London police officials are not doing enough to analyze their own race-based use-of-force numbers to start tackling systemic racism within their organization, an expert in police data says. London police numbers crunched by researcher Tandeep Sidhu show Black people in the city experienced force […]
Tag: Canada
London’s opioid users say street drugs are getting stronger, cheaper and deadlier – CBC News [2023-06-16]
People who use fentanyl on the streets of London say the deadly opioid is becoming ever cheaper and more powerful, delivering higher highs, while simultaneously raising the risk of overdose death. Without widespread testing, there’s no way of knowing, but the city’s drug problem […]
Winnipeg man says he wanted federal prison sentence because of better addiction supports – CBC News [2023-06-15]
A Winnipeg man living with a cocaine addiction who has previously spent time in a provincial jail is back behind bars, this time in a federal penitentiary — and that’s what he wanted. Jason Walmsley, 34, told CBC in an interview inside the federal […]
Mental health ‘on the go’ coming to midwestern Ontario – CTV News [2023-06-13]
In a few weeks, a black van with tinted windows will be rolling into communities across midwestern Ontario, offering help for people dealing with everything from anxiety to addictions. “You’ll see the clinic doesn’t have any logos or any identification on it. We want […]
Are drag queen storytimes worth fighting for? These people think so – CBC News [2023-06-07]
As pushback and protests continue over drag storytimes across Southwestern Ontario, advocates say making those experiences available is a way to teach understanding and accepting differences. Adam Davies, the co-chair of the Anti-Oppression Rainbow Research Lab at the University of Guelph — who is […]
Here’s how ‘code-switching’ can hurt Black, Indigenous people in Canada – CTV News [2023-06-05]
In a dominantly white culture, racialized people in Canada may “codeswitch”, Selam Debs, an antiracism coach said. Code-switching refers to a person changing their behaviour, expression or appearance Debs told CTV’s Your Morning on Monday, explaining the reasons for doing so can include safety, […]
More highly supportive, deeply affordable housing units coming to London this fall – CBC News [2023-06-05]
The city has approved a deal with charity Indwell for 44 deeply affordable, highly supportive housing units, a step toward London’s promise to open 100 such apartments by the end of the year. City councillors approved the plan for the supportive housing units last […]
Antipsychotic drugs use increased in Canadian long-term care homes, pointing to possible quality-of-care issues: study – CTV News [2023-06-03]
A new study has revealed an increase in antipsychotic drugs use in long-term care homes across Canada despite no significant increase in behavioural symptoms of residents – something that may expose a potential area of concern for quality of care, researchers say. The study, […]
Access to virtual mental-health care uneven across Canada – Healthy Debate [2023-05-28]
Despite the promises of “universality” and “accessibility” enshrined in the Canada Health Act, virtual delivery of family physician services for mental health varies enormously across the country. Before the COVID-19 pandemic onset, virtual delivery of physician services in Canada was rare – other than […]
‘Slipping through the cracks’: Post-secondary students with mental-health disabilities struggle to find help – Healthy Debate [2023-05-29]
Despite the increased availability of resources to tackle the student mental-health crisis across Canadian universities, three in four post-secondary students are unaware of how to access campus mental-health resources. Undergraduate students voice that there is a disconnect between what is available to students with […]
Manitoba chiropractor cleared of misconduct after posting pro-vaccine news story – CBC News [2023-05-23]
Carolyn Weiss didn’t give it much thought when she posted a news article that spoke positively about vaccines on her personal Facebook. It was January 2021 and COVID-19 vaccines were beginning to be administered across the country, sparking fierce public debate. Little did the […]
Advocates blast Barrie city council for greenlighting ban on donations to people experiencing homelessness – CBC News [2023-05-21]
Advocates are blasting the City of Barrie for approving a slew of policies that, if put in place, could outlaw giving food or money to people in the city who are experiencing homelessness. In a city council meeting Wednesday, councillors approved a range of […]
Ontario government, Bell won’t say how much money they made from inmate phone calls – Global News [2023-05-16]
Neither Bell Canada nor the Ontario government will say how much money they made from a jail phone system that charged what lawyers describe as “exorbitant” rates for inmate calls over eight years. Bell operated the Offender Telephone Management System from 2013 to 2021 […]
Officers’ focus should be policing, not social work: New St. Thomas chief – London Free Press [2023-05-15]
Prioritizing the health and well-being of police officers is fundamental to improving the way police serve the community and build trust with the public, says the incoming St. Thomas police chief. Acting Chief Marc Roskamp, who will be sworn in Tuesday, outlined his vision. […]
As Pride flags are once again targeted, LGBTQ advocates say it’s as important as ever to fly them – CBC News [2023-05-11]
After the southwestern Ontario township of Norwich made a controversial decision last month to no longer fly the Progress Pride flag on municipal property, it didn’t take long after for people to start emailing Kim Huffman, a councillor in neighbouring Norfolk county, calling for […]
Barenaked Ladies – Lovers in a Dangerous Time (cover)
Barenaked Ladies – Lovers in a Dangerous Time (cover)
Ontario law federation raises alarm over dwindling number of lawyers in remote areas – CBC News [2023-05-10]
The Federation of Ontario Law Associations (FOLA) is raising concerns over access to justice as the number of practising law professionals in rural and remote areas of the province dwindles. FOLA, which represents 46 district and county associations in Ontario, put forward a motion […]
Prescribed alcohol program in Halifax to add social activities after finding surprising side effect – CBC News [2023-05-09]
An evaluation of a Halifax program that prescribes alcohol to people who have struggled with homelessness and alcohol dependency is showing positive results — but it’s had a surprising side effect. Participants were bored. “They didn’t need to spend so much time during the […]
Northern Ontario’s 5 largest cities continue to have highest opioid death rates in province – CBC News [2023-05-10]
Dallas Kosy says he isn’t surprised to hear that northern Ontario continues to have the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths in the province. Last week, the Office of the Chief Coroner released preliminary figures showing five cities in the region —Thunder Bay, Sault […]
Inside lobbying efforts to fund London’s new homelessness strategy – CTV News [2023-05-08]
Almost three months after it was announced, London’s long-term strategy for addressing homelessness is coming into focus. In a letter to his council colleagues, Mayor Josh Morgan provides an update on lobbying the federal and provincial governments to financially support the Whole of Community […]
70-year-old Ontario biker makes it her mission to protect people at drag queen storytimes – CBC News [2023-05-08]
If public libraries have become the battleground for LGBTQ rights, Patricia Ginn of Strathroy, Ont., is on the front line. At 70, Ginn, who regularly sports a black leather vest, says she doesn’t scare easily. She rides a 2023 Indian Dark Horse motorcycle and […]
B.C. family who lost brother challenges hospital procedures for discharging patients under Mental Health Act – CBC News [2023-05-08]
James Zimmer will always be remembered as a kind-hearted carpenter who dreamt of supporting people like himself who were struggling with mental illness, his family says. “He wanted to start out with being a peer supporter,” said sister Cindy Zimmer. But the dream never […]
A care revolution: Inside Canada’s first dementia village – Global News [2023-05-06]
In Langley, British Columbia, there’s a village that may remind you of your own: you can go for a stroll, pick up a couple of items from the grocery store or even pop by the salon. But, this particular community was purposefully built to […]
Resident dog Scout helps heal patients and staff at Hamilton mental health hospital – CBC News [2023-05-07]
Six months on the job and the “bestest boy” at St. Joseph’s hospital is already unleashing a sense of hope and inspiration among patients and staff. His name is Scout — a gentle 125-pound Leonberger who spends his weekdays visiting about 30 forensic unit […]
The number of medically-assisted deaths in Canada’s prisons a concern for some experts – CTV News [2023-05-03]
Canada has performed nine medically-assisted deaths among prisoners in the last seven years, more than any other country which tracks and records such data. The number of federal prisoners requesting medically-assisted death (MAID) in Canada has also increased, with 27 asking for permission to […]
