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Hamilton Spectator
20 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Parkour vaults into Napanee Council's concerns
There is a delicate balance when it comes to parkour, the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee learned this week. Cora Wright, Founder and Head Coach of Pegasus Movement Academy (PMA) , addressed Council at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jul. 22, 2025, in response to concerns about her youth parkour program, which operates in Conservation Park and Rotary Park. Her deputation came just before Council received the Parks, Recreation & Culture – Park Rental Permits report , which proposes a new facility rental category, 'Passive Park – Commercial/Sport Use,' aimed at businesses using public park space. The report, which refers specifically to PMA's use of municipal infrastructure, states, 'Staff are proposing that council approve the addition of a new facility rental category for Passive Park Commercial/Sport use with a rate of $25/hour. The booking confirmation will be accompanied by a facility rental agreement and proof of insurance naming the Town of Greater Napanee as additional insured.' Wright began her presentation by saying, 'My love of coaching actually began here in Napanee… 30 years ago. I probably coached some of your kids and even some of your grandkids.' In the last three years, she's taught movement classes across Ontario and New Brunswick without incident: 'I haven't had so much as a severely sprained ankle teaching very difficult skills.' Wright described PMA as a program focused on safety, inclusivity, and physical literacy. 'Our classes aren't about stunts or reckless behaviour,' she explained. 'They're about learning how to move safely and confidently through our environment.' Even her youngest participants, as young as three, are trained in falling techniques, body awareness, and assessing their surroundings for safety, Wright explained. She acknowledged that parkour often suffers from misconceptions due to viral videos, but said, 'We don't even resemble them remotely.' Wright said her instructors are certified in gymnastics, parkour, trampoline, and adaptive coaching for youth with disabilities, and then highlighted the program's positive community impact. 'Several spectators, including seniors and youth who live near the area, are enjoying the park,' she said. 'The kids get supported and cheered on by the community. It's great to see.' Wright said her team always leaves parks cleaner than they find them. 'We've picked up trash, raked goose droppings, repaired wilful damage done by others, and even replaced stolen xylophone sticks,' she said. 'We've cleaned up and disposed of alcohol and drug containers, as well as paraphernalia… and we don't do that because we have to. We do it because we care.' She noted that before starting classes, she contacted the Town and was told her use of the parks would be acceptable, just like other groups and camps. But she raised concerns about the new permitting system under review. 'I constantly see wilful damage happening in the park done by people attending camps who aren't being supervised,' Wright said. 'A group of 20 children being monitored by two or three teenagers isn't going to notice everything.' Wright advocated for fairness and accountability, urging that any fees collected through the proposed permit system be used to address general wear and tear, not just damage linked to organized groups. 'What the Town has fixed, other groups have damaged, as well,' she said. Wright also emphasized accessibility, saying, 'We offer low fees, partial and full scholarship options. If a family came to me and said, 'We want to enrol our kids, we can't afford even one,' I would let every single one of those children attend for free.' Aside from church programs, Wright said she wasn't aware of any group in town offering the same level of support. 'Community means everything to me. I grew up here,' she expressed. She thanked the Town for removing a piece of rotting equipment in the parkour area that had posed a safety risk to children. While many councillors expressed support, some concerns remained, chiefly around safety, liability, and insurance. Wright confirmed she carried the required $5 million in liability coverage, but wasn't sure if the Town of Greater Napanee was named directly on the policy. Mayor Terry Richardson and Deputy Mayor Brian Calver stressed that the Town must be explicitly included. 'When somebody gets hurt, your legal stuff falls onto us,' the mayor warned. Councillors Bill Martin and Angela Hicks voiced strong support. 'I can't think of a better use of our park,' said Martin. Both councillors, however, referred to some negative comments on social media, and relations between PMA and the Town. Wright told Council that, while dialogue with staff had since improved, her first contact with the Town felt adversarial. 'The first email I received threatened me with fines,' she said, explaining that Town staff's initial concerns were focused on property damage, later shifting to liability, and then to the fact that she charged fees. 'I make three dollars a class,' she told Council. 'I do this solely for the community.' Councillor Dave Pinnell raised concerns about a Facebook photo showing a child hanging from a park light standard, citing the potential for encouraging unsafe behaviour or damaging infrastructure. Wright explained that, while the child is a student with PMA, the photo in question was taken outside class time when the child was supervised by his mother. With further regard to PMA's use of Town property, Wright said the padded boards used during lessons have been leaned gently against picnic tables and caused no damage. Councillor Mike Schenk offered support, but emphasized the need to minimize the use of benches or light poles. 'Everybody sues everybody these days,' he said. 'We have to protect the tax base and the municipality.' A report from the Town's insurer backed that stance, warning that if the Town knowingly allowed unpermitted or informal activities on its property, it could still be named in a lawsuit —- even if the municipality wasn't directly responsible. The report stressed that passing bylaws wasn't enough; they must also be enforced. Mayor Richardson closed the discussion by reaffirming Council's support for PMA and said the situation had been a learning experience. 'That's the wonderful thing about being in municipal government: every day is a new day,' he said. Council formally received Wright's deputation, then turned to further discussion under the meeting's agenda. That follow-up discussion focused on balancing public access with fairness for groups offering paid programming. Councillors debated the need for affordable permit options for children's fitness programs, with Hicks suggesting a seasonal permit might reduce the administrative burden on small organizations. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Grant clarified that Council would ultimately determine the rental rate and could choose to adopt seasonal, hourly, or youth-specific fees. Council voted to approve, in principle, the creation of the new Passive Park – Commercial/Sport Use rental category and directed staff to return to Council with fee structure options. PMA is allowed to continue its programming, pending Wright's providing updated insurance documentation. Meetings of the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee can be viewed virtually (or watched afterward) on the Napanee Town Council YouTube channel or attended in person in Council Chambers at Napanee Town Hall, 124 John Street. Further information about Council meetings, including agendas and reports, is available on the Town's CivicWeb portal . 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 .
Maroc
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
Morocco Reelected Member of FAO Council in Rome
Morocco was re-elected on Friday in Rome as a member of the Council of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for a new term covering the period from July 1, 2026, until the end of the 46th session of the FAO Conference, scheduled for 2029. This re-election, represented by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the UN agencies in Rome, Youssef Balla, took place during the 44th session of the FAO Conference, held in Rome from June 28 to July 4. Morocco has been one of the 12 countries representing the Africa region on the Council since June 30, 2023. The Kingdom was initially set to complete its current term on the Council on June 30, 2026. However, the renewed confidence of African member states earned it a new term, reflecting their recognition of Morocco's ongoing commitment to food security, sustainable agricultural development, and South-South cooperation across the African continent. Composed of 49 members, the Council is the executive body of the FAO Conference, responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Organization's activities between its plenary sessions. MAP:05 July 2025
CairoScene
04-07-2025
- Politics
- CairoScene
Egypt Becomes First Arab Nation to Chair FAO Council
Egypt becomes the first Arab country to hold the Independent Chairperson position at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Council. Jul 04, 2025 Egyptian diplomat Mina Rizk has been elected as the Independent Chairperson of the Council of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the first Arab official to assume the post since the agency was founded in 1945. The election took place during the FAO's 44th session in Rome, where Egypt also secured a seat on the General Committee of the FAO Conference. The role, held for a renewable one-year term, includes guiding consensus on strategic policies, programme priorities, and budgetary decisions within the Council. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rizk's election reflects Egypt's expanding role in multilateral governance related to agriculture, sustainability, and food systems. It aligns with the country's broader agenda of increasing influence within global development institutions. The FAO Council, comprising 49 regional member countries, acts as the organisation's executive arm. As Independent Chairperson, Rizk will oversee high-level discussions on critical issues such as climate resilience, food insecurity, and sustainable agricultural development.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Now Trump Wants the Federal Government to Take Over D.C.
Trump trashed Washington D.C.'s crime and homelessness on Wednesday night while calling for the District of Columbia to be put under the federal government's control. 'I think that we should govern the District of Columbia, it's so important, the D.C. situation,' Trump said when asked about his thoughts by a reporter aboard Air Force One on his way back to the White House from Miami. 'I think we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawlessly beautiful and I think we should take over Washington, D.C.,' Trump added. 'Make it safe, people are getting killed, people are being hurt,' Trump said, without adding any context. The district is run by a council of representatives and its mayor. Council members number 13 and serve for four-year terms. Congress, however, does have the right to intervene under the home rule law, according to the Council of the District of D.C. Columbia's website. Passed in 1973, the home rule means 'Congress reviews all legislation passed by the Council before it can become law and retains authority over the District's budget,' it states. 'Also, the President appoints the District's judges, and the District still has no voting representation in Congress.' Trump said D.C. has a 'great police department' but 'somehow they're not utilized properly.' He added he got along 'great' with its mayor, Muriel Bowser, 'but they're not doing the job. Too much crime. Too much graffiti. Too many tents on the lawns of... those magnificent lawns and there's tents... and you know, it's a sad thing, homeless people all over the place. We gotta take care of the homeless. But you can't have that in Washington D.C. 'When they come in to see me... like Macron is coming, the prime minister of the UK is coming, all these people coming over to see me,' he continued. 'We'll have ultimately President Xi, we'll have everybody. … You can't let that happen.' Trump's dismissal of the city as a graffiti-ridden crime hotspot is not new; he made numerous criticisms of the municipality on the campaign trail, including an appearance in Porstmouth, New Hampshire, on Jan. 20, 2024, where he labeled it 'one of the most unsafe places you can go to, anywhere on earth.'
