Polar bear swims ring in 2015

The Conversation Canada
Biden's peaceful inauguration doesn't end America's longtime coup addiction
From a global perspective, there was nothing unique about the recent raid on the U.S. Capitol. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have backed military coups around the world for decades.
21 hours ago
Initiative de journalisme local
La CSD Construction inquiète du projet de loi 59
La CSD Construction est inquiète du contenu du projet de loi 59 portant sur des modifications au régime de la santé et sécurité du travail. C’est pourquoi la centrale syndicale a soumis plusieurs recommandations au ministre du Travail Jean Boulet pour bonifier le projet de loi lors de son passage en commission parlementaire, mercredi matin. Essentiellement, ces modifications portent sur la prévention avec des représentants en santé et sécurité plus nombreux, autonomes et indépendants des patrons. Par voie de communiqué, la CSD a fait savoir qu’après une analyse approfondie du projet de loi, elle porte un regard très critique sur ce qui est sur la table. « On ne va pas dans la bonne direction pour diminuer les accidents et les décès qui surviennent trop souvent dans l’industrie de la construction, industrie qui, rappelons-le, est la plus meurtrière au Québec », de s’indigner Carl Dufour, président de la CSD Construction. Selon lui, le projet de loi 59 porte plusieurs mesures qui tireront l’industrie vers le bas s’il n’est pas modifié et si le ministre ne retient pas les propositions de la CSD Construction. La centrale rappelle que l’occasion est unique pour modifier des lois qui n’ont pas été dépoussiérées depuis plus de 40 ans. « Tant qu’à réformer les lois en santé et sécurité du travail, réformons-les pour vrai », a déclaré M. Dufour. La CSD Construction demande la mise en place d’équipes volantes de représentants en santé et sécurité autonomes et indépendants qui seraient sous la responsabilité de chaque organisation syndicale. Ils seraient outillés pour faire de la prévention à temps plein. Dans sa forme actuelle, le projet de loi prévoit que les chantiers de 10 à 100 travailleurs, où il y a le plus haut taux de lésions, aient un représentant en santé et sécurité qui soit employé du chantier, donc de l’employeur. « Ce sont les chantiers où les règles sont les moins respectées par les employeurs. On le voit bien dans le cadre de la pandémie. Soyons réalistes, l’employé responsable de la santé et sécurité n’aura pas la liberté nécessaire pour soulever les problèmes et émettre des recommandations, surtout si elles sont coûteuses, à son dirigeant. Il y a donc ici un réel enjeu d’indépendance. Il faut rappeler qu’il n’existe pas de règle d’ancienneté et de priorité de rappel dans la construction », de préciser le président de la CSD Construction. Ce dernier a ajouté qu’« une prévention efficace est le nerf de la guerre pour faire perdre au secteur construction le triste record du plus grand nombre de décès reliés au travail, année après année ». Pour ce qui est des chantiers de plus de 100 travailleurs, le syndicat demande qu’on revoie les seuils pour permettre plus d’agents de sécurité et de représentants en santé et sécurité. Notamment, la CSD Construction demande qu’un représentant en santé et sécurité soit désigné pour chaque tranche de 100 travailleurs présents sur le chantier de construction, plutôt qu’à chaque tranche de 300, comme il est proposé. Le syndicat demande aussi que le seuil à partir duquel un agent de sécurité à temps plein doit être désigné sur un chantier demeure le même (8 millions de dollars) et ne soit pas majoré à 25 millions. La CSD Construction souligne que le projet de réforme prévoit un programme de prévention intéressant, qui doit être mis en place par l’employeur, ainsi qu’un comité supervisant l’application des mesures de prévention sur les chantiers de 20 travailleurs et plus.Denis Villeneuve, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Quotidien
a day ago
Initiative de journalisme local
COVID-19 : bilan du 21 janvier
COVID-19. Les plus récentes données sur l'évolution de la COVID-19, au Québec, font état de 1 624 nouveaux cas pour la journée d'hier, pour un nombre total de 248 860 personnes infectées. Parmi celles-ci, 221 327 sont rétablies. Elles font également état de 66 nouveaux décès, mais le nombre total de décès s'élève à 9 273 en raison du retrait de 1 décès pour lequel l'enquête a démontré qu'il n'était pas attribuable à la COVID-19. De ces 66 décès, 22 sont survenus dans les 24 dernières heures, 39 entre le 14 et le 19 janvier, 4 avant le 14 janvier et 1 à une date inconnue. Le nombre total d'hospitalisations a diminué de 14 par rapport à la veille, avec un cumul de 1 453. Parmi celles-ci, le nombre de personnes se trouvant aux soins intensifs est resté stable, pour un total actuel de 216. Les prélèvements réalisés le 19 janvier s'élèvent à 32 845, pour un total de 5 533 972. Toujours le 19 janvier, 10 207 doses de vaccin ont été administrées, pour un total de 174 260. Au cours des 7 derniers jours (depuis le 13 janvier), ce sont 66 895 personnes qui ont été vaccinées, pour une moyenne quotidienne de 9 556 personnes vaccinées.Stéphane Lévesque, Initiative de journalisme local, L'Hebdo Journal
21 hours ago
CBC
Neighbours praising Inuvik woman who alerted row house tenants to fire
Early in the morning last Friday, Marissa Murphy and her partner were asleep in bed when they heard "aggressive banging" on the doors and windows of their home in Inuvik, N.W.T. "We were kind of scared we didn't know what was going on … as soon as I got downstairs I could see that the whole street was filled with smoke and people were running around, and somebody was at my door looking very panicked," said Murphy. "She was saying that there was a fire and we need to leave." That woman was Murphy's neighbour from across the street, Elise Decarie-Jean, who is being praised by the other tenants for her courage when she stopped to wake up people sleeping during the fire. 'You could feel the heat' No one was injured during the fire on Natala Drive, but there was significant damage to the four-unit townhouses, which included Murphy's unit. Decarie-Jean said she was getting ready for work when she went outside and saw dense smoke. In the past, she has smelled the wood stove burning from the unit where the fire started, but this time was different. That morning, it also smelled like chemicals, and she realized it was a bigger fire. Outside, another woman was calling the fire department, but Decarie-Jean noticed no one else was standing outside and she thought people might still be asleep. I would've never woken up without them pounding on the door - Jerry Lennie-Inglangasuk, resident "That's when I dropped my bags and went to the first door closer to the unit on fire because it was too smoky to go to the first unit where the fire started," said Decarie-Jean. She knocked on the windows and doors of two of the units on both sides of the building. She said someone else had alerted the person in the fourth unit. Murphy, who is new to Inuvik and has only been living in her home since September, praises Decarie-Jean's actions. "I just went into pure adrenaline mode," Murphy said. "I have four parrots and two rabbits. I wasn't exactly prepared to do something, but luckily I had a couple of carriers in the room and I just kinda shoved them in the carriers and we ran out. I was still in PJs." Murphy, her partner and animals all waited at Decarie-Jean's house as they figured out what to do. "It was just incredible the heroism that it took to go and to make sure that everyone was awake and that the fire department was called. It could've been really dangerous," said Murphy. I don't think anyone would've been able to stand there and do nothing. - Elise Decarie-Jean, resident Jerry Lennie-Inglangasuk and his partner live in one of the units Decarie-Jean knocked on. "My room was right behind where the fire was, and that was full of smoke already," said Lennie-Inglangasuk. "You could feel the heat … I would've never woken up without them pounding on the door … true northerners." Fire being investigated Both Lennie-Inglangasuk and Murphy say the unit where the fire started doesn't have power. They say the person living there creates his own heat, which they suspect is either a generator or wood stove. They also say this isn't the first time the fire department has been called to the unit; sparks were flying from the same unit's chimney back in November. "I feel really ticked off because he endangered my family," said Lennie-Inglangasuk. Fire Chief Cynthia Hammond confirmed to CBC that the fire is still under investigation. Lennie-Inglangasuk, whose granddaughter lives in the fourth row house, says the units are still out of water and they have all been cleaning tirelessly due to the smoke damage. He couldn't be more thankful to Decarie-Jean, and gave her a painting to express his gratitude. "I would just like to thank them for saving my life, and my granddaughter's life, and my family's life," said Lennie-Inglangasuk. But for Decarie-Jean, she says anyone would've done the same thing if they were in her position. "What else would you have done? I don't think anyone would've been able to stand there and do nothing," said Decarie-Jean. "You do good, and you receive good."
21 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
FNHMA virtual town hall discusses Covid fatigue and other mental health issues
(ANNews) - The First Nations Health Managers Association (FNHMA) Weekly Virtual Town Hall is a podcast that features speakers from different organizations who provide credible and reliable information, resources, and updates about what their organizations are doing to combat COVID-19. Dr. Brenda Restoule, Chief Executive Officer of the First Peoples’ Wellness Circle, appeared on the Jan. 14, podcast and began her talk by saying, “Today I thought I would spend some time talking about the fact that we have been in this pandemic for ten months.” She mentioned how she recently had conversations “about just how much our workforce and our leaders are doing and how tired and exhausting it’s become. Ten months of this – we are concerned about the wellness of our workforce.” As for tiredness and fatigue, Dr. Restoule said, “We know that our workforce has been working so hard. Our leaders have been working so hard. They are doing more, doing it differently, sometimes they’re doing different things than they did before, or they’re just having to do their work in different ways – whether that’s virtually, at a distance.” “And they are forever being asked to think about how to do it differently. And it’s always changing!” “Burnout is what we consider to be a reaction to a prolonged and chronic job stress… it’s characterized by things like exhaustion; starting to maybe hate your job or dread going to work cause there’s so much to do and not enough time; and feeling like you’re not capable or not satisfied with your work. Burnout is a really big thing.” She also mentioned how that fatigue and burnout is not only happening at work, as most people are now working from home. “This is happening to us in our homes. We’re worried about our families, about our parents and other homes, our community members and other friends. So it can also be associated with things in our life.” She then went on to speak about a few different kinds of fatigue that are common. Such as compassion fatigue, which is essentially, “the cost of caring;” pandemic fatigue: which is when people are “less likely to want to follow” restrictions; and COVID fatigue, “the uncertainty and chaos of COVID has really forced us to make additional choices about our lifestyle, our safety in very uncertain times. With more impactful consequences if we don’t make the right decisions.” Some signs of fatigue are restlessness, irritability, lack of motivation, difficulty with concentration, withdrawing from socializing with others, and physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach pains. Here are some of Dr. Restoule’s tips for fatigue: Take care of yourself. Practice Mindfulness and meditation. Choose activities that make it easy to follow the public health measures, including creating habits such as applying hand sanitizer or grabbing a mask and appreciating these habits. Focus on things that you can do differently. “Maybe it’s about eating a little bit healthier or getting outside for a walk.” Reach out for support and find ways to make social connections. Take notice of whether you’re experiencing fatigue. Most importantly, practice self-compassion. “It’s okay if you slip up once in a while and you can’t make a decision. These are hard times… Take a COVID break. Turn things off, don’t listen for a little bit, and recognize that you can only do so much.” “I’m going to end by saying: have resiliency. We have teachings about being interconnected like trees and teachings about hibernation from the bear. We are much like the trees - our roots our interconnected to each other, we hold each other up, we protect each other.” Tune in to the FNHMA Town Hall Sessions every Thursday at 1 pm EST on Alberta Native News Facebook page or at ihtoday.ca. Jacob Cardinal is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Alberta Native News. Jacob Cardinal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News
22 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
Ratepayers suggest gutting museum, cutting library budget to curb TBM tax increase
With the facility closed to patrons, the chair of the Blue Mountain Ratepayers' Association’s (BMRA) budget committee says the Blue Mountains Public Library (BMPL) should be reducing its operating expenses. The BMRA held a membership meeting last week where they invited The Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) Mayor Alar Soever, Deputy Mayor, Rob Potter and town councillor Peter Bordignon to address questions from association members. “The library operations and public access to the facility will continue to be greatly limited. Should that not suggest that the operating expenses of the library could be trimmed rather than increased?” asked Brian Harkness, chair of the BMRA budget committee, during the meeting with members of council. In the TBM 2021 draft budget, which is expected to be passed by council on Feb. 8, the BMPL has stated that the pandemic has not reduced the library’s expenses, but in fact, increased expenses and decreased revenues. “BMPL must adhere to strict safety procedures for both a healthy workplace and the health of the community. As a result, there is an increase in the budget to health and safety PPE and supplies, as well as a decrease in revenue which would typically be gained through rentals in the facilities,” states the budget document. The BMPL is proposing a total net cost of service of $1,055,634 in the draft budget, compared to a net cost of service in 2019 of $645,901. Dr. Sabrina Saunders, CEO of the BMPL says that while the library may have been operating with reduced access to the facility, the library’s service levels throughout the pandemic have not wavered. “The community has had limited access to browse the collections in our buildings, and as such, we have placed additional staff on the task of 'personal shopping' for holds and materials for our community members,” Saunders said. “Again, we have taken this direction to maintain the service levels to our community, while assuring the safe access of materials, and limiting the spread of this deadly virus.” Potter, who sits on both the library and museum boards, says the library is one of the most-used facilities in TBM. “I know that the library staff are still very busy. They are starting up the book exchange program again and they still have curbside service for people that want to borrow books. There's still a lot going on,” Potter said. According to Mayor Soever, TBM is spending half the amount of what surrounding municipalities are spending on their respective libraries. “And we have the highest usage per capita, because people are really using the library,” Soever said. According to the 2021 draft budget, BMPL’s level of service includes 3,201 cardholders, who borrow 81,887 print and 19,864 digital items annually, as well as offering 726 community programs. Soever added that, through the council’s budget deliberations, town council and staff will be looking at the possibility of tying the library budget to the tax base. A concept welcomed by Harkness and the BMRA. “We're also looking at a separate library levy so that it actually shows up as a separate line item. And then we'll take direction from our community on that,” Soever added. As for the Craigleith Heritage Depot (CHD), in an effort to reduce the town budget, which is currently being proposed to have a 1.3 per cent levy increase, Harkness suggested TBM council should explore the idea of housing TBM archives and displays at Grey Roots, the county-run museum. “Would we not be better served to send our historical archives and museum displays to the Grey County museum, which our tax dollars help to fund, and avoid having to invest in the CHD, which is apparently quite ill-equipped to house the artifacts?” Harkness said. However, the idea didn't go over well with councillors. “I, for one, would not want to see our local history crammed into a space somewhere in the back rooms at Grey Roots where it's never to be seen again. I want our local history here in our community,” said Potter. “The depot itself is a historical artifact. It is the only railway station of its kind in Ontario, and it's a reminder of the very first railroads that served this country.” Saunders added that moving the contents of the museum would defeat the purpose of collecting community content. “A community museum is just that, a museum focused on community content. Our county and regional museums do not hold the same mandates as local community museums, which is to hold and preserve the local artifacts and heritage in the locality,” Saunders said. “The social fabric, history, and nuance of TBM would be lost in a larger museum, which has to be a rounder collection to a greater region.” She added that CHD has thrived in building relationships in the community and preserving local artifacts, content and stories, which would otherwise be lost. “Our museum staff have been an integral part of the BMPL. Over the past four years we have been able to share new research, engage our community memory bank and developed an award-winning film series that has generated new appreciation and understanding of our own history and heritage. This work has been done for and within the community where it most strongly connects,” Saunders said. Saunders also pointed out that the TBM invested in the CHD facility in the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years to assure the museum is set for collection development, maintenance and storage through the remediation of the facility and a capital investment of mobile storage shelving. “We are very happy with the results and know this has further expanded the capacity of this local community museum,” she said. Soever added that it would be highly unlikely for council to consider the completely dismantling the CHD. “We can certainly look at storing artifacts at Grey Roots, if they have the capacity. But, I think we really need to keep the depot as the place where people can see local history and, certainly, the library has generated a lot of good work that is keeping our history alive,” Soever said. Jennifer Golletz, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, CollingwoodToday.ca
23 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
Ontario's 2020 wildfire season closes well below 10 year average
Ontario’s 2020 wildland fire season officially ended on October 31, closing a season well below Ontario’s 10 year average in total number of fires and total affected areas. Between April 1 and October 31, there were 607 fires, far below the 10 year average of 870 fires for this time of year. The 15,460 hectares burned was actually less than 10 percent of the 10 year average of more than 162,000 hectares. Globally, 2020 was a year on fire. It began in Australia where more than 18 million hectares burned over the 2019/2020 season, killing at least 30 people and millions of animals and destroying more than 2,700 homes. A record number of wildfires burned in the Arctic under record high temperatures while fires also burned out of control in Indonesia, the Pantanal wetlands and the Amazon forest in Brazil, central Argentina and closer to home in Oregon and California. Smoke from the California fires reached as far as Northern Europe. More than 150 Ontario fire personnel were deployed to help combat wildfires in Australia, Quebec and Oregon this year. Ontario’s fire season got off to a slow start because of lingering snow cover and above normal precipitation in the spring, said Maimoona Dinani, spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). COVID-19 was a factor as well. “Recognizing the compounded risks facing firefighters and communities threatened by fire due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, MNRF had to prioritize early detection and aggressive initial response to keep new fires small. We also implemented a restricted fire zone across Ontario’s legislated fire region from April 3 to May 16 to reduce the risk of preventable human-caused fires,” she said. A number of provinces had restrictions on outdoor activities throughout the spring at least, some maybe continuing into the summer, agreed Richard Carr of Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service. “There was maybe a little less human activity in the forest so the number of human-caused fires may have dropped a bit. I think the big difference was the weather.” The fires in the western United States began in mid-summer and kept going, with fires still happening in parts of California, said Mr. Carr. Those areas experienced rain up until the middle of May or early June and then it just stopped, leading to quite a few weeks of dry weather. Regular rainfall amounts through spring and summer in most of Canada helped hold the number of fires and area burned down. Only New Brunswick and Quebec saw more fires than average, he said. “In some areas of Canada the little bar on the graph doesn’t even show up, the area burned was so little.” Conditions were much the same in Ontario as they were across the country. The province did not experience many long hot, dry periods that would produce an extreme fire hazard. “Hard work by Ontario’s Fire Rangers as well as more precipitation in the province kept any of the fires we did get at a relatively manageable size,” added Ms. Dinani. “The same trend of lots of precipitation through the fall until the end of the fire season led to a quiet fall season as well with minimal new fire starts.” Experts agree that hotter, drier and longer seasons due to climate change are changing the nature and intensity of wildfires. “We’ve probably seen that over the past ten or twenty years there have been more sustained fire seasons, probably lasting a bit longer,” said Mr. Carr. “We’ve got bigger fires. We’ve got fires in areas that historically haven’t had many fires: Vancouver Island, far northwestern British Columbia, Ontario right along the Hudson Bay lowlands and the western shoulder of James Bay. Certainly there have been fires from time to time that are a bit bigger than usual.” In Canada there are more sustained periods of warm, dry weather with some areas having a shorter winter season, less snow cover or warmer temperatures that melt the snowpack down early and these can lead to earlier starts to the fire season. “I think the way the forests have been managed has led to more intense fires; there’s just more wood available to burn,” Mr. Carr noted. “I don’t know if it’s contributing to changing the length of the fire season but maybe it’s making fires more intense.” As well, aspen and white spruce have died off during some fairly severe drought years and dead trees in the forest will probably burn more readily, he said. Droughts can not only allow more fires to happen but also change the nature of forests so they burn more readily. Fire seasons have been observed to be getting longer in Ontario, said Ms. Dinani. “MNRF fire weather stations have recorded increasing temperatures over the last 50 years; the predicted increase in temperatures may lead to more dry lightning occurrences, which could cause an increase in fire occurrences. Increasing temperatures and the occurrence, duration and extent of drought, insect and forest disease outbreaks are likely to create a more fire prone forest and increase the size and severity of fires.” “We know that forest fires do release methane and CO2, things that constitute greenhouse gases,” Mr. Carr said. “Different tree species may release different types of gases or different amounts. We do have ongoing projects that relate to determining how much material gets consumed and how much gases get released. Part of the problem is determining how much of the fuel (wood and organic matter on the forest floor) gets consumed in a fire and that varies by species and weather conditions. For example, very hot, dry and windy conditions would lead to fires that burn quite deeply and burn off all of the organic material.” Fluctuations in climate are measured in decades. “The number, size, and intensity of wildland fires, and the amount of area they burn are highly variable and are strongly influenced by the variability of weather patterns from one year to the next,” Ms. Dinani said. Because of this variability it is difficult to connect any specific single fire to the effects of climate change. However, climate change combined with other factors is expected to increase the occurrences and associated overall risks of wildland fires. The way in which natural resources are managed can also influence the balance of GHGs, and sustainable forest management activities can enhance carbon storage .“While wildland fires do result in the emission of GHGs into the atmosphere, 90 percent of fires are small (under four hectares) and do not create a significant release of greenhouse gas emissions. The 10 percent of wildland fires that do grow large are the result of fire management decisions to allow a fire to burn under low risk conditions or when severe weather or other uncontrollable circumstances occur.” While large wildland fires can release significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, the forest begins to reabsorb carbon from the atmosphere as it regenerates. New forests absorb carbon at a higher rate than older forests thus allowing for sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions from a wildland fire to occur with new growth. Fire is a natural part of the forest landscape and some tree species depend on fire for reproduction, said Mr. Carr. They need the heat to burst open their cones to start the new seedlings. “There’s a forest regeneration that comes from fire where there’s a natural succession of plants and animals into a whole ecosystem. It’s good in moderation. Naturally there’s going to be fluctuations and it’s quite variable with the human influence. It’s been a part of the landscape for thousands of years and a lot of things have adapted to it.” “We’ve had a number of years where we’ve had three or four million hectares burned which is about double the average and we’ve had some fairly low ones in the past when there’s less hectares burned across the country. This is one of them. Usually they tend to rebound fairly quickly afterwards again and then next season will be different again.” Lori Thompson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor
23 hours ago
Rumble
Pajama-wearing raccoon enjoys tasty snack with his owner
This pet raccoon wearing Pikachu pajamas chows down on some yummy treats alongside his owner. Cuteness overload!
22 hours ago
CBC
Parole board decision notes Allan Legere planned another escape after murder conviction
Allan Legere plotted a fresh escape the year he was convicted of a series of brutal killings that had created panic in Miramichi, according to a written decision denying him parole. The eight-page decision, which follows a Jan. 13 parole board hearing, also said that in May 2019, a weapon was found inside the television in his cell at the maximum security Edmonton Institution. The written decision reiterates the board's firm refusal of any form of parole for the 72-year-old inmate, noting Legere's failure to accept responsibility for his violence and his suggestion victims' families forgive him and "move on." The decision also contains new details of an escape attempt not widely known in the past. The convicted murderer, rapist and arsonist famously escaped from custody on May 3, 1989, while serving a life sentence for the murder of store owner John He then terrorized the Miramichi area as he carried out four more brutal murders, several arsons and a sexual assault before being recaptured on Nov. 24, 1989.Glendenning during a 1986 robbery. Yet, even when he was imprisoned at the maximum security Atlantic Institution in Renous following his 1991 conviction, Legere appeared to keep plotting how he could get away. "According to file information, you have a history of attempting to, and being successful in, escaping from custody," the decision read. "In 1987 you attempted to escape twice, in 1989 you did escape, and in 1991 you attempted once again to escape. "In regards to the 1991 attempt, file information relays that your plan to escape custody included an intention of taking a female staff hostage." Legere was convicted of the murders on Nov. 3, 1991 after DNA evidence confirmed his presence at the murder scenes. John Harris, a former Correctional Service Canada manager at the Atlantic Institution, said during a telephone interview that he recalled the 1991 escape attempt, which intelligence officers at the facility documented. He said it fit a pattern of past behaviour. "When that information [of the escape plan] started to come up, and it started to get a little intense, that's when the decision was made to have him transferred to the super maximum unit [near Montreal]," Harris recalled. Plan 'kept under wraps' The 77-year-old retired correctional officer said Legere's plan was "kept under wraps but it was put on the file to justify the transfer." "We had to caution some of the female staff members.... We weren't sure what woman it was, but we had an indication it was a female correctional officer." During his parole hearing last week, Legere didn't accept responsibility for the beating deaths, saying others committed them, and he blamed alcohol for his actions in tying up and sexually assaulting a woman. He said several times he didn't expect parole but would like a chance to pursue programs for his rehabilitation at a medium security prison. More recently, in May 2019, a weapon was found in your television during an X-ray. - Parole Board of Canada decision Harris urges the board and the federal correctional service to remain vigilant, as he said he believes that Legere will still plan an escape, despite his denials of such an intention during the hearing. "It won't be an escape as we think of it," Harris said. "He's planning to get to minimum security, where you can just walk away." During his hearing, Legere made a number of remarks critical of Rick MacLean, the former editor of the Miramichi Leader who documented the murderer's violence in the weekly newspaper and in two books he co-wrote. MacLean said in an interview that he finds it frightening to imagine what Legere might have done had he managed to escape again in 1991. "It would have been horrifying for me and my family," he said. The parole board's decision, released Monday night, said that after his 2015 transfer to Western Canada, Legere's behaviour continued to be "problematic," though it said his violence decreased and he managed at times to successfully participate in institutional employment programs. Legere, however, continued to develop fixations on female staff members and to behave inappropriately around them, the report said. "More recently, in May 2019, a weapon was found in your television during an X-ray. The board takes note that you have hidden contraband in your television in the past, and it is concerning that this behaviour has persisted over time." Harris said this also fits a pattern of past practice of Legere using the television for improper purposes. In 1989, guards failed to detect a television antenna Legere had hidden in his rectum, and he used it during his escape after being taken out of the prison for a medical appointment.
a day ago
CBC
Edmonton animal clinics busier during pandemic
Demand for animal care has surged in Edmonton during the pandemic. At the Glenora Family Pet Clinic, getting in for a regular check-up takes up to four weeks now, rather than a week. The usual two-week wait for surgeries has stretched to six weeks. Dr. Belinda Lowes said there seem to be two reasons for the increased demand at her clinic, where families often now wait in their vehicles in the parking lot during a pet's examination. "Lots of people are adopting right now," she told CBC News. "People are at home more, so they feel like it's a good time to get a puppy so they can be home while they're training it. The kids are home so that, you know, something for them to do and pay attention to." With more people working from home, they're noticing more pet ailments than they used to, Lowes said. According to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, it's a trend seen right across the province. "Small animal practices are reporting that they've never been so busy," said Dr. Darrell Dalton, registrar secretary treasurer with the association. He said clinics have to do more disinfecting and sanitizing between visits as fewer people are allowed in at the same time. Dalton asked clients to be as patient as possible. "They're putting through animals as quickly as they can," Dalton said. "But the whole COVID thing has slowed the practices down." Despite the changes, Chris Bamford said he's pleased with the service. He and his wife waited in the parking lot at Glenora Family Pet Clinic while their cat, Pancho, underwent tests for 45 minutes. "We were asked to either wait in the car or come back, so that's really the main difference," Bamford said. As Pancho cuddled on Bamford's chest back in the vehicle, and he and his wife chatted with Lowes through the window. Pancho, 13, has been losing weight and no longer shows interest in his favourite foods. The family was relieved to get the diagnosis, a thyroid condition that could be treated with two pills a day.
a day ago
CBC
Windsor church deemed 'not Black enough' disheartened by grant rejection
A leader with the British Methodist Episcopal Church in Windsor, a Black church with hundreds of years of history, says it's "disheartening" that the organization was denied a grant for Black community organizations. Church clerk Nancy Allen said it's not the rejection that concerns her but the reason provided by the federal government. "When you're rejected because of your ethnicity or you're told you're not Black enough to receive this grant because it was for Black-led organizations that's very, very — it's disheartening," Allen said at a press conference on Wednesday. WATCH: Nancy Allen and MehariHagos react to their organizations being denied a government grant for Black-led organizations. The church had applied for a grant from a $25-million federal program for organizations that serve Black Canadians, the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. On Tuesday, it received an email denying the application saying it didn't meet the eligibility requirements for Black leadership and governance. "Information provided did not meet this eligibility criteria or was insufficient to clearly demonstrate that the organization is led and governed by people who self-identify as Black," the email stated. In order to receive the grant, a third of the leadership of the organization has to identify as Black. All members of the church's trustee board are Black. The church dates back to the 1850s, and some of those who built it escaped slavery in the U.S. It's one of several congregations of the British Methodist Episcopal Church, including one built by Harriet Tubman in Niagara. The church is no longer in its original location in Windsor — the land was expropriated and the church moved in 1963. The current building is in need of upgrades, Allen explained. It had applied for about $98,000 last year to do retrofits including air conditioning and kitchen upgrades. "We're just trying to make the church and the community centre viable to keep their membership and maybe to grow some more," Rob Vidamour of restoration company Winmar said at the press conference. Windsor West MP Brian Masse is calling on Ahmed Hussen, minister of families, children and social development, to reconsider the application and apologize. He wrote a letter to the minister saying he couldn't comprehend how the application was denied on the basis that the church didn't meet the eligibility criteria. "We're making a strong appeal to the minister. If [the] Black community is going to be supported and it's going to be enhanced with government projects, you just can't pretend when there's mistakes. You just can't pass them off and that's what the department did here," he said. The church is among many organizations across the country speaking out after being deemed ineligible for the grant. An application by MH100, an after-school program for at-risk Black youth in Windsor-Essex, was also denied, with the government saying the organization didn't meet the leadership and governance criteria. "I think they didn't really do their research enough. If they did their research, then they'd find out...who this organization is ran by," said executive director Mehari Hagos, who said he was caught off guard by the decision but added that mistakes happen. An application by Sandwich First Baptist Church in west Windsor is currently being reviewed. Minister issues apology So far, more than 90 projects have been approved under the program, representing up to $7 million in funding, including Underground Railroad churches in Hamilton and St. Catharines. Hussen, the minister responsible, recently apologized for the letters received by applicants. "The letter recently sent by my department to unsuccessful applicants for funding was completely unacceptable. As soon as it was presented to me, I quickly demanded a retraction and met with my officials to discuss how such a mistake could have happened in the first place," he said in a series of tweets last week. The BME church said it hasn't been given an alternative explanation for the rejection. A second email to the BME stated: "Employment and Social Development Canada did not receive the information required to move forward with your application." Hussen went on to say the government is taking "meaningful action" and being accountable. "We are committed to getting this right," he said. For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
22 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
Annual Polar Plunge going virtual this year
Brent Secondiak is no stranger to jumping into freezing cold water for a good cause. For as many years as it has been running in Medicine Hat, Secondiak and his Medicine Hat Police colleagues have taken part in the Polar Plunge. The event is simple: jump into cold water and raise money for Special Olympics Alberta. The plunge has once again been altered this year due to COVID-19, and it has gone virtual. Those wishing to participate can raise funds digitally through the Special Olympics Alberta website. Then they can participate in a solo plunge, whether it is pouring cold water on their head, safely wading into the river or rolling around in snow. The Plunge will take place on March 13, when Secondiak will take a quick dip in the South Saskatchewan River. “It’s going to be cold, but it will be worth it,” he said. “I’ll have a few people out with me just to make sure everything is safe. “This is a really great cause that I really believe in.” Those raising money can choose to help out local athletes. “There’s a number of fantastic athletes in our city,” said Secondiak. “I do this every year and this is a cause that’s near and dear to me.” Those wishing to contribute can go to http://www.specialolympics.ca/albertapolarplunge Mo Cranker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Medicine Hat News
21 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
Former NDP Corner Brook candidate wants provincial leadership review
A former NDP candidate for Corner Brook says he wants a leadership review by the provincial NDP. Graham Downey-Sutton, who announced on Jan. 15 he would step down as the NDP nominee for the district, released a video on social media on Tuesday citing ongoing family issues as well as concerns over provincial NDP Leader Alison Coffin and the provincial campaign director for the NDP, Mat Whynott. Downey-Sutton told SaltWire Network he didn’t feel there was a lot of support from Coffin for a PET scanner or the hospital generally in Corner Brook, and when he had tried to get more support, he wasn’t happy with the response. “Essentially all they did was put out a social media statement that (Coffin) had been born in the Corner Brook Hospital, that her mother had worked there and that she was an unequivocal supporter of the hospital and the PET scanner,” he said. “That was fine, but people had questions about a statement she made in the past about the future of the hospital and they were asking me about it. Here I was trying my best to support this, and people were wondering if the leader even supported a hospital being there.” Downey-Sutton has been active on the PET scanner issue, organizing a petition and leading a rally in October. The scanner was promised by former premier Dwight Ball in 2014, and whether or not the region would get one has been a topic of contention in recent weeks. The issue is key for Downey-Sutton, a cancer survivor, who said it’s a critical piece of equipment for the region and what he perceives as lack of support from Coffin on it led to him losing confidence in her. Downey-Sutton said he wants a leadership review to go ahead at this year’s convention, and he isn’t the only person with concerns. He said he also had issues with Whynott, a former Nova Scotia NDP MLA who has been hired as the provincial campaign director by the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP. Downey-Sutton said he felt uncomfortable with some of the advice Whynot gave him and didn’t think it was appropriate how elected members deferred to him, and that Whynott doesn’t understand the issues facing the province. “Nothing against Nova Scotians, my father is a Nova Scotian. I think it’s a great place, but Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia are two very different provinces with two very unique sets of problems,” he said. “We have an elected executive doing whatever he says and that just seems undemocratic to me.” Downey-Sutton said he was told not to bring up issues such as social and environmental justice because they don’t get votes, issues he feels are core to the NDP. SaltWire spoke to Coffin about the video, who said that while she hadn’t seen it, she understood Downey-Sutton had withdrawn as a candidate due to family issues. “I have a great deal of respect for giving people time to do that,” she said. “As for the rest, he voiced his opinions for sure and he knows how to reach me if he wants to discuss the rest of it a little further.” When asked about the comments regarding Whynott, Coffin said it was his job to direct the campaign, which would involve things like giving advice to candidates. “He’s making sure we’re all aligned on the same messaging, making sure the candidates are well supported. He’s doing his job. I don’t know what more there is to say about that.” Evan Careen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Telegram
21 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
Dodging cars can be hazardous to your health, says Angus resident
Chelsea Osborne has dodged more than a few cars in her days walking to work at the Angus Tim Hortons on Mill Street. Osborne said the busy intersection where County Road 90 traffic must slow down to 50 km/h on Mill Street in front of the busy coffee shop can be hazardous to her health. “Pedestrians — myself included — some people are just not paying attention. They’re just going too fast,” she said. The township plans to install red-light cameras in Angus’ community safety zones. “It’s No. 1 of our top concerns,” Essa Township chief administrative officer Colleen Healey-Dowdall said. “Our councillors are bombarded with calls of speeding.” However, the cost of developing photo radar software is prohibitive for a small municipality like Essa, she said. After five years of deliberating how to quell the dangerous traffic on several of its high-traffic roads in Baxter, Thornton and Angus, Essa’s Traffic Advisory Committee has asked Simcoe County for an assist, specifically in the Mill Street area. “The county has stated they are supportive; however, it is a very timely process to apply and be granted approval through the province,” said Krista Pascoe, deputy clerk and accessibility co-ordinator for the township. Pascoe added staff are currently collecting speed data throughout the entire municipality in order to determine which traffic-calming measures will be best utilized in which areas. “We get complaints on all our roads, to tell you the truth,” said Coun. Ron Henderson. “It’s not just Mill Street being considered for chronic speeders.” Centre Street leads into several new subdivisions along the 5th Line and is also a haven for speeders, he said. Henderson agrees with Osborne that the 50 km/h speed limit beginning at the Nottawasaga bridge near the No Frills store and Tim Hortons often catches people off-guard. Osborne said photo radar would be a definite improvement. “They (drivers) won’t be doing 60, 70 or 80 km/h around the corner and slamming on the brakes when they see me,” she said. Cheryl, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance
23 hours ago
The Canadian Press
Eldorado Gold bids $132 million for junior miner QMX to fuel potential Quebec growth
CALGARY — Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold Corp. says it has struck a deal to buy the shares of Quebec exploration company QMX Gold Corp. it doesn't already own in a cash-and-shares transaction worth $132 million or 30 cents per share. Eldorado owns about 17 per cent of the QMX shares, purchased for six cents each in a private placement at the end of 2019. It's offering 7.5 cents in cash and 0.01523 of an Eldorado share for the rest. CEO George Burns says the deal opens up expansion opportunities for Eldorado within its operating footprint as QMX's lands are located adjacent to its Lamaque underground gold mine at Val-d'Or, Que. In a note to investors, National Bank analyst Mike Parkin says the deal would expand Eldorado's Abitibi footprint and supports a "hub-and-spoke" production model with a central processing facility. Shares in QMX rose by as much as 35 per cent or 7.5 cents to 29 cents on Thursday as Eldorado shares fell by as much as five per cent or 75 cents to $14.02. Shareholders in QMX are to vote on the proposed deal in March. “This transaction expands our position in the Abitibi camp and is consistent with our strategy of pursuing growth at Lamaque in Quebec, a high-quality jurisdiction,” said Burns. “QMX’s highly prospective land package is ideally located immediately adjacent to our current Lamaque operation and associated exploration projects in the heart of the Val d’Or gold district." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Month Date, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:ELD, TSXV:QMX) The Canadian Press
21 hours ago
The Canadian Press
Who really had the album of the year? Emily Lazar did.
NEW YORK — Chris Martin admits that Coldplay’s latest album could have sounded terrible if it wasn’t for one person — mastering engineer Emily Lazar. Like the musical magician she is, Lazar added her special touch to the band’s eighth album “Everyday Life,” which was released in late 2019 and is now competing for the top prize at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Martin describes the universal and political album as “a patchwork quilt of opinions and thoughts about life and humans and the planet and how much we love Nigerian music and how much we love gospel (music) and how much we love, like, old-fashioned, northern European church music.” “All these weird things and sampling from voice memos — in the wrong hands it could have sounded awful.” Lazar came in to save the day — a role she’s played on thousands of albums and a reason she’s making history at this year’s Grammy Awards. For her work on Coldplay’s album, she shares a nomination with Martin and friends for album of the year. Lazar is also the mastering engineer on HAIM’s “Women In Music Pt. III” and Jacob Collier’s “Djesse Vol. 3” — both nominated for album of the year — making Lazar a triple nominee in the Grammys’ biggest category. “You kind of go into a little bit of shock after the first one. You’re not even focused for the next one because you think, ‘That’s it.’ By the time we got to the third one, I almost had to check myself and say, ‘Why are they listing all the records that I worked on?’” Lazar said in a phone interview. Lazar, 49, made history at the 2019 Grammys when she became the first woman to win best engineered album (non-classical) for her work on Beck’s “Colours.” She was the first female mastering engineer to ever be nominated in the album of the year category for her role on Foo Fighter’s “Wasting Light” and she’s the only female mastering engineer nominated for album of the year this year, though engineer/mixers Laura Sisk and Jasmine Chen are competing for their roles on Taylor Swift's “folklore" and HAIM’s third album. “If someone has achieved that in one go, it’s clear proof that they bring something special,” Martin said of Lazar’s record three nods for album of the year. “Recorded music is always followed behind technology. The people that know how to, first of all invent and secondly master that technology, are as worthy of attention and praise as the artist themselves because we can’t exist without the people that invented recording and invented the piano." He added: "Emily is a technician, but she’s very much a musician’s technician. She knows everything about the technology but is always in service of the song or the piece. And that’s hard to find. I don’t know how to switch ProTools on, for example. And some technicians don’t know whether the chorus is good or not. Emily sort of bridges those two worlds so beautifully.” Like many touring musicians and those behind-the-scenes, Lazar started her career in front of the scene as a rock-pop singer-songwriter. But she grew frustrated in the recording studio, feeling like her voice was being silenced from engineers when she had thoughts about how a song should sound. “There was a weird invisible fence between engineers and artists, and it wasn’t inviting, especially as a woman, to be asking questions about how to make things sound a particular way. The assumption was that you were just the artist and you’d show up and you’d do stuff and you wouldn’t get to have a say,” she said. And, of course, she was just one of two women in the room. “There were certainly no other women on the technical side. I did have a female bass player in my band, finally, at one point. I did have a little girl power. It wasn’t enough to go against the entire sea of (men). It was rough. It was a lot of interesting behaviour. It only inspired me to work harder to figure it all out.” She went on to get her master’s degree in music technology and cut her teeth at a music engineering firm where she “learned a lot about how I didn’t want to run a company.” The mastering engineer’s role on most albums comes at end of the album-making process, “putting that final audio polish on an album,” as Lazar describes it. But Lazar always thought differently, and as a freely creative musician and thinker, she wanted to collaborate with artists while they were making their albums. “I learned exactly how to create an environment that felt really comfortable to me as an artist and as an engineer, which I thought would be really comfortable for other people,” said Lazar, who launched her Manhattan-based company, The Lodge, at age 25. “I kind of felt like what I wanted to do didn’t exist. I also felt this feeling that if I didn’t do it, I didn’t really know who would. I really did do it differently. I didn’t think anyone was going to change it. There were no other women and there was no other idea of making a creative collective. It was more of this sterile, weird environment. It was more like a dentist office with rooms and leather couches. It didn’t feel right.” “I took a lot of heat for that originally in the old-school,” she said. “The old-school vibe was, ‘Is this woman crazy?’ I don’t know if they called me a woman. They may have said something more derogatory. ‘Why is she touching that? That’s not her job. Her job is just to do this.’ Now I think the boundaries have blurred a bit. I know there are moments where I’ve been able to jump in and save the day for people.” Lazar has mastered more than 4,000 albums throughout her career, including releases by Björk, David Bowie, Sia, Wu-Tang Clan, Barbra Streisand, the Chainsmokers, Dolly Parton, Lou Reed, Destiny's Child, Depeche Mode, Alanis Morissette, Vampire Weekend, Little Big Town, Morrissey, Natalie Merchant and Tiësto. She reached new heights when she worked as the mastering engineer on The Rolling Stones’ 2020 vinyl reboot of “Goats Heads Soup” as well as the 50th anniversary release of the Beatles’ “Abbey Road,” released in 2019. “You can’t think of anything more important to the rock ‘n’ roll cannon than the Beatles and the Rolling Stones,” she said. “I feel incredibly humbled and blessed to have gotten to play a part in that.” While she’s evaluated in her musical career, Lazar knows it’s important to help bring up others, especially women and minorities in a field dominated by white men. She’s participated in programs like She Is the Music and Women’s Audio Mission because she knows the importance of representation. “I believe that you should work with the best (engineer) for what you’re trying to do: male, female, gay, straight, Black, white, green, whatever. It doesn’t matter to me as long as they have the right creative vibe to what you’re trying to do. It shouldn’t actually matter. Until everyone has a seat at the table, we do have to make an effort to pull the chairs out for some people to get in there to have some dinner,” she said. “No one did for me, but I would like to help that happen.” “I could tell you lots of terrible stories, but I think that focusing on the terrible stories doesn’t necessarily — it may ruin some people’s lives that were total jerks, whether they were aware of it or not,” she continued. “There are moments that I would love to out some of those people, but my inner voice says that it’s really more important to make sure these things don’t happen by creating environments that are more amenable to equality and equity on every level.” Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press
21 hours ago
CBC
22-year-old woman missing from Onion Lake, Sask.
Onion Lake, Sask., RCMP are searching for a 22-year-old woman from the Onion Lake Cree Nation. RCMP say they are looking for Kayla Brannan Carter to confirm her well-being and that she is safe. Carter is five feet four inches and around 200 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair, and has the word "Novaleigh" tattooed on her arm and the right side of her chest. She was last seen wearing a black sweater and black sweatpants. If you've seen Carter, or you have information about where she is, contact Onion Lake RCMP at 306-344-5550. You can also submit an anonymous tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
22 hours ago
Local Journalism Initiative
Kingston woman arrested after unfamiliar car parked in South Frontenac driveway
Frontenac Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a complaint from a home owner on Yarker Road shortly after 9 p.m, on Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021. According to the OPP, an unfamiliar vehicle was parked in the homeowner's driveway. As a result of the investigation Shelly Wood, a 42 year old from Kingston Ontario, was charged with: The accused's driver's licence was suspended for 90 days and the motor vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. The accused was released on an appearance notice to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Kingston at a later date to answer to the charges. Wood will be responsible for all related fees and fines. Jessica Foley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, kingstonist.com
21 hours ago
The Canadian Press
Alaska village loses running water after fire destroys plant
BETHEL, Alaska — A fire in an Alaska village burned a plant that served as the community's only source of clean, running water, leaving residents waiting for a delivery of water by plane. Alaska State Troopers said the fire at the water plant in Tuluksak burned from about noon until 4:30 p.m. last Saturday, KYUK-AM reported. Residents of the Alaska Native community northeast of Bethel hauled water from the Tuluksak River with snowmachines while attempting to douse the flames that eventually destroyed the plant. “When I looked out the window, my husband and a few other men were trying to get into the water plant and washeteria. They had to break the door, but they were a little too late," said Tribal Council Secretary Kristy Napoka, who lives next door and works at the plant. Napoka’s husband unsuccessfully attempted to use a hose to stop the blaze before her family brought water from the river, she said. "They started splashing water into the fire, but it didn’t do any good. It just kept getting bigger and worse,” Napoka said. Villagers who did not have potable water saved in their home tanks had the option of hauling water from the nearby Kuskokwim River or awaiting a shipment of bottled water. Cases of donated bottled water were delayed in Bethel because of airport runway closures and thin river ice. Tuluksak’s runway was unusable for some time because of poor weather conditions. The person who usually plows the runway was in Anchorage being treated for COVID-19. Napoka said her family had 20 gallons (76 litres) of drinkable water left to share between nine household members. They used water from the Tuluksak River for dishes and cleaning, but were not planning to drink it, she said. Residents have previously made complaints to the state Legislature about sediment making Tuluksak River water unsafe to drink. The Associated Press
23 hours ago
Reuters
Canadian health officials take different tack to vaccinate wary care home workers
Health officials in the Canadian province of Ontario thought large, central clinics would be the most efficient way to get staff at long-term care homes vaccinated quickly, protecting elderly residents most at risk of severe COVID-19 and death. As it became clear that some staff could or would not travel to hospitals in large cities like Toronto, wary of the healthcare system or of the vaccines, officials have turned to new strategies, like bringing the shots directly to care homes. Improving the vaccination rate among staff at long-term care (LTC) homes is critical to limiting further deaths and outbreaks in these facilities, where experts recently forecast another 1,520 residents could die by Feb. 14, under worst-case conditions.
21 hours ago

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Participants take a dip into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

Participants run into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

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A participant dressed as a zombie walks out of the water after running into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

Participants run into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

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Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

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Swimmer with the South End Rowing Club exits the water at the Aquatic Park after finishing the annual

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Swimmer with the Dolphin Club swims in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island during the annual New Year's Day swim to Aquatic Park in San Francisco

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Swimmer with the Dolphin Club leaps into San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island during the annual New Year's Day swim to Aquatic Park in San Francisco

Swimmers with the Dolphin Club wait for the signal to jump into San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island during the annual New Year's Day swim to Aquatic Park in San Francisco

Swimmers in fancy dress laugh as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry, Scotland

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Swimmers in fancy dress splash as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry, Scotland

Swimmers in fancy dress kiss as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry

People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

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People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains, northern France

People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

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People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin Seals) ice swimmers club walk out of the water after they took a dip in Lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin Seals) ice swimmers club pose for the media as they take a dip in Lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

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Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin Seals) ice swimmers club take a dip in Lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

Competitors prepare to take part in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in London

Competitors climb out of the water after taking part in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in London

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Members of the ice swimming club "Berliner Seehunde" (Berlin Seals) sing as they take a dip in the Orankesee lake in Berlin as part of their traditional Christmas ice swimming session

A competitor reacts after competing in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in London

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