Latest news with #JohnCarle
CTV News
28-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘A surge of pride': How a local club is helping others with proceeds of Canadian patriotism
A central Alberta organization is using Canadian pride to help others. CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach reports. According to a recent Angus Reid Institute survey, national pride is on the rise – and it's helping a local club do more to help others in other countries. John Carle, a member of the Rotary Club of St. Albert, runs the organization's flag program and said this year is shaping up to be one of the best. The program, which costs $63 a year, sees the club deliver and install Canadian flags at people's homes for a week at a time for the Victoria Day, Canada Day and Labour Day long weekends. 'People just get really excited to see them. And it's just a great patriotic thing that raises money for our club,' Carle said. The program has been running for upwards of 15 years. Carle said interest dipped after the COVID-19 pandemic but is bouncing back in a big way. 'The convoy has definitely affected people's opinion of our flag, but everyone's right back in it,' he added. 'There's great patriotism out there right now, which really makes people want to have that flag on their lawn. 'And we're just so appreciative for the community support.' Rotary Club Canadian Flag Canadian Flags from the Rotary Club of St. Albert can be seen on June 27, 2025. (Marek Tkach/CTV news Edmonton) More than 600 flags are going up on local lawns this year, raising about $36,000 for charitable Rotary Club programs like international education and vaccination campaigns. 'Being able to tie the patriotism of our Canada flag with the great stuff that we do locally and internationally, it's just awesome,' Carle said. Joe Roe, a research associate at the Angus Reid Institute, said the institute has been tracking national pride since 2016. In December, the number of people who said they were proud or very proud to be Canadian had dipped to 58 per cent. That was up to 79 per cent in June. 'In the wake of Donald Trump's threatening of the 51st state, there's been somewhat of a surge of nationalism and a surge of pride,' Roe said. 'It's somewhat bounced back to the point where now more Canadians are saying they're proud to live in Canada.' Elbows Up Dartmouth Protesters cheer at the Elbows Up rally at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, N.S., on April 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Riley Smith (Riley Smith/The Canadian Press) In Alberta, the sentiment is lower with just 56 per cent saying they were proud or very proud Canadians. Only Quebec was lower, at 54 per cent. 'With a lot of criticism in Alberta for the Liberal government … I think there's a lot of people here that are maybe a little bit more pessimistic about the direction the country is going and I think that plays into the pride as well,' Roe explained. St. Albert resident Rudy Steinke falls into the 56 per cent and will be sporting a Rotary Club flag this weekend. 'Canada is the best country there is, so why would we not, you know?' Steinke said. 'When you see what's happening in the rest of the world, and you look (at) the kind of life that we live here and everything else, there is no life better than ours. 'So it's a good, good country.' With files from CTV News Edmonton Marek Tkach
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Residents organize anti-hate demonstrations in St. Albert after weekend protest
As St. Albert RCMP investigate a demonstration described by Alberta's justice minister as "deplorable and reprehensive," some residents in the region are planning protests of their own. Police said in a news release Monday morning that police received a report of people demonstrating and "holding up racially motivated signs" on St. Albert Trail at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday. Police identified three people and spoke to them, according to the news release. No arrests were made and the group dispersed, police said. Photos a witness shared with CBC News show three people wearing black clothing and holding signs that said "deport them all" and "white lives matter" at the corner of St. Albert Trail and St. Vital Avenue. Other images of individuals at the intersection with arms raised have been circulating on social media. Saturday's display prompted a number of statements from local political leaders. St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron, in a Facebook post with images of the signs, said, "This is not the St. Albert that I know and love." "Nazi salutes and racist signs are never acceptable and should never be tolerated," said Marie Renaud, the city's MLA. Michael Cooper, the MP for St. Albert—Edmonton, in a statement called the display on St. Albert Trail "disturbing" and "hateful." Justice Minister Mickey Amery posted on social media Monday about the protest stating "hate in all forms has no place in Alberta, and our government will always condemn this kind of despicable behaviour." John Carle is encouraging St. Albert residents to turn on Christmas lights on Jan. 28 to combat racism. (Travis McEwan/CBC) John Carle, a St. Albert resident and the mayor's partner, said he was sad and disgusted after seeing pictures of the display that a friend sent to him. Carle is urging St. Albert residents to turn on Christmas lights on Tuesday night to combat what happened on Saturday and say no to racism, sharing the plan on a community Facebook page. "Let's light up the city and be a beacon of hope for people," he told CBC News in an interview. Pride Corner on Whyte, a group that regularly protests against hate in Edmonton, is planning a demonstration against intolerance and hate at the intersection of St. Albert Trail and St. Vital Avenue on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Co-organizer Erica Posteraro said the group plans to bring music, signs, and flags to counter the messages shown on Saturday. "This sort of worldview is completely unacceptable and I think it's just important for all of us and the people that hold that worldview to know that we're not going to let it go unchecked," she said. Posteraro said she hopes Sunday's demonstration strengthens ties between neighbours and inspires people to talk to others about what happened and write to their elected officials. Nina Saini, the executive director of the non-profit organization Stop Hate AB, said community engagement is critical to combating hate. "When there's a display that is hateful, without some sort of a response, there's an affirmation that it's OK," she said. Saini said having different options available to people can be more inclusive and help amplify the response, since some residents may not have Christmas lights, for example. She said her organization offers bystander intervention response training to help people recognize hate, learn how it manifests and respond to it safely. She also encourages people to talk about hateful incidents within families, communities and workplaces. "I think that really brings a lot of unity and a lot of strength," she said. RCMP said they responded to a "racially motivated" demonstration in St. Albert on Jan. 25. (Name withheld by request) RCMP Alberta spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff told CBC News on Tuesday no charges have been laid and the investigation is ongoing. According to Monday's news release, police are working with various units, including the Alberta RCMP hate crimes co-ordinator. Police are asking people who took pictures of the signs on Saturday to contact RCMP and provide statements. "We are committed to ensuring everyone we serve can live in communities free from discrimination and bias, and we take any action that threatens the safety and security of others extremely seriously," police said in the release.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Residents organize anti-hate demonstrations in St. Albert after weekend protest
As St. Albert RCMP investigate a demonstration described by Alberta's justice minister as "deplorable and reprehensive," some residents in the region are planning protests of their own. Police said in a news release Monday morning that police received a report of people demonstrating and "holding up racially motivated signs" on St. Albert Trail at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday. Police identified three people and spoke to them, according to the news release. No arrests were made and the group dispersed, police said. Photos a witness shared with CBC News show three people wearing black clothing and holding signs that said "deport them all" and "white lives matter" at the corner of St. Albert Trail and St. Vital Avenue. Other images of individuals at the intersection with arms raised have been circulating on social media. Saturday's display prompted a number of statements from local political leaders. St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron, in a Facebook post with images of the signs, said, "This is not the St. Albert that I know and love." "Nazi salutes and racist signs are never acceptable and should never be tolerated," said Marie Renaud, the city's MLA. Michael Cooper, the MP for St. Albert—Edmonton, in a statement called the display on St. Albert Trail "disturbing" and "hateful." Justice Minister Mickey Amery posted on social media Monday about the protest stating "hate in all forms has no place in Alberta, and our government will always condemn this kind of despicable behaviour." John Carle is encouraging St. Albert residents to turn on Christmas lights on Jan. 28 to combat racism. (Travis McEwan/CBC) John Carle, a St. Albert resident and the mayor's partner, said he was sad and disgusted after seeing pictures of the display that a friend sent to him. Carle is urging St. Albert residents to turn on Christmas lights on Tuesday night to combat what happened on Saturday and say no to racism, sharing the plan on a community Facebook page. "Let's light up the city and be a beacon of hope for people," he told CBC News in an interview. Pride Corner on Whyte, a group that regularly protests against hate in Edmonton, is planning a demonstration against intolerance and hate at the intersection of St. Albert Trail and St. Vital Avenue on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Co-organizer Erica Posteraro said the group plans to bring music, signs, and flags to counter the messages shown on Saturday. "This sort of worldview is completely unacceptable and I think it's just important for all of us and the people that hold that worldview to know that we're not going to let it go unchecked," she said. Posteraro said she hopes Sunday's demonstration strengthens ties between neighbours and inspires people to talk to others about what happened and write to their elected officials. Nina Saini, the executive director of the non-profit organization Stop Hate AB, said community engagement is critical to combating hate. "When there's a display that is hateful, without some sort of a response, there's an affirmation that it's OK," she said. Saini said having different options available to people can be more inclusive and help amplify the response, since some residents may not have Christmas lights, for example. She said her organization offers bystander intervention response training to help people recognize hate, learn how it manifests and respond to it safely. She also encourages people to talk about hateful incidents within families, communities and workplaces. "I think that really brings a lot of unity and a lot of strength," she said. RCMP said they responded to a "racially motivated" demonstration in St. Albert on Jan. 25. (Name withheld by request) RCMP Alberta spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff told CBC News on Tuesday no charges have been laid and the investigation is ongoing. According to Monday's news release, police are working with various units, including the Alberta RCMP hate crimes co-ordinator. Police are asking people who took pictures of the signs on Saturday to contact RCMP and provide statements. "We are committed to ensuring everyone we serve can live in communities free from discrimination and bias, and we take any action that threatens the safety and security of others extremely seriously," police said in the release.
