World News – CA – Aphria to acquire Tilray to create « Largest Global Cannabis Company » by revenue

Aphria (APHA. TO) (APHA) has agreed to acquire Tilray as part of a reverse takeover deal that would create a new powerhouse in Canada’s legal cannabis industry.

The combined company will keep the Tilray name, operate under the NASDAQ symbol (TLRY) and will be led by Irwin Simon, CEO of Aphria. Brendan Kennedy, Tilray CEO, will serve on the company’s board of directors.

According to the terms of the contract, Aphria shares will be exchanged for 0. 8381 of a Tilray share. Tilray shareholders will keep their existing shares. The quota implies that Aphria shareholders will own 62 percent of the common stock in the combined company.

The all-stock deal creates a company with an equity value of approx. 4 USD. 8 billion before Aurora Cannabis (ACB). TO) (ACB) at $ 2. 4 billion but way behind Canopy Growth (WEED). TO) (CGC) $ 12. 6 billion market capitalization.

“We’re bringing together two world-class companies who share a culture of innovation, branding and cultivation to improve our Canadian company U.. S.. . and on an international level, as we look for accelerated growth opportunities with the strength and flexibility of our balance sheet and access to capital, ”said Simon in a press release on Wednesday.

Aphria and Tilray said the combined company will be the « largest global cannabis company, » with total sales of $ 874 million for the past 12 months. The companies also lay claim to a leadership position in Canada’s $ 3 USD. 1 billion leisure market based on last year’s revenue share.

« The combined company will have a market share of nearly 20 percent, the largest share of any single licensed manufacturer in Canada, and 700 basis points higher than its closest competitor, » Simon told investors on a conference call Wednesday.

The combination of Aphria and Tilray is expected to generate annual pre-tax cost savings of approx. 100 million. USD lead.

The new Tilray company plans to create a nine-member board of directors with seven seats occupied by Aphria directors. The main offices are in New York, Seattle, Toronto, Leamington and Ontario. , Vancouver Island, Portugal and Germany.

Simon and Kennedy said the deal increases their potential to leverage emerging international markets, particularly the US and Europe.

In the U. . S.. . The company will use Aphria’s newly acquired craft beer company Sweetwater Brewing to launch its brands through CBD-infused beverages. Tilray is a partner of the beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. Simon said there was an interest in using Tilray’s Canadian beverage operations to get Aphria to make beverages that contain THC, the main intoxicating ingredient in cannabis.

Advanced conversations between Aphria and Tilray were first reported by BNN Bloomberg and CNBC on Tuesday afternoon. The deal was not approved by regulators or shareholders.

Dr. . Kieran Moore said the number of COVID-19 cases related to last week’s outbreaks is gradually decreasing. Talking to the press on Monday, December. 14, 2020 Dr. . Moore provided a status update for the Public Health Region from Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington (KFL&A;). “Our numbers are falling. We’re not in the 20s we saw last week, ”he said of the daily COVID-19 cases. KFL&A; Public Health reported a record high of 24 cases on Friday, December. 11, 2020, reaching 100 active cases over the weekend. Only seven new cases were reported on Monday. “Today’s results reflect the tests on Saturday and Sunday. We still had good test numbers, hundreds of people came in, ”he said. “The biggest ongoing risk is the high number of students who tested positive off-campus in the city center. This is a huge concern for us as we know they are very social. Queen’s University has confirmed 38 cases of COVID-19 in its off-campus community since Monday, November. 30, with the majority of cases reported in the past week. The St. Lawrence College also reported a case during this time. « There are roughly 10 to 20 contacts for every student, » said Dr. . Said Moore. Currently, Public Health is in daily contact with approximately 600 people identified as high risk, close contacts in confirmed cases of COVID-19. These people will be asked to test for COVID-19 to isolate and monitor their symptoms for 14 days. “The vast majority of our contacts are with students off campus in the city center. On average outside the student population, there are usually fewer than 10, five to 10 high-risk contacts. Much smaller numbers and more manageable for us. He noticed that KFL&A; Public Health is working closely with Queen’s University to make sure there is no spread on campus. « One good thing is that we didn’t see any significant activity in the residences. All of the protocols Queen’s has put in place to protect the residences seem to be working and we’re very excited about them, ”he said. Moore provided the following sums for the outbreaks that Public Health tracked in December: Place of worship – 24 total confirmed cases Local Health Clinic – 24 total confirmed casesGan Chev Dealer and Collision Center – 22 cases in KFL&A; Public Health Region as well as at least 12 in the Lanark, Grenville and Leads Health Unit. Homecare outbreak – five confirmed cases total. « These are the maximum total number of cases, » said Dr. . Said Moore. “Some of them will disintegrate when they end their isolation. I’m happy to say that these big breakouts have peaked and these numbers are going to go down. « DR. Moore praised KFL&A; Ingredients for advancing to be tested. “We have one of the highest test rates in the province. Two percent of our population are tested every week. We can’t do this work without people signing up to be tested, and this system works very, very well. Thank you all…. As a result, I think we can bring those numbers down. « DR. Moore added that the community is entering a « crucial week » in the holiday season. « We really need to reduce the risk and transmission of this virus. I know we’ll want to socialize, but this holiday season has to be different. « . It cannot accelerate our cases. There are currently two people with COVID-19 in the hospital in KFL&A. Public health area, one of which is in the intensive care unit (ICU), not on a ventilator. Maintaining the capacity of the health system is one of the main goals of COVID-19 prevention measures. « If the vacation increases our rates, we will have a very difficult January to contain the spread of this virus, » said Dr. . Said Moore. “This virus can lead to serious illnesses, it can lead to hospital stays. « DR. Moore said the region’s numbers remain stable in a manner consistent with the amber level of public health restrictions under the province for Ontario reopening. « We flirted with the Reds with the big outbreaks we had last week, » he said, pointing to a protection level that was two higher than our current status. « But they’re under control now. And I don’t see our numbers coming back unless we have other major outbreaks. “The entry into the orange protection level is still not off the table. “Given our current numbers, it certainly makes sense to bring us to Orange. The only loophole we see is that our outbreaks are limited and controlled, our impact on the health system is currently quite small, and the percentage of our testing still does not meet the criteria. Only one of the four criteria is met and that is simply the number of cases in the community, ”he explained. He said decisions to change the status of a public health region would typically be made by Ontario Health on Wednesdays, ratified by the cabinet and announced on Fridays and implemented at midnight on Sunday evenings. « We’ll know how well our community is doing this week, » he said. DR. Moore pleaded with people to schedule virtual gatherings for the upcoming holiday season instead of connecting with people outside their households. « We want a safe holiday season in which you feel comfortable in your household and can virtually connect with your family, » he said. Samantha Butler-Hassan, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, Kingstonist. com

LOS ANGELES – Common Sense Networks will launch a new streaming platform for children with age-appropriate content. The media company announced on Tuesday that the free streaming platform Sensical is expected to launch next year. The platform offers thousands of reviewed short videos for children ages 2 to 12. Sensical is 15. 000 short videos launched and thousands added to the library every month after the platform goes live. Each frame of every video is viewed and rated by people trained in child development. The company’s mission is to create a new standard for digital media for children and evaluate content based on the most extensive research available on child development. Some of the titles from digital developers include « Bounce Patrol », « Mother Goose Club », « Super Simple Songs » and « StacyPlays ». The content library is divided into three categories: preschoolers (2-4), small kids (5-7), and big kids (8-12). « Sensical’s mission is to instill children’s passions, stimulate curiosity, build bridges between children and their parents, and make every part of the learning journey, » said Eric Berger, CEO of Common Sense Networks. He wants Sensical’s video selection process to provide “real security” to parents through its ad-supported service. « By leading with our age-appropriate, passionate approach, we take the guesswork out of the equation and raise the bar not only for Sensical, but also for the entire industry, » said Berger. The media company is a for-profit subsidiary of the non-profit Common Sense Media. « We believe there is a significant opportunity for Sensical to fill a massive void in the current ecosystem and for Common Sense Networks to innovate for the long-term benefit of children and families, » said Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of Feel common media. Jonathan Landrum Jr. . , The Associated Press

TORONTO – York United FC have signed Colombian attacking midfielder Sebastian Gutierrez. The 23-year-old, who has signed for the first time since the CPL team was renamed York 9 FC, has signed a deal with options for an additional two years through 2021. Gutierrez started at Club Patriotas in Colombia’s top division. When he arrived at Llaneros in the second division in 2018, it was a sign. He collected 10 goals in 49 games. York had previously signed Argentine striker Lisandro Cabrera, who also has experience in the Colombian league. « The Colombian market is one that we have been looking at closely this off-season, » said Angus McNab, York Managing Partner, in a statement. « I think it offers phenomenal value and there is a greater proportion of young talent who would be realistic targets for us in both the first and second division than in other competitions in South America. « Sebastian’s experience after 3. 000 minutes in Colombia was very attractive and impressive as he was only 23 years old. « This report from The Canadian Press was first published in December. 15, 2020The Canadian Press

NASHVILLE – The highwomen have won three awards at the Americana Honors and Awards, including album, song, and duo / group of the year. The late John Prine was named Artist of the Year.
The Americana Music Association announced the winners online on Tuesday this year after their awards ceremony, which is usually held in Nashville, Tennessee, was canceled due to the pandemic.
Prine, who died of complications from COVID-19 in April, was a titan in the American music scene, having previously won Artist of the Year three times and a 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Highwomen, a supergroup of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires, won for their self-titled debut album and song of the year for « Crowded Table, » written by Carlile, Hemby and Lori McKenna.
Black Pumas, a rock band from Texas, was named the Emerging Act of the Year. The band is also nominated for three Grammys this year, including Album of the Year and Album of the Year.
Brittany Haas has been named Instrumentalist of the Year for her work as a violinist who has worked with Steve Martin, Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn and others.

Kristin M. . Hall, The Associated Press

Tay residents could consider an overall tax impact of 1. 2% for 2021 after seeing no increase this year. An employee report, which is part of this week’s agenda, says that the current rate has been achieved through further changes and reductions in capital and operating costs. Some of these projects include removing a student position within Protection and Development Services from the operating budget and removing the Rumney Road culvert, Rosemount Road North Bridge guide rail, and restoring the Granny White Bridge from the budget for 2021 capital projects. Another change to the budget came after a recent council committee meeting where council members approved a staff recommendation on how to use the remaining funds from the senior citizens’ community program. This part of the funding circle amounts to 6. $ 000. However, since these funds cannot be carried over to the next year, the committee asked the council for approval to use the amount to offset a donation of 15. Use $ 000 previously approved by the community for Community Reach of North Simcoe. Due to this change in events, the Seniors Council now receives 6. $ 000 from the Provincial Safe Reboot Program, which will be allocated to events and senior programs over the next year. The council will also look at a letter from a local resident Keith Belcher asking the council to provide a solution to on-street parking that is not mentioned in the letter. « We have a sidewalk 15. 5 feet from the curb, « he writes. « This means that only one vehicle can be parked in front of our house. Parking a second vehicle directly behind it would mean parking over that sidewalk. The other alternative is parking between the sidewalk and the street. « Belcher’s concern is where his family would park when they visit us. « We have three adult children and their families who visit regularly, » his letter continues. « One of these kids drives a GMC pickup that is 19 factory spec. 5 feet long. Statutes against parking above the sidewalk or within 3. 05 meters down the road severely limits my ability to invite my family to my own home. I have asked in the past to pave the chimney outside my house at my own expense to remedy this and was refused. « The municipality’s parking ban states that parking on any street or within 3. 05 m from the edge of a gravel surface or an asphalt road is prohibited between 3 a. m. and noon from Nov.. . 15 to 1. April. This clause is specifically part of the Winter Parking Control Policy. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.. m. and can be viewed online. Residents can also join using the conference call option by calling (705) 999-0385 and entering the meeting ID 876 1453 1062. Mehreen Shahid, reporter for the local journalism initiative, OrilliaMatters. com

Despite a solid electoral college for Joe Biden, the White House still refuses to accept the election results. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany described the vote in the electoral college as “just one step in the constitutional process. ”(Dec. . 15)

WASHINGTON – A large number of registrations are expected on Tuesday, the final day of open registration for HealthCare. The government could help cement Obamacare’s reputation as an unlikely survivor in Donald Trump’s years. In 36 states that use HealthCare. Government, – Dec. . 15 is the reporting date, which starts in January. 1, while another 14 states and Washington, D. . C.. . , have later appointments. Analysts and advocates who follow annual insurance deals say interest has increased in the coronavirus pandemic that is gripping the nation. The legal cloud hanging over the Affordable Care Act also appeared to lift last month as Supreme Court justices presented the recent challenge to the Trump administration and conservative-led states to repeal the law in its entirety, skeptical record. « The safety net is working, » said Chris Sloan of consultancy Avalere Health. When the final numbers are released next year, Sloan said the ACA could top its current enrollment of 11. 4 million people. « I think it just reflects the need for people who have lost their jobs and need to find another form of health insurance to grow taller, » he said. Insurance markets offer tax-subsidized private plans for those who do not have job-related insurance. Insurers cannot refuse customers with pre-existing illnesses. Medicaid’s expansion, another part of the Health Bill, includes approximately 12 million people. Stephanie Burton, an individual attorney based out of Kansas City, Missouri, said she recently extended her coverage for 2021. For about $ 150 a month, Burton can also insure two young adult children who are negotiating their transition to self-sufficiency in a shaky economy after subsidies. But Burton said she noticed that there was very little funding for the annual enrollment season. After Trump failed to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature law, not even the growing need for coronavirus layoff reporting has led his administration to reconsider its opposition. Trump administration officials say they focused on keeping HealthCare running smoothly. Government website for those who want the coverage. “Since I’ve always had, I get reminders by email,” Burton said, “but there are a lot of people who may not even know how to find this information. « . “That is expected to change under Biden’s new administration, which plans to build on the Health Bill to extend coverage to more than 30 million people who are still lacking. Obama advertised his own and tweeted Monday night, “If you or someone you know needs coverage, contact HealthCare. rule yourself now for an affordable plan that works for you and your family. Some former Obama officials who are closely monitoring the Trump administration’s implementation of the program say they have reason to hope for this signup season. Joshua Peck, who was formerly Obamacare’s chief marketing officer, says traffic from current customers who are actively renewing their coverage has increased significantly and the number of new consumers is in line with previous years. Active renewals are an indicator that people are eager to keep their plans from expiring. Those who do not take action are automatically renewed but must maintain coverage by paying their premiums. « It gives us reason to believe that the end of this open enrollment period could be a tough one, » said Peck. “We are cautiously optimistic. But Tuesday could be worries for procrastinators as the deadline usually entails long waits for personal help through the call center and the website may be slow. Typically, people who begin the registration process before the deadline will be given the opportunity to complete it. Of around 28 million uninsured Americans prior to the pandemic, the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that more than 16 million were eligible for some form of subsidized health law coverage. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, The Associated Press

Taxes and Taxes for the Citizens of Alma in 2021. En effet, Ville d’Alma a annoncé un gel de tax lors de la présentation de son budget 2021, en séance extraordinary du conseil Municipal le 14 decembre. Ce faisant, le budget d’Alma se voit être augmenté de 1% par rapport à l’annier, passant de 69.8 M $ in 2020 à 70.5 M $ in 2021. Cette augmentation a notamment été rendue possible grâce à une aide finanzière de 1.7 M $ de Québec afin de compensator les pertes lors de la pandémie. Le taux de taxation résidentiel par tranche de 100 $ est inchangé par rapport à l’an dernier, demeurant à 0.8286 $. Il en va de même pour le taux de taxe foncière du secteur commercial, qui demeure à 1. $ 8466 per cent dollar d’évaluation. The taxes Agricoles Demeurent at $ 0.7441 and the taxes for Terrains vague desservis sont inchangées, at 1. $ 2402. Le maire d’Alma, Marc Asselin’s highest budget. Il a tenu à rappeler que depuis 2017 8.7% « , at-il affirmé dans sa presentation. Dépenses Les tarifs pour les residences, tant pour l’aqueduc, les égouts et assainissement des eaux demeurent inchangés. Toutefois, the tarifs pour les matières résiduelles passent de $ 220.23 at $ 229.27, en raison du nouveau service de collecte des matières organiques. The 2021 budget will be paid for a sum of $ 325,000 for the tenure of the municipal election in November. In the cadre de son program triennal d’immobilisation 2021-2022-2023, qui représente des investissements évalués at 36.6 M $, Alma prévoit investir 18.3 M $ in 2021 des sentiers à la Pointe-des-Américains, des jeux d’eau à Saint-Cœur-de-Marie, the extension of the Rue de la Science et autres travaux routiers. 3.8% of the budget globally, so $ 0.07 for chaque dollars perçu en taxation, sera attribué au service de la dette. Julien B.. . Gauthier, Local Journalism Initiative, Le Lac St-Jean

Reigning Olympic wrestling champion Erica Wiebe from Stittsville, Ont. , dropped a 2-1 semi-final decision against the 2017 Turkish world champion, Yasemin Adar, at the individual world championships in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday. Wiebe, who secured a place for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the Pan Am qualifier in March, will fight for a bronze medal in the 76 kilogram division against the winner of the repeat on Wednesday between Vasilisa Marzaliuk from Belarus and Pauline Denise Lecarpentier France fight. Wiebe, who lives and trains in Calgary, 31, was defeated in the fall after taking a 1-0 lead on a passivity call at the event that replaced this year’s World Cup due to coronavirus concerns. « This competition will be a big step in my Olympic preparations as it is an opportunity to gain competitive experience in these new, uncertain circumstances, » she said recently. In the quarter-finals on Tuesday before, Wiebe won 10-0 through technical superiority against Zsanett Nemeth from Hungary. In September 2019, Wiebe lost in the last seconds of their quarter-final match at the World Cup in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, against Epp Maee from Estonia. But she recovered nine months ago in Ottawa, where Wiebe Genesis beat Rosangela Reasco Valdez of Ecuador 6-0 in the 76kg semifinals at the Shaw Center to book her ticket to the Olympics, which was due to COVID-19 the next summer was postponed pandemic. CLOCK | Erica Wiebe wins the Pan Am semifinals to secure the Olympic place: Adar, who meets Germany’s Aline Focken in the gold medal game, won the 76 kg class of women at the Grand Prix of the International Poland Open in Warsaw last week. The sports teacher is also a four-time European champion. In August 2017, the 29-year-old became the first Turkish woman to appear in a World Final and the first to win wrestling gold. The Russian Ekaterina Bukina will meet Aiperi Medet Kyzy from Kyrgyzstan in the other bronze medal match. On the side of the men Amar Dhesi of Surrey, B. . C.. . returns to the mat on Wednesday. Like Wiebe, the 25-year-old made a place for himself in the Pan Am qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics when he caught Charles Merrill of Puerto Rico in the 125kg semi-finals. In September 2019, Dhesi joined the Ohio Regional Training Center, a Columbus facility where elite wrestlers train after a successful college career in Oregon State, where he was three-time All-American. Dhesi finished fifth in the NCAA tournament twice, including his senior year at OSU in 2019, and third one more time.

TORONTO – Canadian actor Ben Lewis admits he wasn’t that familiar with the TV movie genre while on vacation before signing up for « The Christmas Setup ». « In fact, he and his co-star – and his real life husband, Blake Lee – had never seen a Hallmark Channel or Lifetime movie. As such, they didn’t realize the cultural significance of « The Christmas Setup, » Lifetime’s very first LGBTQ vacation film, until the cast announcement came on. « So many people came out of the woodworks – friends, colleagues of ours, a lot of weird people – and said how they grew up, watched these films, loved these films, and how much they cared about it, » Lewis said in a recent interview. « When they saw it through their eyes, it started to sink in. Then I think that in retrospect we felt even more grateful when we had the opportunity to have the opportunity to watch the film and have the discussion. « The Ottawa-directed film debuts Friday on the CTV Drama Channel and plays Lewis as the New York attorney who returns to Milwaukee with his best friend, played by Ellen Wong. Fran Drescher plays his mother while Lee plays his high school crush he falls in love with – just as his job gives him a promotion that forces him to move to London. Lewis said he and Lee, an American actor with credits such as Parks and Recreation, were asked to star in the movie « Out of the Blue » in August when they were in Los Angeles. Lewis admired the work of director Pat Mills, which includes the 2017 film Don’t Talk to Irene, and said he was “great at balancing the heart and humor without ever having to becomes sweet or too sugar-sweet. « . « Our (executive producer), Danielle von Zerneck, described herself as the ‘Lifetime Police. « . « So we would just go with our own instincts and impulses, and we were really encouraged to trust and follow them, » said Lewis, who studied at the National Theater School of Canada in Montreal and has appeared on TV shows like Arrow « and » Degrassi: The Next Generation. « But if it ever got tonally off track, she would be the one to pull it back and make sure it was still appropriate for the genre and audience. « . I think in the end we found a really great mix of these aesthetics. « Since this is a TV vacation movie, there are obviously some exaggerated elements in Michael J’s love story. Murray. « Let’s face it, these films are not known for their realism, » said Lewis with a laugh. « But I think Lifetime has tried to make it as authentic as possible, thanks to them – from hiring a real couple, two openly gay actors, to starring, which we haven’t always been historically offered the opportunity to do. « And it’s written by a gay man, it’s being directed by a gay man, one of the executive producers is a gay man. So I think that within the genre, within the world of these films, it’s as authentic as one could hope for – without losing the idyllic, fleeting quality that makes these films so popular and popular. « Filming took place in Ottawa in September under COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Lewis and Lee, who have been together for 10 years and married for five years, weren’t the only long-standing relationships on the set. Lewis said he has been friends with Wong since she appeared in the 2010 Toronto film Scott Pilgrim vs.. . the world. « And he’s known Chad Connell, who plays his brother in the film, even longer. Lewis and Lee had faced each other in foreplay tapes in the past. But they had never worked on a project together and were a little nervous while filming. « Every time we do a self-tape together, we say, ‘We’re going to get a divorce,' » Lewis said with a laugh. « So that was pretty unpredictable. We didn’t know how it would be. Fortunately, it was really just so happy. « So happy that Lewis is a game for a sequel, should one be made. And he’s working on a draft for his own gay Christmas movie that he’d like to write. « I did a 180 with the Christmas movie genre, » he said. « It convinced me. « This report from The Canadian Press was first published in December. 15, 2020. Victoria Ahearn, the Canadian press

Melfort’s city council discussed Broadway Avenue during the final council meeting of 2020. This is both a route for heavy vehicles and a route for partially dangerous goods. It connects Highway 41 with Highway 6, which runs north and south through Melfort, and passes both Melfort Hospital and Maude Burke Elementary School. A letter to the town council from Melfort citizen Lorne Larson was brought to December. 14 session. Larson reported that speeding on this road was a problem and would like to do more to address the problem. The condition of Broadway Avenue South is also in question given its use as a heavy truck route. Broadway Avenue South from Saskatchewan Drive to Westly Street is an option for the Capital Utility 2021 budget, reported Gerald Gilmore, director of Works and Utilities. Broadway Avenue North was paved last year because of its poor condition, he said. Larson would like to see the route changed as the heavy truck and dangerous good road drive past a school. However, Gilmore recommended that the council keep Broadway Avenue as the heavy truck route, but they will speak to Maude Burke representatives to determine if there are any heavy truck traffic problems. The council passed this motion, which also included expanding the dangerous goods route to include all of Broadway Avenue, as the city maps do not include a section from Saskatchewan Drive to Burns Avenue. The City of Melfort is once again entitled to a municipal revenue sharing scheme and has met all provincial requirements, including disclosure statements, audited reports and statutes, and a code of conduct for employees. The Council was also presented with the reports of the Melfort RCMP for the third quarter. July through September responded to 916 complaints. 30th. This resulted in 123 criminal charges and 227 provincial traffic being filed, S / Sgt reported. Adare guest. Becky Zimmer, local journalism reporter, The Battlefords Regional News Optimist

TJ Stables received an exceptional donation for their Acceptional Riders. On Friday, 100 Men Who Care presented the horse facility in Chatham-Kent with a check for 8. 600 USD. The men’s charity quarterly selects a nonprofit community to donate to. The money is not going to the overall business, but to TJ Stables’ non-profit therapeutic riding program for children to adults with disabilities, known as Acceptional Riders. « These kids are really going to benefit, » said owner Terry Jenkins. Since the COVID-19 lockdown began, TJ Stables have struggled to secure a stable source of income that could provide enough food for the horses and the staff who had to stay to look after the livestock. As a result, Jenkins had to sell 20 of their horses, but managed to keep some of their programs going. « We saw the need here and loved the goal of the program. That’s why we decided to donate for them, « said Dane Appleton, co-chair of 100 Men Who Care. “I just love the program’s mission. Helping children who need a bit of extra help and what they’re doing is a unique way to give those kids confidence and a new way to learn. Mayor Darrin Canniff, a member of the men’s charity, was the one who nominated TJ Stables for the donation. “Children just light up. (Acceptional Riders) takes kids out of the wheelchair and when you see them get in there they just feel empowered. I’ve been touched by this charity for years, ”he said. More than 130 children are guided through the program each year, but due to the precautions for COVID-19, it has now been reduced to private sessions. Jenkins was able to open with reduced capacity in the summer, but had to cancel the camps. Recently she messed things up by launching new services like the family farm tour, where kids can visit the ponies, pet animals and collect eggs. TJ Stables also offers a Spirit Horse Teepee Encounter, where local First Nations come and give lectures, drumming, singing, and taking medicine walks. « We weren’t expecting this, but it was refreshing to come up with new ideas, » said Jenkins. “Obviously it was difficult in our minds to get over it, but once you move on to what you can do mentally, it’s much easier to move forward. TJ Stables is also giving back by donating 200 riding vouchers to the Salvation Army, which is a contribution of 5. Equals $ 000. « We can’t do it financially this year, but we can deliver our services, » said Jenkins. « So that’s what we’re doing to pay it forward. “For those looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, there is a two-for-one sale for a pony ride through December. 23. Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, The Chatham Voice

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects tech companies from liability for content posted by users and has been attacked by U. S.. . President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers. Trump said earlier this month that he would veto the $ 740 billion National Defense Authorization Act unless it includes a move to remove the law.

A century later, many people referred to the « Spanish flu » epidemic of 1918 in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the Gray Roots Museum’s & archive has developed what is known as a « mini-exhibition » to help residents learn more about how the people here were affected and how they reacted during this earlier epidemic. The mini-exhibition is entitled « Coughs and sneezes spread diseases ». It studies the origins of the disease and tracks its arrival in Canada and Gray County. The situation in 1920 was exacerbated by the effects of the war, which had resulted in food and labor shortages. While the death rate from Spanish flu was high in those under the age of five and over 65, it was also high in healthy people between the ages of 20 and 40, which had a major impact on the workplace and home alike. So much is different between then and now – the death rate from the disease, medical infrastructure, the amount of global travel, and global supply chains. However, there are notable similarities in the actions taken by the authorities – for example, closing places where the public has gathered. « Gray Roots has a responsibility to share lessons learned from the past and we unfortunately live in a time when the experiences and lessons of the Spanish pandemic flu are very relevant, » said Jill Paterson, manager of Gray Roots. “Gray Roots employees are eager to share these stories about resilience in Gray County. “The original mini-exhibition is open until May 2021, and visits to Greyroots must be booked in advance. com. M.. . T. . Fernandes, reporter for the Local Journalism Initiative, Dundalk Herald

Despite the new laws for the disabled in Alberta that came into force on Jan.. That went into effect on December 1st, 2020, drivers are still willing to take the risk of getting under the wheel of influence and driving. Of the impaired, seven drivers had GDL licenses and received suspensions and vehicle confiscations. Another four drivers received suspensions for drug use. According to the Alberta RCMP, there were three notable convictions based on severity. In the press release, RCMP stated: « In addition to immediate provincial sanctions, a 38-year-old man was charged with driving disorders while traveling with a six-year-old boy. Another, a 28-year-old woman, received not only provincial sanctions but also criminal charges for being disabled with three passengers aged five and under. The last one concerned a 42-year-old male professional driver who is also being prosecuted for driving with his seven-year-old daughter at the time. « From the 1st. December 2020, Albertaner and most other Canadian jurisdictions if your blood alcohol level is between 0. 50% and 0. If 79% or more, you will face at least provincial ramifications from the immediate roadside suspension program. The new laws for the disabled, introduced under Act 21, the Provincial Administrative Penalties Act, allow RCMP to take immediate action. Penalties are large fines up to 2. $ 000, 30-day vehicle confiscations and license freezes. For repeat offenders, drivers are also required to complete mandatory training programs, participate in the Ignition Interlock program, and bring criminal charges. Implementing the roadside penalties not only frees up valuable court time and resources, it also removes disabled drivers immediately from the road without having to wait months or years to go through the judicial process before being convicted. Not only does this eliminate the days of negotiation, but it also saves more than 30. 000 hours of police time that can be better used for patrols. The new laws for the disabled are largely based on changes made in British Columbia a decade ago. According to SafeRoads Alberta statistics, some of the more positive changes in B. . C.. . showed a 36 percent decrease in driving disorders over a seven-year period. The most significant and positive change was the 54 percent decrease in the number of road deaths with driving disruptions from 2010 to 2018. Vicki Winger, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, Whitecourt Press

Home builders paved the way for more homes in November when apartment building construction began in Vancouver and Montreal, Canada. Mortgage and Housing Corp.. . said on Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted annual home start rate increased by 14. 4 percent to 246. 033 in November, up from 215. 134 in October, said CMHC. « Housing activity returned to the height of summer in November and exceeded market expectations, » said Sri Thanabalasingam, senior economist at TD Economics, in a customer statement. The construction start rate in cities rose 15 percent to 233 in November. 106, while the CMHC estimates that rural starts are at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 12. 927 units were estimated. The pace of housing starts had increased by 22. 5 percent to 177. 661 for urban multi-family houses like apartment buildings, but the start rate for single-family houses fell 3. 8 percent to 55. 445 in cities, the report said, followed the November multi-family housing rebound after two consecutive monthly declines after October data showed a number of single-family homes were under construction, CMHC chief economist Bob Dugan said in a statement. « While other parts of the economy are being hit by the second wave (COVID-19), construction starts in November have overcome all challenges and accelerated again, » wrote Royce Mendes in a customer announcement from CIBC Economics. « The acceleration was evident in the volatile multi-unit market segment, which had collapsed somewhat since August, while the start of single-family homes slowed somewhat in November. « The average six-month trend for home construction is now 231. 491 a month, said CMHC. « The near-term outlook for launches is stable, » Thanabalasingam said in the note, citing the high number of building permits for residential buildings and the decline in the existing housing stock. « Overall, 2021 will be a good year for residential construction. « This report from The Canadian Press was first published in December. 15, 2020. Anita Balakrishnan, the Canadian press

School spirit collecting is tough when you are not allowed to collect, but new high school mascot Leroy the Lion is roaring to take on the task. Gray Highlands, Flesherton, has needed a new mascot for the Lions for about a decade, explained Headmaster Andrew Reddick. For the past two years the school has been working on the design and raising money together. He reports that Leroy has recently appeared in school to raise morale. There is no doubt that many Leroy-inspired Gray Highlands teams will be picking up sports trophies in the times to come! In the spring the school is planning an event with the old mascot and the new Leroy, both proud of the school team’s nickname “The Lions. Leroy was designed by Jessica Hatt, a senior student in the High Skills: Digital Design and Marketing department. She is a busy student who is also the editor of the 2020-2021 yearbook and plans to study graphic design when she completes post-secondary education in fall 2021. The GHSS student council organized a fundraising campaign for schoolchildren, parents, local businesses and residents in order to contribute to Christmas gifts for families in need from December onwards. 7 to 11. The student council organizes a ghost week and is working on a video that should be played on the last day before the holidays. Gatherings are not allowed, so the Student Council has really stepped up a number of video « news programs » and a great Halloween video. Another measure to help make people feel connected is the new line of clothing that is now available on the school website. Part of the proceeds will be used to support student activities. M.. . T. . Fernandes, reporter for the Local Journalism Initiative, Dundalk Herald

There was a changing of the guard in the rural community of Bedeque and the surrounding area, leading to a council led by women. Natalie McDonald was sworn in as mayor in November, along with councilors Cindy Ross-McLure and Karen Ashley-Neill. McDonald took the position following the resignation of longtime Mayor Ron Rayner, who had served on the council for nearly 50 years. « I’ve done a lot of volunteering over the years, » said McDonald. “I was looking for opportunities in the Council and this was the opportunity that came up. It was my turn to help in this way, so here I am. Former deputy mayor Don MacFarlane also retired that year, and a third seat was vacated by a councilor that had moved out of the parish. The seats were occupied by acclamation and the new members took over in November. 5. In addition to the mayor, there are six people in the rural community of Bedeque and on the district council. Ashley-Neill said she was excited to see how her community is running smoothly. « You’ve lived here all your life and your streets are cleared and you have power, » she said. Ross-McLure was inspired by a former prime minister. « I really admired Catherine Callbeck, I really admired her all these years, everything that she has done and achieved, » she said. This is the first time so many women have been on the council in Bedeque. « It’s a historic night, » said Callbeck, a Bedeque resident who was available for the swearing-in ceremony. « It is the first female mayor on the council. Rayner, who has been on the council almost continuously since 1970, was instructed by his doctor to relax more. He says he’s been busier than ever since retiring. McFarlane said he enjoyed traveling to other communities and hanging out with people, but at 87 he was ready to retire. « I think it’s time for younger people to get involved, » he said. McDonald is happy to have two more women on the council. Only 20 percent of P. . E.. . I. Mayors are women, she said. « It’s not even representative of the population, so it surprised me a bit. She hopes it will soon be normal for women to serve in local politics. Ashley-Neill too. « When I was approached, I didn’t even really think, ‘Oh, I’m a woman who goes along with this. « I just thought I was volunteering for my community, » said AshleyNeill. « It’ll be nice when it’s not a big deal, » said McDonald. Alison Jenkins, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, The Journal-Pioneer

* Ottawa has recorded 13 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death. * Two other people have died of COVID-19 in western Quebec. Today’s Ottawa Update Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reports 13 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest daily number in four weeks. Another death has been linked to a health care outbreak in the city, while 36 other cases are considered resolved. The capital remains in the orange zone on Ontario’s pandemic scale. Numbers to Watch 30. 2: The number of COVID-19 cases per 100. 000 residents of Ottawa, roughly where it was for most of the month. 1: The average number of people infected with a single COVID-19 case, or R (t). It’s been at one for 12 days – the threshold at which the spread of the coronavirus is considered under control. 100: The number of long-term carers expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ottawa today. The first batch of the vaccine will be 1. Vaccinate 500 people in the capital. Across the Region Two other deaths in western Quebec are linked to a nursing home outbreak. The region reports 34 new cases on Tuesday. An outbreak has shut down the Ecole du Nouveau-Monde in Gatineau, Que. Just days before students were due to move to virtual learning as part of a nationwide strategy.

Patty Jenkins wasn’t finished with Wonder Woman when she started thinking of a sequel for her and star Gal Gadot. The first film had the weight of both superhero films with a female front and blockbusters with female directors on their shoulders and had yet to prove the opposite to the skeptics. But Jenkins sensed it was going to be a success. Plus, she thought, technically she hadn’t gotten around to making a Wonder Woman movie. « That first film was the birth of a hero, » said Jenkins. “Now I wanted to do something with this hero. « There was never a specific threshold the first had to meet, but producer Charles Roven said a follow-up was » undeniable. Not only was Wonder Woman a critical box-office hit, grossing $ 821 million worldwide, it hit a cultural nerve. It became the event film everyone had dreamed of and Jenkins knew it was time to ask what she wanted and earned. On the sequel’s long journey to the audience, Jenkins would secure a historic and fair raise, find a way to resurrect Chris Pine’s character from the dead, and agree to a release plan that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago: putting the US $ 200 million – Dollar movie in theaters and on HBO Max for free on Christmas Day. « Wonder Woman 1984 », a trendy, maximalistic fast-forward on Diana Prince’s journey in an age of plenty, increases the stakes with action, practical effects and globetrotting that even James Bond would find exhausting. During the eight-month shoot, the stunt and effects teams – and often Gadot – were put to the test to perform extremely ambitious sequences, including an Amazon game with 242 stunt women, a difficult mid-air rescue, the complex wire rig -Working requires the atrium of a real mall and a 360 degree pallet truck that had never been done before. « I don’t think sequels have to be bigger and bigger. And I think you can get in big trouble doing this, ”Jenkins said. “But in this case, I was actually going for a very specific thing, which was the kind of ’80s movies I saw that were colossal extravaganzas to be enjoyed with the whole family and on every level. Bringing audiences to the neon 1980s, the film introduces two villains from the comic strips of the insecure scientist who became a rival, Cheetah, played by Kristen Wiig, and the ambitious businessman Maxwell Lord, played by Pedro of The Mandalorian Pascal. Both tested an altered Diana. « We find a very different Diana than the big-eyed one we established in the first, » said Gadot. « She is very lonely. « But she gets a sense of happiness when Pines Steve Trevor reappears in her life almost 70 years after his death. « In many ways, it’s my job to fall in love with Gal and be her best supporter and ally, » said Pine. « The great inequality between the two is that, on the one hand, I’m that kind of jaded realist and, on the other, essentially one. . . lighter and brighter buddy. « Though it turned out to be ‘deceptively difficult’ to play a 1918 man who suddenly grappled with 1980s technology. The marathon shoot and the additional shots were exhausting. Jenkins said she was told that « Wonder Woman 1984 » is the toughest movie many of the crew have ever made. But no one could have planned how complicated it would be to just make the film available to the public. In one timeline, Wonder Woman 1984 was possibly one of the most profitable films of the year and the crown jewel in a banner year for female blockbusters. The pandemic, however, messed up all of that and suddenly Jenkins, Roven, Gadot and everyone at Warner Bros. . found themselves looking for an ideal theatrical release that would never come, at least not in 2020. As the Christmas date approached and coronavirus cases in the US continued to rise. S.. . They reached a compromise to get the film out in theaters where it would be open and free to subscribers to the parent company’s new streaming app, HBO Max. The film will also be shown in international cinemas, where more will be open from Wednesday. « It wasn’t an easy decision, » said Gadot. « I’m just relieved that we’re going to share the film now. The « Wonder Woman 1984 » agreement, which the New York Times reported included an additional million for Gadot and Jenkins to offset lost back-end profits, was signed before Warner Media announced that all of its 2021- Films would be followed by other filmmakers and partners. The controversial strategy has been criticized by top filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, as well as by cinema owners. Both Jenkins and Roven, whose « The Suicide Squad » is one of those films, said the filmmakers should have been consulted. “I am not in favor of doing things in general. But these are weird days and there are no good solutions, ”Jenkins said of her own film. « There is nothing perfect about this release plan, and there was nothing perfect about any release plan. « . And that is the point. But Jenkins is also just looking forward to audiences finally seeing the movie and hoping it will bring some joy at the end of a busy and devastating year. That it will also be on Christmas Day is the icing on the cake for the self-proclaimed Christmas person. « Honestly, it brings tears to my eyes that I have to do a movie that you would see for Christmas, » she said. « I just think it’s so special. – Follow AP film writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www. Twitter. com / ldbahrLindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

Aphria Inc, NASDAQ: TLRY, Stick, Hemp, NASDAQ