In the Bay of Fundy, halfway between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, 50 spectators aboard a sailboat peer silently into the distance. The noises of nature reverberate: the flap of eagle wings and the splash of porpoises cutting through the still water. But one distinctive groan echoed throughout the bay sounding like a cry for help from the most endangered … Read More
OTTAWA – A day after his 67th birthday, and eight days before he died, Peter Jennings found out he would be awarded the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest honour. The nomination process began long before Mr. Jennings’ dramatic on-air announcement on ABC-TV on April 5 that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The decision was made on June … Read More
OTTAWA – When Ghazal Omid first heard about the public hanging of two gay teenagers in Iran, she instinctively started to cry. “I was devastated. When I saw those pictures it was like someone putting a hand to my heart and pulling it,” said Ms. Omid, 35, a Vancouver-based author and human right advocate from Iran. “That’s what the government … Read More
When Israeli troops start pulling out of the Gaza Strip on Aug. 15, they will leave behind 38 years of painful memories. Most non-settler Israelis who have been to Gaza were there as soldiers. To them, Gaza meant danger, often death. The pullout will mark a blessed exodus from a place to which no one wishes to return. Ironically, I … Read More
Ottawa’s diplomatic scene has witnessed its share of squabbles and small rivalries, but it’s hard to recall the last time an actual fistfight broke out at an embassy, as reportedly happened at the Israeli mission on O’Connor Street. What’s more, the alleged shoving match was between two Israeli representatives. The altercation was splashed across the front pages of two mass-circulation … Read More
WINNIPEG – Sitting in the Crystal Ballroom of the Fort Garry Hotel, I could hardly believe the words I was hearing. Here I was at the conclusion of the Canadian Association of Journalists’ national conference, a weekend in which we could take pride in our often-maligned profession. There were lectures and panels devoted to highlighting journalistic ethics and integrity, workshops … Read More
With a wide grin and a warm chuckle, Sean Egan welcomed me into his modest office at the University of Ottawa. His mumbling Irish-accented voice instantly put me at ease. From that first meeting in early February to our last phone conversation a week ago from the Everest Base Camp, I developed a more intimate relationship with an interview subject … Read More
OTTAWA – The desire to seek vengeance was the initial, primal reaction to the public execution, three years ago in Pakistan, of his son, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. But instead of violence, Judea Pearl sought peace. “In caveman times, you kill the enemy and you kill the threat,” Mr. Pearl said from his home in Los Angeles. “In … Read More
The corridors of North Grenville District High School in Kemptville seem just like any other high school hallways. Lockers line the wall, the floors are scuffed and the sounds of chattering teens fill the air. Yet walking down one of those long hallways you can’t help but feel there’s something missing. It’s eerie. Sensing a visitor’s discomfort, Grade 11 student … Read More
In The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Sean Penn gives a masterful performance as a working-class misfit, disillusioned with American society, who decides he must kill the president of the United States. Neils Mueller’s directorial debut comes through with a depressing biopic that dives into a topic deeply ingrained in the American psyche. Presidential assassins have fascinated the U.S. for nearly … Read More
OTTAWA – Until this weekend, Francois Lessard thought he knew a thing or two about death. A former police reporter, he had often been forced to carry out the gut-churning task of calling bereaved family members in their time of sorrow and asking for quotes and photographs. Yesterday, he found himself on the other side. “Before, I understood how people … Read More
OTTAWA – Tragedy by fire seems to be in Richard Egan’s blood. Seared into the Ottawa man’s consciousness is a 125-year-old story: Religious strife, territorial battles and family revenge led to the bloody lynching of his ancestors, the infamous “Black Donnellys” of Lucan, Ont. The mass murder was sealed with the torching of the Donnelly home: Out of the ashes, … Read More
Sixty years ago, she was a weak, weary 15-year-old Polish girl, recently liberated from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp after losing her family. Last night, proud and strong, Anna Heilman captivated a capacity audience at Ben Franklin Place with her harrowing tale of survival and heroism. “Only when I got out of there did I understand what happened,” she said in … Read More
I remember the boots. They were red. There were about 20 pairs of them, lined up in a neat row. But I could hardly distinguish their true colour — the bright burgundy boots of the soldiers were splattered with thick red blood. The boots were all I could see; they poked out from beneath the single white sheet, stained with … Read More
OTTAWA – Jacqueline Benoit and her 12-year-old daughter, Devyn, enjoyed an early Christmas celebration at their home in the Glebe last Thursday. To the tune of her favourite music, Devyn opened her presents as she and her mother danced with their three-year-old dog, Jax.In was also a celebration of their one-year anniversary with Jax, a black and white border collie … Read More