Whiteout Party returns to downtown Winnipeg
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CTV's Taylor Brock sets up the Game 5 Whiteout Street Party in downtown Winnipeg.
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CTV News
38 minutes ago
- CTV News
Montreal elementary students to sing national anthem at Canadian Grand Prix
A group of elementary school students from Montreal's west end perform live at the Canadian Grand Prix opening. A group of elementary school students from Montreal's west end will have their voices heard by hundreds of thousands this weekend — live at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Willingdon Elementary School choir will perform 'O Canada' at the start of Sunday's Formula 1 race on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in front of an international crowd and millions more watching on television. 'It's a little nerve-racking, but also really, really exciting,' said Morgana Grindlay, a Grade 6 student in the choir. 'I've ever done anything this big before.' The performance will mark one of the biggest appearances yet for the school's music program, which has grown under the leadership of longtime teacher Nick Batzios. He's taught music at the English Montreal School Board school for 27 years and says this moment represents more than just a musical milestone. 'I reached out to the people at Formula 1 and presented what we have to offer,' said Batzios. 'They eventually got back to us and said, 'We'd love to have you.' It was incredible news to bring back to the students.' Batzios is known at the school not just for teaching music, but for giving his students opportunities to shine on big stages. In 2022, his choir performed at the Bell Centre before a Montreal Canadiens game. But the F1 event, he says, is something entirely different. 'It combines two of my passions: music and fast cars,' he said. 'But more than that, it's my hope that the students take this experience and run with it. That they keep pursuing their dreams, and never give up on them.' For many of the young performers, the news is still sinking in. 'It makes me feel excited, and honestly, really lucky,' said 12-year-old Madeleine Rondeau. 'When I first found out, I didn't realize just how many people would hear us.' The Willingdon Elementary School choir The Willingdon Elementary School choir will perform 'O Canada' at this year's first Formula 1 race. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil / CTV) As many as 350,000 spectators are expected to attend the Canadian Grand Prix over the weekend, making it one of the largest sporting events in the country. It also reaches a global audience on television, with millions tuning in from around the world. That's a lot of eyes and ears for a group of students used to singing in a classroom. For Grindlay, just joining the group was already a leap of courage. 'I was nervous about joining the choir at first,' admitted the student. 'But I'm really glad I did because we have so much fun singing together.' After taking that first step herself, she encourages others to do the same. 'If anyone out there is scared to try something new, I'd say just go for it,' said Grindlay. 'Don't be afraid of the worse, instead, enjoy the experience and live it to the fullest.' Batzios said encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones is a key part of his role as an educator. 'It's about building confidence and showing kids what they're capable of,' he said. When asked where they'd love to perform one day, the students didn't hesitate. 'The Super Bowl,' said Michaïla Borden, flashing a grin. 'For me, the Bell Centre, because I really like hockey,' said Evelyn Chan. While those dreams may seem far away, Batzios believes Sunday's anthem is proof that anything's possible. 'It all started with an email,' he said. 'Now look where we are.' With just days left before race day, the Willingdon choir is still hard at work rehearsing. Their goal: to make sure every note lands, and, more importantly, have fun.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Caesars Windsor donates $10K to Pride Fest
A funding boost of $10,000 was made in support of Pride Fest by Caesars Windsor Cares. Caesars Windsor Cares celebrated Pride month with a special donation of $10,000 in support of Pride Fest. The official announcement was made by Susanne Tomkins, manager of public relations and communications with Caesars Windsor, at Lanspeary Park Wednesday afternoon. This money will directly support social programming designed to address the problem of social isolation. Those initiatives provide meaningful social engagement and participation to increase connections and overcome isolation. This is especially important to foster a welcoming and safe space for people who are age 50 and older of the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual adults. PRIDE WINDSOR David Lenz, left, of Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, Susanne Tomkins, manager of Communications at Caesars Windsor, and Wendy Nicholson, president Windsor Pride Fest, on June 11, 2025. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor) Wendy Nicholson is the president of Windsor Pride Fest. Nicholson and her team are appreciative of all support, monetary or otherwise, to help fund programs that in turn assist those in need in the 2SLBBTQIA+ community. 'It means so much to us, just the support of Caesars Windsor,' said Nicholson. 'Also, it's going to help with our programs continue running. Without donations like this, our programs won't be able to run. And every donation we get that goes to, that comes in is very welcomed.'
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
World Cup 2026 organizers prepare for wrinkles created by U.S. travel restrictions
The head of Toronto's World Cup 2026 host committee says the executive order issued by the White House last week restricting travel to the U.S. from 19 countries is more of the same uncertainty that organizers have had to adjust to as partners in the event with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. 'Things have been changing with some of these [presidential] orders back and forth, as we all know in the tariff situation,' said Sharon Bollenbach, the executive director of FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto. When the new edict came down, 'I think there's a bit of, like: 'OK, that's what we're dealing with today.'' Her assessment echoed comments by some of her U.S. counterparts at a gathering of the 11 U.S. host city leaders this week. 'There are going to be geopolitical issues that we don't even know right now that are going to affect the tournament next year, so we recognize that we're planning within uncertainty,' Meg Kane, the head of Philadelphia's local organizing committee, told reporters. 'One of the things that I think we all recognize is that we have to be really good at operating within that uncertainty.' Last week's executive order bans citizens of 12 countries from travelling to the U.S., including Iran, ranked 18th in the world by FIFA, which qualified for the World Cup in March. Other nations with promising teams such as Haiti and Sudan also fall under the ban. The U.S. also partially restricted travel to the U.S. of citizens of an additional seven countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Sierra Leone. World Cup 2026 will be Canada's chance to show the world how much fight we have in us The order contains exemptions for players, staff and family members of sports teams competing in major events such as the World Cup or the Olympics. But it caught organizers off guard and represents a significant impediment for fans hoping to travel between the three host nations. It also casts a shadow over the spirit of unity that those countries – Canada, the United States and Mexico – had hoped to strike when they signed on to the tournament in 2018. In a statement to The Globe and Mail, Jessie Adcock, FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver host committee lead, said the organization is 'actively reviewing the recent Executive Order issued by the White House and are in ongoing discussions with our partners to assess any potential implications for tournament planning and operations.' Bollenbach noted that the schedule for the first round of the tournament – which kicks off in Canada at Toronto's BMO Field on June 12, 2026, followed by a match at BC Place in Vancouver the next day – won't be known until FIFA conducts its draw in December. That is when fans will learn where their teams are playing their three group stage matches, prior to the knockout round. Toronto will host one of the round-of-32 knockout games. Vancouver will host one round-of-32 match and one round-of-16 match. 'Until we know the countries that are specifically coming to our cities, there's not a lot we can do,' said Bollenbach. 'When the draw happens and we know what countries are playing here, that will unlock and cascade a lot of things for us in terms of planning, and part of that will be the travel plans and the marketing plan that we want to do to the countries that are playing here. We'll have to figure out if they're on that travel ban list.' She pointed out that fans from the 19 countries named in the executive order will still be free to travel to Canada. Iran is the only country in that group whose team has already qualified for the tournament. Portugal wins Nations League with thrilling penalty shootout win over Spain Last month, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said foreigners are welcome to attend the tournament, but warned: 'When the time is up, they'll have to go home, otherwise, they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem,' referring to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Bollenbach spoke ahead of an event scheduled for Thursday evening at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square marking one year from kickoff, at which dignitaries will unveil an official FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto Countdown Clock. Toronto mayor Olivia Chow proclaimed Thursday 'Soccer Day,' and encouraged Torontonians to turn out to the event wearing jerseys of their favourite teams. Chow has been critical of the agreement the city signed with FIFA as well as the escalating cost of hosting the event, which is now pegged at $380-million. In recent weeks she has warned that tariffs could add to the costs, and she has said the city, which is already on the hook for almost $179-million, might need to ask the province and federal government for more money than they have already committed. She has also alleged that the Ontario government is putting too high a value on the services included in the calculations of its $97-million pledge, leaving the city to make up a $39-million shortfall. The city and province are currently in negotiations over the dispute.
