Staying in touch… without touching

New chapter for Yellowquill University College

Sometimes, a milestone is about much more than a degree. It is about opportunity, recognition and the doors that open for the people who come next.

Yellowquill University College reached a historic milestone on Oct. 1, when new Manitoba legislation came into effect formally recognizing the institution within the province’s post-secondary education system and granting it authority to award degrees.

Established in 1984, Yellowquill is now Manitoba’s first fully recognized First Nations-owned and operated post-secondary institution with degree-granting authority.

It is an achievement worth celebrating, not only for Yellowquill and the communities it serves, but also for what it represents about education, career development and the future of Manitoba’s workforce.

Staying in touch… without touching

If social distancing is making you feel socially disconnected, technology may be the answer. Here are five ways to stay in touch when face-to-face conversations aren’t possible:

For straightforward video chatting: ZoomAvailable on desktop, tablet and mobile devices; free to sign up

Zoom is a pretty serious video-conferencing system that allows users to host meetings, conduct webinars and collaborate on projects. While the higher-level paid plans are ideal for businesses and educators, the basic free plan is a solid option for video chatting with family and friends.

Once you sign up and download the desktop software or mobile app, you can invite 100 of your closest friends via email to join a meeting. Seriously, according to Zoom’s website the free plan allows for 100 participants per meeting — virtual family reunion, anyone?

Supreme Court road show draws overcapacity crowd in Winnipeg

A historic Supreme Court hearing began Wednesday in Winnipeg by putting into focus the lack of resources in Manitoba’s court system — a reality felt deeply across the country, the Supreme Court justices were told.

As they presided over a case outside of the nation’s capital for the first time in the court’s 144-year history, the nine judges were tasked with considering whether court delays caused by judges are a systemic problem in Canada, and if so, what they can do to stop them.

The issue likely isn’t top of mind for most Canadians outside the legal system — or even the majority of those within it — but the public’s interest was piqued by the chance to see Canada’s highest court in action.

About 180 people showed up to watch Wednesday’s hearing at the downtown Law Courts building in a 60-seat courtroom usually reserved for Manitoba’s Court of Appeal. There was a little fanfare: people were issued free tickets to get into the hearing, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner gave a short welcome address (not the norm in Ottawa).

There's worse ways to go than dying while doing what you love

All comedians dream of leaving them laughing — and that’s exactly what Ian Cognito did.

The British comedian made headlines around the world earlier this month when he dropped dead onstage minutes after joking with the audience about dying.

Cognito, 60, a British comedy veteran whose real name was Paul Barbieri, died during his stand-up show at the Atic bar in Bicester, an English town north of Oxford.

The show’s host, Andrew Bird, told the BBC that Cognito was not feeling well before going onstage, but insisted on performing. He said the comic even joked onstage: “Imagine if I died in front of you lot here.”

Faces of the aboriginal community

MatonabbeeBorn in 1737 at the Prince of Wales fort, he was taken in by the chief factor to live there after his father died. He became a "leading Indian" of Churchill and became the middleman between the Hudson's Bay Co. traders and the aboriginal people. He guided Samuel Hearne to the Coppermine River in the Northwest Territories from 1770 to 1772 and was credited with making the expedition a success because he helped the explorers live off the land. He committed suicide in 1782 after he witnessed the French destroy the fort.

Chief PeguisHe was born in 1774 near present-day Sault Ste. Marie before leading his people west to settle at Netley Creek. He was a friend to the Selkirk Settlers and warned Governor Semple about plans by the Nor'westers to destroy the Red River Settlement, advice that Semple ignored, costing him and 20 others their lives at the Battle of Seven Oaks. Peguis later helped Lord Selkirk make treaties with the Cree and Saulteaux and was presented with a treaty medal for his help. He later was given an annual pension from the Hudson's Bay Co. A missionary persuaded Peguis and some of his people to settle in the St. Peter's area north of present-day Selkirk. After being baptized into the Anglican Church, he took the name William King, and his children used the last name Prince. He died in 1864.