The latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Friday, July 24

Mysterious book takes woman to pivotal moments in her past, present and future

Having the ability to see yourself in the past and future might be a blessing or a curse — you could be forced to relive transformative or traumatic incidents from your past, or discover a happy or tragic future. B.C. author Gail Anderson-Dargatz explores this cosmic dilemma in her new novel, The Atlas Keeper.

Anderson-Dargatz won acclaim for both her first novel, The Cure for Death by Lightning, and her second, A Recipe for Bees, both of which were Giller Prize finalists. The Cure for Death by Lightning won the U.K.’s Betty Trask Award, the B.C. Book Prize for Fiction and the Vancity Book Prize. Among her other work, she’s also written thrillers, including The Almost Wife, a Canadian bestseller, and The Almost Widow.

The life changes in The Atlas Keeper’s protagonist are reflected in her first name, as she cycles through calling herself Ellie, Elsie, Beth, Eliza, Lizzy, Ziz, Liz and finally Elizabeth. When the story begins, she’s almost 28, living in a moldy basement suite in a house rented by her sister Bailey, and working as a mapper at her father’s forestry consulting company. She’s barely recovered from a severe depression caused by witnessing her mother’s accidental death on a mountainside. Feeling trapped in her dull life, she doesn’t see a bright future ahead.

However, Elsie’s life takes a major turn during a hike with attractive astrologist Zander to mark the fifth anniversary of her mother’s death. Upon reaching the plateau where her mother fell, she sees an old woman in a white nightgown who appears to vanish into thin air. The geocache left on the plateau includes a strange-looking book titled The Pocket Atlas of Nostalgia and Longing which is decorated with the phases of the moon and contains astrological charts.

Klein eyes tax breaks for developers in ‘under-serviced’ neighbourhoods

Kevin Klein promises to seek a federal tax break and a new city incentive to attract private construction of homes and stores in “economically distressed” neighbourhoods if he becomes Winnipeg’s next mayor.

In a Thursday letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Klein asks Ottawa to work with Winnipeg to develop “community opportunity zones.”

“Many of Winnipeg’s older neighbourhoods continue to struggle with high numbers of vacant and boarded-up properties. These buildings sit empty for years, becoming fire risks, sources of disorder, and barriers to neighbourhood recovery,” Klein wrote.

During a news conference, Klein said he wants the federal government to defer or eliminate taxes on capital gains for investors with qualifying projects in designated “distressed, under-serviced” neighbourhoods. He would work with Ottawa to identify the exact zones where those tax breaks apply, which would be available to Indigenous-led organizations and other groups.

Ottawa earmarks another $60M for national sport organizations

Another chunk of cash earmarked to increase participation in sport and develop homegrown athletic talent is being wired across the country.

On Thursday, the federal government announced an additional $60 million in financial backing for national sport organizations (NSOs).

Some extra wiggle room on mid fiscal-year budgets was not expected by Canada’s 63 NSOs, which were slated to receive a combined $112 million in core Sport Support Program (SSP) funding, and will now see north of $150 million in total.

“Sport has the power to shape lives and bring people together in a way few things can. Today’s announcement reflects a new era for sport in Canada, one where more kids have the opportunity to get out and play, and Team Canada athletes have the support they need to compete and win,” Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden said in a statement.

Election results: Winnipeg mayor, council and plebiscite

Below you'll find all results for the ward, mayoral and plebiscite in the 2018 municipal election.

MayorBrian BOWMAN

53.30%

114,222 votesJenny MOTKALUK

Most incumbents regain their seats… but not all

When it comes to civic elections, voters like incumbents — but that doesn’t mean they are always invincible.