Rooted in tradition · Exploring the future Vol. 46 · Issue #1 Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 Loyalist College · Belleville, ON · Canada All aboard at VIA Rail with new digs Belleville described as train town by dignitaries attending opening By Catherine Jackman VIA Rail officially opened the new pas- senger station Sept. 12, a project which has been in the works for almost two years. If Belleville can be described as one thing, it can be called a train town. After over 150 years of having a train station, it was time for Belleville’s VIA Rail station to get an upgrade. The $18 million investment, of which $2.5 million came directly from the government’s Eco- nomic Action Plan, built a new building fully equipped with an overhead bridge, better accessibility for passengers with disabilities and a more modern layout. The opening fittingly took place at the VIA station on Station Street. In at- tendance at the opening were Mayor Neil Ellis, Marc Beaulieu, the Regional Gen- eral Manager East and Chief of Trans- portation for VIA Rail Canada, as well as Minister of Parliament for Prince Edward Hastings, Daryl Kramp, who was there on behalf of Minister of State (Transport) Steven Fletcher. “Belleville station is one of the top ten in Canada in terms of passenger volume today. It serves more travellers than the builders of the original station, back in Photo by Tom Hicken 1856, ever imagined possible,” said Beau- Sonya Dronsfield (left) and Jamie Hitchcock enjoy some quality gym time without the boys at Loyalist College’s Ladies Only Night at the fitness centre, Sept. 9. lieu. Ladies Night provides an opportunity for female students and staff to use the facility who may not otherwise come there. Mayor Ellis took a moment during his speech to remind the crowd of how influ- ential trains have been to Belleville. He made mention of there being a locomo- Ladies only nights at Loyalist’s fitness centre: tive not only on the town flag, but also incorporated into his mayoral emblem. It was a reminder to the audience that it is impossible to be in Belleville and not feel the atmosphere, and its relation to the Gym opens doors to women only trains. With most of downtown intersect- ing with train tracks and even streets be- year pre-health student. grades, like new mirrors and TVs, were are the most popular among the ladies, ing named to coincide with locomotives, Females feel Fitness facilities and campus recreation made. a smaller group of girls can be seen this town essentially revolves around co-ordinator, Cory Mestre, explained that Mestre said he has noticed an increase crowded around a weight machine to- trains. more comfortable the program got its start after receiving in gym-goers since the renovations. ward the back of the gym. Kramp said, “this new and modern sta- feedback from surveys conducted by the “The response has been overwhelm- Chartrand pointed out that with no tion is just one of the many upgrades to in girls-only setting student government. After a trial run last ingly positive from all of our members,” boys around, it’s a lot easier for girls to VIA’s stations, tracks, passenger cars, and March, the initial turnout was lower than Mestre said. work out because they’re not afraid to By Tom Hicken locomotives infrastructure in the busy expected. Back in the gym, a steady stream of try new things. Windsor-Toronto-Montreal corridor, re- “Response last year was not good, girls began to fill up the machines and “Having the gym to themselves and sulting in faster, and more reliable service Walk by Loyalist College’s fitness centre though the time of year – March, when mats. Colourful spandex blended togeth- experimenting with different weights for all VIA Rail passengers.” Wednesday nights and you might find the people may be more geared towards er in metronome motions across the rows is one of the benefits,” Chartrand said. The new building, that took almost testosterone levels lower than usual, while placements and final exams than working of treadmills, stationary bikes and ellipti- Rice agreed as she hopped off a ma- two years to build, was proposed by VIA sounds of laughter, rather than grunting, out – may have factored into that,” Mestre cal machines. chine, wiped it down and encouraged a Rail on November 10, 2010. At the time fill the air. said. Working behind the front desk at the friend to try it out. the project was estimated to cost $14 Starting Sept. 9, the college introduced Mestre is giving ladies only night an- fitness centre last Wednesday, Jess Char- “I usually bike when the gym is co- million and was promised to be fully ladies only nights at the fitness centre. It other run now through the fall reading trand said she can attest to the popularity ed, but I wouldn’t usually use the hip wheelchair accessible but would also be provides an opportunity for female stu- week. of the first ladies night. abduction like I am now because it able to accommodate expanded track dents and staff to use the facility, which Ladies night isn’t the only new develop- “The turnout has been really good. looks strange while you’re doing it,” lines. they may not have done. ment at the fitness centre. Last semester, There’s probably about 30 girls and we’re Rice said. The old building, built in 1856 by “I think girls feel more comfort- a handful of renovations took place to expecting about 50 or 60 to pass through,” Emilie Scheele, a first-year pre- Thomas Brassey, couldn’t support the up- able for sure – we’re a lot more self- redesign the entrance along with other Chartrand said. health student, said she was excited to grades, but is still standing, after receiving conscious when guys are around,” said improvements. Likewise, O’Malley has also seen a no- try the rowing machine, which she said a Heritage designation in 1973. Beaulieu Lauren O’Malley, a first-year nursing “We expanded the facility into an ad- ticeable change. she wouldn’t do if guys were around. discussed the old building’s relationship student. joining room, making space for the in- “This is just my second night here, “When boys come they always make with VIA Rail, and by working with the “It’s good because a lot of girls feel in- stallation of lifting equipment,” Mestre but yesterday there weren’t nearly fun of you for using the machines city of Belleville and outside companies timidated by guys that come here. Since said. as much girls as there are tonight,” wrong and then they have to teach you, to find a use for the building. we all get to come here alone, we don’t feel Additionally, more cardio equipment O’Malley said. but tonight we can learn ourselves,” The train station has been fully opera- intimidated at all,” said Jaclyn Rice, a first- was purchased and several esthetic up- While it’s obvious the cardio machines Scheele said. tional since March. Rain didn’t stop sound of drum at festival Earth. In Middle Eastern culture, it Drummer shares most often signifies celebration and African cultures deem it as a form of communication.” African culture’s The festival offers drumming workshops and stage shows featuring rhythmic beat Japanese, Spanish and native perfor- mances. There are wellness and instru- for last four years ment-making workshops, workshops for children, belly dancing, juggling By Gail Paquette and exhibitors with crafts from around the world. A mother’s heartbeat is one of the first The festival’s participants are as di- sounds human beings hear. verse as the cultural array of perform- That is why we all have rhythm, says ers. Babies to grandparents dance to Saikou Saho. the beat of the drum. Saho is one of the many drummers “Drumming brings so many people who has been coming to the area’s out of their shell,” said Richardson. Drum Nation Festival for the past four “There are no rules. You just take a years to share his African culture’s stick and start.” rhythmic beats. Not only are there opportunities to Drum Nation Festival has grown join in a workshop and learn ‘that in- over the years from a backyard event ner rhythm,’ the festival is an invitation to the 85-acre park at O’Hara Mill, 30 to experience something new. kilometres north of Belleville. “I believe we should experience as This year, the expectations of crowd many things as we can in life. New life size were in the thousands. Even experiences make us grow,” said Rich- though it rained most of the festival ardson. day on Sept. 8, organizer Deborah When Richardson started drum- Richardson said the rain didn’t stop ming, it was after many personal trou- the sound of the drum. bles with anxiety and stress, she said. “All cultures share a background that Those have disappeared. The healing includes drumming. Most often it is powers of the drum are echoed among the sound of celebration or ceremony,” many drummers, she added. Photo by Gail Paquette she said. “I even had problems talking to African Drummer Saikou Saho says everyone has rhythm because the first thing we hear is our mother’s heartbeat. He “In native culture, the drum is be- people but the drum is a universal lan- attended Drum Nation Festival at O’Hara Mill just north of Madoc to give workshops on playing the African drum. lieved to be the heartbeat of Mother guage.