Hemilton Info

Candlelight vigils to be held for Canadian teacher detained in Indonesia

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 31 Juli 2014 | 22.46

Canadian teacher detained in Indonesia 2:35

Candlelight vigils will be held in several cities tonight for a Canadian teacher who has been detained in Indonesia for more than two weeks.

Neil Bantleman, 45, was arrested in Jakarta during a police investigation into the alleged sexual assault of three kindergarten students.

Bantleman, who worked at the prestigious Jakarta International School, was detained along with teaching assistant Ferdinand Tjiong, who is Indonesian.

Bantleman's brother says the vigils are a show of solidarity for the two men, who have denied the allegations.

"These are two men who have co-operated, surrendered their passports," Guy Bantleman said from his home in Burlington, Ont. "There has been nothing to justify their detainment."

Indonesian media reports said the police investigation began with the arrest of six outsourced cleaners accused of allegedly raping a young boy in a school bathroom in March. The Jakarta Post reported that the parents of two other students filed police reports claiming their sons were sexually assaulted by teachers.

Neil Bantleman and Tjiong were brought into a Jakarta police station for questioning on July 14 and then detained in the early hours the next morning.

Vigil in Burlington at 9 p.m. Thursday

Guy Bantleman said since his brother's arrest, his supporters in Indonesia have held a nightly vigil outside the school gates.

A vigil will be held in Burlington at 9 p.m. Thursday to coincide with a morning vigil in Jakarta, he said. There are also two vigils planned in Alberta at 10 p.m. — one outside the Webber Academy in Calgary, where Neil Bantleman used to teach, and another in Okotoks, where he lived with his wife.

Tracy Bantleman has taught with her husband at Jakarta International School for four years, and is campaigning there for his release.

"We're frustrated, there's no question," said Guy Bantleman of his brother's detainment.

This week is "critical," he said, adding that according to Indonesian law, suspects can be held for 60 days without charges, however at the 20-day mark, police are expected to review the detainment.

"The 20-day marker was imperative because it kind of puts the police in a place where they have to make a decision one way or the other," Bantleman said. "We really feel this is the first opportunity to press for his release."

Bantleman said that while he's calling for his brother's release, he expects the investigation to continue.

"This is not about someone walking away, it's about continuing the investigation, co-operation and getting to the truth," he said.

Bantleman could face 15 years in prison

He added that two men underwent polygraph tests last week and the Jakarta police have yet to release the results.

The Jakarta Post reported that police claim to have proof the two teachers drugged kindergarten pupils before sexually assaulting them. Both Neil Bantleman and Tjiong could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The Jakarta International School was founded by the Australian, British and American embassies in Indonesia. When Bantleman was arrested, embassy officials released a joint statement that said they were "deeply concerned" about the teachers' detention.

"We believe JIS and its teachers have closely co-operated with police authorities, and we are surprised at these developments given the presumption of innocence in Indonesian law," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Bantleman is receiving Canadian consular services.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said in an email that details on the case are not being released for privacy reasons.

Guy Bantleman said his family is remaining "optimistic" that his brother may be released soon.

"You have to remember these are just allegations," he said. "For teachers this is the worst allegation that you can ever have put forward because it's something you have to live with for the rest of your life."

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Time capsule found in Gore Park could be almost a century old

Crews on a revitalization project in Gore Park found a time capsule from the 91-year-old cenotaph on Tuesday.

The capsule won't be opened until it can be done carefully by a conservator, but the contents are most likely a scroll listing 1,800 names of soldiers killed in World War I, according to Hamilton Public Library archivist Margaret Houghton, who dug up a 1923 news story from the Hamilton Herald about the unveiling.

The article begins with some pomp:

"With martial majesty, reverent solemnity and dignified ceremonial; with little touches of human pathos and with an audience of over 5,000 people looking on, Hamilton's memorial to her illustrious soldier dead, the Cenotaph in the Gore Park extension, was unveiled yesterday afternoon."

The cenotaph was constructed in the winter of 1922-1923 and dedicated in May 1923, unveiled by Governor-General Lord Byng. The cenotaph has since come to represent soldiers who died in World War II and the Korean War, as well as World War I.

In the unveiling ceremony, Canadian Club president A.R. Lancefield acknowledged the inclusion of what's most likely the capsule found this week.

"This is no empty tomb," Lancefield said. "Within its depths lies a scroll bearing the names of 1800 Canadians who gave their lives in the cause for right and freedom."

(Courtesy of Hamilton Public Library Local History and Archives)

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Christina Noudga bail hearing underway in Tim Bosma slaying

Tim Bosma's widow speaks 2:28

A bail hearing being held in a Hamilton court for Christina Noudga, the Toronto-area woman who is charged as an accessory after the fact in the death of Ancaster, Ont., man Tim Bosma, will continue Thursday.

Noudga, 21, is the third person to be charged after Bosma's charred remains were found on a Waterloo-area farm last year. The 32-year-old was last seen by his wife when he left his home to take two men on a test drive of a pickup truck he had for sale.

Noudga has been identified as the girlfriend of Dellen Millard, 28, who is one of two men facing first-degree murder charges in Bosma's death.

Friends and family described Tim Bosma as a kind-hearted man who was 'generous with laughs and love.' The 32-year-old was found dead in May 2013. (Facebook)

Noudga was led into the courtroom in leg shackles Wednesday, wearing a white sleeveless shirt and jeans with high-heeled brown boots. She smiled at her parents and several supporters as she entered the prisoner's box.

Though evidence pertaining to the Bosma trial was discussed in court, a publication ban exists on the proceedings — something that is common at bail hearings. The hearing is being handled in Superior Court.

As Noudga was ushered out of the courtroom at the end of the day Wednesday, she waved to a row of supporters and mouthed, "Bye."

Representatives from Bosma's family were also in court, including his father, Hank. Bosma's widow, Sharlene, was not present, which was at the request of the Crown, sources say. She is expected to be called as a witness during the trial, as she was one of the last people to see Bosma alive.

In a previous interview, Crown Attorney Anthony Leitch said the charge against Noudga relates to an allegation that she tried to help Millard "escape" on May 9, 2013. He would not elaborate as to what was meant by escape, or from whom. Police had at one time speculated there was a third person involved in Bosma's abduction and slaying, but Leitch said Noudga likely had no part in it.

Bosma disappeared on May 6 and his remains were found on May 14.

Millard and Mark Smich, 26, of Oakville, have been held in jail since being charged with first-degree murder in Bosma's death.

Millard is also charged with first-degree murder in the 2012 deaths of his father Wayne and Toronto resident Laura Babcock, 23, whom he was reportedly seeing casually.

Smich has also been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Babcock, who was reported missing in the summer of 2012.

Toronto and Hamilton police are still investigating the deaths of Bosma, Babcock and Millard's father, but the three cases have now been streamlined under the Ontario Provincial Police major case management system.

The system is used so that valuable information that links multiple cases can be shared between police forces where serial predators and offenders are concerned.

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Hamilton Ticats RB Gable chases rare double CFL milestone

He's got some work to do but C.J. Gable hasn't given up on his goal to re-write the CFL record book this season.

Prior to the opening kickoff, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' dynamic running back stated he wanted to become the first player in league history to register 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same campaign. Robert Drummond of the Toronto Argonauts came close to achieving the rare double in '97, running for 1,134 yards and registering 85 catches for 840 yards despite missing three games.

A CFL player would have to average 56 yards rushing and receiving per game over the 18-game regular season to achieve the mark. The six-foot-one 208-pound Gable has 119 yards rushing and 169 yards receiving so far this year with Hamilton (1-4), but says the 1,000-1,0000 campaign remains very achievable.

"Yeah, I think it can still happen," Gable said. "You never know, one game I might get 200 yards receiving or 200 yards rushing."

The 26-year-old native of Sylmar, Calif., was certainly a big-play performer as a rookie last year with Hamilton. The first freshman to start an opener at USC — he did so against Arkansas in '06 — ran for 782 yards on 130 carries (six-yard average) and seven TDs while recording 54 catches for 598 yards and five touchdowns en route to being a finalist for the CFL's outstanding rookie award.

Gable again showed his explosiveness Saturday night. He rushed for 62 yards and a TD on six carries while adding three catches for 105 yards in the Ticats' 33-23 home win over Ottawa.

The former Trojan turned a simple screen pass from Dan LeFevour into an 83-yard completion late in the game that set up LeFevour's one-yard TD run that broke a 23-23 tie.

"It felt good but I'm always ready when my number is called," Gable said. "You never know in this game."

Gable is a threat to do something big every time he touches the ball. Trouble is, Hamilton was playing catchup in its opening three games — all losses — which can limit just how many rushing touches Gable gets.

Gable has 33 touches through four games this season (23 rushes, 10 catches). Another factor impacting how many times he gets the ball is Gable's ability to provide solid protection on pass plays.

Kent Austin, Hamilton's GM and head coach, has called Gable the league's best blocking back.

"In a couple of games I was getting impatient and frustrated with myself," Gable said. "So I had to tell myself to relax, play the game and trust the coaching calls and when my time comes be ready."

Another factor Saturday, too, was LeFevour's running ability. In his first CFL start, LeFevour threw for 361 yards and a TD but also ran for a game-high 109 yards against Ottawa.

LeFevour will be under centre Thursday night against Winnipeg and Gable said rival defences have to account for the quarterback's ability to make plays with his legs, which in turn helps create running lanes for Gable.

"They know that Dan can stretch the field to so if you key on me he's going to take off," he said. "If you key on him then that will leave me open."

Winnipeg (4-1) looked very solid defensively in its 23-6 victory over the B.C. Lions. The Bombers intercepted Kevin Glenn twice, recorded five sacks and also recovered a fumble.

"They're a really good defence," Gable said. "They fly around and we just have to play mistake-free."

Winnipeg will also be minus its leading receiver as Nick Moore (22 catches for 320 yards) is sidelined with a foot injury. Moore had seven catches for 99 yards against B.C. but former Ticat Aaron Kelly — who had five catches for 100 yards and two TDs in the Bombers' season-opening 45-21 win over Toronto — returns after missing two weeks.

"Obviously he (Moore) is a good player," said Bombers rookie head coach Mike O'Shea. "Thankfully we've got Aaron Kelly to step in ... Aaron is going to make sure we don't miss anything."

Willy said Kelly brings plenty to the Bombers' offence.

"His vertical routes are something we like to take advantage of," Willy said. "He's done a good job of getting back into it and he's going to be great for us."

Kelly is looking forward to facing his former team. He spent two seasons in Hamilton before joining the Bombers in 2013.

"I had two weeks off to get healthy and get right," he said. "I definitely didn't want to miss this game and a chance to come back to Hamilton and play."

Against Ottawa, Hamilton's offence really got going early. The Ticats had two touchdowns and 158 yards in their first five plays from scrimmage and Gable said the unit always wants to start fast.

"That's how we should be every game," he said. "Once we start going, it's hard to stop us."

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City to research best way to open Gore Park time capsule

City of Hamilton conservators will research an artifact found during construction this week in Gore Park to determine how to better examine or possibly open it.

The artifact, first thought to be a time capsule, could possibly be a scroll bearing the names of 1,800 soldiers who died in World War I, according to Hamilton Public Library archivist Margaret Houghton.

Time capsules from bygone eras, including the 1920s like this one, are not uncommon, said Ian Kerr-Wilson, the city's Heritage Resources manager.

"I've opened 19, 20 time capsules," Kerr-Wilson said. "This one's different."

It's unclear if the artifact would have contained paper inside of it, or if the scroll mentioned in the 1923 Hamilton Herald article could have been wrapped around the outside.

"You're looking at this, saying, 'What were they trying to do?'" Kerr-Wilson said.

City conservators will next conduct historical research to look for more clues like the article Houghton found yesterday. Then the artifact will likely undergo non-destructive examination, the artifact version of an x-ray or MRI. And then there will be even more technical research should the team decide to go ahead and try to open the tube.

With all of these steps, the city's conservators will move deliberately. It's in their name.

"Conservators are cautious folk," Kerr-Wilson said.

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Hamilton weather, traffic and more: Daystarter Wednesday

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 30 Juli 2014 | 22.46

It's another cool one out there this morning Hamilton, with temperatures hovering around 12 C. It should warm up come afternoon.

If you're looking to get gas, the cheapest price in the area is 126.9 at the Amco at 859 Hwy 6 near 5th Concession West in Flamborough.

GO Transit isn't reporting any delays on lines linked to Hamilton this morning. Expect the usual slowdowns on route 16 heading into Toronto because of construction on the Gardiner.

Here are the issues police are reporting this morning:

A crash at Hwy 403 eastbound at the Linc. 9:04 a.m.
Traffic on Francis Street at Emerald Street North. 8:02 a.m.
A collision at Ottawa Street North and Main Street East. 5:32 a.m.

Today's forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud, with a 40 per cent chance of showers this afternoon and risk of a thunderstorm. High 21 C. UV index 7 or high.

Tonight will be mainly cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers and risk of a thunderstorm this evening. Low 13 C.

Thursday's forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud with a chance of showers and a high of 24 C.

Expect a chance of rain every day for the rest of this week and into the weekend.

Today's photo comes courtesy Herbert Fodor:

A group of mothers outside of Stoney Creek, Ont., will be distributing some 2,000 posters with the face of convicted sex offender Keith Theodore Constantin Tuesday night, to let as many people as possible know what he looks like.

After being chased away from the Gage Park neighbourhood in downtown Hamilton, Ont., by a similar community backlash, the convicted sex offender headed for the Fruitland Road area, just east of the Steel City, and is about to face a second wave of resistance.

And one year ago today, a father of two with a disability spoke to his family for the last time before he got on his bicycle and headed north in the city. Now his family is reaching out to the public, pleading for anyone with answers into Michael Sullivan's death to speak out.

Turns out you can herd cattle with an RC car:

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Mothers in Fruitland Road area fight to keep Hamilton sex offender out

After being chased away from the Gage Park neighbourhood in downtown Hamilton, by a similar community backlash, the convicted sex offender headed for the Fruitland Road area and is about to be welcomed by a second wave of resistance. In addition to the posters, there is a second online petition to get him out of the neighbourhood.

The fresh efforts to keep him out of his second possible post-jail home raise questions about where can he live, and the ultimate impact of the police warning issues about him.

Mothers react to police warning

The posters have been printed by Ward 11 Councillor Brenda Johnson, and are are expected to be plastered all across the Winona and Fruitland Road neighbourhoods ahead of the arrival of Constantin.

Johnson says the plan came out of a meeting with local mothers concerned about Constantin because of the strongly-worded warning issued by Hamilton Police, which advised he was moving to Hamilton and was likely to re-offend. It outlines a litany of conditions he has to follow, despite the fact Constantin has completed the entirety of his eight-year sentence.

Two-thousand copies of this poster were printed for distribution in the Fruitland Road neighbourhood.

"(The mothers) don't want people to think that it's just in their backyard," explained Johnson. "Every community out there has a school yard … They want this gentleman be in a secure environment."

Closely monitored

Police advised on Friday that Constantin was moving into the Gage Park neighbourhood. A fresh warning was issued Monday that he had decided to settle in the Fruitland Road area- an indication he is being closely monitored.

In the Friday alert, Police Chief Glenn De Caire said he was making Constantin's plans public because he is a danger to re-offend. "In our commitment to public safety, I am exercising my discretion to notify the public that Mr. Constantin will be residing in the city of Hamilton," De Caire said in a news release.

A Hamilton Spectator report from 2009 said Constantin sexually assaulted a woman in a basement apartment of his parents' Hamilton home on Sept. 9, 2007. He punched her in the chest and head, held a knife to her and tried to bind her wrists with wire, the report reads.

When she cried out, he told the woman, "Shut up, or I will kill you."

Constantin took a plea deal which sentenced him to the equivalent of eight years in prison. He was given credit for time served and was released July 23 at the end of his sentence, and was ordered to have DNA profile entered into the criminal database, and placed on the sex registry for life.

Few tools available

There are, however, few tools after the completion of his sentencing, short of a dangerous offender label, for the penal system or law enforcement to impose controls on Constantin.

Johnson says that's the issue the mothers, who largely didn't want to be identified in fear of being signalled out, wanted to get across.

It's also the crux of the problem, argues John Clinton, executive director of the St. Leonard's Society, an organization which provides programs to offenders or those at risk of offending.

"We've now ended any type of supervised release by keeping (prisoners) in (jail) to the end of their sentence," Clinton said. "I do think that there's better ways to manage their release other than the public notification."

Clinton questioned if the aggressive warning from Hamilton Police was the best approach.

"Maybe there's a better way," Clinton asked. "How is that safe? My goodness, back anybody into a corner and they become more unpredictable."

In May, sex registry data revealed the L8E postal code, which includes Fruitland Road, had 28 registered sex offenders in 2008. By April 2014, that had dropped to 21. Johnson said this one is different.

"The police have not issues a warning about (the other 21 registered sex offenders)… They did with this gentleman."

A question of safety or liability?

Asked where he should go, Johnson couldn't give an answer.

"I get that.. But when it comes to the safety of the community… we want the community to be aware," Johnson said.

"I would hate to have something happen and then the community goes 'why weren't we told'. … all the community knows now, or they're going to know."

Clinton questioned whether this kind of response was more about what's in your backyard, or who takes the blame if something were to happen.

"If it's not a NIMBY argument, is it a liability argument?" Clinton asked.

Conditions imposed on him by a court order include:

Not to be alone with anyone under the age of 16 unless that person is accompanied by a responsible adult over 18 years old.
Not to be present at any day care, swimming area and/or public swimming area, school ground or playground where one might reasonably expect children to be present or any community centre where children are present.
Abstain absolutely from the possession, purchase or consumption of drugs, narcotics, controlled substances or marijuana, expect in accordance with a medical prescription, and alcohol or alcohol-based products.

Anyone with information about Constantin related to those conditions is asked to call police at 905-546-3832 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Use the chart below to find registered sex offender data by postal codes:

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City will firm up deal to put sports field on old glass plant

The city is set to finalize the purchase of a 10-acre brownfield site — expected to be the old Consumers Glass property — for a new outdoor sports facility in the lower city later this week.

After months of negotiation, the city expects to close the deal for an $8-million project for the Pan Am precinct that will replace the former Brian Timmis field. The property will also have playgrounds and green space.

'The bottom line is it's a large new park in an area of the city that's deficient of park land.'- Paul Johnson, director of neighbourhood and community relations

Paul Johnson, the city's director of neighbourhood and community relations, wouldn't confirm the location, but concedes that it is "probably the worst kept secret in the area." He also couldn't disclose the purchase price. But for the deal itself, the city is anxious to "sing it from the rooftops."

"We're really excited about it," he said. "The bottom line is it's a large new park in an area of the city that's deficient of park land."

The outdoor sports facility is part of about $25 million in new government investment in the Pan Am precinct. In December, one month before his death from cancer, Coun. Bernie Morelli announced the project for Ward 3 to a standing ovation from council.

"I have worked my entire career to serve my community and I am overwhelmed that we have been able to finally make this happen," said Morelli, who represented the area for 22 years.

Brian Timmis field, adjacent to the former Ivor Wynne stadium, was lost as part of the new stadium construction.

Bernie Morelli and Sam Merulla announce Pan Am precinct sports field

Coun. Bernie Morelli, left, and Coun. Sam Merulla announce a new $8-million sports facility in the Pan Am precinct in December. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

The former glass plant is located north of Barton Street and west of Gage. The money will come from various pots of money, including area rating and development fees, which means no impact to the general tax levy, Coun. Sam Merulla said at December's announcement.

Any necessary remediation has been factored into the budget, Johnson said.

"I can tell you it's a significant investment both to acquire that size of property and obviously some of the work that needs to be done to get it ready."

The city is meeting with residents to finalize what will be in the site. There's no set timeline, Johnson said, although he'd like to have it done in three years.

The new facility will be near a new $140-million Tim Horton's Field stadium. The city is also building a new seniors centre, which will be named after Morelli in the neighbourhood. The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board plans to build a new high school nearby.

"When you look at the purpose of Pan Am, this is really what the legacy is," said Merulla, who worked on the project. "It's not so much that we're going to have a stadium for the Tiger-Cats, but the development that's part of the continued renaissance of east Hamilton.

"This is just one piece of that puzzle that will create assessment growth, investment and confidence."

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Karen Flynn gets 5 years for killing a woman over an air conditioner

Karen Flynn was sentenced to 5 years and 56 days in jail with credit for time served for the stabbing death of 56-year-old Margaret Elizabeth Steer Tuesday — all because of a disagreement over a borrowed air conditioner.

It's a case Justice Fred Campling called "confusing and senseless."

'I fear that I won't make it to heaven.'- Karen Flynn

Flynn, 44, faced the family of the woman she stabbed to death for the first time in a Hamilton courtroom at the sentencing hearing Tuesday, pleading for forgiveness.

"I only hope one day Mrs. Steer's family can forgive me – and that one day I can forgive myself," she said from inside the prisoner's box. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about Mrs. Steer or my actions.

"I fear that I won't make it to heaven."

The incident happened in a MacNab Street North apartment building back in January. Flynn pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter last month.

Police say Karen Flynn showed remorse for her actions right away, even on the night of the incident. (David Ritchie/CBC)

According to police, a fight broke out on the 12th floor of an apartment building at 500 McNab Street North on Jan. 4. Steer and her boyfriend Barry Wheeler – who lived on the 9th floor – had gone to another couple's apartment in the building to retrieve an air conditioner Steer had loaned them. According to statements read in court, it was Wheeler's idea. "And it was a stupid idea," Campling said.

Police say an argument broke out and the two men attacked one another and soon the two women became involved – though court heard Tuesday that Steer was trying to "play peacemaker," and break it up. Police say Flynn beat the victim's boyfriend with a baseball bat, and eventually grabbed a knife and stabbed Steer in the neck and chest.

A sister remembered

Steer's boyfriend called police. When they arrived, Flynn and her boyfriend had left the scene and they found Steer had suffered severe injuries, but was still alive. She died on the way to hospital after paramedics tried to save her.

In a victim's impact statement read aloud to the court, Steer's sister Darla Waite said she'll remember her sister as a kind and generous person who she loved "instantly." "Spring was her favourite time of year because she could plant flowers and watch them grow," she said. "This year, spring came and it wasn't the same."

"I still post to my sister's Facebook and Skype account. As long as they're kept open, I'll keep talking to my sister."

Brother John Steer said his sister was caring and willing to help anyone. "A beautiful free spirit has been taken both far too soon and needlessly," he said in his victim impact statement.

"I do hope the accused will come to realize the tragic wrong she has committed."

'No one needed to die'

Flynn does have a previous criminal record, defense attorney Larissa Fedak told the court, which largely stemmed from abusive relationships through the years. "She's had her own struggles," she said. "Her partners would be abusive, and she would retaliate." Flynn also had issues with alcohol, Fedak said. Her longest previous sentence was 85 days in jail.

Justice Campling told Flynn that she "deserved considerable credit" for entering a guilty plea instead of forcing family members to endure the rigours of a trial. But the fact that Flynn was already on probation for violent and weapons-related offences worked against her, he said.

"I accept that you are remorseful," Campling said. "The problem is you were likely remorseful when you were put on probation for other offences."

"A little thought before killing someone would be much more careful than remorse afterwards."

Power said that Steer was just trying to get everyone involved to stop fighting, and was killed for it. "She was trying to act as a peacemaker," Power said. "She was certainly not the aggressor in this situation, and for her efforts, she was killed."

"This was a fistfight between two men … but no one needed to die."

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Michael Sullivan's family: Please help us find his killer

Michael Sullivan's sister Teresa Mummery talks about her brother's death 1:18

One year ago today, a father of two with a disability spoke to his family for the last time before he got on his bicycle and headed north in the city.

He owned a home on Spadina Avenue with his mother, Gail. Around 2:30 p.m. at Barton and Lottridge Streets, he had a brief exchange with some people on the street. Those people said something to the driver of a black pickup truck.

Whatever that exchange was, the driver chased Sullivan down city streets until they reached the rear lot of a restaurant supply store. The truck hit Sullivan so hard that he flew off the bicycle. He was found unconscious and died after three months on life support — the city's 10th murder that year.

'We can't put it to rest until we find out why and who and who and why. There are people that know who the driver was.'- Teresa Mummery, sister

There have been leads since then. Police have the truck — a black Ford F150. Investigators have tried to follow a tangled trail that will lead them to the driver. But they still don't know who it is.

Michael Sullivan, 51, was killed by a truck driver who chased him through the streets of the east end back in July, police say. (Courtesy Hamilton Police)

Sullivan's family and friends gathered at the 927 Barton St. E. on Tuesday, the site of the fatal attack, to put out another plea for the public to step forward. Someone out there knows something, said Sullivan's sister, Teresa Mummery. And with the case unsolved, the family can't move on.

"We can't put it to rest until we find out why and who and who and why," she said.

"There are people that know who the driver was. We want them to have a heart and come forward and help us have some closure and to get some justice done."

Sullivan was 51 years old and the father of a son and daughter. He worked from home building or fixing things for other people. He rebuilt computers for underprivileged children. He fixed bicycles for people who didn't have them.

Examined the pickup truck

The Port Dover native knew his share of struggles. An earlier fall had left him with a back and leg injury, and in 2010, he was hit by a car, which made movement harder, said his mother, Gail Sullivan.

Sometimes it impacted how quickly he could ride his bicycle. "He had good days and bad days," she said.

He rarely left the house without wearing his Narcotics Anonymous ring, which Gail now wears on a chain around her neck.

When Sullivan was hit, police didn't release any information to the public for three months. Investigators made that decision in fear the truck would disappear, said Det. Peter Thom of Hamilton Police Service.

Sullivan was riding when he had a "brief interaction with some individuals and continued about his business," police said in a statement last October. "This interaction led to some misinformation being passed to the driver of a black, Ford F150 pickup truck."

Forensic investigators have examined the pickup truck, Thom said. But the truck wasn't registered to the person driving at the time, and the driver likely didn't even own it.

"From the information we've got, it was loaned out to a number of different people," he said.

'We're missing a piece of the puzzle'

Police have been conducting interviews, watching video surveillance and using other methods to try to answer key questions, such as whether the group of people on Lottridge knew the driver. Police have charged one person with mischief for willfully giving the wrong information, he said.

He hopes the one-year push will turn up some new information.

"We're confident there's someone out there who knows who the driver is," he said.

"We believe we know what happened and why it happened, but we're missing a piece of the puzzle."

Anyone with information should call Thom as 905-546-3843 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Eid celebrations overflow Hamilton Mountain Mosque

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 29 Juli 2014 | 22.46

The meaning of Eid in Hamilton 1:50

There is no denying that Hamilton's Muslim community is steadily growing – and Monday's Eid Al-Fitr celebration at the Mountain Mosque was proof.

Thousands of people came out to mark the end of Ramadan, which is the month in which Muslims fast every day from sunrise to sunset. So many families showed up that they were spilling out of the main area of the Mosque right up to the exits.

Muslim Association of Hamilton President Ali T. Ghouse told CBC Hamilton that growth like that shows the community is thriving. "Canada being the 'new world' has always attracted immigrants from hundreds of years ago," Ghouse said. "They came in waves, depending on the political circumstances and depending on the economic circumstances of the situations in their home countries."

'It can be sad, because now you know that you have to wait another year for Ramadan to begin again. So it's bittersweet.'- Uzma Qureshi, board secretary for the Muslim Association of Hamilton

"What is the driving force here now is families. A lot of educated people who speak English and who have skills. They're bringing that to Canada." There are also refugees, coming from Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, he says.

With so many cultures from so many places under one roof, the mosque becomes a true meeting ground for a wide swath of cultures, says Uzma Qureshi, board secretary for the MAH.

"It's incredible. Absolutely incredible," she said. "We always say when you do diversity work you talk about celebrating differences and things like that, but when it comes together under one banner, the unity is incredible. The diversity builds upon our unity.

A mandatory fast

Fasting during Ramadan is mandatory for Muslims, except for people who are ill, travelling, or women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or on their period. The fast also extends to smoking, having sex and sometimes other behaviours that could be interpreted as negative like swearing and procrastination. Food and drink is served before sunrise and after the sun goes down.

The Islamic calendar is lunar, so every so often Ramadan happens during the summer. That means longer, hot days and longer fasts — something that can be very trying. But even though there's a physical toll, Qureshi says she'll miss it. Members of the mosque get used to coming together for nightly prayers, further fostering a sense of unity.

"It can be sad, because now you know that you have to wait another year for Ramadan to begin again. So it's bittersweet," she said.

Police chief Glenn De Caire was also on hand Monday morning to extend well wishes from the police service, and to address an attack on two Muslim brothers from Egypt that happened earlier this month. Twin brothers Moustafa Algamal and Mahmoud Elgamal were jumped just after evening prayers at the Downtown Mosque.

'We stand united'

"We as a community came together, and we did not react because we responded. And there is a significant difference between reacting and responding," De Caire told the crowd of about 3,500 people. "We responded together as a community standing shoulder to shoulder to send a message that we will not tolerate this sort of behavior in Hamilton.

"We stand united and we will be one."

No charges have been laid in relation to the incident, police spokesperson Debbie McGreal-Dinning said in an email Monday morning. "It is still under investigation and is being followed up," she said.

That attack isn't indicative of how Hamilton's Muslim community is treated as a whole in Canada, Ghouse said. "This is an outlier. This is a rare case of ignorant, uneducated unaware individuals who take things into their hands," he said.

"The majority of our neighbours as Canadians are extremely friendly and supportive."

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Standoff with Peel police officer 'in crisis' ends peacefully

Peel Regional Police tracked an off-duty member of their service who they said was "in crisis" to Hamilton, where he was stopped at a rural gas station.

A tense standoff was peacefully resolved shortly before 6 p.m. ET, Peel police said

With the assistance of Hamilton police and other forces, the officer was stopped in the area of Peters Corners, near Highways 5, 52 and 8, just behind Gord's Service Centre in rural Hamilton.

Owner Bill Hume was pumping gas around 4 p.m., he said, when he was approached by a Peel Regional Police officer.

"[He] walked over and asked that everyone get in the building, that they had a situation happening. So I got everyone in the building and looked out. The police had everything closed off and building surrounded and they had done it very well, there were no sirens, no noise it was done very quietly."

Peel Regional Police surround the vehicle of an off-duty member who was said to be 'in crisis.' (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

Hume said he hadn't noticed the "officer in crisis" had pulled in ahead of the cruiser to the back area of his lot. Many more cruisers followed as Hume, his wife, their two sons and several employees stayed inside the station's offices. He said he was told that police believed the officer was armed. He watched the tactical team deploy very quickly as negotiations with the officer were set up.

"I've never seen so many Peel police cars in my life," he told CBC News in Hamilton.

"There are TV shows that show situations like this. This was a real-life performance. I'd just as soon watch it on TV."

Officers from five police forces were involved: Halton, Peel, Ontario Provincial Police, Hamilton and York.

Highway 5 was closed during the incident.

"It originated in our jurisdiction," said Peel police Const. Fiona Thivierge. "Because we came through highways, OPP are involved. Once it entered Hamilton area, Hamilton police became involved. That's just because we are entering each jurisdiction and we have to notify that police service that we are in the area. And they assisted with road closures and things."

She would not confirm if the officer was armed.

"The officer was in crisis and we are glad to report it was resolved without incident," she said, adding he is getting the assistance required. She said the officer was in his own personal car and at no time was the public at risk.

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Police issue new alert as sex offender changes Hamilton address

Convicted sex offender Keith Theodore Constantin is moving to Hamilton and is a danger to reoffend, police say. (Hamilton Police)

Hamilton police have issued a second public safety alert about Keith Theodore Constantin after the convicted sex offender changed the area of the city in which he was living.

He is now reported to be living in the area around Fruitland Road, and not near Gage Park. The same warnings contained in the first report continue to apply say police.

Police put out their initial alert Friday saying he was expected to move in near Gage Park. Constantin has been convicted of sexual assault with a weapon, assault with a weapon and a slew of other crimes including possession of explosives.

In the Friday alert, Police Chief Glenn De Caire says he's telling people about Constantin because he is a danger to re-offend. "In our commitment to public safety, I am exercising my discretion to notify the public that Mr. Constantin will be residing in the city of Hamilton," De Caire said in a news release.

According to a Hamilton Spectator report from 2009, Constantin sexually assaulted a woman in a basement apartment of his parents' Hamilton home on Sept. 9, 2007. He punched her in the chest and head, held a knife to her and tried to bind her wrists with wire, the report reads.

When she cried out, he told the woman, "Shut up, or I will kill you."

He was scheduled to go on trial in 2009 for sexual assault with a weapon, assault with a weapon and breaching a peace bond. The trial was called off because the 27-year-old complainant suffered seizures because of the stress of the trial and ended up in hospital on a suicide watch.

He was also convicted in 2000 of sexually assaulting a young boy and of sexually assaulting a 45-year-old blind woman in separate incidents.

Constantin accepted a plea deal that saw him sentenced to the equivalent of an eight-year prison term. He was given credit for time served in pretrial custody. Constantin was also placed on the national sex-offender registry for life and his DNA profile was entered into Canada's criminal databank. He is prohibited for life from possessing weapons and it was ordered that he serve at least half his sentence before he could apply for parole.

Constantin was released from custody on Wednesday. He is bound by a court order to a number of conditions, including:

Not to be alone with anyone under the age of 16 unless that person is accompanied by a responsible adult over 18 years old.

Not to be present at any day care, swimming area and/or public swimming area, school ground or playground where one might reasonably expect children to be present or any community centre where children are present.

Abstain absolutely from the possession, purchase or consumption of drugs, narcotics, controlled substances or marijuana, expect in accordance with a medical prescription.

Abstain absolutely from the possession, purchase or consumption of alcohol or alcohol-based products.

Anyone with information about Constantin related to those conditions is asked to call police at 905-546-3832 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Chamber properly serves immigrant communities: president

The head of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce says he's never heard the complaint that the chamber isn't properly serving small immigrant-led businesses.

Keanin Loomis, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, says he hasn't heard the issues mentioned by organizers of a new Hamilton-based South Asian Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the chamber not helping with issues of language or discrimination or that the chamber is focused on large businesses.

"Nobody's ever communicated these issues or concerns to us," he said. "Certainly we would listen if it was an issue and give it the proper attention it deserves."

On Aug. 2, a new group calling itself the South Asian Canadian Chamber of Commerce will hold a formal launch event at Narula's Indian Eatery and Banquet Hall.

The organization has about 60 members, its organizers say, and is designed to counter the larger chamber's focus on big business and help South Asian entrepreneurs deal with their unique concerns, such as racism and language barriers, organizers say. The chamber started in March.

Loomis said the chamber could likely improve how it serves immigrant communities. Currently, he said, it's working with the city on a foreign direct investment initiative to embrace immigrant entrepreneurs.

But he's never heard from the organizers of the South Asian Chamber Chamber, he said, nor has the chamber faced criticism for not serving immigrant business owners.

Organizations can't officially call themselves a chamber of commerce or board of trade unless they are named as such in the federal Boards of Trade Act, or under an act of parliament, he said.

Only the Hamilton, Flamborough and Stoney Creek chambers can legally call themselves chambers of commerce in Hamilton, he said.

"I will communicate that to them," he said. "There are problems and implications with using that name that they obviously don't fully appreciate."

Amandeep Narula, one of the founders of the new south Asian group, said she didn't encounter that law in her research.

"If it becomes a legal issue at all, we'll change our name," she said.

There are other chambers of commerce, such as the Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canada-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, she said.

Whether the Hamilton group calls itself an association or a chamber, she said, it's necessary.

"I don't think our members will have an issue if it's called the South Asian Business Society."

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Hamilton weather, traffic and more: Daystarter Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, Hamilton. It has felt more like fall than summer over the last 24 hours, but hopefully that changes later today.

And did you know we got three weeks worth of rain in Hamilton overnight Sunday and into Monday?

From 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, Hamilton got 73 mm of rain. The normal for rainfall in July is 100 mm. That was a damp day.

If you're looking to get gas this morning, the cheapest price in the area is 126.9 at the Amco at 859 Hwy 6 near 5th Concession West.

GO Transit isn't reporting delays on routes connected to Hamilton, but expect the usual slowdowns on route 16 heading into Toronto because of construction on the Gardiner.

Here are the issues police are reporting on the roads this morning:

Traffic issues on the Linc eastbound at Ancaster. 6:32 a.m.

It's 13 C this morning, heading up to a high of 20 C with a mix of sun and cloud. UV index 8 or very high.

Expect mainly cloudy skies tonight with a 60 per cent chance of showers late this evening and overnight with risk of a thunderstorm. Low 14 C.

Tomorrow's forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of showers. Low 12 C, high 22 C.

Today's image comes courtesy Anita Thomas on Twitter:

Hamilton police have issued a second public safety alert about Keith Theodore Constantin after the convicted sex offender changed the area of the city in which he was living. He is now reported to be living in the area around Fruitland Road, and not near Gage Park.

Constantin has been convicted of sexual assault with a weapon, assault with a weapon and a slew of other crimes including possession of explosives.

And Peel Regional Police tracked an off-duty member of their service who they said was "in crisis" to Hamilton yesterday, where he was stopped at a rural gas station.

A tense standoff was peacefully resolved shortly before 6 p.m.

These guys filmed themselves walking around Tokyo backwards, then reversed it. The results are pretty mind bending:

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Hamilton food banks work overtime to help poor, students

Written By Unknown on Senin, 28 Juli 2014 | 22.46

Food banks in Hamilton are extending their hours into the evenings and weekends to accommodate the changing faces of hunger.

The move, part of a one-year pilot project, aims to better serve those who may not be able to access emergency food during the traditional weekday operating hours, such as the working poor and students.

"The face of hunger has changed dramatically over the decades and so have the conditions that contribute to hunger," St. Matthews House, one of the participating agencies, said in a written release. "Having a job doesn't necessarily mean you won't need a food bank."

Starting in September, food banks and hot meal programs in Hamilton will alternate each week to ensure one emergency food provider is open every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Currently, emergency food programs in the city run from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Steve Leighfield, executive director of St. Matthew's House, said the extended hours make sense.

"If you look at society in general, people are being required to work differently than they ever have before," he told CBC Hamilton.

The one-year pilot project, which runs from September to August 2015, will also allow agencies to collect data on night and weekend visits and help them understand the needs of those who use the extended hours, Leighfield said.

"So we'll be able to notice trends as we go through this process and that will help us as far as determining we are going to be open more often on the weekend or more often during the evening," he said.

The initiative is implemented by the Emergency Food Strategic Planning Committee (EFSPC), a collaboration formed by local food banks and hot meal programs. It will coordinate which locations throughout the city will open on Thursday evening or Saturday morning.

Participating agencies will either extend the total hours of operation or shift the original hours to meet the demand.

The main groups that would take advantage of the extended hours are the working poor and students, the committee said. Other people who experience "situational circumstances" can also benefit from the change.

The extended hours may have another beneficial byproduct: more donations.

"The other hope we have is we might see donations come in the door on Saturdays or on Thursday because people know we are open to business still," Leighfield said.

"I'm excited because I think ultimately it will lead us to change the way we provide service to people."

The agencies participating in the pilot project are:

Good Shepherd
Mission Service of Hamilton
Neighbour to Neighbour
Hamilton Salvation Army
Dundas Salvation Army
St. Matthew's House
Wesley Urban Ministries
Living Rock Ministries

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Ontario wine: good quality but smaller crop after cold winter

Many Ontario vineyards that saw their grape crops damaged by extreme cold weather this past winter are experiencing strong growth again, thanks to the mild summer, experts say.

Favourable weather conditions, such as ample precipitation and the lack of extreme heat or drought, help the crops recover from cold injuries, according to Jim Willwerth, a viticulturist with Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.

"It allows vines to recover from the injury and support the fruit on the vines," he told CBC Hamilton. "The vines balance themselves. They naturally compensate for losses."

The harsh, long winter — marked by record-breaking cold temperatures and bouts of polar vortex — wreaked havoc in local vineyards, with one Niagara on the Lake vineyards owner reporting the loss of almost all of his Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc crops.

Growers have been mitigating some of the damage by leaving extra buds while pruning, which paid off during the growth season in summer, Willwerth said.

"Even though they might not produce as much fruit as they did in previous years, they are recovering well," said Willwerth, who also oversees Brock University's VineAlert program which tracks the survival rates of grape buds across Ontario.

Sporadic impact

Smaller yields this season are inevitable, following a winter with continuous deep freeze, said Debbie Zimmerman, CEO of Grape Growers of Ontario, which represents more than 500 grape growers in the province.

"Grapes are very susceptible to continuous cold. They can handle cold, but continuous deep cold, that's when grapes become more susceptible," she explained.

Consumers, however, wouldn't have to worry about an empty wine rack, thanks to a record-breaking harvest from the previous season that filled the tanks with wine. And the bitter cold has a silver lining for wine lovers.

"The quality this year looks like it's going be really, really good because of the weather as well," Zimmerman said. "It's a much smaller crop but exceptional quality."

Grapes' cold hardiness is location- and variety-specific. The latest data from the VineAlert program shows the bud survival rates range from four per cent for merlot at Lake Erie's north shore, to 86 per cent for pinot noir at Niagara Peninsula.

Zimmerman described the damage as "sporadic."

"Small sections of vineyards are going to have a hard time surviving this year. Other sections are doing really well," she said.

Risky business

Hank Hunse's business isn't among the lucky ones.

Some varieties of grapes from his Small Talk Vineyards, located a kilometre south of Lake Ontario in Niagara on the Lake, were completely damaged by the extreme cold, he said.

To compensate the loss, Hunse said his store is expected to raise the price of the 2013 wine by up to 30 per cent.

"I'll lose customers, I know that. But it's the way it goes," he said. "Some [customers] really want to buy local, they'll keep buying. Some will buy the cheapest from another store, and they'll stop."

While he is planning to install some mitigating technology — such as wind machines and ventilation shaft fans to improve air flow — Hunse said this winter has also taught him that being a grape grower in Ontario, a province with unpredictable weather, can be a risky business.

"It just shows you are in extreme wine-making region. It's full of risks."

Zimmerman has a more rosy outlook.

"We grow grapes in a cool climate. There's not much else we can do when mother nature delivers a blow like she did in the winter. But the good thing is we still have grapes."

Harsh weather conditions are a great learning opportunity for grape growers that helps them get better at their craft, she added.

"What we are finding is growers are becoming much more tech-savvy and trying to apply technology to the vineyards, as you can see with VineAlerts."

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South Asian businesses forming their own chamber of commerce

Dissatisfied with what they say is a local focus on larger businesses, a group of south Asian business owners have come together to form their own chamber of commerce.

A group of about seven entrepreneurs have formed the South Asian Canadian Chamber of Commerce, a Hamilton-based organization that represents lawyers, realtors, accountants and about 60 others of South Asian descent.

Small South Asian businesses have their own struggles, including language barriers and discrimination, and they're not being heard by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and other larger organizations, said Jasmeet Lyall, an interior designer and founding member.

With larger chambers, "you tell them something, they acknowledge it and it vanishes," she said.

"Being a business community, we wanted to get our point across to government and other agencies."

The chamber formed in the spring. It's holding its inaugural dinner and gala, and official launch, at Narula's Indian Eatery and Banquet Hall on Aug. 2. City representatives will attend.

South Asian businesses owners have unique struggles. Language is a big one, Lyall said. So is racism.

"I have experienced personally that after 9/11, things got hard for us," she said. "People have said things like 'Go back to your country.'"

"That's why we want to tell the South Asian community that we can stand strong together."

Many chamber members are new immigrants, said Amandeep Narula, co-owner of Narula's and a founding chamber member. And that puts them at a disadvantage.

"Anyone who has come here as an immigrant has left their own network behind," she said. "Starting here, you need that network. You need that support group.

"Usually when a business starts, your first customers are people from your circle. When you come here as an immigrant, you leave that behind."

Small businesses have unique problems with issues such as vendors and employees that larger businesses can hire people to deal with, Narula said. But small businesses are the "economic engine" of Hamilton, she said.

The chamber of commerce is based in Hamilton but its members come from throughout the GTHA, Lyall said.

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Hitchbot, the hitchhiking robot, bums 1st ride

It didn't take long for a little robot attempting to hitchhike across the country relying on the kindness of strangers to get its first ride.

The little traveller, about the size of a six-year-old child, was made using pool noodles, an old bucket, Wellington boots, rubber gloves, solar panels and a computerized "brain."

Hitchbot is entirely dependent on human beings for its survival. It's part of a Canadian research project looking into the evolving relationship between people and technology.

The robot set off on Sunday just outside of Halifax and was quickly picked up by a couple heading to Kouchibouguac National Park.

"A lovely couple offered to help me out. Look out, New Brunswick. Here I come," read the robot's Instagram page.

Anne and Brian Saulnier say they heard about the project on the radio.

Anne and Brian Saulnier say they heard about the project on the radio and are thrilled to pick up Hitchbot. (CBC)

"I was actually just reading about him this morning as we were packing up our trailer for our camping trip. I thought that would be really cool if we actually saw him on the side of the highway, but I thought what are the chances of that," said Anne.

"And there he was. He's going on a ride for sure," said Brian.

The Saulniers say they'll either leave him at the border or give him to a family to take next.

David Harris Smith, an assistant professor at Hamilton's McMaster University, first came up with the idea of creating a collaborative art project centred around a hitchhiking robot.

He says the Hitchbot is also an experiment that looks at the interaction between people and increasingly ubiquitous technology.

Hitchbot will be powered with solar panels covering the beer cooler bucket that makes up its torso, and can also be recharged from car cigarette lighters or a regular outlet. But if Hitchbot's power runs out when it is waiting for its next ride, written instructions on its body will tell people how to strap it into the car and plug it in, and direct people to a help website.

The researchers expect it to charm its way into enough rides to make it all the way to Victoria.

Hitchbot is also equipped with a GPS and 3G wireless connectivity that will allow it to post frequent updates of its position on the internet.

Along the way the robot will share its more than 6,000-kilometre journey on social media.

Smith admits privacy could be a concern, so they've built privacy settings into Hitchbot. It will ask permission before taking a picture, or ask those in the car to take a selfie with it. There will also be flesh and blood moderators sifting through the data collected.

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Severe thunderstorm warnings ended for southern Ontario

All severe weather warnings and watches have ended in southern Ontario on Sunday evening, which had been triggered by a series of thunderstorms that affected communities all the way from Windsor through to the Greater Toronto Area.

Environment Canada had warned that the storms moving from the southwest part of the province had the potential to bring torrential rain, as well as hail and damaging winds.

The storms brought down trees, caused some power outages and flooded a section of road near Highway 404 and Steeles Avenue, just north of Toronto.

Air travellers heading to Toronto's Pearson and Billy Bishop airports were advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airports themselves.

Many images of the storms' dark clouds were posted to social media, along with some of the damage they caused on Sunday evening, including uprooted and downed trees in Grand Bend, Ont.

A handful of images captured what appeared to be funnel clouds in Millbank, Ont., about 140 kilometres west of Toronto.

The Waterloo Region Record reported that Environment Canada will be investigating the damage the storms caused on Monday.

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Ontario grape crops recovering from bitter winter

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 27 Juli 2014 | 22.46

Many Ontario vineyards that saw their grape crops damaged by extreme cold weather this past winter are experiencing strong growth again, thanks to the mild summer, experts say.

"It allows vines to recover from the injury and support the fruit on the vines," he told CBC Hamilton. "The vines balance themselves. They naturally compensate for losses."

Growers have been mitigating some of the damage by leaving extra buds while pruning, which paid off during the growth season in summer, Willwerth said.

Sporadic impact

"Grapes are very susceptible to continuous cold. They can handle cold, but continuous deep cold, that's when grapes become more susceptible," she explained.

"The quality this year looks like it's going be really, really good because of the weather as well," Zimmerman said. "It's a much smaller crop but exceptional quality."

Zimmerman described the damage as "sporadic."

"Small sections of vineyards are going to have a hard time surviving this year. Other sections are doing really well," she said.

Risky business

Hank Hunse's business isn't among the lucky ones.

Some varieties of grapes from his Small Talk Vineyards, located a kilometre south of Lake Ontario in Niagara on the Lake, were completely damaged by the extreme cold, he said.

To compensate the loss, Hunse said his store is expected to raise the price of the 2013 wine by up to 30 per cent.

"It just shows you are in extreme wine-making region. It's full of risks."

Zimmerman has a more rosy outlook.

"We grow grapes in a cool climate. There's not much else we can do when mother nature delivers a blow like she did in the winter. But the good thing is we still have grapes."

Harsh weather conditions are a great learning opportunity for grape growers that helps them get better at their craft, she added.

"What we are finding is growers are becoming much more tech-savvy and trying to apply technology to the vineyards, as you can see with VineAlerts."

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South Asian business owners form chamber of commerce