In a year that has been challenging on innumerable fronts, there have still been moments worth celebrating.
Whether it was welcoming a new addition to the family amid the COVID-19 pandemic or using the time to focus on self-care, many Canadians marked significant milestones this year — even during exceptionally difficult times.
CBC News Network recently asked audience members to share the best things that happened to them in 2020. Here are some of their responses.
Celebrating Canadian citizenship
Rachel Schafts and her husband, Daniel Kirshbaum, are originally from the United States and currently live in Quebec. Schafts said the couple officially became Canadian citizens at the end of September.
“This was a very lengthy and difficult process that took a number of years — and involved so many forms, tests and an interview that did not go well. But in the end, we succeeded and we’re so happy to call Canada home,” Schafts wrote in an email.
Rachel Schafts, right, and her husband, Daniel Kirshbaum, will remember 2020 as the year they became Canadian citizens after an arduous process. (Submitted by Rachel Schafts)
Improving physical and mental health
Breanna Halliday saw the pandemic as an opportunity to make positive changes in her life.
“I started working out every day, eating healthy and educating myself on how to truly take care of my body so I’m as healthy as possible,” Halliday wrote. “I was fortunate this year to make changes for the better.”
She also focused on her mental well-being, found a new job and took charge of her personal finances.
“I am now 30 pounds lighter, physically and mentally stronger, and working a better job that allows me to balance between work and personal and keeps me safe during these difficult times.”
Breanna Halliday used the pandemic as an opportunity to focus on her physical and mental well-being. (Submitted by Breanna Halliday)
Welcoming their first child
Nick Ebel and his wife, Jen, will always remember 2020 as the year the Hamilton couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Tilly.
“No matter how bad this year was, it will always be special for us,” Ebel wrote.
Nick Ebel, right, became a parent in 2020 following the birth of his daughter, Tilly. (Submitted by Nick and Jen Ebel)
… and new grandchildren
Phil Satim of L’Île Perrot, Que., celebrated becoming a grandparent this year, as Nora Rose Lezniak joined his family.
Phil Satim welcomed granddaughter Nora Rose Lezniak to the family this year. (Submitted by Phil Satim)
Meanwhile, Darlene Levecque and her husband, Joe, welcomed their third granddaughter, Georgia Rae, on Nov. 28.
“She’s a beauty!” Levecque wrote.
Darlene Levecque celebrated the arrival of her third granddaughter, Georgia Rae, in November. (Submitted by Darlene Levecque)
Furry friends find new families
Elaine Gray said she was looking for a puppy a couple of years ago but was unsuccessful. But in March, just after the pandemic was declared in Canada, a fellow Dachshund owner told her about a puppy who needed a home.
“I received a picture and after one look replied back to say her name is Grace!” said Gray, who lives in Moncton, N.B., with Grace and her two other Dachshunds, Charlotte and Fergie.
A twist of fate at the beginning of the pandemic brought Grace, a Dachshund puppy, into Elaine Gray’s life. (Submitted by Elaine Gray)
In Fredericton, Paulette Ryan adopted Pheebs in August from the SPCA in nearby Oromocto, N.B.
“She has been a sweet and comical addition to our family,” Ryan wrote. “Not sure if Giggles, our grey tabby, always appreciates her.
“Pet therapy is the best.”
Paulette Ryan said adopting Pheebs, left, was the highlight of her year. Ryan’s other cat, Giggles, may disagree. (Submitted by Paulette Ryan)
On that subject, one Alberta family discovered a new sport that’s lifted their spirits during the pandemic: dog badminton.
“Harley, our American Staffordshire terrier, has been our therapy dog during the pandemic,” Gary and Linda Poignant of Sherwood Park wrote.
New beginnings for young couple
Chloe Pasternak can now call Adam Trapid her fiancé after the Thornhill, Ont., couple got engaged this year. “It has turned 2020 to become a much happier time for all of our families,” Pasternak wrote.
“My fiancé planned to have our parents be part of the special moment and it was such an amazing and happy time for all of us.”
Chloe Pasternak, right, and Adam Trapid of Thornhill, Ont., celebrated their engagement this year. (Submitted by Chloe Pasternak)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers placed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve because of his lingering calf and Achilles tendon injuries.
The move made Saturday means McCaffrey will miss at least four more games after already sitting out the season opener. He is eligible to return for a Thursday night game in Seattle on Oct. 10.
McCaffrey got hurt early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning to the field on a limited basis last week. He was a late scratch for the opener on Monday night against the Jets and now is sidelined again after experiencing pain following practice on Thursday.
McCaffrey led the NFL last season with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the league lead with 21 touchdowns, winning AP Offensive Player of the Year.
The Niners made up for McCaffrey’s absence thanks to a strong performance from backup Jordan Mason, who had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Mason is set to start again Sunday at Minnesota.
After missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina, McCaffrey had been healthy the past two seasons.
He missed only one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game last season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf. His 798 combined touches from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs were the third most for any player in a two-year span in the past 10 years.
Now San Francisco will likely rely heavily on Mason, a former undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech who had 83 carries his first two seasons. He had at least 10 touches just twice before the season opener, when his 28 carries were the most by a 49ers player in a regular-season game since Frank Gore had 31 against Seattle on Oct. 30, 2011.
The Niners also have fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. on the active roster. Guerendo played three offensive snaps with no touches in the opener. Taylor had 65 carries for Green Bay from 2021-23.
San Francisco also elevated safety Tracy Walker III from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
BRUSSELS – Canada walked away with some hardware at the Diamond League track and field competition Saturday.
Alysha Newman finished third in women’s pole vault, while Marco Arop did the same in the men’s 800-metre race.
Newman won a bronze medal in her event at the recent Paris Olympics. Arop grabbed silver at the same distance in France last month.
Australia’s Nina Kennedy, who captured gold at the Summer Games, again finished atop the podium. Sandi Morris of the United States was second.
Newman set a national record when she secured Canada’s first-ever pole vault medal with a bronze at the Olympics with a height of 4.85 metres. The 30-year-old from London, Ont., cleared 4.80 metres in her second attempt Saturday, but was unable conquer 4.88 metres on three attempts.
Arop, a 25-year-old from Edmonton, finished the men’s 800 metres with a time of one minute 43.25 seconds. Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya was first with a time of 1:42.70.
Djamel Sedjati, edged out by Arop for silver in Paris last month, was second 1:42.87
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2024.
MILAN (AP) — Bologna’s preparations for its Champions League debut are not going well though it managed to spoil Como’s first Serie A home match in 21 years on Saturday.
Bologna came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw to gather three points from its opening four matches.
Bologna hosts Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Its only other appearance in Europe’s top competition was in 1964 in the preliminary round of the old European Cup.
AC Milan is also winless as it prepares for a Tuesday Champions League match against Liverpool. The Rossoneri hosted promoted Venezia later. Juventus drew at Empoli 0-0.
Como made a great start in the fifth minute when Patrick Cutrone attempted to roll the ball across the six-yard box but it took a huge deflection off Bologna defender Nicolò Casale for an own goal.
Bologna thought it was gifted a way back into the match on the stroke of halftime when referee Marco Piccinini signalled for a penalty following an Alberto Moreno handball, but he revoked his decision and instead gave a free kick because the handball was just outside the area.
Bologna improved after the break but found itself further behind when Cutrone raced onto a through ball and cut inside past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.
Tommaso Pobega hit the post for Bologna, which finally pulled one back in the 76th through substitute Santiago Castro.
Another substitute helped the visitors snatch a point when Samuel Iling-Junior curled a fine strike into the top left corner in stoppage time.
Unbeaten sides
Juventus, and more surprisingly Empoli, are among six unbeaten sides.
Empoli held Monza and Bologna to draws either side of a shock 2-1 win at Roma. Juventus’ perfect start to the season was ruined by Roma in a goalless draw before the international break.
On Saturday, there were few clearcut chances in Empoli although home goalkeeper Devis Vásquez made spectacular saves to fingertip out a Federico Gatti header and deny Dusan Vlahovic in a one on one with the Juventus forward.
Empoli had a good opportunity in the 73rd minute following an Alberto Grassi one-two with Pietro Pellegri but the finish was straight at Mattia Perin.
The host could have won it right at the death but Gatti flew in with a great sliding block to keep out Emanuel Gyasi’s close-range effort.
Juventus hosts PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.
