The busiest segment of the US-Canada border is set to open a brand new major crossing: The Gordie Howe International Bridge!
Once completed, it will connect the city of Detroit in Michigan to Windsor, Ontario, providing uninterrupted traffic flow between Canada and the US. For more skyscraper & megaproject content make sure to subscribe to MegaBuilds!
Up to five people to be inducted during spring ceremony
September 20, 2024, Mississauga, ON – …. The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) Hall of Fame is welcoming nominations for its second class of inductees, the league announced today. Nominations will be welcome every year from September until the end of November.
Nominees’ names can be put forth by using a nomination form available by going to www.ojhlhalloffame.ca.
Nominees can be inducted from the Original Era and other leagues or the Modern Era. A special category consists of the Central Junior B Hockey League (CJBHL) 1954 – 1993 where hockey franchises that have a lineage to current OJHL franchises will be eligible for an OJHL HOF Award of Distinction.
The OJHL Hall of Fame has three categories consisting of Player, Builder and Award of Distinction, which can be a Player, Coach, Builder, member of the Media, Trainer, Athletic Therapist or Volunteer. Nominees can come from three distinct areas that include the Original Era and other Leagues, Modern Era or have played in the Central Jr. B Hockey League in which teams have a lineage to the current members of the OJHL.
The virtual hall was officially opened last May with the induction of Bob Hooper, Josh Soares and former NHLers Paul Coffey, Steve Thomas and Adam Oates.
“We are extremely proud to offer to the public a nomination process for qualified players and builders who participated in OJHL both past and present,” said OJHL Commissioner Marty Savoy. “I encourage anyone who believes an athlete, coach, builder is worthy of the OJHL Hall of Fame to submit a nomination for our selection committee to review.”
The OJHL Hall of Fame was established to honour and preserve the history of the great athletes and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development and advancement of the OJHL and who have performed with highest distinction in the OJHL and beyond.
The OJHL Hall of Fame highlights the history of Provincial Junior A Hockey in Ontario and all the pioneer leagues that built the OJHL into what the 24-team league is today.
The OJHL Hall of Fame website features information about the inductees, history of the leagues, league historical records, including the listing of all-time leaders in statistical categories and award winners and the history of OJHL champions.
About the OJHL –“ League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL had more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarship commitments last season.
For more information on the Ontario Junior Hockey League, please visit www.ojhl.ca
#RENTED – Experience the charm of this authentic 140-year-old hand-hewn log home which is ski in/ski out to Blue Mountain.
Thoughtful details throughout the home enhance its character, including a fieldstone fireplace, wide plank flooring, antique doors and windows, and a working Jewett-Buffalo Oak fridge. Alongside these timeless touches, modern conveniences have been seamlessly integrated, such as lower level radiant heat, a Jenn-air stove/oven and Miele dishwasher. Step into the breathtaking double-height living room, featuring a wood-burning fireplace for morning coffee and an apres ski glass of wine. The open concept kitchen and dining room flow into the wrap-around deck with views of Georgian Bay. After a day of skiing or exploring the surrounding trails, unwind in the hot tub. The main home has two bedrooms and two full baths, while the guest cabin provides an additional two bedrooms and a bathroom, offering ample space for family and friends to share in the experience.
Brokerage Remarks: Roof, Windows (Double Hung Pella), Navion Tankless Combo (domestic water and In-Floor Heating), hot tub, parking for 4 cars, available Dec 15 to April 30. $29,995 Season
Collingwood, ON [20 September 2024] – It is Municipal Budget time again, and residents are invited to join the conversation! Council wants to hear from residents about what is important to them for the 2025 Municipal Budget.
The budget enables Council and staff to use our shared resources to fulfill the community’s vision by implementing strategic changes and refining Town services. Each year, municipalities are faced with the challenge of creating a balanced budget while maintaining affordable property taxes and user fees for residents, visitors, and businesses. A municipality can take on debt to pay for major capital projects, it must ensure that there is enough money to fund day-to-day operations. To balance the budget, a careful analysis must be done regarding the level of services required to meet the expectations of the community and the realistic taxation and user fee levels.
Here is the lineup of opportunities to learn more and participate:
September 21 – Join us at the Town’s Farmer’s Market Booth and let us know what you think should be Council’s top priorities for the 2025 Municipal Budget
September 23 – Acting Treasurer, Jennifer Graham will present the guidelines for the 2025 Budget process and include an environmental scan of factors that will affect the budget that are beyond the Town’s control.
October 1 and 3 – Council will have Budget Workshops to hear from staff about their Budget asks and how they help to continue to provide or enhance services and invest in Town assets.
October 10 and 21 – Council will receive the first and second drafts of the 2025 Budget during its regular meetings
October 28 – Residents are invited to attend Coffee with Council, where you can learn more about the proposed 2025 Budget requests and talk with Council and staff members in an informal format. (In-person and Virtual Options will be available)
November 14, December 2, and December 16 are the anticipated dates for Council to receive the third, fourth, and fifth drafts of the Budget (if required), with final approval tentatively on December 16th.
“Approving the annual budget is one of the most critical decisions your elected Council makes. Your feedback is so helpful to us in understanding the priorities of residents and property owners when it comes to spending your tax dollars,” says Mayor Yvonne Hamlin. “A well-crafted budget is key to running a municipality effectively. It allows our expert staff to provide recommendations and guidance to Council, setting the Town on a successful course for the future.”
The 2025 budget will be presented in a newly designed budget book that is more user-friendly and compliant with accessibility standards. The drafts will be available for viewing on the Budget project page, as the respective Council agendas are published.
Last year the Town announced that it was moving towards a service-based budget approach which shows the work that staff does and what the Town, through Council direction, is trying to carry out. There are many benefits to this approach including:
Having a clear understanding of what the current resources (human and financial) are delivering and to what level of service;
Setting out and defining who can make what decisions;
Allocating the resources effectively;
Creating a framework to enable the creation and improvement of performance measures;
Identifying best practices and efficiencies;
Ensuring that there is no duplication of efforts and that the efforts are being conducted by the appropriate resources; and
Being the framework for risk management analysis.
Residents are encouraged to follow along, attend, and participate throughout the budget process. Learn more and subscribe to be notified of engagement opportunities for the Budget process at engage.collingwood.ca/2025budget.
Residents are also welcome to provide feedback in writing by emailing [email protected] or dropping off a letter at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street.
Midhurst/September 20, 2024 – Capping off the County’s Week of Welcome, earlier today the County joined with Canada’s Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to welcome 39 new Canadians with an official Citizenship Ceremony. These ceremonies serve as an important moment for new Canadians as they receive their official Canadian Citizenship.
Today’s ceremony saw 39 new Canadians from 20 different countries receive their Canadian citizenship. Many of these new Canadians have been living in communities throughout Simcoe County while they earned their Canadian Citizenship.
“It brings me tremendous joy to share in this special day with so many new Canadians who have worked so hard to gain their citizenship in the country that they call ‘home’, and it is a distinct honour to celebrate this important day in so many people’s lives,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “These ceremonies serve as an important reminder to our entire community of the distinct privilege that we have in being able to identify ourselves as Canadians. Seeing the pride on people’s faces as they are officially sworn is as a new Canadian is an experience that I will never forget.”
This ceremony is the second of its kind hosted by the County of Simcoe, with the previous one being held in County Council Chambers in June 2023. It is just one of the many events that have been happening during the 2024 Week of Welcome. For details, visit simcoe.ca/WeekofWelcome.
The County of Simcoe is pleased to welcome new Canadians to our communities by hosting this ceremony, organized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
About Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership The Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership (SCLIP) is a community partnership focused on the development of settlement strategies for newcomers. These strategies will bring together and support service delivery to newcomers in Simcoe County while promoting positive relationships, opportunity, and use of local resources effectively.
About the County of Simcoe County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
CNN’s Erin Burnett sits down with legendary reporter and news anchor Connie Chung to reflect on her barrier breaking broadcast career. #cnn#news
Connie Chung is an American journalist known for her work as a television news anchor and reporter. She was born on August 20, 1946, in Washington, D.C. Chung graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1969 with a degree in journalism. Her career took off at CBS, where she became one of the first women to co-anchor a national news broadcast, working alongside Dan Rather on the “CBS Evening News.”
Throughout her career, Connie Chung has worked for several major television networks, including NBC, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC. She is recognized for her interviews with high-profile figures and her coverage of significant events. Chung is married to television producer Maury Povich, and they have one adopted son together. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to journalism, highlighting her trailblazing role as an Asian American woman in the industry.
David Eagleman, a neuroscientist at Stanford and host of the Inner Cosmos podcast, explores how our brains shape the reality we experience and why we often accept our perceptions as the only truth. From a young age, we develop our understanding of the world based on limited experiences and biases, which can lead us to form narrow views about what’s true. Eagleman explains that our genetics and life experiences wire our brains in unique ways, meaning that each of us sees the world a little differently. He introduces the idea of “perceptual genomics,” which looks at how slight genetic differences influence our perception of reality.
He also discusses how our brains naturally create in-groups and out-groups, a tendency rooted in evolution that affects how much empathy we feel for others. To overcome these biases, Eagleman suggests that we start by recognizing our own prejudices, understanding the tactics of dehumanization, and connecting with others through shared interests. This approach helps us appreciate the diverse realities others experience, ultimately contributing to a more empathetic and understanding society.
Over the last year, more than 200 real estate developments in Canada became insolvent.
Andrew Chang explains why, at a time of high demand for housing, a growing number of projects are falling through.
The issue of real estate developments becoming insolvent in Canada can be attributed to a combination of factors. Here’s a summary of some potential reasons:
Rising Interest Rates: Higher interest rates can increase the cost of borrowing for developers, impacting their ability to finance projects and pushing some into insolvency.
Economic Uncertainty: Economic instability, whether global or local, can lead to decreased investor confidence and demand for real estate, potentially causing financial strain for developers.
Regulatory Challenges: Stricter regulations and zoning laws can increase the time and cost required to complete developments, affecting financial viability.
Construction Costs: Increases in construction costs, including materials and labor, can inflate budgets beyond what developers initially planned for.
Market Saturation: An oversupply of real estate in certain areas can drive prices down, impacting developers’ ability to sell or lease their properties at profitable rates.
Financing Difficulties: Developers might face challenges in securing financing, as lenders become more cautious, especially during times of economic uncertainty.
For detailed information and specific cases, it would be best to refer to recent news articles, financial analysis reports, or studies on the Canadian real estate market. These sources can provide insights and examples of how these factors are affecting specific projects and developers.
Veteran junior hockey media commentator Alex Bastyovanszky will host both for the OJHL
September 18, 2024, Mississauga, ON – …. The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), has brought back its popular OJ Reels video highlights/news feature for the 2024-25 season. The OJHL will produce 36 shows during the season.
Additionally, the OJHL has announced it will execute on its planned strategy to expand its digital media footprint with the introduction of a new OJHL podcast show starting this season. The show will debut in early October with more details to come.
Veteran junior hockey media commentator Alex Bastyovanszky will host and produce OJ Reels and the podcast show.
“I’m pumped to be back doing OJ Reels once again, after the tremendous reaction the shows received last year,” said Bastyovanszky. “This season we’ll continue to focus on short, targeted content featuring the best the league has to offer.”
The first two OJHL Reels episodes have been released to coincide with the opening of the OJHL regular season. OJHL Reels focuses on the league’s 24 teams, special events, league alumni news and college commitments made by our players during the season.
The OJHL’s strategic plan included creating a podcast, which the organization is ready to unveil. The show will include in-depth interviews with figures from around the league in a more relaxed setting than previously done.
About the OJHL –“ League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. The OJHL is the home of the 2024 Centennial Cup champion Collingwood Blues. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL had more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarship commitments in 2023-24.
For more information on the Ontario Junior Hockey League, please visit www.ojhl.ca
Microplastics, soft plastics, burning plastics, plastics in the ocean, plastics in our brains, livers, kidneys, joints, reproductive organs, bones, blood… Plastic, a byproduct of the oil and gas industry, is everywhere, in various forms.
Like oil and gas, plastic has provided us with many conveniences and cost savings. It’s lightweight, strong yet flexible, corrosion-resistant, waterproof and can be moulded into any shape and made clear or any colour. That makes it useful for everything from liquid containers to building materials to medical supplies. It’s in just about everything.
But its ubiquity and the harms it causes have undermined its utility.
Plastic doesn’t really biodegrade. It breaks down into smaller and smaller particles until it’s referred to as “microplastic” or “nanoplastic” — ultimately invisible.
Some plastics can be recycled, but not indefinitely, and recycling is energy-intensive. Most of it isn’t recycled but ends up in landfills, incinerators, waterways and oceans. Massive amounts are used for single-use items, and despite municipal and other programs and regulations to discourage single-use plastics, we’re using more every day. Soft plastics, such as food bags and packaging, are especially common.
When it’s burned — which it often is — it creates a toxic polluting mix of fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, dioxins and more, which causes heart disease, respiratory disorders and neurological problems and around seven million deaths a year, the Washington Post reports. Heavy metals, dioxins and other pollutants in the ash contaminate soil and groundwater and disrupt food chains.
But it’s not just air, water, soil and food that are being contaminated. Microplastics, tiny specks smaller than five millimetres in diameter, are now being found in human organs, including our brains, lungs and reproductive organs. Their presence can cause cell damage, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, fertility issues, cancer, immune system disruption and cognitive issues.
One study found brains are accumulating as much as 10 or 20 times more than other organs. The Guardian reports that 24 brain samples collected in early 2024 measured on average about 0.5 per cent plastic by weight, and that people who died with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease had 10 times more plastic in their brains than people without those health issues. Quantities found in brains in 2024 were also 50 per cent higher than in samples dating to 2016.
“You can draw a line — it’s increasing over time. It’s consistent with what you’re seeing in the environment,” said study lead author Matthew Campen, from the University of New Mexico.
Plastic is also being found increasingly in animal brains.
What’s particularly astounding is that most plastic only came into our lives over the past 75 or so years. When I was growing up, plastic bags and packaging were unheard of.
We can all limit exposure to plastic contamination: avoid microwaving food in plastic containers, choose tap water if possible over bottled, keep dust at bay (it contains plastic particles), eat less meat and processed foods (which can contain plastic particles) and avoid excessive packaging.
But plastic is a byproduct of the oil and gas industry and has become a profit generator in that sector as the world shifts to cleaner energy. Just as industry is pushing fossil gas (misleadingly called “natural” gas but mostly the potent greenhouse gas methane, and most often fracked), it’s also pushing more plastic.
We can’t trust industry or “markets” to do the right thing. That’s why it’s critical to secure local, national and international regulations to stop plastic from poisoning our biosphere and plasticizing us.
Canada has made a good start by banning some non-essential, single-use plastic items, and by hosting international negotiations this year in Ottawa around an international treaty to set limits on global plastic production. Those negotiations — which will address plastic’s full life cycle, including production, design and disposal — are expected to be finalized later this year in South Korea. But the fossil fuel industry is pushing back.
Enough is enough. We don’t need excessive packaging or single-use items. We don’t need disposable plastic trinkets or straws. Plastic pollution is a growing global problem. It affects our ecosystems and our bodies.
David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.
