CALGARY — A narrow, snow−covered gravel road winds its way to a hidden gate that opens to a parcel of land on the southern tip of Calgary. But it’s not a typical ranch property. Behind large, wire fences live a Przewalski wild horse native to Mongolia, Vancouver Island marmots, burrowing owls, greater sage grouse and…
Russian Fighters in Arctic Spark Debate
Recent Russian moves in the Arctic have renewed debate over that country’s intentions and Canada’s own status at the top of the world. The newspaper Izvestia reported late last month that Russia’s military will resume fighter patrols to the North Pole for the first time in 30 years. The patrols will be in addition to…
Harsh Weather Challenging for Trains
CALGARY — A report by the railway company involved in this week’s deadly derailment in the Rocky Mountains details how challenging it is to run trains in frigid temperatures. “Harsh winter conditions are an inescapable reality in Canada’s northern climate,” says a document titled White Paper: Railroading in the Canadian Winter on Canadian Pacific Railway’s…
Lockheed-Martin Awarded $60 Billion Design Contract for War Ship Fleet
HALIFAX — The federal government awarded U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin a long−awaited contract to design its $60−billion fleet of warships despite lingering questions about the selection process and a legal challenge from a rival bidder. Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough announced the deal in Halifax early Friday, saying the Royal Canadian Navy’s 15 new warships…
Bone-Chilling Cold Smashes Cold Record
SASKATOON — Saskatchewan’s record−smashing cold has caught the attention of a senior climatologist at Environment Canada. David Phillips said it’s tough to break records when temperature statistics date back to the 1880s, but that’s exactly what happened in Saskatoon on Wednesday. The city shattered a 112−year−old cold mark when the temperature plummeted to −42.5 C.…
Armed Drones to Patrol Canadian Airspace in Future
OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Air Force is hoping to pull the trigger on the purchase of new armed drones within six years after spending nearly two decades weighing different options. The Canadian Forces has been working since the early 2000s to identify and buy a fleet of UAVs that can conduct surveillance over Canada’s…
Monarch Population Growing But No Thanks to Canada
One of nature’s greatest migrations may be returning to health after a stunning growth in the number of monarch butterflies that fluttered across North America last year. But if populations of the striking black−and−orange aviators are starting to recover, it’s no thanks to Canada, said Carolyn Callaghan of the Canadian Wildlife Federation. “Canada, well, hmm.…
Victoria – Canada’s Most Romantic City
VICTORIA — For the seventh straight year, Victoria has taken the top spot in Amazon Canada’s list of most romantic cities in the country. The list tabulates purchases of what Amazon Canada calls romance products, including romance novels, romantic comedies, relationship books, jewellery and sexual wellness products. Amazon says Victoria leads the list in all…
3 Crew Members Die in Train Derailment
FIELD, B.C. — Three crew members of a Canadian Pacific freight train have died in a derailment near the Alberta−British Columbia boundary. A spokeswoman with the railway said the crew members died when the westbound freight jumped the tracks at about 1 a.m. MT near Field, B.C. Salem Woodrow said in a statement Monday that…
Quebec Mayor Slams City Councillor’s Statements on Islamophobia
GATINEAU, Que. — The mayor of Gatineau, Que., said he plans to request that a city councillor be stripped of some of her duties after she reportedly said the word “Islamophobia” doesn’t exist for her. Maxime Pedneaud−Jobin said in a statement late Friday that he’s distancing himself from Nathalie Lemieux and will ask city council…