Documents reveal that 11 companies are vying for the contract, amidst ongoing concerns of racial bias, surveillance overreach, and potential misuse at protests

The post Toronto police move to upgrade facial recognition technology, raising concerns appeared first on Ricochet.

The Lakeland Regional Library in Killarney is anticipating a sit down with the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain to decide what comes next after completing the library's needs assessment that took place earlier this winter.

The library hired Winnipeg organization Republic Architecture to facilitate the needs assessment, drawing on community input through an open house and a survey that could be completed online and in person.

Library Administrator, Krista Law, says the needs assessment confirmed what they already knew, that their current building is not sufficient to accommodate the number and the size of programs they would like to offer their community.

"It really comes down to programming," says Law.

"Our programming has increased significantly since 2022. Once things returned to normal post-COVID, we realized we currently don't have enough space to run the kind of programs we want," she explains. "It's unfortunate when lack of space is the reason we can't proceed, especially since we have the staff, the funding, and the community support."

"Republic Architecture looked at the current building very carefully and it's not entirely suitable for renovation," explains Law. "There isn't a lot of room to grow here and it's fairly inaccessible at this time, so a renovation here would be a little bit prohibitive. We'd actually be better off either renovating a different building that was more suitable or starting from scratch with something new."

The community survey was met with a great response from the public, both with the number of responses but also the positive remarks and suggestions, something the needs assessment team was pleased to see.

"... the quality of the information we got back from folks was excellent!"

"They were really happy with the speed of returned surveys. They said it's when people respond early in the process, that's usually an indication of how invested they are in the topic. And they also really liked that we had quite a variety of demographics, so lots of different age groups, family sizes, working people, retired people, people with kids," she says. "So, overall, the quality of the information we got back from folks was excellent!"

"There was lots of room on the survey for compliments. And so, it's always nice to hear comments from people, not just ticking boxes, but people who take the time to write in things they love about the library, so that was nice as well," adds Law.

The library committee is hoping to meet with council members over the next few months to discuss the options, which include renovating their current building on Williams Avenue, seeking out a different building to use as-is or to renovate, or to build new on a new lot.   Before that decision can be made Law says a feasibility study would most likely be conducted as that study brings to light the potential costs of each of the options.

Please listen to more with Krista Law below!

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s prime minister on Friday urged foreign ministers from China, South Korea and Japan to focus on finding common ground ahead of a key joint meeting of the three Asian power houses the following day.

The meeting on Saturday will see Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and South Korea’s Cho Tae-yul plan for their countries’ trilateral summit in Japan later this year.

They will also discuss North Korea’s missile and nuclear development, Russia’s war on Ukraine and other regional and global issues. On Friday, the three foreign ministers met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Japan has had historical and territorial disputes with both China and South Korea, and holding such three-way meetings is an achievement. Last one was held in South Korea last year.

Ishiba said Friday that cooperation among the three countries will serve their national interest and regional and global peace. The talks come amid growing political and economic uncertainty at home and challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Later Saturday, delegations from Japan and China will meet separately and hold their first high-level economic dialogue since April 2019. Iwaya and Wang will also hold separate bilateral talks with Cho.

U.S. allies Japan and South Korea have rapidly improved ties as they share mutual concerns over China’s growing threat in the region.

Tokyo and Beijing agreed in December to improve ties despite differences, including disputes over a group of uninhabited islands that both claim, as well as China’s territorial disputes with other countries in the South China Sea.

Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press

Experienced team will deliver on historic mandate from the people to protect Ontario’s economy and workers

On March 19, 2025, Premier Doug Ford unveiled his cabinet with an experienced team that will deliver on the government’s mandate to do whatever is necessary to protect Ontario in the face of tariffs from the United States, while building a stronger, more competitive and resilient economy.

The post Premier Doug Ford Unveils Cabinet to Protect Ontario appeared first on Kingsville Times.

Israel's top court on Friday ordered a temporary halt to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal of the country's domestic security chief until his appeal can be heard.

Nunavut can now borrow up to $1.05 billion if it needs to do so.

The federal government has increased the territory’s borrowing limit, up from $750 million, Nunavut Finance Minister Lorne Kusugak announced last week in the legislative assembly.

“We have carefully managed our borrowing under the previous limit, ensuring funds were used wisely,” Kusugak said in a statement to MLAs.

“With this new limit, we and future governments can better plan for investments and address Nunavut’s infrastructure needs.”

The federal Department of Finance sets out how much the three territories can borrow. Nunavut has the lowest borrowing limit of the territories. The Northwest Territories’ limit is $3.1 billion and Yukon’s is $1.2 billion.

The last time Nunavut’s borrowing limit was increased was in 2020, when it rose to $750 million from $650 million.

In documents provided by Nunavut’s Finance Department when the budget was introduced Feb. 24, the total amount borrowed was listed at $339.6 million as of 2024-25. The total borrowed amount is projected to be lower for the 2025-26 fiscal year at $308 million, or just under one-third of the territory’s updated federal limit.

The territory’s budget lists borrowing separately from the $2.8 billion in federal money the Government of Nunavut is expected to receive for this coming fiscal year.

In the legislature last week, Kusugak told MLAs the increased limit isn’t an opportunity to take on “unnecessary debt.”

“The Government of Nunavut will continue to borrow responsibly, focusing on key projects that benefit Nunavummiut,” he said.

“This expanded capacity allows us to invest in housing, transportation, and other essential infrastructure, while keeping our finances sustainable.”

With a territorial election set for Oct. 27, Kusugak said he doesn’t expect the current government to tap into that larger pool of money.

The next government will have that debt cap available to draw on “should the need arise,” he said.

Tim Byrne, CAO of the Essex Region Conservation Authority and Executive Director of the Essex Region Conservation Foundation, has been honoured by Chris Lewis, Member of Parliament for the riding of Essex, with a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

The Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. With only 30,000 medals awarded across the entire country, recipients were determined based on having made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to extend my most heartfelt congratulations to Tim on this significant honour,” said ERCA Chair Molly Allaire. “We appreciate MP Lewis for recognizing Tim’s nearly four decades of dedication to protecting our local watershed and celebrating his invaluable contributions to our community in this meaningful way.”

“I am deeply humbled by this incredible honour,” Byrne said. “Serving the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island community for nearly 40 years has been a true privilege, and I am most thankful to MP Lewis for this opportunity to stand alongside such distinguished recipients.”

The Essex Region Conservation Authority is a public sector organization established by the Province of Ontario and governed by local municipalities. For more than 50 years, it has delivered programs and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds in Ontario.

The post ERCA CAO Honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal appeared first on Kingsville Times.

An Edmonton law firm that's accused of helping Ron Barlas defraud a First Nation in the N.W.T. of millions of dollars has mostly failed in its bid to have the claim against it thrown out of court.

There’s a line about Canada that gets tossed around a lot. It comes from Harold Innis, the father of Canadian economic history, who said that Canadians have been relegated to “hewers of wood and drawers of water.”

An…

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The Municipality of Leamington is inviting community members to nominate outstanding individuals, groups, and organizations for the fourth annual Mayor’s Recognition Awards—a program that honours those who have made significant contributions to the community.

The Mayor’s Recognition Awards celebrate excellence in various aspects of community life, from athletics and innovation to volunteerism and youth leadership. The awards recognize those who have gone above and beyond to make Leamington a great place to live.

“Leamington is home to so many remarkable people who give their time, talents, and passion to make a difference,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “These awards are an opportunity to recognize and celebrate those who lead by example, inspire others, and help shape the community we all cherish.”

The awards will be presented in the following categories for contributions made in 2024:

• Athletics Award
• Outstanding Youth Award
• Innovation Award
• Distinguished Volunteer Service Award
• Community Inspiration Award
• Mayor’s Special Award

Recipients will be selected by the Mayor’s Recognition Awards Committee, except for the Mayor’s Special Award, which is personally chosen by Mayor MacDonald.

Honourees will be celebrated at a special Council meeting this spring, where their achievements will be formally recognized.

The nomination period is open from March 19 to April 23, 2025. Community members are encouraged to visit leamington.ca/Awards to learn more and submit nominations.

The post Leamington Seeks Nominations For Annual Mayor’s Recognition Awards appeared first on Kingsville Times.

Canada's Courtney Hoffos claimed a silver medal in women's ski cross at the freestyle skiing world championships on Friday in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Norovirus, or the stomach flu, is making the rounds, leading to warnings from public health officials to stay home if you feel unwell.

The virus results in vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain, and can be of particular concern for the very young, the very old, and those with compromised immunity.

While most healthy people get over it in a few days, dehydration is the greatest concern, especially when it’s difficult to keep down food or fluids.

The Medical Officer of Health with NL Health Services, Dr. Itai Malkin, says norovirus is spread through close contact with an infected person, or by touching contaminated surfaces.

“For example, if you touch a doorknob and then you go and eat a sandwich, if there are any virus particles on that doorknob, that now made their way to your mouth, that is a risk for catching norovirus.”

Malkin says it’s important to wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap, especially before eating and after touching common surfaces.

Another way to prevent the spread of norovirus is to stay home from work or school while sick, and for two full days after symptoms subside.

A 71-year-old man is dead following an ATV crash in Conception Harbour yesterday.

Holyrood RCMP were called around 8:30 Thursday morning after someone spotted the ATV, which had been towing a trailer, in a ditch.

The operator was found dead at the scene.

The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting police with the investigation.

A 19-year-old woman was arrested by Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP on March 19 for impaired operation.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday, police stopped a vehicle on Lincoln Road in Grand Falls-Windsor. The driver showed signs of alcohol impairment, failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.  At the detachment, the woman provided further breath samples that were above the legal limit.

She was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation. Her licence was suspended and the vehicle was seized and impounded.

When my wife and I told the woman in the bank lineup that we were selling our house and moving into an apartment, her response was typical of many. She was from our church and had walked right up to us and asked how we were doing. Quite frankly, we were exhausted. We had long been angling toward a decision to sell our house and move — we didn’t know where. Now that we were listing the place and going full speed on downsizing, we were beat. We told her so, and why.

I might as well have said we had COVID-19 the way she leapt away from us. “No, no, I couldn’t do that,” she declared. “I wouldn’t be able to do that to my husband.” Apparently, her husband really did need a place to tinker with his projects. Moving wasn’t an option. Then she got away from us. Others of our acquaintance gave similar reasons for not moving: “We need the space.” “The grandchildren count on our house.” “I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of thing, yet.”

A woman from our tai chi class was particularly forthright: “I can’t live without my stuff.” I loved her answer. It was so nakedly honest. That’s exactly the immense problem we were up against: what to do with all this stuff. How had we filled our house so fully and completely with it?

One whole wall of the basement was given over to Christmas paraphernalia. Boxes and boxes of it, hauled out every December and up the stairs to become part of our decorated house. Then, the first of January, down it all came, packed back, somehow, into those boxes and hauled to the basement again. We had a house, so it all fit.

So did the books I brought home from the local newspaper where I reviewed for 40 years. Every time the books started to pile up, no problem, buy another shelf and ring the rec-room with them.

Then there were the paintings. We supported local artists, we proudly told ourselves, so the walls were covered with gorgeous works. It was a mini-gallery.

And our closets, mine particularly, bulged with clothes. I didn’t care for shopping, so when I found a few shirts or shorts I liked, I bought them all and jammed them in. But now the reckoning had come.

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Why did we have to move, anyway? Why couldn’t we just stay in our lovely, modest dwelling in a safe, quiet area with neighbours we loved? Why not just get rid of all this overflow and live here minimally and comfortably? Really, nearly all our friends were in the same situation, many with much more stuff, and they weren’t going anywhere soon.

We’d thought our way through that possibility. Aging in place, some call it. My wife did a projection of what it would cost us to stay in the house and live there another 15 years into our 80s, barring a fall or other complication and doing what our son suggested and hiring seasonal help. Well, new garage, new driveway, fresh coat of paint inside and out, and so on. There went $150,000 at least. So, we decided it was time.

We had two models for moving: one, a couple our age who’d sold their bed and breakfast and moved into a basement suite that they alternated with winters in Mexico; and a single man in his mid-70s who’d had enough of house upkeep. He bought a condo. Both said the downsizing, particularly, and then the move would be hellish, but the out- come would be worth it.

Now we’re months into an apartment looking out at a whole new view, and, except for a late-30s divorce, I have never been through such a challenging thing in my life. No wonder all our boomer friends did a quick avoid when they saw us coming. It was hard to go through all that stuff, all those possessions, many of them lovingly acquired, and make all these decisions about what to do with them.

One guy laughed at our efforts and said, “I’m leaving it all to my kids to handle.” Lucky them. That was another big part of the equation for us: could we leave it all to our kids? Answer, no. For us, it would mean that one person, a single-parent mom, would do most of the work and out-of-towners would promise to be there.

I had watched my own mother deal with her mother’s possessions after she died, several provinces away. When she and my dad eventually moved into assisted living, my siblings and I all had to come home to our small town to clear out the place. What do you do with a set of encyclopedias and a piano?

The equivalent for us was books and CDs. CDs are obsolete technology for many, and books, like gold to us all our lives, seem to have wandered off after the dodo.

I invited grad students and members of the writing community to come by and grab whatever books they wanted. Even then, I took thousands to a bookstore that accepted everything with my understanding that much of it might just go to charity book sales. No problem. What they gave me in credit I donated to students.

And that’s just one example of how much work it took to pass on one portion of what we had in our house.

I’m in the last third of my life. I don’t want to spend it as a curator in the museum of my things.

People regaled us with all sorts of fantasies about the mon- ey we’d make from our things or the fun we’d have at our big garage sales. If anybody tells you you’re going to make millions on the amazing stuff you have lodged away in your house, and it’s not gold bricks, ask them to do the marketing for you and you’ll give them half the proceeds. Then watch them run the other way.

And if you think that donating everything is easier than selling it on some fantastic social media platform someone knows is a surefire thing, it isn’t. We gave it all away to various charities, relief organizations, friends, relatives, people in need, and it took Herculean effort to match the item with the right person.

I could see why some people just rented a dumpster and threw it all in. But that’s such a cop-out. It’s shirking our responsibility to avoid crowding the landfill with our stuff and a missed opportunity to see that people in need get some use out of things we no longer want.

When I looked at the empty shelves in my office, to say nothing of the bare rec-room walls where I’d dispensed with seven bookshelves, I had a reverie of the energy I’d kept trapped in those books for all those years I’d owned them. All those stories, characters and ideas locked away in my house. Sure, as a teacher and writer, books were my tools, but truth be told, many had become a kind of intellectual wallpaper, markers of where I’d been as a student and reader.

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And then there were the tools themselves, a wall of them in the back basement. How many did I honestly use anymore: 10 in a year? A friend of mine who’s a real handyman took them willingly. He’s good at putting tools in the hands of those who need them.

As for the furniture, family took some, and refugees fleeing some sort of hell on earth took most of the rest. I remember one evening a very long van pulling up and a big man and his son getting out, with a woman and her small daughter. She’s from Ukraine, he told us, here a month. Can’t speak English. We hauled a couch and easy chair out of the basement, a couple of end tables and a vase, at which she almost smiled.

Then she said something to him, and he asked us, “Do you have a lamp? It’s dark in her place. No light.” My wife went running back into the house and emerged with one, cord dangling at her feet. The woman smiled broadly. They loaded it into the van, climbed in and were gone. Standing stunned on the sidewalk, we almost wept. And so went a bed, desk, clothes, either to the people in need themselves or through such agencies as the Saskatoon Open Door Society, Global Gathering Place or Mennonite Central Committee.

I’m in the last third of my life. I don’t want to spend it as curator in the museum of my things. Getting rid of most of them has freed me of the need to worry about what to do with them. My mind and heart are open to explore new ways of seeing the world, whole new ways of being.

Since the move, we’ve visited a few of our old neighbours. In three of these homes, we’ve gotten a kick out of seeing a painting we passed on to them on their wall. Somehow, they look better in their new locations than they did when they lived with us. There’s a freshness about them. Dare I say, as we put the move behind us, there’s a freshness about me, too.

***

William Robertson is a poet and retired university instructor. He lives in Saskatoon.

This article first appeared in Broadview’s April/May 2025 issue with the title “We Gave It All Away.”

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The post The emotional rollercoaster of downsizing appeared first on Broadview Magazine.

Sarah Mitton of Brooklyn, N.S., dominated the women's shot put competition at the world athletics indoor championships in Nanjing, China, tossing the two best throws at 20.36 metres and 20.48m to win gold.

When I consider the broad sweep of human history in all its expressions and forms of organization, I come to one conclusion: no matter how we organize ourselves, there are assholes in every system. Really, it's assholes all the way down.

The post When it comes to dealing with private equity plundering, we can indeed slightly improve society appeared first on Halifax Examiner.

By: Geoff Russ

Canada does not just have a new prime minister, it has a viceroy. It is remarkable that Mark Carney’s résumé lacks a knighthood, as his public image harkens back to a bygone era of Old Stock manners and professionalism.

Carney made his reputation as a reliable technocrat on both sides of the Atlantic, starting at the Bank of Canada before hopping the pond to head the Bank of England. He speaks in a polished, measured tone that is expected at functions in the City of London, the prestige of which Bay Street can only aspire to.

Apparently an avowed monarchist and well-tailored gentleman, Carney is a true Dominion man, at least on the surface. This is the idea and image of Carney that will go into the federal election.

Once the veil falls, however, and the man is left out in the open without a script, the inexperienced, testy new politician is exposed. Those weaknesses are obvious, and could sink his premiership in its infancy after the writ drops, which could come as soon as this weekend.

Carney’s credentials are certainly not among those weaknesses, and his résumé is undeniably elite. It is rare that a man can serve as governor of the BoC and make a smooth lateral move to the BoE.

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Prior to his career in central banking, Carney’s time at Goldman Sachs and other roles in international commerce made his name in the world of Anglo-Saxon finance. Were it not for his Irish, Catholic heritage, he would be a WASP’s WASP.

After finishing up in Britain and rejoining the private sector at Brookfield Asset Management, Carney came back to Canada and slotted into the role of prime minister without a hitch.

The ease with which the former BoE governor went from spending time at Wimbledon and presumably sipping tea with British aristocrats to assuming leadership of the Canadian government mirrors a career straight out of the British Empire. It is not entirely unlike how Lord Louis Mountbatten moved up from being a naval commander to Viceroy of India in 1947, with Carney returning from high court to put the unruly Dominion of Canada back in order.

Never one to miss an opportunity to praise the Royal Family, Carney’s mourning of the late Prince Philip and warm relations with King Charles III could make him into a minor character in future seasons of The Crown.

Moments after being sworn in as prime minister, Carney made sure to praise Canada’s “proud British heritage,” in an implicit rebuke of Justin Trudeau’s post-nationalist vision of the country. It was gobsmacking to hear from the leader of the Liberal Party, which has continuously undermined the British connection since first forming a government in 2015.

Old-school, Don Cherry-style Canadian patriots must be waiting with bated breath to hear if Carney will be reintroducing the Red Ensign anytime soon. There is certainly great appeal in the new prime minister’s technocratic, but old school image, and it does play well in the environment of the second Trump presidency.

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The Conservatives' worst nightmare has come true, with their former 20 point lead evaporating since Carney became PM, with the Liberals now actually leading most polls. However, so much of this is wrapped up in the idea of Carney, a man who remains untested and has been largely sheltered thus far. He does not perform well under the smallest of pressures, like his Monday press conference in which he became combative with the Globe’s Stephanie Levitz and the CBC’s Rosemary Barton. Both reporters had questioned the opaque status of Carney’s considerable assets, which he has placed in a blind trust, but he still must fully disclose his assets within 60 days of becoming prime minister. Carney’s tendency to snap when questioned about sensitive topics is a bad omen for what will be a vicious, cutthroat election campaign.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is a political animal whose first instinct is to take the gloves off. If Carney cannot handle tough but necessary questions from the press, can he be trusted to lead a campaign where everything must go right for the Liberals for them to stay in government?

The newfound Liberal support could well prove a bubble. While it is not guaranteed to pop, data has found that the Liberal support is much softer than the Conservative base that has grown considerably since 2021, and a good campaign from Poilievre will crush the Liberals if Carney falters.

Poilievre is a much better public speaker than the steady but plodding Carney, and has the natural political instincts borne of two decades as an elected politician. Without taking anything away from Carney’s professional experience, he is still a parachuted leader, and he has shown that he does flinch under pressure.

Carney the man needs to match the promise of his image, and if he does not, he will go down as Canada’s shortest-serving prime minister. Assuming the writ drops on Sunday as expected, Carney will be going in with no significant policy achievements, and only his viceroy-like image to scaffold him. That just may be enough if Carney can run a smooth campaign, but he is on the thinnest ice possible and the smallest cracks could sink him.

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Geoff Russ is a Vancouver-based writer and resource sector policy analyst. His work has appeared in the National Post, the Spectator Australia, Northern Beat, the Australian Financial Review, and Modern Age. He was formerly a reporter with The Hub.

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The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Follow us on Twitter @the_lineca. Pitch us something: [email protected]

WINNIPEG — This summer’s lineup for the second annual Tacos and Tequila Festival will now include Busta Rhymes and Ginuwine.

The ultimate throwback concert goes down on Saturday, July 19 at Blue Cross Park , also featuring Timbaland, Xzibit, Trick Daddy, Baby Bash, Yung Joc, Bubba Sparxxx, DJ Ashton Martin, and Winnipeg’s own Max Winds.

Presented by the Winnipeg Goldeyes and Social House Entertainment, attendees can look forward to the area’s best taco chefs, hand-crafted margaritas and tequila shot bars. There will also be lucha libre wrestling, an exotic car showcase, a chihuahua beauty pageant, art installations, photo-ops, and of course, live musical performances.

Winnipeg’s top food trucks and restaurants will be on-site, including Wings N Fries, KYU Grill, Lemon Train, BIGG Smoak BBQ, Crave Kitchen and Deli, and more.

The Tacos and Tequila Festival runs from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at tacosandtequilawinnipeg.com. General admission is $90, VIP access is $190, with private tables and suites varying in price.

B.C. has delayed the launch of its publicly funded in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program by three months, and some patients and doctors are frustrated.

RCMP discovered the drug during a search they conducted in the Amherst area in December while investigating the theft of a dirt bike.

He didn't mean to eat the whole thing, but it was worth it. On a quest to try Canadian brands, Andrian Makhnachov stumbled upon McCain's Deep'n Delicious Cakes. Now the TikToker, who moved to Canada from Ukraine in 2022, has gone viral for his ecstatic reactions.

The RCMP says it is investigating the crash.

The program launched on Feb. 17 as a joint effort between police, peace officers and community partners to respond to crime and social disorder issues around the city.

The RNC have arrested wanted person, Shane Ryan of St. John’s.

Ryan, 44, is accused of robbery, possession of property obtained by crime, and breach of probation in connection with a robbery that occurred on Commonwealth Avenue in Mount Pearl early Wednesday morning.

Ryan was taken into custody on Thursday evening in the area of New Cove Road in St. John’s and held in custody to appear in provincial court.

The Power of Play was aimed at educating parents on why it's okay, and even important, to let their kids have their fair share of playtime.

Presented by Jacqueline Green, founder of Great Parenting Simplified, Power of Play was a presentation made at the Swift Current Early Years Family Resource Centre. Green provided insights into how play enables growth, gives kids a chance to process emotions, and is a part of the quintessential experience while growing up. 

"It went very well," said Green. "It was wonderful to help parents and see their interaction around it. Even the fact that it's okay for kids to have some risks."

Green made sure to highlight how getting hurt during play is also a part of the experience. The goal of play is to not have a planned outcome but to just experience an open-ended free time, according to Green. That aspect is important to protect and build into a schedule. 

"As parents, we need to find free time for ourselves and nurture our own playfulness," said Green.

Green relayed how parents expressed some relief at the fact it's okay to slow down. The desire to push children into the right activities is well intended, but she could see how the fact they could allow their kids to have free time also helps free the parents up from obligations and scheduling.

Great Parenting Simplified is a non-profit charity that Green opened as a resource for parents after her own experiences with parenting beginning in the year 2000. She provides access to early years professionals who are knowledgeable on what play is, and how both children and parents can get the most out of it. 

Her presentation at the Early Years Family Resource Centre had two sessions.l The first was at 10:30 a.m., while the second was at 6 p.m. Roughly 20 families attended each presentation, according to Green. 

A 71-year-old man is dead following an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crash that occurred on March 20 in Conception Harbour.

Shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, police received the report of the crash. A motorist came upon the overturned ATV that was towing a trailer, resting in a ditch on the side of the road. The lone occupant of the ATV died at the scene.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was engaged and the investigation is continuing.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is announcing a plan to boost training and jobs for workers in skilled trades.

In a news release this morning, Poilievre says his plan for “more boots, less suits” will expand training halls and provide direct grants and faster employment insurance for apprentices in licensed trades.