Latest news with #Bedard
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Township taxpayers still on the hook for some ice-storm costs
While taxpayers in Springwater and Oro-Medonte townships will have to pony up more of their hard-earned cash to help cover the costs of March's devastating ice storm, the majority of the costs are expected to be covered by the Municipal Ice Storm Assistance (MISA) program. MISA replaces the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program, which will not be activated for the ice storm, according to a report prepared for Springwater council by Greg Bedard, the township's interim deputy chief administrative officer. 'The Municipal Ice Storm Assistance (MISA) program provides one-time support to eligible municipalities for incremental costs related to the ice storm that began on March 28, 2025,' Bedard wrote in his report to council, which was delivered at the township's July 2 meeting. 'There is no cost threshold to qualify for this program.' According to Bedard's report, the township incurred $493,000 in additional costs by June 13 and expects it may add another $130,000 in future costs for a total of $623,000. The single largest cost was for goods and services — costs for external service providers contracted to undertake work directly related to the ice storm, and the rental of specialized equipment used by township staff to assist with debris cleanup — which came in at $318,000. Bedard's report noted that if the township incurs eligible costs totalling $623,000, the province would contribute about $490,000 in MISA funding. The remaining $133,000 would be funded by the township. In Oro-Medonte, the numbers are significantly higher. According to a report presented to Oro-Medonte council on April 29, chief administrative officer Shawn Binns said the township incurred costs of almost $6.5 million due to the ice storm. He downgraded that to about $6 million on Monday. 'The township's April 29, 2025 report provided an overview of the expenditures,' Binns said in an email to BarrieToday. 'The breakdown of costs has not changed materially from what was previously reported although actuals are slightly lower at an approximate cost of $6 million versus the approximately $6.5 million previously reported. 'With support from the province, the net impact to the township would be approximately $457,000,' he added. According to Binns' April 29 report, operations, which included mutual aid, contracted services, rentals and equipment, cost the township $5.65 million. Oro-Medonte council will discuss its MISA application during Wednesday's meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. To qualify for the MISA program, a municipality must: Applications will be reviewed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and are subject to final funding approval by the minister. If approved, the province and municipality will enter into a transfer payment agreement, of which all payments under the agreement will be based on eligible costs incurred. For eligible costs up to three per cent of the municipality's own-purpose taxation, the province will reimburse 75 per cent, and for eligible costs above three per cent of the municipality's own-purpose taxation, the province will reimburse 95 per cent. 'The township has based ice-storm response and recovery decision making on the assumption the township will be fully responsible for all costs associated with the ice storm,' Bedard's report noted. 'Provincial assistance has not been seen as a guarantee, given the previous cost threshold under the MDRA program, as well as the need to substantially document eligible expenses for the province's review. 'Should the township's MISA application be approved by the minister, this will positively impact the financial implications associated with the township's response to the ice storm,' Bedard added. In addition to MISA, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing also launched the Business Ice Storm Assistance Program (BISA) that provides one-time support to certain small businesses, small farms, and not-for-profit organizations that incurred damage resulting from the late March/early April 2025 ice storm. The BISA program is application based with a deadline to apply by Oct. 31, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Lacing up the skates in the off-season with Connor Bedard
He might be viewed as the future of the Chicago Blackhawks, but Connor Bedard still has a little piece of the Lower Mainland in him. The North Vancouver 19-year-old who went first overall pick in the 2023 draft has spent a good chunk of the off-season back in Metro Vancouver as he gears up for next year's campaign. 'I'm living at home, I am taking advantage of the free food, free rent and everything,' he quipped during an interview with Global News at Burnaby's 8-Rinks. 2:18 NHL draft lottery: Chicago Blackhawks win Connor Bedard sweepstakes The Blackhawks missed the playoffs this year, and Bedard hasn't been wasting any of the extra time the longer off-season provided. Story continues below advertisement The star centre opted out of the World Championships this spring to focus on upping his game for next season. 'I just thought the best was to get to start my training and have that extra month,' he said. 'You know, it's disappointing for every team that doesn't make the playoffs and is home early, but I tried to use that time to my advantage.' It was a tough year for the Blackhawks, who finished 31st in a league of 32, with just 25 wins in 82 games. Over the last two years combined, they've managed just 48 games in the W-column. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Bedard admitted the club's record isn't where anyone wants it to be. 2:09 'I love it here.': Connor Bedard reflects on historic run with Regina Pats 'We're, obviously, the last couple of years in a place where we weren't winning many games, and we're NHL players — it's going to be a little frustrating, and you have moments,' he said. Story continues below advertisement This was also the first season Bedard played a full 82 games, putting up 23 goals and 44 assists — an impressive feat for a 19-year-old, given that he hasn't had much help from the rest of the squad. He told Global News he believes the club's core of young players, most aged 20-23 years old, holds the key to success going forward. 'We're going to get a lot better and, you know, it's just pretty exciting looking forward to, obviously this year, but the next few years going forward,' he said. 'I mean, I love the city, I love all of the fans, and just being there is so special … I feel grateful to be there, you know? If I could have it my way (I'd) be there, you know, my whole career.' Heading into next year, he said the goal is to make every game tough on their opponents, and to find themselves playing meaningful games in March and April, rather than crashing out of the playoff race early. Bedard is also hopeful he can land a slot on Canada's 2026 Olympic roster. 2:36 Connor Bedard sits down with Global News Morning in Regina 'I still have to prove myself in the league and if I have … a really good start to the year, then I'll be in consideration, but there's so many good players from Canada and a team that's going to be … maybe the best of all time,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'So if I can put my name and even the discussions with my play, that'd be great. And obviously, I believe in myself. But, you know, we'll see once … the season comes.' As one of the NHL's rising stars, Bedard is also getting used to the spotlight. A big name comes with big endorsements, and it's not uncommon to flick on the TV and see his face appear in a commercial. 'I mean, I'm happy I'm in the 'States for the season, I don't have to watch myself on TV,' he chuckled. 'It's something you get used to, but you know it's pretty cool, you see a kid rocking your jersey or something l like that, so I try not to take that stuff for granted.' The NHL has yet to release its 2025-2026 schedule, but fans in Vancouver can be assured they'll have a chance to see him play in front of a hometown audience. Last season, the Blackhawks visited Rogers Arena twice, falling both times to the Vancouver Canucks. With files from Barry Deley
Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Women buck trend, look to grow rodeo sport of ranch bronc riding
'I always kind of wanted to hop on a bronc,' Bunney told the Canadian Press. 'In Grade 3, we did 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' and I said I wanted to be a female bronc rider.' Unlike saddle bronco riding, a rodeo mainstay, ranch bronc uses a regular western saddle — not a specialized one — and riders hang on with two hands instead of one. A hand is on a rein and the other on a strap wrapped around the saddle horn. Advertisement Pearl Kersey, who won the Canadian women's ranch bronc title over the weekend in Ponoka, Alberta., is president of Women's Ranch Bronc Canada and teaches it at clinics. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up 'I've got teenagers, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds, and this year a woman in her 50s. I was like, 'You sure?'' Kersey said. 'She doesn't want to compete. She wants to try it before she gets too old. We have bucking machines. She doesn't necessarily need to get on a horse. They can go through all the drills and the bucking machine, and if they're comfortable enough, they can get on a horse.' It took a while for 19-year-old Blayne Bedard, who grew up cow riding in the Canadian Girls Rodeo Association, to master keeping her feet forward toward the horse's shoulders. Advertisement 'If they come back, I'm like a pendulum and I just go head over teakettle,' Bedard said. 'For the longest time, that was my biggest problem with riding ranch bronc, and why I kept bucking off was because my feet weren't moving and they'd come behind me and I'd get lawn-darted right away.' She's improved to the point where Bedard has competed in the last two Canadian championships. 'I like the look of it, too,' Bedard said. 'You get cool pictures.' One of the lessons Bedard picked up at a Kersey clinic had nothing to do with riding form — and everything to do with what goes inside a boot. 'I put baby powder in my boots every time before I ride, and I wear my mom's boots that are a size too big for me, because if you get your foot stuck in a stirrup — which I've had a few times — you need your boot to be able to come off so you're not being dragged by the horse,' she said. Women's ranch bronc isn't part of the $2.1 million Calgary Stampede starting Friday, but women's breakaway roping will debut at the 10-day rodeo. Breakaway and barrel racing are the two women's events on a program that also features men's bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling, and tie-down roping. The Ponoka Stampede adding women's ranch bronc to its lineup in 2022 was a big step forward, Kersey said. Inclusion in the Calgary Stampede would be another milestone. 'The ultimate is the same with girls in breakaway roping, which is getting into pro rodeos because that's when you get the big money,' she said. 'We're way bigger with the added money than we were, but it takes time. ... It takes a while to get contestant numbers up.' Advertisement Kersey, 36, has qualified for the world finals July 19-20 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she won in 2019 and has twice finished second. Kersey intends to retire from competition after this year, but continue teaching. One of her students, Calgary's Emma Eastwood, picked it up quickly thanks to years of riding horses and a stint as an amateur jockey. She attended Kersey's clinics last fall and this spring, and won an event in just her third time competing. 'It is difficult to try and think through your ride and hang on through all that adrenaline,' said the 27-year-old massage therapist. 'Things kind of get a little blurry, and it's hard to process everything going on so quickly.' Rodeo bucking events have traditionally been the domain of men. Kersey, Eastwood, and Bedard say the cowboys have been welcoming, though Bunney's experience has been mixed. Kersey said she has heard from many. 'Women have come up to me and said, 'Thank you for doing what you're doing.' They might not go into ranch broncs, but it just gave them the power in themselves to go pursue something that they wanted that they didn't think they could because they were women,' Kersey said. 'Other girls tell me, 'I saw you ride at Ponoka,' and they're like, 'I want to try it.' Sometimes it's a confidence-booster thing. Sometimes they want to see if they'll like it and some are like, 'Yeah, I'm doing this.''
San Francisco Chronicle
03-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Women buck trend, look to grow rodeo sport of ranch bronc riding
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Sophia Bunney launched the first time she tried ranch bronc riding, landing 'quite a ways away from the horse.' 'I'm very stubborn and I don't like being defeated,' said the 18-year-old from Cessford, Alberta. In other words, the teenager was hooked on a sport that pits women against bucking horses for eight seconds. 'I always kind of wanted to hop on a bronc,' Bunney told the Canadian Press. 'In Grade 3, we did 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' and I said I wanted to be a female bronc rider.' Unlike saddle bronco riding, a rodeo mainstay, ranch bronc uses a regular western saddle — not a specialized one — and riders hang on with two hands instead of one. A hand is on a rein and the other on a strap wrapped around the saddle horn. Pearl Kersey, who won the Canadian women's ranch bronc title over the weekend in Ponoka, Alberta., is president of Women's Ranch Bronc Canada and teaches it at clinics. 'I've got teenagers, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds and this year a woman in her 50s. I was like, 'You sure?'' Kersey said. 'She doesn't want to compete. She wants to try it before she gets too old. We have bucking machines. She doesn't necessarily need to get on a horse. They can go through all the drills and the bucking machine, and if they're comfortable enough, they can get on a horse.' It took a while for 19-year-old Blayne Bedard, who grew up cow riding in the Canadian Girls Rodeo Association, to master keeping her feet forward toward the horse's shoulders. 'If they come back, I'm like a pendulum and I just go head over teakettle,' Bedard said. 'For the longest time, that was my biggest problem with riding ranch bronc and why I kept bucking off was because my feet weren't moving and they'd come behind me and I'd get lawn-darted right away.' She's improved to the point where Bedard has competed in the last two Canadian championships. 'I like the look of it, too,' Bedard said. 'You get cool pictures.' One of the lessons Bedard picked up at a Kersey clinic had nothing to do with riding form — and everything to do with what goes inside a boot. 'I put baby powder in my boots every time before I ride, and I wear my mom's boots that are a size too big for me, because if you get your foot stuck in a stirrup -- which I've had a few times -- you need your boot to be able to come off so you're not being dragged by the horse,' she said. Exposure for the sport Women's ranch bronc isn't part of the $2.1 million Calgary Stampede starting Friday, but women's breakaway roping will debut at the 10-day rodeo. Breakaway and barrel racing are the two women's events on a program that also features men's bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling and tie-down roping. The Ponoka Stampede adding women's ranch bronc to its lineup in 2022 was a big step forward, Kersey said. Inclusion in the Calgary Stampede would be another milestone. 'The ultimate is the same with girls in breakaway roping, which is getting into pro rodeos because that's when you get the big money,' she said. 'We're way bigger with the added money than we were, but it takes time. ... It takes a while to get contestant numbers up.' Kersey, 36, has qualified for the world finals July 19-20 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she won in 2019 and has twice finished second. Kersey intends to retire from competition after this year, but continue teaching. One of her students, Calgary's Emma Eastwood, picked it up quickly thanks to years of riding horses and a stint as an amateur jockey. She attended Kersey's clinics last fall and this spring, and won an event in just her third time competing. 'It is difficult to try and think through your ride and hang on through all that adrenaline,' said the 27-year-old massage therapist. 'Things kind of get a little blurry, and it's hard to process everything going on so quickly.' Rodeo bucking events have traditionally been the domain of men. Kersey, Eastwood and Bedard say the cowboys have been welcoming, though Bunney's experience has been mixed. Kersey said she has heard from many. 'Women have come up to me and said, 'Thank you for doing what you're doing.' They might not go into ranch broncs, but it just gave them the power in themselves to go pursue something that they wanted that they didn't think they could because they were women,' Kersey said. 'Other girls tell me, 'I saw you ride at Ponoka,' and they're like 'I want to try it.' Sometimes it's a confidence-booster thing. Sometimes they want to see if they'll like it and some are like 'Yeah, I'm doing this.''
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alberta women buck tradition and blaze their own trail in ranch bronc riding
CALGARY — Sophia Bunney launched the first time she tried ranch bronc riding, landing 'quite a ways away from the horse.' "I'm very stubborn and I don't like being defeated," said the 18-year-old from Cessford, Alta. Advertisement In other words, the teenager was hooked on a sport that pits women against bucking horses for eight seconds. "I always kind of wanted to hop on a bronc," Bunney said. "In Grade 3, we did 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' and I said I wanted to be a female bronc rider." Unlike saddle bronc, a rodeo mainstay, ranch bronc uses a regular western saddle — not a specialized one — and riders hang on with two hands instead of one. A hand is on a rein and the other on a strap wrapped around the saddle's horn. Pearl Kersey of Millarville, Alta., who won the Canadian women's ranch bronc title Sunday in Ponoka, Alta., is president of Women's Ranch Bronc Canada and teaches it at clinics. Advertisement "I've got teenagers, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds and this year a woman in her 50s. I was like 'you sure?'" Kersey said. "She doesn't want to compete. She wants to try it before she gets too old. "We have bucking machines. She doesn't necessarily need to get on a horse. They can go through all the drills and the bucking machine, and if they're comfortable enough, they can get on a horse." "Women have come up to me and said, 'thank you for doing what you're doing.' They might not go into ranch broncs, but it just gave them the power in themselves to go pursue something that they wanted that they didn't think they could because they were women. "Other girls tell me, 'I saw you ride at Ponoka,' and they're like 'I want to try it.' Sometimes it's a confidence-booster thing. Sometimes they want to see if they'll like it and some are like 'yeah, I'm doing this.'" Advertisement It took a while for 19-year-old Blayne Bedard of Linden, Alta., who grew up cow riding in the Canadian Girls Rodeo Association, to master keeping her feet forward toward the horse's shoulders. "If they come back, I'm like a pendulum and I just go head over teakettle," Bedard explained. "For the longest time, that was my biggest problem with riding ranch bronc and why I kept bucking off was because my feet weren't moving and they'd come behind me and I'd get lawn-darted right away." She's improved to the point where Bedard has competed in the last two Canadian championships. "I like the look of it, too," Bedard said. "You get cool pictures." Advertisement One of the lessons Bedard picked up at a Kersey clinic had nothing to do with riding form — and everything to do with what goes inside a boot. "I put baby powder in my boots every time before I ride, and I wear my mom's boots that are a size too big for me, because if you get your foot stuck in a stirrup -- which I've had a few times -- you need your boot to be able to come off so you're not being dragged by the horse," Bedard explained. Women's ranch bronc isn't part of the $2.1-million Calgary Stampede starting Friday, but women's breakaway roping will debut at the 10-day rodeo. Breakaway and barrel racing are the two women's events on a program that also features men's bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling and tie-down roping. Advertisement Kersey competed at the Calgary Stampede in 2021, when a "Broncs After Dark" exhibition was a substitute for the evening chuckwagon races, which were scrapped due to COVID-19. "When they cancelled the chucks for COVID, they were trying to make an evening show. They called me wanting ladies ranch broncs, but they wanted 10 days of it and I didn't have enough ladies up here," Kersey recalled. "Since we couldn't get ladies from the States, I said, 'I can get you one woman a day and the rest will be guys.' We did mixed ranch bronc riding for 10 days, so that was awesome." The Ponoka Stampede adding women's ranch bronc to its lineup in 2022 was a big step forward, said Kersey. Inclusion in the Calgary Stampede would be another milestone. Advertisement "The ultimate is the same with girls in breakaway roping, which is getting into pro rodeos because that's when you get the big money," she said. "We're way bigger with the added money than we were, but it takes time. "With breakaway, you've got thousands of contestants who can do it, but ranch bronc's a different breed. It takes a while to get contestant numbers up." Kersey, 36, has qualified for the world finals July 19-20 in Cheyenne, Wyo., where she won in 2019 and has twice finished second. Kersey intends to retire from competition after this year, but continue teaching. One of her students, Calgary's Emma Eastwood, picked it up quickly thanks to years of riding horses and a stint as an amateur jockey. She attended Kersey's clinics last fall and this spring, and won an event in just her third time competing. Advertisement "It is difficult to try and think through your ride and hang on through all that adrenaline," said the 27-year-old massage therapist. "Things kind of get a little blurry, and it's hard to process everything going on so quickly. "Having previous riding experience and being able to get that feel for the motion of the horse, how they move and kind of knowing what to expect out of them, and getting practice on the bucking machine makes a world of difference." Rodeo bucking events have traditionally been the domain of men. Kersey, Eastwood and Bedard say the cowboys have been welcoming, though Bunney's experience has been mixed. "I've had some nasty comments," Bunney said. "I've had some guys that have been real nice and tried helping me out or hyping me up." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025. Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
