Leader-Post: Cultures showcased at U of R



The Chinese dance group, Best Friends performed
at the U of R's Global Showcase Friday.

Photograph by: Don Healy, Regina Leader-Post



It was one big party at the University of Regina Friday afternoon.

Read more

For some videos to view online of the performances of the Global Showcase, click here.

Leader-Post: Reginian receives national literacy award

by Lisa Goudy

Donah Littlemore gets more from her volunteer work than she gives to her students.

"There is nothing better than having a learner look at you and want to know more," said Littlemore. "What you learn from them, to me, is a lot more than what I can teach them."

Littlemore was presented with the 2011 Canada Post Community Literacy Award at the Regina Central Public Library on  Sept. 8, which was International Literacy Day. She was one of 13 winners across Canada.

Littlemore received the award for teaching English as a second language. She's been a volunteer tutor at the library's literacy program for the past four years. She also volunteers at the Adult Centre for Education and Employment Readiness (ACERT) for the Regina Food Bank.

"I think it's a very, very nice award, but people should be aware that the tutors out there are all qualified and they all are passionate," said Littlemore. "They all want to help."

The Literacy Awards program was initiated in 1993. Garry Palmer, the manager of mail operations in Regina for Canada Post, said the quality of award recipients are all "exceptionally high."

"It's a really exciting opportunity for Canada Post to recognize clearly the hard work and the dedication and the commitment that goes into extending literacy to people in Regina. Donah's clearly an exceptional representative of that action," said Palmer.

Alice Samkoe, the literacy program supervisor at the library, said the literacy program has been around for over 30 years. Samkoe said about 40 per cent of Canadians have low literacy and she estimated Littlemore spends about six hours a week helping out in the literacy program. She said it was wonderful one of the library's tutors was recognized by receiving this award for her hard work.

"Nothing is about Donah. She didn't even want to be nominated for this award. We had to convince her and we convinced her by letting her know that the awareness she would bring to the literacy cause was important," said Samkoe. "She doesn't consider herself as anybody special, which makes her all the more special."

Kabita Acharya came to Canada from Nepal in 2010 and has been a student of Donah's at ACERT since Sept. 27, 2010 to learn English as a second language. She had nothing but good things to say about the program.

"I like it very much," said Acharya. "It helps me a lot to speak."

Littlemore couldn't be happier helping out. Ever since she retired from her job as a secretary and became involved with the literacy program, the only regret she has is that she didn't start doing this many years ago, Littlemore said.

 

2011 Canada Post Complete List of Literacy Awards National Winners

Internship with the Leader-Post



Saskatchewan Roughriders' Andy Fantuz was back

practising at Taylor Field in Regina on Sept. 7, 2011

after being released by the NFL's Chicago Bears.

Photograph by: Don Healy, Regina Leader-Post



I'm almost done my third week of my internship at the Leader-Post. I've been writing daily stories for the paper and providing content for the weekly Regina Sun. Last week I also started doing the trending column for the Leader-Post as well.



Here's my first story .






Fantuz fever in Regina

by Lisa Goudy

For Jared Carlson, an avid Saskatchewan Roughriders fan, Andy Fantuz's return to the Riders on Wednesday couldn't be better news. Carlson was one of many people asked about their thoughts on Fantuz coming back to the Riders.

"I think it's fantastic," said Carlson. "It's an area that we've been lacking somewhat all season long, struggling with injuries to Cary Koch and Terrence Nunn now ... it's good timing obviously."

Carlson said Fantuz is a particularly popular player and now that he's returned, he said it will definitely be a positive influence for both the fans and the team itself. Carlson attended the Labour Day Classic and when Fantuz was shown on the screen on the sidelines, the fans went wild, giving him a standing ovation.

"Obviously when he's in the lineup, I think we have a better chance to win," said Carlson, who went on to say that game attendance probably won't be affected by this change. "I think we'll sell out no matter what, with or without Fantuz in the lineup," he said.

Bill Grant said he's convinced that Fantuz will help the Riders score a lot more touchdowns in the near future.

"Well I think it's great. They need that receiver with sure hands and everything ... it's awesome. (I'm) stoked," said Grant. "(He's) another weapon in the arsenal kind of thing."

Grant isn't the only one who believes Fantuz's effect on the team will be significant.

"He's one of the best receivers in the CFL and I don't think he was given a fair opportunity in the States, personally," said Crystal Moffatt, who said she loves hearing Fantuz has indeed returned.

She said she believes the team will win more games with the recent changes, first with reinstating Ken Miller as head coach and now bringing back Fantuz, a receiver who she said "won't drop the ball." Additionally, she said that Fantuz and quarterback Darian Durant have good chemistry on the field together.

Scott Sather also took note the in-game connections of Fantuz and Durant.

"I think bringing him in with the good chemistry he has with Durant, it'll help their chances of winning for sure in the next couple games," said Sather. "They should have a better chance on the receiving side with him coming in."

Not everyone is so certain Fantuz will help the team win more games. Darla Weimer said she doesn't know a lot about football, but she said she expects this change will positively affect the team in the locker room.

"I hope that it helps the team. I don't know if it will, but any addition right now will help, I think," said Weimer.

Denise George couldn't agree more. She said that, although she's not big into football, she's completely aware that people are "really excited" to see Fantuz with the Riders again.

"I think the changes are good," said George. "(It) can't hurt."

Need for the scene: Aboriginal Prairie Showcase 2011

A mini documentary about the first ever Aboriginal Prairie Showcase in Regina, SK.
Produced by Ntawnis Piapot and Lisa Goudy

Provincial Budget Day - additional comments

Link to the full INK article: Budget increase in highways and infrastructure

What a hectic day Budget Day was at the provincial legislature! Filled with people crammed together like sardines, it was challenging at times to keep a clear head amidst all of the noise. At the end of the day, I got the story done and here are a few extra things in addition to my INK article.

SUMA Vice-President Jim Scarrows.

SUMA Vice-President Jim Scarrows said SUMA would like to see in the future education funded only by the provincial government, but he said this is still an option at this point. Also, the government’s commitment to the one point of PST will help SUMA deliver recycling, pure water, further protection for citizens, and recreational programs.

Also, part of the $134 million capital funding for municipal infrastructure includes $57.2 million in federal money from the Gas Tax Program. The program aids with municipal infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure funding includes an extra $5.5 million for municipalities’ borrowing through the Saskatchewan Infrastructure Growth Initiative or SIGI. There’s also a new SIGI Recreation Pilot Program, which will give municipalities with interest rate subsidies for up to five years. It deals with $12.5 million of municipal borrowing to aid in the development of recreational infrastructure in order to reach the requirements of growing communities. 

The link to the 2011-12 Saskatchewan budget: The Saskatchewan Advantage

Photo by Lisa Goudy

Supplements for INK article 3

The full INK article can be found here: Green party releases anti-attack ad

I found that at the end of the day, when my third INK article was completed, there were a few supplements I could provide here.

The Green party’s ad targeting attack ads is found below:

CBC Web Poll: What do you think of political attack ads?.

 

Steve White sits in his office.

Steve White, a political science professor at the University of Regina had more to say about attack ads not focusing on issues, but on the reliability and capability of the opponents. The Green party is trying to “capture the protest vote,” White said. Because of the potential spring election, there are several other ads running across the country. The Green party is “simply joining the race,” said White.

“I’m sure we’ll see many attack ads or negative ads again this campaign as we’ve seen many times before, certainly,” White said.

Kieran Green, the director of communications for the Greens, also mentioned what the Green party views as the main issues in the possible election. The Greens are promoting a fiscally responsible economy, decreasing the deficit, decrease government spending on revenue, decrease corporate taxes, and to focus on community issues like health care, employment, education, and programs for seniors.

The Green Party is also hoping to achieve a “true democracy,” said Green. This would result in the seats in the House accurately representing the number of votes. In the last election, the Green Party had approximately one million votes, but received no seats. Electoral reform is the optimal option, said Green.

Photo by Lisa Goudy

Love Radio Show

Producer - Lisa Goudy

Hosts - Devin Heroux and Ntawnis Piapot

Reporters - David Baxter, Hannah Elliott, and John Pluck