Latest news with #LJI
Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Wellington North unsure about live streaming youth, amateur sports
WELLINGTON NORTH — Privacy was a real concern for Wellington North councillors when faced with a proposal to stream local youth and amateur sports using a private platform at a council meeting on Monday evening. The request came from local sports organizations like minor hockey and Southeast Surge, who requested the township install LiveBarn, a subscription platform providing live and on-demand video coverage of amateur youth sports events, at the Arthur Arena and Mount Forest & District Sports Complex. An optional service that allows user groups to decide whether activities are streamed or recorded, township staff proposed a three-year term with the technology to be installed by mid-September. Instead, councillors asked staff to bring the bylaw back at their next meeting so they have time to learn more about the service and ensure the proper safety precautions are taken to ensure residents' privacy and preserve their liability in the event something did occur. 'I'm really concerned about that potential for human error,' said Mayor Andy Lennox. 'Schedules change. Minor hockey has to adapt. Our staff are busy keeping the ice prepared. How can you assure me that we have a foolproof system in place?' When asked about a recent situation in Waterloo Region where children were recorded by LiveBarn without permission, CAO Brooke Lambert said there is 'certainly a possibility' of human error occurring, but that the company is working to implement safeguards. If the agreement was signed, Lambert said LiveBarn would train township staff on the technology. Logins for the service could also be extended to the minor hockey and skate club presidents if they want to participate. In the event some children on the team give consent while others don't, Lambert suggested they put a privacy pin in place, not stream and distribute the recordings privately, or not record. The service has been used in Drayton at the PMD Arena since 2024 and was recently approved by the Town of Minto for the Harriston and Palmerston Arenas. Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program. 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 .
Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Safer together the focus of National Drowning Prevent Week
By Jeff Helsdon LJI Reporter It's inevitable. Every summer sees tragedy strike somewhere in Southwestern Ontario with at least one drowning. Most of the drownings are in Lake Erie, and nearby, Port Burwell and Long Point seem to get their share. National Drowning Prevention Week, which is July 20-26 this year, aims to prevent future drownings. This year's theme is 'Safer Together'. Melanie Corbett, aquatics supervisor with the Town of Tillsonburg, said a variety of activities are planned for the outdoor pool and drowning prevention will be emphasized during lessons in the indoor pool. 'We want to encourage them to swim with a buddy, stay within arm's reach, swim in a lifeguard-supervised area if possible, wear lifejackets -especially when you're on a boat,' she said. Outdoor pool activities Planned activities for the outdoor pool are: July 20 - Sunny Sundays - involves teaching anyone who comes to the waterpark about sun safety July 21 - A trivia challenge with water-smart questions and drowning report stats July 22 - A mock cardiopulmonary resuscitation will take place as well as a CPR demonstration and education. July 23 – Swim and Splash will involve an obstacle course challenge for swimmers. Boat and lifejacket safety will also be taught. July 25 – Cool down – Although it's a long time from ice on the lakes, this day will focus on ice safety, wearing lifejackets and what to do if you fall through the ice. July 26 – Rescue ready – Mock rescues of a swimmer in distress will take place. Lake safety Nate McIntyre, who started the not-for-profit Rip Current Information Project, has an extensive background with water safety. He has more than 27 years of experience as a lifeguard in Port Stanley, playing a role in creating the municipality's beach rescue program that saw it go from two lifeguards to 28. 'While I was there, I was trying to learn about undertow and what was happening,' he said. 'Researching that,' I discovered undertow wasn't the concern but rip current were the concern.: Undertow is a return of water anywhere there is a return of water to the lake from surf crashing on a beach. It is, however, diffused along the shoreline. 'It's not until that current becomes focus that it moves people,' McIntyre said. Rip currents are a concentrated flow of water, and are more intense. 'It's a concentrated return of water through the surf zone back to deeper water,' he explained. Rip currents can occur next to structures like piers or jetties, but can also happen in the middle of a beach. Wind speed and bottom structure are determining factors. 'It depends on the wind angle and strength of the wind on a particular day,' he said, saying it may not be present one day, and there the next. Storms can also create ideal conditions for a rip current if sandbars are created and a channel develops in the sandbar. Then the return of water can be concentrated through the sandbar channel. 'It needs to go back out,' McIntyre said. 'The sandbars will keep the water there a little longer.' Flip, follow and float If caught in a rip current, McIntyre's advice was to flip, float and follow. Expanding on these points, he said the first thing to do is flip over and face shore so the waves aren't throwing water in your airwave. Then he advised to remain calm and float. 'The current is too strong to get out of. Wait for it to subsidize and then swim back towards shore,' he said, adding the swimming towards shore with the surf constitutes following. McIntyre has been leading a campaign to increase awareness of how to escape from rip currents and prevent drownings. Cutlines Tillsonburg outdoor pool lead head, and the victim in this mock scenario, Abigail Sarafinchin, left, pretends to be in distress while lifeguard Shona Cassidy rescues her. Mock rescues are one of the many activities planned for the outdoor pool for Drowning Prevention Week. Jeff Helsdon Photo Hot, sunny weather can draw hundreds of people to the beach. Most will go away after enjoying a day of sun and fun, but the situation can turn deadly with rip currents. Long Point Beach, pictured here, was crowded during a recent hot spell. 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 .
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Lack of interest shuts down North Wellington Block Parent program
WELLINGTON NORTH – Despite best efforts, the North Wellington Block Parent program will shutter its doors at the end of the month. Not an easy decision, group chair Barb Leigh said she's been trying to restart the Block Parent program in Mount Forest for the last five years, but continues to lack the community support needed to move forward. A volunteer-based crime prevention and safety program, houses participating in the Block Parent program are police-screened and intended to serve as a safe place for community members in distress. 'I am tired. My board and I are just frustrated that so many said yes they would help and then when it came down to it, nobody did,' said Leigh, in an emailed statement. 'Without community, we have nothing.' Set to close its doors on August 1, Leigh said she understands some people will be disappointed by the decision, but without more homes, they cannot keep the program afloat. Formed in 2021, the program had eight active block parents in May 2022. Currently, between Mount Forest and Arthur, Leigh said they have less than 15 homes signed up out of the 178 homes that said they would get involved. 'We tried. We really wanted to make this a safer place,' said Leigh, in a Facebook post. 'We really wanted this to work, but without community support, it's impossible.' Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program. 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 .
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Our community, our words'
Writers from Megaphone's The Shift peer newsroom are speaking out about what it means to see their stories published through the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI). And the impact is profound. Since August 2024, members of The Shift — which is based in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) — have been working with Megaphone's LJI reporter and mentor Amy Romer to expand their journalism skills, continue learning how to report safely and ethically in the DTES community, write and take photos for Megaphone magazine. 'It means a lot to me that it's our community, our words,' says writer Gilles Cyrenne. 'We're putting ourselves out there. It's a contradiction to all the 'gotcha journalism' we see about the DTES, in which there's nothing about the creativity and the soul of the community.' For Nicolas Crier, getting published has been a personal milestone. 'Being published with the pros now… I feel very honoured,' he says. Julie Chapman says the experience writing for the LJI has elevated how she feels about what she does. 'We know we can write, but having other people recognize we can write is really awesome and encouraging,' Chapman says. 'People treat me as a professional rather than someone who writes stuff sometimes.' The Shift's Managing Editor Paula Carlson has watched the newsroom grow in confidence and ability over the last year. 'I can fill this magazine with your stories and your words,' she told The Shift during a recent monthly editorial meeting. 'We never used to be able to do that. I had to hire freelancers.' Yvonne Mark echoes the sense of pride she feels: 'I marvel at the writing that we do together. I'm so proud to be part of this team.' The LJI is funded by the Government of Canada with the aim of creating original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of under-served communities across the country. The funding is available to eligible Canadian media organizations and the content produced is shared with media outlets across the nation. Megaphone has been a part of LJI for nearly a year — enabling the non-profit media organization to bring award-winning photojournalist Romer on board to mentor The Shift. 'Her support and skills have been invaluable to the ongoing development and growth of The Shift,' says Carlson. 'Thanks to the LJI and Amy, we have been able to move from a publication that relies on outside reporting to fill our pages, to one that is brimming with stories conceived of, reported on and written by our reporters who are based in this community. We have an active, working newsroom in the heart of the Downtown Eastside, with more writers wanting to join. It's incredible and exciting.' Jathinder Singh says she's grateful to be working with Romer and Carlson, saying, 'You make our stories shine.' Adds Richard Young: 'I couldn't do any of this without you, Paula and Amy.' For Louise Boulevin, the work has been a dream realized. 'I'm so thankful to Megaphone. I've dreamed of doing this since I was a child, and here I am.' The Shift is one of the most diverse newsrooms in the country. It is made up of 14 individuals who bring their unique perspectives to the table, informed by their direct experiences with poverty, homelessness, substance use, physical disabilities, mental illness, incarceration, racism and immigration, as well their Indigenous, racialized and 2SLGBTQI+ backgrounds. This makes their reporting on the issues of the DTES particularly insightful, and because they live and work in the community they report on, they are often able to access valuable connections, sources and angles not readily accessible to mainstream media. Reporting done by The Shift includes: 'Scenes from a Decampment,' breaking news coverage of a heavy-handed police and city crackdown that unfolded on the streets of the DTES and barred mainstream reporters from the area; 'From the Inside Out,' a special series on the impacts of climate change on people experiencing poverty; 'Affordable Community Housing — For Whom?', which provided a firsthand look at concerns around the screening practices of a local housing project; 'Love, Labels and Letting Go,' a column about dating with a disability; 'Traditions Rooted in Respect,' a sit-down interview with leaders of Vancouver's three host Indigenous nations; 'The Unassuming Astoria Tent,' a visit to a pop-up and technically under-the-radar grassroots overdose prevention site; and so much more. 'As these storytellers show, community journalism isn't just about local reporting — it's about reclaiming voice, visibility and dignity in a community that's long been misrepresented and overlooked,' Romer says. The Shift is happening — and it's coming from within. Megaphone's The Shift peer newsroom is: Louise Boilevin, Julie Chapman, Nicolas Crier, Gilles Cyrenne, David Deocera, Michael Geilen, Lance Lim, Yvonne Mark, Mike McNeeley, Jathinder Sandhu, Eva Takakenew, Priscillia Mays Tait, James Witwicki and Richard Young. 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 .
Hamilton Spectator
17-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Fire damages Cheakamus Centre Longhouse, programs relocated
Education programs hosted at the Cheakamus Centre Longhouse will be moved to outdoor cabins this month, as the June 4 roof fire continues to be investigated. Though not related to the current Dryden Creek wildfire, another fire has had an impact on local programming. On June 4, the Cheakamus Centre Longhouse was damaged in an internal fire, leaving the roof damaged on the inside. There were no injuries. The centre, which is owned by the North Vancouver School District, hosts overnight field and cultural Indigenous education, to foster values such as community building and land stewardship for both children and adults. It is based in Paradise Valley on 165 hectares of ecological reserve belonging to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). When fire broke out, students on the property were moved to the muster point and then into outdoor school cabins instead of the longhouse, where the program would have otherwise continued. 'At that time, there weren't any students in the [Longhouse],' Chloe Scott, communications manager at North Vancouver School District, told The Squamish Chief. 'They did have a student group attending programming [on site] from one of the North Vancouver school district elementary schools, and so all students were taken to the muster point and then moved over to the outdoor school cabins so their programming could continue, but not at the Longhouse site for sure.' Currently, the fire's cause is under investigation and remains unknown. 'There is a fire that burns in the middle of the Longhouse,' Scott said. 'We believe it was a spark that ignited, but we can't say for certain.' Scott confirmed that the Centre's Longhouse will remain closed for programming until the end of this month, and that school groups that were booked in for those specific programs are being accommodated elsewhere, such as the Cheakamus Environmental Learning Centre. Regarding the evacuation itself, Scott said that everyone handled it with 'utmost professionalism,' including the students. 'It was an experience for them, but everyone was in really good care. There were a number of staff members who really stepped up to make sure that everything ran well, and that the disruption was kept at a minimum,' she said. The Cheakamus Centre, which was established in 1969 and formerly known as the North Vancouver Outdoor School, has always been a place of learning for the Chʼiyáḵmesh people who have passed on their knowledge from the site. Its programs include nature-based and outdoor activities aligned with the BC curriculum, alongside numerous retreats and workshops. Folks can find more information or sign up for the centre's newsletter on its website. Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Reporter. This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada. 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 .
