Canadian News

News and events from across the country.

Six incumbents re-elected to Toronto Catholic board

October 27, 2010

[images/stories/schoolB_logos/TCDSBLogo.jpg]TORONTO - New and returning members of Toronto’s embattled Catholic school board are both calling for reconciliation and a fresh start following Oct. 25 elections that resulted in a significant turnover of the 12-member board. With a record number of candidates and above-average voter turn-out leading to several close races, Toronto Catholic District School Board voters elected six new candidates and six incumbents. New trustee Jo-Ann Davis, who defeated long-time trustee and former chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller, said voters sent a clear message with a high voter turn-out and election of new trustees. “I think it’s pretty clear that people want to move forward,” she told The Register. “They’re looking for something new. They’re looking for more continued accountability and transparency.”

Kamloops bishop in intensive care after beating

October 25, 2010

Bishop Monroe [images/stories/canada_bishops/bishopmonroe.jpg]KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Kamloops Bishop David Monroe, 69, has been removed from the Intensive Care Unit of Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital, where he continues to recover after being viciously beaten at Sacred Heart Cathedral Oct. 22. Fr. Vincent Asomugha said on Oct. 24 that Monroe remains in intensive care in a "step-down unit." There is no indication when the bishop will be leaving the hospital. Reports said he suffered severe trauma to the face and head and other cuts and injuries. "He recognizes people and can say his name but that is about it," Msgr. Jerry Desmond told the Vancouver Sun. "It's that serious." The attack in the cathedral rectory took place about 10:15 p.m., and Kamloops RCMP arrested a 30-year-old man several hours later. He was to appear in court Oct. 25 to face assault-related charges.

Toronto trustee Poplawski cleared of conflict

October 25, 2010

Barbara Poplawski [images/stories/education/barbarapoplawski.jpg]TORONTO - An Ontario Superior Court Justice has dismissed the conflict-of-interest case against Toronto Catholic school trustee Barbara Poplawski. In an Oct. 22 handwritten judgment, Superior Court Justice Lois B. Roberts ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove “on a balance of probabilities that Trustee Poplawski made a thumbs-down gesture as alleged, in an attempt to influence the voting at the May 14, 2008 meeting in issue in this application.” A Catholic ratepayer took Poplawski and former Toronto Catholic District School Board chair Angela Kennedy to court on conflict-of-interest allegations. Both are running for re-election.

Abuse protocol committee wanted to build confidence in procedures

October 22, 2010

mcqueen clough [images/stories/toronto/toronto10/mcqueen_clough.jpg]TORONTO - Leaning on the expertise of six lay people, including three women, the archdiocese of Toronto has declared redress, accountability and pastoral care aren’t just words or theories but concrete realities in cases of sexual abuse. Members of the committee that worked on revising the Toronto Church’s 20-year-old sexual abuse policies told The Catholic Register the new norms represent incremental rather than radical change, and that new Church law won’t by itself make the problem go away. “I would like to say that we think the problem is solved,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Philip Dodgson of the Southdown Institute. “I’m afraid that it’s something that is part of society, not just the Church. The protocol that we’ve written up will need to be reviewed and updated as new knowledge and better procedures are acquired.”

Catholic aid for Pakistan flood relief hits $6 million

October 22, 2010

Pakistan flood [images/stories/international/international10/pakistan_flood.jpg]TORONTO - Canadian Catholics have raised more than $3 million to help flood victims in Pakistan while the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has been chosen to help deliver $2 million in extra emergency flood relief. The $3 million raised for Development and Peace by Oct. 13 is eligible for matching funds from the federal government, transforming it into $6 million worth of aid. Toronto parishes played a big part in the fund-raising drive, putting $463,000 in ShareLife’s emergency relief account in time for federal matching grants. Money has continued to trickle in after the Oct. 13 deadline, and ShareLife reported $466,113 in funds for Pakistan as of Oct. 18.

D&P, life and family issues on tap at CCCB plenary

October 22, 2010

CCCB and D&P [images/stories/canada/canada10/cccb_dp.jpg]OTTAWA - Life and family issues and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace are among the hot issues Canada’s bishops will tackle at their annual plenary Oct. 25-29. The secretary general of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) expects a positive result and a “new climate of confidence” once the bishops respond to the recommendations of two special ad hoc committees. “Both committees have worked extremely well and they have excellent results to report,” said Msgr. Pat Powers.

Church in the public eye

October 22, 2010

Michael Coren panel [images/stories/toronto/toronto10/coren_panel.jpg]TORONTO - A panel of journalists joined Oct. 17 in expressing their views on “The Church through the Public Eye.” The symposium was hosted by the Office of Catholic Youth of the archdiocese of Toronto, at its second annual young adult symposium. It was held at Ryerson University in collaboration with the Ryerson Catholic Chaplaincy Centre and the Catholic Student Association. With Michael Coren hosting, journalists Charles Lewis, Brian Lilley, Barbara Kay and Joyce Smith discussed the ins and outs of how the Church — and Catholics — are perceived in the media.

Lack of abortion doesn't harm maternal health

October 21, 2010

Ian Gentles [images/stories/toronto/toronto10/gentles.jpg]TORONTO - Countries that have banned abortion in the last 20 years have experienced greater improvements in maternal and infant health than countries that allow abortion on demand, said Ian Gentles. Speaking to an audience of about 50 at the deVeber Institute's annual public lecture Oct. 14 at the University of St. Michael's College on the topic of improving maternal and child health, the York University and Tyndale University College professor was joined by Dr. Robert Walley, founder of Matercare International and student intern Genevieve Bonomi.

Street Haven celebrates 45th anniversary in photos

October 21, 2010

street haven [images/stories/toronto/toronto10/street_haven.jpg]TORONTO - The face of homelessness is increasingly becoming the face of women, according to Street Haven at the Crossroads, a non-profit agency serving homeless women in Toronto. For its 45th anniversary, Street Haven will draw attention to this as it presents its “Women and Homelessness” exhibit on Oct. 28 at the City of Toronto Archives. The exhibition has been curated and designed by Master of Museum Studies graduate students Cynthia Roberts and Vanessa Fleet, and University of Toronto professor Jennifer Carter.

David Onley applauds courage at Caritas event

October 21, 2010

Onley [images/stories/toronto/toronto10/onley.jpg]WOODBRIDGE - More than 500 people packed The Jewel Banquet Centre for the 22nd annual Caritas Project's “Together Event” on Oct. 17. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley, the keynote speaker, spoke of the stigma associated with disabilities and the need to overcome it. “Like other disabilities, addiction has no record for age, gender or culture,” Onley told the 550 people, including some provincial and federal politicians and Vaughan mayoral candidate Maurizio Bevilacqua.