Vue Weekly: Issue 742

8.1 MB·English

el 2
EDMONTON'S
S E D U C A T I O N / 2 1 _ _
E v / 4 3
e~-bd- 8
k
M U D H O N

GREEN / 34 MUSIC >> BLUE RODEO | 48

= a a TOM
< w 7 iUlMi
2) — mm aS) 7 Li) (4
pda hl lake ‘3
WINTER LIGHT 2010 Be “iF, ;
WSTEP
4 Vuepoint
U s. S D be 77 = ZzeaittGGeiesti st
ae
7 Well, Well, Well
winterlight.ca
Bi intie Box
JAN 6 - MAR 13 8 Bob the Angry Flower
CHECK OUT THE FULL
»CALENDAR ON THE
BACKiCOVER
10 To the Pint
11 inte Proof
|
35 Prairie Artsters
Ee, FILM // 38 |
42 DVD Detective :
Sty ¢
YOUR JANUARY CALENDAR “€Q% | [EG/7
JAN 6 MISPON Winter Light Gala 46 Enter Sandor
Wed 4:30-7:30pm
City Hall Plaza SO New Sounds
produced by Edmonton Arts Council (winterlight.ca) 51 Old Sounds
51 Quickspins
JAN 'S=10' "BEEP.FREEZE FESTIVAL: © mpo)’’ | ox. ae ee
Sat 10am-lipm, Sun 12-6pm : £ “
BACK //52
92 St and 118 Ave
52 Free will Astrology :
produced by Arts on the Ave (artsontheave.arg)
JAN 14-24 ICE ON WHYTE FESTIVAL 54 Queermonton
Mon-Fri 2-lOpm, Sat & Sun 10am-lOpm 5S Alt.Sex.Column
Old Strathcona
produced by Old Strathcona Business Assoc. (iceonwhyte.ca) :
° > =e EVENTS LISTINGS
JAN 22-23 BABA YAGA Trail Adventure
Fri & Sat 2-9pm 37 Arts
Snow Valley & Whitemud Park S 41 Film
produced by Edmonton Arts Council (winterlight.ca) 4 Music
PH. 780.760.2229 E. [e-mail] W:; WINTERLIGHT.CA 53 Events 2
. omni
\Z
“Big “Rock
Thh ursdays
:T heC lassical Score: highlights oft hew eek'sc lassical-music performances
Big Rock_ :
“Pints $3.75 f ‘ : FILM // SIDEVUE
: : New Year's Irresolutions. Brian Gibson laments the great films that
:
: deserve a proper release, but have yet to see one.
|W e're listening, so Let's talk. Join the conversation on Facebook
: Join our Vue Weekly Facebook group
: Restaurant reviews, features, searchable and easy to use
> dishhweekly.ca
2 // UP FRONT WUEWEEKLY // JANN 7 ~ JAN 13, 20 |
‘Master of Information Systems
Security Management
Mihalcheon School of Business
IT Security Auditing
IT Technical Security
Risk Management
Privacy Compliance
You can do that here.
Ethics and Cyber Law
Forensics
Cryptograph
Bachelor of he ye
Environmental Health www.infosec.concordia.ab.ca
5S (After Degree)
Consider a career in:
Bachelor of Management
Enviro: natal Public Health
Mihalcheon School of Business
Public Health Inspection Leadership * Marketing * Accounting
Federal Food Inspection Human Resources * Finance
Environmental Health Consultation
Develop Management Competencies
Take the fastest route to the Prepare for Private and Public Sectors
profession at Concordia.
www.managementsciences.concordia.ab.ca
www.envirohealth.concordia.ab.ca
Career Development Programs
Did you know...
Career Development Professionals:
Advise & Coach
Provide information & support people planning, seeking and
managing their life/work direction
Continuing Education
* Help clients navigate through career transitions and stages
University Open Studies/Special Sessions
aries ot = easing ee scnae dt, SPADE Teatsmes,
University College & Entrance Program
eee sensolion Byee reparing re Sees
; :
® Select and recommend suitable educational and
Learning Foundations Program
training programs
Learning Enhanced English Program
780.413.7800
Faculty of Professional Education
7128 Ada Boulevard * Edmonton * Alberta * TSB 4E4
www.concordia.ab.ca/pace
780.413.7820
UP FRONT //3
JAN 7 — JAN 13, 2010 // WUIEWEEKLY
’
EDITORIAL
a r=]P S a)
Not democratic
.. WOULD STILL BE THE
A WILDROSE BY AN
PROGRES
CONSERVATIVE
OTHER NAME.
DAVID BERRY that other parties, at least currently, are
// [e-mail] doing a better job of that—but this is a
gross misunderstanding of the practi-
e recent defection of Calgary MLAs cal realities of our democracy. Whatever
Heather Forsyth and Rob Anderson the pair want to tell themselves, by and
should give several groups around the large most voters in a first-past-the-post
province pause. For starters, the govern- system are voting for the party or the
ing PCs should probably be taking a long party's leader. Individual candidates
hard look at how solid their party's foun- do influence some voters, but they are
dations are: these floor-crossings come in the vast minority, and for either For-
in the wake of staggering levels of sup- syth or Anderson—or, for that matter,
port for the Wildrose Alliance and show any MLA—to assume that they are the
that the party is gaining some real pull primary reason for their election is ar-
with the PC base. The opposition NDP rogance bordering on hubris.
and Liberals should also keep their head Of course MLAs should be able to
up: despite not winning a single seat in choose which party they think reflects
the last general election, the Alliance their views closest, even after election.
now has more MLAs than the NDPs and But if they are going to switch par-
athird ofthe Liberals. Maybe it's time we ties, the properly democratic thing to
reopen those talks of progressive unity? do would be to step down and run in a
Absolutely the most concerned, how- byelection under the new party's ban-
ever, should be Alberta voters. Though ner: only then can we say with any con-
it's a relatively common practice in fidence that they are truly representing
Canada, crossing the floor without the will of the people. With the current
stepping down and running in a bye- polling numbers of the Alliance, it's en
GRAGPCAod/ u eW eeldy
lection is still a serious violation of our tirely possible Forsyth and Anderson
democracy, essentially overruling the could have legitimately won their seats
decision of the people with the whims with their new party. For now, thougha,l l
of the MLA in question. we have are some selfish MLAs and two
SUUUEA FUN CV CAUCE PENAEUS
Forsyth and Anderson are justify ridings who are being represented by a
Letters
ing their decision as a chance to better party they didn't choose. Given the noise
Vue Weekly welcomes reader response, whether critical or complimentary. Send your opinion by mail (Vue Weekly
represent the will of the people—and, the Wildrose Alliance has made about
10303 - 108 Street, Edmonton AB Tsy aL7), by fax [phone])o rb y email ([e-mail]). Preference is
at least in reference to the Stelmach better representing Albertans, that is given to feedback about articles in Vue Weekly. We reserve the night to edit for length and clarity.
Tories, they probably have a point in particularly ironic. W
HOUUOVA EE TEV CENTS
you're all deaf, dumb and blind, I think releasing (granted, a few years back)
ISSUE N°. 742 // JAN 7 - JAN 13, 2010 // AVAILABLE AT OVER 1400 LOCATIONS
WHERTEHE' ROSCK ? some acknowledgement of the Cana- what has got to be one of the only/most
WUEWEEKLY
dian rock 'n' roll scene is warranted. recent all-politigcaraalg e punk records?
s it me, or did everyone forget the Did you not get Bionic’s Black Blood? Forbidden Dimension? Twin Fangs?
10303 - 108 STREET, EDMONTON, AB TS) 1L7
fucking fact that there were a couple C'mon's Bottled Lightning of An All Time That's just an all-Canadian list
Y: 780.426.1996 F: 780.426.2889 & [e-mail] W: VUEWEEKLY.COM
of rock ‘n' roll records released this de- High? Tricky Woo's First Blush? Any- Cripes, guys, pull it together. The kids
RON GARTH // [e-mail] cade/last couple years? ("Decade in Re- thing by Hot Blood Bombers/Hot Live ARE all right.
EDI/T PUOBLIRSHE R
EDEN MUNRO // [e-mail]
MANAGING EDITOR
view,” Dec 31, 2009 - Jan 6, 2010). Unless Guys? Battlesnakes? The Von Zippers, TED WRIGHT
SCOTT HARRIS // [e-mail]
NEWS EDITOR
PAUL BLINOV // [e-mail]
ARTS / FILM EDITOR
MUSIC EDITOR EDEN MUNRO // [e-mail]
BRYAN BIRTLES // [e-mail]
DISH EDITOR
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE EDITOR JEREMY DERKSEN //s [e-mail]
BRYAN BIRTLES // [e-mail]
ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR
DAVE BERRY // [e-mail]
STAFF WRITER
MICHAEL SIEK // mike@vueweeklycom
CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER
PRODUCTION CHELSEA 800S // ch ueweekly.com
ART DIRECTOR PETE NGU YEN // [e-mail]
LYLE BELL //l [e-mail]
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
WEB/MULTIMEDIA MANAGER ROB Bu / but veweekly.com
GLENYS SWITZER // [e-mail]
LISTINGS
ROB LIGHTFOOT // [e-mail]
SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER
780.426.1996 // [e-mail]
LOCAL ADVERTISING preliminary, asking Edmonton City journalists: 2009 saw 70 journal
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 780.426.1996 // [e-mail]
Open City Hall Council's current efforts in attempt- ists murdered, almost doubling
NATIONAL ADVERTISING OPS MEDIA // 416.473.9291
eekly.com
ADMINISTRATION/DISTRIBUTION MIKE GARTH // michael@vu weekly.com ing an open-data catalogue and any 42 killed in the line of duty in 2008
ADMINISTRATION/PROMOTIONS AARON GETZ // aaron@vu
f a new report requested by Ward research it has done on attempting Seventy-three percent of journalist
PETE NGUYEN // [e-mail]
COVER ILLUSTRATION
Five Councilor Don Iveson goes his implementation. The report will be killed were murdered and 63 percent
CONTRIBUTORS Steve Anderson, Mike Angus, Josef Braun, Rob Breszny, jonathan Busch,
Lucas Crawford, Gwynne Dyer, Jason Foster, Amy Fung, Michael Geist, presented to City Council's Execu- of those killed covered the politics 0!
way information coming out ofC ity
Hart Golbeck, James Grasdal, Jan Hostyn, Whitey Houston,
Hall may be a little easier to access. tive Committee on Wednesday, Janu- the areathey were murdered. The Phi!
d, Hanne Lynch, Andrea Nemerson, Stephen Notley, Saman
tha Power, Steven Sandor, David Young, Kirk Zembel Back in October Iveson submitted a lipines came in as the most danger
The Edmanton Sun ary 13
PRINTING
DISTRIBUTION Barrett De ¢, Alan Ching, Raul Gurdian, Dale Steinke, Zackery request for a report on Edmonton ous country for journalists. Impris
Broughtor
lly Yanish, justin Shaw
City Council's knowledge of open onment of journalists also increased
data programs and implementation Free the Press this past year with 136 journalists in
ge at well over 400 locations throughout Edmonton, We are funded solely through the plans for an open data system. jail across the world according to @
jue Weekly is a division of 783783 Alberta Ltd. and Is published every Thursday. Vue Weekly fs
: oughout Greater Edmonton and Northern Alberta, Umited to one copy per reader. Vue Weekly may The catalogue makes information he passing of Canadian Michelle new report by the Committee to Pro
€ only by Vue Weekly’s authorized independent contractors and employees. No person may, without prior writ
ten permission of Vue Weekly, take more than one copy of each Vue Weekly Issue, Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement City Council is dealing with more Lang in Afghanistan along with tect Journalists. Of those 136 journal:
No. 400229839. If undeliverable, return to: Vue Weekly 10303 -1 08 Street Edm, AB TS) 1L7 accessible to the public. Everything four Canadian soldiers on December ists, 60 are freelance and without the
support of a company or institution
Ooo from maps to reports presented to 30 marks the 17th journalist killed as
Audit Bureau
council would be more accessible a result of the war, But it also marks
of Circulations
//SAMANTHA@VUEWEEKLY COM
over the Internet. Iveson's request is one of the most dangerous years for
FOE TUCUCALVEUAO SUOR TANEENNLANT NNa nid raran ety NRHN NHN TNH MHALOKATANMNNAANONHNANHKANAAMRIMMNAAMMM
er Institute revisits stable provincial revenue
economic driver it’s thought to be. Gibson ducing taxes is an incentive.”
eixmppllaeimnse nttheadt itnh e2 00si1n ggliev-ersa tteh et aaxd vsaynsttaegme peMocpMliel laarng ue ist haltes si t dcooensv i[npcreodv.i de" Laont s ecoo-f famgraronemea.. g eAA nldibt es rtrtheaavt e nnsueeeeesdm ss f rttooo m b meoo irlwe ha enredfe f geacaslt.li vcealny mMaaemkMoierl el aa sntd.ae bcl"iesI iftowan ex, p baasyse tem ,o srwoehm aett axaperosel icwayen, d” ghosaiavnyesg
tot he upper income levels. nomic incentive] as people work harder "Do we want that kind of spending only to do when we have a boom and energy
"Economists have made it clear, giv- and save more. I believe that’s highly de- when we have the money and cut back prices are higher? And you have to answer
ing tax breaks at the high end doesn't bateable,” he says, suggesting that it's the drastically when we don't? Or do we want both of those questions.”
stimulate the economy,” she says. "The high-income earners who gain first, leav- a more stable public-spending program,” Reinvisioning Alberta's income-tax sys-
bulk of money spent by high-income ing the scraps for the rest of the popula- McMillan says, noting that little has gone tem may be only a $5 billion dream in a
eamers is on imports, not on local eco- tion. It's often sold as... if you lower taxes into planning for future spending.” At two-page report considering the provin-
nomic stimulus.”
people are going to work harder and you'll the moment we've decided we don't want cial government's reluctance to even put
In 2001 the tax rate for personal income end up collecting more taxes—I don't to pay more taxes. Part of the question inplaceanew resource-royalty regime rec-
taxes was changed to 10 percent across think there's much evidence of that in the that needs to be asked and should have ommended by it's own committee. Andas
income scales. Alberta became the first single-rate tax."
been asked earlier, given the the volatil- Henning points out, the tax changes made
and only province to drastically change But if the Parkland report is correct in ity of natural-resource revenues, should in 2001 were a near revolutionary change.
its tax structure to a flat-tax system. That that there is over $18 billion every year we perhaps not diversify our tax base and "It's not easy to reform your tax system,”
system could only be implemented be- in uncollected tax revenue, the question rely more on taxes say by having a modest he states. "Look at the countries that have:
fe ad aulhensts socal cause Alberta was able to bring in revenue could be larger than a choice between one sales tax?"
Estonia, Latvia. The only time you can
from the oil and gas sector that other tax rate and another; it could mean that
completely reform is when you have a civil
provinces could not. And with the flat tax there are social and health services many The move to a more income-tax based War Or create a system where everyone
came higher income exemptions, a loss to Albertans are missing out on. revenue stream would assist in the stabili- benefits, which is the only way Alberta
overall provincial revenue and lowering of For the last five months social services ty of savings as well. Since the inception of could have done it.”
taxes for every income level. have had to fight to keep government the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, But with the deficit facing Alberta only
"Tt was sold at the time in terms that ev- spending. Immediately after Evans’ deficit the provincial government has actually seeming to increase and a volatile re-
of Albertans only four months ago to an- eryone would have to gain which means announcement this August the govern- taken more out of the fund than it has put source revenue base deepening into an
nounce a shortfoafl $l6. 9 billion. While taxes would have to be lower for all,” says ment released cuts to long-term seniors in. In 2006 it was estimated $28.3 billion
ebb, it might be time for Alberta to take a
the goveisrq uinck tmop eointn tota g l ob- MeMillan. "What I've tried to explain is care, almost $12 million from disability had been taken out over the course of its look at a decision it made 10 years ago for
al recemansy isn Alibertoa bneli,eve we there are actually high amounts of redis- services and an additional $315 million in history to put into general revenues. And anew source of revenue.
can be managing and increasoiurn rgev - tribution going on.” cuts to an already planned $600 million with the boom in oil and gas in the last five “We're not arguing we return to the for-
enues tob etter handle the fickle resource For the single-rate system to end up with in health-care reductions. In each case the years the Alberta government has been mer tax system,’ Gibson explains. “We
markets. lower taxes for all Albertans, including response from government officials has roundly criticized for not putting more in should be looking to a new progressive tax
The Parkland InstitDiuanat Geib'sosn is low income, the personal exemption had been that the global recession is causing the savings funds. system."
encoAluberrtansa tog loiok inn ag poc ket to be raised. Gibson explains that's not Alberta to live in a new world of cutbacks. "Alberta has been operating like a lot- With close to $18 billion on the budget
they haven't opened since 2000: personal something she'd want to see changed in Cutbacks coming mere years after social tery winner: either the lottery winner can table every year in prospective revenue,
income tax. In the report, Giving Away the any tax reform. systems were being resuscitated after near spend the principal or they can put it in it's a question Albertans may not be able
Golden Egg, the Parkland Institute reports "We now have the highest exemption starvation through the mid-'90s, annuity or bond and they can live off the to ignore too much longer. W
that ifthe province were to change it's sin- rate at the bottom and because we're the interest. The government is deciding to
gle-rate tax structure, Alberta's revenues wealthiest province that makes sense," But that spendingi n the last few years has live off the principal and not the interest,” FRIEDEL
would grow by $5b illion per year. she says. "It's notsomething I'd want to see come directly from increased revenues Henning says, adding that he believes the
And with a $4.3 billion deficit this year, changed. In terms of the actual tax-rate from the oil and gas sector. Henning ar- government lost a significant opportunity KHATTAB
it's money Albertans could use to sustain structure itself, it benefited the wealthy guesthat spenodnlyi brninggingi ussba ck in not saving. "Alberta has done a poor job
disproportionately.” in step with sustainable spending. "Our of saving their revenues. The government
CERTIFIED SUMMER
"It's not something that is heretical. spending is second highest in the country hasn't had the will or the ability to explain
INTENSIVE TEACHER
It's necessary,” says Gibson, Parkland re- Not everyone sees it that way though. ona per capita basis; it was growing at rate it to Albertans, or the desire to want to do
TRAINING
searcher and writer of the two-page fact Scott Henning of the Canadian Taxpayers of 11.5 percent aye ar fora while and popu- it."
sheet, adamant this discussion must Federation believes Alberta's tax system lation growth was 5.8 - 6 percent a year. In order to save more, though, the rev- J7 UDAYL (5Y0 HOUR9) -CO1URS6E
happen if we're to sustain the economy is actually quite fair. “When they did the So we were seeing government growth at enues are going to have to be rearranged.
through resource downturns. reform in 2000-01 every income tax level double the population rate. You cannot Alaska's Permanant Fund requires 25 per-
9AM-SPM DAILY
Although debate int he past few years has received a tax reduction,” he says. "They continue to go down that path. And they cent of resource revenues go directly into
$500
centered around expanding the corporate weren't going to change the system to could only do that on oil and gas.” the Fund. If Alberta were to do something
REGISTER: 780.466.6335
tax base and revenues from resource roy- leave anyone with higher taxes. " MeMillan’s recent report Breaking the similar, that revenue would no longer be
OR 780.465.6877
alties, Parkland believes income tax is an And Henning doesn't think Alberta Myth challenges the idea that Alberta is a available for spending. And, as many have
area that could use expandiAnndg w.it h would have been so booming in the last spending fiend compared to its provincial argued, the spending levels must be main- EdmontonYogaStudio.com
an ever growing populaitti mioghnt b,e a few years ift here hadn't been the change partners. According to the report Alberta tained to build a strong social-welfare ‘4 FOR MORE INFO i
stable source of untapped provincial rev- in the tax structure. has actually been below provincial aver- system and to simply keep up with infra-
enue. "I think there's an assumption there'd age for spending in six of the last nine structure demands. Gibson's point is that
“Alberta has a lot off iscal capacity as we be no negative impact on the economy, years. And many would argue putting all in order to become better at savings, the
A rss
don't taxa sm uch asp otrhoerv inces,” says or that the economy would have grown our provincial efforts into eliminating the overall budget needs to be re-arranged.
EDMONTON YOGA STUDIO
Mel McMFiellolw alt thae Innstit,ute for at the same pace if it [the progressive tax deficit in the 1990s only left Alberta with "If we save the money from our natural
Public Economics att he University of Al- structure] had been in place in 2000-03,” a gaping social deficit and dire infrastruc- resource capital then that helps secure
gar Asht
berta, explaining that Alberta has room to he says. "We wouldn'htadh asa mvuceh o f ture needs. With a booming population in us for the future,” she says. "But in order
451.8131
grow inthe area oft ax revenue. an increase in our population. Ifyou make the last few years and infrastructure costs to put it into savings we would have to in-
the assumption you can charge any level skyrocketing the need to increase govern- crease tax revenues to put natural-gas rev- 12039 — 127 street
of taxes you want and it'll have no change ment spending is hard toa rgue against. enues out of general reveneus and replace [e-mail]
on people's behaviour, it'd be tough to ar- The trouble in the past 10 years has been it with something.” Wwww.edmontonyagasiudio.com
gue. People respond to incentives and re- where that spending money is coming "If you go in that direction you have to
TONA REA'RY DEALE?
SELECT/EDMON
MAYFIELD TRAD
16615-109 AVENUE [ari
ADMISSION:
UP FRONT //S
JAN 7 - JAN 13, 2010 // WUEWEEKLY
COMMENT >> SRI LANKA
Challenges
Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war is over,
but the real challenge has only begun
First, the good news. Sri Lanka's gov- : resources of the state to building an : communities fairly. They will probably
ernment, whose 26-year war against : army able to defeat the Tigers in stand- :
never again create a semi-conventional
the separatist Tamil Tigers ended in i up battle, and tough enough to refuse :: army like the Tigers, but it would be all
total victory last May, is keep- all negotiations until the enemy :
too easy for them to resort to terrorism
= ing its promise to let all of was completely destroyed. : again if they feel desperate enough. And
the 300 000 Tamil civilians The Rajapaksas provided : it would be almost impossible to stop it
who were captured in the that government. The trouble is that it took an ultra.
final battle go home again. All the well-meaning for- :
nationalist Sinhalese regime to create
Not only that, but it is going eign pleas last May for a: the army that defeated the Tigers, and
NEW YORK
STEAK
to hold a free election next cease-fire to protect the : it is still in power. It does not want to
month—so free that the ruling Tamil civilians trapped with : welcome the Tamils back into equal cit
party might even Lose it. the Tigers were quite rightly ig- : izenship, nor does it feel that it needs
The bad news is that it does not much nored by the Sri Lankan forces. The : to. The Rajapaksa government ha:
DINNER SPECIAL $12
matter who wins that election. Both the ! Tigers always made sure that they had : called an early election for January 26
incumbent and the challenger are com- : lots of innocent civilians around when : to exploit its victory and consolidate it:
mitted Sinhalese nationalists whose poli- : they fought. The civilians* absorbed : hold on power—and if it should hap
cies towards the Tamil minority militate : a lot of the enemy fire, their deaths : pen to lose the election, then things
Each Dinner Include:
against any reconciliation between the : served to radicalize other Tamils—and : may just get worse.
- Signature Shabu Shabu Soup - AAA New York Cut Steak
two groups. Tamils are less than a fifth : cease-fires to protect civilians had fre- : The Rajapaksas' challenger is none
. Fresh Hibachi Vegetables . Short Grain Rice
of the population, so if tough treatment ‘ quently allowed the Tiger fighters to : other than General Sarath Fonseka, who
is enough to keep them quiet, then Sri : escape in the past. : commanded the army that finally defeat-
Lanka faces a peaceful future—but re- : Nor was Colombo wrong to round up : ed the Tigers. The main opposition group
pression has not worked in the past. : all 300 000 Tamil civilians who were ; in the Sinhala community, the United Na-
It's easy to understand why the gov- :: caught up in the Tigers’ last stand. Any : tional Party, has banded together with
ernment headed by President Mahinda : surviving fighters were bound to try to : nine smaller parties and put Fonseka up
Rajapaksa and his brother, Defence Min- :
hide themselves among the civilians, so : as their presidential candidate.
ister Gotabaya Rajapkasa, insisted on a : a protracted sorting-out process was : Fonseka could actually win, for his role
Teppan Grill decisive victory over the Tamil Tigers, : needed. But the Sri Lankan govern- : in the defeat of the Tigers was just as
whose insurgency had caused 70 000 : ment promised that everybody except :
large as that of the Rajapaksas. But he
& Lounge
780.422.6083
deaths over the years. There had been : suspected fighters would be released :
is also just as uncompromising a Sinha-
0738-104 Street
cease-fires and peace talks over the : within six months—and it has kept its : lese nationalist; as the war was nearing a
LirmOrime toffeerd on ty
Edmonton
Monday to Thursday untit 6:00pm only
years, but the Tigers never really aban- : word, more or less. : conclusion, he was heard to say that Sri
doned their goal of total independence : The camps have been emptying out : Lanka "belongs to the Sinhalese ... (Mi-
fast over the past couple of months, and :
norities) can live in this country with us,
for the Tamil majority areas in northern 3
and eastern Sri Lanka. : Colombo promises that everybody will : but they mus€ not try to demand undue
That was utterly unacceptable to the : have gone home by the end of January. : things.” Like equality, perhaps?
Sinhala-speaking majority, so the war : There are justifiable complaints that not : That is the attitude that drove the
was bound’to end in a last stand by the : enough is being done to help former de- : Tamils into insurrection in the first
Tigers sooner or later. They could have : tainees re-settle, but there have been : place. The next time it wouldn't take
carried on with suicide bombings and as- : much uglier ends to long and brutal : the same form, but it could guarantee
sassinations forever, but their territorial : wars like this one. : another generation of misery, insecurity
ambitions drove them to seize and hold : : (and perhaps also tyranny) for the long-
ground with a more or less conventional : The problem lies not in the past, but : suffering people of Sri Lanka. W
in the future. The Tamils are always go- :
military force. (They even had a navy and 3
an air force of sorts.) That made them : ing to be there, and the prospect of a : Gwynne Dyer is a London-based inde
vulnerable to military defeat. ! peaceful future for Sri Lanka depends : pendent journalist whose articles are
All it took to make that happen was : on reconciling them to coexistence with = published in 45 countries. His column ap-
a government willing to devote all the : the Sinhalese in a state that treats both : pears each week in Vue Weekly.
Here’s your opportunity
to save lives.
Edmonton
Donor Clinic
8249 - 114 Street
Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Word's getting around about Blundstone boots. Words
Saturday
like: Comfortable, durable, dry, easy, cool, relaxed,
8:30 am - 2:30 pm
sensible, fun, stable and lace-free. Once they've had a
pair, people just can't say enough good
peyote
about t them. Try a pair for é Book your life
Yes, these lecaeale ne
saving appointment
for talking.
today!
The Chunk Sole
available in Brown and Black Call 1828 DO8NAT E Brood Services
Ae en ae nee
i inp omt og e
blundstone.ca
Gravity Pope 10442 Whyte Ave 439-1637
Kunitz Shoes 23rd Avenue € 114 Street 438-4259
Wener Shoes 10322 Jasper Avenue 422-2718
Campers Village 1095/-170 Street NW 484-2700
Campers Village South Point 3235 Calgary Trail NW 479-2267
Soft Moc West Edmonton Mall 489-5616
WUEWEEKLY // JAN 7 JAN 13, 2010
6 //
P FRONT
n this corner
she
Two sides to every story
Ten players who will shape Canadian tech law and policy in 2010
Risk may be low, but Gardasil shots not 100 percent safe
Predictions about future technology law and policy : for artists’ concerns.
It's an honour to have had Dr. James Mansi respond : more scientists, editors and publishers who value
are always fraught with uncertainty, yet :
to my comments on vaccination in a letter | sent to : their integrity this much
identifying the key players is a somewhat easier Konrad von Finckenstein, chair of the Canadian the Edmonton Journal on December 7. And it's
chore. Although Parliament is not scheduled Radio-television and Telecommunications no surprise that in Mansi's December 18 re-
Repeated reassurances that reported
to resume until March, the following 10 are Commission. Coming off a busy year, von sponse he reminds us that Gardasil is the
adverse reactions haven't been proven
likelyt ol ead the way in Canada in the com- Finckenstein will remain in the spotlight in new standard of care for cervical-cancer
linked to the vaccine do little to reassure
ing year. 2010. The CRTC's fee-for-carriage decision prevention, and urges us to discuss the the families and young women who have
will become an immediate lightning rod for issue with our doctors. As a Merck em-
been harmed. Proof means little when
Tony Clement, federal Industry Minister. praise or criticism (likely both), while the ployee, it's his job to do so, as itis the job
your own personal truth is that a week
From anti-spam legislation to the national commission's enforcement efforts on the do- of our doctors to comply with standards of ago you had a healthy daughter and now
copyright consultation, Clement demonstrated not-call registry and net-neutrality guidelines care. All of which works better for Merck than you no longer do, Dr. Scott Ratner told CBS
a keen interest in technology issues during his first will face intense scrutiny. it does for many of us. his daughter was so ill with the autoimmune dis-
year as industry minister. 2010 should be no different, :
Dr. Mansi's advice does nothing to alter other rel- } ease that came in the wake of her first Gardasil shot
with privacy reform legislation, a new copyright bill and : Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada. evant facts, however. Even though HPV has been es- : that she'd have been better off getting cervical cancer
rules for another wireless spectrum auction all on the = Stoddart enters the final year of her seven-year term tablished as a cause of cervical cancer, it is nowhere
agenda. To top it off, Clement has sent strong signals : with an opportunity to leave her mark on privacy in near the only one. An August editorial in JAMA: the
An August editorial in JAMA:
that he wants to forge ahead with a long-overdue na- : Canada. Her Facebook decision garnered international Journal of the American Medical Association, re-
the Journal of the American
: attentioni n2 009, leaving Stoddart with considerable
tional digital strategy. minds us that while HPV Is present in most cases :
: capital to play an influential role on lawful access, pri- of cervical cancer it is only one of many possible : Medical Association,
james Moore, federal Canadian Heritage Minister. : vacy reform and anti-spam legislation. causes, and that prevention is much more compli- :
reminds us that while HPV
Young, bilingual and tech-savvy, Moore broke the mould : cated than a single vaccine.
is present in most cases of
for a minister of Canadian heritage. This year will present : Ron Kirk, US Trade Representative. Kirk is the leading The truth is that there are more than 100 different :
types of HPV, and at least 15 of them are considered : cervical cancer it is only one
Moore with at least two highly contentious issues likely : figure on US trade policy. US trade officials will undoubt-
to leave many unhappy: copyright reform and fee-for- + edly claim that Canadian laws are inadequate and Kirk cancer-causing. Gardasil targets only two of the can- : of many possible causes,
carriage for television broadcast signals. : will therefore maintain maximum pressure on Canada on cer-causing strains. The truth is that the relationship :
and that prevention is much
: behalf of US lobby interests. between infection at a young age and development of :
more complicated than a
Stockwell Day, federal International Trade Minister. : cancer 20 to 40 years later is not known. The truth is :
The link between international trade and tech policy is : David Jacobson, US Ambassador to Canada. Jacobson that HPV, according to the JAMA piece, does not ap- : single vaccine.
not immediately obvious, yet two trade initiatives mean : had scarcely unpacked after being confirmed to the post pear to be very harmful because almost all HPV Infec- :
that Day may ultimately dictate policy to his cabinet : this fall before he was criticizing Canadian intellectual- -tions are cleared by the immune system,
counterparts Clement and Moore. The Anti-Counterfeit- : property laws. Working together with Kirk, Jacobson will Nor should industry-driven standards of care be : than the vaccine.
ing Trade Agreement and the Canada-European Union : provide ample evidence that a change in administration cause for us to ignore other key dissenting voices, ; lunderstand that the kinds of reactions being report-
Trade Agreement both fall under his mandate and fea- : does not mean a change in attitude on digital policy. such as that of ABC's Chief Medical Officer Dr. : ed also occur at a low background rate apart from vac-
ture detailed intellectual-property provisions. Timothy Johnson. He, last | heard, was clear that he = cines. But one in every 1855 Gardasil shots Is followed
: Thousands of online Canadians. Last year demon- doesn't recommend the shot for its intended popu- : by an adverse reaction report, significant numbers of
Peter Van Loan, federal Public Safety Minister. Van : strated that Canadians are keenly aware of digital issues lation of young girls. which are serious, arid it is well-known that adverse
Loan is responsible for Bills C-46 and C-47, the contro- ; and willing to actively voice their views. Record numbers Dr. Diane Harper herself, who worked on the devel- : reactions are seriously under-reported
versial lawful-access legislation that died last week with : participated in the copyright consultation, thousands opment of the vaccine, has said she’s not at all com- : As I've written before, | understand that the risks
the decision to prorogue Parliament. Part security, part : submitted comments to the CRTC on net neutrality and fortable giving it to girls as young as it is now being = with the vaccine, as with cervical cancer, are smalL
privacy and part Internet, the legislation likely will be : more than 100 000 emailed their views on the fee-for- given to. And speaking at the Fourth International : But they're very real. Some, such as Guillain-Barré
reintroduced and face stiff opposition when it comes be- i carriage debate. Combining passion with Internet tech- Public Conference on Vaccination in Virginia in Octo- + or anaphylactic shock can be permanently debili-
fore a House of Commons committee in 2010. ? nologies, the power of the individual has thrust digital ber, she reminded her audience that incidence of cervi- : tating or fatal. And reactions are happening now,
: policies to the forefront, enabling individual Canadians cal cancer in the developed world is tow, that four out : to young girls not even yet sexually active, in the
Charlie Angus, NDP affairs critic. The only op- = to ensure their concerns are factored Into the decision- of five women with cervical cancer are in developing : hopes we might prevent cervical cancer two or
position member to make the list, Angus is frequently : making process. W countries, that there have been no efficacy trials in : three decades from now.
the sole voice on digital-policy Issues on Parliament Hill : girls under 15 years, and that the rate of serious ad- : { know Dr. Mansi Is just doing his job, but shouldn't
: full risk-disclosure also be part of the job? Does it re-
With the Liberal Party seemingly unable to muster a co- : Michael Geist holds the Canada Research Chair in Inter- verse events is a major concern.
herent digital policy, Angus has filled the void by intro- : net and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, The reason for her honesty, she sald, is that she : ally make sense to close our eyes and ears to many
ducing net-neutrality legislation, injecting himself into + Faculty of Law. He can reached at [e-mail] needs to be able to sleep at night, and! stand by the : Inconvenient truths just because a Merck employee
the copyright debate and providing a consistent voice : or online at michaelgeist.ca. statement |m ade in my letter to the Journal: we need : has told us to? W
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE TREATS
THE CAUSE, NOT JUST THE SYMPTOMS
Depression & Anxiety ¢ IBS ¢ Celiac Colitis Diabetes « Detoxifieation®
Hormone Imbalances ¢ Nutritional & Lifestyle Counselling ¢ Arthfitis °
Allergies « Acne * HIV * Mens & Womens Health...
Get ready for flu season the natural way!
Dr. Janice Dacyshyn, N.D.
ST. ALBERT NATUROPATHIC CLINIC
11 PERRON STREET, ST. ALBERT * 780 459-5601
HYPERION LASER REHABILITATION AND WELLNESS
10433-51 AVE, EDMONTON ¢ 780 988-2012
WWW.ALBERTANATUROPATH.COM
eeeE—ESCSCtCtS ST
e
e
JAN 7 — JAN 13, 2010 // WUIEWEEKLY
= COMMENT >> OPE
INTERNET
Year wide open
He's almost ready for the NHL, but will
the Oilers be ready for him? Considering
: the state of this era's Oiler organization,
ee
fa big-game clutch player is kinda useless,
_ Could 2010 be the year the Internet Happy New Year! Happy Same Old Shit! : Oiler and World Junior tourney stand- : You've got to be ina big game to need a big
The most recent week in Oiler history has :
out Jordan Eberle? Holy crap! The Young :
game player.
been pretty much the same disappointing : Americans managed an OT win in the Gold :
becomes truly open?
nonsense we've seen lately. Recap: The Oil- : Medal Junior game but Eberle pulled the : Eh-Oh-Canada-Go! Sucks. So does Pepsi. |
ers managed a 3-1 win against Toronto on : Qean) Genie out of the bottle with two : quit drinking Coke in July but I'm still Loyal
Some of us have made New Year's reso- : about the issues listed above with insidi- the penultimate day of 2009. New Year's : huge clutch goals to get them to overtime. :
to my addictive soda pop.
lutions to exercise more, eat healthier, : ous values such as accessibility, choice, Eve saw a spirit-killing 2-1 loss to Calgary: : He was, at least from the point of view of :
spend more time with friends and family : collaboration, diversity, openness and That loss was followed by the kill- a Canadjan hockey fan watching the : The Outdoor Game in Boston Didn't suck.
etc. While these are important person- transparency. While these values inter- ing of many bottles of spirits at Oiler’s most promising prospect, : Pepsi still does, though. | would have loved
al goals, it may be the right time sect to create an essential nucleus an over-publicized night out in the Man Who Stole the Worlds. : being there.
to also have a loftier collective for media innovation, they are Cowtown. The first game of The Oiler draft pick was also :
resolution: to drastically open only starting points. For exam- - 2010 was a 4-1loss in San Jose. weom the guy that engineered a Losing inO T to the Americans int he ju-
up our media system in 2010. ple, access and choice, in ad- The first home game of 2010 semifinals win over Russia in :
nioAlsro ssuck s.
lve written before about was a 5-4 OT loss to the Phoe-
this same tournament last year, :
how the combination of big choice for online content and nix Coyotes. paving the way to the fifth Cana- = One Oiler win in Tl games Tastes lik:
corporate media's self mutila- Internet service providers, also dian Gold in a row. Unfortunately,
Pepsi.
GBRFMOA (Gratuitous Bowie Refer- :
tion and the increasing prolifera- touch on the need for media liter- Eberle's work to tie this year’s champi- :
tion of the open Internet has cre- acy, knowledge and media produc- ences For My Own Amusement) Con- : onship game ended with that regrettable : Oiler player of the week A hesitant
ated a historic opportunity to transform : tion programs. Closing the digital divide is sidering the Oilers are now in the throes : USA overtime winner. We can be heroes, : OPOTW award goes to Patrick O'Sullivan
Canada's media system, and even our con- : about more than just providing access to of what will likely be a four-year playoff : but just for one day. : for waking from his slumber. The slumping
cept of.citizenship, government and insti- : the Internet. Having access to the Internet drought, it's been too long since the team : The play-by-play voices on TSN called : O'Sullivan scored two goals against T-O and
tutions in general What | have been some- : without the’ time and knowledge needed has played what anyone would consider : Eberle a “messiah”, a "clutch player’ and told : managed a goal and an assist against P-O
what remiss in discussing previously is the 5 to fully utilize it is a half measure at best a Big Game. These are not exactly the : Oiler fans theyd best "get excited" about : (that doesn't mean Phoenix at all, does
third and most important factor leading to : Likewise, diversity and innovation are not team's Golden Years. this kid. Agreed. I'm excited (but messiah? A : it?). Honourable mentions: Bobby Nilsson,
transformative change in media—what I'm : simply abstract concepts. A media system But (speaking of Gold) how about future : bit overly dramatic). ! Dusty Penner¥
calling the open-media movement. : that supports diversity and ground-up in-
The burgeoning open-media movement : novation includes enabling mechanisms
BOB THE ANGRY FLOWER
is really a constellation of interconnected- , for different ownership models, including
yet-distinct communities that are advanc- : independent, non-profit, campus, com-
ing open communication and defending : munity and public media. The best way to- blibbity blabbit,b libbity blabid, bib bb blab bib ba bbob Heanarg Flower
our communication rights and values. : support cultural creators, media workers,
These communities include those that : citizen producers and consumers is by de- wow, angry Flower.com
have come together around open-source ; veloping an underpinning of diversity that
software, open data, open Internet, open : we can tap into. BEFORE WE MOVE av
“THIS CONCLUDES PART2 oF OUR
web, open content, open education, open : TO PART 3, I Inyite
government and many more. What brings : It looks promising that 2010 will be the BURGER-MAKING SEMINAR!
You ALL To Look
all these thriving communities together is : year when the open-media movement co-
OUT THE WINDOW.
: alesces, This year the Mozilla Foundation
of course the value of "openness."
At first glance, open media is simply : will launch an initiative specifically focused
> onsupporting and advancing the open web.
Considering that Mozilla's Firefox browser
is used by over 300 million people, or one
in every four web users, it's exciting to hear
: that they plan to take a more active role in
RINGTON
: advancing the open web.
(mobi
: The open-data community is also poised
> to reach new heights this year. 2009 saw
3 : open-data focused Change Camp events in
Britney Spears : several cities across the country. Vancou-
+ ver enacted an “Open Motion" and local
2 Sexy Chic
+ governments in other places like Toronto
David Guetta
: and Calgary, are now pursuing similar poli-
: cles. Now that some social infrastructure
3 TiK ToK
: exists and experiments such as VanTrash
KeS$ha
are underway, open data could prove ex-
4 Throw Ya Hands Up
> plosive in 2010.
Stereos
And let's not forget about the open-Inter-
: net movement. In 2009, there were town
5. Hotel Room Service
: hall events in four cities, over 12 000 com-
Pitbull
: ments sent to the CRTC, and Liberal and
6 Fire Burnin : NDP support in parliament, along with a
Sean Kingston : competitive broadband campaign that saw
: nearly 100 000 letters sent to parliament
7 Down
j : This year we can expect the open-Internet
Jay Sean
* community to broaden its focus and push
: for a broadband plan for Canada.
8 Best! Ever Had
Those who understand the importance
Drake
: of having open media should take this year
9 Party InThe USA
: to step up efforts. We have a window of
Miley Cyrus
: opportunity to re-imagine media in Canada
: right now. But that window can and will
10 Whatcha Say
: close if we don't quickly put the pillars of
Jason Derulo
: an open media system in place. Together,
: we can ensure that media at the end of
: 2010 will be more open than the start. VW
DIBS
: Steve Anderson is the national coordinator
=
: for the Campaign for Democratic Media.
EXCLUSIVE RINGTONES
: He is a contributing author of Censored
TEXT “DIBS" TO 4321 & HAVE 1ST DIBS
: 2008 and Battleground: The Media Me-
DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR
VIRGIN MOBILE PHONE! : dia Links is a monthly syndicated column
: on media issues supported by Common-
aay Tas
THIS WEEK'S
. Ground, The Tyee, Rabble.ca, Vancovuer
IRE
waiy ima
ARTIST: : Observer and Vue Weekly.
WUEWEEKLY // JAN 7 JAN 13, 2010
8 // UP FRONT
|S Dotra :
Living Proof
| AUTHENTIC
I TO ai aaa ALL Lo LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL UM EMM COLMTM MMM TLLME TTT TTT YIKES TT |
PROFILE // PETER JACKSON
Wea SINE
Lord of the wedges
Open Tuesday to
Peter Jackson aims to update the venerable Cheescake Café unday for
dinner at 5 pm
JAN HOSTYN
{1 [e-mail]
Please phone for
en someone mentions Peter
eservations
various images come
to mind. Most of them have to do with
food—creative, innovative and utterly 10345-106 St - 423-3044
enchanting food. After all, Jackson is
CS ES
known around town as a chef extraordi-
naire and the culinary mastermind who
presided over, until recently, the gastro-
nomically exquisite Jack's Grill. So when
it was announced in late September that
SHERBROOKE}
Jackson was taking on the role of "Culi-
nary Leader” for the Cheesecake Café
franchise, many eyebrows were raised
in surprise.
{ tracked Jackson down at his vineyard
in Aylesford, Nova Scotia to ask him the
question on everyone's’ mind: why the
Cheesecake Café? After all, Jack's Grill
and the Cheesecake Café don't seem to
have alot in common.
"Look," Jackson explained over the
phone, “food is food. I don't spend every
pa...
night at home cooking the way I cooked
‘Beera ft he|
at Jack's Grill, and I don't eat that kind of
food all the time, either. I eat all kinds of
|month club|
food, and I like hot dogs. They have to be
stoeinga
really good hot dogs, though. Anything
WORKING UP A NEW MENU >> Peter Jackson won't divulge the details, but it's bound to be great //supptied
can be great if it's done right.”
It turns out Jackson just wasn't quite’ admits that he just wasn't ready to retire. "Culinary Leader" of the Cheesecake cake side of our business—it’s what sets
ready to lead the idyllic life simply run- "Bob Beeson, owner of the Cheesecake Café encompass? us apart from our competitors—and we teresp aul)
asi ue
ning a vineyard in Nova Scotia—a pas- Café franchise, gave me about six min- "Well, first of all, the immediate goal still want our menu to offer something
time you'd think would keep him busy utes of retirement before contacting me is to develop a new menu for the Café, for everyone, in a comfortable environ-
WS LY TThaal
enough all by itself. with the idea of consulting for Cheese- one that will be rolled out in the spring ment. So we're not looking to Peter to
“When I first started out in the busi- cake. We've become good friends over of 2010. Once the menu is developed, we create a totally different menu, but we
ness, |a lways had this vision that some- the years and he didn't buy the whole need to train the staff in terms of both do want Peter to up our flavour a bit. We
day | would own my own restaurant, retirement thing. Bob likes good food, I the cooking and the presentation of the want him to help us stand out.
and that I would run that restaurant for like good food, and that's where the idea faod. You can't just throw in half-a-mil- "Peter's not just about food—he's also
lion dollars worth of products and sim- a fantastic businessman. At the end of
20 years. It sounded like a nice round came from.”
number to me. So this year a couple Although the Cheesecake Café and ply start again. You need to get everyone the day, you do have to make money,”
of things happened. First, I hit the 20- Jackson appear to be very different, Jack- up to speed. At the same time, we'll be she adds. "And his range of food knowl-
year mark with Jack's Grill. And then son says both have always had some of streamlining the operation a bit. edge is great—he's not just about the
"The Cheesecake Café has been $45 plate. He can make something de-
a loyal employee, one who had worked the same elements.
with me for 15 of those years, wanted to "The Cheesecake Café isn't Jack's Grill, around for over 20 years and it needs licious and interesting without it being
buy Jack's. So, without giving it much but both believe in some of the same to reinvent itself. My goal is to put it in intimidating.”
thought, I sold it. It fit into the plan. I things—quality, consistency and con- a position that will take it through the Simple, great food. That's what the
Cheesecake Café is aiming to deliver
didn’t factor in that I was much young- trol. And Cheesecake has always at- next 20 years.”
er than | anticipated I would be. When tempted to serve good food; it just got a Jackson wouldn't divulge the direc- with Jackson's guidance. W
| first came up with the 20-year plan, I bit off track over the years. It still has a tion the new menu might take but
Bobbi Beeson, marketing director for
never thought I'd own a restaurant in lot of the basics in place—like the use of
the Cheesecake Café, did provide a bit
my early 30’s—I thought I'd be more fresh ingredients.”
of insight.
like 50."
Jackson, now in his early 5os, readily So what does Jackson's new role as the "We still want to embrace the cheese-
Start the year right withh cea ltleysa vings: PLANC€T ORGANIC
e
e

é
Edmonton N«
Pacific Organic Our Very Own
RW. Knudsen
12120 Jasper Avenuc -
Creamy Tomato Fair Trade
Just Cranberry
Soup Organic Edmont
Juice
74]
104 Stre
Coftee
www planct
DISH //9
JAN 7 — JAN 13, 2010 // WUEWEEKLY
av
-*
More than.
toffee, chocolate and dark fruit sweetness : coffee aftertaste. ? white beer with its own distinct qualities. |
at first, but ag entle peat smoke-buildsiin =
Minoh Cabernet is part beer, part wine. : appreciate the interpretation.
i i They add a significant portion of cabernet? ~ Fhe hito ft he shinment thei
The Brown Rice could be a solid English = grapes to the beer. The aroma certainly : ond beer. The XH is a strong =a ged nok
Award-winning Japanese microbrews hitA lberta
: ale, except it adds a rice twist. Ith as soft :
: shows it—caramel malt and a noted grape :: casks used for Shocyu, a distilled sake. This
+ caramel and grainy sweetness that balanc- : nose. The flavour shows equal portions : deep orange-copper beer has an unbeliev-
Int he world of beeri tis noto ften Alberta is.::
reputed craft breweries: Ise Kadoya from : es noticeable starchiness and bran quality, : grape, fruit and malted barley. It is sweet : ably rocky head. It provides a red ale profile
a leadeOurr.s m all market and conservative coastal town Ise City, Minoh Brewery from : which | imagine comes from the rice. It is : but keeps that grape tartness and light : at first, softly sweet with a delicate hop. It
culture tends to mean we lag behind Osaka and Kiuchi Brewery in Ibaraki. : quite an enjoyable beer, blending malt and : fruitiness. |a m not entirely sure the flavour : gets complex quickly, however. | picked up
when it comes to new and innova- Each has a different story and dis- : hops with a grain quality we do not normal- : blend works but it is an admirable try. :c brown sugar, vanilla, smoke, pear, peach
tive products. tinct beers. Many reflect Japa- : ly see in Canada. The third brewery, Kiuchi, has a very dif- : and apple fruit and some woody notes, It
Not this month, however, nese traditions in their ingredi- : The Minoh Brewery has a similar story. In : ferent story. They come from a long line of : has a nice balance of sweeter and rougher
thanks to the brave efforts of a m ents and processes. : 1997 a prosperous liquor-store owner look- > sake brewers (founded in 1823) and a tradi- : flavours. This is a complex, subtle, rich beer,
Oa
small, upstart beer distribution Ise Kadoya opened 12 years : ing for new business avenues established : tion of sticking to traditional brewing meth- : original and quite enjoyable.
othe
company, Soltice International, ago across the street from the : a brewery and put his two daughters in : ods. In 1996 the family heir branched out : Not all the beers hit the mark, and | imag-
Alberta can legitimately claim family café famous for its Kina- : charge. Three Minoh beers came in this ship- : into beer with Hitachino Nest. Six Hitachino : ine some suffered from travel shock, but
We are the first in Canada to try komochi, a sweet rice dessert cake. : ment. | sampled two. : Nest beers made it across the ocean on this : that is not unexpected. What | most appre-
Japanese craft breweries. The younger family members used their : Their Stout is a monster for roast. Pouring : trip. Aga|is namp,le d two: : ciate is that Japanese craft brewers are try-
Japan’s beer culture may surprise you, Like : food industry knowledge to build a thriving : an abyss-like black, it opens with a big cof- : | start with their White Beer. It pours an : ing things we don't—brown rice ales, beers
North America it has been dominated by : regional brewery producing a stable line of : fee, almost burnt aroma. Darker fruits like = expected cloudy pale straw. The head is a : aged in sake barrels, beer-wine blends.
: bit disappointing, collapsing quickly. Floral :
large, global, corporate players. Asahi, Sap- : six beers, four arriving in Canada. : blackberry and plum play in the background. Some are here in very limited qualities,
poro and Kirin control the Japanese market : Itried their Smoked Porter and the Brown : A milky sweetness starts the flavour, with a : aroma and flavours dominate, in particular : so move fast and check out alberta-liquor-
in the same way Molson and Labatt do here. : Rice Ale. The porter is adeep, almost opaque : quirky middle of vanilla and cough drops, : lavender and meadow flower. | also detect : guide.com to see where you can pick them
However in the past decade a new breed of : brown that shows its smoked-wood quali- : and then the hard roast flavour. Overall the some citrus and orange aromas and fla- : up. | recommend you try them. And you can
craft brewers has sprung up. : ties immediately in the aroma. It also has a : beer is a little thin for the style and needs : yours. The mouthfeel is prickly and sharp, : Say you were one of the first to try Japanese
Soltice has brought in beers from three : classic porter sweetness. There is a heavy : more balance, but | enjoyed its dark, roast- : and could be softer. Overall it isawell-made : craft beers, W
ign us for Brunch at The Hat on Jasper
"every Saturday from | | am-3pm Japanese | Vietnamese |Restaurant & Bar
\
DEJA ROLL
| SAPPORO BEER THURSDAY
4
OPEN LATE FRIDAY & SATURDAY TIL 2 aM ie
6109-101 STREET @ EAT-IN & TAKE OUT|
(Que bioek off Whyte Ave» Sunto Tdhurasdayy Hf a m- tt pm Fri&S adturaday yti am -Z ann )
RESTO PUB
WUEWEEKLY // JAN 7~ J AN 13, 2010
10 // DISH