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2 The Chronicle March 17, 2009 Durham graduate starts her own business By Paul Bates Chronicle Staff Alexis Pastuch has faced many barriers in her life, especially considering she has a physical disability, but with all the issues she has had this Durham College Legal Administration/Law Clerk grad never let it hold her back. “I know what it feels like to go out to a place and get stuck, but if someone goes there first they can check it out and therefore inform others.” After graduating from the program in April 2005 she has applied to places in Toronto like Advocates at Law where, “the push handle to get into the office was so high I could not get in myself.” Another place Pastuch visited also did not work. “I went in for an interview and the place was totally inaccessible.” Pastuch said. “All the tables and desks were too high. The office equipment was out of my reach.” She even had issues with not being able to get her wheelchair into the washroom, so neither of these two places led to full-time employment. These setbacks, as well as wanting to create a business in a unique market, were reasons Pastuch created Alexibility. The primary focus is to make people aware of the level of accessibility of buildings in both the public and private sector. The website for Alexibility was launched this year and just recently underwent a major change. It can be found at http://www.alexibility.com The company mission statement is, “To allow people to have the freedom and ability to go where they wish.” “If you wish to visit a facility that you have never been to before, and want to know if you will face physical barriers to accessibility, all you have to do is call or send us an e-mail. I will then go visit the facility for you, compile my findings and report back to you.” The service is not just for individuals, Pastuch is keeping the doors open for major businesses to call her and get the same level of service, reporting back to management on issues she discovers. While she is still waiting for her first customers Pastuch sees big things for this company in years to come as buildings and businesses try to reach out to the physically disabled community, especially in a city the size of Toronto. CAMPUS NEWS East meets West as students enrol for Hong Kong adventure By Liisa Sahamies Chronicle Staff For a second year the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is offering a summer Study Abroad program in Hong Kong. The Faculty of Business and Information Technology and the communication students at UOIT have the chance to go to Hong Kong to gain a comparative understanding of Western cultures and the traditional Chinese culture. This includes mythical, religious, philosophical, ethical and scientific thinking. All students who choose to participate in the program enrol in at least nine credits, including the three-credit course titled Chinese and Western Modes of Thought, offered by the Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Continuing Studies. The other six credits can be earned by two more courses taken online, before and after visiting Hong Kong. Wilfred Fong, associate dean of the Faculty of Business and Information Technology, says the students will be taking this course along with students from the California State University in Sacramento. This is a good chance to meet new people on the way to learning about different cultures. “It’s a great learning experience and opportunity to explore the outside world,” said Fong. This is the second year the program has been offered at UOIT after a successful experience last year. It’s also the first year the program has been offered to communication students. “Now we can get more students involved, and more can be educated,” said Fong. But Fong also said the students will not be going all the way to Hong Kong to sit in a classroom. He said the accommodations were strategically placed at the university, a small walk or subway ride away from where the classes take place. Also, the students will get the chance to visit Shanghai and Beijing. “There are still special tours, sports activities and different sites students can experience,” said Fong. Some popular educational places in Hong Kong are the Science Park, and the History and the Heritage Museum. Students can also visit Cheung Chau, an island and more calm side of Hong Kong, and the New Territories Villages, which resemble an older Hong Kong in Chinese style. All of these activities support the course the students will be taking. For application information students can contact Jessica Walsh at jessica.walsh@uoit.ca. Cinechats to host exclusive showing By Amanda Allison Chronicle Staff If you think your family is dysfunctional, you’ve got to join the Cinechats group on March 19 for their showing of The Art of Crying. This 2007 Danish film will make your family seem like the Cleavers in comparison. “This is a Cinechats exclusive,” said discussion leader and Durham College professor John Arkelian. “We got it directly from its producer in Copenhagen.” The film will run in room C-113 on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $2 per person.
By Andrew Huska Chronicle Staff The government of Canada will contribute $22.3 million in aid for skills training in Africa. International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda made the announcement at the Durham College Skills Training Centre in Whitby on March 6. The Skills for Employment Initiative will help developing countries like Senegal, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and South Africa. The goal of the initiative, according to a Ministry of International Co-operation press release, is to unite Canadian colleges with colleges in these countries to establish technical and vocational training programs. “It’s a terrific announcement,” said Oda. “The thing that it does that I’m so proud of is it recognizes the excellence of our college system and the training we’re providing to young people.” The $22.3 million donation goes along with the $95 million that will be donated for skills training in Africa, Asia and the Americas. It also comes in addition to the $140 million the Canadian International Development Agency contributes annually to vocational training. Canada will be contributing approximately $260 million in aid to developing countries. Oda made the announcement at the Durham College Skills Training Centre in Whitby on March 6. She compared the resources available to students at the Whitby Campus and what is available in many developing countries and how those resources are not adequate for an educated workforce. “I’ve been to so many countries that do not have the skills that they need and do not have the workforce they need,” Oda said. Oda said after the first three years of the program there will be approximately 2,000 qualified graduates ready to enter certified trades in their countries. “These graduates will be supporting families, making communities stronger, contributing to better incomes for women and youth, and renewing their hope for a brighter future,” Oda said. For this initiative the ministry is working with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. The association’s vice-president Katrina Murray said the organization has contributed to over 600 international aid projects for postsecondary education along with the federal government. However, this program is unique, according to Murray. This time the recipient country drives how the money will be used, something that hasn’t always been the case. “It was designed with and will CAMPUS NEWS be driven by the recipient country,” said Murray. “It will be managed in concert with other donors so we have a coordinated approach.” With that there could be concerns over whether the money is The Chronicle March 17, 2009 9 Africa to receive money for training going to the right purpose. Oda feels there’s no need to worry. She said when the ACCC uses the money for projects it will be monitored by the government, which is also the case for the recipient countries. Photo by Andrew Huska SKILLS TRAINING IN AFRICA: Katrina Murray, Bev Oda, and D.C. President Don Lovisa were present for the federal government’s announcement of new aid for Africa. Women, unleash your inner goddess Women’s Day was held on March 8 By Sarah Manns Chronicle Staff The “inner goddess” was the theme of the 10 th annual International Women’s Day held at the McLean Community Centre Banquet Hall in Ajax, on Sunday, March 8. “’We have a different theme every year and this year we are celebrating our inner goddess,” said Esther Enyolu, executive director of Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counseling Centre. “It’s a day to pamper and celebrate being a woman.” The event included manicures, belly dancing, face painting, astrologist Joan Ann, and much more. “It’s all about celebrating us, our struggles and our hard work,” said Amanda McCafferty, guest speaker and women’s caseworker for the Denise House (a house for abused women and their children). “We often forget about ourselves and it’s important that we don’t. I don’t think enough women celebrate themselves, and we need to support each other.” The event featured booths where women could talk and ask Photo by Sarah Manns INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Shabana Talip, dressed up as the Green Tara Goddess, representing the theme of International Women’s Day- “Inner Goddess.” questions regarding everything from fitness to financial advice. “I am here bringing finances to women,” said Irene Anyanwu, financial consultant for the Investors Group. “For a lot of women, husbands handle the money, but that isn’t the way it has to be,” she said. “I am here to educate them, and show them that there are so many things they can do.” For some guests it was their first time, but they were pleased with the results. “It is my first year here,” said Nawal Ammar, professor and dean for the Faculty of Criminology Justice and Policy studies at UOIT. “Every year I have been away. Last year I was in Turkey,” she said. “I was very happy to make it here this year. It is very interesting and it’s great to see so many young people here today.” The city of Ajax also offered their support for the event. “We donated the space to support them today,” said Sharlene Melnike, community development co-ordinator. “We support over 140 cultural community groups, and in supporting these groups we hope to build their capacity to do what they do best.” Y’s Wish, Bethesda House, Herizon House and The Denise House sponsored the event. “We have to remember women in our lives,” said Enyolu. ”Whether they’re our grandmothers, aunts, sisters, mothers, cousins, partners or neighbours, women deserve to be treated with respect.” “The government will monitor and visit what’s happening, and the ACCC will provide us with audited financial reports on progress being made,” said Oda. “So the accountability and transparency is already built in.” It’s all about school spirit By Jamilah McCarthy Chronicle Staff If you’re outgoing and creative with an interest in encouraging school spirit, Student Association brand ambassador is the right job for you. Resumes and cover letters must be sent to marketing coordinator Autumn Tilley at the beginning of August. “Applying is like any other job. There’s an interview process and then six students are chosen for the entire school year,” says brand ambassador Walia Wahid. All of the hiring is done at the beginning of September. The main job of a brand ambassador is to promote Student Association events. To be a brand ambassador you must have great people skills. “You have to be able to go up to people and let them know what’s going on in the school,” says Wahid. Brand ambassador Graham Wilcox says, “You have to make yourself stand out.” Students must be willing to dress up in crazy costumes to promote events. “Promoting is a creative thing,” says Wahid.
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