Archive for the 'news' Category

Happy Canada Day!

contact July 2nd, 2008

ok. I’m a day late. Sorry.

From pch.gc.ca:

Background

On June 20, 1868, a proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, called upon all Her Majesty’s loving subjects throughout Canada to join in the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st.

The July 1 holiday was established by statute in 1879, under the name Dominion Day.

There is no record of organized ceremonies after this first anniversary, except for the 50th anniversary of Confederation in 1917, at which time the new Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, under construction, was dedicated as a memorial to the Fathers of Confederation and to the valour of Canadians fighting in the First World War in Europe.

The next celebration was held in 1927 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation. It was highlighted by the laying of the cornerstone by the Governor General of the Confederation Building on Wellington Street and the inauguration of the Carillon in the Peace Tower.

Since 1958, the government has arranged for an annual observance of Canada’s national day with the Secretary of State of Canada in charge of the coordination. The format provided for a Trooping the Colours ceremony on the lawn of Parliament Hill in the afternoon, a sunset ceremony in the evening followed by a mass band concert and fireworks display.

Another highlight was Canada’s Centennial in 1967 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended the celebrations with Parliament Hill again being the backdrop for a large scale official ceremony.

The format changed in 1968 with the addition of multicultural and professional concerts held on Parliament Hill including a nationally televised show. Up until 1975, the focus of the celebrations, under the name “Festival Canada”, was held in the National Capital Region during the whole month of July and involved numerous cultural, artistic and sport activities, as well as municipalities and voluntary organizations. The celebration was cancelled in 1976 but was reactivated in 1977.

A new formula was developed in 1980 whereby the National Committee (the federal government organization charged with planning Canada’s Birthday celebrations) stressed and sponsored the development of local celebrations all across Canada. “Seed money” was distributed to promote popular and amateur activities organized by volunteer groups in hundreds of local communities. The same approach was also followed for the 1981 celebrations with the addition of fireworks displays in 15 major cities across the nation.

On October 27, 1982, July 1st which was known as “Dominion Day” became “Canada Day”.

Since 1985, Canada Day Committees are established in each province and territory to plan, organize and coordinate the Canada Day celebrations locally. Grants are provided by the Department to those committees.

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10,000 Canadians petition for iPhone rate relief

contact June 30th, 2008

More about it here.

World Premiere in Toronto for the Documentary: UFOs: The Secret History

contact June 29th, 2008

The 2-hour feature documentary UFOs: The Secret History, (UFOs and the Politics of Reality), premieres in Canada on History Television, July 15th at 8:00 p.m. EDT with a repeat at 12:00 a.m. midnight EDT.

There will be a public preview screening on July 8th at 7:00 p.m.here:

The Royal Cinema,
608 College St. West
Toronto M6G 1A1
Phone: 416-534-5252

The Royal has recently been renovated and has an High Definition projector so the documentary will be seen on a 40-foot screen.

There’ll be a $6 charge at the door with all proceeds going to the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies.

The doors open at 6:30.

Summer Festivals in Toronto

contact June 14th, 2008

While we’re on the subject of summer festivals in Toronto, here are some more coming up:

OLYMPIC ISLAND 2008
Date & details: Olympic Island. $49.50 at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Horseshoe, Ticketmaster. June 7.
Who’s playing: Your favourite sensitive nü-romantic types: Toronto/Montreal Arts & Crafts indie darlings Stars and mopey Yank college rock idols Death Cab For Cutie. The latter are from Seattle, so odds are they write songs in the rain, which explains a lot.
What to bring: A Slip ’n’ Slide, to turn your tears into joy.
What not to bring: A bag to take home cellphone company brochures —?this year’s Olympic Island fest is sponsored by “you: the local music fan.”

HARBOURFRONT CENTRE
Date & details: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. All summer long. See www.harbourfrontcentre.com for complete details.
Who’s playing: Only top talent from every culture in the world. Everyone from dub originator Lee “Scratch” Perry (June 30) to Afrobeat scion Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 (July 2) to electro-indie veterans Ladytron (July 4) and loads of world music artists whose fame in their own countries guarantees that some portion of the city will throng to the stage.
What to bring: An open mind; in some cases, a translator.
What not to bring: In a staggering number of instances, money — many of these top-drawer concerts are partly paid for by your tax dollars, a fact that can do double-duty as a heckle.

NORTH BY NORTHEAST
Date & details: June 12-15. Check www.nxne.com for info.
Who’s playing: Whoever they can rope into playing in a sweltering club even when it’s already hot outside. Which means upstart post-punkers These New Puritans, D-Block rapper Sheek Louch, southern rockers My Morning Jacket and plenty of bands you’ve never heard of, spread across 50 venues.
What to bring: A backup plan in case your show of choice fills up quick with greasy industry types.
What not to bring: A leather jacket, unless you plan on drowning in your own sweat.

TD CANADA TRUST TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Date & details: June 20-29. See www.torontojazz.com for complete schedule.
Who’s playing: Some new faces (indie-hip-hopsters The National Parcs and Grand Analog), some old faces (Al Green, Dr. John), and some very old faces (Dave Brubeck, who at 88 can still handle “Take Five” with its odd 5/4 time better than you, young whippersnapper).
What to bring: Carefully sculpted facial hair; your concentrating-on-jazz face.
What not to bring: Jazz hands; a microwave oven — ack, my pacemaker!

EDGEFEST 2008
Date & details: July 12. Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall. $80.50 at Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: The titans of alt.rock radio (Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, Sam Roberts Band, The Bravery) will try to fill a space so big you could park the Titanic in it and still have room for Scott Weiland’s ego. Almost.
What to bring: Piercings, testosterone, angst.
What not to bring: Black leather shorts. Ouch.

VANS WARPED TOUR
Date & details: July 19. Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall. $43.25 at Rotate This, Sonic Temple, Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: Who cares, it’s the best mall-punk show of the year and we finally don’t have to go Barrie to see it. But for reference, Angels And Airwaves, Relient K, The Academy Is…, and more are on the bill.
What to bring: Wallet chain; hair gel; skateboard for getting from one side of the venue to the other.
What not to bring: Your carefully prepared rant about which bands have sold out since last year’s Warped, and/or since 1977.

THE ROGERS PICNIC
Date & details: July 20. 1pm. Historic Fort York, 100 Garrison. $49.50 at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, Ticketbreak, Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: A very trendy bunch — Vampire Weekend, City and Colour, Cat Power, Animal Collective, Dizzee Rascal, Born Ruffians and more. It’s basically an indie fan’s wet dream, if indie fans had wet dreams and weren’t totally asexual and didn’t have genitals made of Nerf.
What to bring: Oh my god, you’re wearing that?
What not to bring: Oh my god, you’re wearing that?

ROCK THE BELLS 2008
Date & details: July 20. Noon. Arrow Hall, 6900 Airport. $75-$175 at Rotate This, Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: A hip-hop dream team — A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, The Pharcyde and more. Did I say hip-hop? By that I mean, Hip-Hop-Before-Soulja-Boy. You knew that. Nah’mean?
What to bring: A backpack; Haterade to pour on anyone who admits any fondness whatsoever for Akon.
What not to bring: A checklist of acts to see, since based on the last RTB, you shouldn’t count on the entire lineup making it over the border.

V FEST
Date & details: Sep 6-7. Toronto Island. $87; $159 for both days at Ticketmaster, Future Shop.
Who’s playing: All aboard the time machine, we’re going back to 1996! Foo Fighters, Oasis, Paul Weller, Spiritualized… admittedly, a lot of people slept through the NickelCreed era, so pretending it never happened is probably a sound business strategy. For the modern-minded, Wintersleep, Constantines, Robyn and way more round out the otherwise-excellent two-day lineup.
What to bring: 10-year-old copies of the NME to get yourself in the zone.
What not to bring: One of those internets I keep hearing about. I asked Noel Gallagher and he said he’s not sure, but he thinks he already has one.

[source]

Toronto Jazz Festival Starts June 20

contact June 12th, 2008

toronto jazz festival
This festival is not to be missed if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of Toronto. Or not. Some highlights feature Al Green, so you must see the Rev (June 19) if you’re tired of being alone, because if anything, he’s still in love with you. Ahmad Jamal will be there (June 23) too! And - A surprising guest, a very old timer in jazz, Dave Brubeck (yeah, he’s still alive!) will be kickin it with y’all (July 2) and taking at least 5 minutes to play his signature tune. If you have no idea who he is, you will surely recognize his tunes, and at 88 years old, he will amaze you.

There will be lots of music and lots of artists and venues so the best thing to do is download a schedule and go from there. Get tickets online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 416-870-8000.

For more information: toronto jazz

Canadian Border to Check iPods for Copyright Infringment

contact May 29th, 2008

“The federal government is secretly negotiating an agreement to revamp international copyright laws which could make the information on Canadian iPods, laptop computers or other personal electronic devices illegal and greatly increase the difficulty of travelling with such devices.”

Read about it here.

[via]

Uranium is Polluting Lake Ontario

contact May 24th, 2008

The producer of Uranium says uranium “might have” leaked into Lake Ontario. We know that really means uranium “definitely without a doubt leaked” into Lake Ontario.

From the nyt:

“OTTAWA — Cameco, the world’s largest uranium producer, has told the Canadian nuclear regulator that its refinery might have leaked uranium, arsenic and fluorides into Lake Ontario.

A section of the Port Hope, Ontario, plant of Cameco, the world’s largest uranium producer.
The plant at Port Hope, Ontario, across the lake from Rochester and down the shore from Toronto, first refined uranium for the Manhattan Project during World War II. It has been temporarily closed since July to remove contaminated soil.

A spokesman for Cameco, Lyle Krahn, said Wednesday that a computer model created for the cleanup, which is several months behind schedule, indicated that the radioactive and toxic materials have been polluting a harbor adjacent to the factory. The harbor leads directly to the lake.

The company notified the regulatory agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, about the finding at a meeting last week and now plans drilling tests to confirm the contamination and to measure its extent.

“We’re anticipating that material may have been entering the harbor,” Mr. Krahn said, adding that Cameco did not know how long it would take to confirm any possible pollution.

A spokesman for the agency, Aurèle Gervais, said: “The Port Hope UF6 plant matter has been ongoing for some time and the harbor issue is a recent development,” using the chemical formula for uranium hexafluoride.

In a background paper prepared for the agency’s commissioners last week, its staff concluded that the potential remained for continued water pollution from the plant.

Cameco in general and the aging Port Hope refinery, which transforms mined uranium into forms suitable for electrical power reactors, have long been targets of environmental groups and the regulatory agency.

After a flood last year closed one of the company’s mines, which produces about 10 percent of the world’s uranium, Linda J. Keen, then the head of the regulatory agency, said her commissioners and staff had a “lack of confidence” in Cameco and its management…”

Read the full article

How America Sees Canada: Better!

contact May 9th, 2008

From mcleans:

They came from China and England, from India and Mexico — 94 people of every age and race, from 13 countries in all. They arrived this crisp autumn morning at an imposing new office complex in Surrey, B.C., filling neat rows of folding chairs in a second-floor courtroom, Citizenship Judge Shinder Purewal presiding. The judge is a cheerful man in a happy job. He told them about some of his own experiences: the murder of his father when he was an infant, and how he arrived in Canada from India as a 17-year-old because his mother wanted to raise her family in a land of peace and security. Purewal, also a political science professor, told them how difficult it is to move to a country where you don’t speak the language or understand the culture. Give it time, he urged them, and Canada will exceed your expectations. He told them how he built a new life in Canada and earned a Ph.D., and how this country — ranked best in the world, he said — has much to offer them as well. “What makes this country great,” he said, “is your presence.”

They stood and raised their right hands — a little girl with bouncing pigtails and a pink coat, a dignified older man with a flowing white beard and a saffron turban, and all the rest — and they recited the oath of citizenship in halting French. “Now you are 50 per cent Canadian,” joked the judge. Then they recited the pledge again in English. Now you are 100 per cent Canadian, he said. They applauded. Friends took photos. And just before 10 a.m. on Nov. 13, the country gained 94 new citizens, with 94 sets of hopes and dreams and plans.

It was a beautiful thing to see. A visitor to the ceremony couldn’t…”

Read the rest and watch a video

Food Prices to go UP in Canada

contact May 4th, 2008

From msn.ca:

“Canada cannot remain immune to the skyrocketing food prices that already affect much of the world and it may be only a matter of months before the impact here has a major impact on the economy, says a new report from Bank of Nova Scotia.

Except for baked goods, Canada been mostly spared the price spikes in basic foods that has roiled the developing world and even caused two major food retailers in the United States to ration some types of rice as a “precaution” against hoarding.

Because most agricultural commodities like grain, fuel and fertilizer are priced in U.S. dollars, the stronger loonie has cushioned Canadians from many of these shocks. Consumers have also benefited from stiff competition among grocery chains.

“But I don’t think Canada can escape the sort of food pass-through that has been going on in the global economy indefinitely,” says Derek Holt, vice-president at Scotia Capital Economics, who wrote the report.

“This is the year it starts to catch up to Canada. We’ve already started to see in some key categories and that will intensify in the summer months.”
Scotiabank’s warning is the latest in several issued recently by Canadian businesses and international agencies.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization reports that global food prices have increased 57 per cent from last year, while the price of rice has doubled.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has forecast the higher prices are likely to last at least two years before moderating slightly.

Holt said that Canadian spending habits could change profoundly once food prices begin rising, along with higher gasoline and heating prices that have already hit Canada.

“It’s a very material risk that people will start seeing themselves having to spend dozens or hundreds of dollars a month more on basic groceries, home heating and gasoline costs,” Holt says.

“You’ve got to do something, so you start to rein in spending on everything else and you postpone plans buy that HD television, or build a backyard deck.”

Several analysts have also forecast that Canada’s holiday from food price shock will not last forever.

But where Holt’s analysis differs from others is that he believes the likely impact will not be higher inflation, but lower prices for everything except food and energy.
Holt argues that sky-high energy and food prices could actually be disinflationary for Canada because consumers will have less to spend on everything else.

“That becomes a very dangerous scenario where you can have some sectors doing very well, food and energy, but other sectors see their pricing power totally evaporate,” Holt said.
While low inflation is generally regarded as a good thing, disinflation could trigger an economic slump because it may result in consumers and businesses holding back on purchases and investments in expectations of lower prices down the road.

“I think rationing in food is a possibility,” he said. “But an even bigger danger is that we go back to the days when we thought price and wage controls were a smart thing, this time applied to a particular sectors.”

One encouraging development is that farmers have begun to switch to cash crops to take advantage of the higher prices, but Holt said it will likely take three to four years before the higher production is felt in the market.”

I Am Elvis

contact April 30th, 2008

elvis
No, I’m not really the King, but you’ll find a bunch of Elvis impersonators May 1 at the Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar. Don’t miss tomorrow’s fun event; there will be 5 Elvis Tribute Artists performing live, the youngest of them is only 12 years old!

I Am Elvis
Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
Thursday, May 1, 2008
7-9:30pm
Melody Bar
Free

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Clotheslines are IN again - Yay!

contact April 24th, 2008

From the torontosun:

“It’s time to get over any hang ups with clotheslines.

Ontario will outlaw clothesline bans by this summer to encourage citizens to use the environmentally friendly option when doing laundry.

“We want you to feel comfortable, wherever you happen to live in the province of Ontario, to put up a clothesline and to let mother nature, let the wind and the sun, dry your clothing,” Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday.

Homeowners would no longer be subject to municipal bylaws or homebuilder agreements that ban the lines.

Electric clothes dryers account for about 6% of a home’s energy consumption, and cutting use by 25% would save consumers about $30 per year.

Toronto Hydro’s Take A Load Off program is offering citizens a free retractable clothesline and cold water washing detergent.

At the official launch of the program yesterday, Energy Minister Gerry Phillips was wearing a shirt that had been hung out to dry.

“I think it’s safe to say that outdoor clothes-hanging season’s now with us,” Phillips said.”

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House in Toronto for Sale - It’s $1

contact April 19th, 2008

From cbc:

“Toronto’s resale housing market may be cooling off, but at least one enterprising owner has found a way to get his home noticed.

He put it on the market for $1.

The Canadian Real Estate Association says existing homes sales across the country tumbled 13 per cent for the first three months of the year compared with last year.

The group says much of the slide was tied to lower activity in Toronto during February and March. The city accounts for about a quarter of the country’s sales in major markets.

Toronto saw its residential unit sales drop 13.4 per cent, though new listings were also down by seven per cent.

The $1 listing comes from Omar Ibrahim, who put his two-storey house on the market for less than the cost of a litre of gas.

He told CBC News the listing is “basically to see whether or not we can get an offer and something reasonable, letting the market determine … what the value of this house is.”

The house at 93 Badgerow Ave., a semi in the city’s Riverdale neighbourhood, shows well. It has three bedrooms, new flooring, appliances, fresh paint and a finished basement.

Ibrahim is not trying to give the house away and won’t let it go for the asking price. It’s a marketing strategy.

Tony Bassels, the real estate broker, remembers another house in Willowdale that was listed for $1 in 2004.

“It sold in 16 days for about $960,000 and that was listed for a dollar. And again multiple interest drove the price up to there,” he said.

Ibrahim buys homes, renovates and sells them. He bought 93 Badgerow Ave. in January 2008 for $342,000. He’ll find out Monday night when he opens the offers if his strategy will pay off.”

CN Tower Gets a New Glass Floor Elevator

contact April 10th, 2008

From canoe.ca:

“After losing its 32-year status as the tallest freestanding structure on the planet, Toronto’s iconic CN Tower has something new to brag about: the world’s highest glass-floor elevator that offers visitors a thrilling perspective of the city.

Shooting upwards at 22 kilometres per hour, visitors can now watch the ground below them fall away as the elevator soars 346 metres in just 58 seconds.

For those who dare to stand atop one of the elevator’s two narrow glass floor panels - each a little more than five centimetres thick - the trip is perhaps even more harrowing on the way down.

Plunging down the concrete elevator shaft with a view of some of the…”

Full article

Warm and Fuzzy Stories: Toronto Butcher Wins $14M Lotto

contact April 4th, 2008

From the star:

“Every time he bought a 6/49 lottery ticket, Jose Lima prayed he’d win the big prize and promised God to share his boa sorte, good fortune.

He’s doing just that.

Canada’s newest millionaire – the 52-year-old father of two who won $14.5 million in the 6/49 draw – is giving each of his 50 employees at O Nosso Talho butcher shop $5,000.

On April 3, the fifth anniversary of his father Joao’s death, his generosity will spread even further when he gives away 22,680 kilograms of chicken legs to thank his customers and help Toronto’s needy.

Gilberto Andre, a 10-year veteran behind the meat counter, was with Lima, who manages the busy shop, when he checked his numbers.

“When I told him he’d won, he hugged me,” said Andre who described Lima as a very caring, kind man.

“For me, he’s a great person who never says no. We’re all very happy for him. And it’s such a good thing that he’s doing, sharing his good luck with us. I don’t know if anyone else would do that.”

Lima admitted he’s still in a state of shock and it’s too early to decide what to do with the money.

“The first thing I will do is to keep my promise to my employees and the people. I’ll decide what to do with the rest of the money later.”

Also at the top of his list is his…”

Read the article

Air Canada Will Charge for Customer Service

contact April 3rd, 2008

From the star:

“It was bound to happen eventually: Air Canada now wants you to pay extra for better customer service.

In an era of continued cost-cutting, the country’s largest airline yesterday rolled out a new service called “On My Way” that, for a fee, promises to help passengers cope with delays and cancellations beyond the airline’s control, including bad weather or airport traffic.

“This is something that many airlines used to do in-house,” said Rick Erickson, a Calgary-based airline consultant. “But since the advent of the low-cost carrier, everybody wants cheap fares.”

Air Canada said passengers who opt to pay an additional $25 one-way on short-haul flights and an extra $35 one-way on long-haul routes within North America will receive “speedy” access to “specially-trained” customer service agents who will help rebook flights on Air Canada or other airlines, as well as pay for hotel stays and meals, if necessary.

Air Canada said the program, which applies to any flight cancelled within 48 hours of the scheduled departure, goes beyond the industry practice of assisting customers affected by schedule changes deemed to be the airline’s fault, such as mechanical problems with aircraft, scheduling glitches or crew members failing to show up for flights.

But while Air Canada is touting the program as an industry-first, at least one observer said it was once common for big North American carriers to go out of their way to help inconvenienced or stranded customers – free…”

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