Weekly News Recap: May 12, 2023

Weekly News Recap: May 12, 2023

(Marci Manklow/Mattel via AP)

Life doesn't come with a manual. It comes with a mother. —Unknown

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • Berkeley diner provides free meals to anyone who's hungry, no questions asked (CBS) I heart this. "Classic American diners make money serving up hearty meals for a fair price but one East Bay establishment has built its business giving away food for free. It all started a few years ago when Collin Doran, owner of the Homemade Cafe in southwest Berkeley, decided to do something rather unusual in the restaurant business: offer anyone who is hungry a free breakfast, no questions asked."

  • Birds of a feather: How a wayward duck changed a Kansas City homeless man's life (NPR) #BeautifulStory "When Dave Hughes lost his job and his place to live, he found a measure of refuge living under a bridge on Brush Creek in the middle of Kansas City. Then an ostracized duck gave him a new lease on life."

  • Critically endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur born at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, first in 36 years (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY #Congratulations to all. "The resident four-year-old female black-and-white ruffed lemur, named Eny, gave birth to a pup on April 7. While the sex of the lemur has not yet been confirmed, it appears 'bright-eyed, active and is moving around more each day,' the zoo said in a statement."

  • Video: Tulsa Zoo celebrates jaguar's 19th birthday (YouTube) Happy Birthday Ixchel. "The Tulsa Zoo held a special birthday party for their jaguar, Ixchel."

  • Photographer captures northern lights over wildfire in northern B.C. (CBC) MCBRIDE STORY "The northern lights are seen burning over the Teare Creek fire southeast of McBride, B.C. on Friday night. (Submitted by Mandii Mae Kjos)."

  • This Ontario man's antique bicycle collection is going to make you rethink your next bike ride (CBC) KOMOKA STORY Cycling is life. "Since starting his collection 50 years ago, Rick Wolfe now has more than 200 bicycles and motorcycles dating back to the 1800s. The Komoka, Ont. resident's collection has grown so much, he custom-built his house for storage. Now, the public is invited to take a peek. Highlights of his collection are now on display as part of the Cycling: An Unspoken History exhibit at the Elgin County Heritage Centre in St. Thomas until August. From floor to ceiling, the exhibit is filled with rare and antique models that shows the evolution of the bicycle from the 1860s to the 1930s — along with historical artifacts from photographs to medals, tools and costumes."

  • #TheMoment these school kids held a royal tea party to learn about the coronation (CBC) MONTREAL STORY God Save The King. "Educators at Roslyn Elementary in Montreal jumped on the chance to teach these kids about the coronation. Donning their crowns, the school children held a royal tea party and enjoyed the chance to be king or queen for a day."

  • The Frankenstein of the guitar industry (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "David Vaglio turns old household items into musical instruments."

  • She left university because of a drinking problem. Now sober, she's a valedictorian (CBC) HALIFAX STORY #Inspiring "A Nova Scotia woman who dropped out of university a decade ago because of her alcohol use will be the valedictorian at one of Saint Mary's University's upcoming convocations [...] She's the valedictorian for the A to L ceremony. 'It doesn't matter how old you are, what has happened in your past, your sunk costs, how many years you spent doing the status quo, you can shake it up, you can change course,' said Eamon, 29."

  • Watch: B.C. drone pilot captures spectacular view of avalanche in real time (PEAK) VANCOUVER ISLAND STORY It really does look just like a waterfall. #VeryCool "A Victoria man was at the right spot at the right time to capture an avalanche rolling down a mountain on his drone. The man, who goes by Mactac on social media channels and asked to remain anonymous, was out filming [...] when an avalanche started moving on Mount Nahmint in the Alberni Valley."

  • Belfast City Marathon: Man born without limbs finishes race on a skateboard (Belfast Live) CANADIAN CONTENT Chris is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. "A man born without any limbs has completed the Belfast City Marathon on a skateboard. Chris Koch form Alberta in Canada completed the course in a time of 4 hours 57 minutes in what was his 14th marathon. Chris said that while it was the wettest marathon he has completed, the people of Belfast certainly made up for it."

  • Barbie unveils Anna May Wong doll for AAPI Heritage Month (AP News) Mattel is knocking inclusion out of the park. I love this. "Six months after she was immortalized with a U.S. quarter, Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong has received another accolade affirming her icon status — her own Barbie. Mattel announced Monday the release of an Anna May Wong doll for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Ketchup ice cream, anyone? Calgary Stampede unveils new treats for 2023 (CBC) CALGARY STORY #Mmmm er...maybe not 🙂 "If you've been longing to try a few unusual dishes that challenge your taste buds in more ways than one, you'll be happy to know this year's food lineup for Calgary Stampede has been announced. As expected, the list of dishes for Calgary Stampede 2023 has many unusual combinations. Some noteworthy midway treats to look out for include ketchup and mustard ice cream, the Kool-Aid chicken burger, peanut butter pickle dogs, Flamin' Hot dill cookies and more. Fans of classic Stampede fare like mini donuts won't be disappointed — from corn dogs and poutine to a refreshing lemonade and a generous scoop of ice cream, there's a lot to look forward to."

  2. 'Nothing girls can't do:' Ontario's 1st female licensed plumber marks 50 years in the trade (CBC) ONTARIO STORY "Deborah Johnston — or Debbie as she prefers to be called — remembers the day in the early 1970s when she was working in the office of her dad's plumbing business in Ingersoll, Ont., and a provincial official walked in. He wanted to know if anyone was interested in becoming a plumbing apprentice. 'I told him there was nobody there except my dad and me,' recalled Johnston, 69. 'And he said, 'Well, how about you?' " When he returned a couple of days later, Johnston signed up to become an apprentice, and by 1977 had become Ontario's first female licensed plumber. Now retired, Johnston remembers her early days on the job and is encouraging other women to consider a career in the skilled trades."

  3. Nine inspiring individuals to receive U of A honorary degrees this spring (Folio) EDMONTON STORY Congrats to all but special kudos to Shirley McClellan, Brian Paisley, Temple Grandin, and Fred Penner. "A Nobel laureate, a world-renowned advocate for animal welfare and an iconic children’s entertainer are among nine outstanding individuals who will receive honorary degrees from the University of Alberta this June during the university’s spring convocation ceremonies."

  4. 100 years ago people made 15 predictions for 2023 and some were pretty accurate (Upworthy) CANADIAN STORY A very interesting list. "We all are constantly worrying about what the future holds for us. We unconsciously make predictions about what could happen next and prepare ourselves on the basis of that. This fascination with the future is not new; people have been attempting to predict the far future for centuries. Paul Fairie, a researcher at the University of Calgary, created a thread on 1923 predictions about living in 2023. While some of them are untrue for now, some are hauntingly similar to everything happening in the world right now."

  5. Ottawa announces $103M for Indigenous women's shelters (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "The more than $100 million in funding the federal government has earmarked for Indigenous women's shelters is only part of the solution to violence against Indigenous women and girls, says a former commissioner for a national inquiry that investigated the issue. Federal ministers announced an investment of $103 million on Monday to build and support at least 178 shelter spaces and transitional houses for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQI+ people fleeing gender-based violence."

  6. Calgarians split on arena deal, Edmontonians hate it, rest of Alberta mostly opposed: Vote Compass (CBC) ALBERTA STORY "The plan to use $330 million in provincial funds as part of a $1.2-billion project that includes a new arena for the Calgary Flames faces strong opposition from Albertans, as a whole, but sentiment is more evenly split among Calgarians. That's according to weighted results of roughly 7,500 people who responded to the Vote Compass tool, which was developed by a team of political scientists and aims to help users navigate the political landscape before the May 29 Alberta election. Overall, 59 per cent of respondents disapproved of the deal, with 40 per cent 'strongly' disapproving and 19 per cent 'somewhat' disapproving."

  7. As economy recovers from pandemic doldrums, big employers step up push to get back to the office (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "From a strong job market to the World Health Organization officially downgrading COVID-19's status as a global health emergency, signs that the economy is recovering from the pandemic are everywhere. But there's perhaps no clearer one, in hollowed-out downtown cores across the country, than the sight of millions of office workers returning to cities after spending much of the past three years working from home."

  8. Canadian support for royals may have slumped, but the scenes in London tell a different story (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Support for the monarchy is at its lowest point in a generation as Canadians continue to digest the passing last September of the long-reigning Queen Elizabeth and weigh the institution's future with King Charles on the throne. But the sizable Canadian contingent at the King's coronation in London on Saturday suggests there are still many faithful followers of the thousand year-old institution. Some Canadian revellers camped out for days to catch a glimpse of the country's new head of state and Queen Camilla."

  9. Do you miss your BlackBerry? Canada's innovation sector does too (CBC) CANADIAN STORY This one is for you Michael. "The new movie BlackBerry is a celebration of the much beloved phone. It stars Hollywood actors and gives a behind-the-scenes sense of the rise and fall of the Waterloo, Ont.-based company RIM. But under all that, it's a love letter to innovation. The BlackBerry changed how we work, how we live and how we communicate. 'How profoundly important the innovation that these nerds above a diner in Waterloo in 1996 came up with,' the movie's star, Jay Baruchel, told CBC News at a recent red carpet event."

  10. VIDEO: How this B.C. filmmaking duo created a stop motion short film on the life of a 'Nakwaxda'xw Elder (CBC) VANCOUVER ISLAND STORY This is terrific. "A stop motion short film by two B.C. filmmakers is highlighting the life of a Nakwaxda'xw Elder and her experiences growing up near Alert Bay, a village off the coast of Vancouver Island. Tiny is directed by Ritchie Hemphill and animated by Ryan Haché, longtime friends and founders of the Vancouver Island-based animation studio, Bronfree Films. The short film is based on the life of 'Nakwaxda'xw Elder Colleen Hemphill, Ritchie's mother. In Tiny, Colleen, who spent much of her childhood living on a float house near Alert Bay — a village on Cormorant Island, near the northeastern town of Port McNeill on Vancouver Island — is featured telling stories about her relationships with family, the community and nature."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. The Power of Gratitude Journaling for Productivity: How to Use Writing to Cultivate a Positive Attitude. (John Crestani) If you want to improve your wellbeing and general mental health, this is a great practice.

  2. Unlocking the Code: Creative Thinking Unleashed through Structured Process (Aparna Das Pias) Great primer.

  3. ChatGPT perfectly planned my upcoming Scotland trip (Fahad Baseer) Trip planning is hard. This helps. A lot.

  4. What Survivance Means for Indigenous Artists (Hyperallergic) This is an immensely moving piece.

  5. Why You Should Scribble (Mary Paskhaver) I scribble all the time. Sometimes, I can even read it.

  6. 10 factors that influence the future of fundraising (Tallahassee Democrat) A great list.

  7. 9 mesmerizing Hot Docs you can stream from home (CBC) If you love Docs, you are going to love this list.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Brigham and Women’s just got a $100 million gift. Here’s what they’re doing with it. (Boston.com) "The landmark donation from biotechnology entrepreneur Gene Lay, the founder and CEO of BioLegend, Inc., was made through the Laygend [Foundation.]"

  2. Centennial College receives $2-million donation to support environmental sustainability (Education News Canada) MISSISSAUGA A STORY "The gift, made by philanthropist Diane Blake, is designed to broaden student access and accelerate Centennial's commitment to sustainability and the green economy of tomorrow."

  3. University Of Saskatchewan Gets $2 Million Donation From BMO (India EducationDiary.com) SASKATOON STORY "'USask is excited to partner with BMO to strengthen the College of Agriculture and Bioresources’ research ecosystem,' said USask President Peter Stoicheff. 'BMO’s investment will accelerate research and training in one of our signature areas and ensure that farmers and agronomists are at the cutting edge of production and environmental practices that support global food production.'"

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

Welcome to our recap of the week's news, articles, and information of note. ViTreo Group Inc. provides this information for the benefit of our clients, associates, staff, partners, and stakeholders. The content is collected and curated by ViTreo President & CEO Vincent Duckworth. If you would like to submit a link for consideration, please send an email to info@vitreogroup.ca.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by ViTreo Group Inc. of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. ViTreo Group does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the ViTreo Group Inc. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate.

Vincent DuckworthComment