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5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries around the world switched off their lights for Earth Hour last year including ours. In support of Earth Hour 2012, the Advocate has switched off the lights on the front cover. Each of us has the power to make a difference.
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As citizens, constituents, voters and taxpayers it's our responsibility to have at least a basic working knowledge of how the government in our city functions.
was scouted, marked, dug out, and installed. I drove by each day to see the progress that had been made, catching glimpses of the work with my phone as I passed. It was incredible to watch just how quickly a phone call turned into a positive change in my own neighbourhood. I cant imagine it would always be this easy but here I was watching the benefits of knowing the right person to ask the right questions to. After some very informal polling I was quite surprised to learn that the majority of the people I spoke to didnt know their ward councillors or, in some cases, even what ward they lived in. This is a major problem. How can we expect to fix the things that are broken and make this a better place to live if we don't even know where we live? As citizens, constituents, voters and taxpayers it's our responsibility to have at least a basic working knowledge of how the government in our city functions. Ward councillors are your representatives on city council and they speak on your behalf every Monday night during public meetings, and throughout the week at City Hall. These men and women are elected to help you. Get to know them. Ask questions. Get involved. In a fit of cynicism and apathy someone once asked me: "Why do you care? What's the point? Nothing ever changes." Not True. I got a street lamp. Now it's your turn. What will you do with an extra twenty four hours? I'd like to thank Geoff Rae and the staff of the City Engineering and Operational Services Department for their time and hard work, and my ward councillor Dan McCreary for working with me to make our neighbourhood a little safer.
Councilor Dan McCreary Left. Lucas Duguid Right. Photo courtesy of Paul Smith / Photohouse Studio.
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CHICKEN PARMESAN
A PANKO ENCRUSTED CHICKEN BREAST OVEN BAKED WITH OUR ZESTY TOMATO SAUCE AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE. SERVED WITH OUR SEASONAL VEGETABLES AND SPAGHETTI. OUR MULTI GRAIN CRUST WITH PIZZA SAUCE, FRESH BASIL SLICED ROMA TOMATOES, AND OUR HOUSE MADE FRESH MOZZARELLA CHEESE GRILLED ALL BEEF PATTI TOPPED WITH SLICED ROMA TOMATOES, LETTUCE, FRESH MOZZARELLA, DOUBLE SMOKED APPLE WOOD BACON, SUN-DRIED TOMATO AIOLI WITH ALDENTE MAC & CHEESE
MARGHERITA PIZZA
SHRIMP SAUTED WITH JULIENNE VEGETABLES IN OUR WHITE WINE AND HERB GARLIC BUTTER TOSSED WITH ANGEL HAIR PASTA AND TOPPED WITH PARMESAN CHEESE
OUR FEATURE MENU INCLUDES OUR HOME BAKED BREAD A CHOICE OF CAESAR, MIXED GREEN OR SOUP DE JOUR AND YOUR CHOICE OF COCONUT CREAM PIE CHEESECAKE OR TRIPLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE CHEESECAKE FOR DESSERT.
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I left Canada in July of 2011 with my twin sister Amber. We planned to travel Europe for two and a half months and then move to Vietnam to live for awhile. Plans quickly changed when we arrived in Europe and found it SUPER expensive and could only afford to stay for a little over a month. We decided the best choice was to head to Asia a little earlier than planned. After a very long three weeks somewhat trapped in Bangkok (we love that city but one person can only eat so much street pad thai and look at the same dresses every day before it loses the allure) we were finally able to enter Vietnam. Why Vietnam? Amber and I came three years ago to volunteer in an orphanage and we fell in love with the stunning children, the beautiful country and the delicious food. We rarely ever stick to travel plans, and after meeting the kids, the one month we had planned to stay quickly turned into two months plus a little tour of South East Asia. Amber returned the following year and volunteered for nine months, though she had only planned on staying five. While she was here she became such a part of the community and almost couldnt bear to leave. I was jealous of her getting to see the kids every day, so we decided that we had to return again this year.
We had a lot of plans for what we would do while here we needed to work if we were going to stay and volunteer with the kids long term. We had thought about opening a yogurt shop, working in a coffee shop, or selling pancakes all our business plans involved comfy chairs and guitars lying around so we thought they were basically fool proof. Instead, we went for the easiest sounding option opening a daycare center. Our business was extremely short-lived because we failed to consider how exhausting twoyear-olds are, and how often they cry and pee their pants and throw up (disgusting!). We changed our plan and have found success over the past few months running three English classes a day. We do a class for little kids, one for children and teenagers, and one for adults. We are two of just a handful of foreigners in the city, and we run the only center with foreign teachers, so it is fair to say we are a pretty big deal here. People love the opportunity to learn English from anyone who speaks it as a first language. Though I never thought I would be teaching at a school I opened in rural Vietnam with my twin sister, I must say, I love this life. We have a blog for the school you can check out at: http://iwanttobeateacher.tumblr.com/ (we are looking for English teachers to come and help out you can find more information on the site). The reason we are in Vietnam is the kids at the orphanage. They are as amazing as ever. There are 70 kids at the orphanage, ranging from newborn to 14-years-old. They are such happy and charming little children. Every time Amber and I go to see them they scream our names and run over to give us lots of hugs and kisses before we can even
get inside the doors. They lovingly call us Auntie when they tell us all sorts of stories about their day, their school and the latest orphanage gossip. At some point every single time I visit, the kids will stroke my cheek and ask me why I cant speak Vietnamese yet. Fail! (Just so you know it is super difficult like super difficult!) I have loved spending the past six months with the kids and getting to be there for birthdays, Christmas, Tet, babies first steps, dance classes, little kids meltdowns and their happy days. Its awesome! So whats it like living here? We are in such a rural area that a good majority of the people we meet have never seen a foreigner before, and because of this, we are treated like celebrities every single time we step out of our door. People yell at us all the time to ask us where we are from. Weve also gotten more dinner invites, and even marriage proposals, than we can count. We constantly have our skin and hair stroked by random strangers, and I also have my slightly large nose pulled and pushed all over the place because it is so different then the tiny Asian nose. Like the majority of Vietnamese people, we dont have a fridge or a washing machine; we have to hand wash our clothes in a bucket. Yes, it sucks, but we got used to it really quickly. Vietnamese people love Justin Bieber. I cant even tell you how often I hear his song Baby in a day. Water buffalos walk down the main road at all times and cows graze on the grass in the median in front of our house, which will never stop being awesome. I love Vietnam so much, and for the rest of my life I will constantly be returning. I have been to twelve countries so far but my favourite place in the world will always be Brantford. No other place in the world comes close to feeling as much like home. Brantford is such a friendly community with a family feel. It is full of people and places I love, mainly the Grand River, Harmony Square, Why Not City Missions, and just walking downtown. One of my favourite things is being able to say hello to everyone I pass because we all know each other. Brantford rocks and I am so excited to eventually come back and be immersed in all the wonderful parts of the city again.
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The faculty and staff of the Advocate would like to thank all of the businesses and organizations across Brantford, Brant and Six Nations that generously support us by distributing our publication every month. At the request of our readers, and as a thank you to those who support us, here is a list of all of the locations where you can pick up a copy of the Advocate each and every month. WEST BRANT Mac's Milk, Goo's, Sammy's Rec Room, Kingswood Diner, Mr. Chips , Doug's Donuts, West Brant Coin Laundry, Happy Variety, Duey's, Maria's Pizza, Pet Crazy Express, Pita Pit, Pizzaville, Twighlight Tanning Salon, Cathy's Nails, Starbucks PARIS / TOLLGATE Happy Days Mini-Mart, Sonia's Variety, Happy Nails, Tito's Pizza, Girls Den, Olde School House CHARING CROSS / ST. PAUL Euro Convenience, Pizza Roma, Don Warrener's Martial Arts, St. George & Grand Mart, Empirical Photo, Nova Vita, Metro, My Thai, Shaks Shwarma, Jammit Music, Meatsauce Pizza, McGonagall's EAGLE PLACE Stan's Confectionary, Emilie's Mini Mart, Crystal's Hair Care, Sun Milk Convenience, Used Appliances, Used Clothing, Wingmaster, Eagle Place Laundry, Dozer's, Over Easy, The Hair Salon - Salon 81, Joe's Variety, Bain's Max Mart, In Season Living, Woodland Cultural Centre, Carolyn's Home Baking, Simply Soy Candles, Unique Peace Home Furn., Hill's Computer Service, Mac's Convenience, Family Pizza, Big Top Submarine, Eagle Place Variety, Eagle Place Video and Con., Doug Snooks Community Centre, Petro Canada, Clarence St. Dental, Workforce Planning Board GE ECHO PLACE / COLBORNE EAST Kreative Khaos, Tip Top Health Shoppe, Palace Submarine, La Bella Donna Hair Stylists, Grand River CHC, Why Not, Maple Convenience, Mohawk College, Liberty Cleaning Services, Brantford Music Centre, Maria`s Pizza, Bouncing Buddah Tattoo, H and S Discount, Pet Valu, The Dutch Shop, Army, Navy, Air Force , Sital Hairstyling , Natural Nail Care , Bismillah Daily Basket , Mario's Pizza, Mohawk Convenience , Addison's, Quality Inn & Suites, Rock Universe , Medichair Cowell, Just Friends, Big Bear Food Mart, Echo Place Coin Laundry, Telly's Convenience, Echo Place Family Rest., Seniors Resource Centre, Mario and Sam's Auto Service, Maple Convenience 2000, Pizza Spot, Sherwood Motel, Sherwood Restaurant, Nicol Florist, Colborne Auto Detailling, Bell City Motel, Scott Veterinary Clinic, Shanghai Restaurant, H&H Tackle, Husky, Pencar, Mrs. Fries, Crossroads Flea Market, Toki Loft, Brooks Signs FAIRVIEW / WEST Skin Care Essentials, Station Coffee House, Rogers TV, Fairview Drive Pet Hospital, Dundas Variety, Enterprise Brant, Dorsey Group, Strodes DOWNTOWN Tropical Paradise Tanning, Harry's , Admiral's Submarine, Brant Communications, Crazy Bill`s, City Taxi, Al's Shoes, Brant Art Shoe, The Habit, King Laundry, The Queen's Closet, Dr. Vic Schacher, Dolphin Variety, Contact Brant, Imperial Submarine, Cesars Barber Shop, Custom Colour T Shirts, Manifest Yoga, Sanderson Centre, Piston Broke, Williams Downtown, Business Resource Centre, Pita Plus, Cobby`s, University Pharmacy, Hamachi Sushi, Grand River Employment, Urban Hookup/Wright's, Tait Quartermain Optical, Caesar's Place, Brostock, SACAP, Brant Ass. Comm. Treat, Cdn. Mental Health, Stylo Family Hair, Brantford Public Library, City of Brantford, Beckett Adult Leisure Centre, Just Like New, Inity Fashions, Essential Physiotherapy, MP Dave Levac's Office, Aboriginal Health Centre, Warmington's Bistro, Tooun Salon, Children's Aid Society, Laurier Brantford, The Ring, Brant Native Housing, Jebbo's Computer, Pasquale`s Meat & Deli, Bob`s Tobacco and Magazine, Brant Stereo, Lonnie`s Restaurant, Market St. Dental, Brando's, Two Doors Down, Express Submarine, Oriental Restaurant, Alexanders Tavern, Stormy`s Variety, Mario's Pizza, Brant Mini Mart, The Mixdown, Harmony Grill, Coffee Culture, Brantford Arts Block, Strodes Express, Freedom House, Dr. Sokoloski STANLEY / GREY Lucky's Coin Laundry, Lucky's Variety, BYO Breweries, Super Cycle Coin Laundromat, Daisy Mart, Goodfellas, Mr. Paws, Kneaded Care, Rawdon Automotive, Cormier's Confectinery, Steelworkers Action Centre, Brant Taxi, Rossini Lodge, Marconi's Diner, Alternate Icons CASINO / FARMER'S MARKET Just 4 You Nails, Jumbo Dragon, First Choice, Action Medical Home Health, Subway, Ontario March of Dimes, Legal Clinic, Brantford and District Labour Centre, Brantford Food Bank, Community Resource Services, Swan's Produce, Brantford Farmer's Market, Brantford and District Civic Centre HOLMEDALE / BRANT AVE. Daisy Mart, Vic's Variety, Holmedale Coin Laundry, Holmedale Mini-Mart, The Brantford Bookworm, Serenity Country Candles, Indecks Skateboards & Clothing, Total Convenience, Viet Thai Basil, Brantford Collegiate, Blue Dog Coffee Roasters, Sexual Assault Centre, Hair Dresser on Fire, Arthur's By The Grand KING GEORGE ROAD Stan's Variety, Toppers Pizza, Casey's Bar and Grill, Blessings Eatery, Pita Pit, Microplay, Global Pet Foods, Williams Caf , S & H Health Foods , Williams Caf , Al Dente, Lexton's Tap and Grill, Shawarma King NORTH END Digital Duck Inc., Culligan Water, Brantford Tourism Centre, Big Ben's Family Diner, The Sugar House, Woodview Childrens Centre, Broasters Chicken, Tito's Pizza, Duey's, Carmen's Homestyle Pizza, The Perch and Wing Eatery, Frankie's, Luciani's Pizza, New City Church, The Print Shoppe, Silver Dragon PARIS Sobey's, Pharma Plus, Paris Library, Divalicious, County of Brant Office, Paris Realty, Remax Heritage, Chocolate Sensations, Three Blind Mice Cheese Shop, Wendy's General Store, Jade's of Paris, 2 Rivers Restaurant, Green Heron Book Shop, Brown Dog Coffee, Paris Bakery, Steve's Place, The Cedar House, The Canadian House, Paris Variety, Camp 31 Bar-B-Q, Paris By The Grand, Home Hardware, Caf Europa, Amelia Biscuit Company, Friendly Untied Discount Variety, Cobblestone's Public House BURFORD Burford Bakery, Godfather's Pizza, Burford Market, Foodland, Esso ST. GEORGE Richi Milk, The Rustic Mug, Brown Dog Coffee Shop, St. George Arms, Foodland SIX NATIONS Grand River Enterprises, Iroqcrafts, IC Supercomputers, Lone Wolf Pit Stop, Lee's Variety, KT's, Route 54 Variety and Gas, Riverbend Restaurant, Porter E Law Office, Oasis Gas and Variety, Village Caf, Six Nations Tourism, Red Indian Gas Bar, Bright Feather Coin Laundry, T 'n' T Pizza, Erlind's Restaurant, CKRZ, Al's Variety, Little Buffalo, Grand River Employment Training, 6 Nations Trading Post
Made in Brantford
By Rob Michalchuk
Traveling around when I perform live I often get asked what the scene is like where I come from. When I talk to people in larger cities, and tell them I grew up in a small farming community of a couple thousand called Burford, I get some odd glances. Then, when I explain that I spent most of the other part of my life in a small blue-collar city called Brantford, I get more odd glances. The folks I have talked to find it odd that I perform the type of music I do from where I come from; the music I play leans more towards the experimental side of things, but not limited exclusively to. I am also regularly asked about how I found out about music and styles. I like to think that I grew up in a time that was near the end of when you could truly still be isolated from the majority of the information in the world. Of course, Im talking about the popularity of the Internet and the phenomenon of being online and finding information instantaneously that you would have a real hard lengthy time finding without the use of it. Sure in the past you could mail people and bands you read about in some magazines to find out more, but the instant gratification of the Internet makes things so much easier to find these days. For me growing up with an independent record store called Second Wave in downtown Brantford had a lot to do with how I found out about different forms of music. If it wasnt for the owner Paul Evans telling me that some of my pops and clicks on my alto saxophone reminded him of John Zorn, I dont know where I would be today. It is awesome to see that atmosphere happening again in downtown Brantford with Mixdown Records and Tapes. Some really great conversation had come out about my hometown when I brought copies of the Advocate with me on a small tour into the eastern United States. Spreading the opinions and thoughts of Brantford around to cities like Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, and so on, I found more people really wanted to talk to me about where I come from. The long drives between cities really made me think and ponder writing this opinion on what it is like to be an artist in Brant County. Are there unique hurdles with being in this area? Are there unique sounds, venues and anything else music related that is Brantford, aside from someone singing about their own hometown? My background to think of such questions comes from performing live locally and abroad consistently since 1994, never really in any group that is too popular. An early bout in a band called Cartoon Khaki during the 1990s taught me that punk rock isnt about leather jackets, mohawk haircuts and listening to hardcore. Our bands form of punk always seemed to be on the outside of things during the time it existed. All the time spent in that band gave me thoughts and experiences that I would find very inspirational later in life with my current musical and visual arts projects. I find keeping an open mind to sight and sound beneficial, but enough about me. Performing music and art in Brant can be a lonely thing. You could bring the world to Brantford, but does the world really want to listen? You could be a proud citizen, but you have to be honest and realize that this community just isnt New York City. So how does Brantfords little foot print make it interesting? We have a unique position of being isolated, which I feel makes me want to persevere creatively. It makes me want to get out and explore and propel. Is the drive stronger with isolation? Brantford is a cut your teeth kind of town. That phrase was alluded to a couple times in music interviews I did with people on complete opposite sides of the musical spectrum. Over the years, I have seen a lot of talent give up completely or never grow, and be contained like a bonsai tree in Brant. Isolation can create some unique artists and opinions about the area; geography shouldnt be a boundary for them though. Lately Ive been proud of where Ive come from, and it wasnt until I left the city to perform that Ive felt this way. Sure you could go into a larger city and be overwhelmed by the flash and pizzazz, but personally I feel a little swamped by it. Majorly inspired, but swamped. Im glad that Ive had the chance to grow as an artist in Brantford. I talk about Brantford to the people I meet near and abroad, and it seems reassuring to know that your geography has no bounds on your creativity. Wherever I go there is a piece of this town available to someone, literally or fugitively in some historical rant or theory, and yes, the art and culture too. I write this to pose theories and conversation about what it is to be from Brantford or any other small city like it. I also write to say from my own experience, coming from Brantford isnt all that bad. I found it nurturing.
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Serene Porter is from Six Nations. She is a visual artist that works with photography, graphic design, animation, painting, beadwork and new media to name a few. A graduate from York University with a B.A. in Fine Arts, Serene is currently in her last semester at Mohawk College in the Graphic Design program. Serene has many accomplishments in her young career already. Among them is one aspiration shared by many first nation artists, and that is to have shown and sold her art work at the First Nations Art Exhibitions, which she has done in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In addition to creation, Serene is also a mentor, and has shared many ideas in numerous visual art based workshops that she has helped to create and facilitated. Of particular admiration for Serene is the success of an elder-student based workshop that fuses verbal traditions of the past with contemporary media arts. From its inception as a legacy-based pilot project, this elder-student workshop has been a great success, and continues to generate new interest, both with in the first nations communities and beyond.
Serene can be contacted at: reni_po@hotmail.com or check out her blog at http://serenegrafiks.blogspot.com/
Brantford Station Gallery 519.309.0008 Brantford Train Station Wed March 21st 6pm / 9pm $15 advance tickets available online: craigcardiff.com
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New to the Telephone City, Tia Robinson draws on years of photography experience at Sheridan College and her photographic exploration during her formative years in downtown Toronto. While working toward a traditional education in Art and Design, she learned to reach for perfection with her work. Curious by nature, she finds inspiration in Brantford's friendly residents, preserved nature landscapes, and thriving artistic community. Here, an image of Brantford's own enduring singer/songwriter Evan Champagne, is presented from a photographic series Tia calls Seeing through the Smoke. "After 10 years and over 1,200 performances, I thought Evan was a prime candidate for the gritty yet musical texture I was after for this shoot. Although not a smoker, the guitar Evan used was celebrating its 30th birthday the night of the session, so he felt a cigar was in order. As I began experimenting with the interactions between smoke and light, the theme Seeing through the Smoke emerged. In an artistic journey, albeit musical or photographic, smoke and mirrors became a normative landmark. Seeing through illusions that lead an artist away from their true passions in their art is often the challenge.
If you, or someone you know has been diagnosed with Celiac disease or a sensitivity to Gluten we can help. Always fresh. From our table to yours. 100% Gluten-Free. Sophias Bakery & Caf. Coming soon to the corner of King & Colborne, downtown Brantford.
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519.304.5480
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By Lisa Wood
idyllic imaginary paintings that little girls suckle themselves to sleep with. (the Advocate. Volume 1, Issue 5. January 2012. Ridiculous Love.) I dont know about you, but as a girl I dreamed about being a librarian and a spy, not a wife. So what happens if you or your child does not slip comfortably into a girly tiara or boyish Darth Vader mask? How do you feel if the culture around youat school, in the media, on the playground, at workdoesnt give you a single image of your own reality, brands you as deviant and abnormal, and tells you that who you are is unacceptable, wrong, even immoral? Thats where a book like Are You a Boy or a Girl? comes in. The book ends on a tender note, with the girls mother telling her: ever since there were girls and boys, there have been girls who like to do boy things and boys who like to do girl things. And when you know that and youre all grown up, youll know you can do anything you want to. Dont get me wrong. Theres nothing wrong with girly girls or boyish boys. But we need to make room in our society, our schools, and our hearts for the children who dont fit into those categories, who are charting a brave and difficult course in their search to become who they are meant to be. Im advocating for these courageous people and for a future where diversity is normal. Other recommended childrens books on gender diversity: My Princess Boy, by Cheryl Kilodavis And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson
I dont know about you, but as a girl I dreamed about being a librarian and a spy, not a wife.
Part of the reason Karleens story is important to me is that I asked that question. I was at a new school, and there was a boy in the grade ahead who confused me. He was so perfectly androgynous that I felt compelled to ask the question. As soon as he answered, defiantly, that he was a boy, I knew I had crossed a line, that I had done something wrong. I didnt know why. Whats important is not that I asked the question, but WHY I asked the question. Ten-year-old me fretted over hurting someones feelings, but never considered how it was that I felt it was an appropriate question to ask in the first place.
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We Were Here
Wednesday, March 28th, 7:30 PM
Research & Academic Centre, Wilfred Laurier University RCW002, 150 Dalhousie Street, Brantford Presented by The AIDS Network | Co-sponsors: The Bridge, Laurier Rainbow Alliance, HIV/AIDS Coalition serving Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk and Six Nations of the Grand River
A Feature Length Documentary by David Weissman Free event, doors open 7 PM
RSVP required: dgunton@aidsnetwork.ca or 866-563-0563
Panel Discussion To Follow Film
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March 2012
By Vicki File
quite often the longest haul. Occasionally a client will want to try something Ive never done before, like Hypnobirthing, and then I get to study up and learn something new. Regardless of the situation, I feel honoured to be included. Throughout labour, I offer a variety of techniques and suggestions for positioning to keep a woman's labour progressing. Her partner and I work together, trying different movements to make her more comfortable. And if none of these things are working, we try something else. When things feel overwhelming, I look into her eyes and remind her not only that she CAN do it, but that she IS doing it! It is no secret to most who know me that I am an advocate for natural, drug-free birth. I believe in the many long term benefits that come from such an experience, and I am happy to talk about it at length when asked. But I do not project my beliefs onto my clients, and I do not judge their choices. I believe that everyone should be able to try for the birth experience they choose. I have been involved in a variety of different births, and Ill never take the miracle for granted. Each babys first cry sounds a little different than the last, and each one brings tears to my eyes. Whether I have been up for days, am soaked from being splashed with amniotic fluid, or have massaged until my arms were numb, I walk out of there floating on air. The first thing I always say when I get home is that I cant wait to do that again. March 22-28 is World Doula Week. Chances are when you started reading this story you didnt really know what this whole Doula thing was about. Now that you do, maybe youll tell someone else. I firmly believe that every pregnant woman should have access to Doula support. Not because I am one, but because I have experienced birth without one, and I know now that there is a better way. Written by Vicki File www.vickifiledoula.com
Some people put together a birth plan I always refer to it as birth preferences with my clients. Plans are too rigid and dont allow room for things to go off course, which they almost always do. Flexibility is very important. When it comes time for the big day, I meet the client(s) at their home or the hospital. I am a constant presence for them, whether offering hands-on support or waiting quietly in another room while a couple enjoys the intimacy of the experience on their own for awhile. Some women choose to go drug-free. Those labours are the most physically demanding for me, with a lot of massage and hands-on support. Some women choose epidurals. Those births are
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By Marc Laferriere
ask me to cut and when wed start again hed grab the mic and start interviewing me. He pulled me aside and was very encouraging, telling me to relax and have fun with it. I had a blast. He had a blast and we both left laughing. Lessons like that can serve you well. Wrestling has been something that has stuck with me since I was a kid. Even though I dont do it anymore, its followed me via the magic of television on all my travels and it has always been there as a place I can go weekly to just enjoy myself. I have a lot of young ones in my life who are starting to like it too and it is fun to see their excitement.
Sometimes smart people bug me about my love of wrestling. I remind them tongue-firmly-in-cheek that technically Im one of those smart people too. I let slip that I have a few degrees including one in English Literature, and a Masters. Then I tell them as difficult as it was to get those, wrestling school, for me, was more difficult. When I feel like getting huffy and puffy about it, I dont. Im lucky enough to have learned from someone once that its better to just relax and have fun with it. ;)
By Kristen Kaye
children's' faces, and so my slogan that I go with is creating smiles for all occasions. Marco certainly has been keeping busy creating those smiles. Before Christmas he performed three to four gigs a day each weekend from Paris to Newmarket. He is booked for the CNE as well as Montana's for March Break. When asked what his favourite part about being a clown is, his response is simple. "There's only really one thing, it's knowing those kids are really happy, and it's the smile on that child's face and I say that from the bottom of my heart, it's the smiles on the kids. A lot of them, everywhere in the community, see me and I get it all the time: Mommy that's Marco! That's the clown that came to my birthday!" I joke with everybody that I go around leaving a Marc in people's lives. I always thank my Mother for giving me the name she gave me." When he is not performing, he's a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brantford, sits on the Dangerous Dogs committee, volunteers at the BGH visiting patients, enjoys playing cards with friends and sings Karaoke on Friday nights. Proulx shared his advice to others who might find themselves losing their sight, be it slowly or suddenly. "Keep a positive attitude and look at the motto of W Ross: The impossible is only the untried. I live by that every day." The bright smile on his face certainly brought one to mine. For more information, call Marc at 519-304-2277. Photo Cutline: The two faces of Marc Proulx "Marco the Clown" holds a photo of every day Marc and his loyal guide dog Felix. As you can see, every day Marc still strives to get laughs. Photo by KRISTIN KAYE
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