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With an eight month post of 168,000, the North Peace Regional Airport is this year running ahead of last year’s pace when it comes to passengers welcomed at the terminal. At the end of August last year, the total was 159,000, so the 9,000 difference, represents a 2015 increase of 5.6 per cent. This would […]
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The professor involved in a controversy at Memorial University of Newfoundland says a hearing-impaired student who claims she failed to accommodate him has "selective amnesia."
In a statement released to local radio station VOCM, history professor Ranee Panjabi says William Sears rebuffed her offer to discuss alternatives to the FM transmitter.
She says a 1996 agreement with the school allowing her to refuse to wear the device on religious grounds is binding.
Panjabi says Sears "regretfully displayed flashes of selective amnesia" as he accused her in the media of refusing to accommodate him.
She says her reputation is damaged and she has been vilified, threatened and subjected to "a witch hunt and a three-ring circus."
Panjabi further blames the university's Blundon Centre for Students with Disabilities for not properly informing her of the need for accommodation before Sears arrived at her class Sept. 10.
Sears is pursuing a complaint with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission.
The university has apologized to Sears and says it's reviewing how its accommodation procedures failed.
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are in control of their own destiny in the American League East. They are the favourites to win the division title and are a virtual lock to make their first playoff appearance in 22 years.
Here are five things to watch as the regular season winds down:
PRICE POSITION
The Blue Jays acquired ace David Price at the trade deadline to handle big games — especially against the New York Yankees — over the playoff push in the second half. With an 8-1 record and 1.95 earned-run average since joining Toronto, he has come as advertised.
His next start is scheduled for Saturday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and he'll get another start next week in Baltimore.
If the Blue Jays fall into a wild-card position, Price could be used in the Oct. 6 game on five days rest. But it's much more likely they'll take the East title and start him in the American League Division Series opener on Oct. 8.
Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will start against the Rays on Friday night and veteran southpaw Mark Buehrle will close out the homestand on Sunday.
EAST FEAST
It has been an American League East-heavy schedule for the first-place Blue Jays of late and they'll continue that trend for the remaining 10 games.
After the home schedule is completed Sunday against the Rays, it's on to Baltimore for four games before wrapping the campaign with three games at Tampa Bay.
The second-place Yankees, who enter play Thursday 3 1/2 games behind the Blue Jays, are home for four-game sets against the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox before closing their season with a three-game series in Baltimore.
REST EASIER
The 162-game regular season is a long one and any time off around this time of year is precious.
The Yankees have games scheduled every day until their finale Oct. 4. The Blue Jays, who have played one more game than New York, get a break before kicking off their last home series against Tampa Bay on Friday night.
"That's got to help us, everybody is gassed this time of year," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "So much intensity too, that wears on them."
POWER PLAY
Toronto's offence has cooled a bit of late but the team should still finish first in several offensive categories this season.
The Blue Jays lead the major leagues in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage and OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging). Toronto also has three players — Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion — who have reached the 35-homer and 100-RBI plateau.
It's only the second time in franchise history that three players have accomplished the feat in the same year.
The 1998 Blue Jays boasted a power trio that included Jose Canseco (46 homers, 107 RBIs), Carlos Delgado (38-115) and Shawn Green (35-100).
Donaldson leads the way this year with 39 homers and 120 RBIs. Bautista has 36 homers — one more than Encarnacion — and both have 105 RBIs.
ALDS PLANS
The Blue Jays have an idea of the rotation they'd like to use in the best-of-five ALDS, but they don't want to get too far ahead of themselves.
If they win the division, expect Price to work two games with Dickey and Marcus Stroman likely to get starts as well. If that happens, the Blue Jays would then have to decide whether to go with Marco Estrada or Buehrle for the remaining nod.
The ALDS is a best-of-five affair from Oct. 8-14. The American League Championship Series is set for Oct. 16-24 and the World Series — also a best-of-seven series — goes Oct. 27-Nov. 4.
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Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
How much responsibility should a sports organization bear for athletes about to retire or who have retired? A lot, says Hayley Wickenheiser.
"I think it's a massive responsibility," the Canadian women's hockey star said.
The caretaking of athletes is a subject close to Wickenheiser's heart.
She wrote a passionate essay earlier this year about her friend Steve Montador. One of the issues the former NHL player struggled with before his death at age 35, wrote Wickenheiser, was the end of his hockey career and livelihood.
The cause of Montador's death has not been released but researchers said after examining his brain that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
Wickenheiser wrote the hockey community as a whole needed to do more for athletes at risk.
"For me, where this really hits home is with Steve Montador — the transition skills, thinking about a life after the game while you're in the game," the six-time Olympian said. "What I saw in Steve and some other athletes I've known through the years is they don't think about that until it's over and then there's this real gap and the floundering that exists there.
"It is really hard to see athletes retire and kind of flounder and not know where they're going to go."
Wickenheiser sees similar struggles in her community of Olympic athletes. Swimmers, lugers, speedskaters, paddlers and cross-country skiers also wrestle with the major life change of retirement. Most don't have the financial cushion of pro athletes.
It's difficult to leave the sport community in which you've spent half your life to enter a world for which you feel ill-prepared.
The Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and the country's network of sport centres and institutes are launching a new program Thursday that "we believe from inception will be the world's first high-performance wellness and transition program," COC chief executive officer Chris Overholt said.
"Game Plan" covers five areas: career management, networking, education, skill development and health.
The program includes life skills services already offered by Canadian sport centres and institutes across the country, but is broader in scope and designed to be accessible to athletes no matter where they are geographically.
"It's going to tackle a lot of areas: employment, life after sport, the mental side," Wickenheiser said. "It allows you to reach out to people who may be able to help you along the way.
"I think Game Plan is probably on the leading edge of what's out there right now currently for any transition program for athletes."
The COC and CPC worked with the professional service firm Deloitte to develop Game Plan. That partnership has been extended until 2032.
National team athletes and athletes up to two years after their retirement date are eligible for the program.
Game Plan's genesis was Overholt's meeting with a group of Olympians in Calgary a few months after the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
"I heard some stories from the athletes involved that were a bit mind-blowing for me — the issues they faced in transition out of sport and some of the challenges that came with that, whether it be professional transition or some of the mental-health challenges that came alongside that transition," Overholt said.
Decorated swimmer Benoit Huot faces the end of his career with some trepidation. His fifth Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year will be his last.
"I would lie if I would say the transition between being an athlete and the after-athlete life wouldn't be a concern for me," the 31-year-old from Montreal said. "It's a stress because I've been an athlete for the last 20 years or so. It's the place I've felt the most confident.
"I'm still in a certain uncomfortable zone knowing that I don't exactly know what I will be doing or what will be my next role or objective after sport."
So what's in it for the COC and the CPC, in taking on responsibility for athletes preparing to walk out from under their umbrellas?
Overholt cites a study by former Olympic rower Dr. Kirsten Barnes, in which athletes said worrying about their lives post-sport compromised their performance while they were actually competing. Taking away that concern could help them win medals.
Also, sport is a profession where athletes remain the faces of their teams long after retirement. Helping them be happy retirees is a good business practice.
"We're never going to be able to say that we can look after every one of our athletes in and through their retirements," Overholt said.
"If you're asking me do I feel we have a moral duty of care? Do I feel like we have a responsibility to help them, to be the best they can be on and off the field of play while they're competing and in helping them with those things, that we can set them up for an easier transition and for success in life after sport? Absolutely."
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
Six stories in the news today, Sept. 24 from The Canadian Press:
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FEDERAL LEADERS IN MONTREAL FOR FRENCH DEBATE
The main party leaders are gathering in Montreal for a televised French-language debate tonight. For Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, the debate will offer him a rare opportunity to speak not only to Quebec voters, but to those across the country. For her part, Green party Leader Elizabeth May will be looking to gain national attention in what may be her last opportunity to stand alongside the other leaders before the Oct. 19 election.
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OLAND MURDER CASE BACK IN COURT
The trial resumes today for Dennis Oland, who is charged in the death of his father, well-known businessman Richard Oland. The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the high-profile case in Saint John, N.B. The Crown has told the jury that Oland was killed in a violent outburst that resulted in 40 blows to his head and neck.
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STUDENT CHARGED WITH MURDER DUE IN HALIFAX COURT
The case of a 22-year-old Dalhousie University student charged with first-degree murder in the death of a fellow student is due to appear in a Halifax court today. It's expected dates for a preliminary inquiry will be set for William Sandeson. He was charged last month, four days after Taylor Samson was reported missing in Halifax. His body has not been found.
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COURT RECORDS REVEAL PAST OF ACCUSED KILLER
Basil Borutski, the man charged with first-degree murder in the slayings of three women in eastern Ontario, has a criminal history that includes allegations and convictions of violent behaviour toward his ex-wife and former girlfriends. Borutski has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the slayings of Anastasia Kuzyk, 36, Nathalie Warmerdam 48, and Carol Culleton, 66. He was remanded in custody until Oct. 5.
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WOMAN SAYS MOUNTIES THREATENED TO SEIZE HER KIDS
A First Nations woman from British Columbia's central coast is suing the province after two Mounties allegedly threatened to seize her three young children if she didn't let them search her vehicle for drugs. Kimberly Mack will appear in provincial court in Bella Coola today asking to be compensated $15,000 for what she alleges was an illegal search that failed to turn up any drugs.
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POPULAR CHASE THE ACE GAME GIVEN END DATE
A wildly popular fundraising game that has drawn thousands of people to a small Cape Breton town will be brought to an end on Oct. 3 by organizers who say Chase the Ace has simply grown too big. The game, which involves finding the ace of spades in a deck of playing cards, saw its jackpot grow from $35 last October to more than $884,000.
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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY ...
— Members of the Ontario legislature vote today on whether to put a cap of $3,250 on the province's estate administration tax.
— Six members of the Big City Mayor's Caucus discuss federal commitments to partner with cities on various issues.
— Premier Rachel Notley to give keynote address to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association annual convention in Calgary.
— A 12-week trial begins in St. John's for Newfoundland and Labrador residential school students seeking compensation and an apology from the federal government for alleged abuse and cultural losses.
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Basil Borutski, the man charged with first-degree murder in the slayings of three women in eastern Ontario, has a criminal history that includes allegations and convictions of violent behaviour toward his ex-wife and former girlfriends.
Borutski's daughters even described him as a "violent, easily agitated and tyrannical," according to an Ontario Superior Court judgment that granted a divorce to Basil and Mary Ann Borutski in 2011 and ordered Borutski to pay his ex-wife almost $93,000.
Mary Ann Borutski alleged a "steady regimen of domestic violence," including domestic assault in 1985. Borutski stood trial on assault charges and "successfully defended those charges," the divorce judgment said.
"The pattern that repeated itself over the years is that after reporting an assault (true or not) they would patch things up and Mary Ann recanted, either before trial or at trial," the judgment said.
Daughters Candace and Amanda, however, "verified their mother's version of the dysfunction in the marriage and confirmed that Basil was violent, easily agitated and tyrannical toward his family members."
"Candace testified to having vivid memory of Basil's violence toward Mary Ann dating back to the early years in the vehicle that included hair pulling, slapping and an attempt to push Mary Ann from the moving vehicle," the judgment stated.
Borutski, however, "vehemently denies having ever assaulted Mary Ann. He asserts that she is vindictive and manipulates the justice system by making false charges," the court document stated.
On Wednesday in a courtroom in Pembroke, Ont., Borutski was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the slayings of 36-year-old Anastasia Kuzyk, 48-year-old Nathalie Warmerdam and Carol Culleton, 66. He was remanded in custody until Oct. 5.
In the years following his divorce from Mary Ann Borutski, the onetime millwright faced more allegations of violence from Kuzyk and Warmerdam, two women he dated.
In 2012, he is alleged to have assaulted Warmerdam, to have threatened to hurt one of her family members and to kill a family pet.
He was convicted of making threats and breaking a door while he lived with Warmerdam, court documents show. The assault charge was stayed by the Crown.
In a separate incident in 2012, Borutski was also convicted of assaulting a provincial police officer during an arrest. He was also found guilty of assaulting his cousin, Stanley Borutski, a jail guard, during the same incident.
In 2014, he was charged with assault causing bodily harm after Kuzyk accused him of choking her.
He was also accused of burning some of Kuzyk's possessions, including some antiques, and of stealing a car from a member of her family as well as violating a probation order that required him to keep the peace.
Those alleged incidents took place in December 2013 and January 2014.
Borutski was convicted a year ago of stealing a vehicle, assault, choking, mischief of property, operating a motor vehicle while being prohibited from driving, two counts of breach of a probation order and possessing a firearm while also banned from owning one.
He served more than 18 months in jail following the convictions and had paid hundreds of dollars in fines to his victims over the years. His brother, Will Borutski, says he was freed from jail in recent months.
The Canadian Press
BELLA COOLA, B.C. — A First Nations woman from British Columbia's central coast is suing the province after two Mounties allegedly threatened to seize her three young children if she didn't let them search her vehicle for marijuana and crack cocaine.
Kimberly Mack will appear in provincial court in Bella Coola Thursday asking to be compensated $15,000 for what she alleges was an illegal search that failed to turn up any drugs.
"When I meet up with the cops now I feel a lot of anger," said Mack in an interview. "When I think they can get away with so much I feel angry towards them.
"I would just like an apology. That's my main thing."
RCMP Cpl. William Wallace, Const. Nick Jenkins and B.C.'s attorney general are named in the lawsuit.
A notice of civil claim states Mack was driving back to Bella Coola on May 28, 2010, with friends and family from a potlatch in Vancouver, when she parked outside a grocery store close to home for a washroom break.
Acting on an anonymous tip, police pulled alongside the vehicle and asked Mack for permission to search her vehicle, the notice states.
"They said, 'Kim, if you do not let us search your van we will get the (Ministry of Children and Family Development) involved. We'll get the dogs to search your van if you're not going to help us,'" said Mack in an interview. "I felt that I had to say yes to them."
The notice states the officers arrested Mack in front of her eight-, four-year-old and 15-month-old children and searched the entire van, even tearing off the vehicle's panelling.
"I was scared," she said, about the public search. "I felt embarrassed. Very embarrassed."
Mack said she later lost customers from her home-based convenience store and kept her eldest daughter out of school for a month, until life returned to normal.
"I didn't even want to walk into the grocery store," she added.
The RCMP and the province's Ministry of Justice and Attorney General said they couldn't comment because the case was before the court.
The ministry also referred questions to the federal Department of Justice because the RCMP was involved in the case.
Doug King, a Pivot Legal Society lawyer, is representing Mack and her co-plaintiff, Demi King.
He said they made a conscious decision to try the case in Bella Coola circuit court and not in a larger city, such as Vancouver.
"The heart of the case is about small communities — especially aboriginal communities — and how they're policed by the RCMP," he said. "This is really a case about a family that was totally innocent and had their life turned upside down."
The police allegedly didn't have a warrant, despite having ample time to secure one, said King.
Mack said she wasn't read her rights, either.
King said he hopes the case highlights the importance of legal mechanisms that keep police accountable.
He said the biggest issues in the case was the officers' threat to remove Mack's children, especially given the fraught history that exists between the state and aboriginal communities.
"A threat to take away somebody's children is not a minor threat," said King. "Historically, it's something that's happened and is a real part of people's lives in communities like this."
A date has not been set for the defendants to present their case, but that stage is expected to take place in Vancouver.
— By Geordon Omand in Vancouver
— Follow @gwomand on Twitter
The Canadian Press
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The trial resumes today for Dennis Oland who is charged in the death of his father, well-known businessman Richard Oland.
The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the high-profile case.
Court has heard that Richard Oland's killer would have walked away from the crime scene spattered with his blood.
Const. Duane Squires of the Saint John Police Force said he was called to Richard Oland's office at 52 Canterbury St. on July 7, 2011.
When he arrived, he testified that he noticed the smell of a decaying body and saw a lot of blood spatter in the room.
The Crown has told the jury that Oland was killed in a violent outburst that resulted in 40 blows to his head and neck.
The Canadian Press
HALIFAX — The case of a 22-year-old Dalhousie University student charged with first-degree murder in the death of a fellow student is due in court today.
It's expected dates for a preliminary inquiry will be set in provincial court in the case against William Sandeson.
Sandeson was charged on Aug. 20, four days after Taylor Samson was reported missing in Halifax.
His body has not been found.
Sandeson's lawyer Eugene Tan says his client will seek bail in hearings on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22.
A search warrant document obtained by media outlets alleges that Samson was involved in a drug deal involving marijuana before his death.
The Canadian Press
NEW YORK — Baseball people tell a wonderful story about Yogi Berra and the most famous home run in history.
Yogi and a couple of his Yankees pals went to Game 3 of the Dodgers-Giants playoff for the 1951 National League pennant, eager to see who they'd face the next day in the World Series opener. But when Brooklyn took a late 4-1 lead, Yogi told his buddies it was time to leave the Polo Grounds.
Yep, Yogi said it was over. They needed to beat the late-afternoon traffic. So the man cherished for saying "it ain't over till it's over" missed seeing Bobby Thomson's home run.
Did it really happen that way?
Who cares?
Yogi always insisted that some of the sayings that put him in "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations" and into the heart of American lexicon didn't actually come out of his mouth.
Not that he put up too much of a protest.
In fact, only once could people ever remember him getting angry. Watch how mad he gets when the plate umpire called Jackie Robinson safe on a steal of home in the 1955 World Series. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XY-XshGhMU )
A half-century later, Yogi still was steamed.
There's a big picture of the play at his museum in Montclair, New Jersey. Almost every time he'd walk past that shot, he'd grumble: "You're out."
Until recent years, Yogi was a fixture at Yankee Stadium. He'd pop into the pinstriped clubhouse on days of big events at the ballpark, or sometimes he'd just show up unannounced.
Derek Jeter would stop whatever he was doing to visit with Yogi. All the stars made time for him. Rookies would point and, eyes wide, marvel that his man, barely over 5 1/2 feet tall and stooped over a cane, commanded such a presence.
It was hard for them to imagine that he'd been such a great — a slugging catcher who earned three AL MVP awards and won a record 10 World Series titles. Or fully take in that this soft-spoken person had spawned such lore and a legacy.
Of course, everybody who crowded around him hoped to hear a Yogi-ism. Just one. They'd ask him questions and get him to tell stories, ears alert for something funny.
Maybe a "thank you for making this day necessary." Or a "when you come to a fork in the road, take it."
More often than not, nope. He'd talk for a bit, make observations about a player or a game, and that was it.
Nothing hilarious, nothing new to post on Twitter or go viral on Vine.
Not that anyone seemed disappointed. Far from it.
Former Yankees fan
O'Neill said he sat mesmerized as Yogi talked about being aboard a Navy gunboat at the D-Day invasion. No boasting, just telling how it was. That, and reminiscing about spring training in the 1940s and the way things were.
I can remember approaching Yogi in spring training in 1988, working on a story about the dearth of good catchers in the majors. He was a coach then for the Houston Astros. On a morning in Haines City, Florida, hours before an exhibition game against the Royals, he was standing by himself in the dugout.
He didn't have an aura around him, like a Sandy Koufax or Reggie Jackson. He wasn't a huge physical presence, like Dave Winfield or Willie Stargell.
A couple of questions, a couple of quotes — "Maybe they're scared to catch. We didn't know any better" — and an impish smile.
Simply Yogi, right there.
A day after he died, the tributes poured in from the sports world and beyond.
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, a New Jersey native, began his regular Wednesday news conference with a nod to him, even before talking about a big upcoming game against the Cowboys.
"I'd like to give a little recognition to Yogi Berra today," Quinn said. "Anytime you're a 10-time world champion, that shows what a good career you've had. That's a stellar career. What a neat guy."
And as fans traded their
"I always thought the record would stand," Berra wrote Bench, "until it was broken."
Ben Walker, The Associated Press
EDMONTON — On paper it looked like no contest, but the rookie-laden Winnipeg Jets gave the mainly veteran Edmonton Oilers all they could handle on Wednesday.
Matt Hendricks scored the winner on a late penalty shot and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a pair of assists as the Oilers remained perfect in pre-season play, defeating the Jets 3-2.
Justin Schultz and Jordan Eberle also scored for the Oilers, who are 3-0-0 in exhibition action.
"The Jets had a lot of guys who were trying to make their team, and sometimes those are the tougher games to play because they had so many guys with something to prove," said Schultz. "We had a slow start, but we came on after that."
Hendricks's shootout winner was far from a beauty, as he lost the handle on it, but was able to recover and out wait goalie Eric Comrie to slide it in.
"I think there was a divot there when I tried to put it in, but I'm glad I got enough to get it over the goal line," he laughed.
Ben Chiarot and Adam Lowry replied for the Jets (0-1-1), who dressed a lineup largely devoid of veteran players.
"For the most part, it was a pretty consistent game for us," said Lowry, the only player dressed who figured into the top 18 in scoring for the team last season. "We did a good job battling back. They had some of their big horses in the lineup tonight, and other than our penalty kill, I thought we did a good job neutralizing them."
Edmonton struck first on a two-man advantage as Nugent-Hopkins spotted Schultz pinching in and he blasted his second of the pre-season past Winnipeg goalie Michael Hutchinson.
Oilers starter Cam Talbot turned aside 16 shots in the opening period.
The shots favoured the Jets 24-22 after a scoreless second period.
Eric Comrie replaced Hutchinson in the third.
Edmonton made it 2-0 early in the third period with another power-play goal as the rebound off a Benoit Pouliot tip was picked up by Eberle and sent into the net.
Winnipeg got back to within a goal five minutes into the third as a Chiarot point shot seemed to tip off an Oiler defender and past Talbot.
The Jets managed to tie the game 11 minutes into the third as Lowry sent a wrist shot over Talbot's shoulder from the top of the circle.
With 2:12 remaining in the third, Hendricks was hauled down by Adam Pardy on a short-handed breakaway and was awarded the game-winning penalty shot.
The Oilers and Jets will face off again in Winnipeg on Friday.
Notes: Edmonton, fresh off a pair of split-squad victories over Calgary on Monday, iced a largely veteran lineup. Notable absences included Taylor Hall, Connor McDavid, Teddy Purcell, Andrej Sekera and Mark Fayne. ... The Jets lost 1-0 in overtime in their only pre-season game to Minnesota on Tuesday. Only five players suited up for the second night in a row - Alex Burmistrov, Thomas Raffl, Joel Armia, Brendan Kichton, and Andrew Copp. ... In an effort to adjust fans to the new 3-on-3 overtime rules, the NHL included a bonus session of the format after the game. Neither team scored.
Shane Jones, The Canadian Press
SEATTLE — Lamar Neagle scored two goals and the Seattle Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on Wednesday night to earn a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
Seattle completed Group F play at 2-1-1 and seven points. Vancouver (1-1-1, 4 points) still can tie on points by beating Olimpia in Honduras on Oct. 22, but the Sounders own the tiebreaker on goal differential, 4-1. The teams drew 1-1 in Vancouver on Aug. 5.
Nelson Valdez also scored for Seattle.
In the 32nd minute, Chad Barrett flicked the ball into the left side of the 6-yard box. Neagle ran onto it and one-timed a shot into the back right corner past goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi.
Valdez scored in the 39th. Marco Pappa curled a free kick from the far right side into the box. Barrett and Valdez both went up for the ball, Valdez winning it and sending it off the back of his head into the right corner.
Neagle made it 3-0 just 1:04 after halftime when he received a through ball from Barrett, took it into the box and beat Tornaghi from 15 yards straight in front.
The eight-team knockout stage is Feb. 23-March 1.
Mark Moschetti, The Associated Press
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Relatives of a man charged in the slaying of a two-year-old toddler and her father in Blairmore, Alta., say he has been transported to hospital following an undisclosed incident Wednesday afternoon.
CTV Calgary reported the family of Derek Saretzky doesn't know if his injuries are the result of an attack or a suicide attempt, while CBC quoted unnamed sources as saying it was a suicide attempt.
Michelle Davio of Alberta Justice confirmed an inmate was discovered "in medical distress" at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre and was transported to hospital, but woouldn't confirm it was Saretzky.
Saretzky had been scheduled to appear via closed-circuit camera inside a Lethbridge courtroom Wednesday but instead the matter was quickly adjourned to Sept. 30.
Saretzky, 22, faces first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Terry Blanchette, 27, and Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette.
There is an additional charge of committing indignity to a body in the girl's case.
No family members were present for the hearing, but Allie Pratchler, clutching a small brown teddy bear, was there in a show of support for the victims' families, including the girl's mother, Cheyenne Dunbar.
"It's probably pretty rough for them right now," said Pratchler.
Hailey's body was found last week in a rural area near Blairmore, a day after her father was discovered dead in their home in the town of about 2,000.
An Amber Alert was issued across Western Canada and Montana after the man's body was found and authorities undertook an extensive search with the hope of finding the youngster alive. News that her body had been found came during a candle-light vigil held to support those efforts.
Blanchette and Dunbar, 20, were separated, but the two maintained a good relationship and both cared for Hailey.
Saretzky was known to both Blanchette and Dunbar.
Authorities have not disclosed why they believe the father and his daughter were killed.
The Crowsnest Pass Herald newspaper posted on its Facebook page a statement from the Blanchette and Dunbar families to Saretzky's relatives. The Saretzky family is well-known in the area and owns a local cleaning business.
"We need to tell you that we do not condone the vile and malicious epithets being directed at you," the statement said. "We find it abhorrent. It's important that you know we bear you no ill will."
Pratchler said she knew Saretzky.
"It was a surprise," she said of the charges against him. "I haven't spoken to him in a long time. He was a good person when I knew him."
Saretzky has hired Edmonton lawyer Peter Northcott to represent him.
Members of the public who didn't know the family but felt empathy for them also attended the court appearance. Purple ribbons also festooned parking meters outside the courthouse — a tribute to Hailey, whose favourite colour was purple.
"It's horrible. I have small children who I care for. I have custody of three grandchildren and you look at these babies and you think, 'Oh my gosh,'" said Tammie Hart-Ingertila of the group Urban Bikers Against Kids Abuse.
Blairmore is in the Crowsnest Pass, a hard-scrabble mining area rich in a history that is often rooted in tragedy. It's just down the highway from Frank where, in 1903, the side of a mountain gave way burying between 70 and 90 people. Most of the bodies were never recovered.
Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter said grief counsellors will be brought in this week to give a presentation and to help those struggling with the killings.
"It's devastating and tragic for the families and the community. Everybody knows everybody, everybody looks out for everybody, and to have this happen is just beyond belief," he said.
"Unfortunately tragedy is not new to our community. We've had a lot of tragic events through the years ... but we're tight-knit and very supportive of each other.
"We will get through this — it's just going to take some time."
— Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
Tomas Tatar scored three goals in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-1 exhibition victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
Justin Abdelkader also scored for Detroit. Brad Richards had three assists, and Jakub Kindl and Niklas Kronwall each had two assists.
Petr Mrazek made 16 saves in first 29:23, and Jared Coreau stopped 14 of 15 shots in final 30:37.
Andrew Shaw for Chicago. Corey Crawford made seven saves in 30 minutes, and Michael Leighton allowed two goals on 16 shots the rest of the way.
Red Wings great Gordie Howe attended the game.
Blackhawks star
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SENATORS BEAT SABRES WITH SECOND-PERIOD BURST.
In Buffalo, New York, Max McCormick, Alex Chiasson and Zack Stortini scored in 3:26 span in the second period to help the Ottawa Senators beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.
Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Dzingel also scored for Ottawa.
Matthew O'Connor stopped all 18 shots he faced in the first 29:26. Chris Driedger made 22 saves the rest of the way, allowing only Evander Kane's two third-period goals. Kane had short-handed and power-play goals.
Ottawa's Robin Lehner made 16 saves on 19 shots in the first two periods. Andrey Makarov stopped five shots in the third.
Second overall pick Jack Eichel didn't play for the Sabres.
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ISLES RIDE EARLY GOALS TO WIN OVER DEVILS
In New York, Brock Nelson and Travis Hamonic scored 1:35 apart in the first period in the New York Islanders' 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
New York regulars Nelson, Hamonic, Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen made their preseason debuts.
Kevin Poulin made 22 saves in the first two periods, and Christopher Gibson stopped all five shots he faced in the third.
Lee Stempniak scored for New Jersey. Cory Schneider went the distance in goal, making 25 saves.
Following regulation, the teams played a 3-on-3 overtime session as a test. Tyler Kennedy scored in the extra session for New Jersey.
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SMITH STRIKES TWICE, PREDATORS BEAT LIGHTNING
In Nashville, Tennessee, Craig Smith scored twice in the Nashville Predators' 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
James Neal, Shea Weber and Colton Sissons also scored for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne made 30 saves.
Vladislav Namestnikov and J.T. Brown scored for the Lightning.
Adam Wilcox allowed four goals on 21 shots in 29:46, and Allen York stopped eight of nine shots in 28:37.
The Associated Press
The brother of a 57-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the separate slayings of three women says Basil Borutski's family is angry and embarrassed about his alleged crimes.
"Right now, my heart just goes out to the families ... all our brothers and sisters, our hearts go out to all the victims," a weary-sounding Will Borutski told The Canadian Press in an interview on Wednesday.
"We're all just in disbelief. Right now the only ones we're thinking about is the victims. The children, the families, the friends."
Two of the victims — 36-year-old Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmardam, 48 — used to date his brother, Will Borutski said.
Borutski, bald with a moustache and goatee and wearing a light green T-shirt, made an appearance in a Pembroke, Ont., courtroom to answer to the charges. He was remanded in custody until Oct. 5.
The judge ordered him not to speak to a long list of family members and acquaintances, including relatives of the victims.
Will Borutski said he'd had a falling-out with his brother about seven years ago, declining to provide details beyond saying there was a "disagreement."
As he struggled to gather his thoughts in Round Lake, an Ottawa Valley cottage-country hamlet, Will Borutski said his family is stunned by the arrest.
"There's anger, embarrassment," he said. "You just don't know what to make of the whole thing."
Still, Will Borutski said, the family is most focused on the families of the victims.
"The victims, the victims," he said, his voice trailing off. "Our hearts and souls go out to them. It's unfair. All their hopes and dreams in life are gone."
The Tuesday morning slayings of Kuzyk, Warmardam and 66-year-old Carol Culleton triggered a lockdown and manhunt in the ordinarily sleepy area of eastern Ontario.
Local residents said the deaths of the women, all slain within hours of one another, have thrown the community of about 300 people into a profound state of grief.
"It's shocking to think that people that you know have come to this," said Corinne Higgins, owner of the Wilno Tavern located in the heart of the village 130 kilometres west of Ottawa. "I'm out of words right now."
Higgins personally knew Kuzyk, who lived in Wilno and worked at the tavern for a decade before leaving five years ago to pursue a real estate career.
Kuzyk had made a great success of that venture, Higgins said, adding that this wasn't surprising to people who knew her.
"She was a really lovely lady," Higgins said. "She was ambitious, she was personable, she was very attentive to customers and very easy to work with as a staff member."
Higgins added she was surprised by the arrest of Basil Borutski, who was an occasional patron of the tavern.
"He wasn't the most peaceful man, but nobody expects anything like that."
The former millwright grew up in Round Lake before moving about 50 kilometres away to Palmer Rapids, his brother recalled. Court documents suggest he was getting by on disability payments following a job site injury and then, a few years later, a car accident.
He had several previous brushes with the law in the last several years involving assault and harassment convictions, some of them involving two of the slain women. Will Borutski said his brother was freed from jail in December.
Kuzyk's home was the first crime scene the OPP visited on Tuesday, touching off an investigation that caused panic and fear in the area for hours.
Police said information they discovered at Kuzyk's home led them to a nearby property, where they said they found the body of Warmardam, of Bonnechere Valley, Ont.
Later that morning, police in Bancroft, Ont., discovered the body of Culleton of North Gower, Ont. Police did not release the cause of death, nor indicate if the three victims knew one another.
Businesses and schools in and around Wilno were placed under lockdown as police hunted for a suspect in the slayings. The chase, which involved officers with both the Ottawa and provincial police, culminated in the arrest of Borutski near Ottawa a few hours later.
Gary Johnston, Warmardam's neighbour, said he saw few indications of trouble during the nearly three years Basil Borutski lived with her on a farm in Foymount, Ont.
He added that Warmardam, 48, used to visit his home occasionally, but stopped doing so after Borutski moved in with her in 2010. The couple sold eggs from the farm property they maintained together, he said, adding Warmardam also worked as a nurse in a local hospice.
He said the project was something the mother of two had always wanted to pursue.
"She seemed pretty happy there because she'd come out of Toronto and she said she always wanted to live on a farm," he said.
A woman's support group held a vigil outside the court building on Wednesday. JoAnne Brooks, director of the Women's Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County, was among about two dozen women gathered there.
"These are community women who wanted to do something today," she said. "When these events happen in communities, what happens is it triggers rawness for many women. We all live with the threat of violence . . . and I think that it's important to be out and be publicly visible for the women who cannot come forward."
-- With files from Terry Pedwell in Pembroke, Ont.
Follow @mich_mcq and @liamdevlincasey and on Twitter
Liam Casey and Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Max McCormick, Alex Chiasson and Zack Stortini scored in 3:26 span in the second period to help the visiting Ottawa Senators beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 in exhibition play Wednesday night.
Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Dzingel also scored for Ottawa.
Matthew O'Connor stopped all 18 shots he faced in the first 29:26. Chris Driedger made 22 saves the rest of the way, allowing only Evander Kane's two third-period goals. Kane had short-handed and power-play goals.
Ottawa's Robin Lehner made 16 saves on 19 shots in the first two periods. Andrey Makarov stopped five shots in the third.
The Canadian Press
Max McCormick, Alex Chiasson and Zack Stortini scored in 3:26 span in the second period to help the visiting Ottawa Senators beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 in exhibition play Wednesday night.
Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Dzingel also scored for Ottawa.
Matthew O'Connor stopped all 18 shots he faced in the first 29:26. Chris Driedger made 22 saves the rest of the way, allowing only Evander Kane's two third-period goals. Kane had short-handed and power-play goals.
Ottawa's Robin Lehner made 16 saves on 19 shots in the first two periods. Andrey Makarov stopped five shots in the third.
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ISLES RIDE EARLY GOALS TO WIN OVER DEVILS
In New York, Brock Nelson and Travis Hamonic scored 1:35 apart in the first period in the New York Islanders' 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
New York regulars Nelson, Hamonic, Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen made their preseason debuts.
Kevin Poulin made 22 saves in the first two periods, and Christopher Gibson stopped all five shots he faced in the third.
Lee Stempniak scored for New Jersey. Cory Schneider went the distance in goal, making 25 saves.
Following regulation, the teams played a 3-on-3 overtime session as a test. Tyler Kennedy scored in the extra session for New Jersey.
The Associated Press
TORONTO — Russell Martin hit a three-run homer and Marcus Stroman threw seven scoreless innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 4-0 on Wednesday in the rubber game of a pivotal three-game series between American League East rivals.
Martin turned on a 2-2 pitch from Andrew Bailey in the seventh inning for his 21st homer of the year. Brett Cecil and Roberto Osuna completed the shutout in front of a boisterous sellout crowd of 48,056 at Rogers Centre.
The victory restored Toronto's 3 1/2-game cushion on the second-place Yankees in the division standings. New York (83-68) has 11 games left to play, one more than the Blue Jays (87-65).
Toronto entered play 1 1/2 games behind Kansas City for the best record in the American League. The Royals were at Seattle on Wednesday night.
Stroman (3-0), making his third start after missing most of the season while recovering from knee surgery, allowed five hits and a walk. He had five strikeouts and trimmed his earned-run average to 1.89.
The Blue Jays had their chances against Yankees starter Ivan Nova but didn't score until he left the game after issuing a two-out walk to Martin in the sixth. Left-hander James Pazos gave up a single to Ryan Goins that moved Martin to third base and Kevin Pillar drove him in with a single off reliever Caleb Cotham.
Toronto would load the bases before left-fielder Brett Gardner tracked down a Ben Revere drive near the warning track for the third out. Nova (6-9) allowed one earned run, four hits, two walks and had six strikeouts.
Stroman retired the first eight batters he faced before Didi Gregorius hit a flare that landed in shallow centre field. Jacoby Ellsbury flew out on the next pitch to leave him stranded.
The Blue Jays put runners on in the first two innings but couldn't capitalize. Justin Smoak struck out with two runners in scoring position in the first inning and Revere lined out to end the second.
Smoak showed off his defensive skills at first base in the fifth. After Greg Bird reached on a single, Smoak fielded Chase Headley's grounder and threw to Goins for the force at second base before scooping the return throw out of the dirt for a double play.
New York put two runners on in the seventh after a walk and a single but Stroman got Dustin Ackley to line out to centre field. Donaldson led off the home half of the inning with a double and moved to third on a Bautista grounder.
Edwin Encarnacion was intentionally walked and stole second as Smoak struck out. Martin followed with a blast over the left-field wall that tied his season-high for homers, set in 2012 with the Yankees.
Toronto outhit New York 8-6. The game took two hours 52 minutes to play.
Notes: A moment of silence was observed before the game for Yankees legend Yogi Berra, who died Tuesday at age 90. The Hall of Fame catcher won 10 World Series championships with the Yankees. ... The game was televised on ESPN in the United States for the second straight night. ... It was the 10th straight sellout at Rogers Centre and 24th on the season. ... The Blue Jays have a day off Thursday before closing out their nine-game homestand with a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
MONTREAL — Substitute Andres Romero scored in the 76th minute and Didier Drogba got his fifth goal in four starts to lift the Montreal Impact to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
The Impact (11-11-6) improved to 3-0-2 since Mauro Biello replaced Frank Klopas as head coach.
David Accam scored for the last-place Fire (7-17-6), who lost their fourth in a row despite a coaching change this week that saw Brian Bliss replace Canadian Frank Yallop.
Montreal went down a man for a third straight game after Laurent Ciman was shown his second yellow card of the game in the 90th minute.
He will be suspended for a home game Saturday against D.C. United, as will Romero, who got a yellow card for taking his shirt off after the winning goal.
The Fire did a tidy job of containing Drogba for most of the first half, but in the 39th minute, Nigel Reo-Coker swung wide on the right side and put in a cross. The former Chelsea star looked to throw down defender Jeff Larentowicz as he lunged forward to head it in but there was no call on his fifth goal in as many MLS games.
The Fire missed two glittering chances in the first half, as Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush just got a hand on the ball with Gilberto in alone in the 16th minute and Accam missed the net with a clear shot from just inside the area in the 33rd.
Chicago equalized in the 50th when defender Victor Cabrera was beaten on a long ball by Gilberto, whose shot was tipped up by Bush and Accam nodded it in from the doorstep.
Accam missed a chance at a go-ahead goal when he ran the Impact defence ragged but then chipped his shot over the bar.
Impact captain Patrice Bernier, celebrating his 36th birthday, was serenaded by the fans as he sat on the bench, but he got into his first game since Aug. 5 in the 62nd minute and, 12 minutes later, slid a pass behind the defence for Romero to go in alone and score in the 76th.
With Marco Donaldel (suspension) and Calum Mallace (foot injury) out, Reo-Coker and Kyle Bekker moved into the defensive midfield positions. Dilly Duka, who scored in a 3-0 win Saturday over New England, started in place of Romero, who came on in the 72nd minute.
Impact designated player Ignacio Piatti missed the game to attend to a family matter, which put Dominic Oduro into the starting 11.
The Fire announced that goalkeeper Sean Johnson (shoulder) and defender Eric Gehrig (foot) will miss the rest of the season. Backup Jon Busch started in goal.
Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press
