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NewsCBCCOVID-19 exposure warning in Yukon led to delays in testing
Yukon health officials say they want to ensure COVID-19 testing can be done efficiently in the territory, after a public health warning last week prompted a temporary backlog."It led to some delays in getting testing, for some of those people," said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brendan Hanley at a media briefing on Wednesday."We're looking at ways to make sure the [Respiratory Assessment Centre], or the testing site in Whitehorse, still has the capacity if this level of testing demand remains."On Friday, health officials said some Yukoners may have been exposed to COVID-19 after two people tested positive for the disease shortly after returning home from a trip to the Yukon. Territorial officials were notified by officials from another jurisdiction.Dawson City residents, and people who visited the community between July 20 and 22, were asked to monitor themselves for symptoms. In Whitehorse, people who visited Integra Tire on the morning of July 20 or Walmart the morning of July 23 were also advised of possible exposure.Hanley said the advisory led to a flurry of testing over the weekend and early this week. All tests associated with the possible exposure have come back negative, he said on Wednesday.He also reiterated that the risk to Yukoners is believed to be low. Hanley said officials could have been more clear about when people should get tested. He said people who may have been in the places named on Friday were advised only to monitor themselves for symptoms, and to get assessed if they experience symptoms.He also explained why two specific businesses were named in Whitehorse as possible points of exposure, while no other specific places were named in Whitehorse, Dawson or elsewhere. He said Yukon officials were reliant on information from another jurisdiction, and so did not have all the details.He also said that those details wouldn't necessarily be shared, and that businesses and locations are named only when there's a chance of wider public exposure to the virus, and officials can't track everybody who may have been there."We're very careful about naming particular businesses," Hanley said."Posting a notification is not a reflection on the business at all … it is just that there was some potential for public contact at each of those locations."
- NewsCBC
'People will die,' Nenshi warns, as mayors pan Alberta's plan to merge ambulance dispatch
Mayors of four Alberta municipalities say they were not consulted about Alberta Health Service's decision to bring their ambulance dispatch centres under provincial control, and are calling on the health minister to overrule the move. "People will die, no money will be saved, and fundamentally Alberta Health Services is trying to go ahead with this yet again," Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Wednesday."This is a terrible idea. It was done without consultation."Nenshi spoke during a joint news conference with Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer, Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman and Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Don Scott. Alberta Health Services announced Tuesday it is consolidating ambulance dispatch centres across the province, bringing municipally controlled sites in Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and the Municipality of Wood Buffalo into three existing AHS centres that were established in 2009.Fire, police and other first responders will continue to be dispatched by municipalities. > We were blindsided. \- Lethbridge Mayor Chris SpearmanThe move will allow the province to send the nearest available ambulance to a patient, but some first responder groups, like the union representing Calgary firefighters, have expressed concerns it could cause delays in co-ordinated responses. "There is absolutely no doubt the AHS model will cause delays," said Scott.Nenshi said at least four previous provincial health ministers have considered making the change but all concluded that it didn't make sense. The mayors said that, in their cities, fire services arrive first in up to half of all 911 calls. They said the deintegration of services would fracture that response model and force some callers to repeat their stories. The province said the transition will take six months and is expected to annually save more than $6 million — a number the municipalities questioned, as they argued their costs will actually increase. "Callers will know no difference in what happens today versus what will happen after the transition," said AHS chief paramedic Darren Sandbeck on Wednesday. He said there is no evidence response times will slow, and said there will be no additional step in the process, just that callers will be sent through to a provincial EMS dispatcher instead of a municipal one. Sandbeck also said there should be no issue with provincial dispatchers having a lack of knowledge of local landmarks because they have what he described as a robust and searchable mapping system at their fingertips. The move was one recommendation made under a comprehensive review of AHS done by contractor Ernst and Young. "The Ernst and Young report, as far as I know, did not speak to a single person actually working in the system," Nenshi said. The mayors also said they took issue with a lack of consultation with AHS.Veer said the parties were scheduled to meet in July but the meeting was cancelled. She said officials received notice just minutes before the decision was made public."We were blindsided," said Spearman.Sandbeck said there had been ongoing consultation about the idea over the past decade. The four mayors have sent a letter to the health minister and the premier outlining their concerns. AHS will hire 25 new emergency communications officers to make up for the increased call volume and said current municipal employees will be encouraged to apply for those positions.
NewsCBCWhat is ammonium nitrate, and how did it cause such a devastating explosion in Beirut?
By now, most people are familiar with the terrifying scene in the city of Beirut on Tuesday: an immense fire, red smoke billowing hundreds of metres into the air, followed by a jarring explosion with a rapidly expanding mushroom-like cloud that in the end killed at least 135 people and injured more than 5,000.Experts believe the cause of the explosion is linked to 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored at a warehouse at the port in Lebanon's capital since 2014.But what is ammonium nitrate — and how can it cause such a devastating explosion?What is ammonium nitrate?Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4 NO3, and it's made by combining ammonium with nitric acid. It is most commonly used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes — since it is highly soluble — but it is also used as an industrial explosive.The reason it's used as an explosive, said Andrea Sella, a professor of chemistry at University College London, is that it can be very efficient. "On the one side, the ammonium has hydrogen in it. The other side has oxygen in it. And there's nitrogen. And so when the two halves are forced in some way to come together, you get huge amounts of gas and huge amounts of heat out," he said.Ammonium nitrate has been used in terrorist attacks, such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.WATCH | Massive explosion at port rocks Beirut:How dangerous is it?In small amounts, ammonium nitrate isn't dangerous, Sella said."It's an interesting molecule because you have these white crystals, which if you keep them in a jar will sit for years on your laboratory shelf. But on the other hand, given the right kind of kick, [it can] explode."That kick is fuel, particularly if ammonium nitrate is left over time and it can harden, which makes the explosive force much more devastating.Sella said the compound consists of ammonium and nitric acid, but "if you close the triangle, the fire triangle, and you provide ignition, then you're heading into very deep trouble." A fire triangle consists of ammonium, nitrate and the ignition.In the case of Beirut, the fire that was evident ahead of the explosion acted as the fuel. But one of the most dangerous aspects to ammonium nitrate is human complacency, said Miriam Diamond, a professor in the earth sciences department at the University of Toronto."There's a mythology that engineers and scientists have it all figured out," she said. "We don't actually, strangely enough. I have a degree in mining engineering, and I remember one of my profs who had a tremendous amount of experience said, 'One of the biggest threats is human failure.'"WATCH | Canadian visiting Lebanon describes impact of blast:And then there's the issue of storage. Oftentimes, as seems to be the case in Beirut, once ammonium nitrate is stored and out of sight, it's out of mind, Diamond said."It's both human error and sloppiness," she said. Has this kind of accident happened before?Sella said that one of the most notable accidents was in Oppau, Germany, in 1921, when ammonium nitrate being stored in a silo had hardened over winter. Finding it difficult to break apart to prepare for packaging, workers tried to use dynamite. The subsequent explosion levelled the town and killed 700 people.One of the most recent incidents was in 2015 in the Port of Tianjin, China."There are all kinds of regulations which govern how you store it, how long for, under what conditions and so on," Sella said. "But time and again, things slip, one thing leads to another. Eventually you're unlucky."Are the gases it produces dangerous?When ammonium nitrate is changed from a solid to a gas, one of the byproducts is nitrogen dioxide.But what about the Beirut case, where a massive amount of nitrogen dioxide was released into the atmosphere in one sudden explosion?"Because you have the fire in the first place, then the very hot explosion, the gas will actually be chimneyed effectively upwards," Sella said.That would make it unlikely that serious levels would remain at ground level, he said.Why did it produce a mushroom cloud?"Any big explosion gives us a mushroom cloud," said Cheryl Rofer, a chemist who retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Washington, D.C."I think what threw a lot of people off and might have made them think it was nuclear was that spherical white cloud that formed and then dissipated rather quickly."And what most people associate with that type of cloud tends to be nuclear explosions.When the blast in Beirut occurred, it sent a shockwave that travelled faster than the speed of sound. The air was then compressed in front of the shockwave, and the air behind it expanded. It's something often referred to as a "Wilson cloud," Sella said, and typically happens when the air is humid.
NewsThe Canadian PressLeadership apologizes after report finds systemic racism at human rights museum
WINNIPEG — Leadership at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is apologizing after an independent report said systemic racism and other mistreatment is pervasive at the Winnipeg institution."I apologize that it took a public crisis for the organization to seriously reflect on the issues of systemic racism, homophobia and other forms of oppression," said Pauline Rafferty, the museum's board chair and interim CEO.The third-party report reviewed allegations of racism, homophobia and censorship by current and former employees. The museum closed Wednesday and Thursday to give staff an opportunity to review the report.After the museum posted images of a Justice for Black Lives rally in June, stories from employees were posted online by a group called CMHR Stop Lying. Current and former employees responded that it was hypocritical of the museum to bring up the Black Lives rally because of racism they faced at work.Employees also wrote about having to censor displays about LGBTQ history at the request of some school groups who visited the museum.The stories led to the resignation of former CEO John Young, the formation of a diversity and inclusion committee and the external review.Winnipeg lawyer Laurelle Harris conducted the review and her report found racism is systemic at the museum in its employment practices, policies and in the actions of employees. The report said the racism had a negative physical, emotional and financial impact on employees who are Black, Indigenous and other people of colour. Harris also found instances of sexism and homophobia.The report said staff who worked directly with the public were extremely diverse. But the vast majority of management was white and heterosexual and that created a "cultural schism," with upper level managers less attuned to the impact of race, sex and gender identity.Many staff members reported that "there was a tendency on the part of management to treat the museum as a profit-oriented corporation having its primary focus on revenue generation to the exclusion of organizational health and the fulfilment of its mandate," the report said.It said some employees indicated Black, Indigenous and other people of colour were passed over repeatedly for promotions. There were examples of microaggressions and differential enforcement of the museum's dress code.There were issues of employees of colour facing racism from the public."One program interpreter described being laughed at by visitors while singing a traditional song on the hand drum," the report said. "Another visitor asked for the program interpreter's name so that she could 'pray' for her."No action was taken when racism from visitors was reported. When issues were raised, some employees said their employment was threatened.The report includes 44 recommendations. The museum's board is acting on some of them immediately, including a requirement for board trustees to take part in anti-racist education and screening policies for possible bias, said Rafferty. It has dedicated $250,000 for training that will start immediately.The museum will also create a senior role focused on diversity and inclusion. And the museum's leadership will focus on hiring practices and workplace culture, Rafferty said.CMHR Stop Lying co-founder Julie White, who is Metis and Anishinaabe, said in an online message that the museum has not contacted the group for information, discussion or to offer an apology."Any apology that has been released from former or current executives and board members have not been directed to us," she said.In a video on Instagram, she added that employees will not get validation from the report and do not need it.Rafferty said it is important to get feedback from employees as the museum takes action. There must also be a change to the makeup of those in power."In all areas, we have to have diverse voices being raised," she said. "That includes at the management table."The museum expects to announce a new CEO in the coming weeks.Rafferty said a human rights museum must be held to the highest standard."There is an expectation that the Canadian Museum for Human Rights will be a leader and we have to build back public trust to make us a leader again."This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2020Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
HealthCBCChatham-Kent woman becomes area's second COVID-19 death
A Chatham-Kent woman in her 50s is the region's second COVID-19 death, a spokesperson for the health unit confirmed Wednesday. The woman died at Windsor Regional Hospital. "CK Public Health provides our condolences to the family and friends of this individual," said a spokesperson for the health unit.The region's first death was at the beginning of April and was a woman in her 80s who was considered a travel-related case. As of Wednesday, Chatham Kent Public Health reported 299 cases for the region, with 220 recovered. Three people are in hospital and one workplace is in outbreak. The region entered Stage 3 of reopening July 17. Hospital cancels non-essential visitations Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, which runs the area's hospitals, has cancelled visiting hours for all non-essential visitors at its Chatham and Wallaceburg sites after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, a press release from the hospital stated Wednesday. The hospital release also said the decision was made to "ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians and the wider community" especially "with the increase in positive cases locally."Limited visitation is allowed for essential visitors, who are required to check in to the nurses' station for a screening. The hospital said visitors must wear a mask at all times in the hospital and will be required to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE). "There are no exceptions to this and individuals who do not follow PPE requirements will be asked to leave the facility," the statement said. Visitors allowed in the facility include those visiting a patient who: * Is actively dying. * Requires support (inpatient or outpatient). * Is 18 years old or younger. * Is an emergency department patient who is "at imminent risk of dying" or has cognitive or mobility issues. * Is a woman in labour or post-partum.The hospital said exceptions are only considered "in rare and truly exceptional circumstances" and that family members looking for an exception to the visitation policy should contact the health alliance's patient relations department. The hospital said it also requests that only essential items be delivered to patients, such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, toothbrushes and hygiene items. Non-essential items will not be accepted.
NewsCBCP.E.I. Opposition, education groups react to province's back-to-school plan
Different groups and individuals are reacting to the province's back-to-school plan released Wednesday.The plan highlighted rules for a Sept. 8 return around physical distancing, how students and staff will form groups that will stay together and isolated from other groups, and how cleaning will be stepped up."My initial reaction was disappointment," said Green MLA Karla Bernard, Opposition critic for education.Bernard said she still has questions about the plan."They talk about visitor zones in schools," Bernard said, of plans to have areas sectioned off so visitors, like parents can drop off lunch.In order to have that in place, she said schools will have to staff someone to be ready at the door for when a visitor comes. She said there was also mention of having extra staff to deal with students coming off buses."How are teachers going to get their breaks?" she said. "And how are there going to be extra staff hired to accommodate this because our schools were already at capacity long before COVID-19 hit," she said.She said the province needs to be thinking about overburdening the system.Bus driversBernard said she is also concerned about bus drivers. There is an expectation that bus drivers will keep a record of who is on the bus every day and monitor symptoms."School bus drivers have a stressful enough job getting children to and from school safely," she said."What are we going to do to support bus drivers? One bus driver on a bus is not going to be enough."School bus drivers on the Island are represented through the Canadian Union of Public Employees."We were optimistic that the operational plan would address the health and safety concerns that we have regarding the inability for staff and students to social distance on school buses and in most school environments," an email from CUPE representatives said, adding it doesn't feel their concerns are addressed in the plan.The union said it will continue to work with government and hopes to meet with the Chief Public Health Office next week.Bernard said she feels as though the province is shifting the burden from government onto schools and the plan doesn't seem realistic."It's just not fair."> We are still concerned about the availability of substitute teachers. — Aldene Smallman, P.E.I. Teachers' FederationHowever, Bernard said she was happy to see the province plans to go ahead with physical education and music classes.Aldene Smallman, president of P.E.I. Teachers' Federation, said the organization thinks the best place for students' mental health is back in a physical classroom."We are going to provide ongoing feedback throughout the plan's implementation," she said"We all agree that safety is first and foremost and it is paramount that we feel we are safe in returning."Substitute teachers?Smallman said this plan is a start, but she wants more clarification. She said she is worried about the transmission of COVID-19 in school situations where physical distancing may be limited. Students will be required to bring a non-medical mask to school, but wearing that mask is only strongly recommended, not required.> There's a lot of answers in that document, so I hope that everyone will take some time to review it. — Heather Mullens, P.E.I. Home and School FederationShe said the federation has been consulted in the process, but she worried about staffing issues and was hoping capped class sizes would be part of the plan."We are still concerned about the availability of substitute teachers, this was a concern even prior to the pandemic," she said."Teachers have consistently gone to work not feeling well."Smallman said she hopes to continue discussions with the province around those concerns. She said she has heard from teachers who are anxious about returning to the classroom.Heather Mullens, vice president of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, said there is a 350-page document to go along with the plans announced by the province Wednesday."It seems like they covered a lot of the details," Mullens said. She said she had questions about how lockers will be used, how recess will be handled and how parents can pick up their children if they want to."There's a lot of answers in that document, so I hope that everyone will take some time to review it," she said.Mullens said she is happy with the details of the plan so far."I do think it's a plan that is keeping the safety of the students foremost as well as the safety of the staff," she said."I was quite pleased and I do feel fairly confident in sending my children back to school."There are a lot more rules students will have to follow, but Mullens said students may adapt quicker than adults to changes put in place because of COVID-19."I mean if children have been out to the stores or to a restaurant or even to a park ... all of these same guidelines exist in our society today," she said."They adapt very quickly, they grab their mask, their face shields, they tell me when I am not six feet away from another adult."More from CBC P.E.I.
- HealthCBC
B.C. announces 47 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths
There have been 47 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C. in the past 24 hours, according to a statement from B.C.'s Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. The new cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 3,834. There are 351 active cases of COVID-19, with nine people in hospital, six of whom are in intensive care.There have been no new deaths in the past 24 hours, leaving the provincial death toll at 195. At the moment, three long-term care or assisted living facilities have active outbreaks. These include the Holy Family Hospital long-term care facility in Vancouver, and the Dania Home long-term care facility in Burnaby and the Maple Ridge Seniors Village long-term care facility.There have been no new community outbreaks, but there have been a number of public exposures — including flights in and out of the province.Dix and Henry's statement reiterated the need to take precautions in "everything we do.""Younger people, in particular, may not fully understand why many of the activities they normally enjoy are no longer available, look different and require us to interact with each other in new ways," it read.
- NewsCBC
Second-degree murder charge laid in northwest Edmonton stabbing
Edmonton police laid a second-degree murder charge Wednesday in connection to the recent death of a 33-year-old woman.On Monday, July 13, police responded to a weapons complaint around 2:15 a.m. at a residence in Edmonton's northwest Kensington neighbourhood. When they arrived, patrol members found Audrey Corcoran, 33, lying on the ground with what appeared to be a stab wound, police said.Paramedics treated and transported Corcoran, who was the initial complainant, to a hospital with serious injuries, where she stayed for several days. Police said her condition didn't stabilize and she died on Sunday, July 19.An autopsy conducted on July 23 confirmed Corcoran died from a stab wound and that the manner of death was a homicide.Police had initially charged the accused, a 38-year-old woman, with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon. After the autopsy's results, the charges against her were upgraded to second-degree murder.The accused also faces assault with a weapon charges for an altercation with a bystander who tried to intervene in the attack on Corcoran, police said.Corcoran and the accused were known to each other, police added.
- BusinessCBC
2 new public COVID-19 exposures in Lower Mainland
Fraser Health has put out a public notice warning of a potential COVID-19 exposure at the Hookah Lounge in Surrey, B.C.The business is located at 10609 King George Hwy. Anyone who visited the site between midnight and 4 a.m. on August 1, and between midnight and 5 a.m. on August 2 could have been exposed to COVID-19. B.C.'s public health authorities only put out public notices when they can't contact everyone who was potentially exposed during the dates and times of exposure.Businesses can also issue their own exposure notices — even though the health authority might have already completed all contact tracing and therefore not find it necessary.In that light, 7-Eleven Canada issued a statement saying one of its staff members at its location at 904 Davie Street has a confirmed case of COVID-19.It says any customers who may have visited the store on July 28 should monitor their symptoms. The company says the store has been shut down to thoroughly clean and sanitize the location, with plans to reopen this week.The only public exposures currently listed by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority include the No5 Orange strip club, for the nights of July 1, 3, 4 and 7, and the Sandman Suites Vancouver on Davie Street between July 7 to 16.
- NewsCBC
Regina police charge woman with manslaughter in death of 18-month-old boy
Regina police have charged Chelsea Rae Whitby, 24, with manslaughter in the death of an 18-month-old boy on June 10.On that day, officers were sent to the 3200 block of Arens Road E., where emergency responders were dealing with an injured toddler.The boy was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police deemed his death a homicide a month later.The Regina Police Service said Whitby was arrested on Tuesday about 50 km south/southeast of Winnipeg.She's set to make her first court appearance in Regina on Thursday morning.
NewsCBCPartial whale carcass washes ashore in western P.E.I.
A highly decomposed humpback whale carcass without a head or tail section washed up late Tuesday near Seacow Pond in western P.E.I.Local resident Craig Williams told CBC News that he noticed the whale near his home in the North Cape area. He said the wind and tide moved it offshore again on Wednesday, but it soon drifted back, this time covered with seaweed. A provincial official said the Department of Fisheries and Communities is aware of the whale remains and may take action if the carcass remains on shore. Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff who went to the scene said the level of decay suggests the mammal had been dead for some time. "A necropsy will not likely take place due to the carcass' advanced state of decomposition," a DFO official said in an email to CBC News. She added that while humpback whales are not an endangered species here, DFO's Marine Mammal Response Program reviews all reports of dead whales in Canadian waters. People who notice dead or distressed marine mammals are asked to call 1-866-567-6277 to report them.More from CBC P.E.I.
HealthCBC4 Canadians with terminal cancer win the right to try magic mushrooms
On Tuesday, Laurie Brooks received the news she's waited more than 100 days to hear — she now has the legal right to use magic mushrooms."I was pretty emotional. I was surprised," the 53-year-old Abbotsford, B.C. mother of four told CBC. "Just to have that recognition … that what I was fighting for was worthwhile, it meant a lot to me."Brooks has had two bouts with colon cancer and has struggled with psychological distress as she reckons with the possibility of imminent death.She's one of four Canadians with terminal cancer who received approval this week from the federal government for an exemption from drug laws that have made psilocybin — the active ingredient in magic mushrooms — illegal since 1974. Psilocybin has shown promise in relieving end-of-life distress for palliative cancer patients, but it's still undergoing clinical trials that are necessary before it can be made widely available to the public.The four patients applied for their exemptions with help from the advocacy group TheraPsil, which argues that terminally ill patients deserve compassionate access to something that might help with their anguish when other treatments have failed.The group's founder, Victoria psychotherapist Bruce Tobin, applauded the federal government for allowing the patients access to psilocybin."Although it has taken a long time we are impressed with their willingness to listen to patients who have not been heard and to shift focus and policy to accommodate their interests and protect their needs," Tobin said in a press release.'Our lives were turned upside down'Brooks said she could never have imagined becoming an advocate for magic mushrooms — until very recently, she'd hadn't ever tried an illegal drug.But things changed a year ago, when she learned her cancer had returned. Her doctor gave her six months to a year to live if she didn't undergo another punishing round of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery."It was pretty distressing," Brooks said. "The idea of not being around and all the plans that my husband and I had for our life, now that the kids are grown — everything we wanted to do went out the window and our lives were turned upside down and backwards again." She was angry and anxious and couldn't sleep at night, and she dreaded the physical ordeal she knew lay ahead during another round of treatment.When Brooks's therapist mentioned the research on psilocybin, she says she was on board almost immediately. She decided to try it in a guided session conducted under her therapist's supervision."I did my psilocybin trip last October and immediately afterwards I was able to see my cancer in a box beside me on the floor instead of this black cloud hanging over me all the time," Brooks said.She cautions that it took a lot of preparation to be ready for the experience, and it wasn't all pleasant. The six-hour trip began with huge waves of grief, and she was forced to confront a flood of bad emotions before finding some clarity.Psilocybin can also cause "bad trips" that include frightening hallucinations and extreme paranoia.Lasting effects after 1 tripBut to Brooks's surprise, she says her cancer has stayed in that metaphorical box through the last 10 months of treatment. In fact, that one psychedelic trip made such a difference that she's not sure whether it's even necessary to take psilocybin again.But Brooks says this isn't just about her."Hopefully this allows other people to get that exemption faster, and hopefully it's the start of something really great where therapists can use it with their clients," she said.Meanwhile, she underwent her final surgery last week, and says her doctors believe the cancer is gone — at least for now."I'm kind of in a wait and see mode, and just living life as best I can and enjoying the time I have," Brooks said.
SportsThe Canadian PressEdmonton Oilers online 50/50 raffle sells out with record-setting $5.7M pot
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers online 50/50 raffle has hit another record and had to close early after it reached the server provider's maximum allowable tickets sales.The Oilers Entertainment Group says the final estimated jackpot Wednesday is $5.4 million, with the lucky winner taking home $2.7 million.The other half of the funds raised from the raffle will go to the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.Monday night's raffle for Game 2 of the Oilers-Blackhawks series shamed the previous record for the largest sports raffle as the pot surpassed $3.2 million.The previous record was held by Toronto Raptors fans when the 50/50 raffle reached $2 million during the 2019 NBA Finals, the year the team won the championship.For Game 4, ticket sales are to open at 9 a.m. MT on Friday and Oilers Entertainment Group says its online 50/50 service provider is working to address the maximum ticket issue before that game."The passion and support for the 50/50 raffle has been exceptional and is yet another concrete example of Oilers fans' commitment to their community," the company said in a statement."You should expect improvements in the very immediate future as we chase yet another 50/50 record."This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2020The Canadian Press
- EntertainmentThe Canadian Press
Karaoke allowed at Yukon bars as territory updates COVID-19 guidelines
WHITEHORSE — Patrons at bars, lounges and nightclubs in Yukon will be allowed to sing karaoke and play certain instruments after the territory updated its COVID-19 guidelines on Wednesday.Customers at pubs, lounges and nightclubs will be able to sing and play wind instruments but must follow social distancing protocols.Dancing is still not permitted.Other changes affect parents, who are no longer required to fill in a daily assessment tool for their children at daycares.The territory has recorded 14 cases of COVID-19 and all 11 of those who contracted the illness within Yukon have recovered.Yukon has not seen any active cases of COVID-19 since April 20.This report was first published by The Canadian Press on Aug. 5, 2020.The Canadian Press
NewsCBCTown or municipality?: Province rejects proposal for Three Rivers name change
The mayor of the Town of Three Rivers says the province has rejected an application to change the name to the Municipality of Three Rivers.Mayor Ed MacAulay said the decision was a "fair response.""We're a town, officially, because of our population size," MacAulay said.Several communities were amalgamated in 2018 to create the Town of Three Rivers, which encompasses the boundaries of Montague, Georgetown and Cardigan fire departments.MacAulay said some people felt changing the name would be a better fit and would have still allowed the identities of the communities within the municipality.But in a letter to Three River's CAO Jill Walsh, Fisheries and Communities Minister Jamie Fox said Three Rivers meets the population and property assessment thresholds for a town, and will legally remain the Town of Three Rivers. What's in a name?In the letter to Walsh, Fox said the Town of Three Rivers must be used on all official documents."I understand that other municipalities use names other than the formal legal names in their communications and branding," the letter said."It is acceptable to use the Municipality of Three Rivers for all except formal documents."MacAulay is taking the news in stride."I think it's important to some, but it's not important to everyone," he said."It will remain the Town of Three Rivers. But I guess unofficially, if people want to call it the municipality of Three Rivers there's no harm in that."More from CBC P.E.I.
NewsCBCCanada sending up to $5M in humanitarian aid to Lebanon after Beirut explosion
Canada will provide up to $5 million in humanitarian assistance to help Lebanon and its people recover from the devastating explosion in Beirut's port, Global Affairs Canada says.An initial $1.5 million of that funding will go to the Lebanese Red Cross to provide emergency medical services, shelter and food for those affected.The explosion happened Tuesday when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilizers, which had been stored for years at the port, ignited, sending shock waves across the Lebanese capital.Around 135 people died, about 5,000 were injured and another 300,000 people have been left without a place to live. Hospitals have been overwhelmed by the injured.Other countries have also mobilized to provide help. Germany has dispatched dozens of search and rescue specialists to help find survivors trapped beneath rubble while Russia sent a plane carrying relief teams, doctors and medical equipment.
NewsCBCFredericton rooming house tenants served eviction letters
Residents of a rooming house in downtown Fredericton were served eviction notices on the long weekend, leaving between 20 and 30 people scrambling to find new homes."Effective November 1st, the rooming house located on 72 Regent Street will be closed for extensive structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical renovations to the extent that vacant possession of the building is necessary," said a notice to a tenant of the building. As a result of these renovations, tenants are being asked to vacate the premises, some who have been there for more than 20 years.Jason Arbeau said he received the notice to vacate on July 31."It was just totally out of the blue," Arbeau said. "I knew that there was stuff that needed to be done in the building but I didn't realize that it was to the point that it was going to evict like 30 plus rooms of people."Arbeau said he was given until November to move out, but some of his neighbours were only given a month."I've lived in this building for like 24 years, and just to be served an eviction notice without warning, it's just kind of a shock," Arbeau said.Arbeau said that many people who live in the building at the moment are living on fixed incomes and he worries that finding affordable housing will be difficult."Everybody's kind of in the same boat that I'm in there," Arbeau said.  "They're not sure which way they're going, where they're going to end up, or I know some will probably end up back in the shelter sooner than later."The average rent in the building is about $325, but a one bedroom apartment in the city would be more than double that. "To find an apartment in that range is near possible," Arbeau said.Arbeau said a lot of people are panicking about having to find a new place in the middle of the  COVID-19 pandemic."A lot of people have friends that live outside of our Atlantic bubble and, well, that just seems to be a lot of work to leave the province to go anywhere," Arbeau said. "People are still panicky about the whole COVID thing and they're skeptical about who's going to rent what. It's just become a big snafu I guess."Fredericton city councillor Kate Rogers said the loss of the rooming house is "clearly a disappointment.""That's a significant loss particularly because of the location. It's good for people to be close to services," said Rogers, who is the chair of Fredericton's affordable housing committee.Rogers said Fredericton has a low vacancy rate, which is particularly difficult for people on fixed incomes."When your vacancy rate is low, it means that really everyone's disadvantaged and your vulnerable are typically most disadvantaged," Rogers said.Rogers said that rooming houses are non-conforming use in Fredericton and the city is looking to develop a framework which would monitor single room occupancies and create new zoning bylaws related to them."One of the key recommendations at the moment from the Affordable Housing Committee is to explore the creation of a zoning bylaw for SRO's, or single room occupancies," Rogers said."Developing that kind of framework will be advantageous in many, many ways. But I think that what we're certainly seeing is there is a need for that type of housing," Rogers said. "The role that the city can play is to create a regulatory framework for it.""We need to be developing a unique type of housing stock to satisfy the needs of people," Rogers said.Steven Thompson, who took ownership of the building in 1987, said that since he has owned it the building has not received any serious structural work and it is long overdue.Thompson said that once the renovations have been completed, the building will be converted to apartments, though the commercial spaces will remain intact.
LifestyleCBCCalgary community ups its art game with powerful youth murals
What does 2020 mean to you? That was the seed planted in three young Calgary artists and it grew into huge, colourful, thought-provoking murals now on display in the northwest community of Sunnyside."This is the first mural I have ever done," Daniel Volante told CBC News."I have never used spray paint before and I have never done anything this big before, so it's been quite the process. I am learning a lot."The 17-year-old's mural, Dreamer, is bookended by the art of two other teens on shipping containers at a Sunnyside park just southeast of the Kensington Safeway.Volante says he's spent several hours a day for three weeks putting together his contribution to containR, a pop up arts and culture hub organized by Springboard Performance."I wanted it to look dream like. A lot of the colours are vibrant. I used a blue to outline everything," he explained."I found this piece in myself. It's a pretty personal piece. I was inspired by how I felt during the last four months. I've been dreaming and thinking a lot. I want to do everything but in the last four months stuck at home, it's just not coming out. That's what this piece means to me."And that's exactly what Springboard was looking for, the artistic director says."What does 2020 mean to you? That was the starting point," Nicole Mion said."The best art comes with what is most meaningful to you. That's a great place to always start."The containR program started in 2009, perhaps ironically, as a way to combat vandalism."While it started as a way of deterring tagging, it became a way of sharing incredible art," Mion said.Springboard had a call out for artists. A jury narrowed the applications to three.Their canvas is a shipping container about nine feet by 40 feet (roughly three by 12 metres)."The point of containR is to connect communities with art," Mion said."You can see performances, you can play music, you can see family theatre, you can see a whole series of murals. Like any park, you go to play, you go to connect in the way you feel comfortable."Another artist, 15-year-old Kate MacLean, was uncomfortable with some of what she sees as media representation of people of colour."The Black woman on the left depicts the sun. The Asian woman on the right depicts the moon," MacLean explained.In an eclipse, they are together. So that's what MacLean has named her piece."I wanted the opportunity to paint people of different ethnicities. Different kinds of people are equally beautiful."Jaxson Naugler wanted to make a point about interconnectivity in his art."A human and a tree. The person's face turns into a tree. That's the most important connection," the 17-year-old said."I also added some trippy, colourful stuff on the other side to show that, yes, these two things are connected, but also everything in the universe is connected."Naugler says it's reaction to his work that he most enjoys."My favourite part is just hearing what people think it means," he said."Everybody thinks it means something else. It could mean a thousand different things. People's interpretation is my favourite part."The murals will be on display for a few more weeks.
- NewsCBC
Human remains found in northern B.C. between Prince George, Purden Lake Provincial Park
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP are investigating after human remains were found near Prince George and Purden Lake Provincial Park in northern B.C.Police say the remains were found August 1 near Highway 16, approximately 40 kilometres east of the city.Coroners are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of death, while RCMP launch a parallel investigation. For now, police say they do not believe the public is at risk.Highway 16 from Prince George west to Prince Rupert is frequently referred to as the Highway of Tears because of the number of women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered along the route.
- HealthCBC
Alberta Health reports two more COVID-19 deaths, 94 new cases
Alberta reported two more deaths and 94 new cases of COVID-19 in its latest update on Wednesday.The daily case numbers continue a trend that has seen them drop out of the triple digits over the past several days.The most recent update, which includes numbers reported until the end of day Tuesday, showed 1,146 active cases across the province.That total was also down from the 1,191 active cases reported the day before.In all, 203 people in Alberta have died from the respiratory illness since the pandemic began in early March.The downward trend in daily new cases began on Friday, when 97 were reported. That was followed by: * 67 new cases on Saturday. * 74 new cases on Sunday. * 65 new cases on Monday. * 94 new cases on Tuesday.The most recent numbers show that 75 people are being treated for the illness in Alberta hospitals, a drop of 10 from the day before.Of those patients, 20 were in ICU beds, three fewer than the previous day.The regional breakdown reported on Wednesday was: * Calgary zone, 428 active cases. * Edmonton zone, 308 active cases. * Central zone, 193 active cases. * North zone, 113 active cases. * South zone, 98 active cases. * Unknown zone, six active cases.Almost 10,000 people have now recovered from the illness in Alberta.More than 727,000 tests for COVID-19 have been completed across the province.
- SportsCBC
Oilers 50/50 closes early after hitting record $5.4M
The Edmonton Oilers' online 50/50 sale ahead of Wednesday night's game against Chicago was closed nearly six hours before puck drop after it reached the maximum number of tickets sold for a day.The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation announced Wednesday afternoon on Twitter that due to "historic, record-setting sales" the event had to be closed. The draw hit the server provider's maximum allowable ticket sales, the Oilers Entertainment Group said in a release.The total estimated pot of Wednesday's 50/50 draw is $5,417,130. The winner will take home $2,708,565, a world record for sports 50/50 draws, the release added.The winning ticket number will be posted online no later than 11:30 p.m.Ticket sales for the draw opened at 9 a.m. and would typically end at 10:30 p.m. Whoever wins usually has three business days to claim their winnings.Wednesday's historic draw follows Game 1 of Edmonton's qualifying round series on Saturday, where the 50/50 pot was $762,550, and Game 2 on Monday, where the pot ballooned to more than $3.2 million.The Alberta Gaming, Liquor Cannabis allowed the Oilers' typical 50/50 draw to be taken online for the first time this year as the Oilers compete in the postseason with no fans in attendance.Another Oilers 50/50 draw will open Friday morning for Game 4 of their series with Chicago.
- NewsCBC
Jim Karygiannis can resume council seat while he appeals decision to oust him, court rules
Jim Karygiannis can return to his position as a Toronto city councillor after a decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal on Wednesday.Karygiannis, who represented Ward 22,  Scarborough-Agincourt, has asked the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling on June 24 that forced him out of office for alleged campaign spending violations.On Wednesday, a judge on the Ontario Court of Appeal heard and granted his request to stay that ruling until the country's highest court decides whether it will grant his application."By virtue of today's decision, Mr. Karygiannis can immediately resume his place on City Council as Councillor for Ward 22," the city of Toronto said in a statement on Wednesday.The appeal court found that, according to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, Karygiannis was required to be removed from office.On June 24, Karygiannis was removed from office for a second time after the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned his previous reinstatement.Karygiannis initially lost his council seat due to alleged spending violations dating to the 2018 municipal election campaign.He was reinstated by a Superior Court judge in November 2019 after being removed from office earlier that month.
- NewsCBC
Jasper's mask bylaw hits the streets, with compulsory coverings on townsite sidewalks
Dressing for the outdoors in Jasper National Park will require one additional accessory if you are planning to walk around the townsite: a mask.A bylaw passed on Tuesday has made face coverings compulsory on most of Jasper's downtown sidewalks and in outdoor public places where a two-metre distance can't be maintained, joining Banff in making outdoor masks mandatory.Mandatory masking also extends to Jasper's indoor public spaces, including privately owned businesses and facilities, according to a news release."We are thrilled to see regional visitors come to Jasper to holiday and we must ensure that the health and safety of our residents and visitors remains our number one priority," Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said in the release. "Visitors planning to come to Jasper this summer and fall should bring their own masks and wear them in public places, indoors and outdoors."Under the Temporary Compulsory Face Covering bylaw, coverings must fully cover the nose, mouth and chin, and it applies to: * the west side of Connaught Drive between Hazel Avenue and Aspen Avenue; * Patricia Street between Hazel Avenue and Pyramid Lake Road; * all connecting public sidewalks between those streets; * all public sidewalks where a two-metre distance cannot be maintained; * all public indoor spaces, including all businesses, facilities, patios and indoor areas that are open to the public.Exceptions apply in indoor public places where people are separated from others by physical barriers or plastic shields, for children under the age of two, for people with medical conditions, and for people who are eating or drinking at assigned seating indoors.Banff's mandatory mask bylaw, which includes the pedestrian areas along a stretch of its main street, went into effect on July 31.Mask bylaws in Calgary and Edmonton, which only govern indoor areas, went into effect on Aug. 1.
HealthCBCB.C. asks for Ottawa's help accessing critical flight data during COVID-19
The B.C. government has requested federal help getting information from airlines that it says is critical for tracing passengers who may have been exposed to COVID-19.In a letter sent Wednesday, Claire Trevena, provincial transportation minister, says the data that officials currently receive from airlines when they request it is often missing crucial contact details. She is calling on her federal counterpart, Transport Minister Marc Garneau, to improve the situation.According to Trevena, the lack of sufficient data means health officials must publicly list flights where passengers may have been exposed — which can cause public alarm — rather than efficiently tracing individuals at risk.The letter is dated one day after Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed the challenges during a news conference."It would shock you to see what we get from the airlines when we request a flight manifest," Henry said Tuesday, adding often the only thing the airline knows is how much someone paid for a ticket and nothing else.Trevena's letter says that instead of listing the name and contact information of the people on the plane, the data often includes the name of a travel agency that booked the flight, a frequent flyer number, or the name of the ticket purchaser but not the passenger.As of August 4, seven flights have arrived in B.C. with possible COVID-19 cases identified on board. Across Canada, there have been 34.According to a statement from Transport Canada, air operators are required to record the names of all people on board an aircraft before each flight and these records must be retained by the operator for at least 180 days after the day the flight was completed. Transport Canada stated flight manifests only contain limited information, such as names, as privacy regulations prevent airlines from including more specific personal information and there is no requirement for airlines to submit passenger manifests to Transport Canada.The Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for facilitating information sharing between airlines and provincial and territorial health authorities to assist in monitoring COVID-19 cases, said the statement.Air Canada 'baffled' According to a statement from Air Canada, the airline provides flight manifests that include names, contact information, seat location and itinerary to any Canadian health authority within 24 hours of a request. The statement says Air Canada has not had a request from B.C. since March."We are baffled by Dr. Henry's comments," said the airline's statement, which also says it and the National Airlines Council of Canada have reached out to Henry and the B.C. Health Ministry on multiple occasions to discuss any concerns they may have, but they have not had a response. A statement from WestJet said the airline has safely flown more than 415,000 guests on 13,700 flights with no reported cases of transmissions since March 24.Trevena's letter not only calls on the federal government to improve the flight passenger data available to health authorities, but also says the B.C. government has noticed inconsistencies in safety guidelines concerning the air sector and COVID-19 protocols.The letter closes with a request to Ottawa to ensure rigorous boarding screening, flexible cancellation policies, adequate testing for international arrivals, consistent rules on plans concerning eating, restrooms and use of the plane's middle seats.Trevena also asks in the letter for the development of insurance protocols to cover the cost of COVID-19 treatment for visitors who may have to pay for treatment in British Columbia.
NewsThe Canadian PressThe latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Aug. 5
The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 5:42 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2020:There are 118,140 confirmed cases in Canada._ Quebec: 60,000 confirmed (including 5,687 deaths, 50,886 resolved)_ Ontario: 39,714 confirmed (including 2,782 deaths, 35,747 resolved)_ Alberta: 11,240 confirmed (including 203 deaths, 9,891 resolved)_ British Columbia: 3,787 confirmed (including 195 deaths, 3,273 resolved)_ Saskatchewan: 1,376 confirmed (including 18 deaths, 1,133 resolved)_ Nova Scotia: 1,071 confirmed (including 64 deaths, 1,005 resolved)_ Manitoba: 429 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 342 resolved), 15 presumptive_ Newfoundland and Labrador: 266 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 263 resolved)_ New Brunswick: 174 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 168 resolved)_ Prince Edward Island: 36 confirmed (including 36 resolved)_ Yukon: 14 confirmed (including 11 resolved)_ Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)_ Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)_ Nunavut: No confirmed cases_ Total: 118,140 (15 presumptive, 118,125 confirmed including 8,962 deaths, 102,773 resolved)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2020.The Canadian Press
