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Rogers jumps aboard TIFF as top sponsor of film festival, but not year-round events

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TORONTO – The Toronto International Film Festival says it has signed up Rogers Communications as its new “presenting sponsor,” but only for the film festival itself and only for a single year.

The agreement with the telecommunications giant spans TIFF’s annual 11-day event but does not cross over to its year-round activities, or naming rights for its Toronto headquarters, unlike the arts organization’s previous long-standing top partnership with Bell.

Rogers spokesperson Sarah Schmidt said Wednesday her company’s deal is a one-year sponsorship encompassing the festival. She declined to share financial terms of the agreement.

Representatives for TIFF did not respond to requests for comment.

TIFF’s new sponsor joins the beleaguered festival as it emerges from one of the most difficult periods in its history to launch this year’s edition Sept. 5, and mark next year’s 50th anniversary.

The “people’s festival,” as it’s often called, faced a run of hurdles over the past several years as the COVID-19 pandemic knocked the sparkle out of festivities with various restrictions and public health measures that prevented or limited travel and tourism as well as crowd gatherings inside cinemas.

Then last year, the dual strikes by Hollywood writers and actors prevented many celebrities from promoting their projects on the red carpet and festival events, again lowering visibility for the festival’s corporate backers.

Jewelry brand Bvlgari, which sponsored TIFF’s gala screenings, is also missing among this year’s sponsors.

Bell announced last summer that it had decided not to renew its marquee agreement with TIFF once it expired at the end of last year. Bell had been a festival partner since 1995, with its name emblazoned on TIFF’s downtown headquarters, previously known as the TIFF Bell Lightbox but now simply the TIFF Lightbox.

With the changes, the festival’s leadership announced a “strategic review” of its business model and layoffs of 12 full-time staff members across various departments.

As part of the new Rogers deal, the mobile, internet and cable company will back TIFF’s annual People’s Choice Awards, audience-voted prizes often considered a bellwether for Oscar attention. The partnership will also give Rogers customers access to VIP experiences like festival screenings.

Along with the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Rogers will headline a festival kickoff event in Yorkville on Sept. 3.

The festival runs Sept. 5 to 15 and opens with David Gordon Green’s “Nutcrackers,” starring Ben Stiller.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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