Ten beagles rescued from animal testing in the United States arrived in Alberta on Wednesday, thanks to a Canadian charity. The Beagle Alliance, based in Winnipeg, is an organization that helps advocate for the release of animals used in laboratory research across North America. Beagles are the most commonly used breed of dog in testing facilities across the globe because of their forgiving nature, docile behaviour and ability to easily fit into a cage. Executive director Lori Cohen says the charity is now looking to place some of the recently rescued beagles into loving homes, while others are already spoken for. “These dogs have never felt sun on their snouts or the grass under their paws,” she said. “It’s a special moment to see their first few steps.” “We’ve crossed a lot of borders to get these little guys to freedom, and they’re going to meet their new homes or new families going forward.” Keoma Thorne, who is fostering one of the rescued beagles, says many people are surprised to learn animal testing is still happening in Canada. “Whenever I talk to people about it, they’re shocked,” Thorne said. If it’s not something you support, she says one of the best ways consumers can help is by supporting companies that are cruelty free. “Look at your labels, make sure that you are not contributing to the problem that way, because if you are demanding cruelty-free products, then companies will start looking for other means of testing.”  In 2022, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) reported more than 10,000 dogs were used in testing in Canada. The exact fate of animals following testing is not known, but out of the 10,000 dogs, about 6,000 were used in education programs such veterinary or animal care schools. In some cases, the unfortunate result of those tests ends in the euthanizing of the animals.  Cohen notes that Canadian facilities, both public and private, are not bound by law to release animals after use in science, and there’s no federal governing body that oversees the treatment of animals in Canada. “They suffer from PTSD and anxiety, but because of their resilience and ability to forgive, become the most loving companions and family members,” Cohen said. “We intend to prove to the CCAC, the voluntary regulatory body overseeing animals in science in Canada, as well as the facilities themselves, that with experience, education, patience and support, these dogs can go on to live may more years outside of the cage than inside.” Ten beagles rescued from animal testing in the United States arrived in Alberta on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. In June of 2023, Canada’s federal government passed Bill S-5, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which will phase out toxicity testing on animals by 2035. CCAC executive director Pierre Verreault applauds the decision. “I think this is a big step forward,” he said. “Other countries have been moving forward on this for a few years, so we’re glad to see our country moving in that same direction.” Under the Constitution Act 1867, the federal government currently does not have jurisdiction to legislate experiments involving animals. Legislation instead falls to provinces, but ethical and humane CCAC certification has been a federal condition since 1968, requiring all institutions that receive funding from federal grant programs to prevent abuse, neglect and cruelty of any kind during testing. “Most of the provinces will have cruelty laws, the same at the federal level as well, but when it comes to science, it is a very different way of looking at the ethical framework around it,” Verrault said. “The CCAC program that is in place makes sure that the organizations that use animals in testing are doing so according to the standards we develop.” The name of the American research lab the beagles were recently rescued from cannot be named, but The Beagles Alliance was safely able to transport them into Canada with proper rabies vaccination and health certificates as required by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Anyone interested in volunteering, fostering, adopting or donating to The Beagle Alliance van visit the charity’s website or call 1-204-266-1968. 

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. –

A Celebrity Apex cruise to the Caribbean this month turned into a rocking Newfoundland kitchen party when hundreds of people from Canada’s easternmost province happened to be booked on the same ship.

By a strange stroke of luck, 250 couples from the province, as well as kids and grandparents and even Newfoundlanders living in other parts of the world, were all on the same cruise, said Mark Hiscock, who sings and plays banjo and accordion in the popular Newfoundland-trad band, Shanneyganock.

There were we so many Newfoundlanders on board, the company roped off the main pool deck one night and hosted a party exclusively for passengers from the province, Hiscock said.

“You had to show your ID, that you were part of the Newfoundland contingent,” the musician said in an interview. “I ran up and sang ‘The Islander’ and ‘I’se the B’y’ and everybody was going cracked.”

About 3,000 people were on board when the ship set sail for the Caribbean on April 6. Pamela Pardy bought her ticket in November and soon began seeing social media posts from friends and friends of friends saying they, too, would be on the cruise.

Her travel agent then confirmed that 250 couples from the province, excluding kids and grandparents, would also be on board.

“Plus, when we go on the ship, there were all these people who don’t live in Newfoundland but are from Newfoundland,” she said in an interview. “So Newfoundlanders from around the world, literally, who were, by fluke, on this same cruise.”

Pardy said she and her fiance have been on many fabulous cruises — they often take two a year — but sailing the seas with all those fellow Newfoundlanders was uniquely special. There was a connection between the passengers, and people felt free to strike up conversations with friends and strangers, Pardy said. She and her fiance would drape a Newfoundland and Labrador flag over the deck chairs as an invitation for anyone looking for a chat.

“Being in an elevator on a cruise ship is not usually a social event,” Pardy said. “But when you’re from Newfoundland, and you hear, ‘Come on in, my ducky,’ or ‘What floor are you going to, my trout?’ It was just so endearing.”

The non-Newfoundland passengers were also included; the open, chatty atmosphere extended to them, and they were welcomed to witness what Pardy called “Newfoundland hospitality.” She said she spoke with several people without connections to the province who were now interested in visiting.

On the last night of the voyage, many of the Newfoundlanders gathered again on the deck to take a group picture and sing the Ode to Newfoundland, the province’s official anthem.

“You felt part of something bigger,” Pardy said. “That’s the only way that I can explain it.”

She said she hopes Expedia Cruises will offer another cruise full of Newfoundlanders — this time on purpose.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2024.

Some people love to wash their car, and for others, it’s their most hated chore. It’s a necessity for car owners, so no matter where you fall on the love-hate spectrum, you want a car wash that’s going to give your car a deep clean that lasts. Automatic car washes are at almost any gas…

  When you take your car to the car wash, there are multiple add-ons available, and one common choice is spray-on wax. It may seem like it doesn’t make a difference, but there are some important benefits. And these benefits go beyond how shiny your will car looks. What Are the Benefits of Waxing Your…

Even when you are lucky enough to start with an empty room, it can be overwhelming to design an interior that you can enjoy for years to come. Following some basic interior design principles, you can transform your space into a relaxing room you will be comfortable and happy with. Decide what your focal point will be and build out from there.  For best results, keep proportion and scale in mind as you decorate as well as these tips!

 Deciding on Your Focal Point
Do you have a magnificent bay window with an incredible view?  Is there an ornate mantle that is the reason you fell in love with your home? Or is there something you absolutely MUST HAVE in the room? Situate your furniture around your chosen focal point to create balance and equilibrium. If your room does not already have an existing focal point, create one with oversized art or add an accent point like a free-standing fireplace, they come in a variety of sizes and styles. Symmetrically balance the room evenly so that both sides mirror one another.  This will help your chosen focal point stand out all the more! Use matching accent tables to flank your sofa or use different pieces of furniture to create a copacetic visual impact, like two similar armchairs to balance a sofa.
Repetition for Rhythm
Rhythm creates a flow and helps direct the eye to the differing visual elements in your room. Just as the notes of a favorite song repeat to create the rhythm, repetition in decor will create a rhythm throughout a home. Establish visual interests with a rhythm throughout your space by placing similar colours or patterns at intervals and repeat in artwork, cushions or area rugs.

Perfect Proportion and Suitable Scaling
Who doesn’t love a large, overstuffed chair? But if your room is on the smaller size it may look out of place and make your room seem even smaller than it is. Keep proportion in perspective. Proportion is the ratio between a piece of furniture and the size of a room. Scale is the size of a piece of furniture in relation to the other pieces of furniture in the room. A super large chair will overpower an apartment of loft size sofa or loveseat and create a sense of unbalance in the room.

Have your room humming harmoniously
Creating harmony will enhance how much you will continue to love your finished. Pull the room with a subdued colour palette for a pleasing, harmonious vibe.   together for a pleasing, harmonious look with a subdued color palette. You can also use a single colour for elements that vary in size and shape. Check out our blog on Doing White on White Right! for more tips!

What is the focal point in your room?  What is your best tip to find harmony and balance through your home?