By: Elijah Budgeon

Cody Bates is a grade 12 student of Lakeshore Collegiate Institute. He has a passion for writing and acting, but Cody’s heart belongs to Pro-Wrestling. Now, this should not suggest that his other interests are less important to him. Writing is an ambition, a goal to write and become a bestselling author. Acting is something that has helped him break through his meek shell, but Pro-Wrestling is something that has captivated him for 13 years of his life; a past-time that he, his brother his father and enjoyed. This dream of his holds strong and feeding into it was a once in a life time meeting with a hero of Cody’s; WWE Hall of Famer, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who saw something in Cody himself, telling him to “Make your own luck”, words Cody takes to heart as inspiration.

What’s Cody’s plan? Cody is staying for one more year at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute. After this he is going to get fit and spend a year and a half training at the Squared Circled Wrestling School. He will go to college and focus on his writing and acting (in film, television and theatre). With an admirable zeal, he plans on making it into the WWE, where he will become a Hall of Famer, like his hero, and retire at the age of 40, starting a family and spending his days as an actor. Cody believes mainstage is helping him get to his dream, teaching him not just how to act, but to react.

Cody wishes to be one of the great wrestlers her idolizes and even though some may say he will never get there because of his size, he just remembers that “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was small too, and making his own luck will keep Cody going; regardless of naysayers.

Cody was in Drama department’s production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice where he played the Bennet’s butler, Hill. Good Luck in your future Cody and perhaps we will see you on Wrestle-Mania in the near future.  

Exams are here, and most of Lakeshore’s student population is saying one thing, “Sleep? What is this concept of sleep?” Although it is very tempting to pull an all night study session before that big exam worth 30% of your final mark, this is a temptation that must be resisted. Did you know, that during a study by one Dr. Jay Giedd of the National Institute of Mental Health it was concluded that during sleep the brain is growing and evolving. So, did you think that when you sleep your brain just shuts down? Think again young one, during Dr. Giedd’s study the results showed that during sleep the right and left brain connect and evolve critical thinking. The left and right brain make connections and grow like branches on a tree. So when you study, the next best thing you can do to retain this information and ensure that it is hardwired into your memory is to sleep. During Rapid Eye Movement (REM) content from your day, such as information studied and lessons taught are retained, daytime stimulation is an essential part of this process. So before you burn the midnight oils this week, take into consideration that all that studying you’re doing, may be useless if you don’t sleep. Exams not only rob high school students of sleep but also of nutrition. An essential part of the study process is to take care of your health. Students often get sick during exam week; this is contributed to lack of nutrition. Eat lunch or do that essay for English. Why not do both? A balanced diet during these stressful times makes all the difference. So Lakeshore, with exams on the way, remember to get your beauty rest and eat healthy, we promise, you wouldn’t regret it! Good luck on your exams, and have an amazing second semester !

By: Xerez Bridglall

Lakeshore Collegiate students gather in the auditorium,a silence falls over the crowd as they await the dance group that have been so fondly refered to as “The Patels.” As the lights dim, and these 10 girls take the stage, its apparent that the student body is sending them all the way to the Dare to Dance finals; with them riding on cheers of their supporters.

 In Lakeshore’s first ever Dare to Dance semi-final competition on Thursday November 10th, at Central Tech, The Patels performed with grace and attitude. There were 16 competiting groups, and 15 schools that participated. Even though this event was held after regular school hours, there was no lack of supporters cheering for Lakeshore. “Our parents weren’t there but seeing the faces of our friends in the crowd made us feel like our family was there regardless,” says Payal Patel.  The girls recall  the nerves that they felt before going on stage, and how seeing the smiling faces of Mr.Santos, Ms.Kao,Ms.Scobie,Ms.Ross, Ms.Ostfield, Ms.Kim and Ms.Travers made them relaxed and happy.

Although it was fun, there was a significant message behind the dance that was prepared by The Patels. The theme of the competition was that of Social Justice; the girls were told to place themselves in a place, which they chose to be India. Their message was regarding the discrimination of class that so often occurs in India. The dance was meant to shatter and bring forward this topic in a manner that would be suited for all ages.

We congratulate The Patels for advancing to the Finals, to take place on December the 8th at George Weston Recital Hall at the Toronto Center for the Arts. Come out and support our talented Patels on their rise to the top of Dance Fame.

For more information and to reserve your tickets go to: Dare2Dance

The Patels include:

Divya Patel

Hina Patel

Hetal Patel

Jessica Patel

Jigisha Patel

Nirali Patel

Payal Patel

Pooja Patel

Snehal Patel

Sejal Patel

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On Wednesday, December 8th, Play by the Lake had opened and shown Fall with Me, Forensic and the Navigators, and Teen Fiction for three nights and closed on Friday, December 10th. On Wednesday, December 15th, we had the chance to interview Cameron Kirk from the play Teen Fiction.

Would you give the people who could not make it, a general synopsis of the play you were in?

The play I was in was called Teen Fiction, and it was a comedy about stereotypical high school kids and their lives. I played the Thug; there is a cheerleader, a bitch and a nerd. So all kind of stereotypical teenagers you know?

Tell us about your character?

Well I was the thug and at the beginning of the play it was established that I was a drug dealer, but something that was cool about the play was that I was a stereotypical thug, but I was actually smart. There was a scene where I was doing my homework and I just look up and said “I’m so good at advanced functions”.

What made you want to audition this year?

I was in Play by the Lake in grade nine and 10 so I thought I should audition this year. I’ve done it every other year and I actually got a big part so that was good. In Grade nine I didn’t have any lines and last year I had maybe 10 lines so it was fun.

At what moment did you think “This is going to be fun”?

When I saw that I got the part, I knew this was going to be fun because I was in Play by the Lake before and every year is just so fun. You make new friends and by the end of the play you’re just good friends with the rest of your cast. It’s amazing.

So what’s it like to be on stage? Did it come naturally to you or was the pressure on?

It’s really nerve-racking when you’re backstage about to go on. At the beginning of the play, you’re thinking “Oh my god, I’m so nervous” like you have butterflies and everything, but once you get on stage and say a couple lines, you’re just so into it and it feels good, just making people laugh and everything. It’s a really good feeling. I guess it does come kind of naturally because both of my parents are actors.

What was the best part of this whole experience?

The best part was getting out and doing the play for the three nights.

Are there any future aspirations for next year’s festival?

Next year my friends, Dawson Bonneville, Storm Neville and I might write a play for next year

Do you have any closing statements?

All I want to say is for anyone who hasn’t done Play by the Lake, next year just get out there and just audition for a play. I might write one for next year, so maybe you’ll be in that.

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A well-deserved congratulations for the cast and crew of Teen Fiction, written by Brett McNeil and directed by Zack Hayward, and A.J Baker, and the cast and crew of Forensic and the Navigators written by American playwright, Sam Sheppard and directed by Delaney Jackson. Both plays have been picked to go on to the Sears Ontario Drama Festival. Good luck!

Interview conducted by Elijah Budegon and Devon Jarrett