An “epidemic” of Canadian young people using hookahs or waterpipes are exposing themselves to dangerous toxins and infections, says Roberta Ferrence, senior scientific advisor to the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit and professor at the University of Toronto. Burning charcoal for… »
Lynn Desjardins
Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Lynn has dedicated her working life to journalism. After decades in the field, she still believes journalism to be a pillar of democracy and she remains committed to telling stories she believes are important or interesting. Lynn loves Canada and embraces all seasons: skiing, skating, and sledding in winter, hiking, swimming and playing tennis in summer and running all the time. She is a voracious consumer of Canadian literature, public radio programs and classical music. Family and friends are most important. Good and unusual foods are fun. She travels when possible and enjoys the wilderness.
“Thank an Indian” T-shirt sparks heated commentary
News reports of a teenager who work a T-shirt with a message to school have sparked animated discussions on social media about race and Aboriginal relations in Canada. Tenelle Starr, 13, wore a hoodie proclaiming “Got Land? Thank an Indian”… »
Leader orders review of sawmill explosion report
The people of Burns Lake deserve an explanation, says the premier of the western province of British Columbia. Premier Christy Clark ordered a review of the investigation into a sawmill explosion that killed two people and injured 20 other last… »
Health, International, Society
The global food system is broken, says Oxfam
Many people around the world, especially women, go to bed hungry and Oxfam is calling for “urgent reform to the way food is produced and distributed to put an end to this scandal.” The statement was made as the international… »
Mom’s thank you note to stranger goes viral
A Canadian mother’s open letter thanking a stranger who was kind to her autistic daughter on a recent flight has gone viral. Shanell Mouland blogs about life with her three-year-old daughter Kate. The two were on a flight from Orlando,… »
Lack of outdoor play bad for kids: expert
Canadian children are getting less and less unstructured outdoor play and that is bad for their development says Sharon Sheshlia, a health and physical education consultant for a school board in the province of Ontario. “When I was growing up… »
Health, Internet, Science & Technology, Society
Alcohol affects vision by 30%: study
Drinking the allowable limit of alcohol permitted for driving can impair vision by 30 per cent according to a new study. Researchers at Western University in Ontario found that alcohol consumption reduces the ability to adjust vision for brightness and… »
Teen sex sold on line horrifies Canadian mom
Finding almost-naked pictures of her teenage daughter selling sex online horrified a mother in the eastern city of Halifax. “I felt like I died. I felt like part of me died,” said Karen. Her name has been changed to protect… »
Canada aims to double international students
Canada will try to double the number of international students coming to its universities. The goal is to “advance Canada’s commercial interests in priority markets around the world” and is part of Canada’s new foreign policy focus on economic priorities. To… »
Environment & Animal Life, Internet, Science & Technology
New pesticide contaminates wetlands: study
Wetlands are being contaminated by pesticides used on fields surrounding them. © Jim Devries Wetlands pepper the landscape in western Canada and a biologist says a pesticide is contaminating them and threatening the ecosystem. Christy Morrissey of the University of Saskatchewan… »
The world in pictures
Canada in pictures
