Calgary firefighters fought a grass fire southwest of the city on Saturday afternoon.

A Calgary Fire Department spokesperson told Global News crews received calls of a fire just off Old Banff Coach Road S.W. at around 3:30 p.m.

Around 12 firetrucks were at the scene with the help of the Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety. The CFD spokesperson said firefighters were able to protect nearby structures.

— more to come…

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Carousel Theatre for Young People on Vancouver’s Granville Island is holding two fundraising events on Saturday.

The two events will feature performances by the Vancouver band Queer as Funk and drag artists from the House of Carousel.

The first fundraiser will be “an all-ages afternoon extravaganza with face painting, games, and dance fun for the whole family.”

Doors open for that event opened at 2 p.m. The second fundraiser will begin at 7 p.m. for a 19+ event.

A spokesperson for the carousel theatre said they’re the biggest fundraising events for the year, which will support future performances, camps, and activities.

It will also fund security for two upcoming youth drag camps as the theatre said it has been on the receiving end of a targeted hate campaign.

“(Staff) has been subject to online harassment, calling harassment — all kinds of harassment,” said Samantha Falk, a Carousel Theatre for Young People spokesperson.

“It’s death threats, it’s vitriolic hate. It’s terrible the kind of harassment they’ve been subjected to.

“Physical threats, emails, phone calls for almost eight weeks, every day. It has been relentless.”

The theatre is holding two three-day drag camps in July. One is for children aged 7 to 11 and the other for teenagers, aged 12 to 17.

“The summer drag camps are opportunities for young people to have theatrical self-expression in a safe and nurturing place and a place they can just be themselves,” Falk said.

“Some people find that objectable, unfortunately.”

Theatre officials said funds are needed to pay for security as they have heard dangerous and anti-LGBTQ2 rhetoric aimed at their events.

That includes a tweet that the leader of the People’s Party of Canada Maxime Bernier directed at the theatre at the end of March. He called the drag camps “disgusting” and that it’s “indoctrinating kids with gender ideology and sexual confusion.”

“It’s been a really difficult time. There have been so many vile, horrible emails and calls,” said Jocelyn Macdougall, Carousel Theatre for Young People’s chair and lead singer for Queer as Funk.

“It has left our staff afraid and feeling unprotected. Who thought as a children’s theatre company we would have to worry about our physical security but also online security?

“Our team would rather be spending their time building incredible experiences of inclusion and learning for young people, but instead they are worried about whether or not they’ll be able to keep the staff and the young people safe.”

Global News has reached out to Vancouver police for comment.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A Vancouver cafe burglary was caught on video early Friday but it was not a typical break-in.

The only thing stolen from the store? A box of six cupcakes.

The suspect was also seen doing a number of odd activities in Vancouver’s Sweet Somethings on Dunbar Street.

“At first, it was really upsetting. Businesses have had a really hard time since COVID and it’s really hard for small food businesses to make it,” said Emma Irvine, Sweet Something’s owner.

“So, at first, it was like, ‘another expense, another challenge.’ But then we watched the video and we couldn’t help but laugh.”

In the CCTV videos, the suspect is seen kicking in the front glass door to gain entry.

He then moseys around the shop, tries to open the digital cashier, and even grabs a mop and cleans some floors and glass from the broken front door.

He also took a few selfies on a store phone, which he left behind.

“At first, he hung around the front door, knocking, for like 15 minutes, like he was picking up an order or something. Then he kicked in the door,” Irvine told Global News.

“He started moping up his glass, it was one of the funniest things.

“He also grabbed the store phone, took a few selfies for us as a present I guess, and then took the cupcakes and was on his way.”

Irvine said Vancouver police have been notified and officers are investigating the break-in.

The cafe is raising funds for its broken front door by making light of the situation.

Irvine said it has created a new line of cupcakes, complete with orange glasses much like the ones worn by the suspect, which are being sold to fix the door.

Global News has reached out to Vancouver police for more information.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

An increase in demand and an early start to the wildfire season in British Columbia have the BC SPCA struggling to stock its pet food banks.

When some residents of Fort St. John were evacuated last week, along with SPCA staff and animals in their care, supplies were diverted and brought to the area to assist guardians who were displaced.

“When guardians and their pets are evacuated due to a natural disaster like wildfires or floods, they can be away from their homes for weeks at a time. They often rely on the BC SPCA’s pet food banks for food and supplies until they are allowed to return,” said BC SPCA outreach specialist Diane Waters.

The non-profit has also seen increased demand throughout the province over the past few months, especially for those who continue to grapple with inflation. Waters said the BC SPCA is constantly getting requests for pet food and supplies.

“The number of organizations we are currently supporting has risen from 139 to 155,” Waters said.

One community that has seen a surge in demand is Victoria. Since 2022, requests through the pet food bank program there have increased by over 25 per cent.

“The current food security landscape in our community and rising costs of living have had an impact. The BC SPCA’s efforts to increase awareness of the program have also meant more people are reaching out for help,” said Breanne Beckett, senior manager of animal care services in Victoria.

In 2022, the BC SPCA provided 532,000 meals through pet food banks. The organization says it welcomes donations of unopened pet food.

“Our biggest need right now is dry and wet cat food and cat litter,” Waters said.

The BC SPCA is also looking for volunteers to assist with the collection and distribution of pet food and supplies.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Polls in Calgary are expected to be tight, and voters are already feeling the heat.

Voters in Calgary-Klein have been keeping an eye on the polls and some who voted early on Saturday believe the results could go either way.

“It upped the importance of the vote a little bit, but it didn’t decide whether I was going to vote,” said Calgarian Mark Langille who was voting at the Winston Heights-Mountview Community Association advance polling station on Saturday.

Saturday was the last day for advance polls before election day on May 29.

Calgary has 26 ridings. All but three are held by the UCP, but analysts have predicted some of those seats might change.

“It could be 50 votes. It could be 25 votes in some ridings because we are dealing with a two-party system right now. It seems like all of the Alberta Party support has moved to the NDP,” said Calgary political strategist Sarah Biggs. “I don’t think we’re going to bed early on Monday night.”

She said the ridings of Calgary-Currie, Calgary-Northeast, Calgary-Beddington, Calgary-Varsity and Calgary-Falconridge are true battlegrounds and are expecting races so tight there could be recounts.

“There are some big conservative names. We could see them not going back to the legislature on Tuesday. It’s going to be difficult to say what’s going to happen,” Biggs said.

“We cannot underestimate how heated Calgary is going to be.”

Biggs said there could be a wildcard in the game: people who haven’t been represented in the polls.

“Either the quiet NDP voter or the quiet UCP voters … They don’t want to say anything and they don’t want to be seen. They just want to go mark their ballot and go home,” Biggs said.

Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley was at a rally in downtown Calgary on Saturday and will make a stop in Red Deer on Sunday.

She will also address supporters at a major rally in Edmonton on Sunday.

“This is a close election and it could come down to one seat,” Notley told supporters in Calgary on Saturday.

There were no media events for UCP leader Danielle Smith on Saturday but two Calgary UCP candidates held a media availability announcing plans to expand mental health resources.

Polls have suggested the two main parties are in a statistical tie in Calgary where it’s widely believed the outcome of the provincial election will be decided.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats started their preseason schedule on the right foot with a 27-22 victory Saturday afternoon over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

It was also the first chance for fans to see quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell in a Ticats uniform and he showed well, albeit in limited action.

Mitchell’s first pass attempt was a long bomb to a wide-open Justin McGriff but the rookie receiver had the ball bounce off his hands and to the turf for an incomplete pass.

After his second pass attempt fell incomplete on the next play, a check down to running back James Butler, Mitchell was clinical on his second drive of the game.

FIRST OF MANY 🙌#Ticats | #CFL pic.twitter.com/tjjwBMIzPB

— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) May 27, 2023

The 33-year-old went 3-for-4 for 63 yards passing and put an exclamation point on his day with a 32-yard touchdown throw to former Calgary teammate Richie Sindani.

Rookie Ethan Ratke made good on his first field goal attempt of the game from the 19-yard line and moments later rookie Lio’undre Gallimore scored on an 84-yard punt return to make it 17-0 for Hamilton early in the second quarter.

The Argos responded with a couple of touchdowns in the third quarter when QB Cameron Dukes connected with RaJae Johnson and quarterback Bryan Scott found BJ Byrd in the endzone.

Those two scores were sandwiched on either side of Hamilton’s third TD of the game, an eight-yard toss from rookie pivot Taylor Powell to linebacker-turned-fullback Bailey Feltmate.

Hamilton’s other rookie kicker in camp, Jonathan Garibay, booted a 45-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter before Scott and Byrd connected for a 5-yard TD with no time left.

The Ticats will play their final exhibition game on June 2 in Montreal and will open the regular season on June 9 in Winnipeg.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Thousands of motorcycles flooded into Polo Park on Saturday morning for the 15th annual Ride for Dad and according to organizers of the event, it was a record turnout.

The ride has been held yearly to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer research, which is a cause close to the heart of the event’s spokesman, Ed Johner.

“I was diagnosed with prostate and kidney cancer in 2007. And because of early detection, which is a big emphasis that we try and make, I was treated for both successfully.”

The event also encourages men over 40 to get checked regularly for prostate cancer as Johner says 90 per cent of cases can be treated successfully if detected early. He said 1.2 million Canadian men have prostate cancer and “80 per cent of them don’t know it.”

The ride began with a police-escorted parade down Portage Avenue, then riders went up through Selkirk to Gimli and then back down through Lockport.

Johner says the ride brings people together and is a fun time for people overall. “It’s a great day of friendship, a great day of camaraderie.”

All of the money raised for the event will go towards prostate cancer research and education in Manitoba and the early estimate for this year’s total is $500,000. Since 2009, the event has raised over $3.5 million.

— with files from Global’s Katherine Dornian  

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

An Abbotsford man and woman have been charged in relation to a homicide that took place in March.

On March 21 at around 10 p.m. a man was found inside a home on Latimer Street, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead from his injuries.

The victim was later identified as 41-year-old Chad Colivas of Abbotsford.

On May 26, B.C. homicide investigators (IHIT) arrested 22-year-old Tanner Fox and 30-year-old Laetitia Acera, both of Abbotsford, in relation to the fatal shooting.

Fox has been charged with second-degree murder and Acera has been charged with manslaughter.

“This has been a dynamic and complex investigation,” said Sgt. Timothy Pierotti.

“As always, IHIT is grateful for its strong partnership with the Abbotsford Police Department and the other integrated teams, and the strong work completed by all investigators, which led to these results.”

Police said they do not believe the homicide is associated with the ongoing B.C. gang conflict.

As the matter is now before the courts, police are not releasing any more information.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Diane Marcin couldn’t believe it when she saw a flyer advertising a free dental cleaning Saturday – she said she had to check it out for herself.

“I liked my experience with my hygienist, she was a sweetheart,” said Marcin, a Pincourt, Que. resident. “They’re very, very generous people.”

About two dozen hygienists spent the day in a high school gym in Pincourt, on the island of Île Perrot in Quebec, offering free teeth cleaning to patients.

Joy Maderazo, who owns and operates Tooth to Tooth, a mobile dental hygiene clinic, helped put the initiative together with the Ville en santé committee from the city of Pincourt and the Gift From the Heart charity. She says it’s important that everyone have access to basic care.

“I’m an immigrant so I know how it is to not have enough money to do the things that you really need to do,” said Maderazo. “And unfortunately, dental work falls into a more expensive category.”

Maderazo says many people can’t afford dental care. Something like a simple cleaning – the main service hygienists were providing on Saturday – can cost someone up to $250.

“It’s just wonderful because cleaning now is just so expensive and for seniors, it’s hard to look after yourself if you don’t have the proper means, so this is absolutely the best thing that we’ve found,” said Pincourt resident Teri Shalala.

Maderazo says hygienists served about 25 adults on Saturday.

Her hope is that it will inspire others to do the same.

“I plan to make this an annual event here in Pincourt,” she said. “And I know my peers are already starting to get really interested in doing the same thing. I’m hoping this will just take root and spread all over.”

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A two-year-old child tragically died after falling into a grain mixer on a farm in Quebec on Friday, provincial police have confirmed.

Authorities say the accident happened at around 3:30 p.m., when local emergency services received the call in St-Lin-Laurentides, north of Montreal.

The Sûreté du Quebec says the toddler fell into the industrial mixer on her family’s farm and her parents tried to intervene immediately, but it was too late to save the young child’s life.

Her death was pronounced at the scene.

The victim’s parents were brought to hospital and treated for shock.

Authorities say there is nothing that leads them to believe that this is a case of negligence, but police will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As with all deaths involving a young child, the provincial police’s major crimes unit will be handling the case.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.