Blog

Post

Vernon city council will be considering various options for a possible new outdoor skating rink at its Monday meeting.
A staff report lays out a range of possible rink types from a permanent refrigerated rink to a synthetic ice surface.
The report said Vernon&#8217;s weather is not consistently cold enough for an uncooled rink.
According to city staff, installing a permanent refrigerated rink at either Polson Park or the former Kin Race Track site is the most expensive option.
It would cost between $790,000 and $1.5 million, depending on the location.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7614848" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7614848/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7614848" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/09onnswj1r-geg2w0fgjm/UmbrellaThumber.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Man moves &#8216;Mary Poppins-style&#8217; across frozen lake near Revelstoke"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
Cheaper options include installing a temporary rink, that is reinstalled each year for the winter season, or putting in a synthetic ice surface that could be used all year long.
The staff report points out that a synthetic ice sheet would be easier to maintain than a temporary rink.
According to the report, there is a faux ice option that is certified by Hockey Canada and the synthetic rink could turn out to be a local attraction as this type of rink isn&#8217;t common in the Okanagan.
The staff report said a synthetic rink could be installed at any flat park location including Kin Beach Park.
The report also raises questions about whether Vernon needs more skating facilities.
It noted several indoor and outdoor rinks already exist in the area and a recreation plan put together three years ago &#8220;did not identify an outdoor skating rink as a public priority.&#8221;
It will be up to the council to decide if it wants to continue looking into any of the possible options.
A new rink would likely not be in place till next year, at the earliest.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7624233" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7624233/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7624233" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/mcqh3y0hib-3htu18b9sd/stuart_park_feb_5_THUMB.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Kelowna&#8217;s Stuart Park outdoor rink reopening branded a success"
					/>
	 	
			</a>

A staff report lays out a range of possible rink types from a permanent refrigerated rink to a synthetic ice surface.

Lifestyle

News

City Of Vernon

Outdoor Skating Rink

Skating

Skating Rink

Synthetic Ice

Vernon

Vernon News

Vernon Recreation

City of Vernon weighing options for new outdoor skating rink

Flying Eze

Last October, Mendeep Heer gave birth to her daughter, Simryn, after 12 hours of labour.
The first-time mother, from Brampton, Ont., says that despite some complications prior to her pregnancy, her daughter arrived healthy and giving birth was “unbelievably magical.”
Yet what followed were feelings of and sadness and fear. &#8220;That’s pretty much all I was consumed with. ‘There’s a pandemic, how will I keep you safe?’”
Many Canadians can empathize with the difficulty of parenting during the <a href="https://globalnews.ca/?s=covid-19">COVID-19</a> pandemic. Working from home, homeschooling their kids and even bearing a new child — parents have had to alter their parenting expectations.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7608239/parents-guilt-coronavirus-pandemic/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Parents need to change expectations and drop the guilt: experts">
				Parents need to change expectations and drop the guilt: experts			</a>
		
	
	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				<img class="story-img" src="https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/182597995_258300816022210_3902868907519024470_n.jpg?quality=85&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512" alt="Mandep Heer holds her daughter, Symryn, who was born in October, 2020 | Photo courtesy Mandeep Heer">
			
		
				
			
						 		Mandep Heer holds her daughter, Symryn, who was born in October, 2020 | Photo courtesy Mandeep Heer
				
						 		Image courtesy of Mandeep Heer
							
		
			
	
What Heer envisioned parenthood to look like has completely changed because of the pandemic, she says. She feels guilty because her daughter spends most of her time indoors due to lockdowns. When they do get outside, Simryn cries as people pass by because she’s not used to having others around her.
“It’s really daunting sometimes. I think about it at night and it just makes me depressed that pandemic life is all she knows,” Heer says.
Still, she finds enjoyment in the milestones her daughter has been able to reach, such when she started on solid foods or said “mama” for the first time.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7812747/parenting-during-covid-19-pandemic-sarah-wright-olsen/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Here’s how parents can stay zen during COVID-19 pandemic">
				Here’s how parents can stay zen during COVID-19 pandemic			</a>
		
	
<h2>Navigating parenthood during COVID-19</h2>
	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				<img class="story-img" src="https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG-20210505-WA0020.jpg?quality=85&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512" alt="Mother Rana Ahmed&#8217;s three children Elias, Alina and Omar | Photo courtesy Rana Ahmed">
			
		
				
			
						 		Mother Rana Ahmed&#8217;s three children Elias, Alina and Omar | Photo courtesy Rana Ahmed
				
							
		
			
	
For Rana Ahmed, a family therapist from Montreal, the biggest challenge of parenting during the pandemic has been dealing with the isolation and uncertainties around COVID-19.
As a mother of three, Ahmed says on top of that, she is also concerned about the mental health of her children.
She points to her 12-year-old and eight-year-old as examples. They understand why they cannot see friends but remain disappointed.
“Their mental health and them being on screens for all their sports activities and other activities, we can see how burned out they are at home,” says Ahmed, adding they have been acting out more recently like shutting off their cameras instead of participating during classes.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7569057/online-learning-winter/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="A survival guide for parents struggling with virtual learning">
				A survival guide for parents struggling with virtual learning			</a>
		
	
Ahmed adds that when there have been school and daycare closures due to a rise in cases, both she and her husband have struggled to find time off work.
“Sometimes we have to reorganize around that one of us works earlier, one of us works until the evening or the night and then we&#8217;re both so tired,” she says. “You can imagine the quality of a family life when you&#8217;re multitasking at home.”
Pre-pandemic, Ahmed says her family was always on the go but being at home, she found they were able to slow down and connect more.
Now, Ahmed says she has been thinking about maintaining this ease to avoid stressing her kids out about one too many sports classes or performing well for future college admissions.
“The fact that I got the opportunity to try to slow down the pace and (know) it&#8217;s OK if I don&#8217;t have a plan and I just go with the flow — I think this is a big lesson that I learned,” she says.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7622642/parents-children-tough-moments-lockdown/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Here’s how parents can get through tough moments with their kids during the pandemic">
				Here’s how parents can get through tough moments with their kids during the pandemic			</a>
		
	
Kira Arneson is a mother of two daughters. Lyllian is three, and one-year-old Emma was born during the pandemic in May 2020.
The Alberta native says that due to COVID-19 restrictions, she missed out on having support for Emma, such as having people bring food or help watch her newborn.
“No one does hold my baby while I shower except for my three-year-old or my hubby if he&#8217;s home, and it&#8217;s just hard — there&#8217;s no village (of support),” she says.
	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				<img class="story-img" src="https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/received_514458136232496.jpeg?quality=85&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512" alt="Kira Arneson holding her daughter Lyllian Koncz with partner Cody Koncz holding their daughter Emma Koncz | Photo credit: All The Things Photography">
			
		
				
			
						 		Kira Arneson holding her daughter Lyllian Koncz with partner Cody Koncz holding their daughter Emma Koncz | Photo credit: All The Things Photography
				
							
		
			
	
Socializing with other parents and finding online activities for her kids to participate in has also been difficult, Arneson says.
“There’s a lot of things that are good for three-year-olds or good for one-year-olds, but impossible to do with both at the same time, because the skill level is very different, and the attention span is very different,” she says.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7829408" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7829408/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7829408" 
			>
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/8q07fe15pg-vkujx9ex97/MO_TMS_NATALIE_MOTHERS_DAY_PICNIC_thumbnail_1280x720.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Creative ways to celebrate Mother’s Day while staying close to home"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
As an extroverted person, Arneson says parents like her used to be able to have a chat at class then go for coffee, but now, there’s not even any pre-chatter before a Zoom class like there would be in person. And when class ends, everyone goes off on their own.
“It&#8217;s not the same. We can go and meet up at a park sometimes, but it&#8217;s even harder when none of your kids have the same schedule because you never have to leave the house or worry about schedules,” she says.
&nbsp;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7408226/mothers-hours-child-care-pandemic-study/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Mothers taking on ‘shocking’ number of hours caring for children during pandemic: study">
				Mothers taking on ‘shocking’ number of hours caring for children during pandemic: study			</a>
		
	
Arneson, who is also the business manager at <a href="https://foreverbee.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forever Bee</a>, adds she would often bring her daughter Lyllian to work to help deliver the company&#8217;s honey and products to stores and markets around the city.
“I miss being able to take my kid to work with me but I can’t let her walk in. … I miss having my kids get involved in the community,” she says.
While the future remains uncertain, Arneson adds she hopes her kids are able to experience unity and friendships in a post-pandemic world.
<h2>‘Nothing like the feeling’ of being a parent</h2>
Arneson says the most rewarding part about being a mother is the feeling of love she gets from her children.
“There is nothing like the feeling of a kid that physically loves you. You can see it in the air around them, you can see it on their face. You can feel it in their squeeze,” she says, adding the love is what keeps her going.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7669341" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7669341/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7669341" 
			>
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/eojsgs98l3-m8h1cx7tuf/TMS_SCHAFER_THUMB.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Are you suffering from parental burnout? Signs to look out for"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
<a href="https://medium.com/@irisradev">Iris Radev</a>, a Vancouver-based doctor, mimics this sentiment.
Though the initial transition to homeschooling and working from home was challenging, she says being able to spend more time with her 12-year-old has helped her live a more meaningful life.
“I think a child’s main kind of love language is being able to spend good quality time with you,” she says. “That’s what they need from us.”
Radev says prior to the pandemic, her family would often travel overseas, but now with restrictions and lockdowns in place, they’ve opted to go camping instead, even during the winter.
“It was such a beautiful new experience for us that we never would have done before the pandemic,” she adds.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6736183/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-co-parenting/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Co-parenting in the COVID-19 crisis">
				Co-parenting in the COVID-19 crisis			</a>
		
	
For Ahmed, watching her children become interested and educated about important topics like the history of Indigenous communities and the environment makes her hopeful for future changes.
“Their generation might have better experiences around these issues than I did myself or my husband. So, I think this is the most rewarding part for me personally,” she says.

Canadian parents have continued to navigate ongoing challenges during the pandemic, from raising a newborn during isolation to supporting their kids through online school.

Canadian mothers on overcoming challenges, lessons learned during COVID-19

Kelowna&#8217;s own 538 st.&#8217;s sound makes them stand out in the Okanagan&#8217;s music scene.
The band gets its unique name from brothers and bandmates Jake and Sam Cooke&#8217;s mom&#8217;s house, where it all started.
Jake had his laptop stolen with all his music on it while recording music in his recording studio on wheels, the Band Wagon, and that&#8217;s when he knew it was time to start the band with his brother.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7834647/kelowna-artist-addiction-homelessness-triumph/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Kelowna, B.C., artist uses the canvas to share his story of addiction, homelessness and triumph" target="_blank">
				Kelowna, B.C., artist uses the canvas to share his story of addiction, homelessness and triumph			</a>
		
	
&#8220;I sent him seven beats that I had recorded on my iPhone and when I was back a month later he had written to all of them,&#8221; said Jake.
&#8220;And the first one was T-Shirt Backwards.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/news/canadian-indigenous-musician-history-song" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Canadian Indigenous musician shares dark part of history in song" target="_blank">
				Canadian Indigenous musician shares dark part of history in song			</a>
		
	
They then brought on Waseem Hakhroo on drums and Austen Sawchuk on the bass to perfect their blend of Hip-Hop, Funk, R&amp;B and Jazz.
Now T-Shirt Backwards has become their debut single.
&#8220;We recorded it actually so many different ways,&#8221; said Sawchuk.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been a year of back and forth but now we have settled on a version that we all really love.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/news/west-kelowna-rapper-dlopez-new-album" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="West Kelowna rapper DLopez drops heavy-hitting album" target="_blank">
				West Kelowna rapper DLopez drops heavy-hitting album			</a>
		
	
The single was recorded off the floor of the Band Wagon, which just happens to be 538 st.&#8217;s headquarters.
&#8220;It starts normally as a riff or a melody and it can explode into what T-Shirt Backwards has,&#8221; said Sam.
To follow the band, and listen to their debut single in full, visit their website, <a href="https://www.538stband.com/" target="_blank">www.538stband.com</a>

“It starts normally into a riff or a melody and it can explode.”

B.c. Hip-hop

B.c. Music

B.c. Musicians

Covid-19

Kelowna Band

Kelowna Hip-hop

Kelowna Talent

New Music

Okanagan

Kelowna hip-hop funk fusion band 538 st., blends genres to produce debut single

For 19 years, Ozanam Recovery House has been creating community by helping men who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues.
The 19-bed recovery home offers men a second chance, through programs and support for their residents who can stay as long as three months to two years.
&#8220;Homelessness and poverty are huge issues in the city and they are not just going away,&#8221; said Jamie Walters,  Ozanam Recovery House program director.
&#8220;It&#8217;s important to get to the root of the issue so this is an opportunity to get in here and work with men one on one and work through what the core issues are for them.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/news/youth-recovery-house-okanagan-opening-ahead-of-schedule" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="The first Youth Recovery House in the Okanagan prepares to open ahead of schedule" target="_blank">
				The first Youth Recovery House in the Okanagan prepares to open ahead of schedule			</a>
		
	
Now, staff at the transition home can continue their work thanks to the generosity of the Central Okanagan Foundation, Sunrise Rotary Club and The Rotary Club of Kelowna that helped upgrade their home kitchen to an industrial kitchen.
&#8220;It gets a lot of use, a lot of use. We were having to replace countertops annually, same with the fridges and everything like that — they get a lot of use,&#8221; said Walters.
&#8220;Residential stuff just breaks down and the commercial stuff lasts a lot longer.&#8221;
Walters says that the kitchen is a crucial part of their two-year recovery program.
&#8220;Community is a really important aspect of our recovery program. We know that isolation is the first behavioural indication of addiction and it&#8217;s also the end result. All addictions end in total isolation for the addict,&#8221; said Walters.
&#8220;So the opposite of addiction isn&#8217;t even sobriety the opposite of addiction is human connection and this kitchen is a big part of that for us. We get the guys together every day at 5:00 p.m. and they bond with the staff, they bond with each other and they break bread together.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/news/kelowna-duo-500-km-barefoot-run" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Kelowna duo plan barefoot 500 km run for cause close to their hearts" target="_blank">
				Kelowna duo plan barefoot 500 km run for cause close to their hearts			</a>
		
	
For resident Shane Brown, the six months he has spent living at the Ozanam Recovery House have given him another chance.
&#8220;It&#8217;s just a great place to get your ducks in a row,&#8221; said Brown.
&#8220;It teaches us to have support through others, not try to do it all yourself because you can&#8217;t really. That has been proven to me over the years: you just need support.&#8221;
The kitchen overhaul will now help facilitate many house dinners to help facilitate the healings at the Ozanam Recovery House for years to come.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7609270" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7609270/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7609270" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/ykrvt28lge-jfl22gxk4b/injection_site_THUMB.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Neighbours of a future permanent injection site in downtown Kelowna disappointed that Interior Health didn’t advise them of its plans"
					/>
	 	
			</a>

“It gets a lot of use, a lot of use, we were having to replace countertops annually.”

Addiction

Central Okanagan Foundation

Donation

Helping Hand

Homelessness

Mens Recovery House

Ozanam Recovery House

Recovery House

Sunrise Rotary Club

Support Services

Kelowna’s Ozanam Recovery House receives new kitchen thanks to donation

Just two days after a New Brunswick university student recounted a tale of mixed messages and confusion as she tried to cross the Canada-U.S. border last week, a couple from Nova Scotia are now sharing their own recent experience with Canada Border Services Agency.
Paul Allen and Ellen Carusetta are retired university professors who live in the Halifax area, but spend winters in Florida.
Allen said Carusetta prepared &#8220;weeks in advance&#8221; before their scheduled trip back to Canada, with the latest <a href="https://www.flyingeze.com/category/covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> protocol and verbal permission from Canada Border Services Agency to drive their Florida-plated car across the border.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7830374/car-woes-stall-new-brunswick-womans-return-to-home-province/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Car woes stall New Brunswick woman’s return to home province" target="_blank">
				Car woes stall New Brunswick woman’s return to home province			</a>
		
	
They had planned to drive the car to their home in Goodwood, N.S., remove its insurance and not drive again until it was time to head back to the U.S. in the fall.
Allen said they detailed their plan to CBSA staff at the St. Stephen border, but were told they would still have to import the vehicle at a cost of $2,000.
&#8220;They asked, &#8216;Well, who did you call?'&#8221; Allen began. &#8220;And my wife gave them the number and she replied, &#8216;Well, you probably talked to somebody at a call centre.&#8217; I would have liked to have said, &#8216;Well, the call centre is your call centre, isn&#8217;t it?&#8217; But you don&#8217;t argue too much at the border with people.&#8221;
Allen and Carusetta admitted they did not have the name of the person they contacted, but Carusetta said she purposely called a number with a 506 area code because she thought she would be able to speak to someone who could give her accurate information specific to that border crossing.
The couple paid the fee, but the travel disruption did not stop there.
Carusetta said border agents accused the couple of circumventing the three-day federal isolation regulations by driving instead of flying.
&#8220;You know, the (isolation) hotel is one thing,&#8221; Carusetta began. &#8220;But we would have had to go through three airports and be on three different airplanes, and I didn&#8217;t like that idea one bit. I mean, we are over 70. We have had our (COVID-19) vaccine but still want to be careful.&#8221;
Allen and Carusetta are now in isolation at home.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7827676/new-brunswick-quarantine-hotel-exemptions/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="N.B. to consider hotel quarantine exemptions on ‘case-by-case basis’: province" target="_blank">
				N.B. to consider hotel quarantine exemptions on ‘case-by-case basis’: province			</a>
		
	
Their story comes on the heels of New Brunswick student Danika Thebeau, who was turned away at St. Stephen and Woodstock border crossings last week because of her car, despite getting written approval from Transport Canada to gain entry.
Thibeau, a biology student at University of New Brunswick who has been learning remotely during the pandemic, said she has now contacted federal and provincial politicians in an effort to resolve her situation.
She has been staying with family in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, since the weekend but said she&#8217;ll head back to Florida next week if she can&#8217;t get into Canada.
&#8220;You know, people are telling me to try again, go across the border, maybe try a different one,&#8221; Thebeau said Wednesday.
&#8220;But they also didn&#8217;t go through what I went through, the denial, sitting there for four hours just hoping for the best, and when the outcome isn&#8217;t what you hoped it just destroys you in a sense.&#8221;
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7825777" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://www.flyingeze.com/tag/ 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/u8n9vl7inz-zh0gmf55uy/FRI_WB_SEG_THREE.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Canada must remain ‘laser focused’ on halting community spread: Hajdu"
					/>
	 	
			</a>

A Nova Scotia couple said it received conflicting information from Canada Border Services Agency staff by telephone and at the Canada-U.S. border on Saturday.

Canada Border Services Agency

Cbsa

Danika Thebeau

Ellen Carusetta

Florida

Import

New Brunswick

Paul Allen

St. Stephen

COVID-19: Confusion at U.S.-Canada border frustrates Nova Scotia couple

Grassroots groups have continued to work and support racialized communities during the pandemic, from providing translation to advocating for resources.

Perspectives

Anti-racism

C19 Response Coalition

Canadian Muslim Covid-19 Task Force

Chinese Canadian Collective

Covid

Covid-19 Vaccine

Culturally Competent Resources

Language Accessibility

Language Barriers

Lost in translation: Advocates on battling language barriers amid COVID-19

The <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/national-capital-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">National Capital Commission</a> is opening up more of its parkways for active transportation this summer with an expansion to the popular pilot program.
The NCC is expanding its traditional Sunday Bikedays to a two-day affair in 2021.
From May 1 to Oct. 11, the following sections of NCC-owned parkways in Ottawa will be closed off to motor vehicles on weekends:
<ul>
<li>both westbound lanes of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway between Vimy Avenue to Carling Avenue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.</li>
<li>both lanes of the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway between Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.</li>
<li>both lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.</li>
</ul>
In addition to the Weekend Bikedays, the Crown corporation says it will close off certain sections of its roadways 24-7 this summer.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/covid-variants-transmissible-outdoor-gathering-rules" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="COVID-19 has changed. Should our outdoor behaviour shift too?" target="_blank">
				COVID-19 has changed. Should our outdoor behaviour shift too?			</a>
		
	
Between May 3 and June 30, the same section of Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be open for active transportation only every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Similarly, from July 2 to Sept. 6, a section of Colonel By Drive will open between Daly Avenue and Canal Woods Terrace for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The typical Bikedays services, such as tune-up stations and water refills, will not be offered this year amid the <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/covid" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> pandemic.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7822757" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7822757/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7822757" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i1.wp.com/assets.news.corusappservices.com/upload/news/mcmichael%20still%20for%20web.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Ontario Parks shares tips and tricks for getting outdoors this season"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
A similar pilot project in Gatineau Park will see the Champlain, Gatineau, Fortune Lake and Mackenzie King parkways also reserved for active use this summer, starting May 1.
These parkways will be closed off to motor vehicles all week except for Wednesdays, Sundays and Saturdays after 1 p.m., at which point cars will share the road with cyclists and pedestrians until half an hour before close.
There will still be 21 parking lots and 10 picnic sites accessible by cars in Gatineau Park at all times during the pilot project.
A full schedule for Gatineau Park closures is <a href="https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-parkways-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">available on the NCC’s website</a>.

Colonel By Drive is joining a crop of Ottawa parkways reserved for active transportation this summer as the NCC expands its popular pilot project.

Health

Traffic

Gatineau Park

National Capital Commission

Ottawa Road Closures

Ottawa Traffic

Outdoor Exercise Ottawa

Outdoor Exercise Ottawa Covid

Weekend Bikedays

Weekend Bikedays: NCC opens more Ottawa parkways to cyclists, pedestrians

The number of people affected by <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/parkinsons-disease/">Parkinson’s disease</a> has doubled in the last 25 years and is on track to double again by 2040, making it the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30584159/#:~:text=Neurological%20disorders%20are%20now%20the,doubled%20to%20over%206%20million.">fastest-growing</a> neurological disorder in the world. <a href="https://www.parkinson.ca/about-parkinsons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson&#8217;s</a> and 25 more are diagnosed every day.
Parkinson’s is a brain disorder that causes difficulty in movement. People affected experience a decrease in dopamine, causing tremors, slow and rigid movements and a loss of balance.
Ray Dorsey, a professor of neurology at the University of Rochester and author of Ending Parkinson’s Disease, recently joined The Morning Show to discuss how Canadians can best protect themselves.
		
			Read more:<a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/4125367/larry-gifford-parkinsons-disease-is-no-barrier-to-joy-in-life/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Larry Gifford — Parkinson’s disease is no barrier to joy in life">
				Larry Gifford — Parkinson’s disease is no barrier to joy in life			</a>
		
	
Dorsey says Parkinson’s is so prevalent that he considers it a <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/pandemic/">pandemic</a>.
The Mayo Clinic says that <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the exact cause of Parkinson&#8217;s disease is unknown</a>, but several factors appear to play a role, including genes and environmental triggers — but the latter is a relatively small risk. Still, over the last decade, <a href="https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1096/fj.201700759RR" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several studies have found</a> a connection between Parkinson&#8217;s disease and pesticide/chemical exposure.
“Every part of the world is affected,” Dorsey says.
		
			Read more:<a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7620021/parkinsons-disease-coronavirus-vaccine-safety/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Parkinson’s disease patients should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines, experts say">
				Parkinson’s disease patients should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines, experts say			</a>
		
	
In this country, Parkinson’s <a href="https://www.ucb-canada.ca/en/Patients/Conditions/Parkinson-s-Disease#:~:text=Parkinson's%20disease%20affects%201%20in,new%20cases%20per%20100%2C000%20people).">affects one in every 500 people</a>, and Canada has the highest rate of Parkinson&#8217;s in the world.
Dorsey says the reasons for the disease’s rapid growth are unknown.
“But if you look at the environmental risk factors that are tied to Parkinson’s disease, they are common in Canada.”
Pesticides like <a href="https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/paraquat/basics/facts.asp">paraquat</a> — primarily used to kill weeds — and <a href="http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/chlorpgen.html">chlorpyrifos</a>, which is used for insects, are commonly used in the U.S. and Canada, Dorsey says. Additionally, <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/170510/dq170510a-eng.htm">over 50 per cent</a> of Canada is cropland, according to 2014 Statistics Canada <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/ca-ra2006/articles/snapshot-portrait-eng.htm">data</a>, and almost two per cent of Canadians <a href="https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/ca2011/ha">are farmers</a>, he adds.
		
			Read more:<a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7431342/parkinsons-clinical-trial-toronto/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="&#039;World first&#039; Parkinson’s treatment undergoing clinical trial in Toronto">
				&#039;World first&#039; Parkinson’s treatment undergoing clinical trial in Toronto			</a>
		
	
The most effective treatment for Parkinson’s was developed over 50 years ago and Dorsey says treatment is stagnant because of a lack of better measurements.
For example, if you’re treating heart disease and want to see if a diet or exercise program would improve your condition, you’d measure your blood pressure or have your cholesterol checked, he says.
“In 2021, we’re still measuring Parkinson’s disease by having people tap their thumb and index finger and having people rate that on a scale,” Dorsey says.
“We need better measures of Parkinson’s disease so we can get better treatments for the <a href="https://www.parkinson.ca/about-parkinsons/#:~:text=More%20than%20100%2C000%20Canadians%20live,more%20are%20diagnosed%20every%20day.">100,000 Canadians</a> who currently have (it).”
		
			Read more:<a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6761848/when-life-gives-you-parkinsons-podcast-ending-parkinsons/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="When Life Gives You Parkinson’s podcast — Ending Parkinson’s">
				When Life Gives You Parkinson’s podcast — Ending Parkinson’s			</a>
		
	
Cures are hard to come by, but prevention is a lot more attainable, he says, adding that we don’t have a cure for lung cancer but we know we can help prevent it if we stop smoking.
“If we stop using these pesticides, if we clean up our air, if we clean up our water… we can prevent the 37 million Canadians who don’t have Parkinson’s disease from ever developing it in the first place.”
For more information on Parkinson&#8217;s disease in Canada, watch the full video above.

Neurology expert Dr. Ray Dorsey joins ‘The Morning Show’ to talk about the fastest-growing neurological disease and how it’s affecting Canadians.

Parkinson’s disease still on the rise — what this means for Canadians

It was on March 22, 2020, that Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency due to the <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/covid/" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> pandemic and the 13 months since have been tough for Nova Scotians, who now find themselves back in another provincewide lockdown.
Pandemic fatigue is something we&#8217;ve all likely dealt with at one time or another and it&#8217;s hard not to feel the stress of it all.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been a slog,&#8221; said Nova Scotia senator and psychiatrist Stan Kutcher.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/halifax-covid-19-transit-drivers-vaccine" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Two Halifax transit drivers test positive for COVID-19, union calls for vaccine priority" target="_blank">
				Two Halifax transit drivers test positive for COVID-19, union calls for vaccine priority			</a>
		
	
&#8220;It&#8217;s very useful to think about the pandemic as a slog,&#8221; said Kutcher. &#8220;Because that construct tells us we don&#8217;t like it and we&#8217;re not happy with it and those are normal human emotions and let&#8217;s accept them, that&#8217;s the reality, but we have to get on with it and we have to do what needs to be done.&#8221;
By saying &#8220;what needs to be done,&#8221; Kutcher is reiterating what the medical and public health experts like Nova Scotia&#8217;s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang and his provincial counterparts have been saying since day one of the pandemic and that&#8217;s to follow public health guidelines, like wearing a mask in public and keeping a safe distance.
Although the vaccine rollout is gaining momentum in Nova Scotia, it&#8217;s clear we&#8217;re still not out of the woods yet, as there&#8217;s an outbreak currently with community spread of the COVID-19 virus in the greater Halifax region, which has prompted a two-week provincewide lockdown to try and further curb the spread of the disease and new variants.
The situation is causing some anxieties and it&#8217;s bringing some deep feelings to the surface.
&#8220;You feel disheartened, you may feel demoralized, you may feel distressed but that&#8217;s OK because that&#8217;s how you are supposed to feel when you are faced with this,&#8221; said Kutcher. &#8220;If you felt happy and joyful, then there&#8217;s a problem.&#8221;
According to a Dalhousie wellness and stress study released Thursday by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab in partnership with Caddle, 77 per cent of nearly 10,000 Canadians surveyed earlier this month said their stress levels were impacted by the pandemic.
&#8220;Some of the findings are quite troubling, especially for the younger generations,&#8221; said Sylvain Charlebois, Dalhousie professor and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab. &#8220;People under the age of 40 were violently disrupted by the pandemic, especially with the confinements and lockdowns, for generations who would typically be out having a great time and moving around.&#8221;
The report dug deeper and revealed that during the past year, nearly three adult Canadians in five reported undesired weight changes since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Nearly 52 per cent of those polled said they tend to eat more when they feel worried about the pandemic, with women slightly more inclined to stress eat due to the pandemic than men, as 53 per cent of women surveyed admitted to stress-eating during the pandemic, versus 47 per cent for men.
But Charlebois said it was men on average who have put on more undesirable weight and says he&#8217;s not surprised by the results.
“Many Canadians working from home didn’t have as much free time as they anticipated, and without a normal structure of the day, many of us lost our daily food bearings,&#8221; said Charlebois.
Charlebois says it&#8217;s important to build healthy habits that work for you. We&#8217;re all on different schedules and so do what works for you and now it&#8217;s time to get outdoors and enjoy life.
&#8220;A year ago it was devastating to see beaches and trails closed,&#8221; said Charlebois. &#8220;This time I think they are doing it right, encouraging people to get outside and do it right.&#8221;
A sunny forecast Thursday helped put little spring back in the step of some Nova Scotians who elected to get outside, like Kevin Connors, who used the opportunity to bike around Halifax.
&#8220;We&#8217;re riding around the city on our bikes and just getting outside for some fresh air,&#8221; said Connor. &#8220;A day like today, I&#8217;m clearing my head out.&#8221;
		
			Read more:<a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6813276/pedestrian-ticketted-walking-halifax-common/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Coronavirus — Pedestrian confused after being ticketed for walking through Halifax Common" target="_blank">
				Coronavirus — Pedestrian confused after being ticketed for walking through Halifax Common			</a>
		
	
Connors is looking on the bright side. He&#8217;s received his first vaccination and says the finishing line to the pandemic is in sight and judging the numbers of COVID-19 cases, he&#8217;s encouraged the numbers will decline with the strict lockdown measures.
On Thursday Nova Scotia reported 70 new cases of COVID-19 in the province, down from 75 new cases Wednesday and 96 the day before.
&#8220;Let&#8217;s keep trending down and doing what we&#8217;re doing to get out of this,&#8221; said Connors.

It was March 22, 2020, when Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic and it’s been a tough 13 months for Nova Scotians ever since.

Blah

Covid-19 Anxiety

Dalhousie

Mental Health

Nova Scotia

Pandemic Fatigue

Stress

Pandemic fatigue and how some Nova Scotians are dealing with COVID-19 anxiety

The federal and provincial governments are pouring more than $6 million into a number of recreation facility <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/infrastructure-funding/" target="_blank">upgrades</a> throughout Hamilton.
The improvements range from gymnasium renovations at the Eva Rothwell Centre and an elevator replacement at Central Memorial Recreation Centre, to barrier-free pathways and other enhancements at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) Park.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/5889286/hamilton-sports-hall-of-fame-new-home/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame gets a new home" target="_blank">
				Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame gets a new home			</a>
		
	
Four other facilities, Chedoke Golf Club, Bennetto Community Centre, Dundas Community Pool and the Mohawk Ice Centre, are scheduled for roof replacements.
Hamilton-West Ancaster Dundas Liberal MP Filomena Tassi, participating in Thursday morning&#8217;s virtual announcement, calls it a &#8220;practical&#8221; investment.
&#8220;Modern, accessible recreational spaces provide Canadians with places where they can connect, learn and share common experiences,&#8221; said Tassi. &#8220;Now more than ever, we need to ensure that these spaces are conducive to safe gatherings.&#8221;
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7559421" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7559421/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7559421" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/vs0dmfajkw-jb69kk4isa/Shara_Vigeant_AM.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: How to stay active and healthy during the pandemic"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
&#8220;As we begin to recover from the pandemic,&#8221; added Flamborough-Glanbrook Conservative MPP Donna Skelly, &#8220;this past year has underscored the importance of having strong, vibrant and active communities.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/hamilton-adds-isolation-centre" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Hamilton adds isolation centre amid concerns over rising coronavirus cases in shelters" target="_blank">
				Hamilton adds isolation centre amid concerns over rising coronavirus cases in shelters			</a>
		
	
&#8220;Even though they are a little bit shuttered, right now,&#8221; Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said all seven facilities will continue to be &#8220;vital&#8221; to the communities they serve.&#8221;
The announcement included more than $3.3 million in federal money and $2.8 million in provincial funding.
Paul Johnson, Hamilton&#8217;s general manager of healthy and safe communities, expects much of the work to happen in short order.
&#8220;These are not ideas that we&#8217;re thinking about,&#8221; said Johnson, &#8220;these are things that will happen fairly quickly.&#8221;

‘Even though they are a little bit shuttered, right now,” Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said all seven recreation facilities are ‘vital’ to the communities they serve.

Politics

Bennetto Community Centre

Chedoke Golf Club

Conservative Mpp Donna Skelly

Eva Rothwell Centre

Hamilton Infrastructure Funding

Hamilton Recreation

Infrastructure Funding

Liberal Mp Filomena Tassi

$6M in federal, provincial funding pledged to upgrade Hamilton recreation facilities

Flying Eze

Lifestyle

City of Vernon weighing options for new outdoor skating rink

Canadian mothers on overcoming challenges, lessons learned during COVID-19

Kelowna hip-hop funk fusion band 538 st., blends genres to produce debut single

Kelowna’s Ozanam Recovery House receives new kitchen thanks to donation

COVID-19: Confusion at U.S.-Canada border frustrates Nova Scotia couple

Lost in translation: Advocates on battling language barriers amid COVID-19

Weekend Bikedays: NCC opens more Ottawa parkways to cyclists, pedestrians

Parkinson’s disease still on the rise — what this means for Canadians

Pandemic fatigue and how some Nova Scotians are dealing with COVID-19 anxiety

$6M in federal, provincial funding pledged to upgrade Hamilton recreation facilities

Flying Eze

Main Links

More

Features

Flying Eze