There are 59 teams in this weekend's tournament in Whitehorse. And for the first time, some of the games will be streamed live online.

Lloydminster is Canada's only border city, sitting partially in Alberta and partially in Saskatchewan.

The Hanover Fire Department will purposely burn down a house in Mitchell Saturday evening. 

Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says the live burn will take place between 7 and 9 p.m. at 221 Centre Street, south of Highway 52. 

“We have a plan in place to do a training exercise and to destroy the derelict building once we're completed with our training to make room for new construction, hopefully in the future there. So, getting rid of the old and using it to provide us with some valuable training.” 

Wiebe says training with live fire is always so much better than simulated fire. 

"We can create conditions within the house or the structure, certain types of fire situations. So yeah, it gives us really good, hands-on training not only for newer recruits that are just learning, but even for some of our more seasoned firefighters. There's always something to be learned with these exercises."

For this specific fire, Wiebe says there is no reason to call 911 as it is on purpose, and there will be plenty firefighters there to maintain control of the blaze.  

He adds “Please try to avoid cluttering up the area as we'll be moving our fire out apparatus up and down the streets. There's no need to avoid the area if you live along there, but sometimes these streets can get cluttered with people trying to get a good view, parking along the side of the streets. If you're going to watch it, watch it from a safe distance where you would not be getting in the way of our operations.” 

Trustees for the Border Land School Division (BLSD) have approved a $2.2 million increase in spending for 2025/26. In total, the Board has approved a $43.1 million budget for the coming year. 

Splitting half of the added spending 50/50 is operating expenditures which increased 3.63% over 24/25, predominantly due to salaries, and capital expenses that more than doubled. That, according to Board Chair Steven Wiebe, is mainly because the Division is setting aside $450,000 into a bus reserve account that was depleted down to zero last year.

"Probably, the public would be interested to know that bus prices have skyrocketed," he said, adding when he first started as trustee in 2013, a bus cost around $85,000. Today, Wiebe says the price of one bus runs at an 'unbelievable' $225,000. 

"It's a tough one to swallow but, again, it's a necessary expenditure," added Wiebe. "We put on over a million kilometres every year and a lot of that is on gravel roads. You'd think a bus that costs $225,000 could last forever but they simple don't."

With Canada's current trade war with the U.S., Wiebe doesn't expect things will improve any time soon, noting the buses typically come from the United States.

Additionally, $165,000 has been set aside to rebuild the exterior wheelchair ramp at W.C. Miller Collegiate. 

"It just barely meeting code but we're finding that it's just not working for some of the larger, wider wheelchairs that are coming into the building. It's just deteriorating, and it's become obvious that we have to put divisional capital money towards that," said Wiebe.

$150,000 is also being earmarked for an office renovation at Ecole Elmwood School. 

"Right now, there's not a clear line of sight from the front door to the office which is a real security issue and has been a long-running concern in that school," explained Wiebe. "(This) will give a little more visibility for office staff and to the entrance."

The remainder of the $1.1 million capital spending budget will be used for general maintenance and improvements throughout the various other BLSD facilities. the Board will be pulling $46,931 out of its capital reserve account to help cover the bills. 

Despite the $2.2 million in added spending for next year, BLSD will be lowering its portion of the property tax. However, with it being a reassessment year, some property owners could still see an increase on their bills.
    
Wiebe admits, it continues to be a balancing act of maintaining the services the Division provides while doing what it can to keep on top of its facilities.

"Over the last number of years, and there was a time where we weren't allowed to touch local taxation whatsoever and we were at the mercy of whatever small grant the provincial government would give us, we felt we wanted to be very careful with our expenditures, and we still are being careful. But we're making it a priority to stick to our current staffing levels and our staffing formulas. When you do that, with salary increases and operating increases every year, it doesn't leave you a lot of capital money to dream about anything new."

See below for 2025/26 education property tax information in BLSD.

Thursday evening, a controlled burn along Highway 52, east of Steinbach, caught the attention of many locals, but for one man, it was especially emotional.  

Terry Warkentin, the former homeowner of the house, watched as the structure he called home for 17 years went up in flames. While it may have been a planned and controlled fire by the La Broquerie fire department, for Warkentin, the event marked the end of an era. 

“I lived there for 17 years,” Warkentin explained. “Back in 2007, we even started a small business there, Ultimate Small Engine Service. It’s definitely bittersweet to see it go up in smoke. It’s like the end of an era, and I know the house had a lot of history in the community.” 

The house, which had been a landmark in the area, was far from ordinary.  

“I’m not sure exactly when it was built,” Warkentin said, reflecting on its past, “but I know it used to be a dairy farm. There was a big hip-roof barn there. While we still lived there, we’d have people from the community stop by over the years. They’d say, ‘I remember when that big barn was here,’ or talk about the old pump house that’s still standing now.” 

The property has seen several businesses come and go, and in more recent years, it was home to a family before Warkentin’s own business moved in.  

“I think the last owners were RT Signs, and we bought it from them in 2006,” Warkentin recalled. “It’s been through a lot, and I think it’s safe to say it had a rich history in the Steinbach area.” 

As the flames licked the windows of the home Warkentin had once lived in, the emotions were hard to put into words.  

“It’s tough to describe how you feel,” he admitted. “You see the flames coming out of the windows and think, ‘That’s where I used to sit and watch hockey games or movies,’ or ‘That was the bedroom I slept in.’ It’s a strange feeling.” 

He knows that the house has seen better days, though.  

“The house was old, and it probably made more sense to replace it than to renovate it. It still had 1940s wiring in it,” he noted. But still, seeing it burn was a difficult thing to watch.

Though the fire marked the loss of a place full of memories, Warkentin found solace in knowing the controlled burn had a practical purpose.

“It was actually good for the fire department to have a real-time training exercise like that,” he said. “They were able to practice and learn from the experience, which will be useful when it comes to saving lives and properties in the future. So, as sad as it is to see the house go, at least it had one final use.”

For Warkentin, the house may be gone, but the memories will live on. 

“If that house could talk, I’m sure it would have some great stories to tell,” he said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “It’s an end of an era, but I’m glad it was able to serve the community one last time.” 

Warkentin lived in the house until this past November when he sold the property.

* with files by Kenton Dyck 

Ray Rempel, a longtime resident of Steinbach, has spent 30 years as a paramedic and nearly 13 of those years with STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service). While speaking about his journey, Rempel revealed an interesting tidbit about his early aspirations: “My backup plan if EMS didn’t work out was to work in radio,” he shared. “I loved my time at Golden West—it was a good time.”

Today, Rempel’s passion is firmly rooted in his role with STARS, a job he describes as both challenging and deeply rewarding. “Our patients are amazing,” he said. “We get to see the 1% who are really, really sick, and sometimes witness miraculous recoveries. Seeing a patient walk in the door to thank the crew is one of the most rewarding moments.”

Rempel highlighted the dedication of the STARS team, noting their drive and passion for making a difference. “Everyone here is super passionate and doing this for the right reasons. They truly want to give back to the system.”

Innovative tools saving lives

When asked about his favourite piece of equipment in STARS' state-of-the-art helicopters, Rempel pointed to several game-changing tools. “The intubation system with the video screen is incredible,” he said, adding that the team also carries a small stuffed bear named “Starbear” for pediatric patients. “It’s a comfort item we give to kids when mom or dad can’t come with them. It lights them up on what’s probably the worst day of their lives.”

Rempel also highlighted the impact of portable ultrasound technology, a relatively new tool for paramedics. “Five years ago, we started training crews to use ultrasound, which was previously only used by physicians in hospitals. It allows us to make critical decisions roadside, like identifying internal bleeding and starting blood products immediately.”

Related story:

• Critical Care on the air radiothon for STARS

The importance of community support

STARS relies heavily on community donations to fund these life-saving tools and technologies. While government funding provides a foundation, it’s the additional support from donors that allows the organization to go above and beyond.

“Whether it’s $200 from a bake sale or $1 million from a fundraising event, every single dollar makes a difference,” said Rempel. “What’s important for people to know is that every dollar raised in Manitoba stays in Manitoba.”

He expressed gratitude for the Manitobans who support STARS, many of whom have personal connections to the program. “When I started 13 years ago, no one knew what STARS was. Now, I rarely go anywhere without meeting someone who knows someone we’ve helped.”

A rewarding mission

Rempel reflected on the broader impact of STARS. “As much as we hope no one ever needs us, it’s comforting to know we’re here. It’s a program that touches so many lives in our province.”

Before the conversation wrapped up, Rempel was jokingly asked if he’d ever consider returning to Golden West Broadcasting. His reply? A laugh, and then a polite “never mind.” It’s clear his heart is firmly in the skies, saving lives with STARS.

To make a donation and to learn about the STARS Radiothon, click here.

People in a St. John’s neighbourhood were awakened early this morning by a loud bang; immediately after, more calls went to the police after a vehicle struck a traffic sign.

Officers say the driver showed signs of gross intoxication.

His vehicle was seized and he was released to appear later on drunk driving charges.

A man who did everything wrong, including becoming aggressive with police, is facing drunk driving charges today.

RNC officers noticed a truck in the centre city area stopped about four lengths from the intersection stop line with no headlights on.

Police say he was leaning forward toward at the steering wheel, then put the truck in gear and proceeded to drive in the wrong lane.

He later failed the roadside test and told police he would provide a breath sample back at headquarters, but that’s when he became aggressive and told the RNC that he was not feeling well as he was a diabetic.

An ambulance was called, but the man refused to authorize a blood sample at the hospital.

Once medically cleared, he was charged with refusing the breathalyzer and breach of a release order.

He was held for court.

Newfoundland Power has issued its review of customer billing, and more specifically, complaints about dramatically higher bills issued for February.

The utility says it was already in the process of reviewing customer billing based on complaints when the Public Utilities Board instructed it to do the same.

Newfoundland Power acknowledges that it received an increase in complaints about billing last month and was aware of public discourse and social media posts about the same.

Newfoundland Power says a number of factors contributed to higher-than-expected bills for February, including a dip in temperature. The utility says 65 per cent of customers experienced a temperature drop of 5 degrees Celsius or more during their February billing period. Winds were also higher in February, which also contributed to higher heating costs.

It also says that the number of billing days was higher in February compared to January, with 80,000 customers seeing a billing period that increased by 3 days or more.

Newfoundland Power says all bills are reviewed for accuracy before being issued to customers, and processes are in place when a bill is flagged as higher than expected based on past use. Over 7,500 customer bills were reviewed this winter through that process. The PUB says it will review the information received.

Converting an office building into residential units comes with unique challenges but also offers some cool opportunities, says CEO Richard Sifton.

Roberta MacKenzie, of Gagetown, N.B., and Pat Cunningham of Perth, Scotland, started sending letters to each other in the early 1950s.

Tourists have been quickly booking spots in New Brunswick for this summer, generating talk of a banner year as many Canadians vow to vacation closer to home.

The Prince Edward Island government is reminding people to be cautious with outside burning as the wildfire season begins. It will run until Nov. 15.

Nova Scotia is making the change to extended producer responsibility, or EPR — a policy shift that puts the responsibility of the recycling materials on the producers that make those materials.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires seafood to be labelled according to where it was processed, not where it was caught.

Norval Morrisseau Estate Ltd. has been outspoken against the profuse fraud of the late artist’s work. Now, it faces a $1.45 million lawsuit claiming it defamed an art gallery by implying its works could be fakes.

Major global stock markets mostly suffered another difficult day Friday, with heightened concerns over the potential fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda blunting confidence.

Gold held firm after hitting a new record Thursday. Oil prices picked up slightly amid simmering tensions in the crude-heavy Middle East, where Israel threatened to annex part of the Gaza Strip and Sudan’s army retook control of the presidential palace.

U.S. stocks slumped on opening but eked out gains by day-end with all three major indexes closing higher after fluctuations.

Angelo Kourkafas of Edward Jones noted that there is “some hesitation” given the trade uncertainties ahead of Trump’s expected April 2 announcement on “reciprocal tariffs.”

But Trump said reporters Friday that “there’ll be flexibility” in his plans.

At the close of trading, major European indices likewise had been through a tough day following some heavy falls in Asia.

London, Frankfurt and Paris all closed lower.

“Overall, stocks are sliding because of a lack of confidence,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group.

“There is a confidence deficit around the world, which has been triggered by the unorthodox economic policies of Donald Trump.”

One of the worst-hit markets was the Istanbul stock exchange, which lost 7.8 per cent two days after an 8.7 per cent hit provoked by street protests that erupted after the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political opponent.

Stock markets across the globe had already retreated on Thursday after the Federal Reserve painted a gloomier picture for the U.S. economy in the near future, even if Fed boss Jerome Powell played down the impact of tariffs.

“While all the attention is on tariffs, another major negative supply shock is hitting the U.S. economy: slowing immigration,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank.

“The U.S. labour market depends heavily on immigrants, who have accounted for almost the entire rise in the labour force since the pandemic.”

The Bank of England and Bank of Japan this week have warned about economic uncertainty fueled by Trump.

Shares in Hong Kong sank for a second day running after a blistering start to the year.

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD dived more than eight per cent following a report that the European Commission was conducting a foreign subsidy investigation into its plant in Hungary.

British Airways-owner IAG retreated 2.8 per cent after the airline warned that the temporary closure of Heathrow airport, its main hub, would significantly affect operations.

Europe’s busiest airport shut down early Friday after a fire at a nearby substation supplying power to the sprawling facility west of London.

Nike slid 5.5 per cent on Friday after the athletic footwear and apparel giant reported lower quarterly revenue.

Unease about the outlook continues to push gold prices higher as investors seek a safe haven from the volatility.

“While much ink has been spilled linking the latest leg-up in the price over the last month to the U.S. growth scare, it is notable that gold has historically had a mixed record around U.S. recessions,” said Kieran Tompkins, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

The post Global stocks mostly slump as Trump tariffs hit confidence appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

Dr. Angelique Myles writes from the forefront of the Newfoundland and Labrador health-care system, where she works to help some of the most vulnerable people with complex needs.

For years, there was no way for Ukrainians in Newfoundland and Labrador to get vital paperwork without travelling out of province. Embassy staff are coming at the end of the month to cut those costs.

LONDON (AP) — London Heathrow Airport said it was “fully operational” on Saturday, after an almost daylong closure sparked by an electrical substation fire. But airlines warned that severe disruption will last for days as they scramble to relocate planes and crews and get travelers to their destinations.

Inconvenienced passengers, angry airlines and concerned politicians sought answers about how one seemingly accidental fire could shut down Europe’s busiest air hub.

“We have hundreds of additional colleagues on hand in our terminals and we have added flights to today’s schedule to facilitate an extra 10,000 passengers traveling through the airport,” Heathrow said in a statement. “Passengers traveling today should check with their airline for the latest information regarding their flight.”

British Airways, Heathrow’s biggest airline, said it expects to operate about 85% of its scheduled flights at the airport on Saturday.

More than 1,300 flights were canceled and some 200,000 people stranded Friday after an overnight fire at a substation 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away from the airport cut power to Heathrow, and to more than 60,000 properties.

Residents in west London described hearing a large explosion and then seeing a fireball and clouds of smoke when the blaze ripped through the substation. The fire was brought under control after seven hours, but the airport was shut for almost 18. A handful of flights took off and landed late Friday.

Police said they do not consider the fire suspicious, and the London Fire Brigade said its investigation would focus on the electrical distribution equipment at the substation.

Still, the huge impact of the fire left authorities facing criticism that Britain’s creaking infrastructure is ill-prepared to deal with disasters or attacks.

Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports for international travel, and saw 83.9 million passengers last year.

Passengers on about 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced found themselves landing in different cities, and even different countries.

Friday’s disruption was one of the most serious since the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and shut Europe’s airspace for days.

Mark Doherty and his wife were halfway across the Atlantic when the inflight map showed their flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Heathrow was turning around.

“I was like, you’re joking,” Doherty said before the pilot told passengers they were heading back to New York.

Doherty called the situation “typical England — got no back-up plan for something happens like this. There’s no contingency plan.”

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

Patricia McIntyre got a knock at her door one night in Île-Bizard. To her surprise, it was a bailiff with Revenue Québec documents alleging she had violated the province’s short-term rental rules. She and her husband were facing fines of $3,750 each. 

In both Gaza and Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump is failing to deliver what he said would be easy for him to accomplish: ending the wars. That’s not surprising, according to veteran diplomats, given Trump’s desire for easy, short-term wins over more durable results.

Against the backdrop of Russia's three-year war in Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics are preparing to exit the Ottawa Treaty, the landmark agreement that saw 164 countries destroy their arsenals of landmines and ban future use.

Business owners in Montreal’s Ville-Émard neighbourhood worry increasing rents are hollowing out Monk Boulevard and the strip is losing some of what makes it special.

When it comes to NB Power increases, what can we do? Sadly, not much.

I know I am not alone in my total anger and frustration with such a drastic increase in costs from NB Power, as that is all I hear people talk about in lineups at the grocery, lineups at the bank, and at my place of work. 

Well, thank you so very much, NB Power, for the 10 per cent rebate announcement in your latest letters to your NB Power users, which included proud exclamation marks to emphasize your wonderful gift to NB residents. (EDITOR’S NOTE: This discount was a provincial government initiative.) This was just prior to an outrageous 9.7% increase in April, which surprisingly arrived early in my January bill! How are you allowed to do that? 

Citizens of New Brunswick and all over Canada, for that matter, are already taking a beating with mortgage rate increases, gas gouges and food price explosions. Where will it end?

Looking to the future, if this does not stop soon, I predict an increase in suicides, mental health issues and crimes of theft as people become more desperate to make ends meet. Purchasing only necessities, taking shorter showers, lowering washer and dryer usage, keeping lights off, setting thermostats low, and driving as little as possible. I don’t know what else we can do. I already live low, but I am really feeling the struggle. I feel and fear for the single-income families and how they will cope. Where is the extra money for all these hikes supposed to come from? It’s not equalling out as wages are not keeping up with the drastic financial demands on necessities. 

Along with big oil and big banks, NB Power has joined the greedy and is gouging the essentials we need to house and feed ourselves, stay warm and keep calm. Our hands appear to be tied, and all we can do is accept it.

What does the future look like for low-income earners, getting a second job perhaps, forfeiting time with beloved family, friends and pets? Maybe win the lotto; oh, no, the $1 ticket is long gone! The minimum wage may increase to $30 an hour, or maybe NB Power is hiring?  

The state of Canada’s direction so saddens me; it appears we are falling apart. Government, step up and protect our livelihood! We are counting on you for guidance to stop this madness.

Sincerely, 

Deeply concerned New Brunswicker and Canadian citizen

R. Faber
Woodstock, N.B.

The post LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Total frustration with power bill increases first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Chris Lemons’ tether and oxygen supply snapped during a malfunction with a ship on the ocean’s surface. A mix of luck, good training and science helped him live to tell the tale.

Environmental destruction should be on the same level as genocide and war crimes, according to some of those most under threat from the effects of climate change. Vanuatu, backed by its fellow island nations of Fiji and Samoa, is pushing to have ecocide recognized by the International Criminal Court.

Spring has finally arrived in the city, and with that comes the yearly watch for rising the water levels in the rivers around the city.