Community Builders: Riverkeeper Gala
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The highly anticipated gala raised $330,000 in support of a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Ottawa River watershed — a cause close to many hearts.
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'I moved to this watershed. I did the math almost five decades ago, and my life has flowed alongside the mighty Ottawa River,' said Colleen Westeinde, chair of Ottawa Riverkeeper board. 'I want to ensure that my grandchildren and yours can swim, drink and fish in healthy rivers.'
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Though unable to attend in person, celebrated Canadian journalist and author Roy MacGregor was warmly recognized during the evening's speeches as this year's Honorary Riverkeeper. Known for his deep love of Canada's waterways and his passion for paddling them by canoe, MacGregor joins a distinguished group of water protection champions.
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The tent was alive with energy: laughter echoed, feet pounded the dance floor and brass beats bounced through the misty evening air. Guests in river chic attire twirled, clapped and cheered, fuelled by the sheer joy of being together. Every step and every smile was a celebration of the river, of connection and of the shared commitment to protect something cherished.
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Member of Parliament Evan Solomon called water 'the foundation for all of our thriving communities,' while Riverkeeper and CEO Laura Reinsborough shared the impact of the evening: 'you're funding science programs, advocacy and outreach work so that all the decision-makers you're mingling with tonight know what they can do to protect the river.'
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National Observer
16 hours ago
- National Observer
Titan disaster: federal Fisheries Department was "associated" with OceanGate mission
The federal Fisheries Department is shedding new light on its relationship with OceanGate, the American company behind the deepsea Titan submersible that imploded south of Newfoundland in 2023, killing all five people aboard. The department confirmed Thursday that in the summer of 2021, a staff member boarded a vessel "associated with OceanGate" to participate as an observer during a mission off Newfoundland. "The purpose was to learn more about OceanGate," the department said in an email sent to The Canadian Press. "Upon conclusion of the mission, it was determined that (OceanGate's) priorities did not align with the department's scientific objectives, and a further relationship was not pursued." No other details were provided about the trip. As well, the department did not respond to an email asking whether any federal employees raised safety concerns about OceanGate's expeditions to view the wreck of the Titanic. Earlier this week, the US Coast Guard released a report that concluded the tragedy on June 18, 2023, could have been prevented had OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush heeded safety warnings and calls for independent inspections and certification of the submersible. Rush was among those killed when Titan split apart as it descended near the Titanic, about four kilometres below the surface of the North Atlantic. Safety procedures at OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state, were 'critically flawed' and there were 'glaring disparities' between safety protocols and actual practices, the coast guard's report said. The 300-page report also revealed that in May 2021, Canada's Fisheries Department had written a "letter of support" to Rush, saying the department wanted to collaborate with his company to assess its submersibles for scientific research. Only portions of the letter were included in the coast guard report. The Fisheries Department sent a copy of the letter to The Canadian Press on Wednesday, along with a statement that suggested its initial discussions with OceanGate were routine. "Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) routinely expresses interest in scientific collaboration with a wide variety of potential partners," a spokesman said Wednesday in an email. "In early 2021, DFO had a series of exploratory discussions with OceanGate. The (May 2021) letter was sent to summarize the discussions that took place and the potential for the department to work with the company, beginning in 2021, to determine the applicability of its marine research systems." The letter, dated May 19, 2021, makes it clear that department officials were keen to work with Rush and his team. "DFO Maritimes Region is pleased with the discussions with OceanGate, the offer to participate in 2021, and the unique opportunity being offered to Canadian scientists and conservation efforts." The letter also mentions possible funding from Ottawa. The department spokesman also confirmed in the Wednesday email there were discussions about having a staff member board the submersible on an expedition to the Titanic, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland. But he said that never happened. The department did not explain why the relationship with OceanGate was eventually terminated or mention its collaboration on another vessel until pressed for details the next day. Besides DFO's letter of support in 2021, the US Coast Guard's investigation found no evidence of any actual collaboration or funding. The submersible's implosion also killed French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. In June, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the independent agency had completed its investigation report, which at the time was being reviewed.
Toronto Sun
18 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Sister of Canadian military adviser fears looming deportation, Taliban reprisal
Published Aug 08, 2025 • 3 minute read Canadian soldiers help a comrade get on a helicopter after he was injured in an IED blast during a patrol outside Salavat, in the Panjwayi district, southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Monday, June 7, 2010. Photo by Anja Niedringhaus / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OTTAWA — The sister of a man who worked as an interpreter for the Canadian Armed Forces during the war in Afghanistan says she fears she will be deported back to her former home, where she could face violent reprisal at the hands of the Taliban. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The mother of six and her children escaped the war-torn country by fleeing to Turkey in 2018 — too early to qualify for a special temporary program that helped bring family members of military language and cultural advisers to Canada. That program only applied to family members who were still in Afghanistan on or after July 22, 2021, shortly before Kabul fell to the Taliban. While her brother told The Canadian Press most of her children have now married Canadians — which permits them to apply to come to Canada — she and her unmarried 22-year-old son believe they face deportation after receiving a notice from the Turkish government this week denying them refugee status, and after being told verbally by Turkish officials that they must leave the country. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She said she believes the Taliban killed her husband in 2013 because her brother helped Canadian troops. The Canadian Press has agreed to not publish her name because of the threat she faces from the Taliban. 'My whole family has been crying,' she said in Pashto, interpreted by her brother. 'They're in immense stress. I'm still thinking, what will happen to me?' Her brother said she and her son do not know if they have the means to file an appeal of the immigration decision, which must be done within two weeks. She said that while they have been living in Turkey for years, they have faced discrimination, have been unable to find proper work and have nothing to return to in Afghanistan. Her brother, a Canadian citizen who was given the code name 'Sam' by the Canadian military, worked on the ground in Afghanistan 15 years ago helping Canadian troops navigate the country as a language and cultural adviser. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'If she were to be deported, she will clearly be executed by the same government, by the same people that we fought … that were at that time insurgents, and now they are in power,' said Sam, adding he suffers from PTSD due to his service. The Canadian government hired several dozen Afghan language and cultural advisers during the war to act as the military's eyes and ears in the field. Many have come back to Canada only to face immense struggles in getting access to social supports, such as health care. Sam said he has taken his case to senior officials in Ottawa for years and even wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He said he constantly ran up against bureaucratic roadblocks and officials keen to redirect him to other offices. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He said his family and those of two other Afghan language and cultural advisers were barred from coming to Canada through Ottawa's special temporary program, which shut down in 2023. He said he and the other two advisers challenged the matter in Federal Court, arguing that Canada discriminated against them. They argued that the federal government set relatively generous terms for a special program for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion and imposed more rigid conditions on the program for the families of Afghan language and cultural advisers. That court challenge failed earlier this summer. Because the judge in the case found the application moot, it can't be appealed. 'Right now, it just has to be a political move of the government doing the right thing … taking care of the people whose families are at risk due to service to Canada,' said Nicholas Pope, a lawyer for the three former military advisers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's really devastating,' Pope said of the sister's situation. 'This is just a massive failure of the system.' 'Sam' has been pressing Ottawa to help his family since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. He enlisted the help of his local MP, Conservative Scott Reid, who raised the issue in Parliament. He said that after the court challenge ended, he sought help from a local church to no avail. He said he does not know where else to turn for help. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada did not respond by deadline when asked about the case. 'Sam' said he now 'wholeheartedly' regrets working with the Canadian military. 'They just lied to us. They put us in a situation where they used us and now here's the rewards of it,' he said. 'My only question (to the government) would be … was it worth it for me to go and save so many lives, and then at the same time sacrifice my own family?'
Winnipeg Free Press
21 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Titan disaster: federal Fisheries Department was part of previous OceanGate mission
HALIFAX – The federal Fisheries Department is shedding new light on its relationship with OceanGate, the American company behind the deepsea Titan submersible that imploded south of Newfoundland in 2023, killing all five people aboard. The department confirmed Thursday that in the summer of 2021, a staff member boarded a vessel 'associated with OceanGate' to participate as an observer during a mission off Newfoundland. 'The purpose was to learn more about OceanGate,' the department said in an email sent to The Canadian Press. 'Upon conclusion of the mission, it was determined that (OceanGate's) priorities did not align with the department's scientific objectives, and a further relationship was not pursued.' No other details were provided about the trip. As well, the department did not respond to an email asking whether any federal employees raised safety concerns about OceanGate's expeditions to view the wreck of the Titanic. Earlier this week, the U.S. Coast Guard released a report that concluded the tragedy on June 18, 2023, could have been prevented had OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush heeded safety warnings and calls for independent inspections and certification of the submersible. Rush was among those killed when Titan split apart as it descended near the Titanic, about four kilometres below the surface of the North Atlantic. Safety procedures at OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state, were 'critically flawed' and there were 'glaring disparities' between safety protocols and actual practices, the coast guard's report said. The 300-page report also revealed that in May 2021, Canada's Fisheries Department had written a 'letter of support' to Rush, saying the department wanted to collaborate with his company to assess its submersibles for scientific research. Only portions of the letter were included in the coast guard report. The Fisheries Department sent a copy of the letter to The Canadian Press on Wednesday, along with a statement that suggested its initial discussions with OceanGate were routine. 'Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) routinely expresses interest in scientific collaboration with a wide variety of potential partners,' a spokesman said Wednesday in an email. 'In early 2021, DFO had a series of exploratory discussions with OceanGate. The (May 2021) letter was sent to summarize the discussions that took place and the potential for the department to work with the company, beginning in 2021, to determine the applicability of its marine research systems.' The letter, dated May 19, 2021, makes it clear that department officials were keen to work with Rush and his team. 'DFO Maritimes Region is pleased with the discussions with OceanGate, the offer to participate in 2021, and the unique opportunity being offered to Canadian scientists and conservation efforts.' The letter also mentions possible funding from Ottawa. The department spokesman also confirmed in the Wednesday email there were discussions about having a staff member board the submersible on an expedition to the Titanic, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland. But he said that never happened. The department did not explain why the relationship with OceanGate was eventually terminated or mention its collaboration on another vessel until pressed for details the next day. Besides DFO's letter of support in 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation found no evidence of any actual collaboration or funding. The submersible's implosion also killed French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. In June, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the independent agency had completed its investigation report, which at the time was being reviewed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2025.
