Author: Silas Reed
Descrease article font size Increase article font size Bringing a newborn into the world is monumental for any family, but with the cost of living, buying everything needed for that baby can be extremely costly. That’s why Alberta-based charity Basically Babies is seeing a sharp rise in demand for its hampers which include more than a hundred items, including all the clothing an infant would need during the first year of their life.The hampers, known as layettes, are colour-coordinated and customized to the season the baby is born. While they can cost up to $1,200 to put together, they’re handed…
Descrease article font size Increase article font size It’s a shop like any other on Donegani Avenue in Pointe-Claire, Que., but the main difference is that behind the store is a non-profit called Light-A-Dream. Established in 1999, the West Island charity is affiliated with the Lester B. Pearson School Board and it provides young neurodiverse adults the opportunity to experience a work environment.The stage gives students a chance to develop life skills and, at the same time, it teaches the community more about them. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking…
It’s been a rough few years for Canadians looking to break into home ownership as unaffordability issues persist across the country. But as the calendar turns over to 2025, some prospective buyers might find an opportunity through changes in mortgage rules and lower borrowing costs, while some pockets of the Canadian housing market see competition — and prices — heat up.“First-time homebuyers are going to return to the market, I think, in a big way,” Re/Max Canada president Christopher Alexander told Global News.“And we should expect to see a much more robust year for sales as well.” Mortgage changes should…
Some things could get more expensive in the new year. With trade disputes with Canada’s two largest trade partners – China and the United States – looming, some experts are warning that consumers could see higher prices for goods, from solar panels to cars, over the next couple of years.Tabled on Dec. 16, the day Chrystia Freeland resigned as Canada’s finance minister, the 2024 fall economic statement announced “Canada’s intent to impose tariffs on imports of certain solar products and critical minerals from China early in the new year.” Story continues below advertisement “The tariffs on solar products and critical…
A BC Ferries passenger said he was left confused and missed his sailing after a recent experience returning home from a Christmas visit with his mom. Edward Thomas, along with his two children, boarded a ferry in Sechelt, B.C., and landed in Horseshoe Bay.He says he purchased his next tickets to Nanaimo in the Horseshoe Bay gift shop as they were tight for time to make the next sailing.“We got aggressively approached by a BC Ferry employee, first of all, accusing us of not having tickets,” Thomas said.He added that they had tickets, which he said confused the employee, but…
Following a day with two high-risk incidents in Lethbridge, protective services in the city say new changes are coming in 2025. On Monday, residents on the north side of the city were on alert as two high-risk incidents occurred just hours apart, with two people being taken into custody, according to police. However, the response strategy by police and on-scene paramedics will shift slightly in the new year.“We will be launching our TEMS (Tactical Emergency Medical Services) team. TEMS team is a tactical EMS team. This team is there, and they train with Lethbridge police service — LPS, and our men and…
It was a snowy morning on Stephen Avenue in Calgary — busier than usual because of the holidays. Brent Garrow spends a fair amount of time there, having experienced homelessness for the past six months.“The only places I know where I can stay are the Mustard Seed, Alpha House and the (Calgary Drop-In Centre).”He says folks who pass by are often generous — handing him coffee, food and sometimes cash.But this time was different.“A fairly well-dressed man in a suit and tie simply walked up and handed me the bill and said ‘Happy holidays’ and turned his head and walked…
Jim Duncan has always loved nature. It’s out of that love that he’s been coordinating Christmas bird counts in Balmoral, Man., for 31 years. “It is really helpful for determining, you know, which bird species are increasing, which ones are decreasing and which ones are doing quite well,” he said.The retired biologist said, this year, 42 volunteers came together in the area to cover roughly an 11-kilometre radius. They spent a day counting and categorizing birds, much like a census for the feathered critters. A child watches birds from out his car window. Submitted by Charlene Berkvens “We counted for…
The heads of two inner-city youth programs say they’ve noticed an upward trend in youth violence in recent years, and say more needs to be done to prevent it. “We see it in the behaviours of our children, but also the random activities that happen even across the street or just on the sidewalk,” said Rossbrook House executive director Patty Mainville.Rossbrook House has been a safe haven for youth in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood since 1976. Mainville says youth tend to leave their lives “at the door,” but knows they’re impacted by the “increased use of drugs and how that spills…
By The Staff The Canadian Press Posted December 31, 2024 1:39 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Gov. Gen. Mary Simon is urging Canadians to treat their mental health with the same care as their physical health as they prepare for the year ahead. In a new year’s message, Simon said she is thinking of all the inspiring people she met in 2024.Simon praised them for working hard to improve their communities, protect nature, build bridges between cultures and give voice to the marginalized.She implored people to continue building the more inclusive world and…