Category: Features
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‘Why Not’ encourages Brantford’s youth
It all started on a box of prayers. Sue Kopczyk saw a need in the eyes of the people of Brantford. She set up a little table with a sign that said…
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Let’s not sugar coat it
“That was so sweet it gave me diabetes,” or “I’m definitely getting diabetes after this” are phrases I have heard countless times over the course of my relatively short lifetime. If I…
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What’s your thing?
Meet Ashley Vandermaarl, the farmer girl. Between school, work, a social life and sleep, it’s hard for students to find that balance without wanting to rip out their hair. But somehow, Vandermaarl…
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Battling the odds with health food
Popular chatter on the street in regards to restaurants are whispering the scary idea that nine out of ten first-time restaurants will fail within their first year. Brantford local, Justin Hensen is…
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Modern day feminism: Is that an insult?
2014 was the year feminism exploded: whether it was about Beyoncé or Emma Watson at the UN, gender issues were becoming forefront and centre in every newspaper. The Twitter hashtag #YesAllWomen took…
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What’s your thing?
Meet Julie Anne Tamilia, the dancer. This 19 year-old Brantford native is taking the dance world by storm, having shared the stage with the likes of performers such as Avril Lavigne,…
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Mental Health: We’re All Involved
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 20% of Canadians are afflicted with some form of mental illness in their lifetime, and unfortunately, the CMHA has found that mental illnesses and…
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Exploring the spectrum of sexuality
When joining Tinder you never really know what to expect. I’ve read about complete horror stories: people who can’t take no for an answer, stories regarding sexism and harassment. I didn’t know…
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Mental illness and its effect on supporters
Disclaimer: The names in this article have been changed to protect the anonymity of the sources. I sit down in a chair and take the coffee that Lucas kindly made for me.…
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Best Buddies: support, inclusion, acceptance
Support, inclusion, friendship and acceptance: all well-founded values that are of vital importance in any strong community. Thankfully for us here at Laurier Brantford, we have a club on campus that works…
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A home away from home
Before she even opens the door I can smell the scent of cooking wafting through the hallways. It tickles my nose and makes my stomach grumble. Set on the table before me…
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What’s your thing?
Meet Syd Bolton, the super geek. Walking up to 13 Alma Street in Brantford Ontario, a typical bungalow seems nothing but ordinary. The garage door is wide open, but it’s not a…
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New student apps designed to help with all areas of student life
As soon as you walk through the doors of any campus building you can see it – students rushing to their next class, studying at tables or talking with friends on the…
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The skeleton in the family closet
You think that it will never happen to you. This exhausted cliché has a sneaky way of working its way into the lives of the naïve, ignorant and unsuspecting, but nonetheless…
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That’s not what I signed up for…
Being of the Type-A personality, I take a sick amount of pleasure in ensuring that my life is mapped out. I know where I want to be in the next hour,…
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What’s your thing?
Meet Mandala Ataksak, the Whirling Warrior. Eleven years ago, 20 year old Ataksak found herself on a road trip hitting up festivals in the South Eastern United States with her cousin.…
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Seeing the sexy in fitness
Pulling into the parking lot I can tell I have the right place, as a lady in hot pink above lures my attention to the sign titled “Allure Fitness Inc.” “Get sexy, get fit.” Allure Fitness is no ordinary fitness studio.…
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What’s your thing?
Meet Benjamin Rogers, the folk artist. Benjamin had a guitar in his hands by the time he was one year old, which was actually photographed on the front page of the Brantford Expositor…
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Is university worth the debt?
Post-secondary education is in higher demand than it has ever been before. Not only do employers love to see a college or university education listed on your resume, they expect it. In…
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The Oriental: Old-school and proud of it
The early 1990s were a rough time for businesses in downtown Brantford. The donut effect had reared its ugly head, drawing out long time businesses to new plazas built on the outskirts…
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Talking about death won’t kill you
Death. It’s a completely natural phenomenon, an end that us as living beings will all come to one day. Yet, we pretend as if it will never happen. And you know what?…
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Challenging racism and ableism through conversation
People journey through life suffering instances of discrimination that may seem small, but the effects are huge. In these cases, it is important to reach out to others who may have gone…
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Living without a home: Brantford and beyond
He was in a band for five years before he decided to live out of a suitcase. He claims to have seen almost every town across Canada; if you believe it possible…
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There’s a day for everything
It’s March. For some, this month is about melting snow and St. Patty’s day. But March is also the month where you can celebrate proof reading, the scrapbooking industry or even false…
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A cog in a capitalist machine: How Laurier is run like a business
With the recent job cuts and contract academic staff speaking out about unfairness, Laurier’s finances are under a microscope. But as staff, students and the community are trying to understand the decisions…
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The Canadian obsession with the face veil
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stands against the notion of Canadian women wearing a face veil during the oath of citizenship. His comments on the niqab have triggered a social media storm. Harper’s…
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Contract academic staff fight for job security
On Feb. 25, staff and students across the United States walked out of classrooms at noon. It was the first National Adjunct Walkout Day, where students and professors stood in protest for…
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A Canadian advocates for LGBTQ rights in Ukraine
Every human being deserves to be treated equally, fairly and with respect, regardless of his or her sexual orientation. However, globally, the LGBTQ community faces severe discrimination, violence and abuse. Michelle Emson,…
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A different type of happily ever after
A single wooden massage bed, slightly larger than average, sits in the middle of the room. It does not look home-made, the wood is mainly covered by the long white sheets. A…
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A paying practice: investigating the yoga-pant phenomenon
From $90 lululemon yoga pants to knock-off brands, many people who do not practise yoga, wear ‘yoga’ pants for the fit, the look, or the logo. Yoga, a physical, mental and spiritual…
