Latest news with #EmilyCarroll
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfires cast a smoke cloud over Canada Summer Games for some N.W.T. athletes
Team NT beach volleyball player, Emily Carroll, says she realized the impact of the wildfires near St. John's, N.L., on Monday when she was watching her friends on the men's beach volleyball team play. "In the background there was just like this big billowing of smoke," she said. "I think that's when we all kind of became aware of the situation and what's going on." That evening, Carroll got the news she wouldn't be playing the next day. Numerous events at the 2025 Canada Summer Games have been affected by nearby wildfires. Beach volleyball matches were postponed on Tuesday and for part of the day on Wednesday after an evacuation alert was issued for Paradise, N.L., due to the fast-moving Paddy's Pond fire. Beach volleyball had been taking place in the town, which is about 15 minutes from St. John's. Beach volleyball resumed Wednesday evening, but with restrictions. Only athletes, team staff and volunteers are allowed at the venue, while spectators are being asked not to attend. Smoke has also started descending on St. John's, raising risk levels for athletes competing in outdoor events, like athletics, set to start next week. The athletes from Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik who will represent the N.W.T. in track and field have been in Yellowknife this week to attend a training camp before they leave for the games. Their assistant coach, Kenzie MacDonald says the wildfire smoke could interfere with next week's events. "Unfortunately there are no indoor surfaces nearby where we could run any of these events," he said. There is a make-up day included in the athletics schedule. MacDonald expects if the smoke gets bad enough to be a health risk, events will get postponed and shuffled around to protect the athletes. "We'll just take it as it comes," he said. "Hope for rain, as well." As for beach volleyball, Carroll said she expects officials will monitor the air quality index and make decisions accordingly. "I don't think they're going to let us play if it's above a certain level," she said. Christopher Mathison, who is on the men's volleyball team, said the postponed games allowed him to watch Team NT play in other sports. He was able to catch his younger brother playing on the men's basketball team, and was even there for their historic victory earlier this week. "There's still a lot of excitement because we are still here. We're at the games, so that part's all solid," he said. "Just excited to be back on the court." Team NT beach volleyball players will be back in action Thursday. Mathison said he expects a condensed schedule with two games per day to make up for lost time. Carroll and Mathison both say they'll be returning to the action with the same mindset they came into the games with. "We're just gonna fight for every point," Mathison said.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fair trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages closing in Ann Arbor after 2 decades
After two decades of bringing ethically sourced, handcrafted goods to the community, Ten Thousand Villages in Ann Arbor will close its doors on March 30, citing financial pressures and evolving shopping habits. Since 2004, the nonprofit fair trade store at 303 S. Main St. has been a community hub, promoting global craftsmanship and ethical shopping. Largely volunteer-run, it has offered handmade jewelry, home decor, kitchenware, fair trade foods, and more while helping artisans in more than 20 countries earn sustainable wages. However, store representatives say that in recent years, declining foot traffic, rising operating costs, and a shift toward online shopping have made it increasingly difficult for them to remain viable. "It's kind of been a long time coming, in a way. After COVID, street traffic on Main Street decreased. I think that's true for retailers across the board," said the store manager, Emily Carroll. "Becoming financially sustainable became too difficult with rising rent and the changes in retail." Ten Thousand Villages, which has several locations nationwide, ensures artisans from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East receive 50% of the payment upfront and the rest once their products are shipped to the U.S., Carroll said. This provides skilled workers in marginalized communities with a stable market for their goods, supporting fair trade practices globally. More: Popular Ann Arbor artisan shop 16 Hands to close this spring after 50 years Marcia Strong, a volunteer at the Ann Arbor store for 19 years, said she and other volunteers are devastated by the closure. "It is like a wake as customers come in this week, telling (us) how much the store meant, how their family members from out of town always want to come to this store, special objects in their homes such as menorahs and nativities came from this store, and the fun of bringing children and grandchildren to the store to explore and learn of other cultures," Strong told the Free Press in an email. "The real loss, of course, is to the artisans in the marginalized countries who depend upon our sales for their livelihood, their ability to send their children to school, to build wells in their community, to have good housing and to build a better life." As part of a farewell sale, everything at Ten Thousand Villages in Ann Arbor is 30% off, with additional markdowns expected until the store closes at the end of March. In addition to the Main Street location, 13 company stores will close as Ten Thousand Villages shifts to online sales, Carroll said. The chain is headquartered in Akron, Pennsylvania, and will still have more than 20 locations in 10 U.S. states and three in Canada. The fair trade store will close just weeks before another Ann Arbor retailer, 16 Hands, shuts its doors after 50 years at 407 N. 5th Ave. in Kerrytown Market & Shops. Owner Jill Damon is retiring to focus on her own art and personal life, and the store will officially close on Saturday, April 19. Customers can continue shopping at Ten Thousand Villages online and at the remaining stores. The closest locations to Michigan are in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. "Together, we've shown that ethical shopping is not just possible—it's transformative," the Ten Thousand Villages of Ann Arbor board said in a news release. "The vibrant community of Ann Arbor has been a source of inspiration and joy, and we are so grateful for your support over the past two decades." Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ann Arbor's Ten Thousand Villages set to close March 30
