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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Free Press Head Start for July 22, 2025
Cloudy, with showers or thunderstorms beginning early this morning and ending this afternoon. Amount 10 to 15 mm. Widespread smoke late this afternoon. Wind becoming north at 30 km/h late this afternoon. High 21 C. Humidex 27. UV index 5 or moderate. What's happening today The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival continues in the Exchange District and at various locations throughout Winnipeg. For show reviews, click here. (Winnipeg Free Press files) Today's must-read A coalition is urging the Manitoba government to use some of its Big Tobacco settlement to set up a research and education foundation to prevent the next generation from being addicted to nicotine. 'We need to empower our kids and help them understand how dangerous nicotine is,' said epidemiologist Cynthia Carr, executive director of the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance. Ahead of the start of the claims process, Manitoba should prepare to invest some of its estimated $1.1-billion settlement toward prevention efforts targeting youth, she said. 'Punitive approaches don't work,' said Carr, who's with the non-profit whose members include the Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Lung Association, University of Manitoba, Pharmacists Manitoba. Carol Sanders has the story. (Jenny Kane / The Assciated Press files) On the bright side The questions were absurd, random and insulting. But that's how clueless, comically corpulent and cringe-inducing television celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick rolls. And for Winnipeg's mayor, who bore the unrelenting brunt of the bloated, fictitious character's improvised comedy chaos at Assiniboine Park Saturday evening, it was an over-too-soon dream come true. 'I've never been a part of anything like what I experienced Saturday night,' Scott Gillingham said Monday, still basking in the glow of the exquisite pain he endured sitting on stage opposite one of Canadian comic actor Martin Short's beloved over-the-top characters. Joyanne Pursaga has more here. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham is interviewed by Martin Short character Jiminy Glick at the Great Outdoor Comedy Festival at Assiniboine Park Saturday. (Mike Peters photo) On this date On July 22, 1933: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Oklahoma pilot Wiley Post departed from Fairbanks, Alaska, flying to Edmonton, in continuation of his solo flight around the world; he had until the evening the following day to reach New York in time to beat the record of 172 hours and 31 minutes he and navigator Harold Gatty had set in 1931. The crash of prices in all stock and commodity markets continued as the most frenzied selling in four years hit Wall Street. Read the rest of this day's paper here. Search our archives for more here. Today's front page Get the full story: Read today's e-edition of the Free Press .


Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba urged to use Big Tobacco cash to combat youth addiction
A coalition is urging the Manitoba government to use some of its Big Tobacco settlement to set up a research and education foundation to prevent the next generation from being addicted to nicotine. 'We need to empower our kids and help them understand how dangerous nicotine is,' said epidemiologist Cynthia Carr, executive director of the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance. Ahead of the start of the claims process, Manitoba should prepare to invest some of its estimated $1.1-billion settlement toward prevention efforts targeting youth, she said. 'Punitive approaches don't work,' said Carr, who's with the non-profit whose members include the Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Lung Association, University of Manitoba, Pharmacists Manitoba. 'Once you're addicted to something or once you think what your friends are doing is cool, once you think that's a social enabler and you're suddenly popular and part of the crowd because you're doing what everybody else is doing, the fear of punishment is not helpful, ' Carr said. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS FILES Epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said she hopes the province sets aside enough — she suggested $25 million — for a foundation to nip nicotine addiction in the bud. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS FILES Epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said she hopes the province sets aside enough — she suggested $25 million — for a foundation to nip nicotine addiction in the bud. The Manitoba government is expected to receive $1.119 billion, including $281 million up front, minus legal fees, with the rest paid out from tobacco company profits over the next 20 years, as part of the historic $32.5 billion court-approved settlement in March. In 2012, Manitoba joined other provinces in a lawsuit against Big Tobacco — Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., and JTI-Macdonald Corp., as well as their foreign parent companies — to recover the cost of providing health care for tobacco-related illnesses. Premier Wab Kinew said last month that Manitoba's settlement money is earmarked for a new CancerCare site. 'We're going to invest every single dollar in curing cancer, in fighting cancer and supporting cancer patients every step of the way,' Kinew said while announcing a new $1-billion CancerCare building. On Monday, Kinew was attending a premiers meeting in Ontario and wasn't available to comment. His spokesperson said part of the settlement will be spent on prevention. JENNY KANE / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES In 2012, Manitoba joined other provinces in a lawsuit against Big Tobacco to recover the cost of providing health care for tobacco-related illnesses. In 2012, Manitoba joined other provinces in a lawsuit against Big Tobacco to recover the cost of providing health care for tobacco-related illnesses. Carr said she hopes the province sets aside enough — she suggested $25 million — for a foundation to nip nicotine addiction in the bud. 'The opportunity and the greater good is to take a portion of those monies and invest in prevention, education and empowerment, particularly of our young people, who are of course the targets of these companies that need your money to keep going.' After the upfront disbursement to the Manitoba government, the balance of the settlement money is to be paid out in five-year increments, depending on the tobacco companies' after-tax profits from tobacco sales. Carr said that doesn't include alternative nicotine products such as vapes 'that are becoming more and more popular with kids for many reasons.' The alliance said 26 per cent of youth in grades 10 to 12 and seven per cent of grades 7 to 9 use vaping products, which puts them at risk of nicotine addiction and future tobacco use. The epidemiologist said she's concerned youth will be at an even greater risk for target marketing of nicotine vapes and pouches. The $32.5-billion settlement includes nearly $25 billion for provincial and territorial governments. It also covers more than $4 billion for members of a Quebec class-action lawsuit, and more than $2.5 billion for smokers in other provinces and territories who were diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from March 2015 to March 2019. Another $1 billion was set aside to establish the Cy-près Foundation to fund research, programs and initiatives focused on improving outcomes in tobacco-related diseases. 'It's not focused on prevention,' Carr said, adding the province could establish a legacy foundation to encourage investment in research, innovation and expertise in Manitoba. 'It's a tiny investment… that will make a massive difference.' Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.


Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
West Vancouver family cycling Cypress to raise funds for cancer research
A West Vancouver family will soon bike up a local mountain for pancreatic cancer research. Anthony Thomas, his wife Carolyn Bliss and their daughter Emily Thomas will be pedalling 12 kilometres up Cypress Bowl Road as part of the annual Capilano Volkswagen Cypress Challenge, raising funds for pancreatic cancer research at BC Cancer. 'I felt like it was a good idea that we do this,' Thomas said, after hearing about the challenge through Maddi, his eldest daughter who will be cheering them on the sidelines. 'Everybody in the family was all for it, so we decided to join on.' The challenge is a personal one for the family. When Anthony and Carolyn were driving back from the B.C. Interior over the Labour Day weekend, he started to feel intense pain in his lower back. Carolyn urged him to get it checked out. They stopped at a hospital in Whistler, where doctors took a CT scan and found a kidney stone, but also two masses on Anthony's pancreas and liver. After an MRI scan, doctors discovered Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. 'Things looked really, really bad,' Anthony said. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers due to few symptoms appearing in the first stages , making it more challenging to diagnose early. The Canadian Cancer Society estimated in 2024 that 7,100 Canadians would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 6,100 will die from the disease. For pancreatic cancer, the five-year survival rate is 10 per cent . However, hope turned around for Anthony after a biopsy. Doctors found a neuroendocrine cell, which has a better prognosis. 'It was a big lift for me,' he said. 'I really started focusing on trying to get better because up until then, it just seemed like a doomsday scenario.' Anthony then had surgery in November, removing most of the cancer. The family feels thankful for the positive trajectory, but also the amount of support they've received from the community. 'It was great to have friends and community and good doctors around to support us,' Carolyn said. 'Especially in that first month when we thought it was terminal, it was quite overwhelming.' Maddi and Emily echoed their mom's thoughts, saying they admire their dad's resilience. 'It's really brought us all much closer together in a way,' Maddi said. 'I think it makes you just feel much more grateful for life, and the ability to spend time together.' As the days count down for the challenge, the family is practicing biking up and down the route, so they'll be ready to go on July 27. Since the challenge launched in 2008, cyclists have raised more than $5.2 million to support more pancreatic cancer research through the BC Cancer Foundation. The Thomas family has raised more than $44,000 to go towards pancreatic cancer research. People interested in donating to the family can do so on the Cypress Challenge website . Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


CBC
14-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
PCH cancer patients must go to Charlottetown for treatment until July 10, says Health P.E.I.
Cancer patients who usually get treatment in Summerside will have to travel to P.E.I.'s capital over the next several days, while those who need a medical oncologist will need to go to Charlottetown until August. The oncology department at Summerside's Prince County Hospital is short-staffed, said Health P.E.I., so patients receiving chemotherapy will be treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from now until July 10. The agency said in a statement that no treatment schedules have been interrupted because of the shortage, and that patients who require transportation and other support can pay upfront and apply to PCH for reimbursement. Heather Mulligan, senior manager of advocacy for Atlantic Canada with the Canadian Cancer Society, said disruptions like this can cause an extra burden on patients and their families. With lengthy travel to appointments becoming more common across the country, she said things like gas, food and sometimes overnight accommodations can add up. "Any amount of travel puts a significant burden, not only on our patients, but [on] their loved ones, their caregivers who are accompanying them for their care," Mulligan said. "Whether it be for a couple of days, couple of weeks, couple of months, [it] is quite a significant burden, not only in terms of the emotional toll that it takes on a patient, but also the financial impact that it has on a family." Patients who need to see a medical oncologist — a doctor who specializes in diagnosing cancer and prescribing treatments — will also have to travel to the Charlottetown hospital "until the end of August (or sooner)," Health P.E.I. said. There are two-full time oncologists at the QEH who also provide part-time coverage at Prince County Hospital. There will be periods of time when only one of those oncologists is available, so the service will have to be provided in Charlottetown. "To support this temporary operational shift, some nursing staff from PCH will be reassigned to QEH. Reassignment of nursing staff is guided by the [P.E.I. Nurses Union] collective agreement, which includes provisions for travel pay and compensation," Health P.E.I. said in a statement. "In mid-September, a third full-time medical oncologist will join the team at the QEH Cancer Treatment Centre, increasing the complement of specialists and enhancing service capacity." Unexpected side effects The cancer society is calling on the P.E.I. government to offer a refundable tax credit for Islanders who are providing practical support to loved ones undergoing treatment. Mulligan said a recent study the organization conducted in conjunction with Statistics Canada showed the average cancer patient and their family will shoulder more than $30,000 in out-of-pocket expenses over the course of their treatment. That can lead to unfortunate consequences, she said. "For some patients, it [means] taking on debt, and that's the number-one side effect of cancer that no one expects," Mulligan said.


CTV News
12-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Olivia Rourke Foundation makes inaugural donations in honour of the late teen
Donations were made to support cancer care and research in the name of Olivia Rourke. (Source: Submitted) Two major charitable donations have been made in the name of the late Olivia Rourke, 17 of Walkerton, supporting cancer care and research in her honour. Olivia, alongside three classmates and their coach, was killed in a tragic car accident in Middlesex County on May 23 on their way home from a softball tournament. Thanks to the success of the Hoops for Hope 3-on-3 basketball tournament fundraiser, $5,000 has been donated to The Canadian Cancer Society to further research and prevention efforts nationwide. Additionally, $5,000 has also been donated to the Brightshores Health System – Owen Sound Cancer Centre. OLIVIA ROURKE FOUNDATION Donations were made to support cancer care and research in the name of Olivia Rourke. (Source: Submitted) According to officials with the Olivia Rourke Foundation, the tournament was originally conceived by Olivia to raise funds for breast cancer research, inspired by her mother's diagnosis in 2023. 'These donations represent Olivia's love for her family and her desire to make the world better for others,' said a family spokesperson. The tournament was held on June 7 and saw 40 teams and 160 athletes participate. They were joined by donors, sponsors, and local businesses. For more information or to support future charitable efforts in Olivia's name, you can head to their website.