SPOKEMonday, noveMber 10, 2014 Conestoga College, KitChener, ont. www.sPoKeonline.CoM 45th year — no. 23

new fitness club starts at Conestoga.Page 5

Bollywood boogying

a l e a r n i n g n e w s r o o M f o r j o u r n a l i s M s t u d e n t s

owning a cat has many health benefits.Page 9

A purrfect pet

Halloween SpooktacularBY RACHEL ROY

Halloween is the time of year where children rush door-to-door, trick-or-treating for candy.

In college, students don’t get that chance, as they are too old.

So, how do they celebrate the spooky evening of fright and terror? They get dressed up and party of course.

Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) helped out by organizing a Halloween bash on Oct. 30.

“We do pub events through-out the entire school year. This one was just themed around Halloween because of the time of year,” said Jeff Scherer, president of CSI.

Students from many differ-ent programs dressed up and danced the night away in the Sanctuary.

The event gave students a chance to meet new people and enjoy Halloween.

“Everyone gets to meet peo-ple,” said Maddie Poser, a first-year business adminis-tration-management student. “It’s more of a way of integrat-ing people together.”

The students enjoyed each other’s company along with loud music, drinks, creative costumes and dancing.

DJ Denim, also known as Cameron Vannatter from Denim Entertainment, pro-

vided the music. The Halloween party also

had a costume contest where students had the opportunity to win prizes.

First-place winners were three students dressed as the famous band members from

Kiss. They were Justin Kelly, a

second-year architecture con-struction engineering tech-nology student, Justin Van Leeuwen, a second-year wood-working technology student, and Mac Robinson, a first-

year civil engineering technol-ogy student, who explained that their Kiss makeup took them two hours to complete.

Second place went to Joseph Rideout, a first-year protec-tion/security and investiga-tion student, who was wear-

ing a Ghost Rider costume, and third place went to two girls dressed as Thing One and Thing Two.

The prizes were all prepaid MasterCards, with $100 going to the winner, $75 for second place and $50 for third.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROYStudents Justin Van Leeuwen, (from left), a second-year woodworking technology student, Justin Kelly, a second-year architecture con-struction engineering technology student, and Mac Robinson, a first-year civil engineering technology student, all dressed as band mem-bers of KISS, winning first prize at a CSI Halloween bash. For more photos, see Page 7.

BY CODY MUDGE

Once the costumes get put away and the candy has been handed out, poppies find their rightful place above the hearts of many Canadians. This tradition is supported, and organized by the Royal Canadian Legion whose main battle is to garner support for veterans who don’t receive enough financial assistance through other means.

Millions of poppies are worn each year, thousands of peo-ple volunteer their time in order to ensure they’re dis-tributed and millions of dol-lars are raised through the poppy campaign.

The poppy has become syn-onymous with honouring our current military personnel and all of those who have been lost in service to this

country. The very fact that it’s impossible not to find the poppy surrounding you in early November speaks to the success the Legion has had in maintaining awareness of our military legacy.

“Every year, for two weeks, thousands of Legion mem-bers volunteer their time to offer poppies and raise mil-lions that will be provided to veterans and their families in need,” said Tom Eagles, the president of The Royal Canadian Legion.

Eagles and his ilk have man-

aged to keep Remembrance Day, and all it stands for, fore-front in the minds of a young generation of Canadians whose parents weren’t even alive during the Second World War era and whose experience of this nation at war starts and ends with Afghanistan. The poppies on the jackets and backpacks of students all around Conestoga College is a testament to that.

“While I am proud to be a Legion member, I am also par-ticularly proud to see Canadians help us remember Canada’s veterans both past and present who, at the call of their coun-try, left all that was dear to them, faced danger and, much too often, passed out of sight of all Canadians through their self-sacrifice, giving up their lives so that others may live in freedom,” Eagles said.

wear your poppy proudly Volleyball Team SuFFeRS deFeat

PHOTO BY nATHAn BROwnConestoga College’s women’s varsity volleyball team’s second home game against Fanshawe College ended in a 3-1 loss for the Condors. the team will face off against Boreal College at the rec centre on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m., and against Cambrian College at home on Nov. 16. For video, visit www.spokeonline.com

Page 2 s SPOKE Monday, November 10, 2014NEWs

Now deep thoughts... with Conestoga College

Random questions answered by random students“If you could be any celebrity

who would you be?”

“Keanu Reeves. I’ve been his fan since the Matrix came out and I like his movies.”

Lorenzo Loria,first-year

software engineering

“Jennifer Aniston. She’s really beautiful for her age and she’s a good actress.”

Heather Cleasby,first-year

human services

“Russell Brand. He’s extreme-ly smart, he uses his voice to bring awareness to certain issues and he’s hilarious.”

Neville Daniels,

second-yearsocial service worker

“Johnny Knoxville. The guy has a straight part in my funny bone.”

Cody Piper,first-year

radio broadcasting

“Betty White. She’s old and amazing.”

Josiah Chalmers,first-year

marketing and advertising

“Emma Stone. She’s really hot. She’s a cool girl and she’s her own person.”

Jenna Brown,first-year

business foundations

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

SERIOUS SCULPTING at clay and glass gallery

PHOTO BY iaN mcBridEWaterloo residents christopher Vollick (left) and stephanie trotter create clay sculptures at the canadian clay and glass gallery in Waterloo on nov. 2.

Remembrance Day is a time to reflectBY cassiE TulEcki

Remembrance Day is a time to remember those who served in the armed forces who lost their lives for our country; it is also referred to as Armistice Day. The date represents the day and time when armies stopped fighting during the First World War; the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Every year people all over the country wear red poppies on their clothing in November as a sign of respect and to support Canadian troops. The poppies are handed out for free but many choose to donate money when they pick one up. The poppy has become a famil-iar symbol for this day due to the poem, In Flanders Fields. The poppies grew across the battlefields of Flanders in the First World War.

Kitchener will be holding a ceremony at the Kitchener cenotaph, at the corner of Frederick and Duke streets downtown, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The surrounding streets will be closed for the ceremony. There will be two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.

“It’s a pretty powerful event, there’s a lot of emotion, a lot of people crying but it really makes you feel proud to be a Canadian,” said Tyler Walkinshaw, a second-year woodworking technician stu-dent.

One woman who goes to the ceremony every year, who didn’t want to give her name, spoke about her son who has been in cadets for two years. “It was a choice he made when he was younger.”

She supports his decision to be a part of this country in a way that benefits others. She

said even at a young age her son was first to stand up for friends and family members. “It gives him a sense of disci-pline and patriotism; he gets to meet other people as well.”

Remembrance Day to her means a day out of the year where we can all come togeth-er and grieve and remember the people we’ve lost.

Conestoga College’s Doon campus will be the site of a Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 10:35 a.m. in the Student Life Centre atrium. It will begin with a brief cer-emony followed by two min-utes of silence at 11 a.m. to honour those who served and continue to serve this country.

Shawn Hargreaves a sec-ond-year welding student, said, “I’ve been going to the ceremony downtown for six years now, I think it’s impor-tant to support the troops.”

PHOTO BY cassiE TulEckiKathryn craig, a first-year broadcast student, supports troops by wearing a poppy in november.

Monday, November 10, 2014 SPOKE s Page 3NEWs

By MARyssA MCFADDEN

Business networking has become an increasingly popu-lar tool in the past few years – a way for business owners to gather together, exchange ideas and garner interest in their companies. It is also a tool for applicants to meet employers in their desired field and build a contact list which could help lead to an interview or even a job in the future.

Now, Waterloo Region has taken business networking to the next level with the help of a local business owner and a hashtag.

It is a virtual networking event for business owners, potential applicants and stu-dents in and around Waterloo Region called #WRTalk.

The event was created by Mallory Manchur earlier this year after she saw similar hashtags, which were used on Twitter, to gather people together to talk about specific issues or ideas.

“I originally geared it towards small businesses thinking it would be a great networking tool. However, I soon discovered we had attracted charitable and com-munity events,” Manchur said.

The way it worked was easy. People were to tweet an introduction about their self or their business using #WRTalk between 7:30 and

8:30 p.m. on Oct. 1.The number of people who

participated on the first night was much higher than expect-ed. Over 10,000 ideas and opinions were tweeted and the number has climbed ever since.

In Manchur’s opinion, this was due largely to the vast target audience which #WRTalk is geared toward.

“It’s great for students who might be looking for new plac-es in the region to check out or looking to network with potential employers and peo-ple in their chosen fields,” she said. “The event has con-nected some people with ser-vice providers they were look-ing for and another business told me they got an applicant for one of their job openings because of the event.

The Wednesday night event took off quickly and, although it is still new, #WRTalk has had no issues with getting local business owners to join.

“It hasn’t been too difficult finding participants because I think people really like the idea. It seems to be catching on and doing a little better each week,” Manchur said.

The event has gained popu-larity ever since taking off on Oct. 1. Not only has there been more students, clients and job searchers who have shown interest, but each week also brings more ideas, opin-ions and additional business owners which helps to extend

the #WRTalk network even further. Even the candidates for Waterloo’s municipal election signed on to explain their platforms and exchange ideas.

A possible reason for why #WRTalk reached thousands so quickly is the flexibil-ity which many networking events do not have.

“My favourite part was I didn’t have to pay anything

unlike some networking events, I didn’t have to RSVP and I didn’t have to miss work,” said Summer Anstee, who took part in the first #WRTalk event.

Manchur said, after speak-ing to people who joined her event, many had the same opinion.

“Lots of our participants have said they lead such busy lives it’s not possible to

get out and attend network-ing events,” she said. “The #WRTalk tweets reach thou-sands of eyes every week and the best part is that you can tweet from wherever you are at no cost.”

The next #WRTalk event will take place this Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will continue every Wednesday evening thereaf-ter.

A new way to network in Waterloo

PHOTO By MARyssA MCFADDENNicole Hunt, a prospective Conestoga student who took part in the first #WRTalk event on Oct. 1, holds up the WR Talk Twitter page. She enjoyed the first event and she plans to go to the next one on Nov. 12 as well to continue to build a contact list with business owners in and around Waterloo Region.

By HEATHER sTANLEy

With the recent arrival of this year’s first snow-fall, it’s a sure sign that winter is approaching. Along with the coming frigid weather and scarves, flu season is just around the corner.

Flu activity is generally at its highest during winter months, although outbreaks can start in early October and can last until May. The flu shot is a way to prevent contracting viruses, but only a portion of the population gets their yearly shots, subjecting many to influenza.

The vaccine causes antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, helping a person become more immune to current strains. Since there are different strains of the flu due to the progression and mutation of the virus, it is recom-mended everyone get a flu shot yearly

“I think it’s around 25 per cent of the population that doesn’t want the flu shot,” said Nancy Bolden, a health-care aid in Walkerton for 24 years. “Mostly it’s because they don’t understand what the flu shot does or they think that it’s something that the gov-ernment’s created that actually doesn’t work.”

According to the Ontario’s government’s website, 10 to 20 per cent of the population gets the flu each year. Many people mix up influenza, thinking it’s a stomach-type virus. Symptoms of the common cold and the flu are similar. For example, both can give runny, stuffed noses and sore throats. However, there are differences. Influenza also has frequent fatigue, head and muscle aches and sudden high fevers.

Although anyone can get the flu, influenza gen-erally effects children, the elderly and those with low immune systems. In Ontario’s recent YouTube video on the flu, Dr. Robin Williams, associate chief medical officer of health, said that last year more than 700 children under 10 with influenza were hospitalized and eight deaths were reported.

“It takes two weeks for the flu shot to process in your body and if you’re sick when you have the flu shot you’ll be sick almost immediately with flu,” Bolden said. “You could have a flu virus in your body and it doesn’t show for three days and you’ve gotten your flu shot three days before. Now you think that the flu shot has given you the flu but in essence you were already sick and didn’t know it.” Bolden said this is the reason why a lot of people don’t believe in the flu shot.

Influenza can be quite serious. In Bolden’s 24 years as a health-care aid, she’s had two outbreaks of influenza in the retirement home where she works. During those times, the local health unit shut the home to the public so as not to spread the virus into the community. Staff were required to wear face shields, masks, gloves and be covered completely. Only when the home was symptom-free for 10 days could they reopen to the public. An out-break can last anywhere from three to eight weeks.

The flu shot is free and available at health-care providers’ offices and public health clinics. Conestoga College is offering free flu shots this month to staff and students. On Nov. 20, flu shots will be available at the Doon campus from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Room

1D17. Cambridge’s service runs from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room A1303 and on Nov. 25, the Waterloo campus will have shots from 10 a.m. until noon in Room 1C02. Everyone is required to bring their health card.

Many people avoid yearly flu shot

PHOTO By HEATHER sTANLEyPeople sick with the flu can be ill for several weeks and will display symptoms similar to the common cold.

Page 4 s SPOKE Monday, November 10, 2014COMMENTARY

Everyone relies on some form of transportation, whether it be train, plane, car or bus. Taxi services are also another option.

Now enter Uber into the equation. Uber, founded in 2009, is a ride-sharing service based in San Francisco that is available to people in 45 countries and more than 200 cities worldwide. The company uses a smartphone application to connect passengers with drivers who have undergone a background and insurance cov-erage check. All it takes is the push of a button for residents to request a ride, track their reserved vehicle’s location and pay for the service. Customers are notified once their driver arrives at their location.

In Canada, the rides-for-hire service is cur-rently available in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax, but is expected to expand to other cities. In Toronto, its cheapest service, UberX, is approximately 40 per cent cheaper than a taxi.

It appears that this area could be Uber’s next target market. According to an Oct. 30 article in the Waterloo Region Record, the company advertised in Guelph last

week for drivers. However, any ride-sharing

company that accepts pay-ments for rides is considered a taxi service, which requires a municipal licence. However, the UberX service is not munici-pally licensed in the cities that it’s offered in.

Politicians and taxi regula-tors in Canada have criticized Uber’s services. They claim the company is trying to flout regulations designed to pro-tect passengers and drivers. According to a Nov. 2 article in the Edmonton Journal, last month in Ottawa bylaw officers conducted a sting and two UberX drivers were fined $650 each for operating a taxi without a licence. The City of Toronto issued a statement claiming that UberX violates municipal taxicab bylaws such as failing to abide by a set fee schedule, and Montreal’s mayor has publicly stated that he believes the

service is illegal.The same criticisms are

being made in Waterloo Region. Angelo Apfelbaum, manager of licensing and enforcement at the Region of Waterloo, said in an Oct. 30 article in the Record, that if Uber launched in this area, it would violate many dif-ferent parts of the region’s limousine taxicab bylaw. In terms of cab fares, all taxi operators must follow a set fee schedule approved by regional council.

Despite the fact that Uber hasn’t always followed all municipal bylaw rules and regulations, I strongly believe that the company’s rapidly growing service is healthy competition for standard taxi companies, and it allows individuals to have more options if they need a ride somewhere. Many of the cur-rent bylaws are outdated and irrelevant in 2014. If some-one needs transportation on a busy night, their best bet would be to use the Uber app on their smartphone.

Municipal bylaws in Waterloo Region and other regions need to be changed so that Uber can continue to thrive and succeed.

Uber takes on cab companies

Voter apathy must end

BY CARMEN PONCiANO

Thousands gathered for the funeral of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in Hamilton on Oct. 28, many struggling to come to terms with his senseless death. Cirillo was the soldier who was shot during the attack on Parliament Hill, dying at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Oct. 22.

Many felt it was their duty to be present at the funer-al in order to express their sympathy and show their respect. Cirillo died carrying out his duty, serving as a ceremonial guard over the memorial which stands as a symbol of those who have fallen defending democracy. However, within this very democracy citizens have not performed their own civic duty – to vote. Canadian poli-tics are not nearly as exciting as the politics in the U.S., and so, it’s no surprise that, as a result, voter turnout is low. But that doesn’t make it any less important.

Canada has always struggled with motivating its citizens to vote. During the last federal election in 2011, only 61.4 per cent of the population went to a polling station, the third lowest in Canadian history. In Waterloo Region in this past municipal election, only 30 to 36 per cent (Waterloo being the highest and Cambridge being the lowest) participated.

One of the concerns of low voter turnout is the possi-bility that the election is not an accurate representation of the people. Non-voters include various segments of the population, but are mainly the young and the poor. So what does this tell us? Could it be that people are not concerned with who will lead their city or country? Or do they simply take for granted something that our forefathers have fought to protect?

Many people forget that Canada provides us with many opportunities which we as citizens can take advantage of, particularly the choice of electing a leader. This is a luxury that many other countries don’t have.

As citizens we need to become more involved within our community when it comes to choosing a leader for our municipality, province and country. We should vote for them based on criteria we feel is right for us. We need to embrace the importance of voting and have a say in our community. Let us not become indifferent, and let the deaths of so many soldiers be in vain.

The views herein represent the position of the newspa-per, not necessarily the author.

Ian McBride Opinion

Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contact-ed for verification.No unsigned letters will be published.Letters should be no longer

than 500 words.Spoke reserves the right to edit

any letter for publication.Email letters to: www.spokeonline.com with the subject line

“Letter to the Editor,” or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.

Letters are welcome

Election day can be oh so lonely.

SPOkEI S P U B L I S h E D a N D P R O D U C E D W E E K L y B y t h E j O U R N a L I S M S t U D E N t S O f C O N E S t O g a C O L L E g E

the views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.

Editor: Beth CrouseAssignment Editors: alex Riese, Maryssa McfaddenAdvertising Managers: jack Parkinson, jordan johnstoneSpoke Online Editors: Carson Deshevy-Renouf, Cody Mudge, Ian McBride

Production Managers: Cassie tulecki, Carmen Ponciano

Photo Editors (print): Nathan Brown, Kali Caudle, justin fordPhoto Editors (online): josh Kennedy, Nicole Nemeth, heather Stanley

Social Media Editor: Nataleigh McCallum, Matt howell

Circulation Manager: Rachel Roy

Faculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina jonas

Spoke’s address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ontario, N2g 4M4. Phone: 519-748-5220, ext. 3691, 3692, 3693, 3694fax: 519-748-3534Email: spoke@conestogac.on.caWebsite: www.spokeonline.com

Monday, November 10, 2014 SPOKE s Page 5feature

Shake it Bollywood styleBY JOrDaN JOHNStONe

A Bollywood Dance Fitness Club has kicked off at Conestoga College, with the first session taking place on Oct. 27 in the rec centre gym-nasium.

It is the brainchild of fast track recreation and lei-sure student and instructor Santhosh Chacko, who could be seen dancing in a lungi (a traditional Indian garment)

outside Tim Hortons the Friday before to help promote the new club.

“The marketing was very well done,” said Himani Gandhi, a construction proj-ect management student. “The dancing in front of the Tim Hortons, that was a really good strategy by them. There was theme music and he was in a lungi.”

The club is for all levels of expertise, from beginner to

expert, and will help improve your fitness health and maybe boost your confidence.

“You get confidence when you dance,” said Rish Sirha, a business management stu-dent.

Canada is a multicultural country and Conestoga College reflects that diversity. Chacko wanted Conestoga’s clubs to also reflect that, and after get-ting approval from Conestoga Student Inc. the club was born.

“Conestoga is a very diverse community, there are stu-dents from all over the world here,” he said. “Bollywood music and dance isn’t familiar to many of them, so I thought

this was a great opportunity for the Conestoga community to celebrate our diversity.”

With 15 people in atten-dance, Chacko was happy with the turnout for the first session and hope more will come out to learn new dance moves and help improve their fitness at the same time.

The dance club runs Mondays from 3-4 p.m. at the rec centre.

PHOtO BY JOrDaN JOHNStONeSanthosh Chacko dances up a storm during a session of the Bollywood Dance Fitness Club on Oct. 27 at Conestoga.

PHOtO BY NataleigH mccallumConestoga students get active at the first fitness class in the recreation centre. For video, see www.spokeonline.com

“You get confidence when you dance.”

— Rish Sirha

Page 6 s SPOKE Monday, November 10, 2014

Monday, November 10, 2014 SPOKE s Page 7feature

Artistic tAlent on displAy

at csi pumpkin-carving

contest

conestoga students inc.’s pumpkin-carving contest was held at the Doon campus on oct. 28 with the first-place winner receiving $100. Bart piekarski, a first-year practi-cal nursing student, shows off his finished pumpkin of Bart simpson. For story, see video at www.spokeonline.com

PHOtO BY BetH crOuse

PHOtOs BY racHel rOYgreg Bartlett, a third-year accounting student, spent most of his time at the Halloween party dancing in his godzilla costume.

colin gaudet, a second-year environmental civil engineering stu-dent, and selina mavro, a second-year hearing instruments spe-cialist student, were part of the csi team who checked tickets at the entrance to the party.

Joseph rideout, a first-year protection/security and investigation student, dressed as ghost rider, winning second place and a $75 prepaid mastercard in the costume competition.

pArticipAnts At hAlloween bAsh Have a roaring gooD time

NEWsPage 8 s SPOKE Monday, November 10, 2014

Battling prostate cancerBY CARsON DEsHEVY-RENOUF

Cancer is the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. It is uncomfortable to hear about, uncomfortable to say and it provokes fear in those who have to battle it. Even though it is no longer a death sentence, the word is still a harbinger for long rounds of treatment and a barrage of medical terms.

There are many types of cancers, with prostate can-cer being one of the most talked about. It is the third leading cause of cancer- related deaths in Canada, the most prominent cancer in men and is a disease that many people fight today. All cancers are in one way or another a fight for your life – an uphill battle for both patient and family that is most often not easily won. The treatments vary, and many assume that sur-gery or chemotherapy are the only options available. However, as technology advances that becomes less true.

Dr. Darin Gopaul, a radia-tion oncologist at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, gave a presenta-tion recently at a meeting of the Waterloo-Wellington branch of the Prostate Cancer Canada Network (PCCN) on how far non-surgical options have come in terms of treat-ing cancer. Gopaul’s position at the centre, according to him, is often mistaken as radiology. Radiation oncology, however, is an entirely differ-ent specialty, as it specifically deals with the treatment of

cancer using ionized radiation (essentially focusing radia-tion on affected areas from either inside or outside the body). According to him, the cure rate of some non-surgi-cal methods is comparable to those of surgery.

During his presentation, Gopaul addressed the panic that often comes from a cancer diagnosis. With the increasing number of avail-able options for patients, “you don’t want fear to drive your decision.” Radiotherapy, active surveillance and medi-cations, according to Gopaul, are the leading non-surgical treatments for those dealing with prostate cancer. Each option is tailored for different situations and severities.

“(Radiotherapy) comes in two flavours,” Gopaul said.

External beam radiation, as defined by the Canadian Cancer Society, is a pain-less treatment involving a machine (that) directs a beam of radiation through the skin to the tumour and a small amount of normal surrounding tissue.

Brachytherapy is a treat-ment that has two options, the first of which is permanent seed brachytherapy: a “low-dose-rate” treatment where small radioactive pellets that are about the size of a grain of rice are inserted en masse into the prostate to release the radiation over a period of time. The second is tempo-rary catheter brachytherapy, which is a “high-dose-rate” treatment where a wire guid-ing catheters delivers rela-tively high levels of radiation to temporarily placed applica-

tors in the prostate. Medications are often over-

looked and passed off as “par for the course” as far as can-cer is concerned. In reality, they can play an integral part in the process of getting bet-ter. While some medications reduce symptoms, others can even delay the need for che-motherapy.

“New (non-chemo) drugs have been proven to extend the lives of those who have cancer that has spread (from the prostate),” Gopaul said.

Active surveillance is another viable option for any patient who is considered “low risk.” This method of treatment focuses more on regular checkups and tests on patients to ensure that their

cancer does not become an issue.

“Some prostate cancers are indolent and may not need treatments,” Gopaul said.

Prostate cancer is often downplayed due to the impression that is given by some statistics. The current five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 96 per cent, but the reality is that pros-tate cancer works slowly, and statistics are something that need to be evaluated care-fully. With most cases pres-ent in men over 50 years of age, many people die of natu-ral causes before the cancer reaches fatal stages. As the life expectancy of Canadians grows, we will see the true toll this cancer takes much

more frequently.As it stands, prostate can-

cer, like all others, is not something to be taken light-ly. Whether you have been personally affected or have seen others around you going through the hardship that cancer brings, you can under-stand that the fight is not easy.

The PCCN Waterloo-Wellington division holds meetings the fourth Tuesday of every month at the HopeSpring Support Cancer Centre. If you’d like to get involved, or make a dona-tion toward cancer research, you can do so through the Canadian Cancer Society under the “Get Involved” tab at www.cancer.ca.

PHOTO BY CARsON DEsHEVY-RENOUFDr. Darin Gopul, a radiation oncologist at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, gave a presentation on non-surgical advancements in prostate cancer treatment on Oct. 28.

Hat and wand club shaRe theiR lOve Of maGiC

members of the K-W hat and Wand Club gather weekly to discuss their passion for magic. for video, see www.spokeonline.com.

PHOTO BY JUsTiN FORD

Non-surgical options have come far as treatments

Monday, November 10, 2014 SPOKE s Page 9NEWS

Cats are good for your healthBY NicolE NEmEth

Cute and cuddly isn’t just adorable, it’s also good for your health.

The human-animal bond has been demonstrated to improve human cardiovascular health, reduce stress, decrease lone-liness and depression, and facilitate social interactions among people who choose to have pets.

“Cat ownership has physi-cal, mental and emotional benefits,” said Dr. Esther Duschinsky, a veterinarian at Cambridge Cat Hospital.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 29 per cent of all deaths in Canada in 2008 were a result of car-diovascular disease. Of all cardiovascular deaths, 54 per cent were due to ischemic heart disease, 20 per cent were strokes and 23 per cent were heart attacks.

Owning a cat tends to lower anxiety levels, a key factor in stress-related conditions such as high blood pressure.

“Studies have shown that owning cats reduces blood pressure and improves car-diovascular health. There was actually a study which showed that cat owners were 30 per cent less likely to die from a heart attack than people who didn’t own cats. This is thought to be due to the stress reducing effects of petting and interacting with cats,” Duschinksy said.

The results of a study done in 1992 on pet ownership and risk factors for cardiovascu-lar disease showed that pet owners had a significantly lower systolic blood pressure and plasma triglycerides than non-owners.

Cat owner Sarah Vance finds her cat, Mookie, very relax-ing. “Sometimes he will keep meowing if I don’t give him enough attention, but most of the time he just lays and purrs beside me or on my feet which I think is a relaxing noise.”

Along with physiological benefits, cats offer social ben-efits as well.

“Sometimes you can feel like no one wants to talk or hang out with you, but no matter what your cat will want to be rubbed and played with. They always want to hang out with you, or at least mine does,” Vance said.

“As a veterinarian, I see single people and childless couples for whom cats play a very important emotion-al support and companion-ship role. For these people, their important feline family members reduce loneliness and give them an emotion-al connection and support,” Duschinksy said.

Many studies have focused

on the social benefits cats, and other companion animals such as dogs, have on the elderly, dis-abled, mentally ill, terminally ill, and even the homeless.

All of these studies have proven that these people, and other people who typi-cally have less social interac-tions for different reasons, all feel more accepted and have greater opportunities to inter-act with their peers when they own a pet.

One of the biggest benefits that cats can provide are psy-chological ones.

The Mental Health Foundation collaborated with Cats Protection in 2011 and completed a study that surveyed 600 people, half of whom described themselves as having a mental health problem. The results from their study showed that 87 per cent of cat owners felt that their animals had a posi-tive impact on their well-being, 76 per cent found that coping with everyday life was easier because of their pets and that stroking a cat was a calming activity.

“Similar to feeling lonely, you can feel like things will never get better or that no one really likes you, but your cat will always love you no matter what and want to spend time with you. They don’t have judg-ments towards you and can’t hold grudges. All they know is how to love,” Vance said.

Many people who suffer from depression find it’s eas-ier to cope when they have a cat. There are many reasons for this: cats offer an uncom-plicated love, the responsibil-ity of caring for a cat adds a new and positive focus in life, and they help you build rou-tine, increase physical activ-ity and offer friendship and social interaction.

While cats do have a posi-tive impact on human health, it’s equally important for cat owners to take care of their feline friend’s health, too.

“We recommend that all cats come in for a health exam at least once a year. During this exam we will discuss weight management, den-tal care, nutrition, parasites such as worms and fleas as well as any specific health,” Duschinksy said.

The bond between cats and humans is one that has been around for centuries. Many people consider their cats as family members, with health benefits simply being an added bonus.

“I consider him my baby. I feed him, love him, play with him and take care of him. I don’t see how someone could consider their pet not a part of the family,” Vance said.

Photo BY NicolE NEmEthMany studies have concluded that owning a cat has multiple health benefits for people.

Page 10 s SPOKE Monday, November 10, 2014fun & games

AriesMarch 21 -

April 19

AquariusJanuary 20 - February 18

TaurusApril 20 - May 20

LibraSeptember 23 -

October 22

GeminiMay 21 - June 21

ScorpioOctober 23 - November 21

CapricornDecember 22 -

January 19

SagittariusNovember 22 - December 21

CancerJune 22 - July 22

LeoJuly 23 -

August 22

VirgoAugust 23 -

September 22

PiscesFebruary 19 -

March 20

Cancel your weekend plans. You can’t afford to waste time with the work-load you’ve put off.

Capricorn, you are known to be a hard-working individual. Stay focused and the fruits of your labour will be recognized by those around you.

Aquarius, you are known to be a rebel in order to have things go your way. You respect other people’s differences.

It may seem as though a wall has stopped you but don’t give up. Things will soon change suddenly and maybe that wall will be the first.

Approach your problems with caution. Deal with each one by facing them head on or by fleeing. You know what to do.

Try to balance your home life and school life. Those close to you will support you during every step. Be sure to find time for them in your schedule.

A small disagreement could quickly escalate. Be careful of what you say and how you say it. Others around you are sensitive.

The stars have spoken.

Horoscope Week of November 10, 2014

Aries, your strong exterior hides your compassion that needs to be released. Show that one person how you really feel.

Be blunt with your opin-ion, you know it’s better to be heard properly. Close friends and family members will appreciate your honesty.

Scorpio, you are known to be determined. You see things through until they are com-pleted. Take advantage of this for your school assign-ments. It will pay off.

A friend of yours will expe-rience some sort of conflict. Don’t get involved unless you are asked. Keep your distance.

A romantic interest in anoth-er might have no logical answer because you may be looking at it the wrong way. Open your eyes to the pos-sibilities.

Useless FactsOh Cliff!

Sudoku Puzzle

Word Search

Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommo-dates the digits 1-9, with-out repeating any.

India has a Bill of Rights for cows.

Dartboards are made out of horse hairs.

Jackals have one more pair of chromosomes than dogs or wolves.

The average life of a taste-bud is 10 days.

Dibble means to drink like a duck.

Pinocchio is Italian for “pine head.”

Monday, November 10, 2014 SPOKE s Page 11NEWS

By AlEx RiESE

Does classical music still have a place in modern soci-ety? According to Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, the newly-appointed assistant conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, that’s a question that doesn’t even need to be asked.

“I’d say that classical music’s place is more defined than ever,” Bartholomew-Poyser said. “Kids these days grow up listening to all sorts of classical music, whether it’s through movies, video games ... It’s everywhere.”

Bartholomew-Poyser has been immersed in classical music his entire life. He stud-ied classical tuba and cello at the University of Calgary, and has conducted and per-formed with 11 orchestras in various capacities throughout his career. He’s witnessed the power of classical music first-hand and he shares that sen-timent with the people who come to watch his orchestra.

“I find that people who come to concerts are generally very positive about the experi-ences,” Bartholomew-Poyser said. “When they come into a classical concert, they leave

feeling different about them-selves.”

Although classical music is still applicable, the genre is struggling in Western soci-ety. In a February 2008 TED Talk in Monterey, Calif., con-ductor and speaker Benjamin Zander estimated that a very small portion of the popula-tion listen to classical music on a regular basis. According to Zander, there are three types of people – people who have a deep passion for clas-sical music, people who toler-ate the genre and people who have no relationship with it at all. A prime example of the latter group is Conestoga College student Jenn Wright. The health office administra-tion student thinks classical music is only somewhat rel-evant.

“It has a place with other people, but not with people I know,” Wright said.

However, the two extremes that Zander mentioned are coming closer together. Classical music is taking on a new role as a study aid amongst many students. Marko Veselic, a first-year graphic design student at Conestoga College, admits to listening to classical music

when working on more detail-oriented projects.

“I mostly use it to relax myself when I’m doing fine line work. It steadies my hand a bit more,” Veselic said.

Some people are more involved with classical music. Anna-Maria Vasco, another first-year graphic design stu-dent, spoke of her passion for the genre, a passion she devel-oped when she was young.

“I’ve been playing piano since I was six years old, so I’ve been ingrained with classical music since I was a kid,” Vasco said. “I’ve always played it on the piano and always listened to it when studying.”

Despite classical music being readily accessible, it is playing less of a role in today’s society. However, with a little bit of education, Vasco thinks that it can be strengthened again.

“If you have that little back-ground in you, if you grew up with it, if your parents listened to it when you were a kid, or if you took music as a kid, it sticks with you,” Vasco said. “It’s something you have to pass on. It’s not something this generation will discover on their own.”

PHOTO By AlEx RiESEKitchener-Waterloo Symphony assistant conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is shown after an outreach concert at the Adult Recreational Learning Centre in Waterloo on Oct. 31. He thinks classical music’s place in society is more defined than ever.

Women’s softball team SiLveR meDALLiStS

PHOTO By JAck PARkiNSONRon taylor, coach of the women’s softball team at Conestoga, stands with his daughter tori, who is captain of the team which placed second at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association tournament in October. it was the team’s best finish since 1998. to find out more, see video at www.spokeonline.com.

Is classical music still relevant in our society?

Page 12 s SPOKE Monday, November 10, 2014