Despite negative, transphobic online comments prior to the game, Saturday night was all positive When the Saskatchewan Rush lacrosse team announced that trans drag artist Karma K would perform at its Feb. 25 Pride game, comments online quickly became hateful and transphobic on social media sites like Reddit and Twitter — but that negativity didn’t show up at the actual game. Karma K found out about the backlash while she was working at her day job. “My friend messaged me and she was like, ‘Girl don’t go on the internet right now,’” she said. ButRead more

Pressure tactic is illegal, ‘more like a disguised strike,’ judge says The threat from a Quebec nurses’ union to announce the mass resignation of several hundred of its members as a pressure tactic is illegal, a Quebec labour tribunal has ruled. In a decision released Saturday, the Tribunal administratif du travail ordered the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec chapter of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) to stop encouraging mass resignation, which it described as an “illegal concerted action, prejudicial to a service to which the population is entitled.” The tribunal noted theRead more

Statement confirms city is evaluating whether it will continue commitment to paying workers a living wage The City of Vancouver is considering going back on its years-long commitment to pay workers a living wage after the benchmark for a living wage rose sharply last year. A statement confirmed the city is evaluating whether it will continue the program, but provided no further details. “The City of Vancouver is currently reviewing the program and recognizes the importance of fair compensation for our workforce,” read an email from a spokesperson. “The City values theRead more

South Kelowna Elementary found a raccoon inside the building Monday morning The Central Okanagan School District asked families to keep their children home from South Kelowna Elementary School Monday due to a visit by an unexpected guest — a raccoon. In a statement, the school district said staff discovered the animal had entered the building. The district says conservation officers were called in to trap and remove it, but it climbed up into the space between the ceiling tiles and the ceiling, making it impossible for the officers to reach it. “Due toRead more

Officials question how many more fires need to happen before long-term solutions put in place Three people, including an eight-year-old child, have now been confirmed dead after a fire tore through a home in Pikangikum First Nation. The fire broke out in the Ojibway community in northwestern Ontario last Wednesday evening. Community officials said cold weather caused mechanical issues with both of the community fire trucks, preventing Pikangikum peacekeepers from dousing the blaze. On Saturday, Ontario Provincial Police said three bodies were recovered and the investigation was ongoing. “How many more house fires do weRead more