New app helps McMaster students guard against danger

Program provides security updates, quick line to emergency services

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Aug 30, 2013 11:30 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 30, 2013 11:35 AM ET

 

Students returning to Mac this semester have a new lifeline at their fingertips to guard against dangers they face both on and off campus.

The McMaster University Safety, Security and Transit app puts emergency contact numbers, transit information and updates about security on campus right in the palms of students' hands.

'The app is one of the big things in our campaign to promote safety on and off campus.'—Staff sergeant Cathy O'Donnell, McMaster University Security Services

Featured prominently on the app's landing page is bright red tab that links to quick dial buttons for 911 and campus security. Other tabs on the homepage lead to quick dial buttons for the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT), a kind of first aid force run by the McMaster Students Union, and the Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT), which offers to accompany students at night to any location within in 30-minute radius of campus.

"The app is one of the big things in our campaign to promote safety on and off campus," said Staff Sergeant Cathy O'Donnell, a security manager with the university.

August attacks

The need for additional tools to protect students from violence was thrown into sharp relief earlier in August, when two sexual assaults in a residential area just south of McMaster made headlines across the city.

In each incident, an assailant grabbed an unsuspecting woman from behind and sexually assaulted her, police have said.

And though a 20-year-old has since been arrested in connection with the attacks, they have raised awareness about security in and around the McMaster campus.

The August assaults gave McMaster staff an opportunity to test out another one of the app's communication features in a grave, real-life situation. Through its @McMasterUpdates Twitter account, the university sent out notifications to smartphones users who had downloaded the app, warning them that a predator was on the loose.

McMaster Students Union president David Campbell said he was impressed at the app's ability to serve as an emergency notification tool for the university.

"This is one more very present way to get this information out," he said.

Released in May

Developed by Weever Apps, a software development company housed at McMaster Innovation Park, the program debuted in May and was updated earlier in August. But the upcoming fall session will represent the first time the app — available for iPhone and Android platforms, as well as for Blackberrys with touchscreens — will have been operational during a full-fledged school year.

In addition to its emergency communication tools, the app features links to trove of information on transit times, health and counselling services and the university's code of conduct.

With students moving into residence this weekend, O'Donnell said the university is gearing up for its "big push" to promote the app. Each key card for residence rooms will come in a cover emblazoned with a QR code that students can scan to download the app. Welcome week leaders, she added, have been trained on how to use the app, and the university will be embarking on a ramped-up promotional campaign, both on campus and online, to raise awareness about the program.

Meaghan Ross, project coordinator for the It's Time to End Violence Violence against Women on Campus campaign, lauded the university for coming out with the app, but said it doesn't do enough to address the root causes of sexual assault and other forms of victimization.

"There's a lot in our society about educating women about protecting themselves," said Ross, whose program is a two-year collaboration between the YWCA and the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA). "We're encouraging potential perpetrators not to rape."

The app, and the university in general, should do more to advertise what constitutes sexual assault and what qualifies as adequate consent between sexual or romantic partners, she added.

An opportunity

O'Donnell said the August assaults don't represent an uptick in the number of sexual assaults at or near the university. (On campus, she said, rates have remained steady at about two a year, but noted sexual crimes and domestic violence often go unreported.)

However, Ross said the August attacks, as well as the release of the app, have created a greater interest at McMaster in discussing how to prevent sexual assault.

"It's unfortunate, but it's been a really useful opportunity to talk more about how the university responds to and addresses violence against women on campus."

And with the first day of classes only days away, Campbell said it's still too early to tell how much the attacks will weigh on students' minds as they head back to school.

"The majority of students aren't around, but I think the culture changes a lot once everybody's back on campus."

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Supercrawl's growth is off the charts

In four years, Hamilton festival's attendance has grown more than 20 times

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Aug 30, 2013 11:45 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 30, 2013 2:16 PM ET

 

In four years, Supercrawl has blown up in a way few people expected.

In 2009, the downtown music and art festival started with fairly modest beginnings — 4,000 people, a couple of stages and one single block closed to car traffic.

But that number grew fast. Last year, 80,000 people came downtown to see K'naan and a host of other bands, while wandering through the art installations lining James Street. This year it will be even bigger, covering more ground with a new waterfront stage.

'If we started this eight years ago, I don't think we would have seen the growth. The stars aligned.'—Tim Potocic, organizer

That kind of growth that fast is no small feat. "It wasn't expected," said Supercrawl organizer Tim Potocic. "But clearly there was a need on many levels."

But it was also a "right place, right time" scenario, he says. When Supercrawl started four years ago, Hamilton was starting to sell itself in a way it hadn't in some time. A kind of homespun civic pride latched onto the festival, helping catapult in quickly to where it is today, he says.

"A lot of people rallied around it," Potocic said. "If the community didn't rally around us there is no way we'd be as big as we are. We're building this with the rest of Hamilton."

"If we started this eight years ago, I don't think we would have seen the growth. The stars aligned."

But the crowd that organizers are starting to increasingly covet is the elusive out-of-towner. They're being methodical about it, too — slowly booking more bands from outside the area year after year to spread the word about Hamilton.

And that's clear from the headliners: Passion Pit (from Massachusetts) Yo La Tengo (New Jersey) and the recently announced Wintersleep (Halifax). Potocic says he wants those bands to have a solid experience, go back to their respective booking agencies and generate a buzz for the festival and the city.

"We want the word to spread," he said. "We don't want to settle on this being just a local festival."

Remember the duck face mannequin by Brandon Vickerd from Supercrawl 2012? (Adam Carter/CBC)

But it already isn't. In 2009, those 4,000 fans were no doubt almost all local "except for one guy from Australia," Potocic says.

But according to a rough estimate from surveys the organizers conducted and numbers coming in on special GO trains, about 10,000 people came out last year from Toronto alone. "That is staggering," Potocic said. In fact, about one quarter of attendees were from out of town, he estimates.

"We don't want to outpace ourselves, but we want to grow that number."

The growth Supercrawl is experiencing doesn't come without a heavy workload. Anyone who sees Potocic around the time of the festival knows that it can be hectic.

His sleep schedule doesn't help. "I pretty much stay up for 60 hours with periodic naps," he laughed, promising that he's going to spread out the responsibilities a bit more so he can get some sleep.

Plus, he's one of those people that enjoys how chaotic organizing something this massive can be. "I kind of feed off of that kind of stuff. The more you can pile on me the better."

"It's super exciting — and I couldn't ask for a better job."

Supercrawl is free and runs on September 13 and 14 in downtown Hamilton. To get you in the mood for this year, check out the sights and sounds from last year:

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Ticats' win streak ends in loss to Lions

Travis Lulay threw three touchdown passes — including one for 80 yards to Emmanuel Arceneaux — and ran for another himself as the B.C. Lions beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-26 in CFL action Friday night.

Lulay passed for more than 300 yards for the first time this season, and 14th time in his career, as the Lions improved to 6-3. Hamilton (4-5) saw its win streak end at three games.

The Ticats were denied their first four-game win streak since 2010. It would have been only their second four-game victory run since 1998.

Shawn Gore and Marco Iannuzzi also scored touchdowns for B.C., while kicker Paul McCallum supplied their other points on four converts and a single off a missed field goal.

Lulay completed 26 of 36 passes for 359 yards. He excelled after struggling against Montreal's blitz last week as the Alouettes pulled off a stunning comeback win.

Hamilton tried to unleash its blitz often, too, but the Lions QB countered with mid-range slant passes and the long-bomb touchdown to Arceneaux that gave the Lions an insurmountable lead in the second quarter.

After the Ticats pulled within three points, to trail 22-19, Lulay ran for what proved to be a winning two-yard touchdown with six minutes left in the game before Hamilton scored in the final minute.

Hamilton quarterback Henry Burris threw two touchdown passes, to Bakari Grant and Greg Ellingson with only 25 seconds left in the game. Burris matched Lulay's 36 pass attempts, completing 29 for 352 yards.

Backup quarterback Dan Lefevour ran for Hamilton's other TD. A Luca Congi field goal and safety conceded by B.C., accounted for the rest of the Ticat scoring.

B.C. got off to a slow start that has been typical of many games this season. But the Lions were able to gain some traction on their second series after Hamilton defensive end Brandon Boudreaux took an unnecessary roughness penalty for throwing Lulay to the turf on what would have been a sack.

Gore put the Lions on the board about six and a half minutes into the game with a five-yard touchdown reception. It was fitting that Gore scored, because he made two consecutive receptions, for 17 and 12 yards respectively, getting B.C. into Hamilton territory.

Although Lulay was better able to counter against pressure than he did against Montreal eight days earlier, Hamilton managed to hold B.C. in check the rest of the first quarter. The Ticats also enjoyed some good fortune when Arceneaux dropped the ball on a long-bomb pass from Lulay.

The Lions offence showed signs of coming alive early in the second quarter when running back Andrew Harris ran for 19 yards on the first play of the period. The run matched his entire offensive output against Montreal a week earlier. But the Lions still could not get in scoring range.

Instead, it was the Ticats who got going as Burris completed five consecutive passes on a scoring drive that culminated with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Grant.

Lions answer back

But the Lions quickly countered as Arceneaux made no mistake on a Lulay's second long-bomb attempt, pulling in the ball for a spectacular 80-yard touchdown. Hamilton linebacker Courtney Greene — the last man back after defensive backs blitzed — clipped Arceneaux's heels as he ran along the sidelines.

But Arceneaux shook off the tackle attempt and romped into the end zone.

With the offence struggling after that, the Lions depended on their defence — despite the loss of middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian to a hamstring injury — for the rest of the second quarter.

In one sequence, Brandon Jordan sacked Ticats backup QB Chris LeFevour on a short-yardage situation, forcing the Tabbies to punt. In another, Korey Banks sacked Burris on first down and pressured him for an incompletion on the next play to create another punting situation.

But the Lions then ran into penalty trouble as they were called for an illegal block on the punt return and Harris took an objectionable conduct penalty after he was held for a one-yard gain, threw the ball down in disgust with himself after the play and unintentionally hit a Hamilton player.

As a result, Paul McCallum conceded a safety instead of punting, and the Lions held a precarious 14-9 lead at halftime.

The Lions got off to a hot start in the third quarter as Lulay connected with Marco Iannuzzi for a 57-yard pass. A few plays later, Iannuzzi culminated a seven-play, 77-yard scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-two gamble.

The risky move staked the Lions to a 21-9 lead. The touchdown came after Lulay was sacked by Boudreaux at the outset of the drive. The Ticat pulled him down by his shirt collar, bringing his shoulder pad out, but was not penalized.

But the Tiger-Cats were able to reduce their deficit to 21-16 on a one-yard touchdown push by LeFevour, which capped a nine-play, 86-yard scoring drive. His cause was helped after B.C. defensive back Josh Bell was called for pass interference in the end zone, giving Hamilton a first-and-goal situation.

The Lions went up another point on McCallum's 45-yard missed field-goal attempt 1:58 into the fourth quarter. It was the first field goal try by either club in the game.

Hamilton's first field-goal attempt came reluctantly at 5:21 of the fourth quarter as Congi was good from 34 yards out, reducing the Ticats' deficit to 22-19. The three-pointer came after B.C. cornerback Cord Parks knocked down a pass in the end zone intended for Greg Ellingson, and then Keron Williams forced a fumble, which was recovered by Hamilton, while sacking Burris.

After B.C. went up 29-19 following Lulay's touchdown, and Dante Marsh intercepted a Burris pass, the Lions threatened to score again. But backup quarterback Thomas DeMarco fumbled in a short-yardage situation, giving Hamilton a chance at a late comeback.

Following Ellingson's two-yard touchdown catch, Ticats coach Kent Austin elected to boot a convert and hope for success on an onside kick. But B.C.'s Paris Jackson caught Congi's kickoff and fell down, ensuring the win for the Lions — and a memorable night for Lulay.

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Mohawk set to transfer Brantford campus to Six Nations Polytechnic

By Julia Chapman, CBC News

Posted: Aug 31, 2013 9:18 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 31, 2013 9:17 AM ET

 

Mohawk College is in negotiations to transfer their vacant Brantford campus to Six Nations Polytechnic, an indigenous educational institution in Oshweken.

The 130,000-square-foot Elgin Street Campus has capacity for 1,200 students, many more than the one building Six Nations Polytechnic occupies right now, said president Rebecca Jamieson.

"Our current facility is maxed out if we have 200 students," she said. "There is the potential for very strong growth."

'This is our role...to fill the knowledge gap for indigenous learning in the province.'

—Rebecca Jamieson, Six Nations Polytechnic

That growth, Jamieson said, would allow her institution to become hub for indigenous learning. It would also mean more partnerships with students at other local institutions like McMaster University and Mohawk as well as program expansion.

"This is our role," she said. "To fill the knowledge gap for indigenous learning in the province."

Jamieson said the institution has a submission in with the Ontario government for degree granting status for indigenous languages, as an example as what the school can do with more space.

"We have a diploma offered with McMaster, but we could offer a degree on our own," she said.

Jamieson and Mohawk College president Rob MacIssac won't discuss any details of the building transfer quite yet, but said the idea has been floating around for a while.

"We meet with them regularly and the topic of the Elgin Street campus came up," MacIssac said. "Both sides saw an opportunity."

The Elgin Street site, operational since the 1970s, is a long-time campus for Mohawk College, MacIssac said. It most recently housed police foundations and wellness programs but those programs were transferred to the Fennell Campus in Hamilton this summer.

Jamieson hopes to be able to release details about the building transfer next month.

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Police encourage public to call 911 if they spot a drunk driver

CBC News

Posted: Aug 31, 2013 9:43 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 31, 2013 9:51 AM ET

 

Ahead of the Labour Day long weekend, Hamilton Police sent an important public message.

"It's criminal, dangerous and 100% preventable. It's impaired driving. Don't drink & drive. If you suspect an impaired driver call 911," reads a tweet from the Hamilton Police account.

The service is encouraging anyone driving on Hamilton roads who spots a suspected drunk driver to pick up the phone and call police, said Sgt. Doug Jonovich with Hamilton Police traffic services.

"If someone can identify a possible impaired driver, police can get right in," Jonovich said. "And a lot of the time, it is a drunk driver."

It's part of Operation Outlook, a two-year-old police-led campaign that encourages drivers to call 911 when they spot a dangerous driver.

To date, police have arrested 317 impaired drivers in 2013. Ninety-eight of those were a result of a 911 call, slightly fewer than the 107 calls that led to arrests by Labour Day 2012.

Even while behind the wheel, drivers shouldn't be scared to pick up the phone, said Sgt. Dave Woodford said Ontario Provincial Police.

"Under the drunk driving legislation, it's an emergency. You're allowed to make the call," he said. "We want people pulled off the road. Drivers weaving from lane to lane, that's an emergency."

Woodford said OPP has "a lot of calls coming into the communications centre" on a regular basis. The calls usually report a driver weaving through lanes on Ontario's highways, Woodford said, and the caller is asked to get a license plate and try to keep a view of the vehicle until an officer can intercept, if it's safe.

"People do call in," he said. "Not always does it end up as impaired. It could be fatigue or distracted driving."

The latter category is the focus of the OPP's long weekend RIDE program this Labor Day. Woodford said as of Aug. 25, 32 Ontarians have been killed on highways as a result of alcohol impaired driving this year. In the same time period, 47 deaths have occurred because of distracted driving — that includes using a cell phone or eating or drinking while driving, and out-of-car distractions.

"When you're driving by Canada's Wonderland, people are looking at the Drop Zone, or a plane flying overhead," Woodford said.

Hamilton Police is also focusing on distracted driving and speeding this long weekend, Jonovich said.

Even with just 98 calls leading to impaired driving arrests, Jonovich said Operation Lookout has worked well so far, and encourages more drivers to make calls if they spot someone driving dangerously.

"The main way [of stopping drunk drivers] is when officers are out there, but the number two way is Operation Lookout," he said. "It's been very effective."

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Guess which Hamilton politician admits to having smoked pot?

Which Hamilton city councillor is part of the joint committee of politicians who admit to having smoked marijuana?

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Aug 29, 2013 6:35 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 29, 2013 6:41 PM ET

 

Justin Trudeau's toke took place at a dinner party with friends. Premier Kathleen Wynne says she smoked 35 years ago, just a little, while His Excellency the Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, says he smoked 'A LOT.'

But what about your local public representatives?

Mayor Bob Bratina and eight of 15 councillors responded. Only one admitted to having used ever used marijuana, seven said they'd never touched the stuff and one declined to say whether he'd smoked pot.

Coun. Scott Duvall said he tried marijuana as a teen, but hasn't used the drug since. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

Councillors Brad Clark, Lloyd Ferguson, Russ Powers, Chad Collins, Bernie Morelli, Maria Pearson and Robert Pasuta all denied having used the drug. Same for Mayor Bob Bratina.

Ward 4's Sam Merulla, a former addictions counselor, wouldn't confirm or deny whether he had smoked weed.

"As a former addictions counselor, I've been advocating for the decriminalization of cannabis since 1989," he told CBC Hamilton. "As a parent, I've been preaching abstinence."

So who was the lone seat on Hamilton council to admit prior pot smoking? That distinction goes to Scott Duvall.

"Tried marijuana when I was a teenager," wrote the Ward 7 councillor in an email on Thursday. "Did nothing for me and have not tried it since. Don't smoke pot and don't do drugs."

Does it matter?

Given changing attitudes towards the drug since the 1960s marijuana use may not spell the end of political aspirations.

"I think over that span or period of time, it's become almost a societal norm that a certain percentage of the population smokes it," said Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins, who said he'd taken puffs on a cigar when one of his children was born, but added he's never touched marijuana or cigarettes.

Does is matter if your elected representatives have smoked marijuana?

Henry Jacek, a McMaster University professor who specializes in Canadian politics, says he "[doesn't] think there's much of a consequence" for public figures who own up to past pot use.

"I don't think the public would think it is a major factor one way or another," he told CBC Hamilton.

However, Jacek said Justin Trudeau's casual admission that he'd smoked marijuana as an MP may backfire. The Liberal leader, he said, likely made the comment to endear himself with younger Canadians and those who have a more lax view on marijuana. But he risks turning himself into a sort of "entertainment celebrity" in the public's eye.

"He may give an image that he isn't so much of a serious politician and is paying attention to things that are relatively minor."

Jacek said Canadians "aren't really talking" about politicians' marijuana use and attributed the news media's interest in the topic on the time of year.

"It's August and it's a slow news month."

Bratina: 'We were sneaking mickeys into school dances'

"I was already out of high school by the time marijuana became popular. When I was in high school, we were sneaking mickeys into school dances. That was our bad thing back then." — Mayor Bob Bratina

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau heads from the party's caucus retreat in Georgetown, P.E.I. on Thursday. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

"I have never done it. I've never smoked anything. It's never been available to me and I've never had a desire to do it." — Ward 12 councillor Lloyd Ferguson

"I have never smoked marijuana. I have never smoked cigarettes. I did smoke a cigar once when I was 13 and I got sick to my stomach." — Ward 9 councillor Brad Clark

"I've never touched the stuff. I didn't even know what it looked like until I saw it growing in my fields…Life is too much fun without that stuff." — Ward 14 councillor Robert Pasuta

"I have never tried it." — Ward 9 councillor Maria Pearson

On Justin Trudeau's confession

"I don't think it's something the public needs to hear particularly. I don't think you need to bring something like that from your personal life into the political arena." — Pasuta

"I think it's just honest. Society can make up its own mind and I think society has made its mind up on this issue. I don't think that the average Canadian is terribly upset." — Bratina

"I think it's really quite inappropriate for any elected official, whether it's federal or provincial, to openly state that they have proudly broken the law." — Clark

"I think politically, his intent is to separate himself from how Stephen Harper is perceived — as a right-wing, out-of-touch member of the old guard." — Ward 4 councillor Sam Merulla

"It's good that he's telling the truth. The bad part is I don't think it's good that leaders are engaging in something that is illegal." — Ferguson

"I think over that span or period of time, it's become almost a societal norm that a certain percentage of the population smokes it. It shows that politicians are part of the general population." — Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins

On the legal status of marijuana

"As a New Democrat, we've been talking about the decriminalization of cannabis for years." — Merulla

"I am not sure where I stand on my views on decriminalization." — Pearson

"I have no opinion. I'm not knowledgeable on it and I need to be better informed on the health effects." — Ferguson

"At this point in time, I think the law should remain how it is." — Pasuta

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Road fatalities rise on long weekends, but not for the usual reasons

In the days before long weekends come the inevitable police campaigns with their dire warnings of deadly crashes. Don't be one of the many fatalities, they warn.

A recent Canadian study found that there's truth to the oft-repeated refrain that long-weekend travel can be more deadly, but some of the behaviours targeted in holiday campaigns might miss the mark.

Using five years' worth of Alberta provincial crash data, the study determined that holiday weekends see on average an 18 per cent higher rate of fatal collisions than non-holiday weekends.

What caused these deaths, however, didn't always match up with conventional wisdom.

In fact, regular weekends saw more crashes involving drunk driving and speeding than holiday weekends, the study published in the Accident Analysis and Prevention journal said.

While the study itself didn't delve into possible reasons for this, co-author Sabreena Anowar theorized it may be because, on regular weekends, people often drive solo while holiday travel tends to be with family.

"It has been shown in literature when people drive with family members they tend to be more conservative," suggested Anowar, who is now working on a PhD at McGill University in transportation engineering.

Less buckling up

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Dave Woodford — whose force oversees some of the busiest highways in the country, which are also some of the safest — suggests the reason for fewer aggression-linked crashes might be simpler.

"There's a lot more vehicles on the road," he says. "Traffic's not moving as fast so those aggressive drivers, you may not see as many of them because of the heavier traffic."

What the study did find on holiday weekends was more passengers and drivers failing to buckle-up — a problem Alberta's traffic sheriffs have been targeting with success in recent years.

The three co-authors of the study recommend that policy-makers focus their seatbelt blitzes during these long weekends, when buckling up is lower, and then target other dangerous actions such as speeding on regular weekends.

In Alberta, at least, while more officers flood the roads on holiday weekends to encourage adherence to the rules, Traffic Sheriffs Supt. James Stiles says the aim is to target all bad behaviours.

"What we want to do is combat some of those poor driving behaviours that lead to the crashes. That's why we put a lot of emphasis on long weekends. Always have," said Stiles.

Fatality-free weekend

Road safety campaigns in Alberta, like many provinces, take aim at different driving behaviours each month. August's focus is impaired driving, says Stiles, because the summer months see more drinking-related collisions.

"It's inevitable when you have so many people on our roads that you'll have fatalities," he notes about the upcoming Labour Day weekend.

However, last month, during Canada's civic holiday, Alberta marked an unusual event: a fatality-free long weekend.

"Of course, that is very gratifying to our people working on the roads here," said Stiles.

Ontario also experienced one of the lowest death tolls on a civic holiday weekend in two decades this year, with just one road-related fatality, but that's a rare event.

Overall, collisions have been steadily falling across the country for the past two decades, but car crashes on holiday weekends — or the surprising lack thereof — inevitably garner much media attention.

Few studies, though, examine how long weekends differ from the majority of weekends.

One U.S. study found that six of the 10 deadliest road days occurred on major American holidays. On the other side of the world, though, two Australian studies found that differences between fatality rates between holiday and non-holiday weekends were too small to be statistically significant.

Authors of the Canadian study, which examined data from 2004 until 2008, decided to take a look at how the risks differed between public holidays compared to other weekends because so little was known on the topic.

Among the other findings in the study is that holiday crashes happened more frequently in rural areas and involved more out-of-province drivers than during other weekends, suggesting part of the cause is unfamiliarity with the roads.

Lessons to learn?

Rear-end and angular crashes — often indicative of driver distraction — were also more common during the holidays.

"People are using more gadgetry in vehicles nowadays: cellphones, Bluetooth," said study co-author Shamsunnahar Yasmin. "These kinds of things are really very important with respect to road safety."

If drivers take one lesson from the study, however, Anowar hopes they take it upon themselves to improve their own behaviour

"Even though the campaigns are enough, I think we still need to improve our behaviour as drivers," said Anowar.

Supt. Stiles agrees that "we see too much bad driving behaviour" in general and issues a reminder to all those heading out on the long weekend.

"The nature of long weekends is people are out visiting family, they might be camping or out doing things," he said, "and our message has to be very strong: Our folks are going to be out there en masse and we'll try and catch anybody who's breaking the law."

Comparison of crashes during public holidays and regular weekends (PDF)
Comparison of crashes during public holidays and regular weekends (Text)

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It's Labour Day but no Classic with the Argonauts for Hamilton

Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit B.C. Lions in Vancouver instead of hosting Argos on Labour Day weekend

The Canadian Press

Posted: Aug 30, 2013 7:59 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 30, 2013 8:47 AM ET

 

Things are definitely not the same for Henry Burris this Labour Day weekend.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback will suit up Friday against the B.C. Lions instead of playing a regional rival on the holiday Monday. This marks the first time in more than six decades that the Tiger-Cats have not hosted the Toronto Argonauts on the holiday weekend.

"It is a little different," said Burris, a 14-year CFL veteran. "I think, every year I've been in the CFL, I've had a Labour Day game (after also) playing in Calgary and Saskatchewan."

The Ticats are awaiting the completion of a new stadium, but their temporary home in Guelph, Ont., is not available.

"We'll get it back next year though, so that's a good thing," said Hamilton general manager and head coach Kent Austin. "We've got a new stadium coming. We do miss the Labour Day Classic, but it's just one year."

B.C. comes to Guelph next week

Austin, a former CFL quarterback who is in his first season at Hamilton's helm, became ingrained in Labour Day Classics during a 10-year career with Saskatchewan, B.C., Toronto, and Winnipeg. Recalling many battles between the Roughriders and Blue Bombers, he looked forward to more Hamilton-Toronto holiday games.

"Those are the types of things that you need in this sport and other sports," said Austin, who has also coached Saskatchewan. "You want those classic games. The Labour Day Classic games are unique to the CFL, and that's a good thing."

The non-traditional game is the first of a home-and-home series between Hamilton and B.C. that will conclude next week in Guelph.

While the CFL is steeped in Labour Day tradition, the Lions have not always soaked it up because they lack a regional rival. In recent years, the Lions have played the Montreal Alouettes, who will visit Toronto on Tuesday instead.

Lions coach Mike Benevides is looking forward to the chance to claim four points from the Ticats. But Benevides, a Toronto native who used to cheer for the Argos, still finds the Ticats visit unusual.

"Any time you talk about a back-to-back game, any time you talk about a chance to get done what you want to get done, yeah, I'll take the Ticats," he said. "But as a young kid, I remember, it was (then Toronto coach) Bob O'Billovich and the Ticats on Labour Day. It was not the B.C. Lions."

"From a geographical point of view, it's different, but it'll be real exciting."

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SIU calls for witnesses following motorcycle crash on Red Hill Valley Parkway

CBC News

Posted: Aug 30, 2013 7:30 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 30, 2013 10:57 AM ET

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is investigating a motor vehicle injury that occurred in Hamilton at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening.

According to the SIU the incident involved a police radar spot on the northbound Red Hill Valley Parkway near Queenston Road. They say a motorcyclist went through the radar and continued northbound. After that the cruiser's roof lights were activated.

The SIU says the motorcycle was involved in a collision at the Barton Street interchange. The male driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The SIU says it assigned four investigators, one forensic investigator and one collision reconstructionist to the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead investigator at 416-622-1886 or 1-800-787-8529 ext. 1886.

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New app helps McMaster students guard against danger

Program provides security updates, quick line to emergency services

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Aug 30, 2013 11:30 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 30, 2013 11:35 AM ET

 

Students returning to Mac this semester have a new lifeline at their fingertips to guard against dangers they face both on and off campus.

The McMaster University Safety, Security and Transit app puts emergency contact numbers, transit information and updates about security on campus right in the palms of students' hands.

'The app is one of the big things in our campaign to promote safety on and off campus.'—Staff sergeant Cathy O'Donnell, McMaster University Security Services

Featured prominently on the app's landing page is bright red tab that links to quick dial buttons for 911 and campus security. Other tabs on the homepage lead to quick dial buttons for the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT), a kind of first aid force run by the McMaster Students Union, and the Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT), which offers to accompany students at night to any location within in 30-minute radius of campus.

"The app is one of the big things in our campaign to promote safety on and off campus," said Staff Sergeant Cathy O'Donnell, a security manager with the university.

August attacks

The need for additional tools to protect students from violence was thrown into sharp relief earlier in August, when two sexual assaults in a residential area just south of McMaster made headlines across the city.

In each incident, an assailant grabbed an unsuspecting woman from behind and sexually assaulted her, police have said.

And though a 20-year-old has since been arrested in connection with the attacks, they have raised awareness about security in and around the McMaster campus.

The August assaults gave McMaster staff an opportunity to test out another one of the app's communication features in a grave, real-life situation. Through its @McMasterUpdates Twitter account, the university sent out notifications to smartphones users who had downloaded the app, warning them that a predator was on the loose.

McMaster Students Union president David Campbell said he was impressed at the app's ability to serve as an emergency notification tool for the university.

"This is one more very present way to get this information out," he said.

Released in May

Developed by Weever Apps, a software development company housed at McMaster Innovation Park, the program debuted in May and was updated earlier in August. But the upcoming fall session will represent the first time the app — available for iPhone and Android platforms, as well as for Blackberrys with touchscreens — will have been operational during a full-fledged school year.

In addition to its emergency communication tools, the app features links to trove of information on transit times, health and counselling services and the university's code of conduct.

With students moving into residence this weekend, O'Donnell said the university is gearing up for its "big push" to promote the app. Each key card for residence rooms will come in a cover emblazoned with a QR code that students can scan to download the app. Welcome week leaders, she added, have been trained on how to use the app, and the university will be embarking on a ramped-up promotional campaign, both on campus and online, to raise awareness about the program.

Meaghan Ross, project coordinator for the It's Time to End Violence Violence against Women on Campus campaign, lauded the university for coming out with the app, but said it doesn't do enough to address the root causes of sexual assault and other forms of victimization.

"There's a lot in our society about educating women about protecting themselves," said Ross, whose program is a two-year collaboration between the YWCA and the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA). "We're encouraging potential perpetrators not to rape."

The app, and the university in general, should do more to advertise what constitutes sexual assault and what qualifies as adequate consent between sexual or romantic partners, she added.

An opportunity

O'Donnell said the August assaults don't represent an uptick in the number of sexual assaults at or near the university. (On campus, she said, rates have remained steady at about two a year, but noted sexual crimes and domestic violence often go unreported.)

However, Ross said the August attacks, as well as the release of the app, have created a greater interest at McMaster in discussing how to prevent sexual assault.

"It's unfortunate, but it's been a really useful opportunity to talk more about how the university responds to and addresses violence against women on campus."

And with the first day of classes only days away, Campbell said it's still too early to tell how much the attacks will weigh on students' minds as they head back to school.

"The majority of students aren't around, but I think the culture changes a lot once everybody's back on campus."

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Rare sex assault ruling will discourage victims from speaking out, advocates say

Ontario siblings must pay uncle $125,000 in damages for alleging he sexually assaulted them

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Aug 28, 2013 1:10 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2013 2:55 PM ET

 

A controversial libel case in which a judge ordered two Ontario women to pay their uncle $125,000 in damages for falsely accusing him of sexual assault will likely prevent other sexual assault victims from coming forward, advocates say.

"Victims will look at a case like this and just say 'why bother coming forward?'" said Hamilton author Viga Boland, who just published a book about sexual abuse at the hands of her father called No Tears for My Father.

"It's a real deterrent."

The two sisters in the case, who are from Ancaster, Ont., and are now in their 30s, alleged that their uncle abused them in a rural farmhouse when they were children.

But Ontario Superior Court Justice Andrew Goodman said their claims were based on the fact that the sisters "did not like their uncle," and sent emails to other family members describing the alleged abuse "in order to vindicate their actions or validate their historical claims."

"I find that the evidence adduced at trial was not of the clear and cogent nature required to substantiate the defendants' claim of sexual abuse," wrote Goodman in his decision.

There were no criminal charges laid. Through a lawyer, family members told CBC Hamilton that they would not comment on the case.

'No one can really understand it — not if you've never known the terror of lying in bed in a darkened room trying to sleep.'—Viga Boland, author and abuse victim

Boland says that the fear of telling people about sexual abuse — especially involving a family member — often keeps victims from speaking up.

"Shame on the family holds people back," she said. "It's the dirty little secret that no one wants to talk about."

Boland, 67, was first sexually abused by her father at age 11, she says. It continued until she left home in her 20s. Her father has been dead for 13 years, and she never confronted him about it, she says.

No one in her family knew until recently. "My mother and I never discussed it until she was basically on her deathbed," she said. "I never told my husband and we'd been married for 40 years."

"There's always this weight. This thing in the back of your mind dragging you down."

She decided to write a book telling her story to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and to help motivate victims to speak, she says. That's why this case worries her. "The shame is incredible," she said. "No one can really understand it — not if you've never known the terror of lying in bed in a darkened room trying to sleep."

Very rare decision, lawyer says

It's very rare for a person who is alleging sexual assault that stems from a childhood experience to be slapped with defamation charges, says Elizabeth Grace, a lawyer who specializes in sexual abuse cases.

"Generally, people have very little to gain by having their lives opened up like that," she said, adding that victims could become less likely to come forward after hearing about a case like this one.

"That is the concern — that the publicity could discourage people from telling others," she said.

Often, sexual abuse victims are protected by "qualified privilege" which allows them to speak about allegations of abuse without fear of being sued. However, in this instance, the judge ruled that this wasn't the case.

Grace also called the "hypothetical damages" mentioned in the judge's decision into question. In the decision, Goodman wrote that had the case gone the other way, he would have awarded $35,000 to each sister. The uncle in this case was awarded more than three times that amount.

"I couldn't believe they got slammed with a fine like that," Boland said. "This is telling me that a person's life isn't worth as much as another person's reputation."

The ruling is not binding on any other judge in terms of a precedent-setting decision, Grace said.

'Ripple effects'

Erin Crickett, the public education co-ordinator for the Hamilton and area Sexual Assault Centre said the decision in this case is "really worrying."

"I hope that this case doesn't have ripple effects — but I know that it will."

According to a Canadian Department of Justice research digest survey on sexual violence that was released in April, over two-thirds of people surveyed did not report either child or adult sexual abuse.

The most frequently reported reasons for not telling anyone because the participants thought that they wouldn't be believed, they felt ashamed or embarrassed, they didn't know they could report the abuse, and they had no family support.

The false reporting rate on sexual assaults is usually around four to six per cent, Crickett says, which is about equal to other types of crime. "Yet sexual assault tends to be the least reported types of crime," she said.

"If in this case they did make a false report, they are a very clear statistical anomaly."

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Can Hamilton afford Tasers?

New provincial regulations allow police to put less lethal Taser weapons in the hands of all frontline officers, but Hamilton will be hard pressed to afford them with the current budget crunch, some councillors say.

The Tasers don't come cheap. One Taser with three cartridges costs about $1,500.

And the option of purchasing the Tasers is coming at a time when Hamilton's police force has received staunch resistance when pushing for an increase in its budget from council. The Hamilton police budget was approved after months of tense negotiation back in April — a 3.52 per cent increase over 2012's budget.

"The province has the habit of imposing changes without the necessary funding," Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merulla told CBC Hamilton. "It's political gamesmanship at its worst."

Councillor Terry Whitehead says he'd like to see police try to to fund Tasers from within its existing budget.

Funding is just one of the issues raised by those commenting on the decision: Others say the focus should be more on training officers and changing their approach to use of force, while civil liberties advocates worry about the impact for those with mental health or additction issues.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Ontario Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur heralded the move as a positive change that will widen the use-of-force options available to police.

Prior to Tuesday's announcement, Ontario had restricted the use of Tasers to a select few supervising and tactical officers, setting Ontario police apart from counterparts in several other provinces and with the RCMP.

"This is the right decision to make and will increase community safety by preventing injury and death," she said.

While Merulla agrees that a use of force option that's less lethal is a positive thing, he says all that's really happening here is funding problems are being "downloaded to the municipality."

Merulla says the province is just posturing and "hiding for cover" in the wake of the Sammy Yatim shooting in Toronto. It's been one month since the 18 year old was shot multiple times and stunned with a Taser by police during a confrontation on an empty streetcar.

"This is a Mickey Mouse operation," he said.

A hefty expense

'It could have potentially saved Steve's life — but that doesn't help me now.'—Sharon Dorr, Steve Mesic's fiancee

The onus for paying for the Tasers will lie with each individual police service, Meilleur says.

The original budget request Chief Glenn De Caire presented to council was an over five per cent increase over last year.

Mayor Bob Bratina — the recently elected chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board — told CBC Hamilton that Hamilton police "fully supports the minister in this decision."

"It's an authorized, intermediate, less-lethal force option for officers to enhance public and officer safety," Bratina said. "Chief De Caire is expected to bring a recommendation to the board regarding funding and policy oversight to the next board meeting."

But Bratina also pointed out that there are more costs here than just the Tasers themselves. "Affordability is not just about equipment," he said in an email. "Combined with the training component, costs may well be onerous."

Bratina did not respond when asked just how Hamilton police could afford those costs.

Ward 8 Coun. Terry Whitehead told CBC Hamilton that he would be "more inclined to support" Taser implementation if the police board can do it "without increasing costs."

"But what's [Police Chief Glenn De Caire] prepared to give up to do that?" he asked. "The horses?"

'It doesn't help me now'

Local politicians aren't the only people who are skeptical about where the funds for Tasers could be found. Sharon Dorr — whose fiancé Steve Mesic was shot by police in Hamilton in June — also has her doubts.

"I wouldn't be shocked if later on we hear that police can't afford Tasers because of the budget," she said. "In the end, it comes down to cost."

She says she has "mixed feelings" about the ministry decision, but is trying to look for the positives. "If it saves one person from dying or feeling like I do, I'm happy for that."

"It could have potentially saved Steve's life — but that doesn't help me now."

Whitehead says the budget issue should be a secondary conversation to a larger one on how force is used by police officers in Ontario. He says a policy overhaul has been a long time coming. "The bigger question here is when use of force should be utilized," he said.

"There has to be a community discussion on this issue - it can't just be left in the hallways of police stations," Whitehead said. "There has to be an alternative."

Still can be lethal

Though a less lethal option than using a gun, Tasers can still kill. Aron Firman died in June 2010 after an encounter with Ontario Provincial Police. Firman, 27, had schizophrenia, and died after being jolted with a Taser.

A post-mortem report by Ontario's chief forensic pathologist indicated Firman died from "cardiac arrhythmia precipitated by electronic control device deployment in an agitated man."

The provincial Special Investigations Unit concluded that the officer was not at fault in connection with the death. But Firman's father, Marcus Firman, said the officers made things worse that night.

"Aron was obviously going through some sort of crisis, but at the time they entered there he was actually sitting down and they were able to ask him some questions," he said. "But they actually escalated it by threatening him with jail — actually telling him he was going to go to jail. He reacted to that … and he was Tasered … which killed him."

After Tuesday's announcement, The Canadian Civil Liberties Association announced concernes over the government's decision to authorize expanded Taser deployment.

"The CCLA urges police forces instead to invest in de-escalation training, and mental health and disability crisis response teams, rather than additional weaponry," the association said in a statement.

The CCLA is also concerned about the impact this decision will have on people with mental health and addictions issues. These are people who, studies suggest, are more likely to be Tasered, the association says.

"CCLA will be closely monitoring expanded CEW deployment," Sukanya Pillay, interim General Counsel. "In our view, resolution through de-escalation should be the goal."

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Marijuana more risky for teens than previously thought

Adolescents face increased addiction. mental health risks, study suggests

CBC News

Posted: Aug 29, 2013 2:26 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 29, 2013 2:15 AM ET

 

Teenagers smoke pot outside the Vancouver Art Gallery: Some studies say it is riskier than previously thought for youth to smoke pot. (CBC)

As the debate about legalizing marijuana heats up in Canada, a new study suggests the drug might be riskier for teens to consume than had been previously thought.

Researchers from the Université de Montréal and New York's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital conducted a review of 120 studies examining cannabis and teenage brain development, and concluded there is strong evidence early cannabis use puts some teens at risk of developing addiction and mental health problems as adults.

Dr. Didier Jutras-Aswad, with the Université de Montréal's psychiatry department, is a co-author of the review, which was published this month in the journal Neuropharmacology. He says that in adolescence, the brain is still fine-tuning how different areas, such as learning and memory, interact and it appears that marijuana use alters that process.

"When you disrupt this, actually, development, during adolescence, notably through cannabis use, you can have very pervasive, very negative effects in the long-term, including on mental health and addiction risk," he told CBC News.

'The question is not about whether cannabis is good or bad, but who is more likely to suffer from problems.'—Dr. Didier Jutras-Aswad, Université de Montréal

Some studies have also found links between early cannabis use and schizophrenia, but Jutras-Aswad says it seems clear there is a wide risk profile that includes genetics and behavioural traits in addition to age.

"For me, the question is not about whether cannabis is good or bad, but who is more likely to suffer from problems in cannabis, because we know for most people that will not happen," he said.

However, the study's authors point out that there is a widespread perception that marijuana is of little harm and the current discussions about access, such as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's calls for legalization, ignore the drug's impact on vulnerable populations — in particular, teenagers.

Vancouver pot activist Jodie Emery says she questions how conclusive the evidence about cannabis's harmful effects on the teenage brain is, but also says legalization for adults doesn't have to mean open access for youth.

"We're not saying legalize marijuana for teenagers. That's not the message here. That's not what we're talking about. We're saying legalize it for responsible adults, who are right now being arrested and persecuted," Emery said.

With files from the CBC's Lisa Johnson

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Victim identified in Port Colborne murder as accused faces additional charge

Niagara police have identified the victim in a murder in Port Colborne, Ont.

CBC News

Posted: Aug 29, 2013 8:58 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 29, 2013 8:55 AM ET

Niagara police have identified the victim in a murder in Port Colborne, Ont.

The body of 31-year-old Courtney Tourand was found on Tuesday in an apartment at, 262 West Street, shortly after 3 a.m.

A homicide investigation began and the body of the victim was transported to a Hamilton hospital where an autopsy was conducted.

Hamilton police then arrested a 44-year-old man and charged him with second-degree murder.

The accused is also facing a charge of committing an indignity to human remains.

Leavere will appear by video for a bail hearing in a St. Catharines court on Sept. 4.

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Man in Hamilton jail charged with murder in 2010 shooting in Nova Scotia

Police in Halifax say a tip from the public has led to charges against a man accused in a fatal shooting in 2010

CBC News

Posted: Aug 29, 2013 9:08 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 29, 2013 9:19 AM ET

Police in Halifax say a tip from the public has led to charges against a man accused in a fatal shooting in 2010.

Investigators say 25-year-old Kale Leonard Gabriel has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ryan Matthew White.

Police say officers responded to a report of a shooting on Jarvis Lane in Halifax on July 22, 2010.

White was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The homicide was added to the province's Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program in 2012.

Gabriel is currently serving time at the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre on an unrelated matter.

He'll be transported to Nova Scotia at a later date to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on the murder charge.

Police arrested two men in 2012 in connection with the murder, but released them without charges. Halifax police Supt. Jim Perrin confirmed that Gabriel was one of those arrested in 2012.

White, 21, was found dead on the pavement outside a building in the Mulgrave Park housing complex in Halifax.

With files from the Canadian Press

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Ontario sisters must pay uncle $125K for false sex abuse claims

WARNING: This story contains graphic details

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 11:37 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 2:05 PM ET

A judge has ordered two sisters from Ancaster, Ont., to pay their uncle $125,000 in libel damages for falsely accusing him of sexually assaulting them in a rural farmhouse when they were children.

"I find that the evidence adduced at trial was not of the clear and cogent nature required to substantiate the defendants' claim of sexual abuse," wrote Ontario Superior Court Justice Andrew Goodman in his decision in the case of Patricia and Sarah Vanderkooy.

According to court documents, the accusations ripped apart the Vanderkooy family — a large group from the Netherlands who were part of the Christian Reformed Church.

Patricia and Sarah Vanderkooy alleged Jack Vanderkooy sexually assaulted them when the two were staying at his Simcoe, Ont., farm in the early 1980s. Criminal charges were never laid. Philip Tunley, the lawyer for the two sisters, told CBC News the family will not comment on the case.

"Neither they nor I will make further comment to the press," Tunley said.

The sisters were four and six years old at the time, court documents say. Now in their 30s, the two first came forward with the accusations in 2006.

"In the years including and between 1982 and 1986, when the abuse is alleged to have occurred, both Tricia and Sarah spent a lot of time at the farmhouse," Goodman said, adding that their uncle's farmhouse was like a "second home" to the girls.

During the court proceedings, Patricia testified that she had two distinct memories of being sexually abused by her uncle. In the first, she recalled feeling like she was being pinned down by her uncle, and she had pain in her legs or groin. Years later, she believed the pain was in her vaginal area, court documents say.

In the second incident, she recalled being pulled up onto a bed in her cousin's bedroom where the children often stayed and something soft being placed in her mouth, which "may have been his penis."

Sarah Vanderkooy also described two memories of being assaulted, which she described as a static image like "a snapshot" or "an out-of-body experience."

"Sarah testified that she does not see Jack's face but, as with the first memory, she knows it is Jack," court documents say.

Uncle denied allegations

The two sisters did not come forward until 2006. The two spoke about it for the first time and then went to their parents about it. "Her parents, Jim and Christine, were in disbelief," court documents say.

In August 2006, the sisters confronted their uncle about the allegations, which he denied.

The day after the confrontation, Patricia Vanderkooy, with her sister's input, sent an email to various family members and "other individuals" outlining the allegations. It also contained the line, "We do not want anyone else to be sexually abused." That statement was part of the crux of the judge's statement in the case. Goodman says it was intended to demonstrate "that Jack is a sexual predator, likely to reoffend and is not to be trusted or left alone with children."

"Jack is a man who comes from an extended family and indeed, cherishes family, church and community. As a result of these allegations, I am satisfied that Jack has been shunned by a number of his family members including several of his sisters," Goodman wrote in his decision. "Jack had to profess his innocence to his children. Jack had to face these allegations in the public and cope with their effect as it was felt throughout his close-knit religious community."

The judge also dismissed a counterclaim for sexual battery filed by the sisters after Vanderkooy sued for defamation, because their memories of the alleged incidents weren't "of the clear and cogent nature required" to back up their claims.

Damages include court costs

Goodman also called into question how Jack Vanderkooy could have had an opportunity to commit the assaults with two other male cousins in the same room.

"In order to commit the sexual assaults, Jack would have to stealthily and gingerly manoeuvre himself around the other children and not make a sound to avoid waking up the other children," he wrote.

The judge ruled that Jack is entitled to general damages of $125,000 with costs.

"In my opinion, it is the defendants who singularly and collectively set out on both covert and public course of action to tarnish an innocent man's reputation within and without the large Vanderkooy family, as well as in the community at large," Goodman wrote.

"Notwithstanding my judgment, Jack's reputation in the community may continue to be irreparably smeared."

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Taser announcement 'step in right direction,' Mesic family says

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 12:43 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 2:33 PM ET

 

The Ontario government is for the first time allowing frontline police officers to use Tasers — something that Steve Mesic's family says is a small step in the right direction.

Ontario Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur made the announcement Tuesday, two-and-a-half months after Mesic was shot in a confrontation with police after checking himself out of a voluntary mental health care program in Hamilton.

It's also exactly one month since Sammy Yatim, 18, was shot multiple times and stunned with a Taser by police during a confrontation on an empty streetcar in Toronto.

"It's a small start, as far as I'm concerned," said Norm Dorr, father of Mesic's Fiancée, Sharon Dorr. "At least the government is on the right track."

Meilleur says existing rules that limit the use of Tasers — also known as stun guns or conductive energy weapons (CEWs) — will be changed to clear the way for individual police forces to set their own guidelines about which officers can use them.

'The only reason the government is moving the way they are on this is the Sammy Yatim shooting was caught on video.'—Norm Dorr, father of Mesic's Fiancée

Prior to Tuesday's announcement, Ontario had restricted the use of Tasers to a select few supervising and tactical officers, setting Ontario police apart from counterparts in several other provinces and with the RCMP.

Right now, just sergeants and members of specific tactical teams in Hamilton are outfitted with Tasers — meaning there are one to two available at any time in any given jurisdiction within the city.

Every time a police officer uses a stun gun it will be recorded and reviewed, Meilleur says, citing existing police use of force guidelines.

Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire was present at the news conference for the announcement Tuesday, but did not speak or take any questions. In a written statement made Tuesday afternoon, Hamilton police said that the announcement was important for "enhanced public and officer safety."

"The authorization to use conductive energy weapons provides a less lethal option to our officers," the statement reads. "The Chief will be making recommendations for funding and implementation to the Hamilton Police Services Board in the near future."

'The right decision to make'

Meilleur says the move will widen the use-of-force options available to police.

"This is the right decision to make and will increase community safety by preventing injury and death," she said.

She also said the decision to expand stun gun use is based on research, stakeholder input and past inquests by coroners, and added that the province will keep a "watchful eye" on how stun guns are used by police.

Meilleur told reporters at a news conference that the Yatim shooting did not play a role in Tuesday's decision, saying it was something "we have been paying very close attention to for many years."

"I feel for the family, I feel for the individual, but since this is before the court, I'm not going to comment on it," she said.

"This has no impact on the process we have been following."

But Dorr told CBC Hamilton that he doesn't buy that argument. "The only reason the government is moving the way they are on this is the Sammy Yatim shooting was caught on video," he said.

A hefty cost

The cost that comes with purchasing more Tasers for a police force will no doubt be a factor for many organizations. One Taser with three cartridges costs $1,500.

Hamilton's police force has been pushing for an increase in its budget. The Hamilton police budget was approved after months of tense negotiation back in April — a 3.52 per cent increase over 2012's budget. The original budget request Chief Glenn De Caire presented to council was an over five per cent increase over last year.

The onus for paying for the Tasers will lie with each individual police service, Meilleur says.

Mayor Bob Bratina — the recently elected chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board — told CBC Hamilton that Hamilton police "fully supports the minister in this decision."

"It's an authorized, intermediate, less-lethal force option for officers to enhance public and officer safety," Bratina said. "Chief De Caire is expected to bring a recommendation to the board regarding funding and policy oversight to the next board meeting."

With files from CBC's Genevieve Tomney, The Canadian Press

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Argument over 'booted' car ends in theft, drug charges

A Hamilton woman was arrested on possession of stolen property and drug charges after angrily confronting municipal by-law officer

CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 3:47 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 3:46 PM ET

A Hamilton woman who berated a by-law officer over a 'booted' car— that turned out to be stolen— was arrested for possession of stolen property.

On the evening of August 26, a woman and man came out of an apartment building on Emerald Street near Main Street.

The woman — described as 'unruly' in the police report — began arguing with a municipal by-law officer over the tire clamp, or 'boot,' that had been placed on a vehicle parked outside of the building, police say.

The police arrived on the scene and found the woman sitting in the car. Police say they determined that the car was stolen.

The woman's male companion fled the scene toward the Budget Hotel, police say. Officers arrested the 39-year-old woman on possession of stolen property over $5000 charges.

Police also allege the woman was in possession of a variety of narcotics and other drug-related paraphernalia such as cocaine, morphine, marijuana, crack pipes, needles, cash and three cell phones.

Four additional drug charges were laid.

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Hamilton police arrest Port Colborne man wanted for murder

A Port Colborne man is in custody, charged with second degree murder

CBC News

Posted: Aug 28, 2013 7:49 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2013 7:47 AM ET

Hamilton police have made an arrest in connection with a Port Colborne murder.

A man from Port Colborne was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, in Hamilton. He has been charged with second degree murder.

The arrest came after Niagara police were called to an apartment in Port Colborne just after 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Police entered the upper apartment at 262 West St., Apt. 2 and found an adult deceased. Police say they believe the body had been there between three and seven days.

Police say the suspect is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing Wednesday morning at at 9 a.m. in St. Catharines.

Police have not yet released the cause of death. They are asking anyone with information in to contact the Homicide Unit at 905-688-4111 ext. 4468 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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New mothers, obese at greater risk of flu complications: McMaster study

A McMaster study suggests that previous assumptions about who is susceptible to flu-related health problems are based on a 'striking lack of evidence'

By Matt Moir, CBC News

Posted: Aug 28, 2013 8:14 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2013 8:25 AM ET

 

New mothers and obese people have a higher risk of death and other severe outcomes from influenza, according to a new study out of McMaster University.

The research, published in BMJ, the journal of the British Medical Association, suggests that people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and women who have recently given birth are more susceptible to flu complications such as the development of pneumonia.

American Aboriginal people and pregnant women are, contrary to current assumptions, not higher risk.

This is an important finding, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Dominik Mertz, because of vaccination shortages in past flu seasons.

Dr. Mertz, an assistant professor of medicine at McMaster, said that women late in their pregnancy should still have priority for vaccination, but risk factors are at their highest not during the pregnancy but in the "first four weeks post partum."

He also told CBC News that the study "did not find any evidence" that Aboriginal people are at a higher risk of severe flu outcomes.

"The data suggest that Aboriginal people in North America and Australia and Hispanic people in the United States are more likely to be admitted to hospital," but not more likely to have severe outcomes that require admittance to intensive care.

Dr. Mertz said that the medical assumptions that vaccination priority lists are based upon rely on a "striking lack of evidence."

The researchers reviewed 239 studies conducted between 1918 and 2011 to reach their results.

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Police will be patrolling from school buses in September

Project Protector will put uniformed officers on buses to help with traffic safety

CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 8:41 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 8:37 AM ET

 

When school is back in session next week Hamilton police will be swapping their cruisers for big yellow buses.

Police spotters will be hiding out looking for drivers who don't stop for buses.

Designed to keep students riding buses safe, Project Protector, is an attempt to deal with problems police see each year with the reappearance of school buses.

"Morning drive traffic, potential lateness, and speed, coupled with distracted driver behaviours can prove to be hazardous, possibly fatal. Next week, our residential corners will be busy with stopped buses, eager school children and proud parents wishing them a good day," said police in a release.

Officers from division 30 on the Mountain including patrol officers, crime managers and divisional youth officers, will call in offenders to nearby roaming cruisers, said police.

The system is more effective than the existing 'operation bus watch' system, which relied on bus drivers to record and report drivers who broke the law, said police.

By adding an officer on buses, police are able to be more discreet when patrolling around buses, and also have the officer on the bus as a witness if the case goes to court.

The first wave of Project Protector will run from Sept. 3 to 6, and a second wave will begin on Oct. 15.

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Officials investigating Ancaster house fire

Family escapes late night fire that causes $225,000 in damages

CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 10:31 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 10:28 AM ET

A family home in Ancaster was significantly damaged by fire late Monday night.

Fire officials were called to the brick home on Meadowlands Road just before midnight on Monday.

It took twenty firefighters just under two hours to put out the flames. Officials believe the fire started in the basement of the home.

Hamilton Fire spokesperson Claudio Mostacci said that the occupants of the home, who managed to escape without injury, were asleep when the fire started and were awakened by the smoke alarm.

Mostacci said that the inside of the home suffered $225,000 in damages.

The cause is undetermined and under investigation.

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BIA wants McMaster University students to come downtown

By Joe Engelhardt, CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 11:12 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 11:28 AM ET

 

Hamilton's downtown BIA wants McMaster's newest students to know all the good things downtown has to offer.

They see thousand of potential new customers if they can get them to venture out of the "Westdale bubble."

Monday, a group of 118 upper -year students braved a rainy Monday afternoon to learn more about the core, courtesy of an Amazing-race style tour of the City.

Tourism Hamilton executive director Kathy Drewitt with three of her summer students set up in Gore Park. (Joe Engelhardt/CBC)

The students will be serving as Community Advisors (CAs), McMaster's version of a residence adviser or don, said Brandon Smith, manager of student leadership and learning in McMaster's residence life department.

The goal is to have the CAs' have a better understanding of downtown Hamilton, so they can better advise the 3578 students living in residence, he said.

"It's important for students to know they're not just part of their residence community and McMaster community, they're part of the Hamilton community," he said.

Don't get stuck in the McMaster 'bubble', advisor says

Giving students a better idea of what's going downtown is key, said Kathy Drewitt, executive director of the Downtown Hamilton BIA.

"We want to get them to support business downtown and restaurants downtown," she said.

It's important for students to integrate themselves into the local economy, especially first year students who will be part of the city for the next four years, she said.

Staying too close to McMaster can also limit how well students function, said Nadia Eyhbali, one of the CAs attending the event.

"Being in that McMaster bubble can really limit you in terms of your personal growth," she said.

After visiting City Hall in the morning, students had lunch from the food trucks in Gore Park and then set out on the race, said Smith.

Despite the afternoon rain, most students still carried on, visiting a wide range of downtown businesses, including local restaurants and coffee shops, as well as community groups like the Good Shepherd and larger venues like Copps Coliseum, he said.

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Ontario sisters must pay uncle $125K for false sex abuse claims

new

WARNING: This story contains graphic details

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 11:37 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 11:29 AM ET

A judge has ordered two sisters from Ancaster, Ont., to pay their uncle $125,000 in libel damages for falsely accusing him of sexually assaulting them in a rural farmhouse when they were children.

"I find that the evidence adduced at trial was not of the clear and cogent nature required to substantiate the defendants' claim of sexual abuse," wrote Ontario Superior Court Justice Andrew Goodman in his decision in the case of Patricia and Sarah Vanderkooy.

According to court documents, the accusations ripped apart the Vanderkooy family — a large group from the Netherlands who were part of the Christian Reformed Church.

Patricia and Sarah Vanderkooy alleged Jack Vanderkooy sexually assaulted them when the two were staying at his Simcoe, Ont., farm in the early 1980s. Criminal charges were never laid.

The sisters were four and six years old at the time, court documents say. Now in their 30s, the two first came forward with the accusations in 2006.

"In the years including and between 1982 and 1986, when the abuse is alleged to have occurred, both Tricia and Sarah spent a lot of time at the farmhouse," Goodman said, adding that their uncle's farmhouse was like a "second home" to the girls.

During the court proceedings, Patricia testified that she had two distinct memories of being sexually abused by her uncle. In the first, she recalled feeling like she was being pinned down by her uncle, and she had pain in her legs or groin. Years later, she believed the pain was in her vaginal area, court documents say.

In the second incident, she recalled being pulled up onto a bed in her cousin's bedroom where the children often stayed and something soft being placed in her mouth, which "may have been his penis."

Sarah Vanderkooy also described two memories of being assaulted, which she described as a static image like "a snapshot" or "an out-of-body experience."

"Sarah testified that she does not see Jack's face but, as with the first memory, she knows it is Jack," court documents say.

Uncle denied allegations

The two sisters did not come forward until 2006. The two spoke about it for the first time and then went to their parents about it. "Her parents, Jim and Christine, were in disbelief," court documents say.

In August 2006, the sisters confronted their uncle about the allegations, which he denied.

The day after the confrontation, Patricia Vanderkooy, with her sister's input, sent an email to various family members and "other individuals" outlining the allegations. It also contained the line, "We do not want anyone else to be sexually abused." That statement was part of the crux of the judge's statement in the case. Goodman says it was intended to demonstrate "that Jack is a sexual predator, likely to reoffend and is not to be trusted or left alone with children."

"Jack is a man who comes from an extended family and indeed, cherishes family, church and community. As a result of these allegations, I am satisfied that Jack has been shunned by a number of his family members including several of his sisters," Goodman wrote in his decision. "Jack had to profess his innocence to his children. Jack had to face these allegations in the public and cope with their effect as it was felt throughout his close-knit religious community."

The judge also dismissed a counterclaim for sexual battery filed by the sisters after Vanderkooy sued for defamation, because their memories of the alleged incidents weren't "of the clear and cogent nature required" to back up their claims.

Damages include court costs

Goodman also called into question how Jack Vanderkooy could have had an opportunity to commit the assaults with two other male cousins in the same room.

"In order to commit the sexual assaults, Jack would have to stealthily and gingerly manoeuvre himself around the other children and not make a sound to avoid waking up the other children," he wrote.

The judge ruled that Jack is entitled to general damages of $125,000 with costs.

"In my opinion, it is the defendants who singularly and collectively set out on both covert and public course of action to tarnish an innocent man's reputation within and without the large Vanderkooy family, as well as in the community at large," Goodman wrote.

"Notwithstanding my judgment, Jack's reputation in the community may continue to be irreparably smeared."

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Ontario expands police Taser use after Sammy Yatim shooting

updated

Police forces will make decision about which officers carry stun guns

CBC News

Posted: Aug 27, 2013 6:52 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2013 11:41 AM ET

 

Ontario's governing Liberals will allow police to expand the use of Tasers in the wake of last month's fatal shooting of teenager Sammy Yatim aboard a Toronto streetcar.

Ontario Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur made the announcement Tuesday, exactly one month after Yatim, 18, was shot multiple times and stunned with a Taser by police during a confrontation on an empty streetcar.

Meilleur said existing rules that limit the use of Tasers, also known as stun guns or conductive energy weapons (CEWs), will be changed to clear the way for individual police forces to set their own guidelines about which officers can use them.

Prior to Tuesday's announcement, Ontario had restricted the use of Tasers to a select few supervising and tactical officers, setting Ontario police apart from counterparts in several other provinces and with the RCMP.

Police chiefs have been advocating for the expanded use of Tasers for years.

'The right decision to make'

Meilleur said the move will widen the use-of-force options available to police.

"This is the right decision to make and will increase community safety by preventing injury and death," she said.

She also said the decision to expand stun gun use is based on research, stakeholder input and past inquests by coroners, and added that the province will keep a "watchful eye" on how stun guns are used by police.

Meilleur said the Yatim shooting did not play a role in Tuesday's decision, saying it had been in the works for some time.

She also said each time a police officer uses a stun gun, it will be recorded and reviewed.

Toronto police Const. James Forcillo has been charged with second-degree murder in Yatim's death.

The fatal shooting of Toronto teenager Sammy Yatim has sparked debate about the use of force by police. (Facebook)

Ontario's ombudsman has launched his own probe into the Yatim shooting, to determine the kind of direction the provincial government provides to police for defusing conflict situations.

Retired justice Dennis O'Connor has been asked by Toronto police Chief Bill Blair to lead a separate review of police procedures, use of force and police response when dealing with emotionally disturbed people.

With files from CBC's Genevieve Tomney, The Canadian Press

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Hamilton hopeful about using wasps to kill emerald ash borer

Federal government testing out unusual new pilot program

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Aug 24, 2013 8:51 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 24, 2013 8:49 AM ET

 

The federal government has a new plan to fight the emerald ash borer, a pest that is decimating ash trees in Hamilton.

But it's kind of gross.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is in the midst of a pilot program in two types of Asian wasps to manage the population of ash borers.

The wasps don't just eat the ash borer — they lay eggs inside still-living ash borer larvae, and then about a month later, the eggs hatch, eating their way out of the other insect.

"These things are like aliens," said Jonathan Leto from the U.S. department of agriculture, who manages a facility in Michigan that grows the wasps. "They lay their eggs inside of the emerald ash borer and then later, the ash borer ruptures and all of these new wasps come out."

It's a plan that's in its early stages in Canada — but the city is "absolutely" open to using the wasps in Hamilton should it be deemed safe, says Tami Sadonoja, the project manager for forest health with the City of Hamilton.

"It's always better to have natural controls rather than chemicals," Sadonoja said.

City saving what it can

But right now, chemicals are all the city has at its disposal to fight the pest. City staffers are in the process of identifying 800 "high value" ash trees qualified for insecticide treatment, an alternative to tree removal and replacement.

Seeing as Hamilton is home to 23,000 ash trees that make up about 8 per cent of the city's canopy, that insecticide treatment isn't going to be enough. "We're seeing dead trees throughout the city right now," Sadonoja said. "We're seeing more and more mortality every year."

The wasps, which are called Tetrastichus, are about a millimeter or two long but don't actually sting. Instead of a stinger on their tail end, they have a small device which is used to deposit eggs into unwitting ash borer larvae.

They were first released in Canada early this summer, says Barry Lyons, a research scientist with Natural Resources Canada. The Canadian government is in the midst of a second release of the wasps in Huron County, Ont. Scientists will be testing the area in 2014 to see if it has been effective. They also need to know if the wasp will overwinter in Canada, "which it should do," Lyons said.

So who watches the wasps?

Many might wonder about the wasps becoming a problem and multiplying too fast, thus becoming just as troublesome as the ash borer itself.

But Lyons says that this wasp is so particular about its prey that it shouldn't be an issue. In fact, when U.S. scientists provided the wasp with other beetle larvae similar to the ash borer as a test, it wasn't interested.

"This particular wasp is very species-specific to the ash borer," Lyons said. It also shouldn't be a problem for humans, as it doesn't have a stinger.

Last September, the city adopted a $26.2-million action plan that will gradually chop down Hamilton's ash trees because of the emerald ash borer. $100,000 per year will go toward injection treatments, while $1.6 million will go toward removal and replacement. Each injection costs $250 and has to be repeated every other year for the insecticide to be effective.

Lyons cautions that the wasp treatment wouldn't be "silver bullet" to save ash trees everywhere. It could be a few years before the program is spread outwards to municipalities.

But the city is still hoping it could be a big help, "provided it's not too late for us," Sadonoja said.

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Woman flown to hospital after Flamborough collision

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating

CBC News

Posted: Aug 25, 2013 3:04 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 25, 2013 3:02 PM ET

A helicopter shuttled an elderly woman to hospital after a crash in Flamborough on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 5 near Brock Road at around 1:10 p.m.

Marc Tremblay, a commander with the Hamilton Paramedic Service, said EMS officials "had difficulty getting a patient out of the vehicle" and needed firefighters to aid in the rescue.

Ornge, the provincial air ambulance service, was called in to transport the 78-year-old woman to Hamilton General Hospital. The victim had "lower extremity injuries," said Jennifer Young, an Ornge spokesperson.

Sgt. Dave Woodford, of the Ontario Provincial Police's highway safety division, described the woman's injuries as "life-threatening."

Highway 5 was closed from Brock Road to Collinson Road on Sunday afternoon for the investigation, but was re-opened by the evening.

The OPP are handling the probe.

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Report helps healthcare workers spot fabricated illness in kids

'People working with children need to recognize this as a kind of child maltreatment,' says McMaster researcher

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Aug 26, 2013 7:16 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 26, 2013 7:15 AM ET

 

It's a rare, insidious form of child abuse, and it often goes undetected.

But caregiver-fabricated illness in children (CFIC) is real, and healthcare providers need to know how to spot it, says Dr. Harriet MacMillan, a pediatrician and researcher at McMaster University.

'It's hard for people to actually conceive that caregivers would fabricate illness.'—Dr. Harriet MacMillan, McMaster University

She hopes a new report she's co-authored, appearing in the September issue of the medical journal Pediatrics, gives clinicians the tools to identify the hard-to-diagnose condition.

CFIC occurs when a caregiver — usually a parent — fakes or induces an illness in a child. This results in unnecessary visits to a healthcare provider and sometimes leads to harmful treatment.

The phenomenon is difficult to detect, MacMillan says. Physicians don't often suspect that an adult bringing a child into a clinic has invented the youngster's illness.

"It's hard for people to actually conceive that caregivers would fabricate illness," said MacMillan. "If you think about it, people working with children are basically trained to trust the histories that are provided to them."

Red flags

But CFIC has its red flags. MacMillan's article, written with Northwestern University pediatrician Emalee Flaherty, details a laundry list of signs that an adult is causing, or trying to convince a healthcare professional of, a child's illness. Some of the most frequently reported ailments include rashes, allergic reactions, urinary tract infections and vomiting — all possible indicators of poisoning — as well as breathing and eating problems.

In other cases, a caregiver falsely reports that child has an emotional or behavioural problem, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or a learning disability. Some even claim that a child has suffered sexual abuse, even though they know the claim is false.

"I think what's important in this article that we really try to highlight is that it's not just symptoms of physical illness, but also psychiatric illness," MacMillan stresses.

Identifying a case of CFIC requires other detective skills. Questioning whether a child's symptoms match up with what a caregiver is reporting, taking a close look at medical records, even asking to interview the child one-on-one — all of these methods help clinicians make an informed diagnosis, MacMillan says.

"It's about looking at the whole clinical picture."

CFIC is relatively rare, occurring in approximately 0.5 to two out of every 100,000 children, studies suggest. However, the phenomenon is likely "underreported," MacMillan says.

Terminology

The condition is often to referred to as Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. But MacMillan and Flaherty discourage the use of that term, arguing it takes the focus away from the mistreatment of the victims.

"We are saying that we use this particularly terminology because it emphasizes the child's exposure to risk and harm rather than the motivation of the caregiver who is doing this," MacMillan said. "People working with children need to recognize this as a kind of child maltreatment."

Dr. Harriet MacMillan is a professor in the department of psychology and behavioural neuroscience at McMaster University. (McMaster University)

Though the article doesn't establish the type of adult who fabricates a child's illness, MacMillan says perpetrators often have certain characteristics. They are typically mothers and often work in, or are very knowledgeable about, the healthcare field. Many yearn for the attention of doctors and nurses. Some have a history of feigning being ill themselves.

MacMillan says there is much work to be done on the long-term impacts of CFIC on the victims, and to oversee what treatments the children receive. She hopes monitoring programs will be established to combine information that healthcare providers gather on the CFIC cases they handle. This will help researchers better understand the phenomenon.

"What's key here, hopefully, for clinicians to take away from this is the need — in addition to their obligation to report to child protection services — to gather the comprehensive information from medical records. That's key generally, but it's also particularly important with this condition."

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Schools with gay-straight alliance clubs see less binge drinking, study shows

Hamilton Catholic board allows only all-encompassing equity clubs

By Samantha Craggs, CBC News

Posted: Aug 26, 2013 8:26 AM ET

Last Updated: Aug 26, 2013 8:21 AM ET

 

A new study out of the University of British Columbia shows that high schools with gay-straight alliances have less binge drinking, and a local advocate says Hamilton's school boards should take note.

New research in the journal Preventative Medicine shows that at schools with such clubs, both straight and queer students tend to binge drink less.

In schools with gay-straight alliance clubs, heterosexual teen boys are 45 per cent less likely to have had an episode of binge drinking in the past month. Heterosexual teen girls are 62 per cent less likely to binge drink.

It benefits LGBTQ students too. Lesbian students, for example, are 50 per cent less likely to drink five or fewer drinks at one time.

Deirdre Pike, a Hamilton LGBTQ activist, was vocal last year about the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board's refusal to allow issue-specific gay-straight clubs.

This is evidence that they benefit all students, she said. And it's another reason why the Catholic board needs to reconsider its practice of only allowing generic anti-bullying clubs.

"The Catholic school board really needs to pick up the pace and the integrity in terms of naming these groups, and be intentional about naming them for what they are," she said. "'Diversity club' is not going to cut it."

The study was conducted by Elizabeth Saewyc, a professor of nursing at UBC. The study used findings from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey, but Saewyc believes the results would be the same from province to province.

Queer students are not the only ones impacted by name calling and sexuality-related bullying, Saewyc said. She sees that as part of the reason why the clubs help everyone.

"Two-thirds of kids who experience anti-gay discrimination actually identify as straight," Saewyc said. "That kind of bullying or harassment has negative consequences no matter who you are."

The reduction in binge drinking came with a reduction in related behaviours, she said. That includes car crashes, blackouts, problems in school and arguments with family.

Pat Daly, chair of the Catholic board, sees no reason to change course. Hamilton's Catholic high schools have anti-bullying clubs that include everyone, he said, and that's working.

"Our overriding principle is to condemn any type of bullying," he said. But in-school clubs must be "keeping with the tenetts of our faith."

"With those two overriding factors in mind, we believe the all-inclusive club to be the best approach," he said.

The province's bill 13 mandates that school boards allow issue-specific equity clubs. The board understands and respects that legislation, Daly said, "even if we don't agree with it."

There have been other findings that show that a specific LGBTQ-focused group positively impacts all students, Pike said.

"This is not a correlation I would have guessed, but I'm really pleased to find that out," she said.

The study, Saewyc said, suggests that gay-straight alliance clubs are "another possible tool in the toolkit" for schools concerned with problem drinking.

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