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In this issue...

• Heated Rivalry fleece Team Canada jersey coming to "real life" following huge demand from the show's fans

• Accidental crying horse plush toy for Chinese New Year is a hit

• By the numbers X 10 + 1

• Frozen juice concentrates are going away due to poor sales

• Valentine's Day is on Saturday, February 14

• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed in the news

• Trivia: Did you know?

• Quotes of note

• Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group

• Petal by Petal: A Relaxing and Beautiful Floral Coloring Book – Volume 1 by Rose Michaels

• Monday, February 2: Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night

Heated Rivalry fleece Team Canada jersey coming to "real life" following huge demand from the show's fans

As the Canadian TV show Heated Rivalry continues to grow as an international pop culture phenomenon, fans will be thrilled to know that the Team Canada fleece jacket worn by character Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) will soon be available for sale to the public.

Article excerpt: "Almost as soon as Crave's breakout hockey romance Heated Rivalry hit the screens, so did the frenzy over Shane Hollander's Team Canada zip-up fleece. Hollander, played by Canadian Hudson Williams, sports the white zip-up during the Sochi Olympic scenes in Episode 2.

And while the fluffy jacket isn't official Team Canada merch, fans have been demanding the opportunity to buy it ever since. Now, the creators of the wildly popular show have partnered with a Canadian clothing company to answer our call.

'We're releasing the fleece,' apparel company Province of Canada wrote on its website and social media accounts Wednesday morning, a nod to one of the show's most iconic quotes.

The jacket will be produced and distributed by the Toronto-based clothing brand. There are no details yet on pricing or release date, with Province of Canada saying they'll share those details once they become available."


Even Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney got into the act recently when he was presented with the actual fleece jacket worn in the show by Williams. And boy, was he excited, as you can see by the photo and the video included in the second linked news article below.


Rest assured, folks. You'll be seeing that jacket everywhere soon! And if history is any lesson, there will be plenty of cheap knockoffs, too!

Read: Shane's Heated Rivalry Team Canada fleece is finally being released. Related: "Do the leg thing:" Mark Carney meets Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams on red carpet.

Accidental crying horse plush toy for Chinese New Year is a hit

A sewing mistake has led to an explosion in Year of the Horse plush toy sales to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year from February 17 to March 3.

Article excerpt: "Perhaps there's a crying horse inside us all.

A sad-looking plush toy has become an unlikely, yet not entirely unexpected, bestseller and cultural symbol - despite being the result of a manufacturing mistake.

'Crying horse' is a red stuffed toy designed as a Lunar New Year decoration to mark the upcoming Year of the Horse. It has shy eyes, a little gold bell around its neck, and a fluffy brown mane.

But it's the accidental frown on its snout that has the toy flying off the shelves in China and trending online. As Zhang Huoqing, owner of the Yiwu-based shop Happy Sister, told Reuters, the horse was designed to be smiling.

But someone made a mistake.

'A worker sewed the mouth on upside down by accident,' she said.

Zhang said she offered a refund after discovering the flaw, but didn't hear back. Not long after, she discovered photos of it circulating online."

Ironically, that sad horse ended up actually being a happy accident.

Read: An accidental crying horse that captures the vibe is galloping to online fame.

By the numbers X 10 + 1

• 1. Beloved Costco $5 rotisserie chicken is now facing a class-action laws

• 2. 6 nail art trends to try this year, according to the pros

• 3. 7 best 2026 gadgets and tools every digital nomad needs in their backpack

• 4. We tested 10, and here are the best cookware sets of 2026

• 5. 10 things parents can do to keep kids safe when using screens

• 6. We tested 11 foot massagers for tired, achy feet. Our favorite model is under $100.

• 7. 30 questions that build stronger bonds than "How are you?"

• 8. Ken doll's real name revealed 65 years later

• 9. The world's longest-running lab experiment is almost 100 years old

• 10. 143-year-old shipwreck emerges on a New Jersey beach 

• Bonus: Top 10 award-winning gin expressions

Frozen juice concentrates are going away due to poor sales

When I was a kid, it seemed like buying frozen fruit juice concentrates was the height of class and privilege. (Hey, my standards weren't that high!) It's probably been 30 years since I bought one of these - and I honestly don't remember seeing even one of them in anyone's shopping basket in a grocery store in a very (very!) long time. I often wondered why they were still available.

Well, it wasn't just my imagination. Sales have been tanking for years, and now these products are being discontinued for the simple reason that no one is buying them anymore.

Article excerpt: "Attention, lemonade stand vendors: You'll have to squeeze the fresh stuff this summer. Minute Maid is discontinuing its line of frozen juices as consumer demand declines and tastes change, and it may have been the only company still selling the concentrated products into the Canadian market.

The brand's frozen canned orange juice, lemonade, Fruitopia fruit punch and Five Alive juice blend will be discontinued by April, a spokesperson for parent company Coca-Cola confirmed to CBC News.

The company is leaving the frozen can category in both Canada and the U.S. 'in response to shifting consumer preferences,' the spokesperson said, as it focuses on products that 'better match' what its customers want.

While it's certainly the biggest, Coca-Cola isn't the only juice maker shifting priorities. The combination of Coca-Cola's withdrawal, less than a year after another major Canadian juice producer did the same, could functionally mean Canadians will be unable to purchase frozen concentrated juice, after decades of availability."

And now that they're going away, I want to buy some!

Read: So long, frozen juice from concentrate. The once-popular canned drink leaves shelves this year.

Valentine's Day is on Saturday, February 14

Valentine's Day is on Saturday, February 14. It's time to start getting ready! Here are some links to help:

• 1. 10 Valentine’s Day gifts for him that he’ll truly enjoy

• 2. 14 things you should be buying yourself for Valentine’s Day

• 3. The 23+ best Valentine’s Day gifts for her in 2026

• 4. These 30 Valentine’s Day gifts for dids - from babies to teens - won our hearts

• 5. Budget-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts under $50 she’ll love

• 6. Amazon has curated its top 100 Valentine's Day gifts. Here are our 10 favorites from the list.

• 7. Valentine’s Day activities kids will love 

• 8. The Valentine's Day gifts that your boyfriend will actually want

• 9. We asked a romance novelist to choose the best Valentine’s Day gifts for food lovers

• 10. Calgary woman hosting Valentine’s Day event for widows after her fiancé’s passing

Before you go: 7 things you may have missed in the news

• 1. Catherine O'Hara, Schitt’s Creek star and comedy legend, dies at 71 (see photo)

• 2. Nigella Lawson to replace Prue Leith on The Great British Bake Off

• 3. Dan-D Pak brand Raw Macadamia Nuts recalled due to salmonella

• 4. France moves to abolish concept of marital duty to have sex

• 5. "Our children’s brains are not for sale": Macron says France to fast-track social media ban for under-15s 

• 6. Royal couple announces surprise divorce after 25 years of marriage

• 7. End of an era: Tesla discontinues Model S and Model X

Trivia: Did you know?

The 1916 (summer), 1940 (winter and summer) and 1944 (winter and summer) Olympics were cancelled due to the First and Second World Wars.

Quotes of note

• 1. "I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then."

- Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), English author and poet (see photo)

• 2. "Turn your wounds into wisdom."

- Oprah Winfrey

• 3. "Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much."

- Blaise Pascal 

• 4. "Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime."

- Mineko Iwasaki  

• 5. "Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire."

- Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code

• 6. "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."

- Marie Curie 

• 7. "You are enough to drive a saint to madness or a king to his knees."

- Grace Willows, To Kiss a King

• 8. "There’s no such thing as bad weather – only the wrong clothes."

- Billy Connolly

• 9. "The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one."

- Oscar Wilde

• 10. "It is useless to try to hold a person to anything he says while he’s madly in love, drunk, or running for office."

- Shirley MacLaine

Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group

In February, the group is walking in Centennial Park, meeting in the parking lot off St. George Boulevard.

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.

Petal by Petal: A Relaxing and Beautiful Floral Coloring Book – Volume 1 by Rose Michaels

Escape into a world of beauty and calm with Petal by Petal: A Relaxing and Beautiful Floral Coloring Book – Volume 1 by Rose Michaels. Let your worries melt away as you bring to life stunning bouquets, delicate blossoms and intricate floral patterns – all designed to spark joy and creativity. Whether you’re curled up with a cup of tea on a cozy afternoon or winding down after a long day, this coloring book is your perfect companion for self-care and artistic expression. Inside, you’ll discover 50 pretty flower designs waiting to be filled with your favorite colors. No artistic experience needed – just your favorite pencils, markers or crayons. Let each page be a gentle invitation to slow down, breathe and create something colorful and beautiful. Petal by Petal: A Relaxing and Beautiful Floral Coloring Book – Volume 1 is more than a coloring book – it’s your personal escape to peace and creativity. A total of 50 images are available in the book with a blank page on the other side of the image if you want to use markers.

• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3IwEZvP

• Amazon USA: amzn.to/4lTRMa0

To view the entire list of Rose Michaels' colouring books, visit her website or follow her Facebook page.

Monday, February 2: Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night

The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, February 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only).

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 8-8:15 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, canned goods, 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, Krista Richard's Community Sports Program and Bicycle Program, Diabetes Canada's D-Camps for kids, and Anglophone East School District's School Supplies Drive, 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.

Facebook event listing: bit.ly/43QNMk5

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.