The record, 24 novembre 2011, jeudi 24 novembre 2011

Junior AAA Cougars on a roll Sports - Page 14 chmond The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#(J04(XX)7682 Thursday, November 24, 2011 Local freemasons contribute to anti-violence program Program started by local student has spread through Quebec BRUCE PATTON Police tech students from the Cégep de Sherbrooke Stéphanie Lessard (left), Maxime Delorme and Alex Marchand-Dion are among those who speak to young kids, like Sherbrooke elementary students Isabelle Moran (second from left) and Amy Marchand-Dion, abou t how to react and overrome instances of violence in schools.Nearly 100 accidents in the Townships The first snowstorm of the season proved hazardous to drivers in and around Sherbrooke Wednesday morning.By lunchtime over four incidents, either accidents or situations of cars veering off the road, had occurred within Sherbrooke.This included a pedestrian being slightly injured after being struck on College Street in Lennoxville at around 7:30 a.m., and a vehicle flipping over on Marquette Street in Sherbrooke after its driver lost control.As for the highways and surrounding communities of the Eastern Townships, even more incidents had been recorded by noon on Wednesday.“It was a difficult morning.We had aboujt 50 accidents or cars veering off the road,” said Sûreté du Quebec (SQ) spokesperson Louis-Philippe Ruel.SQ.officers were forced to respond to a major accident at around 3 p.m.Wednesday afternoon after a head on crash between a van and a 10-wheel truck on route 222 left one victim badly injured, though not fearing for his life.The collision also led to a second collision involving three vehicles, though no one was injured in this second incident.Route 222 needed to be closed while emergency and clean-up crews worked.One accident earlier in the morning on Autoroute 610 left one woman slightly injured.Her two children were in the car but seemed to escape the incident unscathed.Ruel noted that “she had winter tires but they were very well used, worn down,” and Cont’d on page 3 By Evan LePage Every year students from the Cégep de Sherbrooke’s police techniques program volunteer their time to spread a message of non-violence to fifth and sixth grade students in Sherbrooke and other areas of the Eastern Townships.This fall all their hard work and their effort to end violence in schools was recognized and rewarded by the freemasons from all the lodges of the St.Francis district and the Masonic foundation of Montreal who just donated $1,425 to the “United Without Violence: express yourself!” program.“Your generous gesture will allow us to reinforce our action with primary schools students, to form even more Sans Violence Units, to support the stu- dents in their actions and reward them" Liette Picard, the program’s director in Sherbrooke and a police techniques professor at the Cégep, told the many freemasons at a ceremony at the lodge on College Street in Lennoxville Tuesday night.The freemasons were made aware of the program after Picard told her friend Cont’d on page 9 Page 4 .L L — Free skating packing ‘em in Border report, page 11 Page 2 Thursday, November 24, 201 1 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Victorian Christmas Tea As we have every holiday season for over 21 years, the Lennoxville-Ascot Historical and Museum Society is pleased to invite you to its traditional Victorian Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 3 at 9 Speid Street in Lennoxville (Uplands).rt; X Enjoy a pot of tea accompanied by a selection of sandwiches and desserts, all in a warm and festive setting.We will be having two servings, the first of which will be at 1:30 p.m.and the second at 3:00 p.m.We strongly encourage you to reserve, as places are limited.The cost is $10.To make a reservation or for more information, please contact us at (819) 564-0409 or by e-mail at lahms@uplands.ca.Weather * TODAY: CLOUDY FLURRIES HIGH OF 2 LOW OF-10 \U / /} l \ S FRIDAY: SUNNY HIGH OF 9 LOW OF 0 SATURDAY: SHOWERS HIGH OF 8 LOW OF 5 jAj ill SUNDAY: RAIN HIGH OF 10 LOW OF 4 1 JJJJJ MONDAY: RAIN HIGH OF 5 LOW OF 4 Welsh choir returns to Huntingville COURTESY s' The Montreal Welsh Male Choir, or Côr Meibion Cymraeg as it is known in the Welsh language, has a long and notable history.After a two-year absence from the Townships, the choir will return to perform two concerts at the 167-year old Huntingville Univmalist Church, 3975 Route 147, south of Lennoxville, on Saturday, Decembers.Choral music has been a part of Welsh culture for many centuries.Welsh singers have held prominent places in both popular and classical music, and Welsh writers such as poet Dylan Thomas, novelists Martin Amis and Ken Follett, children’s writer Roald Dahl and philosopher Bertrand Russell have contributed significantly to the body of English literature.The Montreal Welsh Male Choir, or Côr Meibion Cymraeg as it is known in the Welsh language, has a long and notable history.The Choir’s roots go back to the mid-1850s; at that time, a group of Welsh quarrymen who had been working on the construction of the Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales came to Montreal after the bridge’s completion in 1826 to work on the Victoria Bridge over the St.Lawrence River.Shortly after their arrival in Montreal, they formed themselves into a choral group and began performing in the city.When the Victoria Bridge was completed in 1860, the group was given the honour of singing for the 18-year old Prince of Wales at the opening ceremonies.The group later became part of the Welsh Speaking Union, which in the early 20th century became the St.David’s Society of Montreal, St.David being the patron saint of Wales.The current Choir was revived in the 1960s by the St.David’s Society, and was kept alive through the efforts of Twm Edmund, who had come from Wales to Montreal in the 1930s and was a staunch promoter of Welsh traditions and culture.In 1986, the Choir toured North and South Wales, and in 1990 and 1994 performed as part of a 1000-voice Welsh Male Choir at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.In September 2008 they were part of a 400-voice choir which performed with renowned Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel at Carnegie Hall in New York.The Choir has recently performed in joint concerts with The Palmetto Mastersingers, The Maestag Gleeman, The Warrington Male Voice Choir, and with several other choirs at the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City.Presently, the Choir numbers 25 members, and after a two-year absence from the Townships, will return to perform two concerts at the 167-year old Huntingville Universalist Church, 3975 Route 147, south of Lennoxville, on Saturday, December 3, at 2:30 p.m.and 7 p.m.The concerts, entitled “The Call of Christmas / L’appel de Noël” will focus on the rich variety of music heard at this time of year.This will be the Choir’s only performance in the Townships this year.Tickets for both concerts are available at Lennoxville Tri-Us, 3003 College Street (819-822-2632) and at Black Cat Books, 168-E Queen Street in Lennoxville (819-346-1786).Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students (with ID) and seniors (age 55+).Submitted by Terry Skeats, President Heritage I luntingville Vermont Humanities Council presents First Wednesdays program Calvin Coolidge at Newport’s Goodrich Memorial Library Actor Jim Cooke will bring the thirtieth president of the United States to life in a living history presentation at Goodrich Memorial Library in Newport on December 7.The performance, “Calvin Coolidge: More Than Two Words,” is part of the Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays lecture series and takes place at 7 p.m.Cooke will take his audience back to the Roaring Twenties — days of flappers, Fords, and Prohibition.From Coolidge’s letters, speeches, press conferences, and autobiography, Cooke will illustrate why Will Rogers said, “Mr.Coolidge has more subtle humor than almost any public man I ever met.” Cooke is a professional actor whose solo work has made him a historian.His performances have been featured at the Smithsonian, at the Library of Congress, and on the Today Show, C-SPAN, the History Channel, and NPR.He earned a BA.at the University of New Hampshire and an MA.from Emerson College.The Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays series is held on the first Wednesday of every month from October through May, featuring speakers of national and regional renown.For more information, contact Goodrich Memorial Library ' at 802.334.7902, or contact the Vermont Humanities Council at 802.262.2626 or info@vermonthumanities.org, or visit www.vermonthumanities .org.The Vermont Humanities Council is a private nonprofit working to bring the power and the pleasure of the humanities to all Vermonters—of every background and in every community.The Council strives to make Vermont a state in which every individual reads, participates in public affairs, and continues to learn throughout life.Ben by Daniel Shelton zzzzzz; ; rzzzzzzzzz ^zzzzzzzzz ^zzzzzzzzz ^zzzzzz The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com TftuRSbAŸ, NovEMBÉk 24,'2011 Page 3 ^/GCAL New: The document also lists off six of the city’s values which are supposed to serve as a guide in decision making.City preps code of ethics for councillors Sherbrooke’s city council is expected pass a regulation containing code of ethics and deontology applicable to all city and borough councillors at their next meeting on December 5 in accordance with provincial laws.“In fact it’s the law on ethics and deontology that forces local municipalities to implement a code of ethics and deontology,” mayor Bernard Sevigny told councillors at Monday night’s council meeting.“The City of Sherbrooke adopted a code of deontology in 2001, but this code does not respect the dispositions of the new law.” Sevigny gave official notice to the councillors that a vote on the matter would be taken at the next city council meeting and read out the main points of the seven-article code of ethics Monday night.The proposed code of ethics lists four goals, essentially to prioritize the “values” of the city in the making of decisions, integrate behavioural norms that also favour these values, to prevent ethical conflicts and help resolve them effectively if they occur, and finally to ensure the implementation of measures to control any “breach of ethics.” The document also lists off six of the city’s values which are supposed to serve as a guide in decision making: integrity; caution in the pursuit of the public interest; respect towards other councillors, city employees and citizens; loyalty to the city; the search for fairness; and the honour attached to the functions of councillors.Also, the fifth article of the code acts as a code of conduct, specifying how councillors need to act in situations related to potential conflicts of interest, dealing with “advantages” or courtesies received due to their position with the city, and rules and confidentiality following the end of their mandate as councillors.The code also specifies that as a means to ensure the rules are followed there could be reprimands, the reimbursement of all allocations or other sums received in the breaking of a rule, or even the suspension of a councillor for up to 90 days.Tire tact that Sherbrooke already had a code of ethics for elected officials was reiterated by executive committee president Serge Paquin, who emphasized that all this new regulation is simply to bring their practices in accordance with the law.Councillors have until the next council meeting on December 5 to offer any suggestions for possible amendments to the code as presented by Sevigny on Monday.Paquin also specified that another code of ethics applicable to all municipal employees would need to be adopted by the end of 2013.Mulcair pledges to expand base, never forget Quebec By Evan LePage New Democrat Party leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair promised while in Sherbrooke for a fundraising cocktail Tuesday night that he would not forget about the party’s followers in Quebec.“It’s a big country and we’ve travelled end to end, but I cannot ignore the base here in Quebec,” he said.“So I’m here in Sherbrooke tonight.I’ll be in multiple other regions of southern Quebec before Christmas, and after Christmas I’m planning to go to communities in the north of the province.” This focus on Quebec is only one part of a greater effort the NDP is going to be making to appeal to those outside of their traditional base, Mulcair ex- plained, speaking before the fundraising event, attended by 40 or so people, kicked off at the Le President hotel.“I think at the NDP we need to learn to go beyond our traditional base.It’s true that the NDP is a social democrat party that is and will always be close to workers, but elsewhere we recognize that we have a message of sustainable development,” he said, noting particularly that the young generation of Canadians is taking on a lot of the ecological and financial debt of their parents.“It takes a new vision to reverse the flow and this is what the NDP is capable of doing.And, this is a discourse that appeals to people beyond our traditional base.” Mulcair was joined by Sherbrooke’s Member of Parliament and fellow party Nearly 100 accidents Cont’d from page 1 member Pierre-Luc Dusseault.The young MP has been vocal in his support of Mulcair for the NDP leadership thus far.“There are many reasons for my choice.Obviously it takes someone with political experience and Mr.Mulcair has already been a minister in the Quebec cabinet.This is an essential part,” Dusseault explained Tuesday night.He also touched on bilingualism and an ability to lead as two qualities that pushed him to support Mulcair.“He also knows the two communities in Canada, the English and French side, very well.I think this is something very useful to unite Canadians at the next election,” Dusseault said.“Clearly it also takes someone presenting themselves as being the next prime minister, and thanks to his experience I think this is the person who can present themselves as the replacement for Stephen Harper.” After much anticipation among party members and the media.Mulcair threw his hat into the race on October 13, and has since received the support of more than 30 MPs.He also said he now has a half-dozen full-time staff running his campaign from locations in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.Like Dusseault, Mulcair focused on his political experience in describing what he brings to the table as a potential leader of the NDP.EVAN LEPAGE Sherbrooke NDP Pierre-Luc Dusseault expressed his support for NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair saying, "He also knows the two communities in Canada, the English and French side, very well.I think this is something very useful to unite Canadians at the next election." Mulcair was in Sherbrooke for a fundraising cocktail Tuesday.“We’re nine candidates.Each brings their experience.My experience is unique because I’ve already been a minister in a government, I’ve also been a leader at the heart of a very high level of provincial government.” Mulcair is currently pushing to try and attract 20,000 new members to the party by the end of January.He reiterated that for students the cost to become a member is only $5 while for anyone else it is $10.“It’s the first time a politician will ask you for money and offer you something in return,” Mulcair joked, “the chance to choose the opposition chief and hopefully the next prime minister.” To sign up one need only visit the leadership candidate’s website, thomas-mulcair.ca.CORRINNA POLE Townshtppers experienced the first true snowball of the season on Wednesday.were thus of no use on the fresh snow.He was not able to say whether the majority of cars involved in accidents had winter tires or not however.Contrarily, the Sherbrooke Police Service stated that it was in fact the case that most vehicles involved in accidents still did not have winter tires.With the snow continuing into the evening, Ruel said that the SQ would definitely be very present on the roads in case of any further incidents.“We’re on site, we’re trying to be very visible," he said.FUTURE SHOP On the Virgin Mobile headline advertised on page 25 of the No vember 1R flyer, please note that Canada wide « ailing is available ONLY on Virgin Mobile Talk and Text Plans excluding the City Unlimited $35 Plan All Virgin Smartphone plans IX) NOT include Canada wide railing, as ad vertised Please see a Mobile Expert instore lor details We sin cerrly apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.ttFfTlgn limiwhipsOwilrt NhW.S Michel Puval Hv.Adtfèrtis "Xi Curst, unt Serving fhe entire Eastern Townships with three publications One number 819 569-9525 t'iht'rhmnkf'f: it Page 4 Thursday, November 24, 2011 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record CanataZen Quartet this Friday in Richmond By Claudia Villemaire Melbourne With a touch of American style music from well known films -Some enchanted Evening, Summertime and New York, New York, this new quartet, Gilles Bruneau, Renee Landry-Bruneau, Sylvie Christine Grondin and Myrca Sedianska, all accomplished musicians will make their first official appearance as the CanataZen Quartet this Friday at Salle St-Famille in Richmond.The program is a reflection of these surprising musicians' passion for music with a difference.Much like the spices and fruit in a Christmas fruitcake, Bruneau is well suited to the passionate love songs he performs, some with the emotion and deep sadness of intense love and despair, others he masters with hissing syllables and fiery sound of a gypsy's 'dance macabre'.Landry's mezzo voice, sometimes in solo or blending smoothly with her husband's pleas for her love, all excerpts from Saint Saens, LeHar, Emerich Kalman, Edith Piaf.Well known favourites such as Gilles Vi-gneault's Pendant Que and of course, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah are just a few selections of a program Richmond concert goers seldom have the chance and pleasure to enjoy.This event, opening at Salle Ste-Famille on Craig Street Friday evening is a benefit performance by this new musical addition to the cultural side of life in the region.With the outstanding talent and musicianship of Myrca Sedianska, with years of classical training in Europe, her mastery of the violin is breathtaking.Sylvie Christine Grondin, well known in the region for her flawless performances on piano and, sometimes, joining local choirs and often directing and accompanying, brings a finishing touch to a concert offering a new approach and appreciation for music with a difference.Excerpts of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, a bit of J.S.Bach, Grenada, (of course).All I Ask of you from Phantom of the Opera, with a final touch in the popular melody of The Prayer, perhaps a bird's eye glimpse of the program will persuade the region's music lovers to come out and support a good cause, enjoy an evening of music and, yes, refreshments too all for $10.The quartet extends the warmest invitation to one and all.Proceeds are slated for the Richmond Lions' Club to ensure their continuing community support, especially for the young people involved in sports and other activities in the region.The music begins at 7:30 p.m.CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE Sylvie Christine Grondin, pianist and accompanist, Gilles Bruneau, baritone and Renée Landry-Bruneau, mezzo soprano are spotlighted during a practice session at the Landry-Bruneau residence.BU language club tries second screening By Corrinna Pole After their first fundraising efforts hit an unexpected snag, a group of Bishop’s University language students are hoping their second attempt this Sunday will go off without a hitch.The newly launched Language Teaching Club is on a mission to create a community of Bishop’s students who teach English, French, Mandarin or anything in-between, according to club cofounder Amélie Broussard, The third year English as a Second Language (ESL) student said the club which also works with international students, has two ongoing projects that hinge on establishing a space online.“One project is to create a website for lesson plans, resources and activities and the second project is to use the website as a centralized place to offer tutoring,” Broussard explained.“Right now the website is key for us.We’re given great resources in class and we create our own.The more I thought about it the more I though it would be a good idea to have a place online.” While they are looking for partners to help them establish their online venture, the student run club is excited about planning their offline and off campus activities as well.“Because [the club is] still so new, for now we’re focusing on the Bishop’s community and international students but our long term goal is to reach beyond Bishop’s.As early as next year we’d like to have our main event for the community.It will be an English village for elementary students.We would like to have games and activities set up to help them with their language skills” Broussard, who is an international student from Dijon, France, said the club has many other plans in the works but because they are so new they don’t yet have enough funds to launch any of their great ideas.Last month Broussard was geared up chkoem Fondation Ctsm Mk«*nuii« Thanks to your donations Warming Beds for Infant Care Your generosity has enabled the CHUS Foundation to acquire two Giraffe® Omnibeds for the neonatology unit.These warmers are highly useful because of their many features, including an integrated pulse oximeter to continuously monitor the baby's blood oxygen saturation, a controlled warming system to maintain temperature, a tray for taking x-rays without having to move the newborn, and an integrated electronic scale.•0 ’ « * .* o d UtAmi CHUS - Fleurlmont Neonatology Unit The adjustable base ensures a comfortable working height for caregivers.These beds are easy to use and their many features make it possible to assess tiny patients and to intervene rapidly,if needed.Follow us on $52 000 fondation ::££:! PROMUTUEL Everything starts with trust Proud to contribute to improved health in our community INSl'KANCK ANP FINANCIAL SERVICES to raise funds with the help of Centennial Theatre’s Kidz Movie screening of the touching, “inspired by a true story”, Dolphin Tale.With a cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr.and Ashley Judd, the family friendly film is about an injured dolphin that gets a prosthetic tail.At the time it was to play at Centennial, the film was still running in movie theatres across the country.When the film went missing in transit to Lennoxville from British Colombia, the animated How to Train Your Dragon was run in its place at a reduced admission price but failed to draw in the crowds.Now that the Dolphin movie is in Centennial’s hands, Broussard is hoping the community will come see the movie and have a good time at 2 p.m.this Sunday, November 27, and help support the club, which will get $1 from the $5 admission.For more information on the BU Language Teaching Club email LTC It-club.ubishops@gmail.com.To see- the theatres movie schedule visit www.cen-tennialtheatre.ca/movies.A iN'fUUn Wt I HU AMAZING imn Cory Of win hr Centennial Theatre’s Kidz Movie screening of the touching, “inspired by a true story", Dolphin Tale is at 2 p.m.this Sunday. The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Brome-Missisquoi New investments in recycling Patrick Lacroix The MRC of Brome-Missisquoi expects to open six local ecocentres that will enable residents to rid themselves of recyclable items more conveniently.The immediate objective is to increase recycling across all twenty-one municipalities in the MRC.Currently all have access to the regular collection of household recyclables, which are transported to the Sani Eco centre in Granby.The recycling centre does not process construction materials, electronics, or appliances, however, and these items often end up in landfills.The ecocentres are intended to fill the gap.MRC administrators plan to study costs and potential sites though in 2012 and have the ecocentres open in 2013.The Brome-Missisquoi solid waste disposal (RIEDSBM) site in Cowansville accepts materials from the entire MRC, including items not admitted to the landfill, be they dangerous products, labelled “RDD,” or non traditional recy-clables such as those mentioned above.Aside from the site in Cowansville, there are currently three disposal centres in the region, in Farnham, Sutton and the Town of Brome Lake, but these do not take in all hazardous materials or pollutants and their hours of operation are still limited.Under the new plan, their facilities would be expanded and two new centres would come into existence, likely to be located in Bedford and Bromont.All six ecocentres would be accessible to any person living in Brome-Missisquoi upon proof of residency.Meanwhile Cowansville officially welcomes two new businesses, Delt-aGomma and M4P, on Friday.DeltaGomma offers new life to industrial plastic and rubber pieces, producing rubber acoustical (soundproofing) and flooring membranes for commercial and agricultural uses.M4P performs laboratory research and quality control of polymers.Both will be located in Cow-ansville’s industrial park.The MRC endorsed a proposal, last March, that would provide up to $10,000 in funding to DeltaGomma as part of the provincial government’s economic diversification initiative.These announcements follow news of the probable construction of a biomethane plant at the RIEDSBM site in Cowansville.The power plant will refine methane emanating from organic waste, to be collected in distinctive bags, and from the conventional disposal area.Sherbrooke lights the tree Sherbrooke’s Marche de la Gare has been decked out for the holidays and along with sending holiday cheer, the market is inviting everyone to come celebrate the official opening of the Christmas market at 5:30 p.m.Thursday, November 24.During the inauguration the public will be able to watch the switch flipped for the 30,000 lights decorating the city’s 60 foot tall Christmas tree.Singer Nadja will perform holiday tunes as the largest natural Christmas tree in the country, according to Sherbrooke's Christmas market corporation and Destination Sherbrooke, is lit.Host Joselito Michaud will officially launch the market’s festivities, with special guests Sherbrooke Mayor Bernard Sévigny, Destination Sherbrooke President Dany Lachance and Frédéric Farru-gia, manager of the Corporation du marché de Noël de Sherbrooke.With natural Christmas trees, local products from groceries to gifts, the market has become a traditional holiday stop for many but this year there is a new feature to enjoy.Lit up with more than 18,000 lights, a 105-foot tall Ferris wheel will run Thursdays to Sundays from now until December 18.Profits from the tickets, which can be purchased at Café Savoroso’s terrace for $2 for children and $4 for adults, will be donated to the Eastern Townships Multiple Sclerosis Association.The Christmas Market inauguration is just the beginning of the holiday activities scheduled to take place at locations throughout the city.Many can be found on Destination Sherbrooke’s website at www.destina-tionsherbrooke.com.For the Marché de la Gare schedule visit marchedelagare.com.'Christmas Tea’, 33rd edition At the Beaulne Museum in Coaticook Press release The Beaulne Museum of Coaticook is organizing its 33rd annual ‘Christmas Tea,’ an important fundraising event, which promises to be a beautiful and bewitching evening as usual.‘Christmas Tea’ has become a genuine tradition treasured by everyone.Every year the halls of the Château Arthur-Osmore-Norton fill with resi- dents from Coaticook and surrounding areas that wish to experience a magical setting.The guests are plunged into the Christmas spirit by the interior and exterior decorations of the Château and the hearty welcome that is much appreciated.The evening highlight is a sumptuous buffet, which is served on two floors accompanied by music and ending with prize draws.In short an outstanding and unforgettable celebra- Cont’o on page 12 Thursday, November 24, 2011 Pages CRAFTSMAN SNOWBLOWERS ARE CANADA'S BEST SELLERS W E R E D BY BRIGGS&STRATT0N *600 OFF 99999 CRAFTSMAN’’"' 27” dual-stage snowblower with EZ Steermv powered steering • 30Scc/14.S ft.lb.of torque Briggs & Stratton engine • Electric starter for quick starts.OMUb Sears ieg ISVVW ' Based on ind«p«fld*nt rvfttional survey» current at the i«mè of ad preparation OFFER ENOS SUN., DEC.4, 2011 NH14«S11 ç/o»1 Curwl» W J Page 6 Thursday, November 24, 201,1 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Editorial Kenyan teacher-facilitators devoted two weeks of their holiday to preparing and giving workshops Education Beyond Borders An extraordinary experience of professional collaboration, friendship and discovery By Maureen Hillman Retired teacher Sherbrooke Author’s note: This summer, I volunteered in Kenya with the Vancouver-based NGO Education Beyond Borders, http://www.educationbeyondborders.or g/, which is “devoted to closing the global education divide through teacher professional development and community education.” My journey to Kenya this summer was an extraordinary experience of professional collaboration and personal discovery.I met wonderful people and glimpsed a breathtakingly beautiful country; I saw stunning and sometimes sobering contrasts; I witnessed incredible sights and sounds; I listened and learned, shared and reflected; and I renewed my conviction, developed during equally enriching experiences of collaboration with teachers in Senegal, that we can all contribute to change in some small way.In this third year of the project in Laikipia, thirteen Kenyan teachers worked with a team of seven Canadians to organize and prepare a weeklong conference on student-centred methodologies for more than sixty local teachers.They gave workshops on collaborative learning, inquiry, project-based learning and reflection.In addition, they dealt with conference logistics and started work on program evaluation.During the coming year, professional learning clusters in each zone will meet to organize further professional development opportunities and reach out to other teachers in their schools.Next year, Kenyan teacher-facilitators, with the collaboration of Canadians, will train new facilitators to give workshops at the teacher conference.I believe that this focus on empowering teachers to take ownership of their own professional development is why Education Beyond Borders’ work has real longterm value.It was an incredible learning experience to work with colleagues from Kenya and from all across Canada.1 was fascinated to see how people with such different personalities, ages and backgrounds could work so hard together.get along so well and have so much fun when they are all committed to a common goal! That sense of commitment was remarkable; Kenyan teacher-facilitators devoted two weeks of their holiday to preparing and giving workshops while local teachers attended the five-day conference, in many cases either travelling quite some way, night and morning, or boarding in the pupils’ dormitory; and it was also vacation time for most of the Canadian teachers.A great team spirit quickly emerged and we have all come home richer for our new friendships.I was also struck by the level of engagement of the pupils we met during school visits or saw daily at Loise School where the conference was hosted.They talked of their great dreams and ambitions for the future, and demonstrated their endless curiosity about us and about the world around them.Several teenagers explained they would take part in holiday “tuition” - extra guided study to prepare for the November national exams.The girls at Loise studied diligently, often without supervision, and they also tended their school garden, prepared their own meals, did endless laundry, cleared the flood waters after a torrential storm - and just loved chatting with any of us or sharing movie night! One of the enduring pictures in my mind is that of a little boy reading to us clearly in English after only a few months in school.He was standing on the reddish earthen floor, in an overcrowded classroom where benches and books are shared, where light pours through cracks between the wooden planks, and a cool wind blows through partially shuttered windows with no glass.If ongoing professional development for teachers can contribute to the academic achievement of such boys and girls and to their hopes of a better future, then the work of Education Beyond Borders is truly worthwhile.The contrasts between such school buildings and resources on the one hand and pupils’ ambitions and hopes on the other are great; so, too, is the gap between the beauty of this country and the heart-wrenching poverty and suffering we also witnessed; and so, too, is himM'IU.in RECORD P.0.Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 5L6 or 1195 Galt E, SheitrookeJlG 1Y7 Fax for Newsroom only: 819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com WEism : www.sherbrookerecord.com Sharon McCully Publisher .(819) 569-6345 Daniel Coulombe News Editor.(819) 569-6345 Stephen Blake Corresp.EnrroR.(819) 569-6345 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting.(819) 569 9511 Advertising .(819) 569-9525 Circulation .(819) 569-9528 Newsroom .(819) 569-6345 Knowlton office 5B Victoria Street.Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 120.00 6.00 10.71 $136.71 6 months 63.00 3.15 5.62 S71.77 3 MONTHS 32.00 160 2.86 S36.46 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 9.1897.and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record.1195 Galt East, Sherbrooke.QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA the contrast between the atmosphere of trust and sincere friendship with which we were constantly greeted and the occasional security concerns or the media references to corruption.But, however many problems and issues our different countries face (and recent riots in the UK, my own birthplace, demonstrate that they are numerous), the place we Canadians discovered this summer is a country of exquisite beauty - from the steep escarpments plunging down to the Rift Valley, to the endless grasslands, rugged hills and amazing wildlife.Every day at registration, we saw the snow-capped, hazy outline of Mount Kenya looming majestically in the distance, bathed in the soft early-morning light.On a weekend bush walk, we moved quietly, in single file, listening to the whistling sounds of the breeze in the thorn trees, until we came across gazelle or zebra grazing on the vast tracts of open land which stretched to the far-off hills and beyond.As dusk fell, the clouds darkened on the horizon and the sun’s last golden rays filtered through, turning the acacia trees into lonely black silhouettes against the sky.Beyond the beauty of the landscapes and the elephants, giraffes, black rhinos and impala that inhabit the area, the beauty of the people we met in Laikipia will remain with me: the wonderful wide smiles and happy-sounding Swahili expressions that greeted us each morning, the vigorous handshakes, the pleasant comments, the constant appreciation and encouragement, the shared laughter, as well as the dances, photos, quotations, prayers, songs and poems.The conviction, dynamism and commitment of the Kenyan and Canadian teachers with whom I had the privilege to work this summer augur well for the future.That several of them were young teachers was a particular joy to me - as I watched them work, share and build this summer, I felt that our world was in good hands.“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so m uch ” Helen Keller Letter Painful exercise in boring futility Dear Editor: I did not attend the last November 7 TBL council meeting.My absence I confess, was not related to a lack of time or interest, but simply because the occurrence has become such a painful exercise in boring futility.You’ve got to be very tough mentally, be quite stupid, have a specific agenda or be easily amused, to sit through one of these mind numbing events, (and no popcorn, soda pop or beer allowed).No matter the common sense, nor the validity of any citizen’s questions, there is always a confused jumble of stammering, irrelevant “facts and extenuating circumstances” that inevitably culminate in an evasive, inconclusive, “look into it” postponed, non-answer from the entourage of verbal gymnasts gathered at center stage.“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with Bull.t,” appears to be the mantra.1 am told that all the “terminal dreamland” big money “projects” are a “go." This includes the fabulous new, way out of town, big and getting bigger budgeted municipal garage (recently upped in price from a stingy $1,200,000 to hefty $2,900,000) hot tub and sauna included?Likewise, the mayor’s “Yellow brick road” legacy project, that thoroughly unpopular, ill conceived, horrifically expensive, “walking path” and its related million dollar bridges, it’s also a “go.” A forever and ever town maintenance-liability-public safety nightmare, if there ever was one.The path, like the Douglass beach house, keeps popping up, (like mushrooms on a manure pile).Didn’t we citizens vote both these items down once or twice before?If ever there was an issue (along with the notorious golf club demolition permit) in desperate need of a town wide referendum, “the path” is surly it.Unfortunately, the applications for massive borrowing are now in progress and we are all soon to plunge into long-term, crippling debt and higher taxes, the likes of which this town has never before seen.(Ironically, this in a town whose only legitimate justification for amalgamation-existence was principally motivated by a dread of excessive debt and subsequent high taxes.The Town of Brome Lake would be kept cheap, rural and user friendly, we were promised.) The wistful hopes of many, that the current constant “gridlock” at town hall would at least curtail any reckless spending, are dashed.It seems the waring factions are all able to “kiss and make up” in time to get on the same page in order to appear “to be doing something” when it comes to spending our money and acquiring massive, unnecessary, debt.Meanwhile, over at that monument to misguided priorities, unfathomable CONT’D ON PAGE 12 TheRéctird nèwsrdom@sherbf6Gkeréc6rd.com Thursday/NoVember 24, 5011 Page 7 Column j IST Bitter?I’m not bitter.Just disappointed.And sexy.Fm sexy and I know it — but People still doesn’t Ross Murray To my many fans (4), the creators of the Tumblr blog “Heck Yes Ross!” and the woman in the bathrobe who stands on the corner waving at me when I go to work: As you are by now aware, I have once again been passed over as People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in favour of one Bradley Cooper, an actor of moderate renown with a certain douchey quality that appeals to a distressing number of women.Since his cover-page coronation, I have not been oblivious to the outcry over the further snubbing of my subliminal sexiness, and rest assured that I have appreciated all the e-mails of support cleverly encoded as offers for penis enlargement.However, I need to make it clear that People did not intentionally overlook my ever-so-subtle hotness.Instead, this year I officially withdrew my name from the competition in protest.“Please, Ross, don’t deprive the glossyreading public their supermarket validation of your Waldo-esque good looks and your come-hither eyebrows,” the people at People probably said when they read my letter, too overwhelmed by emotion to actually write back.“You represent the very essence of life in our times - shortsighted, lacking substance and mildly disturbing.” But no, I would have none of it.Despite my years of lobbying for the SMA title (those full-page ads depicting me in the sequined spacesuit under the title “A-Ross The Universe” won’t be forgotten any time soon, certainly not by my children), I have come to realize that the entire SMA process has become corrupted and that the high standards of masculine sexiness for which our forefathers fought and died have been sullied by politics and self-interest.Gone are the days when one’s sexiness was judged on the merits of box office performance, the upcoming release of a major motion picture or a moderately successful recent speaking engagement at the Eastern Townships Kazoo Club.Now it’s not how you look but who you know.Well-groomed chin stubble also seems to play a significant role.We need look no further for evidence of problems inherent within the SMA system than at this year’s selection of Cooper over Ryan Gosling, another actor who has apparently been in some films.Personally, 1 don’t get his sex appeal but women I’ve asked have described him as “Ma-hamma-ma-hamma!” That Gosling was clearly the superior cover boy is evidenced in the fact that dozens of women protested in front of People’s office earlier this week, a protest that quickly became known as the “Occupy Ryan Gosling’s Bare Chest” movement.“Gosling-gate,” as the scandal has been dubbed (or alternatively “Cooper- gate,” and sometimes “Gosling-Cooper-gate,” which is not to be confused with the law firm that settled those outlandish paternity suits against me.Gosling Coopergate Slunge), has taken on such significance that it nearly overshadowed this week’s even more important world news, namely the return of Sidney Crosby.Whom do we blame for this travesty?Whom can we point the finger at in order to obtain some fleeting sense of mild satisfaction?Whom can I personally hold accountable for all those years of being overlooked?One theory is that, after last year’s questionable anointing of this-close-to-being-cross-eyed Ryan Reynolds, the judges could not stomach naming an- other Ryan and, worse, another Canadian.But quite frankly, as with figure skating, I blame the French judges.Can’t imagine how that can be?Well, consider that Bradley Cooper is perfectly fluent in French.(Google it if you don’t believe me.) Coincidence?Je ne pense pas! Until there is a proper review of the Sexiest Man Alive selection process, I will continue to boycott this competition.So if you fail to see me on the cover of • People* next year, you’ll understand why.Bitter?I’m not bitter.Just disappointed.And sexy.But hey, fans (now 3), be sure to look for me on the cover of the February issue of Modern Dork! S o c i é t é f; protectrice 11 V ’ i l n 1 Thursday, November 24, 2011 Page 17 f i A J’Y DOC.everyone T WA& A CLONE \ » OF SOMEBODY IN MOO/ , WE SHOULD FORGET ALL ABOUT EARTH 2/ THAT PLACE IS CREEPY/ .YOU DIDN'T WANT ME ¦TO GO AFTER THIS OIL DEAL, (SO NOW YOU’RE JUST TELLING ^ 7 LIES ABOUT EARTH STOP INTERRUPTING OOP/ LVi/L'i/' WHAT?/ Arlo & Jams H&HA6 TWO)OD£f?100 VITAL HOW HC 0l?0A^ a LVEI?OOT WL HAVL pL&M 60LD A DLFLCTIVE TD^K&Y' PILA# Kit n Carlyle mm.^ kitncarlyle@comcast.net www.GoComics.com - •nof^TA/S \S 5c>m (f JOKO^V from 1996 The Born Loser r ^ blKCC WHCN KKb lAC &K.UTUS RCKLLY ^ KMOCKtC* OUT AFTE.R DIMMER! fAUST &E.5eCNU5E.OF THE.TRYPTOPHAH FR01A & NLL TUE.TURK£T I Ht Mi! | TR.YPTOPUM4 TO D05E.OFF AT TI4C OROP OF A HAT ?! Frank And Ernest THÉY D/5C0V/^R F/RÉ ZlND Wr SPÉ/VD f\l*L D/1Y ^ COOKlNOl s.2011 UFS, Inc.Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS ér Herman II-Z4 Grizwells fRoREWi tEAU.„TN\ K\HP LlfTL^ A HEW U5T WAAV Too 1VIU