Surprise bedroom move could be real nightmare

Physician watchdog under fire for ‘outrageous’ policy

The Manitoba physician watchdog’s policy of deferring its own investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct while a police probe is ongoing is “outrageous” and is further evidence an independent review is needed into the regulatory body, critics say.

The circle of life — garden-sized

“The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.” — Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), horticulturalist

It’s a chilly day for August — more like fall — but in the garden things are progressing as nicely as if every day this summer had been the perfect combination of sun and showers.

The peonies are spent, their heavy heads with a hangdog look. Soon the petals will fall, revealing the jester-hat seedpods within. The lilacs, too, their beautiful, fragrant blossoms now transformed into brown scruff.

But the day lilies are plumping up, ready for their big reveal. And the roses are still magnificent — dozens and dozens of fuchsia, red, white and coral blooms that turn our stone circle into a heavenly scented bower. It is here where we come after a hard day’s work in the garden, newly scrubbed and wearing fresh clothes, to sit at a little bistro table and have a glass of wine and enjoy the results of our labour.

New virus could disrupt global economy

MONTREAL - A deadly new virus that emerged in China is raising concerns beyond the public health sphere as experts warn about the potential economic cost of a global outbreak that is already drawing comparisons to the SARS epidemic 17 years ago.

Stock markets around the world fell Thursday as health authorities rushed to monitor and contain the outbreak, and keep it from spreading globally.

Asian markets bore the brunt of the effects, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index down 1.52 per cent, the Shanghai Stock Exchange plunging 2.75 per cent and the Tokyo Stock Exchange down 0.78 per cent.

North American markets fell initially before ending the day on a flat note, with the S&P/TSX composite index up 0.12 per cent, the Dow Jones industrial average down 0.09 per cent, S&P 500 index up 0.11 per cent and the Nasdaq composite up 0.20 per cent.

Comfort, creativity battle COVID stress in art class

It was only fitting the panels on which students were tasked with painting comforting messages in Brody McQueen’s Grade 12 art class this term were customized to be six-feet tall.

“Be the reason someone feels heard,” states the board made by McQueen and his project partner, Shakira Rampersad.

Among phrases on the other panels, which will all be hung up in Winnipeg’s Maples Collegiate in the new year, were “Take a break” and “Good things are coming.”

One of visual arts teacher Stacey Abramson’s many therapeutic projects, the 1970s-style panels provided high school seniors an opportunity to brainstorm validating phrases that do not perpetuate toxic positivity — otherwise known as pretending everything is OK when it is not.

Kripps headlines Canada's bobsled team for Beijing

After piloting his two-man sled to glory at the Pyeongchang Olympics, Justin Kripps turned his attention to perfecting his four-man driving.

Kripps headlines Canada's 18-member bobsled team for the Beijing Games, and the defending two-man champion is hoping to climb the medal podium twice this time around.

"I've traditionally had more success in the two-man, and so I wanted to get the four-man up to speed and we've definitely done that and had a lot of success over the last four years. I'm really excited about the four-man in Beijing," Kripps said from Konigssee, Germany, where the Canadian team is in a holding camp before travelling to Beijing.

Cynthia Appiah and Christine de Bruin headline the talented women's bobsled team, announced Thursday. Olympic veterans Jane Channell of Calgary and Mirela Rahneva of Ottawa and rookie Blake Enzie of Calgary are Canada's three skeleton athletes.