Canadian government enacts federal ban on conversion therapy
The Canadian government introduced legislation to ban conversion therapy in March.
Bill C-8, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy,) has five new criminal code offences related to conversion therapy.
These offences are as follows; causing a minor to undergo conversion therapy; removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy in another country; causing someone to undergo conversion therapy unwillingly; profiting from conversion therapy; and advertising to provide conversion therapy.
Conversion therapy is a practice using psychological or spiritual methods to try and change someone’s sexuality from being non-heterosexual to heterosexual.
Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are the only provinces that had previously banned the practice, but this new legislation will enact a federal ban.
STU students offer to run errands for the immunocompromised amid global pandemic
St. Thomas University students are spreading kindness amid COVID-19’s societal interruption.
The coronavirus has most of New Brunswick social distancing especially since the province announced a state of emergency.
For the province’s population of older adults and immunocompromised people, who are more vulnerable to the virus, this presents a number of issues and barriers to accessing necessities.
So Manuel Garcia and Emily Miller made a Facebook post garnering around 78 shares to let the community know that they are there.
In Garcia’s post, he said the pair are available to run errands or get groceries for the aging population and immunocompromised folks if it is exceptionally needed. He also said they would take precautions like not using public transit and going at later hours to avoid people if possible.
Garcia described feeling helpless during this pandemic and said he and Miller wanted to do their best to help Fredericton’s community.
Two Fredericton families face off in Family Feud Canada
Reigning champions of Family Feud Canada are none other than the Fleet family from Fredericton.
On March 23, the Fleets return episode to Family Feud aired on CBC.
They already won against the Funk family from Grand Prairie, Alta. and secured an extra $10,000 in Fast Money.
This time, the Fleets will be competing against a team that’s a little closer to home. The Dunphy family is from Fredericton as well.
Leader of the Dunphy family, James Cromwell, already knows Rob Fleet from when Fleet was Cromwell’s troop commander in the military in 2008.
The Fleets and Dunphys saw each other when they were put head-to-head in a practice game during their audition.
But now it’s for real, the two Fredericton families faced off on CBC on March 23 at 7:30pm.
UNB Reds add two new recruits to their men’s volleyball team
Two new recruits for the University of New Brunswick Reds volleyball team were added last week.
Carson Harrison from Nova Scotia was a member of the varsity team at his Wolfville high school for three years. He also spent two years on Axe Volleyball Club and joined the Tigers club team this year.
Owen Mills was locally recruited and spent three years as a member of the Ecolé Sainte-Anne volleyball club team. He played for Club Castors U16, the Spartans U18 and played two seasons with Team New Brunswick. He captained Team NB in 2019 and they placed second at Eastern Elites.
The Canadian National Arts Centre provides funding for livestreaming artists
The National Arts Centre has announced a short-term relief fund for artists who have been affected by Covid-19 measures, such as the cancellation of concerts and events. In partnership with Facebook Canada, the NAC launched Canada Performs which offers up to $100,000 in funds to support artists who participate in live streaming performances.
This initiative is both an attempt to help Canadian artists financially and to offer Canadians access to live entertainment during these days of social distancing and isolation.
Artists can apply until March 31st, through the NAC. Those selected will receive $1000, along with their performance being streamed on the NAC Facebook page. The performances must be 45-60 minutes long and can be anything from musical content to theatre.
Drastic drop in New Brunswick gas prices has them averaging 90.9 per litre
New Brunswick has shown a dramatic drop in gas prices leaving motorists pleased.
The prices have been dropping drastically due to the drop in price on petroleum products.
According to Global News, the price drop was caused by the collapse of an oil supply cut agreement between Saudi Arabia and Russia along with the uncertainty surrounding the need for oil throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, the gas prices in New Brunswick averaged 112.8 cents per litre for regular self-serve gasoline but is currently averaging 90.9 cents per litre.