Keith Urban To Perform With Grammy Camp Musicians
Country music superstar Keith Urban is set to perform with seven young musicians who have participated in the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY Camp music program on the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS, airing live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.The performance is intended to highlight the need to support music-based initiatives that attract young people to music and encourage their musical pursuits. As part of the campaign, a $25,000 donation will be made to support the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY in the Schools programs, including scholarship support for GRAMMY Camp.Through the years, Urban’s commitment to music programs has been consistent and unwavering. He’s been an active participant in the efforts of The Grammy Foundation’s Grammy Camp and Nashville’s Music Makes Us program and has encouraged aspiring musicians by giving them the opportunity to perform. His annual We’re All For The Hall concerts have raised nearly $1.5 million for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which supports numerous music-based initiatives, and just recently he participated in the Hall’s first All Access music program.Additionally, hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth each will be added to the list of performers for AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS.The two-hour, star-studded special also will feature appearances by Eli Young Band, Lindsey Buckingham, Carmen Electra, Florida Georgia Line, Gloriana, Love and Theft, Penn & Teller and the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt and Barry Zito. Previously announced participants include Natasha Bedingfield, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, champion cowboy Trevor Brazile, Casey James, Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Ron White and Chris Young.The two-hour live music spectacular offers country music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories, but also in a previously unrecognized area – touring – encompassing the entire spectrum of country music.In 2001, the Country Music Association honored Keith Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future. He is the first Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he’s captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year. More than 15 million albums later, Urban is a four-time Grammy Award winner, who has also won a People’s Choice and American Music Award. He’s won five Academy of Country Music Awards and had 14 No. 1 songs, including 28 Top 5 hits. In 2012, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His latest CD, “Get Closer,” comes on the heels of his fifth consecutive platinum or multi-platinum release. It has produced three consecutive No. 1 singles: “You Gonna Fly,” “Long Hot Summer” and “Without You.”In 2009, Urban was named radio’s most-played country artist, thanks to No. 1 hits such as “Sweet Thing,” “You’ll Think Of Me,” “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” “Better Life” and “Days Go By.” In addition, his 2002 smash, “Somebody Like You,” was named the No. 1 Country Song of the Decade by Nielsen BDS (based on radio airplay and audience impressions).But Urban’s reputation as an elite songwriter, musician, vocalist and virtuoso guitarist is no more evident than when he is onstage. His electrifying concerts have played to sold-out venues in Australia, Germany, England, Canada and the United States, all while receiving high praise from critics. In fact, 2009’s Escape Together World Tour, as well as 2007’s Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World Tour, were both, according to Pollstar, one of the top-grossing tours for their respective years. Last year, his Get Closer 2011 World Tour solidified Urban as one of the music industry’s best live performers.
SUMMIT ON THE SUMMIT last week proudly announced the successful ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro, marking the second time in three years that a team of cultural influencers and clean water advocates has climbed the mountain to raise awareness of the global clean water crisis.The group of 17 climbers, including Grammy-nominated musician Kenna, musician Mark Foster of Foster the People, actors Justin Chatwin and Beau Garrett, RYOT.org Co-Founder Bryn Mooser and photographer Chase Jarvis, all safely reached the top of the 19,341-foot peak.The team was led by Eddie Bauer First Ascent Guides Melissa Arnot and David Morton, and included a number of clean water educators including Chevenee Reavis of Water.org, Dr. Greg Allgood of Procter & Gamble’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water program, Cynthia Koenig of Wello Water and Steve Hall of H20 For Life. Brand partners HP, Intel, P&G, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Eddie Bauer generously provided everything from state-of-the-art technology to international travel arrangements to climbing gear.The climbing team was supported and cheered on by celebrity activists Olivia Wilde, Dianna Agron, Justin Timberlake and alumni climbers Jessica Biel and Santi White (aka Santigold) who engaged fans via social media and created a real-time call to action during the expedition. Thousands of followers participated virtually in the seven-day, 50-mile trek via the Summit Seeker interactive game at www.summitonthesummit.com and shared the experience by viewing daily content, all of which was produced directly by the climbing team on the mountain using Intel Ultrabook devices. Through the game, SUMMIT’s supporters on the ground were incentivized to take steps to learn more about the clean water crisis and help spread the message about the initiative globally. With a reach of 79 million on Twitter, thousands of Summit Seeker users and more than 10 million community action points accumulated, SUMMIT effectively engaged a global population of supporters in a unified way to reach a single goal.Kenna reflected with pride on the expedition and its impact saying, “I am proud of the Summit team and their endurance and focus to reach the top of Kilimanjaro. But I am more thankful that when we got there, everyone was still clear on why they climbed — everyone deserves clean water and Water = Life.”As SUMMIT’s primary education partner, Water.org will continue to explore solutions to the clean water crisis by improving access to safe drinking water around the world. “More than ever, I’m convinced that the global clean water crisis is the most pressing challenge of our lifetime and a cause that we can absolutely build a movement of support around,” said Chevenee Reavis, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Water.org. “Amidst this incredible journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro, we all personally experienced water insecurity — many for the first time. Not having access to safe drinking water is something most never experience in the United States. But once you experience it, you realize it’s the most basic element that connects us all and you can’t help but want to do something about it. We all came together as strangers and stepped off the mountain a united front for universal access to safe water — and we’re just getting started!”Melissa Arnot, SUMMIT’s experienced mountain guide who led the team up Kilimanjaro for the second time, expressed her gratitude. “Each participant brought his or her own perspective and background to the adventure, proving that everyone has a mountain to climb,” Arnot said. “When you look at the numbers, the global clean water crisis seems insurmountable, making it hard to believe that one person could take one small step that could make any difference. But the climbers on Kilimanjaro proved that just because you cannot see the summit doesn’t mean you shouldn’t climb. I know that we have taken one step toward a solution, and I hope others will too.”SUMMIT is a production of @radical.media, a global content studio which joined Kenna for the inaugural climb and produced the subsequent MTV documentary film. “We’re incredibly proud of Kenna and the team of influencers, brand partners and celebrity climbers who have contributed their time, sweat and blisters to this important cause,” said Justin Wilkes, @radical’s President of Media & Entertainment. “I had the pleasure of climbing the first time around and the greater pleasure of watching this year from the comfort of my living room.”To find out more about the SUMMIT ON THE SUMMIT, please visit summitonthesummit.com.Source:PR Newswire
On Monday’s episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the Petco Foundation joined Ellen DeGeneres and her natural pet food company Halo, Purely for Pets, to announce a new grant campaign designed to make holiday wishes come true for some of the nation’s most dedicated non-profit animal-welfare organizations.“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will announce the winning animal-welfare group – who will earn a $100,000 grand prize grant to support their work to save animals – in December.“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is encouraging qualified animal-welfare groups to submit details (stories, photos, videos, etc.) surrounding their best animal success stories for a chance to win up to a $100,000 Petco Foundation grant toward saving more lives this holiday season. Second and third place winners will earn $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, with grants from $5,000 to $10,000 going to 10 runner-up organizations. All entries must be submitted by Nov. 22, 2013.“Halo and the Petco Foundation are teaming up together. We want to help all of the pet shelters that help animals and do good every year. The Petco Foundation wants to award deserving animal shelters,” said talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.“We’re thrilled to partner with Ellen and Halo on this exciting campaign to recognize and support the groups and individuals who work tirelessly all year long to care for and find homes for animals in need,” said Petco Foundation Executive Director Susanne Kogut. “By sharing some of their stories through this campaign, we hope to raise awareness and increase the number of animals spending this holiday season where they belong – in loving homes with the care and support they deserve.”The Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign is open to all animal welfare organizations dedicated to finding homes for animals in need this holiday season, including governmental animal services and shelters, as well as private non-profit organizations, large and small. Applications can be submitted online www.petcofoundation.org and require just one complete success story, including photos, and basic organizational information to be eligible. The winning animal-welfare group will be announced in December.For more information on the Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign or to submit your non-profit grant application, visit www.petco.com/holidaywishes.Source:PR Newswire
Danai Gurira, who plays “Michonne” on “The Walking Dead,” has teamed up with CrowdRise to offer fans a chance to attend the exclusive event and win the ultimate fan package.By donating as little as $10 at www.crowdRise.com/WalkingDead, fans will be entered to win a trip for two to New York, including flights and hotel. The winner and a guest will attend the season 6 premiere at Madison Square Garden, where they’ll get a chance to go backstage with Gurira.Additionally, the winner will be flown to Atlanta, GA, to tour some of the famous sites from the show as well as have lunch with Gurira. “The Walking Dead” experience will continue with a weapons training session, where the winner will learn to shoot a crossbow, get made up as a Zombie and receive a “Go Bag” full of disaster survival gear.All proceeds will benefit the Almasi Arts Alliance, an organization which Gurira co-founded. Almasi Arts Alliance’s mission is to create professional opportunities within the dramatic arts industry in Zimbabwe, where Gurira was raised.The contest is open now and ends on September 24, 2015 at 11:59:59am ET. Gurira, joined by cast mates Michael Cudlitz, Lauren Cohen, and Melissa McBride made an exclusive video to announce the contest.
The Television Academy is once again partnering on Storytellers, an annual event produced by the veteran empowerment campaign Got Your 6 to celebrate the accomplishments and inspirational stories of our nation’s veterans.Scheduled as a lead up event to Veterans Day (November 11), the Television Academy hopes the Tuesday, November 1 event will increase awareness among content creators of Got Your 6’s campaign to shift the narrative of veterans as “broken heroes” to one focusing on veterans as leaders and civic assets.Storytellers gathers veterans, who deliver TED-style talks about their ideas, accomplishments, philosophies, and the many contributions they are making in their communities and workplaces. A study commissioned by Got Your 6 revealed that the general population stereotypes veterans as more likely than civilians to be unemployed, undereducated, homeless, and experience mental health issues. The reality is much more complex and the entertainment industry can play a role in changing the narrative.Hosted at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in Los Angeles, Storytellers will feature veteran and actor Jeff Bosley; founder and CEO of Combat Flip Flops, Matt Griffin; founder and CEO of the nonprofit TentEd, Zack Bazzi; Marjorie Williams of Endemol Shine; singer/songwriter Stephen Covell; and comedian Thom Tran.The event will include remarks by Ryan Phillippe, who stars in the upcoming USA Network drama “Shooter,” which was honored by Got Your 6 as a “6 Certified” project. Phillippe plays Bob Lee Swagger, a highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran who is coaxed back into action to prevent a plot to kill the President.“Our veterans have compelling, inspiring narratives to share, and it is imperative that we as an industry celebrate them,” said Television Academy President and COO Maury McIntyre. “We are honored to present these moving and thought-provoking stories to the creative community in Southern California, and to host one of this year’s ‘Got Your 6’ events in recognition of Veterans Day.”“Veterans are as diverse as the country we served, and Storytellers addresses the public’s stereotypes about veterans head-on by showcasing the talents and groundbreaking innovations of those who wore the uniform,” said Bill Rausch, Iraq War veteran and executive director of Got Your 6. “We thank the Television Academy for demonstrating their commitment by allowing veterans themselves to speak directly to the writers, producers, studio executives, and performers who create popular media.”The fourth annual talks will be live-streamed at facebook.com/GotYourSix and later distributed online. Videos from the 2015 event were viewed more than three million times.In addition to Los Angeles, Got Your 6’s Storytellers will be held in New York City on Wednesday, October 26 at the HBO Theater, and in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, November 10 at Discovery Communications. For more information and to register, visit gotyour6.org/storytellers.Got Your 6 Storytellers is made possible by the generous support of Macy’s, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans United Foundation, Aspen Dental, American Express, Discovery Communications, HBO, Television Academy, NFLPA, General Dynamics, and Sword & Plough.
Tonight’s awards also captivated audiences across multiple social media platforms, with more than 250,000 mentions of the show. On Twitter the MMVAs trended internationally, becoming the #4 trending topic worldwide, and the #1 in Canada, during the two-hour broadcast. MMVA performers and presenters joined in, posting about their experiences on social feeds, including presenter Nikki Bella who shouted out Much’s own Tyrone Edwards on Twitter, and MMVA host Joe Jonas who shared a fun backstage moment. Fans also made their voice heard this year, with more than 16 million votes for the award’s four Fan Fave categories cast across Twitter, Instagram, and on Much.comIn its inaugural year via a partnership with Twitter, the IHEARTRADIO MMVA PRE-GAME, hosted by Much Digital Studios creators Alayna Fender, Dan Rodo, Marlon Palmer, and Michael Rizzi, was first to hand out the hardware before the big show. Twelve awards were handed out on Twitter during the live pre-show, including the first MMVA for A Tribe Called Red, who along with Director Kevan Funk were awarded with the Best Director Award for their video Stadium Pow Wow.Other Canadian artists taking home hardware tonight include: Shawn Mendes, winner of Best Pop Video for his smash hit “Mercy”; Toronto rapper Tasha the Amazon, who took home her first MMVA, Best Hip Hop Video for “Picasso Leaning”; Grimes, winner of Best EDM/Dance Video for “Venus Fly”, her collaboration with Janelle Monae; Sleepy Tom for Best Post-Production for “Seeing Double” featuring Tonye; River Tiber, winner of Best MuchFACT Video for Acid Test; PARTYNEXTDOOR for Best New Canadian Artist; and Justin Bieber who was crowned Fan Fave Artist or Group for the second year in a row. The IHEARTRADIO MMVA hardware was handed out by an impressive list of personalities including 4YallEntertainment, Bea Miller, Brandon Flynn, Carly Rae Jepsen, David Mazouz, Dove Cameron, Hedley, Jus Reign, Kat Graham, Keke Palmer, KJ Apa, Lights, Lilly Singh, Martha Hunt, Massari, Nikki Bella, Scott Helman, Serena Ryder, Shawn Hook, Shay Mitchell, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Tatiana Maslany, Torrance Coombs, Tyler Oakley, and Tyler Shaw.IHEARTRADIO MMVA AftermathThe two-hour music extravaganza, which aired live on Much, Vrak, and CTV, encores tomorrow, Monday, June 19, at 3 p.m. ET and Thursday, June 22 at 7 p.m. ET on MuchETALK recaps all of the red carpet arrivals and delivers exclusive backstage interviews tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET on CTV.The entire two hour broadcast, as well as THE 2017 IHEARTRADIO MMVA RED CARPET, and content from the first-ever Much.com Paw-Pup Room featuring the cutest guests to ever attend the MMVAs, is available now at Much.com.And the winners are…Video of the YearA Tribe Called Red f. Yasiin Bey, Narcy & Black Bear – “R.E.D.”Best Post-ProductionSleepy Tom f. Tonye – “Seeing Double”Best EDM/Dance VideoGrimes f. Janelle Monae – “Venus Fly”Best DirectorA Tribe Called Red f. Black Bear – “Stadium Pow Wow”Director: Kevan FunkBest Pop VideoShawn Mendes – “Mercy”Best Rock/Alternative VideoThe Tragically Hip – “In A World Possessed By The Human Mind”Best Hip Hop VideoTasha the Amazon – “Picasso Leaning”Best MuchFACT VideoRiver Tiber – “Acid Test”Most Buzzworthy CanadianDrakeMost Buzzworthy International Artist or GroupEd SheeranBest New Canadian ArtistPARTYNEXTDOORBest New International ArtistCamila CabelloiHeartRADIO International Artist of the Year LordeiHeartRADIO International Duo or Group of the YearImagine DragonsiHeartRADIO Canadian Single of the YearDrake ft. Wizkid, Kyla – “One Dance”Fan Fave VideoArkells – “Knocking At The Door”Fan Fave International Artist or GroupNiall HoranFan Fave Artist/GroupJustin BieberFan Fave Much CreatorYouTwo TVOfficial partners of THE 2017 IHEARTRADIO MMVAs include: LG Electronics Canada, Coca-Cola®, Virgin Mobile Canada™, M&M’S Caramel®, and Fruit by the Foot™.SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:@Much@iHeartRadioCAAbout THE IHEARTRADIO MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS:Much gives fans the experience of a lifetime by putting them as close as humanly possible to their favourite artists and celebrities at THE 2017 IHEARTRADIO MMVAs. The show airs live on Sunday, June 18 on Much, CTV, VRAK, and the iHeartRadio app. Past MMVA performers and presenters include: Adam Lambert, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Carly Rae Jepsen, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Fifth Harmony, Gigi Hadid, Hedley, James Bay, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and many more. At THE IHEARTRADIO MMVAs, the audience is the priority; Much gives them the best seats in the house, whether a foot from the stage or a foot from a television, computer, or mobile phone. Fans should hit up Much regularly at Much.com or Twitter @Much for the most up-to-date info about the event of the year. Advertisement Facebook TORONTO – Alessia Cara and Joe Jonas reigned Toronto tonight as hosts of THE 2017 IHEARTRADIO MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS, where Canadian DJ collective A Tribe Called Red took home their first ever hardware for Video of the Year (“R.E.D.”) and Best Director (“Stadium Pow Wow”, Kevan Funk). Meanwhile, hometown hip-hop sensation Drake won two awards for Most Buzzworthy Canadian and IHEARTRADIO Canadian Single of the Year for “One Dance”. On stage, newly minted solo artists Camila Cabello and Niall Horan, winners of the awards forBest New International Artistand Fan Fave International Artist or Group respectively, each fired up the fans with red-hot medleys of their hit singles, “I Have Questions/Crying in the Club” and “This Town/Slow Hands”.Canadian indie rock band Arkells hit the stage with an unforgettable performance of “Knocking At The Door” which snagged an MMVAfor Fan Fave Video. Winners of IHEARTRADIO International Duo or Group of the Year Imagine Dragons also delivered an electric performance with local drum line 416BEATS on a medley of their hits “Believer” and “Thunder”.Debut MMVA performers included DNCE, fronted by host (and MMVA veteran) Joe Jonas; Julia Michaels, who performed single “Issues” in a lavish bedroom set; Iggy Azalea who rocked the crowd from inside a lit cube with a version of “Switch”; hometown rapper Jazz Cartier with an energetic performance of singles “Tempted” and “Red Alert”; and Post Malone who brought explosive versions of “White Iverson” and “Congratulations”, replete with actual fireballs. Lorde, in her much-anticipated return to the MMVA stage, lit up the night, closing the show with a medley of hit “Green Light” and “Perfect Places” alongside a choir featuring more than 30 singers, and show-stopping fireworks. Twitter Login/Register With: LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Advertisement Advertisement
Facebook Among the short-film programs—divided into categories that include Indigenous stories, works by young filmmakers, and specific themes such as bullying—we find the topics of anxiety (“Nadine”), war/migration (“Rupture”), and wealth disparity (“The Glass Pearl”). Advertisement Advertisement In the brutally smart faux documentary High Fantasy, four South African teens swap bodies and reckon with hard questions of race, privilege, and gender. In High Fantasy, one of the harder-hitting films getting their West Coast premiere at the 20th annual Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth, four South African teens find themselves transported Freaky Friday–style into one another’s bodies. No goofball comedy, High Fantasy instead explores unsettling questions about class, race, and gender with a depth and seriousness that you simply wouldn’t have seen when Venay Felton started the festival two decades ago.“We’ve always tackled big questions, but I think we have access to a wider choice of better-quality films from around the world than ever before,” says the founder in a call to the Georgia Straight. “We didn’t have films as inclusive as we do this year.”Indeed, among the full-length titles coming to the 2018 edition of R2R, Naoko Yamada’s animated feature A Silent Voice concerns a high-school student forced to reckon with the abuse he heaped on a deaf student years previously. In Cloudboy, a Belgian 12-year-old confronts his own largely denied Sami heritage. And in the widely acclaimed, U.S.–made Princess Cyd—getting its Canadian theatrical premiere—a queer teen explores painful family issues with her reluctant aunt.
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Twitter Facebook Movie World in Stony Plain is still doing well despite the rise of streaming apps. LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Advertisement Login/Register With:
Advertisement Advertisement Despite popular streaming services and on-demand networks that allow movie-lovers to download a film from the comfort of their own home, Movie World still has customers.Its shelves are full of DVDs and even some VHS tapes that can make for a nostalgic browsing experience.“It’s still a good business,” Davis said in an interview with CTV Edmonton. “All the time there’s people walking in and it’s like, ‘Ah, I haven’t been in a video store in forever.’”Movie World outlasted big chain rental companies such as Blockbuster, Rogers Video and Movie Studio, which all closed in the Alta. region between 2011 and 2015.Stony Plain resident Ray Gaultier says he prefers to watch movies the “old school way,” regularly stopping at Movie World.“Going online is nice, but we haven’t grasped that technology yet,” said Gaultier.Others in the area still have to watch DVDs because th Wi-Fi is not as strong for those living outside of town for internet downloads.“You’re sitting at 6, 7 p.m. and you don’t want to see buffering going on your TV while you’re waiting for your movie,” said Davis.Davis says his video rental store still has customers because he offers something his clientele can’t get anywhere else: the types of movies that are not available on streaming apps.“[There is] better variety,” Movie World customer Maysen Lubbers said. “The people are great… It’s a small town thing.”With files from CTV Edmonton Movie night used to require a trip to a store like Blockbuster. Now, Canadians can watch any movie or TV show with the click of a button.But a video rental store west of Edmonton is still managing to keep business going in today’s digital world.Shawn Davis — owner of Movie World in Stony Plain, Alta. — believes he has the last “full service” video rental store in the region.
APTN National NewsSome of Edmonton’s homeless sleep on the streets, in back alleys and dumpsters.But others have set up home in the wooded areas in and around the inner city and along the river valley.APTN recently visited some of these camps.
APTN National NewsThere’s a new café in Montreal that only hires Aboriginal employees.No, it’s not an experiment in reverse racism.But rather a way to lend a hand to Indigenous people who have had a hard time in the job market – and elsewhere.APTN’s Tom Fennario has the story.tfennario@aptn.ca
(Hunter Tootoo at Rideau Hall after being sworn in as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast guard last fall)APTN National NewsOTTAWA — His departure was abrupt and few details came from either the man leaving or his boss.Early last evening a curt news release was sent from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office.“Mr. Tootoo will be taking time to seek treatment for addiction issues,” said Trudeau in a statement.Today, Trudeau had little more to add.In a surprise comment before the start of a meeting of the Liberal caucus, Trudeau stepped out in front of the cameras.“He resigned to seek treatment for addiction issues. It was his own choice. I have nothing further to say on this matter,” Trudeau told the media, turned and walked away.Tootoo hasn’t filled in any details, but said in his own statement he resigned in order not to be a distraction.“I have decided to seek treatment for addiction issues and ask for privacy at this time,” he said in a statement released Tuesday.The nature of his addiction was not specified.Tootoo will now sit as an independent and the needs of his constituents will be handled by his office staff for the time being. It is not clear how long he will be off work.In October, Tootoo defeated incumbent Conservative Leona Aglukkaq to become the Member of Parliament for Nunavut and the first northerner to take on the role of fisheries minister.The announcement about Tootoo’s troubles drew words of support from former Ontario premier Bob Rae, who tweeted: “Wish him well in his battle.”And Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler also took to Twitter to offer support for Tootoo on behalf of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in northern Ontario: “sending prayers and support to Hunter Tootoo as he seeks healing.”Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet in 1963 and immediately had to fight for his life.“I was medevaced (airlifted) out,” Tootoo told The Canadian Press in an interview last year.“I was in an incubator for the first three months of my life, so I am told.”After overcoming this struggle, Tootoo went on to live in various parts of Canada, including Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan before making his way back to the North in the early 1990s.The 52-year-old was first elected as the MLA for Iqaluit Centre in 1999, where he served for 14 years and was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly until 2013. He also held a number of cabinet positions in the territorial government.In November, a month after Tootoo defeated former Conservative cabinet minister Leona Aglukkaq to claim the federal riding of Nunavut, he said in an interview he hoped to transfer his political experience to a national scale.“I think that it is going to be very beneficial to me as we move forward,” he told The Canadian Press.In the November interview, Tootoo said he was “very proud to be the first Aboriginal person, first northern person to be appointed to this position.”Tootoo is related to NHL player Jordin Tootoo, a forward for the New Jersey Devils, but he has been quick to quash the idea he may share some of the hockey skills honed by his cousin.“I watch hockey,” he said in the interview. “The only sport I do is curling.”Tootoo isn’t the first Liberal MP in this government to seek help for addiction problems.In January, rookie Newfoundland MP Seamus O’Regan announced he was back to work after getting help for a drinking problem.Trudeau said Dominic Leblanc will be assuming the role of minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, in addition to being Government House Leader.news@aptn.ca— with files from The Canadian Press
The traditional Anishinabe dance style helped keep Suggashie grounded during her studies.She would find local powwows to participate in – and it helped her during times of grief and loss.In 2015 Suggashie moved to Thunder Bay. It’s the same year her older brother, Clayton Mawakeesic, was found dead in the McIntyre River.“Instead of being angry about it I had to find a positive way to deal with that,” she said.Cheryl Suggashie stands at the McIntyre River where her brother Clayton Mawakeesic was found dead in 2015. Photo: Willow Fiddler/APTNSuggashie said it feels like there’s been a black cloud over the city in recent years.“There’s been a lot of negative atmosphere around the rivers and the seven students inquest,” she said.“I was beginning to see it was all negative stuff so I wanted to bring some positivity and some culture and just some pride and identity.”Completing her Master’s degree in social justice, Suggashie started her placement at Dennis Franklin Cromarty (DFC) High School last September.She would teach the clothing class how to sew their own jingle dresses.There were about 10 young women in the class.“They were quiet and shy but then after a few months you get to know them and build relationships and trust,” Suggashie said.By January, the dresses were completed.“They were really good at designing their stuff, their own designs. Some of them were really creative and some of them were really intricate, the way they put on the jingle dress cones,” said Suggashie.Aleena Crow is one of the students who made her own dress.“Well, it was pretty hard at first,” said the 18-year old from Sandy Lake.But Suggashie said the hard work will pay off.“It’s just like a skill and culture and something their own they can take home with them. Like something tangible, like it’s theirs,” Suggashie said.In a special ceremony at DFC, eight students in total were welcomed into the dance circle by a drum group from Whitefish Bay First Nation, Elders and “Aunties” who danced with the young women in support.The colors and sounds that filled the circle were beautiful and mesmerizing, the rhythmic swooshing of the cones that make the jingle dress distinctive offers comfort and peace to not just those inside the circle but those sitting around it.With a teepee set up on the school grounds, Suggashie said the new dancers learned about the teachings that come with the jingle dress.“Just basic protocol like your moon time and wearing a skirt, and the way you put on your dress and doing your hair. Just taking care of your dress at the same time like cleaning it and smudging it and feasting it,” Suggashie said.DFC students Destiny Fiddler and Aleena Crow, both from Sandy Lake First Nation, were welcomed in a special ceremony wearing the jingle dresses they made. Photo: Willow Fiddler/APTNDestiny Fiddler, also from Sandy Lake, wore the jingle dress made by one of her friends.“She didn’t want to dance today so I had the honor to dance with this dress on and was asked,” said the 20-year old.For Crow, it was the first time dancing in the circle.“I was nervous the whole time but I got through it,” Crow said.A photo posted to Nicole Richmond’s Facebook page has been shared more than 750 times. Photo courtesy Nicole RichmondNicole Richmond is one of the Aunties who showed up to support the young women. She said part of being a jingle dress dancer is to move people towards healing.“And sometimes we get really shy when we’re in the circle and we feel nervous and we feel that people are watching us.” Richmond said.“But people love dancers, they love watching dancers and so our job is really important to bring people together.”She said by coming together to form a community it can help others feel strong and proud.Crow said having the support from the Aunties made her more comfortable.“I feel proud that I did it,” said Crow.Richmond said she hopes the jingle dress helps give the students a sense of pride and community.“When you carry yourself in a jingle dress you’re walking in a path of your ancestors who have preserved these traditions, who have gone before you in a good way,” Richmond said.“So when they talk about healing, you’re healing for your ancestors but you’re also healing for future generations.”New Jingle Dress Dancers and the “Aunties.” Photo: Willow Fiddler/APTNSuggashie said she was happy how the community stepped up to show their support for the new dancers, including from Indian Friendship Centre youth group, ONWA, and the Bear Clan Patrol.The vice-principal at DFC said he hopes to make this an annual event.Fiddler said she’s thankful for the chance to participate in the traditions.“I just love my culture. I wish there were more opportunities out there for me to do stuff like this.”wfiddler@aptn.ca@willowblasizzo Willow FiddlerAPTN News SaturdayIt’s known to some as the River of Tears.The McIntyre River in Thunder Bay has claimed the lives of too many First Nations people in the city.But a community of women are now leading the way to healing and transforming it to the River of Hope.“The jingle dress is the healing dress,” said Cheryl Suggashie, a student at Lakehead University from Pikangikum First Nation.Suggashie started dancing jingle dress in 2012 when she was beginning her educational journey.“If I didn’t start dancing I really wouldn’t know where I’d be today,” she told APTN.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Bank of America’s profits rose to a record $6.9 billion last quarter thanks in part to the new tax law and higher interest rates.The consumer banking giant earned $6.92 billion, or 62 cents per share, up from $5.34 billion, or 45 cents a share, from the same period a year ago. Analysts had been expecting a per-share profit of 59 cents, according to FactSet.Like its competitors JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, Bank of America reported a sharp drop in its tax bill Monday, which helped boost profits. While the bank’s pretax income rose by roughly $1 billion, the amount it paid in taxes fell by roughly $500 million in the quarter. The Charlotte, North Carolina, bank estimates that the tax law cut its effective tax rate by 9 percentage points.This first-quarter earnings season will give investors and the public their first good look into how President Donald Trump’s tax law is impacting corporate America. Banks are among the first to report results at the beginning of each quarter.Higher interest rates benefited the bank as well. The Federal Reserve has steadily raised interest rates, allowing banks to charge customers more to borrow. In Bank of America’s consumer banking division, its largest business by revenue and profit, net interest income rose 13 per cent from a year earlier. The bank also grew loans and deposits in the quarter.While higher interest rates should translate into better interest rates for savers, most of the benefits have gone to the banks, not account holders. Bank of America paid just an average of 0.30 per cent on its interest-earning deposits last quarter, up from 0.09 per cent a year earlier.Total revenue for Bank of America in the quarter was $23.13 billion, up from $22.25 billion in the same period a year earlier.
VICTORIA – The British Columbia government filed a constitutional lawsuit Tuesday countering an Alberta government bill that would limit fuel being sent to the province.It comes weeks after the B.C. government asked its highest court to decide if it has the right to limit the flow of bitumen in the Trans Mountain pipeline.Alberta Premier Rachel Notley saw some irony in B.C.’s position.“It’s very interesting, on one hand they don’t want our oil and on the other hand they’re suing us to give them our oil,” she told a news conference in Edmonton on Tuesday.The latest legal action further strains an acrimonious relationship between the two provinces over the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.Attorney General David Eby said B.C. is prepared to ask for an injunction and financial damages against Alberta if it restricts the flow of fuel.Notley said the lawsuit is just one of several tactics to create uncertainty over the Kinder Morgan pipeline project.“They must think everybody was born yesterday,” Notley said. “They are still reserving the right to play legal rope-a-dope until the cows come home. That is not a thing we are going to let happen.”Plans to triple the capacity of Kinder Morgan’s existing Trans Mountain pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby have pitted Alberta and the federal government against B.C., which says the risk of a bitumen spill is too great for the province’s environment and economy.Eby said the Alberta and the federal government are causing delays by refusing to accept B.C.’s invitations to join legal cases, or take legal arguments straight to the Supreme Court of Canada where the outcomes are final.The B.C. government has filed a reference case in the provincial Court of Appeal to determine if it has jurisdiction to regulate heavy oil shipments. It also joined two other lawsuits launched by Indigenous groups opposed to the $7.4-billion pipeline project.Eby said the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Alberta’s Court of Queen’s Bench challenges the constitutionality of Alberta’s law because it is intended to punish B.C.“We believe it would be reckless in the extreme and therefore highly unlikely that Alberta will actually attempt to use the powers they granted themselves in Bill 12,” he told a conference call. “If Alberta did take the remarkable step of attempting to use this law, we are prepared to immediately file and injunction. We will not hesitate.”Notley bowed out of a Western premier’s meeting on Wednesday in Yellowknife, saying she could not discuss issues like a national prescription drug plan in the presence of B.C. Premier John Horgan while his government is trying to stop the pipeline project.“Pharmacare does not grow on trees,” Notley said. “In order to protect and improve the things that matter to people, like pharmacare, we need a strong, functioning national economy.”Before he left for the meeting, Horgan said he didn’t expect tensions over the pipeline to dominate discussions among the premiers.Kinder Morgan has ceased all non-essential spending on the project until it receives assurances it can proceed without delays, setting a May 31 deadline for those guarantees.Notley said Alberta and the federal government are both working on plans to ensure the project proceeds. Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has offered an indemnity to backstop the pipeline project.B.C.’s nine-page statement of claim alleges the intent of Alberta’s bill is to hurt to the province.“A significant disruption in the supply of gasoline, diesel, and crude oil from Alberta to British Columbia would cause British Columbia irreparable harm,” the document asserts. “In addition to economic harm, a sudden disruption in supply could injure human health and safety in remote communities.”
MONTREAL – Advertising rates for Montreal Canadiens games have plummeted due to audience fallout after the Habs’ lacklustre performance last season, one media company says.The RDS and TVA Sports channels — which fall under the umbrellas of BCE Inc. and Quebecor Media Inc., respectively — saw advertisers paying for a per-minute viewership assessed at about 200,000 for the 25-54 age demographic.That’s down from last fall’s initial viewership estimate of about 295,000 and 275,000 for RDS and TVA Sports, respectively.Omnicom Media Group said pricing for a 30-second ad placement this fall dropped to about $5,000 from roughly $7,000 last year as a result of the shift.Last month, TVA Sports announced revenues fell by 60 per cent for a net loss of $9.7 million in the second quarter.The channel, along with Quebecor chief executive Pierre Karl Peladeau, have blamed the Canadiens’ failure to make the playoffs for a major hit to the Montreal-based communication giant’s ad revenues.Companies in this story: (TSX:BCE, TSX:QBR.B)
CALGARY – Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. is downplaying the potential negative impact on its operations from a trade war between the United States and China.China accounts for 12 per cent of North American revenues, with direct business between the world’s two largest economies coming in at less than five per cent, analysts were told during a conference call Thursday about its third-quarter results.“We’re just a business that’s getting tossed around a bit with this China connection being overemphasized in the marketplace,” said chief executive Keith Creel.Chief marketing officer John Brooks said trade tensions and the imposition of hefty import tariffs by both sides have prompted international customers to start to pull forward some of their business.The impact is mainly felt from some Vancouver imports and U.S. grain exports from the Midwest.“But outside of that, we’re pretty resilient in that space. And again, it’s a total percentage, it’s not giant numbers,” Brooks said.Creel said the Calgary-based company aims to ramp up crude shipments over the next few months to a run rate of about 100,000 carloads a year as it looks to generate higher profits after posting record revenues and adjusted earnings in the third quarter.CP Rail earned $622 million or $4.35 per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with $510 million or 3.50 per share for the same period a year earlier.Adjusted earnings rose to $589 million or a record $4.12 per diluted share, two cents better than it forecast earlier this month. The earnings marked a 42 per cent leap from $2.90 per share or $422 million a year earlier, beating the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters Eikon.The quarter showed the success of the railway’s operating model, stated CEO Keith Creel.“It was a record by almost every measure and sets us up well for the remainder of the year and beyond.”Third-quarter revenues grew 19 per cent to $1.9 billion from $1.6 billion.It was led by a 58 per cent growth in currency-adjusted revenues for energy, chemicals and plastics.Creel stressed “crude was a large contributor to this growth,” with more than 23,000 carloads moved in the quarter, but added that the category shot up 23 per cent even before factoring in crude.Adjusted revenues also grew 24 per cent higher in potash, 20 per cent in automotive, 18 per cent in intermodal, 12 per cent in forest products, seven per cent grain, five per cent metals, minerals, consumer, four per cent coal and two per cent fertilizers and sulphur.Brooks acknowledged that wet weather and an early winter in the Prairies could potentially hurt shipments.But crops such as canola are “pretty resilient, as long as they’e not beaten down to the ground.”The company reported a record-low quarterly operating ratio, which measures its efficiency, of 58.3 per cent, compared with 61 per cent a year earlier.Creel said the railway foresees continued and sustainable growth across all lines of business.“We have the foundational underpinnings, and the room to grow, in the weeks, months and years ahead,” he said in a news release.CP Rail said it expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to grow more than 20 per cent this year, up from an earlier guidance of low double-digit growth.Edward Jones analyst Dan Sherman recommended investors buy stock in the 137-year-old company, but cautioned that “trade disagreements with U.S. export partners may also affect the volume of shipments.”Companies in this story: (TSX:CP)
CALGARY – International oil and gas producer Vermilion Energy Inc. is increasing its exposure to the U.S., announcing a $186-million acquisition of assets in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming near its existing operations.It says the purchase includes wells producing about 2,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (63 per cent oil and natural gas liquids) as well as land upon which it expects to drill 93 future wells using horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technology.The Calgary-based company announced a $530-million exploration and development budget for 2019, up from $510 million this year, and said it is targeting production of between 101,000 and 106,000 boepd next year.It reported a net loss of $15 million in the third quarter on oil and gas sales of $508 million, an improvement over a net loss of $39 million on sales of $249 million in the same period of 2017.It produced 96,222 boepd in the three months ended Sept. 30, up from 67,403 boepd a year earlier, mainly because of the purchase of Calgary-based Spartan Energy Corp. for $1.23 billion in shares — a deal that closed in May and added about 23,000 boepd to Vermilion’s Canadian output.Production and financial results were in line with analyst expectations.Outside of North America, Vermilion operates in Australia, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia.Companies in this story: (TSX:VET)
TORONTO – Sidewalk Labs is keen on reviewing and potentially implementing recommendations made by a panel of millennials for the Alphabet Inc.-backed company’s proposed high-tech community in Toronto.The recommendations for the smart city being developed in conjunction with Waterfront Toronto touch on the project’s housing strategy, transit policies, design techniques and even its data and privacy measures, which have been marred in controversy for months because critics believe they lack transparency and safety.The project is meant to develop a swath of prime Toronto waterfront property and outfit it with high-tech innovations that are expected to change how people live, work and play within the smart community and beyond.The 12 panellists chosen by public policy and community advocates spent three months visiting Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Boston, New York and Malmo, Sweden to collect research for the 78-page report they released Friday. They said their goal was to make recommendations that would create an “equitable, inclusive and diverse neighbourhood” that fosters public trust while protecting the privacy of individuals.The panel suggested project organizers address meaningful consent to data collection in public spaces, maintain an open data portal to encourage innovation for the public good and create an independent data trust to manage all data collected.Sidewalks Labs has said it does not intend to own the data it gathers in public spaces and instead will relinquish control of it to an independent organization to be set up and called the Civic Data Trust. The Trust will set the rules around data use, make it open and accessible to people while offering privacy protection and ensure that Sidewalk Labs does not receive any special status or rights when it comes to data access.The panel stopped short of recommending data collected through the project by de-identified at source — a request former Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian has long been lobbying for and said Waterfront Toronto recently “expressed no resistance” towards the policy.When asked why it wasn’t specifically touched on, 24-year-old panellist and information studies graduate student Sharly Chan said “this is just one small piece of the puzzle.”“Data is a complex issue, so we can’t cover everything,” she said. “Cavoukian is asking for data to be de-identified at source and we believe we should definitely do this, but (our recommendations) adds a couple of layers to the Civic Data Trust model.’In an statement emailed to The Canadian Press, Sidewalk Labs’ head of policy and communications Micah Lasher said the company was “grateful” for the report.“These recommendations, which correspond closely with public feedback on the Sidewalk Toronto project, will help inform our work as we draft the Master Innovation and Development Plan,” Lasher added.On the real estate front, the panel suggested project leaders provide affordable housing in perpetuity, set ambitious low- and mid-range housing targets and establish an affordable housing fund to champion, finance and operate its developments.The panellists also asked for public art to be infused into the project, outdoor spaces to be built with maximum usage for rain and snow and the city’s transit network to be expanded in a way that ensures it, cycling and walking are more convenient than driving.Chan said she isn’t sure how the project leaders will go about implementing her group’s ideas, but said she expects “we will know a little bit more about that in the future.”
LOS ANGELES — You’re a mean one — and you’re number one — Mr. Grinch.“Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” sledded past mixed reviews and made off with $66 million for Universal Pictures to top the weekend North American box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.Last week’s top film, the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” drops to second for 20th Century Fox with a $30.8 million weekend that brings its overall take to $100 million.Illumination, the Universal-owned animators behind “The Minions” and “Despicable Me,” produced the latest interpretation of Seuss’ 1957 book that led to a 1966 TV special and first came to the big screen as a live-action feature starring Jim Carrey in 2000.Paramount Pictures’ war-horror hybrid “Overlord” was third in its first weekend with $10.1 million. Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” brought in $9.5 million and finished fourth in its second week. The weekend’s other major debut, “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” made just $8 million and finished fifth.Illumination’s “Grinch,” narrated by Pharrell Williams, gives the title character, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, a backstory in an orphanage and fills out the story of his foil Cindy Lou Who.It’s the second Seuss adaptation for Illumination. Its version of “The Lorax” opened with a comparable $70 million weekend and went on to gross $348.8 million worldwide.“The Grinch” was widely expected to be No. 1 with few other major openings this weekend, but it surpassed projections that had it bringing in closer to $60 million, continuing what’s become a trend in 2018.“‘The Grinch’ is just the latest in a string of over-performers,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was bigger than expected, ‘A Star Is Born’ was bigger than expected. It’s fueling a box-office surge.”The industry has reached a cumulative box office total of $10 billion faster than in any other year, Dergarabedian said.The Christmas theme of “The Grinch” could sustain it through the holidays and Universal hopes it has a longer life than that.“With Thanksgiving coming, we’re poised to have a great run through that,” said Jim Orr, president of domestic distribution for Universal. “Illumination’s created such a classic take on this beloved character that audiences will be enjoying it for a really long time.”But big rivals loom soon, including “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” next week and “Ralph Breaks The Internet” on Nov. 21.“We’ve got a lot of competition coming up for family audiences,” Dergarabedian said.Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday also are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.1. “Dr Seuss’ The Grinch,” $66 million ($12.7 million international).2. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” $30.8 million ($63 million international).3. “Overlord,” $10.1 million, ($9.2 million international).4. “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” $9.5 million, ($13.5 million international).5. “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” $8 million, ($6.2 million international).6. “A Star Is Born,” $8 million ($9 million international).7. “Nobody’s Fool,” $6.5 million.8. “Venom,” $4.8 million ($118.2 million international).9. “Halloween,” $3.8 million ($5.9 million).10. “The Hate U Give,” $2 million.___Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:1. “Venom,” $118.2 million.2. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” $63 million.3. “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” $13.5 million.4. “Dr Seuss’ The Grinch,” $12.7 million.5. “Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer,” $12.4 million.6. “Intimate Strangers,” $9.2 million.7. “Overlord,” $9.2 million.8. “A Star Is Born,” $9 million.9. “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” $6.2 million.10. “Halloween,” $5.9 million.___This story has been corrected to show that “Overlord” earned $10.1 million, not $19 million.___Follow Andrew Dalton on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton .Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press