By Canadian Press

In the news today, Oct. 15

Oct 15, 2018 | 2:15 AM

Six stories in the news for Monday, Oct. 15

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CANADIANS WIDELY UNAWARE OF WOMEN’S HISTORY: POLL

The organization behind Canada’s Heritage Minutes says provincial education systems need to do a better job of teaching students about the country’s most historically significant women, pointing to a new poll that suggests the majority of Canadians have a lot to learn. The Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Historica Canada posed a dozen true or false questions about Canadian women’s history. And 55 per cent of those who took the quiz failed, with only three per cent answering well enough to score an A.

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Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

11h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

FITNESS BUFFS TURN TO CANNABIS TO AID WORKOUTS

As an avid runner with some two dozen marathons under his belt, Adrian Landini is thoroughly familiar with the runner’s high. He’s also quite experienced running while high. The longtime pot smoker routinely lights up during a run, saying it benefits his endurance training. Impending legalization Wednesday is lifting the veil around the unexpected ways weed has long been integrated into some users’ lives. Among those are some fitness buffs keen to dispel the stereotype of the lazy stoner.

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HALIFAX SMOKING BAN TO BEGIN TODAY

Halifax’s sweeping smoking ban begins today, two days before recreational cannabis is legalized across Canada. The ban in Nova Scotia’s capital prohibits smoking or vaping of both nicotine and cannabis on municipal property, except within designated smoking areas. The city’s map of designated smoking areas currently has nine spots posted, most of which are bus terminals. And people caught smoking outside those areas could face fines as high as $2,000.

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DONALD MACDONALD DEAD AT 86

Longtime Liberal politician Donald Macdonald died on Sunday at the age of 86. His daughter Sonja Macdonald said he died in his sleep at his Toronto home. Macdonald, who was born in Ottawa, was elected to the House of Commons in 1962 and held a number of cabinet portfolios under Pierre Trudeau, including defence and finance. He was also president of the Privy Council and in 1994 was named a companion of the Order of Canada for his contributions to trade and social policy development.

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WIDOWER GETS “OVERWHELMING” AMOUNT OF CARDS

Gerard Dunn has found an unexpected best friend in his local postman who makes daily house calls — sometimes with the help of a supervisor — to deliver an “overwhelming” torrent of cards for him to look through. His Sydney, N.S., home is packed with containers full of letters and cards after a tweet from his daughter went viral last month asking people to mail Gerard their best wishes for his 92nd birthday on Tuesday. It will be the first in a very long time that he’ll be spending without his beloved wife, Ellen, who died in March.

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COUPLE RECREATES ‘ALIEN’ FOR MATERNITY PHOTOS

In Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, “Alien,” the crew of the Nostromo begin a voyage unknowingly carrying a new being along with them. Thirty-nine years later, Todd and Nicole Cameron of Nanaimo, B.C., drew inspiration from the film to tell their friends and family that they too will soon embark on a voyage with a new being. On a rainy September day the eight-and-a-half month pregnant Nicole donned a chiffon dress and then, along with Todd, posed for photos in a pumpkin patch recreating the infamous alien birth scene from the movie.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Re-trial for Dennis Oland on a charge of second-degree murder in the 2011 death of his father, Richard Oland in Saint John.

— The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will hold hearings in St. John’s.

— Canadian Real Estate Association releases latest housing data.

— Invitation-only meeting in Toronto of the CEOs of the world’s biggest corporations. Guests include Justin Trudeau.

— Alberta government makes legal marijuana announcement in Calgary.

— The Royal Canadian Mint will unveil new two-dollar coin in Winnipeg commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

— President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Vancouver to provide CACP perspective on police readiness for pot legalization.

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The Canadian Press