Six stories in the news today, Nov. 4

Six stories in the news for Friday, Nov. 4

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SHADY COUPLE TAUGHT FOR TRUMP U IN CANADA 

Canadian courses for Trump University were taught by a couple who used aliases, declared multiple bankruptcies, lost a real-estate licence and was sanctioned by securities regulators over a multimillion-dollar swindle, according to documents reviewed through a joint investigation by The Canadian Press and The Associated Press. An Ontario husband-and-wife team identifying themselves as Dave Ravindra and Rita Bahadur taught Trump courses in Canadian cities in 2010, before Trump’s namesake real-estate seminars folded amid mounting inquiries from U.S. regulators and complaints from former students.

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CONCENTRATED HOUSING

Single-family builds down in Nanaimo while denser housing units increase

19m ago

HOUSING TARGETS

Nanaimo named in new group of communities for provincial housing targets

13h ago

unprovoked attack

Vulnerable man blasted with bear spray in quiet Nanaimo neighbourhood

15h ago

FINAL WITNESS TO BE CALLED IN PYTHON TRIAL

The final Crown witness is expected to be called today in the trial of a man charged with criminal negligence in the deaths of two boys killed by a python in northern New Brunswick.  Jean-Claude Savoie’s rock python killed six-year-old Connor Barthe and his four-year-old brother Noah during a sleepover at Savoie’s apartment. It’s believed the python escaped its enclosure by slithering through a ventilation duct then fell into the living room where the boys were sleeping.  Savoie’s lawyers are expected to begin presenting their case to the jury on Monday.

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MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE IN CALGARY COURT TODAY

An 85-year-old man accused of killing his wife is to be in court today after undergoing a 30-day psychiatric assessment. When Sigfried van Zuiden last appeared in court, a psychiatrist said he believed the 85-year-old has a moderate to severe case of dementia. George Duska said van Zuiden showed little understanding of what was happening, but was pleasant and tried to be helpful. Van Zuiden was charged with second-degree murder last month after he called 911 and police officers responding to the call found his 80-year-old wife, Audrey, dead in the couple’s Calgary home.

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POLL SUGGESTS CANADIANS WANT MORE THAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

A new survey says most of those questioned would like to see a national monument to Canadian soldiers who have died in modern conflicts like Afghanistan. The study commissioned by Historica Canada found 76 per cent of those asked would like a memorial similar to the United States’ Vietnam Wall, which lists the names of those who have died while serving in their country’s military. Survey respondents also emphasized the need for ongoing education on Canada’s military accomplishments, with 62 per cent saying Canada’s students are not learning enough about the country’s war-time efforts.

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GUILTY PLEAS END UNLAWFUL HUNTING CASE 

A case that sparked outrage from indigenous leaders over treaty rights has ended with two men from the Pine Creek First Nation in Manitoba pleading guilty to charges of unlawful hunting on property near Canora, Sask. Charlie Boucher, 55, who is also the chief of the First Nation, and Georgie Lamirande, 40, were each fined a total of $7,500 for unlawfully hunting on posted land, unlawful possession of wildlife and illegally transporting wildlife to another province. Government officials say that in Saskatchewan, individuals exercising treaty rights to hunt for food must ask for prior permission to hunt on private land.

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SHUTDOWN HOME SCHOOL TAKES ALBERTA TO COURT 

An Alberta private school and its home-schooling agency want a court to reverse the province’s decision to pull funding and accreditation over allegations of misspending. Trinity Christian School Association and the Widsom Home Schooling Society have filed an application in Court of Queen’s Bench in Grande Prairie. The two groups say in the document that money has not been misspent. A hearing into the application is to be heard today.

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The Canadian Press