Weekly News Recap: February 10, 2023

Weekly News Recap: February 10, 2023

Kinuk was put under general anesthesia as a group of veterinarians at the Saint-Hyacinthe hospital performed tests on the bear who had not been feeling well for a couple of weeks. (Marco Langlois/Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire)

I'd rather write about polar bears than people. -- Mary Oliver

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • The Foundation for Black Communities awarded stewardship of $200 million Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund by federal government (CISION) CANADIAN CONTENT "The Government of Canada has awarded the stewardship of the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund to the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC). This historic and ground-breaking investment of $200 million will positively impact Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving non-profit organizations and registered charities across the country by investing in them to build, sustain and expand on transformational ideas and initiatives generated by Black communities."

  • Meet Mako, the celebrity Whitehorse pup who pawed her way to fame in Arctic thriller Polaris (CBC) WHITEHORSE STORY And a star is born. "When Jane Bell asks Mako to speak, the five-year-old husky lets out a series of sharp barks. The well-trained pup, immediately noticeable for her mismatched blue and brown eyes, is a Whitehorse rescue Bell and Boris Hoefs adopted from the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter about four years ago. She's also a new celebrity, and the film she recently starred in — dystopian Arctic thriller Polaris — is premiering in the city Saturday at the Available Light Film Festival. 'She's a rags-to-riches story, and everyone loves that,' said Hoefs."

  • Sask. boy's love of powwow dancing, drumming inspires others (CBC) SASKATOON STORY #Inspiring "A boy from Wahpeton Dakota Nation has captured attention on social media because of his powwow dancing, singing and energetic spirit. Keaton Constant, 8, from the community about 130 kilometres north of Saskatoon, started a powwow circuit with his dad last year."

  • Kinuk the polar bear had to go to the vet. It took 'a very big team effort' — and a forklift (CBC) QUEBEC CITY STORY We owe this species all this and more. "Rolling around and lying lazily in the snow of his enclosure at the Quebec City Aquarium, four-year-old Kinuk seems to have recovered from his big trip to the vet in December. He still shows scars from the medical procedures — notably his shaved stomach and patches on his paws and head where his black skin shows."

  • Frozen frogs, a butt-breather and a seasonal genius: How Ontario wildlife survive the winter (CBC) ONTARIO STORY Nature is amazing. "If you're fond of winter walks through forests in Ontario — and indeed most of Canada — odds are you've trod on a frozen frog. Meet the wood frog. You've probably seen wood frogs in the summer, when they are a common sight across the country. But when winter rolls around, they hide under leaf litter or just a few centimetres underground, where the temperature hovers a few degrees below zero. And then they freeze. Their hearts stop pumping. Their organs stop working. They don't breathe and have no detectable brain activity. Their body is encased in ice. You'd think they were dead. But then comes spring, and they start to thaw — from the inside out. "

  • Calgary father and firefighter featured in emotional Alberta Cancer Foundation campaign (Global News) CALGARY STORY This is NOT a happy tale but it is a tale of hope and inspiration. "This weekend marks World Cancer Day. Feb. 4 is reserved to raise awareness and encourage prevention, detection and treatment. A Calgary man on his own cancer journey is sharing his story in a very public way to bring survivors and caregivers hope."

  • Video captures golfing toddler getting a hole-in-one (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY Ha! Love this! "What started as a regular trip to the park on Sunday, riding bikes and swinging toy golf clubs, turned into a day the Martin family say it'll never forget. Sucking on a pacifier and his favourite club in hand, 15-month-old Walker Martin took a swing and hit the hole 10 metres away — no easy feat for a toddler who only recently learned how to walk. The unexpected outcome led to cheers of excitement from Walker's mother and grandmother, who were with him on the St. Andrews Park putting green in North Vancouver."

  • 'We got super lucky': Sheffield Mills, N.S., family reunited with dog after Blue was missing for more than 400 days (Saltwire) NOVA SCOTIA STORY #GreatStory "Blue, the border collie missing for more than a year, is back where he belongs. 'We got super lucky,' said Sheffield Mills resident Aaron Taylor. 'We’re just going to enjoy (our time with) him and count our lucky stars that we got him back.'"

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Edmonton software company raises $100M US — largest venture capital investment in city's history (CBC) EDMONTON STORY Well done all. #SoExcitng "Jobber, an Edmonton company that sells operations management software to small home-service businesses, has raised a record amount of venture capital funding. The company announced on Tuesday that it had raised $100 million US ($134 million Cdn) in Series D funding. This is the fourth stage of fundraising that a business completes after the seed stage."

  2. Great Big Sea co-founder plays Red Deer concert in support of CACAC (Red Deer Advocate) RED DEER STORY ViTreo is proud to be working with CACAC on this important project. "Séan McCann performs at Red Deer Polytechnic Arts Centre."

  3. Bow Valley College introduces its first-ever Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (yahoo!) CALGARY STORY #Boom. Well done BVC. ViTreo is proud to be working with Bow Valley College. "In its ongoing commitment to reconciliation and advancing Indigenization and decolonization, Bow Valley College is introducing its first-ever Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. After an extensive search, Dr. Maurice Manyfingers is now leading and advising the evolution of Bow Valley College’s Indigenization Strategy. He will also oversee the College’s newly created department of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation."

  4. Big Oil walks back climate pledges as earnings show 2022 was their most profitable year ever (CBC) CANADIAN CONTENT #Disappointing "Financial results from the biggest energy companies in the world this week show that last year was their most profitable year ever, prompting many of them to scale back previous commitments to pivot more toward renewable energy."

  5. What to know for Super Bowl LVII (CBC) Enjoy the game and...you're welcome. "The NFL's championship game kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Arizona. Whether you're a big football fan or just want to sound like one at your Super Bowl party, here are some key things to know about the biggest sports spectacle of the year."

  6. Board cancels vote to shut down Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY I am so glad to hear this. "Leaders at the society behind the struggling Vancouver Folk Festival have paused their plan to vote on whether the society should be dissolved, as a co-founder of the festival says the dissolution should never have been an option. A statement from the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society on Monday said the board voted to withdraw its motion to dissolve the society, which was put forward last month as the festival faced mounting financial difficulties. The society's president said the board did an about-face after hearing from the public, partners and other festivals."

  7. Turning empty offices into housing is a popular idea. Experts say it's easier said than done (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Several Canadian cities are facing high office vacancy rates even as many workers have returned to downtown towers and suburban business parks. With residential rents increasing and a housing shortage in much of Canada, the idea of turning empty offices into housing is very trendy. There's even government funding for renovating offices into residential use. Projects are underway in Calgary and Halifax; others are being planned or debated in Toronto, London, Ont., and Yellowknife."

  8. China's military interest in high-altitude balloons is growing, documents reveal (CBC) "As China and the United States tussle over what Washington says was a Chinese surveillance balloon over U.S. territory, dozens of Chinese documents point to surging interest in using balloon technology for military purposes. China's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly described the balloon the drifted over the United States as an errant scientific craft, but Chinese military researchers have recently argued in publicly available papers that such aircraft should be further developed and deployed in specific missions."

  9. How climate change threatens to close ski resorts (BBC) CANADIAN CONTENT "From the Swiss Alps to the Rocky Mountains, ski resorts are grappling with the impacts of climate change. How are they adapting in a warming world?"

  10. A Canadian zoo lets you name a worm after your ex this Valentine's Day (Daily Hive) EDMONTON STORY Not exactly the Valentine's story I was looking for but...it works. Or...worms. "Not on good terms with your ex-partner? Maybe they’re always trying to worm their way back into your life? Perhaps things were great once, but now they give you the creepy crawlies. This Valentine’s Day, get the closure you deserve by “adopting” and naming a creature at the Edmonton Valley Zoo that is just as flaccid and slimy as your ex. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is hosting an event where you can name a mealworm after your less-than-special someone and watch it be fed to the zoo’s meerkats."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. How Stoicism Increased My Productivity & Time Management 🧠 (Rui Carvalho) Stoic thinking is part of my everyday. Perhaps it can be part of yours.

  2. When onboarding is off-putting. (Ashley Di Battista) Some great advice on how to onboard products with customers.

  3. 3 Things I Do When I Start Feeling Anxious (Better Humans) Very helpful.

  4. What did a 30-day yoga challenge do to my work process (Barbora Stastna) I have started going to yoga for the first time in my life. It has been...transformational.

  5. The Importance of Creating Your Own Morning Ritual (Benjamin Hall) Morning routines are incredibly important but...they have to be your own.

  6. How to Live an Extra Ten Good Years (Tom B. Night) Can you believe that it might be as simple as getting a good night's rest?

  7. How to Eat Pasta Without Looking Like a Putz (Art of Manliness) Another great piece of work by our friend at AoM.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Boost to endowed chair from GSK positions U of A to expand leadership in virology research (uAlberta) EDMONTON STORY Congrats to Dr. Tyrrell and the rest of the team. Well done. "The GSK Chair in Virology at the University of Alberta is getting a $1.5-million boost from the biopharma company GSK, bringing the total value to almost $6 million and ensuring future excellence in virology research."

  2. Pet Valu donating $1.6 million worth of pet food across Canada (Franchise Info) CANADIAN STORY Thank you! "Pet Valu is donating $1.6 million worth of its premium, proprietary dog and cat food Performatrin to help pets and pet owners in need across Canada. The donation, which weighs more than 151,954 kg (335,000 lbs) and includes more than 33,000 bags of kibble, will be delivered to the Ontario SPCA, Food Banks Alberta, BC SPCA, Animal Food Bank, and Wild West Animal League starting this week."

  3. Family honours late developer with historic $2M Fanshawe College donation (IF Press) LONDON STORY "The money, being donated by the Crich family, will be used by Fanshawe to launch a 'skilled trades accelerator' – a hub that will make it easier for people interested in entering the trades to find the resources they need, said Stephen Patterson, dean of Fanshawe’s science, trades and technology faculty."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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