News
Bell Boulevard in Belleville was closed earlier today after a moving van caught fire. The incident happened just east of Walbridge road and closed Bell Boulevard from Wallbridge Road to Jack Ellis way. Emergency crews were able to extinguish the blaze and reopen the road shortly after 2 pm this afternoon. No injuries have been reported but the moving van tractor was destroyed and the trailer extensively damaged. No word on what caused the fire.
The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board announced their Words Matter Campaign today. The campaign aims to improve the understanding of how language can cause harm, bias or discrimination. In addition to programs for students and staff, the Board is hosting an online workshop for parents to help them understand the campaign and enlist their assistance in encouraging respectful communication. The Board will also be conducting surveys in grades 4 to 12 to assess the climate of communication within the school system and obtain anonymous input from students about their perceptions and experiences. The workshop for parents will be held online on Tuesday, November 18 from 6:00-7:30 PM. Access to the session will be provided by each school.
Canada’s annual inflation rate came in higher than expected today. September prices were up 2.4 per cent from a year ago according to Statistics Canada. Economists had expected the rate to increase from August’s 1.9 percent but the jump was greater than forecast, mostly due to grocery prices. The cost of food jumped 4 % from a year ago due mainly to higher prices for fresh fruit and vegetables. More expensive Beef and coffee also contributed to the jump in grocery prices. There was some good news though. Gas and travel costs fell but the decrease didn’t offset the increase in food prices. Experts were anticipating another interest rate cut when the Bank of Canada meets next week but they are now divided on what will happen. Better than expected employment data coupled with a higher inflation number could mean the Bank will hold the line for the time being.
A summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was put on hold today after Moscow rejected the idea of an immediate ceasefire. Trump said last week that he and Putin would meet in Hungary to try to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. But Trump and Ukrainian President Voldymar Zelensky met on Friday and agreed that negotiations would only begin with a ceasefire and each side holding their current line. Russia has always demanded that Ukraine cede additional territory before negotiations begin and Putin is sticking to that demand. Zelensky said today that Moscow only considered the summit as a way to delay the US selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, something Trump has said he is reluctant to do.
And the Vatican has finally agreed to return a number of indigenous artifacts that have been in the Vatican Museum vaults for decades. Included in the artifacts to be returned are a century-old kayak, a Haida Gwai face mask, beaded moccasins and sealskin and ivory sculptures. Many of the items were originally sent to Rome in 1925 for a world exhibition organized by Pope Pius XI. Pius asked Catholic missionaries across the globe to ship “examples of Indigenous life” to Rome for the exhibit. Over 100,000 objects were eventually sent to the Vatican. The Vatican called the items gifts but many were taken from Indigenous communities during a time of forced conversion, cultural suppression and the residential school system. Pope Francis first agreed to the idea of restitution in 2023 and the Trudeau government pressed for action but no agreement was reached until the Canadian government renewed pressure after Pope Leo assumed the papacy. The artifacts are expected to be returned to the Canadian Catholic Church in the next few weeks so the Vatican can avoid an admission of cultural appropriation. The Canadian Church will then return them to their rightful indigenous owners.
Sports
If you were hoping to get World Series tickets for the Blue Jays Home games, you may have missed your chance. Tickets went on sale at 10 am this morning and sold out in about an hour. As for resale tickets, the cheapest prices at Ticketmaster were over 1800 dollars a seat with thousands queued up online to buy. You can still join public viewing parties in Toronto for free though. The City of Toronto will host free public viewing parties at Nathan Phillips Square with a giant screen, music and Blue Jays trivia between innings.
The Colorado Avalanche announced today that as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations they will wear the Quebec Nordique jerseys for four home games this season. The Avalanche started as the WHA Quebec Nordiques in 1972, joining the NHL in 1978 before moving to Colorado in 1994. The Avs will wear the Nordique colours this Thursday against Carolina and for games against each of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks.
Four Canadian teams are in action tonight in the NHL. The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the New Jersey Devils starting at 7pm tonight. The Edmonton Oilers travel to Ottawa for a 7pm faceoff against the Senators and the Vancouver Canucks visit Pittsburgh for a 7pm start against the Penguins.
