Downtown Dartmouth heritage district step closer to reality
The public will soon be able to weigh in on the proposed heritage conservation district, which the municipality says will protect a unique area while allowing appropriate development. Haley Ryan has the story.
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Globe and Mail
30 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Our daughter's arrival filled us with joy. Becoming fathers had never been a given
First Person is a daily personal piece submitted by readers. Have a story to tell? See our guidelines at Two months after returning to work following 14 months of parental leave, I find myself navigating unfamiliar territory. During meetings, I check my phone for updates. Is Juliette okay? Did she sleep? Try a new food? This minutia is as compelling as any breaking news. At the same time, I relish adult conversations. I'm now a father, but that's layered on top of everything I was before. I'm a professional, but also a parent. It's a revision of identity, an entirely new chapter; one that brings both longing and liberation. Becoming fathers on Dec. 14, 2023, was never a given. This outcome was the most joyful of moments. A culmination of patience, vulnerability and persistence, manifested in the life-giving generosity of our dear friend turned gestational carrier. Unlike someone carrying a child, as fathers we built our parental bonds differently, intentionally. We accompanied our surrogate to appointments, witnessed ultrasounds and found ways to be close, despite physical distance. The love we felt at Juliette's arrival was met with the sorrow of my mother's cancer diagnosis. Almost overnight, we had a new baby in the nursery and my parents in the guestroom. Funnily enough, now I know the true meaning of a grace period. A pause. Time slowed. Watching my mother, exhausted from treatments, cradle my daughter in her arms, breathing in her newborn scent, was an extraordinary gift. With that gentle rocking, I saw two generations connect across time, sharing a silent language of love. It broke my heart when Dad asked me, 'Was I important?' Nearly every day, I carried Juliette against my chest as we walked through changing seasons – her tiny face taking in the world from the safety of her carrier. Together we witnessed winter melt into spring, summer bloom into fall, these natural cycles becoming the backdrop of our growing relationship. My husband and I melded our lives around Juliette, rather than subscribing to a wholesale transformation. We embarked on road trips, camped beneath mountain skies, fell asleep to ocean waves and even braved international travel. The daily rituals mattered equally: skin-to-skin contact, late-night feedings, learning to interpret every tiny sound. This immersive connection taught me that the bond between daughter and father grows through unwavering presence. As gay fathers, we expected the practical complexities of creating our family. But more surprising was the unspoken pressure to be exemplary parents – as if we had to wear our gratitude and worthiness like capes – proving our super-dad status. The pressure to be perfect manifested in hypervigilance. Every developmental milestone carried an added weight. Is she rolling over on time? How many words does she have? We found ourselves measuring our child against every chart and guideline – each one a test of our parental abilities, instead of an honest observation of Juliette's own journey. With time, we gave ourselves more grace, celebrating Juliette's progress on her own terms, instead of against an external standard of excellence. Many non-traditional families will relate to this prove-your-worth mentality. But the truth is, it's vulnerability, not perfection, that makes for authentic parenting. Regardless of how your family comes into being, there's no manual for parenthood. And with that immense responsibility comes loss – the loss of my former self, the spontaneous freedom we once had, the life we knew before. Sometimes, I'll glance at my nightstand and gaze longingly at an abandoned novel. I'll imagine losing myself in its pages, only to be interrupted by a wail or giggle, yanking me firmly down to earth. Making plans with friends is no longer spontaneous, but an exercise in careful planning. My carefree days are behind me, not on a brief pause, but indeterminately. There is grief in knowing this. But it's not regret that my husband and I feel when we exchange a knowing smile – it's recognition that whatever we've lost has been repaid a hundredfold by what we've gained. It's been liberating to hold my infinite gratitude for Juliette alongside mourning an earlier iteration of myself. We are all works in progress, and it's the carefree college student and the optimistic young husband that have brought me to this path – culminating in this newest version, known most frequently as papa. Unlike previous evolutions, parenthood happens with sudden intensity. Only now, with time and space, can I see this reality more clearly in the rearview mirror. Yet, this grief doesn't diminish my fulfilment. It deepens it. My mother is now in remission, my daughter is thriving, and I am back at work. It's not the same as it once was. It's better. Because joy comes from navigating the spaces in between – between professional and parent, between who I was and who I'm becoming. As I adjust to this new balance, I carry these truths: Family is created through love as much as circumstance; connection grows most deeply when challenged; and life's most profound journeys require us to redefine ourselves. The space between miracles – between birth and growth, between joy and grief, between leaving and returning – this is where life truly unfolds. Samuel Breau lives in La Pêche, Que.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
What's that noise? CFB Borden holds controlled explosion operations
Military personnel conduct explosive operations at CFB Borden in Angus, Ont., on Wed., June 11, 2025. Residents may hear loud bangs near Canadian Forces Base Borden this week, but don't worry, it's all part of a planned operation. Military personnel with the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) in Angus will be carrying out controlled explosions on the base Wednesday and Thursday as part of routine disposal work. The detonations are scheduled to take place between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on both days. CFB Borden Military personnel conduct explosive operations at CFB Borden in Angus, Ont., on Wed., June 11, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge) The activity may be heard by residents in nearby communities, but officials stress there is no cause for concern. Strict safety protocols will be in place throughout the operation, and there is no danger to the public or surrounding infrastructure. CFB Borden Military personnel conduct explosive operations at CFB Borden in Angus, Ont., on Wed., June 11, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge) The controlled detonations are part of the military's effort to safely dispose of outdated, dud or misfired ammunition. CFB Borden is the largest training establishment in the CAF, with roughly 20,000 military personnel trained at the base annually.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
New report details 'concerning' structural damage at Elizabeth Ziegler Public School
Social Sharing A crumbling façade is just the beginning of several major structural issues plaguing Elizabeth Zielger Public School (EZPS) in Waterloo, according to a long-awaited engineering report released Wednesday. The report, first mentioned at a community meeting in March, was ordered by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) after bricks fell from the outside walls of EZPS, forcing a closure that at first lasted just two days, then two weeks, and now the remainder of this school year and next. But according to the report, engineers have discovered additional issues with the building, including steel-beamed headers, floor and roof joists that are moderately to severely corroded, posing "safety concerns to any occupants inside or around the building." The report continues by saying "repairing the deteriorated structural members is a critical step to reinstating occupancy for the school." School board's plan The board says they plan to repair the school by installing a new steel frame on the interior, with new foundations to support it. Once that has been completed, repairs to the façade can begin. Bill Lemon is the associate director of business services at WRDSB. He told CBC News the report is encouraging, mapping out "a way forward to restore the school and regain occupancy for the staff and students." "What I'm excited about is the proposed steel frame that's going to be incorporated into the building," said Lemon, adding that it "will allow us to use that building for a much longer period of time." But before work can begin, a design report for the restoration and repair of EZPS needs to be presented for approval to the City of Waterloo Municipal Heritage Committee. "We're hoping that we can have that sooner rather than later because that is an important step in this process for us to make sure that our proposed design meets with their expectations," said Lemon. Funding the repairs and restorations is also a concern. "It would be a capital project and we would be drawing on whole number of fiscal resources," said Lemon. "For the potential size of a project such as this, we would need to engage the ministry [of education] and make them aware," he said. Lemon said that "as it is right now … with some support, we would be able to manage that within our own resource envelope." A full cost of the project is not yet available. For parent Suzie Taka, the report finally being released brings some relief, but doesn't exactly put her fears to rest. "I don't love the idea that we need entirely new steel beams," said Taka, whose son had been attending EZPS for the past two years. "That feels concerning about what the state of the school was." However, despite news that damages far exceeded what she originally thought, Taka said she is glad to finally have some answers. "I'll be honest, I was actually thrilled when I first opened the email," she said. "We've all been most concerned about it being a tear down and the timeline." Now that the report has been released, Taka said she's curious what the next steps are. "I have big questions about what things will cost, what their plans are for funding, any timeline would be great and any contingency plans, if things become ongoing and they uncover more concerns," she said. "I think it's very hard when we keep getting these direct communications and we don't get to have an actual conversation." Communication and timelines are concerns shared by parent Ian McDonald, who has been vocal in his quest for answers from the school board and its trustees. He's concerned repairs won't be done in time. "There are only 15 months until the start of the 2026-2027 school year," he said in an email to CBC News. The WRDSB release containing the engineering report said the next update is expected on June 25.
