A request for funding from AgKnow – the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network – was unanimously denied by the Municipal District of Willow Creek’s Agricultural Service Board (ASB). Meeting Nov. 27, the ASB turned down the request arguing it still didn’t understand AgKnow, despite previously asking them for supporting information on how it fits into […]

When sex workers are able to form relationships with co-workers, they can boost their odds of accessing support services and decrease their odds of facing workplace sexual or physical violence, according to a new study. The Lower Mainland study, peer-reviewed and published in PLOS One, looked at social cohesion and the ways sex workers support […]

The province has recommended that a fire-safety equipment retailor in Port Coquitlam be fined for failing to comply with environmental inspectors. On Nov. 27, Dragon Ventures Ltd., was cited for the fine after not producing documentation related to provincially mandated recycling regulations. The company was flagged with two non-compliance warnings following a series of office […]

Build, and build responsibly. That’s the overall message the province is giving the community of just under 15K that’s projected to have 28K residents by 2045. A hard sell from Fortis, pressure to adopt the Zero Carbon Step Code and a deadline to respond to the province’s housing density mandate are all coming to a […]

Thousands of patients and health care workers were infected during COVID-19 outbreaks in acute care facilities in Alberta in the last year, raising questions about why more isn’t being done to prevent in-hospital transmission. Between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024, more than 300 COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at Alberta Health Services and Covenant […]

MIDDLESEX COUNTY – On November 26, county council approved a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy aimed at guiding the ethical and effective use of AI technologies across its operations. The policy sets a framework to maximize the potential of AI tools while ensuring compliance with privacy and data security regulations such as Ontario’s Municipal Freedom […]

Teachers, students and support staff in the Pembina Trails School Division remain without Wi-Fi more than a week after a cyberattack resulted in a network-wide outage. Among many disruptions in recent days, phone lines temporarily went down, laptops were declared “corrupted” and educators have been asked to put files onto USB sticks in order to […]

After a tumultuous couple of months, the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) has elected a new chair. A small group of public observers applauded as Carol Luciani was named new chair at a board meeting on Tuesday night. “I deeply appreciate the trust you have placed in me and I am committed […]

Recognizing the central role of accountability and transparency at City Hall, Ontario’s Municipal Act grants municipalities powers to ensure good governance.  Councils have the responsibility to ensure the operations of the municipality, run by senior management, are conducted openly and subject to public scrutiny. According to the City’s website, St. Catharines is committed to organizational […]

The Town of Mattawa’s former Chief Administrative Officer is suing the town for $1.2 million dollars. Earlier this fall, former CAO Francine Desormeau filed a civil claim against the town alleging wrongful dismissal, breaching an employment contract and damages for the town’s “breach of privacy, including compensations for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect,” detailed […]

— Monday through Saturday, a growing number of people have joined ongoing protests outside Bluewater Health, calling for accountability from the Sarnia hospital for allegedly failing to properly treat 24-year-old Kayla Fillion during a mental health crisis. Three days after her death on November 9, her father Matthew Jacklin started organizing the protests.  In an […]

Service fees charged by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service are set to increase for the first time since 2011, following the approval of a proposal initially introduced last month. The fee hikes aim to offset rising labor costs. In alignment with an annual inflation rate of approximately 2 per cent, the police board approved […]