Latest news with #Demers
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Still-shuttered Marineland puts its amusement park rides up for sale
Marineland, the still-shuttered Niagara Falls aquarium and theme park where 18 beluga whales have died since 2019, has put its rides up for sale. News of the rides being on the market was published Tuesday in Amusement Today, an industry publication. It comes as animal advocates continue to express concerns about living conditions for the numerous water and land mammals still at Marineland, which has not indicated plans to open this summer. "For decades, Marineland has been home to a collection of beloved rides that have brought joy to millions of guests," stated a news release posted on Amusement Today. "As the park evolves, it is now offering buyers the opportunity to own a piece of amusement park history. The sale includes a range of classic attractions, from thrill rides to family-friendly [favourites]." It states the rides will be sold to amusement operators, entertainment companies and "qualified buyers." CBC Hamilton reached out to Marineland but did not hear back before publication. Bill Ossim, of the company Rides Plus, LLC, confirmed to Radio-Canada he had been contracted by Marineland to sell its rides. Phil Demers, a former Marineland walrus trainer who has been campaigning against the facility since 2012, says it's looking less and less like the park will ever open again. CBC has previously reported that according to a local employment office, Marineland was not hiring any seasonal employees this year. The park also has a registered lobbyist to help the company obtain permits to export animals from the federal government. It also recently sold an office building. The company has not publicly confirmed whether it plans to close permanently. It told CBC earlier this month "no final decision has been made" on whether it will open this season. On Friday, its phone number listed on its website remained out of service. Demers said he wouldn't be surprised if the company tried to quietly fade away. "There might not even be an announcement," said Demers, who was sued by his former employer in 2013. The company alleged Demers trespassed and plotted to steal the 800-pound walrus he used to train, Smooshi. Demers filed a counterclaim, also in 2013, for defamation and abuse of process, he told CBC Hamilton. "It does seem a bit surreal," he said on Thursday. "Every once in a while you have to remind yourself there's still animals there." He said the remaining aquatic animals that live there include 31 beluga whales, four dolphins, two sea lions and three seals – including one named Larry. There are also numerous red deer, fallow deer, elk and bears, he said, noting he plans to keep monitoring and speaking out on behalf of the facility's animals "until that place is dust ... I'm married to that place in a weird sense." Advocacy group Animal Justice filed a complaint with Ontario's Animal Welfare Services (AWS) on June 11. It said in a news release about the complaint that it has seen drone footage, posted on Instagram, that shows about four dolphins "circling a cramped tank" next to where a stage is being demolished. "Marine mammal welfare experts who reviewed the video say the noise, vibrations, and disruption from the demolition activity would likely cause the animals' psychological suffering, adding to the harm caused by years of confinement, lack of enrichment, and inconsistent care," Animal Justice's statement. In response to the complaint, as seen by CBC Hamilton, AWS told Animal Justice it has inspected Marineland more than 220 times since January 2020. The province declared in 2021 that all marine mammals at the park were in distress due to poor water, but told The Canadian Press last year the water issue had been brought up to standard. AWS has not shared details publicly about its enforcement and no charges appear to have been laid against Marineland related to its aquatic mammals. Last year, Marineland was found guilty under Ontario's animal cruelty laws over its care of three young black bears. AWS also said in its response that it is not involved in any rumoured plans to relocate Marineland's animals, but that it continues to monitor the site. "The ministry also has experts who provide us with advice on marine mammals, their living conditions and their health and welfare," it said. "Please be assured that the government continues to look at ways to make sure that the animals at Marineland continue to receive the care they need." CBC Hamilton reached out to AWS for comment but did not hear back before publication.
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Canada's Stanley Cup drought is decades long: Can Edmonton Oilers end it?
Canada's Stanley Cup drought is decades long: Can Edmonton Oilers end it? Show Caption Hide Caption Are Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup bound? Former NHLer weighs in Former NHL winger Riley Cote explains what he loves about this Edmonton Oilers team ahead of the Western Conference Finals. Sports Seriously Hockey is considered Canada's sport, but it has been decades since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup. The Montreal Canadiens won the NHL championship in 1993 — at a time when having a Canadian winner seemed to be the rule. A Canadian team won seven consecutive seasons (Edmonton Oilers five times and the Canadiens and Calgary Flames once each) from 1984-90. A Canadian team reached the Stanley Cup Final every year from 1982-90, and there were all-Canada finals in 1986 and 1989. But no champion since 1993. The Vancouver Canucks lost in the 1994 Final and a Canadian team didn't make it back until 2004. The 2025 Oilers will be the latest team to try to end the drought, getting another shot after falling short last season against the Florida Panthers. Explaining Canada's Stanley Cup drought: The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup The 1993 Canadiens won behind goalie Patrick Roy, 10 consecutive overtime victories and a successful stick measurement challenge against the Los Angeles Kings' Marty McSorley in the Final. "The two teams had their sticks in the hallway, so we saw it there and we saw it on the ice," then-coach Jacques Demers told USA TODAY Sports years later. "We also knew that McSorley wouldn't change his stick at the end of the period." The Canadiens didn't do anything about it in a Game 1 loss. But when they trailed 2-1 late in the third period of Game 2, Demers challenged the curve on McSorley's stick. Canadiens defenseman Eric Desjardins scored on the ensuing power play and also in overtime and Montreal went on to win the series in five games. "We had some players with illegal sticks," Demers said. "They had some players with illegal sticks. We just happened to pick on McSorley." What led to Canada's Stanley Cup drought? The poor value of the Canadian dollar, compared with the U.S. dollar, hurt teams north of the border because their revenue was in Canadian dollars but they paid players in U.S. dollars. It made it harder for Canadian teams to hang on to their stars until a salary cap (instituted in 2005) and revenue sharing helped the smaller markets. At the same time, there was a migration south of the border. Arena issues led the Quebec Nordiques to move to Denver in 1995. The Colorado Avalanche won in their first season there after trading for Roy. The Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona in 1996 and became the Coyotes (now Utah Mammoth). Canada got a team back in 2011 when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the current Jets. Only one team can win the Stanley Cup and the United States has 25 teams to Canada's seven. Which Canadian teams have reached the Stanley Cup Final since 1993? 1994: The Canucks rallied to tie the series after trailing three games to one, but the New York Rangers won Game 7 at home for their first championship since 1940. 2004: The Flames lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. The Flames had a chance to clinch in Game 6, but a would-be go-ahead goal by Martin Gelinas was (seemingly) missed. The Lightning won in double overtime and captured Game 7 at home. 2006: The Oilers tied the series after trailing 3-1 but the Carolina Hurricanes won Game 7 at home. 2007: The Ottawa Senators lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games. 2011: The Canucks blew 2-0 and 3-2 series leads against the Boston Bruins and lost Game 7 at home. 2021: The Canadiens, who advanced to the third round out of an all-Canada division, fell to the Lightning in five games in the Final. 2024: The Oilers lost the first three games but rallied to win the next three. The Panthers won Game 7 at home. Can the Edmonton Oilers end the drought? They have a good chance. They have home-ice advantage this year, they know what to expect from the Panthers and there's a different vibe having gone through this before. "It feels less big," Oilers star Connor McDavid said of a second consecutive trip to the Final. "Last year, it felt monumental, it felt very dramatic. This year, it feels very normal." McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, high picks in the 2015 and 2014 drafts, respectively, will lead the way and are joined by fellow draft picks Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Stuart Skinner. The team has filled in over the years with free agents and trade acquisitions such as Mattias Ekholm, Evander Kane, Corey Perry and others. The Oilers, though missing Zach Hyman, are healthier and deeper than last year. They're also playing the type of lockdown defense that wins championships. "If there's a breakdown, there's usually someone that is there to help," McDavid said. "I think we've been really good in our own zone." Two of three USA TODAY voters picked Edmonton to win. "We're looking to finish the job," McDavid said.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Luxury hotel attraction shut down after 'living nightmare' in pool exposed
Disturbing video highlights the 'nightmare' conditions where a pair of dolphins have been housed for the amusement of cashed-up tourists. In the wild, the animals could travel up to 100km in a day, but instead they were kept in two concrete tanks no bigger than swimming pools. Heartbreakingly, the tanks at the Mexican hotel where they were confined were just metres from the Caribbean Sea near Cancún, a holiday destination popular with foreign travellers. Conditions at Dolphinaris Barceló at Barceló Maya Grand Resort were so concerning that this week it was ordered shut, and its gates were sealed by the government's environment protection agency PROFEPA. Outspoken activist Phil Demers has repeatedly shared aerial footage of the dolphins on his Urgent Seas social media channels and called for their release. Speaking with Yahoo News on Friday, he said the dolphins had been living in shadeless pens that were 'very shallow'. 'It was a living nightmare for all of the dolphins there. The size was disproportionately small for what they needed. It was absurd, frankly,' he said. 'One of the great tragedies is the contrast of the size of their pool against the vast ocean, which is just metres away. Conditions were awful.' An investigation into the facility was launched after a shocking moment at the park that was broadcast across social media in February, 2025 highlighting to the world how small the tanks were. Filmed five years ago and then stashed away, it showed a dolphin attempting to perform a trick, misjudging the edge of the pool, and then crashing onto the edge. That animal survived, and was moved to another facility, but he is now blind in one eye and has just 60 per cent vision in the other due to keratitis — a condition that causes inflammation of the cornea. PROFEPA said the facility in southwest Mexico's Quintana Roo had been closed due to 'various operational irregularities". They included a failure to report "dangerous incidents", acrobatic performances that endanger animals, unregulated water temperature, forcing animals to complete tricks when unwell, and problems with water temperature. BREAKING: The dolphin tank at Hotel Barcelo in Riviera Maya, Mexico has been permanently closed. Thank you to all the tireless advocates who fought so hard for this resolve. Now we must ensure the dolphins are responsibly removed and relocated. More to come. — @UrgentSeas (@urgentseas) May 13, 2025 Demers said the outcome highlights both the power of social media and the work of activists who protested there every day. 'This has gone on for far too long, but credit to the activists who never gave up. Sometimes there were only one or two protesters out front, but they never gave up,' he said. Now that the facility has been closed, the focus is turning to what happens to the dolphins. The most likely outcome is that they will be moved to another facility, sparking fresh concerns that their lives will continue down a sad path. 🥫 Airline passenger request raises questions about popular menu items 😳 Warning as massive Aussie predator spotted near popular children's playground 🤠 Deadly find on roadside in beachside suburb sparks wild theory According to Demers, the closure of Dolphinaris Barceló tells a much bigger story about the failure of dolphin parks. Last year, US-based Miami Seaquarium was ordered to close following an investigation by authorities, while Marineland Antibes permanently shut its doors due to declining attendance and improved animal welfare regulations in France. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Luxury hotel closed down after 'living nightmare' in pool exposed
Disturbing video highlights the 'nightmare' conditions where a pair of dolphins have been housed for the amusement of cashed-up tourists. In the wild, the animals could travel up to 100km in a day, but instead they were kept in two concrete tanks no bigger than swimming pools. Heartbreakingly, the tanks at the Mexican hotel where they were confined were just metres from the Caribbean Sea near Cancún, a holiday destination popular with foreign travellers. Conditions at Dolphinaris Barceló at Barceló Maya Grand Resort were so concerning that this week it was ordered shut, and its gates were sealed by the government's environment protection agency PROFEPA. Outspoken activist Phil Demers has repeatedly shared aerial footage of the dolphins on his Urgent Seas social media channels and called for their release. Speaking with Yahoo News on Friday, he said the dolphins had been living in shadeless pens that were 'very shallow'. 'It was a living nightmare for all of the dolphins there. The size was disproportionately small for what they needed. It was absurd, frankly,' he said. 'One of the great tragedies is the contrast of the size of their pool against the vast ocean, which is just metres away. Conditions were awful.' An investigation into the facility was launched after a shocking moment at the park that was broadcast across social media in February, 2025 highlighting to the world how small the tanks were. Filmed five years ago and then stashed away, it showed a dolphin attempting to perform a trick, misjudging the edge of the pool, and then crashing onto the edge. That animal survived, and was moved to another facility, but he is now blind in one eye and has just 60 per cent vision in the other due to keratitis — a condition that causes inflammation of the cornea. PROFEPA said the facility in southwest Mexico's Quintana Roo had been closed due to 'various operational irregularities". They included a failure to report "dangerous incidents", acrobatic performances that endanger animals, unregulated water temperature, forcing animals to complete tricks when unwell, and problems with water temperature. BREAKING: The dolphin tank at Hotel Barcelo in Riviera Maya, Mexico has been permanently closed. Thank you to all the tireless advocates who fought so hard for this resolve. Now we must ensure the dolphins are responsibly removed and relocated. More to come. — @UrgentSeas (@urgentseas) May 13, 2025 Demers said the outcome highlights both the power of social media and the work of activists who protested there every day. 'This has gone on for far too long, but credit to the activists who never gave up. Sometimes there were only one or two protesters out front, but they never gave up,' he said. Now that the facility has been closed, the focus is turning to what happens to the dolphins. The most likely outcome is that they will be moved to another facility, sparking fresh concerns that their lives will continue down a sad path. 🥫 Airline passenger request raises questions about popular menu items 😳 Warning as massive Aussie predator spotted near popular children's playground 🤠 Deadly find on roadside in beachside suburb sparks wild theory According to Demers, the closure of Dolphinaris Barceló tells a much bigger story about the failure of dolphin parks. Last year, US-based Miami Seaquarium was ordered to close following an investigation by authorities, while Marineland Antibes permanently shut its doors due to declining attendance and improved animal welfare regulations in France. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
CBC
20-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- CBC
Think twice before gifting a bunny this Easter, animal advocates urge
While some kids will enjoy searching for treats from the Easter Bunny on Sunday morning, others may be receiving actual live rabbits as a holiday surprise. And while not all animal welfare advocates are totally against giving pets as gifts, they are wary of bunny buyers who don't realize the commitment they are taking on and may release their rabbit into the wild in the coming months — a pattern that has resulted in invasive populations in several parts of B.C. Kahlee Demers, the B.C. SPCA's manager of companion animal welfare and policy, said animals aren't always a bad gift idea, but they are never good as a surprise. "It is a big responsibility," she said, noting there's a lot to learn about rabbit care. Instead, she said, opt for the chocolate option this Easter. "I encourage parents and guardians to stick to the chocolate bunnies, the chocolate Easter eggs and the candy chicks, which I think are a great Easter alternative. Who doesn't like sugar?" WATCH | Bunnies don't always make the best Easter gifts: Advocates in B.C. advise against getting a bunny for Easter 1 year ago Duration 1:47 Rabbits may seem like low-maintenance pets, but Demers said they require time out of their cages every day, lots of mental stimulation, and room to move around. "Rabbits are really smart, they're social and they like games," she said. As for food, they need more than just carrots, Demers said; fresh leafy greens like kale and lettuce, as well as hay, high-fibre rabbit pellets and lots of water, are all part of a healthy rabbit diet. According to the B.C. SPCA, rabbits can live up to 15 years — something Demers said people don't often realize. Animal rights lawyer Victoria Shroff suggested anyone considering adopting a rabbit start by fostering one first, to see if they are able to properly care for a pet bunny. "Make sure you do your homework," Shroff said. "Rabbits are not just a pet for Easter." Releasing pets into the wild Huge invasive rabbit populations have taken over several areas in B.C., including Vancouver's Jericho Park and Rathtrevor Beach on Vancouver Island, after people started releasing their unwanted pets into the wild. Though they likely had good intentions — hoping the bunnies would live out their lives in the fresh air with lots of grass to nibble on — pet rabbits cause major problems for natural ecosystems, according to Invasive Species Council of B.C. executive director Gail Wallin. They carry disease, damage the environment and compete with native species, among other things. They also reproduce quickly and several times a year, with multiple babies in each litter — meaning one rabbit released in June could be responsible for a dozen more in mere months. If that's not enough to deter people from releasing pets into the wild, it's actually illegal to do so, Shroff said. The Invasive Species Council of B.C., along with other similar organizations in other provinces, have launched a campaign called Don't Let It Loose, asking pet owners not to release any domesticated pets into the wild. Instead, Demers said rabbit owners should do everything they can do rehome unwanted pet rabbits. "There are a lot of great owners out there who are willing to take on rabbits," she said. "When in doubt, you can reach out to your local B.C. SPCA and see what resources they have — we do have food banks, so if it's a food necessity that you need, we can help. But you can always chat with your local animal shelter or rescue to see what your surrender options are."
