4-year-old dead, 2 women injured in bus crash near West Van ferry terminal: police
A young child has died and two women are in hospital, after they were hit by a bus near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver on Wednesday. Johna Baylon has the latest.
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Globe and Mail
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Seek markets elsewhere: A found poem about tariffs
Claire Cameron is a novelist, essayist and author of the memoir How to Survive a Bear Attack. This poem was assembled using quotes from Canadian reporting about legislation passed in the United States in 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. What is Canada? I Don't Have a Family Doctor To Sleep on the Street Charles Thirteen Halloweens
CBC
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The magic of summer camp inspired Charis Cotter's new novel
Charis Cotter says some of her earliest memories are of attending summer camp as a child in Ontario. "We'd have dress-up nights and skits. I loved the skits. And singing, the singing was great. To me [it] was just magical," she said. She draws on these magical memories for her latest novel The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall, which tells the story of a girl who goes to summer camp for the first time and encounters a ghostly mystery. The prolific and award-winning author of children's books moved to Western Bay, Newfoundland, about 15 years ago, after spending most of her life in Toronto. She believes the move gave her the same sense of vitality she used to experience in the summers of her childhood. "Growing up in the city, but going out and being in the country, I just felt like I came alive. It was where I belonged. It inspired me," she said. Living next to a large cemetery in Toronto, and then moving into a house situated between two cemeteries in Western Bay, she has always been drawn to the sense of wonder graveyards inspire. "I always want there to be more to life than what you can see and touch, that there's something more mysterious happening, and magical," she said. In her writing, she approaches the idea of the supernatural with a sense of playfulness rather than fear. "To me it's a key to get into a child's imagination. It's with grownups, too. You start talking about ghosts, and immediately everyone is listening." An author and a performer Cotter has authored more than a dozen books for young readers, garnering accolades from the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards and the Atlantic Book Awards for children's literature, plus national and international awards. Yet, her first passion was acting, and she still brings that early love to her craft through engaging presentations. Cotter especially enjoys visiting children in classrooms. Drawing on her theatre training — she studied acting in Toronto and London, England — she presents dramatic readings in character and helps children learn to tell their own stories. Among her many personas, she has given readings dressed as Queen Elizabeth II and as a housecleaning ghost from Scottish lore. She also does creative writing workshops with school children. Two of her titles, The Ghosts of Baccalieu and The Ghosts of Southwest Arm, are collections of stories arising out of these classroom writing workshops. "I want to stimulate kids' imaginations," she said. "I want them to be creative and lose themselves in daydreams and use their imaginations because I just think it's vital to human existence and creativity." In The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall, the young protagonist feels different from other kids and is nervous about attending summer camp for the first time. In fact, many of Cotter's novels feature characters who feel out of step with their peers. "I think a lot of kids feel that way," she said. "I think kids can relate on some level to that feeling of not being sure of yourself and not being sure of your friends … or feeling that you're weird or different." What inspires her to write about these young characters? Cotter believes she is a 10-year-old at heart. "Everybody has an age that they are inside that's not their chronological age, it's their psychological age or the age that they operate from and see the world around them. And I always say that I'm 10 inside," she said. "There's insecurity, hesitation, but the world is opening up." Tender subjects Whether she's writing a new ghost story or telling tales to a room full of fifth graders, Cotter is driven by a deep empathy for the children she engages with. "I want their emotional experience of life to be validated," she said. Sometimes in a classroom setting, a child will disclose their real-life experience of grief. "Somebody will say, my father died last year, or my grandmother died. And then I have to try to respond to them in a way that isn't just playing, it's something more. And it's very moving when that happens." Ultimately, Cotter's goal is to inspire delight in her young readers. "My books are always to do with ghosts, and ghosts have to do with death. So, there is a sadness in my books. But my main purpose in writing is always to give the reader a good time, to entertain them and have fun, and pull them into another world," she said. In the coming months, Cotter will offer signing events in Newfoundland and Ontario. She also hopes to do another school tour in the fall. Copies of The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall are available in all bookstores. Her next local book signing will take place at Coles in the Village Mall in St. John's on Saturday, June 14, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
A sleep expert explains why you need lighter, breathable blankets this summer
As temperatures climb, most people naturally adjust their routines: more patio time, fewer layers, an uptick in ice cream consumption. But overlooking one key change at bedtime could sabotage your slumber during the warmer months. As hot nights lead to restless sleep, too many of us keep using our winter-weight bedding. A seasonal swap to lighter, breathable blankets isn't just about aesthetics (though breezy linens and nautical stripes can transform a bedroom into something more beach-y and fun). Experts say it could also be one of the simplest ways to deepen your sleep from June to September. 'Changing blankets seasonally can help improve sleep quality by keeping your body at a comfortable temperature,' says Armin Rahmani, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist. 'Since your thermal needs vary depending on the season, using the same blanket year-round may not provide the best sleep environment.' Struggling with insomnia? 'Sleep hygiene' rules could be making it worse Overheating at night is more than just uncomfortable. 'It can reduce the amount of deep sleep you get, which is critical for feeling rested,' explains Rahmani, who also sits on the board of the Canadian Sleep Society, an advocacy group whose goal is to improve sleep for all Canadians. 'Even mild discomfort from feeling too warm can lead to more fragmented sleep and lighter sleep stages.' Losing sleep over your blanket might sound ironic, even silly, but the consequences can be serious. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research links chronic sleep deprivation to a multitude of issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and poor mental health. And Canadians aren't exactly getting enough shuteye as it is. According to a 2023 survey by Narrative Research, just 16 per cent of us report sleeping well all seven nights of the week. Blankets are not the only cause. Tariffs, politics and a slumping economy are among the many stressors likely keeping us tossing and turning. But it's still worth asking: What should you be snuggling up with when it's more than 25 degrees at midnight? To get clues, Rahmani points to a recent systematic review published in the Journal of Sleep Research. 'The findings highlight that the relationship between bedding materials and sleep is complex,' he says. 'No single blanket type is ideal for everyone. But generally, lighter, breathable materials may benefit those who tend to overheat or sleep in warmer environments.' Insulative materials such as wool and down, he notes, are generally better for chillier seasons. Sogol Asghari, president of Canada's Institute of Textile Science, agrees. 'The most suitable blankets for summer are made from breathable, moisture-wicking and lightweight materials,' she says. 'Fabrics with loose weaves promote airflow and help regulate body temperature during sleep.' Both experts suggest natural fibres such as linen, cotton and bamboo. 'Studies show linen can improve sleep quality under warm conditions, especially in young adults,' Rahmani says. 'For cotton, which can be relatively affordable, look for lightweight, percale-weave cotton for a cooler feel. Bamboo-based fabrics are antimicrobial and naturally cool to the touch.' There can also be environmental pluses, depending on the fabrics. 'From a sustainability perspective, organic cotton and bamboo are appealing options for ecoconscious consumers – when responsibly sourced,' Asghari adds. Look for seals of approval from organizations such as OEKO-TEX, which screens for products detrimental to human health, or the Forest Stewardship Council, which notes the companies that responsibly grow products like bamboo. As for what to avoid? 'Polyester and other synthetic materials may trap heat and sweat, which can disrupt sleep, especially for hot sleepers,' Rahmani says. In short, aim for anything comfortable. If you're waking up tangled in sweaty sheets or peeling polyester off your legs at dawn, your blanket might be unfit for the season. Summer sleep should feel like bliss, not bedlam. A good summer blanket begins with a natural and lightweight fabric.
