Chronicle 17-18 Issue 08

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8 The Chronicle March 6 - 12, 2018 chronicle.durhamcollege.ca Community The ‘coolest’ night of the year Kirsten Jerry The Chronicle What do fundraising, weather and bunny ears have in common? The Coldest Night of the Year walk in Oshawa. Although organizers figure a Feb. 24 walk will bring with it cold temperature, it was a relatively warm 4C and sunny on when registration opened at 4 p.m. at Lviv Hall located at 38 Lviv Blvd. Oshawa’s walk was hosted by The Refuge, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and atrisk youth. Clarence Keesman, 43, executive director of The Refuge, walked in goalie gear because he promised to do so if the $70,000 event goal was met and it was surpassed. Donations can be still be made until March 31. Roughly 450 people attended the event. At the same time, 122 other Coldest Night walks were held across Canada to raise funds for various charities. The host charity is the one receiving the funds. Oshawa MP Colin Carrie, Oshawa MPP Jennifer French and Oshawa Mayor John Henry each gave a short speech at the opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. Attendees could walk alone or in teams. Lauren Oak, 19, and Laura Oak, 55, of Bowmanville, who were together, and Charlie Genge, 20, who came alone and lives downtown, all volunteered as route marshals for the walk. A route marshal, Genge said, is responsible for keeping everyone on course and keeping up the energy during the walk. One team at the walk, the Majestic Goddesses, had six members, each wearing a pair of bunny ears. Three members, Lindsay Code, 38, Benieta Santiago, 39, and Angela Santiago, 37, all walked for the first time. Angela Santiago said that besides coming to help homeless youth the team was there to “raise money. Go out have a good walk, get some exercise. Have fun, put some bunny ears on, you know?” Oshawa women fleeing from abuse find self-worth Shanelle Somers The Chronicle The Majestic Goddesses team at the Coldest Night of the Year walk. Located in Oshawa’s YWCA Durham, is a little vintage store named Adelaide’s Attic. Ironically the attic is located in the basement. Adelaide’s Attic located at 33 McGrigor Street Oshawa Ont. is staffed by female volunteers who have received help and guidance from YWCA Durham. The YWCA Durham works to build self-worth in abused women through volunteer opportunities. Domestic abuse within Durham Region has been rising over the years. According to Wendy Leeder, co-executive and shelter services director of the YWCA Durham, Durham Regional Police Services are responding to about 22 domestic abuse calls a day. The second-hand store is not only making a profit but, it is transforming the lives of Oshawa women fleeing abuse. The vintage clothing and houseware store allows women to buy what they need at a reasonable price. Adelaide’s Attic also provides the opportunity for women to gain retail and customer service experience. They are not paid, but in return for their hours, they are given gift cards to use at Adelaide’s Attic towards their needed purchases. Debra Mattson, manager of communications and fund developer at the YWCA, says the goods within the store are only about one to two dollars each. In 2016, Adelaide’s Attic – which is open eight hours per week - supported 1,976 volunteer hours. “Our number one goal is to empower people and for them to have their own voice. That’s the mission of the work that we do,” says Leeder. This non-for-profit organization also offers a women-only emergency shelter called Y’s WISH Shelter, recreational programs, an EarlyON Centre for children up to the age of six, interim second stage housing, counselling, and volunteer positions. The YWCA has recognized a need for a 24-hour emergency shelter equipped with trained counsellors on staff, long-term mentorship Clarington Regional Councillor, Willie Woo, 64, of Newcastle also walked in the event. He walked once before four years ago when the event was held at a local school. “I’ve put myself on the Youth in Policing team. At least my donation is for that team,” said Woo. He remembered also seeing the team at his previous walk, adding a police presence to the event. “So, it doesn’t surprise me that Youth in Policing are here today. I think they’ve always been good supporters of The Refuge and what they do.” The Youth in Policing program meets at Durham College on Wednesdays. In an interview, program coordinator, Wahaj Arshad, 21, described the program as “an employment opportunity for youth in Durham Region and (we) work alongside with the Durham Regional Police.” Supervising team leader Jasmine Singh, 17, said the students in the program are all in high school, in an interview. The age range for the program is 15--18. The students fundraise through Debra Mattson of the YWCA shows off the inside of Adelaide’s Attic. support and outreach programs. Unfortunately, the YWCA Durham needs the community’s help more than ever to continue its efforts in helping abused women and their children. Donations account for 80 per cent of the YWCA’s operational costs, according to Leeder. But, donations are down considerably, she says, adding the YWCA needs more funds to keep up their building maintenance and Photograph by Kirsten Jerry bake sales, car washes, events at their respective schools, and even by paying a toonie to wear casual clothes instead of a uniform for a class. Natalie Vellapah, 19, who is also a supervising team leader, said each member was given a minimum $75 fundraising goal. The Youth in Policing team raised the most of any team - almost $8,000 for The Refuge. Because there was fair weather French ended her speech by saying, “it may not be the coldest night of the year, but it is the coolest.” Photograph by Shanelle Somers run other services. “Money is the thing all charities are competing for,” says Leeder. But, the YWCA is hoping that their current ‘Love Shouldn’t Hurt’ campaign will help with their finances. It is a national campaign for YWCA that will be launched shortly. But Leeder says individuals often open their chequebooks and help the YWCA. “Someone donated $15,000 recently. That was enough to cover our entire grocery budget for one year,” says Leeder. They hope the new campaign will provide more opportunities and support for women who have experienced abuse and for women who have already gone through the most traumatic part of their journey. If you would like to get involved or donate money to help finance their efforts, visit www.ywca.org.
Campus chronicle.durhamcollege.ca March 6 - 12, 2018 The Chronicle 9 Poor eating hurts students in classroom Aly Beach The Chronicle Post-secondary students are known to be busy but not great eaters, hence terms like ‘freshman 15’, referring to the pounds added by someone in their first year at college or university. But are poor eating habits impacting students’ mental health? According to the Dieticians of Canada and a Durham College nutritionist, the answer is ‘yes’. “The increased incidence in mental health conditions such as depression over recent years might be linked to the change in our diet over the same time frame, with shifts away from a diet based on a wide variety of whole foods to one that emphasizes more processed foods.” Sylvia Emmorey, Durham College’s nutritionist, agrees. “A lot of times people are skipping meals, going to class on an empty stomach, you can’t think as well, your memory is impaired,” says Emmorey. Over the years, Emmorey says she has noticed an increase in students not eating often, lacking energy, having poor memory and being tired. She says not eating frequently enough, or not eating well, can negatively affect blood sugar, and in turn affect one’s mental health. “Managing the blood sugars, regulating the blood sugars is very important for proper brain function. People can have a lot of mood imbalances if they go without food as well,” says Emmorey. Emmorey advises students to avoid unhealthy fats, such as cookies and doughnuts, as they interfere with signalling in the brain. She also mentions it has been shown in studies that people who eat more unhealthy fats are slower learners and have memory challenges. “Eating a lot of unhealthy foods, junk foods if you will, can lead to depression because it depletes vitamins and minerals in the body. It also increases stress,” says Emmorey. She says when people are stressed, they tend to crave unhealthy foods. They also sometimes drink alcohol, which damages the A lot of times people are skipping meals, going to class on an empty stomach. Sylvia Emmorey, Durham College's nutritionist. brain. Omega 3 is found in healthy fats, such as avocados or fish. It helps support the synapses in the brain that connect the neurons. Omega 3 deficiencies have been shown to cause an increased risk of ADHD, bi-polar disorder, dyslexia, depression, dementia and schizophrenia. To avoid a deficiency, Emmorey recommends eating a variety of foods every day. “The more colourful, the better,” she says. Emmorey recommends starting a food diary or journal to help keep track of what and how much students are eating. “You can look at it, link it to how you’re feeling and make changes or come to me so I can guide you through the changes slowly,” says Emmorey. Photograph by Aly Beach Emmorey emphasizes being mindful of what and how you’re eating. “I’ve coined the term ‘the gobble-and-go generation’ because people eat their food so fast.” She says being aware of how much you’re eating and how you’re eating helps with digestion. It can help students avoid things like acid reflux and some digestive disorders. Emmorey says she understands changing eating habits can be difficult, but after she works with students making baby steps, she notices a difference. “I think a lot of the things that I see from students is a change in energy, first of all when they start to eat healthy and decrease some of the unhealthy foods, and that kind of sparks their interest in continuing on.”She advises students to prioritize grocery shopping and meal prep. For a student on a budget, Emmorey suggests buying frozen fruits and veggies, cans or bags of beans, lentils, tuna and shopping for deals. Emmorey has been a part-time teacher at Durham College for more than 10 years. She’s available to speak to students about healthy eating, eating with certain health conditions, weight loss or gain. She describes it as “nutritional counselling.” She is available Thursdays 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in room C111. “Basic healthy diet with some more variety is very beneficial for students and will get them - I think - through school with a diploma in their hand and not too much stress, hopefully,” says Emmorey. The benefits of a smoothie breakfast Kaatje Henrick The Chronicle Exercise, diet and human interaction alter the brain and body, according to the National Institute of Health. But diet is a big factor for people’s all-around health. Breakfast is one meal people tend to skip, even though it has been called “the most important meal of the day” by many experts. Some people skip breakfast because there’s not enough time, or are too tired to bother to make anything. A common route is to grab an apple on the way out the door and stop at the local coffee shop for a hot beverage. Medical News Today says skipping breakfast lowers concentration levels as well as energy levels, and also slows the metabolism. The body needs a certain amount of energy to make it through the day without feeling tired or going limp. There are ways to avoid skipping breakfast: just make it quick. Some quick breakfast ideas are: high fibre cereal/bagel or toast, protein shake or smoothie, or a bowl of fruit with oatmeal. A raspberry banana smoothie is a quick and healthy choice for breakfast. It’s also a great source of vitamins and minerals. Raspberry Banana Smoothie: 1 cup of raspberries 1 ripe banana ¼ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice ¼ cup of yogurt 1 tablespoon of honey Put all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Add more honey if desired. Vitamins and minerals are important for the human body because they help heal wounds, boost the immune system. They also help with growth and development Raspberries are known as nature’s candy for their sweet, all-natural taste. They are packed full of antioxidants, which include: vitamin A, C or E. Those three vitamins alone help protect the body against illnesses and also strengthen teeth, gums and bones. Antioxidants are used to protect the body’s cells from damage. Raspberries are full of fibre and potassium, which lowers blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels. They also keep the body regular. Bananas contain potassium and fibre. Medical News Today states that bananas help reduce the risks of asthma, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes. Yogurt comes from milk, which is a great source of Vitamin D. Yogurt is also known as a probiotic, which is the body’s “friendly bacteria.” It is filled with protein which gives your body the energy it needs, as well as speeds up your metabolism. Yogurt is also full of vitamin B12 which can help prevent heart disease. Starting the day with a delicious and healthy snack will keep you energized for a day full of activities. According to Canada’s Food Guide, eating a healthy breakfast jump starts metabolism, energizes the body, and improves the immune system.
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Chronicle 17-18 Issue 08

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