Freshdaily

Canada's most famous Newfoundland store has closed and been replaced

Jody Brimacombe — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:05:21 -0400

The Newfoundland Store has shut its doors; for more than 50 years, the beloved store in Halifax provided locals with Purity crackers, Fraser Farms meatballs and oddly-flavoured pops.

Now, the iconic landmark on the corner of Willow and Clifton will live on only in memory.

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For those Canadians that live outside of Halifax, the Newfoundland Store was a little like a time machine; it allowed shoppers to travel back to the days before electronic scanners and endless shelves of pre-packed goods imported from Europe.

The white shelves were neatly organized into local goods and little gems that you couldn't find at your local supermarket.

Sad to hear Halifax’s Newfoundland Store is ending it’s run. pic.twitter.com/vF05bmlY44
— David L. Hutchinson (@DavidHutch) January 27, 2020

Now, the Newfoundland Store has given way to a studio for Halifax Paper Hearts, a local company that makes whimsical greeting cards, notepads and keychains.

We have a new studio for @paperheartsHFX & @PaperHeartsPO ! The former Newfoundland Store on Willow & Clifton! We are loving it. ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/rGrQcVS9Gn
— Stefanie MacDonald (@StefanieMac_HFX) October 23, 2020

The company has displayed a collection of paper signs in their window in tribute to the Newfoundland Store, which famously did the same to advertise their salt cod.

Started a little tribute to The Newfoundland Store, in our new home! Anyone remember their paper signs? We sure do. ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/9CvIHImzrM
— Halifax Paper Hearts ™ (@paperheartsHFX) October 23, 2020

Halifax residents have taken to social media to mourn the loss of the Newfoundland Store, expressing their dismay over its closure.

"The Newfoundland store was just such a sweet Halifax spot, it will be missed for sure," one person wrote.

"Those signs were Halifax's version of the iconic signs at Honest Ed's," another person chimed in, referencing the closure of an iconic Toronto landmark in 2016.

The Newfoundland Store has reportedly been a neighbourhood grocery store since 1917; in 1967, Cliff and Pat Yarn bought the store and gave it the name that locals recognize today.

13 famous celebrities in Canada on TikTok

Jody Brimacombe — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:29:08 -0400

Canadian celebrities are joining the world of TikTok, entertaining the masses with everything from silly dance numbers to hopping on sofas while pretending the floor is lava (remember that game?).

From Canadian singers to political leaders, here's who you should be following on TikTok.

Justin Bieber (@justinbieber)

The Ontario-born singer entertains his 17 million followers by rocking out to songs in his swanky mansion (including his rendition of Drake's Toosie Slide).

His wife, Hailey Bieber, also makes an appearance in a dance video.

I will never forgive Justin Bieber for deleting this video on tiktok pic.twitter.com/wtFCszabAw
— thayane • (@kidrauhlhive) October 11, 2020

Shawn Mendes (@shawnmendes)

Ever wanted to hear Shawn Mendes sing a Christmas carol? Right this way, folks. The Ontario-born singer posts a variety of videos to his TikTok account, including teasers of upcoming music and even a few fans that have covered his music.

Jagmeet Singh (@thejagmeetsingh)

The NDP Leader almost broke the internet by skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac, and there's plenty more where that came from.

Singh posts a mix of serious political stuff and more light-hearted fare (Canada's NDP Leader doing the Toosie Slide, anyone?), so you can expect a wide variety of content.

Bro, the leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh, is VIBING SO HARD RN pic.twitter.com/vbO9D8237a
— Crg (@craigmacdermott) October 6, 2020

Antoni Porowski (@antoni)

The Queer Eye television personality only has one video up on TikTok so far, but it's worth following Porowski just to watch as he tells his dog a bedtime story. Your heart will melt.

Celine Dion (@celinedion)

The Queen has arrived; Céline Dion is officially on TikTok, and she's not here to play. The account is actually run by the Canadian singer's team, but you'll want to follow it purely for the throwback clips of Dion's epic performances.

Shay Mitchell (@shaymitchell)

The Pretty Little Liars actress keeps her 4.7 million followers entertained with some seriously relatable vids; the panic when you accidentally click on someone's Instagram live, anyone?

Mitchell also posts some Canadian-themed content, including the best snacks that you can't find south of the border.

Mood x100
📸 shaymitchell pic.twitter.com/gsK8xNeicD
— British GLAMOUR (@GlamourMagUK) October 22, 2020

Dan Levy (@danjlevy)

Oh, hey, Dan Levy; fancy seeing you here! The Schitt's Creek actor has only posted a few videos on TikTok so far, but we're all for watching him lip sync to Mariah Carey.

Howie Mandel (@officialhowiemandel)

Branded the unsung hero of TikTok, the Canadian game show host is winning over legions of fans with his memes and dad jokes; Mandel dances like every 50-year-old father at a barbecue, and we're absolutely loving it.

HOWIE MANDEL DOING THE CHIKA DANCE HOWIE MANDEL DOING THE CHIKA DANCE HOWIE MANDEL DOING THE CHIKA DANCE HOWIE MANDEL DOING THE CHIKA DANCE HOWIE MANDEL DOING THE CHIKA DANCE HOWIE MANDEL DOING THE CHIKA DANCE pic.twitter.com/gacPILsVjL
— frankie kinda ia (@remdenki) September 7, 2020

Alessia Cara (@alessiasmusic)

The 24-year-old Brampton singer mostly posts clips of her music (with the occasional cover thrown in). She's also not afraid to show off her love of The Incredibles, which honestly, same.

Kaitlyn Bristowe (@kaitlynbristowe)

The former Bachelorette and Dancing With the Stars contestant is taking her new dance moves to TikTok.

Aside from her dance videos, the Alberta-born influencer also posts some hilarious-but-topical videos in addition to content promoting her wine brand, Spade and Sparrows.

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Mykenna Dorn (@mykenna)

The 23-year-old former Bachelor contestant loves a good dancing video with wine, and her content is ultra relatable for people in their twenties (except for maybe her yacht cruises).

The Langley influencer isn't afraid to roast herself, either, leading to some truly hilarious content.

Nina Dobrev (@nina)

The Toronto-raised Vampire Diaries actress doesn't seem to use her TikTok account all that much, but her 313,000 followers are still hanging in there in case she uploads a new vid.

Bryan Adams (@bryanadams)

Bryan Adams is on TikTok! The Ontario singer posts some — er — interesting videos, but he does post a few singing videos as well.

As Adams says in one of his videos, he's still figuring out how to actually work TikTok (much like the rest of us).

Someone just spotted one of the weirdest looking fish washed up in Canada

Jody Brimacombe — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 13:51:45 -0400

A weird, crimson-coloured fish was recently spotted on the coast of Canada, and it's making waves on social media.

TikToker Paige Irwin shared a video of the red fish that she spotted on a Halifax beach on Thursday, asking any marine biologists to chime in with information.

The video — which has already racked up more than 93,000 views — shows the red fish stranded on the pebbled beach, presumably after the tide went out.

"It looks it's from Australia," someone in the video says.

Someone found the weirdest looking fish on a beach in Halifax 😱-📹 bodaciousbabe3000 #Canada #cangeo #CanadianWildlife #Halifax pic.twitter.com/Czteo2CksW
— Freshdaily (@freshdaily) October 23, 2020

A few other people have floated the idea that the red fish is a stone fish, or even a magikarp (that's a Pokemon reference, for all of you non-gamers out there).

The aquatic animal's red colouring certainly does seem a little fishy — but it turns out that it's probably just a sculpin.

Sculpins are elongated, tapered fish with a bulbous head; they're typically bottom-dwelling fish, although it's not uncommon for commercial fishermen in Atlantic Canada to pull one up in a lobster trap.

The fish are typically a brownish, earthy tone, but they can occasionally have more vibrant colours.

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Atlantic Canada truly does have some weird-looking fish; from blue lobsters to slimy snailfish to the Canadian sea horse, you never know what you'll find lurking in the depths of the ocean.

Canada is getting a massive new resort that pays homage to Indigenous culture

Jody Brimacombe — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:01:05 -0400

Garibaldi at Squamish ski resort is getting a makeover, and its latest look is largely inspired by the area's close ties to Squamish First Nation.

The B.C. all-season resort is currently undergoing a $3.5 billion overhaul, which will see the addition of 130 ski and snowboard trails, 21 lifts, and a network of multi-use trails.

Early renderings show large sculptures that appear to be inspired by the history and culture of Indigenous peoples.

2020 conceptual rendering showing skiing toward Main Village in winter.

Similarly, the new main lodge features organic architecture with a strong connection to the four elements.

A fire pit crackles at the heart of the open space, surrounded by water and greenery.

2020 conceptual rendering showing Main Lodge gathering place, inspired by Squamish Nation culture.

The resort's West Ridgeline Trail will feature a statue inspired by Sinulhkay, a two-headed snake that will bookend the trail.

Hikers can spend a sunny afternoon wandering from one end of the serpent to the next.

2020 conceptual rendering showing West Ridgeline Trail, inspired by Sinulhkay.

PWL Landscape Architects worked in partnership with Squamish Nation members to create the renderings.

"Squamish Nation is a formal partner of our project and is involved in key decisions and planning of the resort," the PWL website says, adding that the Nation's priorities will be a "cornerstone" in how the resort is planned.

The architects continue to work alongside Squamish Nation to navigate provincial approval processes and hammer out the details on the environmental impact of the resort.

2020 conceptual rendering showing Main Village Plaza in summer.

The finished resort will boast 1,300 hotel rooms, 2,200 condominium homes, 840 townhomes, and about 1,200 single-family homes.

The pedestrian-friendly main village will offer shoppers the run of 250,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurants, and amenities.

Garibaldi at Squamish will be built in multiple phases beginning later this decade, with phase one potentially being completed around 2025 followed by phase two in 2030.

Bear in Calgary caught eating Halloween pumpkins while residents were sleeping

Jody Brimacombe — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 10:06:45 -0400

A black bear in Calgary is making every day Thanksgiving by helping himself to pumpkins in a residential community.

The furry thief has been waiting until the residents of Lakeview are asleep and then gobbling up their jack-o-lanterns (and other edible items) in the night.

The bear was first spotted on Oct. 14, when a Calgarian managed to catch the hungry little fella on tape.

Captured by my next-door neighbour! pic.twitter.com/cWHlBCMSh3
— Jesse Salus (@jessesalus) October 14, 2020

Initially, people assumed that the bear was just having a nosy since he didn't actually seem that invested in eating the pumpkins.

From the bite marks, it looks like the black bear only nibbled at a couple of festive squashes before ultimately deciding that they weren't worth his time.

This morning 3 of the pumpkins on our front steps had bite marks and were moved around. It’s a decent sized bite; I have to assume it was the bear. Not a pumpkin fan, apparently! pic.twitter.com/juv3GLLLqU
— Jesse Salus (@jessesalus) October 14, 2020

However, everything changed when the pumpkin snatcher struck again just a few days later — this time, tipping over compost bins and even reportedly eating a large deer.

Lakeview residents took their pumpkins inside, just to be safe.

Prints seen in the fresh snow. No pumpkins to eat this time so no hanging around. pic.twitter.com/GlNXdl5je0
— Jesse Salus (@jessesalus) October 17, 2020

The black bear, apparently bored of pumpkins and deer, decided to test out another meal next.

On Monday evening, the furry thief visited yet another neighbour's porch for a late night dinner of birdseed.

People in Calgary are being told to leave their pumpkins indoors after sightings of bears showing up on doorsteps 😂-📹 northernwavetv #Canada #Calgary #YYC #cangeo #CanadianWildlife pic.twitter.com/aZUZr8NvSF
— Freshdaily (@freshdaily) October 21, 2020

Calgary police were called to the scene, prompting the black bear to scurry up a tree and hide from officers.

The black bear was ultimately tranquilized and removed from the property in the wee hours of Tuesday morning; thankfully, police officials have confirmed the bear was unharmed.

This was a few minutes after the bear climbed the tree. It can be seen in the search light. pic.twitter.com/83pdQE2CgH
— Jesse Salus (@jessesalus) October 20, 2020

Fish and Wildlife officers confirmed that the plan is to relocate the black bear west into the mountains on Wednesday morning.

Hopefully, the black bear is already safely in a new home.

Burnaby Mountain park in Canada is home to the Playground of the Gods

Olivia Little — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:49:23 -0400

Burnaby Mountain is home to a dozen carved totem poles shooting up to the sky as well as the beautiful Burrard Inlet. It has to be one of the most unusual and breathtaking spots in Vancouver.

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The series of sculptures is known as Playground of the Gods (or Kamui Mintara, in Japanese) and is located near Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

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Some of the elaborate and monumental wooden totems feature animal figures, including a bear, owl and orca, and look like something out of legends.

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Although often mistaken for work of the First Nations, the sculptures were actually created by woodcarvers, Nuburi Toko and his son, Shusei who belonged to the Ainu Indigenous people of Japan.

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The totem poles draw on Ainu animist tradition, with animal totems representing the gods descending to create the world, while the smaller surrounding poles represent the Ainu people and their relationship with the divine.

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The artwork was unveiled on the 25th anniversary of the sister cities, Burnaby, B.C., and Toko's hometown in Japan — Kushiro, in 1990, and has been a special part of the mountain ever since.

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Besides their fascinating history, the sculptures also come with spectacular views as they tower over the distant city of Vancouver and the breathtaking mountainous terrain.

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There are also more than 28 kilometres of hiking trails crisscrossing the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area to explore.

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If you plan to pay the spot a visit, the best time to do so has to be at sunset. The fiery colours of the sun shoot through the totem poles and outline their interesting shapes.

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The intricately-carved sculptures and the incredible hilly views make the spot a sight to behold and an incredible place to add to your bucket list.

These are some of the most followed TikTok accounts in Canada right now

Jody Brimacombe — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:35:15 -0400

TikTok is taking over social media in Canada; suddenly, influencers across the country are dancing and singing their way to fame — usually with at least one Tim Hortons vid involved.

You might already be following the Freshdaily account, but there are plenty of other cool accounts to discover.

Here are some of the TikTokers from Canada that you can expect to see splashed across the FYP (for you page).

James Jones (@notoriouscree)

This Indigenous influencer teaches his 1.7 million followers about everything from powwows to bannock to the Cree language, all while cleverly challenging stereotypes about Indigenous peoples.

Jones is perhaps most widely known for his epic hoop dancing videos; the Alberta-based influencer even appeared as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Canada in 2009.

In the past, Jones has collaborated with well-known artists such as Snoop Dogg, k-os, and A Tribe Called Red.

Jones has only been on TikTok since March, but it's safe to say that he's already amassed an impressive cult following.

Take a moment to listen to this message and experience this healing dance. pic.twitter.com/TrydP7xgAU
— REESUS PATRIOT™💙 (@ReesusP) June 14, 2020

Asleigh (@ashleighaedan)

This B.C. influencer posts the kind of content that every Canadian can relate to (the struggle of colouring in a map of Nunavut, anyone?).

Ashleigh posts a variety of videos, but she's most well-known for her creative spin on the Canadian national anthem, which features Tim Hortons, milk in bags, public healthcare and even Ryan Reynolds.

Voros Twins (@vorostwins)

These Vancouver-based identical twins almost broke the internet in September with their "Da Vinki" video, which has racked up almost 17 million views.

Now, the brothers (who are also pro wrestlers) continue to entertain their 537,000 followers with light-hearted videos that are the distraction we all need from 2020.

good thing our DA VINKI shirts are waterproof! pic.twitter.com/eELl4B8Zm6
— DA VINKI (@VorosTwins) October 22, 2020

Louisa Qauritaiyuk (@louisa.qau)

This Inuk influencer educates her 116,000 followers on Inuit issues ranging from commercial fishing to LGBTQ+ rights to offensive terms that everyone should avoid.

The Montreal-based influencer's throat singing video is a must-watch.

OGR-Scintilla (@ogr-scintilla)

Known for his popular series of "making songs more Canadian," this Alberta-based influencer is taking TikTok by storm.

His fun, Canadian-ized songs are often paired with backgrounds of snowmobiles, hockey jerseys, and Zambonis (you haven't lived until you've seen Canadian Post Malone).

Oh, and he also has original songs on Spotify; you won't be able to get "Flow Like Trudeau" out of your head.

If Post Malone were Canadian 2.0 [Eh. by OGR-Scintilla] https://t.co/zsvIywJSJy #canadaday #canada pic.twitter.com/wgtJUh52X4
— OGR-Scintilla (@ogr_scintilla) June 26, 2020

Cordelia (@lord.cord)

This Newfoundland influencer entertains her 238,000 followers with fun videos, which feature everything from making dunkaroo dip to colouring her hair at home.

Cordelia's videos are an especially good watch for any Canadians that have yet to hear a bonafide Newfoundland accent.

Jenn & Jordy (@justjordynnaround)

If you've ever wanted to die of cuteness overload, then this account is for you; Canadian influencer Jenn posts videos of her two-year-old daughter Jordy, and they're guaranteed to melt your heart.

Seriously; there's nothing more wholesome than watching a toddler's face after eating a lemon.

Check out this adorable video of cute Canadian kid 😍-📹 justjordynnaround #Canada #Canadian pic.twitter.com/tuz5bU64s6
— Freshdaily (@freshdaily) October 15, 2020

Christopher Brake (@chris_brake)

Anyone else measure the seasons by when Canadian Geese migrate south for the winter? This B.C. influencer pokes fun at Canadian stereotypes, and his hilarious videos are a must-watch.

With 26,700 followers, Brake has a smaller audience than many of the other TikTokers on the list — but his videos will definitely resonate with the majority of Canadians.

Mark (@snarkymarky)

With four million followers, Mark is already TikTok royalty — and his account just keeps getting bigger.

The Toronto-based TikToker never fails to entertain; whether he's posting funny videos on trips to the airport or just straight-up relatable content, he always keeps his audience hungry for more.

This house in Vancouver looks like a giant stingray

Jody Brimacombe — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:25:06 -0400

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a... house shaped like a stingray? No, your eyes aren't deceiving you; this Vancouver home is shaped like the pancake of the sea.

Stingray House is built into a rocky cliff, overlooking the water below.

Architect Amey Kandalgaonkar played with brutalist design techniques to craft this unique concrete home.

Stingray House from a high-angle, front-facing view.

Stingray House comes equipped with an infinity pool overlooking the water, as well as an open-concept patio.

Large glass windows let in lots of natural light, complementing the organic design.

Stingray House from a bird's-eye view.

Kandalgaonkar designed Stingray House with conceptual CGI, meaning that the home exists purely in digital form at the moment.

Still, it's pretty cool to imagine what the house would look like if it came to life.

You can definitely picture Tony Stark living here.

Stingray House from a front-facing view, with tail exposed.

There's no word yet on how much Stingray House would cost, but judging by the size of that dreamy pool, it's safe to say that we're looking at a multi-million dollar price tag.

Vancouver woman shoved out of bus after spitting on a fellow passenger

Jody Brimacombe — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:21:28 -0400

Canada is horrified after a video surfaced on Thursday showing a female passenger spitting on a man, prompting the man to shove her out of the bus.

The 30-second video of the incident was captured by a bystander, who posted the footage to social media.

In the clip, a maskless woman can be seen arguing with a male passenger wearing a mask on a TransLink bus; about seven seconds into the video, the woman spits on the man.

The man responds by pushing the woman out of the parked bus, where she falls on to the pavement.

A man pushed a woman off of a bus in Vancouver after she spit on him 🤦‍♂️-📹 u/breen-Mike #Canada #BritishColumbia #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/tfskl6MpCi
— Freshdaily (@freshdaily) October 22, 2020

Metro Vancouver Transit Police have confirmed that they're investigating the incident.

Although not many details are available yet, the incident appears to have taken place outside of a Japanese restaurant on East Hastings Street near the Grandview-Woodland area.

Air Canada and WestJet bicker over plans to refund airline tickets

Jody Brimacombe — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:48:23 -0400

Grab your popcorn, Canada, because Air Canada and WestJet are feuding on Twitter over refund policies — and it's better than your regular reality TV show.

The Canadian airlines had a public showdown on Oct. 21 after WestJet claimed to be "the first national carrier" to offer refunds to passengers affected by the pandemic.

Air Canada quickly piped up and called out WestJet for what they deemed a "misleading statement."

The airline added that they've already refunded more than $1.2 billion in fares to passengers.

Let’s clear the air. We're offering refunds for guests if we cancelled their flight. Even the lowest cost tickets will be refunded to original form of payment if WestJet caused the cancellation.
— WestJet (@WestJet) October 22, 2020

WestJet responded with a well-timed aviation pun, asking to "clear the air" with Air Canada.

"We're offering refunds for guests if we cancelled their flight," the airline wrote. "Even the lowest cost tickets will be refunded to original form of payment if WestJet caused the cancellation."

Air Canada has yet to respond to the rebuttal.

Only in 2020 would two Canadian airlines start beef about refund policies on Twitter.

Poppy donation boxes in Canada will soon take credit cards

Jody Brimacombe — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 10:58:05 -0400

Picking up a poppy for Remembrance Day is going to look a lot different this year; now, Canadians will have the option to pay by card through a tap-enabled donation box.

The Royal Canadian Legion has partnered with HSBC to create the innovative, contactless boxes amid the pandemic.

"We are excited to present this new way to make it easier for Canadians to donate during the National Poppy Campaign," said Thomas D. Irvine, Dominion President of The Royal Canadian Legion, in a press release.

He added that he hopes the pilot project "will grow in the years to come."

This year, the Royal Canadian Legion partnered with @HSBC_CA to make it safe, secure, and easier than ever to donate & wear a poppy with touchless HSBC “Pay Tribute” tap-enabled donation boxes. Learn more about the pilot project: https://t.co/ez53BEjvoc #PayTribute #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/Z523FzyuJs
— The Royal Canadian Legion (@RoyalCdnLegion) October 21, 2020

Traditional poppy boxes will still be available in addition to the 250 contactless donation boxes being rolled out at HSBC branches across Canada starting Oct. 3.

The new boxes will also be available in select Royal Canadian Legion branches and other locations.

To use the box, Canadians can simply tap a credit card, mobile phone, or wearable device against the glowing poppy, which will automatically donate $2 to the Legion.

The donations will help support Canadian veterans and their families.

"I can't think of a more honourable community to support," said Larry Tomei, Executive Vice President and Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC Bank Canada.

"With a little ingenuity and care, we've been able to bring our team and partners to the table to design something that we think will continue to contribute to the success of the Royal Canadian Legion's poppy campaign now and for years to come."

The Big Muddy Badlands in Saskatchewan are a slice of the Wild West

Olivia Little — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:38:52 -0400

The Big Muddy Badlands in southern Saskatchewan may surprise you. For a province predominantly known for its flat landscape, the otherworldly wonderland of the badlands is totally unexpected.

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The unique, desert-like valley spans 55 kilometres and is one of the most rugged and driest regions in the area. The slice of Canada's Wild West includes wind-carved buttes, prickly cacti, steep cliffs and deep-cut sandstone ravines.

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Steeped in history, the remote badlands were actually once part of the Outlaw Trail. The system of caves and trails, which extended from Canada all the way down to Mexico, was the prime spot for famed bandits on the run in the 1800s to the early 1900s.

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Tours are offered from the town of Coronach in the summer months. You'll get to explore the caves and pathways where desperados such as Sam Kelly, Dutch Henry, and the Sundance Kid once walked and sheltered in.

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The crown jewel, however, has to be Castle Butte. This relic from the ice age protrudes 70 metres (230 feet) from the flat prairie and provides incredible views of the surrounding landscape.

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Due to its impressive height, it used to serve as a landmark to Indigenous people, the Northwest Mounted Police and early Canadian settlers. It's now one of Saskatchewan's seven wonders.

If you journey to the very peak of the mountain you'll be offered up a bird-eye view of the vast valley.

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The valley is also dotted with many Indigenous sacred sites that remind visitors of the land's first residents. These include stone effigies such as Minton Turtle and the Big Beaver Buffalo, ceremonial circles and ancient buffalo jumps.

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The vast beauty and abundant history of the wide-open landscape make the Big Muddy Badlands a destination worth seeing for yourself.

COVID internment camps in Canada don't exist despite what you might have heard

Jody Brimacombe — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 19:45:32 -0400

Let's get something straight, Canada: COVID-19 internment camps are not a thing, despite what you may have heard to the contrary.

A disinformation campaign has been circulating the idea of internment camps on social media for weeks now, but Health Minister Patty Hajdu has shot the idea down.

"The answer is no, we're not building containment or internment camps," a spokesperson for Health Minister Patty Hajdu told CBC News on Tuesday.

1/6 Federally designated quarantine sites, typically hotel rooms, are not internment camps. #Misinformation is circulating that Canada is using concentration camps for #COVID19 quarantine. This is completely false. THREAD ⬇️
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) October 21, 2020

The idea was perpetuated by independent Ontario MPP Randy Hillier, an anti-masker that once dared the Liberal government to "throw the book at him" for organizing maskless rallies.

Hillier warned his constituents in early October that the federal government is preparing to establish COVID "camps."

"These quarantine isolation camps are, however, not limited to people with COVID," Hillier said during a session at Queen's Park.

"Where will these camps be built, how many people will be detained, and for what reason, for what reason can people be kept in these isolation camps?"

Hillier's speech has been circulated widely on social media, with some people even comparing the hypothetical quarantine sites to Nazi Germany's concentration camps.

Admittedly, Canadians are required to isolate for 14 days after returning from abroad, so the government has set up quarantine sites for travellers that don't have a safe place to stay.

The quarantine sites primarily consist of hotels, however.

Similarly, the government has set up facilities for homeless and vulnerable Canadians that need somewhere to self-isolate — but the sites are completely voluntary.

4/6 If travellers to Canada are confirmed to have no other suitable options available, they may be transferred to a designated #GoC quarantine facility. This measure is used as a last resort.
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) October 21, 2020

Hajdu isn't the only official to speak out about the conspiracy theory; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted on Tuesday that he had to reassure a young woman during a virtual meeting that "COVID internment camps" aren't real.

"Unfortunately, there is a tremendous amount of noise and harmful misinformation on the internet," he said.

Moral of the story? Listen to that old Canadian house hippo commercial and remember that not all news is necessarily true — including quarantine camps.

Canada won't be having a snap election this fall

Jody Brimacombe — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:00:32 -0400

Canada won't be having a snap 2020 election this fall after all, with the majority of MPs giving Trudeau's Liberal government the vote of confidence this afternoon.

In a virtual vote, MPs weighed in on whether to create a special committee to probe the Trudeau government's ethics and spending (which includes the WE Charity scandal).

The Liberal government previously said the crucial vote was a matter of confidence that could trigger an election.

It seems now, however, that Canada will not be having an election, since the Conservative-led motion has been shot down.

The Bloc Québécois backed the Conservative motion to create the special committee, while the three Green Party MPs and the NDP party backed the Liberals — as NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh previously said they would.

BREAKING: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the NDP "will not give Prime Minister Trudeau the election he's looking for."

Sounds to me like there won't be an election, folks. #cdnpoli

More: https://t.co/gDsnZulB1L pic.twitter.com/rJFL2RYITy
— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) October 21, 2020

The final vote was 180 against and 146 for the motion.

With the numbers on their side, the Liberal government successfully defeated the motion, meaning that Canadians will not be going to the polls this autumn.

Restaurant in Canada fined almost $1K for illegal patio tent

Jody Brimacombe — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 12:44:07 -0400

Ottawa restaurant Vittoria Trattoria is facing a fine of $880 after bylaw officers deemed that the outdoor tent didn't allow for enough ventilation.

The Italian restaurant on Rivergate Way offers only outdoor dining in accordance with orders issued by Ontario earlier this month.

However, bylaw officers say that the tent is too enclosed to comply with current restrictions, which resulted in the hefty $880 fine issued on Sunday evening.

Bylaw officers called Vittoria Trattoria last week to warn them about the tent, but the restaurant says that the call didn't seem official, so they assumed it was a prank call.

The restaurant co-owner says that he now plans to challenge the fine.

Vittoria Trattoria reopened for patio dining on June 12; the restaurant is only seating groups of up to six people, and all reservations have a two-hour dining slot.

Current Provincial Orders prohibit restaurants from providing dine-in service. While restaurants may continue offering patio service, tents must comply with the Orders. #OttCity pic.twitter.com/iJhTWeDXVR
— Ottawa By-law (@OttawaBylaw) October 16, 2020

Restaurants in Ontario are allowed to keep their patios open until Dec. 31, but many are saying that it seems impossible when Canada has the climate of a Frigidaire freezer in the winter.

Other restaurants in Canada have pointed out that it's difficult to winterize patios when the demand for patio heaters is outstripping the supply.

Vittoria Trattoria isn't the only patio in Ottawa that's come under fire for their outdoor tent; bylaw officers also issued a warning to Italian restaurant Fratelli Kanata.

Owner Richard Valente took to Instagram on Friday night to warn his fellow Ottawa restauranteurs to follow all protocols to the T — or risk a hefty fine.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Fratelli Kanata (@fratellikanata) on Oct 16, 2020 at 6:00pm PDT

"It's unreal," Valente says in the video. "I honestly thought it was like a nightmare."

"I'm warning all you guys, even though you think you're following the rules — all my fellow restaurant guys — you might not be," he adds. "Be careful. I was ready to take a $750 fine tonight."