Jordan Molina, a hyper-realistic artist, shows off his drawing talents in this incredible time lapse video. Check it out!
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.
The chief of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation says that the territory's vulnerable people have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and he is optimistic the rest of the community will receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Chief Ted Williams said the First Nation has worked closely with the local health unit to prioritize the vaccine rollout. “Our long-term-care staff and residents … have been inoculated already because they are highly vulnerable. We are waiting patiently for our director of health and social services, who sits with the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit, as plans are made to receive the vaccine here. But that’s going to be some time off,” he said. The chief said that vulnerable residents received their first of two shots last week. He added that he has not heard a lot of frustration or impatience expressed by other community members, as they wait for the vaccine to be made available across the territory. “There is a pecking order as they have indicated. We are patient with that. We know that (health officials) are out there, doing the very best that they can,” Williams said. “Our health director is working very closely with them. We have input and we have instant information.” Rama First Nation has had five COVID cases in total since the pandemic began, none in more than two months, the chief said. He added that all five residents have since recovered. So far, the new provincial restrictions are not causing any new undue stress or hardship on his members, Williams said. “When they talk about the hours of business, we have had that in place for several months. In that regard we are ahead of them. We communicate frequently with our own community. There are provincial guidelines that we follow but there are also guidelines imposed by the leadership here and everyone in our community is co-operating very well,” the chief said. “I’m very thankful that members of our community are adhering to the call to say safe, wear your mask, keep social distancing and stay away from anyone who is not a part of your household.” Williams said that he also hasn’t heard a lot of talk about some Indigenous people being reluctant to get the vaccine, at least in part, because of the troubling history of their treatment by the health care system. “We understand the big picture. Of course there is a time and a place in which we have discussion and dialogue to assist each other in overcoming the challenges that are placed on Indigenous communities. The way you get around that is to have good dialogue with your neighbours and your (health care) partners,” the chief said. “We are all in this together. My focus right now has to be on COVID and working hard with my colleagues on council, with my staff and with my community. I can’t be worried about anything other than that.” Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said he understands the mistrust some First Nations people have toward the health-care system, adding no one will be forced to take the vaccine. “I sympathize with their concerns and I acknowledge the history,” Gardner said. “I think it is really important that we work with leadership in the Indigenous community about what we wish to do and why. They can be communicators on this. Others in the community, including elders, can be leaders on this. But in the end, it is a personal decision.” John McFadden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 10:30 a.m. Ontario says there are 2,632 new cases of COVID-19 in the province and 46 more deaths linked to the virus. A technical issue from Tuesday has been resolved, adding 102 cases from Toronto Public Health to the provincial total. Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 897 new cases in Toronto, 412 in Peel Region and 245 in York Region. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. The Canadian Press
A North Battleford man pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and elected to be tried by provincial court judge. Trent Fox, 19, has been in custody since his arrest in October 2020. Fox is accused of stabbing a 21-year-old man at a business in Prince Albert. Police say they were called to a business in the 3200 block of 2nd Avenue West at about 10 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2020. STARS took the victim to a Saskatoon hospital with life-threatening injuries. Prince Albert Police say that Fox hitchhiked to Prince Albert from North Battleford earlier on the evening of Oct. 14. The charges against Fox haven’t been proven in court. Fox’s trial is scheduled to start in Prince Albert Provincial Court on May 20. Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Battlefords Regional News-Optimist
Residents of the western P.E.I. community care home Le Chez-Nous, displaced by a fire, will be able to continue to stay at the Mill River Resort at least into next week. The fire hit the Wellington community care home Monday night. There were no serious injuries, but the 47 residents were left homeless. After finding immediate shelter at the local legion, the residents were moved to the Mill River Resort, which is about a half-hour drive to the north. While there was room for them all in the middle of the week, it looked like weekend bookings would force some of the residents out. The co-op that runs Le Chez-Nous was canvassing families to see if they had space to take some of the residents for a few days. But in an email to CBC News Thursday morning, Mill River Resort manager Geoffrey Irving said they have had some cancellations, and they now have space for everyone, at least into next week. Le Chez-Nous co-op president Marcel Richard said Wednesday management at the resort has been extremely helpful. He was told they are putting a rush on renovations to a wing that is currently not occupied, and they hope to be able to move Le Chez-Nous residents into that wing quickly so they can have a space of their own. There is not yet any indication when residents may be able to move back into Le Chez-Nous, but Richard said it could be months. The fire marshal continues to investigate the cause, and until the investigation is complete, cleanup can't begin. Richard said the current plan is to stay at the resort for at least the next three weeks. "I just know it'll be for sure weeks, it could be months," he said. "Once the investigation is over and we get the go-ahead to bring in crews, we're going to move, we're going to move fast." He said they called in someone from P.E.I.'s Department of Health and Wellness Wednesday to talk to the seniors, some of whom were stressed and worried after the fire and the move. "We were starting to see that maybe there was some things that they were keeping inside and we just didn't want them to be more scared than they were," Richard said. The seniors were broken into small groups for therapeutic chats, he said. P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said the home's seniors should get their COVID-19 vaccines next week. They were originally supposed to get them this past Tuesday, the morning after the fire. More from CBC P.E.I.
La crise de la mortalité liée à la pandémie a eu un impact particulier sur les lieux d’inhumation notamment pour les populations musulmanes, révélant les pratiques multiculturelles du deuil.
Le ministre du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, Jean Boulet, a annoncé la prolongation des mesures d’assouplissement et la bonification des programmes d’assistance sociale jusqu’au 31 mars. Par exemple, la période de suspension du recouvrement des retenues sur les prestations d’aide financière et d’emploi pour les personnes qui bénéficient d’un programme du Ministère représente 6,7 millions de dollars pour février et mars 2021. Le ministre annonce également la prolongation des dispositions concernant les allocations pour contraintes temporaires et sévères à l’emploi venant à échéance d’ici le 31 mars 2021. «Cette mesure permettra d’éviter que des prestataires sortent pour aller dans une clinique médicale ou un centre hospitalier afin d’obtenir un rapport médical, et ce, toujours afin de réduire les risques de contamination. Qui plus est, cette mesure donnera l’occasion au réseau de la santé de concentrer ses efforts sur la lutte contre la pandémie», indique-t-on. De plus, la non-comptabilisation des revenus reçus sous forme de dons pécuniaires au-dessus de l’exclusion prévue de 100 $ par mois est aussi prolongée jusqu’au 31 mars 2021. Des réactions Ces mesures ont évidemment fait réagir. Pour le Collectif pour un Québec sans pauvreté, la prolongation de deux mois du moratoire sur le recouvrement des dettes et d’autres assouplissements administratifs est nécessaire, mais nettement insuffisante pour faire oublier ce qu’il qualifie «d’inaction généralisée» du gouvernement du Québec pour soutenir les personnes assistées sociales pendant la crise de la COVID-19. «Le gouvernement du Québec nous montre encore une fois à quel point il est déconnecté de la réalité des personnes assistées sociales. Les mesures annoncées ne leur permettront pas d’améliorer leur sort. Au mieux, cela les aidera à garder la tête hors de l’eau, car c’est le mieux qu’une personne vivant seule peut faire avec une prestation mensuelle d’aussi peu que 708 $ au programme d’Aide sociale, un montant permettant de couvrir à peine la moitié des besoins de base reconnus», se désole le porte-parole du Collectif, Serge Petitclerc en rappelant que l’organisme de défense réclame une aide financière supplémentaire pour ces personnes qui ont été durement affectées par la crise sanitaire. «La prolongation du moratoire, ça reste une mesure fort timide. Évidemment, elle va permettre à certaines personnes de souffler un peu, mais n’oublions pas que le gouvernement fait juste repousser de quelques mois le remboursement des dettes. D’ailleurs, il est illogique que le Ministère continue d’établir des dettes malgré le moratoire. C’est notamment le cas pour des personnes qui auraient perçu indûment la Prestation canadienne d’urgence (PCU)», ajoute le porte-parole. Stéphane Lévesque, Initiative de journalisme local, L'Hebdo Journal
Green Party Leader David Coon says potential cuts to Maritime Bus lines are an immediate concern for northern and rural New Brunswickers that the province needs to address now. Earlier this month, the interprovincial bus service announced it was cutting several routes, including the Edmundston-Fredericton and Campbellton-Moncton routes. The company said it was making the cuts because of increased operating costs and low ridership due to the pandemic. "That is an essential service that people need to use to get to medical services for anyone who can't drive or can't afford to drive," said Coon in this week's political panel. "Without it, they're trapped. You can't get there from here if there isn't a bus." On Tuesday, 21 Maritime senators sent a letter urging the federal government to provide federal assistance to the service. Maritime Bus will continue the routes until the end of the month to give municipalities a chance to figure out a way to help fund the service. New Brunswick's Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder didn't explicitly say money was coming, suggesting the province will have to explore the issue more carefully. "I think one of our mistakes historically is that we've all worked from solutions rather than problems and opportunities," said Holder. "I think we have to identify what the challenges are and I think then from there we have to figure out what the solutions are." Coon agrees that a rethink of transportation in the province is needed, but said the planned cuts must be addressed now. Interim Liberal Leader Roger Melanson said the province has made it difficult for businesses to receive help. "P.E.I., Nova Scotia has authorized help, New Brunswick is the only province out of the three that doesn't want to provide the help," said Melanson. "Now, we are hearing for Maritime Bus that maybe help is coming, but the provincial government is putting conditions… the conditions that's being put in place by the premier, by this government to access any potential help is so complicated and difficult to access that businesses are just saying it's not worth it to go and try to apply for this help." Holder said a short-term solution can't come at the expense of a long-tem plan. "I agree something needs to be done in the short term, but that short term solution and that short term conversation just can't be in a vacuum without thinking about where we go moving forward," said Holder. "The fact of the matter is, in March, the government through, I believe it was the Regional Development Corporation, invested $160,000 in this to keep Maritime Bus moving along throughout this COVID situation. So I don't think that it's fair to say that the government has not responded to the situation in the short term." Coon said inter-city bus service needs to be viewed like a ferry service. "We don't say to people, 'we can't run ferries because they can't pay for themselves, so you're going to have to get your own boats,'" said Coon. "But we do take the view that we'll provide the roads but you have to get your own cars to travel on them. And if you can't afford a car, or don't have the ability to drive a car, you're out of luck."
Bernie Sanders won't be the only one needing warm mittens this week. British Columbians are in for the coldest stretch of the year as a winter high pressure zone settles into place across the province. In Metro Vancouver that means clearing skies and sub-zero temperatures beginning Thursday night. Friday is forecast to be clear with a wind chill of –6 C, according to CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe, with daytime temperatures rising to 4 C. Friday night into Saturday is set to be the coldest night this season at –3 C to –5 C. Saturday stays sunny until a low-pressure system brings in a wintry mix overnight into Sunday, including a couple of centimetres of snow. The snow will change into rain on Sunday — but the long-range forecast shows a chance of more snow falling next week. Vancouver opening warming sites As part of Vancouver's extreme weather response, the city is opening more shelter space starting Thursday to provide people with a safe place during cold winter months. Directions Youth Services Centre at 1138 Burrard St. can provide overnight accommodation for a small number of youth who are up to 24 years old. Shelter spaces for adults will be available at: Evelyn Saller Centre, 320 Alexander St. Tenth Church, 11 West 10th Ave. Langara YMCA, 282 West 49th Ave Powell Street Getaway, 528 Powell St. More shelter spaces are being added on Saturday at: Vancouver Aquatic Centre, 1050 Beach Ave. Creekside Community Centre, 1 Athletes Way. The city says measures are in place at shelters and warming centres to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
The Canadian men see their first action in more than a year Saturday when they take on the U.S. in a soccer scrimmage in Bradenton, Fla. Both teams are holding camps at the IMG Center there. Saturday's meeting is not considered an official match, given it will be in the form of two 70-minute scrimmages, allowing both coaches to dig deep into their squad. Because the camp does not fall in a FIFA international window, both teams do not have their full lineups with a lot of young talent called in. Still, the camp marks the start of what Whitecaps striker Lucas Cavallini calls a "crucial year" for Canada with World Cup and Olympic qualifying starting in March and the Gold Cup in July. The 28-year-old from Toronto had six goals in 18 games in his first season with the Whitecaps. Cavallini has won 17 caps for Canada with 11 goals and one assist. The Canadian men, currently ranked 72nd in the world, last played Jan. 15, 2019, when they lost 1-0 to No. 46 Iceland in a friendly in Irvine, Calif. — Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
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
This pet raccoon wearing Pikachu pajamas chows down on some yummy treats alongside his owner. Cuteness overload!
HALIFAX — A new study says the number of seniors in Atlantic Canada will increase by 32 per cent over the next 20 years, putting added pressure on the region's health-care system and labour market. The study released Thursday by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council says the most rapid growth will be among older seniors. Policy analyst Fred Bergman said the number of Atlantic Canadians aged 75 and older will double by 2040. The independent think-tank says these changes in demographic patterns will have significant implications for the region's economy. Atlantic Canada's population is already the oldest in Canada. By 2040, there will be three seniors for every two young people in the region, the council says. "We estimate Atlantic health care costs will rise by 27 per cent by 2040 simply due to the population aging." Bergman said in a statement, adding that the region will need an additional 25,000 beds in nursing or seniors homes. This so-called grey tsunami, which refers to the large wave of baby boomers who are reaching retirement age, is also having a profound impact on the labour market, the study says. In 1990, there were 20 young workers entering the job market for every ten retirees. Thirty years later, there are just seven, and APEC does not expect that number to change any time soon. The region's primary industries — agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining and oil and gas — have the oldest workforce in the region. Meanwhile, the working-age population — those between 25 and 64 — has fallen by almost 50,000 in the past 10 years. During that time, the number of seniors has surpassed the number of people under the age of 19 for the first time. Buried in the latest statistics, however, is some uplifting news: retirees today have 44 per cent more disposable income than seniors just 20 years ago, after adjusting for inflation. As well, the region's charities and non-profit organizations are sure to benefit from the fact that seniors, on average, serve as community volunteers for over 200 hours every year, which is 50 per cent more than the rest of the population. And there will be opportunities for businesses that take advantage of the trends outlined in the report, APEC says. "Seniors will be a growth sector," the report says. "Senior homes, assisted living, and care workers will be in demand, as well as personal services to help those aging at home. Products and services that cater to or are adapted for an aging population will be in demand." The new numbers will not come as a shock to the region's politicians and business leaders, who have been receiving similar reports for years. In 2014, for example, the Nova Scotia government was handed a report from a panel of experts who warned the province was doomed to endure an extended period of decline unless population and economic trends were reversed. The report, written by a five-member panel led by then Acadia University president Ray Ivany, predicted that by 2036, the province could expect to have 100,000 fewer working-age people than it did in 2010. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press
Près de 8 % des malades hospitalisés pour Covid-19 sont victimes d’atteintes neurologiques. En quoi consistent ces problèmes parfois graves ? Quelles en sont les causes ?
L’administration Demers-Boyer vient d’annoncer qu’elle reportait les deux échéances de paiement du compte de taxes foncières pour l’année en cours. Cette annonce s’inscrit dans la foulée de la crise sanitaire qui perdure et de ses impacts sur les finances des contribuables. Ainsi, tous les propriétaires lavallois profiteront d’un report de trois mois des échéances traditionnellement prévues à la fin de l’hiver et du printemps. En clair, la date limite pour le paiement du 1er versement (initialement prévue le 18 mars) est reportée au 16 juin 2021. Idem pour le 2e versement dont la date butoir passe du 16 juin au 15 septembre 2021. «Nous savons que la pandémie cause de terribles conséquences à plusieurs familles», a déclaré le 21 janvier par voie de communiqué le vice-président du comité exécutif et maire suppléant, Stéphane Boyer. Cette nouvelle mesure, qui s’ajoute au gel de taxes de 2021, vise à leur offrir «quelques mois de répit pour mieux planifier leur budget en fonction de leur réalité». Élu responsable des dossiers économiques et des finances publiques à l’hôtel de ville, M. Boyer voit également en ce report «un coup de pouce» aux «entrepreneurs qui vivent des problèmes de liquidité en attendant la reprise des activités économiques». Conseiller municipal d’Action Laval, David De Cotis a vivement réagi par voie de courriel dans les 60 minutes suivant la publication du communiqué de la Ville. Celui qui avait suggéré pareille mesure à la séance du conseil du 12 janvier, laquelle proposition devait être débattue le 4 février, ose croire que cela ait pu «encourager l'administration de Marc Demers à réagir rapidement». Le compte de taxes foncières sera expédié aux contribuables le 16 février.Stéphane St-Amour, Initiative de journalisme local, Courrier Laval
OTTAWA — The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation says new risk assessments it conducted show a W-shaped recovery from a pandemic could trigger a nearly 50 per cent drop in housing prices and a peak unemployment rate of 25 per cent.A W-shaped recovery is when an economy begins to rebound from a recession quickly but then rapidly falls into another period of downturn before recovering again.The national housing agency says a W-shaped recovery from a pandemic that does not involve government assistance would challenge CMHC's solvency and capitalization.CMHC says the situation is the most implausible of all the ones they stress tested, but the impact would be the most severe.CMHC found that a W-shaped recovery with government support would curtail the severity, be more manageable and only cause a roughly 32 per cent drop in home prices and a 24 per cent unemployment rate.In a U-shaped recovery, where a recession gradually improves, CMHC says house prices would fall by almost 34 per cent and the peak unemployment rate would be nearly 15 per cent. CMHC stresses that the scenarios are not meant to be predictions or forecasts tied to what they see headed for Canada, but they run the tests anyway to help with risk mitigation.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. The Canadian Press
BALTIMORE — The president of a historically Black university in Maryland was so captivated by inaugural poet Amanda Gorman’s poem during President Joe Biden’s inauguration that he offered her a job -- on Twitter. Morgan State University President David Wilson joined the many people lauding Gorman, 22, Wednesday after her recital of “The Hill We Climb,” a poem that summoned images dire and triumphant and echoed the oratory of John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others before the global audience. “Ms. Gorman, I need you as our Poet-in-Residence at the National Treasure, ?@MorganStateU,” Wilson tweeted. “Outstanding!!!!! Consider this a job offer!” Wilson’s offer is certainly not the only opportunity that Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, will receive since her widely praised performance. The Harvard University alum and Los Angeles native is already the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate. She, along with Vice-President Kamala Harris, inspired many people to tweet about #BlackGirlMagic on Wednesday. And Gorman hasn't been shy to say she'll run for president herself one day. Her career is already taking off: Penguin Young Readers announced Wednesday that “The Hill We Climb” will be published in a special edition this spring. Within hours after her performance, her illustrated “Change Sings” book was No. 1 on Amazon.com’s bestseller list, her September poetry collection was No. 2, and her Instagram followers grew to 1.3 million. But Wilson, who says he was “glued to the TV” while Gorman spoke, has hope. “I’m very serious about opening an opportunity for her to come here as a poet in residence. We have all kinds of authors on campus, and we think that being at Morgan for a year would give her an even deeper and wider perspective on the issues she is addressing. If she would accept this offer, I would move on it in a heartbeat,” he told The Baltimore Sun. “I will be watching my emails.” The Associated Press
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."
PARIS — Speaking with an air of resignation, Andre Villas-Boas accepted his time as Marseille coach might soon be up following another home defeat. The 1-0 loss to Lens in the French league on Wednesday, where he was tactically outwitted by a novice coach, came after an abject team performance last weekend in a 2-1 home reverse to Nimes. Villas-Boas did not even try to defend himself. “If I’m the one who is responsible, which I am, then I am at the disposal of the directors,” he said calmly. “I don’t have a problem with that. I’m not here to become an obstacle.” Marseille is in sixth place, but the position could soon get worse with tough games ahead. On Saturday, Marseille travels to face fourth-place Monaco, which is in fine form having won four of its last five matches. Marseille then takes on fifth-place Rennes, before going to Lens and hosting league leader Paris Saint-Germain in the same week. Fans have already turned on the players, venting their anger before the Lens game. Villas-Boas is the latest coach feeling the intense scrutiny at Marseille, the only French side to win the Champions League — in 1993 — yet also the most volatile. Firing Villas-Boas would involve paying a considerable amount of compensation, however, and Marseille can ill afford to shell out money firing and re-hiring since it is heavily cash-strapped. After he guided Marseille to second place last season and an automatic Champions League place, fans hailed Villas-Boas for doing so with limited resources while praising the fighting spirit he instilled in the side. But tight-knit camaraderie was nowhere to be found against Nimes or Lens, prompting a furious reaction from veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. The France No. 2 has been an ever-present since 2007, aside from one season in England, and is nearing 600 games for Marseille. He described a chaotic scene at halftime against Lens. “We screamed an awful lot," he said. “There are many things to change within the club, notably the team spirit. When you play for Marseille, you must have character.” The long-serving captain wants changes to be made. “We're just not getting there, there's a problem in the squad. We don't have the collective strength which helped us do well last season," Mandanda said. "We have to do a lot of soul-searching, individually and collectively. We must accept everything that's going to happen.” Mandanda has said similar things before, and it remains doubtful whether this tirade changes anything. Dimitri Payet, whose three goals helped France to reach the 2016 European Championship final, has been off form and more like the erratic player who frustrated fans at his previous clubs. Payet has scored six goals in 21 games this season, compared to 12 in 27 last term. Winger Florian Thauvin is short of his best after spending almost the entire last season injured. His scoring return of six in 25 this season — at a ratio of .24 goals per game — is way below the 59 in 134 from 2016-19 at a ratio of .44. But Thauvin remains a highly rated player, having netted 70 goals and provided 45 assists in 187 games for Marseille. At 27 years old he's in his prime, yet he could leave for free in the summer when his contract ends. However, unlike some other players, Thauvin's work rate remains high. So, for now at least, hard-to-please Marseille fans have spared him from reproach. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press
Avec les confinements, nous pouvons nous attendre à une augmentation de notre facture énergétique d’environ 30 %.
