Stanley park Christmas train cancelled after 26 years, burn fund faces $500K crisis
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
For the first time in 26 years, the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund will not be operating its annual fundraising event alongside the Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park.The Vancouver Park Board announced Tuesday(July 8) that the Stanley Park train will remain out of service for the rest of 2025 due to extensive and costly mechanical repairs. The decision leaves the Burn Fund, which has relied on the event for a significant portion of its annual fundraising, without one of its most visible and successful platforms.The Bright Nights fundraiser has long supported burn survivors across British Columbia, helping fund medical equipment, housing, and children's burn camps.'This is the first year that it won't operate with the train in Stanley Park,' said Jeff Sauvé, Executive Director of the Burn Fund. 'But now it's about pivoting and finding a solution.'The holiday train ride , part of the Bright Nights in Stanley Park attraction, has traditionally featured festive lights, family-friendly displays, and thousands of volunteer hours from local firefighters. Each year, about 800 firefighters spend nearly a month setting up the lights and decorations around the miniature train route.At its height, the fundraiser brought in close to $500,000, with the Burn Fund receiving both donations and a portion of the ticket sales. Last year, however, the event only generated around $200,000, after the train service was halted mid-season due to an engineer falling ill from exhaust fumes.Sauvé confirmed the Burn Fund had concerns earlier this year that the train might not operate, but the official news came Tuesday along with the public announcement. 'At this point, there hasn't been any discussion of what the future of the train will look like,' he said.While the Burn Fund says the loss of the train is a significant hit, Sauvé remains optimistic. 'We are sure one of our partners will step up,' he said. The organization is now exploring alternative fundraising options to support its work in the absence of the train.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Novo Nordisk faces 'show me' moment to boost Wegovy growth after US copycat ban
By Maggie Fick LONDON (Reuters) -A U.S. ban on copycat versions of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has begun to lift use of the weight loss drug, but the company will need to show more robust growth in the months ahead to bolster market confidence, investors and analysts say. New Wegovy prescriptions have increased by about 33% since May 22, when a U.S. Food and Drug Administration ban on so-called compounded versions of Wegovy took effect, amounting to 181,200 in the week ended July 18, according to data from IQVIA that was shared with Reuters by industry analysts. Total Wegovy prescriptions have also increased, narrowing the lead for Eli Lilly and Co's Zepbound. In the week ended May 23, U.S. Zepbound prescriptions exceeded Wegovy by nearly 175,000. By July 18, the gap was about 133,000. Early signs of a shift come at a critical juncture for Novo. After Wegovy's initial stunning success, investor confidence was rattled when Zepbound and compounders started to slow the drug's growth. And then in May, the Danish company cut its full-year sales and earnings forecasts and announced the surprise exit of Chief Executive Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, citing market challenges and a stock price nearly 60% below its 2024 peak. Jorgensen said at the time he expected the FDA compounding ban to lift sales in the second half of this year. Investors are keen to hear whether that is still likely when the company reports quarterly earnings on August 6. That leaves the drugmaker in what Barclays analyst Emily Field called a "show me" phase - no longer buoyed by optimism about a turnaround but under pressure to deliver. She has an "overweight" rating on Novo's shares. "We thought this trajectory change (in new prescriptions) would get the shares moving, but not so far," Berenberg analyst Kerry Holford told Reuters. "I suspect investors are now waiting for the (second quarter) update - will they/won't they trim guidance range? I think they will trim the top." Berenberg has a "hold" rating on Novo. Novo did not respond to a request for comment. Investors and analysts note that the IQVIA prescription data is incomplete, because it does not capture sales of Wegovy through the company's direct-to-consumer platform, NovoCare, launched in March. They estimate the channel is still a small slice of overall Wegovy volume. "We would hope to see strong growth from the NovoCare channel but are cognizant that this may come at initially lower prices" due to discount offers, said Marcus Morris-Eyton, a portfolio manager at Alliance Bernstein, whose fund holds Novo shares. "Sentiment towards Novo Nordisk is currently exceptionally weak, but given low expectations, the low valuation and hopefully accelerating prescription data in (the second half of 2025) we believe the market is underestimating Novo's long term growth potential," he said. BRINGING BACK PATIENTS Booming sales of Wegovy catapulted Novo to become Europe's most valuable listed company, peaking in June 2024 at about 615 billion euros, after the weekly injection became the first highly-effective obesity treatment approved in the U.S. in 2021. But supply disruptions and gaps in health insurance coverage for Wegovy helped fuel the market for cheaper compounded - or copycat - versions, which are allowed under U.S. law when drugs are in shortage. Investor sentiment on Novo soured after the company lost ground to U.S. rival Eli Lilly, which launched Zepbound in late 2023. In its first full-year forecast downgrade since Wegovy's launch, Novo said in May it expected local-currency sales growth of 13–21%, down from a previous forecast of 16–24%. Operating profit growth is projected at 16–24%, versus 19–27% previously. Capturing more of the patients who had turned to compounded drugs is key to meeting those targets. The FDA determined that Wegovy was no longer in shortage in February, leading to the ban on compounded versions. Novo has rolled out new tactics to bring patients back, including a limited-time discount for one month's supply, and secured better coverage from insurer CVS Health. Analysts at Berenberg and UBS are sceptical these moves will provide enough momentum and expect that Novo will reduce or narrow its full-year guidance ranges, according to research notes. TD Cowen said the outcome was hard to predict due to limited visibility on NovoCare. Bank of America and Guggenheim said they did not expect another guidance cut and Barclays said it was unlikely. ($1 = 0.8513 euros)
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
AXA wins UK court ruling against Santander over PPI claims
Frensh insurer AXA has won a legal case in a London court, resulting in a ruling of approximately £680m (€781.53m) against Santander for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI). The issue involved losses from mis-selling complaints related to PPI policies underwritten by two companies acquired by AXA from Genworth in 2015. These policies were originally sold by a company that Santander acquired in 2009. The legal proceedings initiated by AXA in the High Court of London in 2021 were prompted by losses associated with more than 650,000 customer complaints regarding PPI policies, with banks having disbursed around £40bn in compensation, according to Reuters. AXA, which assumed responsibility for these liabilities following its acquisition of two Genworth units in 2015, has already paid nearly £500m in consumer redress and over £70m related to complaints, Judge Julia Dias said in her ruling. In her judgement, Judge Dias confirmed that AXA "has a valid claim for an indemnity" against Santander Insurance Services UK concerning the payments made for redress and fees associated with the ombudsman. Legal representatives for AXA at Quinn Emanuel indicated that the ruling's value is estimated at £675m. However, an AXA spokesperson clarified that the company would only receive a portion of the total amount awarded, as Genworth has already compensated AXA for a significant share of the losses incurred from the mis-selling. Genworth Financial stated that it anticipates receiving around $750m, contingent on the current exchange rate. In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for Santander expressed disagreement with the court's decision and indicated plans to appeal. The spokesperson further stated: "We do not expect the net impact of the judgment to be material for Santander given provisions already made and the potential legal actions available. 'No customers have suffered loss as a consequence of the claim brought by AXA France or the judgment, nor does it impact upon past redress paid to customers for PPI complaints." "AXA wins UK court ruling against Santander over PPI claims" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Best CD rates today, July 28, 2025 (Lock in up to 5.5% APY)
Today's CD rates still hover well above the national average. The Federal Reserve reduced its target interest rate three times in 2024. This had a ripple effect on deposit account rates, which means now could be your last chance to lock in today's high rates with a certificate of deposit (CD). Here's a look at today's best CD rates and where you can find the best offers. Best CD rates today As of July 28, 2025, the highest CD rate is 5.5% APY, offered by Gainbridge® on its 5-year CD. There is a $1000 minimum opening deposit required. Here is a look at some of the best CD rates available today from our verified partners. This embedded content is not available in your region. National average CD rates If you're considering a CD, these rates are some of the highest available, especially when compared to the national average rates, which are significantly lower. It's also worth noting that online banks and credit unions generally offer more competitive rates compared to traditional brick-and-mortar banks. Read more: What is a good CD rate? Here's a look at the average CD rate by term as of June 2025 (the most recent data available from the FDIC): The highest national average interest rate for CDs stands at 1.77% for a 1-year term. However, in general, today's average CD rates represent some of the highest seen in nearly two decades, largely due to the Federal Reserve's efforts to combat inflation by keeping interest rates elevated. How to find the best CD rates If you're thinking about opening a CD, it's important to choose one with a high APY and term length that matches your financial goals. Here are some tips for finding the best CD rates and accounts that match your needs: Shop around: It's a good idea to evaluate CD rates from a variety of financial institutions and compare your options before settling on an account. You can easily compare CD rates online. Consider online banks: Online banks tend to have lower overhead costs, which allows them to offer higher interest rates on CDs. In fact, online banks often have the most competitive rates available. Check minimum deposit requirements: Higher CD rates might come with higher minimum deposit requirements, so make sure the amount you plan to deposit aligns with the requirements to get the best rate. Review account terms and conditions: Beyond the CD's rate, look at terms for early withdrawal penalties and auto-renewal policies. Some CDs offer better terms for flexibility, such as no-penalty CDs, which allow you to withdraw your funds without a fee before the maturity date.
