Latest news with #community
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Leeds bus crash: Woman, 79, dies after being hit by double-decker
A 79-year-old woman who was hit by a bus in Leeds city centre has died, police have woman, who has not been named, suffered serious head injuries when she was struck at a pedestrian crossing in Vicar Lane shortly before 14:00 BST on a statement, her family described her as "a deeply loved mother, sister and friend whose kindness and spirit will be profoundly missed by everyone whose life she touched".West Yorkshire Police said no arrests have been made in connection with her death, and have appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision, or those with video footage, to get in touch. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
CBC
28 minutes ago
- Business
- CBC
Old NFB head office in Montreal to get new lease on life with mixed-use development
The former home of the National Film Board on Côte-de-Liesse Road in Montreal's Saint-Laurent borough has sat vacant since 2019, but that could soon change. The Canada Lands Company unveiled its plans for the site on Thursday, which includes transforming the area —equivalent in size to approximately six football fields — into a mixed-use residential, commercial and cultural hub. Christopher Sweetnam-Holmes, the Crown corporation's senior director of real estate for Quebec and the Atlantic, said after 30 months of consultations with the public, the project has changed to better answer the community's needs. Issues raised by the community, Sweetnam-Holmes said, included a need for more housing, stores within walking distance and more parks for kids to play in. "So first, we're going to insert 700 units of new residential housing, of which half will be non-market housing," Sweetnam-Holmes said. "So that means social housing, affordable housing, non-profit housing. Then, we're going to repurpose 80 per cent of the buildings on the site, only demolishing 20 per cent." The plans include room for retail and office space, as well as more green space including a big community park centre in the middle of the housing development. And to preserve the legacy of the NFB, Sweetnam-Holmes said there will be a place "where art gets made" and people can take part in cultural activities. Also, the future Côte-de-Liesse REM station, which is slated to open later this year, is less than a kilometre away. Sweetnam-Holmes is hopeful the project will be transformative. "I think it's going to bring a lot of new life," Sweetnam-Holmes said. "Because you're going to have all these new people, you're going to have kids, you're going to have people working here, it's going to become like this really dynamic place." In an interview with CBC, Robert Shearmur, a professor of urban planning at McGill University, struck an optimistic tone when discussing the project. WATCH | What is co-op housing and can it help alleviate housing crisis: How co-operatives could become a hack to Canada's housing crisis 17 days ago Duration 5:18 People who live in them say they offer an attractive, low-cost alternative as the price of renting and buying property rises. Here's how housing co-ops work and why we might start hearing more about them in Canada. He said the Canada Lands Company has a good track record when it comes to listening to communities and coming up with good development ideas and proposals. He did, however, raise a few areas of concern. "These are all wonderful ideas if they work," he said, but added they need to be properly scaled. "There's a very small residential area right next to it. So, for a population of, let's say a couple of thousand people, how much culture, how much community space do you need or would be used?" Shearmur asked. The same question applies to retail and office space. Shearmur said he doesn't believe the population size will necessarily warrant having a big grocery store and people will likely have to do their weekly shopping elsewhere. Which brings us to the issue of cars and where to park them. In its current form, the site will have 350 indoor parking spots for residential use, 180 indoor and 60 outdoor spots for commercial use. Shearmur said that might not be enough. "Unless people happen to work along the REM line, getting to work ... typically requires a car," he said. "I suspect that housing units will be more difficult to sell without at least one space per unit." Meanwhile, housing advocates worry about how affordable the new units will be. " The market prices right now are crazy if you look at the prices in Montreal, and even in Quebec," said FRAPRU coordinator Catherine Lussier. "Even if you go below the market, how much below the market?" Even at 80 per cent, Lussier said tenants risk being priced out. Meanwhile, Sweetnam-Holmes said its impossible at the moment to know what the rents might look like. "All that we know is that they will meet the standards of both the City of Montreal and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in terms of what they define as affordable housing," he said. According to the CMHC website, "housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household's before-tax income." Later this year, Canada Lands Company will start taking proposals from developers who want to make the vision a reality. It says the first residents could start moving in in 2028.
CBC
29 minutes ago
- Business
- CBC
Harbord Bakery celebrates 80 years of community, challah and sugar cookies
There aren't too many businesses in the city that can say they've been open for 80 years — but Harbord Bakery in the Annex is one of them. The bakery opened in 1945, and it has remained a family run business since. "There are so many memories," said owner Susan Wisniewski, who lived above the bakery growing up. "As a little girl, I sat in my stroller outside of the bakery and people greeted me," she said. It was Wisniewski's parents, Goldie and Albert Kosower, who established the Toronto landmark. Her grandson now works weekends at the bakery, marking the fourth generation of the family to be involved. What keeps Wisniewski working six days a week at the age of 76, she says, is her love of the customers. "A lot of times people come and say, 'I used to come here with my dad when I was a little person' [or] 'Your mom used to give me the sprinkle cookies,'" she said. She's seen generations of customers grow up. This month, Harbord Bakery turns 80 years old. It's been a fixture in the Annex neighbourhood for decades, selling cakes, challah, pastries and freshly made lunch items. It's known to have long lineups around Jewish holidays. "Because they've been here for so long, with a good attitude and that community sense, they've become an anchor in the area," said Neil Wright, chair of the Harbord Street BIA. He said it's important to maintain long-standing, locally owned businesses in neighbourhoods to make communities feel safe and welcome. Keeping the business going through construction and rising prices has been tough, Wisniewski says, but with the help of her family, the goal is to keep the bakery open for many years to come. "My family is my first love, and this bakery is my second love," she said.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
LIRA, Uganda — The bicycle parked in Lucy Abalo's compound doesn't belong to her. Any one of the hundreds of people in her village can show up and ask to use it. A man might wish to take his pregnant wife for a checkup. A woman might need transport to pick up HIV medication. An injured child might need a trip to a hospital.
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
WFH fatigue? Why people under 30 are heading back to the 'real office'
Working from home (WFH) was seen as a pivotal job incentive for many people over the past few years. No shuttling back and forth, one can wear anything in the mornings, and the choice to take Zoom calls from any part of the house with a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Lately, however, an interesting shift is happening: an increasing number of workers under 30 are willingly heading back into the office. Yes, they do it of their own accord. So, what's behind this movement? Loneliness isn't just a buzzword. For many young professionals today, work isn't just about income; it's about community, meeting people, and building relationships. Pursuing a career from a bedroom desk can be very alienating, particularly when one is trying to make friends or build up contacts in a new city, or grow professionally without organic exchanges. Going back to the office, even on a part-time basis, gives people something like identity affirmation, social comfort, and emotional security. Out of sight, out of mind. Realistically speaking, when the manager only sees you in little squares during Zoom calls, it is hard to stand out. See also My dad, late 50s, got laid off; how now? Today's professionals are specifically mindful of the importance of visibility at work. Since many of these individuals are usually in the early phases of their professions, they are excited to learn, eager to network, and keen on proving themselves in what they're capable of. Being in the office enables them to spur-of-the-moment mentorship, try their hand at leadership roles, not to mention those coffee time chats that may turn into huge prospects in the future. Remote work may be effective, but it's not always exciting and inspiring. For those rushing for growth, inspiration matters a lot. Space matters, and not everyone has it. Not everyone has the indulgence of a home office with ergonomic furniture and speedy internet. Many under-30s live in joint apartments, tiny studios, or with co-tenants and family. Wanting to have a fruitful day of work next to a roommate on a gaming headset or a yapping dog can be a formula for weariness and tension. On the other hand, the office, for all its flaws, provides a physical space intended for work. For many, that alone is worth the travel from home to office and back. Structure and separation. WFH can easily fuzz the lines between work and life, particularly for younger professionals who are still trying to figure out procedures, practices, and restrictions. Being always 'on' is one thing when you're busy trying to prove yourself, and it quickly becomes untenable. With the office environment, natural boundaries are created. The day has a start and an end. The couch at home is back to being a place for Netflix, not spreadsheets. Company culture is back in style. Workers at present aren't just clocking in and out; they pursue purpose and a sense of belonging. For them, company culture is a lot more than pizza get-togethers or ping pong tables; it's about teamwork, relationships, synergy, and collective goals. And for many, culture is difficult to feel through a small Zoom screen. See also Women-powered organisation she1K invests in drone startup Hybrid isn't dead—it's evolving This is not saying that the work-from-home era is over and done with. Hybrid work models are still flourishing, and flexibility is still a top priority for many young professionals. What is shifting is the perception that remote work is equal to what is 'ideal.' More and more, the under-30 horde has recognised that now and then, 'being in the room matters more than being on the call.' Thus, if you see more bikes at parking spaces outside the office, or hear more conversation around the coffee machine, you're not imagining it. Young professionals in today's workforce are reminding all that work is actually more than just everyday jobs; it's also about people, places, and possibilities. In a world that's still unravelling the future of work, Gen Zs just want the best of both worlds, and aren't frightened to go out and get it.
