London Morning was live at the London Food Bank for the Make the Season Kind fundraiser on Friday. Here's a recap of the show, including guests who are making a difference in our community, the Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School choir, and many listeners who came to donate. Because of your generosity, CBC London has raised more than $48,000 for the London Food Bank.

Eight people were hurt when a snowy wagon ride took a chaotic turn in Brockville, Ont., on Thursday afternoon, according to local police. 

Skate Lakeshore will kick off the holidays with an expanded Winter Gala showcase on Saturday, December 21 at 10:30am.

Performances will feature exhibitions by three of its Silver Stars Synchronized Skating teams, as well as solo skaters of all ages.

“The Winter Gala is a great opportunity for the skaters to showcase what they have been working on so far this season,” says Jenn Woodrich, Skate Lakeshore head coach. “For skaters heading into competition season, it’s a perfect opportunity to perform their programs in front of a cheering audience, especially as part of holiday celebrations.”

All are welcome to attend the Skate Lakeshore Winter Gala at the Atlas Tube Centre on Saturday, December 21 at 10:30am in the Rock Rink. Admission is by donation of mitts, socks, hat or other warm items to support the Lakeshore Community Support Centre.

Over the coming months, the Skate Lakeshore Silver Stars Synchro teams will perform at a variety of venues, including at intermission of the Lakeshore Canadiens, LaSalle Vipers and Windsor Spitfires games.

The post Skate Lakeshore Kicks Off Holidays With Winter Gala On December 21 appeared first on Kingsville Times.

Canada Post is currently reviewing the details of the Minister of Labour’s announcement this morning to ensure we are prepared to fully participate in the process and comply with the Minister’s directive.

While that unfolds, we look forward to welcoming our employees back to work and serving Canadians and customers. We will take all appropriate steps to support that process as quickly as possible given the direction provided to us by the Minister.

Our commitment has always been to reach negotiated agreements with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that would help us better serve the changing needs of Canadians and provide good jobs to those who provide the service. We remain committed to doing so within this new process while also meeting the postal needs of Canadians. 

Details on our start-up plans will be made available at canadapost.ca when finalized.

The post Canada Post Reviewing Details Of Minister Of Labour’s Announcement appeared first on Kingsville Times.

Today, the Union has learned that the Minister of Labour is using his powers under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to direct the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to determine whether Canada Post and CUPW can negotiate collective agreements in the near future.

The CIRB will hear from the parties as soon as possible.

If the CIRB determines the parties cannot reach agreements, the CIRB will order the Union back to work.

The Union denounces in the strongest terms this assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and to strike.

This order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and their unions.

The post CUPW Denounces Government Intervention appeared first on Kingsville Times.

The Municipality of Leamington Council has approved the 2025 Operating and Capital Budget, emphasizing the Municipality’s commitment to community growth, infrastructure enhancement, and organizational excellence.

The budget introduces a municipal tax levy increase, resulting in an additional $120.54 annually ($10.05 per month) for an average urban residential home assessed at $190,000. This increase consists of a 4% allocation for municipal services and a 0.7% adjustment to cover rising Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) costs.

Total expenditures are set at $105 million, with $55 million dedicated to capital projects and $50 million allocated for operating expenses. Major 2025 capital initiatives include critical infrastructure improvements such as sewer separation projects, road reconstruction, a waterfront plaza, and enhanced watermain systems, all aimed at supporting sustainable growth and service delivery.

“The 2025 budget reflects our dedication to enhancing the quality of life for Leamington residents,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “By prioritizing strategic investments, we are ensuring that our community continues to grow and thrive, supported by modern infrastructure and robust municipal services.”

n addition to infrastructure projects, the budget supports key municipal programs including the Music Onthe42 Concert Series, Mill St. Markets, and Canada Day celebrations. It also ensures continued investment in technological advancements, staffing, and process improvements to enhance service delivery.

For more information, visit leamington.ca/budget.

The post Leamington Council Approves 2025 Budget appeared first on Kingsville Times.

Lucas, Shanna
March 8, 1952 – December 7, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Shanna Lucas on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, at the age of 72.

Beloved daughter of the late Vic and Jean Lucas (1996). Adored sister to Vic, Diane and family, Brian, Bernice and family, Kevin and Kathy, Ian (1991), Nigel, Suzy and family, Dirk, Thane and Lorna, Justin, Diedre (2007) and family, and Simon, Kim and family. Loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.

All that knew Shanna would agree that she had a great sense of humour, spunky attitude, and was fiercely loyal. Known in the community for her stained glass art, she brought smiles to so many.

She is admired, loved and will be dearly missed.

If desired, donations to Erie Shores Hospice (197 Talbot Street W, Suite 701, Leamington Ontario, N8H 1N8) would be appreciated.

As per Shanna’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Kendrick Funeral Home – Kingsville on Saturday, December 14th, 2024, from 10:30am until the time of service at 11:30am. A private family burial will be held following the service, and the congregation is invited to light refreshments in the lounge while they await the family’s return.

The post Shanna Lucas (March 8, 1952 – December 7, 2024) appeared first on Kingsville Times.

St. Thomas police have charged a man with second degree murder following the death of his brother on Thursday.

The coroner’s inquest into the deaths of six men who were incarcerated at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre ended Thursday with the jury making about 60 recommendations to prevent future, similar deaths.

Lawsuits alleged Kilcoo Camp's former director had sexually assaulted two unnamed plaintiffs in separate incidents during the 1990s and 2000s. Those claims have been "resolved by mutual agreement," the plaintiffs' lawyer said Friday.

Excitement is building as the Gordie Howe International Bridge project draws closer to construction completion and opening day in 2025. This fall, a new cohort of co-op students had the opportunity to be part of history in the making on this once-in-generation infrastructure project.

Sixteen co-op students are wrapping up their four-month fall 2024 term with Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) this December. Since September, they have been working in different departments such as operations, engineering, legal, information technology and Community Benefits, among others.

The students developed valuable skills, worked alongside industry professionals and contributed to the legacy project during one of WDBA’s busiest seasons to date. For some, it was their first co-op experience, while for others, it was their final placement opportunity before graduation.

“My time at WDBA allowed me to translate classroom skills into the workplace, enhancing my professional development and reinforcing the value of my academic studies,” says Kaden DeMonte, who is completing his third co-op term with WDBA’s Corporate Affairs and External Relations department. “I am privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the Gordie Howe International Bridge project and I look forward to sharing my experiences.”

WDBA hosts co-op students from across Ontario, with this semester’s students from the University of Windsor, the University of Waterloo and St. Clair College.

Since 2016, WDBA’s co-op program has welcomed 256 students. Like DeMonte, many have returned for second and third terms with WDBA, with some even being hired as full-time employees.

The post Co-Op Students Wrap Up At Gordie Howe International Bridge appeared first on Kingsville Times.

A national day of mourning held following the death of Queen Elizabeth was not a paid holiday for London's outside workers, an Ontario appellate court ruled recently.

Shalini Singh's family reported her missing to police on Tuesday, police say.

Ontario politicians who’ve long advocated for a way to fire councillors who harass their staff are feeling a mix of relief and frustration with the government's new bill.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon is sending the labour dispute between Canada Post and and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

Renfrew County OPP say there have been two major crashes on the Trans-Canada Highway roughly 25 kilometres and 14 hours apart.

A decision over whether to expand an obscure dog sport in Ontario sparked division within Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative caucus that saw the premier agree to cancel a new licensing regime before later resurrecting it, The Canadian Press has learned.

Home Care Ontario is calling on the province to significantly increase the number of visits and hours of home care by 10 per cent a year for the next three years — roughly 16.5 million hours of additional care. 

A service providing free taxi rides to rural and Indigenous youth seeking crisis and mental health supports in London and Middlesex was halted earlier this week due to lack of funding. A First Nation who uses the program says there's now a gaping hole for communities that already struggle with transportation barriers.

Shelves and fridges were neatly stacked with kids snacks, canned goods and butter as the food bank got ready to provide families with all the items needed to make a holiday meal.

A Toronto-based artist has been taking his unique practice into health-care buildings. Dennis Lin uses recycled and found material to create mesmerizing mobiles. His latest installation is at West Park Healthcare Centre.

Four airline CEOs will face questions about carry-on baggage fees when they appear before of the House of Commons transport committee today.

As 2024 comes to a close, here's a closer look at this year's auto theft trends in Ottawa. One trend that may come as a surprise to some: The most recent data shows a decline.

The City of Ottawa will open its first office-to-housing conversion early next year. Construction crews have been renovating the one-time movie theatre turned office building at 230 Queen St. since the summer, under the design supervision of Ottawa's CSV Architect. 

R1 buses will replace Confederation Line trains on Saturday, Dec. 14, while work is carried out on the LRT line's eastern extension, OC Transpo says.

At Ottawa's Great Canadian Theatre Company, the curtain rises on a new musical every night. Sandra Abma has the story.

THE GREEN LINE
ORIGINAL STORY

Kids use robots and AI to solve community problems in Kingsview Village-The Westway

The Green Line team visited Kingsview Village Jr. Public School to learn how CILAR and GlobalDWS are working with students from grades 2 to 5 to demystify AI and robotics.

Ismail Mohamud, program facilitator and founding engineer at Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR), stands by the lockers inside Kingsview Village Jr. Public School.
: Martha Gai/The Green Line.

Amanda Seraphina James Rajakumar

Indian immigrant with a post-grad in journalism from Centennial College. Now living in Grange Park, meeting new people, and hearing different stories. Has four names, so it’s a pick-your-player situation.

 

Dec. 13, 2024

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic right now, and like it or not, it’s slowly integrating into our daily lives.

But instead of worrying about it, one group in Kingsview Village-The Westway is demystifying AI and robotics for local kids.

With over 60 per cent of its population made up of visible minority groups, it’s an understatement to say Kingsview Village-The Westway is diverse. Bordered by Highway 401 and The Westway, this suburban neighbourhood in north Etobicoke is the ideal place to teach BIPOC kids about robotics and AI.

The Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR) wants robotics and AI to be accessible to everyone, including BIPOC children. So, it teamed up with GlobalDWS, a tech solutions provider that brings innovative projects to life, to provide educational robots for the kids to interact with.

Rami Wehbe, co-founder of GlobalDWS, says AI and robotics can help solve some of the world’s current problems and that students can be part of the solution. His goal is to “democratize” access to these kinds of technological resources, especially for people in marginalized communities. “They need to [have] access to try and use it to see how they can solve their own problems,” Wehbe explains.

An educational robot from GlobalDWS stands on stage at Kingsview Village Jr. Public School.
: Martha Gai/The Green Line.

Launched this past April, “Empower to Invent” is a three-part program that offers hands-on robotics education to children from grades 2 to 5.

In the first part of the program, students brainstorm different ideas to use robotics and AI in their community. Then CILAR and GlobalDWS bring in robots to interact with them. Finally, industry professionals visit the school to connect with students directly.

Najib Hassan, a grade 5 student at Kingsview Village Jr. Public School stands by a book stand inside his classroom.
: Martha Gai/The Green Line.

“I think we need robotics because in our day-to-day life, there's lots of stuff that we can help [with] — that robots can help — like [picking up] the leaves on the floor or garbage on the ground,” says Najib Hassan, a grade 5 student at Kingsview Village Jr. Public School.

Swati Bhumri, a teacher at Kingsview Village Jr. Public School says Empower to Invent has motivated students to learn more about AI and robotics through hands-on experience by showing how theory from math, science and art lessons taught in class can be applied practically in the real world to solve problems.

Swati Bhumri, a teacher at Kingsview Village Jr. Public School, stands inside her classroom.
: Martha Gai/The Green Line.

“A lot of underrepresented schools or intercity neighbourhood schools don't have access to programs such as this [on robotics and AI]. I can definitely relate to that as myself going to school within the Toronto District School Board, as well; I didn't have access to opportunities like this,” says Ismail Mohamud, program facilitator and founding engineer at CILAR.

“So, having students be exposed to these programs early and letting them build that confidence within them [is important so] that they can be the young bright innovators of the future.”

Around 250 youth have participated in the Empower to Invent program since its launch in spring 2024, and it continues to grow.

Students at Kingsview Village Jr. Public School sit inside the gymnasium for a presentation by CILAR and GlobalDWS, as part of the Empower to Invent program.
: Martha Gai/The Green Line.

Inspired by the program, Kingsview Village Jr. Public School secured a grant for training teachers about coding and robotics in September. The grant, which will be put into action this coming January, will help teachers develop lesson plans that connect AI concepts with school curriculum and encourage students to pursue STEM fields.

“There are these amazing robots that can help solve problems within our community, whether it's racism, bullying, you know, picking up trash or segregating things. So, it's important that students, every student — even the BIPOC students — are given that opportunity,” Bhumri says.

Fact-Check Yourself

Sources and
further reading

Don't take our word for it —
check our sources for yourself.

Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism

About CILAR

GlobalDWS

About GlobalDWS

City of Toronto

2016: Kingsview Village-The Westway Demographics

Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism

About Empower to Invent (then called Dreamstorming)

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The post Kids use robots and AI to solve community problems in Kingsview Village-The Westway appeared first on The Green Line.

A $46.2-million budget increase requested by the Toronto Police Service was approved by its board Thursday, meaning the police budget for next year could be over $1.2 billion.

Ontario's police watchdog says it is looking into the circumstances of the death of a 55-year-old man who was fatally pinned under a TTC bus this week.