Transport Canada responds after allowing local skating rink on Ontario pond to be destroyed - CTV Toronto | Canada News Media
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Transport Canada responds after allowing local skating rink on Ontario pond to be destroyed – CTV Toronto

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TORONTO —
Families in a small community north-east of Toronto are furious that hockey nets and a change hut they built were removed and destroyed from a small pond they’ve been skating and playing hockey on for about 40 years.

The pond is located on federal land along Sideline 20 in the village of Claremont in the City of Pickering.

On Tuesday, crews removed the hockey nets, tore down the hut the community built approximately 15 years ago and erected a Transport Canada sign that reads “No trespassing.”

Neighbours also claim the salt was thrown on the ice, which now makes it impossible to skate on.

“This is really sad, it’s not hurting no one, it’s out in the middle of nowhere,” Claremont resident Cathy Johnston told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.

In a statement sent to CTV News Toronto on Thursday, Transport Canada said while they understand the disappointment of the local community, the pond is located on an agricultural lot that is currently being leased to a private third-party.

“While we are understanding that the space was previously being used by the community, under their lease agreement, the current tenant has the right to allow the space to remain open to only authorized users due to liability concerns,” Transport Canada said. “As well, we understand that the current COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario prohibit outdoor gatherings of the size that was occurring on the property, and as a result the Durham Regional Police have been involved.”

Transport Canada denied giving direction to have salt thrown on the ice, saying they are “committed to protecting the environment.”

“Further, salting would have compromised the integrity of the ice, risking harm to the public,” the agency said. “With that in mind, we understand the disappointment of past users of the pond and hope the community works with Transport Canada to discuss potential future legal use.” 

But residents are questioning if it hadn’t been an issue in the past, then why now.

“It makes me feel very upset, especially when COVID-19 is relevant and kids need an outlet for mental health,” area resident Steve Macaluso said. “This is about children getting outside and exercising especially during these tumultuous times.”

Macaluso’s son Anthony plays hockey and daughter Angelina is a figure skater, but due to the pandemic competing and training are off limits.

“No one is happy actually in their house being locked up and I felt this brought me happiness,” Angelina said.

The community has raised the issue with their city councillors, MP and MPP.

The office of Pickering-Uxbridge MP Jennifer O’Connell told CTV News Toronto that they find this concerning and are working with the Minister of Transport’s office to determine what occurred and will get to the bottom of this “as quickly as possible.”

Pickering Regional Councillor David Pickles told CTV News Toronto he is aware of the matter, but it’s a federal issue that does not involve the city.

For now residents plan to keep off the ice, but are hoping Transport Canada will reconsider.

“There’s so many other pieces of federal land, lakes, ponds and rivers that people are able to skate on, why pick on this one pond in this one community,” Macaluso said.

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Sixth-ranked Canadian women to face World Cup champion Spain in October friendly

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The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.

Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.

The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.

In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.

Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.

Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.

The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.

Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.

It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.

Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.

FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.

And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.

“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Former Oilers assistant GM Brad Holland follows his father out the door in Edmonton

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EDMONTON – The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday that assistant general manager Brad Holland is leaving the club.

The move comes almost three months after the departure of former Oilers general manager Ken Holland, Brad’s father.

Oilers chief executive officer and president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson said in a statement that Brad Holland and the team parted ways so Holland could “explore other opportunities.”

Holland, 43, joined the Oilers as a scout in 2019. He was promoted to assistant GM in July 2022.

He had a hand in building the team that advanced to Game 7 of the 2023-24 Stanley Cup final before losing to the Florida Panthers.

The Oilers hired former Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman to replace Ken Holland on July 1.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Dolphins place Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after latest concussion, AP source says

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are placing Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the move. Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games with the designation.

He was hurt in the third quarter of a Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills on a play where he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. He ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.

Players from both teams immediately motioned that Tagovailoa was hurt, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some signs typically associated with a traumatic brain injury. He remained down on the field for a couple of minutes, got to his feet and walked to the sideline.

Tagovailoa this week began the process of consulting neurologists about his health. He was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022 and one while in college at Alabama.

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