#average day in british columbia
Text
Mutt
Happy Friday, chitlins.
Completely forgot what day it was, but worry not, for I have more garbage for you to consume at your leisure.
Paring - (Kinda-ish) Bakugou Katsuki Bakugou x GN! Reader
Word count - 5.2K
Warnings - Arguing and strong language a little bit all throughout the story, bakugou learning, cursing, dark themes, derogatory slander, if I missed smth big lemme know :]
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His blood ran cold just at the sight of you. Now here you were, in front of him. The same uniform as he. A glare colder than he remembered. His heart ached at the memory of what he used to do to you. What he put you through. The things he said, the things he did. His skin paled the closer you got. Everyone was watching.
“You seem less than enthused that I’m here.” Your voice sent knives into his spine as his hands were beginning to become clammy. They clenched in his pant pockets as he nervously swallowed.
“I…” No words came to his mind, leaving him speechless. Mouth every so slightly agape.
“Speechless, I see.” An empty smirk spread across your features as you once again closed the distance. He unconsciously stepped back stiffly, sending shock and gasps through the audience of his fellow classmates. Bakugou knew the new transfer student?
“(Y/N)?” A new member joined the conversation as you effortlessly glanced away from the startled blonde.
“Ah. Midoriya.” A more genuine smile replaced the last as a familiar mop of green hair made its way to the front of the group.
“I wasn’t expecting to ever see you again.” He spoke, clearly shocked at your presence.
“Well, start expecting to see it every day. I'm real. I'm here.”
You took another careful glance at the other boy, seeing him still staring with that stupid dumbfounded look on his face. Your own twisted in annoyance.
“Since when did Bakugou stop talking all the time? Thought that was all he knew how to do.” You scoffed.
“U-Uhm, maybe now’s not the time for that.” Midoriya laughed nervously, coming up to you and placing a gentle hand on your arm. Your posture stiffed a little at the sudden touch and you looked away, letting out a sharp sigh. “Whatever.”
The greenette let out his own sigh, his of relief, leading you away from Bakugou slowly.
“Where’s your dorm? I’m sure you haven’t unpacked completely, so why don’t I help you out? It’d be a nice chance to catch up.” His tone had lightened substantially and you couldn’t help but follow as you nodded and lead him off.
“Who was that, dude?” Kirishima, a friend of Bakugou's, asked suddenly once you were out of ear shot. He looked over to the still startled blonde, who was now staring down at the floor. He strutted over to him, laying a calming hand on Bakugou’s upper back, tilting his head closer.
Bakugou was silent for a moment. Then he opened his mouth, finally finding the words he’d been needing to say for so long.
“Someone I need to apologize to. Badly.”
_________________________________
“So you’re just, like…A dog hybrid?”
“Well if we’re specific, my ‘breed’ so to speak is very adjacent to the Canis lupus occidentalis. They’re more commonly known as northwestern wolves or Makenzie Valley wolves.” You explained. You decided to sit down with a specific group of people during lunch, and even with the selection, more people couldn’t help but flock to you to learn about you. You had big wolf-like ears and a big bushy tail that you’d learned to make appear and disappear at will. You often found it more comfortable to let them out, but you knew when to make them go away and it looked as if you were completely human.
“So what do the wolves themselves look like? If you’re okay with a little history lesson.”
“I don’t mind at all, Sero.” You smiled. “Northwestern wolves are one of the largest subspecies of wolves. In British Columbia, Canada, five adult females averaged forty-two point five kilos or ninety-three point six pounds with a range of thirty-eight point six to forty-five point four kilos or eighty-five to a hundred pounds and ten adult males averaged fifty-one point seven kilos or a hundred and twelve point two pounds with a range of forty-seven point six to sixty-one point two kilos or a hundred and five to a hundred and thirty-five pounds, with a weight range for all adults of thirty-eight point six to sixty-one point two kilos or eighty-five to a hundred and thirty-five pounds. In Yellowstone National Park, adult females were averaged at about forty kilos or ninety pounds and adult males average about fifty kilos or a hundred and ten pounds, with a mean adult body mass in winter of forty-six point four kilos or around a hundred and two pounds. More recent studies have reported the average range of height and weight in the north-west of the United States, both sexes were between sixty-eight and ninety-one and a half centimeters or twenty-six point eight and thirty-six inches tall at the shoulder. Here the weight of males was reported at between forty-five and seventy-two kilos or ninety-nine to one hundred and fifty-nine pounds, while the females were reported at thirty-six to sixty kilos or seventy-nine to one hundred and thirty-two pounds. The Northwestern wolf is also one of the longest wolf subspecies as its length usually ranges from five to six feet or one hundred and fifty-two to one hundred and eighty-three centimeters, and it can also reach as long as seven feet or two hundred and thirteen centimeters.” You began, pulling out a small notebook to show everyone. It felt scripted, but it was only because you’d memorized every detail there was to know. It was after all a part of you. Why wouldn’t you want to know everything about yourself? “The Northwestern wolf is native to the arctic tundra regions of northern Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, Nunavut and Alaska where it prefers cold climates and open meadows for hunting. It is easily distinguished from other North American wolves due to its longer muzzle and larger body size, however some individuals may also exhibit white fur coats which helps them blend into snow-covered landscapes during winter months. Its diet primarily consists of large ungulates such as caribou or moose but can also include smaller prey like beavers or hares depending on availability. Its fur color can vary from light gray to black, but commonly exhibits shades of brown and white. The coat texture is thick, with an undercoat designed for insulation in colder climates. I personally have a much darker coat when I need to change.” You added in. “It makes me a lot harder to find in the shadows and that personally is a bonus for me.” A small giggle escaped you as you flipped a few pages throughout your explanation. They were soaking in everything you were telling them and it felt amazing. They were actually interested in what you had to say.
“What about partnerships?” Someone piped up.
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Well, I mean - Oh, I’m Kaminari by the way - but, I think I read somewhere that some canines do the whole mate for life thing. Does that track to you? Or is it just the actual animal?”
You looked down at your notebook, silently gulping.
“Uhh, w-well…” You stuttered. “Uh, I’m not entirely sure!”
“Huh?” This came from multiple people this time.
“Well, I’ve never found the one if you will, so I’m not sure. I’ve never really been one for dating, so I never bothered with it, so I can’t really give you an explanation on that one.” You laughed stiffly, shifting in your chair.
Everyone seemed satisfied with your answer and backed off of it, so you smiled and let it go.
“Uhm, excuse me, (Y/N)?”
“Oh, what’s up, Midoriya?” You hummed, turning your body to full face the boy.
“Would you mind if I bugged you later about your quirk? It feels like we haven’t seen each other in so long, I wanna update my notebook if it’s okay with you.” He outlined. You smiled once again and nodded eagerly.
“Of course, you can! I’d love to compare the notes.”
He gleamed, spewing thanks for the rest of lunch.
All the while, Bakugou sat a few seats away, his eyes glued to you. He couldn’t believe it was really you. He couldn’t believe it.
________________________
“(L/N), you’ll be paired up with Bakugou, Kirishima, and Kaminari in group five. And that should be all your groups. Is anyone missing a partner group?”
Aizawa stood in front of your class, explaining how today’s training session would work. Today was a rescue and recon with a neighboring class. Everyone shook their heads, all having their respective groups and Aizawa nodded, turning his back.
“Alright then, there are five groups of ‘civilians’ all trapped within different kinds of issues. One of you from each group has a card with the patch of land that your neighboring classmates are in. You have twenty minutes to locate and retrieve every member as well as bring them back here to the starting area safely.” He continued, pulling out a stopwatch as everyone got into starting positions.
“And….Go.” And with that, everyone took off down the hill, into the large expanse of land. There were different terrains, showing that the area itself was most likely man made. There were woods, lakes, mountains, a small area of broken buildings and more. Your group took off northwest in the direction of a deep patch of forest. You were faster than most, your feet carrying you effortlessly through deep rich trees, while the others struggled to keep up.
After a few minutes of running, you all stopped by a fallen tree to talk strategy.
“So what should we do once we find them?” Kirishima asked.
“Well my immediate response would be to let me carry the majority of the casualties. I can carry about five people at a time in my canine form so that will definitely make for light work. It all depends on how many there are.”
“Oh, I know! We can make a big sled for everyone who doesn’t fit and we’d make it back in no time!” Kaminari beamed.
“Yeah but…How would we make that sled?” You laughed, glancing around.
“I have rope in my rescue bag and Kirishima is definitely strong enough to break off a big piece of tree.”
You looked at each other, Kirishima glancing at Bakugou, who was being uncharacteristically silent.
“You okay, man? We could really use your input here.”
“I’m fine. Just do whatever, I’ll go scout to see if we can find the casualties.” The blonde huffed, climbing over the fallen tree and looking around. You rolled your eyes, looking into your rescue bag.
“If we can make that sled people safe in the next ten minutes, we can still make it back in time.” You hummed, pulling out some electric tape. “Riot, you think you can make a big enough board flat and smooth?” You questioned. Kirishima lifted an arm, rolling his shoulder and holding his bicep with his other hand.
“Won’t know until we try.”
“Wow, six minutes, that’s really good. Good job, guys.” You smiled, tugging on the rope to make sure it was secure. “Dynamight, did you find which direction we need to go?” The question came out a little impatient, but you did your best to remain civil. You may not have liked the bastard but it didn’t mean you couldn’t work with him to pass this training course.
“North-Northeast about forty degrees.” He sighed, leaning against the fallen tree. It had become the official landmark for the rest of this training session.
“Good. Boys, hop on. I’ll make it there faster if I know none of you are falling behind.” You added, cracking your neck and knuckles.
“Ooh, ooh! (Y/N)! (Y/N)! Can I ride on top of you?!” Kaminari shouted, getting a bit flustered when you and Kirishima began laughing. “You know I didn’t mean it like that!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. You better know how to grip hard though. I’m faster than you think.” You laughed, squatting down to stretch a little more. Been a hot minute since I did this now that I think about it. You thought to yourself. “Riot, you hope the rope. It may be sturdy now, but it’s better safe than sorry.”
“Will do. Kaminari was giddy as the other two boys climbed on your makeshift sled. You leaned forward in your squat, digging your shoes into the dirt and placing your palms flat on the ground. You took a deep breath, black smoke beginning to envelope you while the other watched in awe. In a moment’s flash, there you stood, covered in fur and looking like a real wild wolf. You towered over the boys, body reaching their heads as you knelt down a bit for Kaminari to climb up. You barked to get his attention, as he was stunned still. It was deep, loud. More assertive than Bakugou remembered. You were bigger than he remembered you being. You were stronger now.
Kaminari giddily climbed up onto you, gripping two big patches of fur on your shoulder blades tiger after another bark. Once everyone was prepared you leaned down, digging your claws into the dirt and charging forward. Kaminari and Kirishima almost fell off from the sudden change of pace, yelling and laughing a bit.
“This is so freaking cool!!” Kaminari cried, laughing. He looked like a child seeing his idol for the first time in person as you sniffed the air for scents. You smelled an increase in scents, meaning you were close. You took a sharp left turn, jumping over a rock and stopping dead in your tracks when you saw a small group of people. Obviously they weren’t actually injured, but they had dirt on them and some of their clothes were ripped. You assumed they wanted to go for realism.
You barked for everyone to get off and get to work securing the ‘civilians’. Kaminari worked on counting heads and making sure everyone was secure on the sled while Kirishima and Bakugou were on carrying duty. It took a total of five minutes to get everyone ready to move, some laughing with their friends and some looking at you in awe.
“You’re that new 1-A transfer right? My name is Pony!” One of the girls grinned, running her fingers through your coat. You gave a sharp nod, turning your snout back to see if everyone was prepared.
“I don’t think we can fit everyone on the sled, (Y/N).” Kirishima sighed, looking to see there were two people left in the rescue group. There were a total of seven people in the group and with your own group added, it totaled ten bodies. You yourself were excluded, as you were the one doing the carrying, but with Bakugou and Kirishima on the sled, you could only fit seven people safely on the sled. You nodded and kneeled down, barking three times.
“Are you sure you can fit the rest?” Kaminari asked, a little worried now. You once again nodded your head, nudging his side for him to guide the last two rescues on. “Alright, we trust you.”
Kaminari helped the other two up, staying in front so he could keep the strongest grip while Pony and another 1-B student sat behind him, Pony wrapped her arms around his waist and the other student did the same with her as you stood up with ease.
“When were you able to do that?” Bakugou muttered to himself under his breath.
You gave everyone another bark and they all tightened their grip as you took off back to the starting area. You made it back with your teacher’s scent and when you did make it back, you were congratulated on being the first group back.
“Sixteen minutes, good job. I see you made a rescue item by yourselves. Smart.” He drummed, a small smile on his tired face. Everyone dismounted from their positions and another small cloud of black smoke turned you back to your normal self. You decided to relax and let your demi features stay out in the open to air out.
“All we need to do is wait for the rest of the groups to return, so relax. You’ve earned it.”
He left all of you to chill out by a large rock wall as he made his way back to the front of the starting area.
“That was so cool, (Y/N), You’re really something!” Kaminari chimed, sitting down right beside you. You smiled and tapped his nose with your tail, which he quickly took in his hands to fiddle with.
“It was nothing. I’ve trained for this for years. I’m just glad I was able to transfer so late. Switching high schools in the middle of your second year isn’t exactly an easy feat.”
“Speaking of which, how were you able to transfer so late?” Kirishima pondered, taking a spot at your other side. You shrugged.
“Not really sure. I put in my admission papers and I went through the entrance exams like everyone else, but I never got the paper telling me I got in. So I kinda just cut my losses and went to my second choice school that was closer to my home. Went through my entire first year and half of my second just living my life. But there was one day where I went to my second period and my teacher randomly started letting everyone congratulate me on being admitted to U.A. It was a shock to me, but I sure as hell wasn’t gonna let it slip out of my hands, so we had a big goodbye party with a couple of my other classes and next thing you know I’m given a uniform and a schedule.” You explained, looking up at the clear midday sky. It was a beautiful blue.
“Well then, how’s your new school in comparison. It’s been a couple weeks already. Have you been able to adjust?” Kaminari piped up.
“Eh, I don’t wanna compare schools, they’re both awesome. I made some really good friends in that school and I’ve made some really good friends in this school. It was actually pretty easy to adjust with awesome guys like you two with me.”
The boys gushed and laughed with you for the rest of the training period, talking about nothing in particular and making random jokes.
__________________________
“You’re joking, right?” Your words were like boiling venom to Bakugou. He stood in front of you in the common room, fists clenched in tight balls as he bit the inside of his lip.
“..No.”
“Since when do you ‘Just wanna talk’?” You scoffed, putting air quotations up. He could feel his ears getting hot with embarrassment. He was asking you to go outside with him to have a short chat, only almost everyone in the class was in the common area as well. Watching silently.
“Since now. Can we just…Go to the hall or something?” He asked again quietly. You huffed, crossing your arms and leaning against the back of the couch.
“Why?”
“It’s…Private.”
“Then why am I the one that has to go with you?”
“It’s important.”
“So you’ve said. I still have no fucking reason to believe you.” You spat. He looked down at his shoes, unable to speak again.
“Maybe you should just go with him.” Midoriya whispered to you from on the couch, gently putting his hand on your arm. You glanced back at him. “Just for a moment? I doubt he’ll physically keep you from leaving. You can always just walk away if you don’t wanna talk anymore.” He reasoned, his ever calming smile getting to you. You were quiet yourself for a moment.
“Ugh! Fine. You get five minutes max. Lead the way.” You barked, dropping your head back in annoyance and sticking your hands into the pockets of your sweatpants. Bakugou silently nodded and walked to the front door that led to the hallway.
“I’ll be back, I guess.” You muttered, following hesitantly.
Once the two of you left, Sero spoke up.
“What’s up with those two? Do they got history or somethin’?”
Midoriya sighed, looking at the closed door. “You could say that. (Y/N) was around during a time where Kacchan was less…agreeable. I suppose the tension didn’t ease when we parted ways.” He spoke softly. The others took in that information, not asking anything more. They understood that it was both a personal and touchy subject, so they didn’t push.
You followed Bakugou down the hallway outside into a small benched area. It had a few flower bushes with concrete pavers snuggled into the grass. A large circle with a few paths in different directions sat under your feet as he led you closer to the center. In front of you stood a solid granite garden fountain. It had two lifted tiers with a larger depression at the bottom to hold the water spewing off the upper levels. It stood proudly at around six feet in height while the largest part of it was almost eight feet wide. It was filled with clear cool water, most likely cleaned daily or weekly. The fountain was in pristine condition, sitting in a quatrefoil edition, the natural granite displayed many beautiful patterns in itself.
Bakugou finally stopped walking, halting you in his own movements. He turned his body to face you, an unusual softness in his gaze. It took you back if only for a split second and you couldn’t help but swallow silently.
“Well?” You snuffed. “What was so important that you had to bring me out here so close to curfew? I was kinda busy, y’know.”
“It’s important.”
“You keep saying that and it doesn’t get any more believable, dude.” Your words were filled with malice for the man in front of you. But even you couldn’t deny the ever so obvious fact. This was not the boy you knew from before. He was different. Something happened.
“I’m sorry.” He finally mumbled, sending icy chills up your entire body. You visibly tensed at the two words, eyes widening and hands getting clammy.
“What?”
“I’m sorry. Both for taking up your time so suddenly and for everything I’ve done to you. You didn’t deserve any of that. I’ve been working myself up to admitting everything that happened and that it was no one else’s but my fault. Nothing I ever said to you was true, I know that. The things I did to you and the things of yours that I destroyed will never be erased but the bottom line I can give you is a proper apology like you’ve deserved the whole time.”
The words spewing from his mouth weren’t what you were expecting. Why here? Why now? What was he planning? Did he just want to get on your good side in order to humiliate you again? No. I’m not letting him get to me again.
“I don’t give a fuck what you have to say about the past, you piece of shit. You think you can just waltz out here and say sorry and it’ll all be happy go lucky?!” You snapped, your gaze hostile and burning into his own.
“I didn’t come out here with the expectation that you’d forgive me. I wasn’t even expecting you to come out here with me at all if I’m honest. I just thought the least you deserved was an apology for all the stupid childish shit I pulled.”
“Well I don’t fucking care! You ruined my life, asshat!”
“I know.”
“You made me feel like something worse than dirt!”
“I know.”
“You told me to kill myself!”
“..I know.”
“Then tell me something you don’t know! Or shut the fuck up and stay out of my way! I didn’t come here for you, I did this for me. You’re nothing more than a number to me.”
“I know that’s not true. I may not be able to ever fully understand the pain I put you through for so long, but I know that as much as you hate me, I’ll never just be that background character. And I hate that even now I’m still hurting you.”
Your hands and lips trembled and your eyes burned. This motherfucker.
“That’s bullshit and you know it!”
“No, what’s bullshit is the fact that you’re trying to deny it. I may have ripped up those letters but it doesn’t mean I didn’t read them.”
You gasped with shaky breaths. You thought he didn’t. No, you know he didn’t.
“Bullshit.” You utter. Your voice was getting more uneven by the second.
“I kept the pieces and taped it back up when I had gotten home. I don’t know why I did, but I did. And I kept it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled a folded piece of paper out. He unfolded it, revealing an absurd amount of scotch tape holding the fragile item together. “I looked at it everyday, rereading the rods and I couldn’t help but want to kick my own ass for being so shitty to you. You didn’t deserve it when all you wanted to do was follow your instinct.” His voice was getting smaller. You couldn’t stop yourself from getting closer to keep hearing it. He slowly held out the paper to you and your brain didn’t stop your hands from taking it. Your fingers brushed his and a sudden rush of energy shot down your spine. You shivered light, turning the paper and reading it. There in your middle school handwriting - A confession letter addressed to the fiery blonde. It explained how the wolf in you had chosen him to be your one. You hated the word mate, you always have. You even explained that in the page and a half of writing. You told him you didn’t expect him to love you back, but to at least let you be around him a little more often. You told him you couldn’t help but feel safe around him, even if he was a bit mean to others sometimes. You told him you didn’t like that he bullied Midoriya but would help him calm down if he accepted you. You told him you’d be there to protect him day and night. That you’d always be there if he needed you. That you would help him whenever he felt down or angry. You’d help him with quirk training, you’d help him with homework, you’d help him study for exams. You just wanted to be near him. That’s all you ever wanted.
And yet when you almost tripped over yourself to hold the note out to him, he took one look at it and burst out laughing. He and his friends laughed at you and taunted you to no end. He snatched the letter from your meek hands and ripped it up in front of you. They kept laughing as you began to cry and pulled your tail back rather harshly when you tried to leave. They tripped you, letting you cry on the floor as they kept laughing and spewing insults at you.
“I’d never wanna be with a mutt like you!” He guffawed. “You’re so weak! All you’d do is cry my ear off. You’re always so annoying!”
“You called me a mutt that day.” You whispered, staring blankly at the paper.
“I did.”
“You called me weak…”
“I did.”
“You called me annoying.”
“I know.”
“You told me I’d have a better chance at meeting a man if I jumped off the school roof. But not even the EMT’s would wanna touch me because I was so disgusting.”
He was silent.
“You told me to stay out of your way. If I ever came back, you’d put me in my place. Do you remember?”
“I do.”
“So? Was this part of your plan? Get me all mopey and beat the shit outta me again?”
“No.”
“Then why?...” You grit your teeth and threw the paper to the ground. “WHY DO THIS TO ME?!”
He took a step towards you. You stood your ground. He took another step. You didn’t. He took another. He was right in front of you. Your fists were balled tight, knuckles white. Your body trembled.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered, voice barely audible. You growled, lifting your right arm and hooking him square in the jaw. He hit the ground with a thump. He didn’t try to get up. He didn’t stop you when you climbed over him, screaming profanities and hitting his chest in a way you both knew didn’t hurt physically. But it did hurt. He didn’t stop when your attacks ceased and all you did was sob into his chest, curling in on yourself. He didn’t stop you when you began spewing apologies for different things he knew you shouldn’t have to apologize for. All he did was lay there, back against the cold concrete as clouds began to roll into the night sky. You didn’t notice the way water began to drizzle onto your back. You didn’t notice the tears in Bakugou’s eyes and you didn’t notice that you’d begun to curl yourself into him. What you did notice was the feeling of his warm arms wrapping around you. You didn’t want to feel this way again. You hated how safe his hold felt. You hate how warm he was. You hated how soft the both of you were feeling.
“I’m sorry.” He repeated. It felt like a mantra at this point. The only words that held any meaning from him tonight. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re awful…” You whimpered into his shoulder.
“I know.”
“You don’t deserve this…”
“I know.”
“You mean it….Don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Dammit…” You couldn’t help the soft laugh that left your lips and he couldn’t either. And within the span of a few seconds, you were both having a laughing fit as the rain came down harder and harder with the passing time.
“I hate you.” You giggled, sitting up and wiping your eyes.
“I know.” He smiled, sitting up with you. You got off him and held out your hand, which he mindlessly took.
“You know this doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
“I do. I don’t expect you to. I just wanted you to know.”
“Good. Now let’s get back inside before Aizawa grasses our asses.”
You both kept a firm hold of each other’s hand as you led him back inside. When you got to the hallway outside the hallway, you saw a very worried Midoriya pacing back and forth. You slowly let go of Bakugou’s hand and tiptoed up to the green haired individual, tapping his shoulders and laughing a bit at the rise you got out of him.
“There you are! I was getting worried, I had half a mind to get Aizawa out here to get you two to come back! Did you notice the rain?!” He cried, shaking your shoulders.
You only then noticed that you were completely drenched and you couldn’t help but burst into another laughing fit.
“I didn’t even notice it was raining!” You sang, leaning your body against his as he only sighed and led you back inside.
“Kacchan? You coming?” He asked, peeking his head back out the doorway.
“Yeah, yeah, nerd. I’m comin’.” He hummed, hands in soaked pockets.
It wasn’t much. But it was a start.
#anime#anime x reader#bnha x reader#bnha x y/n#bnha x you#mha x reader#mha x y/n#mha x you#my hero academia#bakugou katsuki#mha bakugou#bakugou x reader#bnha bakugou#katsuki bakugou#bakugou x you#bakugou x y/n#katsuki bakugo x reader
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Five Ways NaNoWriMo Turned Me into a Writer at Fifty-One
No matter your age, NaNoWriMo has something to offer for you. For participant, Dorothy Wong, Camp NaNoWriMo gave her the chance to finish a novel! Read below to learn about her experience and what she gained during her writing journey.
The year I turned forty, I took a twelve month leave from my job. With no work commitments, I thought I would finally write my novel. While I ended up with a blog full of chatty travel posts and fantastic memories, I didn’t write my book, not even a rough outline. Anytime I tried, I found myself distracted and overwhelmed. If I couldn’t write during that sabbatical year, I told myself, I was never going to write anything. And for almost a decade, I didn’t.
Then a friend posted on Facebook that she was attempting a month-long writing challenge called NaNoWriMo. My first thought was, “Why would anyone voluntarily sign up for that?”. I couldn’t imagine putting myself under that time pressure to produce an actual novel.
Turns out, NaNoWriMo was exactly what I needed to break through my self-imposed barriers to writing. During Camp NaNoWriMo April 2021 I went from never writing at all to writing an average of 1500 words per day and creating a flawed, but completed, 50,000 word manuscript. I was ecstatic. Not only did I finish a novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the process.
Here are the top five ways NaNoWriMo turned me into an enthusiastic writer at fifty-one:
1. Community: There’s nothing quite like being part of a group effort, where everyone is cheering you on to complete your 50,000 words. NaNoWriMo is dedicated to creating safe and diverse spaces, including providing online and in-person opportunities to meet fellow writers. As an older writer, I worried about keeping up when the participant age range skewed much younger. To my relief I found a community through the BIPOC online meet-ups that connected me to others like me, many with established careers and extensive life experience, who wanted to write. Finding a community of writers will give you the support you didn’t know you needed.
2. Timed Sprints: During my first online writing sprint, to my absolute shock, I churned out 600 words in 15 minutes. Being in the company of others who are all doing the same thing (known as “body doubling”) really worked for my brain. Scientific studies show that doing a task in tandem with others increases productivity. If you’ve never tried timed writing sprints, they can be a game-changer.
3. Word Count Tracker: NaNoWriMo’s online word count tracker sent an instant dopamine hit to my brain every time I updated my progress.
4. Word Count Goal: While writing an entire novel can be daunting, reaching 50,000 words felt doable. Broken down to 1500 a day, I worked in short bursts throughout the day, finding time around my job and caring for my family, to get that word count in. When I reached my goal each day, I felt incredibly motivated to keep going. Even if I didn’t reach the goal, getting some words down every day kept my inspiration burning.
5. Limits are Freeing: NaNoWriMo’s time-bounded word count freed me from the “what if it’s not any good” voice in my head. If I wanted to write, I had to sit down and write, no excuses, and I had to keep moving the story forward, as there was no time to go back and edit. By accepting that I would be writing a crappy first draft, I gave up perfection and embraced the challenge.
NaNoWriMo made me finally believe that I could write a novel. If you’ve spent a lifetime trying to get started on your novel, I encourage you to give NaNoWriMo a try!
Dorothy Wong lives with her family on beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada where she works as a lawyer by day and writes mysteries by night. She joined NaNoWriMo in 2021 and has been happily writing ever since.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Interested in the writing events Dorothy talked about? Feel free to check out our upcoming events for Writers of Color Virtual Meetups or Virtual Write-Ins! Writers of Color are also invited to check out the forum group.
#nanowrimo#camp nanowrimo#nanowrimo experience#inspiration#older writers#writers of color#by nano guest#dorothy wong
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A two-year strike by workers at a hotel near Vancouver’s airport keeps going despite legislation in British Columbia that is intended to shorten drawn-out labour disputes.
The strike is currently the longest ongoing in Canada in any industry and the longest hotel strike in BC history. Over the last decade, strikes in Canada have lasted an average of 46 days.
Hotel workers at the Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, formerly known as the Pacific Gateway Hotel, have been on strike since May 2021, fighting for the recall rights of 143 long-term workers laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the strike, the hotel has remained mostly operational, thanks to money from a quarantine contract with the federal government and shortcomings in BC’s anti-scab legislation. [...]
Continue Reading.
Tagging: @politicsofcanada
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Winter brings more than just ugly sweaters – here’s how the season can affect your mind and behavior
by Michael Varnum, Associate Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University and Ian Hohm, Graduate Student of Psychology at the University of British Columbia
What comes to mind when you think about winter? Snowflakes? Mittens? Reindeer? In much of the Northern Hemisphere, winter means colder temperatures, shorter days and year-end holidays.
Along with these changes, a growing body of research in psychology and related fields suggests that winter also brings some profound changes in how people think, feel and behave.
While it’s one thing to identify seasonal tendencies in the population, it’s much trickier to try to untangle why they exist. Some of winter’s effects have been tied to cultural norms and practices, while others likely reflect our bodies’ innate biological responses to changing meteorological and ecological conditions. The natural and cultural changes that come with winter often occur simultaneously, making it challenging to tease apart the causes underlying these seasonal swings.
With our colleagues Alexandra Wormley and Mark Schaller, we recently conducted an extensive survey of these findings.
Wintertime blues and a long winter’s nap
Do you find yourself feeling down in the winter months? You’re not alone. As the days grow shorter, the American Psychiatric Association estimates that about 5% of Americans will experience a form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
People experiencing SAD tend to have feelings of hopelessness, decreased motivation to take part in activities they generally enjoy, and lethargy. Even those who don’t meet the clinical threshold for this disorder may see increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms; in fact, some estimates suggest more than 40% of Americans experience these symptoms to some degree in the winter months.
Scientists link SAD and more general increases in depression in the winter to decreased exposure to sunlight, which leads to lower levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Consistent with the idea that sunlight plays a key role, SAD tends to be more common in more northern regions of the world, like Scandinavia and Alaska, where the days are shortest and the winters longest.
Humans, special as we may be, are not unique in showing some of these seasonally linked changes. For instance, our primate relative the Rhesus macaque shows seasonal declines in mood.
It can feel hard to get out of bed on dark mornings.
Some scientists have noted that SAD shows many parallels to hibernation – the long snooze during which brown bears, ground squirrels and many other species turn down their metabolism and skip out on the worst of winter. Seasonal affective disorder may have its roots in adaptations that conserve energy at a time of year when food was typically scarce and when lower temperatures pose greater energetic demands on the body.
Winter is well known as a time of year when many people put on a few extra pounds. Research suggests that diets are at their worst, and waistlines at their largest, during the winter. In fact, a recent review of studies on this topic found that average weight gains around the holiday season are around 1 to 3 pounds (0.5 to 1.3 kilograms), though those who are overweight or obese tend to gain more.
There’s likely more going on with year-end weight gain than just overindulgence in abundant holiday treats. In our ancestral past, in many places, winter meant that food became more scarce. Wintertime reductions in exercise and increases in how much and what people eat may have been an evolutionary adaptation to this scarcity. If the ancestors who had these reactions to colder, winter environments were at an advantage, evolutionary processes would make sure the adaptations were passed on to their descendants, coded into our genes.
Sex, generosity and focus
Beyond these winter-related shifts in mood and waistlines, the season brings with it a number of other changes in how people think and interact with others.
One less discussed seasonal effect is that people seem to get friskier in the winter months. Researchers know this from analyses of condom sales, sexually transmitted disease rates and internet searches for pornography and prostitution, all of which show biannual cycles, peaking in the late summer and then in the winter months. Data on birth rates also shows that in the United States and other countries in the Northern Hemisphere, babies are more likely to be conceived in the winter months than at other times of the year.There’s more to a holiday bump in romance than just opportunity.
Although this phenomenon is widely observed, the reason for its existence is unclear. Researchers have suggested many explanations, including health advantages for infants born in late summer, when food may historically have been more plentiful, changes in sex hormones altering libido, desires for intimacy motivated by the holiday season, and simply increased opportunities to engage in sex. However, changes in sexual opportunities are likely not the whole story, given that winter brings not just increased sexual behaviors, but greater desire and interest in sex as well.
Winter boosts more than sex drive. Studies find that during this time of year, people may have an easier time paying attention at school or work. Neuroscientists in Belgium found that performance on tasks measuring sustained attention was best during the wintertime. Research suggests that seasonal changes in levels of serotonin and dopamine driven by less exposure to daylight may help explain shifts in cognitive function during winter. Again, there are parallels with other animals – for instance, African striped mice navigate mazes better during winter.
And there may also be a kernel of truth to the idea of a generous Christmas spirit. In countries where the holiday is widely celebrated, rates of charitable giving tend to show a sizable increase around this time of year. And people become more generous tippers, leaving about 4% more for waitstaff during the holiday season. This tendency is likely not due to snowy surroundings or darker days, but instead a response to the altruistic values associated with winter holidays that encourage behaviors like generosity.
People change with the seasons
Like many other animals, we too are seasonal creatures. In the winter, people eat more, move less and mate more. You may feel a bit more glum, while also being kinder to others and having an easier time paying attention. As psychologists and other scientists research these kinds of seasonal effects, it may turn out that the ones we know about so far are only the tip of the iceberg.
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Smoke in the Northwest
"Extreme heat, bouts of strong winds, and a prolonged drought are fueling large forest fires in western Canada and the United States.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this image of smoke spreading across parts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Montana on August 16, 2023. That same day, astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured the detailed photograph below, which shows smoke in valleys in British Columbia near the towns of Golden and Revelstoke.
The surge in fire activity follows the peak of an extreme heat wave that broke dozens of heat records in British Columbia on August 14. But even as temperatures cooled some in the following days, lightning storms triggered new fires, and strong winds turned small blazes into fast-moving, smoky infernos. Authorities in both the United States and Canada issued air quality alerts and, in some cases, calls to evacuate as smoke and fire threatened communities.
The recent heat and winds add to the existing problem of a prolonged drought that has affected the area since last year and primed vegetation to burn. According to the North American Drought Monitor, much of the Pacific Northwest was either abnormally dry or in moderate to extreme drought in mid-August 2023.
Canada is facing one of the worst fire years it has seen in decades, according to data published by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. More than 13.7 million hectares (33.9 million acres) had burned as of August 17, more than seven times the 25-year average. The United States has had a quieter wildfire season, with 1.7 million acres burned by mid-August. On average, 4.4 million acres have usually burned by mid-August, according to the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Astronaut photograph ISS069-E-61356 was acquired on August 17, 2023, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using an 50 millimeter lens and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 69 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Adam Voiland."
Source: NASA Earth Observatory
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The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Tuesday, gave a one-time unconditional cash transfer of $7,500 to 50 people experiencing homelessness in Metro Vancouver. The University of British Columbia researchers then compared their spending and outcomes over the following year with a control group of 65 homeless people who did not receive any cash.
In a parallel U.S. survey, the researchers found more than 1,100 people predicted recipients of such a cash transfer would spend 81 per cent more on temptations — such as alcohol, drugs and tobacco — if they were homeless than if they were housed.
Contrary to those predictions, the results of the B.C. study showed cash transfers actually helped reduce homelessness. Recipients spent an average of 99 fewer days homeless, increased their savings, and saved society an average of $777 each by spending less time in shelters.
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Minor Schools in the world: Cranestar academy, Victoria Island, British Columbia, Canada
Minor Schools in the world: Cranestar academy, Victoria Island, British Columbia, Canada
Cranestar admits a yearly intake of 140 students per year, with an average of 1300 students total per year. It is from the ages of 8-19 and is a boarding school based on the Sudbury education philosophy.
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Cranestar is a school that every magical (and non-magical) child would want to go to.
Instead of having a set curriculum, students are encouraged to explore their own interests, from the forbidden art of necromancy to the history of alchemy.
Lessons are then incorporated into these interests, making subjects more interesting to learn.
For example, during their first week at school, Cranestar students, instead of buying a wand, make their own in a 10 day workshop that spans across two weeks. Through this, students not only get to make their own custom wand, they also learn the difference between magical animals, measurement skills and the volatility of magic.
Students also make their own desks and brooms (therefore learning math and measurement, charms, and transfiguration), potion equipment (therefore learning about the dangers of using the wrong material for cauldrons and historical potions figures), and even have their own rooms which they can decorate to their liking, with the catch being that they can only use magic to do so.
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While Cranestar does offer workshops and courses, attending them isn’t mandatory and if a child wishes, they may go their entire time at the academy without ever interacting with a staff member. Many children who do not want to go through the 10 day workshop are free to experiment with wand making at their choosing, or even learn wandless magic. Students are encouraged to always ask another student first before approaching a teacher Cranestar sends out letters to any child in Canada.
With the way the magical education system works in North America, magical children, regardless of where their family came from, do not need their parents to express permission to attend any school in the region, as long as they have a letter.
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Smoke Fills North American Skies
"Raging fires filled the skies of southern Canada and the northern United States with smoke in mid-May 2023. The fires had scorched 478,000 hectares (1,800 square miles) in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, as of May 16, which is 10-times the average area burned for this time of year.
This image, from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 18 (GOES-18), shows smoke from the fires sweeping over southern Canada as well as North Dakota, Minnesota, and several other states on May 15, 2023. GOES-18 is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); NASA helps develop and launch the GOES series of satellites.
As of May 16, there were 87 wildland fires burning in Alberta, a quarter of which were classified as out of control, meaning the fires were expected to grow in size. A majority of the 478,000 hectares burned have been in Alberta, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, but several fires were classified as burning out of control on that day in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Smoke from the fires has caused poor air quality and reduced visibility in several cities. Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles called aerosols—some of which can degrade air quality and exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. Air quality conditions on May 16 in some Alberta cities were ranked as “very high risk”—the highest ranking in Canada’s Air Quality Health Index.
Hazy skies were also observed by a global network of ground sensors called the Aerosols Robotic Network, or AERONET, which is comprised of more than 500 carefully calibrated Sun photometer instruments that measure aerosol optical depth (AOD) around the world. The instruments are pointed at the Sun and record the intensity of incoming light. Scientists use this information to deduce the amount and size of the aerosols in the atmospheric column by calculating the difference between the light received and what would be expected in cloud-free conditions.
“A perfectly clear blue sky would produce a very low AOD value, less than 0.05, in visible wavelengths,” said Pawan Gupta, an atmospheric scientist and co-lead of AERONET at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “An AOD reading of 3 would make it difficult even to see the Sun.”
Wind brought smoke from the fires down to Maryland on May 10, making the Sun look milky in the sky. The AERONET instrument at NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, Maryland, had an average AOD value of about 1 in visible wavelengths. On May 16, smoke contributed to hazy skies and hazardous air quality in North Dakota and northern Minnesota. An AERONET sensor at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks measured an average AOD of 2.3 on that day, with peak values close to 3.
Unseasonably hot weather is expected to continue over the next few days in Western Canada. In British Columbia, temperatures are expected to reach 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit) through May 18, according to Environment Canada.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using GOES 18 imagery courtesy of NOAA and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). Story by Emily Cassidy."
Source: NASA Earth Observatory
The smoke has been visible high above the Washington, DC area, 4000 or so km east of the fires, for a number of days in the past couple of weeks. Thankfully it has remained in the stratosphere and thus has not had much impact on air quality. Those in the middle states and parts of Canada have not been so lucky.
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Summer set to be sweltering for most of the country: Environment Canada
It’s time to break out the sunscreen and air conditioning; this summer is expected to be a scorcher, according to Environment Canada.
Environment and Climate Change Canada said in a press release that there will most likely be “higher-than-normal temperatures (for) most of the country until at least the end of August.”
The release noted that we’ve already been seeing these higher temperatures in some regions, with atypical temperatures in the northern Prairies, northern Ontario and northern Quebec throughout June so far.
These regions, as well as the rest of Ontario and Quebec, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, are expected to continue seeing these higher temperatures during the summer months to come.
A map showing the forecast for June through the end of August showed that the overwhelming majority of the country was more likely to be experiencing temperatures above the seasonal norm for their respective regions.
The only portions of the country more likely to see temperatures near the normal range were a few coastal regions of B.C., the eastern edge of Newfoundland and Labrador and some northern areas of Nunavut.
The sweltering temperatures expected this summer can be tracked to climate change, the agency said.
“Climate change is already affecting the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme weather- and climate-related events in Canada,” the release stated. “Climate models indicate the country is warming at roughly double the global rate, especially in the north, which will lead to more damaging weather events.”
For the last couple of months, wildfires spurred on by dry conditions and heat have plagued communities from B.C. to Quebec to Nova Scotia.
There are still numerous wildfires burning in the north of B.C., including one at Donnie Creek, which is now the largest fire in the province’s history, according to officials. A region nearly as large as Prince Edward Island is still burning, and special air quality statements are in place for part of northern B.C.
In Quebec, smog warnings are in effect for several regions due to forest fires.
The northwestern portion of Ontario is under a broad, multi-day heat warning ranging from temperatures in the high 20s to the mid-30s, with Environment Canada noting that for some regions, “extreme heat will continue through the week with little to no relief.”
Although the overall summer forecast predicts temperatures will be higher than normal, June is still bringing surprises. A low-pressure system brought heavy precipitation in the B.C. communities of Ashcroft, Cache Creek and southern Chilcotin earlier this week, and the same system brought flurries and snow to several areas as well.
Snow in an otherwise hot summer isn’t as surprising as it sounds — climate change can increase precipitation unexpectedly, with Environment Canada noting in their release that it can also spur on the risk of floods.
“Climate change also brings more intense rainfalls, which are expected to increase urban flood risks, and coastal flooding is expected to increase in many areas of Canada due to local sea-level rise,” the release stated. “The average intensity of hurricanes is also expected to increase, though an increase in the total number of tropical cyclones is not expected.”
from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/gIq0dOD
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Making Sense of Nature Interpretation
Choosing one topic to discuss for this week's Blog post was a little challenging, especially since I have learned so many different intriguing facts over the duration of my studies in biology at the University of Guelph. Choosing one amazing fact about nature did not come easily to me, since nature is full of interesting aspects.
To me, I find every aspect of nature to be breathtaking. Whether it is plants, animals, landscape, etc. Although, I will say I particularly love learning about every area of nature, I especially love learning about animals.
As many of you may have already heard the tragic story of the MarineLand orca Kiska, who recently passed away in captivity. Kiska swam alone in a tank at the theme park for over a decade.
This situation has been on my mind and has encouraged me to think about the effects of animals in captivity versus in their natural habitats, especially on large marine mammals.
Unfortunately, the orca population has been rapidly declining, in which the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) have been declared as an endangered species. As of October 2021, there are only 72 living SRKWs (University of British Columbia, 2021).
I want to use this opportunity to discuss this beautiful species and shed light on their amazing qualities, bringing focus to the importance of healthy environmental conditions and resource availability for this species to thrive in.
So, let’s share some cool facts about these remarkable creatures!
Orcinus orcas (more commonly known as the killer whale) are marine mammals that can swim as fast as 50 km per hour! S P E E D. They often travel with their pods and matriarch lineages, averaging to approximately 120 kilometres each day (Whale Trail, 2018). Each orca has specific markings referred to as “saddle patches” which are located behind their dorsal fins, making them identifiable from others – kind of like fingerprints for humans (Whale Trail, 2018).
Also, orcas have the second largest brain weighing in at roughly 17 pounds!! (Whale Trail, 2018). No wonder they are so smart ;)
To put it into perspective, the average human brain weighs around 3 pounds (Winston Medical Center, 2023).
Female adult orcas average 5.4 – 6.1 meters in length, weighing between 6,000-8,000 pounds. Whereas males are typically 6.7 - 7.3 meters and between 8,000-10,000 pounds. The life expectancy for this large marine mammal can be anywhere between 30 to 100 years (Whale Trail, 2018).
One fact that is exceptionally interesting is that orcas can use echolocation to help detect their prey! Killer whales can use echolocation to detect fish in areas where they cannot visually see, up to distances as far as 500 ft (NOAA Fisheries, 2015).
These wonderful organisms and their surrounding environment must be preserved. More effort needs to be put towards protecting this species. We need to think of ways to provide organisms with the resource availability to allow them to live safely in their natural habitats.
Everyone can do their part in being conscientious when it comes to:
Recycling / disposing waste
Using plastic materials / hazardous materials - 78% of marine mammals are at risk of choking on plastic (Fleshman, 2021).
Refraining from over-fishing / resource availability
Boycotting captivity (ie SeaWorld, Marineland etc)
References
Fleshman, R. (2021, September 7). Environmental Fun Facts. KPWB. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from https://kpwb.org/environmental-fun-facts-2/
NOAA Fisheries (2020, June 15). Sound Strategy: Hunting with the Southern Residents, Part 2. NOAA. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sound-strategy-hunting-southern-residents-part-2#:~:text=Echolocation%20allows%20killer%20whales%20to,see%20in%20the%20dark%20water
The Whale Trail (2018). Southern Resident Killer Whale. TheWhaleTrail.org. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from https://thewhaletrail.org/wt-species/southern- residentkillerwhale/
University of British Columbia. (2021). No apparent shortage of prey for southern resident killer whales in Canadian waters during summer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 17th, 2023, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211012112222.htm
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New Post has been published on https://bloornews.com/blog-toronto/misunderstanding-caused-bc-company-to-say-health-canada-licensed-it-to-sell-cocaine-trudeau-says/
‘Misunderstanding’ Caused BC Company to Say Health Canada Licensed It to Sell Cocaine, Trudeau Says
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it was a “misunderstanding” that caused a British Columbia-based company to say Health Canada granted it permission to produce, sell, and distribute cocaine.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the media in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2023. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)
Trudeau told reporters in Winnipeg on March 3 that he was “as surprised” as B.C. Premier David Eby when he heard that the company Adastra Holdings Ltd., which produces marijuana for adult use and medical sales out of its headquarters in Langley, B.C., announced on Feb. 22 that it was permitted by Health Canada to “legally possess, produce, sell and distribute” cocaine.
The company said in a news release that it had been granted a Health Canada amendment to its controlled substance dealer’s licence on Feb. 17.
Eby first responded to the company’s statement on March 2, saying he was “astonished” that Health Canada would grant the amendment and that his government would be contacting Health Canada for answers.
“I was as surprised as the premier of British Columbia was to see that company was talking about selling cocaine on the open market or commercializing it,” Trudeau said on March 3.
“There are limited and very restricted permissions for certain pharmaceutical companies to use that substance for research purposes and for very specific narrowly prescribed medical purposes, but it is not a permission to sell it commercially or provide it on an open market.”
The prime minister said his government is actively addressing the issue.
“We are working very quickly with this company to correct their misunderstanding that their press release has caused,” he said, adding that decriminalizing the commercial sale of cocaine “is not something that this government is looking at furthering.”
Decriminalization
B.C. decriminalized possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain hard drugs, including cocaine, beginning on Jan. 31 following Health Canada’s approval of three-year experimental decriminalization exemption program back in May 2022.
Federal Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett has said that B.C.’s decriminalization plan will reduce “the stigma, the fear, and shame that keep people who use drugs silent about their use, or using alone.”
In 2022, B.C. had an average of over six people dying from drug overdoses every day, and over 11,000 people in the province have died from illicit drug overdoses since the provincial government declared a public health emergency in 2016.
Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has criticized the decriminalization policy, saying the solution to the issue of addiction is “more treatment and recovery,” rather than “more poison.”
Both Trudeau and Justice Minister David Lametti have said Ottawa has no plans for a national drug decriminalization policy.
The Canadian Press and Marnie Cathcart contributed to this report.
(Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)
Peter Wilson
#Around Town#articles#breaking news#current events#daily news#health condition#In Your Neighbourhood#latest news#local news#new#news article#newspaper#newspaper articles#recent news#toronto articles#tribune
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Foreign Pro Hero Files: The Teleportation Hero; Blink
Full Name: Antony Jaques Meyers
Status: Deceased
Age: 67 (at time of death)
Gender: Cis, Male
Race: Black/White/Latino
Sexuality: Demiromantic, Het
Height: 5'9
Quirk: Teleportation
Quirk rundown: Antony was able to teleport anywhere he pleased as long as he'd been there beforehand. This however, took a lot of energy. Before training his quirk, he could only make 3 trips a day before passing out.
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Education: Unknown
Personality: Antony was boisterous and cheerful. According to sources, he was sociable, very kind, and always willing to help where he could. Even after retiring from hero work, Antony made it a point to continue helping people via charities, and education. At first meeting, he struck many people as irresponsible and unassuming, but quickly made it clear that he was capable and hardworking.
Appearance: Antony was a chubby man of average height with hazel eyes. He had brown skin with vitiligo around his right eye, and all over his arms and back. He had dark curly hair with a white streak, usually tied back, and a scruffy beard. His hero costume was a sleeveless charcoal bodysuit, with a blue utility belt, and sturdy combat boots. He also wore a black and blue full-face gas mask.
Fun fact: Seeing as heroics was still very new when Antony became a hero, Antony had to go to Victoria, British Columbia to train to be a hero.
Antony Meyers' Hero Academy (which Antony founded) was the first hero school on the east side of Canada. It's where my other hero, Overdrive studied, and is known for being anti-elitist.
@insomniac-jay @elflynns-horde-of-stuff @calciumcryptid @opalofoctober @s0ursop @obsxdiannn
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Ground Weed and Pre-Rolls Explode in Popularity in Canada… Southern Neighbours Still Not So Sure
In the past, cannabis consumers generally preferred to buy their weed whole and grind it themselves. However, it seems that in Canada, this is changing, and more and more consumers are now willing to purchase pre-ground cannabis, which was once considered “mids,” or worse, “Boof.” Heady bois groan from their studio apartments in Denver, but as mentioned earlier on this site, fans of pre-ground flower have no time for that negativity. Consumers are voting with their wallets.
It shouldn’t need defining, but here we go, pre-ground or milled weed is available in a ready-to-use form, which can be easily poured into your vape, pipe, or pre-rolled cone.
According to data generated by Seattle-based cannabis researchers Headset Analytics, pre-ground cannabis had a rather negligible presence in the burgeoning Canadian market at the start of 2020. However, fast forward and by December 2022, it occupied a significant share at 7.3% of Canadians’ flower purchases. This data was obtained through tracking in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan and reported by MJBizDaily.
“That’s very, very much a significant portion of the highest-revenue category,” Headset Analytics Manager Cooper Ashley said.
What’s more is that brands are growing devoted fanbases who come back and ask for them by name.
“We were, in my opinion, probably a month too late jumping on that trend, even though customers were asking us for it,” said Cavion, founder of two Calyx + Trichomes stores in Kingston, Ontario.
Perhaps another boost to purchases of pre-ground bud is infused products. It’s becoming more common on shelves and delivery menus all over the world to see massive selections of infused pre-ground and pre-rolls. This gives the product that little extra kick chronic chronic smokers like. Growers used to throw out their trim. Now they grind it up with bud, pack it into pre-rolls that they roll in trim bin kief and sell at a premium. It’s really a win-win. People love the product, growers get to turn what once was waste into gold.
Apart from its convenience, there are several other advantages to purchasing pre-ground weed. One such benefit is the price point, and you know stoners love a deal. In fact, pre-ground cannabis often retails at a lower price point than whole flower, with an average price of around $4 CAD or approximately $3 USD per gram. This marks a significant decrease from the average price of $7 CAD or $5.25 USD in early 2020.
This trend of buying pre-ground weed is not as popular in the United States, where it currently only makes up about 0.9% of the total flower market share. One possible reason for the relatively slow adoption of pre-ground weed in the USA could be its negative reputation. Some Canadian Entrepreneurs have admitted that they were initially hesitant to stock pre-ground weed due to its less-than-stellar reputation.
“In the early days of legalization in Canada, I don’t think the perception was there for milled flower – I think it was seen as maybe inferior to other products,” – Maria Guest, Pure Sunfarms Vice President
Despite its plus sides, it just wasn’t cool in the beginning. That changed incredibly fast. The verdict is still out whether Americans are simply snobs or if the pre-ground weed in Canada is just better.
You know what else Canadians love? Canadians love pre-rolls. If you need further proof Canadians love convenience, according to data also provided by Headset Analytics and reported on MJBizDaily, the market for infused pre-rolls in Canada has experienced an astounding growth of nearly 1,100% within a year.
(Still reading this?! I know you want a pre-roll now!)
I think again here the variety available on the shelves in mind boggling numbers. Smokers today have options from the bottom of the shelf to the top, infused, coated, premium, hash filled, whatever you can imagine, someone is rolling it up into a joint, sticking it in a little plastic tube and willing to sell it to you. Our little monkey brains can’t help but buy them up like candy and enjoy them. Listen, I am that heady boi, and I buy pre-rolls. They are awesome.
To be fair it is doubtful that heady bois everywhere are going to pawn their Motherships and custom bangers to load up on pre-ground cannabis.These are not the same markets and that’s okay. That’s the beauty of a legal market, it creates a massive variation of products that may never have been available otherwise. In the same way, a lot of consumers are just looking for an easy way to get blazed, and a familiar bag of ground up stuff to roll your own cigarettes like a hipster outside a music venue. Good for all 7.9% of them.
You know what else is awesome? Kief.
Just saying. If you’re rolling Js, you might as well pick up some of that to top it all off.
By Richard “Dick” Weed, Ganja Guru and Guest Contributor, for Potsmart
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More than 50,000 Canadians have died after contracting COVID-19 since the pandemic emerged nearly three years ago, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed Monday — a sobering reminder that the virus remains a deadly concern.
The national death toll first crossed 50,000 last Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and confirmed by a Global News analysis of provincial health data.
By Monday, the toll had reached 50,135, according to PHAC, which reports national data weekly based on provincial reports that are released throughout the week.
Quebec, which is the only province that still reports COVID-19 data daily, has seen the most confirmed deaths of any jurisdiction with 17,865 fatalities to date. Ontario has the second-highest provincial death toll as of Friday, which sits at 15,786, followed by Alberta at 5,470 deaths as of Wednesday.
British Columbia has seen 5,007 deaths according to the most recent data released on Thursday, a day that also saw Saskatchewan report a total of 1,826 deaths to date. Friday’s report saw Manitoba record 2,403 deaths since the pandemic began.
In Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have recorded 762 and 85 deaths, respectively, as of Tuesday. Newfoundland and Labrador upped its death toll to 297 on Wednesday. As of Thursday, Nova Scotia has seen 706 deaths.
Continue Reading.
Tagging: @politicsofcanada
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Aeon Falls, Canada (Symbiosis)
Aeon Falls is located on the west coast of Canada, built on the former site of Vancouver, British Columbia. In the sixty-five years since its founding Aeon Falls has exploded into one of the largest cities in North America. The hub for nearly all heroic activity on the west coast of Canada, Aeon Falls has become a mecca for heroes from around the globe. With many of the top-ranked heroes from Canada, the United States, the Republic of Hawaii, Mexico, and Alaska making their homes in the massive city.
Founded ten years after the 2033 Aeon Incident disaster that leveled much of the North American west coast. At first, many people tried to boycott the creation of the town feel that naming the potential city after a super-villain who killed millions was in poor taste. But the founder, hero, and billionaire Zoe Child who was financing the majority of the effort not just with her fortune but her abilities as well refused to hear any arguments. She built the city anyway and despite many efforts in the first years to get the name changed not one protest group was successful.
Harvey Child, Zoe’s father, and mentor, had died in the fight to stop Aeon and she insisted that the city be named for the defeat her father gave his life for. In order to appease some groups, she instituted a law that forbids any mention of Aeon in official city records and bans any monument featuring his likeness. Obviously, this riled up entirely different groups, but by this point, Zoe was done listening to people and continued her project.
Two years into the establishment of the city Zoe had the backing of the Canadian government, and dozens of hero groups, with many of the world’s most powerful relocating to help establish the city. As time went on most remind in the city became permanent residents and several hero groups had to relocate to Aeon Falls when the majority of their members had chosen to live there.
In the year 2053, ten years after its founding Zoe lead a fight to establish Aeon Falls as its own unique province in the country of Canada. Most people thought it was a joke or that she would not succeed, but within the year it had happened. Aeon Falls holds the unique distinction of being the smallest province in the country geographically, but the largest in terms of population, with double the number of citizens when compared to Canada’s next largest province Ontario. 21 million people make their homes in Aeon Falls.
The Ashton Hero Academy was founded in 2055. Named for Hannah Ashton, a renowned hero and the first professor to officially teach at the world’s first dedicated hero school, died shortly after the academy opened. Well the cause has been kept private by the family, many theories ranging from the mundane, such as dying to cancer or being killed by a villain too the outlandish, abduction by aliens, shapeshifting into a new form because she was bored (despite being an energy user and not shapeshifter), right up to being killed when she attempted to assassinate her former lover Zoe Child (the two barely knew each other).
Regardless of the reasons, since its creation, Ashton quickly set and has maintained the standards for teaching young heroes. Before Ashton, many colleges and universities offered hero-related courses, but nothing was dedicated to the topic. In the decades since its founding hero academies have sprung up around the world, each one trying to outmatch Ashton. As of yet none of them have.
In the modern-day Aeon Falls is a bustling city with people from around the world visiting, living, and thriving in the gleaming metropolis. Of course, as with any large city there is a darker side that feeds off the lives of the residents and while much of that darkness comes from average crime, Aeon City has a unique kind of darkness, a darkness that has spread across the globe. Aeon City has its heroes.
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Summer Temperatures Arrive Early
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A springtime heatwave has made large swaths of western North America feel like the dog days of summer. In mid-May 2023, western Washington and Oregon, along with much of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, were in the throes of a record-breaking streak of hot weather. While the most unseasonably warm weather subsided by May 16, above-average temperatures were projected to persist for several more days.
The map above shows the difference in air temperature between May 15, 2023—one of the hottest days in the heatwave—and the 2014-2022 mean for that date. The map is derived from the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model and depicts air temperatures at 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) above the ground. Dark red areas are where air temperatures reached more than 22°F (12°C) above the recent average.
Heat records were toppled across several Canadian provinces. In British Columbia, dozens of daily records fell for three days straight, according to local news reports. New monthly records were also broken, and temperatures exceeded 95°F (35°C) in some locations. Stateside, record books also got significant updates. Notably, May 15 marked the fourth straight day of record high daily temperatures in Seattle.
This event is reminiscent of the “heat dome” that parked over the Pacific Northwest in June 2021. During that dangerous stretch, temperatures in some places soared more than 27°F (15°C) over recent averages for the same date. The cities of Seattle and Portland set all-time-record highs of 108°F (42°C) and 116°F (47°C), respectively.
In the current spell, a strong high-pressure ridge developed over western Canada, which served to center the heat on Alberta as air sank, warmed, and dried out. Temperatures in May 2023 did not approach the extremes seen in the June 2021 event, in part because it occurred over a month earlier in the year.
The heat and accompanying low humidity may exacerbate the already active wildland fire season in Alberta and British Columbia. Alberta reported 91 active fires in the province on May 17, and smoke had degraded air quality in many cities. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces joined firefighters in their efforts to control blazes ahead of the heatwave.
Unseasonable warmth is expected to persist throughout the week. According to Environment Canada, parts of interior British Columbia will continue to see daytime highs of 18 to 27°F (10 to 15°C) above normal. The department also warns of local flooding as the melting snowpack increases stream flow.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using GEOS-5 data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC. Story by Lindsey Doermann."
Source: NASA Earth Observatory
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