Six stories in the news today from The Canadian Press:
CANADIANS REFLECT ON ORLANDO MASSACRE
Sunday’s massacre in Florida has many Canadians reflecting on what the violence means for the LGBTQ community. A gunman opened fire inside a gay nightclub in Orlando killing 50 people and wounding dozens more before he himself was killed by police. The slaughter happened during Pride month, and candlelight vigils were held across Canada last night to mourn the victims. Speakers at the vigils also lamented the attack as a grim reminder of the setbacks and frequent violence the LGBTQ community still faces. Read more here.
TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT AVERTS POSSIBLE VIA RAIL STRIKE
Via Rail and Unifor hammered out a tentative four-year contract agreement just an hour before the union’s midnight Sunday strike deadline. It means thousands of rail travellers can stop worrying — at least for now — about having to make alternate travel arrangements. The agreement covers nearly 2,000 customer service, on-board service and maintenance workers. Union members across the country will vote on the accord over the next three weeks. Read more here.
TRUDEAU TO MEET WITH ATTAWAPISKAT CHIEF
The chief of Ontario’s troubled Attawapiskat First Nation gets his long awaited meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau today to discuss the suicide crisis in his community. Bruce Shisheesh will be joined at the Ottawa meeting by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde. The meeting was agreed to amid calls for increased mental health services to address a rash of youth suicide attempts on the northern Ontario reserve. Bellegarde has said he intends to raise the issue of inadequate level of child welfare services on reserves. Read more here.
JUDGE TO CONTINUE CHARGE TO JURY IN BOSMA TRIAL
A Hamilton, Ont. judge is set to continue his instructions to the jury in the trial of the two men accused of murdering Tim Bosma. The Hamilton man vanished after taking two strangers for a test drive in his pickup truck three years ago. His body was later found burned beyond recognition. Dellen Millard and Mark Smich have both pleaded not guilty to first degree murder charges. The two have accused each other of killing Bosma.
COURT DATE TO BE SET FOR PARENTS OF TODDLER
A sentencing date is to be set today in a Lethbridge, Alta., court for a couple found guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life for their toddler son who died after contracting meningitis. David and Collet Stephan, whose family helped start a nutritional supplements company, were convicted in April in the 2012 death of 19-month-old Ezekiel. The defence argued the Stephans were loving, responsible parents who simply didn’t realize how sick their son was.
PENGUINS BECOME FOUR-TIME STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth Stanley Cup last night by defeating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 of the championship series. And their captain, Sidney Crosbie, capped his latest remarkable season by being awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native finished the tournament with six goals and 13 assists. It’s the second time — the last being in 2009 — that Pittsburgh has won hockey’s Holy Grail since Crosbie signed on 11 years ago.
