🗞️ Historic Headline:Canada’s Iconic “Group of Seven” Artists Unveil Their Masterpieces – September 27, 1920
On this day in 1920, the artistic landscape of Canada underwent a monumental transformation as the renowned “Group of Seven” artists unveiled their groundbreaking masterpieces to the public. These seven talented painters – Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley – forever altered the course of Canadian art.
Their distinct style, characterized by vibrant depictions of the Canadian wilderness, captured the nation’s natural beauty in a way that had never been seen before. Their bold use of color, strong brushwork, and dedication to portraying the rugged landscapes of Canada’s wilderness brought national identity to the forefront of Canadian art.
To commemorate this historic day, art enthusiasts and Canadians from coast to coast celebrate the Group of Seven’s remarkable contribution to our nation’s cultural heritage. Many of their paintings, such as Lawren Harris’s “North Shore, Lake Superior,” have become iconic symbols of Canada’s wild and untamed landscapes.
Today, their legacy lives on through galleries, exhibitions, and art collections across the country. The Group of Seven’s dedication to showcasing Canada’s natural wonders continues to inspire artists and remind us all of the breathtaking beauty that can be found in our own backyard.
So, as we reflect on this day in history, let us remember and appreciate the timeless artistry of the Group of Seven, whose visionary works forever shaped the way we view Canada’s majestic landscapes. 🍁
RCMP, other employers exploiting human rights ‘loophole’ to stall complaints, lawyer claims
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CHRC waived requirement for military members earlier this year
An employment and human rights lawyer says the RCMP and other federally regulated workplaces are exploiting a loophole in human rights law. (Nic Amaya/CBC)
An employment and human rights lawyer says organizations like the RCMP are exploiting a “loophole” to prevent employees in federally regulated workplaces from taking their cases directly to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The Canadian Human Rights Act allows the commission to deny complaints if the complainant “failed to exhaust” the review process that was reasonably available to them.
“At this point it’s a loophole that’s getting abused by organizations to indefinitely stall people’s right to access justice and hold them accountable for their breach of human rights,” said lawyer Kathryn Marshall.
“It’s totally unfair that people can’t access our court system or human rights court system because of this … I think that provision needs to be struck entirely.”
The federal government has been willing to make changes, but only for members of the military.
Earlier this summer, the Department of National Defence (DND) announced that members of the Canadian Armed Forces now have the option of taking their grievances directly to the civilian Canadian Human Rights Commission, even if they haven’t exhausted the military’s internal grievance and harassment mechanism.
Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour releases her report on sexual misconduct in the military on May 30, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
The change came about in response to a recommendation from former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, who was tasked with reviewing the culture within the Canadian Armed Forces following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against senior officers.
Marshall pointed out that the RCMP has been called out over a toxic workplace culture and has had to pay out millions of dollars to Mounties who experienced sexual assault and harassment on the job. A 2020 independent report investigating harassment in the RCMP concluded that change cannot come from within the institution and must be initiated from the outside.
Marshall said she wants to see the Canadian Human Rights Act amended to allow complainants to bring their complaints forward to the commission if their employers have failed to address them “within a reasonable period of time.”
Otherwise, she said, “the complainant gets locked into this never-ending, years-long process and nothing ever happens. And the problems get swept under the rug.
“I call it no man’s land.”
Client’s grievance took years to be settled
One of Marshall’s clients, Lindsay Carter, said she worked in the RCMP’s forensic lab for 20 years. She said her battle with the force’s internal systems left her feeling distressed and alone.
“The process seems to be broken and not genuine, despite assertions otherwise,” Carter said.
“The institutional betrayal there is just huge.”
In 2019, she said, she suspected a colleague in the lab had lied during training and was dishonest, and reported her suspicions to her superiors.
“That honesty and integrity piece is very, very foundational, especially when you’re training someone to take the witness stand,” Carter said.
Carter said that when she took those concerns up the chain of command, they were dismissed initially because she had previously taken a medical leave.
“I was called unwell. I was called not right. And she referred to my medical history,” she said.
She said she was told by her manager to drop the matter but instead took it to a professional standards officer.
In December 2019, she said, the colleague she complained about charged after her in the workplace and screamed at her.
“I thought I was going to be physically assaulted at that point,” she said.
Internal documents show her colleague made allegations of his own, claiming Carter was obsessed with him and was amassing a file on him.
The matter has been tied up since January of 2020, she said.
“They’ve shunted me off into this grievance process,” Carter said. “There’s no end to end in sight to that.”
RCMP won’t comment on possible changes
CBC reached out to her colleague for his side of the story, who forwarded the request to RCMP communications.
It said it can’t comment on individual cases and did not respond to CBC’s questions regarding the process.
A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc was non-committal when asked if the department would follow DND’s lead and allow RCMP employees to take their cases directly to the commission.
A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc wouldn’t say whether the government will allow RCMP members to take their grievances directly to the commission. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
“We will work to ensure that every member of the RCMP feels safe and respected,” said Jean-Sebastien Comeau.
He also pointed to the Independent Centre for Harassment Resolution (ICHR), which was set up by the Liberal government to handle harassment investigations involving the RCMP.
Carter, who has since left the RCMP, said the new program doesn’t adequately address her concerns
“It’s only preventative for next time. There’s no personal accountability or like, ‘Hey, we’re going to take this person out of this workplace so you can go to work,'” she said.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Arif Virani said the special process for CAF members was set up through joint planning by National Defence and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
“As such, it would be up to the individual sectors, such as the RCMP, if they would consider such direction,” said Chantalle Aubertin.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission said it has decided not to deal with 37 complaints it has received over the past two years because the complainants failed to exhaust their employers’ internal grievance processes first.
Commission spokesperson Véronique Robitaille said the number is low because the commission tries to explain the act to complainants first.
Robitaille said the CHRC considers each case on an individual basis.
Carter said she’s hoping to get her matter “out from under the RCMP bell jar.”
“For me … it’s reclaiming my voice,” she said. “I don’t trust the organization to deal with the issues.”
Historic Headline: “Canada’s First-Ever Women’s Hockey League Takes the Ice” – September 26, 1922
On this day in 1922, a significant chapter in Canadian sports history was written as the country’s first-ever women’s hockey league officially took to the ice. This groundbreaking event marked a pivotal moment not only for Canadian women in sports but also for the future of women’s hockey worldwide.
In the early 1920s, hockey was predominantly seen as a men’s sport, but that did not deter Canadian women from pursuing their passion for the game. Spearheaded by pioneers like Agnes “Aggie” Kukulowicz, who would later become known as the “First Lady of Canadian Hockey,” women’s hockey began to gain traction.
The league’s inaugural season featured teams from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. The Montreal Stars, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Arenas (not to be confused with the NHL team) showcased their skills on the ice, demonstrating the same level of dedication, skill, and determination that their male counterparts had displayed for years.
Over the years, this humble beginning laid the foundation for women’s hockey in Canada to grow and flourish. It was the first step towards the formation of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and, eventually, the professional women’s leagues we see today.
Canada has a rich and storied history when it comes to hockey, and this historic moment on September 26, 1922, reminds us that the love for the game knows no gender boundaries. It’s a testament to the resilience and passion of Canadian women who blazed a trail, making it possible for future generations to follow their dreams on the ice.
As we celebrate this remarkable milestone in Canadian sports history, let’s also remember the trailblazers who paved the way for women’s hockey, shaping it into the beloved and competitive sport it is today. 🏒🇨🇦
The City of Saint John is set to revitalize the former Lantic Sugar site as part of an extension of Harbour Passage, which comes with a price tag of $10.4 million.The former sugar refinery is deemed not suitable for residential or commercial development and requires mitigation efforts before the public can access the area due to sea level rise and storm surge.About three hectares of the site will need to be raised to avoid storm surges in future weather events.Ian Fogan, the City of Saint John’s commissioner of utilities and infrastructure, said the project is multi-purpose, but adds the site has been a challenge to develop.
“It is a contaminated site,” he said.
The old sugar refinery sits on the edge of the Saint John waterfront and needs to be raised considerably due to the rise of sea levels. Provincial Archives of NB P210-322
Fogan explained some remediation has been done, but it wouldn’t be suitable for anything but a green space. Approximately $6.2 million will be paid for by the city. The remaining $4.2 million is intended to come from the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.
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“(There are) two pieces. One is to raise the site above sea vulnerability level and in doing so you’re also sealing over the contaminants that are in the site,” he said in an interview Tuesday. “But raising it and by capping it, you’re now creating a space that is safe for people to go on.”
The old sugar refinery was a large industrial building abutting the ocean. Old photos from the provincial archives show a sea wall being built and replaced. It began operation in 1915 and was demolished in 2004.
The project will have a stormwater sewer component to help the municipality improve its ability to drain large quantities of rain and stormwater.
In Canada This Day in History – September 25th: Historic Headline
📅 September 25, 1907 – The Trial of Big Bear Concludes in Saskatchewan
On this day in 1907, one of the most significant trials in Canadian history came to an end as Chief Poundmaker, also known as Pitikwahanapiwiyin, was released from prison after serving time for his role in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885.
Poundmaker, a prominent Cree leader, had played a pivotal role in the events leading up to the Northwest Rebellion, a conflict between the Canadian government and the Métis and Indigenous peoples of the prairies. During the rebellion, Poundmaker had advocated for a peaceful resolution to the grievances of Indigenous communities, but the situation escalated into armed conflict.
Following the rebellion’s suppression, Poundmaker was arrested and put on trial. He was convicted of treason and sentenced to three years in prison. His conviction, seen by many as unjust, became a symbol of the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples by the Canadian government.
Poundmaker’s release on this day marked a turning point in Canadian history. It highlighted the need for reconciliation and a more equitable relationship between Indigenous communities and the Canadian government. In recent years, efforts have been made to acknowledge the injustices of the past and to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, making this historic event a reminder of the ongoing journey towards healing and understanding in Canada.
As we reflect on this day in history, let us remember the importance of acknowledging and addressing the past while working together to build a more inclusive and just future for all Canadians.
The former sugar refinery is deemed not suitable for residential or commercial development and requires mitigation efforts before the public can access the area due to sea level rise and storm surge.About three hectares of the site will need to be raised to avoid storm surges in future weather events.Ian Fogan, the City of Saint John’s commissioner of utilities and infrastructure, said the project is multi-purpose, but adds the site has been a challenge to develop.
