COVID cancellations: Organizers forced to scrap popular Maritime sporting events
The dramatic rise in the number of Omicron cases from coast-to-coast has forced dozens of institutions to postpone or cancel their plans — shattering hopes of a return to normalcy to start off 2022.
A month ago, teams were celebrating on the ice and there were fans in the stands at a hockey tournament in Glace Bay, N.S.
But now, the ice is empty.
“It's disappointing because it's your grade 12 year and knowing what it means to play for your school and have that home crowd,” said Rob MacNamara.
MacNamara's son, Ryan, is in his final year of high school and should be on the ice this weekend suiting up for the Sydney Academy Wildcats.
Instead, Ryan’s dream of playing in the Sydney Academy Blue and White High School Hockey Tournament isn't going to happen, with the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the tournament for a second straight year.
“Anyone that has played for a high school team knows that home crowd is a big lift during the game and when you get to host your own tournament it certainly makes a difference,” said MacNamara. “Its just disappointing that players like my son, who have played the last two years, haven't had the experience.”
In New Brunswick, more than 115 teams pre-registered to play in the World Pond Hockey Championship.
“There was a number of factors on December 1st that said lets just tap the break. We will get this 20th anniversary event in at some point, it just might take 22 years to get it done,” said Danny Braun, World Pond Hockey president.
Thousands of people have come from all over the world to play - or watch - the iconic event. Not having the World Pond Hockey Championship two years in a row is a blow to the local economy.
“It's something that for 19 years has provided an influx of revenue to local and businesses regionally. Teams stay as far away as Grand Falls, Perth-Andover, Woodstook, Edmunston,” said Braun.
In New Waterford, a popular basketball tournament has also been sidelined. It's an event the entire community looks forward to.
“We won't be having Coal Bowl this year. It's just impossible,” said Lowell Cormier, vice-chair of the tournament. “It's really discouraging. We need some light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully next year we will have that light."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ont. and Que. scramble to recover from thunderstorm that left at least 7 dead
Clean-up efforts are underway after a massive thunderstorm on Saturday left a trail of destruction in Southern Ontario and Quebec.
How concerned should we be about monkeypox?
Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases in Europe and elsewhere of monkeypox, a type of viral infection more common to west and central Africa. Here's what we know about the current outbreak and the relative risk.
43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
BREAKING | Ontario storm leaves seven dead and tens of thousands without power
The death count following a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise.
Tens of thousands without power after severe storm hits Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
Huawei 5G ban delay wasn't tied to efforts to free Spavor and Kovrig, Mendicino says
Canada's Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino insists the once unknown fate of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was not why the government delayed its decision to ban Huawei technologies from Canada's 5G network.
Justice Mahmud Jamal reflects on his first year on the Supreme Court bench in new special interview
Ahead of his one-year anniversary on the Supreme Court of Canada this July, Mahmud Jamal spoke with CTV National News National Affairs Correspondent Omar Sachedina to reflect on his past year on the bench.
Taliban enforcing face-cover order for female TV anchors
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers on Sunday began enforcing an order requiring all female TV news anchors in the country to cover their faces while on-air. The move is part of a hard-line shift drawing condemnation from rights activists.
78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in U.S.
Enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Ontario storm leaves seven dead and tens of thousands without power
The death count following a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise.
-
Ontario’s top doctor issues order to doctors requiring reporting on possible monkeypox cases
Ontario’s top public health official issued issued an order to healthcare providers requiring them to report any possible or suspected cases of monkeypox to local authorities.
-
Building up instead of out: Mississauga's needs of Queen's Park are changing
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie readily admits that her city was “built with a vision that land and gas is cheap,” a concept which for years meant “four-bedroom homes and large boulevards” to carry office workers to Toronto.
Calgary
-
43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
-
Flames look to slow down Connor McDavid in Game 3
The Calgary Flames know the recipe they want to follow in their Western Conference second-round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers.
-
A 'relieved' Jason Kenney says he won't run in the UCP leadership race
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he will not be running in the race to pick a new leader of the United Conservative party.
Montreal
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | Tornado watches in effect in several Quebec regions
In the wake of the major wind and thunderstorms that battered Quebec and Ontario on Saturday night, a tornado watch has been issued in the province's Eastern Townships and other regions.
-
Around 400,000 homes still without power in Quebec due to severe thunderstorms
Powerful thunderstorms hit Quebec late Saturday afternoon and evening. In all, Hydro-Québec reported 1,237 outages affecting 468,837 homes across the province.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | 'We were screaming': High winds and violent storms rip through southern Quebec
A series of storms ripped through southern Quebec Friday, unearthing trees, causing highway standstills and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
Edmonton
-
Family of man killed in Chinatown attack hope for solutions to create a safer community
Family members remember one of the men killed in Chinatown this week as a kind and hardworking man, and hope that his needless death will lead to change.
-
'The heart of our city': The spirit of Joey Moss lives on through Oilers anthem La Bamba
As the Oilers look to take home ice for the first time in the Battle of Alberta playoff edition, a significant presence is missing from the team's dressing room.
-
Huawei 5G ban delay wasn't tied to efforts to free Spavor and Kovrig, Mendicino says
Canada's Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino insists the once unknown fate of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was not why the government delayed its decision to ban Huawei technologies from Canada's 5G network.
Northern Ontario
-
Thunderstorms kill at least 5, knock out power in parts of Ont., Que.
As the May long weekend kicked off, a massive thunderstorm in southern Ontario and Quebec brought strong wind gusts that knocked down trees, took out power and left at least five people dead.
-
Tens of thousands without power after severe storm hits Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
-
Three dead, more than 350K without power after powerful storm rips through Ontario
Three people are dead and more than 350,000 are without power after an intense thunderstorm pummeled southern Ontario Saturday afternoon.
London
-
Multiple power outages in London after fierce thunderstorm tears through southern Ontario
Many people in London, Ont. are still cleaning up debris while 2,500 remain without power Sunday morning after a powerful severe thunderstorm rolled through southern Ontario Saturday.
-
'It was scary'; severe thunderstorm wreaks havoc in southwestern Ontario
A short but powerful thunderstorm came through southwestern Ontario Saturday, killing several people and injuring others.
-
Ontario reports two more COVID-19 deaths
Ontario health officials say another two people have died after contracting COVID-19.
Winnipeg
-
How concerned should we be about monkeypox?
Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases in Europe and elsewhere of monkeypox, a type of viral infection more common to west and central Africa. Here's what we know about the current outbreak and the relative risk.
-
Winnipeg River expected to crest next month
The Winnipeg River is expected to crest in early June, according to the Manitoba government.
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Ontario storm leaves seven dead and tens of thousands without power
The death count following a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise.
Ottawa
-
Tens of thousands without power after severe storm hits Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
-
'We've got a lot of damage': Ottawa residents begin cleaning up after storm damages homes, church
The city of Ottawa says there have been multiple reports of damaged property and fallen trees following Saturday's storm, "particularly in the Navan, Stittsville, Merivale and Hunt Club area."
-
Two dead after major storm rips through Ottawa
Two people are dead and at least two others are critically injured after a powerful thunderstorm ripped through Ottawa Saturday afternoon.
Saskatoon
-
Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship in Saskatoon gathers dozens of Indigenous teams from across Canada
From Rankin Inlet, Nunavut to Ochapawace, Saskatchewan, Indigenous hockey teams from all over Canada are in Saskatoon this weekend playing in the Fred Sasakamoose "Chief Thunderstick" National Hockey Championship.
-
'A better road to travel': Widespread highway improvement planned for 2022
With the construction season in Saskatchewan getting underway; the provincial government laid out its plans to improve approximately 1,100 km of provincial highways in 2022.
-
Toronto investigating first suspected case of monkeypox
Health officials in Toronto say they are investigating the first suspected case of monkeypox in the city.
Vancouver
-
RCMP searching for suspect after victim sexually assaulted during break-and-enter
Police in Surrey are looking for a suspect following an alleged sexual assault at a home in the Saint Helen's Park neighbourhood.
-
1 arrested after assault in South Vancouver, police say
Vancouver police say they have arrested a man after an assault in South Vancouver Saturday morning.
-
Kelowna poodle owner gets dangerous dog fine thrown out
A Kelowna man has successfully appealed a $1,000 fine he was issued for "causing or permitting" his poodle to become a dangerous dog.
Regina
-
Regina man charged in late-night robbery
Officers of the Regina Police Service (RPS) responded to a report of a robbery just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, according to a news release.
-
Bagpipes and kilts: Scottish culture on full display in Regina
Bagpipes blared and kilts were worn at Victoria Park in Regina on Saturday for the Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival.
-
'A better road to travel': Widespread highway improvement planned for 2022
With the construction season in Saskatchewan getting underway; the provincial government laid out its plans to improve approximately 1,100 km of provincial highways in 2022.
Vancouver Island
-
Business case for bringing rail back to Vancouver Island released
The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), which manages rail on Vancouver Island, released last week an initial business case stating the need it sees for safe, efficient, reliable, transit-like rail as the island's population grows.
-
When will drivers get their ICBC rebates? An updated timeline
Some British Columbians won’t be getting provincial rebates meant to offset soaring gas prices until the end of July, according to ICBC.
-
The science behind why smoke seems to follow you around a campfire
Why does smoke seem to follow you around a campfire? B.C. research scientist Kerry Anderson told CTVNews.ca the answer actually boils down to physics.