Laurier to foster cultural diversity and inclusion through film
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus kicked off its Winter 2025 International Film Series on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Held in collaboration between the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, the City of Brantford and Laurier International, students, staff and community members are invited to attend a total of six free film screenings throughout the months of January, February and March. Christina Han, Director of the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, said the idea behind the series is to provide the community with an opportunity to share, reflect and celebrate different cultures and languages through cinematic art. Going into its third season, the series was first launched back in January 2024 after the City approached the Hub for ideas to help support the Brantford...
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‘Enormous disconnect’: As rural women face more abuse, Ontario shelters fear cutbacks
By Rianna Lim -CP-When Anna began planning to leave her husband, she never expected how complicated it would be. In her rural, eastern Ontario town, there weren’t any resources available nearby for survivors of intimate partner violence. There wasn’t any public transit or any legal aid, either. She also had a daughter and a medical condition that kept her from driving. A hospital connected Anna with Brianne Luckasavitch, a victim advocate with a women’s shelter called Lanark County Interval House in Perth, Ont. Luckasavitch helped Anna and her daughter safely leave their home. She supported Anna as she gave a statement to police and navigated the legal system, eventually leading to charges against her ex-husband. Most importantly, she helped Anna feel less alone. The shelter’s victim advocate program has helped...
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Icebreaker journey along St. Lawrence River sparks hopes for winter cruise industry
By Joe Bongiorno -CP-An icebreaker cruise ship set sail on Friday for a frosty journey that will bring passengers along the St. Lawrence River, a new route that tourism officials hope will usher in a new era of winter cruises in the province. Ponant, the French company that owns the vessel, says it will be the first international passenger cruise ship to venture onto the St. Lawrence River during the winter. With a capacity of up to 245 passengers and 215 crew members, the Commandant Charcot has previously sailed to Antarctica, but this winter it’s embarking on its first trip through the Quebec waterway. “Now the dream is coming true,” said René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence, an association that aims to grow the province’s cruise industry. About...
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‘Horses are my world’: Advocates decry Alberta plan to control wild horse population
By Fakiha Baig -CP-Maverick, Radar and White Spirit mostly gallop in the confines of the Rocky Mountain foothills, but they are known among equine enthusiasts around the world. “They are loved,” said Joanne King, a retired teacher who lives near Sundre, Alta., where the rolling hillsides northwest of Calgary contain the highest concentration of Alberta’s 1,500 wild horses. “Those horses are my world.” She said she goes out to photograph the horses multiple times a week and talks to them from a distance. “The more I got to know the individual stallions and their bands, the more close I got. Every time I go out there, there’s always someone else pulled over, watching them, photographing them, too.” Thousands of people around the world follow the animals’ exploits in a social...
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First Nation says it wasn’t consulted on Wonder Valley AI data centre proposed for thousands of hectares of land
By Angela Amato, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter As Canadian entrepreneur and television personality Kevin O’Leary takes to the U.S. to promote his proposed Wonder Valley AI data centre, one First Nation says it has been left out of the conversation. Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (SLCN) Chief Sheldon Sunshine said he learned about the project through social media at the same time the public found out, despite the project being proposed for the Nation’s traditional lands. “It seems like it was all worked on well before us, and then we’re an afterthought, and it should never be that way,” said Sunshine in an interview. “A little bit of respect goes a long way, and we feel completely disrespected with the development of this project.” On Jan. 13, SLCN issued a cease...
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Jury convicts man in bold scheme to steal $700,000 from Michigan casino
By Ed White DETROIT (AP) — A Chicago man has been convicted in the theft of $700,000 from a Michigan casino, a brazen scheme in which an employee was tricked over the phone into stuffing the cash into a designer bag and driving 85 miles (137 kilometers) to deliver it. “This case underscores the need for businesses, organizations and citizens to be diligent and cautious about phone and internet scams,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said. The crime occurred in 2023 at the Four Winds Casino in Hartford in southwestern Michigan, which is operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The FBI said a key employee who handles cash received a phone call and text messages directing her to immediately gather $700,000 for a tribal official. No one stopped the...
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Unmarked graves: Supreme Court won’t hear Mohawk Mothers appeal over McGill expansion
By Sidhartha Banerjee -(CP)-The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from Indigenous elders who were seeking greater oversight over a university construction site in Montreal where they suspect unmarked graves of children are located. An application for leave to appeal was dismissed Thursday by the country’s highest court, which gave no reason for its decision, as is custom. The group called Mohawk Mothers alleges there are bodies of Indigenous child patients buried on and around the grounds of the former Royal Victoria Hospital, which has been vacant since 2015 and which McGill University is renovating to transform into a new research and teaching hub. The group said their claims stem from interviews with survivors of mind-control experiments that took place in the 1950s and 1960s at...
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Victor Branco sentenced to 12 years for fentanyl trafficking in N. Ontario
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter SUDBURY—A man once known for his skills on the soccer field has now become a symbol of greed and indifference in the midst of Northern Ontario’s opioid crisis. Victor Branco, 25, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison at a Sudbury courthouse after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl and other crimes that have devastated families and communities in the region. Mr. Branco, who briefly represented Canada in youth soccer, abandoned any promise he might have shown in favour of pursuing what he described as “easy, fast money.” That pursuit led him to become a prolific drug trafficker, dealing lethal amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in Greater Sudbury and First Nations communities on Manitoulin Island. “The number of people dying from fentanyl...
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Wiikwemkoong launches comprehensive, muscular community drugs approach
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor WIIKWEMKOONG — The Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is taking a bold stand against a growing drug crisis that has devastated communities across Northern Ontario. In the face of rising opioid-related harm, the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) has launched an updated Comprehensive Drug Strategy, positioning the community as a leader in addressing one of Canada’s most pressing public health emergencies. “This isn’t just a Wiikwemkoong issue—it’s a regional and national crisis,” said Chief of Police Ron Gignac. “Our community is committed to safeguarding our people, preserving our way of life, and becoming a model for proactive, culturally grounded approaches to the drug epidemic.” As the year drew to a close,WTPS, alongside the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) K-9 unit, conducted a...
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Missing woman, Juanita Migwans, tipline established
Juanita Migwans, 30, was last seen on October 2 in M’Chigeeng First Nation. (Supplied photos) By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, MANITOULIN—The search for 30-year-old Juanita “Winnie” Migwans has entered a critical phase as police launch a dedicated tip line to gather new information. Ms. Migwans, a resident of M’Chigeeng First Nation, was last seen on October 2 walking near Highway 551 and Oakhill Drive around 10:30 am. She was wearing a light-colored jacket and dark pants. Her disappearance, reported on October 7, has sparked widespread concern, with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) Anishnaabe Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) leading an extensive search operation. Despite thorough efforts, including community searches and investigative...
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Manitoba school division to bring ‘God Save the King’ back to classrooms
By Brittany Hobson MANITOBA-(CP)-A school division in western Manitoba has decided to once again include “God Save the King” in its schools’ morning announcements, a move that has some questioning whether it promotes reconciliation efforts with Indigenous staff and students. The Mountain View School Division, which oversees 16 schools near Dauphin, Man., recently put forward a directive that the royal anthem must be included in announcements, along with O Canada and land acknowledgments. Board chair Jason Gryba, in an email, said the inclusion of “God Save the King” aligns with existing provincial legislation. “Good governance is about adhering to laws and regulations that are in place, regardless of how often they may have been previously observed,” Gryba said Thursday. “While some legislation may become less prominent over time, it remains...
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Pierre Poilievre promises patriotism but stays vague about U.S. tariff threat
By Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On the eve of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with premiers to tackle the threat of looming U.S. tariffs, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was on the West Coast hosting a packed “axe the tax” rally. Poilievre’s speech Tuesday night to the large crowd at Dwight Hall in Powell River was heavy with patriotism but didn’t address how he’d tackle incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s promise to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods. Poilievre did reassure his audience there was no chance Canada would become a 51st state, despite Trump’s repeated suggestions. “My message to our American neighbours is we love you as neighbours and as friends, but do not allow our polite demeanour and our humble tone to confuse you,” Poilievre said....
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Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation concerned over Caring Society Motion
January 16, 2025 – Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler have issued the following statement following interference by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario. “We as Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation are engaging in productive and positive discussions with Canada on moving towards a reformed system for our children and families. We have been mandated by our Chiefs, who have the right to make their own informed decisions about their children, and child and family services, without being required to consult with other parties on these decisions. This agreement seeks to shift control and authority over child and...
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Ontario planning for a 21st century nuclear megaproject
By Matteo Cimellaro, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Ontario is planning to cement itself as the nuclear powerhouse of North America with what could become Canada’s first 21st-century megaproject. Ontario announced its preliminary plan on Wednesday for the large-scale nuclear power plant near Port Hope, about 100 kilometres east of Toronto. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce described the project as “one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world.” Once completed, it is expected to generate up to 10,000 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 10 million homes. Speaking at a press conference, Lecce said Ontario Power Generation has been instructed to begin planning for the new facility at Wesleyville, a site originally designated in the 1970s for an oil-fired power station. “This expansion of non-emitting nuclear...
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As Biden warns of an ‘oligarchy,’ Trump will be flanked by tech billionaires at his inauguration
(AP)-President Joe Biden’s pointed warning about the U.S. becoming an “ oligarchy ” of tech billionaires will be illustrated at Donald Trump’s inauguration, when the world’s three richest men will sit on the dais as Trump is sworn in for a second term. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, took an unprecedented, hands-on role in the final stretch of Trump’s campaign, spending some $200 million through a super PAC. Musk has a new role reshaping government in the upcoming administration and will be joined on the dais by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Both men’s companies have enormous contracts with the federal government. Rounding out the trio is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who recently changed his company’s priorities to align with Trump’s and has cozied up to the president-elect less than...
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AFN chief says First Nations should be at the centre of Canada-U.S. tariffs talks
By Alessia Passafiume (CP)-The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says First Nations should be at the centre of any discussions on how the country should respond to threats of tariffs by incoming president Donald Trump on territorial sovereignty. She’s one of three national Indigenous leaders who made a similar pitch during a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday morning, along with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Métis National Council President Victoria Pruden. Trump has threatened 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods on the first day he’s in office next week and has quipped Canada should become the 51st state. Woodhouse Nepinak called Trump’s rhetoric “outlandish” and “disrespectful” considering territorial rights of Indigenous Peoples on both sides of the border are recognized...
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Judge dismisses Vanderhoof woman’s lawsuit against two health authorities
By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A B.C. Supreme Court judge threw out a lawsuit filed against the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Northern Health Authority (NHA) because it was deemed too long, unclear and unlikely to succeed. In a Tuesday, Jan. 14 written ruling, Justice Kenneth Ball agreed with an application by the two health authorities to strike out and dismiss the entirety of Tanya Akonwie’s statement of claim. The decision came after an Oct. 8 hearing in Prince George. The Vanderhoof Metis woman sued for negligence, breach of privacy and intentional infliction of mental suffering. Ball wrote that Akonwie “used an unusual format” to outline a series of events that occurred over a one-year period. The allegations related to failure of three doctors and a nurse to...
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Mississaugas of Credit First Nation community members protesting after employee conflict
By Lynda Powless Editor MISSISSAUGAS OF CREDIT FIRST NATION- About a dozen community members are protesting outside the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation council house today (Thursday, Jan. 1, 2025) after an employee conflict led to a female band staff person being “verbally assaulted” at the administration building Wednesday, Jan. 15. OPP were on the scene today along with about a dozen community members who are protesting outside the council house where a fire has been lit and they are expecting more to join them. Community member Jai King-Green, a former band employee, said they were there to support staff members after word of the altercation seeped into the community Wednesday. “We want our band members to feel safe at work, especially our women. If the employee doesn’t get...
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Picard to step down as AFNQL Chief
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard will ride off into the sunset after more than 30 years of service to Indigenous people in Quebec and Labrador. Picard announced his intention not to seek re-election to the AFNQL’s top post in an internal letter to the 43 chiefs whose communities make up the AFQNL in December. Picard was first elected AFNQL Chief in 1992. In his letter, he wrote that he had mixed emotions about stepping down. “There are no words to express how grateful I am to have benefited from your support and that of the leaders who preceded you,” he wrote. “I firmly believe that the AFNQL has succeeded in meeting the challenge of making our...
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Provincial cultural-safety bill misses mark: Montour
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The provincial cultural-safety bill designed to help First Nations and Inuit healthcare system users feel more comfortable fails miserably because it has yet to acknowledge the systemic racism that permeates it, the president of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission said. “Bill 32 is the government trying to make First Nations and Inuit users more at ease and to reassure us, but when you take the consultation out of the hands of First Nations and ignore the recommendations we have made, it doesn’t reassure us,” Derek Montour said. “Taking it from a First Nations perspective, we see that the government will still not acknowledge that discrimination is still a part of the heathcare system.” The law is a...
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