WASHINGTON — The Defence Department took more than three hours to dispatch the National Guard to the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol despite a frantic request for reinforcement from police, according to testimony Wednesday that added to the finger-pointing about the government response. Maj. Gen. William Walker, commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, told senators that the then-chief of the Capitol Police requested military support in a 1:49 p.m. call, but the Defence Department's approval for that support was not relayed to him until after 5 p.m., according to prepared testimony. Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol. That delay stood in contrast to the immediate approval for National Guard support granted in response to the civil unrest that roiled American cities last spring as an outgrowth of racial justice protests, Walker said. As local officials pleaded for help, Army officials raised concerns about the optics of a substantial National Guard presence at the Capitol, he said. “The Army senior leadership” expressed to officials on the call “that it would not be their best military advice to have uniformed Guardsmen on the Capitol,” Walker said. The Senate hearing is the second about what went wrong on Jan. 6, with national security officials face questions about missed intelligence and botched efforts to quickly gather National Guard troops that day as a violent mob laid siege to the U.S. Capitol. Even as Walker detailed the National Guard delay, another military official noted that local officials in Washington had said days earlier that no such support was needed. Senators were eager to grill officials from the Pentagon, the National Guard and the Justice and Homeland Security departments about their preparations for that day. Supporters of then-President Donald Trump had talked online, in some cases openly, about gathering in Washington that day and interrupting the electoral count. At a hearing last week, officials who were in charge of security at the Capitol blamed one another as well as federal law enforcement for their own lack of preparation as hundreds of rioters descended on the building, easily breached the security perimeter and eventually broke into the Capitol. Five people died as a result of the rioting. So far, lawmakers conducting investigations have focused on failed efforts to gather and share intelligence about the insurrectionists’ planning before Jan. 6 and on the deliberations among officials about whether and when to call National Guard troops to protect Congress. The officials at the hearing last week, including ousted Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, gave conflicting accounts of those negotiations. Robert Contee, the acting chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department, told senators he was “stunned” over the delayed response and said Sund was pleading with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting rapidly escalated. Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar, one of two Democratic senators who will preside over Wednesday's hearing, said in an interview Tuesday that she believes every moment counted as the National Guard decision was delayed and police officers outside the Capitol were beaten and injured by the rioters. “Any minute that we lost, I need to know why,” Klobuchar said. The hearing comes as thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol and as multiple committees across Congress are launching investigations into mistakes made on Jan. 6. The probes are largely focused on security missteps and the origins of the extremism that led hundreds of Trump supporters to break through the doors and windows of the Capitol, hunt for lawmakers and temporarily stop the counting of electoral votes. Congress has, for now, abandoned any examination of Trump’s role in the attack after the Senate acquitted him last month of inciting the riot by telling the supporters that morning to “fight like hell” to overturn his defeat. As the Senate hears from the federal officials, acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman will testify before a House panel that is also looking into how security failed. In a hearing last week before the same subcommittee, she conceded there were multiple levels of failures but denied that law enforcement failed to take seriously warnings of violence before the insurrection. In the Senate, Klobuchar said there is particular interest in hearing from Walker, the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, who was on the phone with Sund and the Department of the Army as the rioters first broke into the building. Contee, the D.C. police chief, was also on the call and told senators that the Army was initially reluctant to send troops. “While I certainly understand the importance of both planning and public perception — the factors cited by the staff on the call — these issues become secondary when you are watching your employees, vastly outnumbered by a mob, being physically assaulted,” Contee said. He said he had quickly deployed his own officers and he was “shocked” that the National Guard “could not — or would not — do the same." Contee said that Army staff said they were not refusing to send troops, but “did not like the optics of boots on the ground” at the Capitol. Also testifying at the joint hearing of the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees are Robert Salesses of the Defence Department, Melissa Smislova of the Department of Homeland Security and Jill Sanborn of the FBI, all officials who oversee aspects of intelligence and security operations. Lawmakers have grilled law enforcement officials about missed intelligence ahead of the attack, including a report from an FBI field office in Virginia that warned of online posts foreshadowing a “war” in Washington. Capitol Police leaders have said they were unaware of the report at the time, even though the FBI had forwarded it to the department. Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the report was disseminated though the FBI’s joint terrorism task force, discussed at a command post in Washington and posted on an internet portal available to other law enforcement agencies. Though the information was raw and unverified and appeared aspirational in nature, Wray said, it was specific and concerning enough that “the smartest thing to do, the most prudent thing to do, was just push it to the people who needed to get it.” Mary Clare Jalonick And Eric Tucker, The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is pushing ahead with the first papal trip to Iraq despite rising coronavirus infections, hoping to encourage the country’s dwindling number of Christians who were violently persecuted during the Islamic State's insurgency while seeking to boost ties with the Shiite Muslim world. Security is a concern for the March 5-8 visit, given the continued presence of rogue Shiite militias and fresh rocket attacks. Francis, who relishes plunging into crowds and zipping around in his popemobile, is expected to travel in an armoured car with a sizeable security detail. The Vatican hopes the measures will have the dual effect of protecting the pope while discouraging contagion-inducing crowds. Francis’ visit is the culmination of two decades of efforts to bring a pope to the birthplace of Abraham, the prophet central to Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths, after St. John Paul II was prevented from going in 1999. “We can't disappoint this people a second time," Francis said Wednesday in urging prayers for the trip. The trip will give Francis — and the world — a close-up look at the devastation wrought by the 2014-2017 IS reign, which destroyed hundreds of Christian-owned homes and churches in the north, and sent tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities fleeing. The trip will include a private meeting with Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a revered figure in Iraq and beyond. ___ WHAT'S THE VIRUS SITUATION IN IRAQ? Iraq is currently seeing a resurgence of infections, with daily new cases nearing the height of its first wave. For months, Francis has eschewed even small, socially distanced public audiences at the Vatican, raising questions about why he would expose Iraqis to the risk of possible infection. Francis, the Vatican delegation and travelling media have been vaccinated, but few ordinary Iraqis have been given shots. The Vatican has defended the visit, insisting that it has been designed to limit crowds and that health measures will be enforced. But even then, 10,000 tickets have been prepared for the pope's final event, an outdoor Mass at a stadium in Irbil. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the important thing is that Iraqis will be able to watch Francis on TV and “know that the pope is there for them, bringing a message that it is possible to hope even in situations that are most complicated.” He acknowledged there might be consequences to the visit, but said the Vatican measured the risks against the need for Iraqis to feel the pope's “act of love." ___ HOW WILL CHRISTIANS REACT TO POPE'S INTERFAITH MESSAGE? Before IS seized vast swaths of northern Iraq, the Rev. Karam Shamasha ministered to 1,450 families in his hometown of Telskuf, 20 miles (about 30 kilometres) north of Mosul. Today, the families of his Chaldean Catholic parish number 500, evidence of the massive exodus of Christians who fled the extremists and never returned. Shamasha says Francis will be welcomed by those who stayed, even though his message of interfaith harmony is sometimes difficult for Iraqi Christians to hear. They faced decades of discrimination and envy by the Muslim majority well before IS. “The first ones who came to rob our houses were our (Muslim) neighbours,” Shamasha told reporters ahead of the trip. Even before IS, when a Christian family built a new house, Muslim neighbours would sometime say “‘Good, good, because you’re building a house for us’ because they know or believe that in the end, Christians will disappear from this land and the houses will be theirs," he said. Francis is going to Iraq precisely to encourage these Christians to persevere and remain, and to emphasize that they have an important role to play in rebuilding Iraq. Iraqi Christians were believed to number around 1.4 million in 2003. Today there are about 250,000 left. Arriving in Baghdad, Francis will meet with priests, seminarians and nuns in the same cathedral where Islamic militants in 2010 slaughtered 58 people in what was the deadliest assault targeting Christians since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. On Francis’ final full day in Iraq, he will pray in a Mosul square surrounded by four destroyed churches, and visit another church in the Christian city of Qaraqosh that has been rebuilt in a sign of hope for Christianity's future there. ___ WHY WILL FRANCIS MEET WITH GRAND AYATOLLAH? One of the highlights of the trip is Francis’ meeting with al-Sistani, the grand ayatollah whose 2014 fatwah calling on able-bodied men to fight IS swelled the ranks of Shiite militias that helped defeat the group. Francis has spent years trying to forge improved relations with Muslims. He signed a historic document on human fraternity in 2019 with a prominent Sunni leader, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni learning in Cairo. There are no plans to add the 91-year-old al-Sistani's signature to the document. But the fact that the meeting is happening at all is enormously significant, said Gabriel Said Reynolds, professor of Islamic studies and theology at the University of Notre Dame. “It’s hard not to see this as accompanying his relationship with Ahmed el-Tayeb,” Reynolds said, noting al-Sistani's place as a revered figure of religious, political and intellectual influence in Iraq and beyond. “I think there would be a lot for them to speak about," he said. ___ WHAT ARE THE SECURITY CONCERNS? Security concerns were an issue well before twin suicide bombings claimed by IS ripped through a Baghdad market Jan. 21, killing at least 32 people. They have only increased after a spate of recent rocket attacks, including at least 10 Wednesday, resumed targeting the American presence in the country, attacks the U.S. has blamed on Shiite militias. Those same groups, strengthened after al-Sistani’s fatwa, are accused of terrorizing Christians and preventing them from returning home. Iraqi government and religious officials are concerned these militias could carry out rocket attacks in Baghdad or elsewhere to show their displeasure over al-Sistani’s meeting with Francis. Asked if this 33rd foreign visit was Francis' riskiest, Bruni replied diplomatically. “I wouldn’t get into a competition of riskiest journeys, but I would say this is certainly one of the most interesting.” Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press
Peel police say they've charged five people with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a man in Brampton late last year. The shooting happened in the basement of a home in the area of Scott and Church streets on the night of Dec. 17, 2020. In a statement Tuesday, police identified the victim as 23-year-old Uchenna Achioso. The five people charged range in age from 17 to 33 years old and include two men, two women and a boy. All five were arrested at different points between January and March this year and have already appeared in court, police said. The victim and all of the accused are from Brampton, police said.
In Chatham-Kent, about 6,000 people have received a COVID-19 shot, according to Dr. David Colby, the medical officer of health. Vaccines have already been rolled out at high-risk seniors' homes, and health-care workers started receiving shots at a clinic that opened late last month. Chatham-Kent is now moving to vaccinate seniors 80 and older who live in the community. It began on Saturday, and Colby thinks first doses can be finished within a week or two. About 2,500 people were vaccinated at clinics on the weekend and Monday. The intention is to go "full steam ahead" and make sure the vaccine supply is used quickly, he said. "We've got enough vaccine to keep our clinic going, so we'll just keep on with that," he said in an interview with CBC Radio's Windsor Morning. "And if we run out before our next shipment, well that just means we've been very good at getting it into people's arms." Dr. David Colby is the medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent.(CK Public Health/YouTube) The vaccination roll-out for 80-plus seniors comes at a time when case counts in the municipality have plummeted. There were 13 active COVID-19 cases, as of Tuesday. No COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, and an outbreak at the Fairfield Park long-term care home in Wallaceburg involving 100 cases has been resolved. The numbers have been so low in recent weeks that Colby said last week it was possible for Chatham-Kent to drop multiple steps on the province's colour-coded pandemic framework. However, it was only moved from the red zone to orange on Monday. Colby said the decision is understandable, given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 variants of concern. "We don't want to be too different than our neighbours," he said in reference to other municipalities in the region. "We've been trying to send a general message that we're still having a problem with COVID, despite all the optimism about the vaccine rollout. But people really need to stay home and stay safe and avoid crowds."
Britain's Prince Philip, the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth who is in hospital for tests for a heart condition and treatment for an infection, is "slightly improving", Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall said on Wednesday. Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been in hospital for over two weeks since he was admitted having felt unwell, and on Monday moved hospitals to one specialising in cardiac treatment, for tests and observation for a pre-existing heart condition. On a tour of a vaccination centre in south London, Camilla, the wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, told a volunteer the Duke was "slightly improving" and that "we keep our fingers crossed".
Eighty U.S. House of Representatives Democrats urged President Joe Biden on Tuesday to repeal Donald Trump's "cruel" sanctions on Cuba and renew engagement, an early sign of support in Congress for easing the clamp-down on the Communist-run country. In a letter to Biden seen by Reuters they urged the Democratic president to sign an executive order "without delay" to end restrictions on travel and remittances, noting that well over half of Cubans depend on the latter. "With the stroke of a pen, you can assist struggling Cuban families and promote a more constructive approach," they said.
Fingers crossed, residents and visitors to the area will be able to attend the Ripley Food, Art and Craft Show on Aug. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Community Centre. The annual show is a showcase for local vendors, bringing them all together under one roof to connect with shoppers. Like so many other events scheduled last summer, the show had to be cancelled because of pandemic restrictions that prohibited large gatherings under one roof. “This past year has been tough on small businesses, local artisans and our residents,” said Maggie Young, who handles community services programming and administration for the Township of Huron Kinloss. “The Township of Huron-Kinloss and the Community Services Department are committed to providing a space and hosting an event to help showcase local artisans and food producers, as well as re-introducing events for the community to attend. Therefore, every effort is being made to host the 2021 Ripley Food Art Craft Festival, keeping in mind the safety and wellbeing of both the vendors and visitors.” Young said all protocols advised by public health will be followed, and may include masks if required, the number of people allowed in the building at one time and sanitizer will be available. If necessary, booths can be spaced two-metres apart and directional flow arrows will be placed on the floor. Young says community services will “go above and beyond” what restrictions are in place. Organizers also have a plan B ready, should it be decided that the event cannot be held on the arena floor. It can be moved outside, under tents, if necessary, and as a last option, held online with a marketplace and vendor focus. Registration is now open for vendors, which has in past years welcomed 40-50 small businesses. Information is available by calling 519-395-2909 or emailing ripleyfestival@gmail.com or follow the event on Facebook @RipleyArtisansFestival for status updates. All money raised from the event is directed back to the Town of Ripley and Huron Kinloss. Tammy Lindsay Schneider, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kincardine Independent
The volunteers and artists at the Victoria Park Gallery and Gift Shop welcome the opportunity to open its doors once again. With the move into the green zone of the provincial reopening framework, the gallery will now be operating on winter hours, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 3 p.m. Gallery co-president Mary Faubert says visitors will notice a fresh, updated look to the gallery, since it was painted during the last lockdown. Volunteers have also been busy cleaning every nook and cranny as construction has been going on next door. Because of the pandemic, the gallery has deferred having a guest artist of the month to a later date, and instead has created a spring-themed display in the front room. “I am really pleased with the way all the gallery members have come together to deal with COVID,” said Faubert. “We are a co-op and in these trying times, everyone is cooperating.” Faubert says the gallery will adhere to all the protocols set by the province and public health, to keep both volunteers and guests safe. Signage has been placed on the doors asking anyone who is experiencing symptoms not to enter, masks are required by staff and guests, sanitizer is available and the cleaning of often-touched surfaces is constant. The gallery is also asking guests to leave their name and phone number, should contact tracing be required. “We welcome everyone to return to the gallery,” said Faubert. “We look forward to seeing old friends and welcoming new ones.” Tammy Lindsay Schneider, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kincardine Independent
Britain is more than doubling to 100 pounds ($139.75) the limit on contactless payments made with debit or credit cards, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, as COVID-19 accelerates a shift to electronic payments from cash. The finance ministry said that while legally in force from Wednesday, the changes to limits from the current ceiling of 45 pounds will not happen in practice immediately, as firms will need to make the necessary systems changes. The banking industry is due to implement the new 100 pound limit later this year, it said.
Police in Moose Jaw have arrested two people and are searching for a third in connection with an attempted murder. Last Friday, police were told about an assault on Stadacona Street West, but could not find a victim or any suspects. Some time later, police located a man with serious head injuries who was taken to hospital. The man has since been released and sent home. Police returned to the scene on Stadacona Street with a search warrant and found some evidence. Now, two people have been charged with attempted murder in the crime, as well as robbery and possession of crystal meth. The accused made their first court appearance in Moose Jaw provincial court Tuesday morning. Police are searching for a third suspect, also wanted for attempted murder and robbery.
Music's ability to connect us, even if only virtually, is on display in the latest film project by Vicki Van Chau in collaboration with the Calgary Chinese Orchestra. Van Chau is co-director and editor for a new documentary and music video called Off to the Races. The film features interviews and a music collaboration of 72 musicians playing a classic Chinese erhu song, Horse Race. The erhu is a Chinese violin. The idea to produce the 12-minute doc came from Jiajia Li, the artistic director of the Calgary Chinese Orchestra and a flutist. Vicki Van Chau is the co-director and editor of the film.(Kai Sunderland) Li wanted to do something to honour the Lunar New Year despite restrictions on the ability to gather. Van Chau and Li connected in November and opened up the call for submissions from artists playing the song on their instruments. Li chose the song, which was composed in the 1960s, for its upbeat and hopeful theme. And because it's less than three minutes long, it would be easy for submitting musicians to learn and record in time. There were so many submissions that the music producer, Warren Tse, wrote an intro and interlude so that more musicians could be included in the final performance. Erhus, pipas, fiddles, pianos and other instruments are played alongside each other in the video featuring 72 submission from Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Singapore, the United States and China. The video was released via YouTube on Feb. 14. With files from Huyana Cyprien and the Calgary Eyeopener.
GUYSBOROUGH – One of the first announcements to come out of Premier Iain Rankin’s office outlined the province’s commitment to the environment and fighting climate change through an investment of “$19 million in rebates to support low-income families in making their homes more comfortable and energy-efficient and help Nova Scotians buy clean, reliable electric vehicles.” The news release, issued Feb. 24, also stated the province would “move toward a new renewable energy standard, with 80 per cent of Nova Scotia’s energy coming from renewable sources by 2030.” While the new premier is showing signs that he’s sticking to his environmental platform with this announcement, that’s a playbook the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) has been following for the last decade. Guysborough has been going green on a number of fronts for years. MODG warden Vernon Pitts said, “We as a municipal unit, have been blazing trails the last number of years in regard to renewables.” He points to the Sable Wind project in Canso/Hazel Hill, the Guysborough Waste Management Facility’s gas capturing plant (featured in this newspaper in January) and the COMFIT wind turbine program. The MODG has also installed solar panels to heat the swimming pool in Guysborough and to supply energy to the offices at the waste management facility. And they’re not stopping there. Pitts said, “I’d also like to see recreation tap into an electric vehicle; in the very near future I’m hoping … I think this is the way we should be going, be it wind or solar. I would also like to look at a solar project for the CLC (Chedabucto Lifestyle Centre), get weaned off electricity from Nova Scotia Power… If we could green that facility up a bit that would be another positive step going forward.” MODG’s CAO Barry Carroll told The Journal in an email interview, “We have been monitoring electric vehicle development and will look to move in that direction as quickly as it makes sense for the vehicle uses that we have … We have jointly applied for funding for an electric vehicle as part of a new NS Power application to Government for a pilot project. The intent is to supply the vehicle to our Food Bank for their use; and for it to be connected to the building to supply power to the building in the event of a power outage.” Carroll also stated that the investment in existing housing was good news, “As we have quite a bit of older housing stock and that should [be] of great help to homeowners.” Apart from the MODG’s in-house projects, Pitts is enthusiastic about Port Hawkesbury Paper’s (PHP) update last month on its plans to install a 112-megawatt wind farm in Guysborough County, across from Point Tupper in Richmond County, to supply green power directly to PHP; the largest energy consumer on the Nova Scotia grid. In a Feb. 12 news release, PHP stated construction could begin on the project in 2022, “Subject to all appropriate legislative and regulatory requirements … Construction of the farm would generate local employment and significant ongoing tax revenues in the province.” If the PHP project moves ahead, it will be the largest wind farm in the province. Pitts said, “We are really looking forward to that if it goes … to me that is a phenomenal project.” That said, Pitts cautioned that a diversity of renewable energy sources were needed, all the eggs shouldn’t be in one basket. “I think we have to do a combination of wind and solar… It’s the way of the future.” Lois Ann Dort, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough Journal
Orban announced the decision in a letter to the chairman of the EPP, Manfred Weber, on Wednesday, making good on his threat to leave the grouping over changes to its rules.View on euronews
ZURICH (Reuters) - "Stop Extremism!" urges a red billboard in a quiet village outside Zurich above an image of a scowling woman wearing a black headscarf and face veil. The billboard is part of a campaign by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) to ban face coverings in public and which will be voted on in a binding national referendum on Sunday.
GUYSBOROUGH – International Women’s Day (IWD) is Monday, March 8. This global day of celebration honours the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and promotes gender parity. In Guysborough County, there are many women to celebrate – from small business owners, front-line workers, women in trades, to stay-at-home mothers and many more. In this year of pandemic, one line of work most parents have come to appreciate, perhaps more than ever, is the role of educator. This year The Journal is highlighting the women leading the team at Chedabucto Education Centre /Guysborough Academy (CECGA): Principal Barbara Avery and Vice Principle Tera Dorrington. What follows is an online interview with Avery and Dorrington discussing their careers and the importance of female role models. Journal: What is your position and how long have you been in that position? Avery: I have been in administration at CECGA for a little over eight years, six of those as a Principal. I grew up and attended school here in Guysborough and feel very fortunate to have been able to return and give back to this school community. Dorrington: My current position at Chedabucto Education Centre/Guysborough Academy is Vice Principal. I have been in this role for almost six years. My first two years in this position was at SAERC in Port Hawkesbury, and I was here at CECGA for almost four years. I am grateful to be able to return to my old school and community. Journal: Who were your role models in the field of education – and in life in general? Avery: As I look back and reflect on my educational journey, there are many people who supported me along the way. First and foremost were my parents. They taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance and to take pride in everything I did – no matter how big or small – and to always believe in myself. They were strong believers that our experiences help shape who we become so I was always actively involved both in school and community. I was also blessed with many great teachers and administrators throughout my public education who lent a hand in inspiring me to be an educator myself. When I was a student there were not as many women in secondary education, but those who were made a big impact. I was fortunate to have women role models as teachers and administrators and now as colleagues. I also feel that the male teachers and administrators I had also encouraged me in my pursuit in the Math and Science field and continue to feel supported by my male colleagues. Dorrington: I am surrounded by so many positive and inspiring people, which granted me many role models. I am lucky to work beside such an amazing and dedicated principal every day. Barbara is full of knowledge. If I ever need advice or guidance, she is my ‘right-hand woman.’ There are also some hard working, successful men and women who work behind the scenes at the senior administration level and, as busy as they are, they always find time to mentor and support me. I have so many colleagues with such a wealth of expertise and experience and they inspire me each day. During my time at StFX, I had two professors who encouraged and inspired me. Dr. Agnes Calliste and Dr. Ottilia Chareka were both such positive influences. Although they have both passed away, I often reflect on their words of encouragement and the life lessons they taught me. I even dedicated my mEd thesis to Ottilia! I can’t forget my parents. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their sacrifices, encouragement and ongoing support. They taught me the importance of hard work, perseverance and resilience. Journal: What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you see women in those roles? Or in the role you currently hold? Dorrington: When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher. I loved playing school with my dolls and mini chalkboard. In high school, I had Angela MacKeen as an English teacher (who also happens to be Barbara’s sister). Angela always seemed to be having so much fun as she taught English, especially Shakespeare, that I decided I wanted to be an English teacher too! In my grade 12 year, Elizabeth Teasdale was the principal, but there were only three female high school teachers that I can recall. Journal: Ms. Dorrington, how has being a mother impacted your career trajectory? Dorrington: Being a mother has impacted my career trajectory in a positive way. It pushes me to reach my goals. I have two daughters who are watching and learning from me. I am modelling the value of the importance of hard work. As I continue my own education, I hope that it shows them that there will always be new things to learn. I want them to know that their possibilities are endless and grow up be strong and independent women. I hope that I am a role model for them. Journal: What impact do you think it has on students and colleagues to see two women in the top positions at the school? Dorrington: I think that having two females in our role, shows promise. It shows that success can be achieved regardless of your gender, race or the community you’re from. It shows that barriers can be broken. I hope it encourages them to achieve their own dreams, no matter what they are. It’s not about being at the top, it’s about doing something that you love. Journal: Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing top level positions in your field? Dorrington: The advice I would give to women considering pursuing top level positions in our field would be to remember that a school would not be successful without the teachers, TAs, guidance counsellors, support staff and students. Treat them well. Also, make sure you eat a good breakfast, get plenty of rest and wear comfy shoes. It is a rewarding job. Like all professions, make sure it is something that you love, and it won’t feel like work. Journal: How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you? Dorrington: It is very important for women to lift one another up, and we need to raise our children to do the same. As women, we need to clap and cheer for each other. We need to empower each other. Take advantage of programs such as Techsploration and get involved in your community. A message I would send out to young women about pursing their careers is to set your goals high and don’t stop until you get there. Work hard and never give up. Don’t compare yourself to others, embrace your own strengths. Most importantly, always look a challenge in the eye and give it a wink. Avery: I am pleased to see advancements being made in public education since I attended in supporting and providing women the opportunity to explore under-represented careers by offering programs such as Techsploration in schools. The Techsploration program helps to inspire women to explore careers in Science, Trades, Engineering and Technology; through engagement with female role models, students learn about these careers while participating in hands-on workshops. Journal: This year’s IWD campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge; could you comment on that? Dorrington: In regard to this year’s IWD theme, let’s remember that challenge means change. As we are raising our daughters to be strong and independent women, we also need to raise our sons to be allies as we strive for a world of inclusion and equality. Journal: On International Women’s Day, what is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers? Avery: My message to all students is not to be scared to be a self-promoter; celebrate your successes and make your own way in this world by following your passion. Lois Ann Dort, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough Journal
ORLANDO, Fla. — “Trump needs you,” one fundraising email implored. “President Trump’s Legacy is in your hands," another pleaded. Others advertised “Miss Me Yet?” T-shirts featuring Donald Trump's smiling face. While some Republicans grapple with how fiercely to embrace the former president, the organizations charged with raising money for the party are going all in. The Republican National Committee and the party's congressional campaign arms are eager to cash in on Trump's lure with small donors ahead of next year's midterm elections, when the GOP hopes to regain control of at least one chamber of Congress. But there's a problem: Trump himself. In his first speech since leaving office, the former president encouraged loyalists to give directly to him, essentially bypassing the traditional groups that raise money for GOP candidates. “There’s only one way to contribute to our efforts to elect ‘America First’ Republican conservatives and, in turn, to make America great again," Trump said Sunday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida. “And that’s through Save America PAC and donaldjtrump.com.” The comment was particularly notable because Trump is generally loath to ask for money in person. It amounts to the latest salvo in the battle to shape the future of the GOP, with Trump making clear that he holds no allegiance to the party's traditional fundraising operation as he tries to consolidate power. That could help him add to an already commanding war chest, aiding his effort to influence the party. Save America has more than $80 million cash on hand, including $3 million raised after the CPAC speech, according to a person familiar with the total. Some of that money could help Trump settle scores with incumbent members of Congress who have crossed him. In his Sunday speech, Trump read aloud the names of every Republican who voted against him and called for them to be defeated. He's already endorsed a Republican challenger to GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, who voted to impeach him over the U.S. Capitol riot. “Trump’s call to give directly to him shows that the normal organs of the party ... are going to have to fight for relevance in the 2022 cycle,” said Dan Eberhart, a longtime Republican donor who has given large sums to all three as well as to Trump’s campaign. Bill Palatucci, a RNC member from New Jersey, called Trump's comments “unwelcome" and “counterproductive" and voiced concern that the GOP would suffer further losses, like Georgia' Senate runoff elections in January, if they don't work together. “Listen it’s a free country. Anybody can form a federal PAC or a super PAC and there's always lots of competition for dollars. But the crossing the line there is then to also tell people to not give to the important committees of the national party," said Palatucci. “There’s got to be a willingness on the former president to look beyond his own self-interest." The RNC and spokespeople for the House and Senate campaign committees declined to comment. But others sought to downplay the apparent tensions. They noted, for instance, that Trump is scheduled to speak at the RNC's spring donor retreat — a major fundraising source — in April in Palm Beach. And Trump told the party’s chair, Ronna McDaniel, in recent days that he wants to continue fundraising for the RNC, according to a person briefed on the conversation who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations. Before making his money pitch on Sunday, Trump's team quietly updated its fundraising filings. They converted his Save America leadership PAC to an entity that can also support other candidates, and turned his main Donald J. Trump for President campaign committee into the Make America Great Again, or MAGAPac. Money raised through Trump's website now goes to Save America JFC, a joint fundraising agreement between the two. While Trump left office as a deeply unpopular figure, he remains a powerful draw for small-dollar, grassroots donors, a reality that has been abundantly clear in fundraising appeals over the last week. Over the course of a single hour last Thursday, the RNC, both GOP congressional campaign committees and the Republican State Leadership Committee, which tries to elect Republicans to state office, blasted supporters with urgent fundraising appeals that included urgent references to Trump. And the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned this week that its “limited edition” T-shirts featuring Trump were almost sold out. Regardless of Trump's next move, the GOP is unlikely to remove him from its sales pitch anytime soon. “Our digital fundraising strategy is simple: raise as much money as possible," said Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for the RSLC. Jill Colvin, The Associated Press
Britain's Prince Harry and American wife Meghan decided long ago they would not play the traditional royal media "game", and on Sunday they depart from the norms of engagement again with an in-depth interview with U.S. chat show host Oprah Winfrey. Smarting from sometimes critical tabloid headlines and press intrusion in Britain, they have already announced they will step down from official duties, move to California with young son Archie and cut off contact with Britain's biggest tabloids. Last month, Meghan successfully sued the Mail on Sunday for breaching her privacy by publishing parts of a letter she wrote to her father.
The City of Charlottetown needs to pull its socks up when it comes to flooding prevention, according to a new report from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. The centre has been studying flooding preparedness in 16 Canadian cities, and Charlottetown's grade dropped from C– to D+ between 2015 and 2020. "Where is water going to go when the big storms hit, either through rivers overflowing or water backing up through sewer systems?" said Blair Feltmate, a professor at the university and head of the centre. "Charlottetown does not have up-to-date flood risk maps," he told Laura Chapin on Island Morning. Blair Feltmate says flood risk maps need to take into account that future storms will likely be more intense and longer than storms of the past. (uwaterloo.ca) Feltmate said Charlottetown scored worse than in 2015 on five of the seven areas they looked at, tying for the second-worst overall grade in the country. "In terms of land-use planning, directing that no new developments be built on flood plains, Charlottetown scored fairly low," he said. The city also scored low for its efforts in urban drainage, directing water away from areas where infrastructure currently exists. There was one area where Charlottetown has improved, however: educating homeowners about the risks of basement flooding. "We have an infographic that delineates on one page, 15 things you can do around your house to lower the probability that you will end up with water in your basement. And the city has been putting that material out through various forms of communication to homeowners," said Feltmate. The weather of the past is not a good predictor of the weather of the future under climate change. - Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation The average cost of a flooded basement in Canada right now is about $40,000, said Feltmate, and often the homeowner ends up paying for all or part of that because of a lack of insurance coverage or a cap on pay-outs. "That's why we put so much attention on helping homeowners to help themselves, to put the measures in place around their home, to hopefully not realize a flooded basement when the big storms hit," he said. Charlottetown has 'picked up the ball', says Feltmate, when it comes to helping homeowners prevent basement flooding. (Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC) A staff member from the Intact Centre is working with the city and the province of P.E.I. right now in the area of flood home protection. "And that's training individuals in the province to go out into the community, meet with homeowners and be able to perform an assessment of their flood vulnerabilities for their home," said Feltmate. Charlottetown recently received about $87,000 in funding from P.E.I.'s Climate Challenge Fund to do homeowner flooding education and assessment work. Feltmate said the centre's evaluation ended at the beginning of 2020, but Charlottetown has done some good work since then. "I think they've picked up the ball quite a bit to be more aggressive in the whole area of helping homeowners help themselves." City says reports like this are 'valuable' In a statement to CBC News, Ramona Doyle, manager of environment and sustainability for the City of Charlottetown, said that the city is "displeased" with the report's results, but that it is valuable in identifying areas where the city must improve. "We believe that a number of ongoing initiatives, including recent funding from the Climate Challenge Fund, our active partnership with ClimateSense, as well as joining the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative will help us work towards mitigating flood risks going forward," Doyle said. 'New regime' of extreme weather Feltmate said that across Canada, extreme weather events are becoming more common, and governments need to change the way they model flood risk. "The weather of the past is not a good predictor of the weather of the future under climate change. We are getting storms today that are more intense, more water coming down over shorter periods of time than has happened historically," he said. "So the question is, are you also forward-looking under the new regime of the extreme weather that's on the ground today and the more extreme weather that's coming?" More from CBC P.E.I.
European telecoms firms are cashing in on the money-making power of masts, as tower companies line up to pay multi-billion dollar price tags for antennas buzzing with ever more data ahead of the advent of 5G. Upgrading networks, including towers, for 5G - which promises an age of self-driving cars and brain surgery performed at a distance - will soak up some $890 billion between 2020 and 2025, the GSMA industry body says. European operators are increasingly willing to exploit assets to help finance those build-outs.
A Keswick couple is suing provincial archeologist Brent Suttie and the province, claiming he used the alleged discovery of an arrowhead years prior to thwart their plans to build a retirement home next door to his house in Douglas. Rocky and Cassie Brawn allege Suttie threatened to have their land locked down as an Indigenous archeological site with one call to the minister of tourism, heritage and culture, who oversees the archeology and heritage branch. They say the province subsequently agreed to buy their property for $154,200, but backed out of the deal at the last minute, according to the statement of claim, filed with the Court of Queen's Bench in Fredericton. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Suttie could not immediately be reached for comment. Asked for a comment about the lawsuit and Suttie's employment status, given the allegations, Tourism, Heritage and Culture spokesperson Jeremy Trevors said the department had no comment on the matter. But the department "reiterates its confidence in its staff and its commitment towards the conservation of archeological sites throughout the province," he said in an emailed statement. Fredericton lawyer Gordon Shepard, who is representing the Brawns, declined to comment. Case dates back to 2012 The Brawns acquired the property at 1315 Route 105, on the shore of the St. John River, on March 22, 2012, and began site work soon after. They claim Suttie, who lives at 1311, was aware of their development activities, which included excavating, cutting down trees and removing stumps, hauling in truckloads of fill, levelling and compacting, and digging a test pit for a septic system, all with the help of heavy equipment over six years. He even gave them two rolls of road-building fabric he had leftover from a project, according to the court document. Rocky and Cassie Brawn listed the house on their property at 1315 Route 105 in Douglas for sale in 2015 and planned to build a retirement home on a subdivided eastern section of their lot, adjacent to Brent Suttie's property.(Ed Hunter/CBC) Suttie "took no action whatsoever" to stop them — even when they removed soil about 50 metres from where an arrowhead was allegedly discovered by someone picking fiddleheads in 2012. Nor did he notify the Brawns of the existence of "the archeological find and its implications" for their plans. The couple had also applied for various development permits from the province during this period, which were approved with no mention of any arrowhead, according to the court document. Offers to buy lot rejected It was only in June 2018, after they subdivided their property and Rocky Brawn told Suttie's wife he would be cutting trees on his side of the dividing property line to build a new home that problems started. Suttie told Brawn he "would not tolerate" him cutting any trees near the boundary, expressing concerns about drainage as well as a reduction in privacy. He asked if Brawn was interested in selling him the vacant lot. When Brawn said no, he offered to buy a 10-foot wide strip. Again, Brawn declined. The Brawns contend Brent Suttie, who lives at 1311 Route 105, pictured here, never mentioned an arrowhead until they planned to cut some trees along the dividing property line.(Ed Hunter/CBC) Suttie responded by informing Brawn that he was the provincial archeologist and he would "stop any further cutting on the property by calling 'the minister' and having the plaintiffs' property designated as a 'no future development area,'" the lawsuit claims. "It was at this point for the first time, that Suttie revealed that an 'arrowhead' had been found on their property." Costly to report Suttie told Brawn he had registered the artifact but never reported it to the minister because "it puts my land at risk," according to the court document. He explained test holes would have to be dug at a cost of $300 each and if any artifacts were found, the area would need to be excavated at a cost of $7,500 per square metre at the owner's expense. "Suttie made it clear to Mr. Brawn that the Brawns were not going to be able to build on their lot if Suttie reported the arrowhead to the minister, and repeated his offer to buy the plaintiffs' lot." Brawn said he'd think about it. The notice of action and statement of claim were filed with the Court of Queen's Bench in Fredericton on Feb. 19.(Edwin Hunter/CBC) On June 20, Brawn visited the provincial archeological services office in Fredericton and was told no artifacts had been registered in connection with the properties. He was advised he was "free to break ground and commence building." So the couple proceeded to cut trees and hauled in 200 truckloads of fill, which was levelled and compacted. But in early September, the Brawns decided they would sell their lot rather than build, "out of concerns over Suttie's threats to interfere." Never inputted in computer system About a week later, Suttie told Brawn the property search done by Karen Narvey at the archeological services office was incorrect and they would be hearing from the office about the artifact. He asked again if they would be willing to sell him their lot. Around Oct. 3, they were advised an artifact had been found on the property but hadn't been inputted into the department's computer system. According to a Maritime Archeological Resource Inventory form, dated May 16, 2012, an alleged artifact was found on an unknown date and submitted to archeological services on April 18, 2012. Suttie alleges in the form that the artifact was found on the shore near the southern boundary of the Brawns' property. Suttie's subsequent report to the minister of tourism, heritage and culture has led to their property being designated as within the 200-metre site protection buffer of a registered pre-contact Indigenous archeological site. 'Wilfully withheld properly reporting' The Brawns contend they exercised due diligence by asking the archeological services office about the existence of any registered sites and relied on the advice of the branch in their decision to continue development of the lot. Suttie, meanwhile, "wilfully withheld properly reporting and registering" the discovery of the artifact to the minister, "contrary to his statutory duty" under the Heritage Conservation Act, according to the statement of claim. This prejudiced their ability to ascertain the existence of the archeological site as an impediment to their development plans for the lot and they had to abandon their plan to build their retirement home, the Brawns contend. They further allege Suttie used the threat of revealing the 2012 archeological discovery to the minister with malice, to pressure them to sell to him. He used the power of his office "in bad faith" and the province is liable for the actions of its employee, they claim. Intimidation and misfeasance In addition, they claim once they learned Suttie followed through with his alleged threat to have their property designated an Indigenous archeological site, "they pursued resolution of the situation involving Suttie with the province" through the office of the minister. They say the province had agreed to purchase the lot for $150,000 and to cover legal fees of $4,200. They were assured the funds had been allocated, but the COVID-19 pandemic and Sept. 14, 2020 provincial election had delayed closing the deal, according to the court document. They were asked to remain patient, it states. Then, on Dec. 10, they were advised the province "does not have the authority" to purchase the property. Against Suttie and the province, the Brawns are seeking damages in an amount to be determined by the court, based on the torts of intimidation and misfeasance of public office. Against the province, the Brawns are seeking a declaration that they're entitled to be paid $154,200, or damages for breach of contract or damages for breach of duty to act in good faith in its contractual dealings, as well as special damages for money "wasted" developing the property. They are also seeking legal costs and any other relief the court deems fit. No statements of defence have been filed yet and a hearing date has not yet been set.
