When Leo Van Ulden’s mother first opened Wallnuts in 1995, the local climbing community had fewer than 20 members. Now, hundreds of people in the province have joined the indoor climbing gym. The St. John’s Morning Show’s Jonny Hodder stopped by the centre to hear about its upcoming two-day competition.

In a report this week, PwC said that the current cash is expected to run out by mid to late April, with site operations, program management and emergency work costing far more than initially estimated. It also said it has extensive work planned into the fall. 

Discussing what the US trade war means for Canada, both now and in the future

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The Fredericton Police Force issued an alert Thursday, announcing a new scam is making the rounds that sees the perpetrators posing as local cops to target seniors in the capital region.

In an advisory on social media Thursday, the police force noted the scheme has followed a repeated pattern. It said scammers pose as Fredericton police officers, telling victims their bank cards were used fraudulently at local stores.

“(The) caller urges the victim to contact their banking customer-service line immediately while keeping the scammer on the line,” the advisory stated.

“The same caller then poses as an employee of the banking institution’s fraud department.”

The victim - typically a senior - is asked to verify their bank-account details and then directed to transfer a sum of money to what the caller calls “a secure account” to aid the investigation and to catch a fictional bank employee involved in the so-called fraudulent transactions.

“Three instances have been reported to police in the past week, with one victim nearly losing $115,000,” the post stated. “Quick intervention was able to stop the transfer.”

The police force urges people to be vigilant and to share the details of the new scam with friends and family members to ensure others don’t fall victim to it.

“Scams are becoming more sophisticated, making it crucial to stay informed to protect yourself and your loved ones,” the police force said.

Among the ways to avoid being victimized by such schemes, police advise people to be suspicious of calls demanding money or asking you to transfer money, to be aware that police agencies never demand immediate payment to avoid arrests, to refrain from giving out personal information to unsolicited callers, to check with a family member about the story they’ve been told, to refrain from sending money to anyone under unusual circumstances and to hang up on such scam callers.

It also encourages people to report all fraud cases to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Anyone who feels they have been a victim of such a crime should contact the Fredericton Police Force at 506-460-2300 or their police agency.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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There appears to be a fire at Sunridge Apartments in Yellowknife. Emergency vehicles are on scene and heavy smoke could be seen billowing from the building on Thursday afternoon.

The deeply unpopular carbon tax is going to be removed for consumers on April 1. Gareth Hampshire looked into what difference this will make.

The Globe is visiting communities across the country to hear from Canadians about the issues affecting their lives, their futures and their votes in this federal election.

There were scattered but audible boos from the sold-out crowd at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thursday as the "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung by the 40-person ensemble from the local stage production of the Lion King.

Said Abdelhadi leads chants during one of Canadians  for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) - Saskatoon Chapter’s rallies. The group meets every Sunday near Staples on 8th Street in Saskatoon. Photo from CJPME - Saskatoon on Facebook 

Said Abdelhadi’s story, like the genocide in Palestine, starts in 1948 when his parents were forcibly displaced from their hometown of Walajah (seven kilometers south-west of Jerusalem). The couple left for Jordan thinking the move would be temporary. It has now been 76 years. His mother passed away before she could return to her homeland. Abdelhadi credits his activism to his mother and her passion for Palestine. Because of the Nakba, she did not have the chance to complete her formal education. However, she was sure to instill a strong sense of curiosity and a love of  learning in her children.      

Though such visible support for Palestine may be  new to Saskatoon, it certainly is not new for Abdelhadi, who is a husband, father, research scientist, and activist living in the city. As a Palestinian born and raised in Jordan, he was taught perseverance, persistence, and possibility at an early age. “I know Palestine from my mom’s tears and my dad’s stories,” he explains. Growing up in Jordan meant not discussing politics and not criticizing the government. 

Remembering Palestine, half a world away 
The fifth of eight children in a family of farmers, Abdelhadi attended post secondary school to expand his knowledge of agricultural sciences and technology. In 2010, he completed his master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta and continues to work in the field today as he supports farmers and growers with expansion and strategies to increase yields.

While in school, he continued to educate himself on the situation in Palestine through conversations and extensively reading books on the topic. As information and fresh perspectives became more accessible, he sought out sources beyond what mainstream media allowed for a well-informed perspective. But this is his history. He knows the truth from his mother’s own tongue.

“I know Palestine from my mom’s tears and my dad’s stories,” Abdelhadi explains.

Abdelhadi met his wife in Jordan, and they connected over their shared cultural values and passion for Palestine, Together they have one son. After his undergraduate degree, he lived in different parts of the Middle East for work, including Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Arriving in Canada in 2003, he initially landed in Montreal and briefly lived in Toronto before moving to Edmonton for eight years. Abdelhadi has now been settled in Saskatoon for more than a decade, where he and his family have built a community. And while the weather may have taken some getting used to, he notes that the beautiful long, dry summer days balance out the bitterly cold winters.

Despite making a home here, he has never forgotten where he comes from. His parents constantly reminded him, “Wherever you go, never forget Palestine, our land, our house, our life.” And Abdelhadi has taken that to heart. 
 

Conviction to stand on his own
When he first arrived in Saskatoon, he did not know many people, and as such, much of his resistance work has been done alone. In 2023, Golda, a film depicting the actions of fourth Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, during the October war of 1973, was being screened in Saskatoon. Abdelhadi protested the showing by himself, Palestinian flag in hand, and shared his insights with anyone who would listen. Some folks stopped and asked questions while others ignored him, but he persisted. He was clear in his message and shared what he had learned from his experience, his parents, people he had met, and books he had read.  “She is not a hero, she is a criminal. She is the Prime Minister of the occupation,” he says.

Though it can be frustrating repeating the same messages, Abdelhadi knows there are many who don’t know about Palestine and the Nakba, and learning from him may be the first time they’re encountering that information. If there is an opportunity to share his knowledge, he takes it. 

He had been following the official Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Facebook page and in late 2022 saw that a chapter was starting up in Saskatoon. When he joined, the chapter initially consisted only of four people. One of their first actions as a group was a banner drop showing their support on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on University Bridge. Now an integral part of CJPME – Saskatoon Chapter, Abdelhadi  works with the group, spreading awareness for and teaching about Palestine through marches, rallies, vigils, fundraisers, and events. 

Abdelhadi knows there are many who don’t know about Palestine and the Nakba, and learning from him may be the first time they’re encountering that information. If there is an opportunity to share his knowledge, he takes it. 

In rain or shine, rallying for Palestine 
Every Sunday, the group holds a ceasefire rally from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Staples and Winners parking lot on 8th Street. The rallies are open to anyone interested in participating and more information can be found on their Instagram. Supporters have been dedicated and consistent, showing up on the hottest and coldest days of the year.

They also host other acts of resistance in many other forms. The chapter has engaged in artistic activism, hosting film nights and discussions, and co-sponsoring a local theatre production of a play about Rachel Corrie, a young American woman who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003 as she protected Palestinian homes from demolition. They have also gone through official governmental channels, creating petitions and demanded action from local politicians. The group has not received support from their local Members of Parliament and their requests to meet are consistently denied. However, the group is not discouraged, and they have no plans of slowing down. Abdelhadi strives to reach more people around the city and share dependable sources of factual news and information. “Some people think that everything started on October 7, 2023 […] it started 76 years ago.”

“Ceasefire today, liberation tomorrow” read a sign at their first rally of 2025. Their work is not done. Boycott, protest, share, resist. Free Palestine.

Abdelhadi is pleased that support for Palestine has grown in this community and globally since October 2023. Though this work has been ongoing for nearly eight decades, the renewed rise in support is encouraging. He wants people to know that the chapter welcomes anyone at any time. It is never too late to learn and people from all walks of life have shown their support. Some come out every Sunday with their flags waving and buttons shining, some honk in solidarity as they drive by. Others have found the group on social media, where they have grown to several hundred followers. 

However, Abdelhadi can’t help noticing that, after more than a year of resisting, protesting, and advocating, some are burning out from the  frustration and mental exhaustion of the organizing and protesting only to face government inaction. There are people he used to see come out to events consistently who no longer do. But this only stregthens CJPME’s resolve. At their annual meeting, they reflected on their ongoing work and strategized for the upcoming year.

“Ceasefire today, liberation tomorrow” read a sign at their first rally of 2025. Their work is not done. Boycott, protest, share, resist. Free Palestine.

To find out more about CJPME - Saskatoon, visit their Instagram @cjpme_saskatoon_ or on Facebook @CJPME.Saskatoon.

A fire has broken out at Yellowknife's Sunridge Apartments, a residential complex near the city's downtown. Follow the latest developments.

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A Fredericton accused of a violent robbery at an uptown store last week refused to speak with a lawyer after demanding one Thursday, and he didn’t engage with a psychiatrist for a court-ordered assessment.

Colin Jaffar Rogers, 28, of Westbrook Lane, was arrested the night of March 20 after a violent incident at Canadian Tire on Smythe Street, and after a chaotic court appearance Friday, a judge ordered that he undergo a five-day psychiatric assessment to determine if he was fit to stand trial.

The defendant was charged last week with committing an aggravated assault on Joseph Godin by wounding him and endangering his life, assaulting Fredericton police Const. Deana Joka and resisting Const. Matt MacMellan, all on March 20.

A detective with the city police force’s major crime unit laid additional charges Thursday as well, alleging Rogers assaulted Godin with a weapon (a utility knife), that he committed robbery by assaulting him with the intent to steal from Canadian Tire, and that he possessed a machete for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.

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The post ‘People are feeling absolutely stuck’: Mike Moffatt on the Conservatives’ plan to eliminate GST on new homes appeared first on The Hub.

Six more men are facing murder charges in connection with last year’s fatal assault of an inmate at a Manitoba prison.

A 37-year-old man died in the July 22, 2024, assault at Stony Mountain Institution, and a 22-year-old inmate was previously charged with second-degree murder.

Now six more second-degree murder charges have been laid. Randal Hastings, 31, Daniel Chatkana, 25, Keewatin Lachose, 24, Brennan MacDonald, 22, Jeremiah Zglobicki, 22, Wallace Sinclair, 20, have been remanded into custody.

RCMP major crime services is continuing to investigate.

Stony Mountain Institution, a federal facility, is about 25 kilometres from Winnipeg.

The post 6 more murder charges laid in fatal assault of inmate at Stony Mountain Institution appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

After an initial investigation, Calgary police now say the person who died in Wednesday morning's crash on Crowchild Trail was a 16-year-old boy, whose vehicle was struck by another driver who had changed lanes.

Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is urging trade diversification in the face of American uncertainty.

While a lot of focus in the federal election campaign has been on dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump, Wall doesn't know if anyone is really prepared for Trump's approach.

"Either are going to be as able as the other one to deal with the President," Wall said. "It changes every day. I'm not sure if there's anybody including people in the President's own administration who are ready for that kind of volatility and the changes we've seen.

"It's really, really important for Canada to diversify away from our dependence on the United States."

That doesn't mean giving up on the relationship.

"They will always be an important trading partner," Wall said. "When we get through this Trump era of tariffs and even through it they're going to be a huge part of our economy, but we need to diversify."

What stands out in that way for the former premier is Canada's inability to get energy products to other markets.

"We have the third greatest oil reserves on the planet, and we have one customer in the United States," Wall said. "Why is that? Because we can't build pipelines to the coast to export it to other markets. Especially when it comes to (liquefied natural gas) we had a previous Liberal government, and it doesn't appear to be changed under Mr. Carney, that doesn't even seem to be interested in trying to export LNG to the world.

"We don't even sell Canadian oil to Canadians. We're importing it into eastern Canada from various countries around the world."

Wall questions how Canada will diversify if the party in power isn't supportive of finding ways to get Canadian energy products to the market. 

The City of Winnipeg says part of Portage Avenue East will be closed for a few hours on Friday.

The closure will only affect the eastbound lanes of Portage Avenue East between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

This is being done to allow for some concrete to be poured as part of the Portage & Main pedestrian reopening project.

The City adds that pedestrian traffic will not be affected, and other road closures in the area will still be in effect.

The post Part of Portage Avenue East to be closed mid-day Friday appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

A Sussex-area man with ties to several minor sports is now on trial in Saint John for allegations that he sexually assaulted a girl under the age of 10. 

A Toronto man has been arrested after allegedly stealing more than 80 fire extinguishers from residential buildings across the city.