St. Catharines Collegiate. All public high schools in Niagara will return to a regular schedule starting Monday, Nov. 30
DSBN secondary schools moving to regular semester model next week
Starting Monday, Nov. 29, all DSBN high schools will transition from the current two course per-day, alternating week model, to a four course per-day, regular school day.
In a brief statement, the DSBN said it believes that the return to a four-period school day, as supported by both the Ministry of Education and Niagara Region Public Health, is in the best interest of secondary students.
Daily screening for both students and staff, limited visitors and spectators for indoor sports and events, and school assemblies will continue to be paused. Extracurricular activities that were reintroduced in the fall will continue with safety measures still in place.
Multimillion-dollar addition at Niagara Falls elementary school complete
The $5.6 million addition and childcare centre renovation at Forestview Public Elementary School in Niagara Falls are now complete and open for the 2021/22 academic year. The project added a total 184 student spaces, 49 licensed childcare spaces, and a new gymnasium.
“We want to keep supporting parents and students by making capital investments that matter,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and MPP for Niagara West. “This is another demonstration of our government’s commitment to building the best possible infrastructure for the people of Ontario.”
Forestview opened in Sept. 2018. It services the neighbourhood south of Lundy’s Lane and west of Kalar Road. With nearby development and migration to the area, the school has experienced significant growth in recent years.
“School staff have already done an excellent job creating an inviting, successful school, and these additions will help maintain this positive school environment and ensure we continue to meet the needs of all students,” said Warren Hoshizaki, Director of Education at DSBN. “We appreciate the government’s willingness to partner with us on this important project for the Falcon community.”
With the project now complete, Forestview can remove 12 portal classrooms and free up more much-needed outdoor space for students.
Ahead of next summer’s games in Niagara, Canada Games Council gets new president and CEO
On Monday, the Canada Games Council (CGC) announced Kelly-Ann Paul as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective Nov. 29, 2021. Paul, a long-time senior leader with the CGC, replaces Dan Wilcock and will now oversee the council’s planning for the next games: to be held in Niagara in August 2022.
“Kelly-Ann has incredible passion for the Canada Games and has demonstrated her tireless commitment to the growth and enhancement of the movement,” said Evan Johnston, Chair of the CGC Board of Directors. “The Canada Games spark greatness among Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that includes fostering great leaders. Our selection of Kelly-Ann as the next President and CEO is a testament to the Board’s respect for the knowledge and leadership she has displayed for the Games.”
“The Canada Games strengthen the fabric of Canada,” said Paul. “I’ve seen the power of the Canada Games and their ability to develop the best in people, both inside and outside of sport. The reward in working for an organization whose mandate is to develop Canada’s next generation of leaders through sport is immeasurable.”
The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up-and-coming Canadian athletes.
Beer Canada creates country’s first ‘Beer Policy Advisory Council’, Niagara brewery named a founding member
Earlier this week, Beer Canada revealed creation of the Canadian Beer Policy Advisory Council. According to the organization, the council will provide a leadership forum to gather input from brewers from coast-to-coast on important policy issues impacting Canadian beer and brewing.
“Canada is a relatively small national market for beer, yet too often regulators and legislators make it challenging for brewers to service beer consumers from coast-to-coast,” said CJ Hélie, president of Beer Canada. “Our new Policy Advisory Council will take a national view and promote policies that help Canadian brewers succeed and support beer consumers.”
Beer is one of the most heavily taxed and regulated consumer goods in the country and Beer Canada’s Policy Advisory Council will seek consensus across the sector on key federal, provincial, and municipal alcohol policy related to:
∙ Alcohol tax policy,
∙ Labelling and product standards,
∙ Market access, including e-commerce and new emerging routes to market,
∙ Environmental, container and packaging regulation,
∙ Trade promotion and marketing rules, and
∙ Social responsibility promotion.
Membership with Beer Canada is open to all breweries with a Canadian federal brewer’s license issued under the Excise Act. The group’s membership accounts for 90 per cent of all beer produced in Canada. The policy advisory council currently consists of 24 members and includes the Niagara College Teaching Brewery.
With federal government set to change testing requirements at border, Canadians remain divided
A new study released Tuesday from the Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians divided about how to handle border testing, but largely ready to move past molecular tests such as the PCR. While one-quarter say that this type of test should remain the standard, the largest group (39 per cent) would switch to rapid antigen tests currently used by the United States.
Notably, 27 per cent say there should be no testing for fully vaccinated travellers, and one-in-ten (9 per cent) would drop testing entirely, regardless of vaccination status.
Those who travelled frequently prior to the pandemic appear most eager to drop restrictions. Among Canadians who say they travelled to the United States five or more times per year before pandemic restrictions took effect, half (48 per cent) would drop testing for fully vaccinated travellers. Another 14 per cent would drop testing completely. Meanwhile, the most infrequent travellers are the most inclined to keep molecular tests in place.
Professor denied research funding due to a “lack of diversity”
According to the National Post, McGill University associate professor of chemistry Patanjali Kambhampati was recently denied two federal grants for research because of an apparent “lack of diversity” in his application.
Kambhampati’s crime? According to the professor, instead of saying he will fill this-or-that diversity quota, he wrote on the funding application: “We will hire the most qualified people based upon their skills and mutual interests.”
According to the Post, the council that awards the grants – the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) – said that “the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion considerations in the application were deemed insufficient.”
This Weekend Around the Region
Rogers Hometown Hockey
Rogers Hometown Hockey makes its way to Grimsby this weekend for its seventh of 25 stops across Canada. You can expect a great weekend of free, Covid-friendly, hockey-related activities, NHL alumni appearances, music, and fun for the whole family!
The free, family-friendly festival takes place Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 5pm at Grimsby’s Peach King Centre. While Ron MacLean and Tara Slone will be live on-site Monday for the broadcast of the Vancouver Canucks vs. Montreal Canadiens game. The pair will tell the stories that celebrate the hockey history and culture that puts Grimsby on Canada’s hockey map.
When: Sat., Nov. 27 – Mon. Nov. 29
Where: Peach King Centre, Grimsby
For more details and to order tickets, go to Hometown Hockey’s website here.
Christmas Market(s) and Open House
Come out to downtown Port Colborne this Friday and Saturday from 10am – 3pm for two Christmas markets on Charlotte Street, one at Guild Hall, the other at the Port Colborne Farmers’ Market.
While downtown, take part in the city’s annual Christmas Open House, where local businesses open their doors for a variety of special shopping and dining deals.
When: Fri., Nov. 26 – Sat., Nov. 27
Where: Market Square/Downtown, Port Colborne
For more information, head over to the Port Colborne Downtown BIA website here.
