Posted on

Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee still seeking volunteers for events leading up to the big game

Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee still seeking volunteers for events leading up to the big game

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Football is back! And while there’s a whole season of games to play before the Super Bowl next February in Glendale, the host committee is still seeking volunteers to help in various ways leading up to the big event.

Super Bowl LVII is set for Feb. 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale. Even though it’s still months away, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee has a lot of work ahead. That’s why last month, the committee launched a volunteer program called TEAM AZ, presented by Avnet and PetSmart.

The group’s goal is to get 5,000 volunteers signed up who will serve as ambassadors for events leading up to the Super Bowl. That could include welcoming guests at airports, hotels and other other locations. If you’re interested in volunteering as part of TEAM AZ, click or tap here to apply.

There are a couple of things to note: You have to be at least 18 years old and applying means you’ll go through a formal process including a background check. Volunteering also won’t get you into the actual Super Bowl. TEAM AZ support won’t be needed in the stadium on game day.

Posted on

HRM committee considers ban on plastics at city events

HRM committee considers ban on plastics at city events

Halifax’s Environment and Sustainability standing committee met Thursday, July 7 to discuss two motions. One about Floating Yellow Hearts in Little Albro Lake and one about making city green spaces less grass and more natural plants.

But before the committee debated those two motions they got a presentation from Natasha Tucker, the executive director of Mind Your Plastics. Her charity is dedicated to eliminating plastic pollution in Canada.

She laid out some stark facts: 90% of the plastic we put into recycling bins doesn’t get recycled. Every minute a dump truck full of plastic enters the oceans. It’s grim.

“We’re in a linear economy,” says Tucker. “Which is really focused on a take, make and dispose. So there’s a ton of resources that go into creating the products that we use, and then ultimately use for a very short period of time and dispose of.” She asked the committee to consider a motion that bans single-use or disposable items at municipal-run events because every city generates 20,000 tonnes of waste every festival/event season.

There is a hesitation by political leaders to do more than a plastic bag ban. “I was at a conference with many municipal leaders,” says Tucker. “Talking about plastic-free event policy or plastic pollution-free event policies and whatnot was like, ‘Well, we banned single use plastic bags so…’ I’m like, okay, but what’s next?”

For councillor Shawn Cleary, what’s next is a plan to put forward a motion to get a staff report on how HRM can legislate plastic-free events.

The committee also heard a motion from councillor Sam Austin to trial a pesticide in Little Albro Lake to get rid of the invasive Floating Yellow Hearts. This will require approval from the federal and provincial governments, so staff will come back to the committee with a plan when the pesticide use is approved by the other levels of government.

Finally, the city has been doing a pilot project on naturalizing green spaces. Naturalizing means putting native plants in instead of the boring monoculture grass that’s been common since the colonization of Canada. The pilot project went well, and the committee wants to expand it all over the city, to the tune of $150,000.

Posted on

Hong Kong restricts access to chief executive inauguration and handover anniversary events – Committee to Protect Journalists

Hong Kong restricts access to chief executive inauguration and handover anniversary events - Committee to Protect Journalists

Taipei, June 16, 2022 — Hong Kong authorities should allow media outlets to freely cover the inauguration of Chief Executive-elect John Lee and the 25th anniversary of the territory’s handover to China, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.

On the evening of Thursday, June 16, applications closed for media outlets to seek access to cover ceremonies marking both events, scheduled for July 1; the Hong Kong Journalists Association trade group and the Hong Kong Free Press news website both reported that at least 10 domestic and local outlets were not invited or allowed to apply to cover the events.

The HKFP reported that many of those outlets regularly receive invitations to other Hong Kong government events, but the Information Services Department, the government’s primary communication agency, said only select media outlets had been invited to cover the July 1 events due to considerations including the COVID-19 pandemic, security requirements, and space restraints.

Hong Kong news website InMedia reported that, when it applied to cover the events, an Information Services Department official said “those who need invitations have already received theirs.”

“Hong Kong’s claims to honor press freedom should compel it to offer open access for media coverage of important events, such as the inauguration of John Lee as chief executive and the 25th anniversary of the handover,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C. “Barring some media outlets from freely covering such events severely undercuts the credibility of incoming Chief Executive Lee, who has repeatedly said that Hong Kong enjoys press freedom.”

The Information Services Department failed to invite or approve access for the Japanese outlets Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun, and Kyodo News; Taiwan’s CTV; the U.S. photo wire Getty Images; the Europe Pressphoto Agency; and Hong Kong’s InMedia, the Photographic Society of Hong Kong, Truth Media Hong Kong, and the HKFP, according to the HKFP’s report.

According to InMedia, the department asked news outlets to include photos and the personal information of the journalists who planned to attend in their applications.

In its statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association called for authorities to be more inclusive by accepting media organizations’ applications to attend the events.

CPJ emailed the Information Services Department for comment but did not immediately receive any reply.

Posted on

Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification – Part 1

Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training for Supervisors

This three day course is the first of two steps in becoming a fully certified Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) member. In Ontario, JHSCs are required, by law, to have at least two (2) certified members.

In this course you will learn about:

  • The Occupational Health and Safety Act
  • The roles and responsibilities of the workplace parties under the Act
  • Functions and powers of the JHSC
  • Work refusals and work stoppages
  • Workplace inspections and investigations
  • Hazard recognition, assessment, control and evaluation 
  • How to make effective recommendations to the employer
  • The role of the Ministry of Labour Training and Skills Development

     

Fasken is an approved provider of JHSC Certification – Part 1 (Basic Certification Training).  This course was developed in accordance with the training program guidelines set by the Chief Prevention Officer of Ontario. JHSC Certification Part 2 must be completed within 12 months of completing JHSC Certification Part 1.

Type

In person training only – Space is limited.

PLEASE NOTE: Fasken requires anyone on-site at our Canadian offices to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This applies to lawyers, staff, clients, service providers and other visitors.

Length

3 days (*as required by the guidelines set by the Chief Prevention Officer of Ontario)

Agenda

9:00 am – 5:00 pm (ET) Program

Audience

Managers, supervisors, OHS professionals, in-house legal counsel, business owners, workers or union members

Cost

This half day course costs $495 + HST per registrant
A secured online payment link will follow after registration

CANCELLATION POLICY

  • Registration fees are not refundable. A credit may be issued in certain circumstances.
  • No credits will be issued for no shows.
  • No credits will be issued for cancellations less than 24 hours before a course.
  • Participants can request a one-time deferral and the credit must be used before the end of the calendar year. Requests for a deferral must be made 24 hours prior to the start of the course. If the course is only offered once that year, the credit can be applied to another OHS course within that same calendar year.
  • In the event that Fasken cancels a course, the participant can choose either a credit or a refund for the course amount.

     

COVID-19 REMINDERS

  • Fasken requires anyone on-site at our Canadian offices to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This applies to lawyers, staff, clients, service providers and other visitors.
  • Fasken will make all efforts to provide a safe learning environment and we encourage all participants to adhere to physical and social distancing.
  • Please refrain from attending the event if you or your family experience any symptoms associated with COVID-19.
  • Please refrain from attending the event if you have been in close contact with confirmed or possible cases of COVID-19.

     

     

Posted on

STT Pride Committee Gearing Up for June Events

STT Pride Committee Gearing Up for June Events

Community support has continued to evolve for LGBTQIA+ Pride events across the territory, and organizers on St. Thomas anticipate that this year’s celebrations on St. Thomas, which include paint and sips, art shows, and even a beach party, will be the biggest yet.

The first Pride event on St. Thomas was in 2014, starting with a demonstration advocating for same-sex marriage. Organized by Brigitte Berry of Gay Pride VI and Michele Weichman of Virgin Islands Equality for All, the groups have continued to come together, pulling in more residents and organizations every June, which is designated LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.

The first Pride event on St. Thomas was in 2014, starting with a demonstration advocating for same-sex marriage. (Photo Courtesy of Gay Pride VI)

While the schedule is still being finalized and will soon be released, events happening include:

Pride Walk
Art Uncorked: Pride Edition
Karaoke @ The Meat Up
Pride Lingerie Smoke, Paint, and Sip
Pride Art Show at 81C
Erotic Poetry Slam
LGBTQIA+ Family and Friends Breakfast and Talk at Barefoot Buddha
Pride Float-A-Palooza Beach Party

All events are open to the public, and anyone interested in participating or with questions or concerns should email sttpridemarch2022@gmail.com. To support or sponsor, residents can call Allie Baker at (210) 237-8922, Liza Sawyer at (720) 290-4123, or Chunikwa George at (340) 998-0815. A PayPal link has also been set up for donations (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/sttpride) and updates will continue to be posted on the @STTPride page on Instagram or @GayPrideVI on Facebook.

For the past eight years, Pride events on St. Thomas have continued to bring in a wide range of support. (Photo by Mark Iandolo)

LGBTQIA+ Pride is celebrated in the month of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that occurred on June 28, 1969, in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The very first Pride celebration took place in 1970 on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, one year after the Stonewall Riots occurred. Pride is now celebrated all over the world in both the month of June and in October, which is LGBTQIA+ History Month.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Posted on

Special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe

WHO/Europe virtual press briefing: Humanitarian emergency in Ukraine and the wider region

10–11 May 2022 (virtual)

In a letter sent on 28 April 2022, 38 Member States of the WHO European Region requested the WHO Regional Director for Europe to convene a special session of the Regional Committee to consider the health situation in Ukraine, and the wider consequences of the ongoing war on health matters in the Region and beyond.

The Regional Committee is the highest decision-making body of the 53 Member States of the Region. It normally meets once a year to shape the political commitment to improving the health and health conditions of the people living in the Region, and to guide the actions undertaken by WHO/Europe.

This request for an urgent special session is triggered under Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee, which provides the possibility to convene the Regional Committee within 30 days at the request of at least 8 Member States.

Posted on

Special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe

WHO/Europe virtual press briefing: Humanitarian emergency in Ukraine and the wider region

10–11 May 2022 (virtual)

In a letter sent on 28 April 2022, 38 Member States of the WHO European Region requested the WHO Regional Director for Europe to convene a special session of the Regional Committee to consider the health situation in Ukraine, and the wider consequences of the ongoing war on health matters in the Region and beyond.

The Regional Committee is the highest decision-making body of the 53 Member States of the Region. It normally meets once a year to shape the political commitment to improving the health and health conditions of the people living in the Region, and to guide the actions undertaken by WHO/Europe.

This request for an urgent special session is triggered under Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee, which provides the possibility to convene the Regional Committee within 30 days at the request of at least 8 Member States.

Regional Director Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, in close consultation with the President of the 71st session of the Regional Committee and the members of its Standing Committee, is calling Member States from the European Region to meet virtually on 10–11 May.

The meeting will be broadcast online.

Posted on

Local Committee Acquires Major Landmark in Port au Port Region; Slew of Events Planned

Local Committee Acquires Major Landmark in Port au Port Region; Slew of Events Planned

Local Committee Acquires Major Landmark in Port au Port Region; Slew of Events Planned

Some big plans are in the works now that a local committee has finally gained possession of a major landmark in the Port au Port region.

Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church in Port au Port West is one of the province’s largest wooden churches. It was designed by noted architect William F. Butler and built in 1914 to accommodate an anticipated population boom from the opening of a limestone quarry in Aguathuna.

The population boom never occurred and the quarry closed in the 1960s.

The church features a steeple that rises 115 feet and is big enough to accommodate 1000 parishioners. It was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure in 1997.

Photo by Jon Myers

Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee Chair Denise Goosney says although they have been running events in the church for some time, they finally purchased the building and outlying structures from the local Diocese, making them eligible for government funding.

Goosney says their first order of business is to conduct a structural assessment of the church and apply for the appropriate funding. She admits it’s a daunting task.

“It’s kind of scary… but something that needs to be done to preserve the culture and heritage of the area.”

A number of major events are planned this summer including the Port au Port Grand Ol’ Opry Show June 11. A full list of planned events can be found on the church’s website.