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Reconciliation sparks a reckoning for Canada Day fireworks displays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

VANCOUVER — Chief Don Tom of the Tsartlip First Nation on Vancouver Island says he’s been known to “partake” in watching fireworks, as a way to bring families together.But on Canada Day, he wants people to mark the occasion in a different way, perhaps by donating to an Indigenous organization or taking time to learn about First Nation perspectives.Tom is among those urging a reckoning for fireworks on July 1, to consider what sort of message they send to First Nations communities. Pyrotechnics are also under pressure on other fronts, as the few minutes of awe they inspire are weighed against their cost, the terror they cause some animals, traffic and overcrowding woes.“I think there are different ways (if you want) to celebrate,” said Tom, adding that he hoped people would “educate themselves on Canada’s history with Indigenous people.”Activist group the Indigenous Foundation also says people shouldn’t buy July 1 fireworks and instead should...

Conservative voters less likely to be proud to be Canadian, new survey suggests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

TORONTO — Canadians’ pride in their nationality, like most things these days, seems to be divided down partisan lines, a new poll suggests. While a strong majority of the 1,512 respondents to the survey by Leger said they were proud to be Canadian — 81 per cent — the poll suggests the feeling is less common among Conservative supporters than their Liberal counterparts. Experts say that while the results of the survey may be surprising given Conservatives’ reputation as a patriotic party, it reflects their malcontent with the direction in which Canada is headed. The poll found 97 per cent of those who listed their voting intentions as Liberal said they were very or somewhat proud to be Canadian, as did 87 per cent of NDP-leaning respondents. That number dipped among Conservative voters, just 76 per cent of whom answered in the affirmative. An even smaller portion of the 30 respondents who said they vote for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) said they were proud to...

Search suggests 88 potential graves at residential school in northern Alberta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

Sucker Creek First Nation Chief Roderick Willier remembers never feeling safe during the decade he spent at a residential school in northern Alberta.“I always had to stay on high alert when I was there,” Willier said, as he recalled his time between the age of seven and 17 at St. Bruno’s Indian Residential School in Joussard, Alta., about 335 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. “I was always told, ‘Oh, you got to be careful of them (at residential school).'”University of Alberta researchers recently found evidence of 88 potential unmarked graves near the former school.Dr. Kisha Supernant, who led the search, said the project focused on the areas pointed out by residential school survivors and elders of the community.Supernant’s team surveyed 4,500 square metres of land, using ground-penetrating radar to look for pits or grave shafts.She said the team found signs of unmarked graves outside of the school cemetery area at two locations — one of t...

How does DPS traffic stop data differ from APD's?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas Department of Public Safety troopers will resume patrols in Austin Sunday after a temporary one-and-a-half month halt. This is has some relieved - and others uneasy."A lot of fear, a lot of frustration," said Alexia Leclerq, policy director for Poder, an environmental justice group based in east Austin. She said Poder and the Austin Justice Coalition created a petition opposing DPS' presence in the city. "We've really seen them harass our black and brown communities," she said. Texas DPS sends resources to help with Austin police staffing But people like Tim Altanero, who lives in southwest Austin, welcome DPS' return for the sake of the city's safety."We are terrified frankly of the crime taking place," he said. "Thank goodness we have them there to help us out."Comparing DPS traffic stop, arrest, and other data to APDKXAN obtained a report from the APD detailing traffic stops, arrests, citations, drug seizures, gun seizures, and stolen vehicle recoveries,...

'Close' wins the LUX Audience Award 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

The film, co-produced by Belgium, France and Netherlands, tells the story of an intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys Leo and Remi. When their friendship is suddenly disrupted, Leo approaches Sophie, Remi’s mother, struggling to understand what has happened. Close is a film about friendship and responsibility.The other four films shortlisted for the award were: Alcarràs by Spanish director Carla Simón, Burning Days by Turkish director Emin Alper, Will-o'-the-Wisp by Portugese director João Pedro Rodrigues and Triangle of Sadness by Swedish director Ruben Östlund.The winning film was chosen by combining a public vote and a vote by MEPs, with each weighed at 50%. The awards platform received around 45,000 ratings (reviews on a scale going from one to five stars) from European viewers and 360 from MEPs.

Miss Manners: I thought it was inappropriate for her to skip the funeral and show up for the food

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was wondering if it’s inappropriate to show up for the repast if you have not attended the funeral.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I told the subway rider he was rude, and he got huffy Advice | Miss Manners: Why do they ask such questions about my groceries? Advice | Miss Manners: The bride isn’t friendly, plus I know she’s already married. Must I go to her wedding? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I right that it’s disgusting to put eyeglasses on a kitchen counter? Advice | Miss Manners: They got upset when I tried to step out of the photo My brother-in-law by marriage passed away, and we traveled out of town for the funeral, staying at a hotel. My daughter, an adult child from a previous marriage, lives about an hour away from where we were staying. She has only met my husband’s family four times in 10 years.She was not able to attend the wake or the f...

Bipartisan bill wants to stop airlines from charging fees for families to sit together

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

Air travel can be especially stressful during the summer, as this week has shown, due to technical difficulties and storms that have delayed and canceled thousands of flights.And as many parents know all too well, flying can be even more of a challenge when traveling with young children.Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., is the co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation that seeks to help parents and their children fly together, without having to pay extra.“No family should face exorbitant extra fees just because they want to sit with their children during a flight,” Spanberger said in a statement, noting she’s the mother of three school-age kids.The “Fly Together Act” calls for the U.S. Transportation Secretary to issue a rule that would require airlines to seat children 13 years and younger with their family members, without charging additional fees.Spanberger notes that “unnecessary fees” are opposed by Democrats and Republicans alike and argues t...

Pets hate fireworks? DC-area veterinarian offers some tips on helping furry friends enjoy July Fourth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

Some of your furry friends may not appreciate all the festivities that come with celebrating the Fourth of July — particularly those that are loud and bright. But a D.C.-area veterinarian has some tips on helping pets cope with fireworks.Though cats can also be “skittish” around the decorative explosives, veterinarian Ashly Smith, D.C.-area regional medical director for Bond Vet, tells WTOP it’s mostly dogs — of any age or breed — who react poorly to firework displays.“There’s the unpredictability — we know what we’re looking at, we know that we’re about to see beautiful fireworks light up in front of us,” Smith said. “But these animals have no idea what this physical sound is, it’s just startling to them.”Imagine all of the pots in your cupboard fall at one, Smith said. That feeling is similar to what dogs are going through. And as “smart” animals, they’re conditioned to react to a boom of thunder o...

Sri Lanka spares banks in its $ 19.8 billion local debt restructuring plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka will spare banks from being part of its local debt restructuring plan because of the possible impact on deposits, while the bulk of the burden will be shared by the Central Bank and superannuation funds, officials said Thursday.Sri Lanka’s Cabinet a day earlier approved a plan to restructure nearly half of its $42.1 billion local debt following a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund. A special Parliament sitting has been convened for Saturday to seek approval for the plan.The government has announced a bank holiday until next week to prevent any speculation-triggered bank run.Central Bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said the treasury bills owned by the bank will be converted into treasury bonds with a longer maturity period and the same has been proposed to superannuation funds. If those funds are unwilling to be part of the plan they may have to pay a 30% tax instead of the 14% special treatment effective now. Sri Lanka ...

Natalie Merchant joins NSO for epic concert at Kennedy Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:47 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Natalie Merchant at the Kennedy Center (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); She remains one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the past 40 years.The prolific Natalie Merchant will be performing a pair of epic concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center Opera House in D.C. this Friday and Saturday.“It’s magnificent,” touring cond...