Latest news with #CBCHamilton
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Still-shuttered Marineland puts its amusement park rides up for sale
Marineland, the still-shuttered Niagara Falls aquarium and theme park where 18 beluga whales have died since 2019, has put its rides up for sale. News of the rides being on the market was published Tuesday in Amusement Today, an industry publication. It comes as animal advocates continue to express concerns about living conditions for the numerous water and land mammals still at Marineland, which has not indicated plans to open this summer. "For decades, Marineland has been home to a collection of beloved rides that have brought joy to millions of guests," stated a news release posted on Amusement Today. "As the park evolves, it is now offering buyers the opportunity to own a piece of amusement park history. The sale includes a range of classic attractions, from thrill rides to family-friendly [favourites]." It states the rides will be sold to amusement operators, entertainment companies and "qualified buyers." CBC Hamilton reached out to Marineland but did not hear back before publication. Bill Ossim, of the company Rides Plus, LLC, confirmed to Radio-Canada he had been contracted by Marineland to sell its rides. Phil Demers, a former Marineland walrus trainer who has been campaigning against the facility since 2012, says it's looking less and less like the park will ever open again. CBC has previously reported that according to a local employment office, Marineland was not hiring any seasonal employees this year. The park also has a registered lobbyist to help the company obtain permits to export animals from the federal government. It also recently sold an office building. The company has not publicly confirmed whether it plans to close permanently. It told CBC earlier this month "no final decision has been made" on whether it will open this season. On Friday, its phone number listed on its website remained out of service. Demers said he wouldn't be surprised if the company tried to quietly fade away. "There might not even be an announcement," said Demers, who was sued by his former employer in 2013. The company alleged Demers trespassed and plotted to steal the 800-pound walrus he used to train, Smooshi. Demers filed a counterclaim, also in 2013, for defamation and abuse of process, he told CBC Hamilton. "It does seem a bit surreal," he said on Thursday. "Every once in a while you have to remind yourself there's still animals there." He said the remaining aquatic animals that live there include 31 beluga whales, four dolphins, two sea lions and three seals – including one named Larry. There are also numerous red deer, fallow deer, elk and bears, he said, noting he plans to keep monitoring and speaking out on behalf of the facility's animals "until that place is dust ... I'm married to that place in a weird sense." Advocacy group Animal Justice filed a complaint with Ontario's Animal Welfare Services (AWS) on June 11. It said in a news release about the complaint that it has seen drone footage, posted on Instagram, that shows about four dolphins "circling a cramped tank" next to where a stage is being demolished. "Marine mammal welfare experts who reviewed the video say the noise, vibrations, and disruption from the demolition activity would likely cause the animals' psychological suffering, adding to the harm caused by years of confinement, lack of enrichment, and inconsistent care," Animal Justice's statement. In response to the complaint, as seen by CBC Hamilton, AWS told Animal Justice it has inspected Marineland more than 220 times since January 2020. The province declared in 2021 that all marine mammals at the park were in distress due to poor water, but told The Canadian Press last year the water issue had been brought up to standard. AWS has not shared details publicly about its enforcement and no charges appear to have been laid against Marineland related to its aquatic mammals. Last year, Marineland was found guilty under Ontario's animal cruelty laws over its care of three young black bears. AWS also said in its response that it is not involved in any rumoured plans to relocate Marineland's animals, but that it continues to monitor the site. "The ministry also has experts who provide us with advice on marine mammals, their living conditions and their health and welfare," it said. "Please be assured that the government continues to look at ways to make sure that the animals at Marineland continue to receive the care they need." CBC Hamilton reached out to AWS for comment but did not hear back before publication.
16-06-2025
International student Sahil Kumar found dead 10 days after disappearance in Toronto
A 22-year-old Hamilton student who was reported missing (new window) nearly a month ago was found dead in Toronto, according to police. Sahil Kumar was last seen on the afternoon of May 16 near Yonge and Dundas streets in downtown Toronto. A recent arrival from India, Kumar had moved to Hamilton in April and was set to begin a web design program at Humber College earlier this spring. In a news release, Toronto police said Kumar's body was found on May 26 — 10 days after he went missing. While the investigation remains open, police said the case does not appear to be a criminal matter. A spokesperson told CBC that no further information would be released. Kumar's family, however, says the circumstances surrounding his death raise far more questions than answers. He was happy. He had no problems. He called home every day and told us he was enjoying his course, said Akshay Yadav, Kumar's uncle in India, in an interview translated from Hindi. He told us: 'Next time I want to bring grandma with me. It feels good here.' According to the family, Kumar spoke to his parents, brother, and grandmother on the day he went missing. That was May 16, in the afternoon. After that, his phone was off, Yadav told CBC Hamilton. His roommates initially thought he may have returned home and gone to sleep. But when they realized he hadn't, they began calling and eventually filed a police report. It was issued on May 20. It felt like the ground had slipped from under our feet, said Yadav. We had just spoken to him. On May 27, they received a message confirming Kumar had been found dead in the water. His body was identified by the family overseas during a video call with police. We were shocked. It was impossible to believe. Sahil even knew how to swim, Yadav said. We kept asking, 'Why would he go to the beach? What happened?' But we've gotten no clear answers. Une photo récente de Sahil Kumar, 22 ans. C'était la première fois qu'il vivait à l'étranger, selon sa famille. Photo: Fournie par Amit Singh Toronto police have not commented on the location where Kumar's body was found or the specific circumstances surrounding his death. The family says communication largely stopped after the body was recovered. Based in a small village in India, without the financial means or many Canadians connections, the family says they feel powerless to push for a more thorough investigation or to look privately into the circumstances. It feels like an injustice was done to us, said Yadav. We're not wealthy, we don't have the means to fight this. Yadav said the family has begun to reach out to other families of international students from India who also went missing recently. They were alarmed to read about one case in Ottawa, where a college student died in April (new window) under some similar circumstances, he said. They also connected with the family of Vedatman Poduval, a York University student who was reported missing (new window) on June 2 by Toronto police and found four days later, on June 6. While police have only said he was found, the family told CBC News he had died. Yadav said the conversation between the two families underscored the similarities between the cases — young international students, all found in water under unclear circumstances. When this happens again and again, it should raise questions, Yadav said. CBC has asked both Toronto and Ottawa police whether they are investigating any potential patterns across the cases or are coordinating on the cases but did not hear back before publication. If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help: Shilpashree Jagannathan (new window) · CBC News
CBC
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Looking for a bumpy ride? Hamilton home to the 2 worst roads in Ontario, says CAA
Social Sharing Hamilton has the worst road in Ontario for the fourth year running, according to a Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) campaign. CAA's worst roads list, which has been running since at least 2003, declared Aberdeen Avenue the worst in the province, with Barton Street E. coming in second. CAA named Aberdeen Avenue the worst road in 2024, too. According to a CAA news release Thursday, "frustrations with potholes and poor road maintenance have kept this road in the number one spot." Barton Street E. held the worst road distinction in 2023 and 2022. Hamilton also held the number one spot in 2017 and 2018 with Burlington Street E. The top 10 worst roads in the province, according to the 2025 campaign, are: Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton. Barton Street E., Hamilton. County Road 49, Prince Edward County. Eglinton Avenue W., Toronto. Hurontario Street, Mississauga. Leveque Road, South Frontenac. Highway 50, Caledon. Sider Road, Fort Erie. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto. Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto. 'Reflection of public concern': city Hamilton's director of transportation Carolyn Ryall said that while she hasn't had any direct correspondence with CAA yet, the city is well aware of public concerns regarding those roads and suspected they may be on the list. "We recognize the importance of the report and we understand that it's really a reflection of public concern. It's something that we take very seriously," Ryall told CBC Hamilton. She said city teams are always working to maintain roads, filling 70,000 to 90,000 potholes per year. Hamilton invested $190 million in the transportation network in 2025, Ryall said, including a $5 million increase in the city's resurfacing fund, which is used to patch up areas that are harder to maintain. "We know that the city of Hamilton is aware of this and they've continued to invest in infrastructure," Brian Pirvu, a government relations consultant for CAA South Central Ontario, told CBC Hamilton. "We want to continue having those conversations with them in order to ensure that [funding]." He noted potholes can form more easily in our polarizing climate, where the ground can freeze and thaw rapidly, weakening asphalt. "We are seeing from certain reports that the cost of maintaining roads has increased." Aberdeen work in progress: Transportation director On Aberdeen Avenue, Pirvu said, Longwood Road S., Locke Street S., and Queen Street S., were intersections respondents flagged as particularly bad. On Barton Street E., Gave Avenue N., and Ottawa Street N., were two respondents complained about. The city is looking to fully reconstruct Aberdeen Avenue and make it better for walking, cycling and driving, but that will take a long time, Ryall said, since it requires consultation and involves infrastructure below the surface such as water and wastewater systems. In the meantime, she said, the city took residents' concerns into account and worked with Coun. Maureen Wilson (Ward 1)'s office on a plan to resurface Aberdeen Avenue between Dundurn Street S., and Studholme Road as a hold-me-over. In recent years, she said, the city completed a $7.5-million reconstruction project on Barton Street E., between Parkdale Avenue N., and Talbot Street. Hamilton is planning to do more construction between Parkdale and Ferguson Avenue N., soon, Ryall said. In Hamilton, the worst roads this year according to the campaign are: Aberdeen Avenue. Barton Street E. Main Street W. King Street E. Main Street E. In Niagara, those roads are: Sider Road, Fort Erie. Portage Road, Niagara Falls. Miller Road, Port Colborne. Lundy's Lane, Niagara Falls. Facer Street, St. Catharines. How the list is determined To determine its list, CAA asks participants to nominate roads, Pirvu said. They can share why they're nominating them and can say what type of road user they are. CAA said 84 per cent of respondents cited potholes as one of their primary reason for nominating a road. About 77 per cent cited poor road maintenance, and about 15 per cent cited congestion. Most people who submitted candidates identified themselves as drivers or people who commute by vehicle, Pirvu said, but people also noted issues from the perspective of cyclists and pedestrians. People nominated over 2,400 different roads from 208 municipalities. CAA works with the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario, which advocates for infrastructure investment, to investigate nominated roads and confirm there are issues, Pirvu said. They also work to reach out to municipalities and provinces to "promote solutions" such as accessing grants or using recycled asphalt to save money. Usually, Pirvu said, CAA sees those sorts of streets drop off the list once maintenance is done. Pirvu acknowledges that while people want well-maintained roads, maintenance can be unpopular, with CAA members reporting frustration with how long road projects take to complete. That's a balancing act, Ryall said, and city staff try to reduce disruptions by coordinating when and where different crews will work to prevent people from getting caught in multiple detours. She said people with concerns about roadways can call the city and noted potholes can be reported online.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Marineland remains closed in Niagara Falls, Ont., says it hasn't decided if it will open this year
With the busy summer tourist season in Niagara Falls, Ont., weeks away, Marineland says it still hasn't decided if it will open this year. The beleaguered aquarium told CBC Hamilton in an email Tuesday "no final decision has been made." "As Marineland has repeatedly publicly stated, we continue to be actively engaged in a sale process and transition to new ownership," said the statement from the marketing department. "The long-term health and welfare of the animals remains Marineland's priority in the transition process." As of Tuesday, its main phone number wasn't working, its Facebook page was taken down and its website made no mention of its reopening date. This time last year, its reopening date of June 28 was already posted to its website, according to internet park has traditionally closed for the fall and winter, and reopened in the spring, but in recent years scaled back operations, said Janet Adams, an employment co-ordinator at the Niagara Employment Help Centre. At its height, Marineland would hire 500 to 700 seasonal employees, she said. But last year it hired only a few janitors and cashiers, and called back employees from the year before, Adams said. This year, they haven't posted any summer positions at all, impacting students looking for work, she said. 18 beluga whale deaths since 2019 Ontario's Animal Welfare Services has been investigating Marineland for five years, visiting the park more than 200 times since 2020. Eighteen beluga whales, one killer whale and one dolphin have died at Marineland since late 2019 — including one beluga earlier this year. The province declared in 2021 that all marine mammals at the park were in distress due to poor water, but told The Canadian Press last year the water issue had been brought up to standard. In 2024, Marineland was found guilty under Ontario's animal cruelty laws over its care of three young black bears. The bears lived in an enclosure that measured 48 square feet and their outside area was 360 square feet, and lacked water and climbing structures, a provincial court heard. However, the bears needed to be in an enclosure at least 10,000 square feet, animal welfare inspectors determined. Lobbyist working on animal export permits Last month, Marineland sold one of its properties that included an office building to a numbered corporation for over $2.7 million, according to land records. It's down the road from the sprawling main park. Earlier this year, it got permission from the City of Niagara Falls to sever the large park into four parcels to take out mortgages. Tom Richardson, a lawyer who represents Marineland, said at a public meeting in February that it needs the money to continue funding park operations and eventually move its animals, including more than two dozen beluga whales, as well as bears and deer. "It's to address the elephant in the room, and that is the moving of the whales and other creatures," he said. After the animals are moved, the park will merge the parcels back together, rather than sell them off individually, said Richardson. In March, a consultant for Marineland, Andrew Burns, registered as a lobbyist to "communicate with government officials" about obtaining permits to trade endangered species internationally and export cetaceans, a classification of aquatic mammals that includes whales and dolphins. Burns didn't respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Marineland remains closed in Niagara Falls, Ont., says it hasn't decided if it will open this year
With the busy summer tourist season in Niagara Falls, Ont., weeks away, Marineland says it still hasn't decided if it will open this year. The beleaguered aquarium told CBC Hamilton in an email Tuesday "no final decision has been made." "As Marineland has repeatedly publicly stated, we continue to be actively engaged in a sale process and transition to new ownership," said the statement from the marketing department. "The long-term health and welfare of the animals remains Marineland's priority in the transition process." As of Tuesday, its main phone number wasn't working, its Facebook page was taken down and its website made no mention of its reopening date. This time last year, its reopening date of June 28 was already posted to its website, according to internet park has traditionally closed for the fall and winter, and reopened in the spring, but in recent years scaled back operations, said Janet Adams, an employment co-ordinator at the Niagara Employment Help Centre. At its height, Marineland would hire 500 to 700 seasonal employees, she said. But last year it hired only a few janitors and cashiers, and called back employees from the year before, Adams said. This year, they haven't posted any summer positions at all, impacting students looking for work, she said. 18 beluga whale deaths since 2019 Ontario's Animal Welfare Services has been investigating Marineland for five years, visiting the park more than 200 times since 2020. Eighteen beluga whales, one killer whale and one dolphin have died at Marineland since late 2019 — including one beluga earlier this year. The province declared in 2021 that all marine mammals at the park were in distress due to poor water, but told The Canadian Press last year the water issue had been brought up to standard. In 2024, Marineland was found guilty under Ontario's animal cruelty laws over its care of three young black bears. The bears lived in an enclosure that measured 48 square feet and their outside area was 360 square feet, and lacked water and climbing structures, a provincial court heard. However, the bears needed to be in an enclosure at least 10,000 square feet, animal welfare inspectors determined. Lobbyist working on animal export permits Last month, Marineland sold one of its properties that included an office building to a numbered corporation for over $2.7 million, according to land records. It's down the road from the sprawling main park. Earlier this year, it got permission from the City of Niagara Falls to sever the large park into four parcels to take out mortgages. Tom Richardson, a lawyer who represents Marineland, said at a public meeting in February that it needs the money to continue funding park operations and eventually move its animals, including more than two dozen beluga whales, as well as bears and deer. "It's to address the elephant in the room, and that is the moving of the whales and other creatures," he said. After the animals are moved, the park will merge the parcels back together, rather than sell them off individually, said Richardson. In March, a consultant for Marineland, Andrew Burns, registered as a lobbyist to "communicate with government officials" about obtaining permits to trade endangered species internationally and export cetaceans, a classification of aquatic mammals that includes whales and dolphins. Burns didn't respond to a request for comment.
