Latest news with #TrentUniversity
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
When truth isn't a defence — Joseph Howe's courageous fight for a free press
(Watch the full video directly below. (If using the National Post iPhone app, the video is at the top of the post.) In this NP Comment video, the Post's Terry Newman speaks with Trent University Canadian studies professor Christopher Dummitt about his new video series, 'Well, That Didn't Suck!' Dummitt set out to create a series of videos on Canadian history that would make sense to people who have grown up on social media — including YouTube, Tiktok and Instagram, which is where you can find his short history lessons. Essentially, the short Canadian history series finds audiences where they are. The first lesson, 'The Price of the Truth,' is about government corruption and the importance of the free press. It tells the story of Joseph Howe, who, in addition to being a politician and poet, was the sole editor and owner of the Novascotian. Howe published an anonymous letter accusing local police and politicians of stealing public money, resulting in him being charged with seditious libel. Unfortunately, the truth alone wasn't a defence at the time. Unable to find anyone willing to defend him, Howe defended himself. In a six-hour speech, he urged the jurors to 'leave an unshackled press as a legacy to your children.' Even though the judge advised jurors that it was their duty to return a guilty verdict, they ignored the judge and the law, finding Howe not guilty after a mere 10 minutes of deliberation. Following his acquittal, Howe claimed in the Novascotian that, 'The press of Nova Scotia is free.' Watch the full interview with Christopher Dummitt above and check out his new Canadian history series, 'Well, That Didn't Suck!' here. Christopher Dummitt: The radical takeover of a Canadian studies conference in Britain Christopher Dummitt: Canadians need a proud, not guilt-ridden Canada
National Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
When truth isn't a defence — Joseph Howe's courageous fight for a free press
Article content Article content In this NP Comment video, the Post's Terry Newman speaks with Trent University Canadian studies professor Christopher Dummitt about his new video series, 'Well, That Didn't Suck!' Article content Dummitt set out to create a series of videos on Canadian history that would make sense to people who have grown up on social media — including YouTube, Tiktok and Instagram, which is where you can find his short history lessons. Essentially, the short Canadian history series finds audiences where they are. Article content The first lesson, 'The Price of the Truth,' is about government corruption and the importance of the free press. It tells the story of Joseph Howe, who, in addition to being a politician and poet, was the sole editor and owner of the Novascotian. Article content Howe published an anonymous letter accusing local police and politicians of stealing public money, resulting in him being charged with seditious libel. Article content Unfortunately, the truth alone wasn't a defence at the time. Unable to find anyone willing to defend him, Howe defended himself. In a six-hour speech, he urged the jurors to 'leave an unshackled press as a legacy to your children.' Even though the judge advised jurors that it was their duty to return a guilty verdict, they ignored the judge and the law, finding Howe not guilty after a mere 10 minutes of deliberation.
CBC
18-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Mosquitoes emerge 'all at once' in Ottawa after spring melt, warm spell
A heavy snow melt and a snap warm spell have caused mosquitoes to emerge "all at once" in Ottawa, according to an expert in biting insects. David Beresford, a professor of biology at Trent University, said a steady supply of melting snow in eastern Ontario has left behind plenty of standing and still water — the preferred place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. The young start growing as larvae in the water, he said, but recent warm temperatures would have pushed them to emerge. "It's different when we get that warm weather. It feels like they've come on all at once," Beresford said. "You'll go along and it'll be nothing, and then suddenly there's clouds of mosquitoes." The current crop of mosquitoes matured in a "big pulse," he said, and now are wasting no time finding something to eat. "When the females emerge — now they want blood," he said. "They're not going to hang around waiting for this. They're going to be looking for people to bite as soon as they get out of that water." Numbers difficult to predict Last May, Beresford said the Ottawa area had the perfect conditions for an "absolute onslaught" of mosquitoes. Looking back, however, reality didn't end up meeting expectations, he said. A dry period meant mosquitoes had "pretty well disappeared" by mid-summer, he said. "It's hard to know what's going to happen after that first pulse in the spring," he said. As well as drought, overly wet conditions can threaten mosquito populations, Beresford said, as overflowing ponds may introduce predators like beetles and other insects into the puddles where mosquitos have laid eggs. Regardless of the trends, the number of mosquitoes may vary significantly between neighbourhoods, with potential breeding grounds ranging from clogged eavestroughs to waterlogged holes in trees, Beresford said. Climate change could shift season Climate change could alter both the length and makeup of Canada's mosquito season, according to Robert Anderson, a research entomologist with the Canadian Museum of Nature. Canada is currently home to 82 species of mosquito, Anderson said, but a warming climate could draw new species north as well as encourage an earlier emergence for those already here. As for this spring, Anderson said he hasn't noticed anything especially unusual about the mosquitoes. "It's just a part of living in Canada," he said.
National Observer
14-05-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Historic first: Three Indigenous ministers join Canada's cabinet
Canada's new federal cabinet under Prime Minister Mark Carney is making history with the appointment of three Indigenous ministers, and taking a big step forward for reconciliation and Indigenous governance. Carney's cabinet includes Rebecca Chartrand, who is new to federal politics as minister of northern and Arctic affairs. Mandy Gull-Masty, former Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, is now minister of Indigenous services. Buckley Belanger, a Métis politician, is secretary of state for rural development. 'This is unprecedented,' said David Newhouse, professor of Indigenous studies at Trent University. 'Not just in numbers but in expertise. These are people with deep knowledge of the communities they serve.' The cabinet has 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, more than half of whom are new to their roles. Gull-Masty is the first Indigenous person to lead the department responsible for services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis. She represents one of Canada's largest and most diverse ridings. She replaces Patty Hajdu, who moved to another role in the cabinet. Chartrand won the Churchill–Keewatinook Aski seat, a riding with the highest percentage of First Nations people in Canada, unseating long-time NDP MP Niki Ashton, who had represented the riding since 2008. Critics pointed out the geographic and demographic significance of the appointments: all three ministers are from the northern regions of Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 'Trudeau was the most progressive prime minister in Canadian history for Indigenous people,' said Niigaan Sinclair, Anishinaabe scholar and media commentator. 'You don't want to give up on that legacy — not on this issue.' 'This is unheard of … it signals that the provincial North is going to be a central piece of the government's policy for the next few years,' said Ken Coates, Distinguished Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and professor of Indigenous governance at Yukon University. 'The government knows if they're going to have the kind of resource economy and future they envision, they have to get Indigenous people on board,' Coates said. Coates said Carney's speech was full of Conservative talking points — like promising a tax cut, building more homes — which is proof that the prime minister is listening and understands the broader electorate. This includes the significant number of Canadians, including Indigenous people, who voted for the Conservatives. Gary Anandasangaree, former minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, has been replaced by Rebecca Alty, former mayor of Yellowknife. Alty is not Indigenous but is from the North and has extensive experience in northern municipalities. Anandasangaree will remain in cabinet, which critics say is positive news, as he is well-liked among Indigenous people. The new cabinet is promising and represents a shift away from the Trudeau government, but it has many rookie ministers who face a steep learning curve, said Niigaan Sinclair, Anishinaabe scholar, media commentator, and professor at the University of Manitoba. He warned against losing momentum on Indigenous issues gained under the previous administration. 'Trudeau was the most progressive prime minister in Canadian history for Indigenous people,' said Sinclair. 'You don't want to give up on that legacy — not on this issue.' However, there are still concerns Indigenous rights will be overlooked due to geopolitical tensions with the US and the government's focus on economic stability, which might include fast-tracking resource projects without proper consultation with Indigenous communities. 'A well-informed cabinet would be better placed to discuss the issues that affect both the Canadian state and Indigenous people around the cabinet table,' said Joyce Green, professor emerita of political science at the University of Regina and member of the Ktunaxa Nation. Green said Canada ratified the UNDRIP in 2021, but Indigenous communities are still facing challenges around decision-making and their right to free, prior and informed consent. She is closely monitoring whether the new government will make meaningful changes in their efforts, especially when it comes to large-scale resource development projects that have long been a point of contention. Meanwhile, critics warn appointing ministers like Alty and Gull-Masty, who come from regions where modern treaties are common, could mean the Carney government will continue the Trudeau government's approach of pushing Indigenous communities to sign self-government agreements and modern treaties — instead of honouring historic agreements with deep spiritual and cultural significance to some. Russell Diabo, independent First Nations policy analyst from Kahnawà:ke who previously served as a special adviser to the national chief of Assembly of First Nations, said he is concerned that First Nations could be treated more like local municipalities under Canadian law. The coming months will be critical in determining whether the new cabinet will move beyond 'lip service' in its efforts to further reconciliation, said Green. Critics will closely watch the mandate letters and key cabinet committees for signs of Carney's approach to Indigenous rights and governance. 'The formula of any reconciliatory relationship is that the one who has done the injury must make amends in order to facilitate the conditions for a reconciled relationship,' said Green. 'You can't command that — you can only create the conditions.'
CBC
10-05-2025
- General
- CBC
'I did not expect to find a shipwreck!' says boy whose treasure is being excavated
Lucas Atchison found metal spikes on a Lake Huron beach with a metal detector Caption: Lucas Atchison stands in front of a shipwreck he discovered in August of 2023 on the beach at Point Farms Provincial Park, north of Goderich. The yellow measuring tapes help a crew of volunteers to do scale drawings of the wreck. (Andrea Bellemare) During a family trip to Point Farms Provincial Park north of Goderich, Ont. in 2023, Lucas Atchison was using a metal detector that he got as a gift for his birthday, when he found something big and old. "We were on the beach, we got our metal detector out, and as soon as we set it up, ding! It was a spike from the shipwreck," Lucas said, who is now 10. He recalls alerting his dad, who at first thought the spike may have been used to tie up a boat. But Lucas wasn't convinced, and the pair started digging deeper. What they found was more spikes attached to wood. "Then Dad told me, 'Lucas this is a shipwreck,'" the boy explained. "When I woke up that morning I did not expect to find a shipwreck!" Image | Marine archeologists Caption: Hailey Sterling, left, and Lorna Miessner remove more sand from the shipwreck. Both are first-year grad students in anthropology at Trent University, and were being trained to do scale drawings of the wreck by archaeologist Leslie Curry. (Andrea Bellemare) Open Image in New Tab Dad Jason Atchison said they reported the find to provincial parks staff, and then reached out to the Ontario Marine Heritage Committee (OMHC), a non-profit volunteer group dedicated to recording and preserving marine history. This week, with Lucas keeping a close eye on the work, excavation on the shipwreck began with an OMHC team digging to see exactly what Lucas found. Excavation work begins Image | Scarlett Janusas Caption: Scarlett Janusas, a recently-retired marine archaeologist with the Ontario Marine Heritage Committee, stands in the parking lot of the beach at Point Farms Provincial Park. Janusas says that piece of the wreck Lucas found is likely a schooner, a two-masted sailing ship. (Submitted by Scarlett Janusas) Open Image in New Tab The approvals process to dig takes time, with regulatory requirements needing to be met, according to marine archeologist Scarlett Janusas and marine historian Patrick Folkes. They first met the Atchisons in the fall of 2023 at the beach to show them where they should be looking. Then, on Wednesday, a group of volunteers from the OMHC arrived with heavy machinery supplied by the provincial park, and then switching to hand shovels, trowels and brushes to see what the sand had buried. So far, Janusas said they found a smaller portion of the ship than they had hoped, but determined the section was frames from the side of the ship. "We had double frames, which seems to suggest that it was stronger-built ship and we believe that it was a schooner," said Janusas. "A schooner is usually a two-masted sailing vessel, usually wooden." Maybe the St. Anthony? There wasn't enough of the ship to definitively determine its identity, but Folkes says one candidate is the schooner St. Anthony. "[It] was wrecked in October of 1856 on a voyage … from Chicago to Buffalo, New York with a load of grain," he said. "It was described as having gone ashore four miles north of Goderich, which fits about where this wreckage is, and this would only represent a very small piece." Image | Shipwreck digging Caption: Jason and Stephanie Atchison, with Lucas, left, watch as volunteers measure and document the wreck. Note that much of the sand was moved around with a digging machine to make it easier to access the wreck, and the sand will be replaced after. (Andrea Bellemare) Open Image in New Tab The volunteers will complete scale drawings of the wreck, including a plan view (from on top) and profile (side view) of the wreck. Folkes says that 19th century insurance requirements would specify how many fasteners, or spikes, should be placed in the frames and at what distance. Those details, he said, will help help determine the ship's age. What comes next might be surprising. The volunteers will then rebury the ship to preserve it. "We fill the hole back in, bury it and create an anaerobic environment, i.e. without oxygen, so you don't have any kind of parasites in there or any other organisms that will eat or destroy the wreckage," said Janusas. "It's not a perfect solution but it does maintain the structure of that ship probably for at least another 50 years."
