Saskatchewan father who killed toddler in police neglect case sentenced to 16 years
Kaij Brass repeatedly beat his son Tanner, called 911 when it was too late A judge in Prince Albert, Sask., has sentenced a man to 16 years for manslaughter in the beating death of his 13-month-old son. Court heard Monday that Kaij Brass of Prince Albert hit his child repeatedly, resulting in the toddler’s death, hours after police showed up for a domestic call involving the boy’s parents in 2022. The father was given about three years’ credit for the time he spent in pretrial custody. Two officers who showed up at theRead more
Jordan’s story: ‘No parent should have to bury their kid’
15-year-old girl’s father struggled to get her help, break generational cycle Kenneth Tomlinson was at his Edmonton construction job last July when he received a call from the Stollery Children’s Hospital. It was vague at first, with the person on the other end of the line telling him he needed to come immediately. “I’m like, ‘Well, what’s going on? I’m coming. But can you tell me what’s going on?’ And they’re like, ‘Look. This is an in-person conversation,’” said Tomlinson, 36. Tomlinson immediately left work and drove to the hospital as thoughts of his funny,Read more
This Ontario support program for Muslim women helped them feel safe. It’s now looking for restart funds
Brave Space program was in Hamilton, London, Mississauga, Kitchener until last year An Ontario mental health service is looking for funding to continue a series of Muslim women’s support groups that were launched in response to Islamophobic attacks, including the 2021 killings of members of the Afzaal family in London. Abrar Trauma and Mental Health Services got the Brave Space program up and running three years ago, but it ended late last year. “The need [for such a program] is high. We are in the process of applying for more grants to keep itRead more
Case of unopened 1979 hockey cards from Sask. sells for over $5M at auction
A Canadian bidder won the case, which could possibly contain Wayne Gretzky rookie cards A Saskatchewan family just turned a case of hockey cards into millions of dollars. Around 1:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, bidding came to a close for a highly touted case filled with thousands of unopened 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee brand hockey cards that a Saskatchewan family found in their attic. Jason Simonds, the sport card specialist for the Dallas-based Heritage Auctions that sold the cards, says the family was “over the moon” about the sale. The family has chosen to remain anonymous. “I wasRead more
Royal Canadian Legion branch to be sold after being infiltrated by bikers
Second time Woodbridge branch in the hot seat in 5 months The Woodbridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has been shut down by the national body for an unusual reason: It had been infiltrated by outlaw motorcycle gang members. The decision by the Legion’s national executive was delivered in a letter to members of Branch 414, also known as the MacKenzie branch, dated Feb. 12. “It is with great sorrow that I inform you that the charter of the MacKenzie branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Provincial CommandRead more
More than 4 Albertans died — each and every day — from opioids in 2023
These 4 represent the loss from just a single day last year, the deadliest on record The four people pictured above represent a typical day’s death toll from opioid poisonings in Alberta last year, the deadliest on record for the province. The addictive drugs claimed the lives of at least 1,706 Albertans in 2023, according to new data just released by the province’s substance use surveillance system. That works out, on average, to more than four deaths each and every day. The previous record was set in 2021, when 1,634 people died.Read more
Calls to ban books are on the rise in Canada. So is the opposition to any bans
Most Canadians ‘stand with authors … stand with a child’s right to read,’ says writer whose book was pulled Danny Ramadan recalls self-censoring his writing in Syria before his arrival in Canada 10 years ago. Now, as an advocate for LGBTQ+ refugees and an author exploring belonging, displacement and identity, he says navigating book challenges is a somewhat expected part of being published. Still, when an Ontario school board shadow-banned his children’s title Salma Writes a Book last fall — the school libraries carried it, but restricted students’ access — Ramadan was floored.Read more
For man switched at birth, path toward reclaiming lost Métis identity takes a step forward
‘I felt I was officially Métis,’ says Edward Ambrose, 68, after obtaining MMF citizenship A Winnipeg man who was switched at birth and grew up believing he was of Ukrainian heritage says he is one step closer to reclaiming his lost Métis identity. Edward Ambrose obtained his Manitoba Métis Federation citizenship during a ceremony with MMF president David Chartrand last week. “I couldn’t hold it, I had to cry,” Ambrose told CBC News. “Handing me the citizen card, I felt I was officially Métis.” Ambrose, 68, and Richard Beauvais learned in 2022 that theyRead more
Doug Ford government introduces Get It Done Act. Here’s what’s in it
New legislation would shorten environmental assessments for highways, allow quicker expropriations Premier Doug Ford’s government introduced a major new piece of legislation on Tuesday designed to speed up construction of new highways in Ontario by shortening their environmental assessments. The bill, the Get It Done Act, directly echoes the slogan that Ford’s Progressive Conservatives campaigned on during the 2022 election. Hinted at in three successive announcements over the past week, the bill is a grab bag of legislation, including measures completely unrelated to Ontario’s environmental laws, such as freezing the fee for renewing a driving licence. The bill’s heftiest provisions wouldRead more
Sask. small town reeling after house fire kills 2 seniors and 3 children
Family described as loving and kind A Saskatchewan town of around 1,100 people is reeling after a house fire killed two seniors and three children. Craik RCMP responded around noon CST on Sunday to a fire on Ottawa Street in Davidson, Sask., about 110 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon. The Davidson Volunteer Fire Department was already there when the Mounties arrived, according to an RCMP news release. An 80-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman were removed from the house and brought to Davidson Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, police said. The remains of theRead more