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Government of Canada announces three heritage lighthouses designations in Nova Scotia


Brier Island Lighthouse, Grand Passage Lighthouse, and Peter Island Lighthouse protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act

December 2, 2021                               Ottawa, Ontario                Parks Canada Agency

Heritage places reflect the rich and varied stories of Canada and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history.

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced the designation of Brier Island Lighthouse, Grand Passage Lighthouse, and Peter Island Lighthouse, all in Nova Scotia, as heritage lighthouses under Canada’s Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.

The Brier Island Lighthouse is an 18-metre (59 feet) tapered, octagonal, reinforced-concrete tower topped by a red octagonal lantern. Located on the westernmost tip of the 7-kilometre long island in the Municipality of Digby, Nova Scotia, this charming lighthouse marks the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. The Grand Passage Lighthouse is a square, reinforced-concrete tower located on the northern tip of Brier Island. The 8.5 metre (28 feet) tall lighthouse marks the northern entrance to Grand Passage, which runs between Brier Island and the western shore of St. Mary’s Bay. The Peter Island Lighthouse is a beautifully tapered, wooden, octagonal tower, located on the small, uninhabited Peter Island. The 13.4 metres (43.9 feet) tall lighthouse marks the southern entrance to the Grand Passage in the Municipality of Digby.

With these new designations, 106 lighthouses in eight provinces have now been protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. They include some of the country’s most architecturally and historically significant lighthouses, including Triple Island in British Columbia, Île du Pot à l’Eau-de-Vie in Quebec, and Cape Spear in Newfoundland and Labrador, which are treasured symbols of our country’s maritime heritage.

The Government of Canada continues to work in close collaboration with community groups and other levels of government to facilitate the designation of heritage lighthouses and ensure their protection for the benefit and enjoyment of generations to come. Designations under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act are made by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

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Statement by the Honourable Marc Miller and the Honourable Patty Hajdu on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women


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There is a national, toll-free 24/7 crisis call line providing mental health support for anyone who requires emotional assistance related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. For assistance, call 1-844-413-6649. 

Supports are also available through the MMIWG health and cultural support services: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1548700698392/1548701361628

Support could include professional counselling with a focus on healing, emotional supports such as listening and referrals to additional services, and culturally-specific help centered around traditional healing methods and Elder services.

Ottawa, Ontario (December 6, 2021) — The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Honourable Marc Miller; and the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, issued the following statement today:

“On this day 32 years ago, 14 women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal were murdered and many others wounded in a misogynistic act of unspeakable violence and cruelty, simply because they were women. This tragedy led Parliament to designate December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, to honour the memory of the victims of gender-based violence, and inspire Canadians to take action and end all forms of violence against women and girls.

As we commemorate and mourn the victims of this senseless act of hate, we must reflect on what still needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again and ensure that we build a better and safer society for everyone.

In Canada, far too many women and girls still live in fear of violence. Research shows that Indigenous women and girls are significantly more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women. This ongoing national tragedy was clearly presented in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the resulting Calls for Justice, which called upon us to substantially increase efforts to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual plus (2SLGBTQQIA+) people. 

Families and survivors, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners together with our government, developed and launched a National Action Plan (NAP) to respond to those issues. The Federal Pathway, launched at the same time, represents our Government’s contribution to the NAP. Work with partners to implement this plan continues and will be adapted to address the unique experiences and cultural differences of Indigenous Peoples and communities. Regional perspectives from across Canada and the views of families and survivors of gender-based violence will be critical. 

Together, we will end the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, to honour the spirits and memories of the lives lost, protect future generations, and foster healing for families and survivors. This is a shared responsibility, and all must take action to be part of the solution. Through vigilance, education, and positive actions, we can build a Canada free from gender-based violence, where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.”



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Government of Canada invests $14.7M in conservation projects in five mountain national parks to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species


December 4, 2021                     Banff, Alberta                 Parks Canada Agency

Protecting the ecological integrity of national parks is vital to conserving natural and cultural marine heritage, fighting climate change and biodiversity loss, and providing Canadians with opportunities to learn more about iconic cultural and natural settings.

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced federal investments of $14.7 million over the next five years for conservation projects to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes and Yoho national parks.

The mountain national parks are particularly vulnerable to aquatic invasive species due to the high amount of water recreationists who visit each year. Aquatic invasive species alter aquatic ecosystems, cause irreversible damage, impact vulnerable species at risk, and spread downstream beyond park boundaries through the interconnected river systems. Of particular concern for the mountain national parks are invasive mussels, which deplete available nutrients and in turn affects the entire food web by altering water chemistry and quality, as well as the parasite that causes whirling disease, which leads to skeletal deformities for native species. This investment will help address major threats to aquatic ecosystems by funding programs to prevent and educate against the spread of aquatic invasive species.

With the aim of creating a large-scale, cohesive program to keep waters safe, Parks Canada will continue to coordinate with provincial, state and federal agencies, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in Alberta, British Columbia and Montana, and will work collaboratively with Indigenous groups, partners, and stakeholders to protect the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems. These efforts will directly support the recovery of species at risk, including westslope cutthroat trout, Athabasca rainbow trout and bull trout; all native species there were once abundant in most major rivers and connected lakes emanating from the mountains.  

The Government of Canada is investing in Parks Canada’s Conservation and Restoration Program to support projects that make a difference on the ground in maintaining or restoring ecological integrity and helping the recovery of species at risk. Ensuring ecological integrity of Canada’s national parks will help Canada work toward its goals of mitigating the impacts of climate change and protecting biodiversity, while providing Canadians with an opportunity to enjoy nature.

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Yurdiga Accused of Lying by Harrietha in Order to Miss Important Debates

Yurdiga, Harrietha

There are some accusations flying over the recent political debates in the Wood Buffalo region, with Kyle Harrietha, the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake Liberal candidate, making accusations about lying against David Yurdiga, the incumbent candidate for the Conservative party. Harrietha is accusing Yurdiga about lying concerning the reasons that Yurdiga has skipped recent debates. The Conservative campaign apparently gave different reasons for why Yurdiga missed a recent debate. First a member of the campaign team for Yurdiga, who insisted on anonymity, told the media that the politician would not attend any of the local debates. On the exact same day the politician told a radio interviewer that his original plan was to attend the debates, however this was changed when his wife experienced a flare up of her multiple sclerosis.

Yurdiga told the media that “We had our debate binder all ready to go, but unfortunately, things do happen. My wife’s health is the most important thing to me and unfortunately her condition caused her to be rushed to the emergency room. She’s back in McMurray, so I have to tend to her. She’s resting right now, but I don’t want to be too far from her.” Kim Farwell, the campaign director for Yurdiga, disputed the lying claims by Harrietha, saying “We planned to miss the (Westwood) school debate due to a scheduling conflict. Then the situation with Kathy changed our plans and we missed Lac La Biche and Fort McMurray. After that, we did refocus the campaign on meeting constituents.”

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Sex Assault Charges Against Children’s Hospital Nurse End With Acquittal

sex assault charges, Children's hospital nurse

A Children’s hospital nurse has been acquitted of sex assault charges over an incident that occurred a few years ago with a male patient. Drew Legary was a male nurse at Children’s hospital in Alberta at the time of the incident, and he was performing a head to toe exam on the patient. The boy said that the nurse reached into his underwear and held his penis for approximately 2 seconds. Justice Rosemary Nation found that the touching may have been accidental, although she did find the teen victim credible. Justice Nation stated “Here the evidence of the accused is a very plausible for the brief touching that occurred. The evidence of the accused and (the expert) raises a reasonable doubt in my mind that there was a sexual purpose to the touching.”

The sex assault charges against Children’s hospital nurse Drew Legary caused him to lose his position at the hospital as well as being charged with criminal offenses. An acquittal is not the end of it for the nurse, Legary still has to have a hearing before health service in order to determine whether he can return to work as a nurse in the medical field. Balfour Der, Drew Legary’s attorney, said “This was a case where there was a very reasonable doubt. There’s been a lot of pressure on him, he’s been suspended now, without pay, for upwards of 3 1/2 years. These allegations hanging over his head and the threat of potential jail, all of that can really weigh a person down.”

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Holy Trinity Catholic High School Choir Invited to Perform at Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall, Holy Trinity Catholic High School choir

A number of students in the Holy Trinity Catholic High School choir will get the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall this April, and it is the opportunity of a lifetime. 27 of the choir students will make the trip along with Nancy Lawson, the Holy Trinity choir director, and an appropriate number of chaperones. The group will leave for a whirlwind tour of the iconic New York City on April 24, and they will return on April 26. The choir students will perform at Carnegie Hall during the National Vocal Jazz Festival which is being presented by the WorldStrides’ Heritage Performance Programs. Nancy Lawson said “This festival isn’t a competitive festival, it’s more for the experience. They’ll be premiering a work by Wynton Marsalis called ‘Abyssinian 200: A Celebration,’ and working with Damien Sneed.” The performance is open by invitation only, and students between grades 9 and 12 are eligible for consideration.

As the National Vocal Jazz Choir Sneed will spend time working with the Holy Trinity Catholic High School choir members at Carnegie Hall. The trip will include a series of workshops designed to help the choir members prepare for the big event on Sunday. According to Nancy Lawson the trip should be an incredible experience, one the students will remember fondly for years to come. Lawson said “I remember my father saying to me, ‘You know you’ve made it if you perform at Carnegie Hall. As a musician, as a conductor, it’s a dream of a lifetime. I wish I could get up there and sing with them. Some of the stuff they’re singing is harder than stuff I sang in university in the choirs there, so it’s forcing them to elevate their level of musicianship and I think it’s going to be an experience they’ll never forget.”