HACHINOHE, Japan – Ivanie Blondin helped Canada to a team sprint gold medal before picking up an individual bronze Friday as Canada opened the long-track speedskating season with three medals at the ISU Four Continents championships.
Ottawa’s Blondin combined with Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., and Béatrice Lamarche of Quebec City to win the women’s team sprint in a track record time of one minute 27.87 seconds.
Lamarche used the slingshot technique to launch Blondin into the final lap, which helped the trio maintain their speed. While the move worked, Lamarche said it could be improved.
“The slingshot move felt better yesterday in practice, but it was not at high speed. Maybe we looked smooth, but I personally felt weird and rushed throughout the entire process,” Lamarche said. “I’m excited to try it again during the World Cup in China because I think it can be better.”
South Korea was 1.39 seconds off the pace for silver, while Kazakhstan was 2.49 seconds back of the winners to take bronze.
Later, the 34-year-old Blondin took bronze in the women’s 1,500 metres with a time of 1:57.99.
Japan’s Miho Takagi (1:54.86) and China’s Mei Han (1:56.53) took gold and silver, respectively.
“I feel pretty good about my 1,500,” Blondin said. “I was not able to warm down following the team sprint as we went straight to the medal ceremony. By the time that was over I had to put my skin suit on and get back on the ice.”
“I didn’t have the pop that I normally would — but midway through the race I realized things were going well and my legs were actually feeling pretty decent,” she added. “I was happy with the end time.”
Canada reached the podium for a third time as Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., and Yankun Zhao of Calgary, Alta., finished third in the men’s team sprint.
The United States (1:19.43) and China (1:19.78) finished ahead of Canada, the defending world champion and world record holder in the discipline.
“I think it was a good race for us,” Johnson said. “It was a new setup for our team today and we executed well and skated well. We’re happy with the result and excited to see what comes in the future.”
The championships continue Saturday with Blondin, Dubreuil, Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann looking to add to Canada’s medal total.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
The Internet’s most powerful ability is its propensity to spread. This holiday season, amidst the hustle of shopping, party planning, and reflections, let’s use this power to spread joy and generosity. This December, I invite you to transform your social media feeds into a canvas of goodwill, reminding your followers and communities that even small acts of kindness can create waves of joy and inspiration.
Before you dive into creating festive holiday content, it’s crucial to set the stage by updating the aesthetics of your social media profiles to mirror the holiday season. Using Canva (www.canva.com), refresh your banner/cover photo on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. with holiday-themed images. Change your profile picture to one that captures the festive spirit, such as wearing a Santa hat, standing next to a Christmas tree, or under Christmas lights, or wearing a Christmas sweater.
Once your social media profiles reflect your festive mood, consider the following suggestions to inspire others to get into the holiday spirit.
The 12 Days of Kindness Challenge
The English Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” inspired this suggestion, a “12 Days of Kindness” challenge. Starting 12 days before Christmas, or whenever you want, commit to doing one act of kindness daily. It could be paying for someone’s coffee, leaving a heartfelt note for a neighbour, donating to a local charity, or dropping off baked goods at a senior home. Post pictures of each act on your social media channels with the hashtag #12DaysOfKindness. Encourage your followers and tag your friends to do the same, thereby creating a chain reaction of goodwill that spreads far beyond your immediate circle.
Support Local Charities with a Virtual Fundraiser
Use your social media clout to raise money for a local charity by hosting a virtual fundraiser. Invite your followers and friends to join you in a fun activity, like a virtual trivia night or bake-off. Promote donations to a charity of your choice and share updates on the progress. In addition to building community spirit, promoting local causes demonstrates the power of collective action.
Random Acts of Kindness Bingo
Create a bingo card, which you can use Canva to create, filled with random acts of kindness, such as “compliment a stranger,” “donate clothes,” or “help a neighbour.” Once created, post the card on your social media and invite others to join you in completing the challenges throughout the month. As you check off your squares, share photos or stories of your experiences, tagging friends and followers to keep the momentum going. The visual aspect of a bingo card makes it fun and engaging, encouraging participation.
Gratitude and Kindness Posts
Incorporate gratitude into your kindness initiatives by encouraging your followers to share posts about something they’re thankful for and how they plan to pay it forward. Use a specific hashtag, like #ThankfulAndKind, to unify these posts. As people share their gratitude and commitment to kindness, you’ll create a powerful positivity narrative that inspires others to reflect on their lives and actions.
Acts of Kindness Story Swap
Engage your audience by hosting a ‘kindness story swap.’ Invite your followers to share their stories of kindness—either acts they’ve done or experiences they’ve had. Create a specific day for these stories and use a designated hashtag like #KindnessSwap. By facilitating the sharing of stories and uplifting your followers, you’ll be connecting people and building a sense of community, which is what social media should be used for.
Kindness Challenge Videos
Challenge your followers to create short videos showcasing their acts of kindness. This could include anything from helping a neighbour with groceries to volunteering at a local shelter. Encourage them to tag you and others in their posts using a hashtag like #KindnessChallenge. Sharing video content is an effective way to spread your message while inspiring others to get involved.
Holiday Cards for Seniors
During the holidays, seniors living in retirement homes often feel isolated. Initiate a “Holiday Cards for Seniors” campaign by encouraging your followers to create and send handmade holiday cards to local retirement homes. List several local retirement homes on your social media and encourage your followers to share photos of their card-making. This simple act will not only brighten someone’s day but also foster cross-generational connections.
Kindness knows no boundaries. In addition to spreading joy, social media offers a powerful tool to foster community and encourage acts of kindness. No matter how small, each act of kindness contributes to a larger narrative of compassion, which the world desperately needs more of. Imagine the joy on a senior’s face when they receive a holiday card or the warmth in a neighbour’s heart when they receive a compliment. Creating and hosting these kindness challenges and sharing your acts of kindness experiences—giving and receiving—will enrich your life and strengthen your community.
This December let’s embrace the spirit of kindness—online and offline. Your social media feeds can become a gallery of kindness, with posts and shares illustrating the joys of doing acts of kindness, making this holiday season a time of connection, generosity, and lasting impact.
“BENCH STRENGTH: JUDGING A CENTURY OF TAX AVOIDANCE IN CANADA” A Groundbreaking Investigation by Kerry Harnish
Toronto, ON – Sutherland House Experts announces the upcoming release of “Bench Strength: Judging a Century of Tax Avoidance in Canada” by Kerry Harnish, a former senior official with Finance Canada. This authoritative work offers a stunning exploration of the Supreme Court of Canada’s approach to income tax avoidance over the past century, challenging our understanding of how the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has affected tax rulings and reshaped both corporate and individual finances.
Key Findings:
• Pre-Charter: Supreme Court denied tax avoidance in 83% of cases
• Post-Charter: Court allowed tax avoidance in 73% of disputes
This surprising shift raises crucial questions about individual rights, money, obligations, and the unintended consequences of the Charter era. Harnish’s investigation reveals how judicial interpretations in the Charter era have often favoured high-income taxpayers who can afford sophisticated planning to avoid paying taxes, leaving a hole in government finances for average Canadian taxpayers to fill.
“Bench Strength” is essential reading for:
• Tax professionals
• Legal scholars
• Public policy professionals
• Anyone interested in Canadian fiscal policy
• Every Canadian taxpayer
“Bench Strength” masterfully bridges theory and practice, combining academic rigour with practical gems for readers. It provides historical anecdotes and personal backgrounds of judges that give context to their decisions, while maintaining depth for tax professionals, making it relevant for non-specialists, scholars and tax practitioners alike.
Endorsements of Bench Strength by Kerry Harnish:
“Bench Strength is a fascinating book, and a must-read for anyone concerned about tax avoidance in Canada.” Allan Lanthier, former senior partner of Ernst & Young and rated as Canada’s leading tax adviser
“This book should be mandatory reading for taxation students and senior practitioners alike.” Kim G.C. Moody, Founder, Moodys Private Client / Moodys Tax
“Bench Strength: Judging a Century of Tax Avoidance in Canada” is now available for pre-order. Be among the first to dive into this fascinating book about entrepreneurs, business dealings, and some of the greatest Canadian legal minds in history.
Toronto FC 2, TFC’s reserve side which plays in MLS Next Pro, has started reshaping its 2025 roster with question marks over the future of captain and leading scorer Julian Altobelli, forward Jesús Batiz and goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario among others.
All three are out of contract at the end of 2024, along with midfielders Matthew Catavolo and Charlie Staniland. The club says contract talks are ongoing with “select players out of contract.”
Altobelli, a midfielder, tied for sixth in the league with 11 goals, adding four assists in 23 games with TFC 2 this season.
He scored in the regular-season finale — a 4-1 win at Crown Legacy FC — to become TFC 2’s all-time leading scorer with his 21s career goal. He also became the first player in club history and second in MLS Next Pro to score in nine straight appearances for TFC 2.
Altobelli, who joined the Toronto academy in January 2014, has spent the last four season with TFC 2. The 22-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont., is a former youth international who made six appearances for the Canadian under-17 team in 2019.
Batiz, who had four goals and three assists in 22 games this season, was called up by Honduras for CONCACAF Nations League play.
De Rosario, the son of Canada Soccer Hall of Famer Dwayne De Rosario, played 20 games for TFC 2 this season with two clean sheets.
TFC 2 exercised the contract options on goalkeeper Shafique Wilson and midfielders Markus Cimermancic, Mark Fisher and Costa Iliadis. It declined options on goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez and defender Kundai Mawoko.
Defender Marko Stojadinovic, midfielders Hassan Ayari, Andrei Dumitru, Lucas Olguin and forward Dékwon Barrow have guaranteed contracts for next season.
Defender Ythallo Rodrigues de Oliveira is returning to São Paulo FC in his native Brazil following the conclusion of the season-long loan.
TFC 2 (10-12-16) finished 12th in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, missing out on the playoffs.
Toronto FC 2 Current Roster
Goalkeepers:Shafique Wilson.
Defenders: Marko Stojadinovic.
Midfielders: Hassan Ayari, Markus Cimermancic, Andrei Dumitru, Mark Fisher, Costa Iliadis, Lucas Olguin.
Forwards:Dékwon Barrow.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
