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In this issue...

• Group shows up wearing KKK costumes at Nova Scotia firefighters' club's Halloween party

• Some Canadian doctors want workplace sick notes to be a thing of the past

• By the numbers X 10 + 1

• Clothing donation bin wars are heating up

• Buy them now! Acadian Recipes and More – Volume 2, Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 3: Holidays

• The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, November 25!

• Remembrance Day is Monday, November 11

• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week

• Take some time to enjoy nature with the Greater Moncton Walking Group

... and trivia, quotes and more!

Group shows up wearing KKK costumes at Nova Scotia firefighters' club's Halloween party

For the second week in a row, the KKK is the top story in this newsletter. That wasn't necessarily on my 2024 bingo card, let me tell ya!

A Halloween party at a Nova Scotia firefighters' club was attended by four people wearing KKK costumes recently. The problem? Well, the obvious, of course... but they weren't asked to leave - and knowing how incredibly controversial their presence would be, it should have been the first thing done within 10 seconds of their arrival. Did those in charge forget that people have cell phones these days, and that there would be photos and videos?

Article excerpt: "A deputy fire chief in Cape Breton has apologized after some guests attended a Halloween dance at a fire hall dressed as members of the Ku Klux Klan.

Photos circulating on social media from Saturday's event at the North Sydney Firefighters Club show four people wearing white sheets and white pointed hoods - garb synonymous with the American white supremacist group. One of the partygoers is holding a large cross.

'I will assure you that we are all hurting in our hearts today that we have disappointed a community that we work so hard to make better and protect,' Wade Gouthro, the deputy fire chief in North Sydney, wrote in a Facebook post.

Gouthro declined to be interviewed.

Jason MacLean, who is Black, called the incident 'outrageous.' His father is a retired firefighter who worked with the fire department in North Sydney.

'What they did was hurtful to people and... many would argue hateful,' MacLean told CBC Radio's Mainstreet. 'It indeed was - and this is where people need to not shy away - it was a racist act.'

MacLean said he was frustrated that the four guests were not only admitted into the dance but allowed to stay."

I mean, seriously. Word to the wise: If someone shows up at your Halloween party wearing racist costumes, don't let them in. In fact, make a big deal about not letting them in, too.

Read: Outrage after guests wearing KKK costumes attend N.S. fire hall dance. Related 1: "We promise to be better": N.S. firefighter club criticized after group in KKK costumes attends Halloween dance. Related 2: Deputy fire chief apologizes after group attends N.S. Halloween party in KKK costumes.

Some Canadian doctors want workplace sick notes to be a thing of the past

This has always flabbergasted me. A person is sick for one or two days with a bad cold and you need to spend hours in an emergency room or trying to get in to see your doctor's office for a simple sick note. If you sound half dead on the telephone when calling in sick, that should be enough.

Article excerpt: "Many Canadians need a sick note for their employer or school if they are off due to medical reasons, a policy a group of doctors is trying to change.

Calling out workplaces and others who require these notes even for brief absences - some as short as a single day - the Canadian Medical Association is urging the requirement be dropped, at least when it comes to short-term minor illnesses.

With a shortage of family doctors in Canada, sick notes are an added burden to the burned-out physicians, the group representing Canada's physicians said in a statement released Monday. The CMA said eliminating them for minor health issues could prevent as many as 12.5 million 'unnecessary' health-care visits in a year."

There is a major shortage of family doctors in practically every province. How can we keep sending people into the health-care system for a sick note for relatively minor short-term ailments such as a cold. It's silly.

While a small number of people will most certainly abuse the system (either way), it may be time to just factor that into sick leave expectations. Yes, some people will take every ounce of sick leave coming to them whether they're sick or not. Most people won't, however. While it does drive me crazy when people abuse sick leave, it's human nature. In the end, I think it's better than having people show up at work sick as a dog because they can't get a sick note - and people shouldn't have to take vacation days when they're actually ill.

Read: Why a group of Canadian doctors says workplace sick notes need to go.

By the numbers X 10 + 1

• 1. Bob's Burgers actor sentenced to 1 year in prison for role in U.S. Capitol riot

• 2. End of daylight saving time can disrupt your health. Here are 3 expert tips to help cope with "falling back."

• 3. Google exempt from Online News Act for 5 years, must pay news outlets $100M: CRTC

• 4. 5 things to know about Mexico's first female president

• 5. 12 fascinating books on history’s most notorious diseases

• 6. More than 20,000 goldfish removed from Edmonton stormwater pond

• 7. Washington Post loses more than 200,000 subscriptions following non-endorsement

• 8. Rare dime bought by Ohio family and hidden for decades sells for more than $500,000

• 9. Philadelphia DA sues Elon Musk and his super PAC over $1M sweepstakes

• 10. Russia fines Google $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

• Bonus: Martha Stewart: 10 foods we always buy canned

Clothing donation bin wars are heating up

Who knew? Those clothing donation bins we see all around towns across Canada have become targets for organized crime. Really? Yup!

Article excerpt: "One Ontario city staff member faced threats and even had her tires slashed while leading a crackdown on unlicensed clothing bins that may be connected to organized criminals, a former deputy mayor told W5.

But the City of Markham didn't back down, and physically removed many of what it called 'rogue' clothing donation bins that were popping up unasked for on city property and shopping plazas, said former Markham deputy mayor Jack Heath.

'You shouldn't let people who are making threats, criminal threats, to stop the kinds of initiatives that make for a better city,' Heath said in an interview.

It's a call to action that Heath is hoping other cities follow amid a W5 investigation into what's behind some clothing donation bin operations.

Trackers sewn into clothing and placed into bins that promised direct charity for local needy people ended up in commercial operations and even 7,400 kilometres away in the North African country of Tunisia.

One tracker also showed items placed in a bin that appeared to belong to a charity called the Canadian Community Support Foundation but was headed to a local thrift store to be sold.

That charity has long since had its status revoked after an audit showed it provided an 'undue private benefit' worth $29,200 to a numbered company, a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency showed."

It may be best to donate used clothing directly to reputable organizations at their business locations whenever possible. Unfortunately, we can no longer assume that these donations given in good faith will be given to those in need or sold to raise funds for actual charities.

Read: Threats, slashed tires: How cities are trying to rein in clothing donation bin chaos. Related: "We can't control them": Clothing recyclers frustrated by criminals operating in donation bin industry.

Buy them now! Acadian Recipes and More – Volume 2, Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 3: Holidays

Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 2

This book includes 120+ recipes contributed by members of the Acadian Poutine Râpée Facebook Group and others and is the sequel to the #1 Amazon bestseller Volume 1.

English:

• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3B4mOK3

• Amazon USA: amzn.to/4dIYsUN

• Le P'tit Coin Acadien Poutine Râpée Restaurant, Bouctouche NB

• Chapters, Dieppe NB

• Jean Coutu Pharmacy, Dieppe NB (123 Champlain Street)

• Monument-Lefebvre, Memramcook NB

French:

• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3ZN5MdQ

• Le P'tit Coin Acadien Poutine Râpée Restaurant, Bouctouche NB

• Chapters, Dieppe NB

• Pharmacie Jean Coutu, Dieppe NB (123, rue Champlain)

• Monument-Lefebvre, Memramcook

Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 3: Holidays

This book is just in time for holiday gift-giving and includes approximately 150 recipes focusing on holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving! The French version will be available in the coming weeks. It will also be available in retail outlets soon.

English:

• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3YtU0En

• Amazon USA: amzn.to/4hoAh0j

Also available on Amazon Canada and USA, as well as in select retail outlets

• Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1

• Recettes acadiennes et plus - Volume 1

• Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1

The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, November 25!

The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night of the 2024-2025 season will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, November 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only). (Facebook event listing: bit.ly/3UxdHZj)

Participants may play as teams or individuals. The winning team gets 50% of the door receipts as their prize.

It is strongly suggested that participants arrive by 5:15-5:30 p.m. for a seat. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m. sharp and is usually over by 8 p.m. Everyone welcome!

Please note that restaurant reservations are NOT available for this event. First come, first served. Limited seating of approximately 50 guests.

Participants may bring an optional non-perishable food item (box of granola bars, Kraft Dinner, cereal, etc.) for distribution at Krista Richard's Community Sports Program events, of which the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club is a sponsor. Any donations will be gratefully received and provided to Krista for distribution to her program participants (school-aged children from Moncton-area schools).

Since Rotary Trivia Nights began in 2016, the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club has donated more than $20,000 to Atlantic Wellness, Karing Kitchen, Ray of Hope Kitchen, Salvus Clinic, The Humanity Project, BGC Moncton (Moncton Boys & Girls Club), Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Project Linus - Moncton Chapter, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Children's Wish Canada and Krista Richard's Community Sports Program, among others.

The Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club gratefully acknowledges the kind and generous sponsorship of our restaurant partner, St. Louis Bar & Grill.

PLEASE NOTE: There is a no telephone rule at these events. The answers cannot be researched except among discussion with your team members.

The remaining Trivia Night schedule for 2024-2025 is as follows:

• Monday, November. 25, 2024

• Monday, January 27, 2025

• Monday, February 24, 2025

• Monday, March 24, 2025

• Monday, April 28, 2025

• Monday, May 26, 2025

Remembrance Day is on Monday, November 11

Remembrance Day is on Monday, November 11, in honour of Canada's war veterans. Here are some related links:

• The Royal Canadian Legion 2024 National Poppy Campaign gets underway

• Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Store

• Amazon Canada Remembrance Day storefront

• Government of Canada: Remembrance Day and Veterans' Week

• The story behind “In Flanders Fields”

Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week

• 1. Teri Garr, star of Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, dies at 79 (see photo)

• 2. B.C. lieutenant-governor asks NDP Leader David Eby to form government

• 3. Saskatchewan Party wins fifth straight majority government, Scott Moe back as premier

• 4. Nova Scotia premier dissolves legislature, calls snap election for Nov. 26

• 5. Tens of thousands of taxpayer accounts hacked as CRA repeatedly paid out millions in bogus refunds

• 6. Starbucks abandons the olive oil coffee that was the brainchild of its former CEO

• 7. Canadian singer-songwriter Ken Tobias dies at 79

Photo credit: Actor Stock photos by Vecteezy

Trivia: Did you know?

If you suffer from nomophobia, you're deathly afraid of being without your cell phone. (Editor's note: I'm pretty sure I suffer from nomophobia.)

Quotes of note: Remembrance Day edition

• 1. "In Flanders fields, the poppies blow

between the crosses, row on row,

that mark our place; and in the sky

the larks, still bravely singing, fly

scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

loved and were loved, and now we lie,

in Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

to you from failing hands we throw

the torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

we shall not sleep, though poppies grow

in Flanders fields."

- Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918), In Flanders Fields (see photo)

• 2. "Did they beat the drum slowly did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?

Did the band play the last post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?"

- Excerpt of lyrics from the song The Green Fields of France written by Eric Bogle

• 3. "Remembrance reminds us that our nation has been through even more challenging times. Whether at war or during peace support operations, Canada’s veterans and fallen heroes alike can take comfort in our remembrance."

- Larry Murray, Grand President, Royal Canadian Legion

• 4. "Let us never forget the solemn truth that the nation is not constituted of the living alone."

- Sir Robert Borden, 8th Prime Minister of Canada from 1911-1920

• 5. "Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran does not have that problem."

- Ronald Reagan

• 6. "The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

- Sir Winston Churchll in a speech to the British House of Commons on June 4, 1940

• 7. "The sights around the field are terrible looking. I hope I don’t witness anything like it again."

- Harry Chalmers, Canadian soldier who fought in the First World War

• 8. "Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die."

- Pierre Trudeau, 15th Prime Minister of Canada from 1968-1979 and 1980-1984

• 9. "In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons."

- Herodotus

• 10. "Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth."

- U.S. President George Washington

Take some time to enjoy nature with the Greater Moncton Walking Group

In November, the group will be walking in Irishtown Nature Park. Meet-up is in the parking lot beginning on Tuesday, November 5, until Thursday, November 28.

In December, the group will be walking on the Humphrey Brook Trail in the Lewisville area of Moncton from Tuesday, December 3, until Tuesday, December 31. Meet-up is at the bottom of Martin Street. (Participants may park on the street.)

The group meets for walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. New participants are always welcome! For more information, please contact Wayne Harrigan at 506-386-2187 or via email.

About this newsletter

Brian Cormier's Weekly Update is distributed weekly from September to June. If you're reading this newsletter online and want to subscribe, please email me, fill out the subscription form on my website, or subscribe via the "Join Our Email List" button at the top of the newsletter (if you're viewing this in a browser.) This newsletter is not published in July and August and on holidays.