Court approves buffer zone ahead of expected protests at Vancouver Sikh temple

HALIFAX – People in a north-end Halifax neighbourhood were cleared to return to their homes and workplaces Friday after a natural gas leak affecting the area was contained.

A release from the Halifax Regional Police had asked people in the densely populated area between Young Street and North Street, and bounded by Windsor Street and Agricola Street, to close their windows during the leak.

Sherry Dean, an assistant chief at the fire department, said the leak occurred at about noon Friday at a construction site in the 6100 block of Almon Street.

Dean said it was contained by mid-afternoon.

She said people in the two blocks around the leak, including those at a Canada Post sorting facility and a hardware store, were evacuated.

The gas leak occurred in an Eastward Energy local underground pipeline, and the cause was still under investigation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

MONTREAL – A museum dedicated to revered Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve is racing to find its stolen bronze statue of the Quebec speedster before it gets melted down for cash.

Alain Bellehumeur, general manager of the Gilles Villeneuve Museum, says the 5 foot 3 inches tall statue was apparently sawed off at the ankles sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday, and he is asking the public for help locating it.

The statue was created in 1984 in tribute of Villeneuve, who participated in 67 Formula One races from 1977 to 1982, winning six before dying in a racing accident while qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at the age of 32.

In 1994 the statue was placed outside the museum dedicated to him in Berthierville, Que., about 70 kilometres northeast of Montreal, where Bellehumeur says the statue became an important part of the community’s cultural heritage.

He says the statue cost $25,000 to built in 1984 and that he is worried the thieves plan to melt it and sell the bronze.

Jules Lasalle, the man who sculpted the statue, says the theft is a major disappointment and hopes it will soon be returned.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

HALIFAX – Some buildings and businesses in Halifax are being evacuated due to a natural gas leak affecting a large section of the city’s north end.

A release from the Halifax Regional Police asks people in the densely populated area between Young Street and North Street, and bounded by Windsor Street and Agricola Street, to close their windows.

The release requests that people avoid the area until further notice.

A police spokeswoman said at about 2 p.m. local time that Canada Post, a hardware store and some homes in the area had been evacuated.

An emergency alert from the city said the leak was “currently being contained” and fire crews were on the scene.

It said the scene would be safe once the fire crews have departed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.