niagara-news.com WHY ARE OUR THE ART OF BEES INK: A PHOTO DISAPPEARING? ESSAY NN PAGE 3 PAGE 8-9 NIAGARA NEWS MARCH 16, 2018 • VOL. 49 ISSUE 10 NC advisor A lower honoured for voting age work with A BIG VOICE Women’s rights group in Niagara raises money is worth LGBTQ2+ discussing youth to erect billboards all over the region BY MELISSA BURTON By LISA BROWN Staff Writer Staff Writer Arthur Potts believes Alison Ryder, the aca- lowering the voting age is demic advisor for the school “worthy of a conversation.” of Community Services and The MPP for Beaches – the part time co-ordinator East York riding introduced who runs Virtual Dementia the Election Amendment Training for Allied Health, Act (Voter Eligibility) on was honoured with the March 5 to lower the voting Canada 150 award by Vance age to 16 in Ontario. Badawey, MP for Niagara “I was encouraged to do Centre, for her leadership so by the youth wing of my of Niagara LGBTQ2+ youth riding association,” says for both on and off campus Potts. involvement. In a January meeting, it “Being the recipient of was brought to his atten- the Canada 150 (award) is tion by young Liberals in truly an honour, but more his riding that they felt their importantly, it has led to voices were not being heard much conversation and brought light to an ongoing government policies and need to support our entire andparty views platforms. not reflected in student body, ensuring that Potts believes the bill is NC is a safe and welcoming community for all,” Alison lowering the voting age and says modestly. awill “first encourage important youth step” to to be a Alison, in partnership part of the political pro- with Jen White, the co-ordi- cess and “provide a mix of nator for Child and Youth at school structure and family Niagara College, knew the engagement that will help importance of an NCSAC ensure high registration, social club for the LGBTQ2+ interest and participation.” community because they Continued on page 2 need for this population bothof students saw first-hand to be acknowl- the edged, celebrated, empow- PHOTO ered and welcomed. Continued on page 2 ESSAY LIVE LONGER? One of the new pro-choice billboards stands at the corner of Welland Avenue and Niagara Street, in St. Catharines. PHOTO BY BETH AUDET GO AHEAD AND By BETH AUDET billboards. She was “shocked” by the operates the local food HAVE THAT Staff Writer “We’re not trying to immediate outpouring of truck Ello Gov’na, says she THIRD COFFEE. change minds,” says local support for the online cam- initially struggled to reach An online community of activist Val Chambers, paign and said “the silent out to friends about the PAGE 5 women has spurred action “we’re just trying to balance majority” showed them- campaign because the topic of billboard proportions, the narrative in a positive selves through donations is so “taboo.” literally. way.” and comments. But she remains passion- Niagarans for women’s Chambers, who works The campaign reached its ate about the project, saying rights have raised over in social media marketing goal of $7,000 merely one she believes women have $7,000 on chuffed.org and passionately promotes week after it launched on the right to make the choice to erect 10 pro-choice Niagara-based businesses Jan. 16. without feeling shamed billboards intending to bal- Charlie Wharton, another by “triggering” pro-life ance the region’s abortion was one of many women woman actively involved in billboards. Rebecca Debassige is the narrative. usinginvolved her in online organizing influence, and the project, says the experi- The pro-choice billboards perfect example of how The campaign concept supporting the project. ence “has been really eye omit photos of people and an Indigenous person was birthed on Facebook, She says she and many opening for me.” resort to simple illustra- can thrive given the right when women’s rights dis- others who believe in a “I didn’t expect to feel tions. Unlike the pro-life support and a welcoming cussion boards culminated woman’s right to choose so afraid,” she says about billboards which often use community that promotes a with a group consensus have stayed silent in the con- the moment the project photos of beautiful young sense of belonging. about Niagara’s long-stand- troversial conversation. But launched. white women or families. Story and photos ing undisputed pro-life not because they don’t care. Wharton, who owns and Continued on page 2 on pages 14 and 15 Page 2 NIAGARA NEWS • March 16, 2018 NEWS Billboard Giving voice to young LGBTQ2+ campaign Continued from page 1 ested in taking part in In addition, Alison is a forum that discusses Continued from page 1 According to Wharton, working with the Board LGBTQ2+ issues and this choice was intentional of Directors and commu- how Niagara College can because: “we didn’t want to nity volunteers, including support this population cause as much harm as we Niagara College counsel- at both campuses, please believe they are.” lors Jen White and Michelle email Alison at aryder@ William Mathie, president MacIntosh, for OUTNiagara. niagaracollege.ca. They create and organize of St. Catharines Right to Advice from Alison Life, says they receive ample services and supports for • You will encounter donations from “generous the LGBTQ2+ community, places outside of Niagara and enthusiastic” support- which currently has “noth- College that aren’t as ers. Enough support, in fact, ing” available so far for this welcoming of the to have funded 80 pro-life population on a day-to-day LGBTQ2+ community as billboards last year alone. basis. They hope to supply we are. It’s important When asked about the counselling in-person, over to change attitudes but pro-life billboard campaign, the phone, through group remember it’s not always Mathie said they were “glad meetings, activities, fund- possible. Everyone is to hear about it.” raisers and so on. different whether it’s He says it’s always nice to “We want to be seen in ethically right or wrong. hear their signs are being the community that we • “If everyone were to noticed and added that “it’s have a voice,” says Alison. come out and be brave an issue that’s usually dealt “We need more.” and be willing to face it, with in silence, so we’re Especially since many it’s going to get easier,” glad to see it being dis- people are moving here says Alison. You are not cussed that way.” from Toronto where alone. Hope will prevail According to Mathie, the services and supports are and it will get better. organization, which was abundant. • “It’s vital for students founded in 1981, is neither Alison was also asked to to be good people,” says political nor religious. create an advisory council Alison. Practice empa- “Our group aims at educa- in the Niagara region to give thy and compassion by tion,” he says. “We’re trying the LGBTQ2+ community helping with the elderly Alison Ryder received the Canada 150 award for her dedication and involvement to reach the general public a voice in Parliament. This in long-term care. Look with the LGBTQ2+ community at Niagara College and the Niagara region. about the value of human was sparked by the federal to volunteer. Research PHOTO BY LISA BROWN life from conception and government apology to the proves bringing happi- also trying to reach girls community in 2017 where ness to others or helping College and the Niagara Their contact numbers, who are pregnant, vulnera- Badeway asked for the LGBTQ2+ others will profoundly region. If we can make our locations and hours of ble and worried about what opinions of Alison and the affect your own little community more Lesbian operation can be found to do, trying to offer them Rainbow Knights. happiness. understanding, it will hope- Gay at niagaracollege.ca/ encouragement and point There is a gathering on • One day we won’t have fully spread throughout our Bisexual counselling-services/ them towards help.” April 15 in downtown St. to have the conversa- society.” contact-us/. When asked about criti- Catharines to join every Transgender tion about someone It’s unknown how many • Contact the presidents cism that their billboards community to speak about Queer being gay. You wouldn’t students on campus identify of the LGBTQ2+ social can be triggering, Mathie LGBTQ2+ concerns and ask someone if they’re as part of the LGBTQ2+ Two-spirited clubs Sharaya McCollum- simply said: “I don’t really ideas and to create a list for heterosexual, right? community. + welcoming additions Brown (Welland) at think they are. I think they educational institutions, • It will happen in my There are many personal smccollumbrown1@ offer encouragement and media and politicians. Gen- LGBTQIntersexAsexual+: lifetime. One day we can and social factors affect- ncstudents.niagaracol- comfort and so on.” der and sexuality is becom- acronym is used for those walk hand-in-hand down ing these students from lege.ca or Alyssa Wolfe Wharton, who knows who don’t use mainstream the street with someone coming out of the closet, (NOTL) at awolfe3@ women who alter their help change the conversa- sexual orientation or gender of the same sex, for ex- but Niagara College’s arms ncstudents.niagaracol- daily travels just to avoid tion. identifiers. ample, and not be stared ing fluid, so this session will are open to this population lege.ca. pro-life billboards, says Alison says, “I am so pas- at by the public. It will when and if they’re ready to • Find Justin Trudeau’s women have the legal right sionate about the well-being happen.