Tag: Canada

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History: Justin Trudeau Becomes First Sitting Prime Minister To March In LGBT Pride Parade

Toronto Pride Parade kicked off today with a history making moment as Justin Trudeau becomes the first sitting Prime Minister of Canada to march in an LGBT Pride Parade.

This is not Trudeau’s first Pride parade – just his first as Prime Minister 🙂

From the Ottawa Citizen:

Other notable politicians who will march include Ontario’s premier, Kathleen Wynne, and the mayor of Toronto, John Tory.

Before the parade, Trudeau attended an outdoor church service in the heart of the city’s gay village where he sang along to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”

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President Obama Welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau To The White House

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 20 years since a Prime Minister of Canada has been to the White House on a state visit. I mean, they’re just next door, eh?

That was rectified today as President Obama welcomed the “quite good looking” Prime Minister of Canada, newly elected Justin Trudeau, to the White House Rose Garden.

From President Obama’s remarks:

“I’m proud to be the first American President to stand with a Canadian Prime Minister and be able to say that — in both our nations — health care is not a privilege for a few but is now a right for all.

And as two vast and vibrant societies, we reaffirm that our diversity is our strength — whether your family was among the first native peoples to live on these lands or refugees we welcomed just yesterday. Whether you pray in a church or a synagogue, or a temple, or a mosque. Where, no matter what province or state you live in, you have the freedom to marry the person that you love.”

There were light-heated moments during the appearance as Trudeau noted that the former Montreal Expos (Trudeau’s childhood favorite MLB team) are now the Washington Nationals, and Obama reminded Trudeau that the NHL’s top prize Stanley Cup currently resides in Obama’s hometown of Chicago thanks to the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Royal Canadian Navy Cheers First “Homecoming Kiss” Between Gay Sailor And His Partner

The Royal Canadian Navy proudly showed off social progress on Tuesday when the honor of the ceremonial “homecoming kiss” was given to an openly gay sailor and his partner.

Via CBC:

There were loud cheers today when Master Seaman Francis Legare embraced his partner, Corey Vautour, after more than eight months at sea.

“I have been away for 255 days, so it feels great,” a smiling Legare said. “I am speechless.”

HMCS Winnipeg, which has a crew of 250, returned to Victoria on Tuesday after a tour in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Being the first sailor off a ship is considered an honour and privilege in the Canadian navy, and it’s decided by a random raffle.

But it’s a sign of the times that the navy is on board with a kiss that may have been considered controversial not too long ago.

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Justin Trudeau To Become Canada’s First Sitting Prime Minister To March In LGBT Pride

Justin Trudeau

From Pride Toronto:

Pride Toronto, the city’s most vibrant and inclusive arts and cultural festival and North America’s largest Pride celebration, unveiled today its 2016 Pride Month theme, announcing to the world that this June, “YOU CAN SIT WITH US.”

Pride Toronto’s 2016 Parade will make Canadian history, with Justin Trudeau participating as Canada’s first ever sitting Prime Minister to march, alongside leadership from both Toronto’s municipal and Ontario’s provincial governments.

This year’s theme is a play on, and response to, the infamous line from the 2004 cult-classic film Mean Girls. ‘YOU CAN SIT WITH US’ conveys a strong message of belonging and inclusion – a sentiment that was heard in consultations with community members.

Canada’s first-ever Pride Month will launch on June 1, featuring extended programming and provocative events throughout the city, culminating the much-anticipated Pride Parade on July 3.

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Canada’s Prime Minister Welcomes First Of Syrian Refugees

As Donald Trump continues to stoke fears regarding refugees from Syria here in the U.S., the Prime Minister of Canada welcomed the first of 25,000 displaced Syrians to his country.

From BBC News:

The first military plane carrying Syrian refugees to be resettled in Canada has arrived in the country.

Welcoming the 163 refugees, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country was “showing the world how to open our hearts.”

The newly elected Liberal government has pledged to take in 25,000 refugees by the end of February.

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Canada Brings Liberal Party Back To Power After A Decade Of Conservatism

After a decade of conservative rule, Canada has returned the Liberal party back to power, with Justin Trudeau (sone of the former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau) as Prime Minister.

In addition to pledging to repair the chilly relations with the Obama administration, Trudeau campaigned on a promise to run a C$10 billion annual budget deficit for three years to invest in infrastructure and help stimulate Canada’s anemic economic growth.

Trudeau also says he will withdraw Canada from combat against Islamic State militants shifting Canadian support to humanitarian aid and training. Additionally, the new Prime Minister will place a higher focus on climate change than his predecessor.

(source)

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Popular Gay TV Host Chris Hyndman Passes Away at 49

Popular Canadian TV decorating personality Chris Hyndman, of Steven and Chris fame, has passed away at the age of 49. He is survived by his partner and husband Steven Sabados.

From The Globe and Mail:

The CBC reported that Mr. Hyndman’s body was found without vital signs late Monday in an alleyway just east of Toronto’s downtown core. He was 49.

A Toronto Police spokeswoman would not confirm the report, citing privacy concerns and the fact there was no ongoing criminal investigation.

Mr. Hyndman was a well-known design personality and part of “Canada’s reigning lifestyle couple” with his spouse and co-host Steven Sabados.

Mr. Hyndman and Mr. Sabados founded a design and event-planning company in 1992 before going on to star in HGTV’s Designer Guys and Design Rivals and Slice’s So Chic.

In 2007, they launched their own line of furniture, textiles and decorative accessories. The Steven and Chris show followed in 2008, focusing on home decor, entertaining and fashion.

It aired 910 episodes and was going in to its ninth season. It was syndicated in 17 countries worldwide.

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Canadian College Professor Fired For Posting “Queers” Should Be Hanged

Click image to enlarge

Edge Media reports that a Canadian college professor was fired this week after he allegedly made a violent and anti-gay Facebook comment, officials announced Wednesday, according to the CBC.

Officials from St. Lawrence College said they received a complaint about business professor Rick Coupland, regarding a Facebook comment he allegedly made. The school’s spokeswoman said the comment was “deeply concerning.”

Screen shots of Coupland’s alleged post made their way on social media and shows him sharing a link to a story about a rainbow flag being raised in St. Petersburg, Fla., with his added comment: “It’s the queers they should be hanging, not the flag.”

According to Gay Star News, it was a former student who made the complaint to the college and posted screenshots of the comments to social media. The website also notes that Coupland later updated his status saying, “I have to get off Facebook for awhile. I’ve been called into work and told to bring a representative re: my comments on FB. Please pray for me and my job…”

The CBC reports the teacher’s Facebook profile has been deleted.

St. Lawrence College said Coupland’s remarks do not reflect the school’s values, noting it has a strict policy regarding the conduct of its employees. On Wednesday, the school confirmed that it had fired the professor.

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Canada: Hot Cop Goes Hot Pink For International Day Of Pink

Officer Luke Watson rocks the pink hair to stop bullying

Toronto Officer Luke Watson got a new look this week when his partner, Ryan Willmer, told the Twitterverse that Wilson would dye his hair pink if the tweet got 500 retweets.

Willmer didn’t ask his fellow officer before making the pitch. By the time Watson got to the police station over 560 retweets (and more) had spread across Twitter. Watson took the challenge and ran.

Watson and fellow officers spent time visiting schools and talking about the effects of bullying. From DayOfPink.org:

The International Day of Pink is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny, and all forms of bullying.

The International Day of Pink was started in Nova Scotia when 2 straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The 2 students intervened, but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bullying. They decided to purchase pink shirts, and a few days later got everyone at school to arrive wearing pink, standing in solidarity. The result was that an entire school took a stand and began working together to prevent homophobic & transphobic bullying.

The hashtags #StopBullyingNow and #DayOfPink trended for hours as major media covered the story.

It doesn’t hurt that Watson is easy on the eyes, does it?

Going pink to stand up against bullying

Officers Ryan Willmer and Luke Watson

Watson later attended the Day of Pink rally at Forest Hills Collegiate Institute in Toronto Wednesday were several cops wore pink t-shirts for the day.

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Slain Canadian Soldier’s Dogs Wait For Owner To Return

As Canada continues to mourn for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was killed standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, these heartbreaking photos show his dogs waiting for a return that will never happen.

From Dogtube:

Corporal Nathan Cirillo, 24, was standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Ottawa, when he was shot and killed on Wednesday.

Cirillo was a single dad. He was raising his six-year-old son on his own. Cirillo also loved animals. He had pictures of a kitten in his army bag, and had currently owned two dogs. His dogs have been photographed sticking their heads under the gate of the home, waiting for Cirillo to come back home. Unfortunately, that will never happen, and flags were flown at half-mast for the fallen soldier.