Weekly News Recap: April 28, 2023

Mayor Jyoti Gondek speaks at a press conference making an announcement about the future event centre in Calgary on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. PHOTO BY AZIN GHAFFARI /Postmedia

You do not play hockey for good seasons. You play to win the Stanley Cup. It has to be the objective. -- Guy Lafleur

SOME GOOD NEWS

Meet the ‘saddest cat’ that has raised $20,000 for animal welfare (NewWestminster Record) NEW WESTMINSTER STORY I love this cat! "In the last seven years, BenBen has raised close to $20,000 with Bosley’s for animal welfare initiatives — helping rescues like him get another shot at life, and entertaining more than half a million people on Instagram. As it turns out, what the sad cat does best is make others happy."
VIDEO: #TheMoment a kind gesture leaves a young Blue Jays fan in disbelief (CBC) TORONTO STORY #FanForLife "A young Toronto Blue Jays fan was left in utter disbelief when outfielder Kevin Kiermaier tossed him his batting gloves after hitting a two-run triple."
VIDEO: Why Do Apes Like to Spin? Maybe for the Same Reasons as People. (New York Times) CANADIAN CONTENT These bring me joy. "Videos of both captive and wild nonhuman primates suggest an enjoyment of the dizzy buzz that comes from whirling in circles."
Yukon introduces government-funded paid sick leave program (CBC) YUKON STORY #NiceMove "The Yukon is set to become the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer government-funded paid sick leave for workers and people who are self-employed [...] The two-year rebate program replaces a paid sick leave program that was introduced in Yukon in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and expired on March 31. That program was aimed specifically at COVID-19, whereas the new rebate program covers all illnesses. The rebate program offers people up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year at no cost to their employer. Eligible workers must earn no more than $33.94 per hour."
VIDEO: Legoland unveils King Charles coronation scenes (CBC) #Nice "To celebrate the upcoming coronation of King Charles III, Legoland Windsor Resort has created two new scenes imaging the event, featuring Lego versions of the monarch and Camilla, Queen Consort."
The Amazing Story of How Philly Cheesesteaks Became Huge in Lahore, Pakistan (Phillymag) "Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and the capital of the historic Punjab region, is considered the country’s food hub (although citizens of Karachi loudly dispute that claim). Its location at the crossroads of the many empires to have ruled over the Indian subcontinent, from the Mughals to the British, has added multicultural layers to Lahori heritage and culture. This is reflected in the city’s food, which blends Persian and Afghan flavors, a combination we now deem synonymous with the cuisine of North India — which Lahore was an integral part of before the 1947 partition created what is today called Pakistan, in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent."
Patients were told their voices could disappear. They turned to AI to save them. (Washington Post) We live in an amazing world. "Ron Brady was 52 years old when he was diagnosed with ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease that eventually causes most people to lose their ability to speak, walk or breathe. Now, at 55, he can’t swallow food, and it’s getting harder to brush his teeth and put on clothes. He likes to crack jokes, but his speech is slurred to the point where few understand him. But he has not lost his voice. That’s because he preserved his voice with a company called Voice Keeper, which is one of several companies using artificial intelligence to 'bank' people’s voices while they are still able to speak and re-creates those voices for text-to-speech software."
VIDEO: This Walmart greeter is so heartwarming, customers go to the small-town Ontario store just to see him (CBC) STRATHROY STORY I heart this. "'Welcome to Walmart. Have a great day,' a cheery voice calls out, over and over, in the front foyer of Walmart on this rainy day in Strathroy, Ont. That endearing welcome comes from Nolan Hankinson, 25, who has been working as a greeter at the retailer for about a year. After a social media post about Hankinson circulated through the community earlier this month, CBC News decided to make the trip to meet him. According to his family, Hankinson has an anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 'I like working at Walmart and the people are awesome here,' said Hankinson, whose raised eyebrows and smile rarely leave his face."
Mattel debuts first Barbie with Down syndrome (CBC) I find this incredibly beautiful. "Toymaker Mattel has introduced its first Barbie with Down syndrome in a bid to make its famous doll range more inclusive. In a statement on Tuesday, Mattel said it had worked with the National Down Syndrome Society in the United States to make the doll, which has a shorter frame and longer torso than its other Barbies. In a statement to CBC News, a representative confirmed the doll will be available in Canada at major retailers. The new doll's face also has a rounder shape, and it has almond-shaped eyes, smaller ears and a flat nasal bridge, Mattel said. 'The doll's palms even include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome,' Mattel said. The doll is dressed in a puff-sleeved frock adorned with butterflies and flowers in yellow and blue — colours associated with Down syndrome awareness."
VIDEO: Bald eagle swims the butterfly stroke while clutching prey (CBC) CAMPBELL RIVER STORY "A man in Campbell River, B.C., captured something you don't see everyday: a bald eagle in Menzies Bay swimming the butterfly stroke while holding tightly onto its prey in the water. Experts say it's a common way for eagles to catch prey, as eagles are determined hunters."
VIDEO: Uninvited moose swings by Alaska movie theatre to munch on popcorn (Global News) I mean...who does not love popcorn? "No longer content with eating bark, leaves and other natural plants, a moose strolled into an Alaska movie theatre recently and helped itself to some hot, buttery popcorn. The unusual guest was filmed last Wednesday night, sniffing around the concession counter at Kenai Cinemas before moving in on an abandoned tray of popcorn."
VIDEO: #TheMoment Calgary woman wins Irish Dancing World Championship (CBC) CALGARY STORY Congrats! "Mackenzie Mahler finished in first place in the senior ladies category at the World Irish Dancing Championships held earlier this month in Montreal. It's a childhood dream come true for the Calgary woman, who has been dancing since she was six years old."
What browsing in a store offers that online algorithms just can't (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #Serendipity #YouCantBeatIt "There's something about browsing in stores that online retailers just can't replicate, says Toronto author Jason Guriel. Perhaps you pop into a shop with something in mind. Other times, you might wander in aimlessly and come out with a totally unexpected purchase. 'Sometimes I find the thing I'm after, but inevitably there's something else that I had no clue I was looking for that day,' he told The Sunday Magazine. 'And sometimes — not often, but every now and then — it's that ... random thing that I was not at all looking for that becomes almost transformative.'"

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

Why You Should Avoid Immediately Taking Medication for a Fever: Recent Research Findings (BollyInside) CANADIAN CONTENT "New research from the University of Alberta suggests that allowing a mild fever to run its course may have health benefits, as untreated moderate fever in fish helped clear infections rapidly and controlled inflammation. Although further research is needed to confirm the benefits for humans, the researchers believe that similar benefits are likely due to shared fever mechanisms across the animal kingdom. The study found that allowing a moderate fever to go untreated in fish helped them quickly eliminate the infection from their bodies, regulate inflammation, and repair any damaged tissue. The research suggests that over-the-counter fever medications may take away some of the benefits of the natural response to fever."
Suncor buys Canadian oilsands operations of France's TotalEnergies for $6.1B (CBC) CALGARY STORY "French company TotalEnergies says it has signed a deal to sell its Canadian operations to Suncor Energy Inc. in an agreement worth up to $6.1 billion. Under the deal, Suncor will pay $5.5 billion in cash, plus up to an additional $600 million that is conditional on Western Canadian Select benchmark oil pricing and certain production targets. TotalEnergies EP Canada Ltd. holds a 31.23 per cent working interest in the Fort Hills oilsands project and a 50 per cent working interest in the Surmont in situ asset. Suncor says the deal will add 135,000 barrels per day of net bitumen production capacity and 2.1 billion barrels of proven and probable reserves to Suncor's oilsands portfolio."
World's biggest cumulative logjam mapped in the N.W.T. — and it stores tons of carbon (CBC) NORTHWEST TERRITORY STORY An unexpected bonanza. "You might not think of the Arctic as a place with a lot of trees, but a recent study says the Mackenzie River Delta in the N.W.T. is home to the world's biggest known cumulative logjam — and it stores a huge amount of carbon. 'Everywhere you go, there's driftwood,' said Roy Cockney Sr., an elder living in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., which is above both the Arctic Circle and the treeline. Cockney said the wood gives people in his community a source of heating fuel year round, and it's sometimes used to build cabins too. 'It's something that we like, when it piles up it's good for us,' he said."
Farmers plan biggest wheat crop in more than 2 decades due to war in Ukraine (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Canadian farmers are expecting to plant the largest wheat crop in more than two decades this year amid strong demand for wheat. Statistics Canada said Wednesday that farmers anticipate planting 23 million acres of wheat, up 6.2 per cent from the previous year. According to the federal agency's report on principal field crop areas, the anticipated growth is possibly due to favourable prices and strong demand for wheat. Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago drove up global wheat prices, as Ukraine has been one of the world's largest wheat exporters."
What Michael Bloomberg’s Plan to Transfer His Company to Charity Could Mean for Philanthropy (Chronicle of Philanthropy) This is going to change the world and is a sign of an emergent trend. "The news that former New York Mayor and billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg plans to give his multibillion dollar company Bloomberg LP to support his Bloomberg Philanthropies when he dies or sooner has philanthropy experts talking about what Bloomberg’s plans could mean for the Philanthropy in the future."
Jocelyn Anderson to Head New Glenbow Art Institute (Galleries West) CALGARY STORY Congrats! "The Glenbow has a new role for Jocelyn Anderson as director of the JR Shaw Institute for Art in Canada, the Calgary museum announced Tuesday. The institute, to launch in 2025, will explore and support Canadian art and artists with annual exhibitions, artists in residence, a research fellowship, internships and other programming."
Calgary arena deal reached, will be built in Rivers District (CTV) CALGARY STORY
"The City of Calgary has signed a deal paving the way for construction of a new arena. The city has reached agreements, in principle, with the province, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) and the Calgary Stampede to proceed with the creation of the Culture + Entertainment District in downtown Calgary, in the Rivers District, including a new and publicly-owned event centre. The deal is valued at $1.2 billion."
Harry Belafonte, legendary performer and activist, dead at 96 (CBC) RIP Mr. Belafonte. Your voice was sublime. We will not see your like again. "Harry Belafonte, the American singer, actor and social activist known as the King of Calypso, has died. He was 96. Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his New York home, his wife, Pamela, by his side, said Paula M. Witt of public relations firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis."
Failed attempts by Canada's NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup, visualized (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Very interesting analysis. "Is it a curse? Is it a conspiracy? Bad luck? Or maybe the teams just aren't good enough. Whatever the reason, it's been almost three decades since a Canadian NHL team has hoisted the Stanley Cup. Nevertheless, the early days of playoff hockey remain filled with hope this year — the same hope that fills Canadian hockey fans (almost) every April. This cruel yearning is most pervasive among fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that has made it to the playoffs six out of the last seven seasons, but has failed to make it past the first round since 2004. For reference, Facebook was still called TheFacebook then."
Kids with climate anxiety better strap in, because it's going to be a bumpy ride (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "'I've got ADHD and a lot of climate anxiety.' That was my introduction to a 10-year-old when I took a local school class on a hike through the Carlington Woods. The Carlington Woods is one of two urban forests in central Ottawa within two kilometres of my house. I grew up in the same neighbourhood and spent hours combing through the Hampton Park Woods, which was closer. I still do. I also lived through the Cold War and the threat of nuclear annihilation always hovered in the background. I was more afraid of killer bees. You can't understand a cold war when you're eight, but you can see a killer insect. But despite my apiary misgivings, I was always happier outside. I didn't know why, I just was. This generation of kids is on a roller-coaster that involves a lot more than killer bees. There's a new Cold War, an actual war in Ukraine, COVID is still here, and not a week goes by that they don't hear about the impacts of climate change. To make matters worse, most kids don't spend nearly enough time outside."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

Italians Are Mad at Their Country’s New “Barbie Venus” (Hyperallergic) I don't know how I feel about this. It is a bit weird.
What if we Treat Time as Money? (Nikhil Tirumalasetty) Personally, I think it is worth more than money.
Unpacking Descartes’ Meditations (Daily Philosophy) A great synopsis of one of our most influential and important philosophers.
My Top 7 Go-To Marketing Productivity Tools (Alexa Kilroy) All are awesome. You're welcome.
Why Exceptional Professionals Focus on the Journey, Not Just the Destination (Jordan Halvorsen) Or, as we say, the process is more important than the product.
Why I Ditched Overwhelming Todo Lists: How I Organize with Sheets. (Ajeet K.) #MeToo
How Hello AI can make a difference in a graphic designer’s work (Air Apps) Smart designers are already using it.

TOP FOUR GIFTS OF THE WEEK

Local philanthropist recognized for $4M in donations to Calgary Cancer Centre initiatives (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY A bittersweet but, ultimately, beautiful story. "Local philanthropist and businessman Wayne Foo and his family were recognized on Wednesday for $4 million worth of contributions to cancer and tumour research."
Whitefish couple's $101M donation funds nursing education center in Missoula (Daily Interlake) #Wowzers "Community Medical Center has signed a letter of intent to donate land in Missoula for a new nursing education building to be built with a portion of a $101 million investment by philanthropists Mark and Robyn Jones to Montana State University."
$1 Million donation to Scarborough Health Centre by Pizza Nova at 60th anniversary party (GTA Weekly) TORONTO STORY "Pizza Nova, Ontario’s family owned and operated premium pizza brand, celebrated today its 60th anniversary with close to five hundred friends, family, franchisees and partners."
$400 Million Donation From Nike Co-Founder Will Help Rebuild Portland's Albina District (Portland Mercury) #WhatALegacy "An ambitious effort to reinvigorate Portland’s Albina District will get a major cash infusion with a $400 million donation to the newly established 1803 Fund from Penny and Phil Knight."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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Vincent DuckworthApril 27, 2023Comment