Category: North America

EDITORIAL: Some ready to throw caution to the wind

Now there’s a novel approach in setting a political agenda: a moderate tone, basing comments on a positive track, avoiding the negative. There was a time when Lisa Raitt’s style in discussing her bid to lead the federal Conservatives would have made all the sense in the world.

The Mexican Peso Is On The Verge Of A Panic

For Mexicans, Trump has been a nightmare waiting to happen and the weakness in the Mexican Peso is reflecting that. But the slide might just be beginning and another 20% to 40% drop isn’t out of the cards if Trump goes through with his plans of renegotiating NAFTA.

U.S. veteran under arrest after five killed, eight wounded in airport shooting

Canadian government officials were trying to determine whether any Canadians were among the casualties of a mass shooting Friday in the baggage area of the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The office of Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said it had no immediate information about Canadian citizens being among the five people reported dead or eight injured after a gunman opened fire.

Mother Nature can’t decide which kind of winter to send us

But according to Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, that was the case in December. After a mild start to December, cold air finally made an extended appearance across the province after about the 7th of the month until the days leading up to Christmas.

Shuswap MLA satisfied with 2016

We are on track to have our entire operating debt written off in 2019, and that’s the first time since 1954. “It’s been a great year, with significant highway and infrastructure improvements,” he said, noting he was particularly pleased with the Malakwa Bridge project, which was on time and on budget, as well as the advancement of the Perry River bridge project.

Building trust with electors

The North Okanagan-Shuswap MP spoke to the Observer on a snowy Friday morning to discuss his accomplishments in 2016, his connection to the Shuswap and national politics. He had already had long day before 10 a.m., flying in from Ottawa the night before, which is three hours ahead.

Updated: 6 hours agoComments (0)The worst of the storm has passed.

A Colorado low dumped up to 30 centimetres of snow on some parts of Northwestern Ontario before moving off to the east on Tuesday. “There was a massive area of precipitation with this thing; rain in southern Ontario to heavy snow in the northern part of the province,” Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson said Tuesday.

Fake celeb encounter top fake news for Medicine Hat

Way back when, this column challenged readers to get Medicine Hat on the map in 2016, nudging eyeballs toward application and nomination forms for halls of fame, committees and other enterprises of renown. The most notable, but absolutely unconfirmed mention of the Hat comes via a series of Facebook posts that portend that actor Hugh Jackman got a flat outside town.

Throat singer, children’s storyteller among new Order of Canada recipients

As Canada enters a year marked by national birthday celebrations and the beginnings of an inquiry into the country’s past, sordid treatment of its indigenous peoples, Nunavut-based throat singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis hopes her music will open minds and lead to change. So far, though, she’s been confronted by some closed ones – people who send her hate mail over how her art form breaks from tradition.

Vancouver hotel manager guided newcomers into Canadian life

The families endured a frustrating period waiting to start their lives in a new land, but Mr. Ali and his staff tried their best to make the hotel feel like a home. The families endured a frustrating period waiting to start their lives in a new land, but Mr. Ali and his staff tried their best to make the hotel feel like a home.

Canadian man saves dog by punching cougar

A Canadian man punched a cougar in the face to stop it attacking his dog in a wooded area near a fast food chain in Whitecourt, central Alberta, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has said. William Gibb, 31, from Red Deer, Alberta, had stopped at a Tim Hortons outlet, a popular Canadian restaurant chain on his 600-kilometre drive to Grand Prairie on the evening of St Stephen’s Day and let his dog out for a walk, Whitecourt RCMP Sergeant Tom Kalis said.

Man dies during horse race at Mexico girl’s ‘quinceanera’

Heavy traffic blocks a road as visitors try to get to a party honoring Rubi Ibarrafor her down-home 15th birthday near the village of Laguna Seca, San Luis Potosi State, Mexico, Monday Dec. 26, 2016. Rubi’s 15th birthday party resembled a rock concert on Monday after thousands of people showed up in response to an invitation by her father that went viral and made her the toast of the country.

Man trampled to death at quincea era where a everyonea was invited

Rubi Ibarra looks at her mother Anaelda as journalists struggle to get images during a Mass part of Rubi’s down-home 15th birthday party in the village of La Joya, San Luis Potosi State, Mexico Sunday Dec. 25, 2016. Rubi Ibarra, in an elaborate fuchsia dress and gleaming tiara, sits for a Mass part of her down-home 15th birthday celebration in a field at her hometown of La Joya, San Luis Potosi State, Mexico, Monday Dec. 26, 2016.

Thousands attend Mexican girl’s party following viral invite

Looking overwhelmed by the attention, yet resplendent in an elaborate fuchsia dress and gleaming tiara, Rubi Ibarra celebrated her 15th birthday on Monday on a ranch in central Mexico after the invitation to the event by her father went viral and made her the toast of the country. Family members had to open a path for the girl through dozens of reporters and photographers snapping her picture so she could reach the Mass for her in a field in the state of San Luis Potosi.

The year of the fentanyl crisis: How we got here

Marchers carried a coffin to remember friends, family and community members during a procession to mark Overdose Awareness Day in Vancouver in August. The highly potent opioid fentanyl was detected in more than 370 drug overdose deaths in British Columbia between January and October 2016.

The year of the fentanyl crisis: How we got here

Marchers carried a coffin to remember friends, family and community members during a procession to mark Overdose Awareness Day in Vancouver in August. The highly potent opioid fentanyl was detected in more than 370 drug overdose deaths in British Columbia between January and October 2016.

Year in review: a look at highs and lows of Trudeaua s first full year as PM

As Justin Trudeau’s first full year as prime minister comes to a close, downtown roads in the nation’s capital are clogged with snow and construction. It’s an apt metaphor for the increasingly tough slogging Trudeau’s Liberal government has experienced since the heady days last fall, when the fledgling prime minister was winning raves for appointing the first gender-equal cabinet, handing out winter parkas to newly arrived Syrian refugees, being greeted like a rock star by screaming fans and boldly declaring “Canada is back” on the international stage.

Deadly Mexico Fireworks Blast Hit Market Packed for Holidays

This image made from video recorded from a passing car shows an explosion ripping through the San Pablito fireworks’ market in Tultepec, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 20. Sirens wailed and a heavy scent of gunpowder lingered in the air after the afternoon blast at the market, where most of the fireworks stalls were completely leveled. According to the Mexico state prosecutor there are at least 26 dead.

Trudeau promises two emergency towing vessels for West Coast

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says two emergency towing vessels that were promised as part of a federal plan to protect Canada’s oceans will operate on the West Coast. The vessels will help the coast guard tow large commercial ships that are in distress and pose a hazard to navigation and the marine environment.

Yarmouth organizations clean up flood damage

Cleanup and recovery work from massive flooding continued Tuesday morning at HOPE Centre and at the Boys and Girls Club of Yarmouth . Both facilities received extensive water damage, suspected from ruptured pipes in ceilings and floors due to extreme cold chill last weekend.

Wind warning for much of Alberta, gusts of 100 km/h possible

WATCH ABOVE: It’s going to be a windy one! Here’s Mike Sobel’s Monday, December 19, 2016 early morning weather forecast for Edmonton, Alberta and the surrounding area. A wind warning is in effect for much of southern and central Alberta, including the city of Edmonton, as strong winds that may cause damage are expected or are already occurring.