How the Red Cross is assisting Manitobans affected by wildfires
VP of Emergency Management for the Red Cross Melanie Solar on what efforts the organization is making to help those impacted by the wildfires in Manitoba.
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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘That's pure lie,' Islanders say as P.E.I. ranks last in happiness poll
You wouldn't guess it from the boardwalk chatter in Charlottetown, or the smiles in bloom on a sunny afternoon, but Prince Edward Island has ranked last in a national poll on happiness. A recent Leger internet survey of nearly 40,000 Canadians asked respondents to rate their happiness on a scale from zero to 100. Islanders reported an average score of 66.5 per cent, the lowest of any province. By comparison, Quebec came out on top at 72.4 per cent. While some Islanders are brushing it off, others say the ranking reflects deeper issues, from cost-of-living struggles to social isolation. 'That's pure lie. We're very happy people,' said Michelle O'Hanley at the Victoria Park boardwalk. 'Quality of life is really good, so that surprises me,' added Jessica O'Hanley. 'Everything kind of slows down here, people enjoy life,' Chris Carsten said while on a stroll with his family. 'You almost never get a traffic jam,' said Tracy Nguyen. While the province is often seen as postcard perfect, some residents say daily life does come with real pressures. 'It's not a cheap place to live as far as groceries and rent, and income isn't as high as other cities,' said Pius MacPhee. 'Crossing the bridge. And accessibility to metro cities,' added Dhvanit Upadhyay, listing challenges he faces. Suggestion: Listing the challenges he faces, Dhvanit Upadhyay cited 'crossing the bridge' and 'accessibility to metro cities.' Statistics Canada data shows that in the first quarter of 2025, 48.5 per cent of Islanders rated their life satisfaction between eight and 10 out of 10 - nearly identical to the national average of 48.6 per cent. Still, the Leger results have sparked a broader conversation about what well-being looks like in smaller communities. Michael Arfken, an associate psychology professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, said the results reflect what many are feeling, from limited access to family doctors, to struggles with work and wages. He added that the province's size can be both a blessing and a curse. 'A lot of people that have grown up on this Island feel a sense of connection and a sense of community,' he said. 'On the flip side, if you're new here and don't have those established relationships, it can be quite alienating.' For some Islanders, gratitude for the simple pleasures goes a long way. 'I woke up this morning, and my feet touched the floor, I knew I was alive. And I was going to make the most of today,' said Kenny Tierney, back on the boardwalk. On the UPEI campus, a chalk smile drawn on the pavement offered a quiet reminder that joy can still be found all around.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Family struggling with finances cancelled their home insurance. A year later, their house burned down in a wildfire
Tessa and Leonardo Santana have made the Rosthern, Sask., campground their temporary home, while they search for a new place to live. Tessa Santana faced an unthinkable dilemma last year. Does she pay for house insurance or feed her family? 'We weren't in a good place,' Santana told CTV News. 'It's not that I never had house insurance. Last year was tough financially on us.' Santana, a mother and grandmother, opted to cancel her insurance, never imagining the following year her northern Saskatchewan community would be threatened by wildfires. Their home of 20 years, where they watched their kids and grandkids grow, burned down just north of La Ronge in early June. The fire killed most of their animals, including their two dogs and a donkey. 'That's something I've got to live with,' she said. 'We're going to have to rebuild our life.' Today, Sanatana and her husband Leonardo find themselves three hours south in Rosthern, Sask., at the Valley Regional Park Campground. They've been living in their trailer with their 11-year-old dog Coco for the last six weeks. 'We love camping. It feels like an extended camping trip,' she said. 'However, then when reality does hit you and you're like, 'this is our home.'' Santana still gets emotional at times. But she says they are fortunate to have the things they do. There's a TV and reclining chairs in the trailer. They've converted the shower into a closet for storage, and at night they sleep in a king-sized bed. 'We are not really just camping. We are glamping,' she said. 'We're making it as homey as we can.' But it's hard to settle in, she said. At their current site, they have extension cords running from the trailer to an outlet at the site over for power access. They've had to move campsites several times due to other park bookings. 'It's tiring, it really is. But we're thankful we got to move within Rosthern Regional Park and we didn't have to go and finding something else,' she said. The Santanas don't know where they'll end up. The campground will be their home for the summer, but they hope to at least be renting a place by the time the snow flies. Leonardo, who had retired from the mining industry, will return to work Monday. The couple is saving up to buy or build a new home one day. When they do get a house, insurance will be a top priority, Santana said. And she hopes they won't ever be put in this position again. 'But if it ever came down to it again, feeding my family or buying insurance, every time I'm going to feed my family,' Santana said. The insurance gap The Santanas are not alone. Several insurance brokers told CTV News they've received calls from uninsured and underinsured clients who've lost property this wildfire season. A rule of thumb, known as the insurance gap, suggests that for every $1 in insured losses, there are $3 to $4 in uninsured losses borne by homeowners, businesses and governments. Last year was the costliest year on record for severe weather-related losses in Canada, reaching $8.5 billion in insured losses. Following the insurance gap rule, that puts uninsured losses between $25.5 billion to $34 billion. 'For government, that's money coming out of budgets for hospitals, schools and infrastructure development. For businesses, that's money coming out of budgets for business expansion, equipment upgrades and employee compensation,' said Kathryn Bakos, managing director of finance and resilience at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. Bakos said losses can be less if adaptations are made prior to an extreme weather event, including moving combustible materials away from the house and using fire resistant siding and roofing. 'If you put what's called fire smart actions into place, 15 actions around the house, you could potentially reduce the chance of your home burning down by 50 to 75 per cent,' Bakos said.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
More Halifax-area families seeking financial help for day camp enrolment, says YMCA
Day camps are an important rite of summer but an increasing number of parents in the Halifax area are seeking financial assistance to enrol their children. The YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth says of the 831 campers participating in its programs this year, about 40 per cent required financial assistance. That's double last year's figure when only about 20 per cent of children required assistance, according to Alex Jackson, the organization's day camp director. A spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Municipality, which operates a number of day camps, said in an email the municipal parks and recreation summer programs have seen an increase in requests for assistance. "There has been a 40 per cent increase in [subsidized] camp programs from 2024 to 2025," the email said. Jackson said it's a reflection of growing financial pressures on households. "Things are getting more expensive generally," he said. "I'm sure we've all felt that, and it's tough to have that sort of budget set aside for your summer care, but it is still super important." The YMCA camps offer activities like swimming, arts and crafts, and community outings for kids aged five to 12 while school is out. The downtown Halifax location also offers lunch for the children. The cost per week ranges from $230 for YMCA members and $260 for non-members. There is a 10 per cent discount if two or more campers are enrolled. Jackson said the YMCA's financial aid program, which covers at least half of the enrolment fees, is funded through community partnerships and donations. "We do our best to give something to anybody who comes in and asks," Jackson said. He said eligibility hinges on income, expenses, and family size, but the process is straightforward and people are taken at their word. With high demand, Jackson said the YMCA has been trying to bring camps closer to where campers live. This year, new locations have been added in Spryfield, Lower Sackville and Dartmouth. Jackson urged parents who have never enrolled their children in day camp before to give it a try. "They have opportunities to try things they wouldn't do otherwise during the school year ... and they can meet people, make those lifelong connections," he said.
