10 The Chronicle November 6, 2007
CAMPUS NEWS Photo by Chelayne Pascoe NO CALL FROM THE GOVERNOR: The electric chair cage, one of many displays at Halloween Haunt. Not Alice’s Wonderl<strong>and</strong> By Chelayne Pascoe Chronicle Staff Be afraid! Be very afraid…of the long lines! Canada’s Wonderl<strong>and</strong>’s annual fear fest entitled Halloween Haunt proved to be a minor disappointment to many after big crowds fl ooded the park’s entry <strong>and</strong> crowded the lines to rides <strong>and</strong> haunted houses. Th e spooky festivities took place in Wonderl<strong>and</strong> every Friday, Saturday <strong>and</strong> Sunday in October, <strong>and</strong> on Halloween night from 7 p.m. until midnight. Th e late night hours proved to be very cold weather for some, giving a more dreary <strong>and</strong> creepy feel to the park. Th e entry of the park proved to be a spooky feel as purple <strong>and</strong> red lighting fl ooded the waterfall lookout of the park. Speakers playing with creepy music also added to the Halloween feel as it boomed in various places throughout the park. Several Halloween actors were also lurking around the park to jump out <strong>and</strong> excite or scare people walking to their next ride. Th e park provided nine haunted houses, several haunted rides, a small theatre performance, <strong>and</strong> two virtual Halloween rides. Included with the Halloweenthemed rides, Wonderl<strong>and</strong> also opened more than 15 of their regular midway rides. However, many seemed to feel that the park, although decorated very well, did not prove to be that scary overall in the haunted themed mazes <strong>and</strong> rides. “I could see people jumping out of the people ahead of me so I wasn’t that scared,” said Emily Woudwyk, an Oshawa high-school student. Another local Oshawa resident, Taisha Morgan, also agreed that the haunted houses weren’t very good. “I don’t think they were very smart at scaring people,” said Morgan. “Th e cold weather was the scariest part.” Despite the large crowds in the lines, <strong>and</strong> the st<strong>and</strong>-still walkthrough of the haunted houses, the loud music <strong>and</strong> Halloween decorations won over many. “Right when you got into the part it was scary,” said Oshawa resident Kristy Allen. “I really liked the creativity of the place. But the haunted houses weren’t that scary.” By Chris Buttonshaw Chronicle Staff Being an apprentice just got better. Th e federal government has recently started an apprenticeship incentive program that awards $1,000 per year to registered apprentices who have completed their fi rst or second year in a Red Seal trade program. Th e program started last year <strong>and</strong> took aff ect when the fi rst check was h<strong>and</strong>ed out Sept. 5. Th e grant program was offi cially announced at <strong>Durham</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s Whitby campus. “Announcing the program at <strong>Durham</strong> shows that the government recognizes the college’s commitment <strong>and</strong> ability to train highly educated <strong>and</strong> professional trade workers,” said <strong>Durham</strong> <strong>College</strong> president Leah Myers. “And the fi rst grant cheque The Chronicle November 6, 2007 11 Apprentice in the Red Seal • <strong>Durham</strong> <strong>College</strong> has 17 trade programs • 11 are Red Seal programs • 100,000 students in Canada will be entitled to the grant • 20,000 tradeworkers trained since 1993 was given to a <strong>Durham</strong> student as well.” Red Seal trades are ones that have a provincial <strong>and</strong> territorial certifi cate of qualifi cations. Th e certifi cate shows that the apprentice/tradesperson has attained inter-provincial st<strong>and</strong>ards for the training <strong>and</strong> certifi cation of workers in those trades. Red Seal trades include construction, electrician, ironworker, plumber, machinist, cook, carpenters, <strong>and</strong> more. An apprentice or tradesperson with a Red Seal certifi - cate can work anywhere in the country. Th e government’s plan is to create the besteducated work force in the world with this program. Th ere are 48 Red Seal trades covering about 80 per cent of the Canadian skilled trades work force. “I think it’s a really eff ective tool for the schools, apprentices, <strong>and</strong> the workplace. It’s a wonderful model for learning,” Myers commented.