Mark Critch honours his dad — journalist ‘Mr. Crime' — with new award and shares stories
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
31 minutes ago
- CTV News
Pride flag raising kicks off Windsor's PrideFest
Windsor's Pride flag has been raised ahead of PrideFest in the city. Windsor's PrideFest is officially underway with the Pride flag raising at city hall. Over 200 were in attendance to kick-off Windsor's Pridefest 2025. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor Pridefest president Wendy Nicholson did the honours of raising the flag. The flag symbolizes the struggle for equality, human rights, and the fight against homophobia, bigotry, and alienation. PrideFest runs from Aug. 1 to 10, with several events taking place in Windsor-Essex, including the Pride Shabbat Dinner Friday evening at the Barbershop Bar, and a disco party Friday night at Disco Inferno. In addition, there are many family-friendly events over the duration of the festival including activities and musical performances at Lanspeary Park Aug. 8 to 10, culminating with the pride parade. The parade is a symbol of the inclusion and harmony the festival is all about. Wendy Nicholson is the president of Windsor Pridefest. Nicholson is enthusiastic about the community support but cautions that the struggle continues to have basic human rights guaranteed to everyone, without exception. 'Why do you still need Pride? Well, it's the bigotry,' said Nicholson. 'And I spoke on that in my speech. The homophobia, the racism. Every phobia and ism that you can put in there. This is why we still need Pride. We just want to bring the love. We want to bring everybody together. We just want to have everybody live in peace.'
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
London-born promoter of The Rolling Stones, Queen, and KISS passes away
London's arts and entertainment community is mourning the passing of a Forest City music icon. Nick Panaseiko Sr. was a lifelong promoter of local acts you might not have heard of and some you surely have. He brought mega rock band KISS to Canada throughout the 70s, including a concert in London in 1974, just as they launched into superstardom. His son, Jay, then a year old, was at the event in his father's arms, the first of many KISS shows he would see over the next half-decade. Jay Panaseiko Jay Panaseiko seen in London, Ont. on Aug. 1, 2025. (Sean Irvine/CTV News Windsor) But KISS was not the only band Nick would come to know during a lifetime of music promotion. 'Freddie Mercury, Blondie, Phil Collins, Etta James and, yes, KISS', Jay said as he pointed at pictures of stars in a book on his father written by Bob Klanac. 'And this isn't even a drop in the water of all the people he worked with.' It is not an exaggeration. Super promoter and fashion-forward Nick worked with the Rolling Stones and, on the other side of the music spectrum, Liberace. Nick Panaseiko Sr Nick Panaseiko Sr. seen alongside Freddie Mercury. (Provided by Jay Panaseiko & Panaseiko Family) But at his core, Nick Panaseiko was a hometown boy who found his way back to the Forest City. He passed away here on Thursday, on his terms, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. 'I miss him already,' reflected a grieving Jay. Also a music promoter, Jay takes pride in his father's famous connections. But he contends those connections do not form his father's legacy. Instead, he marvels at his dad's achievements at home, where, later in life, he mentored and promoted local acts. 'He knew what the band had to do to get there. And he was able to guide them, consult with them and drive them that way.' Nick Panaseiko Nick Panaseiko seen alongside Liberace. (Provided by Jay Panaseiko & Panaseiko Family) Nick Sr. would receive platinum and a gold record from KISS for his support, and a lifetime achievement award from artists in London. 'I mean, the fact that he was travelling and zooming around with The WHO or Queen or whatever, that's fantastic. Like, I mean, that's the height of heights, right?' said Mario Circelli, the chair of the London Music Hall of Fame. 'I mean the impact, the fingerprints that he left on the local music community over four decades, well, that's really why he's enshrined as a Forest City London Music Award Lifetime Achievement recipient.' Nick Panaseiko Sr Nick Panaseiko Sr. seen alongside Mick Jagger. (Provided by Jay Panaseiko & Panaseiko Family) An achievement Jay will carry with pride, as he emerges from his father's shadow. 'It was hard for me because I was always shadowed by his greatness, and now I think he's shining above me and down on me,' he said. While there are no public funeral plans for Nick Panaseiko Sr., a posthumous fundraising concert is being considered for the fall.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Wuthering Frights and summer nights at the fringe: Long weekend activities in Calgary
Taste of Calgary 2024 will be held Aug. 1 to 5. (Facebook/Taste of Calgary) The long weekend has arrived and there are plenty of local events happening in Calgary. Calgary Fringe Festival The Calgary Fringe Festival kicks off Friday evening and runs until Saturday August 9th. The open access theatre festival brings together emerging and established artists alike to tell their stories on stage. '(It's) a chance to kind of kick back, relax, have fun, Might be some kind of campfire stories that we may be telling,' said Fringe Festival executive director Michelle Gallant. In total there are 20 shows, all under an hour long with tickets costing $20. There are three mainstage venues: Festival Hall, Lantern Community Church, and the Inglewood Hub, 'There is also some pay-what-you-want options for any patrons on a tight budget,' said Gallant. 'One of the great things that I love about the festival is that it's supporting the emerging indie artists -- and 100 per cent of the ticket price goes right back to the artists.' Gallant expects 4,500-5,000 people to attend the nine-day event. Taste of Calgary Thursday, Taste of Calgary kicked off at LOT 6, 311 Eighth St. S.W. downtown. It runs until Monday. 'Taste of Calgary is a celebration of food and it's for all the foodies out there,' said event producer Jennifer Rempel. There are over 90 restaurants, food trucks, brewers and distillers people can choose from. 'There is everything from Nigerian, African, Caribbean, Korean food, all sorts of really international cuisines,' said Rempel. The event also features live music, as Rempel expects between 10,000 – 15,000 people each day. Road Safety RCMP are reminding people to be extra cautious on the road heading into the long weekend. In a media release, it offered some long weekend tips:
