By: Mark Pavilons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, King Weekly Sentinel
A King Township artist’s work is part of the charge, improving awareness for our province’s “sheroes.”
Schomberg’s Giovannina Colalillo has applied her talents to promotional art for the Ontario Federation of Labour.
The OFL’s March 8 Project has been supporting women’s organizations across Ontario as they rise, resist, and organize for equality across our province.
This year, as the project enters its 11th year, they are honouring this work with the theme: “Sheroes Persist.”
According to the organization, it has been an unprecedented past year for everyone around the globe, especially women, who are predominantly front-line workers, and the proverbial grease in more economic engines.
The image includes a fist, which represents fighting for the rights of women from all backgrounds. The rose represents the rise from a special poem during the suffrage movement.
“Bread and Roses” is a political slogan as well as the name of an associated poem and song. It originated from a speech given by American women’s suffrage activist Helen Todd. A line in that speech about “bread for all, and roses too,” inspired the title of the poem Bread and Roses by James Oppenheim.
The poem was first published in The American Magazine in December 1911.
The phrase is commonly associated with the successful textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, between January and March 1912, now often referred to as the “Bread and Roses strike.” The slogan pairing bread and roses, appealing for both fair wages and dignified conditions, found resonance as transcending “the sometimes tedious struggles for marginal economic advances” in the “light of labor struggles as based on striving for dignity and respect,” as Robert J. S. Ross wrote in 2013.
“I have incorporated a rose in all the posters and pin for the past 11 years. Its like finding Waldo.”
She said she’s thrilled with the outcome.
“I love working with the Ontario Federation for 11 years,” she said.
The reaction so far has been very positive and the images will be released for the International Women’s Day celebrations.
Her work also contains something more, a poignant message.
“As an illustrator, I create images that deliver a message. I use my art medium to convey messages that are important to me such as anti-racism, women rights, etc.”
Colalillo pointed out she recently refused a big illustration project for a vaping company owned by a huge U.S. tobacco company, because she believes these products are not good for one’s health and that they aim their advertising towards young people.
“My illustration designs would have had cancer causing health warnings across the top of them. My mother died of cancer at a young age.”
Colalillo is continually quoting on various freelance illustration and design projects. She recently quoted on an book illustration project.
For more, visit her website at http://www.giovannina.com or email info@giovannina.com
Year: 2021
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King artist celebrates female empowerment
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Ontario Launches Tow Zone Pilot Project
By: Laura Steiner
The province of Ontario is continuing their efforts to make roads a little safer. Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney announced a tow zone pilot on designated sections of provincial highways.
“The ongoing violence in the towing industry is unacceptable, which is why our government is taking action to make the towing industry safer through strengthened oversight standards,” Mulroney. The province will also implement recommendations brought last year by a taskforce to form a Joint Forces investigate criminal activity within the industry.
The towing zones will divide the province into four zones including one here in Halton:- Restricted Tow Zone 1: Highway 401 from Highway 400 east to Morningside Avenue
- Restricted Tow Zone 2:
- Highway 401 from Highway 400 west to Regional Road 25
- Highway 427 from QEW to Highway 409
- Highway 409 from Highway 427 to Highway 401
- Restricted Tow Zone 3: Highway 400 from Highway 401 to Highway 9
- Restricted Tow Zone 4: QEW from Highway 427 to Brant Street
Drivers must use an authorized company if their vehicle requires towing. In an emergency they’re to call 911. They are to call the OPP outside an emergency.
The moves are supported by the Canadian Automobile Association of South Central Ontario (CAA SCO).”Consumers should have the confidence they will be protected, regardless of where in the province they are and w hat kind of towing services they require,” Assistance Vice-President of government and Community Relations Teresa Di Felice said. The CAA has proposed framework that includes increased training, and education for tow truck drivers. The province will also be exploring those options as well. -
Judge tosses gun case over delays at Brampton courthouse
By: Jason Miller, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: Toronto Star
Another Ontario judge has blamed a lack of resources in the Brampton courts for extraordinary delays that led to gun charges being thrown out.
In a recent ruling, Ontario court judge Paul F. Monahan said that a delay of more than 18 months bringing the case to trial violated the accused’s rights.
The accused in the case, Tyranne Greenidge, had been charged with several offences arising out of a June 26, 2019 traffic stop, including the criminal charge of possession of a loaded restricted firearm.
“This is a serious case,” Monahan wrote in his Jan. 27 ruling. “Guns are a major problem in our society. I have reluctantly concluded that I have no choice but to enter a stay in this case for a violation of the charter.”
The judge noted that neither the Crown counsel, defence counsel, the court or the trial coordinator were to blame for the delays. Rather, he said the “die was cast” when it took roughly two months to make a judicial pretrial available and another 14 months to make a trial date available.
This happened because there was a lack of resources in the Brampton Ontario court of justice (OCJ), Monahan wrote. “This is an observation that has been made in many other cases. It is not the first time this has happened in the Brampton OCJ, and it is unlikely to be the last.”
Monahan noted that the total delay was 18 months and 25 days, which is above the ceiling of 18 months set out in a landmark 2016 Supreme Court ruling.
Dubbed the Jordan ruling, it stipulates that once charges are laid, provincial cases must be heard within 18 months and superior court cases within 30 months, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Other judges in Peel have underscored similar concerns including another January ruling in which Superior Court Justice David Harris citing “long-standing and glaring systemic issues,” in Brampton’s bail court before staying a string of serious criminal charges, including 10 gambling and 53 illicit gaming counts, against two men who waited 12 days for a bail hearing.
Harris said he reviewed more than two dozen cases and found “pervasive” bail delays had occurred with “alarming frequency” in violation of accused persons’ charter right to a bail hearing in a reasonable amount of time — typically within 24 hours or three days for more complex hearings requiring a special bail hearing.
Defence lawyer Daniel Brown, who serves as vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association told the Star it is one of many examples of serious criminal cases being tossed for delay because the Brampton courthouse lacks the resources necessary to prosecute cases in a constitutionally acceptable timeframe.
“One solution is for the provincial government to dedicate more resources to the jurisdiction, including additional judges, courtrooms and prosecutors,” Brown said. “Care must be taken by police and prosecutors to examine whether some minor cases could be diverted from the court system earlier in the process so that our justice system has the necessary resources available to address serious criminal prosecutions like this one.”
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Survey: Canadians confident in federal government’s vaccination plan
By: Vincenzo Morello
A survey has found that most Canadians are confident in the Canadian government’s plan to acquire the necessary amount of vaccines in order to ensure that all Canadians who want to be vaccinated are able to do so by September.
According to the survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, which polled 1,532 Canadians in late February, 56 per cent of respondents were totally confident in the federal government’s vaccination plan.
However, confidence in the vaccination plan differed by province. Respondents from Atlantic Canada, and Quebec were the most confident in the plan to acquire vaccine doses at 71 per cent and 62 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, respondents from Alberta and Ontario were the least confident at 43 per cent and 53 per cent respectively.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly assured Canadians that anyone who wants to be vaccinated will be able to do so by September.
The survey also found that Canadians opinions varied on when to end lockdown restrictions as COVID-19 vaccinations increase across the country. Most respondents, 31 per cent said they would feel comfortable ending lockdowns when all Canadians who want the vaccine receive the required doses.
Meanwhile, 18 per cent of respondents said the lockdown restrictions should be lifted when half of the country has received two doses of the vaccine.
According to statistics from the Canadian government, as of Feb. 26, 2021, 1,086,025 Canadians, 2.86 per cent, have at least received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 435,092 Canadians, 1.14 per cent, have received two doses. -
Impaired Driving Offenses: February 26- March 1
By: Laura Steiner
Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has released its Impaired Driving Offenses for the period of February 26- March 1, 2021.
On February 26, 2021 just after 11:00 am, Halton Police officers responded to a collision in the area of Bronte Road and Heslop Road 25 in Milton. As a result of an investigation, Talon Bayer (23) of Campbellville was charged with operation while impaired and failure or refusal to comply with demand.
On February 26, 2021, just before 9:30 pm, Halton Police officers responded to a citizen-initiated complaint in the area of Derry Road and Ontario Street in Milton. As a result of an investigation, Timothy Boodram (48) of Brampton was charged with operation while impaired and blood alcohol concentration 80mgs or more, within two hours.
On February 27, 2021 just before 12:30 pm, Halton Police officers responded to a collision in the area of South Service Road West and Progress Court in Oakville. As a result of an investigation, Cheng-Yu Lo (44) of Mississauga was charged with operation while impaired.
On February 27, 2021, just before 9:00 pm, Halton Police officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Cross Avenue and Trafalgar Road in Oakville. As a result of an investigation, Joseph O’Toole (53) of Etobicoke was charged with failure or refusal to comply with demand.
On March 1, 2021 just after 1:30 am, Halton Police officers responded to a collision in the area of Fairview Street and Maple Avenue in Burlington. As a result of an investigation, Brandon Pope-Hillman (20) of Burlington was charged with blood alcohol concentration 80mgs or more, within two hours.
The Halton Regional Police Service remains committed to road safety through prevention, education and enforcement initiatives.
Members of the public are reminded that driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a crime in progress and to call 9-1-1 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver.
Please be reminded that all persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. -
No positive cases found in more than 250 rapid tests conducted at Hamilton schools
By: Kate McCullough, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator
Voluntary asymptomatic testing at two Hamilton schools on Friday and Saturday found no positive cases of COVID-19 among more than 250 participants.
Testing is being offered to asymptomatic students and staff on a voluntary basis as part of a provincial mandate that boards offer tests in five per cent of their schools — and at least two per cent of their students — each week.
At the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, 142 people — 90 students and 52 staff — were tested on Friday at a clinic at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek. About 3,600 in-person learners — plus educators and child-care workers — from Saltfleet and its eight elementary feeder schools were eligible.
“The weather was better this time than the first one at (Orchard Park),” said spokesperson Shawn McKillop in an email to The Spectator.
Fewer than 100 students and staff participated in Feb. 13 pilot clinics at Orchard Park Secondary School in Stoney Creek and Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School in Hannon on a snowy long weekend. Among the 86 participants — 65 students and 21 staff — no positive cases of the virus were detected.
McKillop said the Saltfleet clinic was promoted to more HWDSB families and that there may be “more awareness in our community in general related to the testing.”
Testing at Saltfleet exceeded the 130-test capacity indicated by the vendor last week. The board said on Monday the vendor likely had “additional supplies” to accommodate walk-ins.
“There was no individual turned away,” he said.
At the Catholic board, a total of 114 people — 62 students and 52 staff — were tested a St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stoney Creek on Friday and Saturday.
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly said the number of staff tested was “more aligned” with what they had anticipated.
“With regard to students, I believe we had expected somewhat of a higher turnout,” he said.
On Thursday, 29 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were conducted at St. Ann Catholic Elementary School in central Hamilton, which had been in outbreak until Sunday.
The board said Monday the PCR test results have yet to be confirmed. -
Canada’s 2020 economy was its worst performace on record
By: Terry Haig
The COVID-19 pandemic drove Canada’s economy to its worst showing on record, according to data released today by Statistics Canada.
Figures from the federal data agency show real gross domestic product shrank 5.4 per cent in 2020–the steepest annual decline since comparable data was first recorded in 1961.
The 5.4 per cent compares with the pullback of 2.9 per cent during the global financial crisis in 2009. It was also worse than experts had previously expected.
Preliminary estimates from late January had suggested the economy suffered contraction of 5.1 per cent last year.
Statistics Canada said GDP–the total value of all goods and services produced–grew by 2.3 per cent during the last three months of the year, but that was not enough to offset the plunge it experienced during the middle half of 2020.
It said the drop for the year was due to the shutdown of huge parts of the economy in March and April during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recovery began in May.
After that, economic activity steadily–and slowly–grew until last December, when the economy lost 63,000 jobs and the unemployment rate moved up slightly–to 8.6 per cent from 8.5 per cent.
(It was 5.6 per cent last February, before COVID-19, and peaked at 13.7 in May.)
As well, this past January–as the country’s vaccine rollout lagged, the economy took a hit for a second straight month, as Statistics Canada reported a loss of 213,000 jobs–the biggest loss since last April when some two million jobs disappeared as the COVID-19 pandemic widened.
Moreover, the data showed the January unemployment rate rose 0.6 percentage points to 9.4 per cent–its highest since August.
That decline left Canada with 858,300 fewer jobs–4.5 per cent fewer–than last February, just before the first wave of the pandemic hit.
Another 529,000 people managed to keep their job but were working less than they would normally because of the pandemic. -
Ontario Increases Funding for Transit
By: Laura Steiner
Ontario is investing $150 in helping municipalities with their transit systems as they deal with the impact of COVID-19. The announcement was made by Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney.
“We heard from municipalities and we are responding to their need for more support as COVID-19 continues to result in lost revenue and additional costs for transit systems,” Mulroney system. The extra cash comes as part of the “Safe Restart Agreement.
Milton is getting $437,158 to address its shortfall. COVID-19 continues to impact our transit system and this additional funding will ensure local transit can continue to operate and provide a vital service for those who need it,” Milton MPP Parm Gill said. At one point, ridership had dropped to 90%.
The province will allow regions to use the money to fund new initiatives. “With this support from the province , municipalities can continue to operate transit today while also looking towards the future of transit,” President of the Canadian Urban Transit Association Marc D’Angelo said. -
Young Canadians’ mental health suffered in early pandemic
By: Lynn Desjardins
A large majority of those aged two to 18 in Canada experienced harm to their mental health during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. A research team surveyed parents of the younger cohort and those over 10 themselves between April and June of 2020. They asked about depression, anxiety, irritability, attention span, hyperactivity and obsessions/compulsion.
Of those between six and 18 years old, 70 per cent were found to have suffered a deterioration in at least one domain as did 66 per cent of children aged two to five. Some are said to have experienced improvement in at least one area. Of these, 19.5 per cent were school aged and 31.5 per cent were pre-schoolers.Understanding the effects is crucial, say researchers
The researchers noted that for some children with pre-existing conditions, orders to stay at home may have given them some relief from stress. But those with autism spectrum disorder(ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have suffered from the loss of structure, consistency and familiar social interactions. Those with ASD reported the greatest deterioration in depression, irritability, attention span and hyperactivity, say researchers. They surmise this could be due to things like the closure of school-based services with greater online challenges, a reduction in home care services and disruptions to routines.
“Furthering our understanding of how different children are impacted by the pandemic is crucial to developing targeted interventions,” says Katherine Cost, lead author of the study and researcher at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. “Our study seeks to uncover these nuances by finding out which kids are being impacted, by which factors, and to what degree.”
The study was published in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry on February 26, 2021. The researchers continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on young people in Canada. -
Halton Launches online booking system for residents 80 years of age and older Wednesday
By: Laura Steiner
Halton Region is launching it online booking system for COVID-19 vaccine appointments Wednesday. The vaccine clinics will first be available only for residents 80 years of age and over, who live in the community.
“Our clinics are ready and our online booking system is set to open for appointment bookings on March 3,” Regional Chair Gary Carr said in a news release. The age range of 80 and over is consistent with provincial guidelines. The region has been working with transit, and taxi providers on a plan for free transportation for those who need it.
“If you know someone who is 80 years of age or older and may need assistance accessing information or booking their appointment, please reach out to them to assist,” Halton Region Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Dr. Hamidah Meghani said. The vaccine clinics’ location are:- Gellert Community Centre, 10241 Eighth Line, Georgetown
- St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, 1280 Dundas Street West, Oakville
- Compass Point Bible Church, 1500 Kerms Rd. Burlington
- FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton, 1010 Main Street East, Milton
Residents are also reminded to stay home unless for essential purposes, and to avoid social gatherings. Halton remains in the “Red” on the province’s reopening framework. Capacity restrictions are in place on and restaurants. For more information on the vaccine clinic visit their website
As of March 1, Halton recorded an increase of 35 cases. Of those, 9 cases came from Milton. Halton has a total of 75 total variant cases. 62 have been screened positive. Of those, 16 cases are from Milton, with 9 screened positive. Halton hospitals have confirmed 13 cases of COVID19, wit h 12 currently confirmed in ICU.