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CTV News
11 minutes ago
- CTV News
Singer Kehlani praised a Toronto restaurant on social media. Its co-owner says business has been booming ever since
A Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Toronto says that it is experiencing a boost in customers, after R&B star Kehlani gave them a shoutout to her massive following. Tan Trinh, the co-owner of Pho Ngoc Yen, said they've seen a lot of younger patrons come into their newest location over the last few days since the American R&B superstar took to her 6.9 million TikTok followers to heap praise on the establishment, which is located on Adelaide Street near Blue Jays Way. 'We did not realize that she made a video,' he told CTV News. 'We were very, very thankful because this news, it reached a lot of the young audience and my wife's phone was ringing off the hook. So we were very excited about the whole deal.' In the video, Kehlani shows off a table of food. 'My back is big, my heart is full,' she said, touching her heart. 'No notes.' The singer was in town on Saturday night to host an event at Cabana pool bar. Trinh said the restaurant got a call from her team for a reservation for four, which they declined since they only take reservations for parties of more than five. Since the restaurant has capacity for 200 people, they invited them to come regardless. 'Then they came in and our staff recognized her and we were very excited to have such a celebrity come by,' Trinh said. 'After talking to my team, we said, 'hey, listen, we have to be respectful, keep things professional,' so we left them alone.' Since the video was posted on Monday, Trinh's seen a boost in customers, particularly from a younger demographic. Some even want to sit at the same table where she sat, he said. 'I often ask my customers how did they find out about us because we just opened up this location about a month ago,' he said. 'Now with this location, a lot of young adults… come in because of her. She drew a lot of attention to this place.' Pho Ngoc Yen also has locations in Etobicoke and Mississauga. Trinh said he's deeply grateful for the attention Kehlani gave to his newest location and hopes his gratitude reaches her. 'I don't have a chance to thank that young lady, but, we're very thankful, we were thrilled that she came into the restaurant out of all the restaurants in Toronto,' he said. 'Then coming out with a video like that that draws a lot of attention, we're really thankful.'
CTV News
11 minutes ago
- CTV News
Alberta's stuffed gopher museum turns 30 years old
Stuffed gophers on display at the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in central Alberta is marking 30 years of presenting its local history in a wacky, albeit memorable, way. 'I don't know what's wrong with people,' joked director Laural Kurta when asked in a recent interview to explain the museum's popularity. Between May and October – while only offering daily hours during July and August – the museum of stuffed gophers in Torrington counts about 15,000 visitors. Anthropomorphic taxidermy is the official name for the dioramas depicting the history of the hamlet. 'I think part of it is that people just don't have enough to laugh at,' Kurta speculates. Scenes from the community and its past become comical with the stuffed rodents taking the place of humans, be it in church, on a sheet of curling ice, or working at long-closed businesses. World Famous Gopher Hole Museum Torrington Stuffed gophers on display at the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) 'At one point, there were three stores, three restaurants, a comic book store, arcade (and) pool hall. It was a busy, busy little place. But after the railway lines were lifted, the grain elevators went down, people had to take their grain to further markets outside of this community and everything here started to close,' Kurta explained, noting it's a story familiar to many agricultural communities across the Canadian prairies. 'For us in particular, it's left us with virtually nothing. Yet, thousands of people come every year for this ridiculous gopher museum, and we're glad that we're able to give them some kind of joy that way.' The museum was created in 1995 with a $9,000 grant from the provincial government to develop a tourist attraction to boost local business. Since then, it has been fully funded by admission profits. World Famous Gopher Hole Museum Torrington The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta., on July 30, 2025. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) Its opening made international headlines due to protests by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) over the use of the dead animals – but that is precisely the museum's draw. 'We've been, for three years, talking about this place,' said one museum visitor, Tom Higdon. His partner, Karen Leonhardt, added, 'I don't know how many gopher museums there are in the world, but certainly there aren't a lot. … It was just a chance to do something very unique and very local.' Higdon said the museum saw a steady flow of people on the day they visited with their grandchildren. 'It's like that movie, Field of Dreams. Build it and they will come, right?' The museum has also sat on the bucket list of Tina Lorenz for a while, who called it 'as ridiculous and awesome as it sounds.' 'I had a blast with how whimsical the dioramas are,' Lorenz told CTV News Edmonton. 'When you look at things to do in Alberta, they talk about all the big things, like the sausage and the egg and the (Vulcan) Star Trek thing. This is iconic Alberta. You definitely want to come here.' World Famous Gopher Hole Museum Torrington Stuffed gophers on display at the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) Although Kurta's parents were among the museum's founding members and they managed it for two-and-a-half decades, she once swore she'd never be involved with the place. Five years ago, she was sucked into managing it by circumstance and now finds herself at the helm while the museum looks for a new home in Torrington due to a wasp and maple bug problem. It took 30 years, but she has come to recognize both the museum's significance and charm. 'It's really important to represent what used to be here. So it's not so much a vanity project for us, but it is telling stories that people are no longer around to tell,' Kurta said. 'I never wanted anything to do with this place, but I can stand back to the side and just listen to people laugh, and that truly is a gift.' With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
CTV News
11 minutes ago
- CTV News
Hundreds of drivers stopped for speeding, impairment around Shambhala Music Festival, B.C. police say
A police road targeting Shambhala Music Festival attendees near Salmo, B.C., is seen in a handout image. Police pulled over hundreds of drivers for alleged speeding or drug impairment around last month's Shambhala Music Festival, according to B.C. Highway Patrol. Authorities said they issued more than 800 tickets and towed dozens of vehicles before, during and after the electronic music festival, which is held every year in the community of Salmo. 'The temperatures were high and a little uncomfortable for officers working long days in full uniform,' said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin, in a statement. 'But it's clear this enforcement was necessary. Police officers were particularly concerned about getting impaired drivers and unsafe vehicles off the road, and they were right to be concerned.' This year's festival was held from July 25 to 28. B.C. Highway Patrol said officers began watching for problem drivers on the mountain passes into Salmo on July 21, and continued until Shambhala's opening day. During that time, they handed out 360 tickets for speeding and nine more for excessive speeding, the latter defined as going more than 40 km/h over the posted limit. They also issued 11 tickets for not having insurance, plus 11 notices for driving unsafe or mechanically unsound vehicles. Police also watched for impaired driving as people were leaving the festival. McLaughlin said they issued 59 immediate roadside suspensions for drugged driving, and have launched 24 criminal investigations for the same. Headliners at this year's festival included Andy C, Apashe, Big Gigantic, Channel Tres, Glass Beams and Rezz.
