Calgary’s Comic Expo gets Terminated, longer school days for Saskatchewan students, Edmonton man wins big, and five Winnipeg arts groups get funding.
Robert Patrick is one of the Terminator stars to be at Calgary’s Comic Expo
While Terminator fans may not be hearing the phrase “Hasta La Vista Baby” in classic Arnie cadence they will be sure to see a few other familiar faces at this year’s Comic Expo in Calgary. Linda Hamilton, who played the role of Sara Connor in the first two Terminator installments, the man who played her lover in the 1984 film, Michael Biehn and everyone’s favourite advanced killing machine, Robert Patrick, will also be present.
Comic Con nerds will not only be drawn to these high profile actors for their Terminator roles. Hamilton, who is the ex-wife of James Cameron, director of Terminator and Avatar, also developed quite a following once upon a time in the cult series Beauty and the Beast.
This year’s Expo will be held at BMO on the weekend of April 26-28, so it’s never too early to think of great costume ideas and dig out paraphernalia you may want a signature on.
Terminator 2 clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMUotV2WdiU
Longer school days for Saskatchewan students
Saskatchewan students may be spending more time in the classroom come next school year. The Ministry of Education introduced a mandated minimum of 950 hours and for some school divisions that is an increase of 40 hours per year. This new change has divisions running amok trying to alter their school calendars accordingly.
Ray Morrison, the board chair of Saskatchewan Public Schools, says they are looking at finding the best and least painful way to incorporate these extra hours. This could very well mean changes in what a school day or week currently looks like. Education Minister Russ Marchuk says these changes will bring Saskatchewan up to par with other jurisdictions.
“I think that all of the decisions we make, with regards to the well-being of our children, are made with best interests of children at heart,” said Marchuk “That’s the primary focus — making decisions that are the best for our kids.”
Gwen Dueck executive director of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, while on board with the change feels it would be best to push it back to the 2014-2015 season, so teachers and students can better understand what these changes will mean for all.
Source: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Longer+school+likely+Saskatchewan+students/7856511/story.html
Edmontonian Jamie Whittaker wins $15.6-million
It was quite the exciting lunch hour for Edmontonian Jamie Whittaker when he gave into his slurpee craving and decided to check his 649 lottery ticket, he returned to work 15.6 million dollars richer.
“I dropped to my knees for a second and said, ‘don’t have a heart attack, don’t have a heart attack,’ then I got back up and calmed myself down,’” Whittaker said on Tuesday.
Telling people including his girlfriend Allena, that he was a new millionaire wasn’t as easy as it sounds.
“She, everybody, the first 10 people thought I was joking and pulling their legs. It was a lot of fun phone calls to make,” Whittaker said
A trip to Vegas with his girlfriend and a new house are on the shortlist, but not before making a big difference in the lives of his family.
“My nephew Jack, he has autism, their funding was just cut so I’m able to set up so Jack can be taken care of and have therapy and we can help him out.”
Source: http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/edmonton-man-15-6m-richer-after-winning-lottery-1.1124853
The Winnipeg Symphony, one of five arts groups to get federal funding
It was an announcement that was like a symphony to many ears. Public safety minister Vic Toews announced that five Winnipeg arts groups will reap the benefits of $283,000 worth of federal funding: Kidsfest ($100,000); The Winnipeg Symphony ($75,000); Winnipeg Comedy Festival ($50,000); Storyline FX Freeze Frames kids festival ($40,000); and Virtuosi Concerts ($18,000).
The Canadian Arts Presentation Fund is responsible for the funding which can be quite competitive. Interested organizations need to reapply every year. These organizations have learnt over the years to take nothing for granted and are quite pleased if they are in the running as it truly makes a difference.
“It’s a crucial part of everything that we do,” said Neal Rempel, executive producer of The Winnipeg International Children’s Festival (Kidsfest). The organization relies on funding from Canadian Heritage for its annual festival as well as a circus arts program for at-risk youth and a touring program to remote Northern Manitoba communities.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/scene/music/2013/01/22/arts-funding/
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Chadd Cawson is an intern at Spectator Tribune. Follow him at: @ChaddCawson
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