Why the Advocate?

By Lucas Duguid
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 little aggressive. 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 one another. 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 facility with 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

Building a Narrative
By Andrew Macklin
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. It isnt 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 to stand 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 greatest challenges. 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.

Brantford Station Gallery www.brantfordstationgallery.ca 519.309.0008 Brantford Train Station Thursday November 3rd 8pm All Ages $10 in advance $15 at the door

October 2011

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

Page 3

Ongwehon:weh
By Lorrie Gallant
The history of this country that most people know has been recorded by explorers coming to this land. They wrote what they observed 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 spiritual 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 has nothing 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 quilting 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 fathers 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 participated. 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, she couldnt 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. Workshops 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 combine 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 Teachers are 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.
Jan Kahehti:io Longboat. Photo courtesy of Sonny Thomas

The connection we have as First Nations people to the earth is spiritual because we have always been here, thats what the word Ongwehon:weh means.

Page 4

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

October 2011

Bill Williams: Everyday Hero

By Tina Draycott

Photo courtesy of Empirical Photographic Arts

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. He 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 get a fighter to a bout. Any kid who really wanted to compete, and was 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 embodies 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 weight 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
By Stan Gorecki
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 Norfolk Counties 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 worlds population. Here in Southwestern Ontario, we are fortunate that most of us have easy access to water we can drink. According to water.org, 884 million 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 others 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 discharges over the past two years that have threatened our water supply. This is an increase from 2003 to 2008 when the largest number of incidents 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 reportedly interested in meeting to discuss the issue. This is only one issue facing 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 especially here in my southwestern Ontario backyard. Thats why Im an advocate for water.

October 2011

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

Page 5

If you build it
When 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 saw that 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.

By Dave Carrol

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, or leaders 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.

Page 6

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

October 2011

We Ask Former Candidates

by Nora Fueten
Take care of your land, and your land will take care of you. I can still hear my grandfather quoting this wisdom. In his time, taking care of the land meant mixed farming, with animals and diverse crops. Every year some fields lay fallow, cover crops replenished the soil, and crop rotation was carefully planned. There were no synthetic fertilizers or chemical sprays. In this atmosphere, I started life with a strong sense of belonging to the earth, and of being part of the process of growth and rest. As I grew older, my love of the land extended to a love of water, forest and mountains, where I could breathe clean air, hike, or canoe, enjoying the sounds and smells of nature's richness. Also from my family I inherited an understanding that we are all part of communities, and that our abilities and gifts were there to be shared with those around us. Particularly those who were disadvantaged deserved our care and respect. Later, as a church minister, I learned just how hard life could be for some people, often through no fault of their own. I worked towards a compassionate society where appropriate help for those in need was never questioned. When I started to become involved in politics, with these two influences in my background, it was clear to me that the Green Party platform spoke directly to my main concerns. So much of our natural world has been subjected to brutal treatment, and so many diverse species have been lost, at the same time as greenhouse gas emissions have increased, that those who are concerned about the importance of truly respecting the environment recognize that major changes have to come. The system which destroys soil and pollutes water and air has also shown a lack of respect for the people affected by these activities. When the environment is attacked, so are the livelihoods of those who depend on them as all of us do. The false choice between jobs and the environment simply does not make sense. All of us on this planet are dependent on global health of people and the environment. The Green Party plans recognize that the economy, the environment, and quality of human lives are all part of one picture. We want a government which serves the health and well-being of everyone, and an economy which is not just a market of financial products, but which serves the real needs of all of us. I am pleased that such a capable person as Ken Burns agreed when I suggested he run in Brant in this election. Ken is very hard-working and intelligent and will certainly serve the people of this area in spirit of cooperation and respect.

by Lloyd St. Amand

I commend the Advocate for its initiative in providing an opportunity for residents in our area to make as informed a choice as possible in the upcoming provincial election on October 6th, 2011. Although some have suggested that voters in Ontario are fatigued, as a result of municipal elections which took place across the province in the fall of 2010, as well as the federal election which took place on May 2, 2011, the reality is that the October 6th, 2011 provincial election is vitally important and, hopefully, the voter turnout will be high. I had the distinct privilege of serving as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Brant from June 2004 until October 2008 and, most certainly, serving in public office at any level is an energizing, fulfilling experience. By and large, citizens are respectful, engaged, and sincerely concerned about their city, county, province and country. Before, during and after my tenure as Member of Parliament, I have had the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of office-holders, and it is my personal view that there are three important qualities which someone who aspires to serve the public as an elected official should possess. In no order of importance, those qualities are: 1. 2. A proven ability to work hard; A level of intelligence which allows one to understand issues, and to remain open-minded about new or fresh possibilities; and A demonstrated ability to work well with others. Having observed the political scene very closely in our area for many years, it has always been, and remains, my firm belief that Dave Levac has all of the qualities which are necessary to be a trustworthy, effective representative. It is, beyond dispute, the case that Dave has worked extremely hard on behalf of citizens and groups within the riding of Brant. Dave has continually reached out to all sectors of our community, including agriculture, industry, social services, health providers, educators, students, ethnic groups, veterans, etc. It is not an exaggeration to state that there is no group which has not benefitted from Daves representation of our community at Queens Park since 1999.

3.

O H CHOICE V

In addition to his proven ability to work hard on behalf of all residents, Dave is clearly an intelligent individual who has initiated many positive changes for our area, and he has introduced at Queens Park various Bills which are far sighted and innovative. Lastly, Dave has consistently demonstrated an ability to work well with others, whether those others be colleagues of all political stripe at Queens Park, federal counterparts, Mayors and Councillors of the City of Brantford and the County of Brant, as well as officials on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and Mississaugas of the New Credit. Well before he became our Member of Provincial Parliament in 1999, Dave was well known for giving back to our community. He assumed a leadership role in many endeavours, and was constantly providing the residents of our community with the benefit of his time, energy and skill. Dave gained the trust of the voters in 1999, again in 2003 and 2007, and he has been a forceful, sincere advocate for our area. In my view, Dave Levac is a person of integrity, diligence and sincerity - he deserves our continued trust by being re-elected as our MPP on October 6th, 2011.

October 2011

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

Page 7

Who Should We Support?

by Derek Blackburn
It'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 problem for 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 didn't exist. We've seen, since then, a continual push from the right to make the system more open to privatization. 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 meeting Brian Van Tilborg, your NDP Candidate and I highly recommend him. 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 important. I know this because I remember him not just as a recent candidate, 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 Gillies
It 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 Brantford 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 with other 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 decisive mind. He was able to see complex 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.

E O EC C

HO H I

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-connected 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 unemployment, 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 the incredible 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 expect from the provincial government, and our ability to afford them. Michael brings a unique balance of Queens Park and business experience. I believe it is this balance that allows him to be the best candidate for Brant.

Page 8

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

October 2011

Taylor the Turtle

By Carrie Sinkowski
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 populations 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 feelings, 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

Beks in the City

By Bekah Pitts
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 Photo courtesty of Katie Colwell way out to Mount Pleasant where we met a trail of flower pedals through the trees leading us to a couple happily shared their vows. The Mohawk Park Pavilion clearing beside a pond with an arbor off to the right. The was transformed into a romantic haven lit by hundreds of cangroom was there with his best men mingling with everyone as dles, decorated with hundreds of hand-made origami cranes they came to the clearing. As we all settled, the bride entered and feathers. The back deck looking over the Grand River, from the other side of the clearing with her father, and again built around giant trees, gave the illusion that we were in we stood to witness another pair of wonderful people Muskoka ,while we were in the comfort of our own city. 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 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 professionalism 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.

Clowns Need Smiles.

Without a smile from this clown, a child may not get the chance to laugh. Without Clowns for Kids, children may not get the chance to shine. 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
This ad is proudly sponsored by Skin Care Essentials 122 West Street, Brantford ON, 519.753.9335

October 2011

www.brantadvocate.com Facebook: The Brant Advocate Twitter: @BrantAdvocate

Page 9

Racoon Marriage, Two Year Twerps And A Guy Named Rob

By Tristan Curtis
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 to metal, are individuals and bands that should not go unrecognized. 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 Brantford. 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 violence 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 musicians. Among this collection, you will find interviews, live performances, photographs of historical events (dont mention south side Colborne to Rob), and many more faucets of talent in Brantford. 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. 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 some band 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 Brantford 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.

In the midst of all the artists in Brantford, there was one man who has it all...

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.

Learning to Lead
By Sonia Hayer
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 Neighbourhood Youth Association when I was 12 years old. It was not of my own free will though. My father 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 and ask 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 Neighbourhood Youth Association. I would like to speak to a manager about a collaborating opportunity for one of our community projects. I began becoming less of the voluntold kind of member and more of the volunteer kind. I also began volun-telling along with the senior members of the group.

I cannot say I always was a leader or I was born a leader. In a way, I was taught to be a leader...

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 collaboration with other groups, going to meetings or attending community 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 of the 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.

This advertisement is proudly sponsored by King & Benton.