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Five sets of fetal remains found in anti-abortion activist’s home, DC police say The GuardianFive sets of fetal remains found in anti-abortion activist’s home, DC police say - The Guardian
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
Five sets of fetal remains found in anti-abortion activist’s home, DC police say - The Guardian
Five sets of fetal remains found in anti-abortion activist’s home, DC police say - The Guardian
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Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Five-Dollarama? Cost-conscious retailer plans to start selling some items for up to $5 - CBC News
A Canadian retail chain that made its name by selling things for a dollar is raising some of its prices to $5.
In its quarterly results on Wednesday, famously cost-conscious Montreal-based retailer Dollarama showed it is not immune to the inflationary pressures that every part of the economy is feeling right now by revealing it soon plans to sell items that cost up to $5.
At present, the most expensive items the chain sells cost $4, and most cost less than that.
"This will enable the corporation to maintain and enhance its broad product assortment and compelling value," the company said.
For low-income Canadians like Amber Cannon of Calgary, Dollarama is more than just a discount store; it's a grocery store, too.
Cannon, who has celiac disease and receives disability benefits, says she relies on Dollarama for a range of products, including any gluten-free items that are available.
As prices continue to rise in discount stores and elsewhere, Cannon says she's worried for those in similar or worse financial circumstances than her.
"I'm concerned that more and more people will go without meals," she said, adding that she's had to forgo meals to make ends meet.
Meaghon Reid, executive director of anti-poverty group Vibrant Communities Calgary, says her organization estimates that at least one in 10 Calgarians live in poverty.
And for them, even a $1 increase in prices could have a devastating impact.
"To a person living in poverty, it can spell the difference between a meal that night, the difference between making your rent that month, the difference between being able to even transport your child to school," she said.
Dollarama to pay out higher dividend as profits rise
The company, which has 1,421 stores across Canada, said that while the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus hit its business hard over the busy holiday shopping season, on the whole it fared comparatively well — with sales of $1.22 billion, up from $1.1 billion this time last year, and a quarterly profit of $220 million, up from $173 million a year ago.
This was achieved "while navigating the ebb and flow of the pandemic's impacts on retailers and consumer shopping patterns and in the context of supply chain and inflationary pressures," Neil Rossy, Dollarama's president and CEO, said in a statement.
In the coming months, the company says it expects to benefit from a positive sales environment compared with the same period last year. However, it cautioned that supply chain and other inflationary pressures are expected to be felt more this year.
While the company benefited from opening 24 new stores during the quarter, existing stores also saw higher sales, with same-store sales growth clocking in at 5.7 per cent across the chain.
The company says its total volume of transactions rose by more than 10 per cent in the quarter, even as the average customer bill shrank by four per cent. That suggests customers were shopping more frequently but buying less with each store visit.
The strong financial performance gave the chain the confidence to hike its dividend to shareholders by 10 per cent. Starting now, it will pay out 5.53 cents per share, up from 5.03 cents per share previously.
Not the first time chain has increased price cap
This certainly isn't the first time Dollarama has increased its price cap on the products it sells.
While the chain once did sell goods for $1 or less, that all changed in 2009, when it added products at price points of $1.25, $1.50 and $2.
Doug Stephens, the founder of consulting agency Retail Prophet, says the recent news is part of a trend where dollar stores are offering a larger range of products and even venturing into clothing and small appliances.
"The question on the minds of dollar store executives is how do you continue to grow if you're putting a cap on your top price?" he said.
The move from Dollarama is a response to consumers increasingly looking for cheaper products, Stephens said, adding there still aren't many players competing on price with dollar stores.
"They still are remarkably cheap," Stephens said.
However, the expansion of dollar stores into more product categories also reflects how income and wealth polarization are forcing more Canadians to rely on dollar stores for their consumer needs.
"That has given dollar stores the license now to move into higher-priced categories of goods," he said.
Five-Dollarama? Cost-conscious retailer plans to start selling some items for up to $5 - CBC News
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Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Empty five-acre land parcel available on Vancouver's prestigious Belmont Avenue - Vancouver Sun
Three-lot parcel for sale at $81 million, with yearly property taxes of $280,000, but cannot be stratified
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An extraordinary opportunity exists for a developer willing to spend $81 million buying up Vancouver’s most valuable parcel of vacant detached home lots, says local historian John Atkin.
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Atkin said the three side-by-side lots on Belmont Avenue in West Point Grey comprise a total of five acres. One has never been developed, while two homes that sat on the other lots are long demolished. The three have been sold as a parcel since at least the 1970s and are recorded as lots one, two and three in 1909 subdivision records.
“It’s extraordinary that you would find such an amazing piece of property that’s not developed in that location, given some of the extraordinary houses and architecture that you find out there, both the older stuff that’s been kept and well loved and some of the new houses. Those three lots are just sitting there,” said Atkin, adding that one of the demolished homes was occupied by former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner as a teenager after his widowed mom married Lieut. Governor Frank Mackenzie Ross, who owned the house.
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The prestigious Belmont heights neighbourhood north of 4th Avenue is bounded by Blanca Street, the Spanish Banks Creek ravine and NW Marine Drive.
Atkin said the area was subdivided around the same time as Shaughnessy with similar-sized lots (some 200-feet wide and 400-feet deep). However, the Shaughnessy lots needed at least $5,000 to be spent on the new home and had to be developed as soon as possible and so attracted a different buyer than the Belmont heights neighbourhood, that was then considered remote.
There are still homes in the neighbourhood that were built in the early 1910s — the Vancouver real-estate market collapsed in 1913 — including one on West 2nd Avenue that was built for mattress manufacturer Robert Hunter and is now occupied by former politician, physician and Olympic basketball player Pat McGeer.
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Atkin said there was another surge in development in the neighbourhood in the 1920s and 1930s, as people moved from the West End to get away from pollution due to sawmills in False Creek and the Burrard Inlet.
The three side-by-side lots (4883/4889/4899 Belmont) have been on the market since June 21, 2021 and are priced at $38.9 million, $29.9 million and $11.9 million for a total of $80.7 million.
They are being marketed by Sutton Group Realtor Danny Deng.
Deng’s listing states that if the three lots are purchased together as a 5.06-acre parcel, the buyer will have the potential to “apply for redevelopment”.
According to a City of Vancouver spokesperson, the lots are zoned RS-1, which permits one and two-family dwellings through a development permit process.
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“There are no policies that would allow a strata-titled condo/townhome project, or a market rental development,” the spokesperson said.
“If however, the purchaser wanted to develop social housing, the West Point Grey Community Vision supports rezoning for social housing developments owned and operated by non-profits.”
Deng did not respond to a request for interview. A photo illustration that showed 27 residences on the combined parcel was removed from the listing on Monday.
The three lots were bought in 2015 for $26.5 million by three numbered companies — all with directors Luijan Shao and Edison Washington. The following year they were listed for $68.5 million combined but never sold.
According to land title records, they were purchased as a parcel in 1978 for $980,000.
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A 2016 article by former The Province reporter Sam Cooper reported that Edison Washington is also known as Qiang Wang and that with his wife had purchased $152 million worth of Vancouver property since 2011 — including the Belmont Ave properties and parcels on Cambie Street that have since been redeveloped.
The property listing showed the owner of the undeveloped lots would have to pay around $280,000 a year in property tax.
More news, fewer ads, faster load time: Get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites for just $14/month or $140/year. Subscribe now through The Vancouver Sun or The Province.
Empty five-acre land parcel available on Vancouver's prestigious Belmont Avenue - Vancouver Sun
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Regina police arrest five in connection to armed robbery - CTV News Regina
Five people were arrested following an attempted armed robbery on Monday night in Regina, according to Regina police.
In a news release, the Regina Police Service (RPS) said it was called to a residence on the 1400 block of Bond Street around 10 p.m. Officers found a group of masked suspects had attempted to rob a man with a gun. The man ran into the building and locked the door while the suspects fled in a vehicle, police said.
Officers were able to locate the vehicle and arrested five occupants after performing a high risk traffic stop. In addition to a firearm, the search also found a substance police believed to be methamphetamine.
Two people were charged in relation to the incident. A 29-year-old man was charged with possession of a scheduled substance and armed robbery using a restricted firearm. A 30-year-old man was charged with possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
The two men made their first appearance in Provincial Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Regina police arrest five in connection to armed robbery - CTV News Regina
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OBJ's Fastest Growing Companies: The top five - Ottawa Business Journal
These companies achieved exponential growth, all while nurturing company culture, striving for sustainability, and overcoming supply chain bottlenecks. Congratulations to our winners! Check out OBJ’s Spring Newsmagazine for full coverage.
#5 Ottawa Valley Meats
Three-year revenue growth: 450%
Last year’s rank: New to the list
PROFILE: Farm-to-plate e-commerce, specializing in high-quality locally produced meats. Direct-to-consumer Amazon model of ordering farm meats.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“Hiring and maintaining high-level talent in growing divisions.”
What did you do to address it?
“We fostered talent from within and developed them into captains of their own divisions.
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“The biggest lesson I learned was knowing how and when to delegate and let people use their own abilities to accomplish jobs.”
#4 Ottawa Deck and Rail
Three-year revenue growth: 1,185%
Last year’s rank: New to the list
PROFILE: Ottawa Deck and Rail supplies and installs aluminum powder coating railing for decks, balconies and front steps.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“Supply chain management.”
What did you do to address it?
“We kept in close contact with suppliers and increased our margin of safety for minimum order requirements to create a larger buffer on time and price.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“The value of communication.”
#3 GoFor Delivers
Three-year revenue growth: 1,382%
Last year’s rank: 1
PROFILE: GoFor provides small to big and bulky last-mile delivery services in the retail, construction and supply chain industries across North America.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“The biggest challenge is being a last-mile industry leader while expanding our focus on sustainability. Customers want convenience, speed, and sustainability. GoFor is helping customers do this with carbon offsets, electric vehicles, and smart packaging to make the last mile carbon negative. Another challenge is doing this at a time of massive workplace change. GoFor has implemented a 100 per cent remote workforce in North America, working diligently on how to encourage connection to one another as our company grows.”
What did you do to address it?
“In 2022, we will be bringing new educational content and messaging to the front of our purpose. Breathing new life into the brand's mission and re-energizing existing and future customers about why sustainable delivery is the path to the future.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“What we hope it truly shows is that GoFor is listening and cares about the wants, needs and success of everyone we connect with, internally and externally. More than ever, GoFor has the capability and the resources to make sure we maximize the value of our employees, drivers, customers and most, importantly, our communities.”
#2 Noibu
Three-year revenue growth: 1,721%
Last year’s rank: 4
PROFILE: The e-commerce error monitoring platform powering the world’s best e-commerce experiences. Originally conceived as a vehicle for offering 3D virtual tours of brick-and-mortar stores, the startup changed focus in 2019 to become a bug-detection platform for e-commerce sites.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“We prioritize our culture as we fundamentally want all of our Noibots to love working at Noibu. Our biggest challenge has been keeping up our top-quartile growth, while ensuring we don't risk our employer net promoter score of 97.”
What did you do to address it?
“We have created an employee culture committee to drive our culture and events planning and ensure that we are focused exactly on what our people want. We also focus on maintaining our consistent feedback culture by encouraging everyone to always give feedback, regardless of role in the organization.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“Employees are everything, they are the backbone of Noibu. Supporting our employees and ensuring they are happy is our biggest priority because without them we would not be where we are.”
#1 Bushbalm Natural Skincare
Three-year revenue growth: 5,570%
Last year’s rank: 3
PROFILE: Bushbalm is the bikini line skincare company, specializing in all-natural and vegan products. What makes it different is where the products are meant to be used: the ever-so-bashful pubic region.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“We're not a software company where scale can be efficient. We make physical skincare products and the global supply chain has caused havoc on our operations. By the end of February 2021, we had experienced such rapid growth that we had already re-forecasted our revenue projections five times. Ensuring we had components on hand and product to sell was critical.”
What did you do to address it?
“We have an excellent operations team who seamlessly managed the pandemic and actually brought many of our costs down. From creative ways to managing components to air shipments, we made our manufacturing process work. Some costs rose significantly, while others improved with operational scale. Our ability to forecast and make bold predictions was key to getting out of one of the fastest-paced years yet.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“As a startup growing so rapidly, we've had to work past our usual workloads, taking on more than one job. Growing a team through this type of growth has been hard, but ultimately taught us the importance of our people and team. Although it may be hard to measure, we take great pride in the importance of culture.”
OBJ's Fastest Growing Companies: The top five - Ottawa Business Journal
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Gunman kills five in Israeli ultra-Orthodox town - Al Jazeera English
The attack comes after two ISIL-claimed attacks in a week in Israel.
A gunman has killed at least five people in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox suburb of the Israeli city Tel Aviv, before being fatally shot.
“We unfortunately have to note that five people have died,” Eli Bin, the head of the Magen David Adom emergency responders, said.
Another person suffered life-threatening injuries, according to a spokesperson for the ZAKA rescue service.
Police said in a statement that a man armed with an assault rifle had opened fire on passers-by in two different locations in Bnei Brak, in Tel Aviv’s east. He was shot by officers at the scene.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the country is gripped by a “wave of murderous Arab terrorism” and called an emergency meeting of top security officials.
The attack is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised security concerns in Israel. It came two days after a shooting in the city of Hadera that left two police officers dead, and a week after a stabbing in the southern city of of Beer al-Sabe (Be’er Sheva) in which four people were killed.
ISIL claimed responsibility for both attacks in the past week, in which the assailants were killed.
Authorities on Tuesday said Israeli security forces had raided the homes of at least 12 Palestinian citizens of Israel, and arrested two suspected of having ties to ISIL, as part of a security crackdown sparked by the recent attacks.
Hours before the raid, Bennett had said the recent assaults inside Israel marked a “new situation” that required stepped-up security measures.
The attack came in advance of the holy month of Ramadan, during which tensions between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters have boiled over in recent years, and Israeli security forces conducted several raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Last year, clashes expanded into an 11-day war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which has been running the besieged strip since 2007.
The German government warned against “a spiral of violence during holidays to come for Jews, Muslims and Christians” following Tuesday’s attack.
“All those who have responsibilities and influence must clearly condemn these acts of violence in order to avoid a new escalation of violence,” a German foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.
Gunman kills five in Israeli ultra-Orthodox town - Al Jazeera English
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Five artists ready to release original songs built in Cochrane - CochraneNow.com
Usually, it can take songwriters years to write, perform and produce a new song, but could it be done in just eight weeks? Rockit Vocal Studios in Cochrane launched a project to find out.
Write, Record, Release was created to support new Canadian artists in every aspect of being a professional musician. “It's been crazy!” says Emma Harding, Owner & Vocal Coach of Rockit Vocal Studios. “We've been very, very busy. We have five participants and they've been working really hard to literally write a song, record a song and we are formally releasing them on the 30th of March.”
“A lot of times, songwriters will go into the studio and they've known the song that they've been working on and they've had it in the bank for six months or a year. These guys wrote their song and a week later, we're in the studio having a rehearsal with the band and it's like, go, go, go!”
The program was given funding from Alberta Music and began in February 2022. Five artists were invited to Cochrane to create new music that will be professionally recorded and formally released within 8 weeks. The participating artists range from beginners to experienced musicians but these are the first formal song releases for all of them.
“We had some funding from Alberta Music and the Alberta government and they said, if you come up with a great idea, we'll help you out with it.”
“It has been amazing because I have these fantastic clients that have so much potential and we have this opportunity so let's make it happen.”
Write, Record, Release not only covered the writing and performing aspects of being a professional musician. Marketing, promotion, streaming music, artist branding, and entertainment law were a part of the crash course.
The program wraps up this Wednesday night (March 30, 2022) in Calgary. The five artists will each debut and perform their new single live for an audience at the Blind Beggar Pub on McCloud Trail.
Harding says the showcase will have something for any music fan.
“We've got every different genre, which you think coming out of the same project, it would all be kind of similar. We've got pop-rock, funk, soul, R&B kind of stuff and some country too. It's a complete mix.”
“I'm so impressed with their songs.”
The five artists making their professional debut include.
Arlyss Southin - Country - 'Crazy from A to Z'
Vanessa Wagner - 90s pop vibe - 'I'd Rather Lose You'
Brayden Lowe - R&B /Pop - 'Underneath It All'
Nicole Byrne - Modern Punk Pop - 'Don't'
Midnite Gossip - Electro Pop - 'Halos'
With the success of Write, Record, Release, Rockit Vocal Studios is looking for more artists to join for the next round.
Five artists ready to release original songs built in Cochrane - CochraneNow.com
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OBJ's Fastest Growing Companies: The top five - Ottawa Business Journal
These companies achieved exponential growth, all while nurturing company culture, striving for sustainability, and overcoming supply chain bottlenecks. Congratulations to our winners! Check out OBJ’s Spring Newsmagazine for full coverage.
#5 Ottawa Valley Meats
Three-year revenue growth: 450%
Last year’s rank: New to the list
PROFILE: Farm-to-plate e-commerce, specializing in high-quality locally produced meats. Direct-to-consumer Amazon model of ordering farm meats.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“Hiring and maintaining high-level talent in growing divisions.”
What did you do to address it?
“We fostered talent from within and developed them into captains of their own divisions.
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“The biggest lesson I learned was knowing how and when to delegate and let people use their own abilities to accomplish jobs.”
#4 Ottawa Deck and Rail
Three-year revenue growth: 1,185%
Last year’s rank: New to the list
PROFILE: Ottawa Deck and Rail supplies and installs aluminum powder coating railing for decks, balconies and front steps.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“Supply chain management.”
What did you do to address it?
“We kept in close contact with suppliers and increased our margin of safety for minimum order requirements to create a larger buffer on time and price.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“The value of communication.”
#3 GoFor Delivers
Three-year revenue growth: 1,382%
Last year’s rank: 1
PROFILE: GoFor provides small to big and bulky last-mile delivery services in the retail, construction and supply chain industries across North America.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“The biggest challenge is being a last-mile industry leader while expanding our focus on sustainability. Customers want convenience, speed, and sustainability. GoFor is helping customers do this with carbon offsets, electric vehicles, and smart packaging to make the last mile carbon negative. Another challenge is doing this at a time of massive workplace change. GoFor has implemented a 100 per cent remote workforce in North America, working diligently on how to encourage connection to one another as our company grows.”
What did you do to address it?
“In 2022, we will be bringing new educational content and messaging to the front of our purpose. Breathing new life into the brand's mission and re-energizing existing and future customers about why sustainable delivery is the path to the future.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“What we hope it truly shows is that GoFor is listening and cares about the wants, needs and success of everyone we connect with, internally and externally. More than ever, GoFor has the capability and the resources to make sure we maximize the value of our employees, drivers, customers and most, importantly, our communities.”
#2 Noibu
Three-year revenue growth: 1,721%
Last year’s rank: 4
PROFILE: The e-commerce error monitoring platform powering the world’s best e-commerce experiences. Originally conceived as a vehicle for offering 3D virtual tours of brick-and-mortar stores, the startup changed focus in 2019 to become a bug-detection platform for e-commerce sites.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“We prioritize our culture as we fundamentally want all of our Noibots to love working at Noibu. Our biggest challenge has been keeping up our top-quartile growth, while ensuring we don't risk our employer net promoter score of 97.”
What did you do to address it?
“We have created an employee culture committee to drive our culture and events planning and ensure that we are focused exactly on what our people want. We also focus on maintaining our consistent feedback culture by encouraging everyone to always give feedback, regardless of role in the organization.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“Employees are everything, they are the backbone of Noibu. Supporting our employees and ensuring they are happy is our biggest priority because without them we would not be where we are.”
#1 Bushbalm Natural Skincare
Three-year revenue growth: 5,570%
Last year’s rank: 3
PROFILE: Bushbalm is the bikini line skincare company, specializing in all-natural and vegan products. What makes it different is where the products are meant to be used: the ever-so-bashful pubic region.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in relation to the fast growth of your company?
“We're not a software company where scale can be efficient. We make physical skincare products and the global supply chain has caused havoc on our operations. By the end of February 2021, we had experienced such rapid growth that we had already re-forecasted our revenue projections five times. Ensuring we had components on hand and product to sell was critical.”
What did you do to address it?
“We have an excellent operations team who seamlessly managed the pandemic and actually brought many of our costs down. From creative ways to managing components to air shipments, we made our manufacturing process work. Some costs rose significantly, while others improved with operational scale. Our ability to forecast and make bold predictions was key to getting out of one of the fastest-paced years yet.”
What has been your biggest lesson learned?
“As a startup growing so rapidly, we've had to work past our usual workloads, taking on more than one job. Growing a team through this type of growth has been hard, but ultimately taught us the importance of our people and team. Although it may be hard to measure, we take great pride in the importance of culture.”
OBJ's Fastest Growing Companies: The top five - Ottawa Business Journal
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Israel: at least five dead in Tel Aviv shooting - The Guardian
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Israel: at least five dead in Tel Aviv shooting The GuardianIsrael: at least five dead in Tel Aviv shooting - The Guardian
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Five headlines for Tuesday morning - MooseJawToday.com - Moose Jaw Today
Here are 5 stories we are highlighting this morning.
1. New round of talks aims to stop the fighting in Ukraine
2. Travis Scott accused of violating Astroworld suits gag order
3. Alberta's Kenney interviewed by RCMP in criminal probe tied to party leadership race
4. Ottawa Senators announce that owner Melnyk has died at the age of 62
5. Raptors end Celtics' six-game win streak with thrilling 115-112 OT victory
For all the latest national and international news, as well as sports, keep visiting MooseJawToday.com and scroll down our page for the headlines.
Five headlines for Tuesday morning - MooseJawToday.com - Moose Jaw Today
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Monday, March 28, 2022
Five people arrested after attempted abduction in Burlington - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News
Five people who were allegedly involved in assaulting and attempting to abduct one person in Burlington earlier this month have been arrested.
On the evening of March 18, Halton police were called to a condo building in the area of Fairview and Brant streets.
Police allege three suspects demanded cash from a male victim and tried to abduct him at gunpoint outside his unit.
The suspects then took the victim to the lobby, where they allegedly assaulted him.
The victim, police said, was able to get away and ran to a security area, where officers were called. The suspects subsequently fled the area in a vehicle.
On Monday, police announced the arrest of five people who have been charged with several offences. Two firearms and ammunition were also seized as a result of the investigation.
Police said they believe the incident was targeted.
“I would like to commend our officers for bringing this investigation to a speedy conclusion. The bold and shocking nature of these crimes will not be tolerated in our community,” Halton police Deputy Chief Roger Wilkie said in a statement.
“Officers from multiple units across the service worked tirelessly and with seamless collaboration to identify and safely arrest these armed and dangerous suspects.”
Police continue to ask anyone with information to contact investigators at 905-825-4777 ext. 2316 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Five people arrested after attempted abduction in Burlington - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News
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‘Career top five’: Meet the Métis delegate whose beadwork was gifted to the Pope - Global News
Warning: This story deals with disturbing subject matter that may upset and trigger some readers. Discretion is advised.
Métis historian and educator Mitchell Case spent more than 200 hours threading thousands of vintage beads into a stunning jacket worn before Pope Francis in a private audience on Monday.
He gifted the jacket to Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron before the delegation of eight Métis residential school survivors, leaders, elders and educators sat down with the Holy Father in Vatican City.
Case also gifted Pope Francis with a set of handmade moccasins — a grand showcase of his work that altogether, makes it a “career top five” for the seasoned beader.
“It’s pretty cool,” he told Global News in St. Peter’s Square after the meeting.
“Frankly, for me, the biggest thing is that it’s our new president bringing that (jacket) forward and bringing that message forward from survivors.”
The jacket, whose designs come from communities across the country, carries great meaning. Its beads are more than a century old, and while their source is a trade secret, Case happily shared their significance.
“Those beads — they come from a time before residential schools. They come from a time before these crimes against humanity were committed against our people,” he explained.
“By doing that, it’s sort of our way of reaching past the pain to before that.”
The rich, floral pattern is inspired by Mother Earth — a reflection of where Métis people come from. Wearing flowers, he said, is like dressing up to look like their mother.
Case said it was a great honour to dress Caron, not only because Métis women have historically been the ones to dress their men, but because of the important words she spoke while wearing it.
“Today we invited Pope Francis and Catholics all around the world to join us, the Métis Nation, on our pathway of truth, justice and healing,” the president said in a press conference after their meeting with the pontiff.
“We are proud to be Métis. We are proud to still be here and to be celebrating who we are. We aren’t celebrating the meeting we just had with the Pope, but we’re celebrating being here together, being here together as one nation.”
Read more: Meet a Mi’kmaw elder seeking a formal apology from Pope Francis over residential school abuse
The moccasins made for Pope Francis are equally steeped in meaning; the flowers, beaded in the colours of the Vatican — white and yellow — are surrounded by the red, white and blue of Métis flags. The red elk hide represents the red shoes long worn by popes to accompany their garments.
“For anyone who knows Pope Francis, he doesn’t wear the red shoes — he opted out of that — but we decided to go ahead of it anyway as recognition that he doesn’t just walk alone,” said Case.
“He walks in the footsteps of those who came before him and he has a responsibility for their legacy, both the great and the terrible.”
Case, Region 4 councillor for the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario in Sault Ste. Marie, was brought to tears during a press conference after the delegates met the Holy Father on Monday morning. He praised the strength of the Métis residential school survivors who addressed the Pope: Elder Angie Crerar, Elder Emilien Janvier and Elder Antoinette Lafleur.
“In many ways, the opportunity for those three survivors to speak this morning — unfortunately, has been the first time any Métis survivors have been invited to say anything.”
Métis peoples have been excluded from the federal government’s $800-million settlement agreement for Sixties Scoop survivors.
Métis survivors have also been left out of some federal residential school settlements, and they were not included in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s seven-year mission to uncover what happened in the institutions of assimilation.
The commission found that thousands of children were beaten, starved, raped and left to die of disease at the 139 institutions spread throughout Canada, and an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 never returned home.
“To have essentially, officially to be told that what happened at one school was wrong, but if it happened at another school … well then it was okay? I don’t agree,” said Case.
“What happened was a crime against humanity and it happened to our survivors. It happened to our children, and that is, quite frankly, the unfinished business that is happening here.”
Case, a longtime defender of Métis rights and self-determination, said he wants to be angry about what happened but has been called upon to “be better” through Caron’s example.
He warned the bishops sitting next to him at the press conference, however, that if the funds raised in their communities for reconciliation don’t include Métis people, they would be hearing directly from him.
“Let’s get this right from the start,” he said.
“Our people continue to live in poverty, our people continue to live without. We sell Indian tacos at our community centers to try to pay for basic needs of people.”
The Inuit delegation also met Pope Francis on Monday and delivered a similar message on the need for an apology, sustained reconciliation, and the prosecution of known residential school abusers within the Catholic clergy. The next private audience will take place Thursday with the First Nations representatives.
The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-800-721-0066) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
‘Career top five’: Meet the Métis delegate whose beadwork was gifted to the Pope - Global News
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Brampton house fire: Five people killed identified by family | CTV News - CTV News Toronto
Two parents and three children killed in a Brampton, Ont. house fire have been identified by friends and family.
Peel Regional Police said emergency crews were called to a home on Conestoga Drive, near Sutter Avenue, in the Kennedy Road and Sandalwood Parkway East area, just before 2 a.m. for reports of a fire.
Crews were able to pull four people from the house, but all were later pronounced dead. A fifth victim was located deceased inside the home during a search.
Rescuers found a sixth adult victim outside the home who got out on their own and was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital for treatment of critical injuries.
Nazir Ali, 28, and Raven Ali-O'dea, 29, were killed in the blaze, family and friends told CTV News Toronto.
Their deceased children been identified as Layla Ali-O'dea, Jayden Ali-O'dea, and Alia Ali-O'dea. They were aged seven, eight and 10.
"This is unbelievable," Ali-O'dea's father, Louie Felipa, told reporters at the scene Monday. "This pain I'm going to carry for the rest of my life. I don't know what I’m going to do."
The children's father, Nazir Ali, and mother, Raven Ali-O'Dea, were killed in the fire along with their children Alia, Jayden, and Layla. (Supplied)
He suggested the family did not have working smoke alarms in the home.
"My aim today is to make sure people know how important it is to have a smoke alarm," he said. "This pain, I don’t want anyone to go through it."
The fire in the home raged for several hours, and the Fire Marshal was called in to investigate what caused the blaze.
The City of Brampton said it would lower flags at all municipal facilities to half-mast today to mourn the loss.
Premier Doug Ford expressed sadness at the "tragic deaths."
"I just can't imagine the hurt being felt by the family, the friends and the community. You'll all be in our prayers," he said during an unrelated announcement in Brampton on Monday
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was with Ford, said his thoughts were with the family and friends of those who died.
"We're all thinking of those affected by this horrible, heartbreaking tragic fire," he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
Brampton house fire: Five people killed identified by family | CTV News - CTV News Toronto
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North Macedonia orders expulsion of five Russian diplomats - Al Jazeera English
The Balkan country gives five Russian diplomats five days to leave its territory, saying they violated diplomatic norms.
North Macedonia has ordered the expulsion of five Russian diplomats from the country, according to its foreign ministry, following a string of similar moves made by the United States and several European Union member states.
The Balkan country’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the individuals had five days to leave its territory, adding that they violated diplomatic norms.
“The listed [diplomats] were executing activities which are contrary to the Vienna Convention for diplomatic relations,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday, referring to the international treaty that includes agreements related to diplomatic protocols.
“There will be an adequate response” from Russia to North Macedonia’s decision, Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing a source in the Russian embassy in Skopje.
The incident marks the latest expulsion of Russian diplomats from Western countries following a string of similar moves made in the US, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and other Baltic states earlier this month.
North Macedonia has expelled Russian diplomats on three earlier occasions in recent years in the wake of the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury, which Britain blamed on Moscow.
Following the invasion of Ukraine last month, North Macedonia has followed the EU’s lead in sanctioning Moscow, with officials in Skopje labelling Russia a “hostile state”.
In March 2020, North Macedonia became the latest member of the NATO alliance, after the country added the geographical qualifier “North” to its official name to distinguish it from the Greek province of Macedonia.
Russia’s move against Slovakia
Also on Monday, Russia expelled three Slovakian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move after Bratislava expelled three Russian diplomats for espionage earlier this month.
The Russian foreign ministry said it had summoned Slovakia’s ambassador to Moscow and told him three diplomats were now persona non grata “as a retaliatory measure”.
Moscow also complained of “obstacles” for Russian overseas agencies in Slovakia and “threats to their safe functioning”.
Slovak authorities said on March 15 that they had decided to expel three Russian diplomats following information from intelligence services.
Bratislava also said that it had charged two citizens with spying for Russia, after they allegedly passed on highly sensitive intelligence to Moscow concerning NATO and Ukraine.
North Macedonia orders expulsion of five Russian diplomats - Al Jazeera English
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Five 2022 NHL draft prospects of interest and the art of pick trading - Sportsnet.ca
The 2022 trade deadline has come and gone, but the effect of the decisions each organization made will be felt over the coming weeks (for playoff teams) and coming years (for non-playoff teams).
Some upgraded their NHL rosters by adding players. Others traded out of 2021-22, recognizing the need to stockpile draft picks to assist in rebuilding or retooling their organization.
This year marked my 20th NHL Trade Deadline Day, and the majority of my experience came from being directly involved in the process during my time with Nashville and Florida. But when I was observing and analyzing this year’s deadline with Sam Cosentino and Craig MacTavish at Sportsnet we started to see a trend develop throughout the league.
In all my years I can’t remember so many teams trading (and acquiring) draft picks three years out. Sure, at times, teams have traded picks two years out. Especially if they didn’t have a first-round pick from the next draft to offer. But trading three drafts out happened a few times this season.
A trade that really caught my eye this year was the one in which Philadelphia sent Claude Giroux to Florida.
One of the worst kept secrets was that Giroux wanted to land in Florida. He had informed the Flyers that he would waive his no-movement clause to go to the Panthers. It was his preferred destination.
But let’s take a closer look at the return:
To Florida: Claude Giroux, Connor Bunnaman, German Rubstov, 2024 fourth-rounder
To Philadelphia: Owen Tippett, first-round pick in 2024 OR 2025, 2023 third-round pick
Consider this :
• Players for the 2023 draft are (for example) first-years currently playing in the CHL
• Players for the 2024 draft are (for example) currently playing Ontario U16 hockey
• Players for the 2025 draft are (for example) currently playing Major Bantam hockey in Ontario. In other words, kids who are enjoying their Grade 9 year of high school!
The scenario brought back memories of the first time I viewed Brad Lambert, a 2022 NHL draft eligible player, at the Hlinka/Gretzky tournament in the summer of 2019. He was 15 years old at the time and three years away from his NHL draft year. In the five games he represented Finland at that tournament he scored three goals. He was one of the most electric players at the event. He was on the radar, and his progress would now be scrutinized every step of the way.
Fast forward to today and Lambert is still considered to be a top tier talent for the NHL draft, but he has suffered through peaks and valleys the past couple years and struggled with his consistency.
So why are teams seemingly more open to acquiring picks so far out?
Perhaps we are seeing another trickle-down effect of the pandemic when analyzing draft pick strategies. The reality is organizations have had a challenging time gathering comfortable information on players around the globe during these unusual circumstances.
The reset has also provided "capologists" and "data collectors" an opportunity to come up with new strategies. A flat cap this season and only a marginal increase next season has potentially led organizations to take a longer view and come up with the most appropriate time to have players graduating into their contractual depth charts. Perhaps they are flush with depth and the way they forecast players entering and exiting their organization means it makes more sense to have less picks now and more picks moving forward. Remember, you can only have 50 contracts at a given time.
The fact teams are trading picks so far out also leads me to conclude there is a possibility that players will be scouted more actively from a much younger age. How can they not? The more historical data teams can collect on players -- the more “eyes” they get on prospects -- the better.
If I’m running an NHL scouting department I would consider reaching out to the head scouts of major junior teams (for example) to see if they are interested in assisting our team with building profiles on U15 and U16 players.
There’s also a strategy that comes with owning so many picks. Maybe you don’t use them all to select a player, and instead flip a few to move up in the order and select a player you really want. That could come into play even for the 2022 draft – the difficult scouting circumstances could leave some teams believing they can find value.
Here are some names NHL staffs will be strategizing to put in the right order on their 2022 draft lists in the coming weeks :
Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Scout’s Analysis: Coming off a positive viewing at the Top Prospects Game. Good size. Competes. Made second (at times third) saves. Good feet. Quick pads down low.
With picks trading places at the deadline and Ottawa acquiring a fifth-rounder from Winnipeg in the Zach Sanford trade – giving them three fifth-rounders in 2022 -- it’s an example of how to invest the pick if the Sens are interested in this player. Extra picks always provide more flexibility to move up or back in the draft. If a team acquires draft capital and they like the player (Dyck) they can step up to him when they are comfortable.
Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Scout’s Analysis: Big body (6-foot-4) and lean (178 pounds). He’s mobile and agile. Made several small area (pocket) plays at the Top Prospects Game. Loads of room to add more strength and weight. Sees the ice. Smart.
The Montreal Canadiens have two firsts, three seconds and three thirds in 2022. They have their own pick and also Calgary’s first round selection. They also own their own pick in the second round, which will be an early one. In Sam Cosentino’s most recent draft rankings, Pickering came in 25th overall. If the Habs like Pickering, this is a prime example of how having draft capital can allow you to be creative and get to a spot where you can pick the player.
Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Scout’s Analysis: Another “D” with size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds). He also has room to add more strength and weight. A bit of an unusual stride but he gets to his place on time. Agility is not an issue. Competes. Has long reach. Sneaky skill. He sees the ice and has good touch. Distributor more than a shooter.
Hello Seattle! The Kraken have loads of draft capital and this player – ranked 21st overall by Sam Cosentino -- is right in their back yard. If they value him they have the picks to control where they’d feel comfortable taking him. The Kraken have four second-round picks as leverage. When you have this amount of picks it affords you the luxury of trading up to get a player you like, picking him in your slot, or you can trade back for more picks if it just doesn’t work out right. It’s the ultimate amount of control you can have on the floor.
Jack Devine, RW, University of Denver (NCAA)
Scout’s Analysis: Value pick. He plays a responsible game. Historically he has never provided high end offensive production. As a freshman at Denver he provided secondary scoring. The kind of player who won’t let you down. He competes on the defensive side (willing to block shots) and wants the puck in the offensive zone (battles). Added leg strength should give him more out of the gate. Took a regular shift at even strength and was rewarded with some power play time down the stretch this season.
If you are a team with extra picks in the third round, and you value this player, you draft him where you feel most comfortable. But if you really value him and feel a team in front of you is on him as well, pick up the phone and offer an extra pick in the fifth- or sixth-round to swap third-rounders and nab him.
Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)
Scout’s Analysis: Plays quick and fast. A threat off the rush. Used at even strength and power play in Liiga. His element is offence, but he’s streaky. The majority of his production came in the first quarter of the year, followed by a 14-game drought, then a most recent segment of three goals and two assists in his past 10 games. Risk/reward player?
This is a player that teams with multiple picks can strategize around. Ranked sixth overall by Cosentino, Kemell might fall in the draft and teams will be looking to trade to take a shot on him. Conversely, he is exactly the kind of player that a team might not be in love with and they could have intel that the team behind them does covet him. So while he’s a candidate as someone a team could trade up for, he could cause other to balk at him and trade back because of. A trade back in the first round usually nets you an extra pick in the second round.
Five 2022 NHL draft prospects of interest and the art of pick trading - Sportsnet.ca
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Brampton house fire leaves five people dead | CTV News - CTV News Toronto
Two parents and their three young children are dead, and another person is in hospital after a fire tore through a home in Brampton, Ont. early on Monday morning.
Peel Regional Police said emergency crews were called to a home on Conestoga Drive, near Sutter Avenue, in the Kennedy Road and Sandalwood Parkway East area, at 1:57 a.m. for reports of a fire.
Brampton Fire Chief Bill Boyes said the fire eventually reached three alarms and crews faced thick smoke and heavy flames on arrival.
Firefighters attempted “an aggressive interior attack,” but were initially forced back, but eventually made their way into the home when it was safe.
Crews were able to pull four people from the house but all were later pronounced dead. A fifth victim was located deceased inside the home during a search.
Boyes said they believe the two deceased adults were the parents of the three children, believed to be six, eight and 11 years old, who also died
“They’re upset, they wanted to do everything they could, they risked their lives to go into this fire and get these people out, unfortunately it was a terrible outcome,” Boyes said of the firefighters who performed rescues at the scene.
"What happened here today, to lose three children and two adults ... it's absolutely tragic."
Rescuers found a sixth adult victim outside the home who got out on their own and was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital for treatment of critical injuries.
Two other people who lived in a basement apartment in the home made their way out uninjured.
Firefighters continued to perform interior searches hours after they first arrived at the scene.
The fire in the home raged for several hours and the Fire Marshal was called in to investigate what caused the blaze.
Police closed Conestoga Drive between Sandalwood Parkway East and Cranmore Court to allow room for fire crews to deal with the blaze.
Boyes said they will look into the state of the home’s fire and smoke detectors as part of the investigation.
The City of Brampton said it would lower flags at all municipal facilities to half mast today to mourn the loss.
Premier Doug Ford expressed sadness at the "tragic deaths."
"I just can't imagine the hurt being felt by the family, the friends and the community. You'll all be in our prayers," he said during an unrelated announcement in Brampton on Monday
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was with Ford, said his thoughts were with family and friends of those who died.
"We're all thinking of those affected by this horrible, heartbreaking tragic fire," he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
Brampton house fire leaves five people dead | CTV News - CTV News Toronto
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