Weekly News Recap: January 27, 2023

The late Kathleen Sheret, whose family owned and operated Andrew Sheret Limited, left $34 million to a Victoria non-profit dedicated to helping seniors. (Evrymmnt/stock.adobe.com)

Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been. -- David Bowie

SOME GOOD NEWS

The First Family of Human Cannonballing (Narratively.com) This was not an option with my guidance counsellor. #CrazyCool "Staring up through the barrel of his steel cocoon, all David Smith Jr. sees is a small circle of cornflower-blue sky. The angle of the 35-foot cannon is such that he is almost standing, every muscle in his body pulled taut. As the electrifying opening riff of AC/DC’s 'Thunderstruck' kicks in, the announcer starts the countdown: 'Five…four…three…'."
Alabama town learns farmer secretly paid people’s pharmacy bills (The Guardian) #WeLiveInABeautifulWorld "A small town in Alabama is honoring a man who paid off his neighbors’ pharmacy bills for years and kept his generosity a secret until shortly before his recent death by picking up exactly where he left off. Hody Childress, a farmer and US air force veteran, began his anonymous charitable campaign when he walked into a drug store in his home town of Geraldine in 2012 and learned from the owner that sometimes families can’t afford to pay for their medicines."
Got time? At this slow grocery store check-out lane, a leisurely chat is OK (CBC) EDMONTON STORY I love this so much. "Jason Rutledge is not one to shy away from conversation. But that's a quality you would expect from a man wearing a green hat shaped like a squid. And that's why the grocery store cashier with the huge grin and infectious laugh can often be found behind the register of the new 'slow social lane' at an Edmonton Sobeys — a check-out lane where customers can take as long as they want. 'I look at the time that I have with these people … our conversations, especially, are very sacred to me,' Rutledge said."
All-women caribou hunt a success in northern Quebec (CBC) QUEBEC STORY #Brilliant "An all-female caribou hunting expedition returned home to a heroine's welcome Saturday in the Naskapi community of Kawawachikamach in northern Quebec. The seven-woman group left the community on Jan. 13 and travelled, in total, more than 1,500 kilometres by snowmobile, over eight days from Kawawachikamach to the far eastern reaches of Cree territory near Caniapiscau and back again. 'This is something that I've always wanted to do,' said Louise Shecanapish, who organized the expedition. She had been on a men's hunting trip about 10 years earlier as the expedition cook."
Animated film about Halifax Explosion snags Oscar nomination for Calgary-based duo (CBC) HALIFAX STORY This is an important story. "An animated short film based on a story about the 1917 Halifax Explosion has snagged an Oscar nomination. The Flying Sailor, made by Calgary-based animators Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, is nominated for best animated short. It's inspired by a maritime tale about a seaman who was blasted into the air after two ships collided in the Halifax harbour during the First World War."
What would a $20 bill look like if it had an Indigenous woman front and centre? (CBC) CANADIAN STORY More please! "For Mi'kmaw artist Tracey Metallic, the late Margaret (Pictou) LaBillois is one of her heroes. That's why she chose to feature her in a design challenge to re-imagine Canadian banknotes with inspirational Indigenous women. The project, Change the Bills, is being run by the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) as a way to promote the contributions and accomplishments of Indigenous women."
Calgary man creates one-of-a-kind guitars from reclaimed wood (CBC) CALGARY STORY I want one. "A decade ago, Kevin Gullion wouldn't have guessed his last job would be creating one-of-a-kind guitars from pieces of old furniture and barn wood. But now nothing sounds sweeter. 'I don't plan on doing anything else in the future,' said Gullion, the proprietor of The New Vintage custom guitars. His business revolves around reclaimed wood. He takes anything from broken furniture to family pianos and breathes new life into them, turning them into stringed instruments capable of music."
A tradition of plunging in an icy river persists in Ukraine, despite the war (capradio) #Brrr "Many Ukrainians jumped into the icy cold waters of Dnieper River [recently]. It's become a tradition for some members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to mark Epiphany. And for many, it's about starting the year afresh, with a clear mind."
'That is super cool!': N.W.T. man can't believe what he's filming — a wolf pack in the wild (CBC) NORTHWEST TERRITORIES STORY #Amazing "Morgan Watsyk admits his eyesight is pretty bad, so at first he thought those dark forms on the road ahead were mountain goats. 'Because I'm getting closer to Wrigley [N.W.T], right? You're getting closer to the mountains and whatnot,' he recalled. 'But I was thinking there shouldn't be no herd of mountain goats in this area.' He quickly whipped out his phone and zoomed in to get a better look. The video captures his surprise."
Meet the Cochrane tattoo artist inspired by a galaxy far, far away (CBC) COCHRANE STORY You're welcome 😊 "The force is strong with Saga Anderson. Not only is his own body covered in Star Wars tattoos, his entire studio in Cochrane, Alta., about 20 kilometres northwest of Calgary, is covered with film memorabilia. Action figures, like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, are stuck to the wall still in their original packaging. A Millennium Falcon hangs from the ceiling. A stormtrooper bobble-head sits in a glass cabinet, along with several trophies and awards."
Spacewalk next step in Nicole Mann's journey as 1st Native American woman in space (CBC) "The first Native American woman in space ventured out on a spacewalk [...] to prep the International Space Station for more solar panels. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann emerged alongside Japan's Koichi Wakata, lugging an equipment bag. Their job was to install support struts and brackets for new solar panels launching this summer, part of a continuing effort by NASA to expand the space station's power grid. Mann, a U.S. Marine colonel and test pilot, rocketed into orbit last fall with SpaceX, becoming the first Native American woman in space. She is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California."
Rare sight of a northern elephant seal birth caught on video (CBC) VICTORIA STORY "On the remote shores of the wild Great Race Rock Island, Derek Sterling immortalised a rare glimpse of the miracle of marine life — the birth of a baby northern elephant seal. Sterling, the only person on the otherwise uninhabited island, recently filmed the moment the seal was born on a rocky outcrop about 20 kilometres southwest of Victoria in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 'This is the first time I've had the opportunity to actually view the birth of an elephant seal,' said Sterling, an ecoguardian tasked with maintaining the island, a protected ecological reserve, and monitoring its marine life. 'I loved being there and seeing something this amazing.'"

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

Affordable housing for women and children opens in Calgary’s Inglewood neighbourhood (Global News) CALGARY STORY Congrats to all. ViTreo is proud to be working alongside YW Calgary on this important project. "A new affordable housing building for women and children will be providing long-term housing solutions in Calgary’s Inglewood neighbourhood. YW Calgary announced the completion of the building alongside the City of Calgary as well as the provincial and federal governments Wednesday morning. The building aims to provide homes for those escaping domestic violence who often have limited options after their 21-day stay has expired at a shelter."
Enterprise Square renewal heralds Edmonton’s downtown revitalization (Folio) EDMONTON STORY #Smart "The City of Edmonton is in the midst of a major drive to breathe new life into its downtown core, investing $4.7 billion since 2015 in new residential, office, cultural, educational and entertainment space. A key part of that revitalization is the University of Alberta’s Enterprise Square in the historic Hudson’s Bay Company Building, having welcomed 500 professionals to its freshly renovated space and nearly doubling its current occupancy. The move is intended to strengthen relationships with the business, arts and cultural communities in the downtown area and actively contribute to the city’s economic recovery."
Opinion: A new era unfolds for YMCA Calgary’s Camp Chief Hector (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY For anyone who has had a camp experience, this resonates. Congrats to YMCA Calgary and to Camp Chief Hector. ViTreo is proud to be working alongside you on this important project. "For countless Calgarians, some of our fondest childhood memories come from experiences in the great outdoors. For many of us, overnight camp was a place where we gained independence, discovered our passions and developed lifelong friendships."
Jim Button, co-founder of Calgary's Village Brewery, dead at 59 (CBC) CALGARY STORY Jim's full blog post is linked below and is very worth the read. RIP Mr. Button. We will not see your like again. "Condolences are pouring in following the death of Jim Button, who co-founded Village Brewery, one of Calgary's most well-known and beloved craft brewers. Button died Thursday following a years-long battle with kidney cancer. He was 59. Button's death was announced on his blog, Gather with Jim, in a post titled, 'I Died Today.' 'From the moment I first found out I had terminal cancer, I've understood that I live a full life, a life with few regrets, and a ridiculous amount of adventure, and an equal amount of love, gratitude, and friendships galore,' he wrote. 'So I've never been afraid of this day, nor should you of yours.'"
Aamjiwnaang First Nation hockey player among 8 Canadian Indigenous stars celebrated in trading cards (CBC) CANADIAN STORY It should have happened sooner but it is great that it is happening now. "He's a grown man with a long hockey career behind him, but getting his own licensed NHL trading card left Jason Simon fighting back tears. 'You know, really, it's just a card, right? But for that little boy inside me, it meant so much,' an emotional Simon told Afternoon Drive's Allison Devereaux [...] Simon, 53, is from Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia, Ont. He played for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes (now Arizona Coyotes) and the New York Islanders in the 1990s. Now, Simon is among former players featured on a new set of cards, released by Upper Deck, called the First Peoples Rookie Cards, lauding Canadian Indigenous hockey players who never had a licensed NHL trading card. Before being drafted by the NHL in 1989, Simon played junior hockey in Chatham, London and Windsor in southwestern Ontario."
Fewer than half of Indigenous students graduate on time from Edmonton public high schools (CBC) EDMONTON STORY We need to do better. "Indigenous students in Edmonton continue to have lower high school graduation rates than their non-Indigenous peers. Annual education results reports, which include statistics from Alberta Education for 2021-22, show that more than 80 per cent of Edmonton public school and Catholic school students finish high school on time, but the completion rates are significantly lower for students who self-identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI). According to the reports, 67 per cent of FNMI students in Edmonton Catholic schools and 47 per cent of those in Edmonton public schools completed high school in three years. The province-wide three-year high school completion rate for FNMI students was 60 per cent."
'Doomsday Clock' moves to 90 seconds to midnight amid fear of nuclear war and climate change (CBC) #Eek "Atomic scientists set the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight than ever before on Tuesday, saying threats of nuclear war, disease and climate volatility have been exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, putting humanity at greater risk of annihilation. The Doomsday Clock, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to illustrate how close humanity has come to the end of the world, moved its 'time' in 2023 to 90 seconds to midnight, 10 seconds closer than it has been for the past three years. Midnight on this clock marks the theoretical point of annihilation. The clock's hands are moved closer to or farther away from midnight based on scientists' reading of existential threats at a particular time. The new time reflects a world in which Russia's invasion of Ukraine has revived fears of nuclear war."
Court rejects Competition Bureau's appeal to block Rogers' takeover of Shaw (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Canada's Federal Court of Appeal has rejected the Competition Bureau's request to block the takeover of Shaw by Rogers, a decision that removes one of the final hurdles standing in the way of the $20-billion merger from going ahead. The merger, first proposed in 2021, would see Toronto-based Rogers Communications Inc. take over Calgary-based rival Shaw Communications Inc. in a move that would further consolidate Canada's top-heavy telecommunications sector. The deal has faced numerous regulatory hurdles since being proposed, but in a lengthy review process the companies have secured most of the approvals they require to finalize the deal. As part of that process, Rogers has agreed to sell Shaw's wireless business, Freedom Mobile, to Quebec-based Vidéotron."
UCP are delaying completion of Red Deer hospital expansion, says NDP leader Rachel Notley (Red Deer Advocate) RED DEER STORY "The Alberta government maintains the Red Deer hospital expansion project will still be completed on time in 2030-31, despite a document suggesting otherwise. NDP opposition leader Rachel Notley held a press conference in Red Deer on Thursday to say Central Albertans will face a two-year delay for the completion of the Red Deer hospital expansion. The NDP found UCP government documents that indicate a 2032 completion date for construction when former Alberta UCP premier Jason Kenny had said while announcing the $1.8 billion project last year that it would be finished by 2030-31."
Critical lack of volunteers putting Canadian non-profit services at risk: Volunteer Canada (CBC) CANADIAN STORY This is becoming a real crisis. "When retiree Gaye Long hops on her bike to make her Vancouver deliveries, she knows that as a Meals on Wheels volunteer, she is bringing people — many of them housebound seniors — more than just something to eat. 'Some of these people, you are the only face they see for days, the only voice they hear,' said Long, who has been with the charity for six years. Long also says she, or someone she loves, might depend on Meals on Wheels one day, and it is important to her to keep it afloat. Maintaining the service is a legitimate concern based on statistics shared by Volunteer Canada."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

How has the inside of the Earth stayed as hot as the Sun’s surface for billions of years? (The Conversation) Unbelievable. But true. And cool!
The Surprising Truth About Coffee and Your Morning Routine: Why You Should Wait One Hour Before Drinking (Adam Van Uden) I try to hold off for at least three minutes...
6 Google Docs Productivity Tips That Changed My Life (Tech With Dom) I am a Google nerd and I did not know about most of these. They are excellent.
Effective Email Management Tips (Kepler's Team) Email getting you down? This might help.
Reading: Building a Second Brain (Beauty of Creation) What are you doing to build your second brain?
The Art of Sunday Planning (The Write Brain) For me, this is the very best day for planning.
Why Living Without Goals Makes Perfect Sense if You Want To Be Happy (Angelo Pollice) A bit of counter-culture to close out the hacks for this week.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

$34M donation will be 'transformative' for senior care on Vancouver Island, foundation says (CBC) VICTORIA STORY This is jaw-dropping and so great for Victoria. "A non-profit in Victoria is making big plans after receiving the largest donation it's ever seen. Kathleen Sheret, who passed away in 2021, bequeathed $34 million to the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation — an organization dedicated to helping seniors age with dignity. 'I have to tell you I had to take a second and third look to make sure it wasn't a typo,' executive director Lori McLeod told All Points West host Jason D'Souza. She and board chair Casey Ralph both described the donation as 'transformative.'"
The Maritime Museum of BC receives a record-breaking $1 million donation (Canada Today) VICTORIA STORY Bravo Zulu to all! "The Maritime Museum of BC expresses its gratitude after receiving a $1 million donation, the largest donation in the organization’s history. The donation comes from the estate of Cora Shaw from Victoria, who passed away last year. The museum says Shaw has been a longtime supporter and 'believed in the vital importance of our maritime history' as well as supporting the arts in Victoria. Shaw served on the board of the local library system, the community arts council, and taught hand weaving, according to the museum. 'Our board and staff are very grateful for this kind of generous leadership and community support,' museum president Jamie Webb said in a news [release.]"
Humber College receives $30 Million gift from the Barrett Family Foundation (Newswire) TORONTO STORY #Wowzers Nicely done all. "Humber College is the recipient of a $30 million gift from the Barrett Family Foundation, marking the largest single donation made to an Ontario college. Combined with their donations to Humber's Unlimited Campaign, the Barrett Family Foundation has given a total of $42 million, making their donation the largest in Canadian college history."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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Vincent DuckworthJanuary 27, 2023Comment