The Head of Trent Oak Tree

If you were a part of the Lumberjacks Oak Tree Planting during Head of Trent 2010, you'll be excited to know that the brass plaque commemorating the event is now installed.  This is a somewhat artistic photo of it.  Should you want to have a clearer picture, you'll have to come up to campus and toast it yourself!

All the best!

Champlain Alumnus Richard Johnston in dialogue with Students (posted by Mitch Beck)

By: Mitch Beck

Hello Fellow Champlainers!

On Monday evening this week we were fortunate enough to have a distinguished Champlain alumni, Richard Johnston, co-owner of ``By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery and Vineyard`` visit us in residence. When Richard was only seventeen he took the risk of leaving his family farm where he tended sheep on a farm north of Peterborough, to enrol as one of the first students at Trent University. Consequently, Richard was also one of the first Champlainers but back then Champlain was an all-male residence where women were not even permitted to stay after 11pm. Richard spoke of how the residence was quite dreary at this time of year, with little on-campus entertainment. With no clubs, pubs or the usual Champlain mischief and revelry, I personally didn’t have much trouble seeing why that was. However, fortunately this did not stop Richard and our former industrious members of college from getting to work on livening things up about the place.

Bon Temps Weekend 2011 - post by Mairi "McGee" Mcguire

Let us set the stage- a mild February afternoon, the snow still drifting after the storm, a slight wind, ruffling strands of hair and the fringes of scarves, dozens of Champlain Students, some still dazed from the night before, gloved hands gripped on the wooden sticks, crouched over the smooth palette of ice, prepared for what will happen next. N-H-L, they chant, hitting their sticks against one another, before swiping at the small, brightly colored rubber ball.

Writing With a Paddle; Guest post by Mairi McGuire

Pictured here: Dr. Mike, Canadian Canoe Museum Executive Director James Raffan, Canadian Author Nicolas Dickner, Lakefield College School former Headmaster Terry Guest

This Wednesday, I was awarded the opportunity to attend a reading by award winning author, Nicolas Dicker. Dickner’s book, Nikolski, tells the story of three characters, completely unaware of their relation with one another, as they traverse separately through life. The book was the winner of CBC Canada Reads 2010 and also won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Translation in 2008. The reading was hosted at the beautiful Canadian Canoe Museum in downtown Peterborough. I was fascinated by its ornate features, the fantastical canoes which dotted the museum floor and the pillars of ancient wood which decorated the room. Nicolas Dickner was introduced by the head of Champlain College, Dr. Mike Allcott. In his introduction, Dr. Allcott described Dickner as one who “lives in the extraordinary milieu of the imagination,”, and it was right there, within the beautiful walls of the Canoe museum, that we were invited into the majestic imagination of this wonderful writer.

Welcoming Nicolas Dickner to Champlain

The 2011 Jack Matthews Fellow, Nicolas Dickner was welcomed to Champlain with a luncheon in the Living Learning Commons today. Trent students, students of Lakefield College School as well as VIPs from the Canadian Canoe Museum and our community.
Kate Ramsay and Dr. Mike co-hosted, and Champlainer Constance Dupuis offered welcoming remarks on behalf of Trent students.

Photos included here feature, Trent President Steven Franklin welcoming the collaborating institutions; Nicolas Dickner, Canadian Author, Dr. Mike en francais, the tourtiere main, and the sugar pie dessert.

Jill Battson, Empress of Poetry, World AIDS Day Reading at Champlain Living Learning Commons

I met Jill Battson in a bar in Buffalo, New York in 1989. Great opening line to an introduction, eh? In truth, Jill was there with Adeena Karasick, performing in a reading series for the University at Buffalo Poetics Program. Jill and I connected immediately, as we were both doing poems exploring the intersection of language, desire, pornography and performance. She blessed me by inviting me to perform in Toronto in a Weird Sisters reading along with Adeena and the inimitable Sky Gilbert. She also produced my opus, "The Porno Boy Speaks" for the Toronto Queer Culture Festival in the early '90s.

Since then Jill has achieved remarkable things as a performance poet. She's currently the poet Laureate of Cobourg, Ontario, and the opera based on her latest book, "Dark Star Requiem" opened the Luminato Festival 2010 at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She'll be reading from that book at the Champlain Living Learning Commons for World AIDS Day on Dec 1 at 3 p.m.

Over the past few years, Jill has explored in depth the relationship between spoken word performance, dance, theatre, and opera. She's done remarkable work. Here's a sample of her work with the remarkable choreoghrapher and dancer, D. A. Hoskins. (Jill, D.A., and I produced a work for Peterborough New Dance's Emergency series a few years ago entitled, "Ecce Homo").




CBC Radio 2 will broadcast a recording of the world premiere of "Dark Star Requiem" later in the evening of World AIDS Day. The dramatic oratorio by Jill Battson and composer Andrew Staniland, was co-produced by Tapestry and Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, for the opening weekend of the 2010 Festival.

The Toronto Star called the oratorio “Artistically adventurous and intellectually provocative” and “exactly the kind of project that the Luminato festival wants to be about.” Classical Music Guide called it, “a ‘tapestry’ quite consistently mesmerizing to the collective senses and conscience of the rapt audience” and “a work of vital . . . lasting, thought-provoking power.” Listeners will be able to follow the text and view production images online at http://www.tapestrynewopera.com/.

Broadcast Details:
December 1, 2010
on The Signal with Laurie Brown
CBC Radio 2
Between 10 pm and midnight EST.

From Trent University to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC

A shout out to Nomadic Massive who loved their stay at Champlain and the great students who helped them launch their tour this fall at Trent.

The climax of their tour (and the band's life thus far!) was this concert at the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. Champlain knows what's good, eh?

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M4455

What is Remembrance Day all about?

I was honoured to be a part of a Remembrance Day ceremony in the Great Hall of Champlain on Thursday morning. It was a privilege to share the podium with a Trent student, Ethan Mcdonald, who is an officer Cadet in the Canadian armed forces. I was very moved by the depth of thought, reflection, feeling, and commitment in the words that he shared that day. I'm grateful that he shared that text with me so that you might read it here.

What is Remembrance Day all about?

When I was young, it was about wearing a little red flower in November. Growing up, it took on a human side; a wrinkly face with white thinning hair and bright eyes despite failing health with age.

Today as I wear this uniform, it means much more and I would like to share this with you.

After taking several history courses in high school and university, I discovered that often, war was waged for political or religious reasons and very often unknown to those whom it consumed. Rarely did it bring what was promised: freedom and a better life for those it affected; and war rarely brought peace.

I was taught that long ago, men went overseas and fought for their home country in the Great War, to bring back peace and victory for the commonwealth. In 1917 our great nation was born under fire in France. Young Canadians took the untakeable at Vimy Ridge and endured the unendurable at Passchendaele, many never leaving Flanders Fields. The armistice took place one year later--the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month 1918. Never again!

In 1939, the nations of the world mobilized once again for another round, this time the Allies were off to fight amongst others, a man named Adolf Hitler and his armies who in a short time, controlled most of Europe. Once again, young Canadians answered the call and scaled the cliffs of Assoro, suffered in Hong Kong and took Juno Beach. Six years later they returned with victory and an uneasy peace. The world learned of the horrors of the holocaust and wept from the devastation. Never again!

For the next 45 years, the world held its breath while Western and Communist armies sparred in remote regions of the world. Canadians held the unholdable at Kapyong and in the 90’s when United Nations peace keeping became the political focus, Canadians in sky blue berets of hope, sat out of a politically incorrect war and watched as millions were murdered in Rwanda. Never again!

I suppose it would sound rather cynical for me to say this and suggest that war has never accomplished anything worth its cost; that by this perhaps, the deeds of veterans are meaningless. If you only focus on the big picture and not what’s in an individual’s heart, this may be all that you believe. However, I do not come to you today to preach on the politics or history of international conflict. My query is much simpler; not why we have war, but why we have warriors?

The truth is, regardless of politics, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or anything else that separates and divides humans or causes war; veterans and soldiers of conflicts past and present serve because they feel a duty. A duty to do all that is in their power to bring peace, freedom and a higher quality of life, to those who are without it. For any individual to take action on their beliefs especially with goals such as these is truly remarkable.

The truth is, even today within this great nation of Canada, there are still thousands who take up this cause. They are deployed to the Middle East, in Afghanistan and other troubled areas around the world. Regardless of their job, they all make a sacrifice, the same as those before them. Leaving their families, their daily lives and country behind and donning the uniform of a Canadian Soldier. All gave some; some 152 of my brothers and sisters gave all, giving their lives for what they believe in.

I can tell you this with absolute certainty today as I don the uniform of a Canadian Soldier as many nineteen year olds have done before me. My profession is that of arms, my job is to fight. Yet my mission is to preserve peace, to ensure freedom and quality of life for all. My mind says “Never again!” but my heart says, “I must do something!”

So today on the eleventh of November, many may ponder the question “What does Remembrance Day mean?” To me, it is a day to remember the conflicts of the past and present, but focusing on the men and women who serve instead of dwelling on politics or the outcome. Remembrance Day is about people, who became soldiers, who went off to war and fought for what they believe in.

Remembrance Day is about those who never made it home. We will remember them.

- A Canadian Soldier.

Tim Miller, Internationally Acclaimed Performance Artist

Champlain is honoured to host Tim Miller, whose work as a performer and writer explores the artistic, spiritual and political topography of his identity as a gay man. Hailed for his humor and passion, Miller's performances have been presented all over North America, Australia, and Europe in such prestigious venues as Yale Repertory Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Art (London), the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For more information, visit: www.timmillerperformer.com

Tim has been my friend for many years. I taught his book, "Shirts and Skins" as well as excerpts of his work in the book "O Solo Homo" when I taught a class in Queer Performance Art for the University of Utah (at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Salt Lake City). His performance works embody so much of the history of gay culture over the past 2 decades. And his commitment to continuing to fight, through artistic expression, for the rights and well-being of queer-identified people everywhere is an inspiration.

I'm thrilled that our Champlain community will be able to welcome him and learn with him in residence at the college for the next few days.

If you want to learn more about his schedule here, check out these links, and pick up tickets to see his show on Wednesday night at the First People's Performance Space.
http://www.facebook.com/TimMillerPerformer#!/event.php?eid=122410101153528
http://www.facebook.com/TimMillerPerformer#!/event.php?eid=101084199965203

Michael Sacco: Chocosol Actionist and Champlain Fellow

Michael will be facilitating a World Affairs Colloquium for World Food Day in October.

Nomadic Massive Live in the Great Hall, Sep 24 7 p.m.

More from Nomadic Massive:

Nomadic Massive Live in the Great Hall, Sep 24 7 p.m.

Why Nomadic Massive as a kick off event to bring Trent together for a Champlain event?

When Tim Shah (Champlain/Trent alumn, leader of the Trent Global Living Community, and now at UBC doing a Master's in Urban Planning) first contacted Nomadic Massive to see if they would do a performance in the Great Hall on their way to a gig in Toronto, they responded immediately and said that they love to do performances at universities--but . . ."

We might have been worried about the "but" until it was followed by, "we'd also like to do a workshop for social justice". Tim and I were both thrilled because, well, how Trent is that? A cutting edge eleven piece band making the great hall rumble with a multicultural sound--and a message with meaning to make a world of difference? That's a college life I want to be a part of!

When I came to Champlain 7 years ago, I heard many stories about "the old days" of concerts and sweaty dance parties in the Great Hall that brought together the community in ways no other college could. That's one tradition I'd like to sustain--if it gives us opportunities to learn together as this concert will!

Nomadic Massive, live in the Great Hall, with opening band The Resolutionaries, Friday, September 24, 2010, 7 p.m. Get tickets at the Champlain College Office, LEC Office, TIP, The Central or student affairs. Tickets are free with a donation for Pakistan Flood Relief (UNICEF).

Workshop: "Social Justice Through Hip Hop" World Affairs Colloquium in the Champlain Council Chambers (CC M2) at 3 p.m.

College Head Welcome and Tree Planting

On September 7, 2010, Dr. Mike Allcott, Champlain College Head welcomed all new students of Champlain by planting a tree in their honour. If you weren't able to attend, below is the talk he shared with the new students!

Welcome to Trent and welcome to Champlain College.

My academic background is in English Literature and my professional experience has led me to travel and live in more than 20 countries around the world. Both of these things mean that I look for and see meaning in all the different aspects of life. And I think you do, too. Meaning is the value of the things we do, of the friendships we make of the things we learn. The absence of meaning, is well, it’s simply boring. Like going through the motions of a dance that you don’t understand or don’t want to do.

So I wanted to spend this moment of meaning with you, in the hope that we can share a value, not just for this moment, but for the lifespan of this little oak tree. As many of you know, my partner and I were married 6 years ago in this little courtyard of Champlain College, so it has great meaning for me. There was a great willow tree, a love willow, with two trunks entwined in each other right at this spot. Sadly, that tree passed on a few years ago. And that’s one reason I wanted to plant this tree in your honour this week.

This tree was planted for the Trent University and Champlain College class of 2010. That’s you.

And as members of this very special community of learning, we’ll be able to watch the tree grow over the next year or two or three or four (or maybe more). It will be a way for us to measure each other’s growth, witness each other’s progress, and celebrate each other as we grow and become what we’re only brave enough to dream at this point.

Those of us who have a social and environmental consciousness know that planting a tree is an essential act of life and hope. Trees and reforestation not only help to digest the overabundance of Carbon Dioxide produced by our abuse of the earth, they also provide a natural habitat and a healthy diverse ecosystem that helps to sustain other life. Moreover, trees are beautiful: recent studies have showed that people who are able to see trees and their natural environment experience a more peaceful and stress-free life; people who study within sight of trees have higher level of concentration and the ability to focus. As you may know ancient druids found spiritual force in the very existence of trees. And whether you are a spiritual person or a scientific person, maybe there is some actuality in that belief that we have yet to discover.

What do they say about your generation? The first generation to come of age after September 11, 2001. That was a moment that changed the way Americans, but also north Americans thought about our security and being in the world. Your parents may have paid more careful attention to you, to your well-being and to your safety than previous generations.

The researchers call you “Generation Net”, because you have grown up in a world where the internet was not a new phenomenon, but as normal a part of life as milk, maple syrup and MTV.

Researchers say that you have high expectations of University:

That is will truly prepare you for the Future. You trust that university will provide you a safe and supportive environment, in which you will be able to take risks and rise to meaningful challenges. And in which you’ll be able to have a second chance when that risk does not result in success.

You expect university to provide you Mentors. People whose experience you can look up to, and people who can not only help guide you to success, but help connect you to the networks that lead to success.

But you expect those mentors to arise from authentic circumstances—from your real life, not from a competition or one-upsmanship over your peers.

You expect university to challenge you—but not in an environment of merely formulaic tests and exams, but in meaningful challenges. Projects, assignments, opportunities inside and outside the classroom that add to your sense of meaning in life.

Oh, and the researchers say that you expect to have fun. I hope that you will find that Champlain College, the friends you will make here, the mentors you will meet in the authentic day to day life of the college, will meet these lofty expectations of your generation.

There’s another thing that people believe about your generation: They call you Generation O. That’s O for Obama. Social networking, genuine belief that the institutions created by your seniors can be an effective tool for changing the world into the world that you want. That you not only have a social consciousness, but you have the will to participate and the savoir-faire to make things work for you.

We’re planting this tree tonight as a sign of our commitment to each other, to Champlain College. It’s a sign that we will guard and value each other’s expectations, and support each other’s dreams as we grow together over the next years. And we’ll look forward to the moment we can look back with your children when they come to Trent, or that this tree will look back on us from its hundreds of years of life, and appreciate the moment we were at Champlain.

Noranne has a guest book for each of you to sign either tonight, or in the Great Hall throughout the week. I’d like you to put your name there—and if you would, record some word that indicates your dreams or desires for yourself as a member of this community of learning.

Who will you be? Who will you form friendships with? What will you learn? What will you teach? And what will you give to this community? I and the fellows of Champlain look forward to watching you become whomever you will be. Thank you for coming tonight, enjoy your ISW, and welcome the class of 2010 to Champlain College.

Trent's DSO department

Trent DSO department and New Students

As a student registered with the Disability Services Office (DSO) at Trent, I would like my first blog to be on the topic of the disabilities and other student support services.

In my last year of high school I was diagnosed with dyslexia and even though my disability hadn’t prevented me from continuing my studies towards a post-secondary education, it most definitely presented a hindered potential for a positive educational experience at University.

In my first week at Trent, I booked a number of appointments with the DSO, because I didn’t have a clue about how my disability could function in a university environment. This was probably one of the best decisions as a student I could have made, because the DSO staff knew exactly how to compensate for my disability and provide the greatest effect for my success at school.

My grades have improved at university from the days when I was in high school and I can only imagine that is was partially due to the help from the Trent Disability Services office.

Incoming students or continuing students who have a recognized disability or believe they might have a disability, should take the time in the first week of school to book an appointment with the DSO. The faculty members are there to support Trent Students and if you feel hindered in your education, take advantage in what services the school can provide.

I can only describe my personal experiences with the Department; it very much services the school in a a positive way. If anyone has any questions don’t feel shy to send me an email.

Trent’s disabilities website link:

http://www.trentu.ca/disabilityservices/

Coming to Champlain College, November 2010!

Tim Miller Queer Performer: SUMMER 2010 NEWLETTER & FALL SNEAK PREVIEW!

Ever heard of Nomadic Massive?

Nomadic Massive is a Montreal-based band. The song displayed above, "Moving Forward" is one of their recent and very famous pieces. It would be really awesome if we brought them to Champlain/Trent one of these days. Their interest in facilitating social change via performances and workshops, creating awareness over international issues, dedication to open-mindedness and their multi-cultural appeal would make for a perfect fit in Champlain or the University in general. The group is quite popular internationally. They have initiated socio-cultural exchanges with like-minded artists all over the world.

Del F. Cowie writes:

"Montreal’s Nomadic Massive are probably one of the most aptly named bands around. Boasting 12 members and vocalists that rap and sing in five different languages (English, French, Spanish, Creole and Arabic), Nomadic Massive provide a truly multicultural listening experience. Predictably, with such a diverse number of influences in a group made up of artists who were previously pursuing solo careers, the album’s musical approach rarely settles into one groove. Incorporating their diverse cultural backgrounds, Nomadic Massive successfully transfer traditional musical forms to hip-hop’s intrinsically syncretic approach with polished production skills."

Overall, they look like a pretty dynamic band and would be excellent for Champlain.