Latest news with #AnneMartin
CTV News
7 days ago
- CTV News
Calgary copper thefts are becoming an epidemic, Telus officials say
Telus Communications said since July 10, 2025, there have been seven incidents of copper wire theft in Calgary targeting its lines. A telecommunications giant says it's reeling after several copper wire thefts have impacted services for thousands of its customers. Telus Communications said since July 10, there have been seven incidents in Calgary that have impacted more than 3,500 customers. Those services include wireline voice services, internet and television signals. The outages have hit communities all across the city such as Crowchild, Signal Hill, Lynnwood, Ogden, Killarney and Bowness. The company said the thefts are becoming a big concern for some Calgarians. 'In certain situations, people might not be able to call 911, such as seniors living alone or in care homes might not be able to reach families or first responders,' said Anne Martin, Telus' vice-president of network engineering and operations. In addition, officials say thieves are inflicting a lot of damage when they seek out the copper they're looking for, cutting through fiber-optic cables – wiring that has no commodity value – in the process, exacerbating the problem for the company. Telus says it's taking steps to protect critical cable connections such as welding manhole covers shut and installing additional security measures to prevent thefts. In the meantime, additional crews have been brought into the city from other provinces to repair the damage that's been done. That work has been ongoing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Telus said. 'This spike in criminal activity underscores an urgent need for stricter penalties, tighter regulations, increased vigilance and collaborative efforts between service providers, legislators, law enforcement and the public in order to stop these crimes from happening,' officials said. 'We are actively working with police to investigate all of these thefts and we urge the public to stay vigilant.' Calgary police say thieves are often taking advantage of easy-to-access areas, especially those in secluded areas of buildings. They urge businesses to take steps such as: securing the area by installing fencing or locked cages around outdoor HVAC units; installing motion-activated or dusk-to-dawn lights to illuminate HVAC and utility areas, as thieves prefer to operate in the dark; paint the cooper piping black or mark it with a unique identifier to make it harder to sell and look less attractive to thieves; installing surveillance cameras aimed at critical infrastructure to deter criminals and assist investigators if a theft occurs; conducting routine business property inspections, particularly after long weekends or off-hours; and consider hiring private security companies to patrol the area regularly for increased security. Telus urges anyone to report anything suspicious to your local police, Crime Stoppers or contact Telus directly by calling 310-CUTS (2887).
The Herald Scotland
24-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Historic Edinburgh churches walking trail unveiled
The Trail takes in all three city cathedrals, including: St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile, where Queen Elizabeth II laid at rest; St Mary's Catholic Cathedral on York Place, visited by Pope John Paul II in 1982; and St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral near Haymarket, the city's highest building. Smaller churches highlighted include: Canongate Kirk, the parish church to the royal Palace of Holyrood House; St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, which is modelled on Trafalgar Square's St Martin-in-the-Fields; and Old St Paul's, which hosts Alison Watt's iconic painting Still. READ: Sale of Glasgow west end care home nets £1m for charity Scotch whisky chief pays price as global turmoil hits industry Why the case for a 'Scottish visa' just got stronger The Trail is an inter-church – or ecumenical – venture involving the Church of Scotland, the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. It was designed by Anne Martin, a congregant from the Episcopal Diocese. The Very Revd John Conway, Provost of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, said: 'This lovely initiative provides a route to walk between the landmark churches of our beautiful city. Our hope is that the Trail not only shows people how to make their way from one church to another, but also helps reveal the long shared history and deepening friendship between us all as church communities.' Monsignor Jeremy Milne, Administrator of St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, said: 'The ecumenical Walking Trail takes you through the heart of the city and is a brilliant exploration of Edinburgh's rich Christian heritage and living communities. It is a well-chosen sample of Christian history, culture and worship which offers rich reward to those who set out along its path.' The new walking route celebrates 10 of Edinburgh's most historic churches (Image: Peter Backhouse) The Revd Dr Scott Rennie, Minister of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, said: 'Edinburgh has some of Scotland's most uplifting places of worship, and I hope the Trail encourages people from far and wide to discover some of them. It is wonderful for our three church communities to be working together.' The Revd Fiona Reynolds, Advisor for Christian Life at the Episcopal Diocese of [[Edinburgh]], said: 'The history of the city and its churches are intertwined, and so it is fitting that our three denominations are part of this venture. It has been great seeing this Walking Trail develop from a spark of an idea to publication and launch.' Anne Martin, who edited the Trail leaflet and is a congregant in the Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh, said: 'Setting up the Walking Trail has given an ecumenical opportunity for three Edinburgh church communities to work together to welcome visitors, and I hope it will lead to many more.'
