Major league star Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company, capping 2024 by winning The Associated Press male athlete of the year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.

With a provincial election that left the BC NDP in government by a small margin, there’s no doubt that 2024 signalled a clear shift to the far-right with the expressed support of extreme candidates with extreme positions. 

Here’s a look back at some of the stories that captured our attention during this past October’s chaotic BC provincial election.

What started as a battle between BC’s centre-right and far-right parties, BC United and the BC Conservatives, quickly transformed into a BC Conservative stronghold, with candidates from the former moving over to the Conservatives as BC United began to collapse.

Many questioned if the BC Conservatives extreme views, which included leader John Rustad’s anti-scientific positions on climate change, would cause the party to lose support, but Rustad vowed he wouldn’t change despite past backlash for his controversial views. 

Rustad had previously rejected the claim that climate change was a crisis.

Rustad continued his conspiratorial approach toward climate change when he delivered a speech at a 2023 convoy event where he warned attendees that children will soon be forced into eating bugs. 

Rustad wasn’t the only BC Conservative to support the convoy by attending convoy-related events—it was revealed that a handful of BC Conservative candidates donated to the freedom convoy.

One newly-elected BC Conservative MLA, Anna Kindy, even spoke alongside Rustad at convoy-affiliated events about “Reclaiming Canada” and celebrating the anniversary of the freedom convoy. 

Kindy admitted at another event that she had received a letter from the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons, for “spreading misinformation,” related to COVID-19 and vaccines. 

COVID-19 conspiracy theories were commonly held and perpetuated by Conservative candidates, including by Rustad who once claimed that the province would participate in Nuremberg-style COVID-19 trials.

Following PressProgress’ reporting, Rustad issued a statement clarifying his position on “Nuremburg 2.0.”

“In a recent interview, I misunderstood the question posed to me and wish to be unequivocal in my response,” Rustad’s statement read. “Any attempt to compare or equate the Nuremberg Trials or Nazi Germany to the COVID-19 pandemic is completely inappropriate and unacceptable.”

However, Rustad’s statement didn’t stop other candidates from his party from making similar controversial statements. 

Another Conservative candidate, Mike Harris, also posted COVID-19 conspiracies on his social media, claiming that hairdryers could cure COVID-19.

The video suggests those experiencing symptoms should blow hot air up their nose with a hairdryer as a home remedy for COVID-19. Harris later claimed that the video was shared by one of his staff members.

Brent Chapman, the highly controversial candidate for Surrey-South who ultimately got elected, also compared public health measures to the Holocaust, warned of United Nations conspiracies about trying to control Canada and posted anti-refugee content.

Chapman also apologized for anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian statements he had made in the past. 

Other party candidates, including leader John Rustad also faced backlash for statements that were considered “offensive and insulting” to Indigenous communities, including during the leader’s debate. 

Rustad has previously signaled that the BC Conservatives hope to repeal the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, focusing instead on what Rustad calls “economic reconciliation.”

The Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led campaign to raise awareness against gender-based violence recently banned Rustad from wearing the Moose Hide pin for not upholding “standards of respect including respect for Indigenous Peoples and for those along the gender continuum.”

Rustad also came under fire last year for a tweet on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, during which he drew an analogy between residential schools and the anti-LGBTQ+ “parental rights” movement.

BC Conservative candidates including Sheldon Clare, have also faced criticism for engaging in residential school denialism and suggesting that residential schools actually “offered benefits” to children forced out of their communities and into the schools.

The party spokesperson Anthony Koch also came under fire for attacks on women and people of colour, with a coalition of organizations representing religious and racialized groups across Canada issuing a joint letter calling on John Rustad’s BC Conservatives to hold their party spokesperson accountable for a “pattern of harmful behaviour.” 

Other criticisms levelled by community groups included the party’s stance on involuntary care for people who use drugs and a statement from candidate Elenore Sturko who compared people living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to stray animals.

The party also received backlash for using anti-2SLGBTQ+ ideologies as a “wedge issue,” signalling that they would remove SOGI teaching materials from schools.

But the headlines didn’t stop there.

A leaked dossier revealed 200 pages of controversial and conspiratorial statements made by Conservative candidates ranging from conspiracy theories around COVID-19, 15 minute cities, and conspiracies about the World Economic Forum. 

However, despite the limitless controversy clouding the party, a number of candidates holding extreme positions were still elected during BC’s provincial elections.

Looking ahead to 2025, it’s likely that these same BC newsmakers will continue to make headlines while in office, demonstrating there is much at stake with politicians with these kinds of beliefs holding power in provincial politics. 

The post BC’s Hard Shift to the Right After A Chaotic Year of Provincial Politics appeared first on PressProgress.

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A Fredericton man who’s in custody in a Québec correctional facility is facing serious charges back at home, including possessing items for trafficking, such as Oxycodone and stolen stamps.

Yes, Canada Post stamps.

George Edward Andrew Joseph Pearce, 51, of Eastwood Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone Friday from a jail in Rimouski, Que., to answer to a variety of criminal charges alleged to have been committed closer to home.

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NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — To shouts of “Coach” and “Let’s go Spartans,” Michael Vick was introduced Monday as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years.

Vick, who grew up about 30 minutes away in Newport News, donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith.

Vick’s introduction was the culmination of whirlwind courtship, the timing of which took even Vick by surprise.

“I was talking to my high school coach a couple weeks ago, and I told him I wanted to be a football coach one day, a couple years from now,” he said.

Vick said he then got a surprise call from former Virginia Tech football player Aaron Rouse, who is now a Virginia state senator, and Norfolk State athletic director Melody Webb, gauging his interest in becoming the Spartans’ coach.

“It wasn’t the easiest decision to make,” Vick said. “I’ve got family that I considered, I care about and I love. This requires a lot of change in lifestyle. But at the same time, it allows me to serve young men in my community.”

Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. A three-time Pro Bowl pick in six seasons in Atlanta, he revolutionized the quarterback position with his dynamic running ability.

Vick’s career was derailed by his conviction in 2007 for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. He pleaded guilty and served 21 months in federal prison before resuming his career in 2009. He retired in 2017 and had been working as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports and as an animal rights activist.

Vick’s legal troubles were not mentioned Monday, except indirectly by Webb, who praised his ability to “inspire and overcome challenges” and said it is in keeping with the values the school wants to instill in its student-athletes.

“His journey is one of resilience and redemption and unwavering commitment to growth,” Webb said.

Vick has no coaching experience and is the latest former NFL star who had not coached before to take the helm of an HBCU program, a club that includes Deion Sanders and Eddie George.

Norfolk State has made only one playoff appearance since moving to FCS in 1997. The last five Spartan head coaches have had losing records, including Dawson Odoms, who was fired in November after going 15-30 in four seasons.

School officials hailed Vick’s hiring as transformational, however. Webb said Vick’s name “resonates around the world.”

Added rector Kim Brown: “Today we turn the corner and we embrace a new season for our football program.”

For his part, Vick said he won’t be outworked, and that he will recruit hard in his home region, long a hotbed of talent. He said he attended Norfolk State games while playing youth football in Newport News and has followed the program over the years.

“It’s a lot of pressure being in your hometown,” he said. “I’ve always thrived off it.”

___

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The Manitoba government says a break on fuel prices will be permanent, as it announced Monday a 10 per cent cut to the provincial fuel tax.

“Our government keeps our word. We said we’d cut the fuel tax and we did,” said Premier Wab Kinew in a press release.

“We said it would last 12 months and it did. Now we’re going further by bringing in a permanent cut to the fuel tax to make it one of the lowest in Canada.”

GasBuddy.com, which tracks gas prices across North America, still has Manitoba as having the cheapest gas in the country by far, with prices per litre hovering around the $1.30 mark, compared to prices as high at $1.69 elsewhere.

The premier noted the province has managed to keep its gas prices the lowest across all of Canada throughout 2024 and the break has helped slow inflation in Manitoba.

The new fuel tax rate will be applied on the first day of the new year.

The post Lower gas tax made permanent in Manitoba appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

A 10-year-old boy died on the weekend after he lost control of the snowmobile he was driving in south-central Manitoba, RCMP say.

Over the past year, people have more and more asked how I make a living. So, I thought it might be interesting to share that with you here. Welcome to: the ups and downs of being a freelancer.

First, I do have a protective shell. I work for the Canadian Association of Labour Media for 22 hours per week. There, I get a salary and the chance to travel all over Canada. CALM is my lifeline and I’m not only lucky to have it, but I’m also lucky to love the work.

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But enough with the boring stuff, bring on the juicy details.

Sandy and Nora: Thanks to the podcast, I make a monthly stipend. This amount has dropped by 25% over the past years but in 2024, remained stable. The advertising revenue hasn’t been enough to increase our own stipends, and the Daily News hasn’t, on its own, brought in enough to increase it. The podcast world is not lucrative, especially when your podcast is geriatric in podcast years (it’s hard to keep sustainers for so long when you’re not able to grow). But there will be some big news in 2025 that will mean some expansion in the Sandy and Nora Universe and, maybe (maybe!) even a new tour that will allow Sandy and I to pay ourselves. (No, we’ve never paid ourselves for any of our live shows.)

Journalism: journalism accounts for a small amount of my overall income — under 30% or so. 2024 was the year where I really felt the walls close in. A bunch of forces conspired to decimate my paid journalism work. Compared to 2023, I had a 100% decrease in my income from the CBC. That represents the loss of the panel show The Conversation but also I was not asked to do CBC Radio (usually syndication) once. It has been a signficant blow. Less of a blow was the 100% loss of income from Canadaland. It’s a much smaller amount (maybe $400?) but still. And for The Maple, where I walked away from having a column over personal differences, I didn’t do much journalism for them in 2024. And that represents a 74% decrease versus 2023. Overall, it was bleak, though I picked up a J-Source feature and am working on a Walrus feature that will be published in 2025. Plus, I got to do some writing for Truthout.

Book writing: forget about imagining what I got from books. The royalties are so little they are barely worth mentioning and each book I’m working on came with a $3000 advance (advance as in you only get royalties after you make your portion of $3000). I always joke that the year that my kid put his foot through his bedroom wall (the wall was rotten, we discovered), I paid more for a guy to drywall it in two days than I was paid for my last book. Also, on the economics of book writing — when I wrote my first book in 2013, I was paid $5000. No advance, no royalties. I think it’s still the most I’ve ever made even though I am now at book five. (Why do I do it? Great question). Anyway, thanks to everyone who has bought a copy over the past few months. It has been on the independent bookstore bestseller list for most of the fall.

Non-journalism: 2024 was a good year for things that were not journalism: speaking gigs, editing academic papers, etc. I had a 178.09% increase over 2023 in my non-journalism income. Thanks to the groups that brought me in this year especially — I needed that support!

Substack: Finally, I started Substack two years ago to both be an outlet for me to write and to create a stable income source for my journalism. While my Substack audience has grown over the past year (not by a ton, though), the amount of money it brings in has dropped. For example, where I’ve had more than 100 new followers in the past month, I’ve lost 25 paid followers. Not a great ratio. For all of 2024, I had a growth rate of 0.6% in paid donors, but were a lot of issues with credit card processing and so I have slightly less this year than I had last year. (The issues are on the user end, not mine).

The key to making this all work is to have a lot of different income streams. When when collapses, you have to be able to pivot to one that is functional. I don’t know where my gross income will be in 2024 compared to 2023 until I suck it up and do my taxes next April but it will likely follow a multi-year trend downward. Luckily, that trend isn’t going down too quickly.

So if you are feeling generous and you want to send me the money that you’re saving off of Justin Trudeau’s tax holiday (that is a joke, have you noticed any savings? I have not) please consider donating! And if you can’t or won’t or don’t feel like it or intend to but then forget? That’s good too. I’m not a very good salesman so forgive my awkwardness.

Happy holidays! I hope you have some time off. I’m almost finished a puzzle that I need to get finished before guests come over tonight. But I am trapped with a big question: Do I prepare supper tonight or do I keep searching for the blue pieces? My guests can eat chips, right?

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The murder of 16-year-old Mark Bistoyong in 2023 affected over 200 people who wrote victim-impact statements for the sentencing hearing of his 23-year-old cousin who killed him. The justice hearing the case said that's the most he's ever seen.

Police say a 10-year-old boy is dead after a snowmobile collision near a town southwest of Winnipeg Sunday evening.

Pembina Valley RCMP say it happened on a private property about six kilometres north of Rosebank around 7:40 p.m.

The boy was reportedly operating a snowmobile with a group of family members when he side-swiped a fence. He lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree, according to authorities.

The boy was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries.

Mounties say he was wearing a helmet and other safety equipment at the time of the collision.

Pembina Valley River RCMP and a collision reconstructionist are investigating.

The post Manitoba boy, 10, killed in snowmobile collision appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

The ER at eastern P.E.I.'s Kings County Memorial Hospital will be open only Monday to Friday starting Jan. 11, 2025, due to what Health P.E.I. calls staffing challenges.

Saskatchewan's two main political leaders had agreed before October's provincial election not to target the families of candidates during the campaign, says Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck. It was a commitment she says was broken.

A $2-million donation that hospital administrators are calling "unique" has landed at the doorstep of St. Joseph's Health Care in London to help with patient care.

A Saskatchewan man attempted to convince a King’s Bench judge of his right to opt out of legal proceedings as a “natural, freeborn, sovereign individual.”

Michael Vincent MacGregor, 44, was arrested on Jan. 11, 2023, after an investigation led police to seize over a kilogram of fentanyl, a loaded, stolen sawed-off shotgun, and a large sum of cash, according to a Regina Police Service news release.

MacGregor faces five charges, including possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime, and several firearms-related offences.

In September, Justice Michael Tochor noted that MacGregor filed a peculiar document titled “Withdrawal of Consent and Opting Out of Legal Proceedings.”

The document asserts that MacGregor is not “to be governed by any statutes, rules or legal processes,” and claims he does not “recognize the jurisdiction of any court” over him without consent, according to a written decision from Tochor issued Dec. 12.

MacGregor demanded that Tochor provide “proof of a valid contract … that holds me to your jurisdiction,” warning that if his demands were not met within 72 hours, he would “consider all actions and proceedings to be fraudulent.”

Despite the unusual nature of the filing, Justice Tochor considered MacGregor's submissions at face value, providing a brief analysis in his written decision to explain why his court has jurisdiction in the matter.

Tochor wrote that MacGregor continued to submit similar challenges and also claimed compensation of $500,000 from the judge, Crown, and a court clerk over the following months. MacGregor further alleged violations of his rights under sections seven to 11 of the Charter.

MacGregor presented his arguments directly at a Dec. 10 case management conference.

“During his submissions, I suggested to Mr. MacGregor that he would be well served by seeking the advice of legal counsel,” Tochor wrote. “I pointed out the consequences of a conviction on any of these charges could be very serious, including the imposition of a custodial sentence.”

In his written decision, Tochor clarified the chain of legal authority. The Constitution Act of 1982 grants the Canadian Parliament its authority to enact laws, and the government of Saskatchewan derives its jurisdiction to pass laws from the same source.

From there, the court derives its jurisdiction over indictable offences from the federal Criminal Code and the provincial King’s Bench Act, which designates the Court of King’s Bench as the “superior court of criminal jurisdiction.”

Tochor writes that in this case, the indictment alleges Mr. MacGregor was found and arrested within Saskatchewan’s territorial jurisdiction, and he was charged with offences arising from events that occurred in Regina.

Tochor explained that MacGregor was committed to stand trial on the charges by the provincial court on April 10 and ordered to appear before the presiding criminal pre-trial judge at the Court of King’s Bench.

“Therefore, the law in Canada establishes that the Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan has jurisdiction over Mr. MacGregor with respect to these alleged offences,” Tochor wrote.

After MacGregor’s submissions on Dec. 10, Tochor also ordered that MacGregor personally appear for the first day of his trial.

“I explained to him that if he did not appear at his trial as required, I could consider issuing a bench warrant for his arrest. In response, Mr. MacGregor suggested he may issue a bench warrant for my arrest,” Tochor wrote.

The trial is scheduled to begin on March 31, 2025, at the Court of King’s Bench in Regina.

Tomorrow, Christmas Eve will have the original meaning of the holiday unfold in a live performance at Trailview Alliance Church in Swift Current. 

With two services being held at 4 and 6 p.m., guests are invited to attend the story of the night Jesus was born at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. each. This outdoor live-action Bible story will relive how Mary and Joseph arrived at the manger, the three wise men and their gifts, and every other part of the biblical tale. 

Kirstin Patzer, children's ministry coordinator, hopes everyone has the chance to witness these performances. 

"It's open to everybody, and it's very easy to attend," said Patzer. "Even if you never come to church, you're totally welcome."

This will be Trailview's second time hosting the live nativity, with the popularity of last year's event spurring them to again share the story of Christ's birth. 

"We really hope that people come," said Patzer. "It's the one time of the year that we can really host the community and have a special time together."

The performance will be easily accessible, with both stairs and a ramp available. 

Southwest residents looking for some New Years Eve excitement can head to Eastend for the Great Gatsby New Year's Eve Bash featuring live music and much more.

The Eastend Kinettes are hosting the event at the Eastend Memorial Hall on Tuesday, December 3, with dancing, a complimentary midnight toast, a slient auction, a bar, and a midnight lunch. 

Cleo Gordon, a member of the Eastend Kinettes, highlighted they haven't held a New Year's Eve event in a number of years and are thrilled to be bringing it back. 

"The Kinettes are hosting a Great-Gatsby-themed New Year's Eve dance," she shared. "All the proceeds from the event stay within the community and are donated back to the Town in some way." 

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 9:00 p.m. from the band, Mahoney, who will be performing live all evening. 

"Don't feel pressure to dress up in a Great Gatsby costume," added Gordon. "We know that lots of people had their costumes lost in the mail, so if you don't have a costume that's okay."

Everyone 19 years and older are welcome, tickets are available at Krankys for $40 each until December 30 or $45 at the door. Those interested can also entransfer [email protected] with a memo including that the transfer is for the New Year's Eve event, the name of the purchaser, and the number of tickets purchased. 

Anyone looking to donate to the silent auction can email [email protected] or reach out to Crystal. 

Highway 37 will be bright on Christmas night, with a planned 
 
Brian and Terry Bonogofksi are getting ready for what will be their 7th year hosting a public Christmas fireworks show. Located at their family farm, people watching will be able to park in the field and watch the fireworks being launched from up the hill. 

The show is expected to last between 30 and 45 minutes, starting at 8:30 p.m.

This Christmas tradition is one that Brian is happy to keep sharing.

"We had people come from quite a distance," shared Bonogofski. "Hodgeville, Shaunavon, Gull Lake, Swift Current. We even have one person come from about 30 miles west of Medicine Hat for I believe it's about 5 or 6 years now."

The fireworks are set up and prepared by Mike Bastura, Kris Bonogofksi, and his son Traeton Bonogofski. Each of them spends 10 hours working on the display. 

This year, around half of the fireworks have been swapped out from the previous year's show for new ones that haven't been seen before. This helps to keep things fresh and interesting for repeat visitors. 

"We definitely want to thank our neighbours and good friends for all the help that they give," said Bonogofksi. "And thanks to the RM for coming, and to my family. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do the show."

Anyone who does come out for the show is asked to please bring a donation to the local food bank. Non-perishable food is encouraged, and cash is welcomed. 

Last year, they raised just under $800 in cash for the donation. 

"We had people give gloves, toques, and stuff like that," said Bonogofski. "Any donation that will help people out that are in need is greatly appreciated." 

After the fireworks show is finished, everyone is invited to head over to the Bonogofski house for Christmas Cheer. Treats and refreshments will be served, giving people a chance to mix and mingle. 

Bonogofski also took a moment to clarify that even with all the fireworks he has purchased over the years, he has never been contacted by any agency about those purchases. 

"That is a false story," laughed Bonogofski. "No, that is not true, contrary to what's being said. I haven't seen anybody from the government here yet."
 
In order to find the Bonogofski farm, people can turn onto Highway 37 at Cabri, and head south until they see the Christmas lights and signage indicating the right location. It will be on the right-hand side of the road, approximately 9 kilometres down the road from Cabri.