20220107

Sidney Poitier Died at Age 94

A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Fred Mitchell, the minister of foreign affairs for the Bahamas, said: “We’ve lost a great a Bahamian and I’ve lost a personal friend,” according to Eyewitness News Bahamas.

Poitier grew up in the Bahamas but was granted U.S. citizenship after being born unexpectedly in Miami while his parents were visiting. He relocated to America when he was 15, landing his first movie role in 1955’s Blackboard Jungle.

He was first nominated for an Oscar in 1958 for The Defiant Ones and made history with his win six years later.

When Denzel Washington became the second Black actor to take the accolade in 2001 for Training Day, he paid tribute to Poitier.

Washington said during his acceptance speech: “I’ll always be chasing you, Sidney. I’ll always be following in your footsteps. There’s nothing I would rather do, sir.”

And earlier this week, Washngton expressed sadness he had never made a movie with the To Sir, with Love actor, who was retired.

He said: “God bless him — he’s still here, but yeah, I missed that opportunity.”

Poitier — who was married to Juanita Hardy from 1960 to 1965 and Joanna Shimkus from 1976 to his death —- is survived by six children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Last month, it was announced he would be the subject of a new Broadway play.

https://rollingout.com/2022/01/07/legendary-actor-sidney-poitier-has-died/

Oakville Weekly Crime Update Dec. 29 - Jan. 4

Halton Regional Police officers responded to 34 crime incidents in Oakville, Ontario, from Dec. 29, 2021, to Jan. 04, 2022.

Compared to the preceding eight days, this was over an 8% decrease in the occurrence of crimes in the town.

Tuesday, Jan. 04 was the busiest day, recording 11 incidents. Wednesday, Dec. 29 was the quietest with just three reported incidents.

QEW West and Iroquois Ridge North witnessed the highest number of crimes (each reporting five incidents).

Theft Under was the most reported crime with eight reported incidents.

BY MASHAAL EFFENDIJANUARY 7, 2022 6:00 AM

https://oakvillenews.org/news/oakville-weekly-crime-update-Dec-29-2021-to-Jan-04-2022/?utm_source=break.ma&utm_medium=break.ma

Local Psychiatrist encouraging people to work on mental fitness Dr. Jackie Kinley says people can shift their way of thinking to better control their mental health

Local Psychiatrist encouraging people to work on mental fitness

Dr. Jackie Kinley says people can shift their way of thinking to better control their mental health

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people's mental health, but according to a local psychiatrist, there are ways to improve mental fitness.

Dr. Jackie Kinley, director of the Mental Health Day Treatment Program with Nova Scotia Health, told CityNews Halifax people can shift their way of thinking to better control their mental health.

"If you think about your brain as any other muscle in your body because everybody has certain level of physical fitness and we know if we want to, there are things we can do and psychologically it's the same," she said.

Kinley said there are exercises and practices people can do to change their neuro-chemistry and ultimately their neuro-biology.

"It takes practice and you have to develop habits, but all of us have the potential to be able to do that," said Kinley. "It's not a fatalistic model, it's a positive and optimistic model and it's one we don't take about enough."

According to Kinley, journaling and confiding in a friend or loved one are great ways at keeping accountability when attempting to improve your mental fitness.

"People need to feel empowered right now," she said. "Everybody feels helpless and they're victims of circumstances. Master your circumstances or your circumstances will master you."

https://halifax.citynews.ca/local-news/local-psychiatrist-encouraging-people-to-work-on-mental-fitness-4927590

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announces he has become a father of a baby girl

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announces he has become a father of a baby girl

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has become a father for the first time, to a baby daughter.

Singh announced Thursday that he and his wife Gurkiran Kaur welcomed a baby girl into the world on Monday.

"Our powerful little baby girl is basically my birthday present for life," Singh wrote on Twitter.

"Momma bear and baby are healthy and our hearts are filled with gratitude."

Singh celebrated his 43rd birthday the day before his daughter's birth.

The NDP leader's daughter will not be named immediately. In Sikh tradition, a newborn is named around two weeks after their birth in a ceremony called Naam Karan.

Singh has previously expressed his excitement about becoming a father.

He and his wife, a fashion designer, were married in February 2018 in a traditional Sikh wedding. They honeymooned in Mexico.

The NDP leader, who has campaigned in the past for better paternity and maternity benefits for new parents, is planning to take some paternity leave.

Parliament has not yet returned after the winter holiday break.

"He's planning to take some time off to spend time with his wife and new baby," said an NDP spokesperson.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among a host of MPs and public figures to offer congratulations. Hundreds of messages of congratulation were posted on Twitter from around the world.

Trudeau tweeted well wishes from him and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, saying the birth was "wonderful news."

"Sophie and I are wishing you all good health and many happy moments together," Trudeau said.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole also offered his congratulations on Twitter, adding: "Wishing you all the very best as you both enter parenthood!"

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet offered congratulations and good wishes from himself, his MPs and party members.

"There are few happier events or magnificent results than a birth," Blanchet tweeted.

British Columbia NDP Premier John Horgan, and Valerie Plante, mayor of Montreal, were among the many other well wishers to congratulate the couple on the birth of their baby girl.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2022.

Marie Woolf, The Canadian Press

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-announces-190808349.html

Toronto child under the age of 4 dies with COVID-19

Toronto Public Health confirmed Thursday that a child under the age of four has died with COVID-19.

The public health agency said it can't release more details due to privacy rules, but offered its condolences to the child's family.

The tragedy comes as Ontario doctors again warn pregnant people to get vaccinated so their newborns have some degree of immunity. Dr. Eileen de Villa said the city is continuing to review data about how the highly-transmissible Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus affects children and confirmed while the vast majority do not have serious outcomes Toronto has seen some who require hospitalization.

"Of course we're concerned," De Villa said.

The best thing people can do to protect children is to get vaccinated and adhere to the public health measures in place to curb transmission of the virus, she said.

"We all need to do the very best we can," she said.

Children under the age of five aren't eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Canada at this time.

It remains rare for children to get seriously ill after contracting COVID-19, however the province has seen the deaths of several young people who contracted the virus during the course of the pandemic.

Medical experts still stress that COVID-19 remains a relatively mild illness for the vast majority of children. However, a recent rise in hospitalizations among youth is likely tied, at least in part, to the Omicron variant's rapid spread.

Some physicians are also seeing early signals that Omicron's infection pattern — often impacting the airways more than the lungs — may hit some kids harder than adults.

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/toronto-child-under-age-4-134214918.html

20220105

Book title - "My Magic Mirror" Author's name - Anushka Bhattaachrjee

I'm Reading and Gonna Review in 2022 Get Your Copy Sip and Spill with Me @anushkachildauthor

The 8 year old author with unleashed imagination portrays how child authors can have a totally different take on a plot. Book title - "My Magic Mirror" Author's name - Anushka Bhattaachrjee Format - Ebook,Paperback,Hardcover Type: Children's Fantasy Chapter Book Ages : 5-12 Length: 100 pages Book Blurb: A Magic Mirror teleports Ara and Felice into the story of “The Three Little Pigs”. Can the kids rescue the pigs? Will their adventure twist the origin

https://instagram.com/anushkachildauthor?utm_medium=copy_link

COVID-19: A look at the numbers for Ontario on Tuesday At least 248 COVID patients in ICUs across the province, but hospital reporting is delayed and cases underestimated

COVID-19: A look at the numbers for Ontario on Tuesday

At least 248 COVID patients in ICUs across the province, but hospital reporting is delayed and cases underestimated

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/covid-19-a-look-at-the-numbers-for-ontario-on-tuesday-4919277?utm_source=break.ma&utm_medium=break.ma

OPP warns about fraudsters claiming to be from banks or law enforcement Suspects ask for banking information and claim to be investigating fraudulent charges on accounts NewmarketToday Staff about an hour ago

OPP warns about fraudsters claiming to be from banks or law enforcement

Suspects ask for banking information and claim to be investigating fraudulent charges on accounts

NewmarketToday Staff about an hour ago

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/opp-warns-about-fraudsters-claiming-to-be-from-banks-or-law-enforcement-4922141?utm_source=break.ma&utm_medium=break.ma