Latest news with #KimBolan
Calgary Herald
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: India relations are complicated; but remembering the dead is not
Article content As we approach the 40th anniversary of Canada's worst mass-casualty event — an act of domestic terrorism — families of the victims must contend not only with their loss but also the pain of abandonment by this country. As illustrated by the Angus Reid Institute two years ago, nine out of 10 Canadians know little or nothing of the bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, that killed all 329 people aboard, including 280 Canadians. Article content Article content This action was conceived and executed from within our borders by individuals bent on maintaining a cycle of revenge. As has been covered for decades by Postmedia's Kim Bolan and Terry Glavin, and CBC's Terry Milewski, it began with extremists in India waging war on innocents. This seemed reason enough for Canadian disinterest to set in; in the eyes of authorities, those who died when Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland were not our own. Article content Article content Writing for the Ottawa Citizen in 2023, Shachi Kurl describes this event as 'a near blank page: a calamity that has morphed from open wound to an unhealed scar, and risks fading from our collective memories entirely.' Inconceivably, that blank page is increasingly filled not by the truth, but by what can only be charitably described as fantasy. Article content Some members of Canada's Indian community — those who wish to carve out a theocratic homeland, Khalistan, from India — continue to perpetuate a baseless argument that the Indian government was responsible for the bombing. That theory was given consideration and duly dismissed, during the meticulous public inquiry led by retired Supreme Court Justice John Major. Article content Article content Major was clear in his conclusions, among them that the bombing could have been prevented. The Government of India had fulsomely shared its intelligence; it warned Canada to be wary of bombs in luggage and even identified the doomed flight. But Canadian officials of the day dismissed India's warnings, instead chalking it up to India wanting free security for its planes. Article content There was an unmistakable whiff of condescension in those Canadian attitudes, an unwillingness to see India as a partner in global relations. That attitude seems only to have deepened; many contemporary Canadian politicians prefer to support Canadians who continue to agitate for Khalistan in defiance of the wishes of Indians living in India. Article content Yet, when U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his views that Canada should become the 51st American state, Canadians made their feelings quite clear. We are a sovereign nation, our borders are inviolate and our affairs are not to be interfered with by outsiders.
Vancouver Sun
13-06-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Letters to The Sun: Dilawri Foundation's donation is a life-changing gift
Re: Dilawri Foundation makes historic $60-million donation to VGH, UBC On behalf of the vast number of people who may be affected by heart disease and will need highly specialized care, but who at this time might not think of writing a letter to the editor, I want to say thank you to the Dilawri family for their enormous donation to the Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital to create our own Mayo Clinic of the North. It is sure to benefit many of us for generations. With all the bad news in the world today, this is a beacon of goodness. Jane Murphy Thomas, Vancouver A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Re: Postmedia's Kim Bolan one of three honoured for courageous reporting by Canadian Association of Journalists Congratulations to our incredible journalist Kim Bolan, who has risked her life many, many times when investigating horrid drug gangs, murders and other hard crime. She is incredibly brave at the journalism she pursues, and all for our sakes. She deserves this award and more for her persistent bravery. Caroline Duncan, North Vancouver It is quite evident that Canadian wildfire agencies and politicians are resigned to the public dealing with mass evacuations, unhealthy air, and destruction. Year after year, nothing changes. Shame. Compared to landslides, windstorms, floods and earthquakes, public emergencies from wildfires are the easiest to prevent. All fires start small, and when acted upon quickly with the right resources, mass evacuations can be avoided. As a former wildfire protection officer and incident management team member, I can assert that the right type and number of aircraft dispatched on discovery determines the outcome. With changing weather and changing landscape, fires need to be hit extra hard and fast from the air on initial attack, night and day. Ground crews are no match for moving crown fires. Wildfire agencies and politicians must give initial air attack a higher priority, otherwise we can expect more of the same — small fires turning into monsters. Clarence Friesen, Kelowna Re: Letter: Not all involuntary treatment is the same Thank you to The Sun for printing Marilyn Baker's letter. It is so important to keep clarifying the distinction between mental illness and addictions. These used to be considered very separate issues — and indeed they are. People suffering from both problems up until the early 1990s were called 'dual diagnosis' patients. The Vancouver General Hospital had a special ward that treated each condition quite separately — which worked fairly well. It is important to keep reminding people that these two things are not the same. As Baker's letter points out, there is clear, fact-based medical evidence that antipsychotic treatment for mental illness works. We do not yet know for certain about addictions, thus the argument continues. Meanwhile, patients with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses must be treated as early as possible, so they can live safely and with dignity in the community. Jane Duval, Vancouver Re: B.C. public-sector jobs have more than doubled under the NDP A great article in The Sun on June 7, but vital data is missing. The provincial government has tripled its debt in a vain effort to maintain existing services. They will take on more debt in the years ahead. There is little prospect of a significant increase in GDP, and GDP per capita and GDP per purchasing power parity are decreasing month by month and year by year. Any would-be job applicant from the target countries — the U.S. and Australia — who takes the trouble to look at our levels of taxation, the costs of living and the purchasing power parity here will not apply. They might also check out the number of people here in B.C. without a family doctor and waiting times to see a consultant or for surgery. The article mentioned population growth and the resulting increased pressure on all public services, but no figures. Canada's population grew by well over 1.5 million last year. That figure includes all legal immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. On top of this comes temporary foreign workers, special permits and others. The article concentrated on salaries in the public sector, but added to these figures must be pensions, supplies and other essential running costs. So, a great article, but no solutions. Sadly, it will continue to be a case of crisis management and ever more public debt and higher taxes. Paul Rhodes, Sechelt
Associated Press
01-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
The Canadian Association of Journalists celebrates three journalists for their courage, perseverance and dedication to public service journalism with the annual Charles Bury Award
CALGARY, AB, May 31, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) announced that journalists Kim Bolan, Daniel Renaud, and David Pugliese have been recognized with this year's prestigious Charles Bury President's Award at the annual CAJ Awards ceremony held earlier this evening in downtown Calgary. 'Kim, Daniel and David have all exhibited incredible levels of courage and determination to persevere through unprecedented challenges to tell stories that matter,' said Brent Jolly, CAJ president, in a speech announcing the awards. 'They are living proof that even in today's fragmented age, journalism matters. The power of the pen to tell the truth and expose wrongdoing is an endeavour that is so vital to the proper functioning of our society.' Bolan has been a reporter at the Vancouver Sun since 1984. During that time, she has reported internationally on wars in El Salvador, Guatemala and Afghanistan. Domestically, she has covered the Air India story from the night it happened on June 23, 1985. She has also spent her career shining a spotlight on a long list of minority, women's, education, and social service issues. Bolan was also the first Canadian to win the International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award in 1999. 'Despite numerous threats on her life over the past 40 years from gangs and militant groups, Bolan's commitment to the craft has been unwavering,' Jolly said. Renaud is a reporter who specializes in reporting on organized crime at La Presse. He was recognized after a report came to light late last year that chronicled how he had been targeted for assassination in organized crime in 2021. In Nov 2024, La Presse reported that Frédérick Silva, a professional killer-turned-police informer, placed a $100,000 bounty on Renaud's life while he was covering Silva's trial for three murders. Earlier this year, Renaud was recognized by World Press Freedom Canada with its annual Press Freedom Award. 'Renaud's experience was a shocking revelation that should send a chill down the spine of every journalist in Canada,' Jolly said. 'But even when his life was on the line, he did not cower to pressure. He maintained his wherewithal and resolve and did his job, which was to shine a light on the clandestine operations of organized crime.' Pugliese has spent more than 40 years working at the Ottawa Citizen, where he specializes in covering one of Canada's most secretive government departments - the Department of National Defence. Late last October, Pugliese was accused of being a paid KGB agent in the 1980s by Chris Alexander, a former federal cabinet minister. At the time of the comments, Alexander was testifying, under privilege, before a House of Commons committee meeting on Russian interference and disinformation campaigns. Alexander has never repeated the claims in a forum where he could be sued for defamation. 'These allegations were nothing more than a McCarthy-esque smear job,' Jolly said. 'But what they show us is a shift in tactics to spread disinformation. Rather than question the accuracy of a deeply reported investigative story, bad actors now attack a journalist's credibility in an effort to impune critical inquiry. So, if you can't refute the truth, then the next best course of action is to attack the messenger.' Last year, the Charles Bury Award was presented to the Committee to Protect Journalists for their continued commitment to ensuring the safety and security of journalists who work in some of the most dangerous environments around the world. Previous winners of the Bury Award include: journalists Jerome Turner, Jessie Winter, and Amber Bracken; the late Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi and Journal de Montréal crime reporter Michel Auger; and Radio-Canada investigative reporter Marie-Maude Denis. Organizations that have won the Bury Award include: The Aboriginal People's Television Network, J-Source, Massey College and the Canadian Media Lawyers Association. The CAJ is Canada's largest national professional organization for journalists from all media, representing members across the country. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide high-quality professional development for its members and public-interest advocacy. SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists
Globe and Mail
01-06-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
The Canadian Association of Journalists celebrates three journalists for their courage, perseverance and dedication to public service journalism with the annual Charles Bury Award
CALGARY, AB , May 31, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) announced that journalists Kim Bolan , Daniel Renaud , and David Pugliese have been recognized with this year's prestigious Charles Bury President's Award at the annual CAJ Awards ceremony held earlier this evening in downtown Calgary . "Kim, Daniel and David have all exhibited incredible levels of courage and determination to persevere through unprecedented challenges to tell stories that matter," said Brent Jolly , CAJ president, in a speech announcing the awards. "They are living proof that even in today's fragmented age, journalism matters. The power of the pen to tell the truth and expose wrongdoing is an endeavour that is so vital to the proper functioning of our society." Bolan has been a reporter at the Vancouver Sun since 1984. During that time, she has reported internationally on wars in El Salvador, Guatemala and Afghanistan . Domestically, she has covered the Air India story from the night it happened on June 23, 1985. She has also spent her career shining a spotlight on a long list of minority, women's, education, and social service issues. Bolan was also the first Canadian to win the International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award in 1999. "Despite numerous threats on her life over the past 40 years from gangs and militant groups, Bolan's commitment to the craft has been unwavering," Jolly said. Renaud is a reporter who specializes in reporting on organized crime at La Presse. He was recognized after a report came to light late last year that chronicled how he had been targeted for assassination in organized crime in 2021. In Nov 2024 , La Presse reported that Frédérick Silva, a professional killer-turned-police informer, placed a $100,000 bounty on Renaud's life while he was covering Silva's trial for three murders. Earlier this year, Renaud was recognized by World Press Freedom Canada with its annual Press Freedom Award. "Renaud's experience was a shocking revelation that should send a chill down the spine of every journalist in Canada ," Jolly said. "But even when his life was on the line, he did not cower to pressure. He maintained his wherewithal and resolve and did his job, which was to shine a light on the clandestine operations of organized crime." Pugliese has spent more than 40 years working at the Ottawa Citizen, where he specializes in covering one of Canada's most secretive government departments - the Department of National Defence. Late last October, Pugliese was accused of being a paid KGB agent in the 1980s by Chris Alexander , a former federal cabinet minister. At the time of the comments, Alexander was testifying, under privilege, before a House of Commons committee meeting on Russian interference and disinformation campaigns. Alexander has never repeated the claims in a forum where he could be sued for defamation. "These allegations were nothing more than a McCarthy-esque smear job," Jolly said. "But what they show us is a shift in tactics to spread disinformation. Rather than question the accuracy of a deeply reported investigative story, bad actors now attack a journalist's credibility in an effort to impune critical inquiry. So, if you can't refute the truth, then the next best course of action is to attack the messenger." Last year, the Charles Bury Award was presented to the Committee to Protect Journalists for their continued commitment to ensuring the safety and security of journalists who work in some of the most dangerous environments around the world. Previous winners of the Bury Award include: journalists Jerome Turner , Jessie Winter , and Amber Bracken ; the late Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi and Journal de Montréal crime reporter Michel Auger ; and Radio-Canada investigative reporter Marie-Maude Denis . Organizations that have won the Bury Award include: The Aboriginal People's Television Network, J-Source, Massey College and the Canadian Media Lawyers Association.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Canadian Association of Journalists celebrates three journalists for their courage, perseverance and dedication to public service journalism with the annual Charles Bury Award
CALGARY, AB, May 31, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) announced that journalists Kim Bolan, Daniel Renaud, and David Pugliese have been recognized with this year's prestigious Charles Bury President's Award at the annual CAJ Awards ceremony held earlier this evening in downtown Calgary. "Kim, Daniel and David have all exhibited incredible levels of courage and determination to persevere through unprecedented challenges to tell stories that matter," said Brent Jolly, CAJ president, in a speech announcing the awards. "They are living proof that even in today's fragmented age, journalism matters. The power of the pen to tell the truth and expose wrongdoing is an endeavour that is so vital to the proper functioning of our society." Bolan has been a reporter at the Vancouver Sun since 1984. During that time, she has reported internationally on wars in El Salvador, Guatemala and Afghanistan. Domestically, she has covered the Air India story from the night it happened on June 23, 1985. She has also spent her career shining a spotlight on a long list of minority, women's, education, and social service issues. Bolan was also the first Canadian to win the International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award in 1999. "Despite numerous threats on her life over the past 40 years from gangs and militant groups, Bolan's commitment to the craft has been unwavering," Jolly said. Renaud is a reporter who specializes in reporting on organized crime at La Presse. He was recognized after a report came to light late last year that chronicled how he had been targeted for assassination in organized crime in 2021. In Nov 2024, La Presse reported that Frédérick Silva, a professional killer-turned-police informer, placed a $100,000 bounty on Renaud's life while he was covering Silva's trial for three murders. Earlier this year, Renaud was recognized by World Press Freedom Canada with its annual Press Freedom Award. "Renaud's experience was a shocking revelation that should send a chill down the spine of every journalist in Canada," Jolly said. "But even when his life was on the line, he did not cower to pressure. He maintained his wherewithal and resolve and did his job, which was to shine a light on the clandestine operations of organized crime." Pugliese has spent more than 40 years working at the Ottawa Citizen, where he specializes in covering one of Canada's most secretive government departments - the Department of National Defence. Late last October, Pugliese was accused of being a paid KGB agent in the 1980s by Chris Alexander, a former federal cabinet minister. At the time of the comments, Alexander was testifying, under privilege, before a House of Commons committee meeting on Russian interference and disinformation campaigns. Alexander has never repeated the claims in a forum where he could be sued for defamation. "These allegations were nothing more than a McCarthy-esque smear job," Jolly said. "But what they show us is a shift in tactics to spread disinformation. Rather than question the accuracy of a deeply reported investigative story, bad actors now attack a journalist's credibility in an effort to impune critical inquiry. So, if you can't refute the truth, then the next best course of action is to attack the messenger." Last year, the Charles Bury Award was presented to the Committee to Protect Journalists for their continued commitment to ensuring the safety and security of journalists who work in some of the most dangerous environments around the world. Previous winners of the Bury Award include: journalists Jerome Turner, Jessie Winter, and Amber Bracken; the late Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi and Journal de Montréal crime reporter Michel Auger; and Radio-Canada investigative reporter Marie-Maude Denis. Organizations that have won the Bury Award include: The Aboriginal People's Television Network, J-Source, Massey College and the Canadian Media Lawyers Association. The CAJ is Canada's largest national professional organization for journalists from all media, representing members across the country. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide high-quality professional development for its members and public-interest advocacy. SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists View original content to download multimedia:
