Weekly News Recap: February 24, 2023

Weekly News Recap: February 24, 2023

Photo Credit: Calgary Flames

Black history is not just for Black people - Black history is Canadian history. -- Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman to serve as a federal Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • Larry the Cat celebrates 12 years of dutiful service at No. 10 Downing St. (NPR) #Steadfast "In an era of shaky political leadership, England's most dutiful public servant has reached an important milestone. Larry the Cat celebrated his 12th year as Chief Mouser for No. 10 Downing St., the residence and home office of Britain's prime minister [this past] Wednesday."

  • At 103, Sister Jean publishes memoir of faith and basketball (AP News) #KeepOnKeepingOnSister "In 'Wake Up with Purpose: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years,' Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt tells her life story, offers spiritual guidance and shares some of the lessons she’s learned. The beloved Catholic nun captured the sports world’s imagination and became something of a folk hero as the chaplain for the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 2018."

  • VIDEO: Canadian rink getting attention after video shows kids getting onto ice from draw bridge (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY #GreatCaseforSupport "A 95-year-old indoor rink about 45 minutes southeast of Regina is getting attention from all over North America. It's because of a video that went viral on social media this week, showing kids getting onto the rink in Lang from a draw bridge. The people who take care of the rink are using it as a chance to raise to funds to keep their aging community rink going."

  • Filmmaker dodges pucks for intimate look at Canada's winter tradition (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #Canadiana "With skates on his feet, a camera in his hands, and a half dozen kids speeding up and down a country rink at dusk — Randy Frykas has just the scene he's looking for. 'It's like, what could you ask for? You got the sun going down, you got a fresh sheet of ice and a bunch of pucks and all your good friends,' he said, looking through his lens on a farm near MacGregor, Man. The kids are racing around, calling for passes. Some shots get blasted into the net; others fly over the puck-marked plywood boards, likely lost in the surrounding snowbanks until spring."

  • Meet the one-handed goalie stopping shots with a custom glove (CBC) EDMONTON STORY #YouGoGirl "Callie Bizuk isn't very good at taking no for an answer. The goalie has been playing ringette since she was a little kid, even after some coaches told her she shouldn't. A below-the-elbow amputee, 14-year-old Callie was born without her right hand. 'I had a couple coaches, when I was younger, who said I couldn't do it because of my limb difference,' Callie said. 'I said 'I'm going to do it, and I'll be the best!'"

  • VIDEO: Hard-working toddler racks up millions of TikTok fans carrying water for B.C. family business (CBC) QUESNEL STORY #LoveHim "Thomas Pethick just learned to walk but he loves helping out at his family's bottled water company in Quesnel, B.C. A recent video filmed by his mother, Tamara Pelletier, showing him help stack empty jugs has received more than 34 million views and a repost from by comedian Howie Mandel."

  • VIDEO: This vintage B12 snowmobile is 'not for sale' | The Moment (CBC) NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR STORY These things are awesome! "A special peek inside Western Labrador resident Lawrence Adams' vintage B12 snowmobile, nicknamed the Johnny Cash Special."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Flames honouring Jarome Iginla's legacy with Black History Month jersey (Daily Hive) CALGARY STORY #WellDoneFlames "The Calgary Flames will be honouring one of their franchise’s greatest players with a special jersey when they take to the ice next week. At next Tuesday’s Black History Month game against the Boston Bruins on February 28, the Flames will be wearing a set of specially created jerseys in warmup to honour franchise icon."

  2. Jully Black's change to Canada's anthem is how true reconciliation works (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Over the weekend, the NBA All-Star game boasted the best players and most prominent artists across sports and entertainment. Aside from the Canadian talent representing on the court, there was a formidable performance from Canadian singer/songwriter Jully Black. My family was gathered around the dinner table, and we all paused to listen to her sing the Canadian anthem. My husband, Mark, was recording her excitedly — they have worked together and are friends. Her voice rang out clear and confident, but after the first two lines my heart almost stopped. Black had changed the lyric. It took a moment for that to sink in for me. My husband was cheering already before I even processed what had just happened. Black changed one word; instead of 'our home and native land,' she sang 'our home ON native land.' She paused before singing 'on' and I felt that. We were meant to feel it and have it resonate."

  3. New rules, management for city's controversial public art program as it nears return (CBC) CALGARY STORY Yay, it's back. So glad to see this. "That money is in addition to $9 million in public art money that has accumulated during the program's review. As a result of that review, council decided to turn over the program to the Calgary Arts Development (CADA) to operate it for a six-year period. The chair of CADA's board of directors, Chima Nkemdirim, told the committee that decoupling future art from the infrastructure projects that funds them will result in more local artists being commissioned to do work."

  4. A suburb in Arizona lost its source of water. Residents warn: We're only the beginning (CBC) This is a truly scary future, on many levels. "A man in Arizona sees a glimpse of a potentially frightening future. A future where the planet is hotter, the soil is drier, and our most precious resource is evaporating. His job is delivering water. And his job is getting harder. John Hornewer is now having to drive hours farther each day to fill his truck, which, in turn, fills the subterranean tanks at homes in an area outside Phoenix."

  5. Suncor announces Rich Kruger as new president and CEO (CBC) CALGARY STORY "A familiar face is returning to Canada's oil industry. Rich Kruger, who led Imperial Oil Ltd. as president and CEO from 2013 until his retirement in 2019, has been named the new chief executive of Suncor Energy Inc. after a months-long search [...] The 63-year-old Kruger, who will take the top job on April 3, will replace interim CEO Kris Smith, who stepped in to fill the role after Mark Little resigned in July 2022 amid investor pressure and in the wake of a spate of workplace deaths and safety incidents."

  6. Science Museum sponsorship deal with oil firm included gag clause (The Guardian) Thanks to recap contributor, Ron Bailey. "The Science Museum in London signed a sponsorship contract containing a gagging clause with the Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor, agreeing to take care not to say anything that could damage the firm’s reputation, it can be revealed. The agreement, a copy of which was obtained by the Guardian and the investigative journalism organisation Point Source, concerned sponsorship of the museum’s current Wonderlab exhibition."

  7. PODCAST: “This ‘move fast and break things’ attitude is being translated into philanthropy”—charity, disrupted (The Economist) "CHARITABLE GIVING is being disrupted by the same youthful tech folk who got rich disrupting other sectors: these days it is fast, data-driven and bureaucracy-light. We meet a new class of investors who trade shares from behind bars."

  8. Mayor Gondek announces almost $14M toward affordable housing projects (CBC) CALGARY STORY "With financial support from local organizations, the City of Calgary is putting almost $14 million toward three new affordable housing projects, according to a Thursday announcement from Mayor Jyoti Gondek. One of those projects is a $600,000 fund to support Calgarians who cannot afford first and last month's rent. The project is funded equally by the city, the Calgary Homeless Foundation and the United Way of Calgary and Area. "Housing is and remains an intersectional and wicked challenge, which requires partnerships and ideas from all orders of government, from non-profits and industry, to rise to the challenge," Gondek said at Thursday's news conference at city hall."

  9. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter under hospice care at home (CBC) I love this man. "Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter has entered hospice care in Plains, Ga., a statement from the Carter Center confirmed Saturday. At 98 years old, he is the longest-living former American president. After a series of short hospital stays, the statement said, Carter 'decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.' The statement said the 39th president has the full support of his medical team and family, which 'asks for privacy at this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers.'"

  10. Calgarians charged most in the country for monthly parking, report says (CBC) CALGARY STORY Don't we know it. "Calgary ranks No. 1 in the country for most expensive monthly parking rates, according to a new report from commercial real estate company JLL. At an average of $366 (or $275 US) for an unreserved spot in a third-party lot, the city ranks third for highest monthly parking in all of North America after only New York ($570 US) and San Francisco ($340 US), the report said."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. 15 minutes of exercise can enhance mood-enhancing effect (Penticton Herald) Works. Every. Time.

  2. Why play is more important than talent for creativity (UX Design) More play please.

  3. 3 Unusual Lists To Write Today That May Well Change Your Life (Snap Crackle) Ben Franklin's list is the bomb!

  4. The Benefits of Napping: How to Nap for Maximum Cognitive Benefits (James Moon) I'm in...Zzzz."

  5. Simon Sinek Will Improve Your Productivity With These Life-Changing Books (Mind Cafe) I love Simon. And I love his book pics.

  6. 'Runaway' black hole the size of 20 million suns found speeding through space with a trail of newborn stars behind it (Live Science) Eeek!

  7. Digital Detox Challenge: How to Unplug and Recharge for a Week (Endra) Yep, turn off the social.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Ohio State receives record-setting $110 million donation to create Center for Software Innovation (CBS) #Wowzers "The Ohio State University announced the Timashev Family Foundation has donated $110 million to establish the Center for Software Innovation. The donation from Ratmir Timashev and his family is the largest in the school’s history."

  2. Université De Montréal Gets Donation Of $1 Million (India Education) MONTREAL STORY "Faced with a severe lack of resources to provide a transfer of care adapted to young people with complex epilepsy, three professors from the Department of Neurosciences at UdeM, Dr. Mark Keezer, Dr. Philippe Major and Dr. Dang Nguyen, have developed a new transition model between the CHU Sainte-Justine and the CHUM. The creation of this innovative program, entitled 'Transition en épilepsie complexe de l’Université de Montréal (TÉCUM),' is supported by a one-time donation of $1 million from TD Bank Group."

  3. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota receives largest donation in school's history (CBS) #Nice "Saint Mary's University of Minnesota announced Thursday that it received its largest gift in the school's 111-year history. The university says it will use the $25 million donation to support efforts to revitalize the university and "cement the vision recently laid out by the president and university administration. The benefactor of the donation remains anonymous but is said to be an alumnus of Saint Mary's."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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