In keeping with our theme of the Halloween Issue, we thought we’d bring you an interesting piece of Ontario history. The Bala Bay Inn in Muskoka has been made famous by it’s status as haunted by the ghost of its original founder, E.B. Sutton. And it’s not just the Inn, event he Kee to Bala, where Snoop Dogg recently performed, has had it’s supernatural sightings as well. Terry Boyle has made a career out of exploring the paranormal and is an expert on the ghosts of the Inn. You can get a piece of that action on a weekly tour that runs during tourist season from Spring to Fall with Terry if you want. We got a chance to chat with Terry about the Inn and Bala at large and just how haunted it really is.

For something so prevalent in our daily lives, it’s a wonder that a novel hasn’t been written about it before. Hype Machine, Soundcloud, Pandora, Spotify, the list goes on: companies which harnessed the demand for music at our fingertips – for free and without the trip to HMV – whilst propelling the careers of musicians who typically never had a chance in hell to ‘make it’.

The Toronto Public Library Foundation has launched an awesome new membership program, called New Collection, aimed at book worms under 40. Single membership costs 300$ and gives you access to events featuring renowned writers, artists and intellectuals.

What is “Goth”?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “Goth” as 1. a member of a Germanic people that invaded the Roman Empire in the third and fifth centuries. 2. an uncivilized or ignorant person. 3. (goth) a) a style of rock music derived from punk, often with apocalyptic or mysterious lyrics. b) a member of a subculture favouring black clothing, black and white make-up, metal jewelry, and goth music.

If based solely on surface data and relative ignorance, the above definition could be conceived as the  standard comprehension. But what is the true meaning behind the widely known yet often misunderstood Goth culture?

The leaves have barely begun to change but there is no shortage of fall colors littering lawns across the city – and all of Ontario.
I’m sure you’ve noticed them – those pesky campaign signs have popped up everywhere. Ontario’s colorful political spectrum is well represented across the city and sometimes even on the same lawn. In case you didn’t know, there’s a provincial election on October 6th.

That’s Thursday.

And just in case you’re new to this – there are four main political parties in Ontario – the Liberal Party of Ontario (red), The Progressive Conservative Party (blue), The New Democratic Party (orange), and the Green Party (green – didn’t expect that one, did ya?)
But before you decide who you’re voting for, you have to know how to vote and how your vote works.

It all begins with the, “where?”
Ontario is divided into 107 electoral districts. Elections Ontario has made it too easy to figure out which district you live in. All you have to do is enter your postal code here.

Each district is represented by a Member of Provincial Parliament. One becomes an MPP by winning the most votes in their district and they get a seat in the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park. The party with the most elected MPP’s forms the next provincial government and the leader becomes premier of Ontario.

Once you’ve figured out which district you call home, you have to find out where to vote – to find your polling station, type in your postal code here.
Polls open at 9 a.m. and close at 9 p.m so if you’re on the Voter’s List – great. Just bring your Notice of Registration Card (which would have been mailed to you) and some ID.

Not on the Voter’s List? Fantastic. Bring some ID, fill out some paper work and cast a ballot.
Too busy, out of town or incarnated? Awesome. That’s why there’s a Special ballot. Special ballots can be mailed-in or cast in person before October 6th. Just fill out the application.

It’s easy, see?

So skip a class or skip out on work early to haul your ass to the nearest polling station and vote, vote, vote!

Words by: Jillean Kearney