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Entrepreneur enters hands-free hoverboard market engulfed in patent war
A Canadian entrepreneur is stepping into a fierce global patent war as he begins to sell a hands-free "hoverboard" he believes will revolutionalize urban transportation.
Darren Pereira's Huuver company has begun to sell online its brand of self-balancing electric boards called Uuboard (the first two letters of both names have umlauts). A Toronto dealership is in the works.
The colourful units that travel up to about 10 km/h have motors that are propelled by movements detected from sensors near the feet.
"I think it's going to change the way we move," Pereira said in an interview from Toronto.
Two gyroscopes are so sensitive they detect small shifts in balance. Lean forward and the device moves forward. Lean back and it reverses. Move to the right and it turns that way.
The technology — described by some as mini-Segways without the poles — has drawn the ire of the New Hampshire-based company that first introduced its self-balancing personal vehicle in 2001.
The subsidiary of China's Ninebot technology last week filed suit in Delaware for patent infringement against Inventist Inc., a Washington state company that sells transportation devices, including Hovertrax and Solowheel.
Ninebot said its second-generation units, launched in 2006, included patented LeanStar technology.
Inventist, however, said it has its own patents for "a two-wheel, self-balancing vehicle with independently movable foot placement sections."
It filed suit against Ninebot in China, and last June against Soibatian Corporation for their product, the IO Hawk. Billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban then partnered with Inventist's founder, adding firepower to the effort to go after alleged copycats.
Pereira, however, says the legal battles won't deter him from pursuing this business opportunity.
"They could go after me but I'm about pushing public transportation," he said.
Several Chinese factories pump out thousands of units a day under various names including Oxboard, Cyboard, Future Foot, Monorover, Airboard, Freego, Esway and Overoad.
The Uuboard sells for $949 and comes with a one-year warranty, but rival products are available for between about $600 and US$1,800. Huuver's Chinese supplier, Cube Electronics Tech, said on its website they can be purchased directly for up to US$200.
While the various models look alike and carry similar features, Pereira said they're not identical. Some are a little slower, sluggish and less durable, he said.
Pereira said the Uuboard can work up to nine hours on a 135-minute charge. Weighing 22 pounds, it can carry people between 50 and 350 pounds.
The hoverboards can be used on urban bike lanes and sidewalks, but Pereira said he's been asked to put it away at a Blue Jays game and in some shopping malls.
Despite its US$1,800 price tag, the IO Hawk has had trouble keeping up with demand since it entered the U.S. market in February and attracted the attention of celebrities and athletes.
Justin Bieber, NBA all-star Stephen Curry, actor Jamie Foxx and Kendall Jenner have all been seen using the device or a slightly cheaper brand, PhunkeeDuck.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa was in the news recently when he claimed to be arrested at the Los Angeles airport for riding the device he called a "hoverboard" even though it has wheels that firmly touched the ground.
Follow @RossMarowits on Twitter
Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press
Conservationist, educator and author Bill Freedman dies of cancer at 65
HALIFAX — Bill Freedman, a respected educator and author who championed Canadian conservation, has died.
He was 65.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada says Freedman, a 25-year volunteer with the organization, died Saturday at home in Halifax following a battle with cancer.
An ecologist and former chairman of the biology department at Dalhousie University, Freedman authored more than 100 scientific papers, publications and science textbooks.
The conservancy says Freedman served as its regional and national board chairman and wrote a book on the organization's 50-year history in 2013.
Just last week, the conservancy announced it would dedicate its 150-hectare Prospect High Head site near Halifax as the Bill Freedman Nature Reserve.
"He taught us all to cherish our natural world," John Lounds, conservancy president and CEO, said in a statement. "We remember a generous, thoughtful man who leaves a conservation legacy right across this country that will be appreciated by generations to come."
The Canadian Press
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said Freedman was 55 based on information from the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Conservationist, educator and author Bill Freedman dies of cancer at 55
HALIFAX — Bill Freedman, a respected educator and author who championed Canadian conservation, has died.
He was 55.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada says Freedman, a 25-year volunteer with the organization, died Saturday at home in Halifax following a battle with cancer.
An ecologist and former chairman of the biology department at Dalhousie University, Freedman authored more than 100 scientific papers, publications and science textbooks.
The conservancy says Freedman served as its regional and national board chairman and wrote a book on the organization's 50-year history in 2013.
Just last week, the conservancy announced it would dedicate its 150-hectare Prospect High Head site near Halifax as the Bill Freedman Nature Reserve.
"He taught us all to cherish our natural world," John Lounds, conservancy president and CEO, said in a statement. "We remember a generous, thoughtful man who leaves a conservation legacy right across this country that will be appreciated by generations to come."
The Canadian Press
Peyton Manning throws 2 TD passes, Broncos stay undefeated with 24-12 win over winless Lions
DETROIT — Peyton Manning was cool and confident, lofting passes to teammates as if they were buddies in his backyard.
Whether it was third or fourth down, in the second or fourth quarter, the 39-year-old Manning showed he still has it.
Manning converted a fourth down with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas with 5 seconds left in the first half. Then he threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Owen Daniels on a third down with 2:28 remaining, lifting the Denver Broncos to a 24-12 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night.
Manning was 31 of 42 for 324 yards with two TDs and an interception. The five-time MVP joined Brett Favre as the only players in NFL history with at least 6,000 completions.
The last time the Broncos (3-0) won their first three games was in 2013, when they reached the Super Bowl.
Manning was sacked only once after he was sacked seven times in the first two games.
"We protected him better than we have," Denver coach Gary Kubiak said.
The Lions (0-3) are off to their worst start since 2010, when they finished 6-10.
"We do have 13 games left," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "They're not handing out trophies after three games and you can't be eliminated after three games."
Aqib Talib blocked an extra-point kick by former Bronco Matt Prater early in the second quarter to keep Denver's one-point lead. The Broncos also stopped a 2-point conversion run, keeping them ahead 14-12 early in the third quarter.
Stafford had three turnovers, including a fumble and interception at midfield in the fourth quarter. He might've had a good reason to be rattled because DeMarcus Ware sacked him twice and he was hit and hurried all night in Detroit's home opener.
"Anytime you have that many turnovers, that's going to give you some problems," Caldwell said.
Broncos running back C.J. Anderson left in the first half to be evaluated for a concussion, but was cleared and returned in the second half.
Both teams struggled to run the ball. The Broncos had more success through the air.
And, they took better care of the football.
Thomas had nine receptions for 92 yards and a lead-padding score in which he outleaped Darius Slay to snatch the football out of the air. He celebrated by backpedaling into the end zone, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Stafford was 31 of 45 for 282 yards with a 16-yard TD pass to Ameer Abdullah in the third quarter, two interceptions and a fumble on a play in which he had at least once chance to throw the ball away. Calvin Johnson had eight receptions for 77 yards and drew a pass-interference penalty against Talib in the end zone to set up Joique Bell's 1-yard leap over a pile of lineman.
It looked as if Detroit's
The Lions had a chance to come back, but Stafford blew it. Stafford tried to force a pass to Johnson and safety David Burton Jr. dropped into a zone to pick off the pass that he tipped to himself with his right hand, then returned 12 yards.
"Our responsibility is get to the ball on
Moments later, Manning lofted a 34-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders, who outjumped Slay, to set up his throw that only the 6-foot-3 Daniels could catch in the end zone.
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AP NFL
Larry Lage, The Associated Press
Argentinian ballerina released from B.C. hospital after rollerblading accident
VANCOUVER — A promising young Argentinian ballerina who was severely injured in a rollerblading accident has been released from hospital.
Twenty-year-old Lucila Munaretto says the experience has been a positive one overall given how much she has learned about patience and gratitude.
Munaretto broke a number of bones, including her pelvis, and suffered severe head trauma when she rolled through a stop sign and hit a car in North Vancouver six weeks ago.
She shocked family and friends when she awoke from a coma in late August.
The day after her release Munaretto visited friends at her dance studio, and is otherwise focused on her recovery so she can dance again.
She attributes her speedy recovery thus far to both God and her love of dance.
The Canadian Press
Encana says blowout at northern Alberta natural gas well has been capped
FOX CREEK, Alta. — A blowout at a well in northern Alberta that has been venting natural gas and small amounts of a toxic chemical has been capped.
Encana (TSX:ECA) says in an update on its website that the damaged wellhead 18 kilometres from Fox Creeek has been brought under control and that the flow of natural gas and condensate has been stopped.
The blowout happened Sept. 21 at the well, which is licensed to produce hydrogen sulphide, a poisonous gas that smells like rotten eggs.
Company spokesman Jay Averill said last week that monitoring data showed low levels of hydrogen sulphide have been released, but they were well beneath those that would pose a health risk.
Encana says on its website that it is committed to fixing any environmental damage.
It says it's also still working to determine the cause of the incident.
The Canadian Press
Start of Steelers-Rams delayed by small fire, long cleanup effort
ST. LOUIS — The start of the St. Louis Rams game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed nearly 30 minutes by a small fire from sparks emitted during a pyrotechnic display for player introductions.
"Out of an abundance of caution for player safety, the game was delayed to clean any residue from the turf," the Rams said in a statement.
"NFL officials were involved from the onset to monitor the cleanup process."
The cleanup effort appeared to be hampered by a malfunctioning wet-dry vacuum used to remove fire extinguisher foam. There was a small circular mark between the 3 and 4-yard line near the north end zone as the game began.
In the first three quarters, neither team had any plays close to the mark.
It appeared the fire started as the rest of the Rams players trotted through towers that shot flames high into the air.
At one point during the delay, Rams players did stretching exercises. Later, both teams left the field.
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AP NFL
The Associated Press
Pierre Karl Peladeau puts off plan to sell signed hockey jerseys until after Oct 19
QUEBEC — Parti Quebecois Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau's team has temporarily given up on a plan to sell hand-signed hockey jerseys, at $150 apiece, in order to pay the cost of his leadership campaign.
The offer, found on Peladeau's campaign website, was removed so as not to undermine the Bloc Quebecois' fundraising campaign, according to Annick Belanger, Peladeau's communications director.
Until last week, visitors to Peladeau's website were encouraged to order their own "PKP 2015" hockey jersey, "with Pierre Karl's Peladeau's autograph, for only $150."
Belanger confirmed that the decision to sell the blue jerseys, which are identical to the ones worn by Peladeau supporters during his leadership campaign, was taken in mid-August.
The initiative was designed to replenish the coffers of Peladeau's campaign organization, which was left with a $132,000 debt when the race wrapped up in May.
As of yet, no sales have been completed, Belanger said. She said the offer will return after the Oct. 19 federal election.
Peladeau is the only one of the six Parti Quebecois leadership candidates who still must gather donations to balance his budget, which far exceeded that of his rivals.
In an interview, Belanger told The Canadian Press the offer was suspended Thursday after it became clear the volunteers for the hockey sweater sales were all mobilized by the Bloc Quebecois campaign that began over a month ago.
"The campaign has been pushed back in order to concentrate efforts on the Bloc Quebecois fundraising campaign," Belanger said.
Belanger confirmed the operation would start up again next month in order to finish up "the fundraising campaign for Mr. Peladeau's leadership race."
The new Parti Quebecois leader spent $405,000 (excluding an amount of $11,575 in unpaid claims) on his campaign, which exceeded the $284,950 he received in donations.
Last week, Quebec's chief electoral officer confirmed the initiative was within the rules since the maximum donation for a leadership race is $500, as opposed to the $100 ceiling for election campaign contributions.
Election office spokesman Denis Dion confirmed that candidates have a one-year period to pay back their debt, and they can request permission to extend the deadline to a maximum of three years.
The financial records of the candidates submitted to the chief electoral officer show that Alexandre Cloutier ran the second-most expensive campaign at $79,890, which was equivalent to the amount he took in.
Alexandre Robillard, The Canadian Press
Schilling set to return to ESPN for post-season coverage following benching for tweet
LOUDON, N.H. — Curt Schilling is headed back to TV for ESPN.
Schilling said Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway he would return to work for the sports network as part of its baseball
Schilling was benched earlier this month from on telecasts for the rest of the regular season and the wild-card game on Oct. 6. in the wake of his anti-Muslim tweet.
The former star pitcher and "Sunday Night Baseball" analyst was pulled by ESPN from a major league game and the network's coverage of the Little League World Series last month after he retweeted a post that compared Muslims and Nazi-era Germans. He has one year left on his contract.
At the time, Schilling said he'd made a "bad decision."
Schilling later sent an email to a sports media site about his Twitter post, causing a further uproar.
ESPN said at the time of his punishment "Curt's actions have not been consistent with his contractual obligations nor have they been professionally handled; they have obviously not reflected well on the company."
Schilling, who also has used Twitter to defended his family over personal attacks, said social media has become "the new 30-second commercial" and too many people want to go viral "for all the wrong reasons."
"A lot of people have told me in the past, you tell it like it is," he said. "I try to explain to people that I don't. I tell it like I think it is."
Schilling, who has been treated for mouth cancer, is a three-time World Series champion with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Red Sox. He played from 2004-07 with the Red Sox, who won the World Series in his first and last seasons with them.
He delivered the prayer before Sunday's NASCAR race.
Dan Gelston, The Associated Press
Zenit striker Hulk accuses Russian fans of racism after match with Spartak Moscow
MOSCOW — Zenit St. Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk claimed he was racially abused during a match against Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League.
When Hulk was substituted after scoring in the 2-2 draw, he blew kisses to the stands and later said this was because "unfortunately the same situation keeps happening, racism from the stands," in comments published Sunday on Zenit's
Last season, Spartak and Torpedo Moscow were punished over separate incidents involving their fans, who directed monkey chants at Hulk. The Brazilian has made blowing kisses his signature response to such incidents.
"I'm not going to react. I've already talked about that," he said Sunday. "That's why I keep sending everyone kisses and answering with my game on the pitch. It's not worth it to discuss these things."
The head of the Russian Football Union's disciplinary committee, Artur Grigoryants, told Russian agency Tass that racist abuse had not been mentioned in the match delegate's official report.
Hulk said in July that racist
After the Torpedo incident, Zenit coach Andre Villas-Boas branded the abuse of Hulk a "disaster" for Russian football, adding: "The insults, the racist insults to Hulk, they go around the world, and this is the image of the Russian Premier League."
In December, Hulk alleged he was racially abused by Russian referee Alexei Matyunin during a league game. The referee was cleared by a Russian Football Union panel, which ruled there was insufficient evidence.
In the first game of the new Russian league season in July, Ghanaian player Emmanuel Frimpong, formerly of Arsenal, said he was racially abused by the crowd while playing for FC Ufa against Spartak.
Frimpong was sent off for an offensive gesture to Spartak fans and banned for two games.
Frimpong said on Twitter: "I'm going to serve a sentence for being abused ... and yet we (are) going to hold a World Cup in this country."
A report published in February by the anti-discrimination group FARE found more than 200 incidents of racist and discriminatory
The Associated Press
No more second-half big blues: Giants hold lead and beat Redskins 32-21
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants do know how to hold onto a lead.
New York didn't let Washington steal a victory late, finishing off a 32-21 decision Thursday night on Odell Beckham Jr.'s 30-yard touchdown catch and Rueben Randle's 41-yarder.
The Giants fell apart in the fourth quarter of losses to Dallas and Atlanta. This time, New York (1-2) dominated most of the action against the injury-plagued Redskins (1-2), who lost veteran cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a right leg injury that looked serious.
"We won," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Smile."
The Giants scored in nearly every way possible, beginning with Rashad Jennings blocking Tress Way's punt for a safety on Washington's opening series. Andre Williams scored on a 1-yard run, Josh Brown kicked three field goals, and Beckham toasted Bashaud Breeland to settle matters. Randle had a 41-yard TD catch in the closing minutes, after which Washington's Rashad Ross returned the kickoff 101 yards for the final score.
New York also led at halftime and through three quarters of its losses to the Cowboys and Falcons.
"Players need the reinforcement that comes with closing out the game with a win," Coughlin said.
Prince Amukamara and Uani Unga had interceptions of Kirk Cousins, who struggled once more against New York. Last season, he threw four picks in a loss to New York.
Washington, which has lost five straight to the Giants, got field goals of 44 and 37 yards from Dustin Hopkins, but any thoughts of a comeback ended when Matt Jones fumbled on his way into the end zone with 9 1-2 minutes remaining. A late 4-yard TD pass to Chris Thompson and 2-point conversion brought the deficit to 11, then Randle made his scoring catch.
The victory provides some optimism for the Giants in the muddled NFC East, where Dallas is 2-0 but missing several stars, and Philadelphia is 0-2.
"I felt bad for the first two games," said Eli Manning, who struggled in key situations in the two losses. "We were right there, could easily have won. To not be at our best in final minutes of a game is frustrating. You have to want to get back in that moment, have success and feel good about yourselves."
Manning was coolly efficient, finishing 23 of 31 for 279 yards. Beckham had seven receptions for 79 yards, and Randle had seven for 116.
The Giants were super-aggressive with the blitz, with inconsistent results. Cousins' mobility helped him avoid sacks, but the sloppy Redskins couldn't find the end zone until it was too late.
New York, meanwhile, was scoring with variety. Jennings, who rushed for only 32 yards on the night, surged through to block Way's punt out of the side of the end zone for a quick 2-0 lead.
"Everyone has to contribute," Coughlin said, "including starters (on special teams)."
That margin increased to 9-0 after Amukamara jumped Pierre Garcon's route and picked off Cousins' pass deep in Washington territory. Williams rushed a yard for the TD four plays later.
Big plays by Randle (30-yard reception) and Daniel Fells (one-handed catch for 23 yards on third down) set up Josh Brown's field goals of 35 and 36 yards in the first half. Brown made a 48-yard in the third period.
New York was missing five starters, including top draft pick Ereck Flowers at left tackle and cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. Washington was hit with several injuries during the game, the worst of which appeared to be Hall's. He had to be helped to the sideline, unable to put any weight on the leg. The team said he had a toe injury.
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AP NFL
Barry Wilner, The Associated Press
B.C. bishop says abstinence is the only healthy choice over HPV vaccine
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — A Catholic bishop in British Columbia says a vaccine that protects girls against a sexually transmitted infection isn't inherently wrong, but abstinence is the only healthy choice.
Bishop Stephen Jensen of the Diocese of Prince George also said in a September letter to parents of Grade 6 and Grade 9 girls attending Catholic schools that a legal option known as mature-minor consent won't be an option for students in the human papillomavirus vaccination program.
Mature-minor consent is defined on the BC Centre for Disease Control's website as the authority given to children under the age of 19 to allow, refuse or revoke their consent to be immunized. The centre said that authority takes precedence over parental authority.
"You need to discern the merits of having your child vaccinated or not," Jensen told parents in the letter posted online.
"While the vaccination program is not inherently wrong, parents need to make an informed decision and communicate it in a way that can serve to strengthen their child in the virtue of chastity and reinforce her appreciation of abstinence as the only truly healthy choice."
He said the church and the parish will support parental rights.
The diocese did not respond to email and phone requests for an interview by publication.
In a posting on its website, the diocese provides a type of mission statement that explains the principles upon which its eight Catholic elementary schools operate.
"Children hear, learn, share and experience Catholic faith and values with and from teachers and staff committed to modeling the words and vision of Christ," it said.
HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, three quarters of sexually active women will get it during their lives and it can become cancerous over time, according to the provincial government website ImmunizeBC.
Northern Health spokesman Jonathon Dyck said in an email that the authority will work with local schools to ensure people make informed choices about vaccinations.
"We want to ensure that the vaccine is offered before people become sexually active as it is a preventative measure, and studies have shown that it does not affect a person's decision about being abstinent," he said.
"It is also an important protection as the person may marry someone who has contracted and carries HPV."
Dyck said the infection is highly contagious and can be spread even without sexual intercourse through skin-to-skin contact.
"The HPV vaccine is safe and up to 99 per cent effective at preventing HPV strains responsible for most HPV related cancers, and genital warts," said Dyck.
Jensen said vaccination teams will visit Catholic schools three times in the coming year and will offer the vaccine on two of those visits.
The diocese makes no mention in the letter of boys receiving the vaccine.
B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake announced in July that boys and men up to the age of 26 would be eligible for free HPV vaccines in September.
The vaccines are also available at local health units.
-- by Keven Drews
The Canadian Press
Media companies ask judge to unseal documents in Hulk Hogan sex tape trial
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A group of media outlets is asking a Florida judge to make records in the Hulk Hogan sex video case public.
Hogan, a former WWE wrestler whose real name is Terry Bollea, is suing the news
Gawker and its owner, Nick Denton, maintain that the New York-based company had the right to publish the sex video of Hogan because the wrestler lost any expectation of privacy after making sexually explicit comments during media appearances. Hogan is suing for $100 million.
The trial is scheduled for March 2016 in Pinellas County Court in St. Petersburg.
The video was delivered to Gawker anonymously in 2012, and the FBI investigated the leak. Gawker filed a public records request in federal court for more information about the investigation, and the judge ordered it released. But when it was put into public record in the civil suit, the judge sealed the records.
Media companies, including the Associated Press, asked Thursday to open those records.
"It's highly unusual for this much secrecy to surround a civil proceeding," said Charles Tobin, a lawyer for Holland and Knight who is representing the media companies. "Ordinarily, whether it's a celebrity or an average citizen, once you ask the court to help solve a dispute you open the proceedings up to public review. What's going on in Hulk Hogan's case certainly is not the norm when it comes to public transparency of the courts."
Hogan, perhaps the biggest star in WWE's five-decade history, was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years in its signature event, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.
He won six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
But he was able to transcend his "Hulkamania" fan base to become a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, "Hogan Knows Best."
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Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush
Tamara Lush, The Associated Press
Triple slaying suspect charged with three counts of first-degree murder
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
