Photojournalism Program Edition

Vol. 46 · Issue #5 Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 Loyalist College · Belleville, ON · Canada

Bringing the Throwdown to Belleville By Zachary Shunock

The stage at the Empire Theatre has been graced by the presence of many great acts, but none quite like this. Three of country music’s biggest names have teamed up as part of the Your Town Throwdown tour, aiming to bring the party atmosphere to towns across Canada. Kicking off in the east coast and work- ing its way west, the tour features country stars Jason Blaine, and Chad Brownlee. The Belleville stop of the Your Town Throwdown tour comes to the Em- pire Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 26. All three artists have performed at differ- ent venues in Belleville in the past and say they are look forward to their return to the area. “The Your Town Throwdown tour will be my fourth time playing at the Empire Theatre,” said Ruttan. “The shows are always really fun there, and that’s a beautiful venue.” Ruttan’s previ- ous visit to the Empire was to film a Coun- try Music Television special with Dean Brody and Aaron Lines. “That’s the cool thing about this Your Town Throwdown tour is that most of the venues are either theatres or clubs, so I think it’s going to be a little more of an up- front and in-your-face experience, which is what I really enjoy,” Ruttan added. Brownlee has played in what can be considered the big leagues of music as well as sports, after being drafted in the sixth round to the Vancouver Canucks in the

Photo by Mandy Larade 2003 draft. “I’ve learned a lot from the game of hock- Dona Plumton participates in the draw for the $2,900 pendant at the Cougars for Cancer fundraiser at Matt & Joe’s Night Club Friday night. ey, the difference being when I’m on stage I’m not getting slammed into the boards and fearing for my safety,” said Brownlee. “I’ve always had a good time coming to play in Ontario. I seem to have a growing Ladies only at cancer fundraiser fan base coming from there and Belleville is no exception, so I definitely had a good time,” said Brownlee, who performed at Cougars for Cancer the Quinte Exhibition at the Belleville fair- grounds in 2011. raises funds for The Your Town Throwdown tour is dif- ferent than what may be considered typical pediatric cancer for concerts. In this case, the artists say they By Mandy Larade are looking for each town across Canada to bring their own energy. “Each tour you want to be unique and be Ladies, gold, and lingerie, all for a cause. its own thing. So there’s definitely going to The fifth annual Cougars for Cancer be elements people have never seen before,” event was held at Matt & Joe’s Nightclub said Brownlee. “It’s got kind of a party con- in Belleville on Friday night. notation to it. So, we’re looking for high en- This was a ticketed, ladies-only event, ergy and a lot of fun at the shows.” featuring fashion shows, local merchan- Although all three artists have hits that dise for sale, spa treatments, psychic read- are ballads, the Your Town Throwdown ings, live and silent auctions and a guest tour strays from their regular song list. performance by country singer Brett “We’re focusing on our more up-tempo Kingswell. There were over 300 ladies at- songs just because of the nature of what tending. this tour is. It’s more about the party and Although October is known as breast we’re challenging each town as we move cancer awareness month, this event was our way west to sort of out-party the town geared towards raising money for pediat- before,” said Ruttan. “We’re starting on the ric cancer. east coast, so the rest of Canada might be It’s a cause that Michelle Hunter feels is screwed because they know how to party, too overlooked. and will set the bar pretty high.” Hunter has a daughter battling with In the weeks preparing for the tour, the cancer, and has been endearingly nick- artists attended photo shoots, rehearsals named a “momcologist.” and have been putting together a series of “This is a call to action,” she said in her online videos featuring all three performers speech at the event. and some comical scenarios featuring their Hunter said she feels that there is not music and chemistry. enough being done with research for bet- “Well, we’re going to make sure we have ter treatments for pediatric cancer. enough beer on our rider to bring the throw “It is the year 2013. We have put a man down to yo’ town,” said Blaine, advising on the moon. We’ve created technol- “Definitely bring your party pants people. ogy beyond our wildest imagination. It “Beyond that, all three of us are basically is about time that we add ‘cure childhood Photo by Mandy Larade just going to gather up our biggest hits, what cancer’ to our list of things that we have Denise Arseneau, Christine McArthur, Danielle Latulippe, Arlene Ravensburgen, Sherri Cochrane, Rhonda Goodfellow, we think are the fan favorites and together d on e .” and Deanne Chafe are all dolled up for the Cougars for Cancer fundraiser at Matt & Joe’s Night Club. with a new song or two, because we all have September is the official month for new music out as well,” added Blaine. pediatric cancer with the symbol being a and that the teamwork this year has been chandise with a percentage of the pro- during the event. Siasat had models come Brownlee recently released his new sin- golden ribbon. However, Hunter said there incredible. ceeds going to the cause. out wearing both bad bras and good bras, gle that fits the purpose of the Your Town is a lack of awareness about the issue. “Everybody just did their job and all Among the business owners was Le- so that people could see the difference be- Throwdown tour called Where the Party at. “Not once during this month did I see I did was just oversee everything. And it ticia Siasat of La Maison d’Eva, a lingerie tween the two. Blaine’s latest single Rock it Country Girl our ribbon on any merchandise, or on any made it so easy.” shop in Belleville and Kingston. Although the event was full of fun, Siasat recently made the top 15 chart on country advertisement.” Best gives credit to the local Canadian Siasat sees the importance and rel- acknowledged the importance of citizens, radio. Chair and treasurer of the event, Anya- Cancer Society branch in Belleville, ap- evance of fundraising for this cause. including business owners, becoming aware Ruttan has also released his new Deane Best, agrees that this is a worthy plauding them for their help. “I love the fact that it’s a benefit for of the different causes to advocate. Take the Week off. cause, and said she is grateful for the “I do want to say that the people at the pediatric cancer. That’s a charity that we “I hope that they become more aware – All new releases are available on iTunes. amount of work put into this event. Best local branch are awesome, and they care rarely hear about.” that there are other cancers out there and You can also visit the Your Town Throw- said the committee has been planning so much about what they’re doing.” La Maison d’Eva was one of four cloth- there are other charities that they can be down site at www.yourtownthrowdown. this event since the beginning of 2013 Local businesses set up tables of mer- ing companies to host a fashion show putting their efforts into.” com. Advocate reacts to violence against women throne speech

By Natalie McMullen have been calling on the federal govern- there were “101 Canadian soldiers and “Aboriginal women are three and half ‘Most provinces have ment to develop a National Action Plan to police officers killed.” During that same times more likely than non-aboriginal Social inequities are the root cause of address violence against women. period, he adds “more than 500 women women to be victims of violence.” violence against women, and yet there is action plans, and Martin said she was disappointed no … met the same fate.” On Oct. 8, The Canadian Network of no recognition of that at the federal level, concrete measures were announced dur- According to a recent press release by Women’s Shelters & Transition Houses says a leading national women’s rights ad- recognize that vio- ing last week’s speech from the throne, the Canadian Network of Women’s Shel- released a report calling on the federal vocate. lence against women which opened the second session of the ters & Transition Houses, “In 2010, there government to develop a National Action Provincial governments have recog- 41st parliament. were 593 shelters for women survivors Plan on violence against women. nized that social inequity plays a major is a result of social Governor General of Canada, Da- of abuse and their children operating in “According to the report “in the ab- role in this issue and have developed inequalities. There is no vid Johnston, who delivered the speech, Canada with a total of 11,461 beds.” sence of a National Action Plan, respons- plans accordingly, but the federal gov- mentioned the government would “re- Minister of Health, and former Minis- es to violence against women in Canada ernment is lagging behind, says the ad- acknowledgement of new its efforts to address the issue of ter for the Status of Women, Rona Am- are largely fragmented, often inaccessible, vocate. murdered and missing Aboriginal wom- brose, indicated she would make domes- and can work to impede rather than im- All of the provinces and territories have that at the federal level.’ en.” But despite international pressure to tic violence a national priority, in a speech prove women’s safety.” implemented strategies to tackle the issue Lise Martin convene a National Public Commission made at the annual meeting of the Cana- The next step for Martin is to collabo- of violence, but Lise Martin, executive di- of Inquiry, including a recent call from dian Medical Association in August. rate with other women’s group, including rector of the Canadian Network of Wom- the UN special rapporteur on the rights “I am committed to working with all the Native Women’s Association of Can- recognize that violence against women is en’s Shelters & Transition Houses, said a of indigenous people, Prime Minister orders of government and organizations ada, to develop a National Action Plan, a result of social inequalities. There is no co-ordinated approach is missing on the Stephen Harper has failed to take action. to lead change and gain momentum on and work with all political parties to in- acknowledgement of that at the federal national stage. Between 2001 and 2006, Brian Vallée the issue of family violence, ” Ambrose tegrate it in their platforms leading up to l e v e l .” “Most provinces have action plans, and writes in his book The War on Women, said. the 2015 election. For years, Canadian women’s groups