Latest news with #Brassard
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Flag-Raising Events to Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day Held in Multiple Ontario Cities
Flag-raising ceremonies were held in multiple cities and towns across Ontario on May 13 to commemorate the public introduction of Falun Dafa more than 30 years ago. Official proclamations and congratulatory letters were also issued to mark the occasion. At the flag-raising celebration in Barrie, Ont., on May 1, Conservative MP for Barrie-Innisfil John Brassard commended practitioners for sharing the values and principles of the practice with Canadian society. 'The values of Falun Dafa are universal values—they're values that we hold dear as Canadians, ensuring that we are free as a nation, free to practice our faith or any other type of practice that we want,' Brassard told NTD, The Epoch Times' sister media, during the event. Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a traditional Chinese discipline combining meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Falun Dafa practitioners at a flag-raising event in Barrie, Ont., to mark the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 1, 2025. NTD/The Epoch times Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall at a flag-raising event in Barrie, Ont., to mark the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 1, 2025. NTD/The Epoch times Members of the Ontario provincial parliament Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey issue letters commemorating the the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day. NTD/The Epoch Times At the event, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall highlighted the freedom Falun Dafa adherents have in Canada to practice their faith, contrasting it with the conditions in China, where practitioners have been subjected to severe For over two decades, practitioners in China and abroad have Related Stories 5/13/2025 7/30/2020 'The great compassion and forbearance demonstrated by Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the hearts of kindhearted people all over the world,' Nuttall said in a Falun Dafa Day proclamation. Brassard also highlighted the importance of freedom of belief and Canada's commitment to upholding it. 'Canada is a free country. It's a democratic country where people are free to practice their faith, their rights, their religion,' he said. 'They're so fundamental to the success of any democracy, to ensure that we have those rights, and that we work to defend them as well.' Members of the Ontario provincial parliament (MPP) Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey also marked the event by sending congratulatory letters to practitioners. Khanjin said that by adopting Falun Dafa's principles, people can 'build strong relationships, navigate difficult situations, and create a more compassionate world.' 'Thank you for sharing this renaissance of traditional Chinese wisdom and values, which helps to achieve a strong sense of meaning and purpose,' she wrote in a letter to practitioners. Downey, for his part, described Falun Dafa Day as a 'meaningful celebration' of spiritual discipline, inner peace, and personal growth. 'The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance are foundational values that resonate deeply within our diverse society,' Downey wrote in his letter. 'Your commitment to promoting these virtues through meditation and self-cultivation is both admirable and impactful.' A Duty to 'Stand Up' Brian Ostrander, mayor of Brighton, Ont., hosted a flag-raising ceremony on May 2 outside the city's municipal centre to commemorate Falun Dafa Day. He said the practice's values reflect principles important to Canadians. 'These are the exact values that we have in Canada,' he said in an interview. 'We are about the truth, we are about compassion, we are about making sure that everyone is treated fairly and equitably.' He said all free societies have a duty to stand up against religious persecution, adding that freedom of belief is 'a value we hold dear here in Brighton.' 'I think anybody facing persecution for how they worship or what they believe, regardless of where that is happening, we have a duty as a free society to stand up against that everywhere we see it happening, and everywhere we know it's happening,' he said. Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander at a flag-raising event in Brighton, Ont., to mark the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 2, 2025. NTD/The Epoch times David Piccini, MPP for the riding that includes the city of Brighton, sent a congratulatory letter to practitioners, commending 'the dedication that your teachings have offered to the community.' 'The commitment that your members have gifted to various communities shows that when a community comes together exceptional things happen,' he wrote. 'Thank you for being part of a healthy and harmonious society over the past 33 years.' Beyond Beijing's Transnational Repression Michael Prue, mayor of the Ontario town of Amherstburg, joined practitioners on May 6 for the fourth consecutive year to raise the Falun Dafa flag in front of the town ' s municipal building. Prue served as an MPP for 13 years and has, on several occasions, spoken out against the persecution campaign against practitioners in China. 'I'm always hoping that one day that persecution will go away and the people will be free to practice what is just a beautiful and simple thing with exercise and correct thought,' he said in an interview. 'I want to be part of that, and when it happens, I want to say I had something to do with it.' He noted that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has attempted to target Falun Dafa practitioners in Canada, including through propaganda campaigns aimed at shaping public opinion of the practice. Mayor of the Ontario town of Amherstburg Michael Prue (2nd L) at a flag-raising event to mark the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 6, 2025. NTD/The Epoch times A Falun Dafa flag was raised on the Amherstburg Municipal Building on May 9, 2022. The Epoch Times In a Those included letters to Canadian officials to discourage them from supporting the meditative practice, physical and verbal abuse against practitioners in Canada, and intimidation of practitioners' relatives in China. Mayor Prue said the practice's principles are 'values that every Canadian holds dear.' 'That's why every Canadian thinks that Falun Dafa is good,' he said. 'I have never met anyone who thought that Falun Dafa was ever doing anything wrong, and even though there's propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party, even though those kinds of things come to Canada, we try not to pay any attention to them, because we know they're not true' Flag-raising events were also held in the Ontario municipalities of Brock, Orangeville, and Orillia on May 12, where officials proclaimed Falun Dafa Day. Among them was Walter Schummer, mayor of the township of Brock, who said that recognizing and supporting Falun Dafa and its core values can help raise awareness about the importance of religious freedom. 'I think if our governments, whether it's federal government, provincial, municipal, if they're just recognizing it and supporting it worldwide, then, hopefully we will come to a day when all the countries, including China, will recognize and give those rights and freedoms,' Schummer said. On May 13, the official day honouring the spiritual practice, the Ontario cities of Cambridge and Cornwall raised the Falun Dafa flag in recognition of the occasion. Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale noted that the ancient practice is followed by people from all walks of life. 'Falun Dafa has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving health in mind, body and spirit, as well as enhancing the well-being of people from diverse cultural backgrounds in over 100 countries,' he wrote in a proclamation. Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale (L) with Falun Dafa practitioner Shizhong Lei at a flag-raising event in Cornwall, Ont., to mark the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2025. NTD/The Epoch times Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale at a flag-raising event in Cornwall, Ont., to mark the 33rd Annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2025. NTD/The Epoch times
Global News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Canada election 2025: Barrie South—Innisfil
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Barrie South—Innisfil is a federal riding located in Ontario. This riding is currently represented by Conservative MP John Brassard who first took office in 2015. Brassard collected 25,234 votes, winning 47.67 per cent of the vote in the 2021 federal election. Voters will decide who will represent Barrie South—Innisfil in Ontario during the upcoming Canadian election on April 28, 2025. Visit this page on election night for a complete breakdown of up to the minute results. Candidates Conservative: John Brassard (Incumbent) Liberal: John Olthuis NDP: Andrew Harrigan People's Party: Mark Sampson
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists uncover previously unknown 'zombie ants' in incredible outback discovery
We can now add fungi-controlled ants to the list of creatures roaming around Australia. A fungus not yet known to modern science was recently discovered in a remote savannah in the Northern Territory, and its parasitic ability to infect ants with its spores and takeover its host has left scientists dubbing the incredible natural phenomenon as creating "zombie ants". Dr François Brassard, a myrmecologist (someone who specialises in the study of ants) and postdoc researcher with The University of Western Australia, made the discovery and told Yahoo News he was "very excited to find these parasitised ants". The fungus, he explained, takes over an ant's body in order to complete its life cycle. "Spores will first infect an ant and, over the course of a few weeks, take control of the ant's body. It will then make the ant climb a piece of vegetation which the ant will then grip in its mandibles. This 'death-grip' is the ant's last act, as it soon dies in that position." Soon after, the ant becomes a meal. "The fungus will then consume the ant to accumulate enough energy to grow a fruiting body, which will then rain down spores on other unsuspecting ants," Dr Brassard told Yahoo. "The reason why the fungi make ants climb vegetation to then clamp the underside of leaves is because it is a strategic position to 'shoot' spores on more ant targets." 🐬 Hundreds of Aussies catch glimpse of heartbreaking sight off coast 🕷️ Incredible native spider faces extinction only two years after discovery 🦤 Once common Aussie bird among 21 new species facing extinction It was upon finding lots of dead ants on a recent Bush Blitz exhibition, a nationwide project focused on cataloguing the country's biodiversity, that Dr Brassard realised he'd stumbled onto something so unique. He took samples back to the university to show his colleague Sherie Bruce. Initial research by Bruce suggests the fungi, called Ophiocordyceps, is a new discovery as "there are no records of the spiny savanna ant being infected by [this fungus]" as far as the team are aware. "The parasite fungi could potentially be controlling the populations of this very common ant. However, the fungi may be quite rare or it could just be rarely noticed! Further studies could evaluate its prevalence and impact on ants and local ecosystems," Dr Brassard said. "Sherie and I are both determined and excited to figure this out." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women: Jessica Sleilati
VESTAL, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – We continue highlighting the Remarkable Women in our community with a UHS worker who trains the new hires on how to treat their patients. Jessica Sleilati works behind the scenes, but her impact is felt throughout the community. The onboarding process for any job is historically tedious, but especially within a healthcare organization, its more than just paperwork. Jessica Sleilati is the manager for Nursing education at UHS. Her class is more than just learning a computer software; she's teaching people how to talk and interact with patients. She says nurses have to be ready for anything. 'Healthcare workers face danger being at work. And so, I've been very passionate and interested in training staff to be able to accurately recognize escalating behaviors and crisis. And then also be able to compassionately and competently react through de-escalation techniques,' says Sleilati. Sleilati was promoted to her current managerial position just last month after working as an educator in the Behavioral Health Department at Binghamton General Hospital for seven years. She also gives talks at UHS and around the community about suicide prevention and detection. She advocates for frequent suicide screenings and check-ins with patients. 'Often we think, whether it be suicide prevention or de-escalation or anything, any kind of intervention, that it requires this huge, big effort, but really, so many interventions, they're profound, but they don't take a lot of time and effort and they make a huge difference,' says Sleilati. She says some data shows a correlation, that people who recently visited a care provider have higher rates of suicide, and she's motivated to erase that narrative. Sleilati stresses to her new hires, that having a simple conversation can change someone's life. 'There's a lot of myths surrounding suicide as well. That, if you talk to someone about it will plant the idea in their mind, and that's just not true. The work that we do, the work that I have done, is shedding light on the burden of suicide things that actually do help,' says Sleilati. Laura Brassard is Sleilati's friend and also works at UHS as a nurse educator. Brassard says Sleilati is a great listener, and the type of person you want to vent to, whether it be about work, home life, or the new book you're reading. Brassard says she knew Sleilati was remarkable when she created a replica of the hospital to teach the nurses where things were. 'A bird's eye view of the units in the hospital and created Lego pieces so that if there were some sort of emergency, the nurses could see from a top-down approach, what needs to be done, where they need to move to. Just a really unique way to instill learning in people besides, here read this or recite this, or memorize this,' says Brassard. I asked Sleilati how she defines a remarkable woman, and her answer was someone who's making a positive impact in their community. The values of respect, compassion, and understanding, that can be seen throughout the entire UHS system, all trickle down from Sleilati and her passion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Port Henry building renovated into commercial and residential hub
PORT HENRY — The former Fashion Corner building that's sat vacant in Port Henry for years has been renovated into four apartments and two commercial spaces. The work at 4325 Main St. was done by the Badichi Group, a New York City real-estate company owned by Yaron Badichi. 'Completing the 4325 Main Street Project has been an incredibly rewarding journey,' Badichi said in a statement. 'It required creativity, dedication, and strong collaboration to bring this vision to life. We are excited to provide high-quality living spaces and business opportunities in the heart of Port Henry. I invite community members, local businesses, and organizations to join us in celebrating this milestone.' A WELL-NEEDED CLEANUP A public open house and dedication will be held from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 at the site. The dedication is at 4:30 p.m. The building will also feature a coin-operated laundry for residents. Moriah Town Supervisor Matthew Brassard said Port Henry's Main Street will be enhanced by the project. 'It's a well-needed cleanup of the property,' he told the Press-Republican. 'I couldn't believe I was standing in the same place I stood in three years ago with our codes officer and we wanted to shut the place down.' There were rundown apartments in the building at the time, with neighbors alleging illegal activities, but that's all changed since Badichi bought the building, Brassard said. 'It could be workforce housing (now),' Brassard said. 'He already has a couple tenants.' 'A HUGE BENEFIT' The 4325 Main Street Project was awarded a National Grid Main Street/Commercial District Revitalization Grant as part of its Community and Economic Development Program. The program assists communities in realizing goals and promotes Smart Growth investment in downtown business districts and commercial corridors. 'It's a huge benefit to the revitalization of Main Street,' Brassard said. 'I thank him (Badichi) for coming into town.' National Grid Regional Executive Kimberly Ireland said National Grid has partnered with local businesses and developers to provide more than $154 million in assistance to communities. 'This project in Port Henry is an example of how to revitalize rural downtowns by using older structures for new, mixed-use facilities,' she said in a release. 'It is a wonderful opportunity to bring some of that support here to the Adirondacks.' Besides National Grid, Badichi has collaborated with the Town of Moriah and Moriah and Ticonderoga Chambers of Commerce on the project. 'Investing in this community has been a privilege, and we look forward to future opportunities in the Adirondacks,' Badichi said. Brassard said he had some thoughts on possible commercial tenants. 'The downstairs (commercial) space was redone with new fixtures, new paint. It was very needed. A meat market would be fantastic there.'
