Latest news with #McInnis
Vancouver Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. Lions: Aiming high with Canadian supply in the season opener
Justin McInnis knows who will have the biggest pre-game impact Saturday at B.C. Place . After all, the B.C. Lions' standout wide receiver understands that you can't beat legendary American rapper Snoop Dogg to get more than 50,000 fans jacked for the club's CFL opener against the Edmonton Elks. 'I'm excited,' McInnis said Thursday following practice. 'I grew up listening to Snoop. But honestly, I'm one of the weirder guys on the team. I don't wear headphones on game day or anything like that. I just like to soak up the crowd and be in the pre-game environment. 'Hear everything and it should be fun for our fans. It's Snoop Dog. Everyone is excited to see him.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. McInnis will do his part to entertain when the ball is snapped. And that could also be quite the show after a career season in 2024. McInnis led all receivers last campaign in league yardage with 1,469, and was the first Canadian since Andy Fantuz in 2010 to lead that category. He was also second with 92 receptions and third in touchdown grabs with seven. H is yards total was second highest by a Canadian member of the Lions after Matt Clark (1,530 yards), and the eighth-best for a Canadian all-time. Check out our Top 10 CFL players heading into the 2025 season! 🇨🇦🏈 Do you agree with our list? 🤔 FULL TOP 50 LIST | The 28-year-old Pierrefonds, Que., native is an imposing target for quarterback Nathan Rourke with a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and plenty of zip and zag to leave defensive backs in his wake, or use his vertical skills to out-contest any defender. He did that in practice Wednesday and it bodes well as a weapon. 'The best part of my game is I've got to use my height,' said McInnis. 'I'm not the fastest in the league, and I'm not able to do a lot of things that smaller guys can do. I'm always going to continuously work on getting better body control and things that will be a big advantage.' Add a full-season pull with Rourke, who spent the last two seasons with four NFL teams before returning to the Lions last August, and the dynamic duo could develop the kind of chemistry to intimidate and dominate. 'Even in the off-season, we threw quite a bit, and at training camp,' said McInnis. 'One thing I like about Nate is that he's always communicating about things he sees and likes, and how he wants us to run certain routes. At the end of the day, it's being on the same page and he does a great job of expressing that. 'What's so good about him is if we see things a certain way as receivers, we'll all give input and get to common ground on that. That's what has been super refreshing, to have that chemistry where we can talk instead of what's just drawn up. 'We can put our own little tweaks on it and make it better.' The best combos get to a place where the quarterback will instinctively know when a receiver might switch up a route that is not working because of coverage and break in a certain direction. That's another asset. 'We talk about that suff all the time, and even certain looks,' added McInnis. 'To this day, we're not perfect.' If practise makes perfect, then Rourke has taken it to another level. He didn't let snow get in the way in February of getting off-season reps with McInnis. He shovelled an area at the Lions' practice facility to get in another day of work. 'I don't think I shovelled that much, but we were out there,' laughed McInnis. 'We had a little square on the field and we were able to get some throwing in. We made a square track and got our work in for the day. 'Nate is one of the hardest-working guys I've ever been around. He's in here every day, and in the off-season he's throwing four or five times a week. I've never seen anyone as locked in and as dedicated as he is. Not just the game and the team, but himself.' Run all this by Rourke and you get the feeling that mutual admiration is the real deal and not just words. After all, any quarterback loves the option of throwing balls to a certain height and knowing his guy is probably going to win that battle. 'You put (McInnis) in the right spot and there's not too many people who can go up and get it,' said Rourke. 'He has a wide catch radius and you don't have to be perfect with him. Just put it in the general area and he's going to come down with it most of the time. 'For his size, he surprises people with how polished he is. And blows by people more often than not. His speed is something that people take for granted.' McInnis is buoyed by potential of the Lions improving on an uneven 9-9-0 record last season and then suffering a stinging West Division semi-final loss on home turf. The vibe seems different. 'There's a different feeling in the air with intensity and physicality,' he stressed. 'I think that's something we're going to be able to show Saturday.' It will also be the first opening week since 1968 featuring two Canadian starting quarterbacks — Rourke and the Eskimos' Tre Ford — and the first time it has occurred in the same game. The impact of McInnis is reflected in being named among top-10 players expected to excel in 2025. He is listed sixth overall by TSN and first among receivers. If that isn't enough incentive to help get the Lions get back to the Grey Cup for the first time in 14 years, he knows proving his worth will help move the win meter. Will one of these teams snap their Grey Cup appearance droughts? 🫣🫣 Must-see games at a B.C. Place this season: Who: Saturday, June 21 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 4 p.m. Why: Running back Brady Oliveira won most outstanding player and top Canadian honours last season with 1,353 yards on 239 carries. The Winnipeg native also rushed for three TDs. Who: Saturday, July 19 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders , 4 p.m. Why: Transplanted prairie fans always add to buzz. Lions eager to avenge 28-19 semifinal playoff loss to the Riders last November. The Lions outscored the Riders 35-20 on July 13 at home. Who: Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Toronto Argonauts, 7 p.m. Why: Who are these guys? The Argos stunned the heavily favoured Bombers 41-24 in the Grey Cup last November at B.C. Place. EXTRA POINTS — F ans are encouraged to be in their seats at 5:45 p.m. in advance of Snoop Dogg's performance. The pre-game Backyard Party is back at Terry Fox Plaza starting at 2 p.m. A portion of Robson Street will be blocked off to allow more fans to celebrate another season. bkuzma@
Calgary Herald
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
B.C. Lions: Justin McInnis is quite the catch for the season opener
Article content Justin McInnis knows who will have the biggest pre-game impact Saturday at B.C. Place. Article content After all, the B.C. Lions' standout wide receiver understands that you can't beat legendary American rapper Snoop Dogg to get more than 50,000 fans jacked for the club's CFL opener against the Edmonton Elks. Article content Article content 'I'm excited,' McInnis said Thursday following practice. 'I grew up listening to Snoop. But honestly, I'm one of the weirder guys on the team. I don't wear headphones on game day or anything like that. I just like to soak up the crowd and be in the pre-game environment. Article content Article content McInnis will do his part to entertain when the ball is snapped. And that could also be quite the show after a career season in 2024. Article content McInnis led all receivers last campaign in league yardage with 1,469, and was the first Canadian since Andy Fantuz in 2010 to lead that category. He was also second with 92 receptions and third in touchdown grabs with seven. His yards total was second highest by a Canadian member of the Lions after Matt Clark (1,530 yards), and the eighth-best for a Canadian all-time. Article content Check out our Top 10 CFL players heading into the 2025 season! 🇨🇦🏈 Do you agree with our list? 🤔 FULL TOP 50 LIST | — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 4, 2025 Article content Article content The 28-year-old Pierrefonds, Que., native is an imposing target for quarterback Nathan Rourke with a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and plenty of zip and zag to leave defensive backs in his wake, or use his vertical skills to out-contest any defender. He did that in practice Wednesday and it bodes well as a weapon. Article content Article content 'The best part of my game is I've got to use my height,' said McInnis. 'I'm not the fastest in the league, and I'm not able to do a lot of things that smaller guys can do. I'm always going to continuously work on getting better body control and things that will be a big advantage.' Article content Add a full-season pull with Rourke, who spent the last two seasons with four NFL teams before returning to the Lions last August, and the dynamic duo could develop the kind of chemistry to intimidate and dominate. Article content 'Even in the off-season, we threw quite a bit, and at training camp,' said McInnis. 'One thing I like about Nate is that he's always communicating about things he sees and likes, and how he wants us to run certain routes. At the end of the day, it's being on the same page and he does a great job of expressing that.
Ottawa Citizen
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
B.C. Lions: Justin McInnis is quite the catch for the season opener
Article content Justin McInnis knows who will have the biggest pre-game impact Saturday at B.C. Place. Article content After all, the B.C. Lions' standout wide receiver understands that you can't beat legendary American rapper Snoop Dogg to get more than 50,000 fans jacked for the club's CFL opener against the Edmonton Elks. Article content Article content 'I'm excited,' McInnis said Thursday following practice. 'I grew up listening to Snoop. But honestly, I'm one of the weirder guys on the team. I don't wear headphones on game day or anything like that. I just like to soak up the crowd and be in the pre-game environment. Article content Article content McInnis will do his part to entertain when the ball is snapped. And that could also be quite the show after a career season in 2024. Article content McInnis led all receivers last campaign in league yardage with 1,469, and was the first Canadian since Andy Fantuz in 2010 to lead that category. He was also second with 92 receptions and third in touchdown grabs with seven. His yards total was second highest by a Canadian member of the Lions after Matt Clark (1,530 yards), and the eighth-best for a Canadian all-time. Article content Check out our Top 10 CFL players heading into the 2025 season! 🇨🇦🏈 Do you agree with our list? 🤔 FULL TOP 50 LIST | — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 4, 2025 Article content Article content The 28-year-old Pierrefonds, Que., native is an imposing target for quarterback Nathan Rourke with a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and plenty of zip and zag to leave defensive backs in his wake, or use his vertical skills to out-contest any defender. He did that in practice Wednesday and it bodes well as a weapon. Article content Article content 'The best part of my game is I've got to use my height,' said McInnis. 'I'm not the fastest in the league, and I'm not able to do a lot of things that smaller guys can do. I'm always going to continuously work on getting better body control and things that will be a big advantage.' Article content Add a full-season pull with Rourke, who spent the last two seasons with four NFL teams before returning to the Lions last August, and the dynamic duo could develop the kind of chemistry to intimidate and dominate. Article content 'Even in the off-season, we threw quite a bit, and at training camp,' said McInnis. 'One thing I like about Nate is that he's always communicating about things he sees and likes, and how he wants us to run certain routes. At the end of the day, it's being on the same page and he does a great job of expressing that.
Vancouver Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. Lions: Justin McInnis is quite the catch for the season opener
Justin McInnis knows who will have the biggest pre-game impact Saturday at B.C. Place . After all, the B.C. Lions' standout wide receiver understands that you can't beat legendary American rapper Snoop Dogg to get more than 50,000 fans jacked for the club's CFL opener against the Edmonton Elks. 'I'm excited,' McInnis said Thursday following practice. 'I grew up listening to Snoop. But honestly, I'm one of the weirder guys on the team. I don't wear headphones on game day or anything like that. I just like to soak up the crowd and be in the pre-game environment. 'Hear everything and it should be fun for our fans. It's Snoop Dog. Everyone is excited to see him.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. McInnis will do his part to entertain when the ball is snapped. And that could also be quite the show after a career season in 2024. McInnis led all receivers last campaign in league yardage with 1,469, and was the first Canadian since Andy Fantuz in 2010 to lead that category. He was also second with 92 receptions and third in touchdown grabs with seven. H is yards total was second highest by a Canadian member of the Lions after Matt Clark (1,530 yards), and the eighth-best for a Canadian all-time. Check out our Top 10 CFL players heading into the 2025 season! 🇨🇦🏈 Do you agree with our list? 🤔 FULL TOP 50 LIST | The 28-year-old Pierrefonds, Que., native is an imposing target for quarterback Nathan Rourke with a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and plenty of zip and zag to leave defensive backs in his wake, or use his vertical skills to out-contest any defender. He did that in practice Wednesday and it bodes well as a weapon. 'The best part of my game is I've got to use my height,' said McInnis. 'I'm not the fastest in the league, and I'm not able to do a lot of things that smaller guys can do. I'm always going to continuously work on getting better body control and things that will be a big advantage.' Add a full-season pull with Rourke, who spent the last two seasons with four NFL teams before returning to the Lions last August, and the dynamic duo could develop the kind of chemistry to intimidate and dominate. 'Even in the off-season, we threw quite a bit, and at training camp,' said McInnis. 'One thing I like about Nate is that he's always communicating about things he sees and likes, and how he wants us to run certain routes. At the end of the day, it's being on the same page and he does a great job of expressing that. 'What's so good about him is if we see things a certain way as receivers, we'll all give input and get to common ground on that. That's what has been super refreshing, to have that chemistry where we can talk instead of what's just drawn up. 'We can put our own little tweaks on it and make it better.' The best combos get to a place where the quarterback will instinctively know when a receiver might switch up a route that is not working because of coverage and break in a certain direction. That's another asset. 'We talk about that suff all the time, and even certain looks,' added McInnis. 'To this day, we're not perfect.' If practise makes perfect, then Rourke has taken it to another level. He didn't let snow get in the way in February of getting off-season reps with McInnis. He shovelled an area at the Lions' practice facility to get in another day of work. 'I don't think I shovelled that much, but we were out there,' laughed McInnis. 'We had a little square on the field and we were able to get some throwing in. We made a square track and got our work in for the day. 'Nate is one of the hardest-working guys I've ever been around. He's in here every day, and in the off-season he's throwing four or five times a week. I've never seen anyone as locked in and as dedicated as he is. Not just the game and the team, but himself.' Run all this by Rourke and you get the feeling that mutual admiration is the real deal and not just words. After all, any quarterback loves the option of throwing balls to a certain height and knowing his guy is probably going to win that battle. 'You put (McInnis) in the right spot and there's not too many people who can go up and get it,' said Rourke. 'He has a wide catch radius and you don't have to be perfect with him. Just put it in the general area and he's going to come down with it most of the time. 'For his size, he surprises people with how polished he is. And blows by people more often than not. His speed is something that people take for granted.' McInnis is buoyed by potential of the Lions improving on an uneven 9-9-0 record last season and then suffering a stinging West Division semi-final loss on home turf. The vibe seems different. 'There's a different feeling in the air with intensity and physicality,' he stressed. 'I think that's something we're going to be able to show Saturday.' It will also be the first opening week since 1968 featuring two Canadian starting quarterbacks — Rourke and the Eskimos' Tre Ford — and the first time it has occurred in the same game. The impact of McInnis is reflected in being named among top-10 players expected to excel in 2025. He is listed sixth overall by TSN and first among receivers. If that isn't enough incentive to help get the Lions get back to the Grey Cup for the first time in 14 years, he knows proving his worth will help move the win meter. Will one of these teams snap their Grey Cup appearance droughts? 🫣🫣 Must-see games at a B.C. Place this season: Who: Saturday, June 21 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 4 p.m. Why: Running back Brady Oliveira won most outstanding player and top Canadian honours last season with 1,353 yards on 239 carries. The Winnipeg native also rushed for three TDs. Who: Saturday, July 19 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders , 4 p.m. Why: Transplanted prairie fans always add to buzz. Lions eager to avenge 28-19 semifinal playoff loss to the Riders last November. The Lions outscored the Riders 35-20 on July 13 at home. Who: Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Toronto Argonauts, 7 p.m. Why: Who are these guys? The Argos stunned the heavily favoured Bombers 41-24 in the Grey Cup last November at B.C. Place. EXTRA POINTS — F ans are encouraged to be in their seats at 5:45 p.m. in advance of Snoop Dogg's performance. The pre-game Backyard Party is back at Terry Fox Plaza starting at 2 p.m. A portion of Robson Street will be blocked off to allow more fans to celebrate another season. bkuzma@
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Latest Teen Trend Has Experts Feeling Very Uneasy, And It Makes Sense Why
Trends change, technology advances, yet teenagers always seem to stay the same. They find new ways to maintain social relevance — often by doing things older generations don't understand. (Don't believe me? Just try to guess what any of their slang terms mean.) One of the latest teen trends is something that might raise a few eyebrows among parents, due to safety and privacy concerns: location tracking. Although teens crave independence from their parents, they are voluntarily sharing their real-time whereabouts with their friends. Popular phone tracking app Life360 recently found that Gen Z is 70% more likely than any other age group to share their location with friends. And 94% of Gen Z surveyed said their lives benefit from location sharing. In May 2025, Snapchat announced that its location-sharing Snap Map has more than 400 million monthly active users, per TechCrunch. This influences other social media platforms, as Instagram is reportedly working on a similar Friend Map to allow users to see their friends' locations. Many adults, including Leigh McInnis, the executive director of Newport Healthcare, may feel wary about this trend; however, McInnis keeps an open mind. 'While my immediate instinct is related to the protection of privacy and boundaries,' she told HuffPost, 'I realize that this impulse is likely more related to my generational identity and discomfort with technology and tracking than the social needs and preferences of today's teens and young adults.' McInnis added, 'I think that it is important to explore the function of a behavior before judging it or intervening in it.' Not sure what to think about it — or how to ensure your teen uses an app like this safely? Keep reading for expert-backed opinions to help you understand why your teens might like sharing their location, as well as tips on setting boundaries and red flags to look for. Location Sharing Isn't Necessarily New 'Many of the teens I work with — including my own daughter — share their location with their friends,' said Dr. Cameron Caswell, adolescent psychologist, host of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam podcast, and parent of a teen. 'It's a little about safety, but mostly 'because it's just fun to see what each other is doing.'' Back in the olden days (circa 2006), teens would update their Myspace status to let you know what they were up to. Later, they 'checked in' to places on Foursquare and Facebook, shared real-time updates on Snapchat and Instagram stories, and tweeted every detail of their lives. Now, they use Snapchat's Snap Map, Life360, or Apple's location sharing to share with their friends everywhere they are in real time. 'This isn't new,' Caswell said. 'In a world where nearly everything is shared, this doesn't feel invasive to teens — it feels normal. It's just another way they stay looped into each other's lives.' Teens also use apps like this to track their parents, according to Caswell, whose own daughter will text her if she sees her mom is at Ulta and ask for lip gloss. 'For many teens, location sharing is about connection and a sense of safety,' Caswell explained. 'It's their way of saying, 'You're in my circle' and 'I've got your back.'' Understanding The Risks Even though sharing your location with friends might be popular, it doesn't come without consequences. Cheryl Groskopf, an anxiety, trauma, and attachment therapist based in Los Angeles, sees teens sharing their locations as a way 'to manage anxiety, track social dynamics and feel less alone.' 'There's comfort in knowing where your people are, especially in a world where teens constantly feel like they could get left out, replaced, or excluded,' she said. 'But that comfort is fragile — it relies on constant access (which leaves their nervous system hypervigilant to feeling 'left out').' 'If you're checking someone's location because you don't trust what they're telling you — or because they don't trust you — then it's already crossed into a control dynamic,' Groskopf said. In her practice, she's seen teens 'spiral' when they spot their friend at a party they weren't invited to, or 'because someone didn't respond fast enough, but 'was clearly at home.'' She explained, 'It becomes a setup for overthinking, panic, and social surveillance.' 'Teens shouldn't use location sharing when it's being used to avoid rejection, manage someone else's anxiety, or prove loyalty,' she added. McInnis said, 'Teens sharing their location and having their friends track them could harm their mental health.' Constantly seeing (and comparing) your friends' social activities 'can lead to feelings of inadequacy,' she added. Caswell agreed. 'Location sharing can intensify FOMO (fear of missing out) and social exclusion,' she said. 'Seeing a group of friends hanging out without them — even unintentionally — can make them feel lonelier and more left out.' In addition to these emotional risks, there are physical risks, too. Like a teen's location data being available to someone who might wish them harm. 'In the wrong hands, it can make [teens] more vulnerable to stalking, harassment or even predatory behavior, especially if they are in controlling relationships,' Caswell said. There's A Gender Gap Teen girls may be more likely to use location sharing as a way to feel safer. According to the Life360 survey, 70% of Gen Z women believe their physical well-being benefits from location sharing. In the field, our experts also found that females were more likely to do this. Caswell said that 'mostly girls' will openly share their location with friends, 'both for fun and because it makes them feel safer knowing someone always knows where they are.' However, this sense of safety is a double-edged sword, as it can 'increase the risk of stalking, harassment, or even sexual violence,' Caswell said. 'Especially when their location is shared with the wrong person, which is often someone they know and trust.' Groskopf warns of the dangers girls and femme teens may experience when their use of location-sharing is weaponized against them. 'It can easily turn into emotional surveillance disguised as closeness,' she explained. (For example, a friend or partner telling them, 'If you trust me, you'll let me see where you are.') 'I see these kinds of patterns play out in high-control dynamics — friends or partners checking locations not to stay safe, but to manage anxiety, jealousy, or power,' Groskopf said. 'And girls are way more likely to internalize that and comply, even when it feels off. They're more likely to be conditioned to avoid conflict, manage other people's emotions, and keep the peace — even if that means overriding their own boundaries.' That's why teaching your kids how to set boundaries, in real life and online, is important. Setting Boundaries Teaching your teen how to handle location-sharing in a safe way starts with conversations around consent and the ability to say no. When asked if there is a safe way for teens to share their locations, Groskopf said, 'Only if there's real consent, boundaries, and the freedom to opt out without punishment.' In this case, the punishment could be feeling guilt-tripped or rejected by a friend. 'That means not just technically having the option to stop sharing, but knowing you won't be guilted, shut out, or shamed if you do,' Groskopf continued. 'A parent saying, 'I want to know where you are in case of emergency' is one thing. A friend saying, 'Why'd you turn off your location?' with passive-aggressive silence afterward is something else entirely.' She added, 'Safe tracking only works when it's not being weaponized to regulate someone else's fear, jealousy, or insecurity.' How To Talk To Your Teen About Location Sharing Start the conversation with curiosity, not criticism, Caswell said. 'Instead of banning [location sharing], I recommend walking through privacy settings together and having calm conversations about why they're sharing in the first place,' she said. 'Is it for safety? To feel connected to their bestie? Because they feel pressured to? Helping teens understand why they are doing it makes location sharing a lot safer and more intentional.' From there, encourage your teen to only share their location with 'a small, trusted circle of close friends or family,' and check in on this list frequently. 'One mom I worked with told me her daughter was shocked to find an ex-boyfriend still had access to her location,' Caswell said. 'Of course, that explained why he kept 'randomly' showing up wherever she was. Instead of freaking out, the mom used it as an opportunity to talk with her daughter about how to use tech more safely moving forward.' It's always a good idea to talk with your teens about how to stay safe online and set boundaries around privacy with their friends. But keep in mind, this starts at home. 'Let your teen say no to you sometimes,' Caswell suggested. 'Practicing boundaries with someone safe gives them the confidence to do it with someone who isn't,' she added. 'That's how they build real-world safety skills — not just digital ones.' This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
