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Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00 |
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A man who dismembered a sleeping stranger on a Greyhound bus less than four years ago is about to take his first steps back into the community. Vince Li, was found not criminally responsible for the July 2008 killing of Tim McLean near Portage la Prairie. A judge later ruled Li was suffering hallucinations from untreated schizophrenia at the time of the unprovoked attack. The review board ruled yesterday that Li will be granted temporary passes that will allow him to walk for visits in the community. McLean's mother, attended Monday's hearing. She said it now seems inevitable Li will regain his full freedom in the near future and called it "ironic and ridiculous" that the mental health system that failed to properly protect society from Li is now recommending he slowly be reintegrated into society. Chris Summerville, chief executive officer of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada said; "His risk of reoffending is very low. Vince is not a criminal, he's a patient. Patients get better, and Vince has been an ideal patient".
Over 100 police officers, including senior commanders are facing disciplinary charges for their actions during a crackdown against protesters at the G20 summit. The revelation comes on the heels of a provincial report that condemns systemic abuses of police power on the streets that day and a federal report that suggests the major operational decisions were made by Toronto police officers. The Office of the Independent Police Review Director investigated hundreds of complaints against police stemming from the summit. It ordered disciplinary charges in 107 cases, of which 96 were deemed to be “serious.”
The Municipality undertook a wildfire exercise yesterday afternoon, with over 100 people involved. The situation designed to be that of an out of hand 8,000 hectare wildfire was located in Anzac. The scenario allowed persons from different professions to work together, some for the first time in using each others specialized equipment. The day even included mock tweets and press releases from the Municipality – everything you’d expect in a real event.
Syncrude is to invest plenty into the community over the next few years. At their Annual Community Reception last night they announced a $1million donation to Fort McMurray Public Schools along with $300,000 to the YMCA aquatics facility and $480,000 to Science Alberta.
Matt Youens, has announced his running for the Ward 1 councilor seat. Youens – a six year resident was recently the Chairperson of TEDxFortMcMurray, and is set to graduate from the Leadership Wood Buffalo program next week. Youens says; “I offer a brand new voice to Council. Like many residents, I hit the highway and head out to site to earn a living. I believe adding my voice can provide a unique and currently unrepresented perspective to Council.”
Nearly 80% of Canadians believe that tuition fees should be frozen at current levels or lowered, according to a new poll conducted by Harris-Decima for the Canadian Federation of Students. The poll reveals that even, where the government's proposal to increase tuition fees by 75% over five years is being met with a fierce student strike, 65% of respondents continue to believe tuition fees should not be increased.
Canada Post has decided to make the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede that little bit more memorable by issuing two commemorative stamps. The two stamps, featuring a rodeo horse and a silver-and-gold anniversary belt buckle, are available in post offices as of yesterday.
In Sports…
The final tally of injuries from the world’s longest hockey game is staggering: A half-dozen broken or lost teeth, two severe cases of pneumonia, a dislocated shoulder, a shattered foot, and one possible heart attack. But after 10-and-a-half days on the ice $1.5 million was raised for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Donations continue to pour in for the Guinness World Record setting event.
The Oilers are parting ways with head coach Tom Renney. The rebuilding team has not had a winning record in two years with Renney behind the bench. This season the team barely improved with a 32-40-10 record for second-last overall.
In the 2012 World Hockey Championship Slovakia scored twice in the final seven minutes of the third period to come from behind and defeat Canada 4-3 in the quarterfinal round at the 2012 World Hockey Championship, eliminating Canada from the tournament.
The Canadians must settle for a top-eight finish. It was bad timing for Canada's first regulation loss, as they finished with a 6-1-1 overall record.
And the Jays managed another win against the Yankees last night with a final score of 4-1. They’ll now take on the Mets tonight and over the weekend. First pitch 5:07.
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Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:11 |
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Protestors stormed a Montreal university yesterday, disrupting classes and facing off with students as the Quebec government considers emergency legislation to crack down on demonstrations raging across the province. Demonstrators said they were enforcing their declared strike in response to the government's plan to increase tuition fees. They resented the fact that some students sought legal injunctions to resume their studies. None of the protesters were carrying weapons and police said no one was hurt. The government is expected to announce tough penalties for those who violate court injunctions allowing students to return to school, disrupt classes and vandalize property. Although only one-third of Quebec students are actually on strike, demonstrations have intensified in Montreal and other cities.
Thomas Mulcair the New Democratic Party leader, who came under attack over his oilsands policy has hit back by saying profits earned by the oilsands are artificially inflated. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun Mulcair said; “Right now we’re allowing them to use the air, the water and the land as a free dumping ground, and that’s where the problem arises… profits are higher than they should be… Why is that the case? Because they’re not assuming their obligations under the law because the government is not enforcing the law.” Premier Redford hit back on Twitter on Wednesday saying; “Is this national leadership? Thomas Mulcair continues to make divisive, ill-informed and false comments.”
Toronto Police will be held accountable according to Police Chief Bill Blair, who will hold any officers accountable if they’re found guilty of misconduct stemming from the 2010 G20 summit. A report by Ontario’s police watchdog released yesterday found that officers overstepped their authority with several tactics, including unlawfully detaining protesters and violating basic civil rights. The Office of the Independent Police Review Director concluded that police had infringed on the Charter rights of many citizens before the G20 weekend was through. On June 27, 2010, about 400 people were surrounded by police in downtown Toronto and prevented from leaving, the individuals were held outside during a thunderstorm.
The province has released new land that will be available in Wood Buffalo for bidding, all in Saline Creek. A total of 645 acres will be made available as part of the provinces aim to reduce land and housing prices in the area. It’s believed the land will lead to 3,500 homes to be built.
A motorist has been charged and his vehicle seized after he was recorded doing 129 km/h in a 50 zone yesterday on Draper Road. The Municipality responded with a comment from acting chief bylaw enforcement officer Rick Kirschner saying; Speeding is one of the most significant factors in the cause of motor vehicle collisions… Bylaw staff is enforcing this and other infractions to ensure safe streets for our residents.”
The Royal Canadian Mint is to sell a silver coin that depicts a moose. The coin is the fourth in a planned series of six, 99.99% pure, one-ounce silver bullion coins featuring images of iconic Canadian wildlife, with the cougar, timber wolf and grizzly bear previously issued. The moose was hailed by the mint as a "majestic creature which rules Canada's forests from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Pacific Coast". An image of Queen Elizabeth is on the coin's other side. The silver moose has a $5 face value but sells for close to whatever an ounce of the precious metal fetches on a given day, around $30 this week when the coin was introduced.
In Sports…
Keyano College has announced they’ll be hosting the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) Men's Basketball and Men’s Volleyball Conference Championships next year. The Men's volleyball championships will run from February 22nd to 24th and men’s basketball is slated from March 1st to 3rd of 2013. Each championship will see a total of eight teams compete for the conference championships. Champions then proceed on to the CCAA (Canadian College Athletic Association) nationals. Keyano College hosted the men’s volleyball championship in 2009. Michelle Toner, Guest Services and Marketing Manager, Sport & Wellness, Keyano College, says ‘We are really looking forward to the energy and camaraderie that these events will bring to our departments. During nationals we felt support from the entire College and the community and everyone in our department stepped up and contributed in some way. You really get the best of people during these times,”
In the hunt for the Stanley Cup, the Kings will take on the Coyotes tonight. As Phoenix looks for their first win in the series. Puck drops at 7pm.
Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie has received a four-game suspension for his actions during an argument with home-plate umpire Bill Miller that took place in Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to the Rays. He was also fined an undisclosed amount but has decided to appeal the decision. The disciplinary action taken by Major League Baseball was in response to Lawrie tossing his helmet in the direction of Miller which bounced off the ground and hit the umpire after disputing a strike 3 call. John Farrell was also ejected and a disgruntled fan even got involved, throwing a drink at the umpire as he left the field Tuesday night.
The Jays managed an 8-1 win over the Yankees last night. They’ll play the second and final game of the brief series tonight. First pitch is 5:07. |
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari is set to be at this weekend's Nato summit on Afghanistan in Chicago. Nato said Pakistan had an important role to play in its neighbour's future. The move comes amid signs that Pakistan may be about to lift a blockade of Nato's ground supply lines to Afghanistan imposed in November, after a Nato air strike killed 24 soldiers. The closure of the route, after the Pakistani soldiers were killed, left thousands of tankers bound for Afghanistan stranded in Pakistan. The summit in Chicago on Sunday and Monday is said to be the largest meeting Nato has organised, with about 60 countries and organisations attending.
New rules allowing employers to fast track Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW’s) and pay them less than Canadians will have far-reaching and profoundly negative effects on the Canadian labour market, according to the president of Alberta's largest union organization. Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour says; ‘With these changes, the federal government is allowing employers to use TFWs as pawns to drive down wages and conditions of work, even at a time when our hot economy here in Alberta suggests that they should be going up.’ McGowan's comments came in support of a joint statement made yesterday in Ottawa by a number of national labour, religious and immigrant settlement organizations. The statement says that allowing employers to pay TFWs as much as 15 per cent less than the prevailing wage rate paid to Canadians for similar work will pit Canadians against foreign workers and, in the process, create a ‘permanent underclass’ of TFWs.
Wreckage shows that the left wings of the two planes that crashed in Saskatchewan at the weekend touched in a mid-air collision according to a transportation official. Investigators are still collecting pieces of the planes for further analysis. They have also gathered information on the weather and the flight plans of the two planes. The plans indicate that the aircraft were likely travelling at a 90-degree angle from each other, according to transportation investigator Peter Hildebrand.
The Municipality announced yesterday that the Regional Emergency Services will be launching its Home Fire Safety Program this week, seeing the installation of smoke alarms in all 1,012 mobile homes in the Gregoire Mobile Park. The Home Fire Safety Program is a door-to-door safety check, led by the Fire Prevention Branch, offered to residents. The program identifies fire and injury hazards in the home, as well as offering a free installation of smoke alarms in residences that need them. For more information about the program visit www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/smokealarm
A change in wind direction has caused a voluntary evacuation of homes located four kilometers north of Moose Lake, due to an approaching wildfire. Although the evacuation is voluntary and a precautionary measure, RCMP are asking residents to clear out. The fire is one of two that remained out of control in northern Alberta yesterday.
The Canadian Red Cross is thanking volunteers and donors for helping residents impacted by Alberta's largest disaster, the Slave Lake Wildfire of 2011. The Red Cross has spent approximately $2.7 million directly helping residents affected by the 2011 wildfires. Steve Armstrong, Provincial Director for Alberta said; "With thanks to our generous donors and volunteers, the Red Cross has been able to make a commitment to the people of northern Alberta… The road to recovery will be a long one, and we have established an office in Slave Lake to continue providing assistance and helping the residents recover from this disaster." The wildfire devastation at Slave Lake is the largest disaster response effort in the history of Alberta. In total, more than 360 Red Cross personnel from across Canada gave their time and talent to people in need. More than 95 per cent of Red Cross personnel were volunteers who contributed over 46,000 hours.
In Sports…
The Jay’s lost again last night. Loosing 4-3 to the Rays. They have the chance to rectify that on Monday when they head to Tampa for a 3 game series. But first they’ll start a two game series with the Yankees at the Rogers centre tonight. First pitch is 5:07.
In NHL the Rangers will attempt to turn their lead into a 2 game lead, while New Jersey looks to even the series for game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight. Puck drops 6pm.
In the World Hockey Championship, Ryan O'Reilly scored a pair of goals allowing Canada to clinch the top spot in the Helsinki group with a 5-1 win over Belarus yesterday, making them a tournament favorite heading into the 2012 IIHF World Hockey Championship quarterfinals, which start on Thursday. |
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Wood Buffalo RCMP responded to a call of a panic hold-up alarm from Spirits Uptown Liquor Store in Thickwood on May 10th, at approximately 10:45 pm. It was reported that two males wielding guns had robbed the retailer and fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The males were described as possibly being high, one was Native and approximately 5'9", the other Caucasian, approximately 5'6". They were both wearing black sweaters, blue and white running shoes, and ski masks. If you have any information please call the RCMP at 788-4000.
Quebec Treasury Board President Michelle Courchesne was sworn in as education minister yesterday afternoon, after Line Beauchamp's surprise announcement that she was quitting her post and giving up politics. She was education minister from 2007 until 2010, and as the minister responsible for the Treasury Board, she participated in recent failed negotiations with striking student groups. Beauchamp resigned her cabinet position and her seat just hours after a conference call with student leaders, in an apparent last-ditch effort to kickstart negotiations once again. Student leaders expressed their surprise at Beauchamp's resignation. Key leaders spoke to her earlier yesterday in another effort to return to negotiations but they said she gave them no hint of what she had planned.
Canada and Poland are promoting closer trade ties and co-operation in the energy and resource sectors during the first visit to Canada by a Polish prime minister in more than two decades. A joint statement yesterday outlined an agreement on a tax convention and a commitment to two-trade as a "platform" for the two countries to "explore further collaboration in the areas of energy policies and regulations, renewable and nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage, energy efficiency, and shale gas development." The statement came as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrapped up a three-day tour of Canada yesterday, with an official visit to Parliament Hill and a private meeting with Prime Minister Harper. The Canadian government also announced a $400,000 grant for the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, to assist with the preservation of its Holocaust memorial site.
Canada’s Catholic bishops issued an open letter yesterday calling on Canadians to stand up for their faith, even if they suffer for it. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said they are concerned “radical secularism” is squeezing religion out of public policy debate, while internationally Christians are being persecuted in violent attacks. Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith said yesterday that people who act out their faith are praised when they dedicate their efforts to social issues such as caring for the poor or housing the homeless. But it’s a different story when people speak out on issues of morality. Saying; “Where things do get a little nasty sometimes is when the freedom of religion and its free expression challenges the status quo,” The bishops urge all Canadians, especially Catholics, to actively get involved in every sector of public life and make their views known.
Due to dry conditions and high to extreme wildfire hazard, a fire ban is now in place for forested lands in Alberta, from Waterton Lakes National Park to north of Manning and east to north of Fort McMurray. The fire ban is effective immediately until further notice. The fire ban prohibits the lighting of outdoor fires, fireworks and the use of portable campfires. In addition, all outdoor fires currently burning, whether set under the authority of a fire permit or not, must be extinguished. The fire bans do not apply to lands within cities, towns or villages or federal lands where there are no fire control agreements. Off-highway vehicle users can reduce the risk of wildfires by removing burnable debris from hot spots such as the engine and exhaust on their machines. All off-highway vehicles in Alberta are required to have a functional muffler and spark arrestor.
The Municipality has invited residents and businesses to an open house to discuss upcoming construction on King Street and the ongoing work on Franklin Av. The open house is on Wednesday, May 16th at the Stonebridge ballroom from 5-8 p.m. On King Street, a new water main is being built and improvements are being made to the sewer systems between Franklin Avenue and Centennial Drive. The roadway asphalt will be replaced. Work begins on May 22nd and will be complete by late September. On Franklin, the Municipality is making improvements to the water and sewer systems between Main Street and Morrison Street. The construction is slated for completion by July.
In Sports…
The Jay’s play their 2nd game of the 2 game series against the Ray’s tonight. First pitch is 5:07.
In NHL the Kings take on the Coyotes for game 2 of the Western Conference Final. The Kings lead with one game. Puck drops at 7pm. |
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Wayne Gretzky inspired huge support for the Keyano Huskies on Friday at Keyano’s One on One Banquet raising $210,000. Organized to focus on Keyano College's mission to facilitate sports excellence and the Foundation's task to raise funds for the Huskies Athletic endowment, the One on One Banquet featured a silent auction with a wide variety of compelling sports items, a display of the world's largest Wayne Gretzky memorabilia collection owned by Keyano College alumni and chair of the event's organizing committee – Shawn Chaulk, a four-course dinner, live auction and a hotstove. During the event Gretzky talked about the legendary cup, saying; "Lifting that Stanley Cup for the first time - you can't even describe the feeling as an athlete…". A date was given for the first Huskies game as Wade Kolmel, Director of Sport & Wellnes at Keyano said; "Go to October 19th and pencil in the first home game for our Keyano Huskies Hockey team."
A man and three women in their early 20s have been charged with committing a terrorism-related prank following smoke-bomb attacks in the Montreal subway system Thursday. The suspects turned themselves in on Friday, flanked with lawyers. They were also charged with conspiracy and mischief of over $5,000, while one was also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon (police allege he had a knife). Authorities are still seeking suspects linked to the other two smoke bomb incidents.
The Municipality announced Friday the old landfill is to be closed. Closure work for the old landfill is underway and will wrap up in July, weather permitting. Residents can continue to drop off their waste at the old landfill until the opening of the new one. The new landfill site will be commissioned soon after the completion of major work at the old site.
Officials from the Transportation Safety Board are in St. Brieux, Saskatchewan to investigate Saturday's mid-air collision between two planes. The collision killed all five people on board the two planes: three men, a woman and a boy. On Sunday afternoon, family members identified three of the victims, all from southern Alberta.
A woman who has no recollection of driving 40 kilometres to work after she hit a moose that smashed her windshield and ripped open the roof of her car on Monday says she's baffled she hasn't heard from anyone who saw her driving along the Trans-Canada highway after being badly bruised and fracturing two neck bones. She ended up at work on time but is frustrated at not having any memory of driving the 40 kilometres.
The chief executive of internet company Yahoo has stepped down, amid accusations that a fake computer science degree was included on his resume. The California-based company confirmed reports that Scott Thompson had quit his post and have acknowledged that Thompson, who took up his post in January, does not have a computer science degree. Last month, the company, announced plans to make 2,000 employees redundant. Besides its search engine, Yahoo's key products include the photo sharing site Flickr and its webmail platform.
In Sports…
The Oil Kings head to the Memorial Cup. With a 4-1 win over the Portland Winterhawks in Game 7 of the Western Hockey League championship yesterday. The Oil Kings let a close Game 6 fall to the wayside on Saturday night in Portland. But where able to bounce back with a complete shutdown on Sunday. The Oil Kings will get back to business on Tuesday, preparing for the trip to the Memorial Cup.
In NHL the Kings took game 1 last night with a 4-2 win over the Coyotes. Game 2, Tuesday at 7pm. New York and New Jersey will start their series playing game 1 tonight at 6pm.
And the Jays saw a 2-1 win over the Twins on Saturday, but allowed Minnesota to get the better of them last night, loosing 4-3. They’ll now play a 2 game series with the Rays, starting tonight. First pitch is 5:07. |
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