My Work

David Avanesyan Blasts Terence Crawford for Not Keeping Boxing 'Clean'

David Avanesyan (31-5-1, 19 KOs) is dissatisfied in his fight against Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), and that’s putting it lightly.
Crawford is currently set to face pound-for-pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 13. Meanwhile, it looks like the ripped boxing gloves fiasco from his fight against Avanesyan in 2022 is back to haunt him, and Avanesyan is not backing down from trashing him for not keeping boxing “clean.”

In a conversatio...

Refugee groups prepare for influx fleeing Trump orders

Refugee organizations across Canada have been fielding inquiries from potential migrants from the United States as U.S. President Donald Trump vows to carry out what he described as the “largest deportation operation” in American history.Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has announced a series of immigration-related executive orders pushing for a major crackdown on and removal of undocumented individuals from the country and quickly began making good on his word, already rounding up migrants...

Canada’s Holiday Budgets on the Rise, Survey Suggests - On The Record

Listen to the whole story here:

Crackling firewood, a rich mug of eggnog and a holiday shopping list that seems to have no end.

This year, the holiday spirit might come with a few extra trips to the bank — as holiday budgets are expected to see a yuletide boost.

Canadians are expected to spend more this holiday season despite the financial challenges, according to a recent survey from the Retail Council of Canada (RCC).

The average holiday spending for 2024 is set to reach $972, up $...

City Taking Applications For the PollinateTO Grant Program - On The Record

The black swallowtail on purple coneflower is a highly attractive pollinator (Photo Courtesy of Dorte Windmuller)

Applications are now open for the city’s PollinateTO grant.

The grant, which is a part of Toronto’s Pollination Protection Strategy, will offer up to $5,000 for community-led projects to create, expand and enhance pollinator gardens.

Dorte Windmuller’s eyes glistened as she spoke about her plans to apply for the grant. Windmuller, founder of the Cliffcrest Butterflyway,...

Death in its many forms celebrated at ROM

A Royal Ontario Museum exhibition now running captures the depiction and celebration of death in its many forms, in nature and across different cultures.With a rich collection of historic artifacts, intricate specimens and immersive media experiences, Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery aims to open up important conversations about the cycle of life and death. Visitors will learn about the commemoration of death across different cultures and how other life forms experience and challenge death.
“It’s...

Muhammad Ali: Remembering ‘The Greatest’ on His Birthday

“Impossible is just a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.”–Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (56-5, 37 KOs) will go down in boxing history as one of the greatest fighters to ever set foot inside the ring. A name synonymous with the sport itself, Ali would have turned 82 today. It’s been almost eight years since his passing, and today, we celebrate a few iconic snippets from the life of the boxer who...

Forum to probe Irish experience in colonial past

The University of St. Michael’s College, in conjunction with the Irish embassy, is seeking scholarly papers for a proposed conference tentatively called “Canada, Ireland, and Transatlantic Colonialism: Historical Perspectives” which it hopes to run in May.The conference will focus on themes pertaining to Irish history in Canada, including Ireland and the colonial apparatus of British North America, Irish religious mission and colonization, transatlantic technology and migrant communities and pos...

Tolkien’s Middle Earth shaped by his Catholicism

Eager eyes and willing ears filled the room as Lord of the Rings aficionados thronged to the University of Toronto’s Newman Centre to discuss hobbits, elves and all things Tolkien.The latest Faith & Reason event saw the guest speaker and award-winning author, Dr. Holly Ordway, give an insight into her book Tolkien’s Faith – A Spiritual Biography. Ordway, an expert on the life of J.R.R. Tolkien, elucidated how his Catholic faith was a driving force behind the creation of the beloved series.
“Whe...

Canada must continue to open doors for refugees

Special prayers were offered to Christians under recent attack in Africa and west Asia as the Archdiocese of Toronto commemorated the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 Sept. 24.The Mass, celebrated together with the parish community of Jesus the King Greek Melkite Church, took place at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Markham, Ont., where celebrant Msgr. Makarios Wehbi championed Pope Francis’ theme for the year, “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay.”
In a moving ho...