Latest news with #Desrochers
Ottawa Citizen
25-05-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa man charged with second-degree murder in femicide
An Ottawa man has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to a femicide of 54-year-old Rachelle Desrochers, who was reported missing last month. Article content Desrochers was last seen on March 14 at the McDonald's on Elgin Street, according to an Ottawa Police Service release last month. Article content On Sunday, the OPS said they have charged a man in relation to her death. Article content Joshua Blair, 35, was charged with second-degree murder and indignity to a dead body. Article content Article content Police said he appeared in court on Sunday. Article content Article content 'While the remains of Rachelle Desrochers have not yet been recovered, investigators have reason to believe she was killed and that her body may be located in a local landfill, where search efforts are ongoing,' police said in a release. Article content Police said the murder is considered a femicide. The OPS defines a femicide as the intentional killing of women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender women and gender non-conforming individuals because of their gender. Article content 'OPS names femicide as part of its commitment to ongoing efforts to improve their response to Violence against Women (VAW) and to prevent femicide and commits to ongoing collaboration with the VAW sector. Article content 'Identifying and naming instances of femicide in Ottawa is critical to the development of more nuanced prevention initiatives and more accurate documentation of this form of violence,' the police said in an emailed statement on Sunday morning. Article content
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conference center reveals upgrades to draw business
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Johnstown's Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center now includes upgrades to make it a premier destination for business events. Nearly all the walls of the conference center executive board room are lined with monitors, allowing businesses to hold virtual meetings with participants across the world. The only wall not equipped with technology displays a commemorative plaque of the facility's namesake, the late Frank J. Pasquerilla, former CEO of Crown American Realty Trust and Crown American Hotels. The plaque honors the local businessman's philanthropy that has made a lasting impact on the Johnstown region. Another multi-purpose conference room is similarly outfitted with cutting-edge audio and video equipment. The renovation was made possible by a $35,000 sponsorship by Concurrent Technologies Corp. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted at the conference center Thursday. Jean Desrochers, general manager of the conference center, approached the company with the idea, Concurrent Technologies Corp. CEO Ed Sheehan said. 'Businesses need a place like this, and when we think about attracting businesses to our region, this venue is an important asset – a tool in our toolbox – so preserving it and making it better is really important,' Sheehan said. Desrochers said the new upgrades make the facility an ideal choice for organizations conducting multi-day conferences, which could provide an economic boost for the city. As of last April, the Cambria County War Memorial Authority manages the city of Johnstown-owned conference center at 301 Napoleon St. 1st Summit Arena @ the Cambria County War Memorial is across the street from the conference center. Desrochers is the general manager for both venues. Desrochers said several key partners including local businessman Mark Pasquerilla, son of Frank J Pasquerilla, are working with the conference center management to upgrade the 22-year-old facility. Collaboration also includes the Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies and Johnstown Area Regional Industries. Those organizations have made sustained contributions to the facility, Desrochers said. He said leadership from Johnstown City Council and the Cambria County commissioners has helped steer the venue in its new direction. And state Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R–Richland Township, secured $1 million in state funding for ongoing renovations at the conference center. 'It's easy to advocate for (state) dollars when you have such a broad collaboration,' Langerholc said. 'This is an example of a team working together for the betterment of this city.' Desrochers plans the conference center to be an extension of the 1st Summit arena. Together, the venues create an entertainment district, he said. 'You'll see more concerts here,' he said. Thirty concerts are slated through the rest of the year at the conference center, and the region's annual trade show, the Showcase for Commerce, is approaching at the end of the month. Such events book hotels, fill local restaurants and generate amusement tax for the area, Desrochers said. 'The main thing we want to do is create tourism,' he said. Follow Russ O'Reilly on Twitter @RussellOReilly.
CBC
29-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Quebec cuts all funding to Montreal organization that helps young Anglos find work
A Montreal community organization that assists young Anglophones in their job search will no longer receive financial support from the Quebec government starting in June — a loss representing about a fifth of the group's total funding. Two of Youth Employment Service (YES)'s core programs — Youth on the Rise and Services d'aide à l'emploi — will end due to this funding gap. These two programs, one ending in March and the other in June, help young Anglophones secure their first job and provide personalized career counselling. YES' services are all offered free of charge. The group says it will maintain other services. Andrew Desrochers, a Montrealer who's been using the organization's services for over a month, says they've had a "great experience" and benefited from their counsellor's action plan, which holds them accountable for their progress. But when they found out the program they're involved in will be discontinued at the end of March, Desrochers admitted to feeling a "bit of fury," though they say they were not surprised. "It was absolutely not lost on me that an English language program is being cut by the provincial government," said Desrochers. "I don't think making those things harder for [Quebec's English-speaking population] endears anybody to the French language." In a statement, Quebec's Employment Ministry explained that the reductions stem from a $145 million cut in funding by the federal government. "The executive management of Services Québec de Montréal has decided to regroup services for young people in the Carrefours jeunesse-emploi, and it's important to mention that there will be no interruption of services," read the statement, highlighting that these groups offer bilingual services for youth. Desrochers argues that this move by Quebec does not represent an investment in the population, adding that reducing funding to programs that help individuals find employment increases the likelihood they will eventually require more social assistance. "You're going to have to pay out that money in social assistance, versus collecting it from people paying taxes because they have gainful employment," said Desrochers. "You're shooting yourself in the foot." 'Worst timing possible,' says employment counsellor YES employment counsellor Annalise Iten says she was "completely shocked" when she heard about the scale of the cuts, which impact the counselling program — a cornerstone of YES for over 20 years. Iten notes that many of her clients reached out to her after they heard the news, concerned about their well-being. Many of them, she adds, don't have family in the country or parents who are financially able to support them. She also works with recent graduates and individuals with higher education. "In many ways, we're a safe haven for our clients who come to us because they need the support," said Iten. "They don't feel comfortable necessarily going to other organizations who are bilingual where they might not be received in what they perceive as the same way." She believes the news comes at the "worst timing possible." Quebec recently estimated that up to 160,000 jobs could be jeopardized by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. "It's very likely that we're going to see a huge increase of people going on [employment insurance] and social assistance," said Iten. Iten also worries that these cuts will saturate the health and social services sectors. "I believe that we are a preventative measure for our clients, our population, our English-speaking population," she said. Despite these challenges, the organization says it will continue to offer services and will rely more on private funding and donations. "We're still here, we're still there to support you," said Iten.
