St. Albert Leader - Nov. 3, 2011

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COVER

INDEXNews . . . . . . . . . 3Opinion . . . . . . . . 10Entertainment . . . . . 11Health . . . . . . . 15Technology . . . . . 18stalbertjobs.com . . . . 19

FUN WITH NUMBERS

163That’s how many charges

Vancouver police are recommending against a total of 60 suspects involved in the riots after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in June. In total, 50 men and 10 women are facing charges, ranging in age from 16 to 52 years old.

Keeping the lights on — that’s what St. Albert city councillors will be tasked with doing as they consider the 2012 budget. Public consultation starts Monday with a town hall meeting.

Photo: Sun Media News Services

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

NOV. 3, 1873The first 150 recruits of the North West Mounted Police are sworn in at Fort Garry, Man., and begin training for their travels west the following year.

NOV. 3, 1995Both the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors win their first games as expansion teams in the National Basketball Association.

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert LeaderTransportation Minister Ray Danyluk gestures as he surveys the interchange at Manning Drive and Anthony Henday Drive during the official opening of the northwest leg of the Edmonton ring road on Tuesday afternoon.

GLENN COOKSt. Albert Leader

The day many St. Albert drivers had long wished for finally arrived on Tuesday.

That was the day that provincial transportation minister Ray Danyluk officially opened the $1.42-billion northwest leg of Anthony Henday Drive, providing a quick and easy link to and from the city for the rest of the region.

“Being on this particular ramp and this particular bridge, it does seem like we’re on top of the world,” Danyluk told the crowd gathered on the ramp leading onto the roadway from Manning Drive in Edmonton.

St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse was on hand for the opening, just as he was for the groundbreaking ceremony back in 2008, and while there have been shifts in the political landscape since then, he said he was ecstatic to see the work come to fruition and what it may mean for the city’s future.

“People are going to see what the economic development opportunities are in St. Albert, because there are lands that are right there, ready to be developed,” he said, adding that he was eager to see how the road’s access and egress in and out of the city would flow.

St. Albert Progressive Conservative MLA Ken Allred was also on hand, along with a number of Capital Region MLAs, and he shared Crouse’s joy at having the road complete.

“It’s a sense of jubilation,” he said. “Three years for a major project like this is absolutely amazing. It’s a relief, but it has gone very smoothly. There were a few little concerns at first, but they moved an awful lot of dirt in the first three months, and it’s been go, go, go ever since.”

The northwest leg of Anthony Henday Drive stretches 21 kilometres from Yellowhead Trail to Manning Drive. It includes eight interchanges — all of which are

already complete — five flyovers and two rail crossings. Adding this section to previously built legs brings the total free-flow distance of Anthony Henday Drive to 69 kilometres.

The project was a public-private partnership between the provincial government and the NorthwestConnect partnership. In total, 2.7 million man-hours went into the construction of the road, all without a single lost-time injury.

“That’s a statistic we’re all very proud of,” said Damian Joy, president and CEO of Bilfinger Berger Project Investments, which was part of the NorthwestConnect partnership.

While the northwest leg of Anthony Henday Drive is open, there is still one section left to build, from Manning Drive to Whitemud Drive, to complete the ring road. The Alberta government issued a request for proposals in May, and Danyluk said that last leg should be complete by 2015.

Henday opens at long last

Slave Lake fire arson, say RCMP


A wildfire that swept through the town of Slave Lake and devastated residents in May of this year was likely deliberately or recklessly set.

The Alberta government announced Tuesday that it has turned over all its files and reports on the investigation into the fire to the RCMP so they can begin an arson investigation.

“Our investigation into the origin of that fire ruled out everything but arson as a probable cause,” Sustainable Resource Developmen Minister Frank Oberle said in a press release. “As a result, we have delivered our findings to the RCMP to determine if a criminal investigation is the next step.”

The fire burned 4,700 hectares of land and swept into the town of Slave Lake on May 15, destroying 400 structures and causing $700 million in damages.

All 7,000 residents of Slave Lake had to be evacuated. Several of them fled to St. Albert, where they were met with open arms by businesses and community groups.

The government’s investigation took five months to complete.

“Our investigation took the time required to protect, collect, analyze and document evidence to the rigorous standards required for presentation in a court of law,” Oberle said.


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Photo: glenn cook, St. Albert leaderThe Viver Brasil dance troupe was at the Enjoy Centre Saturday afternoon to give the lunch crowd a preview of their show that evening at the Arden Theatre.

A taste of Brazil

‘Lean’ city budget calls for 2.9 per cent hike

GLENN COOKLeader Staff

The City of St. Albert will need a little more money to keep the lights on in 2012.

Administration introduced the 2012 civic budget at Monday’s regular council meeting, calling for a 2.9 per cent increase to both residential and non-residential property taxes to maintain services at their current levels.

Acting city manager Chris Jardine said the City still faces economic pressures like the rising cost of fuel and insurance, so the focus was keeping services at the level residents expect.

“The emphasis in this year’s plan is delivering City services within our means,” he said.

Questioned on what might happen if the economy hits the skids again, though, Jardine said finding places to cut once the budget is passed might be tough.

“This is a very lean budget. For us to cut it any further than this means cutting into services,” he said.

The 2.9 per cent hike equates to an $85 increase on the annual tax bill of a $400,000 home.

The City’s total operating budget adds up to $119,765,100 for 2012, an increase of more than $5 million over 2011. Sixty-five per cent of that amount will come from property taxes. The biggest expenditure the City faces is compensation for employees, which will take up 43.1 per cent of the operating budget.

Each increase or decrease of one per cent equals an impact of $742,000 on the City budget.

There are 30 funded business cases included in the budget that would add 7.0 full-time equivalents to the City’s staffing numbers. A further 29 unfunded cases are also proposed, which would add 13.38 FTEs.

Utility rates are also set to increase 9.5 per cent for 2012, which equates to an increase of $9.46 per month to the average residential user.

“The non-residential impact could be anywhere from $31 a month to $250 a month. This again depends on the water usage,” said acting chief financial officer Gene Peskens.

Mayor Nolan Crouse asked administration if there were going to be any surprises in the budget, especially for local businesses, but Jardine was confident there would be none.

“There’s nothing that comes to any [staff members’] minds that would come as a surprise to the business community or, arguably, to the community as a whole,” he said.

Major capital expenditures on the

books for 2012 include the construction of Stage 3 of Ray Gibbon Drive, completion of Stages 3 and 4 of the Riel Recreation Park remediation, and a new transit park-and-ride station in the Transportation Utility Corridor south of the city where Edmonton light rail transit system is expected to eventually terminate, which should be complete by 2014.

Capital projects are expected to eat up $69.5 million this year, although that is mostly funded by grants from other levels of government. That total is expected to drop off sharply in 2013 and 2014, with projections at $16.6 million and $17.6 million respectively.

Budget meetings are scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 p.m. throughout November, possibly extending into December if needed. A town hall meeting is also scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Sir George Simpson Junior High School (50 Grosvenor Blvd.).

“To cut it any further ... means cutting into

services.”Chris Jardine

Acting city manager

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2012-2014BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET

On October 31, 2011, City of St. Albert Administrationpresented to Council the proposed Business Plan andBudget for 2012-2014.City Council will deliberate the proposed budget through November, with Councilapproval of the 2012-2014 Municipal/Utility budget on December 19, 2011.

Residents have numerous opportunities throughout the budget deliberationsto review the plans and budget projections, and to provide input throughoutthe process.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES:

November 7A Town Hall meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Sir George Simpson Jr. HighSchool on 50 Grosvenor Boulevard.

November 8 and 10Public are also invited to provide input to the budget at 3:00 p.m. in CouncilChambers, St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne Street.

For the business plan, budget, and schedule listing all public inputopportunities, please visit the Budget 2012 page on www.stalbert.ca.

facebook.com/cityofstalbert | twitter.com/cityofstalbert


Edm Esks 5x160JASMINE FRANKLINSun Media News Services

The family of an Alberta soldier killed in a Kabul bomb attack on Saturday is speaking out, calling the soldier a wonderful man who made them proud.

Master Cpl. Byron Greff was killed in a suicide bomb attack on a NATO bus convoy transporting people to their peacekeeping jobs around Kabul, Afghanistan.

He leaves behind his newborn baby girl Brielle, a young son, his wife and parents. The family lived in Morinville.

“We will always remember his strong will, his love for his family and friends, and the fact that he was arguably the best dad — ever,” said a statement issued by his family on Monday.

“We want to stress how proud we are of him, of all that he has done. There was never any doubt from us when he left on this most recent deployment. He was doing what he wanted to do and he was good at it.”

Greff was a member of Edmonton-based 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and grew up in Lacombe, Alta. His family says they were surprised when Greff decided to join the Canadian Forces in 2001.

“It was a big shock,” said the statement. “Byron, in his younger years, was probably as far from being a military man as one could get. But we supported him and were all very happy that he had found his way to this new life and excelled at it.”

Following his death, numerous soldiers commended Greff for being dedicated and passionate about his duties in the military.

His role was to advise Afghan National Army trainers who provide recruit training to Afghan soldiers and national police.

This was the 28-year-old soldier’s second tour in the country. This time, he was off the front lines and working to prepare Afghan troops for NATO’s departure in 2014.

Soldier duties aside, the family recalls Greff’s strong sense of humour and love of hockey — a sport of which he had taught his son all the ins-and-outs.

“His sense of humour was hard to surpass. He was always good for a joke, had a wonderful laugh and was able to lighten the mood at just the right time,” said the family.

“He was very social and willing to chat with pretty much anyone. In that respect, Byron was very much like his mother.”

The death of Greff marks the first of the Canadian Contribution to the NATO training mission.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Byron was an amazing person, an amazing father and a wonderful husband,” said the family.

A total of 17 people were killed in Saturday’s blast, including 13 NATO personnel and civilian employees. Greff’s death is the 158th reported among the 25,000 Canadian troops that have rotated through Afghanistan.

The flight carrying his body was expected as early as 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Chris Ecklund of Canadian Heroes. It was expected to arrive at the coroner’s office in downtown Toronto around 4:15 p.m.

A funeral date has not been announced.

Fallen soldier remembered by family as best dad ever

Photo: Sun Media News ServicesMaster Cpl. Byron Greff, a Morinville resident serving with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was killed in a suicide bomber attack Saturday in Kabul, Afghanistan.


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Rwanda survivor brings powerful messageGLENN COOKSt. Albert Leader

His message was sometimes disturbing but mostly hopeful, but it certainly got through to students at Bellerose Composite High School on Friday.

Yannick Tona, 21, is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and is currently travelling across Canada on the Ripples of Change speaking tour with the support of the Aegis Trust, talking to high school students about what he and his family went through and hopefully inspiring them to stand up and take action.

It was a message that Bellerose principal George Mentz said rang loud and clear with his students.

“We had over 800 kids here today, and not one of them was disrespectful ... because he was getting the message to them,” he said.

It was especially powerful, the principal said, seeing a video of parents whose children were murdered in the genocide, as well as orphans who lost their parents.

“When you put young faces to a genocide, to an atrocity like that, and you have somebody here who lived through it, the emotions just overwhelm you,” he said.

Tona emphasized to the school-wide crowd that even one person can make a difference.

“You don’t need to be rich, because if you need to be rich, I would never be here. You don’t have to have big experience. You don’t need to be famous,” Tona said. “You need one thing: To make a choice that you can make a difference in your community.”

Tona was just four years old when the 100-day genocide broke out in 1994. During that time, one million people were killed — seven every minute.

“I don’t remember dates or hours, but I remember events. ... But when I grew up, I wanted details. I would ask my mother, my

family about the details,” he said. Tona and his family lived in Rwanda’s

southern province. His father was a successful businessman, which meant the family was labeled as Tutsi, or upper class. During the genocide, the nation’s Hutu majority — those in the middle and lower classes — began killing Tutsis regardless of age or sex.

While his father went to the capital of Kigali to join the Tutsi rebel forces, the rest of the family split up and headed for refugee camps in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Tona was paired up with his mother and they set out on foot.

“We walked ... for more than three weeks. I was four years old; in my life, I had never walked more than 10 minutes. But in one second, everything changed,” he said.

“We passed more than three weeks without eating. If we go buy food in the market, they’re going to kill us. Before in my life, I had never missed breakfast, lunch or dinner.”

Tona was brutally honest in his talk, sharing some of the horrific sights and experiences along the journey. Some friends of their family — including a young man for whom they had paid school fees — even tried to kill them.

“Everywhere we passed, there was someone trying to kill us,” he said. “Every corner on every street, every bush, someone was trying to kill us. I was four years old; I had no idea what was going on.”

Of 16 to 20 people in his family when the genocide started, only four survived: Tona, his mother, his sister and an uncle. And even though they were safe, the effects lingered; Tona said he couldn’t sleep for weeks afterward.

To learn more about the Aegis Trust, visit www.aegistrust.org.

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert LeaderAegis Trust youth ambassador and Rwandan genocide survivor Yannick Tona speaks to a crowd of more than 800 students at Bellerose Composite High School on Friday.

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Heartland line OK’d by AUCGLENN COOKSt. Albert Leader

Some Sturgeon County residents dodged a bullet Tuesday when the Alberta Utilities Commission made a decision on the Heartland Transmission Project.

The AUC approved the 500-kilovolt power line and its preferred east route, avoiding many county residents who lived along the alternate route.

The preferred route starts at the Ellerslie substation just south of Edmonton and travels along the Transportation Utility Corridor east and north before jutting off through a small portion of Sturgeon

County and ending up at the proposed Heartland substation near Redwater.

The alternate route would have seen the line run west of St. Albert, around Morinville, and just north of Bon Accord and Gibbons before reaching the Heartland substation.

While there were calls for the power line to be put underground, especially near homes and schools in Strathcona County, the AUC found burying the line would not mitigate electric and magnetic fields or property value impacts, but would raise costs substantially.

Construction on the $582-million line is expected to start in early 2012.

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Sturgeon Heights prayer policy goes back to the drawing boardGLENN COOKLeader Staff

The dispute over the Lord’s Prayer at Sturgeon Heights School took only a few small steps toward resolution last week.

At their meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Sturgeon Composite High School in Namao, the board of trustees for the Sturgeon School Division got a first look at a draft policy dealing with religious exercises and activities in district schools.

However, trustees sent the policy back to division staff for revisions after several

concerns were raised.One of the biggest was the definition

of a “sufficient number of parents” that would be needed to request religious exercises or instruction be included.

“‘Sufficient’ would mean that it’s workable in terms of the school being able to offer it,” said chief deputy superintendent Gerry Schick.

Some trustees believed that the matter should be dealt with as a board regulation rather than an administrative practice, because simply stating that a “sufficient number of parents” was needed left the decision to bring matters to the board in

the hands of school principals, something they didn’t want to see happen.

Others argued that, despite being a public school division, Sturgeon had a constitutional obligation to offer religious elements in its schools.

“As a public school board, we need to consider everyone’s rights. Regardless of the number, we cannot let one group’s rights or beliefs to trump another’s,” said trustee Shelley Porter, who represents Camilla School on the board.

The controversy arose last month when a parent objected to the Lord’s Prayer being recited in the school each morning.

Principal Garnet Goertzen has said the practice is under review, and that the recitation of the prayer has been part of the school’s routine since it opened.

Under the draft policy, students whose parents want them to participate in the Lord’s Prayer as a morning exercise would have to give written permission to do so.

In the end, the board deferred the policy to their Nov. 9 committee of the whole meeting, sending staff back to the drawing board to come up with three separate policies, one each for opening activities, exercises and classes.


Photo: glenn cook, St. Albert leaderTwenty-one-month-old Isla Fisher, dressed as Alice from Alice in Wonderland, spreads a little icing on a cookie during activities at Servus Credit Union Place’s annual Halloween Haunt on Friday evening.

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Marathon looks to RunWild again in ’12GLENN COOKSt. Albert Leader

Organizers of St. Albert’s RunWild marathon have moved the finish line a little further away, but still hope to cross it with a flourish.

It was announced last week that the race — which includes runs and walks along a 42-kilometre marathon route, a half-marathon route, a 10-kilometre route and a five-kilometre route, as well as a Marafun kids program — attracted almost 1,500 racers in its inaugural edition last year, raising $70,000 for the Zebra Child Protection Centre.

With the 2012 race set for May 6, Grant Fedoruk — owner of Leading Edge Physiotherapy, the race’s organizers and title sponsors — said they hope to follow up that great showing out of the blocks.

“I don’t know that we’re taking it as pressure — more of a challenge,” Fedoruk said. “We’re doing this as a community event and for two great charities this year, so I guess that takes some of the pressure off, because no matter what we do, we’re going to raise awareness for these great charities.”

“There’s internal pressure from ourselves, I think, to try and outdo ourselves,” he added. “There’s pressure there, but not from anybody but ourselves.”

Fedoruk maintained that organizers always set the bar high for themselves, but they surpassed their own expectations last year.

“We were told by a few different people what would be reasonable, and to us, it was a low number,” he said. “So we thought, let’s set it high and go for it.”

In fact, Fedoruk said that, when the goal of 1,000 racers was stated early on, there were a lot of skeptics.

“I remember being interviewed early on in the

process about that number of 1,000, and one of the media people said, ‘A thousand, that’s quite a bit for your first run.’ And I remember my answer was, ‘Oh, it is?’” he said with a laugh. “In our mind, 1,000 was a respectable number to aim for.”

For 2012, though, organizers are aiming for 2,000 runners and, along with the Zebra Child Protection Centre, will also raise funds for another organization: the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club.

Club executive director Chantelle Lebrecque said she is excited to be involved in the race, and it is a recognition of the work the club does serving seniors.

“It’s a huge positive to be able to establish a relationship like that, specifically for the PR that’s going to come out of it, and the financial aspect, too — that’s a major bonus that’ll factor into our budget this year,” Lebrecque said.

The money raised will help the seniors’ club with renovations to their facility on Taché Street, as well as their programming.

Fedoruk said the club fits in perfectly with his business and the race.

“Even though Zebra does touch home to some extent in St. Albert, we really wanted to choose a local at-home charity in St. Albert,” he said. “And with the hands-on approach we have with our patients, and a lot of them being senior citizens, it just made sense to include that group who we want to help keep active and aging successfully in the community.”

Runners can register for the 2012 race right away at www.runwild.ca and take advantage of early bird discounts. Organizers are also looking for volunteers to make sure the race and the events leading up to it go smoothly.

Wedman throws hat in PC ring


Jeff Wedman is throwing his air force blue hat into the ring for a seat in the Alberta Legislature.

Wedman, a St. Albert resident who recently retired from regular force duty as a member of the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron stationed at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, has announced that he will run for the Progressive Conservative Party nomination in the riding of St. Albert for the next provincial election, expected to happen early in 2012.

With 20 years of military experience and deployments to places like Bosnia and Afghanistan under his belt, Wedman said he feels there are a lot of attributes that can carry over from his time in the Canadian Forces to the political arena.

“In the military, in some of the dodgier zones, especially when I was in Afghanistan, the responsibility for [other people] is very real and very immediate, because the decisions you make can determine if these people come back in one piece,” he said.

“In government, it’s not that direct of a link; if you make a bad decision, someone’s not going to get shot 10 minutes later,” he added. “But if you make consistent bad decisions, you will hurt people. You will waste money that could be used to help people, and you can make bad decisions that lead to bad programs. Understanding the responsibility that comes with that kind of authority is very paramount.”

After reaching the rank of major and serving as deputy commanding officer of the 408 Squadron, Wedman, 38, decided the timing was right for a run at politics, which had been in the back of his mind since high school.

“With an election coming up provincially, I thought maybe things are kind of converging,” he said. “It’s always been a lifelong ambition that presented itself at a convenient time and place in my career and with my family. It basically ended up feeling right.”

He added that both the progressive and conservative

elements of the PC party appealed to him.

“I’m a fiscal conservative; I always have been. I’ve always believed you’ve got to stay within your means,” he said. “But you have to do so with a bit of compassion in your heart. You can’t just balance the bottom line by taking a chainsaw to those programs that .... will take the help away from [people who need it].”

Ken Allred currently holds down the St. Albert riding for the PCs, but he said he’s not sure yet if he’ll run again.

“I’ve put a fair amount of thought into it, but I’m sort of holding off. I’m about 50-50,” Allred said.

But, the incumbent added, he always welcomes a challenge.

“I’ve spoken to Jeff and others, and I’ve encouraged them to run,” he said. “We need some good young candidates.”

The exact date of the PC nomination vote for the St. Albert riding will be decided at the next constituency meeting at the end of November, but Allred said he believes it will be in January.

Other confirmed candidates in the riding include Tim Osborne (Alberta Party), Nicole Bownes (NDP) and former city councillor James Burrows (Wildrose Party).

For more information on Wedman and his platform, visit www.jeffwedman.com.

Photo SuppliedFormer military man Jeff Wedman is seeking the PC nod in St. Albert.

“We thought, let’s set it high and go for it.”

Grant FedorukRunWild Marathon


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In 2010, the citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio, began an ambitious strategy to

build shared responsibility for the arts — to articulate what they call the Arts Ripple Effect.Research found that public responsibility for the sector was undermined by perceptions about the arts. People think of arts in terms of entertainment and not as a public responsibility. This naturally led people to see the arts as a low priority when measured against basic needs.

The research suggests that a strategy be employed to “position arts and culture as a public good.” One message stood out above all others: “A thriving arts sector creates ‘ripple effects’ of benefits throughout our community.”

St. Albert is currently

introducing its Recreation Services Master Plan and its Cultural Master Plan. These documents are going through a community consultation process on their way to becoming approved plans. These plans both deal with issues related to what we need, how we are going to deliver on that need, and where and when we will meet these community needs.

There is, however, one compelling difference between the two sectors and their plans for the future, in my opinion: no one seems to question the “why” when it comes to the recreation

sector. We naturally believe in the communal benefits derived from recreation. Our bodies and minds become healthier, our children learn and grow, and our community is a better place for having recreational amenities supported by everyone. Yet, when it comes to the arts, many people seem to struggle with support for the sector.

The research and study around the Arts Ripple Effect framed the community understanding of arts in the same way that we all take for granted the ripple effect of recreation. They are both important priorities: like recreation, the arts create benefits even for those who do not participate directly; they improve economic vitality;

and, most importantly, they help communities come together and understand each other. The arts provide economic benefits and mean more energy and life in the community.

I have always firmly held to the belief that the arts are a significant part of what builds “community.” The Cincinnati research frames this as “more people coming together to share experiences and ideas, connecting with each other, and understanding each other in new ways.” I, for one, welcome anything that helps us to connect our community and to understand each other better.

That is exactly the kind of place I want my community — my city — to be.

Looking at arts and culture in a new light

One piece of the puzzleDespite the chilly wind, everyone

in attendance was in a celebratory mood on Tuesday afternoon as the

provincial government finally declared the northwest leg of Anthony Henday Drive open.

And they had good reason to be. The project was on time and on budget, with nary a single lost-time injury over 2.7 million man-hours of work. Of course, it also means faster and easier travel for everyone in the Capital Region, as well as the countless economic development opportunities, which is what St. Albert was really excited about.

But, even though Anthony Henday Drive is a big piece of the transportation puzzle, it is still just one piece. It may do a lot to ease the transportation woes of both St. Albert and the Capital Region, but there is still a lot more work yet to be done.

Before the Henday can truly be called complete, the offramps at 137 Avenue must be paved. The province backed out of doing so when it awarded the contract three years ago. This is a vital concern not only for St. Albert residents, but businesses as well, and although Mayor Nolan Crouse has promised to stay in the province’s ear about it, there has been little to suggest an about-face is coming.

But an even more important puzzle piece that has yet to fully fall into place is Ray Gibbon Drive. The City of St. Albert does plan on starting construction on Stage 3 in 2012, but that will only get us so far — only to Villeneuve Road, to be exact. It will be up to the Alberta government to take that road and connect it back up to Highway 2, something for which we have yet to hear any concrete plans.

Then there is the matter of the province reimbursing the City of St. Albert for the costs it has incurred during construction. We have seen some of that money, but we likely shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for the cheque for the remainder to arrive in the mail.

It was a good celebration on Tuesday. But we look forward to many, many more.

EDITORIALby Glenn Cook

iStAlbertHere’s what people are saying about #StAlbert on Twitter:

Follow us at @stalbertleader

@girlguidesofcan#StAlbert Ladies! Can you #volunteer to help

girls keep their Girl Guide Unit (group) from closing?

#Volunteers @ggcyeg @GGCAlberta #AB

@mCrowdNext year’s plan is to join

the Heritage Haunted House next door. Kids get

sucked right in and skip our house. #tonsofcandyleft

#stalbert

@mm53barCoolest thing tonight was a ladder truck from the

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ENTERTAINMENT


St. Albert’s Mission Hill Brass Band won’t be tooting their own horns at their upcoming concert — they’re bringing in a special guest to do that for them.

The band will be joined by former Canadian Brass trumpet soloist Jens Lindemann, as well as Edmonton’s Millcreek Colliery Band, when they take the stage at the St. Albert United Church on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Principal percussionist Graeme Peppink, who is spearheading the organization of the concert, said having Lindemann join them is a big thrill.

“This doesn’t come around too often. ... Jens has become one of the solo trumpet players in the world to

have do anything, really,” he said. Born in Canada, trained at

the Juilliard School of Music in New York and now teaching at the University of California-Los Angeles, Lindemann has played with symphonies all over the world, from New York and China to Berlin and Tokyo. He has also been nominated for Juno Awards, Grammy Awards and the prestigious Echo Klassik award in Germany. He has had pieces written specifically for him, and even given a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II.

“He’s playing with the [Edmonton Symphony Orchestra] the prior two days, but he’s only doing one piece with them,” Peppink said. “I’ve known Jens for a long time, and just over some

emails and talking to him in the summer, I asked him if he would be interested in doing a concert with the two brass bands.”

Peppink — who also teaches music at École Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville — said that the band has chosen some lighter music that shows off everyone’s strengths.

“[It] not only features the brass band, but Jens with the brass band as well,” he said, though noting

that the two bands will have only three rehearsals together before the curtain rises.

“I’m not telling anyone what the finale is,” he added with a laugh. “The ending is the thing that started the idea of this concert to begin with.”

The concert isn’t a fundraiser for anything in particular, but Peppink said he is hoping they will bring in enough money to make a donation to a charity, like the Youth Emergency Shelter Society in Edmonton.

Several members of the band also play with the Millcreek Colliery Band — including Peppink — but he said this is the first time they have combined forces for a concert.

“Their concerts have never lined up, because they’re smart about

that; the know they have players in both,” he said. “But this is a first to have the the two groups perform together.”

The Mission Hill Brass Band is a traditional British brass band that is based in St. Albert and was founded in 2005 and has grown to a full complement of 28 players whose repertoire spans across a wide spectrum.

“There were a lot of people from around the Edmonton area that wanted the brass band experience but didn’t want to always drive into Edmonton to do it,” Peppink said.

Tickets for the concert are $20 each and are available at the door or in advance at The Bandstand (4824 93 Ave., Edmonton), The Windshoppe (5220 86 St., Edmonton) or St. John’s Music (10452 Mayfield Rd., Edmonton).

“This doesn’t come around too often.”Graeme Peppink

Mission Hill Brass Band

Mission Hill strikes up the band with Canadian trumpet legend

Author’s dream realizedGLENN COOKSt. Albert Leader

Eight years and 600,000 words later, Corinne Jeffery’s dream has come true.

Jeffery, a St. Albert resident, was at Audrey’s Books on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the release of her first novel, Arriving 1909-1919 — this first book in her historical fiction trilogy, entitled Understanding Ursula.

“I have been talking about this since I was a kid,” she said. “[Seeing my words in print,] I’m not sure it’s even hit me yet. I have wanted to do this for so long. Sometimes I just cradle this book and think, ‘This is mine. I did it!’”

The book details the trials and tribulations of the Werners, a family of German Lutheran pacifists who came from Russia to establish a homestead on the prairies of Saskatchewan.

Jeffery was always a fan of classical English and Russian literature, but when it came to penning her own novel, she chose to focus on Canada.

“There are fascinating stories about people from all over the world, but I don’t find enough about Canadians,” she said. “I had two premises: that we are as interesting and intriguing as any other nation of people, and that everything that happens now happened then.”

Jeffery, who turns 66 next month, spent most of her life as a nurse and teacher, but has always kept the idea of writing a novel at the back of her mind.

But it was the support of her family — in particular, her seven-year-old grandson Aidan, whom she describes as her “biggest fan” — that finally spurred her on to start writing in earnest in 2003.

“There were lots of times [my husband] Jack had to wait for supper, because if it was flowing, I didn’t interrupt,” Jeffery said.

And write she did — not only is Arriving 1909-1919 finished, but the other two books in the trilogy are written and in the process of being edited, and should be released in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

“When I started out, it was one book. But these characters just gripped me, and I wasn’t ready to let them go,” she said. “They are interesting people, and it just kept coming.”

When the first manuscript came back from her editor, the number of changes, combined with her finding her way around a computer for the first time, almost made her throw in the towel. But, compared to other battles she has fought, that was a piece of cake.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, and then, I did have some doubts — will I finish this? I was a long way from finishing this,”

Jeffery said. “But my daughter Sara was wonderful. As I wrote on my blog, whenever I doubted, she simply said, ‘Mom, I’ve never known you not to finish whatever you have started.’”

While Jeffery is basking in the glow of her first book — almost 40 people turned out Saturday for the launch — she’s not resting on her laurels. She is already 15 pages deep into her next novel, but she already knows there will be a few differences.

“[My editor] is trying to get me to be a lot briefer,” she said with a laugh. “I can assure you, it is not going to be a trilogy.”

Arriving 1909-1919 is available online at www.understandingursula.com, Audrey’s Books, the Bookstore on Perron and Greenwoods. You can also borrow it from the St. Albert Public Library.

“Sometimes I just cradle this book and think ... ‘I did it!’”

Corinne JefferyAuthor

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert LeaderSt. Albert author Corinne Jeffery reads from her first novel, Arriving 1909-1919, during her book launch Saturday at Audrey’s Books in Edmonton.


JIM SLOTEKSun Media News Services

There is another man in Salma Hayek’s life these days, besides her husband, the French magnate Francois-Henri Pinault.

That would be Antonio Banderas, her co-star in movies going back to Frida and Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

These days, they’ve been travelling the world together promoting their voice roles in Puss in Boots — he as the sword-wielding title character of Shrek fame, and she as Kitty Softpaws, the Spanish cat-burglar who is both Puss’s nemesis and love interest. That includes stops in Cannes, Moscow, Miami and Chicago (where, immediately after speaking with us, they paid a visit to the Oprah Winfrey Network studios for an interview with Rosie O’Donnell).

“We have intense times,” Hayek says of their current duo-tour. “But then we’ll get a week off from each other.”

Her relationship with Banderas she describes as, “the case of that thing when you don’t see someone for a long time, and then when you see them, it’s as if you just saw them

yesterday. In 18 years, it’s like that, even if we don’t see each other for chunks.”

In her mellifluous accent, Hayek pronounces it “chonks” and refers to “our esposos” when she dismisses any suggestion of jealousy between the Banderases and Pinaults. “My husband just loves him,” she says.

“But I tell you I’m always happy to see (Banderas), because every time I see him,

somehow, he comes into my life, my life changes and it’s for good. Desperado, my life changed. Frida, here again my life changes.

“And this movie (Puss in Boots), it’s my first animation movie and the biggest film I’ve ever done. It’s huge. So I’m always

happy to see Antonio.“And y’know what? When I was nominated

for an Oscar for Frida, the first person that phoned me, it was him.”

Hayek is motivated to expand as an actress these days. Long sought after for voice work for stereotypical Latina roles, she finally said yes to one that provided her with an action role. Kitty is Puss’s equal at swordplay, a masked mystery who, when we meet her, is an accomplice of the scheming Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis).

I compare Puss and Kitty’s relationship

to Batman and Catwoman. “You’re the first person to say that,” she says. “But I wonder if Batman and Catwoman can dance like we can.” Indeed, the love-hate relationship plays out in flamenco moves that defy gravity (it is an animated movie, after all).

“My character is really created based on his character, as a match, a counterpoint he has to contend with, who can fight with him. He has to learn to stand his ground against the challenge of this independent cat.”

The counterpoint notion was taken seriously enough that the producers took the unusual step of allowing the two actors to record scenes together.

“I had been called to do an animated film, like, four times before, and I passed. I didn’t like the ones they were offering. One was stereotypical (Latina), others I just didn’t feel the character was interesting enough. I guess if you have an accent or a voice that’s very identifiable it becomes interesting to them. But I’m so happy I saved myself for this one.”

Her favourite positive review came from one of the harshest critics she knows — her four-year-old daughter Valentina.

“My daughter loves it, which is so good because she doesn’t like all the animated movies just because they’re animated. I’m proud of her taste. She likes very much The Rescuers, and she likes Amadeus. I had to edit some parts, but it’s her favourite film.”

Leader Promo 5x80Twitter/Facebook

Photo: Sun Media News ServicesSalma Hayek poses with a mascot of her character at the premiere of Puss in Boots.

Salma Hayek gets animated in Puss in Boots

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“I wonder if Batman and Catwoman can dance like we can.”

Salma HayekActress

Glee actress’s dad murdered

Simpson pregnant

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES - Filipino singing star and Glee actress Charice has canceled her tour dates in southeast Asia and returned to her family after her father was murdered in the Philippines.

Charice, who had a guest star role on the TV musical last season, learned on Monday that her father, from whom she had been estranged, had been killed outside Manila.

“I want to thank my fans from around the world for their support and love at this

very difficult time,” the singer, who was on tour in Indonesia, said in a statement. “We are all very sad about this terribly tragedy.”

Charice, 19, had been estranged from her father but had been hoping to reconcile with him, a spokeswoman said.

Television news reports in Manila said Ricky Pempengco was stabbed during a bout of drinking when he left to buy cigarettes from a street vendor. A suspect is in custody.

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES - Singer, actress and fashion mogul Jessica Simpson finally put baby rumors to rest by confirming Monday that she is pregnant with her first child, in a statement posted on her official website.

“It’s True! I am going to be a mummy!” the singer wrote, alongside a photo of her dressed in a mummy costume for Halloween.

Simpson, 31, is currently engaged to former professional football player Eric Johnson, 32, whom she has been dating since May 2010. This will be the first child for the couple.

Simpson first rose to fame at age 19 with her debut album Sweet Kisses in 1999. She married singer Nick Lachey, of boy band 98 Degrees, in 2002 and the couple were the stars of MTV reality series, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. Simpson and Lachey divorced in 2006.

Simpson has had a number of high-profile relationships including football player Tony Romo and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

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JANE STEVENSONSun Media News Services

Singer-songwriter Chris Isaak says he was destined to make Beyond the Sun, his latest CD of mostly covers by such legendary Sun Studio artists as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis.

“I was born to ‘Blue Suede Shoes,’” said 55-year-old Isaak — whose 1950s look has long included a pompadour and flashy suits — while in Toronto recently.

“My mom was singing ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ when I was born, so the first thing I heard was a Sun Studios hit; isn’t that funny?”

Still, Isaak took his sweet time before making the disc, which also includes one uptempo original song called “Live It Up.”

After signing a record deal in 1984, he broke through to the masses five years later with his signature song, “Wicked Game,” and has been entertaining audiences ever since with both music and side gigs as a bit actor in film and actor/host on TV.

“There’s an order to everything in this universe,” said the Stockton, Calif.-born Isaak. “I love all these artists but the first thing that they all did was they found their own voice. And I thought, ‘That’s what I’ve got to do. I have to write my own

songs.’ I went out of my way not to do Elvis songs on stage. Yeah, I had a hairstyle that looked like that and I was a huge, huge Elvis fan, a huge Jerry Lee Lewis fan, but I was doing “Wicked Game” or “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing” or “Blue Hotel” and trying to establish my own thing. All my heroes were those Sun Studio guys and that’s what I played at soundchecks and at home.”

When it came time to record at the actual Sun Studios in Memphis, Tenn., at night — it’s a museum during the day — the experience didn’t disappoint.

“When you walk into that room, you are very aware that you’re standing on holy ground,” said Isaak. “The piano player goes over to the piano and goes, ‘Hey, there are cigar burns all over this.’ And someone would go, ‘Yeah, Jerry Lee played and he’d leave his cigar when he was playing.’ And one time I’m playing and I look up and there’s a picture of Carl Perkins on the wall and his eye line is looking straight

down at me. And he’s smiling.”Isaak worked with Cash, Orbison

and Lewis and met Perkins, but never Presley over the course of his career. He said he’s always been attracted to early rock ’n’ roll because “it’s honest and pretty.

“I’ve never heard many other musicians say that they wanted to hear things that were pretty or make pretty music. I want it to be desperately, to be that achingly beautiful pretty sound. All the stuff that I like not only did it rock but it had a real pretty edge to it. It’s a rock ’n’ roll band with a canary.”

Suffice to say, a big moment for Isaak came when he was filming The Chris Isaak Show (2001-2004) in Vancouver.

Exhausted and hanging out in his rented houseboat on Granville Island, he read an article in Oxford American, a quarterly magazine about southern culture, in which Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, who passed away in 2003, mentioned that he dug Isaak of modern-day artists.

“I read the whole article and I got to the end and nobody had hipped me that he had mentioned me or anything so it came out of the blue and it just was really important to me. That’s why I’m a musician. His music was like I was wandering around and I found a key. Like, ‘Hey, there’s a way out of my small town.’”

Isaak’s CD fulfils destiny

Photo: ERNEST DOROSZUK, Sun Media News ServicesSinger-songwriter Chris Isaak had the chance to record in the same studio as some of his biggest idols for his new CD, Beyond the Sun.

Photo: CODIE MCLACHLAN, Sun Media News ServicesFoo Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl plays to the crowd at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Friday evening. The rock group played a two-and-a-half-hour set, with songs spanning their career, including their latest CD, Wasting Light.

Everybody’s Foo

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES - British funnyman Eddie Izzard is planning to run barefoot through the African desert to raise money for charity, according to a U.K. report.

The actor has pushed himself to the limits to raise funds for good causes in recent years, including running 1,700 kilometres across the U.K. in 51 days in 2009.

Now he plans to complete his toughest challenge yet by running without shoes through the hot African landscape to boost funds for British charity Sport Relief, according to U.K. newspaper The Daily Mirror.

A source tells the publication, “It’s only a couple of months before the challenge is due to start so he really needs to get training. But last time he only started running five weeks before his first marathon so maybe he’s hoping the same build-up will work again.

“No one has ever done anything like this barefoot before so in a way he’s stepping into the unknown. It’s definitely his toughest challenge yet.”

The run is slated to take place in January or February.

Comedian Izzard plans barefoot run

“There’s an order to everything in the universe.”

Chris IsaakSinger-songwriter

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HEALTH

MARILYN LINTONSun Media News Services

Eat this, don’t eat that!Losing weight used to be the sole

focus of celebrity diets, but today it’s all about food intolerance. Celebs everywhere are claiming that cutting out milk, meat, wheat or whatever can cure everything from bloating to tiredness to various aches and pains.

But what exactly are we to make of Rachel Weisz’s wheat intolerance and Orlando Bloom’s suffering when his lips touch dairy? Could we give up sugar as did Gwyneth Paltrow? Should we embrace the raw a la Demi Moore?

We all know people who have knocked a couple of foods or even food groups off their diet plans and studies have shown that celebs are to be blamed for the rise in so-called food intolerances.

One study by a British allergy organization estimated that 45 per cent of Brits claimed they suffer from some kind of food

intolerance. But another study involving 250 GPs suggests the majority of doctors believe their patients’ food intolerance beliefs were all in their heads.

But whether you call these “designer disorders” or “make-believe afflictions” doesn’t really matter. A recent report from companiesandmarkets.com notes that the global market for food allergy and intolerance products is projected to hit $26 billion by 2017.

Just how do you know whether your food intolerance is real or imagined? Start by ruling out food allergies, say experts.

Toronto’s Dr. Gordon Ko is no stranger to food issues at the Fibromyalgia Integrative Treatment Clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where he works. He notes the average person has six or seven food intolerances, but people often don’t know the difference between a food allergy and intolerance.

“A food allergy in the traditional sense is IgE mediated, which

means it is immediate and potentially life-threatening,” says Ko. “On the other hand, food intolerance is slow to develop and takes hours or days.”

The difference is a crucial one. An allergic reaction is triggered by something (bee sting or peanuts, say) that sends a message to your immune system to produce IgE antibodies as a potential defence.

A food intolerance does not involve the immune system, though Ko believes food intolerances involve antibodies called IgGs, which involve “a delayed type of reaction that presents hours or days later as malaise, an irritable bowel, fatigue

or headache.”He says that nearly half of

fibromyalgia patients have associated irritable bowel syndrome that may be food-related. When one patient who presented with terrible back pain tried everything with no success but was eventually helped when a food intolerance was pinpointed, Ko says it “opened my eyes” to the subject of food sensitivity.

Ko looks for inflammation markers in the blood as one method of testing for possible problems; he also has confidence in the YorkTest FoodScan Program, a $700 kit (www.canlabs.ca) he has used with patients at the Canadian Centre for Integrative Medicine in Markham, Ont., where he also practices.

Toronto naturopath Caroline Meyer also reports that food intolerances are a common concern today. Although she uses some food tolerance testing kits, she says blood testing for food intolerances is “a work in progress.

“Most naturopathic doctors would look at the research behind a particular kit. You have to be cautious about whether there is independent research that is offered,” Meyer says. “There is no perfect test out there, but there are testing facilities that I have confidence in.”

Because kits are expensive, Meyer, a supervisor at Toronto’s Schad Naturopathic Clinic, will often work with her patients on elimination diets. While they can be difficult to commit to, eliminating certain foods for weeks or months to see if symptoms improve can be worthwhile, she says.

“It’s a bit more of a trial and error. But sometimes when you can avoid a certain food, the immune system finds its own balance,” she says. “I often find people can introduce that food later on. They may not be able to eat wheat, say, three times a day anymore but they may be able to tolerate it once a day unlike before.”

Food intolerance: Is it all in the eater’s head?

“There is no perfect test out there.”Caroline Meyer

Naturopath


CARY CASTAGNASun Media News Services

Like any burlesque dancer worth her salt, Robin Antin leaves some things to the imagination.

Including her age.“I’m in my 40s,” she tells

Sun Media in a recent phone interview, forcing an uneasy chuckle. “Need I say more?”

The famed Pussycat Dolls creator, according to TMZ and other online sources, turned 50 in July.

Perhaps she counted it as her second 49th birthday.

Regardless, the Los Angeles native has the taut physique of a woman half her age.

And that’s an undeniable fact

she has no qualms discussing while promoting her newest fitness DVD Pussycat Dolls: Dancer’s Body Workout.

“My body is exactly the same as the girls I’m with here (in the DVD) and they’re 21,” she boasts. “And there’s a reason for that.”

The reason is Antin works up a sweat most days of the week by shaking her booty exactly like the young ladies in the burlesque dance troupe she helped take to international stardom.

The self-styled dance-fitness expert teaches dance classes, takes dance classes, and sometimes she just does one of her own DVD dance workouts in the comfort of her L.A. home.

“I’m living proof that dancing keeps your body in a very specific kind of shape — and it’s a really nice shape.”

Indeed.Antin, most influenced by

hip-hop and ballet, describes the body of a dancer — especially a PCD dancer — as sleek, curvy and sexy.

But her dance-fitness regimen is as much about feeling good as it is about looking good.

“It’s about finding your inner Doll,” she notes.

“It’s about getting in shape and feeling good about your body. When you feel good about your body, you feel sexy. It’s this trickle effect.”

Antin’s hectic schedule leaves little time for other physical activities, she says, and that’s OK.

“It’s all dancing — no weights or anything like that. It’s rare that I get on a treadmill or do

anything like that because I don’t enjoy it,” she explains, noting she’d rather spend her workout time doing something she enjoys.

“Everyone loves to dance. You do it and you just laugh. It just puts a smile on your face and it is really good for you.”

But burning all those calories gives Antin a hearty appetite, especially when it comes to carbs.

So she’s careful not to overeat.Antin follows a simple portion-

control strategy that she has dubbed the “half-diet.”

“So if I’m in a restaurant and I order pasta and it comes and it’s

like, ‘Oh my God, I gotta have that,’ and it might have some cream sauce and I go, ‘I know that’s terrible,’ then I’ll just eat half,” she says.

“The servings are so big, especially in America. Everything is just so massive that sometimes you’re just not supposed to eat that much. I definitely try to stick to the half-diet and I try not to eat too late.”

Sensible eating is an integral component in Antin’s fitness equation.

But the savvy entrepreneur — whose resumé also includes

acting, music video directing and clothing design — cringes at the thought of where her fitness level would be without dance.

“If I hadn’t danced at all, my body would be different,” she admits.

And her inner Doll — no matter how old she is — would have stayed trapped forever.

“It’s all about female empowerment and it might sound cheesy, but I really do live my life by that. I love the idea of finding that sexy quality in myself and helping other women find it.”

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Fitness the cat’s meow for Dolls creator

Photo SuppliedPussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin, who says she’s in her 40s, has a body of a woman half her age, thanks to regular dance workouts. No treadmill or weights for this Doll.

Children seeing more soda ads than ever: studySUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES - U.S. children and teenagers are seeing far more soda advertising than before, with blacks and Hispanics being major targets, as marketers have expanded online, a study released Monday found.

The report, from the Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, also found that many fruit drinks and energy drinks, popular with teenagers, have as much added sugar and calories as full-calorie soda.

Children’s and teens’ exposure to full-calorie soda ads on television doubled from 2008 to 2010, the report found, fueled by increases from Coca-Cola Co and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc.

Children were exposed to 22 per cent fewer ads for PepsiCo Inc sugary drinks, it found.

Black children and teens saw 80 to 90 per cent

more ads than white children, including twice as many for the energy drink 5-Hour Energy and Coca-Cola’s vitamin water and Sprite.

Over the same period, Hispanic children saw 49 percent more ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks on Spanish-language television, and Hispanic teens saw 99 percent more ads.

“Our children are being assaulted by these drinks that are high in sugar and low in nutrition,” said Yale’s Kelly Brownell, co-author of the report. “The companies are marketing them in highly aggressive ways.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 15 percent of children are overweight or obese. Children today are likely to have shorter life spans than their parents, which will affect their ability to work and pay taxes, while threatening to drive up health care costs.

When it comes to energy drinks such as Red Bull and Amp, the marketing is skewed toward young people, even though the American Academy of Pediatrics says highly caffeinated energy drinks are not appropriate for children and adolescents, the report said.

In 2010, teens saw 18 per cent more TV ads and heard 46 per cent more radio ads for energy drinks than adults did.

Brownell, an outspoken critic of the food and beverage industries, said there has been a lot of research on the issue of marketing unhealthy food to children, especially since first lady Michelle Obama made fighting childhood obesity her signature issue.

But Monday’s report is the first, he said, that analyzed data to measure the full picture of youth exposure to marketing and advertising.

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TECHNOLOGY

STEVE TILLEYSun Media News Services

Kobo Inc. is taking the pulse of the digital reading world, and it appears to be very strong indeed.

The Toronto-based creator of the popular Kobo e-book readers and Kobo online bookstore has just launched the Kobo Vox ($199.99), which essentially fuses Kobo’s people-pleasing e-reader experience with a standard seven-inch Wi-Fi tablet powered by Google’s Android software.

To take advantage of the new zoomable colour display, the Kobo bookstore (www.kobobooks.com) will begin offering fare such as cookbooks, children’s books, graphic novels, magazines and other material that cries out for a colour screen. But Vox users can also use the new reader for web browsing, e-mail, Facebook, streaming music, playing Angry Birds and a whole lot more, with thousands of free apps available

for download.Kobo Inc. CEO Michael

Serbinis gave us a guided tour this week of the Vox, which will feel immediately familiar to existing users of Kobo e-book readers and apps, as well as anyone who has used an Android tablet.

Brand new to the Kobo Vox is Pulse, a fascinating (and optional) social network that builds on Kobo’s existing Reading Life features. Tap a small icon at the bottom of any e-book page, and Pulse will show you stats including how many Kobo users are reading the

same book at that very moment, and how many like or dislike the particular page you’re on. As well, users will be able to leave comments and reply to remarks left by others, creating a sort of immediate virtual book club.

Serbinis said Pulse will be rolled out to the Kobo apps for Android and Apple devices by the end of the year, and eventually to other Kobo e-book readers as well. But for now it remains exclusive to the Vox, which takes

its name from “vox populi” – literally, voice of the people.

The Vox might not be for everyone, though. At just over 400 grams, it’s heavier than the feather-light Kobo Touch ($139.99), and the battery is good for seven hours of use, compared to up

to one month on a single charge

for the Touch.But for those interested in

doing more than just reading, the Vox is a great value, especially since it isn’t locked down in any way. In addition to the 15,000 free apps available via the Kobo Store, savvy users can download Android Market to gain access to the more than 200,000 apps available within.

Like Kobo’s other readers, the Vox uses the razor-and-blades model — Kobo makes their money on digital book sales, not the device itself — and Serbinis admits some people might decide to buy one just to have a $200 tablet, without buying any books.

“People buying this and using it for something else is a risk, and an opportunity,” said Serbinis. “But it is consistent with our philosophy of being open and giving freedom to our customers to choose what they want to do. I’m convinced it will open some new doors for us.”

Kobo making noise with new Vox tablet

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JULIE TYIOSSUn Media News Services

It might seem odd that I’m writing a column based on the life of a fictional blood spatter analyst/serial killer. But, having recently become a fan of Dexter, I’ve realized that the TV show actually contains lot of subliminal career advice. What can we learn from everyone’s favourite vigilante? A few good lessons, actually.

• Do what you’re good atDexter found his 9-to-5 calling in the

forensics department, based on his lifelong obsession with blood. He’s great at his job because he’s passionate about it (however creepily endearing that is for a loveable serial killer).

Your career will bring you the most

happiness if it’s something you’re passionate about. Don’t waste time — find out what you’re good at and play to your strengths. Not only will it help narrow your focus and help you build a great career, but it will also help ensure your work is personally fulfilling.

• Think forward and stay aheadDexter plans carefully and leaves nothing

to chance, meticulously reviewing every detail before he makes a move. And yet, he often has to change his tactics and resort to plan B as things go awry.

Things happen. You have to be quick on your feet and have the ability to deal with new situations as they arise. Don’t get too comfortable — rapid change can happen quickly.

Foresight and versatility will help you swiftly adapt to change. They’ll also allow you

to make — and act on — informed decisions under pressure. Think ahead and always make a backup plan.

• Find a work-life balanceOne of Dexter’s biggest struggles has been

keeping up his extracurricular activities as his world and responsibilities change. In season four, Dexter constantly struggled to balance his priorities — work, family, an alter ego, and vigilantism — which ultimately cost him.

Don’t take on more than you can handle. It’s important to maintain a balance between work, play and family. Prioritize and spend your time effectively and, most of all, where it really matters to you.

Julie Tyios is the marketing manager and chief matchmaker at Vestiigo.com, a career destination for young professionals. Contact her at [email protected].

Career advice from TV’s Dexter

Photo SuppliedMichael C. Hall as Dexter.

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St. Albert Leader - Nov. 3, 2011