Weekly News Recap: February 7, 2025

Weekly News Recap: February 7, 2025

A transformational $15 million donation from Nutrien to USask will support students, new initiatives and critical research to advance sustainable agriculture and food security around the globe.

We cannot make the world safe for democracy unless we also make the world safe for diversity. -- Aga Khan

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO: No photos please! Snow leopard tries to take out wildlife camera (Yahoo News) Clearly not a Gen-Z cat. "A rare sight in the mountains of the Katon-Karagay National Park in Kazakhstan: a snow leopard discovered a wildlife camera. But the big cat was not in the mood for photos."

  • VIDEO: The Best Table Tennis Points Of 2024 (Kottke.org) This is crazy cool and, yes, I also did not think I was going to watch the whole video but...you can't help it. "I did not think I was going to watch this whole video when I started but I totally did. Some absolutely incredible shots & rallies in here."

  • What Happened When America Emptied Its Youth Prisons (New York Times) This is an amazing and undersold story. I heart this. "When he speaks to public officials or community groups, Muhammad tells me, he shows them the same graph I showed him. 'And whenever I do, I always tell people, ‘If you had told me in the 1990s that our juvenile incarceration rate would be this low today, my first thought would have been that you were crazy. And once I got over that, I would have said, “Great, we did it. Our work is done." ' "

  • 'Like to prove them wrong': Green thumb grows tropical fruit in Calgary home (CBC) CALGARY STORY Why yes, of course we can grow a pineapple in Calgary. "Nobody puts Lindsay Struthers in a corner, especially if it comes with the most unwelcome advice of what she can or cannot grow. 'People say you can't grow it, so I just like to prove them wrong,' Struthers told the Calgary Eyeopener in a Wednesday interview. In about two years from seed to harvest, the Calgary woman says paternal instincts grew from her pineapple-growing project."

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment rescued baby sea otters saw snow for the first time (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY I love otters. #Cute "Vancouver Aquarium senior marine mammal trainer Nadine Trottier recounts the moment rescued baby sea otters experienced snow for the first time and frolicked with the snowman she made for them."

  • VIDEO: New restaurant pays homage to Hotel Saskatchewan's unofficial mascot — the bunny (CBC) REGINA STORY Sounds like another reason to visit Regina. "When you step into the Hotel Saskatchewan's new restaurant on a cold winter's night, you'll settle into the cozy yet chic dining experience that is The Burrow. While the hotel has a storied history of famous guests and royal visits, this restaurant is a nod to a certain VIP and unofficial mascot — the bunny. Portraits of bunnies have long graced the hotel's lounge."

  • VIDEO: Haida woman helps break world storytelling record (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY Congrats and how cool was this?! "A storyteller from Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off B.C.'s north coast, has helped set a new world record in storytelling. Kung Jaadee was part of the event at the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival in Morocco [...] Over the course of 80 hours, 32 minutes and 58 seconds, more than 100 invited guests took part in the continuous storytelling event in Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, handing off from person to person."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. VIDEO: Aga Khan, leader to millions of Ismaili Muslims, dead at 88 (CBC) Our condolences to the family and to the entire Ismaili community. RIP. We will not see your like again. "Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims around the world, has died at 88. A statement from his central philanthropic organization said he died 'peacefully' in Lisbon on Tuesday." RELATED: Prince Rahim designated Aga Khan V, the 50th leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims

  2. College of the Rockies appoints new president (Kimberley Bulletin) CRANBROOK STORY Congrats to you Michael. You are a bright star and we will miss you in Calgary. "The College of the Rockies has selected a new president and CEO. Michael Crowe has been appointed by the Board of Governors and will serve as the College's ninth president and CEO following the pending retirement of Paul Vogt."

  3. VIDEO: Pioneering brain surgery gives B.C. woman her voice back (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY Lovely. "Twenty years ago, Susan O'Sullivan was working full-time with the Ministry of Forests and volunteering as a singer at her local art centre when her voice began to crack. 'There was some crack that started happening in my voice randomly, and I couldn't understand what it was . . . you sort of put it down to, well, maybe it's stress,' said O'Sullivan during an interview with CBC's Daybreak Kamloops. When her voice started cracking 100 per cent of the time, she received an expert referral to see Dr. Murray Morrison. Unable to get words out by then, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia. Spasmodic dysphonia is a disorder in the brain that causes the vocal cords to spasm, interrupting people's speech and their ability to speak."

  4. How the corporatization of vet clinics is driving up prices across the country (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Rima, whose name we also agreed to change to protect her identity, worked at both VetStrategy and VCA. She says she noticed prices started to climb at the VetStrategy hospital after it was sold to international vet consolidator, IVC Evidensia, backed by private equity. 'We had five service fee increases within one year,' Rima said. Each increase was between three to six per cent, and she said no rationale was given to staff. To her, the reason was clear: 'It's just a drive in revenue.' "

  5. Fast-growing pickleball clubs short on space pitch new facilities in the Edmonton region (CBC) EDMONTON STORY "As pickleball's popularity soars in Alberta, some clubs in the Edmonton region say they desperately need more outdoor courts but can't afford to build them on their own. Pickleball is a rapidly growing racket sport similar to tennis but played on smaller courts. In 2016, according to statistics from Pickleball Alberta, there was one club in the province and 138 members. Now there are dozens of clubs and more than 10,000 members. Pickleball players say the sport could be growing even faster but a court shortage keeps more people from playing, especially in the warmer months."

  6. The rise of men’s grooming: What’s driving the boom in personal care (The Manual) I am in their target market. "In the world of beauty products, the men’s grooming category used to be an afterthought. There were plenty of intriguing individual products available, but as a whole, the market was so small that it was barely worth mentioning. Not anymore. As many of the companies making those intriguing products can attest, the growth in men’s grooming has made the category a major force. In fact, on a percentage basis, men’s grooming is now growing faster than women’s beauty markets, which has long been a powerhouse economic force of its own."

  7. The paradox of prosperity and poverty: confronting inequality in Norway (The Lancet) "Norway is celebrated worldwide for its wealth, exceptional living standards, and robust welfare system. With a gross domestic product per capita far surpassing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average and a consistent spot as one of the top ten countries in the World Happiness Report, Norway epitomises prosperity and wellbeing. Yet, despite its characteristic egalitarianism, a widening socioeconomic gradient threatens to deepen health inequalities. Notably, although Norway ranked first in the World Happiness Report in 2017, its position has since steadily declined, settling at seventh since 2023—a trend that warrants reflection on the factors shaping national wellbeing."

  8. VIDEO: Woman who ran barefoot over 100 metres of Lego says it felt like a bad massage (CBC) My only question: Why? "Sprinting barefoot across 100 metres of Lego bricks feels kind of like getting the world's worst foot massage, says Gabrielle Wall. On Jan. 16, the New Zealand woman dashed across a Christchurch running track covered in the jagged and colourful toys in 24.75 seconds."

  9. By Canadians, for Canadians. (Made In Canada) CANADIAN CONTENT Want to buy Canadian? This site can help.

  10. California builders say few alternatives to Canadian timber exist, amid tariff threat (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY "California homebuilders say they have few options but to keep buying Canadian lumber, even if it's hit with 25 per cent tariffs, as they rebuild thousands of homes destroyed by devastating wildfires in Los Angeles [...] 'We are very dependent on Canadian lumber,' [Dan Dunmoyer, president of the California Building Industry Association] said. 'We like Canadian lumber. It's super high-quality, properly harvested for the environment. It's really quality material.' "

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. I Asked 5 AI Models to Predict 2025 — Here’s What They Said & Why They Said It (Generative AI) This is super interesting and...to my mind, not far off.

  2. How I Organize Tons of Notes (It Works Regardless of Digital Technology) (The Note Strategist) Another great piece of note taking advice.

  3. The Surprisingly Strong Case for Luck in Sales (Psychology of Stuff) In my experience, this is very true. We make our own luck. In fact, we 'provoke' it.

  4. How to Survive Marathon Training in the Winter (Running with Rock) As a winter runner, this is terrific advice.

  5. 10 Rules for High Energy in Your 40s and Beyond (In Fitness And In Health) I know about the reducing alcohol idea and I believe it but...I don't want to.

  6. 5 Books That Will Make You Smarter Than 97% Of People (Cogn.itva) I am putting all of these on my list.

  7. Which Nuts Are You Getting Wrong? An MD PhD Reveals the Real Winners (In Fitness And In Health) This is a very in depth look at nuts. And helpful.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. $100m game-changer creating a STEM future for Western Sydney girls (University of Sydney) #Wow "A donation of $100 million from the Khuda Family Foundation, the largest ever made to the University of Sydney, will fund an ambitious 20-year program, creating a pathway for girls from Western Sydney into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and careers."

  2. VIDEO: Nutrien supports Be What the World Needs Campaign with transformational $15 million donation to USask (University of Saskatchewan) SASKATOON STORY Congrats to all. "A transformational $15 million gift from Nutrien to USask will drive a new era of innovation, collaboration, and success."

  3. Glenbow Receives Major Donation, Federal Investment (Galleries West) CALGARY STORY Thanks RBC! "Glenbow has received “a $1 million gift from the RBC Foundation as part of RBC’s new Community Infrastructure Fund,” according to a news release [...] 'Specifically designated for accessibility, this gift supports Glenbow’s efforts to accommodate and welcome visitors with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and sensory needs.' "

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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