20121 November

Produced by the Mohawk Journalism Program Issue 4

Lords of the Rings

P3/ P12/P10/

Hamilton says “Goodbye” to a local legend

Halloween takes over Mohawk College

Youth Mental Health Town Hall at Mohawk

Photo: Anisha Seth

P5/

P.2

www.ignitenews.ca

ignitenews.ca

NEWS

Lincoln Alexander 1922-2012

Lincoln Alexander’s casket, guarded by York Regional Police. Photo: Diego Flammini

Diego FlamminiIgnite News

“Are you here to pay your respects?”

The question was asked to anyone making his or her way around city hall.

“Just up the stairs.”

On the second floor is a velvet-roped, red-carpeted walkway surrounded by pictures, medals, and the casket, flanked by members of York Regional Police and Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina. For citizens, it’s a chance to say their final goodbyes

to Lincoln Alexander, who passed away October 19th at the age of 90.

Many knew Alexander as a lawyer and a politician, but those close to him simply knew him as ‘Linc’.

“(He was) one of the boys,” said Gerald Swaye, Alexander’s friend and law col-league since the 1960s, as he exited city hall.

“He would call me ‘kid’, and I’d say ‘Linc, I’m in my forties’”, said former Hamilton Mountain MPP Sophia Aggelonitis with a laugh. “He was a friend to all.”

People of a certain age will remember that like Jackie Robinson in baseball, Lincoln Alexander broke Canada’s federal politics colour barrier. He did so in 1968 when he became the first black Member of Parliament. But how should the younger generations remember a man who is much more than the namesake of a parkway?

“One in a billion. A trailblazer,” Aggelonitis said. “Someone who stood up not only for Hamilton, but the entire province. Some-one who believed you could do anything if you set your mind to it.”

Lincoln Alexander’s body lay in state at city hall until his funeral last Friday.

Photo: Lisa PolewskiSome Hamiltonians welcome home the motorcade of the late Lincoln Alexander

Hamilton says goodbye to Lincoln AlexanderLisa PolewskiIgnite News

Hamiltonians waved flags in tribute to Lincoln Alexander as the official motorcade brought the Canadian hero home via the highway that bears his name.

The motorcade set off from Queen’s Park on Monday evening, bearing Lincoln Alexan-der’s body back to Hamilton, where he made history as Canada’s first black Member of Parliament.

Chris Ecklund of the Canadian Heroes Initiative set the tribute in motion on Sunday, calling for Ham-iltonians to come out to the Linc and salute Alexander. Ecklund explained why the tribute is important to him.

“Linc is probably the humblest man I’ve ever met,” said Ecklund.

“I considered him a dear friend. He would talk to anybody, he would give anybody time, and that’s what made him not just a great Hamilto-nian, but a great Canadian.”

Over fifty people showed up at the Garth overpass, holding a huge flag over the railing in anticipation of the passing hero. Deb Garbett was among the crowd, ready to salute Alexander during his return. She said Alexander made an impact on all generations of Hamiltonians, especially on her family when he presented her children with the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards.

“It was such a great thing for me because as a youngster myself, growing up in Hamilton, he was just an icon in politics,” said Garbett. “He was amazing with my kids; he asked them all about their volunteer experience. He took the time to talk to them and really was interested in how they’d earned their awards.”

P.3

www.ignitenews.ca

ignitenews.ca

NEWS

IN MEMORY OF LINCOLN ALEXANDER

Hamiltonians pay tribute to the lateLincoln Alexander

Photos: Diego Flammini & Kelly Kotulak

P.4

www.ignitenews.caNEWS

ignitenews.ca

www.ignitenews.ca

Police cracking down on distracted drivingNadine NockIgnite News

Hamilton Police are trying to deliver a message on the dangers of distracted driving. The police are on a nine-month distracted driving campaign determined to keep drivers’ attention on the road, and not on their phones.

Constable Wes Wilson of the Hamilton po-lice says drivers think the police don’t see their phones if they hold them down low.

“Having your phone in your hand is enough to get a ticket,” he said. “We hear all sorts of excuses, people using speaker phone, it was an emergency text message.”

Last Tuesday Limeridge mall had an interactive driving simulator for people to sit down and try to take to the road with

their eyes in their phones. Police watched drivers hit the simulated road and said each driver would have received a ticket.

Alicia Stoakley tried the simulator and said it showed her to be more careful behind the wheel.

“One second can change everything. I would have been dead if I was in my car. I smashed up pretty bad!”

Many teenagers admit to driving while using their cell phones and don’t realize the potential dangers. Since the campaign launch in February, Hamilton Police have handed out over four thousand tickets, each costing one hundred and fifty five dollars.

“The campaign saves lives,” said Wilson. “Drivers don’t understand the risk they are putting themselves and other drivers in by taking their eyes off the road for only a second.”

Transport Canada’s statistics say drivers are four times more likely to get in an accident while on their cell phones and ten times more likely when texting.

Rachel Walker lost her license after an ac-cident caused by distracted driving.

“I was texting my boyfriend and went off the road, I hit a telephone pole and totaled my car. I am lucky to be here,” Walker said. “My life isn’t worth the risk, other people need to learn that too.”

Photo: Kelly Kotulak

At the end of the Winter 2012 semester—literally, the day after exams ended—Sam Cook, coordinator of the Radio Broadcasting program, and Ruby Szpeflicki now a second-year radio student, went to work on a new outlet for students to get their voices heard.

Ignite Radio (.ca) is Mohawk College’s latest media venture—an internet radio station dedicated to getting new media students out of their shells and on the air.

“With things moving forward we had to ask ourselves where is radio headed? And it’s headed online,” Cook said.

While Mohawk College already hosts a terrestrial radio station, INDI 101.5 FM, according to Station Manager Les Palango, INDI is the “major leagues” of Mohawk radio. “If they’re here [at INDI] then they’re finished over there [at Ignite]. That’s the minor leagues.”

Ignite Radio is designed to be a learning experience, but by almost any measure it is a prime broadcasting stage. “Our equipment is top of the line,” said Cook. “If you go to other stations across Ontario, we have some of the best equipment over some regular commercial radio stations.”Torrance Mooradian in a second-year radio student. He’s experi-

enced INDI, but is looking forward to broadcasting from Ignite for the time being. “I’m a rocker, myself. But just because I’m a rocker doesn’t mean I don’t want to do this too. INDI has a lot of listeners already, but this is brand new.”

Cook described Ignite as playing top 40 hits “for the student who loves high energy music, winning amazing prizes, and likes to know the latest gossip!”

Ignite radio began full programming this week. You can catch up with Ignite Radio at igniteradio.ca, as well as on Facebook (/igniteradio1) and Twitter (@igniteradio1). You can also stop by their contests page to check out your chances to win a trip for two to Montreal, a Staples shopping spree, and more!

While creating a radio station from scratch was tough work and made for a long summer, Ruby said, “It was [a great experience], and I loved every minute of it.”

Mohawk ignites a new radio opportunityScott SummerhayesIgnite News

Radio student Scott Boyer on Ignite Radio Photo: Ignite News

www.ignitenews.ca

P.5

ignitenews.ca

SPORTSwww.ignitenews.ca

Fans of Mohawk’s varsity basketball teams packed the gym on Tuesday to watch the men’s team put the final stamp on a his-toric victory.

Prior to the Mountaineers’ game against the Niagara College Knights, players from Mohawk’s 2011-2012 CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association) champi-onship team received their rings com-memorating last year’s victory.

Along with the rings, three banners were unveiled. One for their Ontario champion-ship, one for the national championship, and a special Mohawk College banner complete with the names of the players and coaching staff.

Men’s coach Brian Jonker said finally being able to receive the rings is a perfect way to end that chapter of his coaching career.“A culmination of an entire year’s work comes to an end tonight,” he said. “It’s a special finishing touch for what was really a great season.”

Captain of the championship team Aminu Bello made the trip from Edmonton and said looking at his ring reminds him of the sacrifices he’s made in order to earn it.“All the hard work that went into it,” Bello said. “Practices, games, putting in all the effort (and) managing with school.”

Mountaineers’ rookie Braedon Lenters said he’s happy to share the court with cham-pions.

“It’s pretty exciting, winning last year and being able to be a part of that.”

Returning player and CCAA tournament MVP Andrew Cicuttini said while receiv-ing the rings was nice, there’s not much time to celebrate.

“It’s a brand new team and we have to prove ourselves once again,” said Cicuttini. “Every team in this league is giving us their best game now.”

Earlier in the night, Mohawk’s women Mountaineers won their game against Niagara 65-52, and players said knowing there’s a celebration acts as their motiva-tion for the season.

“It’s kind of special,” said Lacey Wolters. “To see where they go to last year. That’s where we want to be.”

After the ceremony, the men’s team started their title defence with an 84-74 win.

Diego FlamminiIgnite Sports

Rings to rule them allPhoto: Elia KoolsbergenMohawk’s OCAA Champs show off their new rings Above Photos: Anisha Seth

P.6

www.ignitenews.caSPORTS

ignitenews.ca

A farewell letter to Ivor Wynne StadiumDiego FlamminiIgnite Sports Commentary

Dear Ivor Wynne Stadium,

It’s almost poetic that it rained for your last game, symbolic of the tears that some Hamiltonians must have shed.

Ever since the Pan Am Games announce-ment, we all knew this day would come.

Now that it has, it’s a bittersweet feeling.

Let’s be honest, you’re not the prettiest girl at the CFL stadium dance, but that’s part of what makes you so unique.

At one point, your north stands were considered too ugly to be put on TV.

Instead of cushioned seats, you have wooden benches.

You live in the heart of the city with steel mills poking over your north stands.

To the people of Hamilton, you’re much more than just where the Tiger-Cats play, you are our Mecca.

There was the time I introduced my girl-friend Lauren, who is from Mississauga, to a real football crowd. I dressed her up in full Toronto Argonaut gear and took her to a Labour Day Classic. The expres-sion on her face while experiencing her first “Argos suck!” and “Oskee-Wee-Wee!” chants and seeing how dedicated the fans are to the team and stadium is something I’ll always remember.

There’s the playoff game between Ham-ilton and B.C. in 2010 when I held the Canadian flag on the field before the game and became engulfed in the atmo-sphere from the player’s level. I was then part of the roar when the Ti-Cats scored the game-tying touchdown, sending the game into overtime and breaking a part of the bench in the process. (My neigh-bour still has that bench.)

I’ve seen your ugly side while covering the locker room sale for class. A classmate and I were given a look at some of your nuances, from the offices to the outdated

weight room, torn punching bags and all.

You’re not for the faint of heart.

There’s the community around you that allows fans to park on their lawns to see a game. I paid $10 on Saturday to park beside some guy’s house and I’m sure he makes a killing.

January 2012 brought hockey to your field, when you hosted Canada’s first AHL outdoor classic. For two days, I, along with thousands of others, braved the harsh winds and cold temperatures to support our hometown Hamilton Bulldogs.

I’m not old enough to remember your entire 84-year history, but it’s still a part of me.

You were built in 1928 with the name Civic Stadium and hosted the British Empire Games in 1930. I’ve seen the historic photo of Angelo Mosca hoist-ing the Grey Cup in 1972 and heard about Pink Floyd blowing up your scoreboard on the last day of their 1975 North American tour.

I’ve walked on the same turf as Mor-reale, Hitchcock, Stala, Montford, and Angelo Mosca. I was at the last Labour Day Classic, and I was at the very last game. In my own small way, I am part of your history.

I am a Hamilton Tiger-Cat.

What better way to close out our final night with you than with a win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and one last “Argos suck!” chant? I’m sure that Ivor Wynne himself was looking down and smiling.

From the bottom of our black and gold hearts, we’ll miss you.

Yours, Diego Flammini

P.S. Argos suck!

www.ignitenews.ca

P.7

ignitenews.ca

SPORTS

Red Wings seek answers after slow startGlen Cuthbert Ignite SportsIt’s been a tough season so far for the Hamilton Red Wings. Nearing the mid-way point of the season, the Wings sit in last place in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with just three wins in 18 games.

With big expectations to start the season, questions abound as to what is actually wrong with this team.

Spencer MacCormack was acquired early in the season in a trade for holdout Sammy Banga. After a few games with the Red Wings, he too asked for a trade. He says the exact problem is difficult to pin down.

“It’s tough to say, but it seems like there is a lack of heart and determination,” he said.MacCormack also said his trade request was for personal reasons.

“I needed to make changes in hopes to

further my hockey career. It’s just one of those things that didn’t work out.”

Other Wings have also asked to be traded, including forward Adam Di Brina and goaltender Jason Pucciarelli. Di Brina was traded to Aurora for cash, and Pucciarelli was sent to the North York Rangers for goalie Avery Allen.

A rare bright spot for the Wings this season has been the play of new-comer Troy Crema, who has scored 21 points in 17 games this season. The hot start earned the 17-year-old Crema an invite to Team Canada East selection camp in Toronto.

“It’s just a tremendous honour to be named for that camp. There are a lot of great players there. I’m just happy to get the opportunity to try to play for a team like that.”

Photo: Trevor Castonguay

NHL strike? What strike?Wade MckenzieIgnite Sports increase in ticket sales,” said Ostaszewicz.

He also mentioned the sold out season opener against the Marlies as a perfect ex-ample, pointing out that Copps Coliseum rarely ever sells out for a hockey game and only ever comes close when the Marlies are in town.

Hamilton native Kyle Hagel just signed with the Bulldogs this season. He says his fellow Bulldogs aren’t too worried.

“We are glad to be still playing and it hasn’t personally been affecting myself or the other players, but we have been seeing larger crowds and there is a huge opportu-nity for noticing talent with the spotlight being placed on the AHL,” said Hagel.

Some Hamilton fans aren’t pleased with the NHL lockout, but many aren’t con-cerned, because they can still follow the Bulldogs.

The National Hockey League (NHL) won’t be having an 82 game schedule this year and the rest of the season is still at risk. This decision, due to the recent lockout, has both players and staff concerned.

The American Hockey League (AHL) isn’t as concerned, as the 2012 AHL regular season just kicked off last week, and the Hamilton Bulldogs sold out their season opener against the Toronto Marlies.

Bulldogs president Stephen Ostaszewicz says they are looking forward to the sea-son, and the impact of the NHL lockout has been minimal, but positive.

“We have a pretty solid group of people working together at the corporate level and things seem to be running smoothly. We don’t expect to see a huge impact, but the fans do expect to see some potential national pros and we are noticing a slight

“It hasn’t really affected me. I enjoy com-ing out to the games downtown (Hamil-ton) all the time and sure, I like to watch my NHL, but I have my team here that I can go see live,” said long-time Bull-dogs fan and season ticket holder David Young.

The seats may be vacant in the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, or the Bell Centre in Montreal, but seats are hot for the AHL and the popularity continues to rise.

Adam Brady (l), Luke Laidlaw, Jason O’Connor

P.8

ENTERTAINMENT

ignitenews.ca

www.ignitenews.ca

Erik Thorkildsen says the music business is “like throwing a dart at a dartboard.”

The drummer and the rest of the guys from Hamilton’s alternative rock band Still Life may have hit the bulls-eye.

The group has just been accepted to play the music festival at Canadian Music Week next March, a stage that’s seen the likes of Slash, Passion Pit, Train and The Sheep-dogs.

“We’re all, of course, extremely revved up by this,” said Still Life singer Evan Bowers. “It’s a big deal and we’re aware of that.”

The news came just over a month after the release of their first five-track EP Page One. Still Life is looking forward to the opportunities waiting at Canadian Music Week.

“I’m going to take advantage of as much as possible that week and attend as many seminars and speaker presentations as pos-

Next stop: Canadian Music WeekCourtney MacDonaldIgnite Entertainment

sible, not to mention hundreds of bands,” said guitarist Mike Dojcsak.

“I want to find out what the people running this business want to see from new artists like us,” bassist Corey Brouwer agreed. While this is a big step in the right direction for Still Life, they admit it’s tough

to get support and attendance in the local music scene.

“You’ve got to bug people but not to the point where they’ll start hating you,” Thorkildsen said. “It’s a science. We want people to come out and actually enjoy our stuff.”

The band owes much of their exposure to the Internet. Page One is on Facebook and their music video Lost and Found has over 3000 YouTube hits. Still Life will continue

playing shows to get their name out prior to Cana-dian Music Week.

“We are all just playing our hearts out,” said Bowers,

“and I think that will show with whoever we’re in front of.”

From left to right: Mike Dojcsak, Erik Thorkildsen, Evan Bowers and Corey Brouwer are gearing up for their biggest gig yet.

“We are all just playing our

hearts out”

P.9

ignitenews.ca

ENTERTAINMENT www.ignitenews.ca

Brian Posehn took to the stage at the Arnie on October 18, and despite talking about his bodily functions for a good thirty min-utes of his set, he had the audience laughing the whole time. It’s kind of what he does.

“When you’re talking about farts and penises, everybody knows what those are, wherever you go. It’s pretty much universal.”

Posehn’s set went over not just farts and penises, but everything he knows best: comic books, heavy metal, and Star Wars, which he doesn’t hold in the highest esteem anymore.

“Star Wars is my Vietnam,” goes his routine, which he performed much to the delight of the nerds in the audience. “When young people talk about Star Wars, I’m like, ‘you don’t know Star Wars! Star Wars is 1977, George Lucas, Greedo didn’t shoot first mother f*****.”

Because headliners Posehn and Rob Mailloux (top right) came in from the States a bit late, local comic Patrick Coppolino extended his opening set to warm up the crowd. His brand of comedy defi-nitely got the crowd ready for was what to come- the night really lived up to it’s billing as a ‘Dark Comedy Night’.

Coppolino, only 23 years old, runs many of independent comedy shows in the Hamilton area and says that the city’s comedy scene is getting a lot better.

“The last few years since I’ve started, there’s been a ton of new guys coming out,” he said.

Toronto-born Rob Mailloux was next, and though it took the crowd a while to get into his brand of off-colour comedy, he even-tually won the Arnie over. He said that it’s all about presentation when it comes to getting the crowd to laugh.

“I do some strongly opinionated abortion material,” said Mailloux.“The room might be a 50/50 split on opinion on that, but the point is that I should be a good enough entertainer that even if you don’t agree with me, you might be able to find it funny and be able to see where I’m coming from and the angle on it. That’s the challenge of it.”

Main attraction Brian Posehn killed it from joke one, however, and the crowd ate up every bit. But for him, comedy was some-thing he hadn’t planned on doing.

“Comedy only came about from a friend going, “hey, you should do that,” and I was like, “really, I can?” It wasn’t a thing I thought was possible, so I just sort of fell into that, and still loved comic books, and have fallen into that over the last couple of years.”

Posehn’s forays into writing now include comics- in November, the first issue of Deadpool written by him and Gerry Duggan will hit the shelves.

“I want to write more than comedy, but people know me as a comedian, so it makes sense for me to write a funny character first. It’s not easy, but it’s been a lot of fun to write a sarcastic guy whose killing people, then making quips as he’s doing it.”

Steve Spriensma Ignite Entertainment

DarkComedy Night

in The Arnie

Mental Health 101

P.10

ignitenews.ca

www.ignitenews.ca

Chelsea Rothwell is very busy. At the time I interviewed her, she was coordinating an internship program for McMaster Univer-sity. From India. Recently, she received an award from Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina for her work overseas. Her mother accepted the award on her behalf. Chelsea Rothwell is not your stereotypi-cal “troubled teen.” Not many would consider her “undesirable.” And yet that is exactly what is being said about the residents of her former home, Charlton Hall.

“I’m interested in putting a human face on the debate over Charlton Hall,” says Rothwell. The debate, she says, “has resulted in the alienation of one of Hamilton’s most vulnerable populations. I’m in-terested in defending the integrity of the young women…because I was one of them.”

When Chelsea was only 13, she was removed from her home. The police, along with Catholic Children’s Services, thought that would be the best way to deal with her. Chelsea was placed in fos-ter care and medicated despite her belief that she was not mentally ill.

“In my experience, it is more often than not the case that young women with behavioural problems are categorized haphazardly as “mentally ill” and medicated as an immediate response,” says Rothwell. She noted that an individual’s experiences were not re-ally taken into consideration, only the displayed symptoms.

Stigma, Opportunity, Complexity, and Compassion.

Four panelists spoke these four words at the beginning of the special town hall event, Mental Health 101: Youth and the Hidden Crisis in Our Community. Heather Hiscox of CBC Hamilton hosted the event at Mohawk College last week.

The words illustrated what came to mind for each panelist when they heard the words “youth and mental illness.”

Dr. Sheila Harms, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at McMas-ter Children’s Hospital, chose the word opportunity, describing how the topic of mental illness can be approached optimistically with a sense of hope.

“There’s so much that we don’t know, there’s a lot that is known, there’s a lot that we can do, and it’s a place that’s waiting for good things to happen,” Harms said.

Some panelists spoke about personal struggles with mental illness.

Mariette Lee, a suicide survivor and president of COPE: A Student Mental Health Initiative at McMaster, recounted her feelings of depression and anxiety during her second year.

“Unfortunately, my condition deteriorated much faster than I would have liked, and … the stress, the anxiety, the feelings of incompetency … made me feel altogether worthless,” Lee said.

After the event, the audience had the opportunity to take the floor and share their personal stories, as well as discuss what could be done to address the issue.

“What the treatment should be is what does the individual need, we need to look at the individual context of the situation … the personhood of that individual,” said second-year nursing student Eric Barby.

“We need to learn how to empathize.”

Dave TabronIgnite News Chelsea Rothewell

tells her storyJoanna WardIgnite News

“I was stubborn enough not to let society decide for me whether or not I was going to be a con-tributing member of

society.”

ONLINE SPECIAL EDITION:Photo: C

BC H

amilton

P11

ignitenews.ca

www.ignitenews.ca

Charlton Hall, a home for eight troubled teenaged girls living with mental illness, was in desperate need of a new home when it proposed moving from Charlton Avenue to a new facility in Corktown on Augusta Street. Then City Council enforced a bylaw requiring residential facilities to stay at least 300 metres apart from one another.

But for Stomp Out Stigma head Laura Babcock, the debate over Charlton Hall became a public issue when it got personal.

“Initially, when it was just a bylaw in place that prevented it was one thing, but people started to call the girls undesirable when a city councilor said, “If these were pedophiles would people be so upset about it?”” said Babcock. “Things like that started to come out and the reasons why the girls shouldn’t be in the neighbourhood were reasons that you would never use for an-other group of people.”

“It was clearly a stigma against the men-tally ill.”

Stomp Out Stigma is a self-described grassroots campaign that sells t-shirts in support of the Charlton Hall girls and aims to spread public awareness about the reali-ties of mental health.

The debate surrounding Charlton Hall gained the attention of people like Bab-cock when the Hamilton Spectator quoted some residents of Corktown at the council debate saying they did not want ‘unde-sirables’ in their neighbourhood. But

Charlton Hall controversySteve SpiensmaIgnite News

according to some critics of the move, the negative public reaction isn’t against the girls themselves, as Babcock and the media make it out.Jason Farr, councilman for Ward 2, which includes the Corktown district, says it wasn’t a personal issue until the Lynwood Centre brought the girls into it.

“It’s as much a zoning plan for those who live in the neighbourhood as for the girls who need the care,” he said.

Farr said a Cork-town resident made

the ‘undesirables’ comment in regard to the crack users and dealers in the area, not the eight

girls under the care of Lynwood. He

says the problems that still exist in the

neighbourhood make it one that isn’t suit-able for another home.

“It’s understandable to see the other side of the argument, but we on the council sometimes have to make tough decisions,” he said. “It’s how you create balanced neighbourhoods.”

Babcock still says many other comments are a major slight and a violation of the girls’ rights, and sees them as indicative of a wider problem.

“When it got to that level where it was becoming harmful and it was becoming a violation of their human rights, that’s when I started to talk about it.”

But Farr thinks the public has been hear-ing a one-sided conversation.

“What about the human rights of the people living in that neighbourhood?”

“The reasons why the girls shouldn’t be in the

neighbourhood were reasons that you would never use for another

group of people.”

Charlton Hall was the last care facility Rothwell lived in before she was finally allowed to go home. She had little in common with the other women who lived there. She was often robbed and bullied and had trouble fitting in, but she says there was one person who made it all bet-ter.

“My saving grace at Charlton Hall was my case sorker, Lisa Maskell,” says Rothwell. “She was the first person who I can recall treating me as an equal, with love and respect through all of my difficulties.” This sentiment is a common one among those who have escaped the system.

“I was stubborn enough not to let soci-ety decide for me whether or not I was going to be a contributing member of society.” Rothwell went on to graduate from McMaster University and last month she received Youth Community Service award at the Gandhi peace festival for her volunteering around the city and her work as an intern with the Canadian Interna-tional Development Agency. Rothwell says receiving an award from the same people who want to shut down her former home is lonely.

“My experience is one that demonstrates a distinct lack of housing resources for women who categorize as ‘other.’” Rothwell says it is the continuing stigma associated with both mental health problems and residential care facilities that is creating problems.

“Council’s narrow focus on the radical separation bylaw disguises our most difficult work yet: truly coming to terms with a deeply flawed system of social services, and mobilizing efforts and resourced to improve them. Until then, we’re continuing to ensure that these young women remain marginalized, even before they’re able to recognize their own power and potential”

If you are in crisis and live in the Hamilton area, 24-hour assistance is available:Emergency 911COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team): 905-972-8338Hospital Emergency RoomSalvation Army Suicide Crisis Line: 905-522-1477

Telecare Burlington: 905-681-1488Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868LGBTQ Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688 (Sunday to Friday 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm)Youth Net Hamilton www.youthnethamilton.ca

For more stories on youth mental health, follow the QR code to our website - www.ignitenews.ca

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

www.ignitenews.ca HALLOWEEN!

MONSTERS AT MOHAWK!

SCAN TO SEE MORE WILD AND WACKY COSTUMES AT MOHAWK!

201227

September Managing Editor

Joanna Ward

News EditorSteve Spriensma

Sports EditorGlen Cuthbert

Entertainment EditorNoah Salo

Layout EditorTaylor Ablett

Contactignitenewsca@gmail.com

Produced by the Mohawk College Journalism Program

Photo EditorsWade Mckenzie

Anisha Seth