25 Years of “Bah Humbug!”

By Clare T.

Most of us are familiar with the classic story of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is a moneylender with a serious lack of Christmas spirit. The night of Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his late partner and fellow humbugger, Jacob Marley, who informs him to await the visits of three ghosts whose goal is to help him avoid a terrible fate. The Spirit of Christmas Past, the first entity to visit Scrooge, is followed by the Spirit of Christmas Present and the Spirit of Christmas Future. Throughout his journey with each spirit, Scrooge is taught the importance of valuing life, of being kind, and of helping those who are less fortunate than himself. Thus, Scrooge is transformed into a new man; forever changed by the lessons he has learned, he continues to carry the spirit of Christmas inside him every day of the year. 

After twenty-five years, A Christmas Carol is the longest-running theatre tradition in Calgary; however, the performance is not the same as it was a quarter of a century ago. Adapter and director Dennis Garnhum, who has directed Theatre Calgary’s A Christmas Carol since 2006, is promising a production bigger and better than ever before. “This production is my imagination running with ideas that Charles Dickens inspired,” says Garnhum. This year’s show differs from previous years’ in that besides being a much larger production, it follows Dickens’ original story far more closely. Also, a much greater portion of the play will be in song, with the addition of about twenty Christmas carols to the dialogue; as well, the entire set has been changed to resemble what Garnhum calls, “a white winter wonderland”. “It’s going to be much more like a fantasy; similar to a ballet, or a children’s story,” says Garnhum. “The previous versions have been more about poverty and bleakness. This one is much more about children and joy.”

Stephen Hair has been a part of Theatre Calgary’s A Christmas Carol for twenty-three years. When asked how he feels about playing the same role for so long, Hair replies that he has never thought of it that way. “I was forty-four or forty-three when I started Scrooge, and this year I’m going to be sixty. A lot has happened to me in those seventeen years, and so Scrooge changes as I change. As I learn more about life and a little more about [myself], I try to put that kind of emotion or feeling into Scrooge.” Hair’s main goal in playing Scrooge is to let audiences see him as a human being, who, although has made poor choices in the past, has now changed for the better. “That is the nature of the story, and I think that’s why people keep coming and seeing it,” says Hair. “It’s for all of us. It tells us that we can all make bad choices, but you can actually change and go to the light.”

Patrick Clark, in charge of set and costume design, trusts that “audiences will come out of the theatre going, ‘Wow, that was great! That wasn’t like any A Christmas Carol I have ever seen.’” So, if you love the theatre, enjoy being entertained, and have a soft spot in your heart for Christmas, this year’s Theatre Calgary production of A Christmas Carol should be on your list. Even if you have seen the show before or know the story by heart, you are promised a fun time and a performance of the classical Christmas story like you have never seen before. Now, that is no “bah humbug!”

10 Reasons Why Western Students Should See A Christmas Carol

By Clare Talbot

1. Theatre Calgary was started by Dr. Betty Mitchell, a former drama teacher at Western Canada High School. We have to support our fellow Westerners! 
2. Theatre Calgary’s A Christmas Carol is celebrating twenty-five years!
3. You won’t want to miss the incredible new “Winter Wonderland” set and costumes!
4. A Christmas Carol is a classic story that can be enjoyed by all.
5. This one is for all the music lovers out there: this year’s production includes twenty new, spectacular Christmas carols!
6. Theatre Calgary offers some delicious snacks at intermissions!
7. It is a great way to spend a cozy night with family and friends.
8. The story teaches an important lesson, with scenes and characters that will surely melt your heart.
9. Going to see the production supports the Calgary arts scene!
10. Don’t “bah humbug!” Get in the Christmas spirit!

Spirit Day?

By: Clare T.

spir•it |‘spirit| noun.
Those qualities regarded as forming the definitive or typical elements of character of a person, nation, or group.

The goal of the Students’ Union has always been to build school spirit, and for Western’s students to feel as though they are not only part of a body, but of a community. Through organizing fun activities and successful fundraisers, it provides students with the opportunity to come together to celebrate our fine school. However, bringing together such a large and diverse group of people and making them all feel as though they belong can be a very difficult task. That’s why this year the Student’s Union has developed an ingenious and fun way to do just that. It’s called Spirit Day, and it’s a series of theme days that will occur throughout the year that are designed for students to have a little fun and get a little goofy. On Friday, the 25th of November, the Students’ Union invites you to come to school in your long johns, jammies, nightclothes, or whatever form of pyjamas that strikes your fancy. All in good taste of course!

So what exactly is Spirit Day? Foremost, it’s a way for all Western students to break free of the rigid and monotonous structure of school and enjoy a day of fun. Secondly, it’s an opportunity for students to make the most of their high school experience and create memories that can last a lifetime. Finally, it's a day to encourage and bring out school spirit, a step in the direction of making Western not just an incredible place to learn but a place all of us can call our second home; a place where we can feel a sense of comfort and belonging.

So why should we all come to school in our pyjamas on November 25th and risk being frozen to death? Why should we participate in Spirit Day? We should all participate because it is a day for celebrating our incredible school and recognizing how lucky all of us are to have the opportunity to learn and grow here. It’s a way for all of us to come together as a family, as a community, and to build relationships with our fellow Redmen. You’ll all have a good time, and it will be part of a fulfilling high school experience. It’s one day where we don’t have to get up at six thirty in the morning to pick out an outfit to wear to school.

To sum up Spirit Day and what it’s all about, I’ll use the words of the Students’ Union teacher coordinator herself. As Ms. Bowden says, “Really it’s just about coming together and having a little laugh.”

Closets are for Clothes

By: Maria C.R.

Disclosing your sexual orientation and/or gender identity is a really memorable milestone in the lives of most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. As acceptance for the LGBT community increases, more and more people are coming out at a much younger age than previous generations (with the average age for coming out now being sixteen years old). This experience can feel so liberating and empowering, almost like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You don’t necessarily have to join the glee club, get a really tacky equality tattoo (ahem…Miley Cyrus) or start wearing more plaid than a cowboy during Stampede in order to be “out.” It can be as simple as changing your Facebook profile to “Interested in ____” or wearing a rainbow bracelet (If you’re feeling bold, you could even write an article for The Western World!). Whatever floats your boat. But make no mistake: it’s not all sunshine and, well, rainbows for the LGBT teen community.

Did you know that seventy-five percent of LGBT teens feel unsafe at school? (Whitman et al., 2007) Considering this statistic, it’s clear that being out at school can present some challenges for LGBT teens. LGBT teens are often faced with this phenomenon called “homophobia.” By definition, it is an irrational fear of homosexuality. Homophobia can present itself in many forms. From being deliberately excluded from certain activities, to being shoved against lockers, to overhearing the expressions “that’s so gay” and “no homo” being constantly used by those around you, all of these forms of alienation are hurtful. In other places of the world, I could be suspended (or even be expelled!) for writing an article like this. Luckily, here at Western, we have strict behavioural policies which clearly state that threats, personal harassment, assault and bullying (among others) will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly. Unfortunately, homophobia often reaches beyond the walls of any school. Social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter are among the top methods used to spread homophobia. Both of them facilitate cyberbullying, which is more common than you may think. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center in the United States, nine out of ten teenagers have witnessed cruelty by peers on social networks, which is very disheartening to hear. As teenagers, we have better things to worry about (homework, athletics, friends, family, you name it). I doubt any of us really needs the extra stress.

You know, for all the havoc it causes in the world outside, homophobia does its most insidious damage inside you. As a teenager, being bullied because of your perceived (i.e. fitting into a stereotype associated with LGBT people) sexual orientation or gender expression may seem like an insurmountable obstacle. It is exhausting and demoralizing; it can slowly drain the life out of you, but only if you let it. The Trevor Project is an organization that focuses on crisis intervention and teen suicide prevention for LGBT people. Their famous slogan, “It Gets Better,” is far from the truth because it implies that things will magically get better. Not to be pessimistic, but, if anything, they’ll get much worse. This is why you have to make it better for yourself. You should never tolerate bullying under any circumstances and you should immediately report it to the school administration and/or to a trusted adult. Otherwise, all this harassment can translate into depression and worse: suicide. In fact, just last month, grade ten Ottawa student, Jamie Hubley, decided he had had enough of the cruel tormenting he received at school every day. When he took his own life, it raised the question of whether enough had been done to help Jamie. Like him, about three hundred kids take their own lives in Canada every year. These kids had done nothing wrong, but it goes to show you what can happen when a young person may be comfortable with his/her own self in a world where others are not.

Everyone has a breaking point. Don’t let homophobia make you reach yours.

Student Speak

By: Clare T.

Western Canada High School is the biggest public school in Calgary, and attracts hundreds of diverse students each year. In this issue of the Western World, Clare Talbot finds out why some of these students chose Western and how they feel about their decision now.

Mila H., Grade 12

CT: Why did you decide to come to Western?

MH: Well, I’m actually one of the student minorities here at Western who lives in the school district! Honestly, I never considered going anywhere else. Western has an amazing reputation, and it’s such a fun place to be at!

CT: What’s one word you think describes Western and why?

MH: One word that I think describes Western is ideal. Western offers so many opportunities, it’s in the middle of the city, and because it’s so big, it helps with the transition into university!

CT: If you could be any teacher at Western for one day, who would you be and why?

MH: If I could be any teacher at Western for one day, I would be my P.E/ Leadership teacher, Mr. Wiebe. It seems like he has a really fun job, and everybody loves him!

Jenny Y., Grade 10

CT: Why did you decide to come to Western?

JY: I decided to come to Western because I heard from so many friends that it’s a wonderful school, with a great academic and athletic reputation!

CT: What’s one word you think describes Western and why?

JY: One word that I think describes Western is enhancing! Western provides students with an endless amount of opportunities to not only further our learning, but to also grow as individuals.

CT: If you could be any teacher at Western for one day, who would you be and why?

JY: If I could be any Western teacher for a day, I would definitely be Mr. Selby, because he probably can win every single argument. That could really come in handy one day!

Fiona M., Grade 10

CT: Why did you decide to come to Western?

FM: I decided to come to Western because I was interested in being a part of the French Immersion and the IB program. Also, Western is the designated school for my area.

CT: What’s one word you think describes Western and why?

FM: One word that I think describes Western is big! There are so many people to meet, classes to take, and clubs to be a part of!

An Interview With Carly W.

This week’s Sports article features an interview with Carly W., a prominent participant in Redman athletics. She is a track and field athlete as well as an outstanding soccer player, and is currently the captain of Western Canada High School’s senior girls’ soccer team.

Maria C.R.: Tell me about yourself

Carly W.: I am a grade twelve student at Western Canada High School, and I am captain of the girls’ soccer team. I play sweeper, which is the last defender back. Also, I run track and field. As well as playing soccer, I also coach soccer. Next year, I want to take a year off, then afterwards attend the University of Western Ontario.

MCR: When did you start playing soccer?

CW: I started playing when I was five years old, just in a small community league. Back then I didn’t really enjoy it, so I stopped playing until I was ten. I’ve been playing ever since. However, this year I have decided not to play club soccer, only school soccer.

MCR: Why is that?

CW: Even though I still love soccer, I have decided to take on track full-time. It was a tough choice!

MCR: What was your most memorable school soccer game?

CW: Last year, during school soccer, we were playing William Aberhart. It was a regular season game, but they were one of our biggest competitors. It was really close, but we won in the end. This game is memorable because I was playing defence and I got knocked over inside of our box. I was so stressed because I feared that I might cause a goal, so rather than try to get up, I launched my body in front of the other player’s foot to block her shot! Luckily, the girl backed off and my teammate swooped in and took the ball away from her. I’m just thankful that I walked away without a broken nose, or worse!

MCR: How about the worst soccer game?

CW: This one’s easy: City Finals this year. It was probably the hardest moment of my athletic career. I went in thinking “they’re tough competition, but we can win if we work hard.” We were playing against Ernest Manning [High School]. As defence it’s hard, because often times your mistakes will cause goals. At the beginning of the game, I made a mistake that resulted in a goal. Immediately, I became rattled. Unfortunately, things just went downhill from there. We couldn’t seem to get a goal, and I started to worry too much about how the other girls were playing rather than doing my job. Consequently, I lost focus, and two more goals were scored. It was fifteen minutes into the game, and the score was already three to zero for Manning. Seeing how frustrated and panicked I was, the coach pulled me out of the game. As team captain and a player who usually plays full games, this shattered my confidence and made me even more nervous. However, it made me realize how bad of a state I was in, and that I had to calm down in order to set an example for my teammates and get back in the game.

MCR: What did you take away from this experience?

CW: I learned that you can’t put a ton of pressure on yourself because it will shake your confidence and ruin your focus. I also learned that while it’s important to be aware of how your teammates are doing, your main focus should be your own game, and how you’re playing, not how they’re playing.

MCR: How was your experience as a member of the WCHS girls’ soccer team?

CW: In club soccer, I had been playing with the same girls since I was in grade six. Also, my soccer club was never very serious. Thus, it’s fun and challenging to be a part of a team that plays at a high level, with teammates who work their butts off every game. I love getting to be a leader, and getting to bond with a whole new group of girls.

MCR: What’s your favourite soccer team?

CW: Manchester United!

Welcome to the Western World

By: Teresa L. and Richard L.
Chief Editors.

Hello readers!

We are excited to present to you this year’s first edition of the Western World Newspaper! As you might see, this year’s newspaper is in the form of a blog. We will be keeping the same sections as last year, with the addition of the Advice and Foods sections. Here is a comprehensive list of all the sections:

•           News
•           Arts and Entertainment
•           Sports
•           Columns
•           Career Pathways
•           Student Speak
•           Showcase
•           Clubs
•           Food
•           Advice
•           Fun Page
•           Lighter Side

We’d also like to acknowledge our teacher sponsors, Ms Arndt and Mr. Harker, as well as the Western Canada Photography Club, which will be partnering with us this year to provide pictures for articles.

Traditionally, the Western World was published as a printed newspaper five times a year. Last year, we upgraded to an electronic system, but found that the large time difference between writing and publishing proved to be inefficient. Thus, for the 2011/2012 school year, we have decided to post three sections every Monday in a rotating schedule in order to provide you with more up-to-date news and articles.

We look forward to an exciting new year of writing, reading and sharing. Please feel free to comment on our posts and to voice your own opinions!