Barrie celebrates Pride March
Barrie celebrated the eve of Pride Month with their annual Pride March in the downtown core Saturday afternoon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
12 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
A place to hide
Shilah, a Ugandan trans woman living in a shelter on the outskirts of Kampala, fears for her safety every day. In Uganda, homophobia is rampant and homosexuality has long been a crime. In the past two years, it has even become punishable by death. 'I am only leaving my house at night. … Otherwise, I am afraid someone might see me and hurt me,' the 25-year-old says. The Globe and Mail is not identifying Shilah or other members of the country's LGBTQ community because of fears for their safety. The persecution of the LGBTQ community in Uganda began in the colonial era, with same-sex relationships described as 'against the order of nature' in the penal code going back to 1902. In 2009, under the growing influence of powerful evangelical movements, an anti-homosexuality bill was introduced in Parliament. Adopted in 2014, the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) banned the 'promotion' of LGBTQ rights and prescribed life imprisonment for 'aggravated acts,' including sexual relations with minors or individuals living with HIV. However, Uganda's Constitutional Court annulled the law a few months later because of procedural irregularities. In May, 2023, after a back-and-forth between Parliament and President Yoweri Museveni, a new version of the AHA was made into law. This time, the death penalty was introduced for 'aggravated acts,' and the new law provides for up to 20 years in prison for the 'promotion of homosexuality.' According to Amnesty International, the law 'flagrantly violates the human rights of LGBTI people.' The personal fallout from the laws is apparent at Shilah's shelter, as most of the residents have lost their jobs because of their sexual orientation. Shilah used to work as a peer educator for opioid users in Uganda's capital, but when debates in Parliament for the AHA bill began, violence against her and her partner escalated in their neighbourhood. She was forced to flee Kampala and struggled to find any landlords willing to rent to her. Eventually, she found refuge in the shelter and turned to sex work to survive. 'I don't mind being a sex worker,' she says, 'but the violence I face on the streets, even from the police, is a burden that's very hard to bear in daily life.' The approval of the AHA in 2023 triggered a new wave of homophobia, with both police and civilians targeting LGBTQ individuals. Accurate numbers of attacks are lacking because the community 'does not report assaults to the police,' says Charity Kusemererwa, founder of the Ugandan NGO Let's Walk, which advocates for LGBTQ rights. Based on the limited data Let's Walk has managed to gather by approaching members of the community, those most at risk of violence are 'transgender people and homosexuals.' However, among other LGBTQ Ugandans, 'no one is safe,' Ms. Kusemererwa warns. In December, 2023, all members of her NGO were arrested by the police. 'They forced us to shut down our premises – but once we were released, we decided to reopen elsewhere,' Ms. Kusemererwa says. Since then, Let's Walk has been operating with utmost discretion in Kampala, fearing further violence. Alex, 22, is also living in a shelter near Kampala. In his hometown in Central Uganda, he was severely beaten in 2023 after being seen with his boyfriend in public. He tried to hide his sexuality from his family, who were openly homophobic. The only person he confided in was his grandmother, who accepted him as he was. However, in August, 2024, she was hospitalized and passed away soon after. When his family discovered his sexuality, his brothers and father assaulted him. As Alex recounts this, he buries his face in his hands. He trembles and apologizes. 'I need to go to the bathroom,' he says. While he collects himself, one of his roommates opens up: 'A few months ago, he started drinking alcohol daily. He's not working and is very depressed – it's heartbreaking.' When Alex returns, he sits down on the floor and continues his story. 'My family blamed me for my grandmother's death,' he says. He picks up his phone and shows the last conversation he had with his brother. The final message from his brother reads: 'I am very disappointed in you. They say it's your fault she died.' Tragically, Alex and Shilah's stories are far from unique. The plight of the LGBTQ community in Uganda is dire, and the survival of shelters like theirs is increasingly under threat every day since the AHA bill passed.
Globe and Mail
12 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Oilers Nation North In Whatì, Northwest Territories, population 550, diehard Edmonton Oilers fans are everywhere Writing and photography by Pat Kane Whatì, Northwest Territories The Globe and Mail Published 1 hour ago
In Whatì, Northwest Territories, there are two big questions on everyone's mind right now: When will the lake be ice-free to set fishing nets, and will their beloved Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup? 'We've been Oilers fans since the beginning, since birth,' Gerry Nitsiza says, adding in a boisterous cheer, 'We want Cup! We want Cup!' Whatì, a remote Dene community 160 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife, is a quiet place known mostly for traditional pursuits such as caribou and moose hunting, fishing and trapping. The picturesque community sits on the shore of Lac La Martre, the third-largest lake in the Northwest Territories. One-of-a-kind beadwork and moccasins are found here. Foxes, rabbits and the occasional black bear roam the bushes nearby. But Whatì is also known as Oilers Nation North – almost every one of the roughly 550 residents is an Edmonton Oilers superfan. Orange-and-blue Oilers flags fly outside most homes, or hang in living-room and car windows. Gerry and Leona Nitsiza used scrap lumber to build an Oilers sign and logos that they attached to the siding of their home during last year's Stanley Cup run. 'It took us a while to build these, and then everyone started asking us to build them,' Mr. Nitsiza says. His brother, Reginald Nitsiza, has 'Oilers' in lumber on his shed, but added flags across his fence. He also has a replica Stanley Cup made of a paint bucket and a plastic bowl wrapped in tinfoil that sits atop a plinth that he built. 'You know what? When Toronto and Florida were playing, I was cheering for Florida because I wanted a rematch,' Reginald says. When asked if there are any local Leafs fans, he chuckles. 'No, only Oilers.' It is not uncommon to see Edmonton Oilers supporters in the Northwest Territories. The entire territory is full of diehard fans, from the Alberta boundary to the Arctic Ocean. In Inuvik, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Oilers fans gathered beside the Mackenzie River and snapped selfies after the team beat the Dallas Stars to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup final. Several other communities held celebration rallies, including Whatì. 'The Oilers are closest [geographically], so we consider Edmonton our home team,' Leona Nitsiza says. But Whatì's enthusiasm for the team is unmatched in the North, and given its size, it is impressive to see so much Oilers swag packed into a town that is smaller than most neighbourhoods in Toronto. Francis Beaverho decorates his truck in Oilers flags and drives around the community honking his horn when the team wins. The habit has become a local tradition, and now the whole community takes part in the parade – and if they don't, they at least know who won the game. 'People in town see pictures and videos on the community Facebook page, and they like it, the people, they're happy. Even the young kids ride around on their bikes. Everybody is happy,' he says.
National Post
13 minutes ago
- National Post
Sierra Metals Calls Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders
Article content TORONTO — Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX: SMT | OTCQX: SMTSF | BVL: SMT) (' Sierra Metals ' or the ' Company ') today announces that it has called an annual general and special meeting (the ' Meeting ') of shareholders (the ' Shareholders ') to be held on July 29, 2025. In addition to the annual business to be conducted at the Meeting, the Meeting will also consider the matters set out in the notice of requisition (the ' Requisition ') that was delivered to the Company by Alpayana S.A.C. (the ' Alpayana '), as further detailed in a press release disseminated by Alpayana on May 28, 2025. The record date for determining Shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting is June 23, 2025. The meeting date and the record date comply with the timelines requested by Alpayana in the Requisition. Article content Article content The Board of Directors of Sierra Metals (the ' Board '), after consultation with its legal advisors, determined it is in the best interests of the Company to hold only one Shareholder meeting to conduct the annual business of the Company and consider the matters set out in the Requisition. Among other considerations deliberated by the Board, this avoids the cost of holding both a separate special meeting and annual general meeting in close proximity to one another while still allowing the Company to address the matters set forth in the Requisition. Article content Further details about the Meeting, the matters to be presented thereat, and how to vote will be made available to Shareholders in advance of the Meeting, including in a management information circular to be mailed to Shareholders of record as of the record date. Shareholders are not required to take any action at this time in respect of the Meeting. Article content The Board will continue to operate the business in accordance with its fiduciary duties and remains available to engage with Alpayana on a transition plan that is in the best interests of the Company's stakeholders. Article content About Sierra Metals Article content Sierra Metals is a Canadian mining company focused on copper production with additional base and precious metals by-product credits at its Yauricocha Mine in Peru and Bolivar Mine in Mexico. The Company is intent on safely increasing production volume and growing mineral resources. Sierra Metals has recently had several new key discoveries and still has many more exciting brownfield exploration opportunities in Peru and Mexico that are within close proximity to the existing mines. Additionally, the Company has large land packages at each of its mines with several prospective regional targets providing longer-term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential. Article content This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information relates to future events or the anticipated performance of Sierra Metals and reflect management's expectations or beliefs regarding such future events and anticipated performance based on an assumed set of economic conditions and courses of action. In certain cases, statements that contain forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as 'plans', 'expects', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates', 'believes' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might', or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved' or the negative of these words or comparable terminology. By its very nature forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual performance of Sierra Metals to be materially different from any anticipated performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Article content Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the risks described under the heading 'Risk Factors' in the Company's annual information form dated March 26, 2025 for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available at Article content The risk factors referred to above are not an exhaustive list of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements about the future and is inherently uncertain, and the Company's actual achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. The Company's statements containing forward-looking information are based on the beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Article content Article content Article content Article content
