“Canada’s Guantanamo”

 CALLS FOR THE ARREST OF ONTARIO CORRECTIONS MINISTER DAVID ORAZIETTI AND SUPERINTENDENTS OF THUNDER BAY CORRECTIONS FACILITY DEBORAH MACKAY AND KAREN MACHADO FOR THE TORTURE OF ABORIGINAL INMATE ADAM CAPAY Disgust is probably the least offensive word we can think of when it comes to describing what has happened to

Too Little Too late: Why a Public Inquiry is Needed into the Harassment and Abuse of Officers Within the RCMP

 Photo: RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulso. (SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO) On October 6, 2016 the Commissioner of the RCMP Bob Paulson issued an apology to the hundreds of victims in the RCMP who had endured years of abuse, sexual harassment and bullying in the RCMP.  Unbelievably there

When is Police Use of Force Justified?

 I am a seventh generation Black Canadian. I was also a police officer for 36 years. I have worked in a city, rural, and federal environment. The growth of the Black Lives Matter movement has come out of the lack of information, accountability, and racist behavior by some individual police officers.

OLM Argued the Case Against Mike Duffy was Groundless Back in May

 Update: Today all 31 charges were dismissed against Sen. Mike Duffy. Below you can find an article Ottawa Life Magazine publisher Dan Donovan wrote last May, arguing that Duffy was being unfairly targeted by the media. Today, the judge confirmed this suspicion. 21st Century Lynching and Shakespearean Tragedy Take Centre Stage

What We Need to Learn from the Death of Sammy Yatim

 As long as there is something we can learn from the shooting death of Sammy Yatim by a Toronto Police Officer, than the 18-year-old's passing will not have been in vain.  If you follow the innumerable examples of wrongdoing by police, not just in this province but across Canada, one

Before the National Inquiry: Countering Stereotypes Through Education, Employment and Art

 Aboriginal community members at the annual Sisters In Spirit Candlelight Vigil in Ottawa in October. Photo by Damira Davletyarova. "I embrace you my sisters; and myself too We will go forward with strength anew Our friendships will travel with us down the road Fortified by the stories we now hold..." Excerpt from

New Government Should Start by Making the RCMP More Accountable

 Photo by Flickr user Jamie McCaffrey. CC. Now that there’s a new Liberal government in power in Ottawa, one can only hope that a new public safety minister will make it a priority to address the myriad problems created by the Harper government in the criminal justice system over the past 10

Was The Senate Audit Worth It?

 On a cost-benefit basis, probably not Consider me one of the millions of Canadians offended by the Senate spending scandal. But it’s not for the reason you might think. The auditor general spent $21 million on this investigation, and found less than $1 million in questionable expenses -- out of

Must Read: The Thin Black Line by Simon Gervais

 Prepare for a whirlwind of a read. Simon Gervais’ newly released debut novel The Thin Black Line, is a must-read thriller based right here in Canada’s capital city. A first time novelist, Gervais delivers a heart-pumping, nerve-racking story with a climactic ending you won’t see coming. In The Thin Black

The Chaos that is the RCMP

 I have read in various media reports that the RCMP officers in Moncton who responded to the call of an individual walking down a street brandishing a firearm were only equipped with pistols and shotguns. I was very shocked and dismayed to read these reports because in 2009 I was

The Embarrassment that is the Ottawa Police Association

 Arrogant Attack on Carleton University Academic Freedom Shows OPA Care More About Protecting Members than the Public they Serve I am a proponent of the police. I believe that confidence of citizens in their local police force is one of the most important ingredients in a free and democratic society.

A Leader in Her Own Right

 For many, our parents serve as mentors and are a source of inspiration and motivation. But imagine if one of your parents was a mentor to not only you but an entire nation. This was the reality that Catherine Clark grew up with. Her father is former Canadian Prime Minister

Explore Your Career Options at the YMCA-YWCA Job Fair Feb. 6

 The YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region is inviting all local job seekers and anyone considering a career change to attend its Employment Access Centre Job Fair, happening February 6 at the Taggart Family Y. This annual event matches job seekers with prospective employers from a broad range of sectors including service, trades, health

Democracy Watch Unloads on Harper Government for Chronic Lack of Accountability in Series of Cover-ups

 According to Democracy Watch, "biased, lapdog investigations mean cover-up of Senate scandal most likely outcome and public inquiry will be needed – Wright, Duffy should be found guilty of violating ethics rules, and possibly other laws "Ethics Commissioner has covered up twice already for Nigel Wright, Senate Ethics Officer is

Lest We Forget

 Many years ago, I used to go to the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the War Memorial on Elgin Street, but once Canada became embroiled in international conflicts, the huge crowds of spectators on Confederation Square made it impossible to see, hear or park. Then I discovered Remembrance Day in Russell

The Cowboy Trail: A Father and Son Journey to the Calgary Stampede and Rocky Mountain Dude Ranch

 I've always dreamed of taking my son to the Calgary Stampede, visit a ranch, and then go horseback riding in the foothills and do some white water rafting in the Kananaskis River Valley. I thought it would be a great father-son trip. Knowing that my 10-year-old son loves the outdoors

ACE/Clear Defense Inc is proving a smashing point

 Peter Fabian likes to beat on a plate of glass now wand then with a baseball bat to see if he can shatter it. Sometimes, He'll even fire a bullet into it. The glass may crack, but it holds firm. Fabian is out to prove a smashing point.  Fabian is