Voice of Ebc by Matthew Vadervoet Writing for the Voice is harder than it looks. The staff of the Voice of EBC has taken this week off, and instead has asked you: “If you could ask any question for Voice on the Street, what would you ask?” Remember some of these because they might pop up next semester…

Erica Woodford “Why am I sick right now, and why is my paper not done yet?”

Julie-Ann Wideman “What would you do if you were the great John Schuit?”

Alex Barry “What is a realistic count of the number of hairs on Chuck Norris’s beard?”

Heather Marion “If you could be any Sesame Street character who would you be?”

Mike Wilson “Do I look sexy?”

Jason Edgar “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”

Brandon Myers “Why does every zipper say YKK?”

Jeff Hopkins “How is your soup?”

James Fretz “Will you go out with me?”

I have stood against the world
and withstood its arrows hurled.
Though my hide is unmarked, fresh
the wounds are deeper, beyond my flesh.
I have wiped the tears from my eyes
and stood defiantly beneath the skies.
I won’t grimace, will not flinch, that would show that I am weak.
Will this end, does it stop, could peace be anywhere I seek.

Wesley Hague

There was a man
So simple, but strong
Not common, not bold
But went still he did

The call did come
To young and old
The country was needing
For all to go

Answer he did
For called he was
Regardless of task
He knew he was needed

The trials he faced
Were difficult, it’s true
But strong he’d stand
Until the end he would

Many friends he made
And so many died
As shots were fired
And limbs were lost

The man did stand
As the end finally came
Not the way he chose
But leave he did

The day was cold
As he stood his ground
When the shots rang out
And down he went

So many were lost
That cold, cold day
The bodies would lay
And ne’er been found
One day it came
The healing can start
The mass grave undug
For identifying’s begun

All the bodies are reburied
Or sent home to family
When one is left
No tags to behold

The call went out
For a family to see
A brother or father
Who ne’er did come home

No one did respond
And wonder we did
For all should have
One person to care

Who is this soldier
Who fought and died
With no identity
And no family to claim

Sent home he still is
A soldier to all
For honoured he was
For answering the call

Heather Marion

From the Editors Desk

Snow and homework have crept up on us. We all knew it was coming, as it comes every year at this time. Yet every year it seems to catch most of us prepared. Sure we made plans to be prepared for it this year, and yet somehow it seems that very few of us are ever truly all that prepared the handle it. The Death Week(s) are now upon us and many people will spend countless sleepless hours awake doing homework. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining to this, just like the snow despite its temperature wraps the world around us in its majestic white, there is something to look forward to with all this work: Christmas. While some may think it’s too early to think about it and others have been shopping already for it, Christmas is the beacon of light at the end of this tunnel. That regardless of the amount of the homework we have, it will all pass, and we will be able to enjoy the break, time with family, friends, and most of all time away from school work.

It is my wish that you all are able to manage the stress of this season, be it from snow, homework or both. In only a couple more weeks, we will be able to look back on these weeks with fond memories, as the things that matter now, will pass by, like almost everything does.

Wesley Hague

In this Issue:

Main Page:

Milton to Speyside Hike: November 8th, 2008: Tim Grace
A Boy Named Qwop: Tim Grace
Wildcat Café Contest:  Isaiah Boronka and JulieAnne Wideman
Coffee House: Matthew Vandervoet

Creative Corner:
To Stand: Wesley Hague
Unknown Soldier: Heather Marion

Photo Gallery:
Milton to Speyside Hike
Memories of Wildcats With Brooms – Curling

Voice on the Street:
“What would you ask for Voice on the Street?”: Matthew Vandervoet

It all started with a phone call.  Dave’s friend called him and invited him on a tour.  Morley went along with him leaving Sam and Stephanie alone for the week.  That’s the week Sam turned green.*

As a beginning of a story, that is how it’s done.  Unfortunately, that is a different story altogether.  This story, the one we’re actually talking about, included different characters, and not so much green.  It happened near the city of Milton on a trail through the woods, on the Bruce Trail to be exact.  The Bruce trail stretches almost 900 km from Queenston (near Niagara) to Tobermory, effectively stretching the complete distance of the Niagara Escarpment.  Various terrains and landscapes are encountered along this trail.  Hikers of many ages take on the challenge of the entire trail, or smaller sections as they see fit.

On this day, six young adventurers gathered together to walk a greater distance than most would consider walking on a regular basis.  On their adventure, they encountered wildlife (snake), crevices, cliffs, foliage (at least where there once was foliage), streams, harrowing gaps to leap over (most of the time taking the hard way before realizing there was an easier way just a few metres away), and enjoyed the view.  Only on one occasion did this group stray from the trail.  They were walking along an old forest road when one of the hikers noticed a sign that read “Private Property, Do Not Enter”.  They then realized that there were no blazes to be seen and had to backtrack a bit to find the place where they missed a turnoff.

The distance: 10.6 kilometres from near Hilton Falls Conservation area north to the small hamlet of Speyside.  The pain: sore ankles, knees, backs, rough terrain, ups and downs, the never-ending section (the last 2 km), and even a bit of rain? oh, and the abandonment that the passengers must have felt when the drivers dropped them off and drove away, claiming we’d be back in 20-30 minutes.  The reward: Christian Chicken (Swiss Chalet) and the experience of spending four hours in nature.

Was it worth it?  Yes.
Would I do it again?  Yes.
Would I recommend you come with us on the next one?  Yes.

Next hike:  Sunday, November 30th to Terra Cotta Conservation Area (near Georgetown).  Distance: 5-7km (shorter trails available for those who can’t go longer).  Snow or shine (if it’s safe to drive).  Bring a snack, warm clothes, water, and a camera.  Sign up on Tim Grace’s door by Friday, November 28th at 4:00 PM.

Next Semester Hikes:

January: Waterfalls of Hamilton Car Hike Webster’s Falls, Tew’s Falls, Tiffany Falls and more.  Walking Distance: 2-4 km - Sunday January 18th
February:  Waterloo Park  Bus Hike – Wednesday February 11
March:  Snow Hike – Location TBD – Saturday
April:  Speyside Forest Loop – Pre-Exam Wednesday Hike

*Based off the Vinyl Café on CBC Radio.

Once upon a time in a small, underfunded nation, there lived a boy named Qwop.  Qwop had a dream of becoming an Olympic athlete; however his nation didn’t have the training facilities or the funding to help him on his way.  But one day, through a series of events, best left for another story, Qwop found himself at the Olympics on the starting line for the 100 metre dash.  Did he win?  Did he train enough to even make it more than a few stumbles before crashing on his face?  Can he defy gravity?

You find out.

Go here to find out more:  http://www.foddy.net/Athletics.html

In a few months time he Wildcat Café will be opening again for the winter semester. With a slight difference. After seeing the creative potential of EBC students the managers (Julie-Anne Wideman and Isaiah Boronka) have decided to hold a contest to create the best Wildcat Café logo. The old one is good, but you can make one so much better! The contest will close December 11th and the winner will be announced the first day of the winter semester. Not only will the winner get their logo to be the new, official logo of the wildcat cafe but they will also win one of our new Wildcat Café cards.

So get your pencils, pens and Photoshops ready along with a creative mind fuelled by a Wildcat Latté and get a started for the best contest of the semester!

All submissions can be emailed or put in our mailboxes.

Isaiah Boronka and Julie-Anne Wideman

The coffee house held in the chapel, on November 7th was disappointing. This is, in part, due to the slightly dry programming. There was a presentation from the Mennonite Central Committee about their work in Ethiopia. The main reason I believe that the coffee house was lacking something, was due to the lack of student participation. Although several students went to this event, there was little to no interaction between students and guests. By the time the two and a half hour night was over, the students remaining could be counted on one hand. I feel that although we may not be interested in the programming, we should at least be interested in community and the work of the church worldwide. The refreshments were good and the music, a mellow acoustic sound brought to us by two artists, was entertaining. It is my hope that future events have a higher attendance, and would bring the community and the school together.

Matthew Vandervoet

Editors Note: The Coffee house was sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee for their annual conference, held inWaterloo, and was open to conference attendees as well as EBC Students.  Student involvement was requested, but only a few students responded to the email.