A Look at News Events in January 2023: Canada Celebrates First National Ribbon Skirt Day
In January 2023, Canada marked the first National Ribbon Skirt Day, following the passage of a bill in Parliament late last year. This significant event was inspired by the actions of a 10-year-old girl named Isabella Kulak, who wore a ribbon skirt to her rural Saskatchewan school in December 2020. Unfortunately, at the time, a staff member told Isabella that her outfit was not formal enough for the occasion. However, the school division later apologized for the incident.
On another note, despite protests and threats of retaliation from Beijing, airline passengers leaving China, Hong Kong, and Macau are now required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test upon entering Canada. With COVID-19 cases surging in China, the Canadian government announced that travelers from the region must present a negative test administered within 48 hours of their departure. Similar rules have been implemented by other countries, including the United States and several in the European Union.
In the realm of sports, Canada celebrates another victory at the world junior hockey championship. The host country emerged triumphant, defeating Czechia 3-2 in the final game of the tournament. Dylan Guenther played a pivotal role in securing the win by scoring his second goal of the night in overtime. Shane Wright, who coincidentally celebrated his 19th birthday on the same day, also contributed a goal. This victory makes Canada the first team to repeat as champions since their five consecutive gold medal wins between 2005 and 2009.
In a shocking turn of events, supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who refused to accept his electoral defeat, stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace. This chaotic scene resembled the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of demonstrators breached security barricades, climbed onto roofs, broke windows, and invaded the three buildings. Some were even calling for a military intervention to reinstate Bolsonaro, who belongs to the far-right political spectrum. This incident occurred just a week after the inauguration of his leftist rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Tragedy struck in the mountains of southeastern British Columbia when an avalanche claimed the life of a police officer. The Nelson Police Board confirmed the death of Const. Wade Tittemore, while another officer, Const. Mathieu Nolet, sustained critical injuries. The two officers were on snowmobiles near Kaslo when they were hit by the snowslide.
In a move to promote inclusivity, the Brownies branch of the Girl Guides of Canada changed its name to Embers. The decision to rebrand the branch came after it was discovered that the previous name deterred some racially diverse girls and women from joining the outdoor adventure and activity group. CEO Jill Zelmanovits stated that Embers was chosen in an online vote by current and former members, defeating the alternative option, Comets.
Tragedy struck in St. Catharines, Ontario, as explosions and a fire at a hazardous waste facility resulted in the death of an employee. The incident occurred in downtown St. Catharines, spreading to a nearby industrial building. The injured employee was rushed to the hospital with significant burns but tragically passed away the following day.
In another devastating incident, three workers lost their lives in an explosion at a propane facility in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, north of Montreal. The explosion took place at Propane Lafortune, a well-known business in the community. Fire Chief Francois Thivierge explained that the initial response team had to retreat due to the risk of further explosions.
The world mourns the loss of Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of legendary musician Elvis Presley, who passed away after being hospitalized in Los Angeles. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, made the heartbreaking announcement. Lisa Marie was 54 years old.
China faced criticism as it reported nearly 60,000 COVID-19 and COVID-19-related deaths recorded since early December. Concerns were raised about the Chinese government’s failure to report the true status of the pandemic. The death toll included 5,503 deaths due to respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and 54,435 fatalities resulting from a combination of other ailments and COVID-19.
Former Ontario lieutenant-governor David Onley, who held the position for seven years, passed away at the age of 72. Onley, who had polio as a child and used a motorized scooter, became the first visibly disabled person to hold the lieutenant-governor position when appointed in 2007. He was a strong advocate for accessibility issues and delivered a scathing critique of Ontario’s efforts to comply with its own accessibility legislation.
The hockey community mourns the loss of Wayne (Gino) Odjick, who played 12 seasons in the NHL for the Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens. Odjick spent the majority of his career with the Canucks, being selected by them in the 1990 entry draft. In 2014, Odjick was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a disease that attacked his organs and heart.
Rock legend David Crosby, a founding member of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, passed away at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. His wife confirmed the sad news, stating that Crosby was surrounded by family during his final moments.
Tragedy struck again when the second off-duty officer caught in an avalanche in the British Columbia Interior earlier in the month passed away. Const. Mathieu Nolet suffered severe internal injuries during the avalanche and was unable to recover. The officers were backcountry skiing near Kaslo when they were swept down the mountain.
A horrific shooting took place in California, where a man identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran opened fire in a dance club, killing 10 people before taking his own life. The shooter shot himself as officers closed in on the van he used to flee the scene of an attempted second shooting. Ten others were wounded in the incident, which occurred during Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park.
Mississauga-Ontario mourns the loss of longtime mayor Hazel McCallion, affectionately known as “Hurricane Hazel.” McCallion was a prominent political figure who served for over three decades, winning 12 successive terms in office. She decided to retire at the age of 93, leaving behind an impressive legacy.
The World Health Organization decided not to declare an end to the global public health emergency caused by COVID-19. This decision was made on the third anniversary of the initial declaration by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, which prompted countries worldwide, including Canada, to implement pandemic restrictions. Tedros expressed concern over the rising number of weekly deaths since early December, with over 170,000 deaths reported in the past eight weeks alone.
The hockey world mourns the passing of Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, who became the first player in NHL history to score over 50 goals in a single season. Hull enjoyed a pro career spanning 23 years, playing for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and Hartford Whalers, as well as the World Hockey Association’s Winnipeg Jets. He, along with his Chicago teammate Stan Mikita, played a significant role in popularizing the curved hockey stick blade in the NHL.
A devastating suicide bombing occurred at a mosque within a police compound in Peshawar, Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 people. More than 200 others sustained injuries, with the majority being police officers. The attacker detonated the explosives while over 300 worshippers were praying inside the mosque, and additional people were approaching the area. A commander for the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter.
In conclusion, January 2023 witnessed a series of significant events that impacted various aspects of society, ranging from cultural celebrations to political turmoil, devastating natural disasters, and the loss of notable individuals. These events highlight the resilience, challenges, and triumphs experienced around the world during this period..
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