistant to Premier

Bill Davis. It was at that time that I first got to know

Michael St. Amant. Mike was running the Ontario PC

research office at the legislature, and he and I worked closely on a

number of projects. Our work together was during the minority

government that followed the 1977 election, and as a result, a

lot of what Mike and I were doing involved negotiating withother parties to see what votes were there for government

to carry out its agenda. That included the privilege of

working closely with Ontario NDP Leader Stephen

Lewis.

It was apparent to anyone who

knew Mike that he had a quick and deci-

sive mind. He was able to see com-

plex problems before any of the

rest of us could. It was that

quick and decisive thinking

that made him such a

valuable asset to the Bill

Davis government.

I lost track of

Mike when he moved on

from Queens Park, taking a

variety of posts at places like

the Ontario Development Corporation and the Federal Business Bank.

I always knew Mike had a strong connection to this community since

his wife and her family are all from Brantford. So when we re-con-

nected in 2010, it was no surprise to hear that he settled in Brant, and

that he was working on several local Boards and committees, including

the Economic Development Board.

When he first told me he was thinking about running, I was a

little bit surprised. Hes not one to put up with a lot of B.S., and theres

a lot of B.S. in politics. He started to lay out his ideas for Brant, and I

quickly found out that we were very much in-tune with each other on

what we thought was needed to make life better here.

Michael, like me, is a moderate and practical Conservative.

Hes a very compassionate guy who cares deeply for people facing

problems many of us often face along the way. We talk about unem-

ployment, health issues, and people on fixed incomes, and the fact that

we need to bring prosperity back to Brant. I often tell him stories of theincredible things you can accomplish being at Queens Park. I tell him

about working hard to get survivor pensions for Victims of Industrial

Accidents and Industrial Diseases, which helped get 15 000 people the

pensions they deserved. I talk to him about local infrastructure projects

like Highway 403, the Braneida Industrial Park expansion, and the start

of downtown development. I tell him that these are all things that a

member works hard to bring to a community that tells us they need it.

As I look to this election, I know there are big challenges in

front of us. We have to make tough decisions about the services we ex-

pect from the provincial government, and our ability to afford them.

Michael brings a unique balance of Queens Park and business experi-

ence. I believe it is this balance that allows him to be the best candidate

for Brant.

Who Should We Support?


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October 2011www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocatePage 8

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.

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

Clowns Need Smiles.

This ad is proudly sponsored by Skin Care Essentials

122 West Street, Brantford ON, 519.753.9335

Taylor the TurtleBy Carrie Sinkowski

Beks in the CityBy Bekah Pitts

I have worked at the Sexual Assault Centre here in

Brantford for over nine years. What drew me to the Centre

was their emphasis on social justice work. They understood

that sexual violence did not happen within an isolated context

of two individuals, but that it was impacted, informed and

shaped by social structures and social issues. The intersections

of different systems in society impact a survivors ability to

heal and recover from their experience(s) of sexual violence.

Worrying about rent or whether there is enough food to feed

your children severely impairs your ability to give energy to

your healing process. Our Centres work in the community as

a result is very diverse. We find ourselves involved in

antipoverty initiatives, anti-racist projects, and other social

justice based work.

As the Centres community worker, I spend a lot of

time working on anti-sexual violence work with client popu-

lations of other agencies, and in schools right from preschool

to post secondary. When I was researching training tools to

use in my program I found that most focused on the victim or

the perpetrator. In addition the focus was reactionary and

within a framework of identifying negative behaviour and

naming ways to recover from that behaviour. The programs

for younger children were focused on concepts of good

touch/bad touch and stranger danger. While all these

approaches have their strong points, I found them lacking for

my purposes. In response, I applied for funding to the Ontario

Trillium Foundation to create my own program that focused

on human rights and emotional literacy. I was successful and I

started last year on Taylor the Turtle.

My sister and my dad came up with the concept, art,

and design of Taylor, and have helped me with the layout of

materials. This is been a great project in terms of getting my

friends and family involved with my work since almost

everyone I know has edited a piece of the project. I wanted as

many different eyes on this as possible. This consulting

process of going outside the social service field, I believe, has

made Taylor a stronger project.

So why a turtle??

A turtle offers a wonderful concrete example of

self-care and safety planning quite simply by nature; they

have that beautiful shell. I also chose a turtle to honour the

territory in which we are doing our community work. In

addition, their cuteness lends itself quite nicely to cartoon

form.

Knowing and naming our rights, our bodies, our feel-

ings, and our own safety people, are the key concepts in the

program. Taylor wants children to know that they have the

right to: a safe body, a healthy body, a safe school, a safe

community, talk to someone when they do not feel safe.

We spend a lot of time talking about how our bodies

feel with certain feelings, that we are all different, and that

everyone has different safety people.

This is a community project. Ganohkwasra Family

Assault Support Services have been a strong consultant in the

creation of Taylor. They will be leading the project in Six

Nations. The Brantford Police, Grand Erie District School

Board, St Leonards, Woodview Childrens Mental Health

and Autism Services, Nova Vita, and Victim Services

composed the consulting committee, and they will continue to

support the project in their therapeutic programs as well.

Andy Johnston, Henry Hammond and Carley Gallant from

Assumption College created an amazing two-minute

animation of Taylor the Turtle that will be used in the

presentations.

In my almost two decades of anti-violence work, what

I discover time after time is that it is only through community

collaboration that we can create change. That is how community

work should be: we cannot have only an individualized

response, but rather, we need a concerted effort from the

community. This is a community issue; not a womans issue.

Not a they made a bad choice issue. This is an issue that the

community needs to come together around and realize that a

life free of sexual violence is a human right, and together we

must work to ensure that right is realized for everyone. To

learn more about Taylor please visit: www.taylorsrights.ca

My partner and I are coming into a time where

weddings are a frequent event. It can be lovely to spend the

weekend out of town, exploring a new location, or creating a

mini-holiday out of the road trip you take to watch your loved

ones get hitched. But this past month, it

was a very neat experience to attend a

couple of weddings locally. We got to

check out locations wed been to before,

but as a new kind of guest.

On a warm, fall evening in the

beginning of September, my partner and

I made our way to the gazebo in

Mohawk Park. We stood with several

others watching the handsome groom

beam, as he watched across the lawn as

the wedding party and stunning bride

walked towards us through the trees.

This was not your traditional

location or ceremony, but it was

beautiful, peaceful and in the heart

of Brantford.

The next afternoon,we made our

way out to Mount Pleasant where we

met a trail of flower pedals through the trees leading us to a

clearing beside a pond with an arbor off to the right. The

groom was there with his best men mingling with everyone as

they came to the clearing. As we all settled, the bride entered

from the other side of the clearing with her father, and again

we stood to witness another pair of wonderful people

celebrate the unity of their lives. These two locations are just

a couple of many spots throughout Brantford that provide the

ideal canvas for a wedding or celebration. In Mohawk Park,

the gazebo served as a stage for the guests to watch as the

couple happily shared their vows. The Mohawk Park Pavilion

was transformed into a romantic haven lit by hundreds of can-

dles, decorated with hundreds of hand-made origami cranes

and feathers. The back deck looking over the Grand River,

built around giant trees, gave the illusion that we were in

Muskoka ,while we were in the comfort of our own city.

The Mount Pleasant Community Centre was

decorated beautifully with local flowers, orange and green

accents, and my favourite, a photo booth station set-up with

the greatest of costumes and accessories. It was lovely to

attend a classic wedding that again, was

only a short jaunt from home.

Both of these weddings incorporated

and supported local business, further

complimenting the level of profession-

alism and talent we have in our own

backyard. From the catering to the

wedding cake, the photography to the

officiant, all services were executed

proficiently and with class.

Weddings are a time for the couple to

share their relationship with their family

and friends, and celebrate in a way that

is unique to them. Both of these

weddings were elegant and intimate in

their own way, and neither had to be

held out of town, or out of budget.

Brantford may not appear as a roaring

tourism destination or top location of choice for brides-to-be,

but for those who look, they will find it does have a charm

and elegance that is accessible for many in the Southern

Ontario region.

Photo courtesty of Katie Colwell


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Racoon Marriage, Two Year Twerps And A Guy Named RobBy Tristan Curtis

Learning to Lead

In the past eight months, I have had the pleasure of

working with dozens of local musicians from Brantford and

the surrounding area. The genres, varying from gospel tometal, are individuals and bands that should not go unrecog-

nized. Just like the music scene in any other city in Ontario,

the local music in Brantford is full of variety, talent and inspiration.

But still I hear people say, Theres no good music in Brant-

ford. If you believe that there is no good music in this town,

I recommend visiting the Station Coffee House on a Sunday

afternoon. Or the Liquid Lounge for some quality blues or an

open jam. Also, this city offers several venues that cater to the

punk/hardcore genre, probably Brantfords dominant scene

(some may argue that, but they usually listen to too much of

The Band. Just kidding, there are too many fans of The Band

in this town that I wouldn`t want to piss off, so I guess thats a

half-joke). Whatever your music taste is, youll find it here, in

Brantford.

Something that people often forget is that Brantford

has a history worth acknowledging. Many of the bands that

exist today are occupied with members from older bands that

were playing shows in the 80s and 90s. Every city does this.But each has its own story. Brantfords story is unique. The

common threat of the downtowns economic situation has

always put a strain on local music, challenging artists to

consistently create a youthful and sometimes rebellious expression.

According to many sources from early punk rockers, the vio-

lence in the 80s involving punks were assaults on the punks

themselves, committed by people who thought they looked

different. Sadly, Brantford still experiences events like this.

On a lighter side, this city has a lot to look forward to

when it comes to the variety of unique musicians. 90s punk

band The Twerps are reuniting for a show at Charlies on

October 14th. Local indie favorites Racoon Wedding have a

second full length album coming soon. Things are looking

good. Also, we have yet to see what the students have to offer

to the music scene. Maybe they will rip of their track pants

and start rocking with us. There have already been student

musicians performing around the downtown. That`s good to

see I think.

In the midst of all the artists in Brantford, there was

one man who has it all. And when I say has it all I mean it.

Rob Michalchuk has been personally documenting nearly

every musical act in Brantford for over fifteen years, leaving

him with over 40 gigs of mp3s,

30 gigs of photography and over

2 terabytes of video; all local mu-

sicians. Among this collection,

you will find interviews, live per-

formances, photographs of histor-

ical events (dont mention south

side Colborne to Rob), and many

more faucets of talent in Brant-

ford. When I first met Rob, he was playing his sax like John

Zorn on acid, while the regulars at the Rodeo left through the

back door. I knew he was interesting, but I had no idea how

loyal to this city he was until I spent a little more time with

him.

Have you ever played a gig somewhere downtown

Brantford? If the answer is yes, there is a chance that he may

have a photo or some kind of recording of you!! Seriously,

ask him. Even if he doesnt like you, he will still film your

show (that may not be true). Follow BTFD Music Night on

Facebook if you want to see what he is up to next. Its almost

always worth checking out.

In terms of finding good travelling shows, Brantford is a

hit or miss town. We have all had to travel to Toronto to see our

favorite groups perform, but I must admit that some of the most

entertaining, heartfelt and intense shows I have seen have been

right here in our very own Brantford. You dont believe me? Just

ask someone like Tim Ford, who brought numerous, travelling

bands to Brantford via the late, all-ages venue, The Ford Plant .

Summer of 2003. It was a Saturday afternoon. I called

my friend to see what he was up to on this hot and sunny

afternoon. He told me he was at The Ford Plant and someband was about to go on. I didnt ask about the band, I just

got in my car and drove there. I parked on the south side of

Colborne Street and walked into the building where the show

had already begun. Immediately I was enjoying this group of

seven band members performing with everything they had in

them. When the show finished,

the band mingled with the 10

people who were there to see

the show. I remember thinking,

where are all the people? This

show was amazing. I approached

a member who had a drum tied

around his neck. I just wanted to

tell him that the show was great

and ask him what their band name was. He said, Thank you

for coming out, we are Arcade Fire. At the time, I thought

nothing of the name accept that I must look out for these

guys. Obviously, I didnt have to look very far. One of the

coolest shows I have seen. Thanks Ford Plant.

It seems like Brantford has interesting people, talented

musicians and unique shows that pass us by when we`re not

looking for them, yet we`re still wanting more out of the

bands of Brantford. Something we have to remember is that

Brantford is a small to medium sized city. The line-ups at

local venues will always be smaller than the cashier line up at

Wal-Mart. And downtown may be full of preppy, Campus

Crew wearing young adults who call us locals, but they still

want to hear good music. Everyone enjoys music, and Brant-

ford is pretty damn good at making it if you ask me. With

hundreds of loyal musicians out there, Brantford can only

increase the quality of music yet to come.

Im 16 years old. So far, in my short life, I can say I

have done things that the average teenager, or even a 30 year

old, has never done. I have attended and conducted board

meetings, made presentations to the council of Brantford, met

MPPs and MPs, and helped lead local youth initiatives such

as Earth Hour Brantford. I have also accustomed myself to

going up to new people, usually adults, shaking their hands

and introducing myself as The President of the Branlyn

Neighbourhood Youth Association, and conferring with them

as though were on the same level. When Im in that role, Im

no longer a teenager going to high school and barely thinking

about my future - Im a leader.

I cannot say I always was

a leader or I was born a leader.

In a way, I was taught to be a

leader in our community.

I joined the Branlyn Neighbour-

hood Youth Association when I

was 12 years old. It was not of

my own free will though. My fa-

ther decided to volunteer me to

the group as he thought it was an

excellent extra-curricular activity to be involved in and he

was part of the Branlyn Neighbourhood Association. At first,

I was doubtful of the idea and very leery about having to

speak up and give my opinion on things that we may be doing

in the community. I was also one of the youngest members at

the time.

Soon, I learned that my opinion was actually listened

to and important in each of our discussions. And I had a vote.

It was the first time that I felt that my opinion actually

mattered, and I was only a General Director at the time.

When it came to the actual reaching out to the

community part, I was still daunted by the thought of actually

having to call and meet with adults. Thats when I learned the

meaning of being volun-told, which is something that I can

almost guarantee started in the B.N.Y.A.! It started like this.

We need to contact about 40 local businesses and 4 out of our

10 members say, I cant talk to people over the phone andask them that! Then our Youth

Services Director or President

would say, Guess what? Sonia

- the job is yours then! The 4

of us were stuck with making

the phone calls on our own. By

the end of our second event, I

was able to call businesses and I

had my lines down, Hi, my

name is Sonia Hayer and Im a

member of the Branlyn Neigh-

bourhood Youth Association. I would like to speak to a man-

ager about a collaborating opportunity for one of our

community projects. I began becoming less of the volun-

told kind of member and more of the volunteer kind. I also

began volun-telling along with the senior

members of the group.

Teenagers are usually considered the trouble-makers

of our community. Were the ones who write graffiti on public

property, hang out with friends at ungodly hours, wear the

latest and most outrageous clothing, talk in slang, and are

often associated with drugs and alcohol. And our opinions are

usually overlooked as were young and still learning. I can

personally say that I have spent more weekends and evenings

doing volunteer work either with the B.N.Y.A. or in collabora-

tion with other groups, going to meetings or attending commu-

nity events, than I have doing any of the previously mentioned

activities. And I can honestly say that if everyone of the older

generations listened and actually cared about the opinion ofthe youth in our community, then we would have more youth

doing more constructive things in their spare time, and better

leaders for our future. Youth, in my opinion, are the best leaders.

Even though we are still learning, we are able to make

mistakes, own up and fix them. Thats something that a lot of

adults still have trouble doing, John F. Kennedy once said.

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

Youth are always learning, and if they are put into a leadership

role at a younger age, they will be prepared for when they are

older and will become leaders in their everyday lives.

I am advocating for an increase in the number of

youth that are positively involved in the community and for

the value that our opinions actually give to our community.

Youth need to know that there are opportunities such as the

one that I took, no matter where their interests lie. Sports, the

arts, the environment, and other interest-based initiatives are

all available in this community and should become involved

in all that they want to.

By Sonia Hayer

In the midst of all the artists

in Brantford, there was

one man who has it all...

I cannot say I always was a

leader or I was born a

leader. In a way, I was taught

to be a leader...

This advertisement is proudly sponsored by King & Benton.


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the brant advocate, issue 2, october 2011

Documents