Preservation vs. Development

Preservation vs. development. This is the never ending debate in Winnipeg when it comes to urban development. What is better for Winnipeg, preserving the historic character buildings of the Core or modern development? Both sides can present a strong case. What about integrating the two? Red River College has been successful with it's Princess Street Campus and the new Union Bank Tower project.

But does historic preservation hinder the development of urban areas? Winnipeg has a test case that has been ongoing for several years. A few years back a developer purchased land at the corner of Assiniboine Avenue and Fort Street with the intention of building a 15-story apartment building. Apartment construction in Winnipeg's downtown has ceased in the the last twenty years, in which condos have been the construction of choice. Rental units in the Assiniboine neighbourhood are at a premium because of lack of new construction. This development would have increased the population of downtown, something that has been an issue for years.

The only problem: the site for the planned apartment building sat next to the Upper Fort Garry Gate historic site. This site had sat neglected for decades, a haven for graffiti, drug abuse, and wind-blown garbage. All of a sudden when an apartment complex was to be constructed behind the site, the creme de la creme of Winnipeg's elite sprang into action to protect the site. The apartment construction was not going to lead to the demolition of the gate. Why did it take decades for a campaign to reinvigorate the gate to arise?

So after lobbying civic and provincial government, the Friends of Upper Fort Garry put an end to the apartment plan and were able to secure the land for a park development. This has led to tearing down an office building and the downtown's only gas station. The question to be asked is: is this a positive urban development for downtown or has the desire to preserve historic sites hindered positive urban development?

This is an issue that not only affects Winnipeg, but cities throughout Canada. Calgary has a terrible record of preserving its history, but is now in the process of rejuvenating its historic East Village. Halifax and Saint John have done remarkable jobs of preserving their historic buildings. Is there a happy medium that can be reached?

I can't answer the question. If any of you in the blogosphere know anyone who is knowledgable about either side of the debate, let me know. I'm putting together a project of some sorts concerning the issue, so any help would be appreciated.

In The Chamber 2010

In The Chamber 2010 made me violently throw up.

Maybe that’s a little harsh for opening up this review, but it is truthful. Half way through the Gordon Tanner’s Last Man in Krakendorf a sudden urge came over me, whether it be from the oppressive heat of the crowded Rachel Browne Theatre or the Subway sandwich that I had just eaten, and I had to make a quick exit from the theatre. So In the Chamber 2010 didn’t actually make me throw up, but honestly missing out on the second half of Tanner’s monologue wasn’t that big of a deal to me at that point.

Enough talk of my digestive issues. Instead, I guess I should discuss what brought me to the Rachel Browne Theatre on a balmy Thursday in January. In the Chamber 2010, is a two part production featuring two monologues written by their performers. This year is the fifth installment of the Theatre Projects Manitoba production and it showcases two pieces, Last Man in Krakendorf by Gordon Tanner and Last Man in Puntarenas by Steven Ratzlaff.

Theatre Projects Manitoba describes the event as, “a series for the artistic daredevils we love! We ask our brave artists to get personal with their writing…let it all hang out on stage.”

There is definitely some truth to this. Both pieces are extremely personal and you can tell that both Tanner and Ratzlaff are both heavily emotional invested in them. Whether the two live up to the title of “artistic daredevil”, well, that depends on the expectations of each audience member. I went in with little expectations and came away thinking, “Wow, you have to be pretty ballsy to go out and perform an hour long monologue.”

That is the strong point of the whole production, two actors stepping out in front of an audience and brilliantly navigating their way through an hour of just talking to themselves. Tanner is outstanding in his piece. He’s got a lot of charisma and appears quite natural on the stage. Ratzlaff isn't quite as smooth as Tanner, but he is impressive none the less.

Beyond the excellent acting, the two pieces were never able to hold my interest for too long. Last Man in Krakendorf deals with a man who is in a crisis, both personally and professionally. He has begun to question the values of his employer and his own personal values. A fire at a hog barn has made the man reach his breaking point and he spends his time in a hotel room, filming a confessional for his employer, Warren Buffet.

Unfortunately, I can only give you a review of the first half of the piece because of my aforementioned stomach issues, but I can tell you from what I saw, it was hard to keep track of and all over the place. Tanner’s bombastic style cann’t hold the piece together, as scatterbrain writing tears it apart. I started to tune out when Tanner made a joke regarding 9/11. The joke was extremely out of place and the saying “too soon” definitely still applies.

The second piece of the evening, Last Man in Puntarenas, features Ratzlaff giving a wandering, bitter speech at a retirement dinner. He discusses the loss of his child to unskilled hands of a pediatric surgeon and the event’s fallout. Ratzlaff rails against the medical system for taking away a person’s right to sorrow. He quickly alienates and offends everyone at his table, who begin to drop like flies.

Ratzlaff gives a strong performance, but ultimately the piece is undone by a confusing and rambling script. Condos in Costa Rica, the Sinclair Inquiry, hookers, and cancer, Last Man in Puntarenas is all over the board and that is what undoes the piece.

The two pieces are connected by the theme of disillushionment and surrender. The two men are at odds with the world they live in. Prior to the two pieces is a brief introduction scene and reading from Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The scene is quite bizarre, so I won’t spoil it, but the reading ties the two plays together. Nietzsche’s “will to power” – overcoming one’s self plays heavily in the two pieces.

Overall, the two pieces of In The Chamber 2010 are overcome by boring, scatterbrain stories. Strong acting can’t overcome these shortcomings. But at least the actual play didn’t make me throw up.

iSlate - a great mystery

I'm not the most technologically advanced. I just got on the Blackberry train, but I barely know how to use mine after weeks of having it. My laptop is often a mystery to me. So it's not surprising that I had no clue what a tablet computer was, let alone that Apple was secretly working on its own version of a tablet, the iSlate.

The iSlate looks like it could permanently change how we consume media. It could spell the end of the print version of magazines. It could make e-readers, like the Kindle obsolete, only months after they were released.

I'm personally hoping that there is truth to rumours that its release is imminent. It's technology will benefit a project I'm about to kick off involving e-publishing.

Looks like I'm going to have to step up technology game.

Behind Apple's iron curtain

Section 1 Revisited

School is in session again. After a (too) short break, where I played a lot of hockey, drank a few cold ones, and caught up with friends and family I had been neglecting due to CreComm, it's business as usually again. Back to getting up at 6:30 every morning and walking from the bus stop across the frozen tundra that is the Exchange.

All frozen tundra issues aside, I'm extremely excited for what the term has in store. There's the all encompassing magazine project, promoting a "controversial" film, the Manitoba travel assignment, and numerous other things. Next week, I start an internship at The Beaver magazine, which I can't wait to get going at. My university background is in Canadian politics and history, so this should be right up my alley. Beyond that, I've got writing assignments for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Projector stories to write, and my job (got to pay the rent somehow). This term is getting busy and it's only the first week.

But hey, why not. The busier the better.

Alpha Prime One

It's the last day for Alpha Prime One. I'm not the most sentimental person, but I'm going to miss the people and antics of our class. But I'm also looking forward to a new class, new instructors, and classmates. Even though we've been broken up, I'm sure Team Ampersand will still convene in w308 for many more late night work sessions. See you in semester 2.

MJHL Plug #2

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was writing for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, so I want to give the site another plug. The MJHL's exciting, fast-paced hockey, where you can watch local talent play their hearts out. My last article is on Eric Coulombe, an up and coming rookie for the Steinbach Pistons. Head over to the site to check it out. While your at at it, take a look at the rest of the site. Games are held in the city at Dakota Arena in St. Vital and Century Arena in Fort Garry. I encourage all hockey fans to check out a game.

Coulombe enjoying rookie season

You've probably seen it, but it's still funny...

This is old news by now, but every time I see this I still have a good laugh. A Taiwanese television show, which appears to be an offshoot of the trashy tabloids Next and Apple Daily, put together a computer animation of the Tiger Woods car crash. It's good to see that they've diversified from their usual stories on how Canadians are corrupting Taiwanese youth with marijuana and what popstar Jolin is eating for breakfast.

The slapping sound effect at the beginning is especially effective. The video also manages to give both sides of the story. North American news shows should take some cues from this; when something wildly sensational occurs, speculate through the lens of computer animation. Who needs journalists anymore.

All joking aside, I know the Tiger gossip and news has reached a saturation point, but this is still hilarious.