'It’s a waste of time': Low turnout for the final day of school in Nova Scotia
'It’s a waste of time': Low turnout for the final day of school in Nova Scotia
As Claire Mahaney-Lion dropped her son off at school Thursday morning, she questioned the reasons behind scheduling a school day that would last fewer than two hours.
“I think it’s a waste of time,” said Mahaney-Lion. “I think school should have just ended on Tuesday.”
Some parents disagreed.
“I think it’s nice just to give them an extra bit of time, to say goodbye,” said one mother as she dropped her daughter off at school.
Emily MacNeill-Liot saw the issue in two ways.
“It does give the kids an opportunity to say goodbye to their peers,” said MacNeill-Liot. "But it is really hard for working parents to find an opportunity to actually take the kids to school and pick them up an hour later.”
In many cases, school buses had more drivers than students.
"We have three on all of the seven buses,” said a bus driver as he pulled out of the Cole Harbour High School Parking lot.
According to Nova Scotia Teachers Union president Paul Wozney, many parents, teachers and even students were all asking the same questions.
“Should this be a day of school?" said Wozney. "Is there a better use for this time, than this?”
“It is traditionally a shorter day,” said Nova Scotia Education Minister Becky Druhan in a statement. “With so many changes over the past few years due to COVID, it is great to return a sense of routine and allow students to enjoy this special day.”
Parents who have already received report cards via email may view attending the final day of school as a waste of time, but according to Wozney, some families do not have access to the internet.
“There are lots of places around the HRM where broadband internet is not accessible or affordable to people,” said Wozney.
Which meant attending school in-person for some was the fastest receive report cards.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 10,000 Canadians received a medically-assisted death in 2021: report
More Canadians are ending their lives with a medically-assisted death, says the third federal annual report on medical assistance in dying (MAID). Data shows that 10,064 people died in 2021 with medical aid, an increase of 32 per cent over 2020.
Author Salman Rushdie on ventilator after stabbing, may lose an eye
\Salman Rushdie remained hospitalized Saturday after suffering serious injuries in a stabbing attack, which was met with shock and outrage from much of the world, along with tributes and praise for the award-winning author who for more than 30 years has faced death threats for his novel 'The Satanic Verses.'
Anne Heche legally dead, remains on life support for donor evaluation
Anne Heche remains on life support and under evaluation for organ donation after a car crash that led to her brain death, a representative for the actor said Friday.
FBI seized 'top secret' documents from Trump home
The FBI recovered documents that were labelled 'top secret' from former U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to court papers released Friday after a federal judge unsealed the warrant that authorized the unprecedented search this week.
About 14 per cent of Ontario hospitals reporting less than a week supply of epidural catheters: Ontario Health
Approximately 14 per cent of hospitals in Ontario are reporting they have less than a week’s worth of epidural catheters in stock, according to an Ontario Health memo sent to hospital chief executive officers on Friday.
N.W.T. RCMP deploy controversial roadside cannabis screening devices
RCMP in the Northwest Territories have begun using roadside cannabis-screening technology that has faced criticism from defence lawyers elsewhere in Canada.
Passengers tackle Canadian man after he became violent, tried to open plane doors mid-flight
A plane bound for Toronto has been forced to divert to Iceland after a Canadian man allegedly became violent and tried to open the aircraft door mid-air.
Ruud Awakening: Canada's Auger-Aliassime falls to Norwegian at National Bank Open
Casper Ruud managed to get his racket on an overhead smash late in Friday's quarterfinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime, eliminating the Canadian from the National Bank Open.
Praise, worry in Iran after Rushdie attack; government quiet
Iranians reacted with praise and worry Saturday over the attack on novelist Salman Rushdie, the target of a decades-old fatwa by the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini calling for his death.
Toronto
-
About 14 per cent of Ontario hospitals reporting less than a week supply of epidural catheters: Ontario Health
Approximately 14 per cent of hospitals in Ontario are reporting they have less than a week’s worth of epidural catheters in stock, according to an Ontario Health memo sent to hospital chief executive officers on Friday.
-
Areas of Union Station evacuated after suspicious package discovered
Areas of Union Station are being evacuated following the discovery of a suspicious package left on the platform on Saturday.
-
Brampton teen arrested in connection with murder of Toronto rapper Houdini in May 2020
A Brampton teen has been arrested in connection with the murder of a well-known Toronto rapper who was gunned down in the city’s Entertainment District over two years ago.
Calgary
-
1 dead following crash in southwest Calgary
Officials say a driver has died after a serious crash early Saturday morning in southwest Calgary.
-
Calgary police, humane society seize 42 animals in northeast Calgary
Police and the Calgary Humane Society have launched a joint investigation after seizing 42 animals from a northeast Calgary property Friday morning.
-
Small wildfire burning near Banff's east gates
A small wildfire was burning Friday night around 8:30 p.m., according to the national park's Twitter feed.
Montreal
-
'Vote for Real': Quebec Liberal party unveils election slogan
"Real issues, real solutions" will be the new slogan of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) for the Oct. 3 elections.
-
Judge suspends two articles of Quebec's Bill 96 regarding legal translations
A group challenging Quebec's new language law logged a first legal victory against the legislation on Friday, as a judge temporarily suspended a provision requiring English court documents to be translated into French.
-
Cuttlefish ink could reduce environmental cost of electronic conductor construction, Montreal researchers say
Montreal researchers are trying to reduce the environmental cost of electronic components, thanks to cuttlefish ink. The materials from the cuttlefish could be used to print melanin, which is used as an electrical conductor.
Edmonton
-
Local high school academic superstar wins prestigious University of Alberta internship
An Edmonton teen has earned the unique opportunity to learn the ropes of working in a university laboratory, before he even started his undergraduate degree.
-
'Communications failure': UCP minister tells reporters to stop asking about essay award
A UCP MLA shook her head in frustration and said "wow" while walking away from a microphone Friday, as the fallout continued over an "abhorrent" essay that her government awarded.
-
Local charities helping families get school supplies seeing 'unprecedented' demand
With the start of a new school year now weeks away, local charities say more people are turning to them to help provide school supplies than ever before.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Second collision on HWY 522 Saturday
Highway 522 is closed from Port Loring to Key River due to a collision shortly before 1 p.m.
-
Canadian who sold his possessions, used up his savings to deliver aid in Ukraine makes a plea for help
Canadian Adam Oake is among volunteers delivering aid to civilians in Ukraine, but he says donations are drying up and he's issuing a plea for help.
-
New fires wildfires confirmed in the Northeast Region
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry confirmed two new wildfires in the northeast region Saturday evening.
London
-
Driver charged in July crash that claimed life of motorcyclist
A driver from the Town of South Bruce Peninsula has been charged by OPP for their alleged involvement in a crash that killed a motorcyclist last month in Grey County.
-
Driver facing charges in crash that killed one, injured three others
A driver is facing multiple charges Saturday for their alleged role in a vehicle collision that claimed the life of one pedestrian and injured three others in Grey Highlands last month.
-
Police release identity of cyclist killed on Highway 401, alleged driver facing charges
Police in London, Ont., are releasing the identity of a cyclist who was killed on Highway 401 after they struck by a vehicle. Meanwhile, the alleged driver is now facing charges.
Winnipeg
-
-
Winnipeg police arrest two women from Ontario in connection to grandparent scam
Winnipeg police have arrested and charged two women from Ontario in connection to grandparent scams in the city.
-
Police, experts sound alarm after another fatal drowning in Manitoba
The number of fatal drownings in Manitoba has police and experts issuing a reminder to Manitobans about how quickly fun in the water can turn tragic.
Ottawa
-
Community rallies to help Merry Dairy recover missing ice cream bike
There was a swift response from the community to help find a missing bicycle cart owned by a popular ice cream shop.
-
Two novice drivers among 4 charged with stunt driving Friday
Ottawa police say two G2 drivers are among four people charged with stunt driving on Friday night, as the police service’s summer speeding blitz continues.
-
Ottawa police officers replace bike stolen from 8-year-old boy
A young Ottawa boy has a brand new bicycle, thanks to some Ottawa police officers in his neighbourhood.
Saskatoon
-
'Spanking will leave marks': Manual used at Saskatoon school encouraged paddling
A training workbook allegedly used at a Saskatoon school targeted in a proposed class action lawsuit outlines a guiding philosophy which encouraged physical discipline.
-
Committee set to discuss changing city's first Michif-named street
City administration is looking to rename a new Saskatoon street after the word was revealed to have different meanings.
-
SHA alerts public about elevated risk of Monkeypox
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has alerted the public to the elevated risk of acquiring Monkeypox through anonymous sexual contact.
Vancouver
-
Surrey South byelection set for Sept. 10
The B.C. government has called a byelection for the Surrey South seat left vacant this spring when former Liberal MLA Stephanie Cadieux was appointed Canada's chief accessibility officer.
-
'Manipulated' lithium-battery devices the leading cause of fire deaths in Vancouver
Vancouver fire officials say fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have increased 500 per cent in the city since 2016.
-
Assault suspect held knife to stranger's neck in Vancouver park, police say
Vancouver police say a man has been charged with assault with a weapon after allegedly attacking a stranger with a knife this week.
Regina
-
SHA alerts public about elevated risk of Monkeypox
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has alerted the public to the elevated risk of acquiring Monkeypox through anonymous sexual contact.
-
Sask. expanding COVID-19 fourth vaccine dose eligibility to residents 18+
Saskatchewan is expanding COVID-19 vaccine fourth dose eligibility to residents 18 years and older.
-
'Spanking will leave marks': Manual used at Saskatoon school encouraged paddling
A training workbook allegedly used at a Saskatoon school targeted in a proposed class action lawsuit outlines a guiding philosophy which encouraged physical discipline.
Vancouver Island
-
'It's a bit shocking': Video of legal old-growth harvesting draws frustration on Vancouver Island
As the B.C. government promises deferrals of old-growth logging and protesters push for the end of the practice entirely, videos recently recorded on northern Vancouver Island put the old-growth fight into perspective for the man who shot them.
-
Sky-high fundraising for Tour de Rock this Weekend at the Malahat Skywalk
The Malahat Skywalk is hosting a fundraising event Saturday for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock (TDR).
-
Surrey South byelection set for Sept. 10
The B.C. government has called a byelection for the Surrey South seat left vacant this spring when former Liberal MLA Stephanie Cadieux was appointed Canada's chief accessibility officer.